---
title: "Iphigenia among the Taurians · Ἰφιγένεια ἐν Ταύροις"
author: "Euripides"
translator: "Edward P. Coleridge"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 3 of 3
url: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-iphigenia-in-tauris/3/
cite: "Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge, Iphigenia among the Taurians · Ἰφιγένεια ἐν Ταύροις, section 3. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-iphigenia-in-tauris/3/"
---

# Iphigenia among the Taurians · Ἰφιγένεια ἐν Ταύροις

*Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge*

Rescued from the altar at Aulis, Iphigenia serves a savage cult until her brother arrives.

> Greek: ed. Gilbert Murray, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0006.tlg013, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Edward P. Coleridge, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0006.tlg013.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 3. Lines 1017–1499

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-iphigenia-in-tauris/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-iphigenia-in-tauris/3/#p-N

[¶0] Iphigenia:
But how may we live, and take what we want? For our return home suffers from this; but the will is present.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
πῶς οὖν γένοιτʼ ἂν ὥστε μήθʼ ἡμᾶς θανεῖν,
λαβεῖν θʼ ἃ βουλόμεσθα; τῇδε γὰρ νοσεῖ
νόστος πρὸς οἴκους· ἡ δὲ βούλησις πάρα.

[¶1] Orestes:
Could we murder the king?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἆρʼ ἂν τύραννον διολέσαι δυναίμεθʼ ἄν;

[¶2] Iphigenia:
A fearful suggestion, for foreigners to kill their host!

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
δεινὸν τόδʼ εἶπας, ξενοφονεῖν ἐπήλυδας.

[¶3] Orestes:
But we must dare it, if it brings our safety.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἀλλʼ, εἰ σὲ σώσει κἀμέ, κινδυνευτέον.

[¶4] Iphigenia:
I could not; yet I approve your eagerness.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην· τὸ δὲ πρόθυμον ᾔνεσα.

[¶5] Orestes:
What if you were to hide me secretly in the shrine?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί δʼ, εἴ με ναῷ τῷδε κρύψειας λάθρα;

[¶6] Iphigenia:
So that we might take advantage of the darkness and escape?

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ὡς δὴ σκότον λαβόντες ἐκσωθεῖμεν ἄν;

[¶7] Orestes:
Yes, for the night belongs to thieves, the light to truth.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
κλεπτῶν γὰρ ἡ νύξ, τῆς δʼ ἀληθείας τὸ φῶς.

[¶8] Iphigenia:
There are secred guards within, who will notice us.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
εἴσʼ ἔνδον ἱεροὶ φύλακες, οὓς οὐ λήσομεν.

[¶9] Orestes:
Alas, we are ruined! How can we be saved?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οἴμοι, διεφθάρμεσθα· πῶς σωθεῖμεν ἄν;

[¶10] Iphigenia:
I think I have a new stratagem.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἔχειν δοκῶ μοι καινὸν ἐξεύρημά τι.

[¶11] Orestes:
What is it? Let me know; share your thought.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ποῖόν τι; δόξης μετάδος, ὡς κἀγὼ μάθω.

[¶12] Iphigenia:
I will use your sorrows as my contrivance.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ταῖς σαῖς ἀνίαις χρήσομαι σοφίσμασι.

[¶13] Orestes:
Women are wonderfully good at devising crafty plans!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
δειναὶ γὰρ αἱ γυναῖκες εὑρίσκειν τέχνας.

[¶14] Iphigenia:
I will say that you came from Argos after killing your mother.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
φονέα σε φήσω μητρὸς ἐξ Ἄργους μολεῖν.

[¶15] Orestes:
Make use of my troubles, if you gain by it.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
χρῆσαι κακοῖσι τοῖς ἐμοῖς, εἰ κερδανεῖς.

[¶16] Iphigenia:
And that it is not right to sacrifice you to the goddess.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ὡς οὐ θέμις γε λέξομεν θύειν θεᾷ,

[¶17] Orestes:
With what reason? I have a suspicion.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τίνʼ αἰτίαν ἔχουσʼ; ὑποπτεύω τι γάρ.

[¶18] Iphigenia:
Because you are not pure; I will frighten what is sacred.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
οὐ καθαρὸν ὄντα· τὸ δʼ ὅσιον δώσω φόβῳ.

[¶19] Orestes:
How does this help us to seize the statue of the goddess?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί δῆτα μᾶλλον θεᾶς ἄγαλμʼ ἁλίσκεται;

[¶20] Iphigenia:
I shall want to purify you in the waves of the sea—

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
πόντου σε πηγαῖς ἁγνίσαι βουλήσομαι,

[¶21] Orestes:
The image that we have sailed for is still in the temple.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἔτʼ ἐν δόμοισι βρέτας, ἐφʼ ᾧ πεπλεύκαμεν.

[¶22] Iphigenia:
I will say that I have washed that also, since you have touched it.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
κἀκεῖνο νίψαι, σοῦ θιγόντος ὥς, ἐρῶ.

[¶23] Orestes:
Where? Do you mean the watery inlet of the sea?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ποῖ δῆτα; πόντου νοτερὸν εἶπας ἔκβολον;

[¶24] Iphigenia:
Where your ship is moored by its roped anchor.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
οὗ ναῦς χαλινοῖς λινοδέτοις ὁρμεῖ σέθεν.

[¶25] Orestes:
Will you or some other bear the image in your hands?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
σὺ δʼ ἤ τις ἄλλος ἐν χεροῖν οἴσει βρέτας;

[¶26] Iphigenia:
I shall; it is holy for me alone to touch it.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἐγώ· θιγεῖν γὰρ ὅσιόν ἐστʼ ἐμοὶ μόνῃ.

[¶27] Orestes:
But Pylades here—how will he be assigned to our labor?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
Πυλάδης δʼ ὅδʼ ἡμῖν ποῦ τετάξεται πόνου;

[¶28] Iphigenia:
His hands, it will be said, are stained like yours with blood-pollution.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ταὐτὸν χεροῖν σοὶ λέξεται μίασμʼ ἔχων.

[¶29] Orestes:
Will you do all this secretly from the king, or with his knowledge?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
λάθρα δʼ ἄνακτος ἢ εἰδότος δράσεις τάδε;

[¶30] Iphigenia:
I shall persuade him; I could not hide it from him.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
πείσασα μύθοις· οὐ γὰρ ἂν λάθοιμί γε.

[¶31] Orestes:
Well then, my ship, with its quick stroke of oars, is at hand.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
καὶ μὴν νεώς γε πίτυλος εὐήρης πάρα.

[¶32] Iphigenia:
You must indeed take care of the rest, so that it goes well.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
σοὶ δὴ μέλειν χρὴ τἄλλʼ ὅπως ἕξει καλῶς.

[¶33] Orestes:
We need only one thing more, that these women conceal our plans; you approach them and find persuasive words. A woman has power over pity.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἑνὸς μόνου δεῖ, τάσδε συγκρύψαι τάδε.
ἀλλʼ ἀντίαζε καὶ λόγους πειστηρίους
εὕρισκʼ· ἔχει τοι δύναμιν εἰς οἶκτον γυνή.

[¶34] The rest, perhaps—. May all turn out well!

> Greek: τὰ δʼ ἄλλʼ ἴσως —. ἅπαντα συμβαίη καλῶς.

[¶35] Iphigenia:
My dearest friends, I look to you; I am in your hands, whether I am to succeed, or come to nothing and lose my country, and my dear brother and dearest sister.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, εἰς ὑμᾶς βλέπω,
καὶ τἄμʼ ἐν ὑμῖν ἐστιν ἢ καλῶς ἔχειν
ἢ μηδὲν εἶναι καὶ στερηθῆναι πάτρας
φίλου τʼ ἀδελφοῦ φιλτάτης τε συγγόνου.

[¶36] And first of all, I begin my speech with this: we are women, and have hearts naturally formed to love each other, and keep our common interests most secure. Be silent for us and assist us in our flight. It is good to have trustworthy speech.

> Greek: καὶ πρῶτα μέν μοι τοῦ λόγου τάδʼ ἀρχέτω·
γυναῖκές ἐσμεν, φιλόφρον ἀλλήλαις γένος
σῴζειν τε κοινὰ πράγματʼ ἀσφαλέσταται.
σιγήσαθʼ ἡμῖν καὶ συνεκπονήσατε
φυγάς. καλόν τοι γλῶσσʼ ὅτῳ πιστὴ παρῇ.

