|
Iphigenia at Aulis by Euripides
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
Agamemnon Attendant, an old man Chorus of
Women of Chalcis Menelaus Clytaemnestra Iphigenia
Achilles Messenger
(The sea-coast at Aulis. Enter AGAMEMNON
and ATTENDANT.)
AGAMEMNON
Old man, come hither and stand before my
dwelling.
ATTENDANT
I come; what new schemes now, king Agamemnon?
AGAMEMNON
Thou shalt hear.
ATTENDANT
I am all eagerness. 'Tis little enough sleep
old age allows me and keenly it watches o'er
my eyes.
AGAMEMNON
What can that star be, steering his course
yonder?
ATTENDANT
Sirius, still shooting o'er the zenith on
his way near the Pleiads' sevenfold track.
AGAMEMNON
The birds are still at any rate and the sea
is calm; hushed are the winds, and silence
broods o'er this narrow firth.
ATTENDANT
Then why art thou outside thy tent, why so
restless, my lord Agamemnon? All is yet quiet
here in Aulis, the watch on the walls is
not yet astir. Let us go in.
AGAMEMNON
I envy thee, old man, aye, and every man
who leads a life secure, unknown and unrenowned;
but little I envy those in office.
ATTENDANT
And yet 'tis there we place the be-all and
end-all of existence.
AGAMEMNON
Aye, but that is where the danger comes;
and ambition, sweet though it seems, brings
sorrow with its near approach. At one time
the unsatisfied claims of Heaven upset our
life, at another the numerous peevish fancies
of our subjects shatter it.
ATTENDANT
I like not these sentiments in one who is
a chief. It was not to enjoy all blessings
that Atreus begot thee, O Agamemnon; but
thou must needs experience joy and sorrow
alike, mortal as thou art. E'en though thou
like it not, this is what the gods decree;
but thou, after letting thy taper spread
its light abroad, writest the letter which
is still in thy hands and then erasest the
same words again, sealing and re-opening
the scroll, then flinging the tablet to the
ground with floods of tears and leaving nothing
undone in thy aimless behaviour to stamp
thee mad. What is it troubles thee? what
news is there affecting thee, my liege? Come,
share with me thy story; to a loyal and trusty
heart wilt thou be telling it; for Tyndareus
sent me that day to form part of thy wife's
dowry and to wait upon the bride with loyalty.
AGAMEMNON
Leda, the daughter of Thestius, had three
children, maidens, Phoebe, Clytaemnestra
my wife, and Helen; this last it was who
had for wooers the foremost of the favoured
sons of Hellas; but terrible threats of spilling
his rival's blood were uttered by each of
them, should he fail to win the maid. Now
the matter filled Tyndareus, her father,
with perplexity; at length this thought occurred
to him; the suitors should swear unto each
other and join right hands thereon and pour
libations with burnt sacrifice, binding themselves
by this curse, "Whoever wins the child
of Tyndareus for wife, him will we assist,
in case a rival takes her from his house
and goes his way, robbing her husband of
his rights; and we will march against that
man in armed array and raze his city to the
ground, Hellene no less than barbarian."
Now when they had once pledged their word
and old Tyndareus with no small cleverness
had beguiled them by his shrewd device, he
allowed his daughter to choose from among
her suitors the one towards whom the breath
of love might fondly waft her. Her choice
fell on Menelaus; would she had never taken
him! Anon there came to Lacedaemon from Phrygia's
folk the man who, legend says, adjudged the
goddesses' dispute; in robes of gorgeous
hue, ablaze with gold, in true barbaric pomp;
and he, finding Menelaus gone from home,
carried Helen off with him to his steading
on Ida, a willing paramour. Goaded to frenzy
Menelaus flew through Hellas, invoking the
ancient oath exacted by Tyndareus and declaring
the duty of helping the injured husband.
Whereat the chivalry of Hellas, brandishing
their spears and donning their harness, came
hither to the narrow straits of Aulis with
armaments of ships and troops, with many
a steed and many a car, and they chose me
to captain them all for the sake of Menelaus,
since I was his brother. Would that some
other had gained that distinction instead
of me! But after the army was gathered and
come together, we still remained at Aulis
weather-bound; and Calchas, the seer, bade
us in our perplexity sacrifice my own begotten
child Iphigenia to Artemis, whose home is
in this land, declaring that if we offered
her, we should sail and sack the Phrygians'
capital, but if we forbore, this was not
for us. When I heard this, I commanded Talthybius
with loud proclamation to disband the whole
host, as I could never bear to slay daughter
of mine. Whereupon my brother, bringing every
argument to bear, persuaded me at last to
face the crime; so I wrote in a folded scroll
and sent to my wife, bidding her despatch
our daughter to me on the pretence of wedding
Achilles, it the same time magnifying his
exalted rank and saying that he refused to
sail with the Achaeans, unless a bride of
our lineage should go to Phthia. Yes, this
was the inducement I offered my wife, inventing,
as I did, a sham marriage for the maiden.
Of all the Achaeans we alone know the real
truth, Calchas, Odysseus, Menelaus and myself;
but that which I then decided wrongly, I
now rightly countermand again in this scroll,
which thou, old man, hast found me opening
and resealing beneath the shade of night.
Up now and away with this missive to Argos,
and I will tell thee by word of mouth all
that is written herein, the contents of the
folded scroll, for thou art loyal to my wife
and house.
ATTENDANT
Say on and make it plain, that what my tongue
utters may accord with what thou hast written.
AGAMEMNON
"Daughter of Leda, in addition to my
first letter I now send thee word not to
despatch thy daughter to Euboea's embosomed
wing, to the to the waveless bay of Aulis;
for after all we wiltlelebrate our child's
wedding at another time."
ATTENDANT
And how will Achilles, cheated of his bride,
curb the fury of his indignation against
thee and thy wife?
AGAMEMNON
Here also is a danger.
ATTENDANT
Tell me what thou meanest.
AGAMEMNON
It is but his name, not himself, that Achilles
is lending, knowing nothing of the marriage
or of my scheming or my professed readiness
to betroth my daughter to him for a husband's
embrace.
ATTENDANT
A dreadful venture thine king Agamemnon!
thou that, by promise of thy daughter's hand
to the son of the goddess, wert for bringing
the maid hither to be sacrificed for the
Danai.
AGAMEMNON
Woe is me! ah woe! I am utterly distraught;
bewilderment comes o'er me. Away hurry thy
steps, yielding nothing to old age.
ATTENDANT
In haste I go, my liege.
AGAMEMNON
Sit not down by woodland founts; scorn the
witcheries of sleep.
ATTENDANT
Hush!
AGAMEMNON
And when thou passest any place where roads
diverge, cast thine eyes all round,-taking
heed that no mule-wain pass by on rolling
wheels, bearing my daughter hither to the
ships of the Danai, and thou see it not.
ATTENDANT
It shall be so.
AGAMEMNON
Start then from the bolted gates, and if
thou meet the escort, start them back again,
and drive at full speed to the abodes of
the Cyclopes.
ATTENDANT
But tell me, how shall my message find credit
with thy wife or child?
AGAMEMNON
Preserve the seal which thou bearest on this
scroll. Away! already the dawn is growing
grey, lighting the lamp of day yonder and
the fire of the sun's four steeds; help me
in my trouble.
(Exit ATTENDANT.)
None of mortals is prosperous or happy to
the last, for none was ever born to a painless
life.
(Exit AGAMEMNON.)
(Enter CHORUS OF WOMEN OF CHALCIS.)
CHORUS
To the sandy beach of sea-coast Aulis I came
after a voyage through the tides of Euripus,
leaving Chalcis on its narrow firth, my city
which feedeth the waters of far-famed Arethusa
near the sea, that I might behold the army
of the Achaeans and the ships rowed by those
god-like heroes; for our husbands tell us
that fair-haired Menelaus and high-born Agamemnon
are leading them to Troy on a thousand ships
in quest of the lady Helen, whom herdsman
Paris carried off from the banks of reedy
Eurotas-his guerdon from Aphrodite, when
that queen of Cyprus entered beauty's lists
with Hera and Pallas at the gushing fount.
Through the grove of-Artemis, rich with sacrifice,
I sped my course, the red blush mantling
on my cheeks from maiden modesty, in my eagerness
to see the soldiers' camp, the tents of the
mail-clad Danai, and their gathered steeds.
Two chieftains there I saw met together in
council; one was Aias, son of Oileus; the
other Aias, son of Telamon, crown of glory
to the men of Salamis; and I saw Protesilaus
and Palamedes, sprung from the son of Poseidon,
sitting there amusing themselves with intricate
figures at draughts; Diomedes too at his
favourite sport of hurling quoits; and Meriones,
the War-god's son, a marvel to mankind, stood
at his side; likewise I beheld the offspring
of Laertes, who came from his island hills,
and with him Nireus, handsomest of all Achaeans;
Achilles next, that nimble runner, swift
on his feet as the wind, whom Thetis bore
and Chiron trained; him I saw upon the beach,
racing in full armour along the shingle and
straining every nerve to beat a team of four
horses, as he sped round the track on foot;
and Eumelus, the grandson of Pheres, their
driver, was shouting when I saw him. goading
on his goodly steeds, with their bits of
chased goldwork; whereof the centre pair,
that bore the yoke, had dappled coats picked
out with white, while the trace-horses, on
the outside, facing the turning-post in the
course, were bays with spotted fetlocks.
Close beside them Peleus' son leapt on his
way, in all his harness, keeping abreast
the rail by the axle-box.
