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by Euripides CHORUS Hearken to her Agamemnon, for to join in saving thy children's lives is surely a noble deed; none would gainsay this. IPHIGENIA Had I the eloquence of Orpheus, my father, to move the rocks by chanted spells to follow me, or to charm by speaking whom I would, I had resorted to it. But as it is, I'll bring my tears-the only art I know; for that I might attempt. And about thy knees, in suppliant wise, I twine my limbs these limbs thy wife here bore. Destroy me not before my time, for sweet is to look upon the light, and force me not to visit scenes below. I was the first to call thee father, thou the first to call me child; the first was I to sit upon thy knee and give and take the fond caress. And this was what thou then wouldst say, "Shall I see thee, my child, living a happy prosperous life in a husband's home one day, in a manner worthy of myself?" And I in my turn would ask, as I hung about thy beard, whereto I now am clinging, "How shall I see thee? Shall I be giving thee a glad reception in my halls, father, in thy old age, repaying all thy anxious care in rearing me? I remember all we said, 'tis thou who hast forgotten and now wouldst take my life. By Pelops, I entreat thee spare me, by thy father Atreus and my mother here, who suffers now a second time the pangs she felt before when bearing me! What have I to do with the marriage of Paris and Helen? why is his coming to prove my ruin, father? Look upon me; one glance, one kiss bestow, that this at least I may carry to my death as a memorial of thee, though thou heed not my pleading. (Holding up the babe to ORESTES) Feeble ally though thou art, brother, to thy loved ones, yet add thy tears to mine and entreat our father for thy sister's life; even in babes there is a natural sense of ill. O father, see this speechless supplication made to thee; pity me; have mercy on my tender years! Yea, by thy beard we two fond hearts implore thy pity, the one a babe, a full-grown maid the other. By summing all my pleas in one, I will prevail in what I say. To gaze upon yon light is man's most cherished gift; that life below is nothingness, and whoso longs for death is mad. Better live a life of woe than die a death of glory! CHORUS Ah, wretched Helen! Awful the struggle that has come to the sons of Atreus and their children, thanks to thee and those marriages of thine. AGAMEMNON While loving my own children, I yet understand what should move my pity and what should not; I were a madman else. 'Tis terrible for me to bring myself to this, nor less terrible is it to refuse, daughter; for I must fare the same. Ye see the vastness of von naval host, and the numbers of bronze clad warriors from Hellas, who can neither make their way to Ilium's towers nor raze the far-famed citadel of Troy, unless I offer thee according to the word of Calchas the seer. Some mad desire possesses the host of Hellas to sail forthwith to the land of the barbarians, and put a stop to the rape of wives from Hellas, and they will slay my daughters in Argos as well as you and me, if I disregard the goddess's behests. It is not Menelaus who hath enslaved me to him, child, nor have I followed wish of his; nay, 'tis Hellas, for whom I must sacrifice thee whether I will or no; to this necessity I bow my head; for her freedom must be preserved, as far as any help of thine, daughter, or mine can go; nor must they, who are the sons Hellas, be pillaged of their wives by barbarian robbery. AGAMEMNON rushes from the stage, CLYTAEMNESTRA My child Ye stranger ladies! Woe is me for this thy death! Thy father flies, surrendering thee to Hades. IPHIGENIA Woe is me, O mother mine! for the same strain hath fallen to both of us in our fortune. No more for me the light of day! no more the beams of yonder sun! Woe for that snow-beat glen in Phrygia and the hills of Ida, where Priam once exposed a tender babe, torn from his mother's arms to meet a deadly doom, e'en Paris, called the child of Ida in the Phrygians' town. Would Priam ne'er had settled him, the herdsman reared amid the herds, beside that water crystal-clear, where are fountains of the Nymphs and their meadow rich with blooming flowers, where hyacinths and rose-buds blow for goddesses to gather! Hither one day came Pallas and Cypris of the subtle heart, Hera too and Hermes messenger of Zeus-Cypris, proud of the longing she causes; Pallas of her prowess; and Hera of her royal marriage with king Zeus-to decide a hateful strife about their beauty; but it is my death, maidens-fraught, 'tis true, with glory to the Danai-that Artemis has received as an offering, before they begin the voyage to Ilium. O mother, mother! he that begat me to this life of sorrow has gone and left me all alone. Ah! woe is me! a bitter, bitter sight for me was Helen, evil Helen! to me now doomed to bleed and die, slaughtered by an impious sire. I would this Aulis had never received in its havens here the sterns of their bronze-beaked ships, the fleet which was speeding them to Troy; and would that Zeus had never breathed on the Euripus a wind to stop the expedition, tempering, as he doth, a different breeze to different men, so that some have joy in setting sail, and sorrow some, and others hard constraint, to make some start and others stay and others furl their sails! Full of trouble then, it seems, is the race of mortals, full of trouble verily; and 'tis ever Fate's decree that man should find distress. Woe! woe to thee, thou child of Tyndareus, for the suffering and anguish sore, which thou art causing the Danai! CHORUS I pity thee for thy cruel fate-a fate I would thou ne'er hadst met! IPHIGENIA O mother that bare me! I see a throng of men approaching. CLYTAEMNESTRA