Euripides, Iphigenia in Tauris, Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator), 203

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Mir grollt' er finster von Anfang,

Seitdem sich vermählte die Mutter,

Und seit der Nacht, da des Schicksals¹
195

Göttinnen das Loos strengbildender Zucht

In den werdenden Faden mir spannen,

Mir altestem Sprossen des Ehbetts, die

Leda's ungluckliche Tochter

Zum Morde dem frevelnden Vater,
200

Als grausenerregendes Opfer,

Gebar, erzog; da der Rosse Gespann

Das erkorene Mädchen im Wagen

Zu dem aulischen Sande dahintrug,

Als Braut, als ungluckselige Braut
205

Dem erhabenen Enkel des Nereus.

Nun Gast ungastlicher Meere bewohn' ich die uneinladende

Wildniß,

Ohne Kind und Gatten, ohne Freund und Heimat,

Ich, einst von hellenischen Freiern umschwärmt;

Nicht Argos' Hera besing' ich hier,
210

Noch wirk' ich der attischen Pallas Bild

Und titanischen Kampf auf buntes Gewand

Am lieblich ertönenden Webstuhl, nein,

Ich råthe den Grund der Altåre

Mit der Fremdlinge graunvoll blutigem Mord,
215

Die mit klåglichem Ton ausjammern ihr Leid,

Und in klåglichen Thränen zerfließen.

Doch nun sei dieses vergessen: um ihn,

Ich jammer' um ihn, der in Argos erlag,

Um den Bruder ja nur, ach, den ich daheim
220

Noch als såugendes Kind, noch als junges Gewächs,

In dem Arm und am Busen der Mutter verließ,

Mykend's. Herrscher, Orestes. Ein Hirt. Iphigenia. Der Chor.

Chor.

Iphigenia in Tauris. Euripides. Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator). . .

Current edition Experimental

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1845; OCR review) (OCR draft) (German) (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 2, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1845. Harvard OCR compared with an independent BSB copy. Native Donner verse citations, Murray reference cards, explicitly located notes and page facsimiles. Unresolved OCR, verse divisions, unlocated notes and printed errata are documented in the source review.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ἰφιγένεια ἐν Ταύροις Perseus (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. II. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1921-1962)) — 236-391 focus

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἀκτὰς ἐκλιπὼν θαλασσίους

βουφορβὸς ἥκει σημανῶν τί σοι νέον.

Βουκόλος

Ἀγαμέμνονός τε καὶ Κλυταιμήστρας τέκνον,

ἄκουε καινῶν ἐξ ἐμοῦ κηρυγμάτων.

Ἰφιγένεια

τί δʼ ἔστι τοῦ παρόντος ἐκπλῆσσον λόγου;
240

Βουκόλος

ἥκουσιν ἐς γῆν, κυανέαν Συμπληγάδα

πλάτῃ φυγόντες, δίπτυχοι νεανίαι,

θεᾷ φίλον πρόσφαγμα καὶ θυτήριον

Ἀρτέμιδι. χέρνιβας δὲ καὶ κατάργματα

οὐκ ἂν φθάνοις ἂν εὐτρεπῆ ποιουμένη.
245

Ἰφιγένεια

ποδαποί; τίνος γῆς σχῆμʼ ἔχουσιν οἱ ξένοι;

Βουκόλος

Ἕλληνες· ἓν τοῦτʼ οἶδα κοὐ περαιτέρω.

Ἰφιγένεια

οὐδʼ ὄνομʼ ἀκούσας οἶσθα τῶν ξένων φράσαι;

Βουκόλος

Πυλάδης ἐκλῄζεθʼ ἅτερος πρὸς θατέρου.

Ἰφιγένεια

τοῦ ξυζύγου δὲ τοῦ ξένου τί τοὔνομʼ ἦν;
250

Βουκόλος

οὐδεὶς τόδʼ οἶδεν· οὐ γὰρ εἰσηκούσαμεν.