Next I sought the countless fleet, a wonder
to behold, that I might fill my girlish eyes
with gazing, a sweet delight. 'the warlike
Myrmidons from Phthia held the right wing
with fifty swift cruisers, upon whose sterns,
right at the ends, stood Nereid goddesses
in golden-effigy, the ensign of Achilles'
armament. Near these were moored the Argive
ships in equal numbers, o'er which Mecisteus'
son, whom Taulaus his grandsire reared, and
Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, were in command;
next in order, Theseus' son was stationed
at the head of sixty ships from Attica, having
the goddess Pallas set in a winged car drawn
by steeds with solid hoof, a lucky sight
for mariners. Then I saw Boeotia's fleet
of fifty sails decked with ensigns; these
had Cadmus at the stern holding a golden
dragon at the beaks of the vessels, and earth-born
Leitus was their admiral. Likewise there
were ships from Phocis; and from Locris came
the son of Oileus with an equal contingent,
leaving famed Thronium's citadel; and from
Mycenae, the Cyclopes' town, Atreus' son
sent a hundred wellmanned galleys, his brother
being with him in command, as friend with
friend, that Hellas might exact on her, who
had fled her home to wed a foreigner. Also
I saw upon Gerenian Nestor's prows twelve
from Pylos the sign of his neighbor Alpheus,
four-footed like a bull. Moreover there was
a squadron of Aenianian sail under King and
next the lords of Elis, stationed near'-them,
whom all the people named Epeians; and Eurytus
was lord of these; likewise he led the Taphian
warriors with the white oar-blades, the subjects
of Meges, son of Phyleus, who had left the
isles of the Echinades, where sailors cannot
land. Lastly, Aias, reared in Salamis, was
joining his right wing to the left of those
near whom he was posted, closing the line
with his outermost ships-twelve barques obedient
to the helm-as I heard and then saw the crews;
no safe return shall he obtain, who bringeth
his barbaric boats to grapple Aias. There
I saw the naval armament, but some things
I heard at home about the gathered host,
whereof I still have a recollection.
(Enter MENELAUS and ATTENDANT.)
ATTENDANT (As MENELAUS wrests a letter from
him)
Strange daring thine, Menelaus, where thou
hast no right.
MENELAUS
Stand back! thou carriest loyalty to thy
master too far.
ATTENDANT
The very reproach thou hast for me is to
my credit.
MENELAUS
Thou shalt rue it, if thou meddle in matters
that concern thee not.
ATTENDANT
Thou hadst no right to open a letter, which
I was carrying.
MENELAUS
No, nor thou to be carrying sorrow to all
Hellas.
ATTENDANT
Argue that point with others, but surrender
that letter to me.
MENELAUS
I shall not let go.
ATTENDANT
Nor yet will I let loose my hold.
MENELAUS
Why then, this staff of mine will be dabbling
thy head with blood ere long.
ATTENDANT
To die in my master's cause were a noble
death.
MENELAUS
Let go! thou art too wordy for a slave.
ATTENDANT (Seeing AGAMEMNON approaching)
Master, he is wronging me; he snatched thy
letter violently from my grasp, Agamemnon,
and will not heed the claims of right.
(Enter AGAMEMNON.)
AGAMEMNON
How now? what means this uproar at the gates,
this indecent brawling?
MENELAUS
My tale, not his, has the better right to
be spoken.
AGAMEMNON
Thou, Menelaus! what quarrel hast thou with
this man, why art thou haling him hence?
(Exit ATTENDANT.)
MENELAUS
Look me in the face! Be that the prelude
to my story.
AGAMEMNON
Shall I, the son of Atreus, close my eyes
from fear?
MENELAUS
Seest thou this scroll, the bearer of a shameful
message?
AGAMEMNON
I see it, yes; and first of all surrender
it.
MENELAUS
No, not till I have shewn its contents to
all the Danai.
AGAMEMNON
What! hast thou broken the seal and dost
know already what thou shouldst never have
known?
MENELAUS
Yes, I opened it and know to thy sorrow the
secret machinations of thy heart.
AGAMEMNON
Where didst thou catch my servant? Ye gods
what a shameless heart thou hast!
MENELAUS
I was awaiting thy daughter's arrival at
the camp from Argos.
AGAMEMNON
What right hast thou to watch my doings?
Is not this a of shamelessness?
MENELAUS
My wish to do it gave the spur, for I am
no slave to thee.
AGAMEMNON
Infamous! Am I not to be allowed the management
of my own house?
MENELAUS
No, for thou thinkest crooked thoughts, one
thing now, another formerly, and something
different presently.
AGAMEMNON
Most exquisite refining on evil themes! A
hateful thing the tongue of cleverness!
MENELAUS
Aye, but a mind unstable is an unjust possession,
disloyal to friends. Now I am anxious to
test thee, and seek not thou from rage to
turn aside from the truth, nor will I on
my part overstrain the case. Thou rememberest
when thou wert all eagerness to captain the
Danai against Troy, making a pretence of
declining, though eager for it in thy heart;
how humble thou wert then! taking each man
by the hand and keeping open doors for every
fellow townsman who cared to enter, affording
each in turn a chance to speak with thee,
even though some desired it not, seeking
by these methods to purchase popularity from
all bidders; then when thou hadst secured
the command, there came a change over thy
manners; thou wert no longer so cordial before
to whilom friends, but hard of access, seldom
to be found at home. But the man of real
worth ought not to change his manners in
the hour of prosperity, but should then show
himself most staunch to friends, when his
own good fortune can help them most effectually.
This was the first cause I had to reprove
thee, for it was here I first discovered
thy villainy; but afterwards, when thou camest
to Aulis with all the gathered hosts of Hellas,
thou wert of no account; no! the want of
a favourable breeze filled thee with consternation
at the chance dealt out by Heaven. Anon the
Danai began demanding that thou shouldst
send the fleet away instead of vainly toiling
on at Aulis; what dismay and confusion was
then depicted in thy looks, to think that
thou, with a thousand ships at thy command,
hadst not occupied the plains of Priam with
thy armies! And thou wouldst ask my counsel,
"What am I to do? what scheme can I
devise. where find one?" to save thyself
being stripped of thy command and losing
thy fair fame. Next when Calchas bade thee
offer thy daughter in sacrifice to Artemis,
declaring that the Danai should then sail,
thou wert overjoyed, and didst gladly undertake
to offer the maid, and of thine own accord-never
allege compulsion!-thou art sending word
to thy wife to despatch thy daughter hither
on pretence of wedding Achilles. This is
the same air that heard thee say it; and
after all thou turnest round and hast been
caught recasting thy letter to this effect,
"I will no longer be my daughter's murderer."
Exactly so! Countless others have gone through
this phase in their conduct of public affairs;
they make an effort while in power, and then
retire dishonourably, sometimes owing to
the senselessness of the citizens, sometimes
deservedly, because they are too feeble of
themselves to maintain their watch upon the
state. For my part, I am more sorry for our
unhappy Hellas, whose purpose was to read
these worthless foreigners a lesson, while
now she will let them escape and mock her,
thanks to thee and thy daughter. May I never
then appoint a man to rule my country or
lead its warriors because his kinship! Ability
what the general must have; since any man,
with ordinary intelligence, can govern a
state.
CHORUS
For brethren to come to words and blows,
whene'er they disagree, is terrible.
AGAMEMNON
I wish to rebuke thee in turn, briefly, not
lifting mine eyes too high in shameless wise,
but in more sober fashion, as a brother;
for it is a good man's way to be considerate.
Prithee, why this burst of fury, these bloodshot
eyes? who wrongs thee? what is it thou wantest?
Thou art fain to win a virtuous bride. Well,
I cannot supply thee; for she, whom thou
once hadst, was ill controlled by thee. Am
I then, a man who never went astray, to suffer
for thy sins? or is it my popularity that
galls thee? No! it is the longing thou hast
to keep a fair wife in thy embrace, casting
reason and honour to the winds. A bad man's
pleasures are like himself Am I mad, if I
change to wiser counsels, after previously
deciding amiss? Thine is the madness rather
in wishing to recover a wicked wife, once
thou hadst lost her-a stroke of Heaven-sent
luck. Those foolish suitors swore that oath
to Tyndareus in their longing to wed; but
Hope was the goddess that led them on, I
trow, and she it was that brought it about
rather then thou and thy mightiness. So take
the field with them; they are ready for it
in the folly of their hearts; for the deity
is not without insight, but is able to discern
where oaths have been wrongly pledged or
forcibly extorted. I will not slay my children,
nor shall thy interests be prospered by justice
in thy vengeance for a worthless wife, while
I am left wasting, night and day, in sorrow
for what I did to one of my own flesh and
blood, contrary to all law and justice. There
is thy answer shortly' given, clear and easy
to understand; and if thou wilt not come
to thy senses, I shall do the best for myself.
CHORUS
This differs from thy previous declaration,
but there is good in it-thy child's reprieve.
MENELAUS
Ah me, how sad my lot! I have no friends
then after all.
AGAMEMNON
Friends thou hast, if thou seek not their
destruction.
MENELAUS
Where wilt thou find any proof that thou
art sprung from the same sire as I?
AGAMEMNON
Thy moderation, not thy madness do I share
by nature.
MENELAUS
Friends should sympathize with friends in
sorrow.
AGAMEMNON
Claim my help by kindly service, not by paining
me.
MENELAUS
So thou hast no mind to share this trouble
with Hellas?
AGAMEMNON
No, Hellas is diseased like thee according
to some god's design.
MENELAUS
Go vaunt thee then on thy sceptre, after
betraying thine own brother! while seek some
different means and other friends.
(Enter MESSENGER.)
MESSENGER
Agamemnon, lord of all Hellenes! I am come
and bring thee thy daughter, whom thou didst
call Iphigenia in thy home; and her mother,
thy wife Clytemnestra, is with her, and the
child Orestes, a sight to gladden thee after
thy long absence from thy palace; but, as
they had been travelling long and far, they
are now refreshing their tender feet at the
waters of a fair spring, they and their horses,
for we turned these loose in the grassy meadow
to browse their fill; but I am come as their
forerunner to prepare thee for their reception;
for the army knows already of thy daughter's
arrival, so quickly did the rumour spread;
and all the folk are running together to
the sight, that they may see thy child; for
Fortune's favourites enjoy a worldwide fame
and have all eyes fixed on them. "Is
it a wedding?" some ask, "or what
is happening? or has king Agamemnon from
fond yearning summoned his daughter hither?"
