Euripides
The Tragedies of Euripides, Volume I.
OR. The statue, in quest of which, we have sailed, is still in the temple.
IPH. And I will say that I must wash that too, as if you had laid hands on it.
OR. Where then is the damp breaker of the sea of which you speak?
IPH. Where thy ship rides at anchor with rope-bound chains.
OR. But wilt thou, or some one else, bear the image in their hands?
IPH. I, for it is lawful for me alone to touch it.
OR. But in what part of this contrivance will our friend Pylades635 be placed?
IPH. He will be said to bear the same pollution of hands as thyself.
OR. And wilt thou do this unknown to, or with the knowledge of the king?
IPH. Having persuaded him by words, for I could not escape notice.
OR. And truly the well-rowed ship is ready for sailing.636
IPH. You must take care of the rest, that it be well.
OR. There lacks but one thing, namely, that these women who are present preserve our secret. But do thou beseech them, and find words that will persuade. A woman in truth has power to move pity. But all the rest will perchance fall out well.
IPH. O dearest women, I look to you, and my affairs rest in you, as to whether they turn out well, or be of naught, and I be deprived of my country, my dear brother, and dearest sister. And let this first be the commencement of my words. We are women, a race well inclined to one another, and most safe in keeping secret matters of common interest. Do ye keep silence for us, and labor out our escape. Honorable is it for the man who possesses a faithful tongue. But behold how one fortune holds the three most dear, either a return to our father-land, or to die. But, being preserved, that thou also mayest share my fortune, I will restore thee safe to Greece. But, by thy right hand, thee, and thee [addressing the women of the chorus in succession] I beseech, and thee by thy beloved cheek, and thy knees, and those most dear at home, mother, and father, and children, to whom there are such.637 What say ye? Who of you will, or will not [speak!] these things.638 For if ye assent not to my words, I am undone, and my wretched sister.
CHOR. Be of good cheer, dear mistress, and think only of being saved, since on my part all shall be kept secret, the mighty Jove be witness! in the things thou enjoinest.
IPH. May your words profit ye, and may ye be blest. 'Tis thy part now, and thine [to the different women] to enter the house, as the ruler of this land will straightway come, inquiring concerning the sacrifice of the strangers, whether it is over. O revered Goddess, who in the recesses of Aulis didst save me from the dire hand of a slaying father, now also save me and these, or the voice of Loxias will through thee be no longer truthful among mortals. But do thou with good will quit the barbarian land for Athens, for it becomes thee not to dwell here, when you can possess a blest city.
CHORUS. Thou bird, that by the rocky cliffs of the sea, halcyon,639 dost chant thy mournful elegy, a sound well understood by the skilled, namely, that thou art ever bemoaning thine husband in song, I, a wingless bird, compare my dirge with thine, longing for the assemblies640 of the Greeks, longing for Lucina, who dwells along the Cynthian height, and near the palm641 with its luxuriant foliage, and the rich-springing laurel, and the holy shoot of the deep blue olive, the dear place of Latona's throes,642 and the lake that rolls its waters in a circle,643 where the melodious swan honors the muses. O ye many tricklings of tears which fell upon my cheeks, when, our towers being destroyed, I traveled in ships beneath the oars and the spears of the foes.644 And through a bartering of great price I came a journey to a barbarian land,645 where I serve the daughter of Agamemnon, the priestess of the Goddess, and the sheep-slaughtering646 altars, envying her who has all her life been unfortunate;647 for she bends not under necessity, who is familiar with it. Unhappiness is wont to change,648 but to fare ill after prosperity is a heavy life for mortals. And thee indeed, O mistress, an Argive ship of fifty oars will conduct home, and the wax-bound reed of mountain Pan with Syrinx tune cheer on the oarsmen, and prophet Phœbus, plying the tones of his seven-stringed lyre, with song will lead thee prosperously to the rich land of Athens. But leaving me here thou wilt travel by the dashing oars. And the halyards by the prow,649 will stretch forth the sails to the air, above the beak, the sheet lines of the swift-journeying ship. Would that I might pass through the glittering course, where the fair light of the sun wends its way, and over my own chamber might rest from rapidly moving the pinions on my shoulders.650 And would that I might stand in the dance, where also [I was wont to stand,] a virgin sprung from honorable nuptials,651 wreathing the dances of my companions at the foot of my dear mother,652 bounding to the rivalry of the graces, to the wealthy strife respecting [beauteous] hair, pouring my variously-painted garb and tresses around, I shadowed my cheeks.653
[Enter THOAS.]
