Agamemnon:Daughter of Leda, it is lucky I have found you outside the tent, to discuss with you in our daughter’s absence subjects not suited for the ears of maidens on the eve of marriage.
Ἀγαμέμνων:Λήδας γένεθλον, ἐν καλῷ σʼ ἔξω δόμωνηὕρηχʼ, ἵνʼ εἴπω παρθένου χωρὶς λόγουςοὓς οὐκ ἀκούειν τὰς γαμουμένας πρέπει.
Clytemnestra:What critical moment is it that you are seizing?
Κλυταιμήστρα:τί δʼ ἔστιν, οὗ σοι καιρὸς ἀντιλάζυται;
Agamemnon:Send the maiden out to join her father, for the lustral water stands there ready, and barley-meal to scatter with the hand on the cleansing flame, and heifers to be slain before the marriage, in honor of the goddess [Artemis, their black blood spouting from them].
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἔκπεμπε παῖδα δωμάτων πατρὸς μέτα·ὡς χέρνιβες πάρεισιν εὐτρεπισμέναι,προχύται τε βάλλειν πῦρ καθάρσιον χεροῖν,μόσχοι τε, πρὸ γάμων ἃς θεᾷ πεσεῖν χρεών.[Ἀρτέμιδι, μέλανος αἵματος φυσήματα.]
Clytemnestra:Though the words you use are good, I do not know how I am to name your deeds in terms of praise.
Κλυταιμήστρα:τοῖς ὀνόμασιν μὲν εὖ λέγεις, τὰ δʼ ἔργα σουοὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως χρή μʼ ὀνομάσασαν εὖ λέγειν.
Come forth, my daughter; well you know what is in your father’s mind; take the child Orestes, your brother, and bring him with you in the folds of your robe.
χώρει δέ, θύγατερ, ἐκτός — οἶσθα γὰρ πατρὸςπάντως ἃ μέλλει — χὑπὸ τοῖς πέπλοις ἄγελαβοῦσʼ Ὀρέστην, σὸν κασίγνητον, τέκνον.
Behold! she comes, in obedience to your summons. I will speak the rest for her and for myself.
ἰδοὺ πάρεστιν ἥδε πειθαρχοῦσά σοι.τὰ δʼ ἄλλʼ ἐγὼ πρὸ τῆσδε κἀμαυτῆς φράσω.
Agamemnon:My child, why do you weep and no longer look cheerfully? why are you fixing your eyes upon the ground and holding your robe before them?
Ἀγαμέμνων:τέκνον, τί κλαίεις, οὐδʼ ἔθʼ ἡδέως ὁρᾷς,ἐς γῆν δʼ ἐρείσασʼ ὄμμα πρόσθʼ ἔχεις πέπλους;
Clytemnestra:Ah! with which of my woes shall I begin?
Κλυταιμήστρα:φεῦ·τίνʼ ἂν λάβοιμι τῶν ἐμῶν ἀρχὴν κακῶν;
for I may treat them all as first, or put them last or midway, anywhere.
ἅπασι γὰρ πρώτοισι χρήσασθαι πάρακἀν ὑστάτοισι κἀν μέσοισι πανταχοῦ.
Agamemnon:What is it? I find you all alike, confusion and alarm in every eye.
Ἀγαμέμνων:τί δʼ ἔστιν; ὥς μοι πάντες εἰς ἓν ἥκετε,σύγχυσιν ἔχοντες καὶ ταραγμὸν ὀμμάτων.
Clytemnestra:My husband, answer frankly the questions I ask you.
Κλυταιμήστρα:εἴφʼ ἃν ἐρωτήσω σε γενναίως, πόσι.
Agamemnon:There is no necessity to order me; I am willing to be questioned.
Ἀγαμέμνων:οὐδὲν κελευσμοῦ δεῖ σʼ· ἐρωτᾶσθαι θέλω.
Clytemnestra:Do you mean to slay your child and mine?Agamemnon: starting.
Κλυταιμήστρα:τὴν παῖδα τὴν σὴν τήν τʼ ἐμὴν μέλλεις κτενεῖν;
Ha! these are heartless words, unwarranted suspicions!
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἔα·τλήμονά γʼ ἔλεξας, ὑπονοεῖς θʼ ἃ μή σε χρή.
Clytemnestra:Peace! answer me that question first.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἔχʼ ἥσυχος.κἀκεῖνό μοι τὸ πρῶτον ἀπόκριναι πάλιν.
Agamemnon:Put a fair question and you shall have a fair answer.
Ἀγαμέμνων:σὺ δʼ, ἤν γʼ ἐρωτᾷς εἰκότʼ, εἰκότʼ ἂν κλύοις.
Clytemnestra:I have no other questions to put; give me no other answers.
Κλυταιμήστρα:οὐκ ἄλλʼ ἐρωτῶ, καὶ σὺ μὴ λέγʼ ἄλλα μοι.
Agamemnon:O fate revered, O destiny, and my fortune!
Ἀγαμέμνων:ὦ πότνια μοῖρα καὶ τύχη δαίμων τʼ ἐμός.
Clytemnestra:Yes, and mine and hers too; the three share one bad fortune.
Κλυταιμήστρα:κἀμός γε καὶ τῆσδʼ, εἷς τριῶν δυσδαιμόνων.
Agamemnon:Whom have I injured?
Ἀγαμέμνων:τίνʼ ἠδίκησαι;
Clytemnestra:Do you ask this question? A thought like that itself amounts to tboughtlessness.
Κλυταιμήστρα:τοῦτʼ ἐμοῦ πεύθῃ πάρα;ὁ νοῦς ὅδʼ αὐτὸς νοῦν ἔχων οὐ τυγχάνει.
Agamemnon:Ruined! my secret betrayed!
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἀπωλόμεσθα. προδέδοται τὰ κρυπτά μου.
Clytemnestra:I know all; I have heard what you are bent on doing to me. Your very silence and those frequent groans are a confession; do not tire yourself by telling it.
Κλυταιμήστρα:πάντʼ οἶδα, καὶ πεπύσμεθʼ ἃ σὺ μέλλεις με δρᾶν·αὐτὸ δὲ τὸ σιγᾶν ὁμολογοῦντός ἐστί σουκαὶ τὸ στενάζειν· πολλὰ μὴ κάμῃς λέγων.
Agamemnon:See, I am silent; for why should I tell you a falsehood,and add effrontery to misfortune?
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἰδοὺ σιωπῶ· τὸ γὰρ ἀναίσχυντον τί δεῖψευδῆ λέγοντα προσλαβεῖν τῇ συμφορᾷ;
Clytemnestra:Well, now listen; for I will unfold my meaning and no longer employ dark riddles. In the first place—to reproach you first with this—it was not of my own free will but by force that you took and wed me,after slaying Tantalus, my former husband, and dashing my baby on the ground when you had torn him from my breast with brutal violence. Then those two sons of Zeus, who were my brothers, came flashing on horseback to war with you;
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἄκουε δή νυν· ἀνακαλύψω γὰρ λόγους,κοὐκέτι παρῳδοῖς χρησόμεσθʼ αἰνίγμασιν.πρῶτον μέν, ἵνα σοι πρῶτα τοῦτʼ ὀνειδίσω,ἔγημας ἄκουσάν με κἄλαβες βίᾳ,τὸν πρόσθεν ἄνδρα Τάνταλον κατακτανών·βρέφος τε τοὐμὸν σῷ προσούδισας πάλῳ,μαστῶν βιαίως τῶν ἐμῶν ἀποσπάσας.καὶ τὼ Διός σε παῖδʼ, ἐμὼ δὲ συγγόνω,ἵπποισι μαρμαίροντʼ ἐπεστρατευσάτην·
but Tyndareus, my old father, rescued you because of your suppliant prayers, and you in turn had me to wife. Once I was reconciled to you upon this footing, you will bear me witness I have been a blameless wife to you and your family, chaste in love,an honor to your house, that so your coming in might be with joy and your going out with gladness. And it is seldom a man secures a wife like this, though the getting of a worthless woman Is no rarity.
πατὴρ δὲ πρέσβυς Τυνδάρεώς σʼ ἐρρύσατοἱκέτην γενόμενον, τἀμὰ δʼ ἔσχες αὖ λέχη.οὗ σοι καταλλαχθεῖσα περὶ σὲ καὶ δόμουςσυμμαρτυρήσεις ὡς ἄμεμπτος ἦ γυνή,ἔς τʼ Ἀφροδίτην σωφρονοῦσα καὶ τὸ σὸνμέλαθρον αὔξουσʼ, ὥστε σʼ εἰσιόντα τεχαίρειν θύραζέ τʼ ἐξιόντʼ εὐδαιμονεῖν.σπάνιον δὲ θήρευμʼ ἀνδρὶ τοιαύτην λαβεῖνδάμαρτα· φλαύραν δʼ οὐ σπάνις γυναῖκʼ ἔχειν.
Besides three daughters, of one of whom you are heartlessly depriving me,I am the mother of this son of yours. If anyone asks you your reason for slaying her, tell me, what will you say? or must I say it for you? “It is that Menelaus may recover Helen.” An honorable exchange, indeed, to pay a wicked woman’s price in children’s lives!