From others thou wouldst have heard: "They
are presenting the maiden to Artemis, queen
of Aulis, previous to marriage; who can the
bridegroom be, that is to lead her home?"
Come, then, begin the rites-that is the next
step-by getting the baskets ready; crown
your heads; prepare the wedding-hymn, thou
and prince Menelaus with thee; let flutes
resound throughout the tents with noise of
dancer's feet; for this is a happy day, that
is come for the maid.
AGAMEMNON
Thou hast my thanks; now go within; for the
rest it will be well, as Fate proceeds.
(Exit MESSENGER.)
Ah, woe is me! unhappy wretch, what can I
say? where shall I begin? Into what cruel
straits have I been plunged! Fortune has
outwitted me, proving far cleverer than any
cunning of mine. What an advantage humble
birth possesses! for it is easy for her sons
to weep and tell out all their sorrows; while
to the high-born man come these same sorrows,
but we have dignity throned o'er our life
and are the people's slaves. I, for instance,
am ashamed to weep, nor less, poor wretch,
to check my tears at the awful pass to which
I am brought. Oh! what am I to tell my wife?
how shall I welcome her? with what face meet
her? for she too has undone me by coming
uninvited in this my hour of sorrow; yet
it was but natural she should come with her
daughter to prepare the bride and perform
the fondest duties, where she will discover
my villainy. And for this poor maid-why maid?
Death, methinks, will soon make her his bride-how
I pity her! Thus will she plead to me, I
trow: "My father will thou slay me?
Be such the wedding thou thyself mayst find,
and whosoever is a friend to thee!"
while Orestes, from his station near us,
will cry in childish accents, inarticulate,
yet fraught with meaning. Alas! to what utter
ruin Paris, the son of Priam, the cause of
these troubles, has brought me by his union
with Helen!
CHORUS
I pity her myself, in such wise as a woman,
and she a stranger, may bemoan the misfortunes
of royalty.
MENELAUS (Offering his hand)
Thy hand, brother! let me grasp it.
AGAMEMNON
I give it; thine is the victory, mine the
sorrow.
MENELAUS
By Pelops our reputed grandsire and Atreus
our father I swear to tell thee the truth
from my heart, without any covert purpose,
but only what I think. The sight of thee
in tears made me pity thee, and in return
I shed a tear for thee myself; I withdraw
from my former proposals, ceasing to be a
cause of fear to thee; yea, and I will put
myself in thy present position; and I counsel
thee, slay not thy child nor prefer my interests
to thine; for it is not just that thou shouldst
grieve, while I am glad, or that thy children
should die, while mine still see the light
of day. What is it, after all, I seek? If
I am set on marriage, could I not find a
bride as choice elsewhere? Was I to lose
a brother-the last I should have lost-to
win a Helen, getting bad for good? I was
mad, impetuous as a youth, till I perceived,
on closer view, what slaying children really
meant. Moreover I am filled with compassion
for the hapless maiden, doomed to bleed that
I may wed, when I reflect that we are kin.
What has thy daughter to do with Helen? Let
the army be disbanded and leave Aulis; dry
those streaming eyes, brother, and provoke
me not to tears. Whatever concern thou hast
in oracles that affect thy child, let it
be none of mine; into thy hands I resign
my share therein. A sudden change, thou'lt
say, from my fell proposals! A natural course
for me; affection for my brother caused the
change. These are the ways of a man not void
of virtue, to pursue on each occasion what
is best.
CHORUS
A generous speech, worthy of Tantalus, the
son of Zeus! Thou dost not shame thy ancestry.
AGAMEMNON
I thank thee, Menelaus, for this unexpected
suggestion; 'tis an honourable proposal,
worthy of thee.
MENELAUS
Sometimes love, sometimes the selfishness
of their families causes a quarrel between
brothers; I loathe a relationship of this
kind which is bitterness to both.
AGAMEMNON
'Tis useless, for circumstances compel me
to carry out the murderous sacrifice of my
daughter.
MENELAUS
How so? who will compel thee to slay thine
own child?
AGAMEMNON
The whole Achaean army here assembled.
MENELAUS
Not if thou send her back to Argos.
AGAMEMNON
I might do that unnoticed, but there will
be another thing I cannot.
MENELAUS
What is that? Thou must not fear the mob
too much.
AGAMEMNON
Calchas will tell the Argive host his oracles.
MENELAUS
Not if he be killed ere that-an easy matter.
AGAMEMNON
The whole tribe of seers is a curse with
its ambition.
MENELAUS
Yes, and good for nothing and useless, when
amongst us.
AGAMEMNON
Has the thought, which is rising in my mind,
no terrors for thee?
MENELAUS
How can I understand thy meaning, unless
thou declare it?
AGAMEMNON
The son of Sisyphus knows all.
MENELAUS
Odysseus cannot possibly hurt us.
AGAMEMNON
He was ever shifty by nature, siding with
the mob.
MENELAUS
True, he is enslaved by the love of popularity,
a fearful evil.
AGAMEMNON
Bethink thee then, will he not arise among
the Argives and tell them the oracles that
Calchas delivered, saying of me that I undertook
to offer Artemis a victim, and after all
am proving false? Then, when he has carried
the army away with him, he will bid the Argives
slay us and sacrifice the maiden; and if
I escape to Argos, they will come and destroy
the place, razing it to the ground, Cyclopean
walls and all. That is my trouble. Woe is
me! to what straits Heaven has brought me
at this pass! Take one precaution for me,
Menelaus, as thou goest through the host,
that Clytemnestra learn this not, till I
have taken my child and devoted her to death,
that my affliction may be attended with the
fewest tears. (Turning to the CHORUS) And
you, ye stranger dames, keep silence.
(Exeunt AGAMEMNON and MENELAUS.)
CHORUS
Happy they who find the goddess come in moderate
might, sharing with self-restraint in Aphrodite's
gift of marriage and enjoying calm and rest
from frenzied passions, wilerein the Love-god,
golden-haired, stretches his charmed bow
with arrows twain, and one is aimed at happiness,
the other at life's confusion. O lady Cypris,
queen of beauty! far from my bridal bower
I ban the last. Be mine delight in moderation
and pure desires, and may I have a share
in love, but shun excess therein.
Men's natures vary, and their habits differ,
but true virtue is always manifest. Likewise
the training that comes of education conduces
greatly to virtue; for not only is modesty
wisdom, but it has also the rare grace of
seeing by its better judgment what is right;
whereby glory, ever young, is shed o'er life
by reputation. A great thing it is to follow
virtue's footsteps-for women in their secret
loves; while in men again an inborn sense
of order, shown in countless ways, adds to
a city's greatness.
Thou camest, O Paris, to the place where
thou wert reared to herd the kine amid the
white heifers of Ida, piping in foreign strain
and breathing on thy reeds an echo of the
Phrygian airs Olympus played. Full-uddered
cows were browsing at the spot where that
verdict 'twixt goddesses was awaiting thee
the cause of thy going to Hellas to stand
before the ivory palace, kindling love in
Helen's tranced eyes and feeling its flutter
in thine own breast; whence the fiend of
strife brought Hellas with her chivalry and
ships to the towers of Troy.
Oh! great is the bliss the great enjoy. Behold
Iphigenia, the king's royal child, and Clytaemnestra,
the daughter of Tyndareus; how proud their
lineage! how high their pinnacle of fortune!
These mighty ones, whom wealth attends, are
very gods in the eyes of less favoured folk.
Halt we here, maidens of Chalcis, and lift
the queen from her chariot to the ground
without stumbling, supporting her gently
in our arms, with kind intent, that the renowned
daughter of Agamemnon but just arrived may
feel no fear; strangers ourselves, avoid
we aught that may disturb or frighten the
strangers from Argos.
(Enter CLYTAEMNESTRA and IPHIGENIA.)
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I take this as a lucky omen, thy kindness
and auspicious greeting, and have good hope
that it is to a happy marriage I conduct
the bride.
(To Attendants) Take from the chariot the
dowry I am bringing for my daughter and convey
it within with careful heed.
My daughter, leave the horse-drawn car, planting
thy faltering footstep delicately. (To the
CHORUS) Maidens, take her in your arms and
lift her from the chariot, and let one of
you give me the support of her hand, that
I may quit my seat in the carriage with fitting
grace.
Some or you stand at the horses' heads; for
the horse has a timid eye, easily frightened;
here take this child Orestes, son of Agamemnon,
babe as he still is.
What! sleeping, little one, tired out by
thy ride in the chariot? Awake to bless thy
sister's wedding; for thou, my gallant boy,
shalt get by this marriage a kinsman gallant
as thyself, the Nereid's godlike offspring.
Come hither to thy mother, my daughter, Iphigenia,
and seat thyself beside me, and stationed
near show my happiness to these strangers;
yes, come hither and welcome the sire thou
lovest so dearly.
Hail! my honoured lord, king Agamemnon! we
have obeyed thy commands and are come.
(Enter AGAMEMNON.)
IPHIGENIA (Throwing herself into AGAMEMNON'S
arms)
Be not wroth with me, mother, if I run from
thy side and throw myself on my father's
breast.
O my father! I long to outrun others and
embrace thee after this long while; for I
yearn to see thy face; be not wroth with
me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Thou mayst do so, daughter; for of all the
children I have born, thou hast ever loved
thy father best.
IPHIGENIA
I see thee, father, joyfully after a long
season.
AGAMEMNON
And I thy father thee; thy words do equal
duty for both of us.
IPHIGENIA
All hail, father! thou didst well in bringing
me hither to thee.
AGAMEMNON
I know not how I am to say yes or no to that,
my child.
IPHIGENIA
Ha! how wildly thou art looking, spite of
thy joy at seeing me.
AGAMEMNON
A man has many cares when he is king and
general too.
IPHIGENIA
Be mine, all mine to-day; turn not unto moody
thoughts.
AGAMEMNON
Why so I am, all thine to-day; I have no
other thought.