THOAS. Where is the Grecian woman who keeps the gate of this temple? Has she yet begun the sacrifice of the strangers, and are the bodies burning in the flame within the pure recesses?
CHOR. Here she is, O king, who will tell thee clearly all.
TH. Ah! Why art thou removing in your arms this image of the Goddess from its seat that may not be disturbed, O daughter of Agamemnon?
IPH. O king, rest there thy foot in the portico.
TH. But what new matter is in the house, Iphigenia?
IPH. I avert the ill – for holy654 do I utter this word.
TH. What new thing art thou prefacing? speak clearly.
IPH. O king, no pure offerings hast thou hunted out for me.
TH. What hath taught you this? or dost thou speak it as matter of opinion?
IPH. The image of the Goddess hath again turned away from her seat.655
TH. Of its own accord, or did an earthquake turn it?
IPH. Of its own accord, and it closed its eyes.
TH. But what is the cause? is it pollution from the strangers?
IPH. That very thing, naught else, for they have done dreadful things.
TH. What, did they slay any of the barbarians upon the shore?
IPH. They came possessing the stain of domestic murder.
TH. What? for I am fallen into a longing to learn this.
IPH. They put an end to a mother's life by conspiring sword.
TH. Apollo! not even among barbarians would any one have dared this.
IPH. By persecutions they were driven out of all Greece.
TH. Is it then on their account that thou bearest the image without?
IPH. Ay, under the holy sky, that I may remove it from blood stains.
TH. But how didst thou discover the pollution of the strangers?
IPH. I examined them, when the image of the Goddess turned away.
TH. Greece hath trained thee up wise, in that thou well didst perceive this.
IPH. And now they have cast out a delightful bait for my mind.
TH. By telling thee any charming news of those at Argos?
IPH. That my only brother Orestes fares well.
TH. So that, forsooth, thou mightest preserve them because of their pleasant news!
IPH. And that my father lives and fares well.
TH. But thou hast with reason attended to the interest of the Goddess.
IPH. Ay, because hating all Greece that destroyed me.
TH. What then shall we do, say, concerning the two strangers?
IPH. We needs must respect the established law.
TH. Are not the lustral waters and thy sword already engaged?656
IPH. First I would fain lave them in pure cleansings.
TH. In the fountains of waters, or in the dew of the sea?
IPH. The sea washes out all the ills of men.
TH. They would certainly fall in a more holy manner before the Goddess.
IPH. And my matters would be in a more fitting state.657
TH. Does not the wave dash against the very temple?
IPH. There is need of solitude, for we have other things to do.
TH. Lead them whither thou wilt, I crave not to see things that may not be told.
IPH. The image of the Goddess also must be purified by me.
TH. If indeed the stain of the matricide hath fallen on it.
IPH. For otherwise I should not have removed it from its pedestal.
TH. Just piety and foresight! How reasonably doth all the city marvel at thee!
IPH. Knowest thou then what must be done for me?
TH. 'Tis thine to explain this.
IPH. Cast fetters upon the strangers.
TH. Whither could they escape from thee?
IPH. Greece knows nothing faithful.
TH. Go for the fetters, attendants.
IPH. Ay, and let them bring the strangers hither.
TH. This shall be.
IPH. Having enveloped their heads in robes.
TH. Against the scorching of the sun?
IPH. And send thou with me of thy followers —
TH. These shall accompany thee.
IPH. And send some one to signify to the city —
TH. What hap?
IPH. That all remain in their homes.
TH. Lest they encounter homicide?
IPH. For such things are unclean.
TH. Go thou, and order this.
IPH. That no one come into sight.
TH. Thou carest well for the city.
IPH. Ay, and more particularly friends must not be present.658
TH. This you say in reference to me.
IPH. But do thou, abiding here before the temple of the Goddess —
TH. Do what?
IPH. Purify the house with a torch.
TH. That it may be pure when thou comest back to it?
IPH. But when the strangers come out,
TH. What must I do?
IPH. Place your garment before your eyes.
TH. Lest I contract contagion?
IPH. But if I seem to tarry very long,
TH. What limit of this shall I have?
IPH. Wonder at nothing.
TH. Do thou rightly the business of the Goddess at thy leisure.
IPH. And may this purification turn out as I wish!
TH. I join in your prayer.
