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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 no