IPHIGENIA
Then smooth thy knitted brow, unbend and
smile.
AGAMEMNON
Lo! my child, my joy at seeing thee is even
as it is.
IPHIGENIA
And hast thou then the tear-drop streaming
from thy eyes?
AGAMEMNON
Ave, for long is the absence from each other,
that awalts us.
IPHIGENIA
I know not, dear father mine, I know not
of what thou art speaking.
AGAMEMNON
Thou art moving my pity all the more by speaking
so sensibly.
IPHIGENIA
My words shall turn to senselessness, if
that will cheer thee more.
AGAMEMNON (Aside)
Ah, woe is me! this silence is too much.
(To IPHIGENIA) Thou hast my thanks.
IPHIGENIA
Stay with thy children at home, father.
AGAMEMNON
My own wish! but to my sorrow I may not humour
it.
IPHIGENIA
Ruin seize their warring and the woes of
Menelaus!
AGAMEMNON
First will that, which has been my life-long
ruin, bring ruin unto others.
IPHIGENIA
How long thou wert absent in the bays of
Aulis!
AGAMEMNON
Aye, and there is still a hindrance to my
sending the army forward.
IPHIGENIA
Where do men say the Phrygians live, father?
AGAMEMNON
In a land where I would Paris, the son of
Priam, ne'er had dwelt.
IPHIGENIA
'Tis a long voyage thou art bound on, father,
after thou leavest me.
AGAMEMNON
Thou wilt meet thy father again, my daughter.
IPHIGENIA
Ah! would it were seemly that thou shouldst
take me as a fellow-voyager!
AGAMEMNON
Thou too hast a voyage to make to a haven
where thou wilt remember thy father.
IPHIGENIA
Shall I sail thither with my mother or alone?
AGAMEMNON
All alone, without father or mother.
IPHIGENIA
What! hast thou found me a new home, father!
AGAMEMNON
Enough of this! 'tis not for girls to know
such things.
IPHIGENIA
Speed home from Troy, I pray thee, father,
as soon as thou hast triumphed there.
AGAMEMNON
There is a sacrifice have first to offer
here.
IPHIGENIA
Yea, 'tis thy duty to heed religion with
aid of holy rites.
AGAMEMNON
Thou wilt witness it, for thou wilt be standing
near the laver.
IPHIGENIA
Am I to lead the dance then round the altar,
father?
AGAMEMNON (Aside)
I count thee happier than myself because
thou knowest nothing. (To IPHIGENIA) Go within
into the presence of maidens, after thou
hast given me thy hand and one sad kiss,
on the eve of thy lengthy sojourn far from
thy father's side.
Bosom, cheek, and golden hair! ah, how grievous
ye have found Helen and the Phrygians' city!
I can no more; the tears come welling to
my eyes, the moment I touch thee.
(Exit IPHIGENIA.)
(Turning to CLYTAEMNESTRA) Herein I crave
thy pardon, daughter of Leda, if I showed
excessive grief at the thought of resigning
my daughter to Achilles; for though we are
sending her to taste of bliss, still it wrings
a parent's heart, when he, the father who
has toiled so hard for them, commits his
children to the homes of strangers.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I am not so void of sense; bethink thee,
I shall go through this as well, when I lead
the maiden from the chamber to the sound
of the marriage-hymn; wherefore I chide thee
not; but custom will combine with time to
make the smart grow less.
As touching him, to whom thou hast betrothed
our daughter, I know his name, 'tis true,
but would fain learn his lineage and the
land of his birth.
AGAMEMNON
There was one Aegina, the daughter of Asopus.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Who wedded her? some mortal or a god?
AGAMEMNON
Zeus, and she bare Aeacus, the prince of
Cenone.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What son of Aeacus secured his father's halls?
AGAMEMNON
Peleus, who wedded the daughter of Nereus.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
With the god's consent, or when he had taken
her in spite of gods?
AGAMEMNON
Zeus betrothed her, and her guardian gave
consent.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Where did he marry her? amid the billows
of the sea?
AGAMEMNON
In Chiron's home, at sacred Pelion's foot.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What! the abode ascribed to the race of Centaurs?
AGAMEMNON
It was there the gods celebrated the marriage
feast of Peleus.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Did Thetis or his father train Achilles?
AGAMEMNON
Chiron brought him up, to prevent his learning
the ways of the wicked.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Ah wise the teacher, still wiser the father,
who intrusted his son to such hands.
AGAMEMNON
Such is the future husband of thy daughter.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
A blameless lord; but what city in Hellas
is his?
AGAMEMNON
He dwells on the banks of the river Apidanus,
in the borders of Phthia.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Wilt thou convey our daughter thither?
AGAMEMNON
He who takes her to himself will see to that.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Happiness attend the pair! Which day will
he marry her?
AGAMEMNON
As soon as the full moon comes to give its
blessing.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Hast thou already offered the goddess a sacrifice
to usher in the maiden's marriage?
AGAMEMNON
I am about to do so; that is the very thing
I was engaged in.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Wilt thou celebrate the marriage-feast thereafter?
AGAMEMNON
Yes, when I have offered a sacrifice required
by Heaven of me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
But where am I to make ready the feast for
the women?
AGAMEMNON
Here beside our gallant Argive ships.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Finely here! but still I must; good come
of it for all that!
AGAMEMNON
I will tell thee, lady, what to do; so obey
me now.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Wherein? for I was ever wont to yield thee
obedience.
AGAMEMNON
Here, where the bridegroom is, will!
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Which of my duties will ye perform in the
mother's absence?
AGAMEMNON
Give thy child away with help of Danai.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
And where am I to be the while?
AGAMEMNON
Get thee to Argos, and take care of thy unwedded
daughters.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
And leave my child? Then who will raise her
bridal torch?
AGAMEMNON
I will provide the proper wedding torch.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
That is not the custom; but thou thinkest
lightly of these things.
AGAMEMNON
It is not good thou shouldst be alone among
a soldier-crowd.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
It is good that a mother should give her
own child away.
AGAMEMNON
Aye, and that those maidens at home should
not be left alone.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
They are in safe keeping, pent in their maiden-bowers.
AGAMEMNON
Obey.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Nay, by the goddess-queen of Argos! go, manage
matters out of doors; but in the house it
is my place to decide what is proper for
maidens at their wedding. Exit.
AGAMEMNON
Woe is me! my efforts are baffled; I am disappointed
in my hope, anxious as I was to get my wife
out of sight; foiled at every point, I form
my plots and subtle schemes against my best-beloved.
But I will go, in spite of all, with Calchas
the priest, to inquire the goddess's good
pleasure, fraught with ill-luck as it is
to me, and with trouble to Hellas. He who
is wise should keep in his house a good and
useful wife or none at all.
(Exit.)
CHORUS
They say the Hellenes' gathered host will
come in arms aboard their ships to Simois
with its silver eddies, even to Ilium, the
plain of Troy beloved by Phoebus; where famed
Cassandra, I am told, whene'er the god's
resistless prophecies inspire her, wildly
tosses her golden tresses, wreathed with
crown of verdant bay. And on the towers of
Troy and round her walls shall Trojans stand,
when sea-borne troops with brazen shields
row in on shapely ships to the channels of
the Simois, eager to take Helen, the sister
of that heavenly pair whom Zeus begat, from
Priam, and bear her back to Hellas by toil
of Achaea's shields and spears; encircling
Pergamus, the Phrygians' town, with murderous
war around her stone-built towers, dragging
men's heads backward to cut their throats,
and sacking the citadel of Troy from roof
to base, a cause of many tears to maids and
Priam's wife; and Helen, the daughter of
Zeus, shall weep in bitter grief, because
she left her lord.
Oh! ne'er may there appear to me or to my
children's children the prospect which the
wealthy Lydian dames and Phrygia's brides
will have, as at their looms they hold converse:
"Say who will pluck this fair blossom
from her ruined country, tightening his grasp
on lovely tresses till the tears flow? 'Tis
all through thee, the offspring of the long-necked
swan; if indeed it be a true report that
Leda bare thee to a winged bird, when Zeus
transformed himself thereto, or whether,
in the pages of the poets, fables have carried
these tales to men's ears idly, out of season."
(Enter ACHILLES.)
ACHILLES
Where in these tents is Achaea's general?
Which of his servants will announce to him
that Achilles, the son of Peleus, is at his
gates seeking him? For this delay at the
Euripus is not the same for all of us; there
be some, for instance, who, though still
unwed, have left their houses desolate and
are idling here upon the beach, while others
are married and have children; so strange
the longing for this expedition that has
fallen on their hearts by Heaven's will.
My own just plea must I declare, and whoso
else hath any wish will speak for himself.
Though I have left Pharsalia and Peleus,
still I linger here by reason of these light
breezes at the Euripus, restraining my Myrmidons,
while they are ever instant with me saying,
"Why do we tarry, Achilles? how much
longer must we count the days to the start
for Ilium? do something, if thou art so minded;
else lead home thy men, and wait not for
the tardy action of these Atridae."
(Enter CLYTAEMNESTRA.)
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Hail to thee, son of the Nereid goddess!
I heard thy voice from within the tent and
therefore came forth.
ACHILLES
O modesty revered! who can this lady be whom
I behold, so richly dowered with beauty's
gifts?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
No wonder thou knowest me not, seeing I am
one thou hast never before set eyes on; I
praise thy reverent address to modesty.
ACHILLES
Who art thou, and wherefore art thou come
to the mustering of the Danai-thou, a woman,
to a fenced camp of men?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
The daughter of Leda I; my name Clytaemnestra;
and my husband king Agamemnon.
ACHILLES
Well and shortly answered on all important
points! but it ill befits that I should stand
talking to women.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Stay; why seek to fly? Give me thy hand,
a prelude to a happy marriage.
ACHILLES
What is it thou sayest? I give thee my hand?
Were I to lay a finger where I have no right,
I could ne'er meet Agamemnon's eye.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
The best of rights hast thou, seeing it is
my child thou wilt wed, O son of the sea-goddess,
whom Nereus begat.
