by Euripides
CHOR. Among marvels and things passing even fable are these things which I shall tell as having myself beheld, and not from hearsay.
PYL. It is meet indeed that friends coming into the presence of friends, Orestes, should embrace one another with their hands, but, having ceased from mournful matters, it behooves you also to betake you to those measures by which we, obtaining the glorious name of safety, may depart from this barbarian earth. For it is the part of wise men, not wandering from their present chance, when they have obtained an opportunity, to acquire further delights.
OR. Thou sayest well. But I think that fortune will take care of this with us. For if a man be zealous, it is likely that the divine power will have still greater power.
IPH. Do not restrain or hinder me from your words, not first to know what fortune of life Electra has obtained, for this were pleasant to me [to hear.]
OR. She is partner with this man, possessing a happy life.
IPH. And of what country is he, and son of what man born?
OR. Strophius the Phocian is styled his father.
IPH. And he is of the daughter of Atreus, a relative of mine?
OR. Ay, a cousin, my only certain friend.
IPH. Was he not in being, when my father sought to slay me?
OR. He was not, for Strophius was childless some time.
IPH. Hail! O thou spouse of my sister.
OR. Ay, and my preserver, not relation only.
IPH. But how didst thou dare the terrible deeds in respect to your mother?
OR. Let us be silent respecting my mother— ’twas in avenging my father.
IPH. And what was the reason for her slaying her husband?
OR. Let go the subject of my mother. Nor is it pleasant for you to hear.
IPH. I am silent. But Argos now looks up to thee.
OR. Menelaus rules: I am an exile from my country.
IPH. What, did our uncle abuse our house unprospering?
OR. Not so, but the fear of the Erinnyes drives me from my land.
IPH. For this then wert thou spoken of as being frantic even here on the shore.
OR. We were beheld not now for the first time in a hapless state.
IPH. I perceive. The Goddesses goaded thee on because of thy mother.
OR. Ay, so as to cast a bloody bit upon me.
IPH. For wherefore didst thou pilot thy foot to this land?
OR. I came, commanded by the oracles of Phœbus —
IPH. To do what thing? Is it one to be spoken of or kept in silence?
OR. I will tell you, but these are the beginning for me of many woes. After these evil things concerning my mother, on which I keep silence, had been wrought, I was driven an exile by the pursuits of the Erinnyes, when Loxias sent my foot to Athens, that I might render satisfaction to the deities that must not be named. For there is a holy council, that Jove once on a time instituted for Mars on account of some pollution of his hands. And coming thither, at first indeed no one of the strangers received me willingly, as being abhorred by the Gods, but they who had respect to me, afforded me a stranger’s meal at a separate table, being under the same house roof, and silently devised in respect to me, unaddressed by them, how I might be separated from their banquet and cup, and, having filled up a share of wine in a separate vessel, equal for all, they enjoyed themselves. And I did not think fit to rebuke my guests, but I grieved in silence, and did not seem to perceive [their conduct,] deeply groaning, because I was my mother’s slayer. But I hear that my misfortunes have been made a festival at Athens, and that this custom still remains, that the people of Pallas honor the Libation Vessel. But when I came to the hill of Mars, and stood in judgment, I indeed occupying one seat, but the eldest of the Erinnyes the other, having spoken and heard respecting my mother’s death, Phœbus saved me by bearing witness, but Pallas counted out for me the equal votes with her hand, and I came off victor in the bloody trial. As many then as sat [in judgment,] persuaded by the sentence, determined to hold their dwelling near the court itself. But as many of the Erinnyes as did not yield obedience to the sentence passed, continually kept driving me with unsettled wanderings, until I again returned to the holy ground of Phœbus, and lying stretched before the adyts, hungering for food, I swore that I would break from life by dying on the spot, unless Phœbus, who had undone, should preserve me. Upon this Phœbus, uttering a voice from the golden tripod, sent me hither to seize the heaven-sent image, and place it in the land of Athens. But that safety which he marked out for me do thou aid in. For if we can lay hold on the image of the Goddess, I both shall cease from my madness, and embarking thee in the bark of many oars, I shall settle thee again in Mycenæ. But, O beloved one, O sister mine, preserve my ancestral home, and preserve me, since all my state and that of the Pelopids is undone, unless we seize on the heavenly image of the Goddess.
CHOR. Some dreadful wrath of the Gods hath burst forth, and leads the seed of Tantalus through troubles.
IPH. I entertained the desire to reach Argos, and behold thee, my brother, even before thou camest. But I wish, as you do, both to save thee, and to restore again our sickening ancestral home from troubles, in no wise wrath with him who would have slain me. For I should both release my hand from thy slaughter, and preserve mine house. But I fear how I shall be able to escape the notice of the Goddess and the king, when he shall find the stone pedestal bared of the image. And how shall I escape death? What account can I give? But if indeed these matters can be effected at once, and thou wilt bear away the image, and lead me in the fair-pooped ship, the risk will be a glorious one. But separated from this I perish, but you, arranging your own affairs, would obtain a prosperous return. Yet in no wise will I fly, not even if I needs must perish, having preserved thee. In no wise, I say; for a man who dies from among his household is regretted, but a woman is of little account.
