Orestes:He is not; his marriage at Aulis was in vain.
Ὀρέστης:οὐκ ἔστιν· ἄλλως λέκτρʼ ἔγημʼ ἐν Αὐλίδι.
Iphigenia:Yes, for it was a cheat, as those who experienced it know.
Ἰφιγένεια:δόλια γάρ, ὡς ἴσασιν οἱ πεπονθότες.
Orestes:Who are you? How well you ask about Hellas!
Ὀρέστης:τίς εἶ ποθʼ; ὡς εὖ πυνθάνῃ τἀφʼ Ἑλλάδος.
Iphigenia:I am from there; while still a child I was lost.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἐκεῖθέν εἰμι· παῖς ἔτʼ οὖσʼ ἀπωλόμην.
Orestes:Then rightly you desire to know what has happened there, lady.
Ὀρέστης:ὀρθῶς ποθεῖς ἄρʼ εἰδέναι τἀκεῖ, γύναι.
Iphigenia:What about the general, who is said to be happy?
Ἰφιγένεια:τί δʼ ὁ στρατηγός, ὃν λέγουσʼ εὐδαιμονεῖν;
Orestes:Who? The one I knew was not happy.
Ὀρέστης:τίς; οὐ γὰρ ὅν γʼ ἐγᾦδα τῶν εὐδαιμόνων.
Iphigenia:There was said to be a certain lord, Agamemnon, son of Atreus.
Ἰφιγένεια:Ἀτρέως ἐλέγετο δή τις Ἀγαμέμνων ἄναξ.
Orestes:I do not know; leave this subject, lady.
Ὀρέστης:οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἄπελθε τοῦ λόγου τούτου, γύναι.
Iphigenia:No, by the gods, but tell me, stranger, to delight me.
Ἰφιγένεια:μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, ἀλλʼ εἴφʼ, ἵνʼ εὐφρανθῶ, ξένε.
Orestes:The wretched man is dead, and in addition he destroyed another.
Ὀρέστης:τέθνηχʼ ὁ τλήμων, πρὸς δʼ ἀπώλεσέν τινα.
Iphigenia:Dead? By what fate? I am unhappy!
Ἰφιγένεια:τέθνηκε; ποίᾳ συμφορᾷ; τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.
Orestes:Why do you mourn for this? It doesn’t concern you, does it?
Ὀρέστης:τί δʼ ἐστέναξας τοῦτο; μῶν προσῆκέ σοι;
Iphigenia:I grieve for his former prosperity.
Ἰφιγένεια:τὸν ὄλβον αὐτοῦ τὸν πάροιθʼ ἀναστένω.
Orestes:Yes, for he was dreadfully murdered by a woman.
Ὀρέστης:δεινῶς γὰρ ἐκ γυναικὸς οἴχεται σφαγείς.
Iphigenia:O miserable the slayer... and the slain!
Ἰφιγένεια:ὦ πανδάκρυτος ἡ κτανοῦσα … χὡ κτανών.
Orestes:Stop now, and do not ask further.
Ὀρέστης:παῦσαί νυν ἤδη μηδʼ ἐρωτήσῃς πέρα.
Iphigenia:Only this much, if the wife of the wretched man is alive.
Ἰφιγένεια:τοσόνδε γʼ, εἰ ζῇ τοῦ ταλαιπώρου δάμαρ.
Orestes:She is not; she was killed by the son that she bore.
Ὀρέστης:οὐκ ἔστι· παῖς νιν ὃν ἔτεχʼ, οὗτος ὤλεσεν.
Iphigenia:O house thrown into confusion! What was his intent?
Ἰφιγένεια:ὦ συνταραχθεὶς οἶκος. ὡς τί δὴ θέλων;
Orestes:To avenge on her the death of his father.
Ὀρέστης:πατρὸς θανόντος τήνδε τιμωρούμενος.
Iphigenia:Ah! How well he exacted an evil justice!
Ἰφιγένεια:φεῦ·ὡς εὖ κακὸν δίκαιον εἰσεπράξατο.
Orestes:Though he is just, he does not have good fortune from the gods.
Ὀρέστης:ἀλλʼ οὐ τὰ πρὸς θεῶν εὐτυχεῖ δίκαιος ὤν.
Iphigenia:Did Agamemnon leave any other children in his house?
Ἰφιγένεια:λείπει δʼ ἐν οἴκοις ἄλλον Ἀγαμέμνων γόνον;
Orestes:He left one virgin daughter, Electra.
Ὀρέστης:λέλοιπεν Ἠλέκτραν γε παρθένον μίαν.
Iphigenia:What else? Is there any report of the daughter who was sacrificed?
Ἰφιγένεια:τί δέ; σφαγείσης θυγατρὸς ἔστι τις λόγος;
Orestes:None, except that she is dead and does not see the light.
Ὀρέστης:οὐδείς γε, πλὴν θανοῦσαν οὐχ ὁρᾶν φάος.
Iphigenia:Unhappy girl, and also the father that killed her!
Ἰφιγένεια:τάλαινʼ ἐκείνη χὡ κτανὼν αὐτὴν πατήρ.
Orestes:As a thankless favor to an evil woman, she died.
Ὀρέστης:κακῆς γυναικὸς χάριν ἄχαριν ἀπώλετο.
Iphigenia:Does the dead father’s son live at Argos?
Ἰφιγένεια:ὁ τοῦ θανόντος δʼ ἔστι παῖς Ἄργει πατρός;
Orestes:He lives, the miserable one, both nowhere and everywhere.
Ὀρέστης:ἔστʼ, ἄθλιός γε, κοὐδαμοῦ καὶ πανταχοῦ.
Iphigenia:False dreams, farewell; after all, you were nothing.
Ἰφιγένεια:ψευδεῖς ὄνειροι, χαίρετʼ· οὐδὲν ἦτʼ ἄρα.
Orestes:And those who are called wise divinities are not less false than winged dreams. These is much confusion, both in divine affairs and in human; but only this is a grief to the one who was not foolish, but trusted in the words of prophetsand died—as he died to those that know.
Ὀρέστης:οὐδʼ οἱ σοφοί γε δαίμονες κεκλημένοιπτηνῶν ὀνείρων εἰσὶν ἀψευδέστεροι.πολὺς ταραγμὸς ἔν τε τοῖς θείοις ἔνικἀν τοῖς βροτείοις· ἓν δὲ λυπεῖται μόνον,ὃς οὐκ ἄφρων ὢν μάντεων πεισθεὶς λόγοιςὄλωλεν — ὡς ὄλωλε τοῖσιν εἰδόσιν.
Chorus Leader:Ah! What about me, and my parents? Are they alive? Are they not? Who can say?
Χορός:φεῦ φεῦ· τί δʼ ἡμεῖς οἵ τʼ ἐμοὶ γεννήτορες;ἆρʼ εἰσίν; ἆρʼ οὐκ εἰσί; τίς φράσειεν ἄν;
Iphigenia:Listen to me; I have come to a subject which means benefit both to you, strangers,and to me, by your efforts. A good action is especially so, if the same matter is pleasing to all. Would you, if I should save you, go to Argos and take a report of me to my friends there, and bring a tablet,which a captive wrote for me in pity? He did not think my hand murderous, but that the victims of the goddess, who holds these things just, die under the law. For I have had no one to go back to Argos with that message, who,being saved, would send my letter to one of my friends. But you—if, as it seems, you are not hostile to me, and you know Mycenae and those whom I want you to know—be rescued, and have this reward, not a shameful one, safety for the sake of this small letter.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἀκούσατʼ· ἐς γὰρ δή τινʼ ἥκομεν λόγον,ὑμῖν τʼ ὄνησιν, ὦ ξένοι, σπουδῆς ἅμακἀμοί. τὸ δʼ εὖ μάλιστά γʼ οὕτω γίγνεται,εἰ πᾶσι ταὐτὸν πρᾶγμʼ ἀρεσκόντως ἔχει.θέλοις ἄν, εἰ σῴσαιμί σʼ, ἀγγεῖλαί τί μοιπρὸς Ἄργος ἐλθὼν τοῖς ἐμοῖς ἐκεῖ φίλοις,δέλτον τʼ ἐνεγκεῖν, ἥν τις οἰκτίρας ἐμὲἔγραψεν αἰχμάλωτος, οὐχὶ τὴν ἐμὴνφονέα νομίζων χεῖρα, τοῦ νόμου δʼ ὕποθνῄσκειν τὰ τῆς θεοῦ, τάδε δίκαιʼ ἡγουμένης;οὐδένα γὰρ εἶχον ὅστις ἀγγείλαι μολὼνἐς Ἄργος αὖθις, τάς ⟨τʼ⟩ ἐμὰς ἐπιστολὰςπέμψειε σωθεὶς τῶν ἐμῶν φίλων τινί.σὺ δʼ — εἶ γάρ, ὡς ἔοικας, οὔτε δυσμενὴςκαὶ τὰς Μυκήνας οἶσθα χοὓς κἀγὼ θέλω —σώθητι, καὶ σὺ μισθὸν οὐκ αἰσχρὸν λαβών,κούφων ἕκατι γραμμάτων σωτηρίαν.