Ἰφιγένεια

πῶς δʼ εἴδετʼ αὐτοὺς κἀντυχόντες εἵλετε;

Βουκόλος

ἄκραις ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖσιν ἀξένου πόρου —

Ἰφιγένεια

καὶ τίς θαλάσσης βουκόλοις κοινωνία;

Βουκόλος

βοῦς ἤλθομεν νίψοντες ἐναλίᾳ δρόσῳ.
255

Ἰφιγένεια

ἐκεῖσε δὴ ʼπάνελθε, πῶς νιν εἵλετε

τρόπῳ θʼ ὁποίῳ· τοῦτο γὰρ μαθεῖν θέλω.

χρόνιοι γὰρ ἥκουσʼ· οὐδέ πω βωμὸς θεᾶς

Ἑλληνικαῖσιν ἐξεφοινίχθη ῥοαῖς.

260

Βουκόλος

ἐπεὶ τὸν ἐσρέοντα διὰ Συμπληγάδων
260

βοῦς ὑλοφορβοὺς πόντον εἰσεβάλλομεν,

ἦν τις διαρρὼξ κυμάτων πολλῷ σάλῳ

κοιλωπὸς ἀγμός, πορφυρευτικαὶ στέγαι.

ἐνταῦθα δισσοὺς εἶδέ τις νεανίας

βουφορβὸς ἡμῶν, κἀπεχώρησεν πάλιν
265

ἄκροισι δακτύλοισι πορθμεύων ἴχνος.

ἔλεξε δʼ· Οὐχ ὁρᾶτε; δαίμονές τινες

θάσσουσιν οἵδε. — θεοσεβὴς δʼ ἡμῶν τις ὢν

ἀνέσχε χεῖρα καὶ προσηύξατʼ εἰσιδών·

ὦ ποντίας παῖ Λευκοθέας, νεῶν φύλαξ,
270

δέσποτα Παλαῖμον, ἵλεως ἡμῖν γενοῦ,

εἴτʼ οὖν ἐπʼ ἀκταῖς θάσσετον Διοσκόρω,

ἢ Νηρέως ἀγάλμαθʼ, ὃς τὸν εὐγενῆ

ἔτικτε πεντήκοντα Νηρῄδων χορόν.

ἄλλος δέ τις μάταιος, ἀνομίᾳ θρασύς,
275

ἐγέλασεν εὐχαῖς, ναυτίλους δʼ ἐφθαρμένους

θάσσειν φάραγγʼ ἔφασκε τοῦ νόμου φόβῳ,

κλύοντας ὡς θύοιμεν ἐνθάδε ξένους.

ἔδοξε δʼ ἡμῶν εὖ λέγειν τοῖς πλείοσι,

θηρᾶν τε τῇ θεῷ σφάγια τἀπιχώρια.
280

κἀν τῷδε πέτραν ἅτερος λιπὼν ξένοιν

ἔστη κάρα τε διετίναξʼ ἄνω κάτω

κἀπεστέναξεν ὠλένας τρέμων ἄκρας,

μανίαις ἀλαίνων, καὶ βοᾷ κυναγὸς ὥς·

Πυλάδη, δέδορκας τήνδε; τήνδε δʼ οὐχ ὁρᾷς
285

Ἅιδου δράκαιναν, ὥς με βούλεται κτανεῖν

δειναῖς ἐχίδναις εἰς ἔμʼ ἐστομωμένη;

ἣ δʼ ἐκ χιτώνων πῦρ πνέουσα καὶ φόνον

πτεροῖς ἐρέσσει, μητέρʼ ἀγκάλαις ἐμὴν

ἔχουσα — πέτρινον ὄχθον, ὡς ἐπεμβάλῃ.
290

οἴμοι, κτενεῖ με· ποῖ φύγω;

παρῆν δʼ ὁρᾶν

οὐ ταῦτα μορφῆς σχήματʼ, ἀλλʼ ἠλλάσσετο

φθογγάς τε μόσχων καὶ κυνῶν ὑλάγματα,

ἃς φᾶσʼ Ἐρινῦς ἱέναι μιμήματα.

