Iphigenia in Tauris
Euripides
Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Translated into English Prose from the Text of Paley. Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891.
- I spit out the pollution;(turning to Thoas to explain.) I say this for Holiness.
- What is this news in your introduction? Tell it clearly.
- The victims you caught for me are not pure, lord.
- What taught you this? Or are you only saying what you think?
- The image of the goddess turned back from its place.
- By itself, or did an earthquake turn it?
- By itself; it closed up its eyes.
- What was the reason? Was it the uncleanness of the strangers?
- That was the reason, and nothing else; for they have done dreadful things.
- What, have they killed one of the barbarians on the shore?
- They come with murder done at home.
- What murder? For I strongly want to know.
- They killed their mother together with their swords.
- Apollo! No barbarian would have dared this.
- They were driven in pursuit from all of Hellas.
- Is it for this that you bring the statue outside?
- Yes, to the holy air, to remove it from slaughter.
- How did you know the blood-pollution of the strangers?
- I questioned them, because the image of the goddess had turned back.
- Hellas has brought you up to be clever; how well you understood this.