It is the goddess-born thou seest, child, for whom thou camest hither. IPHIGENIA (Calling into the tent) Open the tent-door to me, servants, that I may hide myself. CLYTAEMNESTRA Why seek to fly, my child? IPHIGENIA I am ashamed to face Achilles. CLYTAEMNESTRA Wherefore? IPHIGENIA The luckless ending to our marriage causes me to feel abashed. CLYTAEMNESTRA No time for affectation now in face of what has chanced. Stay then; reserve will do no good, if only we can- (Enter ACHILLES.) ACHILLES Daughter of Leda, lady of sorrows! CLYTAEMNESTRA No misnomer that. ACHILLES A fearful cry is heard among the Argives. CLYTAEMNESTRA What is it? tell me. ACHILLES It concerns thy child. CLYTAEMNESTRA An evil omen for thy words. ACHILLES They say her sacrifice is necessary. CLYTAEMNESTRA And is there no one to say a word against them? ACHILLES Indeed I was in some danger myself from the tumult. CLYTAEMNESTRA In danger of what? kind sir. ACHILLES Of being stoned. CLYTAEMNESTRA Surely not for trying to save my daughter? ACHILLES The very reason. CLYTAEMNESTRA Who would have dared to lay a finger on thee? ACHILLES The men of Hellas, one and all. CLYTAEMNESTRA Were not thy Myrmidon warriors at thy side? ACHILLES They were the first who turned against me. CLYTAEMNESTRA My child! we are lost, undone, it seems. ACHILLES They taunted me as the man whom marriage had enslaved. CLYTAEMNESTRA And what didst thou answer them? ACHILLES I craved the life of her I meant to wed- CLYTAEMNESTRA Justly so. ACHILLES The wife her father promised me. CLYTAEMNESTRA Aye, and sent to fetch from Argos. ACHILLES But I was overcome by clamorous cries. CLYTAEMNESTRA Truly the mob is a dire mischief. ACHILLES But I will help thee for all that. CLYTAEMNESTRA Wilt thou really fight them single-handed? ACHILLES Dost see these warriors here, carrying my arms? CLYTAEMNESTRA Bless thee for thy kind intent! ACHILLES Well, I shall be blessed. CLYTAEMNESTRA Then my child will not be slaughtered now? ACHILLES No, not with my consent at any rate. CLYTAEMNESTRA But will any of them come to lay hands on the maid? ACHILLES Thousands of them, with Odysseus at their head. CLYTAEMNESTRA The son of Sisyphus? ACHILLES The very same. CLYTAEMNESTRA Acting for himself or by the army's order? ACHILLES By their choice-and his own. CLYTAEMNESTRA An evil choice indeed, to stain his hands in blood! ACHILLES But I will hold him back. CLYTAEMNESTRA Will he seize and bear her hence against her will? ACHILLES Aye, by her golden hair no doubt. CLYTAEMNESTRA What must I do, when it comes to that? ACHILLES Keep hold of thy daughter. CLYTAEMNESTRA Be sure that she shall not be slain, as far as that can help her. ACHILLES Believe me, it will come to this. IPHIGENIA Mother, hear me while I speak, for I see that thou art wroth with thy husband to no purpose; 'tis hard for us to persist in impossibilities. Our thanks are due to this stranger for his ready help; but thou must also see to it that he is not reproached by the army, leaving us no better off and himself involved in trouble. Listen, mother; hear what thoughts have passed across my mind. I am resolved to die; and this I fain would do with honour, dismissing from me what is mean. Towards this now, mother, turn thy thoughts, and with me weigh how well I speak; to me the whole of mighty Hellas looks; on me the passage o'er the sea depends; on me the sack of Troy; and in my power it lies to check henceforth barbarian raids on happy Hellas, if ever in the days to come they seek to seize her daughters, when once they have atoned by death for the violation of Helen's marriage by Paris. All this deliverance will my death insure, and my fame for setting Hellas free will be a happy one. Besides, I have 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 I find 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 I resign 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 I some god was bent on blessing me, could I but have won thee for my wife. In thee I reckon 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 I have looked into thy noble nature, I feel still more a fond desire to win thee for my bride. Look to it; for I would fain serve thee and receive thee in my halls; and witness Thetis, how I grieve to think I shall not save thy life by doing battle with the Danai. Reflect, I say; a dreadful ill is death. IPHIGENIA This I say, 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 I can, save Hellas. ACHILLES Heroic spirit! I can 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 I speak, for thou wilt haply change thy mind; that thou mayst know then what my offer is, I will 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 I said. So I will 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 I have 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 I lose thee- IPHIGENIA "Lose" me, thou dost not; I am saved and thou renowned, as far as I can make thee. CLYTAEMNESTRA How so? Must I not mourn thy death? IPHIGENIA By no means, for I shall 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, I will let thee persuade me, for thou sayest well. IPHIGENIA Aye, as one who prospereth and doeth Hellas service. CLYTAEMNESTRA What message shall I carry to thy sisters? IPHIGENIA Put not mourning raiment on them either. CLYTAEMNESTRA But is there no fond message I can 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 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 looking now to sail. Fare thee well! 'tis long ere I shall greet thee on my return from Troy; may it be well with thee! CHORUS Son of Atreus, start for Phrygia's land with joy and so return, I pray, after taking from Troy her fairest spoils. (Exeunt OMNES.) THE END |
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