295

ἡμεῖς δὲ συσταλέντες, ὡς θαμβούμενοι,
295

σιγῇ καθήμεθʼ· ὃ δὲ χερὶ σπάσας ξίφος,

μόσχους ὀρούσας ἐς μέσας λέων ὅπως,

παίει σιδήρῳ λαγόνας ἐς πλευράς θʼ ἱείς,

δοκῶν Ἐρινῦς θεὰς ἀμύνεσθαι τάδε,

ὡς αἱματηρὸν πέλαγος ἐξανθεῖν ἁλός.
300

κἀν τῷδε πᾶς τις, ὡς ὁρᾷ βουφόρβια

πίπτοντα καὶ πορθούμενʼ, ἐξωπλίζετο,

κόχλους τε φυσῶν συλλέγων τʼ ἐγχωρίους·

πρὸς εὐτραφεῖς γὰρ καὶ νεανίας ξένους

φαύλους μάχεσθαι βουκόλους ἡγούμεθα.
305

πολλοὶ δʼ ἐπληρώθημεν ἐν μακρῷ χρόνῳ.

πίπτει δὲ μανίας πίτυλον ὁ ξένος μεθείς,

στάζων ἀφρῷ γένειον· ὡς δʼ ἐσείδομεν

προύργου πεσόντα, πᾶς ἀνὴρ ἔσχεν πόνον

βάλλων ἀράσσων. ἅτερος δὲ τοῖν ξένοιν
310

ἀφρόν τʼ ἀπέψη σώματός τʼ ἐτημέλει

πέπλων τε προυκάλυπτεν εὐπήνους ὑφάς,

καραδοκῶν μὲν τἀπιόντα τραύματα,

φίλον δὲ θεραπείαισιν ἄνδρʼ εὐεργετῶν.

ἔμφρων δʼ ἀνᾴξας ὁ ξένος πεσήματος
315

ἔγνω κλύδωνα πολεμίων προσκείμενον

καὶ τὴν παροῦσαν συμφορὰν αὐτοῖν πέλας,

ᾤμωξέ θʼ· ἡμεῖς δʼ οὐκ ἀνίεμεν πέτροις

βάλλοντες, ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν προσκείμενοι.

οὗ δὴ τὸ δεινὸν παρακέλευσμʼ ἠκούσαμεν·
320

Πυλάδη, θανούμεθʼ, ἀλλʼ ὅπως θανούμεθα

κάλλισθʼ· ἕπου μοι, φάσγανον σπάσας χερί. —

ὡς δʼ εἴδομεν δίπαλτα πολεμίων ξίφη,

φυγῇ λεπαίας ἐξεπίμπλαμεν νάπας.

ἀλλʼ, εἰ φύγοι τις, ἅτεροι προσκείμενοι
325

ἔβαλλον αὐτούς· εἰ δὲ τούσδʼ ὠσαίατο,

αὖθις τὸ νῦν ὑπεῖκον ἤρασσεν πέτροις.

ἀλλʼ ἦν ἄπιστον· μυρίων γὰρ ἐκ χερῶν

οὐδεὶς τὰ τῆς θεοῦ θύματʼ εὐτύχει βαλών.

μόλις δέ νιν τόλμῃ μὲν οὐ χειρούμεθα,
330

κύκλῳ δὲ περιβαλόντες ἐξεκλέψαμεν

πέτροισι χειρῶν φάσγανʼ, ἐς δὲ γῆν γόνυ

καμάτῳ καθεῖσαν. πρὸς δʼ ἄνακτα τῆσδε γῆς

κομίζομέν νιν. ὃ δʼ ἐσιδὼν ὅσον τάχος

ἐς χέρνιβάς τε καὶ σφαγεῖʼ ἔπεμπέ σοι.
335

ηὔχου δὲ τοιάδʼ, ὦ νεᾶνί, σοι ξένων

σφάγια παρεῖναι· κἂν ἀναλίσκῃς ξένους

τοιούσδε, τὸν σὸν Ἑλλὰς ἀποτείσει φόνον

δίκας τίνουσα τῆς ἐν Αὐλίδι σφαγῆς.

Χορός

θαυμάστʼ ἔλεξας τὸν μανένθʼ, ὅστις ποτὲ
340

Ἕλληνος ἐκ γῆς πόντον ἦλθεν ἄξενον.

342

Ἰφιγένεια

εἶἑν· σὺ μὲν κόμιζε τοὺς ξένους μολών,

τὰ δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἡμεῖς ὅσια φροντιούμεθα —

ὦ καρδία τάλαινα, πρὶν μὲν ἐς ξένους

γαληνὸς ἦσθα καὶ φιλοικτίρμων ἀεί,
345

ἐς θοὑμόφυλον ἀναμετρουμένη δάκρυ,

Ἕλληνας ἄνδρας ἡνίκʼ ἐς χέρας λάβοις.