But let him, since the city exacts it, be the offering to the goddess, separated from you.
οὗτος δʼ, ἐπείπερ πόλις ἀναγκάζει τάδε,θεᾷ γενέσθω θῦμα χωρισθεὶς σέθεν.
Orestes:Stranger, you have spoken all well but this: to sacrifice him would be a heavy grief to me. I am the pilot of these misfortunes,he sailed with me for the sake of my troubles. For it is not right for me to do you a favor and get out of danger, on condition of his death. But let it happen this way: give him the letter and he will take it to to Argos, for your well-being;
Ὀρέστης:καλῶς ἔλεξας τἄλλα πλὴν ἕν, ὦ ξένη·τὸ γὰρ σφαγῆναι τόνδε μοι βάρος μέγα.ὁ ναυστολῶν γάρ εἰμʼ ἐγὼ τὰς συμφοράς,οὗτος δὲ συμπλεῖ τῶν ἐμῶν μόχθων χάριν.οὔκουν δίκαιον ἐπʼ ὀλέθρῳ τῷ τοῦδʼ ἐμὲχάριν τίθεσθαι καὐτὸν ἐκδῦναι κακῶν.ἀλλʼ ὣς γενέσθω· τῷδε μὲν δέλτον δίδου·πέμψει γὰρ Ἄργος, ὥστε σοι καλῶς ἔχειν·
let anyone who wishes kill me. It is most shameful for anyone to save himself by hurling his friends’ affairs into catastrophe. That man is my friend, and I wish him to live, no less than myself.
ἡμᾶς δʼ ὁ χρῄζων κτεινέτω. τὰ τῶν φίλωναἴσχιστον ὅστις καταβαλὼν ἐς ξυμφορὰςαὐτὸς σέσῳσται. τυγχάνει δʼ ὅδʼ ὢν φίλος,ὃν οὐδὲν ἧσσον ἢ ʼμὲ φῶς ὁρᾶν θέλω.
Iphigenia:O brave spirit! How you were born from some noblestock, and are rightly a friend to your friends! May that one of my relatives who is left be such as you! For I am not without a brother, strangers, except in so far as I do not see him.
Ἰφιγένεια:ὦ λῆμʼ ἄριστον, ὡς ἀπʼ εὐγενοῦς τινοςῥίζης πέφυκας τοῖς φίλοις τʼ ὀρθῶς φίλος.τοιοῦτος εἴη τῶν ἐμῶν ὁμοσπόρωνὅσπερ λέλειπται. καὶ γὰρ οὐδʼ ἐγώ, ξένοι,ἀνάδελφός εἰμι, πλὴν ὅσʼ οὐχ ὁρῶσά νιν.
Since you wish it, I will send this manwith the tablet, and you will die; a great eagerness for this seems to possess you.
ἐπεὶ δὲ βούλῃ ταῦτα, τόνδε πέμψομενδέλτον φέροντα, σὺ δὲ θανῇ· πολλὴ δέ τιςπροθυμία σε τοῦδʼ ἔχουσα τυγχάνει.
Orestes:Who will sacrifice me and dare such a dreadful deed?
Ὀρέστης:θύσει δὲ τίς με καὶ τὰ δεινὰ τλήσεται;
Iphigenia:I will; for I hold the office of this goddess.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἐγώ· θεᾶς γὰρ τῆσδε προστροπὴν ἔχω.
Orestes:It is not envied, lady, and not blessed.
Ὀρέστης:ἄζηλά γʼ, ὦ νεᾶνι, κοὐκ εὐδαίμονα.
Iphigenia:But I am dedicated to necessity, which must be kept.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἀλλʼ εἰς ἀνάγκην κείμεθʼ, ἣν φυλακτέον.
Orestes:Do you yourself, a woman, sacrifice men with the sword?
Ὀρέστης:αὐτὴ ξίφει θύουσα θῆλυς ἄρσενας;
Iphigenia:No; but I sprinkle the holy water around your hair.
Ἰφιγένεια:οὔκ, ἀλλὰ χαίτην ἀμφὶ σὴν χερνίψομαι.
Orestes:Who is the slayer? If I may ask this.
Ὀρέστης:ὁ δὲ σφαγεὺς τίς; εἰ τάδʼ ἱστορεῖν με χρή.
Iphigenia:That charge belongs to those within this temple.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἔσω δόμων τῶνδʼ εἰσὶν οἷς μέλει τάδε.
Orestes:What sort of tomb will receive me, when I die?
Ὀρέστης:τάφος δὲ ποῖος δέξεταί μʼ, ὅταν θάνω;
Iphigenia:The sacred fire within and the wide hollow of a cave.
Ἰφιγένεια:πῦρ ἱερὸν ἔνδον χάσμα τʼ εὐρωπὸν πέτρας.
Orestes:Ah! Would that my sister’s hand might lay out my body!
Ὀρέστης:φεῦ·πῶς ἄν μʼ ἀδελφῆς χεὶρ περιστείλειεν ἄν;
Iphigenia:You have prayed in vain, unhappy youth, whoever you are; for she lives far from a barbarian land.
Ἰφιγένεια:μάταιον εὐχήν, ὦ τάλας, ὅστις ποτʼ εἶ,ηὔξω· μακρὰν γὰρ βαρβάρου ναίει χθονός.
Yet indeed, since you happen to be an Argive, I too will not leave out any favor that I can do. I will set much ornament on the tomb and quench your body with yellow oil, and throw onto your funeral pyre the gleaming honey, that streams from flowers,of the tawny mountain bee.
οὐ μήν, ἐπειδὴ τυγχάνεις Ἀργεῖος ὤν,ἀλλʼ ὧν γε δυνατὸν οὐδʼ ἐγὼ λείψω χάριν.πολύν τε γάρ σοι κόσμον ἐνθήσω τάφῳ,ξανθῷ τʼ ἐλαίῳ σῶμα σὸν κατασβέσω,καὶ τῆς ὀρείας ἀνθεμόρρυτον γάνοςξουθῆς μελίσσης ἐς πυρὰν βαλῶ σέθεν.
But I will go and bring the tablet from the temple of the goddess; take care not to bear me ill-will.
ἀλλʼ εἶμι δέλτον τʼ ἐκ θεᾶς ἀνακτόρωνοἴσω· τὸ μέντοι δυσμενὲς μὴ ʼμοὶ λάβῃς.
Guard them, attendants, without chains. Perhaps I will send unexpected news to one of my friends,whom I especially love, in Argos; and the tablet, in telling him that those whom he thought dead are alive, will report a joy that can be believed. Exit Iphigenia.
φυλάσσετʼ αὐτούς, πρόσπολοι, δεσμῶν ἄτερ —ἴσως ἄελπτα τῶν ἐμῶν φίλων τινὶπέμψω πρὸς Ἄργος, ὃν μάλιστʼ ἐγὼ φιλῶ,καὶ δέλτος αὐτῷ ζῶντας οὓς δοκεῖ θανεῖνλέγουσα πιστὰς ἡδονὰς ἀπαγγελεῖ.
Chorus:(to Orestes.) I raise a lament for you; the drops from the holy water,mingled with blood, will soon take you into their care.
Χορός:κατολοφύρομαι σὲ τὸν χερνίβωνῥανίσι μελόμενον αἱμακταῖς.
Orestes:This is not a case for pity, but farewell, strangers.
Ὀρέστης:οἶκτος γὰρ οὐ ταῦτʼ, ἀλλὰ χαίρετʼ, ὦ ξέναι.
