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  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

    O thou that art most dear to me! thou hast helped thy friends as

thou hadst means。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Is there anything I can 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

    I will go with thee。

  IPHIGENIA

    No; not thou; thou say'st not well。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    I will; 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 I shall 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

    I cannot 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 I come 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 I will blot out the oracle; if it needs must

be。

    O mother; lady revered! for thee shall my tears be shed; and

now; for at the holy rites I may 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。

  O Pelasgia; land of my birth; and Mycenae; my home!

  CHORUS

    Is it on Perseus' citadel thou callest; that town Cyclopean

workmen build

  IPHIGENIA

    To be a light to Hellas didst thou rear me; and so I say not No to

death。

  CHORUS

    Thou art right; no fear that fame will e'er desert thee!

  IPHIGENIA

    Hail to thee; bright lamp of day and light of Zeus! A different

life; different lot is henceforth mine。 Farewell I bid thee; light

beloved!



                                                      Exit IPHIGENIA。



  CHORUS

    Behold the maiden on her way; the destroyer of Ilium's town and

its Phrygians; with garlands twined about her head; and drops of

lustral water on her; soon to besprinkle with her gushing blood the

altar of a murderous goddess; what time her shapely neck is severed。

    For thee fair streams of a father's pouring and lustral waters are

in store; for thee Achaea's host is waiting; eager to reach the

citadel of Ilium。 But let us celebrate Artemis; the daughter of

Zeus; queen among the gods; as if upon some happy chance。

    O lady revered; delighting in human sacrifice; send on its way

to Phrygia's land the host of the Hellenes; to Troy's abodes of guile;

and grant that Agamemnon may wreathe his head with deathless fame; a

crown of fairest glory for the spearmen of Hellas。



                           Enter MESSENGER。



  MESSENGER

    Come forth; O Clytaemnestra; daughter of Tyndareus; from the tent;

to hear my news。



                           Enter CLYTAEMNESTRA。



  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    I heard thy voice and am come in sad dismay and fearful dread; not

sure but what thou hast arrived with tidings of some fresh trouble for

me besides the present woe。

  MESSENGER

    Nay; rather would I unfold to thee a story strange and

marvellous about thy child。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Delay not; then; but speak at once。

  MESSENGER

    Dear mistress; thou shalt learn all clearly; from the outset

will I tell it; unless my memory fail me somewhat and confuse my

tongue in its account。 As soon as we reached the grove of Artemis; the

child of Zeus; and the meadows gay with flowers; where the Achaean

troops were gathered; bringing thy daughter with us; forthwith the

Argive host began assembling; but when king Agamemnon saw the maiden

on her way to the grove to be sacrificed; he gave one groan; and;

turning away his face; let the tears burst from his eyes; as he held

his robe before them。 But the maid; standing close by him that begot

her; spake on this wise; 〃O my father; here am I to do thy bidding;

freely I offer this body of mine for my country and all Hellas; that

ye may lead me to the altar of the goddess and sacrifice me; since

this is Heaven's ordinance。 Good luck be yours for any help that I

afford! and may ye obtain the victor's gift and come again to the land

of your fathers。 So then let none of the Argives lay hands on me;

for I will bravely yield my neck without a word。〃

    She spake; and each man marvelled; as he heard the maiden's brave;

unflinching speech。 But in the midst up stood Talthybius…for his

this duty was…and bade the host refrain from word or deed; and

Calchas; the seer; drawing a sharp sword from out its scabbard laid it

in a basket of beaten gold; crowning the maiden's head the while。 Then

the son of Peleus; taking the basket and with it lustral water in

his hand; ran round the altar of the goddess uttering these words;

〃O Artemis; thou child of Zeus; slayer of wild beasts; that wheelest

thy dazzling light amid the gloom; accept this sacrifice; which we;

the host of the Achaeans and king Agamemnon with us; offer to thee;

even pure blood from a beauteous maiden's neck; and grant us safe

sailing for our ships and the sack of Troy's towers by our spears。〃

    Meantime the sons of Atreus and all the host stood looking on

the ground; while the priest; seizing his knife; offered up a prayer

and was closely scanning the maiden's throat to see where he should

strike。 'Twas no slight sorrow filled my heart; as I stood by with

bowed head; when lo! a sudden miracle! Each one of us distinctly heard

the sound of a blow; but none saw the spot where the maiden

vanished。 Loudly the priest cried out; and all the host took up the

cry at the sight of a marvel all unlooked for; due to some god's

agency; and passing all belief; although 'twas seen; for there upon

the ground lay a hind of size immense and passing fair to sec; gasping

out her life; with whose blood the altar of the goddess was thoroughly

bedewed。 Whereon spake Calchas thus…his joy thou canst imagine…〃Ye

captains of this leagued Achaean host; do ye see this victim; which

the goddess has set before her altar; a mountain roaming hind? This is

more welcome to her by far than the maid; that she may not defile

her altar by shedding noble blood。 Gladly has she accepted it and is

granting us a prosperous voyage for our attack on Ilium。 Wherefore

take heart; sailors; each man of you; and away to your ships; for

to…day must we leave the hollow bays of Aulis and cross the Aegean

main。〃

    Then; when the sacrifice was wholly burnt to ashes in the

blazing flame; he offered such prayers as were meet; that the army

might win return; but me Agamemnon sends to tell thee this; and say

what Heaven…sent luck is his; and how he hath secured undying fame

throughout the length of Hellas。 Now I was there myself and speak as

an eye…witness; without a doubt thy child flew away to the gods。 A

truce then to thy sorrowing; and cease to be wroth with thy husband;

for God's ways with man are not what we expect; and those whom he

loves; he keepeth safe; yea; for this day hath seen thy daughter

dead and brought to life again。



                                                      Exit MESSENGER。



  CHORUS

    What joy to hear these tidings from the messenger! He tells thee

thy child is living still; among the gods。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Which of the gods; my child; hath stolen thee? How am I to address

thee? How can I be sure that this is not an idle tale told to cheer

me; to make me cease my piteous lamentation for thee?

  CHORUS

    Lo! king Agamemnon approaches; to confirm this story for thee。



                                                     Enter AGAMEMNON。



  AGAMEMNON

    Happy may we be counted; lady; as far as concerns our daughter;

for she hath fellowship with gods in very sooth。 But thou must take

this tender babe and start for home; for the host is

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