νῦν δʼ ἐξ ὀνείρων οἷσιν ἠγριώμεθα,

δοκοῦσʼ Ὀρέστην μηκέθʼ ἥλιον βλέπειν,

δύσνουν με λήψεσθʼ, οἵτινές ποθʼ ἥκετε.
350

καὶ τοῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἦν ἀληθές, ᾐσθόμην, φίλαι·

οἱ δυστυχεῖς γὰρ τοῖσι δυστυχεστέροις

αὐτοὶ κακῶς πράξαντες οὐ φρονοῦσιν εὖ.

ἀλλʼ οὔτε πνεῦμα Διόθεν ἦλθε πώποτε,

οὐ πορθμίς, ἥτις διὰ πέτρας Συμπληγάδας
355

Ἑλένην ἀπήγαγʼ ἐνθάδʼ, ἥ μʼ ἀπώλεσεν,

Μενέλεών θʼ, ἵνʼ αὐτοὺς ἀντετιμωρησάμην,

τὴν ἐνθάδʼ Αὖλιν ἀντιθεῖσα τῆς ἐκεῖ,

οὗ μʼ ὥστε μόσχον Δαναΐδαι χειρούμενοι

ἔσφαζον, ἱερεὺς δʼ ἦν ὁ γεννήσας πατήρ.
360

οἴμοι — κακῶν γὰρ τῶν τότʼ οὐκ ἀμνημονῶ —

ὅσας γενείου χεῖρας ἐξηκόντισα

γονάτων τε τοῦ τεκόντος, ἐξαρτωμένη,

λέγουσα τοιάδʼ· ὦ πάτερ, νυμφεύομαι

νυμφεύματʼ αἰσχρὰ πρὸς σέθεν· μήτηρ δʼ ἐμὲ
365

σέθεν κατακτείνοντος Ἀργεῖαί τε νῦν

ὑμνοῦσιν ὑμεναίοισιν, αὐλεῖται δὲ πᾶν

μέλαθρον· ἡμεῖς δʼ ὀλλύμεσθα πρὸς σέθεν.

Ἅιδης Ἀχιλλεὺς ἦν ἄρʼ, οὐχ ὁ Πηλέως,

ὅν μοι προσείσας πόσιν, ἐν ἁρμάτων ὄχοις
370

ἐς αἱματηρὸν γάμον ἐπόρθμευσας δόλῳ.

ἐγὼ δὲ λεπτῶν ὄμμα διὰ καλυμμάτων

ἔχουσʼ, ἀδελφόν τʼ οὐκ ἀνειλόμην χεροῖν,

— ὃς νῦν ὄλωλεν — οὐ κασιγνήτῃ στόμα

συνῆψʼ ὑπʼ αἰδοῦς, ὡς ἰοῦσʼ ἐς Πηλέως
375

μέλαθρα· πολλὰ δʼ ἀπεθέμην ἀσπάσματα

ἐς αὖθις, ὡς ἥξουσʼ ἐς Ἄργος αὖ πάλιν.

ὦ τλῆμον, εἰ τέθνηκας, ἐξ οἵων καλῶν

ἔρρεις, Ὀρέστα, καὶ πατρὸς ζηλωμάτων —

τὰ τῆς θεοῦ δὲ μέμφομαι σοφίσματα,
380

ἥτις βροτῶν μὲν ἤν τις ἅψηται φόνου,

ἢ καὶ λοχείας ἢ νεκροῦ θίγῃ χεροῖν,

βωμῶν ἀπείργει, μυσαρὸν ὡς ἡγουμένη,

αὐτὴ δὲ θυσίαις ἥδεται βροτοκτόνοις.

οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως ἔτεκεν ἂν ἡ Διὸς δάμαρ
385

Λητὼ τοσαύτην ἀμαθίαν. ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν

τὰ Ταντάλου θεοῖσιν ἑστιάματα

ἄπιστα κρίνω, παιδὸς ἡσθῆναι βορᾷ,

τοὺς δʼ ἐνθάδʼ, αὐτοὺς ὄντας ἀνθρωποκτόνους,

ἐς τὴν θεὸν τὸ φαῦλον ἀναφέρειν δοκῶ·
390

οὐδένα γὰρ οἶμαι δαιμόνων εἶναι κακόν.