ACHILLES
What wedding dost thou speak of? words fail
me, lady; can thy wits have gone astray and
art thou inventing this?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
All men are naturally shy in the presence
of new relations, when these remind them
of their wedding.
ACHILLES
Lady, I have never wooed daughter of thine,
nor have the sons of Atreus ever mentioned
marriage to me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What can it mean? thy turn now to marvel
at my words, for thine are passing strange
to me.
ACHILLES
Hazard a guess; that we can both do in this
matter; for it may be we are both correct
in our statements.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What! have I suffered such indignity? The
marriage I am courting has no reality, it
seems; I am ashamed of it.
ACHILLES
Some one perhaps has made a mock of thee
and me; pay no heed thereto; make light of
it.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Farewell; I can no longer face thee with
unfaltering eyes, after being made a liar
and suffering this indignity.
ACHILLES
'Tis "farewell" too I bid thee,
lady; and now I go within the tent to seek
thy husband.
ATTENDANT (Calling through the tent-door)
Stranger of the race of Aeacus, stay awhile!
Ho there! thee I mean, O goddess-born, and
thee, daughter of Leda.
ACHILLES
Who is it calling through the half-opened
door? what fear his voice betrays!
ATTENDANT
A slave am I; of that I am not proud, for
fortune permits it not.
ACHILLES
Whose slave art thou? not mine; for mine
and Agamemnon's goods are separate.
ATTENDANT
I belong to this lady who stands before the
tent, a gift to her from Tyndareus her father.
ACHILLES
I am waiting; tell me, if thou art desirous,
why thou hast stayed me.
ATTENDANT
Are ye really all alone here at the door?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
To us alone wilt thou address thyself; come
forth from the king's tent.
ATTENDANT (Coming out)
O Fortune and my own foresight, preserve
whom I desire!
ACHILLES
That speech will save them-in the future;
it has a certain pompous air.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Delay not for the sake of touching my right
hand, if there is aught that thou wouldst
say to me.
ATTENDANT
Well, thou knowest my character and my devotion
to thee and thy children.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I know thou hast grown old in the service
of my house.
ATTENDANT
Likewise thou knowest it was in thy dowry
king Agamemnon received me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Yes, thou camest to Argos with me, and hast
been mine this long time past.
ATTENDANT
True; and though I bear thee all goodwill,
I like not thy lord so well.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Come, come, unfold whate'er thou hast to
say.
ATTENDANT
Her father, he that begat her, is on the
point of slaying thy daughter with his own
hand.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
How? Out upon thy story, old dotard! thou
art mad.
ATTENDANT
Severing with a sword the hapless maid's
white throat.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Ah, woe is me! Is my husband haply mad?
ATTENDANT
Nay; sane, except where thou and thy daughter
are concerned; there he is mad.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What is his reason? what vengeful fiend impels
him?
ATTENDANT
Oracles-at least so Calchas says, in order
that the host may start
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Whither? Woe is me, and woe is thee, thy
father's destined victim!
ATTENDANT
To the halls of Dardanus, that Menelaus may
recover Helen.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
So Helen's return then was fated to affect
Iphigenia?
ATTENDANT
Thou knowest all; her father is about to
offer thy child to Artemis.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
But that marriage-what pretext had it for
bringing me from home?
ATTENDANT
An inducement to thee to bring thy daughter
cheerfully, to wed her to Achilles.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
On a deadly errand art thou come, my daughter,
both thou, and I, thy mother.
ATTENDANT
Piteous the lot of both of you-and fearful
Agamemnon's venture.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Alas! I am undone; my eyes can no longer
stem their tears.
ATTENDANT
What more natural than to weep the loss of
thy children?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Whence, old man, dost say thou hadst this
news?
ATTENDANT
I had started to carry thee a letter referring
to the former writing.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Forbidding or combining to urge my bringing
the child to her death?
ATTENDANT
Nay, forbidding it, for thy lord was then
in his sober senses.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
How comes it then, if thou wert really bringing
me a letter, that thou dost not now deliver
into my hands?
ATTENDANT
Menelaus snatched it from me-he who caused
this trouble.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Dost thou hear that, son of Peleus, the Nereid's
child?
ACHILLES
I have been listening to the tale of thy
sufferings, and I am indignant to think I
was used as a tool.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
They will slay my child; they have tricked
her with thy marriage.
ACHILLES
Like thee I blame thy lord, nor do I view
it with mere indifference.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
No longer will I let shame prevent my kneeling
to thee, a mortal to one goddess-born; why
do I affect reserve? whose interests should
I consult before my child's?
(Throwing herself before ACHILLES)
Oh! help me, goddess-born, in my sore distress,
and her that was called thy bride-in vain,
'tis true, yet called she was. For thee it
was I wreathed her head and led her forth
as if to marriage, but now it is to slaughter
I am bringing her. On thee will come reproach
because thou didst not help her; for though
not wedded to her, yet wert thou the loving
husband of my hapless maid in name at any
rate. By thy beard, right hand, and mother
too I do implore thee; for thy name it was
that worked my ruin, and thou art bound to
stand by that. Except thy knees I have no
altar whereunto to fly; and not a friend
stands at my side. Thou hast heard the cruel
abandoned scheme of Agamemnon; and I, a woman,
am come, as thou seest, to a camp of lawless
sailor-folk, bold in evil's cause, though
useful when they list; wherefore if thou
boldly stretch forth thine arm in my behalf,
our safety is assured; but if thou withhold
it, we are lost.
CHORUS
A wondrous thing is motherhood, carrying
with it a potent spell, wherein all share,
so that for their children's sake they will
endure affliction.
ACHILLES
My proud spirit is stirred to range aloft,
but it has learnt to grieve in misfortune
and rejoice in high prosperity with equal
moderation. For these are the men who can
count on ordering all their life aright by
wisdom's rules. True, there are cases where
'tis pleasant not to be too wise, but there
are others, where some store of wisdom helps.
Brought up in godly Chiron's halls myself,
I learnt to keep a single heart; and provided
the Atridae lead aright, I will obey them;
but when they cease therefrom, no more will
I obey. Nay, but here and in Troy I will
show the freedom of my nature, and, as far
as in me lies, do honour to Ares with my
spear. Thee, lady, who hast suffered so cruelly
from thy nearest and dearest, will I, by
every effort in a young man's power, set
right, investing thee with that amount of
pity, and never shall thy daughter, after
being once called my bride, die by her father's
hand; for I will not lend myself to thy husband's
subtle tricks; no! for it will be my name
that kills thy child, although it wieldeth
not the steel. Thy own husband is the actual
cause, but I shall no longer be guiltless,
if, because of me and my marriage, this maiden
perishes, she that hath suffered past endurance
and been the victim of affronts most strangely
undeserved. So am I made the poorest wretch
in Argos; I a thing of naught, and Menelaus
counting for a man! No son of Peleus I, but
the issue of a vengeful fiend, if my name
shall serve thy husband for the murder. Nay!
by Nereus, who begat my mother Thetis, in
his home amid the flowing waves, never shall
king Agamemnon touch thy daughter, no! not
even to the laying of a finger-tip upon her
robe; else will Sipylus, that frontier town
of barbarism, the cradle of those chieftains'
line, be henceforth a city indeed, while
Phthia's name will nowhere find mention.
Calchas, the seer, shall rue beginning the
sacrifice with his barley-meal and lustral
water. Why, what is a seer? A man who with
luck tells the truth sometimes, with frequent
falsehoods, but when his luck deserts him,
collapses then and there. It is not to secure
a bride that I have spoken thus-there be
maids unnumbered eager to have my love-no!
but king Agamemnon has put an insult on me;
he should have asked my leave to use my name
as a means to catch the child, for it was
I chiefly who induced Clytaemnestra to betroth
her daughter to me; verily I had yielded
this to Hellas, if that was where our going
to Ilium broke down; I would never have refused
to further my fellow soldiers' common interest.
But, as it is, I am as naught in the eyes
of those chieftains, and little they reck
of treating me well or ill. My sword shall
soon know if any one is to snatch thy daughter
from me, for then will I make it reek with
the bloody stains of slaughter, ere it reach
Phrygia. Calm thyself then; as a god in his
might I appeared to thee, without being so,
but such will I show myself for all that.
CHORUS
Son of Peleus, thy words are alike worthy
of thee and that sea-born deity, the holy
goddess.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Ah! would I could find words to utter thy
praise without excess, and yet not lose the
graciousness thereof by stinting it; for
when the good are praised, they have a feeling,
as it were, of hatred for those who in their
praise exceed the mean. But I am ashamed
of intruding a tale of woe, since my affliction
touches myself alone and thou art not affected
by troubles of mine; but still it looks well
for the man of worth to assist the unfortunate,
even when he is not connected with them.
Wherefore pity us, for our sufferings cry
for pity; in the first place, I have harboured
an idle hope in thinking to have thee wed
my daughter; and next, perhaps, the slaying
of my child will be to thee an evil omen
in thy wooing hereafter, against which thou
must guard thyself. Thy words were good,
both first and last; for if thou will it
so, my daughter will be saved. Wilt have
her clasp thy knees in suppliant wise? 'Tis
no maid's part; yet if it seem good to thee,
why come she shall with the modest look of
free-born maid; but if I shall obtain the
self-same end from thee without ker coming,
then let her abide within, for there is dignity
in her reserve; still reserve must only go
as far as the case allows.
ACHILLES
Bring not thou thy daughter out for me to
see, lady, nor let us incur the reproach
of the ignorant; for an army, when gathered
together without domestic duties to employ
it, loves the evil gossip of malicious tongues.
After all, should ye supplicate me, ye will
attain a like result as if I had ne'er been
supplicated; for I am myself engaged in a
mighty struggle to rid you of your troubles.
One thing be sure thou hast heard; I will
not tell a lie; if I do that or idly mock
thee, may I die, but live if I preserve the
maid.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Bless thee for ever succouring the distressed!
