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Pure to the gods thy hands； or nuptial rites
Dost thou prepare； or pregnant matron； hence；
Begone； that this defilement none may touch。
Thou； daughter of Latona and high Jove；
O royal virgin； if I cleanse the stain
Of these； and where I ought with holy rites
Address thee； thou shalt hold thy residence
In a pure mansion； we too shall be bless'd。
More though I speak not； goddess； unexpress'd；
All things to thee and to the gods are known。
（IPHIGENIA； carrying the statue； joins the procession as is goes
out。 THOAS and his retinue enter the temple。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe
Latona's glorious offspring claims the song；
Born the hallow'd shades among；
Where fruitful Delos winds her valleys low；
Bright…hair'd Phoebus； skill'd to inspire
Raptures； as he sweeps the lyre；
And she that glories in the unerring bow。
From the rocky ridges steep；
At whose feet the hush'd waves sleep；
Left their far…famed native shore；
Them the exulting mother bore
To Parnassus； on whose heights
Bacchus shouting holds his rites；
Glittering in the burnish'd shade；
By the laurel's branches made；
Where the enormous dragon lies；
Brass his scales； and flame his eyes；
Earth…born monster； that around
Rolling guards the oracular ground；
Him； while yet a sportive child；
In his mother's arms that smiled；
Phoebus slew； and seized the shrine
Whence proceeds the voice divine：
On the golden tripod placed；
Throne by falsehood ne'er disgraced；
Where Castalia's pure stream flows；
He the fates to mortal shows。
antistrophe
But when Themis； whom of yore
Earth； her fruitful mother； bore；
From her hallow'd seat he drove；
Earth to avenge her daughter strove；
Forming visions of the night；
Which； in rapt dreams hovering light；
All that Time's dark volumes hold
Might to mortal sense unfold；
When in midnight's sable shades
Sleep the silent couch invades：
Thus did Earth her vengeance boast。
His prophetic honours lost；
Royal Phoebus speeds his flight
To Olympus； on whose height
At the throne of Jove he stands；
Stretching forth his little hands；
Suppliant that the Pythian shrine
Feel no more the wrath divine；
That the goddess he appease；
That her nightly visions cease。
Jove with smiles beheld his son
Early thus address his throne；
Suing with ambitious pride
O'er the rich shrine to preside；
He； assenting； bow'd his head。
Straight the nightly visions fled；
And prophetic dreams no more
Hover'd slumbering mortals o'er：
Now to Phoebus given again；
All his honours pure remain；
Votaries distant regions send
His frequented throne to attend：
And the firm decrees of fate
On his faithful voice await。
（A MESSENGER enters。）
MESSENGER
Say you； that keep the temple； and attend
The altar； where is Thoas； Scythia's king？
Open these strong…compacted gates； and cal
Forth from the shrine the monarch of the land。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Wherefore？ at thy command if I must speak。
MESSENGER
The two young men are gone； through the device
Of Agamemnon's daughter： from this land
They fly； and； in their Grecian galley placed；
The sacred image of the goddess bear。
LEADER
Incredible thy tale： but whom thou seek'st；
The monarch； from the temple went in haste。
MESSENGER
Whither？ for what is doing he should know。
LEADER
We know not： but go thou； and seek for him：
Where'er thou find him； thou wilt tell him this。
MESSENGER
See； what a faithless race you women are！
In all that hath been done you have a part。
LEADER
Sure thou art mad！ what with the strangers' flight
Have we to do？ But wilt thou not； with all
The speed thou mayst； go to the monarch's house？
MESSENGER
Not till I first am well inform'd； if here
Within the temple be the king； or not。
（Shouting）
Unbar the gates （to you within I speak）；
And tell your lord that at the portal here
I stand； and bring him tidings of fresh ills。
（THOAS and his attendants enter from the temple。）
THOAS
Who at the temple of the goddess dares
This clamour raise； and； thundering at the gates；
Strikes terror through the ample space within？
MESSENGER
With falsehoods would these women drive me hence；
Without to seek thee： thou wast in the shrine。
THOAS
With what intent？ or what advantage sought？
MESSENGER
Of these hereafter； what more urgent now
Imports thee； hear： the virgin； in this place
Presiding at the altars； from this land
Is with the strangers fled； and bears with her
The sacred image of the goddess； all
Of her ablutions but a false pretence。
THOAS
How say'st thou？ What is her accursed design？
MESSENGER
To save Orestes： this too will amaze thee。
THOAS
Whom？ What Orestes？ Clytemnestra's son？
MESSENGER
Him at the altar hallow'd now to bleed。
THOAS
Portentous！ for what less can it be call'd？
MESSENGER
Think not on that； but hear me； with deep thought
Reflect： weigh well what thou shalt hear； devise
By what pursuit to reach and seize the strangers。
THOAS
Speak： thou advisest well： the sea though nigh；
They fly not so as to escape my spear。
MESSENGER
When to the shore we came； where station'd rode
The galley of Orestes； by the rocks
Conceal'd to us； whom thou hadst sent with her
To hold the strangers' chains； the royal maid
Made signs that we retire； and stand aloof；
As if with secret rites she would perform
The purposed expiation： on she went；
In her own hands holding the strangers' chains
Behind them： not without suspicion…this；
Yet by thy servants； king； allow'd。 At length；
That we might deem her in some purpose high
Employ'd； she raised her voice； and chanted loud
Barbaric strains； as if with mystic rites
She cleansed the stain of blood。 When we had sat
A tedious while； it came into our thought；
That from their chains unloosed； the stranger youths
Might kill her； and escape by flight： yet fear
Of seeing what we ought not； kept us still
In silence； but at length we all resolved
To go； though not permitted； where they were。
There we behold the Grecian bark with oars
Well furnish'd； wing'd for flight； and at their seats；
Grasping their oars； were fifty rowers； free
From chains beside the stern the two youths stood
Some from the prow relieved the keel with poles；
Some weigh'd the anchors up； the climbing ropes
Some hasten'd； through their hands the cables drew；
Launch'd the light bark； and gave her to the main。
But when we saw their treacherous wiles； we rush'd
Heedless of danger； seized the priestess； seized
The halsers； hung upon the helm； and strove
To rend the rudder…bands away。 Debate
Now rose：…〃What mean you； sailing o'er the seas；
The statue and the priestess from the land
By stealth conveying？ Whence art thou； and who；
That bear'st her； like a purchased slave； away？〃
He said； 〃I am her brother； be of this
Inform'd； Orestes； son of Agamemnon：
My sister； so long lost； I bear away；
Recover'd here。〃 But naught the less for that
Held we the priestess； and by force would lead
Again to thee： hence dreadful on our cheeks
The blows； for in their hands no sword they held；
Nor we； but many a rattling stroke the youths
Dealt witb their fists； against our sides and breasts
Their arms fierce darting； till our batter'd limbs
Were all disabled： now with dreadful marks
Disfigured； up the precipice we fly；
Some bearing on their heads； some in their eyes
The bloody bruises： standing on the heights；
Our fight was safer； and we hurl'd at them
Fragments of rocks； but； standing on the stern；
The archers with their arrows drove us thence；
And now a swelling wave roll'd in； which drove
The galley towards the land。 The sailors fear'd
The sudden swell： on his left arm sustain'd；
Orestes bore his sister through the tide；
Mounted the bark's tall side； and on the deck
Safe placed her； and Diana's holy image；
Which fell from heaven； from the midship his voice
He sent aloud：…〃Ye youths； that in this bark
From Argos plou