iphigenia in tauris-第5章
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ORESTES
Now then forbear： of him inquire no more。
IPHIGENIA
This only： lives the unhappy monarch's wife？
ORESTES
She； lady； is no more； slain by her son。
IPHIGENIA
Alas； the ruin'd house！ What his intent？
ORESTES
To avenge on her his noble father slain。
IPHIGENIA
An ill； but righteous deed； how justly done！
ORESTES
Though righteous； by the gods be is not bless'd。
IPHIGENIA
Hath Agamemnon other offspring left？
ORESTES
He left one virgin daughter； named Electra。
IPHIGENIA
Of her that died a victim is aught said？
ORESTES
This only； dead； she sees the light no more。
IPHIGENIA
Unhappy she！ the father too who slew her！
ORESTES
For a bad woman she unseemly died。
IPHIGENIA
At Argos lives the murdered father's son？
ORESTES
Nowhere he lives； poor wretch！ and everywhere。
IPHIGENIA
False dreams； farewell； for nothing you import。
ORESTES
Nor are those gods； that have the name of wise；
Less false than fleeting dreams。 In things divine；
And in things human； great confusion reigns。
One thing is left； that； not unwise of soul；
Obedient to the prophet's voice he perish'd；
For that he perish'd； they who know report。
LEADER
What shall we know； what of our parents know？
If yet they live or not； who can inform us？
IPHIGENIA
Hear me： this converse prompts a thought； which gives
Promise of good； ye youths of Greece； to you；
To these； and me： thus may it well be done；
If； willing to my purpose； all assent。
Wilt thou； if I shall save thee； go for me
A messenger to Argos； to my friends
Charged with a letter； which a captive wrote；
Who pitied me； nor murderous thought my hand；
But that he died beneath the law； these rites
The goddess deeming just？ for from that hour
I have not found who might to Argos bear
Himself my message； back with life return'd；
Or send to any of my friends my letter。
Thou； therefore； since it seems thou dost not bear
Ill…will to me； and dost Mycenae know；
And those I wish to address； be safe； and live；
No base reward for a light letter； life
Receiving； and let him； since thus the state
Requires； without thee to the goddess bleed。
ORESTES
Virgin unknown； well hast thou said in all
Save this； that to the goddess he should bleed
A victim； that were heavy grief indeed。
I steer'd the vessel to these ills； he sail'd
Attendant on my toils： to gain thy grace
By his destruction； and withdraw myself
From sufferings； were unjust： thus let it be：
Give him the letter； to fulfil thy wish；
To Argos he will bear it： me let him
Who claims that office； slay： base is his soul；
Who in calamities involves his friends；
And saves himself； this is a friend； whose life；
Dear to me as my own； I would preserve。
IPHIGENIA
Excellent spirit！ from some noble root
It shows thee sprung； and to thy friends a friend
Sincere； of those that share my blood if one
Remains； such may he be！ for I am not
Without a brother； strangers； from my sight
Though distant now。 Since then thy wish is such；
Him will I send to Argos； he shall bear
My letter； thou shalt die； for this desire
Hath strong possession of thy noble soul。
ORESTES
Who then shall do the dreadful deed； and slay me？
IPHIGENIA
I： to atone the goddess is my charge。
ORESTES
A charge unenvied； virgin； and unbless'd。
IPHIGENIA
Necessity constrains： I must obey。
ORESTES
Wilt thou； a woman； plunge the sword in men？
IPHIGENIA
No： but thy locks to sprinkle round is mine。
ORESTES
Whose then； if I may ask； the bloody deed？
IPHIGENIA
To some within the temple this belongs。
ORESTES
What tomb is destined to receive my corse？
IPHIGENIA
The hallow'd fire within； and a dark cave。
ORESTES
O； that a sister's hand might wrap these limbs！
IPHIGENIA
Vain wish； unhappy youth； whoe'er thou art；
Hast thou conceived； for from this barbarous land
Far is her dwelling。 Yet； of what my power
Permits （since thou from Argos draw'st thy birth）；
No grace will I omit： for in the tomb
I will place much of ornament； and pour
The dulcet labour of the yellow bee；
From mountain flowers extracted； on thy pyre。
But I will go； and from the temple bring
The letter； yet 'gainst me no hostile thought
Conceive。 You； that attend here； guard them well；
But without chains。 To one； whom most I love
Of all my friends； to Argos I shall send
Tidings perchance unlook'd for； and this letter；
Declaring those whom he thought dead alive；
Shall bear him an assured and solid joy。
（She enters the temple。）
CHORUS （chanting）
Thee； o'er whose limbs the bloody drops shall soon
Be from the lavers sprinkled； I lament。
ORESTES
This asks no pity； strangers： but farewell。
CHORUS （chanting）
Thee for thy happy fate we reverence； youth
Who to thy country shall again return。
PYLADES
To friends unwish'd； who leave their friends to die。
CHORUS （chanting）
Painful dismission！ Which shall I esteem
Most lost； alas； alas！ which most undone？
For doubts my wavering judgment yet divide；
If chief for thee my sighs should swell； or thee。
ORESTES
By the gods； Pylades； is thy mind touch'd
In manner like as mine？
PYLADES
I cannot tell；
Nor to thy question have I to reply。
ORESTES
Who is this virgin？ With what zeal for Greece
Made she inquiries of us what the toils
At Troy； if yet the Grecians were return'd；
And Calchas； from the flight of birds who form'd
Presages of the future。 And she named
Achilles： with what tenderness bewail'd
The unhappy Agamemnon！ Of his wife
She ask'd me；…of his children： thence her race
This unknown virgin draws； an Argive； else
Ne'er would she send this letter； nor have wish'd
To know these things； as if she bore a share
（If Argos flourish） in its prosperous state。
PYLADES
Such were my thoughts （but thou hast given them words；
Preventing me） of every circumstance；
Save one： the fate of kings all know； whose state
Holds aught of rank。 But pass to other thoughts。
ORESTES
What？ Share them； so thou best mayst be inform'd。
PYLADES
That thou shouldst die； and I behold this light；
Were base： with thee I sail'd； with thee to die
Becomes me； else shall I obtain the name
Of a vile coward through the Argive state；
And the deep vales of Phocis。 Most will think
（For most think ill） that by betraying the
I saved myself； home to return alone；
Or haply that I slew thee； and thy death
Contrived； that in the ruin of thy house
Thy empire I might grasp； to me devolved
As wedded to thy sister； now sole heir。
These things I fear； and hold them infamous。
Behooves me then with thee to die； with the
To bleed a victim； on the pyre with thine
To give my body to the flames； for this
Becomes me as thy friend。 who dreads reproach。
ORESTES
Speak more auspicious words： 'tis mine to bear
Ills that are mine； and single when the wo；
I would not bear it double。 What thou say'st
Is vile and infamous； would light on me；
Should I cause thee to die； who in my toils
Hast borne a share： to me； who from the gods
Suffer afflictions which I suffer； death
Is not unwelcome： thou art happy； thine
An unpolluted and a prosperous house；
Mine impious and unbless'd： if thou art saved；
And from my sister （whom I gave to thee；
Betro
