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.
- through the plots of Agamemnon’s daughter; they are escaping from this land, with the holy image deep within a Hellene ship.
- What you say is incredible; but the one you want to see, the lord of the country, has gone in haste from the temple.
- Where? For he should know what has been done.
- We don’t know; but go after him, and report these things to him where you find him.
- See, what a faithless race you women are! You also have a share in what has been done.
- You are mad! What do we have to do the the flight of the strangers? Go as quickly as you can to the ruler’s door!
- No! Not until this interpreter brings word if the king is inside or not. Ho there! Unbar the doors—I am speaking to those within—
- and inform the master that I am at the gate with a burden of bad news.
- (appearing at the temple door.)Who is raising this clamor at the temple of the goddess, striking at the gates and sending his noise within?
- Ah! These women told me that you were outside; they would have driven me away from the temple,
- but you were inside after all.
- What advantage were they expecting and hunting after?
- I will tell you about them later; hear what is currently at hand. The girl who presided at this altar, Iphigenia, has left the country
- with the strangers, and takes with her the holy statue of the goddess; the purification was a cheat.
- What are you saying? What influence in her character brought her to this?
- To save Orestes; here is a marvel for you!
- To save whom? Clytemnestra’s son?
- The one whom the goddess was dedicating to herself at this altar.
- Marvelous! for what more can it be called?
- Do not think of that, but listen to me; consider it clearly and when you hear, devise a pursuit to hunt down the strangers.