from the lair of Trophonius; say nothing, sir, to my husband of what I have told thee, lest I incur reproach for troubling about secrets, and the matter take a different turn to that which I sought to give it. For women stand towards men in a difficult position, and the virtuous from being mingled with the wicked amongst us are hated; such is our unhappy destiny.
Xut. First to the god all hail! for he must receive the first-fruits of my salutation, and next all hail to thee, my wife! Has my delay in arriving caused thee alarm?
Cre. By no means; but thou[1] art come at an anxious time. Tell me what response thou bringest from Trophonius, touching our future hopes of mutual offspring.
Xut. He deigned not to forestal the prophecies of Phœbus. This only did he say, that neither thou nor I should return unto our house childless from the shrine.
Cre. Majestic mother of Phœbus, to our journey grant success, and may our previous dealings with thy son now find a better issue!
Xut. It will be so; but who acts as the god's spokesman here?
Ion. I serve outside the shrine, others within, who stand near the tripod, even the noblest of the Delphians chosen by lot, sir stranger.
Xut. 'Tis well; I have attained the utmost of my wishes. I will go within; for I am told that a victim has been slain in public before the temple for strangers, and to-day,—for it is a lucky day,—I would fain receive the god's oracle. Do thou, my wife, take branches of laurel, and seated at the altars pray to the gods that I may carry home from Apollo's shrine an answer that bodeth well for offspring.
Cre. All this shall be. Now, at any rate, if Loxias would retrieve his former sins, e'en though he cannot be my friend
- ↑ Badham reads ἀφίγμην.