[¶37] You see how one fortune holds us three, most dear to each other, either to return to our native land, or to die. If I am saved, I will bring you safe to Hellas, so that you may share my fortune. By your right hand, I entreat you, and you, and you; (addressing different members of the Chorus.) you by your dear face,
by your knees, by all that is dearest to you in your home: father, mother, child, if you have children. What do you reply? Who agrees with us, or is not willing to do this—speak! For if you do not acquiesce in my words, both I and my unhappy brother must die.

> Greek: ὁρᾶτε δʼ ὡς τρεῖς μία τύχη τοὺς φιλτάτους,
ἢ γῆς πατρῴας νόστον ἢ θανεῖν ἔχει.
σωθεῖσα δʼ, ὡς ἂν καὶ σὺ κοινωνῇς τύχης,
σώσω σʼ ἐς Ἑλλάδʼ. ἀλλὰ πρός σε δεξιᾶς
σὲ καὶ σὲ ἱκνοῦμαι, σὲ δὲ φίλης παρηίδος,
γονάτων τε καὶ τῶν ἐν δόμοισι φιλτάτων
μητρὸς πατρός τε καὶ τέκνων ὅτῳ κυρεῖ.
τί φατέ; τίς ὑμῶν φησιν ἢ τίς οὐ θέλειν —
φθέγξασθε — ταῦτα; μὴ γὰρ αἰνουσῶν λόγους
ὄλωλα κἀγὼ καὶ κασίγνητος τάλας.

[¶38] Chorus Leader:
Have courage, dear mistress, only see to your safety; I will be silent on all that you have charged me with—great Zeus be my witness.

> Greek: Χορός:
θάρσει, φίλη δέσποινα, καὶ σῴζου μόνον·
ὡς ἔκ γʼ ἐμοῦ σοι πάντα σιγηθήσεται —
ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς — ὧν ἐπισκήπτεις πέρι.

[¶39] Iphigenia:
Bless you for your words, may you be happy! It is your work now, and yours, To Orestes and Pylades to enter the temple;

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ὄναισθε μύθων καὶ γένοισθʼ εὐδαίμονες.
σὸν ἔργον ἤδη καὶ σὸν ἐσβαίνειν δόμους·

[¶40] for soon the ruler of this land will come, inquiring if the sacrifice of the strangers has been carried out.

> Greek: ὡς αὐτίχʼ ἥξει τῆσδε κοίρανος χθονός,
θυσίαν ἐλέγχων εἰ κατείργασται ξένων.

[¶41] Lady Artemis, you who saved me from my father’s slaughtering hand by the clefts of Aulis, save me now also, and these men; or through you Loxias’
prophetic voice will no longer be held true by mortals But leave this barbarian land for Athens with good will; it is not fitting for you to dwell here, when you could have so fortunate a city. Exeunt Iphigenia, Orestes, and Pylades.

> Greek: >ὦ πότνιʼ, ἥπερ μʼ Αὐλίδος κατὰ πτυχὰς
δεινῆς ἔσωσας ἐκ πατροκτόνου χερός,
σῶσόν με καὶ νῦν τούσδε τʼ· ἢ τὸ Λοξίου
οὐκέτι βροτοῖσι διὰ σὲ ἐτήτυμον στόμα.
ἀλλʼ εὐμενὴς ἔκβηθι βαρβάρου χθονὸς
ἐς τὰς Ἀθήνας· καὶ γὰρ ἐνθάδʼ οὐ πρέπει
ναίειν, παρόν σοι πόλιν ἔχειν εὐδαίμονα.

[¶42] Chorus:
Halcyon bird, you that sing your fate as a lament
beside the rocky ridges of the sea, a cry easily understood by the wise, that you are always chanting for your husband; I, wingless bird that I am, compare
my laments with yours, in my longing for the festivals of Hellas, and for Artemis of childbirth, who dwells beside the Cynthian mountain and the palm with delicate leaves
and the well-grown laurel and the holy shoot of gray-green olive, Leto’s dear child, and the lake that rolls about its ripples, where the melodious swan
serves the Muses.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὄρνις, ἃ παρὰ πετρίνας
πόντου δειράδας, ἀλκυών,
ἔλεγον οἶτον ἀείδεις,
εὐξύνετον ξυνετοῖς βοάν,
ὅτι πόσιν κελαδεῖς ἀεὶ μολπαῖς,
ἐγώ σοι παραβάλλομαι
θρήνους, ἄπτερος ὅρνις,
ποθοῦσʼ Ἑλλάνων ἀγόρους,
ποθοῦσʼ Ἄρτεμιν λοχίαν,
ἃ παρὰ Κύνθιον ὄχθον οἰ-
κεῖ φοίνικά θʼ ἁβροκόμαν
δάφναν τʼ εὐερνέα καὶ
γλαυκᾶς θαλλὸν ἱερὸν ἐλαί-
ας, Λατοῦς ὠδῖνα φίλαν,
λίμναν θʼ εἱλίσσουσαν ὕδωρ
κύκλιον, ἔνθα κύκνος μελῳ-
δὸς Μούσας θεραπεύει.

[¶43] Chorus:
O streams of tears that fell onto my cheeks, when my city was destroyed and the enemy forced me to sail,
by their oars, by their spears! Purchased by gold, I came to a barbarian home, where I serve Agamemnon’s daughter,
the attendant maid of the deer-killing goddess, and the altars where no sheep are sacrificed; and I envy ruin that is wretched throughout, for when you are brought up in harsh necessity, you do not suffer.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ πολλαὶ δακρύων λιβάδες,
αἳ παρηίδας εἰς ἐμὰς
ἔπεσον, ἁνίκα πύργων
ὀλομένων ἐν ναυσὶν ἔβαν
πολεμίων ἐρετμοῖσι καὶ λόγχαις.
ζαχρύσου δὲ διʼ ἐμπολᾶς
νόστον βάρβαρον ἦλθον,
ἔνθα τᾶς ἐλαφοκτόνου
θεᾶς ἀμφίπολον κόραν
παῖδʼ Ἀγαμεμνονίαν λατρεύ-
ω βωμούς τʼ οὐ μηλοθύτας,
ζηλοῦσʼ ἄταν διὰ παν-
τὸς δυσδαίμονʼ· ἐν γὰρ ἀνάγ-
καις οὐ κάμνεις σύντροφος ὤν.

[¶44] Misery changes; life is hard for mortals, when they are treated badly after happiness.

> Greek: μεταβάλλει δυσδαιμονία·
τὸ δὲ μετʼ εὐτυχίας κακοῦ-
σθαι θνατοῖς βαρὺς αἰών.

[¶45] Chorus:
And you, lady, the Argive penteconter will bear you home;

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ σὲ μέν, πότνιʼ, Ἀργεία
πεντηκόντορος οἶκον ἄξει·

[¶46] the wax-bound reed of the mountain god Pan, piping, will shout to the oars, and Phoebus the prophet, with the ring of his seven-stringed lyre,
singing, will guide you well to the gleaming land of the Athenians. Leaving me here, you will go with splashing oars. In the breeze, the forestays of the ship that carries you swiftly
will spread out over the front beyond the prow.

> Greek: συρίζων θʼ ὁ κηροδέτας
κάλαμος οὐρείου Πανὸς
κώπαις ἐπιθωΰξει,
ὁ Φοῖβός θʼ ὁ μάντις ἔχων
κέλαδον ἑπτατόνου λύρας
ἀείδων ἄξει λιπαρὰν
εὖ σʼ Ἀθηναίων ἐπὶ γᾶν.
ἐμὲ δʼ αὐτοῦ λιποῦσα
βήσῃ ῥοθίοισι πλάταις·
ἀέρι δὲ [ἱστία] πρότονοι κατὰ πρῷραν ὑ-
πὲρ στόλον ἐκπετάσουσι πόδα
ναὸς ὠκυπόμπου.

[¶47] Chorus:
May I come to the bright race-course, where the sun’s fire goes;

> Greek: Χορός:
λαμπροὺς ἱπποδρόμους βαίην,
ἔνθʼ εὐάλιον ἔρχεται πῦρ·

[¶48] over the chambers of my home, may I cease to flutter the wings on my back. May I take my stand in the dances of glorious marriages, where I stood as a maiden,
twirling about in the dancing bands of other girls, away from my dear mother; rushing on to the contest of charms, the luxuriant strife of hair, I covered my cheeks with the multi-colored veil
and shadowed them with the locks of my hair.

