Stasimon 4
[Episode]
As I hate step-dames for their evil treatment of me.
1330
Pythian Priestess
Do not so; but leaving, as thou art, the shrine, and setting forth for thy country—
Ion
What then wouldst thou advise me do?
Pythian Priestess
With clean hands seek Athens, attended by good omens.
Ion
Surely any man hath clean hands who slays his enemies.
Pythian Priestess
Do not thou do this; but take the counsel that I have for thee.
1335
Ion
Say on; whate’er thou say’st will be prompted by thy good will.
Pythian Priestess
Dost see this basket that I carry in my arms?
Ion
An ancient ark with chaplets crowned.
Pythian Priestess
Herein I found thee long ago, a newborn babe.
Ion
What sayest thou? there is novelty in the story thou art introducing.
1340
Pythian Priestess
Yea, for I was keeping these relics a secret, but now I show them.
Ion
How earnest thou to hide them on that day, now long ago, when thou didst find me?
Pythian Priestess
The god wished to have thee as his servant in his courts.
Ion
Does he no longer wish it? How am I to know this?
Pythian Priestess
By declaring to thee thy sire, he dismisses thee from this land.
1345
Ion
Is it by his command thou keepest these relics, or why?
Pythian Priestess
Loxias put in my heart that day—
Ion
What purpose? Oh! speak, finish thy story.
Pythian Priestess
To preserve what I had found until the present time.
