iphigenia in tauris-第3章
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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 breast；
The hope of gain； insatiate guest；
Though on her oft attends Misfortune's train；
For daring man she tempts to brave
The dangers of the boisterous wave；
And leads him heedless of his fate
Through many a distant barbarous state。
Vain his opinions； his pursuits are vain！
Boundless o'er some her power is shown；
But some her temperate influence own。
strophe 2
How did they pass the dangerous rocks
Clashing with rude； tremendous shocks？
How pass the savage…howling shore；
Where once the unhappy Phineus held his reign；
And sleep affrighted flies its roar；
Steering their rough course o'er this boisterous main；
Form'd in a ring； beneath whose waves
The Nereid train in high arch'd caves
Weave the light dance； and raise the sprightly song；
While； whispering in their swelling sails；
Soft Zephyrs breathe； or southern gales
Piping amid their tackling play；
As their bark ploughs its watery way
Those hoary cliffs； the haunts of birds； along；
To that wild strand； the rapid race
Where once Achilles deign'd to grace？
antistrophe 2
O that from Troy some chance would bear
Leda's loved daughter； fatal fair
（The royal virgin's vows are mine）
That her bright tresses roll'd in crimson dew；
Her warm blood flowing at this shrine
The altar of the goddess might imbrue；
And Vengeance； righteous to repay
Her former mischiefs； seize her prey！
But with what rapture should I hear his voice；
If one this shore should reach from Greece；
And bid the toils of slavery cease！
Or might I in the hour of rest
With pleasing dreams of Greece be bless'd；
So in my house； my native land rejoice；
In sleep enjoy the pleasing strain
For happiness restored again
（IPHIGENIA enters from the temple。）
IPHIGENIA
But the two youths； their hands fast bound in chains；
The late…seized victims to the goddess； come。
Silence； my friends； for； destined at the shrine
To bleed； the Grecian strangers near approach；
And no false tidings did the herdsman bring。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Goddess revered； if grateful to thy soul
This state presents such sacrifice； accept
The victims； which the custom of this land
Gives thee； but deem'd unholy by the Greeks。
（Guards lead in ORESTES and PYLADES； bound。）
IPHIGENIA
No more； that to the goddess each due rite
Be well perform'd shall be my care。 Unchain
The strangers' hands； that； hallow'd as they are；
They may no more be bound。
（The guards release ORESTES and PYLADES。）
Go you； prepare
Within the temple what the rites require。
Unhappy youths； what mother brought you forth；
Your father who？ Your sister； if perchance
Ye have a sister； of what youths deprived？
For brother she shall have no more。 Who knows
Whom such misfortunes may attend？ For dark
What the gods will creeps on； and none can tell
The ills to come： this fortune from the sight
Obscures。 But； O unhappy strangers； say；
Whence came you？ Sail'd you long since for this land？
But long will be your absence from your homes；
For ever； in the dreary realms below。
ORESTES
Lady； whoe'er thou art； why for these things
Dost thou lament？ why mourn for ills； which soon
Will fall on us？ Him I esteem unwise；
Who； when he sees death near； tries to o'ercome
Its terrors with bewailings； without hope
Of safety： ill he adds to ill； and makes
His folly known； yet dies。 We must give way
To fortune； therefore mourn not thou for us：
We know； we are acquainted with your rites。
IPHIGENIA
Which of you by the name of Pylades
Is call'd？ This first it is my wish to know。
ORESTES
If aught of pleasure that may give thee； he。
IPHIGENIA
A native of what Grecian state； declare。
ORESTES
What profit knowing this wouldst thou obtain？
IPHIGENIA
And are you brothers； of one mother born？
ORESTES
