Iphigenia in Tauris [10]
assent? IPHIGENIA By me induced. Him I will see embark'd. ORESTES Swear then; and thou propose the righteous oath. IPHIGENIA This, let him say, he to my friends will give. PYLADES Well, to thy friends this letter I will give. IPHIGENIA Thee will I send safe through the darkening rocks. PYLADES What god dost thou invoke to attest thy oath? IPHIGENIA Diana, at whose shrine high charge I hold. PYLADES And I heaven's potent king, the awful Jove. IPHIGENIA But if thou slight thy oath, and do me wrong? PYLADES Never may I return. But if thou fail, And save me not? IPHIGENIA Then never, while I live, May I revisit my loved Argos more! PYLADES One thing, not mention'd, thy attention claims. IPHIGENIA If honour owes it, this will touch us both. PYLADES Let me in this be pardon'd, if the bark Be lost, and with it in the surging waves Thy letter perish, and I naked gain The shore; no longer binding be the oath. IPHIGENIA Know'st thou what I will do? For various ills Arise to those that plough the dangerous deep. What in this letter is contain'd, what here Is written, all I will repeat to thee, That thou mayst bear my message to my friends. 'Gainst danger thus I guard: if thou preserve The letter, that though silent will declare My purport; if it perish in the sea, Saving thyself, my words too thou wilt save. PYLADES Well hast thou said touching the gods and me. Say then to whom at Argos shall I bear This letter? What relate as heard from thee? IPHIGENIA (reading) This message to Orestes, to the son Of Agamemnon, bear:-She, who was slain At Aulis, Iphigenia, sends thee this: She lives, but not to those who then were there. ORESTES Where is she? From the dead return'd to life? IPHIGENIA She whom thou seest: but interrupt me not. To Argos, O my brother, ere I die, Bear me from this barbaric land, and far Remove me from this altar's bloody rites, At which to slay the stranger is my charge.- ORESTES What shall I say? Where are we, Pylades? IPHIGENIA Or on thy house for vengeance will I call, Orestes. Twice repeated, learn the name. ORESTES Ye gods! IPHIGENIA In my cause why invoke the gods? ORESTES Nothing: proceed: my thoughts were wandering wide: Strange things of thee unask'd I soon shall learn. IPHIGENIA Tell him the goddess saved me, in exchange A hind presenting, which my father slew A victim, deeming that he plunged his sword Deep in my breast: me in this land she placed. Thou hast my charge: and this my letter speaks. PYLADES O, thou hast bound me with an easy oath: What I have sworn with honest purpose, long Defer I not, but thus discharge mine oath. To thee a letter from thy sister, lo, I bear, Orestes; and I give it thee. (PYLADES hands the letter to ORESTES.) ORESTES I do receive it, but forbear to unclose its foldings, greater pleasure first to enjoy Than words can give. My sister, O most dear, Astonish'd ev'n to disbelief, I throw Mine arms around thee with a fond embrace, In transport at the wondrous things I hear. LEADER OF THE CHORUS Stranger, thou dost not well with hands profane Thus to pollute the priestess of the shrine, Grasping her garments hallow'd from the touch. ORESTES My sister, my dear sister, from one sire, From Agamemnon sprung, turn not away, Holding thy brother thus beyond all hope. IPHIGENIA My brother! Thou my brother! Wilt thou not Unsay these words? At Argos far he dwells. ORESTES Thy brother, O unhappy! is not there. IPHIGENIA Thee did the Spartan Tyndarus bring forth? ORESTES And from the son of Pelops' son I sprung, IPHIGENIA What say'st thou? Canst thou give me proof of this? ORESTES I can: ask something of my father's house. IPHIGENIA Nay, it is thine to speak, mine to attend. ORESTES