a wicked wife, once you had lost her—a stroke of heaven-sent luck. Those foolish suitors swore that oath to Tyndareus in their longing to wed; but Hope was the goddess that led them on,Reading ἧγε δ᾽ with Matthiae for MSS. ἡ δέ γ᾽. I think, and she it was that brought it about rather than you and your strength. So take the field with them; they are ready for itPaley adopts Monk’s ἔτομοι δ᾽ εἰσὶ for γ᾽ οἶμαι δ᾽ εἴσῃ, but follows Dindorf’s punctuation in not making these words parenthetical. Hermann gives ἐγῷμαι, μωρίαν εἴσῃ φρενῶν, thou wilt find out their folly, I expect.
in the folly of their hearts; for the deity is not without insight, but is able to discernwhere oaths have been wrongly pledged or forcibly extorted. I will not slay my children, norIn this difficult and much emended passage Lenting’s κοὐ for καὶ Reiske’s παρὰ δίκης, and τιμωρίᾳ, dat. for nom., are the readings followed. shall your interests be prospered by justice in your vengeance for a worthless wife, while I am left wasting, night and day, in sorrow for what I did to one of my own flesh and blood, contrary to all law and justice.Here is your answer shortly given, clear and easy to understand; and if you will not come to your senses, I shall do the best for myself.
Chorus LeaderThis differs from your previous declaration, but there is good in it, your child’s reprieve.MenelausAh me, how sad my lot! I have no friends then after all.AgamemnonFriends you have, if you do not seek their destruction.MenelausWhere will you find any proof that you are sprung from the same father as I?AgamemnonIt is your moderation, not your madness, that I share by nature.MenelausFriends should sympathize with friends in sorrow.AgamemnonClaim my help by kindly service, not by paining me.MenelausSo you have no mind to share this trouble with Hellas?AgamemnonNo, Hellas is diseased like you, according to some god’s design. MenelausGo boast of your scepter, after betraying your own brother! whileLines 413-41 are regarded by Kirchhoff as the work of a much later age. Nauck incloses them in brackets, but Paley, Monk, and Hermann agree in retaining them as probably genuine. I will seek some different means and other friends.Messengerentering hurriedly.Agamemnon, lord of Hellas!I have come and bring you your daughter, whom you call Iphigenia in your home; and her mother, your wife Clytemnestra, is with her, and the child Orestes, a sight to gladdenReading ὥς τι τερφθείης with Hermann for ὥστε; if ὥστε is retained the meaning apparently is therefore, mayst thou rejoice at seeing him,
involving rather an awkward parenthesis. you after your long absence from your home;but they had been travelling long and far, they are now resting their tender feet at the waters of a fair spring, they and their horses, for we turned these loose in the grassy meadow to browse their fill. But I have come as their forerunner to prepare you for their reception;for the army knows already of your daughter’s arrival, so quickly did the rumor spread; and all the people are running together to the sight, that they may see your child; for Fortune’s favorites enjoy world-wide fame and have all eyes fixed on them.Some say: Is it a wedding, or what is happening? or has king Agamemnon from fond yearning summoned his daughter here?
From others you would have heard: They are presenting the maiden to Artemis, queen of Aulis, previous to marriage; who can the bridegroom be, that is to lead her home?
Come, then, begin the rites, that is the next step, by getting the baskets ready; crown your heads—you too,τε was added by Hermann, because Menelaus could only be invited to take part in the ceremony as an assistant, all important duties devolving on the bride’s parents. lord Menelaus; prepare the wedding hymn; let flutes sound throughout the tents with noise of dancer’s feet; for this is a happy day, that has come for the maid.AgamemnonYou have my thanks; now go within; for the rest it will be well, as Fate proceeds. Exit Messenger.