Chorus:(to Pylades.) We honor you, young man, for your happy fate, because you will tread on your native land some day.
Χορός:σὲ δὲ τύχας μάκαρος, ὦνεανία, σεβόμεθʼ, ἐςπάτραν ὅτι ποτʼ ἐπεμβάσῃ.
Pylades:An unenviable fate indeed for a friend, when his friend is to die.
Πυλάδης:ἄζηλά τοι φίλοισι, θνῃσκόντων φίλων.
Chorus:O cruel mission!
Χορός:ὦ σχέτλιοι πομπαί.
Ah, ah! You are destroyed! Alas, alas! Which is better?
φεῦ φεῦ, διόλλυσαι.αἰαῖ αἰαῖ. πότερος ὁ μᾶλλον;
For still my mind disputes a double argument, shall I mourn for you or rather for you.
ἔτι γὰρ ἀμφίλογα δίδυμα μέμονε φρήν,σὲ πάρος ἢ σὲ ἀναστενάξω γόοις.
Orestes:By the gods, Pylades, do you feel the same thing I do?
Ὀρέστης:Πυλάδη, πέπονθας ταὐτὸ πρὸς θεῶν ἐμοί;
Pylades:I do not know; I have no reply to your question.
Πυλάδης:οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἐρωτᾷς οὐ λέγειν ἔχοντά με.
Orestes:Who is the girl? How like a Hellene she questioned me about the labors in Ilium and the return of the Achaeans, and Calchas, wise in omens, and Achilles’ name; and how she pitied the wretched Agamemnon, and asked me abouthis wife and children! This stranger is an Argive by race, and from that land; or she would not be sending the tablet and examining these things, as if she had some share in Argos’ prosperity.
Ὀρέστης:τίς ἐστὶν ἡ νεᾶνις; ὡς Ἑλληνικῶςἀνήρεθʼ ἡμᾶς τούς τʼ ἐν Ἰλίῳ πόνουςνόστον τʼ Ἀχαιῶν τόν τʼ ἐν οἰωνοῖς σοφὸνΚάλχαντʼ Ἀχιλλέως τʼ ὄνομα, καὶ τὸν ἄθλιονἈγαμέμνονʼ ὡς ᾤκτιρʼ ἀνηρώτα τέ μεγυναῖκα παῖδάς τε. ἔστιν ἡ ξένη γένοςἐκεῖθεν Ἀργεία τις· οὐ γὰρ ἄν ποτεδέλτον τʼ ἔπεμπε καὶ τάδʼ ἐξεμάνθανεν,ὡς κοινὰ πράσσουσʼ, Ἄργος εἰ πράσσει καλῶς.
Pylades:You are not much ahead of me: I was about to say the same things you said,except this: all who move about in the world know what happens to kings. But I have arrived at another consideration.
Πυλάδης:ἔφθης με μικρόν· ταὐτὰ δὲ φθάσας λέγεις,πλὴν ἕν· τὰ γὰρ τῶν βασιλέων παθήματαἴσασι πάντες, ὧν ἐπιστροφή τις ἦν.ἀτὰρ διῆλθον χἅτερον λόγον τινά.
Orestes:What is it? Share it with me so that you may know better.
Ὀρέστης:τίνʼ; ἐς τὸ κοινὸν δοὺς ἄμεινον ἂν μάθοις.
Pylades:It is shameful for me to live when you are dead;
Πυλάδης:αἰσχρὸν θανόντος σοῦ βλέπειν ἡμᾶς φάος·
I sailed together with you, and I ought to die together with you. For I will seem a coward and base in Argos and Phocis of the many mountain folds. Most will think—for most people are base—that I betrayed you and saved myself to come home alone,or I plotted your death, in the afflictions of your house, for the sake of your kingdom, since I married your sister and heiress. I fear these things and I am ashamed; and I must breathe my last with you,be slaughtered with you and consumed on the pyre; because I am your friend and I fear reproach.
κοινῇ τʼ ἔπλευσα … δεῖ με καὶ κοινῇ θανεῖν.καὶ δειλίαν γὰρ καὶ κάκην κεκτήσομαιἌργει τε Φωκέων τʼ ἐν πολυπτύχῳ χθονί,δόξω δὲ τοῖς πολλοῖσι — πολλοὶ γὰρ κακοί —προδοὺς σεσῷσθαί σʼ αὐτὸς εἰς οἴκους μόνοςἢ καὶ φονεύσας ἐπὶ νοσοῦσι δώμασιῥάψαι μόρον σοι σῆς τυραννίδος χάριν,ἔγκληρον ὡς δὴ σὴν κασιγνήτην γαμῶν.ταῦτʼ οὖν φοβοῦμαι καὶ διʼ αἰσχύνης ἔχω,κοὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως οὐ χρὴ συνεκπνεῦσαί μέ σοικαὶ σὺν σφαγῆναι καὶ πυρωθῆναι δέμας,φίλον γεγῶτα καὶ φοβούμενον ψόγον.
Orestes:Hush! I must bear my own ills, and when the grief is single, I will not bear it double. What you call vile and infamous,would be mine, if I cause you, who have toiled with me, to die; for it is not a hardship for me, suffering as I do at the hands of the gods, to give up my life. But you are prosperous, and you have a house that is pure, not afflicted, while mine is impious and unfortunate.
Ὀρέστης:εὔφημα φώνει· τἀμὰ δεῖ φέρειν κακά,ἁπλᾶς δὲ λύπας ἐξόν, οὐκ οἴσω διπλᾶς.ὃ γὰρ σὺ λυπρὸν κἀπονείδιστον λέγεις,ταὔτʼ ἔστιν ἡμῖν, εἴ σε συμμοχθοῦντʼ ἐμοὶκτενῶ· τὸ μὲν γὰρ εἰς ἔμʼ οὐ κακῶς ἔχει,πράσσονθʼ ἃ πράσσω πρὸς θεῶν, λῦσαι βίον.σὺ δʼ ὄλβιός τʼ εἶ, καθαρά τʼ, οὐ νοσοῦντʼ, ἔχειςμέλαθρʼ, ἐγὼ δὲ δυσσεβῆ καὶ δυστυχῆ.
If you are saved and get sons from my sister, whom I gave to you for wife, my name would remain and the whole house of my father would not be wiped out in childlessness. But go, and live, and dwell in my father’s house.
σωθεὶς δέ, παῖδας ἐξ ἐμῆς ὁμοσπόρουκτησάμενος, ἣν ἔδωκά σοι δάμαρτʼ ἔχειν —ὄνομά τʼ ἐμοῦ γένοιτʼ ἄν, οὐδʼ ἄπαις δόμοςπατρῷος οὑμὸς ἐξαλειφθείη ποτʼ ἄν.ἀλλʼ ἕρπε καὶ ζῆ καὶ δόμους οἴκει πατρός.
And when you come to Hellas and to Argos of the horses, I charge you, by this right hand: heap up a tomb and build a memorial for me, and let my sister give her hair and tears to the tomb. Report that I died at the hand of an Argivewoman, at an altar, purified for death. Do not ever betray my sister, when you see how lonely is my father’s house that you have joined by marriage. And now farewell; I have found you the dearest of my friends, you who have hunted with me, grown up with me,and borne with me many miseries. Phoebus, though a prophet, has deceived me; creating his plot, he drove me far away from Hellas, ashamed of his earlier prophecies. I gave him my all and trusted in his words,killed my mother, and myself perish in turn.
ὅταν δʼ ἐς Ἑλλάδʼ ἵππιόν τʼ Ἄργος μόλῃς,πρὸς δεξιᾶς σε τῆσδʼ ἐπισκήπτω τάδε·τύμβον τε χῶσον κἀπίθες μνημεῖά μοι,καὶ δάκρυʼ ἀδελφὴ καὶ κόμας δότω τάφῳ.ἄγγελλε δʼ ὡς ὄλωλʼ ὑπʼ Ἀργείας τινὸςγυναικός, ἀμφὶ βωμὸν ἁγνισθεὶς φόνῳ.καὶ μὴ προδῷς μου τὴν κασιγνήτην ποτέ,ἔρημα κήδη καὶ δόμους ὁρῶν πατρός.καὶ χαῖρʼ· ἐμῶν γὰρ φίλτατόν σʼ ηὗρον φίλων,ὦ συγκυναγὲ καὶ συνεκτραφεὶς ἐμοί,ὦ πόλλʼ ἐνεγκὼν τῶν ἐμῶν ἄχθη κακῶν.ἡμᾶς δʼ ὁ Φοῖβος μάντις ὢν ἐψεύσατο·τέχνην δὲ θέμενος ὡς προσώταθʼ Ἑλλάδοςἀπήλασʼ, αἰδοῖ τῶν πάρος μαντευμάτων.ᾧ πάντʼ ἐγὼ δοὺς τἀμὰ καὶ πεισθεὶς λόγοις,μητέρα κατακτὰς αὐτὸς ἀνταπόλλυμαι.
