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Iphigenia
Mother, why so silent, your eyes wet with tears?
Mother, why so silent, your eyes wet with tears?
Clytemnestra
I have reason, woe is me! to be sad at heart.
I have reason, woe is me! to be sad at heart.
Iphigenia
Stop; do not make me a coward; here in one thing obey me.
1435
Stop; do not make me a coward; here in one thing obey me.
1435
Clytemnestra
Tell me, my child, for at my hands you shall never suffer injury.
Tell me, my child, for at my hands you shall never suffer injury.
Iphigenia
Cut not off the tresses of your hair for me, nor clothe yourself in sable garb.
1
Cut not off the tresses of your hair for me, nor clothe yourself in sable garb.
1
Clytemnestra
Why, my child, what is it you have said? When I have lost you?
2
Why, my child, what is it you have said? When I have lost you?
2
Iphigenia
You wll not lose me; I am saved and you renowned, as far as I can make you.
1440
You wll not lose me; I am saved and you renowned, as far as I can make you.
1440
Clytemnestra
How so? Must I not mourn your death?
How so? Must I not mourn your death?
Iphigenia
By no means, for I shall have no tomb heaped over me.
By no means, for I shall have no tomb heaped over me.
Clytemnestra
What then? It is death, not the tomb, that is rightly mourned.
What then? It is death, not the tomb, that is rightly mourned.
Iphigenia
The altar of the goddess, Zeus’s daughter, will be my tomb.
The altar of the goddess, Zeus’s daughter, will be my tomb.
Clytemnestra
Well, my child, I will let you persuade me, for you speak well.
1445
Well, my child, I will let you persuade me, for you speak well.
1445
Iphigenia
Yes, as one who prospers and does
Hellas
service.
Yes, as one who prospers and does
Hellas
service.
Clytemnestra
What message shall I carry to your sisters?
What message shall I carry to your sisters?
Iphigenia
Do not put mourning raiment on them either.
Do not put mourning raiment on them either.
Clytemnestra
But is there no fond message I can give the maidens from you?
But is there no fond message I can give the maidens from you?
Iphigenia
Yes, my farewell words; and promise me to rear Orestes to manhood.
1450
Yes, my farewell words; and promise me to rear Orestes to manhood.
1450
Clytemnestra
Press him to your bosom; it is your last look.
Press him to your bosom; it is your last look.
Iphigenia
O you that are most dear to me! you have helped your friends as you had means.
O you that are most dear to me! you have helped your friends as you had means.
Clytemnestra
Is there anything I can do in
Argos
to please you?
Is there anything I can do in
Argos
to please you?
Iphigenia
Yes, do not hate my father, your own husband.
Yes, do not hate my father, your own husband.
Clytemnestra
Fearful are the trials through which he has to go because of you.
1455
Fearful are the trials through which he has to go because of you.
1455
Iphigenia
It was against his will he ruined me for the sake of
Hellas
.
It was against his will he ruined me for the sake of
Hellas
.
Clytemnestra
Ah! but he employed base treachery, unworthy of Atreus.
Ah! but he employed base treachery, unworthy of Atreus.
Iphigenia
Who will escort me from here, before my hair is torn?
Who will escort me from here, before my hair is torn?
Clytemnestra
I will go with you—
I will go with you—
Iphigenia
No, not you; that is not well saidl.
No, not you; that is not well saidl.
Clytemnestra
Clinging to your robes.
1460
Clinging to your robes.
1460
Iphigenia
Be persuaded by me, mother, stay here; for this is the better way both for me and you; but let one of these attendants of my father conduct me to the meadow of Artemis, where I shall be sacrificed.
Be persuaded by me, mother, stay here; for this is the better way both for me and you; but let one of these attendants of my father conduct me to the meadow of Artemis, where I shall be sacrificed.
Clytemnestra
Are you gone from me, my child?
Are you gone from me, my child?
Iphigenia
Yes, and with no chance of ever returning.
Yes, and with no chance of ever returning.
Clytemnestra
Leaving your mother?
1465
Leaving your mother?
1465
Iphigenia
Yes, as you see, undeservedly.
Yes, as you see, undeservedly.
Clytemnestra
Hold! do not leave me!
Hold! do not leave me!
Iphigenia
I cannot let you shed a tear.
To the Chorus. May it be yours, maidens, to hymn in joyous strains Artemis, the child of Zeus, for my hard lot; and let the order for a solemn hush go forth to the Danaids.
Begin the sacrifice with the baskets, let the fire blaze for the purifying meal of sprinkling, and my father pace from left to right about the altar; for I come to bestow on
Hellas
safety crowned with victory.
1470
I cannot let you shed a tear.
To the Chorus. May it be yours, maidens, to hymn in joyous strains Artemis, the child of Zeus, for my hard lot; and let the order for a solemn hush go forth to the Danaids.
Begin the sacrifice with the baskets, let the fire blaze for the purifying meal of sprinkling, and my father pace from left to right about the altar; for I come to bestow on
Hellas
safety crowned with victory.
1470
Iphigenia in Aulis. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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