Translations (2)

Iphigenia Among the Tauri Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 236-390 focus

Chorus Leader

Look, here comes a herdsman, who has left the shores of the sea to bring you some new message.

Herdsman

Daughter of Agamemnon, and of Clytemnestra, hear a strange report from me.

Iphigenia

And what is amazing in your news?
240

Herdsman

Two young men have come to this land, fleeing the dark Symplegades in their ship, an offering and sacrifice pleasing to the goddess Artemis. Be quick to prepare

the purifications and the first offerings.
245

Iphigenia

What country are the strangers from? How are they dressed?

Herdsman

They are Hellenes; I know this one thing, and nothing further.

Iphigenia

Can’t you tell me their names? Did you hear them?

Herdsman

One was called Pylades by the other.

Iphigenia

What is the name of his companion?
250

Herdsman

No one knows; we didn’t hear it.

Iphigenia

How did you see them? How did you come upon them and catch them?

Herdsman

At the edge of the breakers of the Black Sea —

Iphigenia

And what do herdsmen have to do with the sea?

Herdsman

We came to wash our cattle in the salt water.
255

Iphigenia

Go back to the earlier question, how did you take them, and in what way, for I want to know this. They have come after a long time; the altar of the goddess has not yet been reddened by streams of Hellene blood.

260

Herdsman

When we were driving the cattle, that feed in the forest, into the sea that flows through the Symplegades, there was a broken cleft, hollowed by the constant surge of waves, shelter for those who hunt the purple-fish. Here one of the herdsmen saw two youths,
260

and made a retreat on tip-toe. He said: Don’t you see them? These are deities that sit there. One of us, who revered the gods, lifted up his hands and prayed, as he saw them:
265

O son of the sea-goddess Leukothea, guardian of ships, lord Palaemon, be propitious to us! Or do you sit on our shores, twin sons of Zeus? Or the darlings of Nereus, father of the chorus of fifty Nereids?
270

Another, who was foolish and bold in his lawlessness, laughed at the prayers and asserted that ship-wrecked sailors were sitting on the cliff, in fear of our custom, having heard that we sacrifice strangers here.
275

Most of us thought that he spoke well,

and that we ought to hunt down the customary offerings to the goddess. At this moment, one of the strangers left the rock, and stood, shaking his head up and down and groaning, with hands trembling, wandering in madness; and like a hunter, he cried aloud:
280

Pylades, do you see her? Don’t you see hell’s dragon, how she wants to kill me, fringed with her dreadful vipers against me? and the one who breathes fire and slaughter from her robe and wings her way, my mother
285

in her arms—the rocky mass, how she hurls it at me! Ah, she will kill me! Where can I escape?
290

We could not see these shapes; but he alternated the sounds of sheep and howling of dogs . . . to send forth the Furies’ imitations.

295

Astonished, we cowered together and sat in silence; but he drew his sword and rushed like a lion into the midst of our cattle, striking their flanks with his iron sword and thrusting it into their sides, thinking in this way to ward off the Furies,
295

so that the waves of the sea blossomed red with blood. And all of us, as we saw our herds falling and ravaged, took arms, blew our conch shells, and collected the neighbors; for we thought cowherds would make a poor fight of it
300

against well-grown and young foreigners. After a long time, our numbers were complete. But the stranger fell down, his pulsing beat of madness gone, his chin dripping with foam; when we saw him, so conveniently fallen, each of us went to work,
305

hurling and striking at him. The other stranger wiped off the foam and tended his body, covering him with a finely-woven robe, looking out for the attacking blows, treating his friend kindly with his care.
310

The stranger, now in his senses, started up from his fall and realized the surge of enemies close at hand and the present danger to them both, with a groan; we did not let up our attack with stones, pressing hard from all sides.
315

Then we heard his dreadful exhortation: Pylades, we shall die, but let us die with glory; draw your sword, and follow me.
320

But when we saw our enemies brandishing their two swords, we fled and filled up the rocky glens.