τίκτω δʼ ἐπὶ τρισὶ παρθένοισι παῖδά σοιτόνδʼ, ὧν μιᾶς σὺ τλημόνως μʼ ἀποστερεῖς.κἄν τίς σʼ ἔρηται τίνος ἕκατί νιν κτενεῖς,λέξον, τί φήσεις; ἢ ʼμὲ χρὴ λέγειν τὰ σά;Ἑλένην Μενέλεως ἵνα λάβῃ. καλὸν γένος,κακῆς γυναικὸς μισθὸν ἀποτεῖσαι τέκνα.
It is buying what we most detest with what we hold most dear. Again, if you go forth with the army, leaving me in your halls and are long absent at Troy, what will my feelings be at home, do you think? when I behold each vacant chairand her chamber now deserted, and then sit down alone in tears, making ceaseless lamentation for her, “Ah! my child, he that begot you has slain you himself, he and no one else, nor are was it by another’s hand, leaving behind him such a return to his home.”
τἄχθιστα τοῖσι φιλτάτοις ὠνούμεθα.ἄγʼ, εἰ στρατεύσῃ καταλιπών μʼ ἐν δώμασιν,κἀκεῖ γενήσῃ διὰ μακρᾶς ἀπουσίας,τίνʼ ἐν δόμοις με καρδίαν ἕξειν δοκεῖς;ὅταν θρόνους τῆσδʼ εἰσίδω πάντας κενούς,κενοὺς δὲ παρθενῶνας, ἐπὶ δὲ δακρύοιςμόνη κάθωμαι, τήνδε θρηνῳδοῦσʼ ἀεί·Ἀπώλεσέν σʼ, ὦ τέκνον, ὁ φυτεύσας πατήρ,αὐτὸς κτανών, οὐκ ἄλλος οὐδʼ ἄλλῃ χερί,τοιόνδε ⟨νόστον⟩ καταλιπὼν πρὸς τοὺς δόμους.
For it needs now only a trifling pretext for me and the daughters remaining to give you the reception it is right you should receive. I adjure you by the gods, do not compel me to sin against you, or sin yourself.
ἐπεὶ βραχείας προφάσεως ἔδει μόνον,ἐφʼ ᾗ σʼ ἐγὼ καὶ παῖδες αἱ λελειμμέναιδεξόμεθα δέξιν ἥν σε δέξασθαι χρεών.μὴ δῆτα πρὸς θεῶν μήτʼ ἀναγκάσῃς ἐμὲκακὴν γενέσθαι περὶ σέ, μήτʼ αὐτὸς γένῃ.
Well; suppose you sacrifice the child; what prayer will you utter, when it is done? what will the blessing be that you will invoke upon yourself as you are slaying our daughter? An ill returning, seeing the disgrace that speeds your going forth? Is it right that I should pray for any luck to attend you? Surely we should deem the gods devoid of sense,if we harbored a kindly feeling towards murder? Shall you embrace your children on your coming back to Argos? No, you have no right. Will any child of yours ever face you, if you have surrendered one of them to death? Has this ever entered into your calculations, or does your one duty consistin carrying a scepter about and marching at the head of an army? When you might have made this fair proposal among the Argives; “Is it your wish, Achaeans, to sail for Phrygia’s shores? Why then, cast lots whose daughter has to die.” For that would have been a fair course for you to pursue, instead of picking outyour own child for the victim and presenting her to the Danaids; or Menelaus, as it was his concern, should have slain Hermione for her mother. As it is, I, who still am true to your bed, must lose my child; while she, who went astray,will return with her daughter, and live in happiness at Sparta. If I am wrong in my words, answer me; but if they have been fairly urged, do not [still] slay your child, who is mine too, and you will be wise.
εἶἑν·θύσεις δὲ παῖδʼ, ἔνθα τίνας εὐχὰς ἐρεῖς;τί σοι κατεύξῃ τἀγαθόν, σφάζων τέκνον;νόστον πονηρόν, οἴκοθέν γʼ αἰσχρῶς ἰών;ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ δίκαιον ἀγαθὸν εὔχεσθαί τί σοι;οὔ τἄρʼ ἀσυνέτους τοὺς θεοὺς ἡγοίμεθʼ ἄν,εἰ τοῖσιν αὐθένταισιν εὖ φρονήσομεν;ἥκων δʼ ἂν Ἄργος προσπέσοις τέκνοισι σοῖς;ἀλλʼ οὐ θέμις σοι. τίς δὲ καὶ προσβλέψεταιπαίδων σʼ, ἵνʼ αὐτῶν προσέμενος κτάνῃς τινά;ταῦτʼ ἦλθες ἤδη διὰ λόγων, ἢ σκῆπτρά σοιμόνον διαφέρειν καὶ στρατηλατεῖν μέλει;ὃν χρῆν δίκαιον λόγον ἐν Ἀργείοις λέγειν·Βούλεσθʼ, Ἀχαιοί, πλεῖν Φρυγῶν ἐπὶ χθόνα;κλῆρον τίθεσθε παῖδʼ ὅτου θανεῖν χρεών.ἐν ἴσῳ γὰρ ἦν τόδʼ, ἀλλὰ μὴ σὲ ἐξαίρετονσφάγιον παρασχεῖν Δαναΐδαισι παῖδα σήν,ἢ Μενέλεων πρὸ μητρὸς Ἑρμιόνην κτανεῖν,οὗπερ τὸ πρᾶγμʼ ἦν. νῦν δʼ ἐγὼ μὲν ἡ τὸ σὸνσῴζουσα λέκτρον παιδὸς ἐστερήσομαι,ἡ δʼ ἐξαμαρτοῦσʼ, ὑπότροφον νεάνιδαΣπάρτῃ κομίζουσʼ, εὐτυχὴς γενήσεται.τούτων ἄμειψαί μʼ εἴ τι μὴ καλῶς λέγω·εἰ δʼ εὖ λέλεκται, νῶι μὴ δή γε κτάνῃςτὴν σήν τε κἀμὴν παῖδα, καὶ σώφρων ἔσῃ.
Chorus Leader:Hearken to her, Agamemnon, for to join in saving your children’s lives is surely a noble deed;no one will deny this.
Χορός:πιθοῦ. τὸ γάρ τοι τέκνα συνσῴζειν καλόν,Ἀγάμεμνον· οὐδεὶς πρὸς τάδʼ ἀντερεῖ βροτῶν.
Iphigenia:If I had the eloquence of Orpheus, my father, to move the rocks by chanted spells to follow me, or to charm by speaking anyone I wished, I would have resorted to it. But as it is, I’ll bring my tears—the only art I know;for that I might attempt. And about your knees, as a suppliant, I twine my limbs—these limbs your wife here bore. Do not destroy me before my time, for it is sweet to look upon the light, and do not force me to visit scenes below.
Ἰφιγένεια:εἰ μὲν τὸν Ὀρφέως εἶχον, ὦ πάτερ, λόγον,πείθειν ἐπᾴδουσʼ, ὥσθʼ ὁμαρτεῖν μοι πέτρας,κηλεῖν τε τοῖς λόγοισιν οὓς ἐβουλόμην,ἐνταῦθʼ ἂν ἦλθον· νῦν δέ, τἀπʼ ἐμοῦ σοφά,δάκρυα παρέξω· ταῦτα γὰρ δυναίμεθʼ ἄν.ἱκετηρίαν δὲ γόνασιν ἐξάπτω σέθεντὸ σῶμα τοὐμόν, ὅπερ ἔτικτεν ἥδε σοι,μή μʼ ἀπολέσῃς ἄωρον· ἡδὺ γὰρ τὸ φῶςβλέπειν· τὰ δʼ ὑπὸ γῆς μή μʼ ἰδεῖν ἀναγκάσῃς.
I was the first to call you father, you the first to call me child; I was the first to sit upon your knee and give and take the fond caress. And this was what you would saythen: “Shall I see you, my child, living a happy prosperous life”“in a husband’s home one day, in a manner worthy of myself?” And I in my turn would ask, as I hung about your beard, where I now am clinging, “What then will I do for you? Shall I be giving you a glad reception in my halls, father,”“in your old age, repaying all your anxious care in rearing me?”
πρώτη σʼ ἐκάλεσα πατέρα καὶ σὺ παῖδʼ ἐμέ·πρώτη δὲ γόνασι σοῖσι σῶμα δοῦσʼ ἐμὸνφίλας χάριτας ἔδωκα κἀντεδεξάμην.λόγος δʼ ὁ μὲν σὸς ἦν ὅδʼ· Ἆρά σʼ, ὦ τέκνον,εὐδαίμονʼ ἀνδρὸς ἐν δόμοισιν ὄψομαι,ζῶσάν τε καὶ θάλλουσαν ἀξίως ἐμοῦ;οὑμὸς δʼ ὅδʼ ἦν αὖ περὶ σὸν ἐξαρτωμένηςγένειον, οὗ νῦν ἀντιλάζυμαι χερί·Τί δʼ ἆρʼ ἐγὼ σέ; πρέσβυν ἆρʼ ἐσδέξομαιἐμῶν φίλαισιν ὑποδοχαῖς δόμων, πάτερ,πόνων τιθηνοὺς ἀποδιδοῦσά σοι τροφάς;
I remember all we said, it is you who have forgotten and now would take my life. By Pelops, I entreat you spare me, by your father Atreus and my mother here, who suffers now a second time the pangsshe felt before when bearing me! What have I to do with the marriage of Paris and Helen? Why is his coming to prove my ruin, father? Look upon me; bestow one glance, one kiss, that this at least I may carry to my deathas a memorial of you, though you do not heed my pleading.
