Besides,Ihave no right at all to cling too fondly to my life;for thou didst not bear me for myself alone,but as a public blessing to all Hellas.What!shall countless warriors,armed with shields,those myriads sitting at the oar,find courage to attack the foe and die for Hellas,because their fatherland is wronged,and my one life prevent all this?What kind of justice is that?could Ifind a word in answer?Now turn we to that other point.It is not right that this man should enter the lists with all Argos or be slain fox a woman's sake.Better a single man should see the light than ten thousand women.If Artemis is minded to take this body,am I,a weak mortal,to thwart the goddess?Nay,that were impossible.To Hellas Iresign it;offer this sacrifice and make an utter end of Troy.This is my enduring monument;marriage,motherhood,and fame-all these is it to me.And it is but right,mother,that Hellenes should rule barbarians,but not barbarians Hellenes,those being slaves,while these are free.
CHORUS
Thou playest a noble part,maiden;but sickly are the whims of Fate and the goddess.
ACHILLES
Daughter of Agamemnon Isome god was bent on blessing me,could Ibut have won thee for my wife.In thee Ireckon Hellas happy,and thee in Hellas;for this that thou hast said is good and worthy of thy fatherland;since thou,abandoning a strife with heavenly powers,which are too strong for thee,has fairly weighed advantages and needs.But now that Ihave looked into thy noble nature,Ifeel still more a fond desire to win thee for my bride.Look to it;for Iwould fain serve thee and receive thee in my halls;and witness Thetis,how Igrieve to think Ishall not save thy life by doing battle with the Danai.Reflect,Isay;a dreadful ill is death.
IPHIGENIA
This Isay,without regard to anyone.Enough that the daughter of Tyndareus is causing wars and bloodshed by her beauty;then be not slain thyself,sir stranger,nor seek to slay another on my account;but let me,if Ican,save Hellas.
ACHILLES
Heroic spirit!Ican say no more to this,since thou art so minded;for thine is a noble resolve;why should not one avow the truth?Yet will Ispeak,for thou wilt haply change thy mind;that thou mayst know then what my offer is,Iwill go and place these arms of mine near the altar,resolved not to permit thy death but to prevent it;for brave as thou art,at sight of the knife held at thy throat,thou wilt soon avail thyself of what Isaid.So Iwill not let thee perish through any thoughtlessness of thine,but will go to the temple of the goddess with these arms and await thy arrival there.
Exit ACHILLES.
IPHIGENIA
Mother,why so silent,thine eyes wet with tears?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Ihave reason,woe is me!to be sad at heart.
IPHIGENIA
Forbear;make me not a coward;here in one thing obey me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Say what it is,my child,for at my hands thou shalt ne'er suffer injury.
IPHIGENIA
Cut not off the tresses of thy hair for me,nor clothe thyself in sable garb.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Why,my child,What is it thou hast said?Shall I,when Ilose thee-IPHIGENIA.
"Lose"me,thou dost not;Iam saved and thou renowned,as far as Ican make thee.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
How so?Must Inot mourn thy death?
IPHIGENIA
By no means,for Ishall have no tomb heaped o'er me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What,is not the act of dying held to imply burial?
IPHIGENIA
The altar of the goddess,Zeus's daughter,will be my tomb.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Well,my child,Iwill let thee persuade me,for thou sayest well.
IPHIGENIA
Aye,as one who prospereth and doeth Hellas service.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What message shall Icarry to thy sisters?
IPHIGENIA
Put not mourning raiment on them either.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
But is there no fond message Ican give the maidens from thee?
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
Othou that art most dear to me!thou hast helped thy friends as thou hadst means.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Is there anything Ican 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
Iwill go with thee.
IPHIGENIA
No,not thou;thou say'st not well.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Iwill,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 Ishall 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
Icannot 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 Icome 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 Iwill blot out the oracle,if it needs must be.
Omother,lady revered!for thee shall my tears be shed,and now;for at the holy rites Imay 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.
OPelasgia,land of my birth,and Mycenae,my home!
CHORUS