> Greek: οἰκείων δʼ ὑπὲρ θαλάμων
πτέρυγας ἐν νώτοις ἁμοῖς
λήξαιμι θοάζουσα·
χοροῖς δʼ ἑσταίην, ὅθι καὶ
παρθένος, εὐδοκίμων γάμων,
παρὰ πόδʼ εἱλίσσουσα φίλας
ματρὸς ἡλίκων θιάσους,
χαρίτων εἰς ἁμίλλας,
χαίτας ἁβρόπλουτον ἔριν,
ὀρνυμένα, πολυποίκιλα φάρεα
καὶ πλοκάμους περιβαλλομένα
γένυσιν ἐσκίαζον.

[¶49] Thoas:
Where is the gate-keeper of this temple, the woman of Hellas? Has she already begun the rites on the strangers?

> Greek: Θόας:
ποῦ ʼσθʼ ἡ πυλωρὸς τῶνδε δωμάτων γυνὴ
Ἑλληνίς; ἤδη τῶν ξένων κατήρξατο;

[¶50] Are they glowing with fire in the holy sanctuary?

> Greek: ἀδύτοις ἐν ἁγνοῖς σῶμα λάμπονται πυρί;

[¶51] Chorus Leader:
Here she is, to tell you everything clearly, lord.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἥδʼ ἐστίν, ἥ σοι πάντʼ, ἄναξ, ἐρεῖ σαφῶς.

[¶52] Thoas:
Oh! Daughter of Agamemnon, why have you lifted up in your arms the statue of the goddess from its pedestal that must not be moved?

> Greek: Θόας:
ἔα·
τί τόδε μεταίρεις ἐξ ἀκινήτων βάθρων,
Ἀγαμέμνονος παῖ, θεᾶς ἄγαλμʼ ἐν ὠλέναις;

[¶53] Iphigenia:
Lord, stand there in the entrance!

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἄναξ, ἔχʼ αὐτοῦ πόδα σὸν ἐν παραστάσιν.

[¶54] Thoas:
Iphigenia, what has happened in the temple?

> Greek: Θόας:
τί δʼ ἔστιν, Ἰφιγένεια, καινὸν ἐν δόμοις;

[¶55] Iphigenia:
I spit out the pollution; (turning to Thoas to explain.) I say this for Holiness.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἀπέπτυσʼ· Ὁσίᾳ γὰρ δίδωμʼ ἔπος τόδε.

[¶56] Thoas:
What is this news in your introduction? Tell it clearly.

> Greek: Θόας:
τί φροιμιάζῃ νεοχμόν; ἐξαύδα σαφῶς.

[¶57] Iphigenia:
The victims you caught for me are not pure, lord.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
οὐ καθαρά μοι τὰ θύματʼ ἠγρεύσασθʼ, ἄναξ.

[¶58] Thoas:
What taught you this? Or are you only saying what you think?

> Greek: Θόας:
τί τοὐκδιδάξαν τοῦτό σʼ; ἢ δόξαν λέγεις;

[¶59] Iphigenia:
The image of the goddess turned back from its place.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
βρέτας τὸ τῆς θεοῦ πάλιν ἕδρας ἀπεστράφη.

[¶60] Thoas:
By itself, or did an earthquake turn it?

> Greek: Θόας:
αὐτόματον, ἤ νιν σεισμὸς ἔστρεψε χθονός;

[¶61] Iphigenia:
By itself; it closed up its eyes.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
αὐτόματον· ὄψιν δʼ ὀμμάτων ξυνήρμοσεν.

[¶62] Thoas:
What was the reason? Was it the uncleanness of the strangers?

> Greek: Θόας:
ἡ δʼ αἰτία τίς; ἦ τὸ τῶν ξένων μύσος;

[¶63] Iphigenia:
That was the reason, and nothing else; for they have done dreadful things.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἥδʼ, οὐδὲν ἄλλο· δεινὰ γὰρ δεδράκατον.

[¶64] Thoas:
What, have they killed one of the barbarians on the shore?

> Greek: Θόας:
ἀλλʼ ἦ τινʼ ἔκανον βαρβάρων ἀκτῆς ἔπι;

[¶65] Iphigenia:
They come with murder done at home.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
οἰκεῖον ἦλθον τὸν φόνον κεκτημένοι.

[¶66] Thoas:
What murder? For I strongly want to know.

> Greek: Θόας:
τίνʼ; εἰς ἔρον γὰρ τοῦ μαθεῖν πεπτώκαμεν.

[¶67] Iphigenia:
They killed their mother together with their swords.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
μητέρα κατειργάσαντο κοινωνῷ ξίφει.

[¶68] Thoas:
Apollo! No barbarian would have dared this.

> Greek: Θόας:
Ἄπολλον, οὐδʼ ἐν βαρβάροις ἔτλη τις ἄν.

[¶69] Iphigenia:
They were driven in pursuit from all of Hellas.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
πάσης διωγμοῖς ἠλάθησαν Ἑλλάδος.

[¶70] Thoas:
Is it for this that you bring the statue outside?

> Greek: Θόας:
ἦ τῶνδʼ ἕκατι δῆτʼ ἄγαλμʼ ἔξω φέρεις;

[¶71] Iphigenia:
Yes, to the holy air, to remove it from slaughter.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
σεμνόν γʼ ὑπʼ αἰθέρʼ, ὡς μεταστήσω φόνου.

[¶72] Thoas:
How did you know the blood-pollution of the strangers?

> Greek: Θόας:
μίασμα δʼ ἔγνως τοῖν ξένοιν ποίῳ τρόπῳ;

[¶73] Iphigenia:
I questioned them, because the image of the goddess had turned back.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἤλεγχον, ὡς θεᾶς βρέτας ἀπεστράφη πάλιν.

[¶74] Thoas:
Hellas has brought you up to be clever; how well you understood this.

> Greek: Θόας:
σοφήν σʼ ἔθρεψεν Ἑλλάς, ὡς ᾔσθου καλῶς.

[¶75] Iphigenia:
And yet they dangled a sweet lure for my heart.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
καὶ μὴν καθεῖσαν δέλεαρ ἡδύ μοι φρενῶν.

[¶76] Thoas:
Reporting to you some charm of news from Argos?

> Greek: Θόας:
τῶν Ἀργόθεν τι φίλτρον ἀγγέλλοντέ σοι;

[¶77] Iphigenia:
That Orestes, my only brother, is happy.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
τὸν μόνον Ὀρέστην ἐμὸν ἀδελφὸν εὐτυχεῖν.

[¶78] Thoas:
So that you might save them, for the delight of their messages.

> Greek: Θόας:
ὡς δή σφε σῴσαις ἡδοναῖς ἀγγελμάτων.

[¶79] Iphigenia:
And that my father is alive and doing well.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
καὶ πατέρα γε ζῆν καὶ καλῶς πράσσειν ἐμόν.

[¶80] Thoas:
But you turned to the goddess, with reason.

> Greek: Θόας:
σὺ δʼ ἐς τὸ τῆς θεοῦ γʼ ἐξένευσας εἰκότως.

[¶81] Iphigenia:
Yes, for I hate all Hellas, which has ruined me.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
πᾶσάν γε μισοῦσʼ Ἑλλάδʼ, ἥ μʼ ἀπώλεσεν.

[¶82] Thoas:
Tell me, what shall we do with the strangers?

> Greek: Θόας:
τί δῆτα δρῶμεν, φράζε, τοῖν ξένοιν πέρι;

[¶83] Iphigenia:
We must reverence the law as it stands.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
τὸν νόμον ἀνάγκη τὸν προκείμενον σέβειν.

[¶84] Thoas:
But the libations and your sword are not at work?

> Greek: Θόας:
οὔκουν ἐν ἔργῳ χέρνιβες ξίφος τε σόν;

[¶85] Iphigenia:
First I want to wash them, with holy purification.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἁγνοῖς καθαρμοῖς πρῶτά νιν νίψαι θέλω.

[¶86] Thoas:
In fountain waters, or the drops of the sea?

> Greek: Θόας:
πηγαῖσιν ὑδάτων ἢ θαλασσίᾳ δρόσῳ;

[¶87] Iphigenia:
The sea washes away all men’s evils.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
θάλασσα κλύζει πάντα τἀνθρώπων κακά.

[¶88] Thoas:
They would certainly be holier victims for the goddess.

> Greek: Θόας:
ὁσιώτερον γοῦν τῇ θεῷ πέσοιεν ἄν.

[¶89] Iphigenia:
And in this way my plans would succeed better.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
καὶ τἀμά γʼ οὕτω μᾶλλον ἂν καλῶς ἔχοι.

[¶90] Thoas:
Doesn’t the wave beat against this very temple?