IPH. I now see these strangers coming out of the house, and the adornments of the Goddess, and the young lambs, in order that I may wash out foul slaughter by slaughter, and the shining light of lamps, and the other things, as many as I ordered as purifications for the strangers and the Goddess. But I proclaim to the strangers to get out of the way of this pollution, if any gate-keeper of the temples keeps pure hands for the Gods, or is about to join in nuptial alliance, or is pregnant, flee, get out of the way, lest this pollution fall on any. O thou queen, virgin daughter of Jove and Latona, if I wash away the blood-pollution from these men, and sacrifice where 'tis fitting, thou wilt occupy a pure house, and we shall be prosperous. But although I do not speak of the rest, I nevertheless signify my meaning to the Gods who know most things,659 and to thee, O Goddess.
CHORUS.660 Of noble birth is the offspring of Latona, whom once on a time in the fruitful valleys of Delos, Phœbus with his golden locks, skilled on the lyre, (and she who rejoices in skill of the bow,) his mother bore while yet an infant661 from the sea-side rock, leaving the renowned place of her delivery, destitute of waters,662 the Parnassian height haunted by Bacchus, where the ruddy-visaged serpent, with spotted back, † brazen † beneath the shady laurel with its rich foliage, an enormous prodigy of the earth, guarded the subterranean oracle. Him thou, O Phœbus, while yet an infant, while yet leaping in thy dear mother's arms, didst slay, and entered upon thy divine oracles, and thou sittest on the golden tripod, on the throne that is ever true, distributing to mortals prophecies from the divine adyts beneath the Castalian streams, dwelling hard by, occupying a dwelling in the middle of the earth.663 But when, having gone against Themis, daughter of earth, he expelled her from the divine oracles, earth begot dark phantoms of dreams, which to many mortals explain what first, what afterward, what in future will happen, during their sleep in the couches of the dusky earth.664 But † the earth † deprived Phœbus of the honor of prophecies, through anger on her daughter's account, and the swift-footed king, hastening to Olympus, stretched forth his little hand to the throne of Jove.665 [beseeching him] to take away the earth-born666 wrath of the Goddess, † and the nightly responses. † But he laughed, because his son had come quickly to him, wishing to obtain the wealthy office, and he shook his hair, and put an end to the nightly dreams,667 and took away nightly divination from mortals, and again conferred the honor on Loxias, and confidence to mortals from the songs of oracles [proclaimed] on this throne, thronged to by many strangers.668
[Enter A MESSENGER.]
MESS. O ye guardians of the temple and presidents of the altars, where in this land has king Thoas gone? Do ye, opening the well-fastened gates, call the ruler of this land outside the house.
CHOR. But what is it, if I may speak when I am not bidden?
MESS. The two youths have escaped, and are gone by the contrivances of Agamemnon's daughter, endeavoring to fly from this land, and taking the sacred image in the bosom of a Grecian ship.
CHOR. Thou tellest an incredible story, but the king of this country, whom you wish to see, is gone, having quitted the temple.
MESS. Whither? For he needs must know what has been done.
CHOR. We know not. But go thou and pursue him to wheresoever, having met with him, thou mayest recount this news.
MESS. See, how faithless is the female race! and ye are partners in what has been done.
CHOR. Art thou mad? What have we to do with the flight of the strangers? Will you not go as quickly as possible to the gates of the rulers?
MESS. Not at least before some distinct informer669 tell me this, whether the ruler of the land is within or not within. Ho there! Open the fastenings, I speak to those within, and tell the master that I am at the gates, bearing a weight of evil news.
THOAS. (coming out) Who makes this noise near the temple of the Goddess, hammering at the door, and sending fear within?
MESS. These women told me falsely, (and tried to drive me from the house,) that you were away, while you really were in the house.
TH. Expecting or hunting after what gain?
MESS. I will afterward tell of what concerns them, but hear the present, immediate matter. The virgin, she that presided over the altars here, Iphigenia, has gone out of the land with the strangers, having the sacred image of the Goddess; but the expiations were pretended.
TH. How sayest thou? possessed by what breath of calamity?670
MESS. In order to preserve Orestes, for at this thou wilt marvel.
TH. What [Orestes]? Him, whom the daughter of Tyndarus bore?
MESS. Him whom she consecrated to the Goddess at these altars.
TH. Oh marvel! How can I rightly671 call thee by a greater name?
MESS. Do not turn thine attention to this, but listen to me; and having perceived and heard, clearly consider what pursuit will catch the strangers.
TH. Speak, for thou sayest well, for they do not flee by the way of the neighboring sea, so as to be able to escape my fleet.
