Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis, ed. Gilbert Murray, 1433

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Ἰφιγένεια

μῆτερ, τί σιγῇ δακρύοις τέγγεις κόρας;

Κλυταιμήστρα

ἔχω τάλαινα πρόφασιν ὥστʼ ἀλγεῖν φρένα.

Ἰφιγένεια

παῦσαι· ʼμὲ μὴ κάκιζε· τάδε δέ μοι πιθοῦ.
1435

Κλυταιμήστρα

λέγʼ· ὡς παρʼ ἡμῶν οὐδὲν ἀδικήσῃ, τέκνον.

Ἰφιγένεια

μήτʼ οὖν γε τὸν σὸν πλόκαμον ἐκτέμῃς τριχός,

μήτʼ ἀμφὶ σῶμα μέλανας ἀμπίσχῃ πέπλους.

Κλυταιμήστρα

τί δὴ τόδʼ εἶπας, τέκνον; ἀπολέσασά σε;

Ἰφιγένεια

οὐ σύ γε· σέσῳσμαι, κατʼ ἐμὲ δʼ εὐκλεὴς ἔσῃ.
1440

Κλυταιμήστρα

πῶς εἶπας; οὐ πενθεῖν με σὴν ψυχὴν χρεών;

Ἰφιγένεια

ἥκιστʼ, ἐπεί μοι τύμβος οὐ χωσθήσεται.

Κλυταιμήστρα

τί δαί; τὸ θνῄσκειν, οὐ τάφος, νομίζεται.

Ἰφιγένεια

βωμὸς θεᾶς μοι μνῆμα τῆς Διὸς κόρης.

Κλυταιμήστρα

ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, σοὶ πείσομαι· λέγεις γὰρ εὖ.
1445

Ἰφιγένεια

ὡς εὐτυχοῦσά γʼ Ἑλλάδος τʼ εὐεργέτις.

Κλυταιμήστρα

τί δὴ κασιγνήταισιν ἀγγελῶ σέθεν;

Ἰφιγένεια

μηδʼ ἀμφὶ κείναις μέλανας ἐξάψῃ πέπλους.

Κλυταιμήστρα

εἴπω δὲ παρὰ σοῦ φίλον ἔπος τι παρθένοις;

Ἰφιγένεια

χαίρειν γε. Ὀρέστην τʼ ἔκτρεφʼ ἄνδρα τόνδε μοι.
1450

Κλυταιμήστρα

προσέλκυσαί νιν ὕστατον θεωμένη.

Ἰφιγένεια

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἐπεκούρησας ὅσον εἶχες φίλοις.

Κλυταιμήστρα

ἔσθʼ ὅ τι κατʼ Ἄργος δρῶσά σοι χάριν φέρω;

Ἰφιγένεια

πατέρα τὸν ἀμὸν μὴ στύγει, πόσιν γε σόν.

Κλυταιμήστρα

δεινοὺς ἀγῶνας διὰ σὲ δεῖ κεῖνον δραμεῖν.
1455

Ἰφιγένεια

ἄκων μʼ ὑπὲρ γῆς Ἑλλάδος διώλεσεν.

Κλυταιμήστρα

δόλῳ δʼ, ἀγεννῶς Ἀτρέως τʼ οὐκ ἀξίως.

Ἰφιγένεια

τίς μʼ εἶσιν ἄξων πρὶν σπαράσσεσθαι κόμης;

Κλυταιμήστρα

ἐγώ, μετά γε σοῦ—

Ἰφιγένεια

μὴ σύ γʼ· οὐ καλῶς λέγεις.

Κλυταιμήστρα

πέπλων ἐχομένη σῶν.
1460

Ἰφιγένεια

ἐμοί, μῆτερ, πιθοῦ·

μένʼ· ὡς ἐμοί τε σοί τε κάλλιον τόδε.

πατρὸς δʼ ὀπαδῶν τῶνδέ τίς με πεμπέτω

Ἀρτέμιδος ἐς λειμῶνʼ, ὅπου σφαγήσομαι.

Κλυταιμήστρα

ὦ τέκνον, οἴχῃ;

Ἰφιγένεια

καὶ πάλιν γʼ οὐ μὴ μόλω.

Κλυταιμήστρα

λιποῦσα μητέρα;
1465

Ἰφιγένεια

ὡς ὁρᾷς γʼ, οὐκ ἀξίως.

Κλυταιμήστρα

σχές, μή με προλίπῃς.

Ἰφιγένεια

οὐκ ἐῶ στάζειν δάκρυ.

ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐπευφημήσατʼ, ὦ νεάνιδες,

παιᾶνα τἠμῇ συμφορᾷ Διὸς κόρην

Ἄρτεμιν· ἴτω δὲ Δαναΐδαις εὐφημία.

κανᾶ δʼ ἐναρχέσθω τις, αἰθέσθω δὲ πῦρ
1470

προχύταις καθαρσίοισι, καὶ πατὴρ ἐμὸς

ἐνδεξιούσθω βωμόν· ὡς σωτηρίαν

Ἕλλησι δώσουσʼ ἔρχομαι νικηφόρον.

Iphigenia in Aulis. Euripides. ed. Gilbert Murray. Oxford. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Ἰφιγένεια ἐν Αὐλίδι (Greek) (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. III. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1920-1978))

Translations (3)

Iphigenia at Aulis Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 1433 focus

Iphigenia

Mother, why so silent, your eyes wet with tears?

Clytemnestra

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

Clytemnestra

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

Clytemnestra

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

Clytemnestra

How so? Must I not mourn your death?

Iphigenia

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.

Iphigenia

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

Iphigenia

Yes, as one who prospers and does Hellas service.

Clytemnestra

What message shall I carry to your sisters?

Iphigenia

Do not put mourning raiment on them either.

Clytemnestra

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

Clytemnestra

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.

Clytemnestra

Is there anything I can do in Argos to please you?

Iphigenia

Yes, do not hate my father, your own husband.

Clytemnestra

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 .

Clytemnestra

Ah! but he employed base treachery, unworthy of Atreus.

Iphigenia

Who will escort me from here, before my hair is torn?

Clytemnestra

I will go with you—

Iphigenia

No, not you; that is not well saidl.

Clytemnestra

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.

Clytemnestra

Are you gone from me, my child?

Iphigenia

Yes, and with no chance of ever returning.

Clytemnestra

Leaving your mother?
1465

Iphigenia

Yes, as you see, undeservedly.

Clytemnestra

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

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

No corresponding passage available

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1845; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (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.) — 1433 focus

Was nezen Thränen, Mutter, still das Auge dir?

Klytämnestra.

Ich habe Grund zu trauern, ich Ungluckliche.

Iphigenia.

Laß ab, mich weich zu stimmen; eins gewähre mir.
1415

Klytamnestra.

So sprich; verweigert wird dir Nichts von uns, o Kind.

Iphigenia.

Von deinem Haupthaar schneide nicht die Locken ab,

Noch håll' um deine Glieder dir ein schwarz Gewand.

Klytamnestra.

Was sagst du da, o Tochter? Wenn ich dich verlor?

Iphigenia.

Das wirst du nicht; ich leb' und krone dich mit Ruhm.
1420

Klytamnestra.

Wie sagst du? Nicht betrauern soll ich deinen Tod?

Iphigenia.

Mitnichten; kein Grabhügel wird sich mir erhohn.

Klytamnestra.

Wie das? Empfängt kein Grab den Hingeschiedenen?¹

Iphigenia.

Der Göttin Altar wird mein Mal, der Tochter Zeus'.

Klytamnestra.

Nun, Kind, ich will dir folgen; denn du sprachest schon.
1425

Iphigenia.

Wohl bin ich selig, meines Land's Erretterin.

Klytamnestra.

Was soll ich deinen Schwestern denn verkündigen?

Iphigenia.

Auch diese hull' in keine Trauerkleider mir.

Klytämnestra.

Sag' ich von dir den Mädchen nicht ein freundlich Wort?

Iphigenia.

Ein Lebewohl. Oresten ziehe zum Mann mir auf.
1430

Klytamnestra.

Zum leztenmale siehst du den; umarm' ihn noch.

Iphigenia.

Nach Kräften, Liebster, standest du den Deinen bei.

Klytamnestra.

Kind, kann ich dir in Argos etwas Liebes thun?

Iphigenia.

Dies: meinen Vater, deinen Gatten, hass ihn nicht.

Klytamnestra.

Der muß noch schwere Kämpfe deinethalb bestehn.
1435

Iphigenia.

Ungerne gab er mich dem Tod für Hellas hin.

Klytamnestra.

Ehrlos, mit Trug, nicht wie's des Atreus würdig war.

Iphigenia.

Wer geht mich führen, eh man mich an den Locken zerrt?

Klytamnestra.

Ich gehe mit dir -

Iphigenia.

Nimmer du; das wäre schlimm.

Klytamnestra.

Ich hàng' an deinen Mantel mich.
1440

Iphigenia.

Willfahre mir,
1440

Und bleibe, Mutter; schöner ziemt uns beiden dies.

Von meines Vaters Dienern hier führ' einer mich

Zur Au der Göttin, wo man mich hinschlachten wird.