> Greek: Θόας:
οὔκουν πρὸς αὐτὸν ναὸν ἐκπίπτει κλύδων;

[¶91] Iphigenia:
This requires solitude; and I shall do more.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἐρημίας δεῖ· καὶ γὰρ ἄλλα δράσομεν.

[¶92] Thoas:
Then where you wish; I do not want to see what should not be seen.

> Greek: Θόας:
ἄγʼ ἔνθα χρῄζεις· οὐ φιλῶ τἄρρηθʼ ὁρᾶν.

[¶93] Iphigenia:
I must purify the image of the goddess also.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἁγνιστέον μοι καὶ τὸ τῆς θεοῦ βρέτας.

[¶94] Thoas:
Yes, if a stain from the matricide has fallen on it.

> Greek: Θόας:
εἴπερ γε κηλὶς ἔβαλέ νιν μητροκτόνος.

[¶95] Iphigenia:
For I would not have lifted it from its base otherwise.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
οὐ γάρ ποτʼ ἄν νιν ἠράμην βάθρων ἄπο.

[¶96] Thoas:
Your piety and forethought are correct.

> Greek: Θόας:
δίκαιος ηὑσέβεια καὶ προμηθία.

[¶97] Iphigenia:
Do you know what to do for me now?

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
οἶσθά νυν ἅ μοι γενέσθω;

[¶98] Thoas:
It is for you to make it known.

> Greek: Θόας:
σὸν τὸ σημαίνειν τόδε.

[¶99] Iphigenia:
Put chains on the strangers.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
δεσμὰ τοῖς ξένοισι πρόσθες.

[¶100] Thoas:
Where could they escape you?

> Greek: Θόας:
ποῖ δέ σʼ ἐκφύγοιεν ἄν;

[¶101] Iphigenia:
Hellas knows no faith.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
πιστὸν Ἑλλὰς οἶδεν οὐδέν.

[¶102] Thoas:
(to his servants.) Go to get chains, attendants.

> Greek: Θόας:
ἴτʼ ἐπὶ δεσμά, πρόσπολοι.

[¶103] Iphigenia:
And let them bring the strangers here.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
κἀκκομιζόντων δὲ δεῦρο τοὺς ξένους —

[¶104] Thoas:
It will be so.

> Greek: Θόας:
ἔσται τάδε.

[¶105] Iphigenia:
And veil their faces with their robes.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
κρᾶτα κρύψαντες πέπλοισιν.

[¶106] Thoas:
Before the light of the sun.

> Greek: Θόας:
ἡλίου πρόσθεν φλογός.

[¶107] Iphigenia:
And send some of your servants with me.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
σῶν τέ μοι σύμπεμπʼ ὀπαδῶν.

[¶108] Thoas:
These will attend you.

> Greek: Θόας:
οἵδʼ ὁμαρτήσουσί σοι.

[¶109] Iphigenia:
And send someone to announce to the city—

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
καὶ πόλει πέμψον τινʼ ὅστις σημανεῖ —

[¶110] Thoas:
That what has happened?

> Greek: Θόας:
ποίας τύχας;

[¶111] Iphigenia:
That all remain indoors.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἐν δόμοις μίμνειν ἅπαντας.

[¶112] Thoas:
So that they do not come in contact with murder?

> Greek: Θόας:
μὴ συναντῷεν φόνῳ;

[¶113] Iphigenia:
Yes, for such things are polluted.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
μυσαρὰ γὰρ τὰ τοιάδʼ ἐστί.

[¶114] Thoas:
(to a servant.) Go and announce—

> Greek: Θόας:
στεῖχε καὶ σήμαινε σύ —

[¶115] Iphigenia:
That no one come near the sight. An attendant departs.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
μηδένʼ εἰς ὄψιν πελάζειν.

[¶116] Thoas:
You are taking good care of the city

> Greek: Θόας:
εὖ γε κηδεύεις πόλιν.

[¶117] Iphigenia:
And of the friends to whom I owe the most.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
καὶ φίλων γʼ οὓς δεῖ μάλιστα.

[¶118] Thoas:
You mean this for me.

> Greek: Θόας:
τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας εἰς ἐμέ.

[¶119] Iphigenia:...
Thoas:
The whole city marvels at you, with reason.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
…
Θόας:
ὡς εἰκότως σε πᾶσα θαυμάζει πόλις.

[¶120] Iphigenia:
You stay here before the shrine of the goddess.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
σὺ δὲ μένων αὐτοῦ πρὸ ναῶν τῇ θεῷ —

[¶121] Thoas:
What shall I do?

> Greek: Θόας:
τί χρῆμα δρῶ;

[¶122] Iphigenia:
Purify the house with fire.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἅγνισον πυρσῷ μέλαθρον.

[¶123] Thoas:
So that you may return to find it pure.

> Greek: Θόας:
καθαρὸν ὡς μόλῃς πάλιν.

[¶124] Iphigenia:
When the strangers come outside—

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἡνίκʼ ἂν δʼ ἔξω περῶσιν οἱ ξένοι —

[¶125] Thoas:
What must I do?

> Greek: Θόας:
τί χρή με δρᾶν;

[¶126] Iphigenia:
Hold your robe over your eyes.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
πέπλον ὀμμάτων προθέσθαι.

[¶127] Thoas:
So that I do not receive the pollution.

> Greek: Θόας:
μὴ παλαμναῖον λάβω.

[¶128] Iphigenia:
If I seem to delay too long—

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
ἢν δʼ ἄγαν δοκῶ χρονίζειν —

[¶129] Thoas:
What limit of the delay should I keep in mind?

> Greek: Θόας:
τοῦδʼ ὅρος τίς ἐστί μοι;

[¶130] Iphigenia:
Do not wonder at it.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
θαυμάσῃς μηδέν.

[¶131] Thoas:
Carry out the rites of the goddess well, since you have leisure.

> Greek: Θόας:
τὰ τῆς θεοῦ πρᾶσσʼ — ἐπεὶ σχολή — καλῶς.

[¶132] Iphigenia:
May this purification fall out as I wish!

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
εἰ γὰρ ὡς θέλω καθαρμὸς ὅδε πέσοι.

[¶133] Thoas:
I pray along with you.
(Exit Thoas.)

> Greek: Θόας:
συνεύχομαι.

[¶134] Iphigenia:
I see the strangers coming out of the temple now, and the ornaments of the goddess and the new-born lambs, because I will wash blood-pollution away with blood, and the flash of torches and all the rest that
I have set out as purification for the strangers and the goddess.

> Greek: Ἰφιγένεια:
τούσδʼ ἄρʼ ἐκβαίνοντας ἤδη δωμάτων ὁρῶ ξένους
καὶ θεᾶς κόσμους νεογνούς τʼ ἄρνας, ὡς φόνῳ φόνον
μυσαρὸν ἐκνίψω, σέλας τε λαμπάδων τά τʼ ἄλλʼ ὅσα
προυθέμην ἐγὼ ξένοισι καὶ θεᾷ καθάρσια.

[¶135] I proclaim to the citizens to keep away from this pollution, if any guard of the temple is purifying his hands for the gods, or if anyone is coming to form a marriage alliance, or is weighted down by childbirth— begone, stand away, so that this defilement does not fall on anyone.

> Greek: ἐκποδὼν δʼ αὐδῶ πολίταις τοῦδʼ ἔχειν μιάσματος,
εἴ τις ἢ ναῶν πυλωρὸς χεῖρας ἁγνεύει θεοῖς
ἢ γάμον στείχει συνάψων ἢ τόκοις βαρύνεται,
φεύγετʼ, ἐξίστασθε, μή τῳ προσπέσῃ μύσος τόδε.

[¶136] (Aside.) O lady, maiden daughter of of Leto and Zeus, if I cleanse the stain of murder from these men, and make the sacrifice where I ought to make it, you will dwell in a pure home, and we will be fortunate. I do not speak the rest, but I indicate it to those who know more, the gods and you, goddess. Exit Iphigenia.

> Greek: ὦ Διὸς Λητοῦς τʼ ἄνασσα παρθένʼ, ἢν νίψω φόνον
τῶνδε καὶ θύσωμεν οὗ χρή, καθαρὸν οἰκήσεις δόμον,
εὐτυχεῖς δʼ ἡμεῖς ἐσόμεθα. τἄλλα δʼ οὐ λέγουσʼ, ὅμως
τοῖς τὰ πλείονʼ εἰδόσιν θεοῖς σοί τε σημαίνω, θεά.

