THE BOOK WAS DRENCHED - OUDL Home

With provident thought: it is not meet to place
The unrighteous at his altars; worthier far
To be chased thence; nor decent that the vile
Should with their touch pollute the gods: the good,
Oppress'd with wrongs, should at those hallow'd seats
Seek refuge: ill beseems it that the unjust
And just alike should seek protection there.
(As ION and his followers are about to tear CREUSA from the altar,
the PRIESTESS of Apollo enters from the temple,)
PRIESTESS
Forbear, my son, leaving the oracular seat,
I pass this pale, the priestess of the god,
The guardian of the tripod's ancient law,
Call'd to this charge from all the Delphian dames.
ION
Hail, my loved mother, dear, though not my parent.
PRIESTESS
Yet let me have the name, 'tis grateful to me.
ION
Hast thou yet heard their wily trains to kill me?
PRIESTESS
I have; but void of mercy thou dost wrong.
ION
Should I not ruin those that sought my life?
PRIESTESS
Stepdames to former sons are always hostile.
ION
And I to stepdames ill intreated thus.
PRIESTESS
Be not, this shrine now leaving for thy country.
ION
How, then, by thy monition should I act?
PRIESTESS
Go with good omens, pure to Athens go.