iphigenia in tauris-第11章
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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 plough'd the deep； now ply your oars；
And dash the billows till they foam： those things
Are ours； for which we swept the Euxine sea。
And steer'd our course within its clashing rocks。〃
They gave a cheerful shout； and with their oars
Dash'd the salt wave。 The galley； while it rode
Within the harbour； work'd its easy way；
But having pass'd its mouth； the swelling flood
Roll'd on it； and with sudden force the wind
Impetuous rising drove it back： their oars
They slack'd not； stoutly struggling 'gainst the wave；
But towards the land the refluent flood impell'd
The galley： then the royal virgin stood；
And pray'd：…〃O daughter of Latona； save me；
Thy priestess save； from this barbaric land
To Greece restore me； and forgive my thefts：
For thou； O goddess； dost thy brother love；
Deem then that I love those allied to me。〃
The mariners responsive to her prayer
Shouted loud paeans； and their naked arms；
Each cheering each； to their stout oars apply。
But nearer and yet nearer to the rock
The galley drove： some rush'd into the sea；
Some strain'd the ropes that bind the loosen'd sails。
Straight was I hither sent to thee； O king；
To inform thee of these accidents。 But haste；
Take chains and gyves with thee： for if the flood
side not to a calm； there is no hope
Of safety to the strangers。 Be assured；
That Neptune； awful monarch of the main；
Remembers Troy； and； hostile to the race
Of Pelops； will deliver to thy hands；
And to thy people； as is meet； the son
Of Agamemnon； and bring back to the
His sister； who the goddess hath betray'd；
Unmindful of the blood at Aulis shed。
LEADER
Unhappy Iphigenia； thou must die；
Thy brother too must die； if thou again；
Seized in thy flight； to thy lord's hands shalt come。
THOAS
Inhabitants of this barbaric land；
Will you not rein your steeds； will you not fly
Along the shore； to seize whate'er this skiff
Of Greece casts forth； and； for your goddess roused；
Hunt down these impious men？ Will you not launch
Instant your swift…oar'd barks； by sea； by land
To catch them； from the rugged rock to hurl
Their bodies； or impale them on the stake？
But for you； women； in these dark designs
Accomplices； hereafter； as I find
Convenient leisure； I will punish you。
The occasion urges now； and gives no pause。
（MINERVA appears above。）
MINERVA
Whither； O royal Thoas； dost thou lead
This vengeful chase？ Attend： Minerva speaks。
Cease thy pursuit； and stop this rushing flood
Of arms； for hither； by the fateful voice
Of Phoebus； came Orestes； warn'd to fly
The anger of the Furies； to convey
His sister to her native Argos back；
And to my land the sacred image bear。
Thoas； I speak to thee： him； whom thy rage
Would kill； Orestes； on the wild waves seized；
Neptune； to do me grace； already wafts
On the smooth sea； the swelling surges calm'd。
And thou； Orestes （for my voice thou hear'st；
Though distant far）； to my commands attend：
Go； with the sacred image； which thou bear'st；
And with thy sister： but when thou shalt come
To Athens built by gods； there is a place
On the extreme borders of the Attic land；
Close neighbouring to Carystia's craggy height；
Sacred； my people call it Alae： there
A temple raise； and fix the statue there；
Which from the Tauric goddess shall receive
Its name； and from thy toils； which thou； through Greece
Driven by the Furies' maddening stings； hast borne；
And mortals shall in future times with hymns
The Tauric goddess there； Diana； hail。
And be this law establish'd； when the feast
For thy deliverance from this shrine is held；
To a man's throat that they apply the sword；
And draw the blood； in memory of these rites；
That of her honours naught the goddess lose。
Thou； Iphigenia； on the hallow'd heights
Of Brauron on this goddess shalt attend
Her priestess； dying shalt be there interr'd；
Graced with the honours of the gorgeous vests
Of finest texture； in their houses left
By matrons who in childbed pangs expired。
These Grecian dames back to their country lead；
I charge thee； justice this return demands；
For I saved thee； when on the mount of Mars
The votes were equal； and from that decree
The shells in number equal still absolve。
But； son of Agamemnon； from this land
Thy sister bear； nor； Thoas； be thou angry。
THOAS
Royal Minerva； he that hears the gods
Commanding； and obeys not； is unwise。
My anger 'gainst Orestes flames no more；
Gone though he be； and bears with him away
The statue of the goddess； and his sister。
Have mortals glory 'gainst the powerful gods
Contending？ Let them go； and to thy land
The sacred image bear； and fix it there；
Good fortune go with them。 To favour Greece；
These dames； at thy high bidding； I will send。
My arms will I restrain； which I had raised
Against the strangers； and my swift…oar'd barks；
Since； potent goddess； this is pleasing to thee。
MINERVA
I praise thy resolution； for the power
Of Fate o'er thee and o'er the gods prevails。
Breathe soft； ye favouring gales； to Athens bear
These sprung from Agamemnon； on their course
Attending； I will go； and heedful save
My sister's sacred image。 You too go （to the CHORUS）
Prosperous； and in the fate that guards you bless'd。
（MINERVA vanishes。）
CHORUS （chanting）
O thou； among the immortal gods revered
And mortal men； Minerva； we will do
As thou commandest； for with transport high；
Exceeding hope； our ears receive thy words。
O Victory； I revere thy awful power：
Guard thou my life； nor ever cease to crown me！
…THE END…
。