But while some would flee, others pressed on and attacked them; if they drove those back, the ones who had just given way struck them with stones again. But it was hard to believe; with so many hands, no one succeeded in hitting these offerings to the goddess.
325

We got the better of them with difficulty; not by daring, but by surrounding them in a circle, with stones we took away their swords; they sank on their knees to the ground, in weariness. Then we brought them to the lord of this land. He saw them, and at once
330

sent them to you, for purification and slaughter. You have prayed for such sacrificial victims as these strangers, lady; if you destroy them, Hellas will make atonement for your murder and pay the penalty for the sacrifice in Aulis .
335

Chorus Leader

You have told an amazing story about this madman, whoever he is, who has come from Hellas to the Black Sea .
340

342

Iphigenia

Very well. You go and bring the strangers here; the holy rites will be my concern. Exit Herdsman.

O my unhappy heart, you were gentle to strangers before,

and always full of pity, measuring out tears for the sake of our common race, whenever Hellenes came into your hands. But now, after those dreams that have made me savage, thinking that Orestes is no longer alive,
345

whoever comes here will find me harsh to them. This is true after all, my friends, I have realized: the unfortunate, when themselves doing badly, do not have kind thoughts towards those who are more unfortunate.
350

But no breeze from Zeus ever came,

or a boat, bringing Helen here, through the rocks of the Symplegedes—Helen who destroyed me, with Menelaus, so that I might avenge myself on them, setting an Aulis here against that one there, where the Danaids overpowered me and were going to sacrifice me like a calf,
355

and my own father was the priest.
360

Ah me!—I cannot forget those past evils—how often did I stroke my father’s cheek and, hanging on his knees, told him: O father, I am brought

to a shameful betrothal by you; but while you are killing me, my mother and the Argive women are singing wedding hymns, and the whole house is filled with the music of flutes; but I am being destroyed by you. For Achilles was Hades after all, not the son of Peleus,
365

whom you held out to me as a husband, and you brought me in a chariot to a bloody wedding by treachery. But I was modestly looking out through a fine veil, and did not take up my brother in my arms—and now he is dead—did not kiss my sister,
370

because I was going to the house of Peleus; I put off many embraces to another time, thinking that I would come back again to Argos .
375

My unhappy Orestes, if you are dead, what glories have you left, what achievements of a father!

I blame the goddess’ subtleties; whichever mortal has engaged in murder, or has touched a woman in childbirth or a corpse, she drives from her altars, thinking him impure; but she herself delights in human sacrifices.
380

It is not possible that Leto, the wife of Zeus, gave birth to such folly. I judge that the feast prepared by Tantalus for the gods is not to be believed, that they fed on the flesh of his son; and I think that the people here, who are themselves killers of men,
385

ascribe to the goddess their sorry behavior. For I believe that no god is evil.
390

Iphigenia in Tauris (OCR draft) Experimental (Iphigenia in Tauris. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

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Notes on the current edition

Iphigenia in Tauris

1. [OCR note; compare the printed page.] L. καὶ νυκτὸς κείνας ἐξ ὧς.

Euripides Iphigenia in Tauris 203

Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator)

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Chor.

Current edition Experimental

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἀκτὰς ἐκλιπὼν θαλασσίους

βουφορβὸς ἥκει σημανῶν τί σοι νέον.

Βουκόλος

Ἀγαμέμνονός τε καὶ Κλυταιμήστρας τέκνον,

ἄκουε καινῶν ἐξ ἐμοῦ κηρυγμάτων.

Ἰφιγένεια

τί δʼ ἔστι τοῦ παρόντος ἐκπλῆσσον λόγου;
240

Ἰφιγένεια

ποδαποί; τίνος γῆς σχῆμʼ ἔχουσιν οἱ ξένοι;

Βουκόλος

Ἕλληνες· ἓν τοῦτʼ οἶδα κοὐ περαιτέρω.

Ἰφιγένεια

οὐδʼ ὄνομʼ ἀκούσας οἶσθα τῶν ξένων φράσαι;

Βουκόλος

Πυλάδης ἐκλῄζεθʼ ἅτερος πρὸς θατέρου.

Ἰφιγένεια

τοῦ ξυζύγου δὲ τοῦ ξένου τί τοὔνομʼ ἦν;
250

Βουκόλος

οὐδεὶς τόδʼ οἶδεν· οὐ γὰρ εἰσηκούσαμεν.

