iphigenia in tauris-第7章
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THOAS
Where is the Grecian lady； to whose charge
This temple is committed？ Have her rites
Hallow'd the strangers？ Do their bodies burn
In the recesses of the sacred shrine？
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
She comes； and will inform thee； king； of all。
（IPHIGENIA comes out of the temple。 She is carrying the sacred
statue of Diana。）
THOAS
Daughter of Agamemnon； what means this？
The statue of the goddess in thine arms
Why dost thou bear； from its firm base removed？
IPHIGENIA
There in the portal； monarch； stay thy step。
THOAS
What of strange import in the shrine hath chanced？
IPHIGENIA
Things ominous： that word I； holy； speak。
THOAS
To what is tuned thy proem？ Plainly speak。
IPHIGENIA
Not pure the victims； king； you lately seized。
THOAS
What showd thee this？ Or speak'st thou but thy thought？
IPHIGENIA
Back turn'd the sacred image on its base。
THOAS
Spontaneous turn'd； or by an earthquake moved？
IPHIGENIA
Spontaneous； and； averted； closed its eyes。
THOAS
What was the cause？ The blood…stain'd stranger's guilt？
IPHIGENIA
That； and naught else； for horrible their deeds。
THOAS
What； have they slain some Scythian on the shore？
IPHIGENIA
They came polluted with domestic blood。
THOAS
What blood？ I have a strong desire to know。
IPHIGENIA
They slew their mother with confederate swords。
THOAS
O Phoebus！ This hath no barbarian dared。
IPHIGENIA
All Greece indignant chased them from her realms。
THOAS
Bear'st thou for this the image from the shrine？
IPHIGENIA
To the pure air； from stain of blood removed。
THOAS
By what means didst thou know the stranger's guilt？
IPHIGENIA
I learn'd it as the statue started back。
THOAS
Greece train'd thee wise： this well hast thou discern'd。
IPHIGENIA
Now with sweet blandishments they soothe my soul。
THOAS
Some glozing tale from Argos telling thee？
IPHIGENIA
I have one brother： he； they say； lives happy；…
THOAS
That thou mayst save them for their pleasing news？
IPHIGENIA
And that my father lives； by fortune bless'd。
THOAS
But on the goddess well thy thoughts are turn'd。
IPHIGENIA
I hate all Greece； for it hath ruin'd me。
THOAS
What with the strangers； say then； should be done？
IPHIGENIA
The law ordain'd in reverence we must hold。
THOAS
Are then thy lavers ready； and the sword？
IPHIGENIA
First I would cleanse them with ablutions pure。
THOAS
In fountain waters； or the ocean wave？
IPHIGENIA
All man's pollutions doth the salt sea cleanse。
THOAS
More holy to the goddess will they bleed。
IPHIGENIA
And better what I have in charge advance。
THOAS
Doth not the wave ev'n 'gainst the temple beat？
IPHIGENIA
This requires solitude： more must I do。
THOAS
Lead where thou wilt： on secret rite I pry not。
IPHIGENIA
The image of the goddess I must cleanse。
THOAS
If it be stain'd with touch of mother's blood。
IPHIGENIA
I could not else have borne it from its base。
THOAS
Just is thy provident and pious thought；
For this by all the state thou art revered。
IPHIGENIA
Know'st thou what next I would？
THOAS
'Tis thine thy will
To signify。
IPHIGENIA
Give for these strangers chains。
THOAS
To what place can they fly？
IPHIGENIA
A Grecian knows
Naught faithful。
THOAS
Of my train go some for chains。
（Some attendants go out。）
IPHIGENIA
Let them lead forth the strangers。
THOAS
Be it so；
IPHIGENIA
And veil their faces。
THOAS
From the sun's bright beams？
IPHIGENIA
Some of thy train send with me。
THOAS
These shall go；
Attending thee。
IPHIGENIA
One to the city send。
THOAS
With what instructions charged？
IPHIGENIA
That all remain
Within their houses。
THOAS
That the stain of blood
They meet not？
IPHIGENIA
These things have pollution in them。
THOAS
Go thou； and bear the instructions。
（An attendant departs。）
IPHIGENIA
That none come
In sight；
THOAS
How wisely careful for the city！
IPHIGENIA
Warn our friends most。
THOAS
This speaks thy care for me。
IPHIGENIA
Stay thou before the shrine。
THOAS
To what intent？
IPHIGENIA
Cleanse it with lustral fires。
THOAS
That thy return
May find it pure？
IPHIGENIA
But when the strangers come
Forth from the temple；…
THOAS
What must I then do？
IPHIGENIA
Spread o'er thine eyes a veil。
THOAS
That I receive not
Pollution？
IPHIGENIA
Tedious if my stay appear；…
THOAS
What bounds may be assign'd？
IPHIGENIA
Deem it not strange。
THOAS
At leisure what the rites require perform。
IPHIGENIA
May this lustration as I wish succeed！
THOAS
Thy wish is mine。
（ORESTES and PYLADES； bound； are led from the temple in
solemn procession by the guards。 THOAS and his retinue
veil their heads as it slowly moves past。）