[¶137] Chorus:
Lovely is the son of Leto,
whom she, the Delian, once bore in the fruitful valleys, golden-haired, skilled at the lyre; and also the one who glories in her well-aimed arrows.
For the mother, leaving the famous birth-place, brought him from the ridges of the sea to the heights of Parnassus, with its gushing waters, which celebrate the revels for Dionysus. Here the dark-faced serpent
with brightly colored back, his scales of bronze in the leaf-shaded laurel, huge monster of the earth, guarded Earth’s prophetic shrine. You killed him, o Phoebus, while still a baby,
still leaping in the arms of your dear mother, and you entered the holy shrine, and sit on the golden tripod, on your truthful throne
distributing prophecies from the gods to mortals, up from the sanctuary, neighbor of Castalia’s streams, as you dwell in the middle of the earth.

> Greek: Χορός:
εὔπαις ὁ Λατοῦς γόνος,
τόν ποτε Δηλιὰς ἐν καρποφόροις γυάλοις
⟨ἔτικτε,⟩ χρυσοκόμαν
ἐν κιθάρᾳ σοφόν, ἅ τʼ ἐπὶ τόξων
εὐστοχίᾳ γάνυται· φέρε ⟨δʼ αὐτά⟩
νιν ἀπὸ δειράδος εἰναλίας,
λοχεῖα κλεινὰ λιποῦσα μά-
τηρ, τὰν ἀστάκτων ὑδάτων
βακχεύουσαν Διονύ-
σῳ Παρνάσιον κορυφάν·
ὅθι ποικιλόνωτος οἰ-
νωπὸς δράκων,
σκιερᾷ κατάχαλκος εὐ-
φύλλῳ δάφνᾳ,
γᾶς πελώριον τέρας, ἄμφεπε μαντεῖ-
ον Χθόνιον.
ἔτι μιν ἔτι βρέφος, ἔτι φίλας
ἐπὶ ματέρος ἀγκάλαισι θρῴσκων
ἔκανες, ὦ Φοῖβε, μαντείων δʼ ἐπέβας ζαθέων,
τρίποδί τʼ ἐν χρυσέῳ θάσσεις, ἐν ἀψευδεῖ θρόνῳ
μαντείας βροτοῖς θεσφάτων νέμων
ἀδύτων ὕπο, Κασταλίας ῥεέθρων γείτων, μέσον
γᾶς ἔχων μέλαθρον.

[¶138] Chorus:
But when he came and sent Themis,
the child of Earth, away from the holy oracle of Pytho, Earth gave birth to dream visions of the night; and they told to the cities of men the present,
and what will happen in the future, through dark beds of sleep on the ground; and so Earth took the office of prophecy away from Phoebus, in envy, because of her daughter. The lord made his swift way to Olympus
and wound his baby hands around the throne of Zeus, to take the wrath of the earth goddess from the Pythian home. Zeus smiled, that the child so quickly came
to ask for worship that pays in gold. He shook his locks of hair, to put an end to the night voices, and took away from mortals the truth that appears in darkness,
and gave the privilege back again to Loxias, and to mortals confidence in the songs of prophecy at the throne visited by many men.

> Greek: Χορός:
Θέμιν δʼ ἐπεὶ γᾶς ἰὼν
παῖδʼ ἀπενάσσατο ⟨Πυθῶνος⟩ ἀπὸ ζαθέων
χρηστηρίων, νύχια
Χθὼν ἐτεκνώσατο φάσματʼ ὀ⟨νείρων⟩,
οἳ πολέσιν μερόπων τά τε πρῶτα, τά τʼ
ἔπειθʼ, ὅσσα τʼ ἔμελλε τυχεῖν,
ὕπνου κατὰ δνοφερὰς γᾶς εὐ-
νὰς ἔφραζον· Γαῖα δὲ τὰν
μαντεῖον ἀφείλετο τι-
μὰν Φοῖβον, φθόνῳ θυγατρός.
ταχύπους δʼ ἐς Ὄλυμπον ὁρ-
μαθεὶς ἄναξ
χέρα παιδνὸν ἕλιξεν ἐκ
Διὸς θρόνων
Πυθίων δόμων χθονίαν ἀφελεῖν μῆ-
νιν θεᾶς. [νυχίους τʼ ἐνοπὰς.]
γέλασε δʼ, ὅτι τέκος ἄφαρ ἔβα
πολύχρυσα θέλων λατρεύματα σχεῖν·
ἐπὶ δʼ ἔσεισεν κόμαν, παῦσαι νυχίους ἐνοπάς,
ἀπὸ δʼ ἀλαθοσύναν νυκτωπὸν ἐξεῖλεν βροτῶν,
καὶ τιμὰς πάλιν θῆκε Λοξίᾳ,
πολυάνορι δʼ ἐν ξενόεντι θρόνῳ θάρση βροτοῖς
θεσφάτων ἀοιδαῖς.

[¶139] Messenger:
O you that guard the temple and stand by the altar,
where has Thoas, the lord of this land, gone? Open the well-fastened gates, and call forth from this shrine the ruler of the land.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ὦ ναοφύλακες βώμιοί τʼ ἐπιστάται,
Θόας ἄναξ γῆς τῆσδε ποῦ κυρεῖ βεβώς;
καλεῖτʼ ἀναπτύξαντες εὐγόμφους πύλας
ἔξω μελάθρων τῶνδε κοίρανον χθονός.

[¶140] Chorus Leader:
What is it, if I may speak when not commanded?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δʼ ἔστιν, εἰ χρὴ μὴ κελευσθεῖσαν λέγειν;

[¶141] Messenger:
The two young men are gone away,
through the plots of Agamemnon’s daughter; they are escaping from this land, with the holy image deep within a Hellene ship.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
βεβᾶσι φροῦδοι δίπτυχοι νεανίαι
Ἀγαμεμνονείας παιδὸς ἐκ βουλευμάτων
φεύγοντες ἐκ γῆς τῆσδε καὶ σεμνὸν βρέτας
λαβόντες ἐν κόλποισιν Ἑλλάδος νεώς.

[¶142] Chorus Leader:
What you say is incredible; but the one you want to see, the lord of the country, has gone in haste from the temple.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄπιστον εἶπας μῦθον· ὃν δʼ ἰδεῖν θέλεις
ἄνακτα χώρας, φροῦδος ἐκ ναοῦ συθείς.

[¶143] Messenger:
Where? For he should know what has been done.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ποῖ; δεῖ γὰρ αὐτὸν εἰδέναι τὰ δρώμενα.

[¶144] Chorus Leader:
We don’t know; but go after him, and report these things to him where you find him.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐκ ἴσμεν· ἀλλὰ στεῖχε καὶ δίωκέ νιν
ὅπου κυρήσας τούσδʼ ἀπαγγελεῖς λόγους.

[¶145] Messenger:
See, what a faithless race you women are! You also have a share in what has been done.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ὁρᾶτʼ, ἄπιστον ὡς γυναικεῖον γένος·
μέτεστι χὑμῖν τῶν πεπραγμένων μέρος.

[¶146] Chorus Leader:
You are mad! What do we have to do the the flight of the strangers? Go as quickly as you can to the ruler’s door!

> Greek: Χορός:
μαίνῃ· τί δʼ ἡμῖν τῶν ξένων δρασμοῦ μέτα;
οὐκ εἶ κρατούντων πρὸς πύλας ὅσον τάχος;

[¶147] Messenger:
No! Not until this interpreter brings word if the king is inside or not. Ho there! Unbar the doors—I am speaking to those within—
and inform the master that I am at the gate with a burden of bad news.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
οὔ, πρίν γʼ ἂν εἴπῃ τοὔπος ἑρμηνεὺς ὅδε,
εἴτʼ ἔνδον εἴτʼ οὐκ ἔνδον ἀρχηγὸς χθονός.
ὠή, χαλᾶτε κλῇθρα, τοῖς ἔνδον λέγω,
καὶ δεσπότῃ σημήναθʼ οὕνεκʼ ἐν πύλαις
πάρειμι, καινῶν φόρτον ἀγγέλλων κακῶν.

[¶148] Thoas:
(appearing at the temple door.) Who is raising this clamor at the temple of the goddess, striking at the gates and sending his noise within?

> Greek: Θόας:
τίς ἀμφὶ δῶμα θεᾶς τόδʼ ἵστησιν βοήν,
πύλας ἀράξας καὶ ψόφον πέμψας ἔσω;

[¶149] Messenger:
Ah! These women told me that you were outside; they would have driven me away from the temple,
but you were inside after all.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
φεῦ·
πῶς ἔλεγον αἵδε, καί μʼ ἀπήλαυνον δόμων,
ὡς ἐκτὸς εἴης· σὺ δὲ κατʼ οἶκον ἦσθʼ ἄρα.