τούτων ἐγὼ μὲν τῶν λόγων μνήμην ἔχω,σὺ δʼ ἐπιλέλησαι, καί μʼ ἀποκτεῖναι θέλεις.μή, πρός σε Πέλοπος καὶ πρὸς Ἀτρέως πατρὸςκαὶ τῆσδε μητρός, ἣ πρὶν ὠδίνουσʼ ἐμὲνῦν δευτέραν ὠδῖνα τήνδε λαμβάνει.τί μοι μέτεστι τῶν Ἀλεξάνδρου γάμωνἙλένης τε; πόθεν ἦλθʼ ἐπʼ ὀλέθρῳ τὠμῷ, πάτερ;βλέψον πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ὄμμα δὸς φίλημά τε,ἵνʼ ἀλλὰ τοῦτο κατθανοῦσʼ ἔχω σέθενμνημεῖον, ἢν μὴ τοῖς ἐμοῖς πεισθῇς λόγοις.
holding up the baby Orestes. Feeble ally though you are, brother, to your loved ones, yet add your tears to mine and entreat our father for your sister’s life; even in babies there is a natural sense of evil.
ἀδελφέ, μικρὸς μὲν σύ γʼ ἐπίκουρος φίλοις,ὅμως δὲ συνδάκρυσον, ἱκέτευσον πατρὸςτὴν σὴν ἀδελφὴν μὴ θανεῖν· αἴσθημά τοικἀν νηπίοις γε τῶν κακῶν ἐγγίγνεται.
O father, see this speechless supplication made to you; pity me; have mercy on my tender years! Yes, by your beard we two fond hearts implore your pity, the one a baby, a full-grown maid the other. By summing all my pleas in one, I will prevail in what I say:
ἰδοὺ σιωπῶν λίσσεταί σʼ ὅδʼ, ὦ πάτερ.ἀλλʼ αἴδεσαί με καὶ κατοίκτιρον βίου.ναί, πρὸς γενείου σʼ ἀντόμεσθα δύο φίλω·ὃ μὲν νεοσσός ἐστιν, ἣ δʼ ηὐξημένη.ἓν συντεμοῦσα πάντα νικήσω λόγον·
to gaze upon the light is man’s most cherished gift; that life below is nothingness, and whoever longs for death is mad. Better live a life of woe than die a death of glory!
τὸ φῶς τόδʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ἥδιστον βλέπειν,τὰ νέρθε δʼ οὐδέν· μαίνεται δʼ ὃς εὔχεταιθανεῖν. κακῶς ζῆν κρεῖσσον ἢ καλῶς θανεῖν.
Chorus Leader:Ah, wretched Helen! Great is the struggle that has come sons to the of Atreus and their children, thanks to you and those marriages of yours.
Χορός:ὦ τλῆμον Ἑλένη, διὰ σὲ καὶ τοὺς σοὺς γάμουςἀγὼν Ἀτρείδαις καὶ τέκνοις ἥκει μέγας.
Agamemnon:While loving my own children, I yet understand what should move my pity and what should not; I would be a madman otherwise. It is terrible for me to bring myself to this, nor is it less terrible to refuse, daughter; for I must do this. You see the vastness of that naval army,and the numbers of bronze-clad warriors from Hellas, who can neither make their way to Ilium’s towers nor raze the far-famed citadel of Troy, unless I offer you according to the word of Calchas the seer. Some mad desire possesses the army of Hellasto sail at once to the land of the barbarians, and put a stop to the rape of wives from Hellas, and they will slay my daughter in Argos as well as you and me, if I disregard the goddess’s commands. It is not Menelaus who has enslaved me to him, child,nor have I followed his wish; no, it is Hellas, for whom I must sacrifice you whether I will or not; to this necessity I bow my head; for her freedom must be preserved, as far as any help of yours daughter, or mine can go; or they, who are the sons of Hellas, must bepillaged of their wives by barbarian robbery. Exit Agamemnon.
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἐγὼ τά τʼ οἰκτρὰ συνετός εἰμι καὶ τὰ μή,φιλῶ τʼ ἐμαυτοῦ τέκνα· μαινοίμην γὰρ ἄν.δεινῶς δʼ ἔχει μοι ταῦτα τολμῆσαι, γύναι,δεινῶς δὲ καὶ μή· τοῦτο γὰρ πρᾶξαί με δεῖ.ὁρᾶθʼ ὅσον στράτευμα ναύφρακτον τόδε,χαλκέων θʼ ὅπλων ἄνακτες Ἑλλήνων ὅσοι,οἷς νόστος οὐκ ἔστʼ Ἰλίου πύργους ἔπι,εἰ μή σε θύσω, μάντις ὡς Κάλχας λέγει,οὐδʼ ἔστι Τροίας ἐξελεῖν κλεινὸν βάθρον.μέμηνε δʼ Ἀφροδίτη τις Ἑλλήνων στρατῷπλεῖν ὡς τάχιστα βαρβάρων ἐπὶ χθόνα,παῦσαί τε λέκτρων ἁρπαγὰς Ἑλληνικῶν·οἳ τὰς ἐν Ἄργει παρθένους κτενοῦσί μουὑμᾶς τε κἀμέ, θέσφατʼ εἰ λύσω θεᾶς.οὐ Μενέλεώς με καταδεδούλωται, τέκνον,οὐδʼ ἐπὶ τὸ κείνου βουλόμενον ἐλήλυθα,ἀλλʼ Ἑλλάς, ᾗ δεῖ, κἂν θέλω κἂν μὴ θέλω,θῦσαί σε· τούτου δʼ ἥσσονες καθέσταμεν.ἐλευθέραν γὰρ δεῖ νιν ὅσον ἐν σοί, τέκνον,κἀμοὶ γενέσθαι, μηδὲ βαρβάροις ὕποἝλληνας ὄντας λέκτρα συλᾶσθαι βίᾳ.
Clytemnestra:My child! oh, foreign women! Alas for me, for your death! Your father escapes, surrendering you to Hades.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὦ τέκνον, ὦ ξέναι,οἲ ʼγὼ θανάτου ⟨τοῦ⟩ σοῦ μελέα.φεύγει σε πατὴρ Ἅιδῃ παραδούς.
Iphigenia:Alas for me, mother! for the samelament has fallen to both of us in our fortune. No more for me the light of day! no more these beams of the sun! Oh, oh! that snow-beat glen in Phrygia and the hills of Ida,where Priam once exposed a tender baby, torn from his mother’s arms to meet a deadly doom, Paris, called the child of Idain the Phrygians’ town. Would that he never had settled Alexander, the herdsman reared among the herds, beside that water crystal-clear, where are fountainsof the Nymphs and their meadow rich with blooming flowers, where hyacinths and rose-buds blow for goddesses to gather! Here one daycame Pallas and Cypris of the subtle heart, Hera too and Hermes messenger of Zeus; Cypris, proud of the longing she causes,Pallas of her prowess; and Hera of her royal marriage with king Zeus; to decide a hateful strife about their beauty; but it is my death,maidens, bringing, it is true, glory to the Danaids, that Artemis has received as an offering, before they begin the voyage to Ilium.O mother, mother! he that begot me to this life of sorrow has gone and left me all alone.
Ἰφιγένεια:οἲ ʼγώ, μᾶτερ· ταὐτὸν τόδε γὰρμέλος εἰς ἄμφω πέπτωκε τύχης,κοὐκέτι μοι φῶςοὐδʼ ἀελίου τόδε φέγγος.ἰὼ ἰώ.νιφόβολον Φρυγῶν νάπος Ἴδας τʼ ὄρεα,Πρίαμος ὅθι ποτὲ βρέφος ἁπαλὸν ἔβαλεματέρος ἀποπρὸ νοσφίσας ἐπὶ μόρῳθανατόεντι Πάριν, ὃς Ἰδαῖος Ἰ-δαῖος ἐλέγετʼ ἐλέγετʼ ἐν Φρυγῶν πόλει,μή ποτʼ ὤφελες τὸν ἀμφὶβουσὶ βουκόλον τραφέντʼἈλέξανδρον οἰκίσαιἀμφὶ τὸ λευκὸν ὕδωρ, ὅθι κρῆναιΝυμφᾶν κεῖνταιλειμών τʼ ἔρνεσι θάλλωνχλωροῖς καὶ ῥοδόεντʼἄνθεʼ ὑακίνθινά τε θεαῖς δρέπειν· ἔνθα ποτὲΠαλλὰς ἔμολε καὶ δολιόφρων ΚύπριςἭρα θʼ Ἑρμᾶς θʼ, ὁ Διὸς ἄγγελος,ἃ μὲν ἐπὶ πόθῳ τρυφῶσαΚύπρις, ἃ δὲ δορὶ Παλλάς,Ἥρα τε Διὸς ἄνακτοςεὐναῖσι βασιλίσιν,κρίσιν ἐπὶ στυγνὰν ἔριν τεκαλλονᾶς, ἐμοὶ δὲ θάνατον —ὄνομα μὲν φέροντα Δαναΐ-δαισιν, ὦ κόραι, πρόθυμα δʼἔλαβεν Ἄρτεμις πρὸς Ἴλιον.ὁ δὲ τεκών με τὰν τάλαιναν,ὦ μᾶτερ ὦ μᾶτερ,οἴχεται προδοὺς ἔρημον.
