Iphigenia in Tauris [15]
Mountain Pan, with thrilling strain, To the oars that dash the main In just cadence well agreed, Shall accord his wax-join'd reed: Phoebus, with a prophet's fire Sweeping o'er his seven-string'd lyre, And his voice attuning high To the swelling harmony, Thee shall guide the wild waves o'er To the soft Athenian shore. Leaving me, thy oars shall sweep Eager o'er the foaming deep: Thou shalt catch the rising gales Swelling in thy firm-bound sails; And thy bark in gallant pride Light shall o'er the billows glide.
antistrophe 2
Might I through the lucid air Fly where rolls yon flaming car, O'er those loved and modest bowers, Where I pass'd my youthful hours, I would stay my weary flight, Wave no more my pennons light, But, amid the virgin band, Once my loved companions, stand: Once mid them my charms could move, Blooming then, the flames of love; When the mazy dance I trod, While with joy my mother glow'd; When to vie in grace was mine, And in splendid robes to shine; For, with radiant tints impress'd, Glow'd for me the gorgeous vest; And these tresses gave new grace, As their ringlets shade my face. (THOAS and his retinue enter.) THOAS Where is the Grecian lady, to whose charge This temple is committed? Have her rites Hallow'd the strangers? Do their bodies burn In the recesses of the sacred shrine? LEADER OF THE CHORUS She comes, and will inform thee, king, of all.
(IPHIGENIA comes out of the temple. She is carrying the sacred statue of Diana.)
THOAS Daughter of Agamemnon, what means this? The statue of the goddess in thine arms Why dost thou bear, from its firm base removed? IPHIGENIA There in the portal, monarch, stay thy step. THOAS What of strange import in the shrine hath chanced? IPHIGENIA Things ominous: that word I, holy, speak. THOAS To what is tuned thy proem? Plainly speak. IPHIGENIA Not pure the victims, king, you lately seized. THOAS What showd thee this? Or speak'st thou but thy thought? IPHIGENIA Back turn'd the sacred image on its base. THOAS Spontaneous turn'd, or by an earthquake moved? IPHIGENIA Spontaneous, and, averted, closed its eyes. THOAS What was the cause? The blood-stain'd stranger's guilt? IPHIGENIA That, and naught else; for horrible their deeds. THOAS What, have they slain some Scythian on the shore? IPHIGENIA They came polluted with domestic blood. THOAS What blood? I have a strong desire to know. IPHIGENIA They slew their mother with confederate swords. THOAS O Phoebus! This hath no barbarian dared. IPHIGENIA All Greece indignant chased them from her realms. THOAS Bear'st thou for this the image from the shrine? IPHIGENIA To the pure air, from stain of blood removed. THOAS By what means didst thou know the stranger's guilt? IPHIGENIA I learn'd it as the statue started back. THOAS Greece train'd thee wise: this well hast thou discern'd. IPHIGENIA Now with sweet blandishments they soothe my soul. THOAS Some glozing tale from Argos telling thee? IPHIGENIA I have one brother: he, they say, lives happy,- THOAS That thou mayst save them for their pleasing news? IPHIGENIA And that my father lives, by fortune bless'd. THOAS But on the goddess well thy thoughts are turn'd. IPHIGENIA I hate all Greece; for it hath ruin'd me. THOAS What with the strangers, say then, should be done? IPHIGENIA The law ordain'd in reverence we must hold. THOAS Are then thy lavers ready, and the sword? IPHIGENIA First I would cleanse them with ablutions pure. THOAS In fountain waters, or the ocean wave? IPHIGENIA All man's pollutions doth the salt sea cleanse. THOAS More holy to the goddess will they bleed. IPHIGENIA And better
antistrophe 2
Might I through the lucid air Fly where rolls yon flaming car, O'er those loved and modest bowers, Where I pass'd my youthful hours, I would stay my weary flight, Wave no more my pennons light, But, amid the virgin band, Once my loved companions, stand: Once mid them my charms could move, Blooming then, the flames of love; When the mazy dance I trod, While with joy my mother glow'd; When to vie in grace was mine, And in splendid robes to shine; For, with radiant tints impress'd, Glow'd for me the gorgeous vest; And these tresses gave new grace, As their ringlets shade my face. (THOAS and his retinue enter.) THOAS Where is the Grecian lady, to whose charge This temple is committed? Have her rites Hallow'd the strangers? Do their bodies burn In the recesses of the sacred shrine? LEADER OF THE CHORUS She comes, and will inform thee, king, of all.
(IPHIGENIA comes out of the temple. She is carrying the sacred statue of Diana.)
THOAS Daughter of Agamemnon, what means this? The statue of the goddess in thine arms Why dost thou bear, from its firm base removed? IPHIGENIA There in the portal, monarch, stay thy step. THOAS What of strange import in the shrine hath chanced? IPHIGENIA Things ominous: that word I, holy, speak. THOAS To what is tuned thy proem? Plainly speak. IPHIGENIA Not pure the victims, king, you lately seized. THOAS What showd thee this? Or speak'st thou but thy thought? IPHIGENIA Back turn'd the sacred image on its base. THOAS Spontaneous turn'd, or by an earthquake moved? IPHIGENIA Spontaneous, and, averted, closed its eyes. THOAS What was the cause? The blood-stain'd stranger's guilt? IPHIGENIA That, and naught else; for horrible their deeds. THOAS What, have they slain some Scythian on the shore? IPHIGENIA They came polluted with domestic blood. THOAS What blood? I have a strong desire to know. IPHIGENIA They slew their mother with confederate swords. THOAS O Phoebus! This hath no barbarian dared. IPHIGENIA All Greece indignant chased them from her realms. THOAS Bear'st thou for this the image from the shrine? IPHIGENIA To the pure air, from stain of blood removed. THOAS By what means didst thou know the stranger's guilt? IPHIGENIA I learn'd it as the statue started back. THOAS Greece train'd thee wise: this well hast thou discern'd. IPHIGENIA Now with sweet blandishments they soothe my soul. THOAS Some glozing tale from Argos telling thee? IPHIGENIA I have one brother: he, they say, lives happy,- THOAS That thou mayst save them for their pleasing news? IPHIGENIA And that my father lives, by fortune bless'd. THOAS But on the goddess well thy thoughts are turn'd. IPHIGENIA I hate all Greece; for it hath ruin'd me. THOAS What with the strangers, say then, should be done? IPHIGENIA The law ordain'd in reverence we must hold. THOAS Are then thy lavers ready, and the sword? IPHIGENIA First I would cleanse them with ablutions pure. THOAS In fountain waters, or the ocean wave? IPHIGENIA All man's pollutions doth the salt sea cleanse. THOAS More holy to the goddess will they bleed. IPHIGENIA And better