Klytamnestra.

Du gehst, o Kind?

Iphigenia.

Und kehre nimmermehr zurück.

Klytämnestra.

Verlässest deine Mutter?²
1445

Iphigenia.

Ruhmvoll, wie du siehst.
1445

Klytamnestra.

Halt, nicht verlaß mich!

Iphigenia.

Mutter, weinen darfst du nicht.

Doch ihr, o Jungfraun, stimmet an um mein Geschick

Zeus' hoher Tochter, Artemis, ein fröhliches

Loblied; ein Segenszeichen sei's den Danaern!

Bring' Einer Opferkörbe, laßt um läuterndes
1450

Salzmehl die Glut auflodern, und mein Vater soll

Mit seiner Rechten den Altar ergreifen: Heil,

Siegreiches Heil zu bringen geh' ich meinem Volk.

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Ἰφιγένεια μῆτερ, τί σιγῇ δακρύοις τέγγεις κόρας;

Κλυταιμήστρα ἔχω τάλαινα πρόφασιν ὥστʼ ἀλγεῖν φρένα.

Ἰφιγένεια παῦσαι· ʼμὲ μὴ κάκιζε· τάδε δέ μοι πιθοῦ. 1435

Κλυταιμήστρα λέγʼ· ὡς παρʼ ἡμῶν οὐδὲν ἀδικήσῃ, τέκνον.

Ἰφιγένεια μήτʼ οὖν γε τὸν σὸν πλόκαμον ἐκτέμῃς τριχός, μήτʼ ἀμφὶ σῶμα μέλανας ἀμπίσχῃ πέπλους.

Κλυταιμήστρα τί δὴ τόδʼ εἶπας, τέκνον; ἀπολέσασά σε;

Ἰφιγένεια οὐ σύ γε· σέσῳσμαι, κατʼ ἐμὲ δʼ εὐκλεὴς ἔσῃ. 1440

Κλυταιμήστρα πῶς εἶπας; οὐ πενθεῖν με σὴν ψυχὴν χρεών;

Ἰφιγένεια ἥκιστʼ, ἐπεί μοι τύμβος οὐ χωσθήσεται.

Κλυταιμήστρα τί δαί; τὸ θνῄσκειν, οὐ τάφος, νομίζεται.

Ἰφιγένεια βωμὸς θεᾶς μοι μνῆμα τῆς Διὸς κόρης.

Κλυταιμήστρα ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, σοὶ πείσομαι· λέγεις γὰρ εὖ. 1445

Ἰφιγένεια ὡς εὐτυχοῦσά γʼ Ἑλλάδος τʼ εὐεργέτις.

Κλυταιμήστρα τί δὴ κασιγνήταισιν ἀγγελῶ σέθεν;

Ἰφιγένεια μηδʼ ἀμφὶ κείναις μέλανας ἐξάψῃ πέπλους.

Κλυταιμήστρα εἴπω δὲ παρὰ σοῦ φίλον ἔπος τι παρθένοις;

Ἰφιγένεια χαίρειν γε. Ὀρέστην τʼ ἔκτρεφʼ ἄνδρα τόνδε μοι. 1450

Κλυταιμήστρα προσέλκυσαί νιν ὕστατον θεωμένη.

Ἰφιγένεια ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἐπεκούρησας ὅσον εἶχες φίλοις.

Κλυταιμήστρα ἔσθʼ ὅ τι κατʼ Ἄργος δρῶσά σοι χάριν φέρω;

Ἰφιγένεια πατέρα τὸν ἀμὸν μὴ στύγει, πόσιν γε σόν.

Κλυταιμήστρα δεινοὺς ἀγῶνας διὰ σὲ δεῖ κεῖνον δραμεῖν. 1455

Ἰφιγένεια ἄκων μʼ ὑπὲρ γῆς Ἑλλάδος διώλεσεν.

Κλυταιμήστρα δόλῳ δʼ, ἀγεννῶς Ἀτρέως τʼ οὐκ ἀξίως.

Ἰφιγένεια τίς μʼ εἶσιν ἄξων πρὶν σπαράσσεσθαι κόμης;

Κλυταιμήστρα ἐγώ, μετά γε σοῦ—

Ἰφιγένεια μὴ σύ γʼ· οὐ καλῶς λέγεις.

Κλυταιμήστρα πέπλων ἐχομένη σῶν. 1460

Ἰφιγένεια ἐμοί, μῆτερ, πιθοῦ· μένʼ· ὡς ἐμοί τε σοί τε κάλλιον τόδε. πατρὸς δʼ ὀπαδῶν τῶνδέ τίς με πεμπέτω Ἀρτέμιδος ἐς λειμῶνʼ, ὅπου σφαγήσομαι.