Ah! woe is me! a bitter, bitter sight for me was Helen, evil Helen! to me now doomed to bleed and die, slaughtered by an impious father!
ὦ δυστάλαινʼ ἐγώ, πικρὰνπικρὰν ἰδοῦσα δυσελέναν,φονεύομαι διόλλυμαισφαγαῖσιν ἀνοσίοισιν ἀνοσίου πατρός.
I wish this Aulis had never receivedin its havens here the stems of their bronze-beaked ships, the fleet which was speeding them to Troy; and would that Zeus had never breathed on the Euripus a wind to stop the expedition, tempering, as he does,a different breeze to different men, so that some have joy in setting sail, and sorrow some, and others hard constraint, to make some start and others prepare and others delay!
μή μοι ναῶν χαλκεμβολάδωνπρύμνας [ἅδʼ] Αὐλὶς δέξασθαιτούσδʼ εἰς ὅρμους [ἐς Τροίαν]ὤφελεν ἐλάταν πομπαίαν,μηδʼ ἀνταίαν Εὐρίπῳπνεῦσαι πομπὰν Ζεύς, μειλίσσωναὔραν ἄλλοις ἄλλαν θνατῶνλαίφεσι χαίρειν,τοῖσι δὲ λύπαν, τοῖσι δʼ ἀνάγκαν,τοῖς δʼ ἐξορμᾶν, τοῖς δὲ στέλλειν,τοῖσι δὲ μέλλειν.
Full of trouble then, it seems, is the race of mortals, full of trouble indeed; and it is Fate’s decree that man should find distress.
ἦ πολύμοχθον ἄρʼ ἦν γένος, ἦ πολύμοχθονἁμερίων, ⟨τὸ⟩ χρεὼν δέ τι δύσποτμονἀνδράσιν ἀνευρεῖν.
Woe! woe to you, you child of Tyndareus,for the suffering and anguish sore, which you are causing the Danaids!
ἰὼ ἰώ,μεγάλα πάθεα, μεγάλα δʼ ἄχεαΔαναΐδαις τιθεῖσα Τυνδαρὶς κόρα.
Chorus Leader:I pity you for your cruel fate—a fate I would you never had met!
Χορός:ἐγὼ μὲν οἰκτίρω σε συμφορᾶς κακῆςτυχοῦσαν, οἵας μήποτʼ ὤφελες τυχεῖν.
Iphigenia:O mother that bore me! I see a throng of men approaching.
Ἰφιγένεια:ὦ τεκοῦσα μῆτερ, ἀνδρῶν ὄχλον εἰσορῶ πέλας.
Clytemnestra:It is the goddess’ son you see, child, for whom you came here.Iphigenia: calling into the tent.
Κλυταιμήστρα:τόν τε τῆς θεᾶς παῖδα, τέκνον, ᾧ ⟨σὺ⟩ δεῦρʼ ἐλήλυθας.
Open the tent-door to me, servants, that I may hide myselfClytemnestra:Why seek to escape, my child?
Ἰφιγένεια:διαχαλᾶτέ μοι μέλαθρα, δμῶες, ὡς κρύψω δέμας.Κλυταιμήστρα:τί δὲ τέκνον, φεύγεις;
Iphigenia:I am ashamed to face Achilles.
Ἰφιγένεια:Ἀχιλλέα τόνδʼ ἰδεῖν αἰσχύνομαι.
Clytemnestra:But why?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὡς τί δή;
Iphigenia:The luckless ending to our marriage causes me to feel abashed.
Ἰφιγένεια:τὸ δυστυχές μοι τῶν γάμων αἰδῶ φέρει.
Clytemnestra:No time for affectation now in face of what has happened. Stay then; reserve will do no good, if we may profit.
Κλυταιμήστρα:οὐκ ἐν ἁβρότητι κεῖσαι πρὸς τὰ νῦν πεπτωκότα.ἀλλὰ μίμνʼ· οὐ σεμνότητος ἔργον, ἢν ὀνώμεθα.
Achilles:Daughter of Leda, lady of sorrows!
Ἀχιλλεύς:ὦ γύναι τάλαινα, Λήδας θύγατερ—
Clytemnestra:No misnomer that.
Κλυταιμήστρα:οὐ ψευδῆ θροεῖς.
Achilles:A fearful cry is heard among the Argives.
Ἀχιλλεύς:δείνʼ ἐν Ἀργείοις βοᾶται—
Clytemnestra:What is it? tell me.
Κλυταιμήστρα:τίνα βοήν; σήμαινέ μοι.
Achilles:It concerns your child.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἀμφὶ σῆς παιδός—
Clytemnestra:An evil omen for your words.
Κλυταιμήστρα:πονηρὸν εἶπας οἰωνὸν λόγον.
Achilles:They say her sacrifice is necessary.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ὡς χρεὼν σφάξαι νιν.
Clytemnestra:And is there no one to say a word against them?
Κλυταιμήστρα:οὐδεὶς ⟨τοῖσδʼ⟩ ἐναντίον λέγει;
Achilles:Indeed I was in some danger myself from the tumult.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἐς θόρυβον ἐγώ τι καὐτὸς ἤλυθον—
Clytemnestra:In danger of what, stranger?.
Κλυταιμήστρα:τίνʼ, ὦ ξένε;
Achilles:Of being stoned.
Ἀχιλλεύς:σῶμα λευσθῆναι πέτροισι.
Clytemnestra:Surely not for trying to save my daughter?
Κλυταιμήστρα:μῶν κόρην σῴζων ἐμήν;
Achilles:The very reason.
Ἀχιλλεύς:αὐτὸ τοῦτο.
Clytemnestra:Who would have dared to lay a finger on you?
Κλυταιμήστρα:τίς δʼ ἂν ἔτλη [τοῦ] σώματος τοῦ σοῦ θιγεῖν;
Achilles:All the men of Hellas.
Ἀχιλλεύς:πάντες Ἕλληνες.
Clytemnestra:Were not your Myrmidon warriors at your side?
Κλυταιμήστρα:στρατὸς δὲ Μυρμιδὼν οὔ σοι παρῆν;
Achilles:They were the first who turned against me.
Ἀχιλλεύς:πρῶτος ἦν ἐκεῖνος ἐχθρός.
Clytemnestra:My child! we are lost, it seems.
Κλυταιμήστρα:διʼ ἄρʼ ὀλώλαμεν, τέκνον.
Achilles:They taunted me as the man whom marriage had enslaved.
Ἀχιλλεύς:οἵ με τὸν γάμων ἀπεκάλουν ἥσσονα.
Clytemnestra:And what did you answer them?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἀπεκρίνω δὲ τί;
Achilles:Not to kill the one I meant to wed—
Ἀχιλλεύς:τὴν ἐμὴν μέλλουσαν εὐνὴν μὴ κτανεῖν—
Clytemnestra:Justly so.
Κλυταιμήστρα:δίκαια γάρ.
Achilles:The wife her father promised me.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἣν ἐφήμισεν πατήρ μοι.
Clytemnestra:Yes, and sent to fetch from Argos.
Κλυταιμήστρα:καὶ Ἀργόθεν γʼ ἐπέμψατο.
Achilles:But I was overcome by clamorous cries.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἀλλʼ ἐνικώμην κεκραγμοῦ.
Clytemnestra:Truly the mob is a dire mischief.
Κλυταιμήστρα:τὸ πολὺ γὰρ δεινὸν κακόν.
Achilles:But I will help you for all that.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἀλλʼ ὅμως ἀρήξομέν σοι.
Clytemnestra:Will you really fight them single-handed?
Κλυταιμήστρα:καὶ μαχῇ πολλοῖσιν εἷς;
Achilles:Do you see these warriors here, carrying my arms?
Ἀχιλλεύς:εἰσορᾷς τεύχη φέροντας τούσδε;
Clytemnestra:Bless you for your kind intent!
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὄναιο τῶν φρενῶν.
Achilles:Well, I shall be blessed.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἀλλʼ ὀνησόμεσθα.
Clytemnestra:Then my child will not be slaughtered now?
Κλυταιμήστρα:παῖς ἄρʼ οὐκέτι σφαγήσεται;
Achilles:No, not with my consent at any rate.
Ἀχιλλεύς:οὔκ, ἐμοῦ γʼ ἑκόντος.
Clytemnestra:But will any of them come to lay hands on the maid?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἥξει δʼ ὅστις ἅψεται κόρης;
Achilles:Thousands of them, with Odysseus at their head.
Ἀχιλλεύς:μυρίοι γʼ, ἄξει δʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
Clytemnestra:The son of Sisyphus?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἆρʼ ὁ Σισύφου γόνος;
Achilles:The very same.
Ἀχιλλεύς:αὐτὸς οὗτος.
