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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
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