Iphigenia in Tauris [17]
Where the enormous dragon lies, Brass his scales, and flame his eyes, Earth-born monster, that around Rolling guards the oracular ground; Him, while yet a sportive child, In his mother's arms that smiled, Phoebus slew, and seized the shrine Whence proceeds the voice divine: On the golden tripod placed, Throne by falsehood ne'er disgraced, Where Castalia's pure stream flows, He the fates to mortal shows.
antistrophe
But when Themis, whom of yore Earth, her fruitful mother, bore, From her hallow'd seat he drove, Earth to avenge her daughter strove, Forming visions of the night, Which, in rapt dreams hovering light, All that Time's dark volumes hold Might to mortal sense unfold, When in midnight's sable shades Sleep the silent couch invades: Thus did Earth her vengeance boast. His prophetic honours lost, Royal Phoebus speeds his flight To Olympus, on whose height At the throne of Jove he stands, Stretching forth his little hands, Suppliant that the Pythian shrine Feel no more the wrath divine; That the goddess he appease; That her nightly visions cease. Jove with smiles beheld his son Early thus address his throne, Suing with ambitious pride O'er the rich shrine to preside; He, assenting, bow'd his head. Straight the nightly visions fled; And prophetic dreams no more Hover'd slumbering mortals o'er: Now to Phoebus given again, All his honours pure remain; Votaries distant regions send His frequented throne to attend: And the firm decrees of fate On his faithful voice await. (A MESSENGER enters.) MESSENGER Say you, that keep the temple, and attend The altar, where is Thoas, Scythia's king? Open these strong-compacted gates, and cal Forth from the shrine the monarch of the land. LEADER OF THE CHORUS Wherefore? at thy command if I must speak. MESSENGER The two young men are gone, through the device Of Agamemnon's daughter: from this land They fly; and, in their Grecian galley placed, The sacred image of the goddess bear. LEADER Incredible thy tale: but whom thou seek'st, The monarch, from the temple went in haste. MESSENGER Whither? for what is doing he should know. LEADER We know not: but go thou, and seek for him: Where'er thou find him, thou wilt tell him this. MESSENGER See, what a faithless race you women are! In all that hath been done you have a part. LEADER Sure thou art mad! what with the strangers' flight Have we to do? But wilt thou not, with all The speed thou mayst, go to the monarch's house? MESSENGER Not till I first am well inform'd, if here Within the temple be the king, or not. (Shouting) Unbar the gates (to you within I speak); And tell your lord that at the portal here I stand, and bring him tidings of fresh ills.
(THOAS and his attendants enter from the temple.)
THOAS Who at the temple of the goddess dares This clamour raise, and, thundering at the gates, Strikes terror through the ample space within? MESSENGER With falsehoods would these women drive me hence, Without to seek thee: thou wast in the shrine. THOAS With what intent? or what advantage sought? MESSENGER Of these hereafter; what more urgent now Imports thee, hear: the virgin, in this place Presiding at the altars, from this land Is with the strangers fled, and bears with her The sacred image of the goddess; all Of her ablutions but a false pretence. THOAS How say'st thou? What is her accursed design? MESSENGER To save Orestes: this too will amaze thee. THOAS Whom? What Orestes? Clytemnestra's son? MESSENGER Him at the altar hallow'd now to bleed. THOAS Portentous! for what less can it be call'd?
antistrophe
But when Themis, whom of yore Earth, her fruitful mother, bore, From her hallow'd seat he drove, Earth to avenge her daughter strove, Forming visions of the night, Which, in rapt dreams hovering light, All that Time's dark volumes hold Might to mortal sense unfold, When in midnight's sable shades Sleep the silent couch invades: Thus did Earth her vengeance boast. His prophetic honours lost, Royal Phoebus speeds his flight To Olympus, on whose height At the throne of Jove he stands, Stretching forth his little hands, Suppliant that the Pythian shrine Feel no more the wrath divine; That the goddess he appease; That her nightly visions cease. Jove with smiles beheld his son Early thus address his throne, Suing with ambitious pride O'er the rich shrine to preside; He, assenting, bow'd his head. Straight the nightly visions fled; And prophetic dreams no more Hover'd slumbering mortals o'er: Now to Phoebus given again, All his honours pure remain; Votaries distant regions send His frequented throne to attend: And the firm decrees of fate On his faithful voice await. (A MESSENGER enters.) MESSENGER Say you, that keep the temple, and attend The altar, where is Thoas, Scythia's king? Open these strong-compacted gates, and cal Forth from the shrine the monarch of the land. LEADER OF THE CHORUS Wherefore? at thy command if I must speak. MESSENGER The two young men are gone, through the device Of Agamemnon's daughter: from this land They fly; and, in their Grecian galley placed, The sacred image of the goddess bear. LEADER Incredible thy tale: but whom thou seek'st, The monarch, from the temple went in haste. MESSENGER Whither? for what is doing he should know. LEADER We know not: but go thou, and seek for him: Where'er thou find him, thou wilt tell him this. MESSENGER See, what a faithless race you women are! In all that hath been done you have a part. LEADER Sure thou art mad! what with the strangers' flight Have we to do? But wilt thou not, with all The speed thou mayst, go to the monarch's house? MESSENGER Not till I first am well inform'd, if here Within the temple be the king, or not. (Shouting) Unbar the gates (to you within I speak); And tell your lord that at the portal here I stand, and bring him tidings of fresh ills.
(THOAS and his attendants enter from the temple.)
THOAS Who at the temple of the goddess dares This clamour raise, and, thundering at the gates, Strikes terror through the ample space within? MESSENGER With falsehoods would these women drive me hence, Without to seek thee: thou wast in the shrine. THOAS With what intent? or what advantage sought? MESSENGER Of these hereafter; what more urgent now Imports thee, hear: the virgin, in this place Presiding at the altars, from this land Is with the strangers fled, and bears with her The sacred image of the goddess; all Of her ablutions but a false pretence. THOAS How say'st thou? What is her accursed design? MESSENGER To save Orestes: this too will amaze thee. THOAS Whom? What Orestes? Clytemnestra's son? MESSENGER Him at the altar hallow'd now to bleed. THOAS Portentous! for what less can it be call'd?