Clytemnestra:Acting for himself or by the army’s order?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἴδια πράσσων, ἢ στρατοῦ ταχθεὶς ὕπο;
Achilles:By their choice—and his own.
Ἀχιλλεύς:αἱρεθεὶς ἑκών.
Clytemnestra:An evil choice indeed, to stain his hands in blood.
Κλυταιμήστρα:πονηράν γʼ αἵρεσιν, μιαιφονεῖν.
Achilles:But I will hold him back.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ σχήσω νιν.
Clytemnestra:Will he seize and bear her off against her will?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἄξει δʼ οὐχ ἑκοῦσαν ἁρπάσας;
Achilles:Yes, by her golden hair no doubt.
Ἀχιλλεύς:δηλαδὴ ξανθῆς ἐθείρας.
Clytemnestra:What must I do, when it comes to that?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἐμὲ δὲ δρᾶν τί χρὴ τότε;
Achilles:Keep hold of your daughter.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἀντέχου θυγατρός.
Clytemnestra:Be sure that she shall not be slain, as far as that that can help her.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὡς τοῦδʼ εἵνεκʼ οὐ σφαγήσεται.
Achilles:Believe me, it will come to this.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἀλλὰ μὴν ἐς τοῦτό γʼ ἥξει.
Iphigenia:Mother, hear me while I speak, for I see that you are angry with your husbandto no purpose; it is hard for us to persist in impossibilities. Our thanks are due to this stranger for his ready help; but you must also see to it that he is not reproached by the army, leaving us no better off and himself involved in trouble.
Ἰφιγένεια:μῆτερ, εἰσακούσατετῶν ἐμῶν λόγων· μάτην γάρ σʼ εἰσορῶ θυμουμένηνσῷ πόσει· τὰ δʼ ἀδύναθʼ ἡμῖν καρτερεῖν οὐ ῥᾴδιον.τὸν μὲν οὖν ξένον δίκαιον αἰνέσαι προθυμίας·ἀλλὰ καὶ σὲ τοῦθʼ ὁρᾶν χρή, μὴ διαβληθῇ στρατῷ,καὶ πλέον πράξωμεν οὐδέν, ὅδε δὲ συμφορᾶς τύχῃ.
Listen, mother; hear what thoughts have passed across my mind.
οἷα δʼ εἰσῆλθέν μʼ, ἄκουσον, μῆτερ, ἐννοουμένην·
I am resolved to die; and this I want to do with honor, dismissing from me what is mean. Towards this now, mother turn your thoughts, and with me weigh how well I speak; to me the whole of mighty Hellas looks; on me the passage over the sea depends; on me the sack of Troy;and in my power it lies to check henceforth barbarian raids on happy Hellas, if ever in the days to come they seek to seize her women, when once they have atoned by death for the violation of Helen’s marriage by Paris. All this deliverance will my death insure, and my fame for setting Hellas free will be a happy one.
κατθανεῖν μέν μοι δέδοκται· τοῦτο δʼ αὐτὸ βούλομαιεὐκλεῶς πρᾶξαι, παρεῖσά γʼ ἐκποδὼν τὸ δυσγενές.δεῦρο δὴ σκέψαι μεθʼ ἡμῶν, μῆτερ, ὡς καλῶς λέγω·εἰς ἔμʼ Ἑλλὰς ἡ μεγίστη πᾶσα νῦν ἀποβλέπει,κἀν ἐμοὶ πορθμός τε ναῶν καὶ Φρυγῶν κατασκαφαὶτάς τε μελλούσας γυναῖκας, ἤν τι δρῶσι βάρβαροι,μηκέθʼ ἁρπάζειν ἐᾶν τούσδʼ ὀλβίας ἐξ Ἑλλάδος,τὸν Ἑλένης τείσαντας ὄλεθρον, ἣν ⟨ἀν⟩ήρπασεν Πάρις.ταῦτα πάντα κατθανοῦσα ῥύσομαι, καί μου κλέος,Ἑλλάδʼ ὡς ἠλευθέρωσα, μακάριον γενήσεται.
Besides, I have no right at all to cling too fondly to my life; for you did not bear me for myself alone, but as a public blessing to all Hellas. What! shall countless warriors, armed with shields, those myriads sitting at the oar, find courage to attack the foe and die for Hellas, because their fatherland is wronged,and my one life prevent all this? What kind of justice is that? could I find a word in answer? Now let us turn to that other point. It is not right that this man should enter into battle with all Argos or be slain for a woman’s sake. Better a single man should see the light than ten thousand women.
καὶ γὰρ οὐδέ τοί τι λίαν ἐμὲ φιλοψυχεῖν χρεών·πᾶσι γάρ μʼ Ἕλλησι κοινὸν ἔτεκες, οὐχὶ σοὶ μόνῃ.ἀλλὰ μυρίοι μὲν ἄνδρες ἀσπίσιν πεφραγμένοι,μυρίοι δʼ ἐρέτμʼ ἔχοντες, πατρίδος ἠδικημένης,δρᾶν τι τολμήσουσιν ἐχθροὺς χὑπὲρ Ἑλλάδος θανεῖν,ἡ δʼ ἐμὴ ψυχὴ μίʼ οὖσα πάντα κωλύσει τάδε;τί τὸ δίκαιον τοῦτό γε; ἆρʼ ἔχοιμʼ ἂν ἀντειπεῖν ἔπος;κἀπʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ἔλθωμεν· οὐ δεῖ τόνδε διὰ μάχης μολεῖνπᾶσιν Ἀργείοις γυναικὸς εἵνεκʼ οὐδὲ κατθανεῖν.εἷς γʼ ἀνὴρ κρείσσων γυναικῶν μυρίων ὁρᾶν φάος.
If Artemis has decided to take my body, am I, a mortal, to thwart the goddess? no, that is impossible. I give my body to Hellas; sacrifice it and make an utter end of Troy. This is my enduring monument; marriage, motherhood, and fame—all these is it to me.
εἰ βεβούληται δὲ σῶμα τοὐμὸν Ἄρτεμις λαβεῖν,ἐμποδὼν γενήσομαι ʼγὼ θνητὸς οὖσα τῇ θεῷ;ἀλλʼ ἀμήχανον· δίδωμι σῶμα τοὐμὸν Ἑλλάδι.θύετʼ, ἐκπορθεῖτε Τροίαν. ταῦτα γὰρ μνημεῖά μουδιὰ μακροῦ, καὶ παῖδες οὗτοι καὶ γάμοι καὶ δόξʼ ἐμή.
And it is right, mother, that Hellenes should rule barbarians, but not barbarians Hellenes, those being slaves, while these are free.
βαρβάρων δʼ Ἕλληνας ἄρχειν εἰκός, ἀλλʼ οὐ βαρβάρους,μῆτερ, Ἑλλήνων· τὸ μὲν γὰρ δοῦλον, οἳ δʼ ἐλεύθεροι.
Chorus Leader:You play a noble part, maiden; but the whims of Fate and the goddess are diseased.
Χορός:τὸ μὲν σόν, ὦ νεᾶνι, γενναίως ἔχει·
Achilles:Daughter of Agamemnon! some god was benton blessing me, if I could have won you for my wife. In you I consider Hellas happy, and you in Hellas; for this that you have said is good and worthy of your fatherland; since you, abandonIng a strife with heavenly powers, which are too strong for you, have fairly weighed advantages and needs.
τὸ τῆς τύχης δὲ καὶ τὸ τῆς θεοῦ νοσεῖ.Ἀχιλλεύς:Ἀγαμέμνονος παῖ, μακάριόν μέ τις θεῶνἔμελλε θήσειν, εἰ τύχοιμι σῶν γάμων.ζηλῶ δὲ σοῦ μὲν Ἑλλάδʼ, Ἑλλάδος δὲ σέ.εὖ γὰρ τόδʼ εἶπας ἀξίως τε πατρίδος·τὸ θεομαχεῖν γὰρ ἀπολιποῦσʼ, ὅ σου κρατεῖ,ἐξελογίσω τὰ χρηστὰ τἀναγκαῖά τε.
But now that I have looked into your noble nature, I feel still more a fond desire to win you for my bride. Look to it; for I want to serve you and receive you in my halls; and, Thetis be my witness, how I grieve to think I shall not save your life by doing battle with the Danaids.Reflect, I say; a dreadful ill is death.
μᾶλλον δὲ λέκτρων σῶν πόθος μʼ ἐσέρχεταιἐς τὴν φύσιν βλέψαντα· γενναία γὰρ εἶ.ὅρα δʼ· ἐγὼ γὰρ βούλομαί σʼ εὐεργετεῖνλαβεῖν τʼ ἐς οἴκους· ἄχθομαί τʼ, ἴστω Θέτις,εἰ μή σε σώσω Δαναΐδαισι διὰ μάχηςἐλθών. ἄθρησον· ὁ θάνατος δεινὸν κακόν.
Iphigenia:This I say, without regard to anyone. Enough that the daughter of Tyndareus is causing wars and bloodshed by her beauty; then be not slain yourself, stranger, nor seek to slay another on my account;but let me, if I can, save Hellas.
