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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；