ACHILLES
Hearken then to me, that the matter may succeed.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What is thy proposal? for hear thee I must.
ACHILLES
Let us once more urge her father to a better
frame of mind.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
He is something of a coward, and fears the
army too much.
ACHILLES
Still argument o'erthroweth argument.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Cold hope indeed; but tell me what I must
do.
ACHILLES
Entreat him first not to slay his children,
and if he is stubborn, come to me. Fir if
he consents to thy request, my intervention
need go no further, since this consent insures
thy safety. I too shall show myself in a
better light to my friend, and the army will
not blame me, if I arrange the matter by
reason rather than force; while, should things
turn out well, the result will prove satisfactory
both to thee and thy friends, even without
my interference.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
How sensibly thou speakest! I must act as
seemeth best to thee; but should I fail of
my object, where am I to see thee again?
whither must I turn my wretched steps and
find thee ready to champion my distress?
ACHILLES
I am keeping watch to guard thee, where occasion
calls, that none see thee passing through
the host of Danai with that scared look.
Shame not thy father's house; for Tyndareus
deserveth not to be ill spoken of, being
a mighty man in Hellas.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
'Tis even so. Command me; I must play the
slave to thee. If there are gods, thou for
thy righteous dealing wilt find them favourable;
if there are none, what need to toil?
(Exeunt ACHILLES and CLYTAEMNESTRA.)
CHORUS
What wedding-hymn was that which raised its
strains to the sound of Libyan flutes, to
the music of the dancer's lyre, and the note
of the pipe of reeds?
'Twas in the day Pieria's fair-tressed choir
came o'er the slopes of Pelion to the marriage-feast
of Peleus, beating the ground with print
of golden sandals at the banquet of the gods,
and hymning in dulcet strains the praise
of Thetis and the son of Aeacus, o'er the
Centaurs' hill, down through the woods of
Pelion.
There was the Dardanian boy, Phrygian Ganymede,
whom Zeus delights to honour, drawing off
the wine he mixed in the depths of golden
bowls; while, along the gleaming sand, the
fifty daughters of Nereus graced the marriage
with their dancing, circling in a mazy ring.
Came too the revel-rout of Centaurs, mounted
on horses, to the feast of the gods and the
mixing-bowl of Bacchus, leaning on fir-trees,
with wreaths of green foliage round their
heads; and loudly cried the prophet Chiron,
skilled in arts inspired by Phoebus; "Daughter
of Nereus, thou shalt bear a son"-whose
name he gave-"a dazzling light to Thessaly;
for he shall come with an army of spearmen
to the far-famed land of Priam, to set it
in a blaze, his body cased in a suit of golden
mail forged by Hephaestus, a gift from his
goddess-mother, even from Thetis who bore
him."
Then shed the gods a blessing on the marriage
of the high-born bride, who was first of
Nereus' daughters, and on the wedding of
Peleus. But thee, will Argives crown, wreathing
the lovely tresses of thy hair, like a dappled
mountain hind brought from some rocky cave
or a heifer undefiled, and staining with
blood thy human throat; though thou wert
never reared like these amid the piping and
whistling of herdsmen, but at thy mother's
side, to be decked one day by her as the
bride of a son of Inachus. Where now does
the face of modesty or virtue avail aught?
seeing that godlessness holds sway, and virtue
is neglected by men and thrust behind them,
lawlessness o'er law prevailing, and mortals
no longer making common cause to keep the
jealousy of gods from reaching them.
CLYTAEMNESTRA (Reappearing from the tent)
I have come from the tent to look out for
my husband, who went away and left its shelter
long ago; while that poor child, my daughter,
hearing of the death her father designs for
her, is in tears, uttering in many keys her
piteous lamentation. (Catching sight of AGAMEMNON)
It Seems I was speaking of one not far away;
for there is Agamemnon, who will soon be
detected in the commission of a crime against
his own child.
(Enter AGAMEMNON.)
AGAMEMNON
Daughter of Leda, 'tis lucky I have found
thee outside the tent, to discuss with thee
in our daughter's absence subjects not suited
for the ears of maidens on the eve of marriage.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What, pray, is dependent on the present crisis?
AGAMEMNON
Send the maiden out to join her father, for
the lustral water stands there ready, and
barley-meal to scatter with the hand on the
cleansing flame, and heifers to be slain
in honour of the goddess Artemis, to usher
in the marriage, their black blood spouting
from them.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Though fair the words thou usest, I know
not how I am to name thy deeds in terms of
praise.
Come forth, my daughter; full well thou knowest
what is in thy father's mind; take the child
Orestes, thy brother, and bring him with
thee in the folds of thy robe.
(Enter IPHIGENIA.)
Behold chold she comes, in obedience to thy
summons. Myself will speak the rest alike
for her and me.
AGAMEMNON
My child, why weepest thou and no longer
lookest cheerfully? why art thou fixing thine
eyes upon the ground and holding thy robe
before them?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Alas! with which of my woes shall I begin?
for I may treat them all as first, or put
them last or midway anywhere.
AGAMEMNON
How now? I find you all alike, confusion
and alarm in every eye.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
My husband, answer frankly the questions
I ask thee.
AGAMEMNON
There is no necessity to order me; I am willing
to be questioned.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Dost thou mean to slay thy child and mine?
AGAMEMNON (Starting)
Ha! these are heartless words, unwarranted
suspicions!
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Peace! answer me that question first.
AGAMEMNON
Put a fair question and thou shalt have a
fair answer.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I have no other questions to put; give me
no other answers.
AGAMEMNON
O fate revered, O destiny, and fortune mine!
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Aye, and mine and this maid's too; the three
share one bad fortune.
AGAMEMNON
Whom have I injured?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Dost thou ask me this question? A thought
like that itself amounts to thoughtlessness.
AGAMEMNON
Ruined! my secret out!
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I know all; I have heard what thou art bent
on doing to me. Thy very silence and those
frequent groans are a confession; tire not
thyself by telling it.
AGAMEMNON
Lo! I am silent; for, if I tell thee a falsehood,
needs must I add effrontery to misfortune.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Well, listen; for I will now unfold my meaning
and no longer employ dark riddles. In the
first place-to reproach thee first with this-it
was not of my own free will but by force
that thou didst take and wed me, after slaying
Tantalus, my former husband, and dashing
my babe on the ground alive, when thou hadst
torn him from my breast with brutal violence.
Then, when those two sons of Zeus, who were
likewise my brothers, came flashing on horseback
to war with thee, Tyndareus, my aged sire,
rescued thee because of thy suppliant prayers,
and thou in turn hadst me to wife. Once reconciled
to thee upon this footing, thou wilt bear
me witness I have been a blameless wife to
thee and thy family, chaste in love, an honour
to thy house, that so thy coming in might
be with joy and thy going out with gladness.
And 'tis seldom a man secures a wife like
this, though the getting of a worthless woman
is no rarity. Besides three daughters, of
one of whom thou art heartlessly depriving
me, I am the mother of this son of thine.
If anyone asks thee thy reason for slaying
her, tell me, what wilt thou say? or must
say it for thee? "It is that Menelaus
may recover Helen." An honourable exchange,
indeed, to pay a wicked woman's price in
children's lives! 'Tis buying what we most
detest with what we hold most dear. Again,
if thou go forth with the host, leaving me
in thy halls, and art long absent at Troy,
what will my feelings be at home, dost think?
when I behold each vacant chair and her chamber
now deserted, and then sit down alone in
tears, making ceaseless lamentation for her,
"Ah! my child, he that begat thee hath
slain thee himself, he and no one else, nor
was it by another's hand... to thy home,
after leaving such a price to be paid; for
it needs now but a trifling pretext for me
and the daughters remaining to give thee
the reception it is right thou shouldst receive.
I adjure thee by the gods, compel me not
to sin against thee, nor sin thyself. Go
to; suppose thou sacrifice the child; what
prayer wilt thou utter, when 'tis done? what
will the blessing be that thou wilt invoke
upon thyself as thou art slaying our daughter?
an ill returning maybe, seeing the disgrace
that speeds thy going forth. Is it right
that I should pray for any luck to attend
thee? Surely we should deem the gods devoid
of sense, if we harboured a kindly feeling
towards murderers. Shalt thou embrace thy
children on thy coming back to Argos? Nay,
thou hast no right. Will any child of thing
e'er face thee, if thou have surrendered
one of them to death? Has this ever entered
into thy calculations, or does thy one duty
consist in carrying a sceptre about and marching
at the head of an army? when thou mightest
have made this fair proposal among the Argives;
"Is it your wish, Achaeans, to sail
for Phrygia's shores? Why then, cast lots
whose daughter has to die." For that
would have been a fair course for thee to
pursue, instead of picking out thy own child
for the victim and presenting her to the
Danai; or Menelaus, inasmuch as it was his
concern, should have slain Hermione for her
mother. As it is, I, who still am true to
thee, must lose my child; while she, who
went astray, will return with her daughter,
and live in happiness at Sparta. If I am
wrong in aught herein, answer me; but if
my words have been fairly urged, do not still
slay thy child, who is mine too, and thou
wilt be wise.
CHORUS
Hearken to her Agamemnon, for to join in
saving thy children's lives is surely a noble
deed; none would gainsay this.
IPHIGENIA
Had I the eloquence of Orpheus, my father,
to move the rocks by chanted spells to follow
me, or to charm by speaking whom I would,
I had resorted to it. But as it is, I'll
bring my tears-the only art I know; for that
I might attempt. And about thy knees, in
suppliant wise, I twine my limbs these limbs
thy wife here bore. Destroy me not before
my time, for sweet is to look upon the light,
and force me not to visit scenes below. I
was the first to call thee father, thou the
first to call me child; the first was I to
sit upon thy knee and give and take the fond
caress. And this was what thou then wouldst
say, "Shall I see thee, my child, living
a happy prosperous life in a husband's home
one day, in a manner worthy of myself?"