Ἰφιγένεια

πῶς δʼ εἴδετʼ αὐτοὺς κἀντυχόντες εἵλετε;

Βουκόλος

ἄκραις ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖσιν ἀξένου πόρου —

Ἰφιγένεια

καὶ τίς θαλάσσης βουκόλοις κοινωνία;

Βουκόλος

βοῦς ἤλθομεν νίψοντες ἐναλίᾳ δρόσῳ.
255

Χορός

θαυμάστʼ ἔλεξας τὸν μανένθʼ, ὅστις ποτὲ
340

Ἕλληνος ἐκ γῆς πόντον ἦλθεν ἄξενον.

Chorus Leader

Look, here comes a herdsman, who has left the shores of the sea to bring you some new message.

Herdsman

Daughter of Agamemnon, and of Clytemnestra, hear a strange report from me.

Iphigenia

And what is amazing in your news?
240

Herdsman

Two young men have come to this land, fleeing the dark Symplegades in their ship, an offering and sacrifice pleasing to the goddess Artemis. Be quick to prepare

the purifications and the first offerings.
245

Iphigenia

What country are the strangers from? How are they dressed?

Herdsman

They are Hellenes; I know this one thing, and nothing further.

Iphigenia

Can’t you tell me their names? Did you hear them?

Herdsman

One was called Pylades by the other.

Iphigenia

What is the name of his companion?
250

Herdsman

No one knows; we didn’t hear it.

Iphigenia

How did you see them? How did you come upon them and catch them?

Herdsman

At the edge of the breakers of the Black Sea —

Iphigenia

And what do herdsmen have to do with the sea?

Herdsman

We came to wash our cattle in the salt water.
255

Iphigenia

Go back to the earlier question, how did you take them, and in what way, for I want to know this. They have come after a long time; the altar of the goddess has not yet been reddened by streams of Hellene blood.

Chorus Leader

You have told an amazing story about this madman, whoever he is, who has come from Hellas to the Black Sea .
340

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Chor.

Current edition Experimental

Χορός καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἀκτὰς ἐκλιπὼν θαλασσίους βουφορβὸς ἥκει σημανῶν τί σοι νέον.

Βουκόλος Ἀγαμέμνονός τε καὶ Κλυταιμήστρας τέκνον, ἄκουε καινῶν ἐξ ἐμοῦ κηρυγμάτων.

Ἰφιγένεια τί δʼ ἔστι τοῦ παρόντος ἐκπλῆσσον λόγου; 240

Ἰφιγένεια ποδαποί; τίνος γῆς σχῆμʼ ἔχουσιν οἱ ξένοι;

Βουκόλος Ἕλληνες· ἓν τοῦτʼ οἶδα κοὐ περαιτέρω.

Ἰφιγένεια οὐδʼ ὄνομʼ ἀκούσας οἶσθα τῶν ξένων φράσαι;

Βουκόλος Πυλάδης ἐκλῄζεθʼ ἅτερος πρὸς θατέρου.

Ἰφιγένεια τοῦ ξυζύγου δὲ τοῦ ξένου τί τοὔνομʼ ἦν; 250

Βουκόλος οὐδεὶς τόδʼ οἶδεν· οὐ γὰρ εἰσηκούσαμεν.

Ἰφιγένεια πῶς δʼ εἴδετʼ αὐτοὺς κἀντυχόντες εἵλετε;

Βουκόλος ἄκραις ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖσιν ἀξένου πόρου —

Ἰφιγένεια καὶ τίς θαλάσσης βουκόλοις κοινωνία;

Βουκόλος βοῦς ἤλθομεν νίψοντες ἐναλίᾳ δρόσῳ. 255

Χορός θαυμάστʼ ἔλεξας τὸν μανένθʼ, ὅστις ποτὲ 340 Ἕλληνος ἐκ γῆς πόντον ἦλθεν ἄξενον.

Chorus Leader Look, here comes a herdsman, who has left the shores of the sea to bring you some new message.

Herdsman Daughter of Agamemnon, and of Clytemnestra, hear a strange report from me.

