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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