Pylades:You will have a tomb, and I will never betray your sister’s bed, unhappy youth, since I will hold you dearer when dead than when alive. But the prophecy of the god has not destroyed you yet;although you stand near to slaughter. Great misfortune can offer great reversals, when it is fated; it can indeed.
Πυλάδης:ἔσται τάφος σοι, καὶ κασιγνήτης λέχοςοὐκ ἂν προδοίην, ὦ τάλας, ἐπεί σʼ ἐγὼθανόντα μᾶλλον ἢ βλέπονθʼ ἕξω φίλον.ἀτὰρ τὸ τοῦ θεοῦ σʼ οὐ διέφθορέν γέ πωμάντευμα· καίτοι γʼ ἐγγὺς ἕστηκας φόνου.ἀλλʼ ἔστιν, ἔστιν, ἡ λίαν δυσπραξίαλίαν διδοῦσα μεταβολάς, ὅταν τύχῃ.
Orestes:Silence; the words of Phoebus are no benefit to me; here comes the woman out of the temple.
Ὀρέστης:σίγα· τὰ Φοίβου δʼ οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖ μʼ ἔπη·γυνὴ γὰρ ἥδε δωμάτων ἔξω περᾷ.
Iphigenia:(to the guard.) Go away and make the preparations within for those who attend to the sacrifice.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἀπέλθεθʼ ὑμεῖς καὶ παρευτρεπίζετετἄνδον μολόντες τοῖς ἐφεστῶσι σφαγῇ.
Here are the many folds of the tablet, strangers. Hear what I want in addition. No man is the same when he is in troublesand when he falls out of fear into courage. I am afraid that when the one who is going to take this tablet to Argos leaves this land, he will put aside my letter as worth nothing.
δέλτου μὲν αἵδε πολύθυροι διαπτυχαί,ξένοι, πάρεισιν· ἃ δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖσδε βούλομαι,ἀκούσατʼ. οὐδεὶς αὑτὸς ἐν πόνοις ⟨τʼ⟩ ἀνὴρὅταν τε πρὸς τὸ θάρσος ἐκ φόβου πέσῃ.ἐγὼ δὲ ταρβῶ μὴ ἀπονοστήσας χθονὸςθῆται παρʼ οὐδὲν τὰς ἐμὰς ἐπιστολὰςὁ τήνδε μέλλων δέλτον εἰς Ἄργος φέρειν.
Orestes:What do you want, then? What are you perplexed about?
Ὀρέστης:τί δῆτα βούλῃ; τίνος ἀμηχανεῖς πέρι;
Iphigenia:Let him give me an oath that he will convey this letter to Argos, to the friends to whom I wish to send it.
Ἰφιγένεια:ὅρκον δότω μοι τάσδε πορθμεύσειν γραφὰςπρὸς Ἄργος, οἷσι βούλομαι πέμψαι φίλων.
Orestes:And will you give in return the same words to him?
Ὀρέστης:ἦ κἀντιδώσεις τῷδε τοὺς αὐτοὺς λόγους;
Iphigenia:To do what, or refrain from doing? Tell me.
Ἰφιγένεια:τί χρῆμα δράσειν ἢ τί μὴ δράσειν; λέγε.
Orestes:To send him from this barbarous land alive.
Ὀρέστης:ἐκ γῆς ἀφήσειν μὴ θανόντα βαρβάρου.
Iphigenia:What you say is right; how else could he deliver it?
Ἰφιγένεια:δίκαιον εἶπας· πῶς γὰρ ἀγγείλειεν ἄν;
Orestes:Will the king agree to this?
Ὀρέστης:ἦ καὶ τύραννος ταῦτα συγχωρήσεται;
Iphigenia:Yes. I will persuade the king, and I myself will put this man on the ship.
Ἰφιγένεια:ναί.πείσω σφε, καὐτὴ ναὸς εἰσβήσω σκάφος.
Orestes:(to Pylades.) Swear; begin a pious oath.
Ὀρέστης:ὄμνυ· σὺ δʼ ἔξαρχʼ ὅρκον ὅστις εὐσεβής.
Iphigenia:(to Pylades.) You must say: I will give this to your friends.
Ἰφιγένεια:δώσω, λέγειν χρή, τήνδε τοῖσι σοῖς φίλοις.
Pylades:I will give this letter to your friends.
Πυλάδης:τοῖς σοῖς φίλοισι γράμματʼ ἀποδώσω τάδε.
Iphigenia:And I will see you safely outside the dark rocks.
Ἰφιγένεια:κἀγὼ σὲ σώσω κυανέας ἔξω πέτρας.
Pylades:What god do you do you swear by, as witness to your oath?
Πυλάδης:τίνʼ οὖν ἐπόμνυς τοισίδʼ ὅρκιον θεῶν;
Iphigenia:Artemis, in whose temple I hold office.
Ἰφιγένεια:Ἄρτεμιν, ἐν ἧσπερ δώμασιν τιμὰς ἔχω.
Pylades:And I swear by the king of heaven, revered Zeus.
Πυλάδης:ἐγὼ δʼ ἄνακτά γʼ οὐρανοῦ, σεμνὸν Δία.
Iphigenia:But if you leave off your oath, and wrong me?
Ἰφιγένεια:εἰ δʼ ἐκλιπὼν τὸν ὅρκον ἀδικοίης ἐμέ;
Pylades:May I not return. What about you, if you do not save me?
Πυλάδης:ἄνοστος εἴην· τί δὲ σύ, μὴ σῴσασά με;
Iphigenia:May I never set foot in Argos alive.
Ἰφιγένεια:μήποτε κατʼ Ἄργος ζῶσʼ ἴχνος θείην ποδός.
Pylades:Now listen to a consideration we have passed over.
Πυλάδης:ἄκουε δή νυν ὃν παρήλθομεν λόγον.
Iphigenia:But it will be something new, if it is good.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἀλλʼ αὖθις ἔσται καινός, ἢν καλῶς ἔχῃ.
Pylades:Give me this exception: if the ship suffers and the tablet is lost with its cargo in the waves, and I rescue myself only, may this oath not hinder me.
Πυλάδης:ἐξαίρετόν μοι δὸς τόδʼ, ἤν τι ναῦς πάθῃ,χἡ δέλτος ἐν κλύδωνι χρημάτων μέταἀφανὴς γένηται, σῶμα δʼ ἐκσῴσω μόνον,τὸν ὅρκον εἶναι τόνδε μηκέτʼ ἔμπεδον.
Iphigenia:Do you know what I will do? For many attempts hit many targets.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἀλλʼ οἶσθʼ ὃ δράσω; πολλὰ γὰρ πολλῶν κυρεῖ·
I will tell you what is written in the folds of this tablet for you to report to my friends. For this is secure: if you preserve the writing, itself, though silent, will speak its message; if the writing is lost in the sea,when you save yourself, you will save my words.
τἀνόντα κἀγγεγραμμένʼ ἐν δέλτου πτυχαῖςλόγῳ φράσω σοι πάντʼ ἀναγγεῖλαι φίλοις.ἐν ἀσφαλεῖ γάρ· ἢν μὲν ἐκσῴσῃς γραφήν,αὐτὴν φράσει σιγῶσα τἀγγεγραμμένα·ἢν δʼ ἐν θαλάσσῃ γράμματʼ ἀφανισθῇ τάδε,τὸ σῶμα σῴσας τοὺς λόγους σῴσεις ἐμοί.
Pylades:You have spoken well, on behalf of the gods and me. Make clear to whom I must bring this letter in Argos, and what I must say when I have heard it from you.