[¶150] Thoas:
What advantage were they expecting and hunting after?

> Greek: Θόας:
τί προσδοκῶσαι κέρδος ἢ θηρώμεναι;

[¶151] Messenger:
I will tell you about them later; hear what is currently at hand. The girl who presided at this altar, Iphigenia, has left the country
with the strangers, and takes with her the holy statue of the goddess; the purification was a cheat.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
αὖθις τὰ τῶνδε σημανῶ· τὰ δʼ ἐν ποσὶ
παρόντʼ ἄκουσον. ἡ νεᾶνις ἣ ʼνθάδε
βωμοῖς παρίστατʼ, Ἰφιγένειʼ, ἔξω χθονὸς
σὺν τοῖς ξένοισιν οἴχεται, σεμνὸν θεᾶς
ἄγαλμʼ ἔχουσα· δόλια δʼ ἦν καθάρματα.

[¶152] Thoas:
What are you saying? What influence in her character brought her to this?

> Greek: Θόας:
πῶς φῄς; τί πνεῦμα συμφορᾶς κεκτημένη;

[¶153] Messenger:
To save Orestes; here is a marvel for you!

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
σῴζουσʼ Ὀρέστην· τοῦτο γὰρ σὺ θαυμάσῃ.

[¶154] Thoas:
To save whom? Clytemnestra’s son?

> Greek: Θόας:
τὸν ποῖον; ἆρʼ ὃν Τυνδαρὶς τίκτει κόρη;

[¶155] Messenger:
The one whom the goddess was dedicating to herself at this altar.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ὃν τοῖσδε βωμοῖς θεὰ καθωσιώσατο.

[¶156] Thoas:
Marvelous! for what more can it be called?

> Greek: Θόας:
ὦ θαῦμα — πῶς σε μεῖζον ὀνομάσας τύχω;

[¶157] Messenger:
Do not think of that, but listen to me; consider it clearly and when you hear, devise a pursuit to hunt down the strangers.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
μὴ ʼνταῦθα τρέψῃς σὴν φρένʼ, ἀλλʼ ἄκουέ μου·
σαφῶς δʼ ἀθρήσας καὶ κλύων ἐκφρόντισον
διωγμὸς ὅστις τοὺς ξένους θηράσεται.

[¶158] Thoas:
Speak; you have said well; for their flight is not so brief a voyage as to escape my spear.

> Greek: Θόας:
λέγʼ· εὖ γὰρ εἶπας· οὐ γὰρ ἀγχίπλουν πόρον
φεύγουσιν, ὥστε διαφυγεῖν τοὐμὸν δόρυ.

[¶159] Messenger:
When we came to the sea-shore, where Orestes’ ship was moored in hiding,
Agamemnon’s daughter motioned to those of us you sent with the strangers’ bonds to stand far off, as if her sacrifice of purifying flame, that she had come for, were secret. But she went on alone, holding the strangers’ chains in her hands, behind them. Your servants, lord, were suspicious,
but we allowed it. After a while, so that we might think that she was accomplishing something, she raised a shout, and chanted strange songs and spells, as if she were washing off the pollution of murder. When we had sat a long time,
it occurred to us that the strangers, loosed from their bonds, might kill her and escape by flight. But we were afraid of seeing what we ought not, and sat in silence. But at length we all resolved to go where they were, although we were not allowed.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ἐπεὶ πρὸς ἀκτὰς ἤλθομεν θαλασσίας,
οὗ ναῦς Ὀρέστου κρύφιος ἦν ὡρμισμένη,
ἡμᾶς μέν, οὓς σὺ δεσμὰ συμπέμπεις ξένων
ἔχοντας, ἐξένευσʼ ἀποστῆναι πρόσω
Ἀγαμέμνονος παῖς, ὡς ἀπόρρητον φλόγα
θύουσα καὶ καθαρμὸν ὃν μετῴχετο,
αὐτὴ δʼ ὄπισθε δέσμʼ ἔχουσα τοῖν ξένοιν
ἔστειχε χερσί. καὶ τάδʼ ἦν ὕποπτα μέν,
ἤρεσκε μέντοι σοῖσι προσπόλοις, ἄναξ.
χρόνῳ δʼ, ἵνʼ ἡμῖν δρᾶν τι δὴ δοκοῖ πλέον,
ἀνωλόλυξε καὶ κατῇδε βάρβαρα
μέλη μαγεύουσʼ, ὡς φόνον νίζουσα δή.
ἐπεὶ δὲ δαρὸν ἦμεν ἥμενοι χρόνον,
ἐσῆλθεν ἡμᾶς μὴ λυθέντες οἱ ξένοι
κτάνοιεν αὐτὴν δραπέται τʼ οἰχοίατο.
φόβῳ δʼ ἃ μὴ χρῆν εἰσορᾶν καθήμεθα
σιγῇ· τέλος δὲ πᾶσιν ἦν αὑτὸς λόγος
στείχειν ἵνʼ ἦσαν, καίπερ οὐκ ἐωμένοις.

[¶160] There we saw a Hellene ship, winged with ready blade for the stroke, and at the oar-locks were fifty rowers with their oars; the two youths stood by the stern, freed from their chains.

> Greek: κἀνταῦθʼ ὁρῶμεν Ἑλλάδος νεὼς σκάφος
ταρσῷ κατήρει πίτυλον ἐπτερωμένον,
ναύτας τε πεντήκοντʼ ἐπὶ σκαλμῶν πλάτας
ἔχοντας, ἐκ δεσμῶν δὲ τοὺς νεανίας
ἐλευθέρους πρύμνηθεν ἑστῶτας νεώς.

[¶161] Some were holding the prow in place with poles; others were fastening the anchor from the cat-heads; others were drawing the stern-cables through their hands, and making haste to let down the ladders into the sea for the strangers. Without sparing ourselves, when we saw
their treacherous wiles, we seized the priestess and the cables, and tried to draw the ship’s rudder-oars out through their holes. Then there was a debate: “What is your reason for carrying the statue and the priestess away from the land by theft?”

> Greek: κοντοῖς δὲ πρῷραν εἶχον, οἳ δʼ ἐπωτίδων
ἄγκυραν ἐξανῆπτον· οἳ δέ, κλίμακας
σπεύδοντες, ἦγον διὰ χερῶν πρυμνήσια,
πόντῳ δὲ δόντες τοῖν ξένοιν καθίεσαν.
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀφειδήσαντες, ὡς ἐσείδομεν
δόλια τεχνήματʼ, εἰχόμεσθα τῆς ξένης
πρυμνησίων τε, καὶ διʼ εὐθυντηρίας
οἴακας ἐξῃροῦμεν εὐπρύμνου νεώς.
λόγοι δʼ ἐχώρουν· Τίνι λόγῳ πορθμεύετε
κλέπτοντες ἐκ γῆς ξόανα καὶ θυηπόλους;

[¶162] “Who is your father, who are you, to smuggle her away?” He said: “Know that I am Orestes, her brother, Agamemnon’s son, and I have come to take my sister, whom I lost from her home.”

> Greek: τίνος τίς ὢν σὺ τήνδʼ ἀπεμπολᾷς χθονός;
ὁ δʼ εἶπʼ· Ὀρέστης, τῆσδʼ ὅμαιμος, ὡς μάθῃς,
Ἀγαμέμνονος παῖς, τήνδʼ ἐμὴν κομίζομαι
λαβὼν ἀδελφήν, ἣν ἀπώλεσʼ ἐκ δόμων.

[¶163] But we held her no less,
and were leading her to you by force, for which I received these dreadful blows on my cheeks; they had no swords, nor did we. Both the youths gave rattling blows with their fists,
darting their limbs against our sides and breasts, so that as soon as we joined battle, we were worn out. We were fleeing to the cliff, stamped with dreadful marks, some with bloody wounds on their heads, others on their eyes;

> Greek: ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν ἧσσον εἰχόμεσθα τῆς ξένης
καὶ πρὸς σὲ ἕπεσθαι διεβιαζόμεσθά νιν·
ὅθεν τὰ δεινὰ πλήγματʼ ἦν γενειάδων.
κεῖνοί τε γὰρ σίδηρον οὐκ εἶχον χεροῖν
ἡμεῖς τε· πυγμαί τʼ ἦσαν ἐγκροτούμεναι,
καὶ κῶλʼ ἀπʼ ἀμφοῖν τοῖν νεανίαιν ἅμα
ἐς πλευρὰ καὶ πρὸς ἧπαρ ἠκοντίζετο,
ὡς τῷ ξυνάπτειν καὶ συναποκαμεῖν μέλη.
δεινοῖς δὲ σημάντροισιν ἐσφραγισμένοι
ἐφεύγομεν πρὸς κρημνόν, οἳ μὲν ἐν κάρᾳ
κάθαιμʼ ἔχοντες τραύμαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἐν ὄμμασιν·

[¶164] when we stood on the on the heights, we fought more cautiously and hurled rocks at them. But, standing on the stern, the archers with their arrows kept us off and drove us away. And now an immense swelling wave ran the ship aground,
and the maiden was afraid to get her feet wet. Orestes bore his sister on his left arm, going into the sea and quickly up the ladder, and he set her on the ship, along with the statue of Zeus’ daughter, fallen from heaven.
From the middle of the ship, he cried out: “Sailors of Hellas, seize the ship with the oars and make the waves white with foam; for we possess those things for which we sailed the inhospitable straits, within the clashing rocks.”