Ἰφιγένεια:λέγω τάδʼ οὐδὲν οὐδένʼ εὐλαβουμένη.ἡ Τυνδαρὶς παῖς διὰ τὸ σῶμʼ ἀρκεῖ μάχαςἀνδρῶν τιθεῖσα καὶ φόνους· σὺ δʼ, ὦ ξένε,μὴ θνῇσκε διʼ ἐμὲ μηδʼ ἀποκτείνῃς τινά,ἔα δὲ σῷσαί μʼ Ἑλλάδʼ, ἢν δυνώμεθα.
Achilles:Heroic spirit! I can say no more to this, since you are so minded; for yours is a noble resolve; why should not one speak the truth? Yet I will speak, for you will perhaps change your mind;[that you may know then what my offer is,] I will go and place these arms of mine near the altar, resolved not to permit your death but to prevent; for brave as you are at sight of the knife held at your throat, you will soon avail yourself of what I said.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ὦ λῆμʼ ἄριστον, οὐκ ἔχω πρὸς τοῦτʼ ἔτιλέγειν, ἐπεί σοι τάδε δοκεῖ· γενναῖα γὰρφρονεῖς· τί γὰρ τἀληθὲς οὐκ εἴποι τις ἄν;ὅμως δʼ, ἴσως γὰρ κἂν μεταγνοίης τάδε,[ὡς οὖν ἂν εἰδῇς τἀπʼ ἐμοῦ λελεγμένα,]ἐλθὼν τάδʼ ὅπλα θήσομαι βωμοῦ πέλας,ὡς οὐκ ἐάσων σʼ ἀλλὰ κωλύσων θανεῖν.χρήσῃ δὲ καὶ σὺ τοῖς ἐμοῖς λόγοις τάχα,ὅταν πέλας σῆς φάσγανον δέρης ἴδῃς.
So I will not let you perish through any thoughtlessness of yours, but will go to the goddess with these arms and await your arrival there. Exit Achilles.
οὔκουν ἐάσω σʼ ἀφροσύνῃ τῇ σῇ θανεῖν·ἐλθὼν δὲ σὺν ὅπλοις τοῖσδε πρὸς ναὸν θεᾶςκαραδοκήσω σὴν ἐκεῖ παρουσίαν.
Iphigenia:Mother, why so silent, your eyes wet with tears?
Ἰφιγένεια:μῆτερ, τί σιγῇ δακρύοις τέγγεις κόρας;
Clytemnestra:I have reason, woe is me! to be sad at heart.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἔχω τάλαινα πρόφασιν ὥστʼ ἀλγεῖν φρένα.
Iphigenia:Stop; do not make me a coward; here in one thing obey me.
Ἰφιγένεια:παῦσαι· ʼμὲ μὴ κάκιζε· τάδε δέ μοι πιθοῦ.
Clytemnestra:Tell me, my child, for at my hands you shall never suffer injury.
Κλυταιμήστρα:λέγʼ· ὡς παρʼ ἡμῶν οὐδὲν ἀδικήσῃ, τέκνον.
Iphigenia:Cut not off the tresses of your hair for me, nor clothe yourself in sable garb.
Ἰφιγένεια:μήτʼ οὖν γε τὸν σὸν πλόκαμον ἐκτέμῃς τριχός,μήτʼ ἀμφὶ σῶμα μέλανας ἀμπίσχῃ πέπλους.
Clytemnestra:Why, my child, what is it you have said? When I have lost you?
Κλυταιμήστρα:τί δὴ τόδʼ εἶπας, τέκνον; ἀπολέσασά σε;
Iphigenia:You wll not lose me; I am saved and you renowned, as far as I can make you.
Ἰφιγένεια:οὐ σύ γε· σέσῳσμαι, κατʼ ἐμὲ δʼ εὐκλεὴς ἔσῃ.
Clytemnestra:How so? Must I not mourn your death?
Κλυταιμήστρα:πῶς εἶπας; οὐ πενθεῖν με σὴν ψυχὴν χρεών;
Iphigenia:By no means, for I shall have no tomb heaped over me.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἥκιστʼ, ἐπεί μοι τύμβος οὐ χωσθήσεται.
Clytemnestra:What then? It is death, not the tomb, that is rightly mourned.
Κλυταιμήστρα:τί δαί; τὸ θνῄσκειν, οὐ τάφος, νομίζεται.
Iphigenia:The altar of the goddess, Zeus’s daughter, will be my tomb.
Ἰφιγένεια:βωμὸς θεᾶς μοι μνῆμα τῆς Διὸς κόρης.
Clytemnestra:Well, my child, I will let you persuade me, for you speak well.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, σοὶ πείσομαι· λέγεις γὰρ εὖ.
Iphigenia:Yes, as one who prospers and does Hellas service.
Ἰφιγένεια:ὡς εὐτυχοῦσά γʼ Ἑλλάδος τʼ εὐεργέτις.
Clytemnestra:What message shall I carry to your sisters?
Κλυταιμήστρα:τί δὴ κασιγνήταισιν ἀγγελῶ σέθεν;
Iphigenia:Do not put mourning raiment on them either.
Ἰφιγένεια:μηδʼ ἀμφὶ κείναις μέλανας ἐξάψῃ πέπλους.
Clytemnestra:But is there no fond message I can give the maidens from you?
Κλυταιμήστρα:εἴπω δὲ παρὰ σοῦ φίλον ἔπος τι παρθένοις;
Iphigenia:Yes, my farewell words; and promise me to rear Orestes to manhood.
Ἰφιγένεια:χαίρειν γε. Ὀρέστην τʼ ἔκτρεφʼ ἄνδρα τόνδε μοι.
Clytemnestra:Press him to your bosom; it is your last look.
Κλυταιμήστρα:προσέλκυσαί νιν ὕστατον θεωμένη.
Iphigenia:O you that are most dear to me! you have helped your friends as you had means.
Ἰφιγένεια:ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἐπεκούρησας ὅσον εἶχες φίλοις.
Clytemnestra:Is there anything I can do in Argos to please you?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἔσθʼ ὅ τι κατʼ Ἄργος δρῶσά σοι χάριν φέρω;
Iphigenia:Yes, do not hate my father, your own husband.
Ἰφιγένεια:πατέρα τὸν ἀμὸν μὴ στύγει, πόσιν γε σόν.
Clytemnestra:Fearful are the trials through which he has to go because of you.
Κλυταιμήστρα:δεινοὺς ἀγῶνας διὰ σὲ δεῖ κεῖνον δραμεῖν.
Iphigenia:It was against his will he ruined me for the sake of Hellas.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἄκων μʼ ὑπὲρ γῆς Ἑλλάδος διώλεσεν.
Clytemnestra:Ah! but he employed base treachery, unworthy of Atreus.
Κλυταιμήστρα:δόλῳ δʼ, ἀγεννῶς Ἀτρέως τʼ οὐκ ἀξίως.
Iphigenia:Who will escort me from here, before my hair is torn?
Ἰφιγένεια:τίς μʼ εἶσιν ἄξων πρὶν σπαράσσεσθαι κόμης;
Clytemnestra:I will go with you—
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἐγώ, μετά γε σοῦ—
Iphigenia:No, not you; that is not well saidl.
Ἰφιγένεια:μὴ σύ γʼ· οὐ καλῶς λέγεις.
Clytemnestra:Clinging to your robes.
Κλυταιμήστρα:πέπλων ἐχομένη σῶν.
Iphigenia:Be persuaded by me, mother, stay here; for this is the better way both for me and you; but let one of these attendants of my father conduct me to the meadow of Artemis, where I shall be sacrificed.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἐμοί, μῆτερ, πιθοῦ·μένʼ· ὡς ἐμοί τε σοί τε κάλλιον τόδε.πατρὸς δʼ ὀπαδῶν τῶνδέ τίς με πεμπέτωἈρτέμιδος ἐς λειμῶνʼ, ὅπου σφαγήσομαι.
Clytemnestra:Are you gone from me, my child?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὦ τέκνον, οἴχῃ;
Iphigenia:Yes, and with no chance of ever returning.
Ἰφιγένεια:καὶ πάλιν γʼ οὐ μὴ μόλω.
Clytemnestra:Leaving your mother?
Κλυταιμήστρα:λιποῦσα μητέρα;
Iphigenia:Yes, as you see, undeservedly.
Ἰφιγένεια:ὡς ὁρᾷς γʼ, οὐκ ἀξίως.
Clytemnestra:Hold! do not leave me!
Κλυταιμήστρα:σχές, μή με προλίπῃς.
Iphigenia:I cannot let you shed a tear. To the Chorus. May it be yours, maidens, to hymn in joyous strains Artemis, the child of Zeus, for my hard lot; and let the order for a solemn hush go forth to the Danaids.
Ἰφιγένεια:οὐκ ἐῶ στάζειν δάκρυ.ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐπευφημήσατʼ, ὦ νεάνιδες,παιᾶνα τἠμῇ συμφορᾷ Διὸς κόρηνἌρτεμιν· ἴτω δὲ Δαναΐδαις εὐφημία.
Begin the sacrifice with the baskets, let the fire blaze for the purifying meal of sprinkling, and my father pace from left to right about the altar; for I come to bestow on Hellas safety crowned with victory.
κανᾶ δʼ ἐναρχέσθω τις, αἰθέσθω δὲ πῦρπροχύταις καθαρσίοισι, καὶ πατὴρ ἐμὸςἐνδεξιούσθω βωμόν· ὡς σωτηρίανἝλλησι δώσουσʼ ἔρχομαι νικηφόρον.