Πυλάδης:καλῶς ἔλεξας τῶν θεῶν ἐμοῦ θʼ ὕπερ.σήμαινε δʼ ᾧ χρὴ τάσδʼ ἐπιστολὰς φέρεινπρὸς Ἄργος ὅ τι τε χρὴ κλύοντα σοῦ λέγειν.
Iphigenia:Report to Orestes, the son of Agamemnon:
Ἰφιγένεια:ἄγγελλʼ Ὀρέστῃ, παιδὶ τῷ Ἀγαμέμνονος·
the one slain at Aulis sends you this, Iphigenia, who is alive, though no longer alive to those there—Orestes:Where is she? Has she come back from the dead??
Ἡ ʼν Αὐλίδι σφαγεῖσʼ ἐπιστέλλει τάδεζῶσʼ Ἰφιγένεια, τοῖς ἐκεῖ δʼ οὐ ζῶσʼ ἔτι —Ὀρέστης:ποῦ δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκείνη; κατθανοῦσʼ ἥκει πάλιν;
Iphigenia:The one you are looking at; don’t confuse me by your talk. Bring me to Argos, my brother, before I die.Take me away from the barbarian land and the sacrifices of the goddess, where I hold the office of killing foreigners.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἥδʼ ἣν ὁρᾷς σύ· μὴ λόγοις ἔκπλησσέ με.Κόμισαί μʼ ἐς Ἄργος, ὦ σύναιμε, πρὶν θανεῖν,ἐκ βαρβάρου γῆς καὶ μετάστησον θεᾶςσφαγίων, ἐφʼ οἷσι ξενοφόνους τιμὰς ἔχω.
Orestes:Pylades, what shall I say? Where have we found ourselves?
Ὀρέστης:Πυλάδη, τί λέξω; ποῦ ποτʼ ὄνθʼ ηὑρήμεθα;
Iphigenia:Or I will be a curse to your house.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἢ σοῖς ἀραία δώμασιν γενήσομαι.
Pylades:Orestes?
Πυλάδης:Ὀρέστα —;
Iphigenia:(stopping to address Pylades.) So that you may know the name, hearing it twice.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἵνʼ αὖθις ὄνομα δὶς κλύων μάθῃς.
Pylades:O gods!
Πυλάδης:ὦ θεοί.
Iphigenia:Why do you invoke the gods in my affairs?
Ἰφιγένεια:τί τοὺς θεοὺς ἀνακαλεῖς ἐν τοῖς ἐμοῖς;
Pylades:No reason; finish your words; my thoughts were elsewhere. Perhaps, if I question you, I will not arrive at things I cannot believe.
Πυλάδης:οὐδέν· πέραινε δʼ· ἐξέβην γὰρ ἄλλοσε.τάχʼ οὐκ ἐρωτῶν σʼ εἰς ἄπιστʼ ἀφίξομαι.
Iphigenia:Tell him that Artemis saved me, by giving a deer in exchange for me; my father sacrificed it,thinking that he drove the sword sharply into me; and she settled me in this land. This is my letter, this is the writing in the tablet.
Ἰφιγένεια:λέγʼ οὕνεκʼ ἔλαφον ἀντιδοῦσά μου θεὰἌρτεμις ἔσῳσέ μʼ, ἣν ἔθυσʼ ἐμὸς πατήρ,δοκῶν ἐς ἡμᾶς ὀξὺ φάσγανον βαλεῖν,ἐς τήνδε δʼ ᾤκισʼ αἶαν. αἵδʼ ἐπιστολαί,τάδʼ ἐστὶ τἀν δέλτοισιν ἐγγεγραμμένα.
Pylades:You have bound me with an easy oath, and sworn very well. I will not take much timeto carry out the oath I swore.
Πυλάδης:ὦ ῥᾳδίοις ὅρκοισι περιβαλοῦσά με,κάλλιστα δʼ ὀμόσασʼ, οὐ πολὺν σχήσω χρόνον,τὸν δʼ ὅρκον ὃν κατώμοσʼ ἐμπεδώσομεν.
See, Orestes, I bring you a tablet from your sister here, and give it to you.
ἰδού, φέρω σοι δέλτον ἀποδίδωμί τε,Ὀρέστα, τῆσδε σῆς κασιγνήτης πάρα.
Orestes:I do receive it, but first I will pass over the letter’s folds to take a joy that is not in words.
Ὀρέστης:δέχομαι· παρεὶς δὲ γραμμάτων διαπτυχὰςτὴν ἡδονὴν πρῶτʼ οὐ λόγοις αἱρήσομαι.
(Approaching to embrace Iphigenia.) My dearest sister, with what astonishment and delight I hold you in my unbelieving arms, after learning these marvels!
ὦ φιλτάτη μοι σύγγονʼ, ἐκπεπληγμένοςὅμως σʼ ἀπίστῳ περιβαλὼν βραχίονιἐς τέρψιν εἶμι, πυθόμενος θαυμάστʼ ἐμοί.
Chorus Leader:Stranger, you are wrongly defiling the attendant of the goddess, by putting your hands on her robe that should not be touched.
Χορός:ξένʼ, οὐ δικαίως τῆς θεοῦ τὴν πρόσπολονχραίνεις ἀθίκτοις περιβαλὼν πέπλοις χέρα.
Orestes:My own sister, born from my father Agamemnon, do not turn away from me, when you hold your brother and thought you never would!
Ὀρέστης:ὦ συγκασιγνήτη τε κἀκ ταὐτοῦ πατρὸςἈγαμέμνονος γεγῶσα, μή μʼ ἀποστρέφου,ἔχουσʼ ἀδελφόν, οὐ δοκοῦσʼ ἕξειν ποτέ.
Iphigenia:You are my brother? Stop this talk! He is well known in Argos and Nauplia.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἐγώ σʼ ἀδελφὸν τὸν ἐμόν; οὐ παύσῃ λέγων;τὸ δʼ Ἄργος αὐτοῦ μεστὸν ἥ τε Ναυπλία.
Orestes:Unhappy girl, your brother is not there.
Ὀρέστης:οὐκ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖ σός, ὦ τάλαινα, σύγγονος.
Iphigenia:But did Tyndareus’ daughter, the Spartan, give birth to you?
Ἰφιγένεια:ἀλλʼ ἡ Λάκαινα Τυνδαρίς σʼ ἐγείνατο;
Orestes:Yes, and my father was Pelops’ grandson.
Ὀρέστης:Πέλοπός γε παιδὶ παιδός, οὗ ʼκπέφυκʼ ἐγώ.
Iphigenia:What are you saying? Do you have some proof of this for me?
Ἰφιγένεια:τί φῄς; ἔχεις τι τῶνδέ μοι τεκμήριον;
Orestes:I do; ask me something about our father’s home.
Ὀρέστης:ἔχω· πατρῴων ἐκ δόμων τι πυνθάνου.
Iphigenia:Well, it is for you to speak, for me to learn.
Ἰφιγένεια:οὐκοῦν λέγειν μὲν χρὴ σέ, μανθάνειν δʼ ἐμέ.
Orestes:I will say first what I have heard from Electra. Do you know of the strife that was between Atreus and Thyestes?
Ὀρέστης:λέγοιμʼ ἄν, ἀκοῇ πρῶτον Ἠλέκτρας τάδε·Ἀτρέως Θυέστου τʼ οἶσθα γενομένην ἔριν;
Iphigenia:I have heard of it; the quarrel concerned a golden ram.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἤκουσα· χρυσῆς ἀρνὸς ἦν νείκη πέρι.
Orestes:Did you not weave these things in a fine-textured web?
Ὀρέστης:ταῦτʼ οὖν ὑφήνασʼ οἶσθʼ ἐν εὐπήνοις ὑφαῖς;
Iphigenia:O dearest, you are bending your course near to my heart!
Ἰφιγένεια:ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἐγγὺς τῶν ἐμῶν κάμπτεις φρενῶν.
Orestes:And the image of the sun in the middle of the loom?
Ὀρέστης:εἰκώ τʼ ἐν ἱστοῖς ἡλίου μετάστασιν;
Iphigenia:I wove that shape also, in fine threads.
Ἰφιγένεια:ὕφηνα καὶ τόδʼ εἶδος εὐμίτοις πλοκαῖς.
Orestes:And you received a ceremonial bath from your mother, for Aulis?