OR. I would not be the murderer both of thee and of my mother. Her blood is enough, and being of the same mind with you, [with you] I should wish, living or dying, to obtain an equal lot. †But I will lead thee, even though I myself fall here, to my house, or, remaining with thee, will die.† But hear my opinion. If this had been disagreeable to Diana, how would Loxias have answered, that I should remove the image of the Goddess to the city of Pallas, and behold thy face? For, putting all these matters together, I hope to obtain a return.
IPH. How then can it happen that neither you die, and that we obtain what we wish? For it is in this respect that our journey homeward is at fault, but the will is not wanting.
OR. Could we possibly destroy the tyrant?
IPH, Thou tellest a fearful thing, for strangers to slay their receivers.
OR. But if it will preserve thee and me, one must run the risk.
IPH. I could not — yet I approve your zeal.
OR. But what if you were secretly to hide me in this temple?
IPH. In order, forsooth, that, taking advantage of darkness, we might be saved?
OR. For night is the time for thieves, the light for truth.
IPH. But within are the sacred keepers, whom we can not escape.
OR. Alas! we are undone. How can we then be saved?
IPH. I seem to have a certain new device.
OR. Of what kind? Make me a sharer in your opinion, that I also may learn.
IPH. I will make use of thy ravings as a contrivance.
OR. Ay, cunning are women to find out tricks.
IPH. I will say that thou, being slayer of thy mother, art come from Argos.
OR. Make use of my troubles, if you can turn them to account.
IPH. I will say that it is not lawful to sacrifice thee to the Goddess.
OR. Having what pretext? For I partly suspect.
IPH. As not being pure, but I will [say that I will] give what is holy to sacrifice.
OR. How then the more will the image of the Goddess be obtained?
IPH. I [will say that I] will purify thee in the fountains of the sea.
OR. The statue, in ques
t of which, we have sailed, is still in the temple.
IPH. And I will say that I must wash that too, as if you had laid hands on it.
OR. Where then is the damp breaker of the sea of which you speak?
IPH. Where thy ship rides at anchor with rope-bound chains.
OR. But wilt thou, or some one else, bear the image in their hands?
IPH. I, for it is lawful for me alone to touch it.
OR. But in what part of this contrivance will our friend Pylades be placed?
IPH. He will be said to bear the same pollution of hands as thyself.
OR. And wilt thou do this unknown to, or with the knowledge of the king?
IPH. Having persuaded him by words, for I could not escape notice.
OR. And truly the well-rowed ship is ready for sailing.
IPH. You must take care of the rest, that it be well.
OR. There lacks but one thing, namely, that these women who are present preserve our secret. But do thou beseech them, and find words that will persuade. A woman in truth has power to move pity. But all the rest will perchance fall out well.
IPH. O dearest women, I look to you, and my affairs rest in you, as to whether they turn out well, or be of naught, and I be deprived of my country, my dear brother, and dearest sister. And let this first be the commencement of my words. We are women, a race well inclined to one another, and most safe in keeping secret matters of common interest. Do ye keep silence for us, and labor out our escape. Honorable is it for the man who possesses a faithful tongue. But behold how one fortune holds the three most dear, either a return to our father-land, or to die. But, being preserved, that thou also mayest share my fortune, I will restore thee safe to Greece. But, by thy right hand, thee, and thee [addressing the women of the chorus in succession] I beseech, and thee by thy beloved cheek, and thy knees, and those most dear at home, mother, and father, and children, to whom there are such. What say ye? Who of you will, or will not [speak!] these things. For if ye assent not to my words, I am undone, and my wretched sister.
CHOR. Be of good cheer, dear mistress, and think only of being saved, since on my part all shall be kept secret, the mighty Jove be witness! in the things thou enjoinest.
IPH. May your words profit ye, and may ye be blest. ’Tis thy part now, and thine [to the different women] to enter the house, as the ruler of this land will straightway come, inquiring concerning the sacrifice of the strangers, whether it is over. O revered Goddess, who in the recesses of Aulis didst save me from the dire hand of a slaying father, now also save me and these, or the voice of Loxias will through thee be no longer truthful among mortals. But do thou with good will quit the barbarian land for Athens, for it becomes thee not to dwell here, when you can possess a blest city.