And I in my turn would ask, as I hung about
thy beard, whereto I now am clinging, "How
shall I see thee? Shall I be giving thee
a glad reception in my halls, father, in
thy old age, repaying all thy anxious care
in rearing me?
I remember all we said, 'tis thou who hast
forgotten and now wouldst take my life. By
Pelops, I entreat thee spare me, by thy father
Atreus and my mother here, who suffers now
a second time the pangs she felt before when
bearing me! What have I to do with the marriage
of Paris and Helen? why is his coming to
prove my ruin, father? Look upon me; one
glance, one kiss bestow, that this at least
I may carry to my death as a memorial of
thee, though thou heed not my pleading.
(Holding up the babe to ORESTES) Feeble ally
though thou art, brother, to thy loved ones,
yet add thy tears to mine and entreat our
father for thy sister's life; even in babes
there is a natural sense of ill. O father,
see this speechless supplication made to
thee; pity me; have mercy on my tender years!
Yea, by thy beard we two fond hearts implore
thy pity, the one a babe, a full-grown maid
the other. By summing all my pleas in one,
I will prevail in what I say. To gaze upon
yon light is man's most cherished gift; that
life below is nothingness, and whoso longs
for death is mad. Better live a life of woe
than die a death of glory!
CHORUS
Ah, wretched Helen! Awful the struggle that
has come to the sons of Atreus and their
children, thanks to thee and those marriages
of thine.
AGAMEMNON
While loving my own children, I yet understand
what should move my pity and what should
not; I were a madman else. 'Tis terrible
for me to bring myself to this, nor less
terrible is it to refuse, daughter; for I
must fare the same. Ye see the vastness of
von naval host, and the numbers of bronze
clad warriors from Hellas, who can neither
make their way to Ilium's towers nor raze
the far-famed citadel of Troy, unless I offer
thee according to the word of Calchas the
seer. Some mad desire possesses the host
of Hellas to sail forthwith to the land of
the barbarians, and put a stop to the rape
of wives from Hellas, and they will slay
my daughters in Argos as well as you and
me, if I disregard the goddess's behests.
It is not Menelaus who hath enslaved me to
him, child, nor have I followed wish of his;
nay, 'tis Hellas, for whom I must sacrifice
thee whether I will or no; to this necessity
I bow my head; for her freedom must be preserved,
as far as any help of thine, daughter, or
mine can go; nor must they, who are the sons
Hellas, be pillaged of their wives by barbarian
robbery.
(AGAMEMNON rushes from the stage,)
CLYTAEMNESTRA
My child Ye stranger ladies!
Woe is me for this thy death! Thy father
flies, surrendering thee to Hades.
IPHIGENIA
Woe is me, O mother mine! for the same strain
hath fallen to both of us in our fortune.
No more for me the light of day! no more
the beams of yonder sun! Woe for that snow-beat
glen in Phrygia and the hills of Ida, where
Priam once exposed a tender babe, torn from
his mother's arms to meet a deadly doom,
e'en Paris, called the child of Ida in the
Phrygians' town. Would Priam ne'er had settled
him, the herdsman reared amid the herds,
beside that water crystal-clear, where are
fountains of the Nymphs and their meadow
rich with blooming flowers, where hyacinths
and rose-buds blow for goddesses to gather!
Hither one day came Pallas and Cypris of
the subtle heart, Hera too and Hermes messenger
of Zeus-Cypris, proud of the longing she
causes; Pallas of her prowess; and Hera of
her royal marriage with king Zeus-to decide
a hateful strife about their beauty; but
it is my death, maidens-fraught, 'tis true,
with glory to the Danai-that Artemis has
received as an offering, before they begin
the voyage to Ilium.
O mother, mother! he that begat me to this
life of sorrow has gone and left me all alone.
Ah! woe is me! a bitter, bitter sight for
me was Helen, evil Helen! to me now doomed
to bleed and die, slaughtered by an impious
sire.
I would this Aulis had never received in
its havens here the sterns of their bronze-beaked
ships, the fleet which was speeding them
to Troy; and would that Zeus had never breathed
on the Euripus a wind to stop the expedition,
tempering, as he doth, a different breeze
to different men, so that some have joy in
setting sail, and sorrow some, and others
hard constraint, to make some start and others
stay and others furl their sails! Full of
trouble then, it seems, is the race of mortals,
full of trouble verily; and 'tis ever Fate's
decree that man should find distress. Woe!
woe to thee, thou child of Tyndareus, for
the suffering and anguish sore, which thou
art causing the Danai!
CHORUS
I pity thee for thy cruel fate-a fate I would
thou ne'er hadst met!
IPHIGENIA
O mother that bare me! I see a throng of
men approaching.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
It is the goddess-born thou seest, child,
for whom thou camest hither.
IPHIGENIA (Calling into the tent)
Open the tent-door to me, servants, that
I may hide myself.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Why seek to fly, my child?
IPHIGENIA
I am ashamed to face Achilles.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Wherefore?
IPHIGENIA
The luckless ending to our marriage causes
me to feel abashed.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
No time for affectation now in face of what
has chanced. Stay then; reserve will do no
good, if only we can-
(Enter ACHILLES.)
ACHILLES
Daughter of Leda, lady of sorrows!
CLYTAEMNESTRA
No misnomer that.
ACHILLES
A fearful cry is heard among the Argives.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What is it? tell me.
ACHILLES
It concerns thy child.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
An evil omen for thy words.
ACHILLES
They say her sacrifice is necessary.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
And is there no one to say a word against
them?
ACHILLES
Indeed I was in some danger myself from the
tumult.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
In danger of what? kind sir.
ACHILLES
Of being stoned.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Surely not for trying to save my daughter?
ACHILLES
The very reason.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Who would have dared to lay a finger on thee?
ACHILLES
The men of Hellas, one and all.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Were not thy Myrmidon warriors at thy side?
ACHILLES
They were the first who turned against me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
My child! we are lost, undone, it seems.
ACHILLES
They taunted me as the man whom marriage
had enslaved.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
And what didst thou answer them?
ACHILLES
I craved the life of her I meant to wed-
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Justly so.
ACHILLES
The wife her father promised me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Aye, and sent to fetch from Argos.
ACHILLES
But I was overcome by clamorous cries.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Truly the mob is a dire mischief.
ACHILLES
But I will help thee for all that.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Wilt thou really fight them single-handed?
ACHILLES
Dost see these warriors here, carrying my
arms?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Bless thee for thy kind intent!
ACHILLES
Well, I shall be blessed.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Then my child will not be slaughtered now?
ACHILLES
No, not with my consent at any rate.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
But will any of them come to lay hands on
the maid?
ACHILLES
Thousands of them, with Odysseus at their
head.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
The son of Sisyphus?
ACHILLES
The very same.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Acting for himself or by the army's order?
ACHILLES
By their choice-and his own.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
An evil choice indeed, to stain his hands
in blood!
ACHILLES
But I will hold him back.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Will he seize and bear her hence against
her will?
ACHILLES
Aye, by her golden hair no doubt.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What must I do, when it comes to that?
ACHILLES
Keep hold of thy daughter.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Be sure that she shall not be slain, as far
as that can help her.
ACHILLES
Believe me, it will come to this.
IPHIGENIA
Mother, hear me while I speak, for I see
that thou art wroth with thy husband to no
purpose; 'tis hard for us to persist in impossibilities.
Our thanks are due to this stranger for his
ready help; but thou must also see to it
that he is not reproached by the army, leaving
us no better off and himself involved in
trouble. Listen, mother; hear what thoughts
have passed across my mind. I am resolved
to die; and this I fain would do with honour,
dismissing from me what is mean. Towards
this now, mother, turn thy thoughts, and
with me weigh how well I speak; to me the
whole of mighty Hellas looks; on me the passage
o'er the sea depends; on me the sack of Troy;
and in my power it lies to check henceforth
barbarian raids on happy Hellas, if ever
in the days to come they seek to seize her
daughters, when once they have atoned by
death for the violation of Helen's marriage
by Paris. All this deliverance will my death
insure, and my fame for setting Hellas free
will be a happy one. Besides, I have no right
at all to cling too fondly to my life; for
thou didst not bear me for myself alone,
but as a public blessing to all Hellas. What!
shall countless warriors, armed with shields,
those myriads sitting at the oar, find courage
to attack the foe and die for Hellas, because
their fatherland is wronged, and my one life
prevent all this? What kind of justice is
that? could I find a word in answer? Now
turn we to that other point. It is not right
that this man should enter the lists with
all Argos or be slain fox a woman's sake.
Better a single man should see the light
than ten thousand women. If Artemis is minded
to take this body, am I, a weak mortal, to
thwart the goddess? Nay, that were impossible.
To Hellas I resign it; offer this sacrifice
and make an utter end of Troy. This is my
enduring monument; marriage, motherhood,
and fame-all these is it to me. And it is
but right, mother, that Hellenes should rule
barbarians, but not barbarians Hellenes,
those being slaves, while these are free.
CHORUS
Thou playest a noble part, maiden; but sickly
are the whims of Fate and the goddess.
ACHILLES
Daughter of Agamemnon I some god was bent
on blessing me, could I but have won thee
for my wife. In thee I reckon Hellas happy,
and thee in Hellas; for this that thou hast
said is good and worthy of thy fatherland;
since thou, abandoning a strife with heavenly
powers, which are too strong for thee, has
fairly weighed advantages and needs. But
now that I have looked into thy noble nature,
I feel still more a fond desire to win thee
for my bride. Look to it; for I would fain
serve thee and receive thee in my halls;
and witness Thetis, how I grieve to think
I shall not save thy life by doing battle
with the Danai. Reflect, I say; a dreadful
ill is death.
IPHIGENIA
This I say, without regard to anyone. Enough
that the daughter of Tyndareus is causing
wars and bloodshed by her beauty; then be
not slain thyself, sir stranger, nor seek
to slay another on my account; but let me,
if I can, save Hellas.