Iphigenia And what is amazing in your news? 240

Herdsman Two young men have come to this land, fleeing the dark Symplegades in their ship, an offering and sacrifice pleasing to the goddess Artemis. Be quick to prepare the purifications and the first offerings. 245

Iphigenia What country are the strangers from? How are they dressed?

Herdsman They are Hellenes; I know this one thing, and nothing further.

Iphigenia Can’t you tell me their names? Did you hear them?

Herdsman One was called Pylades by the other.

Iphigenia What is the name of his companion? 250

Herdsman No one knows; we didn’t hear it.

Iphigenia How did you see them? How did you come upon them and catch them?

Herdsman At the edge of the breakers of the Black Sea —

Iphigenia And what do herdsmen have to do with the sea?

Herdsman We came to wash our cattle in the salt water. 255

Iphigenia Go back to the earlier question, how did you take them, and in what way, for I want to know this. They have come after a long time; the altar of the goddess has not yet been reddened by streams of Hellene blood.

Chorus Leader You have told an amazing story about this madman, whoever he is, who has come from Hellas to the Black Sea . 340

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἀκτὰς ἐκλιπὼν θαλασσίους

βουφορβὸς ἥκει σημανῶν τί σοι νέον.

Βουκόλος

Ἀγαμέμνονός τε καὶ Κλυταιμήστρας τέκνον,

ἄκουε καινῶν ἐξ ἐμοῦ κηρυγμάτων.

Ἰφιγένεια

τί δʼ ἔστι τοῦ παρόντος ἐκπλῆσσον λόγου;
240

Ἰφιγένεια

ποδαποί; τίνος γῆς σχῆμʼ ἔχουσιν οἱ ξένοι;

Βουκόλος

Ἕλληνες· ἓν τοῦτʼ οἶδα κοὐ περαιτέρω.

Ἰφιγένεια

οὐδʼ ὄνομʼ ἀκούσας οἶσθα τῶν ξένων φράσαι;

Βουκόλος

Πυλάδης ἐκλῄζεθʼ ἅτερος πρὸς θατέρου.

Ἰφιγένεια

τοῦ ξυζύγου δὲ τοῦ ξένου τί τοὔνομʼ ἦν;
250

Βουκόλος

οὐδεὶς τόδʼ οἶδεν· οὐ γὰρ εἰσηκούσαμεν.

Ἰφιγένεια

πῶς δʼ εἴδετʼ αὐτοὺς κἀντυχόντες εἵλετε;

Βουκόλος

ἄκραις ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖσιν ἀξένου πόρου —

Ἰφιγένεια

καὶ τίς θαλάσσης βουκόλοις κοινωνία;

Βουκόλος

βοῦς ἤλθομεν νίψοντες ἐναλίᾳ δρόσῳ.
255

Χορός

θαυμάστʼ ἔλεξας τὸν μανένθʼ, ὅστις ποτὲ
340

Ἕλληνος ἐκ γῆς πόντον ἦλθεν ἄξενον.

Chorus Leader

Look, here comes a herdsman, who has left the shores of the sea to bring you some new message.

Herdsman

Daughter of Agamemnon, and of Clytemnestra, hear a strange report from me.

Iphigenia

And what is amazing in your news?
240

Herdsman

Two young men have come to this land, fleeing the dark Symplegades in their ship, an offering and sacrifice pleasing to the goddess Artemis. Be quick to prepare

the purifications and the first offerings.
245

Iphigenia

What country are the strangers from? How are they dressed?

Herdsman

They are Hellenes; I know this one thing, and nothing further.

Iphigenia

Can’t you tell me their names? Did you hear them?

Herdsman

One was called Pylades by the other.

Iphigenia

What is the name of his companion?
250

Herdsman

No one knows; we didn’t hear it.

Iphigenia

How did you see them? How did you come upon them and catch them?

Herdsman

At the edge of the breakers of the Black Sea —

Iphigenia

And what do herdsmen have to do with the sea?

Herdsman

We came to wash our cattle in the salt water.
255

Iphigenia

Go back to the earlier question, how did you take them, and in what way, for I want to know this. They have come after a long time; the altar of the goddess has not yet been reddened by streams of Hellene blood.

Chorus Leader

You have told an amazing story about this madman, whoever he is, who has come from Hellas to the Black Sea .
340