CHORUS. Thou bird, that by the rocky cliffs of the sea, halcyon, dost chant thy mournful elegy, a sound well understood by the skilled, namely, that thou art ever bemoaning thine husband in song, I, a wingless bird, compare my dirge with thine, longing for the assemblies of the Greeks, longing for Lucina, who dwells along the Cynthian height, and near the palm with its luxuriant foliage, and the rich-springing laurel, and the holy shoot of the deep blue olive, the dear place of Latona’s throes, and the lake that rolls its waters in a circle, where the melodious swan honors the muses. O ye many tricklings of tears which fell upon my cheeks, when, our towers being destroyed, I traveled in ships beneath the oars and the spears of the foes. And through a bartering of great price I came a journey to a barbarian land, where I serve the daughter of Agamemnon, the priestess of the Goddess, and the sheep-slaughtering altars, envying her who has all her life been unfortunate; for she bends not under necessity, who is familiar with it. Unhappiness is wont to change, but to fare ill after prosperity is a heavy life for mortals. And thee indeed, O mistress, an Argive ship of fifty oars will conduct home, and the wax-bound reed of mountain Pan with Syrinx tune cheer on the oarsmen, and prophet Phœbus, plying the tones of his seven-stringed lyre, with song will lead thee prosperously to the rich land of Athens. But leaving me here thou wilt travel by the dashing oars. And the halyards by the prow, will stretch forth the sails to the air, above the beak, the sheet lines of the swift-journeying ship. Would that I might pass through the glittering course, where the fair light of the sun wends its way, and over my own chamber might rest from rapidly moving the pinions on my shoulders. And would that I might stand in the dance, where also [I was wont to stand,] a virgin sprung from honorable nuptials, wreathing the dances of my companions at the foot of my dear mother, bounding to the rivalry of the graces, to the wealthy strife respecting [beauteous] hair, pouring my variously-painted garb and tresses around, I shadowed my cheeks.
[Enter THOAS.]
THOAS. Where is the Grecian woman who keeps the gate of this temple? Has she yet begun the sacrifice of the strangers, and are the bodies burning in the flame within the pure recesses?
CHOR. Here she is, O king, who will tell thee clearly all.
TH. Ah! Why art thou removing in your arms this image of the Goddess from its seat that may not be disturbed, O daughter of Agamemnon?
IPH. O king, rest there thy foot in the portico.
TH. But what new matter is in the house, Iphigenia?
IPH. I avert the ill — for holy do I utter this word.
TH. What new thing art thou prefacing? speak clearly.
IPH. O king, no pure offerings hast thou hunted out for me.
TH. What hath taught you this? or dost thou speak it as matter of opinion?
IPH. The image of the Goddess hath again turned away from her seat.
TH. Of its own accord, or did an earthquake turn it?
IPH. Of its own accord, and it closed its eyes.
TH. But what is the cause? is it pollution from the strangers?
IPH. That very thing, naught else, for they have done dreadful things.
TH. What, did they slay any of the barbarians upon the shore?
IPH. They came possessing the stain of domestic murder.
TH. What? for I am fallen into a longing to learn this.
IPH. They put an end to a mother’s life by conspiring sword.
TH. Apollo! not even among barbarians would any one have dared this.
IPH. By persecutions they were driven out of all Greece.
TH. Is it then on their account that thou bearest the image without?
IPH. Ay, under the holy sky, that I may remove it from blood stains.
TH. But how didst thou discover the pollution of the strangers?
IPH. I examined them, when the image of the Goddess turned away.
TH. Greece hath trained thee up wise, in that thou well didst perceive this.
IPH. And now they have cast out a delightful bait for my mind.
TH. By telling thee any charming news of those at Argos?
IPH. That my only brother Orestes fares well.
TH. So that, forsooth, thou mightest preserve them because of their pleasant news!
IPH. And that my father lives and fares well.
TH. But thou hast with reason attended to the interest of the Goddess.
IPH. Ay, because hating all Greece that destroyed me.
TH. What then shall we do, say, concerning the two strangers?
IPH. We needs must respect the established law.
TH. Are not the lustral waters and thy sword already engaged?
IPH. First I would fain lave them in pure cleansings.
TH. In the fountains of waters, or in the dew of the sea?
IPH. The sea washes out all the ills of men.
TH. They would certainly fall in a more holy manner before the Goddess.
IPH. And my matters would be in a more fitting state.
TH. Does not the wave dash against the very temple?
IPH. There is need of solitude, for we have other things to do.
TH. Lead them whither thou wilt, I crave not to see things that may not be told.
IPH. The image of the Goddess also must be purified by
me.
TH. If indeed the stain of the matricide hath fallen on it.
IPH. For otherwise I should not have removed it from its pedestal.
TH. Just piety and foresight! How reasonably doth all the city marvel at thee!
IPH. Knowest thou then what must be done for me?
TH. ’Tis thine to explain this.
IPH. Cast fetters upon the strangers.
TH. Whither could they escape from thee?
IPH. Greece knows nothing faithful.
TH. Go for the fetters, attendants.
IPH. Ay, and let them bring the strangers hither.
TH. This shall be.
IPH. Having enveloped their heads in robes.
TH. Against the scorching of the sun?
IPH. And send thou with me of thy followers —
TH. These shall accompany thee.
IPH. And send some one to signify to the city —
TH. What hap?
IPH. That all remain in their homes.
TH. Lest they encounter homicide?
IPH. For such things are unclean.
TH. Go thou, and order this.
IPH. That no one come into sight.
TH. Thou carest well for the city.
IPH. Ay, and more particularly friends must not be present.
TH. This you say in reference to me.
IPH. But do thou, abiding here before the temple of the Goddess —
TH. Do what?
