Old Ser. Who then exposed him? surely not thyself.
Cre. Myself, when 'neath the gloom of night I had wrapped him in my robe.
Old Ser. Did no one share thy secret of the babe's exposure?
Cre. Ill-fortune and secrecy alone.
Old Ser. How couldst thou in the cavern leave thy babe?
Cre. Ah! how? but still I did, with many a word of pity uttered o'er him.
Old Ser. Oh for thy hard heart! Oh for the god's, more hard than thine!
Cre. Hadst thou but seen the babe stretch forth his hands to me!
Old Ser. To find thy mother's breast, to nestle in thy arms?
Cre. By being kept therefrom he suffered grievous wrong from me.
Old Ser. How camest thou to think of casting forth thy babe?
Cre. Methought the god would save his own begotten child.
Old Ser. Ah me! what storms assail thy family's prosperity!
Cre. Why weepest thou, old man, with head close-veiled?
Old Ser. To see the sorrows of thy sire and thee.
Cre. Such is our mortal life; naught abideth in one stay.
Old Ser. Daughter, let us cease to dwell on themes of woe.
Cre. What must I do? Misfortune leaves us helpless.
Old Ser. Avenge thee on the god who first did injure thee.
Cre. How can I, weak mortal as I am, outrun those mightier powers?
