The Supernatural in the Tragedies of Euripides 33 



Ion 1537-38: 



6 i}eds dXrjj^es i) iJ,aTT]v ixavTeveTai; 

 kfxov TapdcrcreL, fxfJTep, el/corcos (ppeva. 



"Is the God true? — or doeth his oracle lie? 

 Mother, my soul it troubleth : well it may." 



" Loxias " = " Apollo" was according to the popular deriva- 

 tion " the God of crooked answers," because his oracles were 

 Xo^ta " crooked " and so ambiguous. 



At the end after Apollo's plot has been discovered, Athena 

 comes to speak for her brother, who is ashamed to appear in 

 person, lest he be reproached for the manner in which he has 

 managed affairs : 



Ion 1556-58: 



IlaXXaj, Spofxcc cnreixxacr AwoWuvos irapa, 

 OS &.S ixtv oxpLv acpoiv ixokeiv ovk tj^Lov, 

 /xri TOiV irdpoid-e p.kp.xpL's els fxkaov ixoKrj. 



" I Pallas from Apollo speed in haste, 

 Who deigned not to reveal him to your sight, 

 Else must he chide you for things overpast." 



Literally translated the last line reads : " lest blame for former 

 things should, come between " referring to Apollo's conduct in 

 the past. 



The poet's usual contempt for the art of divination is expressed 

 in the following verses : 



Ion 374-77: 



els 'yap toctovtov ap,ai}ias 'ekd^OLfxev av, 

 el Tovs ^eovs o-Kovras kKTrovr\(Top.ev 

 (ppd^eLV a fxr] ■&'e\ovcTi.v rj irpoficoiJ.ioLS 

 acpayatai ixrjXuv rj dl oloivuiv irrepois. 



" For, lo what height of folly should we reach 

 If in the God's despite we wrest their will. 

 By sacrifice of sheep on altars, or 

 By flight of birds, to tell what they would veil." 



7. The Supplices 



The " Supplices " is almost entirely free from sceptical and ir- 

 religious sentiments and replete with respect for the Gods. The 



87 



