Ion: The deed must cause him shame: convict him not.
Creusa: To the poor sufferer 'tis the cause of grief.
Ion: It cannot be; for who shall dare to give
The oracle? With justice would the god,
In his own dome affronted, pour on him
Severest vengeance, who should answer thee.
Desist then, lady: it becomes us ill,
In opposition to the god, to make
Inquiries at his shrine; by sacrifice
Before their altars, or the flight of birds,
Should we attempt to force the unwilling gods
To utter what they wish not, 'twere the excess
Of rudeness; what with violence we urge
'Gainst their consent would to no good avail us:
What their spontaneous grace confers on us,
That, lady, as a blessing we esteem.
Leader of the Chorus: How numberless the ills to mortal man,
And various in their form! One single blessing
By any one through life is scarcely found.
Studies