Iphigenia:Lead me away, the destroyer of Ilium’s town and the Phrygians; give me wreaths to cast about me; bring them here; here are my tresses to crown; bring lustral water too.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἄγετέ με τὰν Ἰλίουκαὶ Φρυγῶν ἑλέπτολιν.στέφεα περίβολα δίδοτε, φέρετε— πλόκαμος ὅδε καταστέφειν —χερνίβων τε παγάς.
Dance to Artemis, queen Artemis the blest, around her shrine and altar; for by the blood of my sacrifice I will blot out the oracle,if it must be.
ἑλίσσετʼ ἀμφὶ ναὸνἀμφὶ βωμὸν Ἄρτεμιν,τὰν ἄνασσαν Ἄρτεμιν,τὰν μάκαιραν· ὡς ἐμοῖσιν, εἰ χρεών,αἵμασι θύμασί [τε]θέσφατʼ ἐξαλείψω.
O mother, lady revered! I will, not give you my tears;
ὦ πότνια πότνια μᾶτερ, οὐ δάκρυά γέ σοιδώσομεν ἁμέτερα·
for at the holy rites it is not fitting.
παρʼ ἱεροῖς γὰρ οὐ πρέπει.
Sing with me, maidens, sing the praises of Artemis, whose temple faces Chalcis,where angry spearmen madly chafe, here in the narrow havens of Aulis, because of me.
ἰὼ ἰὼ νεάνιδες,συνεπαείδετʼ ἌρτεμινΧαλκίδος ἀντίπορον,ἵνα τε δόρατα μέμονε δάϊʼὄνομα διʼ ἐμὸν [τᾶσδʼ] Αὐλίδοςστενοπόροις ἐν ὅρμοις.
O Pelasgia, land of my birth, and Mycenae, my home!Chorus:Is it on Perseus’ citadel you call, that town Cyclopean workmen built?
ἰὼ γᾶ μᾶτερ ὦ Πελασγία,Μυκηναῖαί τʼ ἐμαὶ θεράπναι—Χορός:καλεῖς πόλισμα Περσέως,Κυκλωπίων πόνον χερῶν;
Iphigenia:To be a light to Hellas did you rear me, and so I do not say No to death.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἐθρέψαθʼ Ἑλλάδι με φάος·θανοῦσα δʼ οὐκ ἀναίνομαι.
Chorus:You are right; no fear that fame will ever desert you!
Χορός:κλέος γὰρ οὔ σε μὴ λίπῃ.
Iphigenia:Hail to you, bright lamp of day and light of Zeus! A different life, a different lot is henceforth mine. Farewell I bid you, light beloved! Exit Iphigenia..
Ἰφιγένεια:ἰὼ ἰώ.λαμπαδοῦχος ἁμέραΔιός τε φέγγος, ἕτερον ἕτεροναἰῶνα καὶ μοῖραν οἰκήσομεν.χαῖρέ μοι, φίλον φάος.
Chorus:Behold the maiden on her way, the destroyer of Ilium’s town and the Phrygians, with garlands twined about her head, and drops of lustral water on her, soon to be sprinkled with her gushing bloodthe altar of a murderous goddess, when her shapely neck is severed.For you fair streams of a father’s pouring and lustral waters are in store, for you Achaea’s army is waiting, eagerto reach the citadel of Ilium. But let us celebrate Artemis, the daughter of Zeus, queen among the gods, as if upon some happy chance.
Χορός:ἰὼ ἰώ.ἴδεσθε τὰν Ἰλίουκαὶ Φρυγῶν ἑλέπτολινστείχουσαν, ἐπὶ κάρα στέφηβαλουμέναν χερνίβων τε παγάς,βωμόν γε δαίμονος θεᾶςῥανίσιν αἱματορρύτοιςχρανοῦσαν εὐφυῆ τε σώματος δέρην[σφαγεῖσαν.] εὔδροσοι παγαὶπατρῷαι μένουσι χέρνιβές τέ σεστρατός τʼ Ἀχαιῶν θέλωνἸλίου πόλιν μολεῖν.ἀλλὰ τὰν Διὸς κόρανκλῄσωμεν Ἄρτεμιν,θεῶν ἄνασσαν, ὡς ἐπʼ εὐτυχεῖ πότμῳ.
O lady revered, delighting in humansacrifice, send on its way to Phrygia’s land the army of the Hellenes, to Troy’s abodes of guile, and grant that Agamemnon may wreathe his head with deathless fame,a crown of fairest glory for the spearmen of Hellas.
ὦ πότνια, πότνια, θύμασιν βροτησίοιςχαρεῖσα, πέμψον ἐς Φρυγῶνγαῖαν Ἑλλάνων στρατὸνκαὶ δολόεντα Τροίας ἕδη,Ἀγαμέμνονά τε λόγχαιςἙλλάδι κλεινότατον στέφανονδὸς ἀμφὶ κάρα ἑὸνκλέος ἀείμνηστον ἀμφιθεῖναι.
Messenger:Come forth, O Clytemnestra, daughter of Tyndareus, from the tent, to hear my news.
Ἄγγελος:ὦ Τυνδαρεία παῖ, Κλυταιμήστρα, δόμωνἔξω πέρασον, ὡς κλύῃς ἐμῶν λόγων.
Clytemnestra:I heard your voice and have comein sad dismay and fearful dread, not sure but what you have arrived with tidings of some fresh trouble for me besides the present woe.
Κλυταιμήστρα:φθογγῆς κλύουσα δεῦρο σῆς ἀφικόμην,ταρβοῦσα τλήμων κἀκπεπληγμένη φόβῳ·μή μοί τινʼ ἄλλην ξυμφορὰν ἥκεις φέρωνπρὸς τῇ παρούσῃ;
Messenger:No, rather I want to unfold to you a strange and marvellous story about your child.
Ἄγγελος:σῆς μὲν οὖν παιδὸς πέριθαυμαστά σοι καὶ δεινὰ σημῆναι θέλω.
Clytemnestra:Do not delay, then, but speak at once.
Κλυταιμήστρα:μὴ μέλλε τοίνυν, ἀλλὰ φράζʼ ὅσον τάχος.
Messenger:Dear mistress, you shall learn all clearly; from the outset will I tell it, unless my memory fails me somewhat and confuses my tongue in its account. As soon as we reached the grove of Artemis, the child of Zeus, and the flowery meadows,where the Achaean troops were gathered, bringing your daughter with us, at once the Argive army began assembling; but when king Agamemnon saw the maiden on her way to the grove to be sacrificed, he gave one groan, and, turning away his face, let the tears burstfrom his eyes, as he held his robe before them. But the maid, standing close by her father, spoke thus: “O my father, here I am; willingly I offer my body for my country and all Hellas,”“that you may lead me to the altar of the goddess and sacrifice me, since this is Heaven’s ordinance. May good luck be yours for any help that I afford! and may you obtain the victor’s gift and come again to the land of your fathers. So then let none of the Argives lay hands on me,”“for I will bravely yield my neck without a word.”
Ἄγγελος:ἀλλʼ, ὦ φίλη δέσποινα, πᾶν πεύσῃ σαφῶς.λέξω δʼ ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, ἤν τι μὴ σφαλεῖσά μουγνώμη ταράξῃ γλῶσσαν ἐν λόγοις ἐμήν.ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἱκόμεσθα τῆς Διὸς κόρηςἈρτέμιδος ἄλσος λείμακάς τʼ ἀνθεσφόρους,ἵνʼ ἦν Ἀχαιῶν σύλλογος στρατεύματος,σὴν παῖδʼ ἄγοντες, εὐθὺς Ἀργείων ὄχλοςἠθροίζεθʼ. ὡς δʼ ἐσεῖδεν Ἀγαμέμνων ἄναξἐπὶ σφαγὰς στείχουσαν εἰς ἄλσος κόρην,ἀνεστέναξε, κἄμπαλιν στρέψας κάραδάκρυε, πρόσθεν ὀμμάτων πέπλον προθείς.ἣ δὲ σταθεῖσα τῷ τεκόντι πλησίονἔλεξε τοιάδʼ· Ὦ πάτερ, πάρειμί σοι·τοὐμὸν δὲ σῶμα τῆς ἐμῆς ὑπὲρ πάτραςκαὶ τῆς ἁπάσης Ἑλλάδος γαίας ὕπερθῦσαι δίδωμʼ ἑκοῦσα πρὸς βωμὸν θεᾶςἄγοντας, εἴπερ ἐστὶ θέσφατον τόδε.καὶ τοὐπʼ ἔμʼ εὐτυχεῖτε· καὶ νικηφόρουδώρου τύχοιτε πατρίδα τʼ ἐξίκοισθε γῆν.πρὸς ταῦτα μὴ ψαύσῃ τις Ἀργείων ἐμοῦ·σιγῇ παρέξω γὰρ δέρην εὐκαρδίως.