Ὀρέστης:καὶ λούτρʼ ἐς Αὖλιν μητρὸς ἀνεδέξω πάρα;
Iphigenia:I know; for no happy marriage has taken that memory from me.
Ἰφιγένεια:οἶδʼ· οὐ γὰρ ὁ γάμος ἐσθλὸς ὤν μʼ ἀφείλετο.
Orestes:What about this? You gave locks of your hair to be brought to your mother?
Ὀρέστης:τί γάρ; κόμας σὰς μητρὶ δοῦσα σῇ φέρειν;
Iphigenia:As a memorial, in place of my body, in the tomb.
Ἰφιγένεια:μνημεῖά γʼ ἀντὶ σώματος τοὐμοῦ τάφῳ.
Orestes:What I myself have seen, I will say for proof: an old spear of Pelops, in my father’s house, which he brandished in his hand when he won Hippodamia,the maiden of Pisa, and killed Oenomaus; it was hung up in your rooms.
Ὀρέστης:ἃ δʼ εἶδον αὐτός, τάδε φράσω τεκμήρια·Πέλοπος παλαιὰν ἐν δόμοις λόγχην πατρός,ἣν χερσὶ πάλλων παρθένον Πισάτιδαἐκτήσαθʼ Ἱπποδάμειαν, Οἰνόμαον κτανών,ἐν παρθενῶσι τοῖσι σοῖς κεκρυμμένην.
Iphigenia:O dearest, for you are my dearest, none other, I have you, Orestes,far from our country of Argos, my darling.
Ἰφιγένεια:ὦ φίλτατʼ, οὐδὲν ἄλλο, φίλτατος γὰρ εἶ,ἔχω σʼ, Ὀρέστα, τηλύγετον [χθονὸς] ἀπὸ πατρίδοςἈργόθεν, ὦ φίλος.
Orestes:And I have you, who were thought to be dead. Tears, and laments mixed with joy, fill your eyes and also mine.
Ὀρέστης:κἀγώ σε τὴν θανοῦσαν, ὡς δοξάζεται.κατὰ δὲ δάκρυ, κατὰ δὲ γόος ἅμα χαρᾷτὸ σὸν νοτίζει βλέφαρον, ὡσαύτως δʼ ἐμόν.
Iphigenia:I left you still a baby,young in the arms of your nurse, young in the house. O my soul, you have been more fortunate than words can say.I have come upon things that are beyond wonder, far from speech.
Ἰφιγένεια:τόδʼ ἔτι βρέφοςἔλιπον ἀγκάλαισι νεαρὸν τροφοῦνεαρὸν ἐν δόμοις.ὦ κρεῖσσον ἢ λόγοισιν εὐτυχοῦσά μουψυχά, τί φῶ; θαυμάτωνπέρα καὶ λόγου πρόσω τάδʼ ἐπέβα.
Orestes:For the rest of time, may we be fortunate with each other!
Ὀρέστης:τὸ λοιπὸν εὐτυχοῖμεν ἀλλήλων μέτα.
Iphigenia:O my friends, I have found an extraordinary joy; I am afraid that he will fly from my hands into the air.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἄτοπον ἁδονὰν ἔλαβον, ὦ φίλαι·δέδοικα δʼ ἐκ χερῶν με μὴ πρὸς αἰθέραἀμπτάμενος φύγῃ·
O Cyclopean hearths; o my country, dear Mycenae, I thank you for his life, for his nourishment, because you brought up this light of the house, my brother.
ἰὼ Κυκλωπὶς ἑστία· ἰὼ πατρίς,Μυκήνα φίλα,χάριν ἔχω ζόας, χάριν ἔχω τροφᾶς,ὅτι μοι συνομαίμονα τόνδε δόμοιςἐξεθρέψω φάος.
Orestes:We are fortunate in our family, but in our circumstances, my sister, we were born to be unfortunate in life.
Ὀρέστης:γένει μὲν εὐτυχοῦμεν, ἐς δὲ συμφοράς,ὦ σύγγονʼ, ἡμῶν δυστυχὴς ἔφυ βίος.
Iphigenia:I was unhappy, I know, when my wretched father put the sword to my throat.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἐγᾦδʼ ἁ μέλεος, οἶδʼ, ὅτε φάσγανονδέρᾳ θῆκέ μοι μελεόφρων πατήρ.
Orestes:Alas! Though I was not present, I seem to see you there.
Ὀρέστης:οἴμοι. δοκῶ γὰρ οὐ παρών σʼ ὁρᾶν ἐκεῖ.
Iphigenia:O brother, when I was brought, not a bride, to the treacherous bed of Achilles;
Ἰφιγένεια:ἀνυμέναιος, ⟨ὦ⟩ σύγγονʼ, Ἀχιλλέωςἐς κλισίαν λέκτρωνδολίαν ὅτʼ ἀγόμαν·
but beside the altar there were tears and wails. Alas for the libations there!
παρὰ δὲ βωμὸν ἦν δάκρυα καὶ γόοι.φεῦ φεῦ χερνίβων ⟨τῶν⟩ ἐκεῖ.
Orestes:I also mourned for the daring act of our father.
Ὀρέστης:ᾤμωξα κἀγὼ τόλμαν ἣν ἔτλη πατήρ.
Iphigenia:Fatherless was the fate I received, fatherless.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἀπάτορʼ ἀπάτορα πότμον ἔλαχον.
One thing comes from another, by divine fortune.
ἄλλα δʼ ἐξ ἄλλων κυρεῖδαίμονος τύχᾳ τινός.
Orestes:Yes, if you had killed your brother, unhappy one!
Ὀρέστης:εἰ σόν γʼ ἀδελφόν, ὦ τάλαινʼ, ἀπώλεσας.
Iphigenia:O wretched, in my dreadful daring!How dreadful were the things I endured, alas, my brother! By only a little you escaped an unholy death, slain by my hands. But how will these things end? What fortune will assist me?
Ἰφιγένεια:ὦ μελέα δεινᾶς τόλμας. δείνʼ ἔτλανδείνʼ ἔτλαν, ὤμοι σύγγονε. παρὰ δʼ ὀλίγονἀπέφυγες ὄλεθρον ἀνόσιον ἐξ ἐμᾶνδαϊχθεὶς χερῶν.ἁ δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτοῖσι τίς τελευτά;τίς τύχα μοι συγχωρήσει;
What way will I find to send you from this city, from slaughter, to your native Argos,before the sword draws near to your blood? This is your business, unhappy soul, to find out. On the dry land, not in a ship?
τίνα σοι πόρον εὑρομένα —πάλιν ἀπὸ πόλεως, ἀπὸ φόνου πέμψωπατρίδʼ ἐς Ἀργείαν,πρὶν ἐπὶ ξίφος αἵματι σῷ πελάσαι;τόδε τόδε σόν, ὦ μελέα ψυχά,χρέος ἀνευρίσκειν.πότερον κατὰ χέρσον, οὐχὶ ναΐ —;
But if you go on foot, through trackless paths and barbarian tribes, you will draw near to death.But through the dark rocks of the narrow passage is a long way for flight by ship.
ἀλλὰ ποδῶν ῥιπᾷθανάτῳ πελάσεις ἄρα βάρβαρα φῦλακαὶ διʼ ὁδοὺς ἀνόδους στείχων· διὰ κυανέας μὴνστενοπόρου πέτρας μακρὰ κέλευθα να-ΐοισιν δρασμοῖς.
I am unhappy, unhappy!
τάλαινα, τάλαινα.
Who, either god or mortal or something unexpected, might accomplish a way that is no way, and reveal a release from troubles for the only two children of the house of Atreus?
τίς ἂν οὖν τάδʼ ἂν ἢ θεὸς ἢ βροτὸς ἢτί τῶν ἀδοκήτων,πόρον ἄπορον ἐξανύσας, δυοῖντοῖν μόνοιν Ἀτρείδαιν ⟨φαίνοι⟩κακῶν ἔκλυσιν;
Chorus Leader:It is marvelous and surpasses a fable, this event that I myself have have seen and shall relate, not as hearsay.
Χορός:ἐν τοῖσι θαυμαστοῖσι καὶ μύθων πέρατάδʼ εἶδον αὐτὴ κοὐ κλύουσʼ ἀπαγγελῶ.
