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Of holy awe； scoff'd at his prayers； and said；…
〃These are wreck'd mariners； that take their seat
In the cleft rock through fear； as they have heard
Our prescribed rite； that here we sacrifice
The stranger。〃 To the greater part he seem'd
Well to have spoken； and we judged it meet
To seize the victims； by our country's law
Due to the goddess。 Of the stranger youths；
One at this instant started from the rock：
Awhile he stood； and wildly toss'd his head；
And groan'd； his loose arms trembling all their length；
Convulsed with madness； and a hunter loud
Then cried；…〃Dost thou behold her； Pylades？
Dost thou not see this dragon fierce from hell
Rushing to kill me； and against me rousing
Her horrid vipers？ See this other here；
Emitting fire and slaughter from her vests；
Sails on her wings； my mother in her arms
Bearing； to hurl this mass of rock upon me！
Ah； she will kill me！ Whither shall I fly？〃
His visage might we see no more the same；
And his voice varied； now the roar of bulls；
The howl of dogs now uttering； mimic sounds
Sent by the maddening Furies； as they say。
Together thronging； as of death assured；
We sit in silence； but he drew his sword；
And； like a lion rushing mid our herds；
Plunged in their sides the weapon； weening thus
To drive the Furies； till the briny wave
Foam'd with their blood。 But when among our herds
We saw this havoc made； we all 'gan rouse
To arms； and blew our sounding shells to alarm
The neighbouring peasants； for we thought in fight
Rude herdsmen to these youthful strangers； train'd
To arms； ill match'd； and forthwith to our aid
Flock'd numbers。 But； his frenzy of its force
Abating； on the earth the stranger falls；
Foam bursting from his mouth： but when he saw
The advantage； each adventured on and hurl'd
What might annoy him fallen： the other youth
Wiped off the foam； took of his person care；
His fine…wrought robe spread over him； with heed
The flying stones observing； warded of
The wounds； and each kind office to his friend
Attentively perform'd。 His sense return'd；
The stranger started up； and soon perceived
The tide of foes that roll'd impetuous on；
The danger and distress that closed them round。
He heaved a sigh； an unremitting storm
Of stones we pour'd； and each incited each：
Then we his dreadful exhortation heard：…
〃Pylades； we shall die； but let us die
With glory： draw thy sword； and follow me。〃
But when we saw the enemies advance
With brandish'd swords； the steep heights crown'd with wood
We fell in flight： but others； if one flies；
Press on them； if again they drive these back；
What before fled turns； with a storm of stones
Assaulting them； but； what exceeds belief；
Hurl'd by a thousand hands； not one could hit
The victims of the goddess： scarce at length；
Not by brave daring seized we them； but round
We closed upon them； and their swords with stones
Beat； wily； from their hands； for on their knees
They through fatigue had sunk upon the ground：
We bare them to the monarch of this land：
He view'd them； and without delay to the
Sent them devoted to the cleansing vase；
And to the altar。 Victims such as these；
O virgin； wish to find； for if such youths
Thou offer； for thy slaughter Greece will pay；
Her wrongs to thee at Aulis well avenged。
LEADER
These things are wonderful； which thou hast told
Of him； whoe'er he be； the youth from Greece
Arrived on this inhospitable shore。
IPHIGENIA
'Tis well： go thou； and bring the strangers hither：
What here is to be done shall be our care。
（The HERDSMAN departs。）
O my unhappy heart！ before this hour
To strangers thou wast gentle； always touch'd
With pity； and with tears their tears repaid；
When Grecians； natives of my country； came
Into my hands： but from the dreams； which prompt
To deeds ungentle； showing that no more
Orestes views the sun's fair light； whoe'er
Ye are that hither come； me will you find
Relentless now。 This is the truth； my friends：
My heart is rent； and never will the wretch；
Who feels affliction's cruel tortures； bear
Good…will to those that are more fortunate。
Never came gale from Jove； nor flying bark；
Which 'twixt the dangerous rocks of the Euxine sea
Brought Helen hither； who my ruin wrought；
Nor Menelaus； that on them my foul wrongs
I might repay； and with an Aulis here
Requite the Aulis there； where I was seized；
And； as a heifer； by the Grecians slain：
My father too； who gave me birth； was priest。
Ah me！ the sad remembrance of those ills
Yet lives： how often did I stroke thy cheek；
And； hanging on thy knees； address thee thus：…
〃Alas； my father！ I by thee am led
A bride to bridal rites unbless'd and base：
Them； while by thee I bleed； my mother hymns；
And the Argive dames； with hymeneal strains；
And with the jocund pipe the house resounds：
But at the altar I by thee am slain；
For Pluto was the Achilles； not the son
Of Peleus； whom to me thou didst announce
The affianced bridegroom； and by guile didst bring
To bloody nuptials in the rolling car。〃
But； o'er mine eyes the veil's fine texture spread；
This brother in my hands who now is lost；
I clasp'd not； though his sister； did not press
My lips to his； through virgin modesty；
As going to the house of Peleus： then
Each fond embrace I to another time
Deferr'd； as soon to Argos to return。
If； O unhappy brother； thou art dead；
From what a state； thy father's envied height
Of glory； loved Orestes； art thou torn！…
These false rules of the goddess much I blame：
Whoe'er of mortals is with slaughter stain'd；
Or hath at childbirth given assisting hands；
Or chanced to touch aught dead； she as impure
Drives from her altars； yet herself delights
In human victims bleeding at her shrine。
Ne'er did Latona from the embrace of Jove
Bring forth such inconsistence： I then deem
The feast of Tantalus； where gods were guests；
Unworthy of belief； as that they fed
On his son's flesh delighted； and I think
These people； who themselves have a wild joy
In shedding human blood； their savage guilt
Charge on the goddess： for this truth I hold；
None of the gods is evil； or doth wrong。
（She enters the temple。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Ye rocks； ye dashing rocks； whose brow
Frowns o'er the darken'd deeps below；
Whose wild； inhospitable wave；
From Argos flying and her native spring；
The virgin once was known to brave；
Tormented with the brize's maddening sting；
From Europe when the rude sea o'er
She pass'd to Asia's adverse shore；
Who are these hapless youths； that dare to land；
Leaving those soft； irriguous meads；
Where； his green margin fringed with reeds；
Eurotas rolls his ample tide；
Or Dirce's hallow'd waters glide；
And touch this barbarous； stranger…hating strand；
The altars where a virgin dews；
And blood the pillar'd shrine imbrues？
antistrophe 1
Did they with oars impetuous sweep
（Rank answering rank） the foamy deep；
And wing their bark with flying sails；
To raise their humble fortune their desire；
Eager to catch the rising gales；
Their bosoms with the love of gain on fire？
For sweet is hope to man's fond