Stasimon 3
[Episode]
None; my boy is in the halls of Hades.
Old Servant
Who then exposed him? surely not thyself.
Creusa
Myself, when ’neath the gloom of night I had wrapped him in my robe.
955
Old Servant
Did no one share thy secret of the babe’s exposure?
Creusa
Ill-fortune and secrecy alone.
Old Servant
How couldst thou in the cavern leave thy babe?
Creusa
Ah! how? but still I did, with many a word of pity uttered o’er him.
Old Servant
Oh for thy hard heart! Oh for the god’s, more hard than thine!
960
Creusa
Hadst thou but seen the babe stretch forth his hands to me!
Old Servant
To find thy mother’s breast, to nestle in thy arms?
Creusa
By being kept therefrom he suffered grievous wrong from me.
Old Servant
How earnest thou to think of casting forth thy babe?
Creusa
Methought the god would save his own begotten child.
965
Old Servant
Ah me! what storms assail thy family’s prosperity!
Creusa
Why weepest thou, old man, with head close-veiled?
Old Servant
To see the sorrows of thy sire and thee.
Creusa
Such is our mortal life; naught abideth in one stay.
Old Servant
Daughter, let us cease to dwell on themes of woe.
970
Creusa
What must I do? Misfortune leaves us helpless.
Old Servant
Avenge thee on the god who first did injure thee.