> Greek: ὄχθοις δʼ ἐπισταθέντες εὐλαβεστέρως
ἐμαρνάμεσθα καὶ πέτρους ἐβάλλομεν.
ἀλλʼ εἶργον ἡμᾶς τοξόται πρύμνης ἔπι
σταθέντες ἰοῖς, ὥστʼ ἀναστεῖλαι πρόσω.
κἀν τῷδε — δεινὸς γὰρ κλύδων ὤκειλε ναῦν
πρὸς γῆν, φόβος δʼ ἦν ⟨παρθένῳ⟩ τέγξαι πόδα —
λαβὼν Ὀρέστης ὦμον εἰς ἀριστερόν,
βὰς ἐς θάλασσαν κἀπὶ κλίμακος θορών,
ἔθηκʼ ἀδελφὴν ἐντὸς εὐσήμου νεώς,
τό τʼ οὐρανοῦ πέσημα, τῆς Διὸς κόρης
ἄγαλμα. ναὸς ⟨δʼ⟩ ἐκ μέσης ἐφθέγξατο
βοή τις· ὦ γῆς Ἑλλάδος ναῦται, νεὼς
λάβεσθε κώπαις ῥόθιά τʼ ἐκλευκαίνετε·
ἔχομεν γὰρ ὧνπερ οὕνεκʼ ἄξενον πόρον
Συμπληγάδων ἔσωθεν εἰσεπλεύσαμεν.

[¶165] They gave a cheerful shout, and struck the salt wave. The ship, while it was within the harbor, was headed for the mouth; but when it had crossed, it met with a violent swell aand was hard pressed; and the wind, rising with sudden dreadful gusts,
forced it astern. They beat the waves strongly; but the swell was driving the ship back towards the land. Agamemnon’s daughter stood up and prayed: “O daughter of Leto, bring me, your priestess, safely to Hellas”
“from this barbaric land, and forgive my thefts. For you, goddess, love your brother; believe that I love mine also.” The sailors shouted the paean in response to her prayer, and applied their naked shoulders
to the oars, at the command. But the ship came nearer and nearer to the rocks; some of us rushed into the sea, others grasped the woven ropes. And I set out here to you at once, lord,
to tell you what has happened there. But go, take chains and nets with you; for if the swell does not become calm, there is no hope of safety for the strangers.
Revered Poseidon, ruler of the sea, watches over Troy and is hostile to the race of Pelops; he will now allow you and your citizens, as is right, to have in your hands the son of Agamemnon and his sister; she stands convicted as betrayer of her unremembered sacrifice to the goddess in Aulis.

> Greek: οἳ δὲ στεναγμὸν ἡδὺν ἐκβρυχώμενοι
ἔπαισαν ἅλμην. ναῦς δʼ, ἕως μὲν ἐντὸς ἦν
λιμένος, ἐχώρει στόμια, διαπερῶσα δὲ
λάβρῳ κλύδωνι συμπεσοῦσʼ ἠπείγετο·
δεινὸς γὰρ ἐλθὼν ἄνεμος ἐξαίφνης νεὼς
ὠθεῖ παλίμπρυμνʼ ἱστίʼ· οἳ δʼ ἐκαρτέρουν
πρὸς κῦμα λακτίζοντες· ἐς δὲ γῆν πάλιν
κλύδων παλίρρους ἦγε ναῦν. σταθεῖσα δὲ
Ἀγαμέμνονος παῖς ηὔξατʼ· ὦ Λητοῦς κόρη
σῷσόν με τὴν σὴν ἱερέαν πρὸς Ἑλλάδα
ἐκ βαρβάρου γῆς καὶ κλοπαῖς σύγγνωθʼ ἐμαῖς.
φιλεῖς δὲ καὶ σὺ σὸν κασίγνητον, θεά·
φιλεῖν δὲ κἀμὲ τοὺς ὁμαίμονας δόκει.
ναῦται δʼ ἐπευφήμησαν εὐχαῖσιν κόρης
παιᾶνα, γυμνὰς ἐκ ⟨πέπλων⟩ ἐπωμίδας
κώπῃ προσαρμόσαντες ἐκ κελεύσματος.
μᾶλλον δὲ μᾶλλον πρὸς πέτρας ᾔει σκάφος·
χὣ μέν τις ἐς θάλασσαν ὡρμήθη ποσίν,
ἄλλος δὲ πλεκτὰς ἐξανῆπτεν ἀγκύλας.
κἀγὼ μὲν εὐθὺς πρὸς σὲ δεῦρʼ ἀπεστάλην,
σοὶ τὰς ἐκεῖθεν σημανῶν, ἄναξ, τύχας.
ἀλλʼ ἕρπε, δεσμὰ καὶ βρόχους λαβὼν χεροῖν·
εἰ μὴ γὰρ οἶδμα νήνεμον γενήσεται,
οὐκ ἔστιν ἐλπὶς τοῖς ξένοις σωτηρίας.
πόντου δʼ ἀνάκτωρ Ἴλιόν τʼ ἐπισκοπεῖ
σεμνὸς Ποσειδῶν, Πελοπίδαις ἐναντίος,
καὶ νῦν παρέξει τὸν Ἀγαμέμνονος γόνον
σοὶ καὶ πολίταις, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἐν χεροῖν
λαβεῖν, ἀδελφήν θʼ, ἣ φόνον τὸν Αὐλίδι
ἀμνημόνευτον θεᾷ προδοῦσʼ ἁλίσκεται.

[¶166] Chorus Leader:
Unhappy Iphigenia, you will die with your brother, if you come again into the hands of the king.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ τλῆμον Ἰφιγένεια, συγγόνου μέτα
θανῇ πάλιν μολοῦσα δεσποτῶν χέρας.

[¶167] Thoas:
All citizens of this barbarian land, hurl the reins on your horses, rush to the coast and seize what the Hellene ship
casts forth! With the goddess’ help, be eager to hunt down these impious men! Drag the swift ships to the sea! So that by sea and with pursuit on horseback by land, you may take them; and hurl their bodies from the hard rock,
or impale them on the stake.

> Greek: Θόας:
ὦ πάντες ἀστοὶ τῆσδε βαρβάρου χθονός,
οὐκ εἶα πώλοις ἐμβαλόντες ἡνίας
παράκτιοι δραμεῖσθε κἀκβολὰς νεὼς
Ἑλληνίδος δέξεσθε, σὺν δὲ τῇ θεῷ
σπεύδοντες ἄνδρας δυσσεβεῖς θηράσετε,
οἳ δʼ ὠκυπομποὺς ἕλξετʼ ἐς πόντον πλάτας;
ὡς ἐκ θαλάσσης ἔκ τε γῆς ἱππεύμασι
λαβόντες αὐτοὺς ἢ κατὰ στύφλου πέτρας
ῥίψωμεν, ἢ σκόλοψι πήξωμεν δέμας.

[¶168] (Turning to the Chorus.) As for you women, who knew about these plots, I will punish you later, when I am at leisure. But now in this present urgency, I will not remain still.

> Greek: ὑμᾶς δὲ τὰς τῶνδʼ ἴστορας βουλευμάτων,
γυναῖκες, αὖθις, ἡνίκʼ ἂν σχολὴν λάβω,
ποινασόμεσθα· νῦν δὲ τὴν προκειμένην
σπουδὴν ἔχοντες οὐ μενοῦμεν ἥσυχοι.