Pylades:When friends come into the sight of friends, Orestes, it is reasonable to embrace; but we must leave off wailing and turn to other matters:how we shall get the glorious name of safety and leave the foreign land. For wise men take opportunities, and do not overstep their fate to get other pleasures.
Πυλάδης:τὸ μὲν φίλους ἐλθόντας εἰς ὄψιν φίλων,Ὀρέστα, χειρῶν περιβολὰς εἰκὸς λαβεῖν·λήξαντα δʼ οἴκτων κἀπʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ἐλθεῖν χρεών,ὅπως τὸ κλεινὸν ὄνομα τῆς σωτηρίαςλαβόντες ἐκ γῆς βησόμεσθα βαρβάρου.σοφῶν γὰρ ἀνδρῶν ταῦτα, μὴ ʼκβάντας τύχης,καιρὸν λαβόντας, ἡδονὰς ἄλλας λαβεῖν.
Orestes:Well said; but I think fortune will take careof that with us; when one is eager, divine strength is likely to be greater.
Ὀρέστης:καλῶς ἔλεξας· τῇ τύχῃ δʼ οἶμαι μέλειντοῦδε ξὺν ἡμῖν· ἢν δέ τις πρόθυμος ᾖ,σθένειν τὸ θεῖον μᾶλλον εἰκότως ἔχει.
Iphigenia:(to Pylades.) Let nothing hold me back; nor will it prevent me speaking before I first find out Electra’s fate, for you are all dear to me.
Ἰφιγένεια:μηδέν μʼ ἐπίσχῃ γʼ· οὐδʼ ἀποστήσει λόγου,πρῶτον πυθέσθαι τίνα ποτʼ Ἠλέκτρα πότμονεἴληχε βιότου· φίλα γὰρ ἔστε πάντʼ ἐμοί.
Orestes:She lives with this man, (pointing to Pylades) and has a happy life.
Ὀρέστης:τῷδε ξυνοικεῖ βίον ἔχουσʼ εὐδαίμονα.
Iphigenia:What country is he from, and who is his father?
Ἰφιγένεια:οὗτος δὲ ποδαπὸς καὶ τίνος πέφυκε παῖς;
Orestes:Strophius of Phocis is the name of his father.
Ὀρέστης:Στρόφιος ὁ Φωκεὺς τοῦδε κλῄζεται πατήρ.
Iphigenia:He is related to me, by the daughter of Atreus?
Ἰφιγένεια:ὁ δʼ ἐστί γʼ Ἀτρέως θυγατρός, ὁμογενὴς ἐμός;
Orestes:He is a cousin, and my only true friend.
Ὀρέστης:ἀνεψιός γε, μόνος ἐμοὶ σαφὴς φίλος.
Iphigenia:He was not born when my father tried to kill me.
Ἰφιγένεια:οὐκ ἦν τόθʼ οὗτος ὅτε πατὴρ ἔκτεινέ με.
Orestes:He was not; for Strophius was childless for some time.
Ὀρέστης:οὐκ ἦν· χρόνον γὰρ Στρόφιος ἦν ἄπαις τινά.
Iphigenia:Welcome, husband of my sister!
Ἰφιγένεια:χαῖρʼ ὦ πόσις μοι τῆς ἐμῆς ὁμοσπόρου.
Orestes:And also my savior, not only a relation.
Ὀρέστης:κἀμός γε σωτήρ, οὐχὶ συγγενὴς μόνον.
Iphigenia:But how did you dare that dreadful deed with our mother?
Ἰφιγένεια:τὰ δεινὰ δʼ ἔργα πῶς ἔτλης μητρὸς πέρι;
Orestes:Let us be silent on that; I was avenging my father.
Ὀρέστης:σιγῶμεν αὐτά· πατρὶ τιμωρῶν ἐμῷ.
Iphigenia:What reason did she have to kill her husband?
Ἰφιγένεια:ἡ δʼ αἰτία τίς ἀνθʼ ὅτου κτείνει πόσιν;
Orestes:Let our mother’s affairs be; nor is it good for you to hear.
Ὀρέστης:ἔα τὰ μητρός· οὐδὲ σοὶ κλύειν καλόν.
Iphigenia:I am silent; does Argos now look to you?
Ἰφιγένεια:σιγῶ· τὸ δʼ Ἄργος πρὸς σὲ νῦν ἀποβλέπει;
Orestes:Menelaus rules there; I am an exile from my country
Ὀρέστης:Μενέλαος ἄρχει· φυγάδες ἐσμὲν ἐκ πάτρας.
Iphigenia:Our uncle has surely not maltreated our afflicted house, has he?
Ἰφιγένεια:οὔ που νοσοῦντας θεῖος ὕβρισεν δόμους;
Orestes:No, but fear of the Furies drives me out of the land.
Ὀρέστης:οὔκ, ἀλλʼ Ἐρινύων δεῖμά μʼ ἐκβάλλει χθονός.
Iphigenia:That was the madness that they reported there on the shore?
Ἰφιγένεια:ταῦτʼ ἆρʼ ἐπʼ ἀκταῖς κἀνθάδʼ ἠγγέλης μανείς;
Orestes:That was not the first time that I was seen to be wretched.
Ὀρέστης:ὤφθημεν οὐ νῦν πρῶτον ὄντες ἄθλιοι.
Iphigenia:I know; the goddesses were driving you for the sake of your mother.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἔγνωκα· μητρός σʼ οὕνεκʼ ἠλάστρουν θεαί.
Orestes:So as to put a bloody bit in my mouth.
Ὀρέστης:ὥσθʼ αἱματηρὰ στόμιʼ ἐπεμβαλεῖν ἐμοί.
Iphigenia:Why have you made a journey to this land?
Ἰφιγένεια:τί γάρ ποτʼ ἐς γῆν τήνδʼ ἐπόρθμευσας πόδα;
Orestes:I have come at the commands of Phoebus’ oracles.
Ὀρέστης:Φοίβου κελευσθεὶς θεσφάτοις ἀφικόμην.
Iphigenia:To do what? Can you speak of it, or must you be silent?
Ἰφιγένεια:τί χρῆμα δράσειν; ῥητὸν ἢ σιγώμενον;
Orestes:I will tell you; this is the beginning of my many troubles.
Ὀρέστης:λέγοιμʼ ἄν· ἀρχαὶ δʼ αἵδε μοι πολλῶν πόνων.
When my mother’s evil deeds, that I cannot speak of, came into my hands, I was driven to flight by the Furies’ pursuit; then Loxias sent me to Athens, to stand trial with the goddesses who may not be named.
ἐπεὶ τὰ μητρὸς ταῦθʼ ἃ σιγῶμεν κακὰἐς χεῖρας ἦλθε, μεταδρομαῖς Ἐρινύωνἠλαυνόμεσθα φυγάδες, ἔνθεν μοι πόδαἐς τὰς Ἀθήνας δῆτʼ ἔπεμψε Λοξίας,δίκην παρασχεῖν ταῖς ἀνωνύμοις θεαῖς.
For there is a holy tribunal there, which Zeus once established for Ares, when his hands were stained with blood-pollution. I came there... at first, no host would willingly take me in, as one hated by the gods; then some who felt shame offered me a table apart, as a guest,themselves being under the same roof, and in silence they kept me from speaking, so that I might be apart from them in food and drink, and into each private cup they poured an equal measure of wine and had their delight.
ἔστιν γὰρ ὁσία ψῆφος, ἣν Ἄρει ποτὲΖεὺς εἵσατʼ ἔκ του δὴ χερῶν μιάσματος.ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐκεῖσε — πρῶτα μέν μʼ οὐδεὶς ξένωνἑκὼν ἐδέξαθʼ, ὡς θεοῖς στυγούμενον·οἳ δʼ ἔσχον αἰδῶ, ξένια μονοτράπεζά μοιπαρέσχον, οἴκων ὄντες ἐν ταὐτῷ στέγει,σιγῇ δʼ ἐτεκτήναντʼ ἀπόφθεγκτόν μʼ, ὅπωςδαιτὸς γενοίμην πώματός τʼ αὐτοῖς δίχα,ἐς δʼ ἄγγος ἴδιον ἴσον ἅπασι βακχίουμέτρημα πληρώσαντες εἶχον ἡδονήν.