Κλυταιμήστρα ὦ τέκνον, οἴχῃ;

Ἰφιγένεια καὶ πάλιν γʼ οὐ μὴ μόλω.

Κλυταιμήστρα λιποῦσα μητέρα; 1465

Ἰφιγένεια ὡς ὁρᾷς γʼ, οὐκ ἀξίως.

Κλυταιμήστρα σχές, μή με προλίπῃς.

Current edition Perseus

Iphigenia Mother, why so silent, your eyes wet with tears?

Clytemnestra 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

Clytemnestra 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

Clytemnestra 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

Clytemnestra How so? Must I not mourn your death?

Iphigenia 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.

Iphigenia 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

Iphigenia Yes, as one who prospers and does Hellas service.

Clytemnestra What message shall I carry to your sisters?

Iphigenia Do not put mourning raiment on them either.

Clytemnestra 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

Clytemnestra 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.

Clytemnestra Is there anything I can do in Argos to please you?

Iphigenia Yes, do not hate my father, your own husband.

Clytemnestra 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 .

Clytemnestra Ah! but he employed base treachery, unworthy of Atreus.

Iphigenia Who will escort me from here, before my hair is torn?

Clytemnestra I will go with you—

Iphigenia No, not you; that is not well saidl.

Clytemnestra 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.

Clytemnestra Are you gone from me, my child?

Iphigenia Yes, and with no chance of ever returning.

Clytemnestra Leaving your mother? 1465

Iphigenia Yes, as you see, undeservedly.

Clytemnestra Hold! do not leave me!

Was nezen Thränen, Mutter, still das Auge dir?

Klytämnestra. Ich habe Grund zu trauern, ich Ungluckliche.

Iphigenia. Laß ab, mich weich zu stimmen; eins gewähre mir. 1415

Klytamnestra. So sprich; verweigert wird dir Nichts von uns, o Kind.

Iphigenia. Von deinem Haupthaar schneide nicht die Locken ab, Noch håll' um deine Glieder dir ein schwarz Gewand.

Klytamnestra. Was sagst du da, o Tochter? Wenn ich dich verlor?

Iphigenia. Das wirst du nicht; ich leb' und krone dich mit Ruhm. 1420

Klytamnestra. Wie sagst du? Nicht betrauern soll ich deinen Tod?

Iphigenia. Mitnichten; kein Grabhügel wird sich mir erhohn.

Ἰφιγένεια

μῆτερ, τί σιγῇ δακρύοις τέγγεις κόρας;

Κλυταιμήστρα

ἔχω τάλαινα πρόφασιν ὥστʼ ἀλγεῖν φρένα.

Ἰφιγένεια

παῦσαι· ʼμὲ μὴ κάκιζε· τάδε δέ μοι πιθοῦ.
1435

Κλυταιμήστρα

λέγʼ· ὡς παρʼ ἡμῶν οὐδὲν ἀδικήσῃ, τέκνον.

Ἰφιγένεια

μήτʼ οὖν γε τὸν σὸν πλόκαμον ἐκτέμῃς τριχός,

μήτʼ ἀμφὶ σῶμα μέλανας ἀμπίσχῃ πέπλους.

Κλυταιμήστρα

τί δὴ τόδʼ εἶπας, τέκνον; ἀπολέσασά σε;

Ἰφιγένεια

οὐ σύ γε· σέσῳσμαι, κατʼ ἐμὲ δʼ εὐκλεὴς ἔσῃ.
1440

Κλυταιμήστρα

πῶς εἶπας; οὐ πενθεῖν με σὴν ψυχὴν χρεών;

Ἰφιγένεια

ἥκιστʼ, ἐπεί μοι τύμβος οὐ χωσθήσεται.

Κλυταιμήστρα

τί δαί; τὸ θνῄσκειν, οὐ τάφος, νομίζεται.

Ἰφιγένεια

βωμὸς θεᾶς μοι μνῆμα τῆς Διὸς κόρης.

Κλυταιμήστρα

ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, σοὶ πείσομαι· λέγεις γὰρ εὖ.
1445

Ἰφιγένεια

ὡς εὐτυχοῦσά γʼ Ἑλλάδος τʼ εὐεργέτις.

Κλυταιμήστρα

τί δὴ κασιγνήταισιν ἀγγελῶ σέθεν;

Ἰφιγένεια

μηδʼ ἀμφὶ κείναις μέλανας ἐξάψῃ πέπλους.