[¶169] Athena:
Where, where are you carrying this pursuit, lord Thoas? Listen the words of Athena, who is here. Cease to follow or to send an army pouring forth; for Orestes came here, destined by the oracles of Loxias, to flee from the anger of the Furies,
and to bring his sister to Argos and take the holy statue to my land, thus gaining a release from his present miseries. Thoas, I am speaking to you: you expect to take Orestes in the sea-swell and kill him; but Poseidon, for my sake,
now lets him sail over the back of the waveless sea.

> Greek: Ἀθήνα:
ποῖ ποῖ διωγμὸν τόνδε πορθμεύεις, ἄναξ
Θόας; ἄκουσον τῆσδʼ Ἀθηναίας λόγους.
παῦσαι διώκων ῥεῦμά τʼ ἐξορμῶν στρατοῦ·
πεπρωμένος γὰρ θεσφάτοισι Λοξίου
δεῦρʼ ἦλθʼ Ὀρέστης, τόν τʼ Ἐρινύων χόλον
φεύγων ἀδελφῆς τʼ Ἄργος ἐσπέμψων δέμας
ἄγαλμά θʼ ἱερὸν εἰς ἐμὴν ἄξων χθόνα,
τῶν νῦν παρόντων πημάτων ἀναψυχάς.
πρὸς μὲν σὲ ὅδʼ ἡμῖν μῦθος· ὃν δʼ ἀποκτενεῖν
δοκεῖς Ὀρέστην ποντίῳ λαβὼν σάλῳ,
ἤδη Ποσειδῶν χάριν ἐμὴν ἀκύμονα
πόντου τίθησι νῶτα πορθμεύειν πλάτῃ.

[¶170] And you, Orestes, attend to my commands, for you hear the goddess’ voice even though not present: go away with the statue and your sister; and when you come to Athens, built by the gods,
there is a place on the farthest borders of the Attic land, neighbor to the ridge of Carystia, sacred, and my people call it Halae. There build a temple and set up the image in it; it will have its name from the Tauric land and from your labors,
which you have endured, wandering through Hellas and goaded by the Furies. And mortals will in future times celebrate Artemis Tauropolos with hymns. And establish this law: whenever the people keep the festival, let a sword be held
to a man’s throat and draw out blood, in atonement for your sacrifice, so that the goddess may have her honors, and holiness is revered.

> Greek: μαθὼν δʼ, Ὀρέστα, τὰς ἐμὰς ἐπιστολάς —
κλύεις γὰρ αὐδὴν καίπερ οὐ παρὼν θεᾶς —
χώρει λαβὼν ἄγαλμα σύγγονόν τε σήν.
ὅταν δʼ Ἀθήνας τὰς θεοδμήτους μόλῃς,
χῶρός τις ἔστιν Ἀτθίδος πρὸς ἐσχάτοις
ὅροισι, γείτων δειράδος Καρυστίας,
ἱερός, Ἁλάς νιν οὑμὸς ὀνομάζει λεώς·
ἐνταῦθα τεύξας ναὸν ἵδρυσαι βρέτας,
ἐπώνυμον γῆς Ταυρικῆς πόνων τε σῶν,
οὓς ἐξεμόχθεις περιπολῶν καθʼ Ἑλλάδα
οἴστροις Ἐρινύων. Ἄρτεμιν δέ νιν βροτοὶ
τὸ λοιπὸν ὑμνήσουσι Ταυροπόλον θεάν.
νόμον τε θὲς τόνδʼ· ὅταν ἑορτάζῃ λεώς,
τῆς σῆς σφαγῆς ἄποινʼ ἐπισχέτω ξίφος
δέρῃ πρὸς ἀνδρὸς αἷμά τʼ ἐξανιέτω,
ὁσίας ἕκατι θεά θʼ ὅπως τιμὰς ἔχῃ.

[¶171] You, Iphigenia, must be key-holder for this goddess on the hallowed stairs of Brauron, and will die there and be buried;
and they will dedicate adornment to you, finely-woven robes which women who have died in childbirth leave in their homes. I charge you to send these Hellene women to their country, for their correct intentions.... For I saved you
before also, Orestes, on Ares’ hill when the votes were equal; and this will be the custom, for the one with equal votes to win. But, son of Agamemnon, take your sister away from this land. And you, Thoas, do not be angry.

> Greek: σὲ δʼ ἀμφὶ σεμνάς, Ἰφιγένεια, κλίμακας
Βραυρωνίας δεῖ τῇδε κλῃδουχεῖν θεᾷ·
οὗ καὶ τεθάψῃ κατθανοῦσα, καὶ πέπλων
ἄγαλμά σοι θήσουσιν εὐπήνους ὑφάς,
ἃς ἂν γυναῖκες ἐν τόκοις ψυχορραγεῖς
λίπωσʼ ἐν οἴκοις. τάσδε δʼ ἐκπέμπειν χθονὸς
Ἑλληνίδας γυναῖκας ἐξεφίεμαι
γνώμης δικαίας οὕνεκʼ
⟨… ⟩
ἐκσῴσασα δὲ
καὶ πρίν σʼ Ἀρείοις ἐν πάγοις ψήφους ἴσας
κρίνασʼ, Ὀρέστα· καὶ νόμισμʼ ἔσται τόδε,
νικᾶν ἰσήρεις ὅστις ἂν ψήφους λάβῃ.
ἀλλʼ ἐκκομίζου σὴν κασιγνήτην χθονός,
Ἀγαμέμνονος παῖ. — καὶ σὺ μὴ θυμοῦ, Θόας.

[¶172] Thoas:
Lady Athena, whoever hears the words of the gods and does not obey, is not thinking rightly. I am not angry at Orestes, for going off with the goddess’ image, or at his sister; for what good is it to contend against the strength of gods?

> Greek: Θόας:
ἄνασσʼ Ἀθάνα, τοῖσι τῶν θεῶν λόγοις
ὅστις κλύων ἄπιστος, οὐκ ὀρθῶς φρονεῖ.
ἐγὼ δʼ Ὀρέστῃ τʼ, εἰ φέρων βρέτας θεᾶς
βέβηκʼ, ἀδελφῇ τʼ οὐχὶ θυμοῦμαι· τί γὰρ
πρὸς τοὺς σθένοντας θεοὺς ἁμιλλᾶσθαι καλόν;

[¶173] Let them go to your land with the statue of the goddess, and let them establish it there, with good fortune. I will send these women also to fortunate Hellas, as you bid me. And I will stop the army
and the ships I raised against the strangers, as you think this right, goddess.

> Greek: ἴτωσαν ἐς σὴν σὺν θεᾶς ἀγάλματι
γαῖαν, καθιδρύσαιντό τʼ εὐτυχῶς βρέτας.
πέμψω δὲ καὶ τάσδʼ Ἑλλάδʼ εἰς εὐδαίμονα
γυναῖκας, ὥσπερ σὸν κέλευσμʼ ἐφίεται.
παύσω δὲ λόγχην ἣν ἐπαίρομαι ξένοις
ναῶν τʼ ἐρετμά, σοὶ τάδʼ ὡς δοκεῖ, θεά.

[¶174] Athena:
I commend you; for necessity rules both you and the gods.

> Greek: Ἀθήνα:
αἰνῶ· τὸ γὰρ χρεὼν σοῦ τε καὶ θεῶν κρατεῖ.

[¶175] Go, winds, carry the son of Agamemnon to Athens by sea; I will journey with them, and keep safe the holy image of my sister.

> Greek: ἴτʼ, ὦ πνοαί, ναυσθλοῦσθε τὸν Ἀγαμέμνονος
παῖδʼ εἰς Ἀθήνας· συμπορεύσομαι δʼ ἐγὼ
σῴζουσʼ ἀδελφῆς τῆς ἐμῆς σεμνὸν βρέτας.

[¶176] Chorus:
Go with good fortune, blessed in having your portion of safety.
Pallas Athena, holy among immortals and mortals, we will do as you command.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἴτʼ ἐπʼ εὐτυχίᾳ τῆς σῳζομένης
μοίρας εὐδαίμονες ὄντες.
ἀλλʼ, ὦ σεμνὴ παρά τʼ ἀθανάτοις
καὶ παρὰ θνητοῖς, Παλλὰς Ἀθάνα,
δράσομεν οὕτως ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.

[¶177] For we receive your voice in our ears with great and unexpected pleasure.
Greatly revered Victory, may you occupy my life and never cease to crown me!

> Greek: μάλα γὰρ τερπνὴν κἀνέλπιστον
φήμην ἀκοαῖσι δέδεγμαι.
— — —
ὦ μέγα σεμνὴ Νίκη, τὸν ἐμὸν
βίοτον κατέχοις
καὶ μὴ λήγοις στεφανοῦσα.