And I did not think it right to blame my hosts, but I grieved in silence and seemed not to know, while I sighed deeply, that I was the murderer of my mother. I hear that my misfortunes have become a festival at Athens, and they still hold this customand the people of Pallas honor the cup that belongs to the Feast of Pitchers. When I came to the hill of Ares to stand my trial, I took one seat, and the eldest of the Furies took the other. I spoke and heard arguments on the murder of my mother,and Phoebus saved me by bearing witness; Pallas counted out equal votes for me; and I went away victorious in my ordeal of blood. Some of the Furies who sat there, persuaded by the judgment, marked out a holy place for themselves beside this very tribunal;
κἀγὼ ʼξελέγξαι μὲν ξένους οὐκ ἠξίουν,ἤλγουν δὲ σιγῇ κἀδόκουν οὐκ εἰδέναι,μέγα στενάζων οὕνεκʼ ἦ μητρὸς φονεύς.κλύω δʼ Ἀθηναίοισι τἀμὰ δυστυχῆτελετὴν γενέσθαι, κἄτι τὸν νόμον μένειν,χοῆρες ἄγγος Παλλάδος τιμᾶν λεών.ὡς δʼ εἰς Ἄρειον ὄχθον ἧκον, ἐς δίκηνἔστην, ἐγὼ μὲν θάτερον λαβὼν βάθρον,τὸ δʼ ἄλλο πρέσβειρʼ ἥπερ ἦν Ἐρινύων.εἰπὼν ⟨δʼ⟩ ἀκούσας θʼ αἵματος μητρὸς πέρι,Φοῖβός μʼ ἔσῳσε μαρτυρῶν, ἴσας δέ μοιψήφους διηρίθμησε Παλλὰς ὠλένῃ·νικῶν δʼ ἀπῆρα φόνια πειρατήρια.ὅσαι μὲν οὖν ἕζοντο πεισθεῖσαι δίκῃ,ψῆφον παρʼ αὐτὴν ἱερὸν ὡρίσαντʼ ἔχειν·
but others were not persuaded by the law, and drove me always in vagabond courses until I came to the holy plain of Phoebus in turn. Stretched out before his shrine and fasting, I swore to break off my life and die there,if Phoebus, who had destroyed me, did not save me. And then Phoebus cried out a golden voice from the tripod, and sent me here, to get the image Zeus hurled down, and set it up in Athena’s land. But what he marked out for my safetyyou must help me with; for if we possess the statue of the goddess, I will be released from madness and will put you on my ship of many oars and establish you again in Mycenae. But, my beloved sister, save our father’s house and save me;
ὅσαι δʼ Ἐρινύων οὐκ ἐπείσθησαν νόμῳ,δρόμοις ἀνιδρύτοισιν ἠλάστρουν μʼ ἀεί,ἕως ἐς ἁγνὸν ἦλθον αὖ Φοίβου πέδον,καὶ πρόσθεν ἀδύτων ἐκταθείς, νῆστις βορᾶς,ἐπώμοσʼ αὐτοῦ βίον ἀπορρήξειν θανών,εἰ μή με σώσει Φοῖβος, ὅς μʼ ἀπώλεσεν.ἐντεῦθεν αὐδὴν τρίποδος ἐκ χρυσοῦ λακὼνΦοῖβός μʼ ἔπεμψε δεῦρο, διοπετὲς λαβεῖνἄγαλμʼ Ἀθηνῶν τʼ ἐγκαθιδρῦσαι χθονί.ἀλλʼ ἥνπερ ἡμῖν ὥρισεν σωτηρίαν,σύμπραξον· ἢν γὰρ θεᾶς κατάσχωμεν βρέτας,μανιῶν τε λήξω καὶ σὲ πολυκώπῳ σκάφειστείλας Μυκήναις ἐγκαταστήσω πάλιν.ἀλλʼ, ὦ φιληθεῖσʼ, ὦ κασίγνητον κάρα,σῷσον πατρῷον οἶκον, ἔκσῳσον δʼ ἐμέ·
for so I perish and all the race of Pelops, unless we take the heavenly image of the goddess.
ὡς τἄμʼ ὄλωλε πάντα καὶ τὰ Πελοπιδῶν,οὐράνιον εἰ μὴ ληψόμεσθα θεᾶς βρέτας.
Chorus Leader:A terrible anger from the gods has boiled up against the race of Tantalus and drives them through torments.
Χορός:δεινή τις ὀργὴ δαιμόνων ἐπέζεσετὸ Ταντάλειον σπέρμα διὰ πόνων τʼ ἄγει.
Iphigenia:Before you came here, I was eagerto be in Argos and see you, my brother. Your wish is mine: to release you from torment, and restore our father’s afflicted house, for I am not angry at the one who killed me; it is my wish. I would set my hand free from your slaughterand save our house. But I worry about concealment from the goddess and the king, when he finds the stone pedestal empty of the statue. How will I escape death? What argument will I have? But if this one thing happens all together,that you take the statue and bear me away on your lovely ship, the venture is a noble one. If I am separated from this, I am lost, but you might settle your affairs well and have a safe return. Indeed, I do not shrink from it, not even if I must dieto save you. No, for when a man dies and is gone from the home, he is longed for; but women are powerless.
Ἰφιγένεια:τὸ μὲν πρόθυμον, πρίν σε δεῦρʼ ἐλθεῖν, ἔχωἌργει γενέσθαι καὶ σέ, σύγγονʼ, εἰσιδεῖν.θέλω δʼ ἅπερ σύ, σέ τε μεταστῆσαι πόνωννοσοῦντά τʼ οἶκον, οὐχὶ τῷ κτανόντι μεθυμουμένη, πατρῷον ὀρθῶσαι· θέλω·σφαγῆς τε γὰρ σῆς χεῖρʼ ἀπαλλάξαιμεν ἂνσῴσαιμί τʼ οἴκους. τὴν θεὸν δʼ ὅπως λάθωδέδοικα καὶ τύραννον, ἡνίκʼ ἂν κενὰςκρηπῖδας εὕρῃ λαΐνας ἀγάλματος.πῶς δʼ οὐ θανοῦμαι; τίς δʼ ἔνεστί μοι λόγος;ἀλλʼ, εἰ μὲν — ἕν τι — τοῦθʼ ὁμοῦ γενήσεται,ἄγαλμά τʼ οἴσεις κἄμʼ ἐπʼ εὐπρύμνου νεὼςἄξεις, τὸ κινδύνευμα γίγνεται καλόν·τούτου δὲ χωρισθεῖσʼ — ἐγὼ μὲν ὄλλυμαι,σὺ δʼ ἂν τὸ σαυτοῦ θέμενος εὖ νόστου τύχοις.οὐ μήν τι φεύγω γʼ, οὐδέ σʼ εἰ θανεῖν χρεὼνσῴσασαν· οὐ γὰρ ἀλλʼ ἀνὴρ μὲν ἐκ δόμωνθανὼν ποθεινός, τὰ δὲ γυναικὸς ἀσθενῆ.
Orestes:I would not be the murderer of you as well as my mother; her blood is enough; I would rather have an equal share of life or death, in common with you.
Ὀρέστης:οὐκ ἂν γενοίμην σοῦ τε καὶ μητρὸς φονεύς·ἅλις τὸ κείνης αἷμα· κοινόφρων δὲ σοὶκαὶ ζῆν θέλοιμʼ ἂν καὶ θανὼν λαχεῖν ἴσον.
I will bring you home, if I myself escape from here, or if I die, I will remain here with you. Listen to what I think: if Artemis were hostile to this, how could Loxias have prophesied that I would take the statue of the goddess to Pallas’ city...and see your face. Putting all these things together, I have hope of our return.
ἄξω δέ γʼ, ἤνπερ καὐτὸς ἐνταυθοῖ περῶ,πρὸς οἶκον, ἢ σοῦ κατθανὼν μενῶ μέτα.γνώμης δʼ ἄκουσον· εἰ πρόσαντες ἦν τόδεἈρτέμιδι, πῶς ἂν Λοξίας ἐθέσπισεκομίσαι μʼ ἄγαλμα θεᾶς πόλισμʼ ἐς Παλλάδος⟨… ⟩καὶ σὸν πρόσωπον εἰσιδεῖν; ἅπαντα γὰρσυνθεὶς τάδʼ εἰς ἓν νόστον ἐλπίζω λαβεῖν.