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Thoas
Where is the gate-keeper of this temple, the woman of
Hellas
? Has she already begun the rites on the strangers?
Are they glowing with fire in the holy sanctuary?
1155
Where is the gate-keeper of this temple, the woman of
Hellas
? Has she already begun the rites on the strangers?
Are they glowing with fire in the holy sanctuary?
1155
Chorus Leader
Here she is, to tell you everything clearly, lord.
Here she is, to tell you everything clearly, lord.
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?
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?
Iphigenia
Lord, stand there in the entrance!
Lord, stand there in the entrance!
Thoas
Iphigenia, what has happened in the temple?
1160
Iphigenia, what has happened in the temple?
1160
Iphigenia
I spit out the pollution;
(turning to Thoas to explain.) I say this for Holiness.
I spit out the pollution;
(turning to Thoas to explain.) I say this for Holiness.
Thoas
What is this news in your introduction? Tell it clearly.
What is this news in your introduction? Tell it clearly.
Iphigenia
The victims you caught for me are not pure, lord.
The victims you caught for me are not pure, lord.
Thoas
What taught you this? Or are you only saying what you think?
What taught you this? Or are you only saying what you think?
Iphigenia
The image of the goddess turned back from its place.
1165
The image of the goddess turned back from its place.
1165
Thoas
By itself, or did an earthquake turn it?
By itself, or did an earthquake turn it?
Iphigenia
By itself; it closed up its eyes.
By itself; it closed up its eyes.
Thoas
What was the reason? Was it the uncleanness of the strangers?
What was the reason? Was it the uncleanness of the strangers?
Iphigenia
That was the reason, and nothing else; for they have done dreadful things.
That was the reason, and nothing else; for they have done dreadful things.
Thoas
What, have they killed one of the barbarians on the shore?
1170
What, have they killed one of the barbarians on the shore?
1170
Iphigenia
They come with murder done at home.
They come with murder done at home.
Thoas
What murder? For I strongly want to know.
What murder? For I strongly want to know.
Iphigenia
They killed their mother together with their swords.
They killed their mother together with their swords.
Thoas
Apollo! No barbarian would have dared this.
Apollo! No barbarian would have dared this.
Iphigenia
They were driven in pursuit from all of
Hellas
.
1175
They were driven in pursuit from all of
Hellas
.
1175
Thoas
Is it for this that you bring the statue outside?
Is it for this that you bring the statue outside?
Iphigenia
Yes, to the holy air, to remove it from slaughter.
Yes, to the holy air, to remove it from slaughter.
Thoas
How did you know the blood-pollution of the strangers?
How did you know the blood-pollution of the strangers?
Iphigenia
I questioned them, because the image of the goddess had turned back.
I questioned them, because the image of the goddess had turned back.
Thoas
Hellas
has brought you up to be clever; how well you understood this.
1180
Hellas
has brought you up to be clever; how well you understood this.
1180
Iphigenia
And yet they dangled a sweet lure for my heart.
And yet they dangled a sweet lure for my heart.
Thoas
Reporting to you some charm of news from
Argos
?
Reporting to you some charm of news from
Argos
?
Iphigenia
That Orestes, my only brother, is happy.
That Orestes, my only brother, is happy.
Thoas
So that you might save them, for the delight of their messages.
So that you might save them, for the delight of their messages.
Iphigenia
And that my father is alive and doing well.
1185
And that my father is alive and doing well.
1185
Thoas
But you turned to the goddess, with reason.
But you turned to the goddess, with reason.
Iphigenia
Yes, for I hate all
Hellas
, which has ruined me.
Yes, for I hate all
Hellas
, which has ruined me.
Thoas
Tell me, what shall we do with the strangers?
Tell me, what shall we do with the strangers?
Iphigenia
We must reverence the law as it stands.
We must reverence the law as it stands.
Thoas
But the libations and your sword are not at work?
1190
But the libations and your sword are not at work?
1190
Iphigenia
First I want to wash them, with holy purification.
First I want to wash them, with holy purification.
Thoas
In fountain waters, or the drops of the sea?
In fountain waters, or the drops of the sea?
Iphigenia
The sea washes away all men’s evils.
The sea washes away all men’s evils.
Thoas
They would certainly be holier victims for the goddess.
They would certainly be holier victims for the goddess.
Iphigenia
And in this way my plans would succeed better.
1195
And in this way my plans would succeed better.
1195
Thoas
Doesn’t the wave beat against this very temple?
Doesn’t the wave beat against this very temple?
Iphigenia
This requires solitude; and I shall do more.
This requires solitude; and I shall do more.
Thoas
Then where you wish; I do not want to see what should not be seen.
Then where you wish; I do not want to see what should not be seen.
Iphigenia
I must purify the image of the goddess also.
I must purify the image of the goddess also.
Thoas
Yes, if a stain from the matricide has fallen on it.
1200
Yes, if a stain from the matricide has fallen on it.
1200
Iphigenia
For I would not have lifted it from its base otherwise.
For I would not have lifted it from its base otherwise.
Thoas
Your piety and forethought are correct.
Your piety and forethought are correct.
Iphigenia in Tauris. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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