IPHIGENIA （chanting）
But from the temple； see；
The strangers come； the sacred ornaments；
The hallow'd lambs…for I with blood must wash
This execrable blood away；…the light
Of torches； and what else my rites require
To purify these strangers to the goddess。
But to the natives of this land my voice
Proclaims； from this pollution far remove；
Art thou attendant at the shrine； who liftest
Pure to the gods thy hands； or nuptial rites
Dost thou prepare； or pregnant matron； hence；
Begone； that this defilement none may touch。
Thou； daughter of Latona and high Jove；
O royal virgin； if I cleanse the stain
Of these； and where I ought with holy rites
Address thee； thou shalt hold thy residence
In a pure mansion； we too shall be bless'd。
More though I speak not； goddess； unexpress'd；
All things to thee and to the gods are known。
（IPHIGENIA； carrying the statue； joins the procession as is goes
out。 THOAS and his retinue enter the temple。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe
Latona's glorious offspring claims the song；
Born the hallow'd shades among；
Where fruitful Delos winds her valleys low；
Bright…hair'd Phoebus； skill'd to inspire
Raptures； as he sweeps the lyre；
And she that glories in the unerring bow。
From the rocky ridges steep；
At whose feet the hush'd waves sleep；
Left their far…famed native shore；
Them the exulting mother bore
To Parnassus； on whose heights
Bacchus shouting holds his rites；
Glittering in the burnish'd shade；
By the laurel's branches made；
Where the enormous dragon lies；
Brass his scales； and flame his eyes；
Earth…born monster； that around
Rolling guards the oracular ground；
Him； while yet a sportive child；
In his mother's arms that smiled；
Phoebus slew； and seized the shrine
Whence proceeds the voice divine：
On the golden tripod placed；
Throne by falsehood ne'er disgraced；
Where Castalia's pure stream flows；
He the fates to mortal shows。
antistrophe
But when Themis； whom of yore
Earth； her fruitful mother； bore；
From her hallow'd seat he drove；
Earth to avenge her daughter strove；
Forming visions of the night；
Which； in rapt dreams hovering light；
All that Time's dark volumes hold
Might to mortal sense unfold；
When in midnight's sable shades
Sleep the silent couch invades：
Thus did Earth her vengeance boast。
His prophetic honours lost；
Royal Phoebus speeds his flight
To Olympus； on whose height
At the throne of Jove he stands；
Stretching forth his little hands；
Suppliant that the Pythian shrine
Feel no more the wrath divine；
That the goddess he appease；
That her nightly visions cease。
Jove with smiles beheld his son
Early thus address his throne；
Suing with ambitious pride
O'er the rich shrine to preside；
He； assenting； bow'd his head。
Straight the nightly visions fled；
And prophetic dreams no more
Hover'd slumbering mortals o'er：
Now to Phoebus given again；
All his honours pure remain；
Votaries distant regions send
His frequented throne to attend：
And the firm decrees of fate
On his faithful voice await。
（A MESSENGER enters。）
MESSENGER
Say you； that keep the temple； and attend
The altar； where is Thoas； Scythia's king？
Open these strong…compacted gates； and cal
Forth from the shrine the monarch of the land。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Wherefore？ at thy command if I must speak。
MESSENGER
The two young men are gone； through the device
Of Agamemnon's daughter： from this land
They fly； and； in their Grecian galley placed；
The sacred image of the goddess bear。
LEADER
Incredible thy tale： but whom thou seek'st；
The monarch； from the temple went in haste。
MESSENGER
Whither？ for what is doing he should know。
LEADER
We know not： but go thou； and seek for him：
Where'er thou find him； thou wilt tell him this。
MESSENGER
See； what a faithless race you women are！
In all that hath been done you have a part。
LEADER
Sure thou art mad！ what with the strangers' flight
Have we to do？ But wilt thou not； with all
The speed thou mayst； go to the monarch's house？
MESSENGER
Not till I first am well inform'd； if here
Within the temple be the king； or not。
（Shouting）
Unbar the gates （to you within I speak）；
And tell your lord that at the portal here
I stand； and bring him tidings of fresh ills。
（THOAS and his attendants enter from the temple。）
THOAS
Who at the temple of the goddess dares
This clamour raise； and； thundering at the gates；
Strikes terror through the ample space within？
MESSENGER
With falsehoods would these women drive me hence；
Without to seek thee： thou wast in the shrine。
THOAS
With what intent？ or what advantage sought？
MESSENGER
Of these hereafter； what mo
