Iphigenia in Tauris [8]
Requires, without thee to the goddess bleed. ORESTES Virgin unknown, well hast thou said in all Save this, that to the goddess he should bleed A victim; that were heavy grief indeed. I steer'd the vessel to these ills; he sail'd Attendant on my toils: to gain thy grace By his destruction, and withdraw myself From sufferings, were unjust: thus let it be: Give him the letter; to fulfil thy wish, To Argos he will bear it: me let him Who claims that office, slay: base is his soul, Who in calamities involves his friends, And saves himself; this is a friend, whose life, Dear to me as my own, I would preserve. IPHIGENIA Excellent spirit! from some noble root It shows thee sprung, and to thy friends a friend Sincere; of those that share my blood if one Remains, such may he be! for I am not Without a brother, strangers, from my sight Though distant now. Since then thy wish is such, Him will I send to Argos; he shall bear My letter; thou shalt die; for this desire Hath strong possession of thy noble soul. ORESTES Who then shall do the dreadful deed, and slay me? IPHIGENIA I: to atone the goddess is my charge. ORESTES A charge unenvied, virgin, and unbless'd. IPHIGENIA Necessity constrains: I must obey. ORESTES Wilt thou, a woman, plunge the sword in men? IPHIGENIA No: but thy locks to sprinkle round is mine. ORESTES Whose then, if I may ask, the bloody deed? IPHIGENIA To some within the temple this belongs. ORESTES What tomb is destined to receive my corse? IPHIGENIA The hallow'd fire within, and a dark cave. ORESTES O, that a sister's hand might wrap these limbs! IPHIGENIA Vain wish, unhappy youth, whoe'er thou art, Hast thou conceived; for from this barbarous land Far is her dwelling. Yet, of what my power Permits (since thou from Argos draw'st thy birth), No grace will I omit: for in the tomb I will place much of ornament, and pour The dulcet labour of the yellow bee, From mountain flowers extracted, on thy pyre. But I will go, and from the temple bring The letter; yet 'gainst me no hostile thought Conceive. You, that attend here, guard them well, But without chains. To one, whom most I love Of all my friends, to Argos I shall send Tidings perchance unlook'd for; and this letter, Declaring those whom he thought dead alive, Shall bear him an assured and solid joy. (She enters the temple.) CHORUS (chanting) Thee, o'er whose limbs the bloody drops shall soon Be from the lavers sprinkled, I lament. ORESTES This asks no pity, strangers: but farewell. CHORUS (chanting) Thee for thy happy fate we reverence, youth Who to thy country shall again return. PYLADES To friends unwish'd, who leave their friends to die. CHORUS (chanting) Painful dismission! Which shall I esteem Most lost, alas, alas! which most undone? For doubts my wavering judgment yet divide, If chief for thee my sighs should swell, or thee. ORESTES By the gods, Pylades, is thy mind touch'd In manner like as mine? PYLADES I cannot tell; Nor to thy question have I to reply. ORESTES Who is this virgin? With what zeal for Greece Made she inquiries of us what the toils At Troy, if yet the Grecians were return'd, And Calchas, from the flight of birds who form'd Presages of the future. And she named Achilles: with what tenderness bewail'd The unhappy Agamemnon! Of his wife She ask'd me,-of his children: thence her race This unknown virgin draws, an Argive; else Ne'er would she send this letter, nor have wish'd To know these things, as if she bore a share (If Argos flourish) in its prosperous state. PYLADES Such were my thoughts (but thou hast given them words, Preventing me) of every circumstance, Save one: the fate of kings all know, whose state Holds aught of rank. But pass