MESS. When we came to the sea-shore, where the vessel of Orestes was anchored in secret, to us indeed, whom thou didst send with her, bearing fetters for the strangers, the daughter of Agamemnon made signs that we should get far out of the way, as she was about to offer the secret672 flame and expiation, for which she had come. But she, holding the fetters of the strangers in her hands, followed behind them. And these matters were suspicious, but they satisfied your attendants, O king. But at length, in order forsooth that she might seem to us to be doing something, she screamed aloud, and chanted barbarian songs like a sorceress, as if washing out the stain of murder. But after we had remained sitting a long time, it occurred to us whether the strangers set at liberty might not slay her, and take to flight. And through fear lest we might behold what was not fitting, we sat in silence, but at length the same words were in every body's mouth, that we should go to where they were, although not permitted. And upon this we behold the hull of the Grecian ship, [the rowing winged with well-fitted oars,673] and fifty sailors holding their oars in the tholes, and the youths, freed from their fetters, standing [on the shore] astern of the ship.674 But some held in the prow with their oars, and others from the epotides let down the anchor, and others hastily applying the ladders, drew the stern-cables through their hands, and giving them to the sea, let them down to the strangers.675 But we unsparing [of the toil,] when we beheld the crafty stratagem, laid hold of the female stranger and of the cables, and tried to drag the rudders from the fair-prowed ship from the steerage-place. But words ensued: "On what plea do ye take to the sea, stealing from this land the images and priestess? Whose son art thou, who thyself, who art carrying this woman from the land?" But he replied, "Orestes, her brother, that you may know, the son of Agamemnon, I, having taken this my sister, whom I had lost from my house, am bearing her off." But naught the less we clung to the female stranger, and compelled them by force to follow us to thee, upon which arose sad smitings of the cheeks. For they had not arms in their hands, nor had we; but fists were sounding against fists, and the arms of both the youths at once were aimed against our sides and to the liver, so that we at once were exhausted676 and worn out in our limbs. But stamped with horrid marks we fled to a precipice, some having bloody wounds on the head, others in the eyes, and standing on the heights, we waged a safer warfare, and pelted stones. But archers, standing on the poop, hindered us with their darts, so that we returned back. And meanwhile – for a tremendous wave drove the ship against the land, and there was alarm [on board] lest she might dip her sheet-line677– Orestes, taking his sister on his left shoulder, walked into the sea, and leaping upon the ladder, placed her within the well-banked ship, and also the image of the daughter of Jove, that fell from heaven. And from the middle of the ship a voice spake thus, "O mariners of the Grecian ship, seize678 on your oars, and make white the surge, for we have obtained the things on account of which we sailed o'er the Euxine within the Symplegades." But they shouting forth a pleasant cry, smote the brine. The ship, as long indeed as it was within the port, went on; but, passing the outlet, meeting with a strong tide, it was driven back. For a terrible gale coming suddenly, drives [the bark winged with well-fitted oars] poop-wise,679 but they persevered, kicking against the wave, but an ebbing tide brought them again aground. But the daughter of Agamemnon stood up and prayed, "O daughter of Latona, bring me, thy priestess, safe into Greece from a barbarian land, and pardon the stealing away of me. Thou also, O Goddess, lovest thy brother, and think thou that I also love my kindred." But the sailors shouted a pæan in assent to the prayers of the girl, applying on a given signal the point of the shoulders,680 bared from their hands, to the oars. But more and more the vessel kept nearing the rocks, and one indeed leaped into the sea with his feet, and another fastened woven nooses.681 And I was immediately sent hither to thee, to tell thee, O king, what had happened there. But go, taking fetters and halters in your hands, for, unless the wave shall become tranquil, there is no hope of safety for the strangers. For the ruler of the sea, the revered Neptune, both favorably regards Troy, and is at enmity with the Pelopidæ. And he will now, as it seems, deliver up to thee and the citizens the son of Agamemnon, to take him into your hands, and his sister, who is detected ungratefully forgetting the Goddess in respect to the sacrifice at Aulis.682
CHOR. O hapless Iphigenia, with thy brother wilt thou die, again coming into the hands of thy masters.
TH. O all ye citizens of this barbarian land, will ye not, casting bridles on your horses, run to the shore, and receive the casting on of the Grecian ship? But hastening, by the favor of the Goddess, will ye not hunt down the impious men, and some of you haul the swift barks down to the sea, that by sea, and by horse-coursings on the land seizing them, we may either hurl them down the broken rock, or impale their bodies upon stakes. But you women, the accomplices in these plots, I will punish hereafter, when I have leisure, but now, having such a present duty, we will not remain idle.