Κλυταιμήστρα

εἴπω δὲ παρὰ σοῦ φίλον ἔπος τι παρθένοις;

Ἰφιγένεια

χαίρειν γε. Ὀρέστην τʼ ἔκτρεφʼ ἄνδρα τόνδε μοι.
1450

Κλυταιμήστρα

προσέλκυσαί νιν ὕστατον θεωμένη.

Ἰφιγένεια

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἐπεκούρησας ὅσον εἶχες φίλοις.

Κλυταιμήστρα

ἔσθʼ ὅ τι κατʼ Ἄργος δρῶσά σοι χάριν φέρω;

Ἰφιγένεια

πατέρα τὸν ἀμὸν μὴ στύγει, πόσιν γε σόν.

Κλυταιμήστρα

δεινοὺς ἀγῶνας διὰ σὲ δεῖ κεῖνον δραμεῖν.
1455

Ἰφιγένεια

ἄκων μʼ ὑπὲρ γῆς Ἑλλάδος διώλεσεν.

Κλυταιμήστρα

δόλῳ δʼ, ἀγεννῶς Ἀτρέως τʼ οὐκ ἀξίως.

Ἰφιγένεια

τίς μʼ εἶσιν ἄξων πρὶν σπαράσσεσθαι κόμης;

Κλυταιμήστρα

ἐγώ, μετά γε σοῦ—

Ἰφιγένεια

μὴ σύ γʼ· οὐ καλῶς λέγεις.

Κλυταιμήστρα

πέπλων ἐχομένη σῶν.
1460

Ἰφιγένεια

ἐμοί, μῆτερ, πιθοῦ·

μένʼ· ὡς ἐμοί τε σοί τε κάλλιον τόδε.

πατρὸς δʼ ὀπαδῶν τῶνδέ τίς με πεμπέτω

Ἀρτέμιδος ἐς λειμῶνʼ, ὅπου σφαγήσομαι.

Κλυταιμήστρα

ὦ τέκνον, οἴχῃ;

Ἰφιγένεια

καὶ πάλιν γʼ οὐ μὴ μόλω.

Κλυταιμήστρα

λιποῦσα μητέρα;
1465

Ἰφιγένεια

ὡς ὁρᾷς γʼ, οὐκ ἀξίως.

Κλυταιμήστρα

σχές, μή με προλίπῃς.

Iphigenia

Mother, why so silent, your eyes wet with tears?

Clytemnestra

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

Clytemnestra

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

Clytemnestra

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

Clytemnestra

How so? Must I not mourn your death?

Iphigenia

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.

Iphigenia

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

Iphigenia

Yes, as one who prospers and does Hellas service.

Clytemnestra

What message shall I carry to your sisters?

Iphigenia

Do not put mourning raiment on them either.

Clytemnestra

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

Clytemnestra

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.

Clytemnestra

Is there anything I can do in Argos to please you?

Iphigenia

Yes, do not hate my father, your own husband.

Clytemnestra

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 .

Clytemnestra

Ah! but he employed base treachery, unworthy of Atreus.

Iphigenia

Who will escort me from here, before my hair is torn?

Clytemnestra

I will go with you—

Iphigenia

No, not you; that is not well saidl.

Clytemnestra

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.

Clytemnestra

Are you gone from me, my child?

Iphigenia

Yes, and with no chance of ever returning.

Clytemnestra

Leaving your mother?
1465

Iphigenia

Yes, as you see, undeservedly.

Clytemnestra

Hold! do not leave me!

Klytämnestra.

Ich habe Grund zu trauern, ich Ungluckliche.

Iphigenia.

Laß ab, mich weich zu stimmen; eins gewähre mir.
1415

Klytamnestra.

So sprich; verweigert wird dir Nichts von uns, o Kind.

Iphigenia.

Von deinem Haupthaar schneide nicht die Locken ab,

Noch håll' um deine Glieder dir ein schwarz Gewand.

Klytamnestra.

Was sagst du da, o Tochter? Wenn ich dich verlor?

Iphigenia.

Das wirst du nicht; ich leb' und krone dich mit Ruhm.
1420

Klytamnestra.

Wie sagst du? Nicht betrauern soll ich deinen Tod?

Iphigenia.

Mitnichten; kein Grabhügel wird sich mir erhohn.

Klytamnestra.

Wie das? Empfängt kein Grab den Hingeschiedenen?¹

Iphigenia.

Der Göttin Altar wird mein Mal, der Tochter Zeus'.

Klytamnestra.

Nun, Kind, ich will dir folgen; denn du sprachest schon.
1425

Iphigenia.

Wohl bin ich selig, meines Land's Erretterin.