ACHILLES
Heroic spirit! I can say no more to this,
since thou art so minded; for thine is a
noble resolve; why should not one avow the
truth? Yet will I speak, for thou wilt haply
change thy mind; that thou mayst know then
what my offer is, I will go and place these
arms of mine near the altar, resolved not
to permit thy death but to prevent it; for
brave as thou art, at sight of the knife
held at thy throat, thou wilt soon avail
thyself of what I said. So I will not let
thee perish through any thoughtlessness of
thine, but will go to the temple of the goddess
with these arms and await thy arrival there.
(Exit ACHILLES.)
IPHIGENIA
Mother, why so silent, thine eyes wet with
tears?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I have reason, woe is me! to be sad at heart.
IPHIGENIA
Forbear; make me not a coward; here in one
thing obey me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Say what it is, my child, for at my hands
thou shalt ne'er suffer injury.
IPHIGENIA
Cut not off the tresses of thy hair for me,
nor clothe thyself in sable garb.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Why, my child, What is it thou hast said?
Shall I, when I lose thee-
IPHIGENIA
"Lose" me, thou dost not; I am
saved and thou renowned, as far as I can
make thee.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
How so? Must I not mourn thy death?
IPHIGENIA
By no means, for I shall have no tomb heaped
o'er me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What, is not the act of dying held to imply
burial?
IPHIGENIA
The altar of the goddess, Zeus's daughter,
will be my tomb.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Well, my child, I will let thee persuade
me, for thou sayest well.
IPHIGENIA
Aye, as one who prospereth and doeth Hellas
service.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What message shall I carry to thy sisters?
IPHIGENIA
Put not mourning raiment on them either.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
But is there no fond message I can give the
maidens from thee?
IPHIGENIA
Yes, my farewell words; and promise me to
rear this babe Orestes to manhood.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Press him to thy bosom; 'tis thy last look.
IPHIGENIA
O thou that art most dear to me! thou hast
helped thy friends as thou hadst means.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Is there anything I can do to pleasure thee
in Argos?
IPHIGENIA
Yes, hate not my father, thy own husband.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Fearful are the trials through which he has
to go because of thee.
IPHIGENIA
It was against his will he ruined me for
the sake of Hellas.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Ah! but be employed base treachery, unworthy
of Atreus.
IPHIGENIA
Who will escort me hence, before my hair
is torn?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I will go with thee.
IPHIGENIA
No, not thou; thou say'st not well.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I will, clinging to thy robes.
IPHIGENIA
Be persuaded by me, mother, stay here; for
this is the better way alike for me and thee;
but let one of these attendants of my father
conduct me to the meadow of Artemis, where
I shall be sacrificed.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Art gone from me, my child?
IPHIGENIA
Aye, and with no chance of ever returning.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Leaving thy mother?
IPHIGENIA
Yes, as thou seest, undeservedly.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Hold! leave me not!
IPHIGENIA
I cannot let thee shed a tear. (Exit CLYTAEMNESTRA.
To the CHORUS) Be it yours, maidens, to hymn
in joyous strains Artemis, the child of Zeus,
for my hard lot; and let the order for a
solemn hush go forth to the Danai. Begin
the sacrifice with the baskets, let the fire
blaze for the purifying meal of sprinkling,
and my father pace from left to right about
the altar; for I come to bestow on Hellas
safety crowned with victory. Lead me hence,
me the destroyer of Ilium's town and the
Phrygians; give me wreaths to cast about
me; bring them hither; here are my tresses
to crown; bring lustral water too. Dance
to Artemis, queen Artemis the blest, around
her fane and altar; for by the blood of my
sacrifice I will blot out the oracle, if
it needs must be.
O mother, lady revered! for thee shall my
tears be shed, and now; for at the holy rites
I may not weep.
Sing with me, maidens, sing the praises of
Artemis, whose temple faces Chalcis, where
angry spearmen madly chafe, here in the narrow
havens of Aulis, because of me.
O Pelasgia, land of my birth, and Mycenae,
my home!
CHORUS
Is it on Perseus' citadel thou callest, that
town Cyclopean workmen build
IPHIGENIA
To be a light to Hellas didst thou rear me,
and so I say not No to death.
CHORUS
Thou art right; no fear that fame will e'er
desert thee!
IPHIGENIA
Hail to thee, bright lamp of day and light
of Zeus! A different life, different lot
is henceforth mine. Farewell I bid thee,
light beloved!
(Exit IPHIGENIA.)
CHORUS
Behold the maiden on her way, the destroyer
of Ilium's town and its Phrygians, with garlands
twined about her head, and drops of lustral
water on her, soon to besprinkle with her
gushing blood the altar of a murderous goddess,
what time her shapely neck is severed.
For thee fair streams of a father's pouring
and lustral waters are in store, for thee
Achaea's host is waiting, eager to reach
the citadel of Ilium. But let us celebrate
Artemis, the daughter of Zeus, queen among
the gods, as if upon some happy chance.
O lady revered, delighting in human sacrifice,
send on its way to Phrygia's land the host
of the Hellenes, to Troy's abodes of guile,
and grant that Agamemnon may wreathe his
head with deathless fame, a crown of fairest
glory for the spearmen of Hellas.
(Enter MESSENGER.)
MESSENGER
Come forth, O Clytaemnestra, daughter of
Tyndareus, from the tent, to hear my news.
(Enter CLYTAEMNESTRA.)
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I heard thy voice and am come in sad dismay
and fearful dread, not sure but what thou
hast arrived with tidings of some fresh trouble
for me besides the present woe.
MESSENGER
Nay, rather would I unfold to thee a story
strange and marvellous about thy child.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Delay not, then, but speak at once.
MESSENGER
Dear mistress, thou shalt learn all clearly;
from the outset will I tell it, unless my
memory fail me somewhat and confuse my tongue
in its account. As soon as we reached the
grove of Artemis, the child of Zeus, and
the meadows gay with flowers, where the Achaean
troops were gathered, bringing thy daughter
with us, forthwith the Argive host began
assembling; but when king Agamemnon saw the
maiden on her way to the grove to be sacrificed,
he gave one groan, and, turning away his
face, let the tears burst from his eyes,
as he held his robe before them. But the
maid, standing close by him that begot her,
spake on this wise, "O my father, here
am I to do thy bidding; freely I offer this
body of mine for my country and all Hellas,
that ye may lead me to the altar of the goddess
and sacrifice me, since this is Heaven's
ordinance. Good luck be yours for any help
that I afford! and may ye obtain the victor's
gift and come again to the land of your fathers.
So then let none of the Argives lay hands
on me, for I will bravely yield my neck without
a word."
She spake; and each man marvelled, as he
heard the maiden's brave, unflinching speech.
But in the midst up stood Talthybius-for
his this duty was-and bade the host refrain
from word or deed; and Calchas, the seer,
drawing a sharp sword from out its scabbard
laid it in a basket of beaten gold, crowning
the maiden's head the while. Then the son
of Peleus, taking the basket and with it
lustral water in his hand, ran round the
altar of the goddess uttering these words,
"O Artemis, thou child of Zeus, slayer
of wild beasts, that wheelest thy dazzling
light amid the gloom, accept this sacrifice,
which we, the host of the Achaeans and king
Agamemnon with us, offer to thee, even pure
blood from a beauteous maiden's neck; and
grant us safe sailing for our ships and the
sack of Troy's towers by our spears."
Meantime the sons of Atreus and all the host
stood looking on the ground, while the priest,
seizing his knife, offered up a prayer and
was closely scanning the maiden's throat
to see where he should strike. 'Twas no slight
sorrow filled my heart, as I stood by with
bowed head; when lo! a sudden miracle! Each
one of us distinctly heard the sound of a
blow, but none saw the spot where the maiden
vanished. Loudly the priest cried out, and
all the host took up the cry at the sight
of a marvel all unlooked for, due to some
god's agency, and passing all belief, although
'twas seen; for there upon the ground lay
a hind of size immense and passing fair to
sec, gasping out her life, with whose blood
the altar of the goddess was thoroughly bedewed.
Whereon spake Calchas thus-his joy thou canst
imagine-"Ye captains of this leagued
Achaean host, do ye see this victim, which
the goddess has set before her altar, a mountain
roaming hind? This is more welcome to her
by far than the maid, that she may not defile
her altar by shedding noble blood. Gladly
has she accepted it and is granting us a
prosperous voyage for our attack on Ilium.
Wherefore take heart, sailors, each man of
you, and away to your ships, for to-day must
we leave the hollow bays of Aulis and cross
the Aegean main."
Then, when the sacrifice was wholly burnt
to ashes in the blazing flame, he offered
such prayers as were meet, that the army
might win return; but me Agamemnon sends
to tell thee this, and say what Heaven-sent
luck is his, and how he hath secured undying
fame throughout the length of Hellas. Now
I was there myself and speak as an eye-witness;
without a doubt thy child flew away to the
gods. A truce then to thy sorrowing, and
cease to be wroth with thy husband; for God's
ways with man are not what we expect, and
those whom he loves, he keepeth safe; yea,
for this day hath seen thy daughter dead
and brought to life again.
(Exit MESSENGER.)
CHORUS
What joy to hear these tidings from the messenger!
He tells thee thy child is living still,
among the gods.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Which of the gods, my child, hath stolen
thee? How am I to address thee? How can I
be sure that this is not an idle tale told
to cheer me, to make me cease my piteous
lamentation for thee?
CHORUS
Lo! king Agamemnon approaches, to confirm
this story for thee.
(Enter AGAMEMNON.)
AGAMEMNON
Happy may we be counted, lady, as far as
concerns our daughter; for she hath fellowship
with gods in very sooth. But thou must take
this tender babe and start for home, for
the host is looking now to sail. Fare thee
well! 'tis long ere I shall greet thee on
my return from Troy; may it be well with
thee!
CHORUS
Son of Atreus, start for Phrygia's land with
joy and so return, I pray, after taking from
Troy her fairest spoils.
(Exeunt OMNES.)
THE END
|
Evans Experientialism 
