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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 Achi