She spoke; and each man marvelled, as he heard the maiden’s brave speech. But in the midst Talthybius stood up, for this was his duty, and bade the army refrain from word or deed;
τοσαῦτʼ ἔλεξε· πᾶς δʼ ἐθάμβησεν κλύωνεὐψυχίαν τε κἀρετὴν τῆς παρθένου.στὰς δʼ ἐν μέσῳ Ταλθύβιος, ᾧ τόδʼ ἦν μέλον,εὐφημίαν ἀνεῖπε καὶ σιγὴν στρατῷ·
and Calchas, the seer, drawing a sharp sword from its scabbard laid it in a basket of beaten gold, and crowned the maiden’s head. Then the son of Peleus, taking the basket and with it lustral water in his hand, ran round the altar of the goddessuttering these words: “O Artemis, you child of Zeus, slayer of wild beasts, that wheel your dazzling light amid the gloom, accept this sacrifice which we, the army of the Achaeans and Agamemnon with us, offer to you, pure blood from a beautiful maiden’s neck;”“and grant us safe sailing for our ships and the sack of Troy’s towers by our spears.”
Κάλχας δʼ ὁ μάντις ἐς κανοῦν χρυσήλατονἔθηκεν ὀξὺ χειρὶ φάσγανον σπάσαςκολεῶν ἔσωθεν, κρᾶτά τʼ ἔστεψεν κόρης.ὁ παῖς δʼ ὁ Πηλέως ἐν κύκλῳ βωμὸν θεᾶςλαβὼν κανοῦν ἔβρεξε χέρνιβάς θʼ ὁμοῦ,ἔλεξε δʼ· Ὦ παῖ Ζηνός, ὦ θηροκτόνε,τὸ λαμπρὸν εἱλίσσουσʼ ἐν εὐφρόνῃ φάος,δέξαι τὸ θῦμα τόδʼ ὅ γέ σοι δωρούμεθαστρατός τʼ Ἀχαιῶν Ἀγαμέμνων ἄναξ θʼ ὁμοῦ,ἄχραντον αἷμα καλλιπαρθένου δέρης,καὶ δὸς γενέσθαι πλοῦν νεῶν ἀπήμοναΤροίας τε πέργαμʼ ἐξελεῖν ἡμᾶς δορί.
Meanwhile the sons of Atreus and all the army stood looking on the ground.
ἐς γῆν δʼ Ἀτρεῖδαι πᾶς στρατός τʼ ἔστη βλέπων.
[But the priest, seizing his knife, offered up a prayer and was closely scanning the maiden’s throat to see where he should strike.
ἱερεὺς δὲ φάσγανον λαβὼν ἐπεύξατο,λαιμόν τʼ ἐπεσκοπεῖθʼ, ἵνα πλήξειεν ἄν·
It was no slight sorrow filled my heart, as I stood by with bowed head; when there was a sudden miracle! Each one of us distinctly heard the sound of a blow, but none saw the spot where the maiden vanished. The priest cried out, and all the army took up the cryat the sight of a marvel all unlooked for, due to some god’s agency, and passing all belief, although it was seen; for there upon the ground lay a deer of immense size, magnificent to see, gasping out her life, with whose blood the altar of the goddess was thoroughly bedewed.
ἐμοὶ δέ τʼ ἄλγος οὐ μικρὸν εἰσῄει φρενί,κἄστην νενευκώς· θαῦμα δʼ ἦν αἴφνης ὁρᾶν.πληγῆς κτύπον γὰρ πᾶς τις ᾔσθετʼ ἂν σαφῶς,τὴν παρθένον δʼ οὐκ εἶδεν οὗ γῆς εἰσέδυ.βοᾷ δʼ ἱερεύς, ἅπας δʼ ἐπήχησε στρατός,ἄελπτον εἰσιδόντες ἐκ θεῶν τινοςφάσμʼ, οὗ γε μηδʼ ὁρωμένου πίστις παρῆν·ἔλαφος γὰρ ἀσπαίρουσʼ ἔκειτʼ ἐπὶ χθονὶἰδεῖν μεγίστη διαπρεπής τε τὴν θέαν,ἧς αἵματι βωμὸς ἐραίνετʼ ἄρδην τῆς θεοῦ.
Then spoke Calchas thus—his joy you can imagine—“You captains of this leagued Achaean army, do you see this victim, which the goddess has set before her altar, a mountain-roaming deer? This is more welcome to her by far than the maid,”“that she may not defile her altar by shedding noble blood. Gladly she has accepted it, and is granting us a prosperous voyage for our attack on Ilium. Therefore take heart, sailors, each man of you, and away to your ships, for today”“we must leave the hollow bays of Aulis and cross the Aegean main.”Then, when the sacrifice was wholly burnt to ashes in the blazing flame, he offered such prayers as were fitting, that the army might win return; but Agamemnon sends me to tell you this,and say what heaven-sent luck is his, and how he has secured undying fame throughout the length of Hellas. Now I was there myself and speak as an eyewitness; without a doubt your child flew away to the gods. A truce then to your sorrowing, and cease to be angry with your husband;
κἀν τῷδε Κάλχας πῶς δοκεῖς χαίρων ἔφη·Ὦ τοῦδʼ Ἀχαιῶν κοίρανοι κοινοῦ στρατοῦ,ὁρᾶτε τήνδε θυσίαν, ἣν ἡ θεὸςπρούθηκε βωμίαν, ἔλαφον ὀρειδρόμον;ταύτην μάλιστα τῆς κόρης ἀσπάζεται,ὡς μὴ μιάνῃ βωμὸν εὐγενεῖ φόνῳ.ἡδέως τε τοῦτʼ ἐδέξατο, καὶ πλοῦν οὔριονδίδωσιν ἡμῖν Ἰλίου τʼ ἐπιδρομάς.πρὸς ταῦτα πᾶς τις θάρσος αἶρε ναυβάτης,χώρει τε πρὸς ναῦν· ὡς ἡμέρᾳ τῇδε δεῖλιπόντας ἡμᾶς Αὐλίδος κοίλους μυχοὺςΑἴγαιον οἶδμα διαπερᾶν.ἐπεὶ δʼ ἅπανκατηνθρακώθη θῦμʼ ἐν Ἡφαίστου φλογί,τὰ πρόσφορʼ ηὔξαθʼ, ὡς τύχοι νόστου στρατός.πέμπει δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων μʼ ὥστε σοι φράσαι τάδε,λέγειν θʼ ὁποίας ἐκ θεῶν μοίρας κυρεῖκαὶ δόξαν ἔσχεν ἄφθιτον καθʼ Ἑλλάδα.ἐγὼ παρὼν δὲ καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμʼ ὁρῶν λέγω·ἡ παῖς σαφῶς σοι πρὸς θεοὺς ἀφίπτατο.λύπης δʼ ἀφαίρει καὶ πόσει πάρες χόλον·
for the gods’ ways with man are not what we expect, and those whom they love, they keep safe; yes, for this day has seen your daughter dead and living.Exit Messenger.
ἀπροσδόκητα δὲ βροτοῖς τὰ τῶν θεῶν,σώζουσί θʼ οὓς φιλοῦσιν. ἦμαρ γὰρ τόδεθανοῦσαν εἶδε καὶ βλέπουσαν παῖδα σήν.
Chorus Leader:What joy to hear these tidings from the messenger! He tells you your child is living still, among the gods.
Χορός:ὡς ἥδομαί τοι ταῦτʼ ἀκούσασʼ ἀγγέλου·ζῶν δʼ ἐν θεοῖσι σὸν μένειν φράζει τέκος.
Clytemnestra:Which of the gods, my child, has stolen you? How am I to address you? How can I be sure that this is not an idle tale told to cheer me, to make me cease my piteous lamentation for you?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὦ παῖ, θεῶν τοῦ κλέμμα γέγονας;πῶς σε προσείπω; πῶς δʼ οὐ φῶπαραμυθεῖσθαι τούσδε μάτην μύθους,ὥς σου πένθους λυγροῦ παυσαίμαν;
Chorus:See! king Agamemnon approaches,to confirm this story for you.
Χορός:καὶ μὴν Ἀγαμέμνων ἄναξ στείχει,τούσδʼ αὐτοὺς ἔχων σοι φράζειν μύθους.
Agamemnon:Lady, we may be counted happy, as far as concerns our daughter; for in truth she has fellowship with gods. But you must take this tender child and start for home, for the army is looking now to sail.
Ἀγαμέμνων:γύναι, θυγατρὸς ἕνεκʼ ὄλβιοι γενοίμεθʼ ἄν·ἔχει γὰρ ὄντως ἐν θεοῖς ὁμιλίαν.χρὴ δέ σε λαβοῦσαν τόνδε μόσχον νεαγενῆστείχειν πρὸς οἴκους· ὡς στρατὸς πρὸς πλοῦν ὁρᾷ.
Fare you well! it is long before I shall greet you on my return from Troy; may it be well with you!
καὶ χαῖρε· χρόνια γε τἀμά σοι προσφθέγματαΤροίηθεν ἔσται. καὶ γένοιτό σοι καλῶς.
Chorus:Son of Atreus, start for Phrygia’s land with joy and so return, I pray, after taking from Troy her fairest spoils.
Χορός:χαίρων, Ἀτρείδη, γῆν ἱκοῦ Φρυγίαν,χαίρων δʼ ἐπάνηκε,κάλλιστά μοι σκῦλʼ ἀπὸ Τροίας ἑλών.