Creusa Hearken then; knowest thou the battle of the earth-born men?
Old Servant Surely; the fight at Phlegra waged by giants against the gods.
Creusa There Earth brought Gorgon forth, dreadful prodigy.
Old Servant To aid her sons maybe, and cause the gods hard toil?
Creusa Yea, and Pallas, daughter of Zeus, slew the monster.
Old Servant What savage form had it assumed?
Creusa A breast-plate of vipers fenced its body.
Old Servant Is this the tale I heard in days of yore?
Creusa That Athena wears its skin upon her corslet.
Old Servant Is it this that Pallas wears, called by men her aegis?
Creusa This was the name it received, that day she came to do battle for the gods.
Old Servant How, daughter, can this harm thy enemies?
Creusa Hast heard of Erichthonius, or no? of course thou hast.
Old Servant Him whom Earth produced, the founder of thy race?
Creusa To him whilst yet a babe did Pallas give—
Old Servant Ha! what? thou hast something yet to add?
Creusa Two drops of Gorgon’s blood.
Old Servant What power could they exert on the nature of a human creature?
Creusa The one with death is fraught, the other cures disease.
Old Servant What held them when she tied them to the child’s body?
Creusa With links of gold she fastened them; this to my sire did Erichthonius give.
Old Servant And at his death it came to thee?
Creusa Yea, and here at my wrist I wear it.
Old Servant How works the spell of this double gift of Pallas?
Creusa Each drop of gore which trickled from the hollow vein—
Old Servant What purpose does it serve? what virtue does it carry?
Creusa Wards off disease, and nourishes man’s life.
Old Servant What doth that second drop effect, of which thou madest mention?
Creusa It kills, for it is venom from the Gorgon’s snakes.
Old Servant Dost thou carry this charm mixed in one phial, or separate?
Creusa Separate; for good is no companion for evil.
Old Servant Daughter dear, thou art fully armed with all thou needest.
Creusa By this must the boy die, and thou must do the deadly deed.
Old Servant How and where? thine it is to speak, and mine to dare and do.
Creusa In Athens, when to my house he comes.
Old Servant That is not wisely said; I may object to thy plan as thou to mine.
Creusa How so? Hast thou the same mistrust that I experience?
Old Servant Thou wilt get the credit of his death, although thou slay him not.
Creusa True; men say stepdames are jealous of their husband’s children.
Old Servant Kill him here then, that so thou mayst deny the murder.
Creusa Well, thus I do anticipate the pleasure.
Old Servant Yea, and thou wilt from thy husband keep the very secret he would keep from thee.
Creusa Dost know then what to do? Take from my arm this golden bracelet, Athena’s gift, some ancient craftsman’s work, and seek the spot where my lord is offering secret sacrifice; then when their feasting is o’er and they are about to pour drink-offering to the gods, take this phial in thy robe and pour it into the young man’s goblet; who thinks to lord it o’er my house. And if once it pass his lips, never shall he come to glorious Athens, but here abide, of life bereft.
Old Servant Go thou within the house of our public hosts; I the while will set about my appointed task. On! aged foot, grow young again in action, for all that time saith no to thee. Go, aid thy mistress against her enemy, help slay and drag him from her house. ’Tis well to honour piety in the hour of fortune, but when thou wouldst harm thy foe, no law doth block thy path.
Cite This Text