Iphigenia in Tauris [16]
what I have in charge advance. THOAS Doth not the wave ev'n 'gainst the temple beat? IPHIGENIA This requires solitude: more must I do. THOAS Lead where thou wilt: on secret rite I pry not. IPHIGENIA The image of the goddess I must cleanse. THOAS If it be stain'd with touch of mother's blood. IPHIGENIA I could not else have borne it from its base. THOAS Just is thy provident and pious thought; For this by all the state thou art revered. IPHIGENIA Know'st thou what next I would? THOAS 'Tis thine thy will To signify. IPHIGENIA Give for these strangers chains. THOAS To what place can they fly? IPHIGENIA A Grecian knows Naught faithful. THOAS Of my train go some for chains. (Some attendants go out.) IPHIGENIA Let them lead forth the strangers. THOAS Be it so, IPHIGENIA And veil their faces. THOAS From the sun's bright beams? IPHIGENIA Some of thy train send with me. THOAS These shall go, Attending thee. IPHIGENIA One to the city send. THOAS With what instructions charged? IPHIGENIA That all remain Within their houses. THOAS That the stain of blood They meet not? IPHIGENIA These things have pollution in them. THOAS Go thou, and bear the instructions. (An attendant departs.) IPHIGENIA That none come In sight, THOAS How wisely careful for the city! IPHIGENIA Warn our friends most. THOAS This speaks thy care for me. IPHIGENIA Stay thou before the shrine. THOAS To what intent? IPHIGENIA Cleanse it with lustral fires. THOAS That thy return May find it pure? IPHIGENIA But when the strangers come Forth from the temple,- THOAS What must I then do? IPHIGENIA Spread o'er thine eyes a veil. THOAS That I receive not Pollution? IPHIGENIA Tedious if my stay appear,- THOAS What bounds may be assign'd? IPHIGENIA Deem it not strange. THOAS At leisure what the rites require perform. IPHIGENIA May this lustration as I wish succeed! THOAS Thy wish is mine.
(ORESTES and PYLADES, bound, are led from the temple in solemn procession by the guards. THOAS and his retinue veil their heads as it slowly moves past.)
IPHIGENIA (chanting) But from the temple, see, The strangers come, the sacred ornaments, The hallow'd lambs-for I with blood must wash This execrable blood away,-the light Of torches, and what else my rites require To purify these strangers to the goddess. But to the natives of this land my voice Proclaims, from this pollution far remove, Art thou attendant at the shrine, who liftest Pure to the gods thy hands, or nuptial rites Dost thou prepare, or pregnant matron; hence, Begone, that this defilement none may touch. Thou, daughter of Latona and high Jove, O royal virgin, if I cleanse the stain Of these, and where I ought with holy rites Address thee, thou shalt hold thy residence In a pure mansion; we too shall be bless'd. More though I speak not, goddess, unexpress'd, All things to thee and to the gods are known.
(IPHIGENIA, carrying the statue, joins the procession as is goes out. THOAS and his retinue enter the temple.)
CHORUS (singing)
strophe
Latona's glorious offspring claims the song, Born the hallow'd shades among, Where fruitful Delos winds her valleys low; Bright-hair'd Phoebus, skill'd to inspire Raptures, as he sweeps the lyre, And she that glories in the unerring bow. From the rocky ridges steep, At whose feet the hush'd waves sleep, Left their far-famed native shore, Them the exulting mother bore To Parnassus, on whose heights Bacchus shouting holds his rites; Glittering in the burnish'd shade, By the laurel's branches made,
(ORESTES and PYLADES, bound, are led from the temple in solemn procession by the guards. THOAS and his retinue veil their heads as it slowly moves past.)
IPHIGENIA (chanting) But from the temple, see, The strangers come, the sacred ornaments, The hallow'd lambs-for I with blood must wash This execrable blood away,-the light Of torches, and what else my rites require To purify these strangers to the goddess. But to the natives of this land my voice Proclaims, from this pollution far remove, Art thou attendant at the shrine, who liftest Pure to the gods thy hands, or nuptial rites Dost thou prepare, or pregnant matron; hence, Begone, that this defilement none may touch. Thou, daughter of Latona and high Jove, O royal virgin, if I cleanse the stain Of these, and where I ought with holy rites Address thee, thou shalt hold thy residence In a pure mansion; we too shall be bless'd. More though I speak not, goddess, unexpress'd, All things to thee and to the gods are known.
(IPHIGENIA, carrying the statue, joins the procession as is goes out. THOAS and his retinue enter the temple.)
CHORUS (singing)
strophe
Latona's glorious offspring claims the song, Born the hallow'd shades among, Where fruitful Delos winds her valleys low; Bright-hair'd Phoebus, skill'd to inspire Raptures, as he sweeps the lyre, And she that glories in the unerring bow. From the rocky ridges steep, At whose feet the hush'd waves sleep, Left their far-famed native shore, Them the exulting mother bore To Parnassus, on whose heights Bacchus shouting holds his rites; Glittering in the burnish'd shade, By the laurel's branches made,