Brothers by friendship； lady； not by birth。
IPHIGENIA
To thee what name was by thy father given？
ORESTES
With just cause I Unhappy might be call'd。
IPHIGENIA
I ask not that； to fortune that ascribe。
ORESTES
Dying unknown； rude scoffs I shall avoid。
IPHIGENIA
Wilt thou refuse？ Why are thy thoughts so high？
ORESTES
My body thou mayst kill； but not my name。
IPHIGENIA
Wilt thou not say a native of what state？
ORESTES
The question naught avails； since I must die。
IPHIGENIA
What hinders thee from granting me this grace？
ORESTES
The illustrious Argos I my country boast。
IPHIGENIA
By the gods； stranger； is thy birth from thence？
ORESTES
My birth is from Mycenae； once the bless'd。
IPHIGENIA
Dost thou an exile fly； or by what fate？
ORESTES
Of my free will； in part not free； I fly。
IPHIGENIA
Wilt thou then tell me what I wish to know？
ORESTES
Whate'er is foreign to my private griefs。
IPHIGENIA
To my dear wish from Argos art thou come。
ORESTES
Not to my wish； but if to thine； enjoy it。
IPHIGENIA
Troy； whose fame spreads so wide； perchance thou know'st。
ORESTES
O that I ne'er had known her； ev'n in dreams！
IPHIGENIA
They say she is no more； by war destroy'd。
ORESTES
It is so： you have heard no false reports。
IPHIGENIA
Is Helena with Menelaus return'd？
ORESTES
She is； and one I love her coming rues。
IPHIGENIA
Where is she？ Me too she of old hath wrong'd。
ORESTES
At Sparta with her former lord she dwells。
IPHIGENIA
By Greece； and not by me alone abhorr'd！
ORESTES
I from her nuptials have my share of grief。
IPHIGENIA
And are the Greeks； as Fame reports； return'd？
ORESTES
How briefly all things dost thou ask at once！
IPHIGENIA
This favour； ere thou die； I wish to obtain。
ORESTES
Ask； then： since such thy wish； I will inform thee。
IPHIGENIA
Calchas； a prophet；…came he back from Troy？
ORESTES
He perish'd at Mycenae such the fame。
IPHIGENIA
Goddess revered！ But doth Ulysses live？
ORESTES
He lives； they say； but is not yet return'd。
IPHIGENIA
Perish the wretch； nor see his country more！
ORESTES
Wish him not ill； for all with him is ill。
IPHIGENIA
But doth the son of sea…born Thetis live？
ORESTES
He lives not： vain his nuptial rites at Aulis。
IPHIGENIA
That all was fraud； as those who felt it say。
ORESTES
But who art thou； inquiring thus of Greece？
IPHIGENIA
I am from thence； in early youth undone。
ORESTES
Thou hast a right to inquire what there hath pass'd。
IPHIGENIA
What know'st thou of the chief； men call the bless'd？
ORESTES
Who？ Of the bless'd was not the chief I knew。
IPHIGENIA
The royal Agamemnon； son of Atreus。
ORESTES
Of him I know not； lady； cease to ask。
IPHIGENIA
Nay； by the gods； tell me； and cheer my soul。
ORESTES
He's dead； the unhappy chief： no single ill。
IPHIGENIA
Dead！ By what adverse fate？ O wretched me！
ORESTES
Why mourn for this？ How doth it touch thy breast？
IPHIGENIA
The glories of his former state I mourn。
ORESTES
Dreadfully murdered by a woman's hand。
IPHIGENIA
How wretched she that slew him； he thus slain！
ORESTES
Now then forbear： of him inquire no more。
IPHIGENIA
This only： lives the unhappy monarch's wife？
ORESTES
She； lady； is no more； slain by her son。
IPHIGENIA
Alas； the ruin'd house！ What his intent？
ORESTES
To avenge on her his noble father slain。
IPHIGENIA
An ill； but righteous deed； how justly done！
ORESTES
Though righteous； by the gods be is not bless'd。
IPHIGENIA
Hath Agamemnon other offspring left？
ORESTES
He left one virgin daughter； named Electra。
IPHIGENIA
Of her that died a victim is aught said？
ORESTES
This only； dead； she sees the light no more。
IPHIGENIA
Unhappy she！ the father too who slew her！
ORESTES
For a bad woman she unseemly died。
IPHIGENIA
At Argos lives the murdered father's son？
ORESTES
Nowhere he lives； poor wretch！ and everywhere。
IPHIGENIA
False dreams； farewell； for nothing you import。
ORESTES
Nor are those gods； that have the name of wise；
