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.
- Lady Artemis, if this city carries out the rites in a way pleasing to you, accept the victims,
- which the custom among us declares to be unholy.
- Enough; first, it will be my care to perform well the rites of the goddess. Unbind the strangers’ hands, so that, as holy victims, they may no longer be in chains.
- Then go into the temple and make ready what is necessary and customary at the present time.
- (Turning to the prisoners.)Ah! Who was your mother, who gave you birth, and your father? And your sister, if you happen to have one . . . such two youths as she has lost,
- and will be without a brother! Who knows where such fortunes will arrive? For all the gods’ affairs creep on in darkness, and no one knows evil . . . fate leads us on towards what we cannot know.
- Unhappy strangers, where have you come from?
- For you have sailed a long time to reach this land, and you will be away from your home a long time, in the world below.
- Why do you lament these things, and mourn for the evils about to come upon us, lady, whoever you are? I do not think the one who is about to die wise,
- if he wishes to conquer the fear of death by wailing, nor the one who laments when Hades is near and there is no hope of safety; for so he puts together two ills out of one, incurring a charge of folly and dying all the same; we must let fate alone.
- Do not grieve for us; for we are acquainted with the sacrifices here and we know them.
- Which of you is called by the name of Pylades? I want to know this first.
- That one, if you have any pleasure in the knowledge.
- Of what city of Hellas were you born a citizen?
- What would you gain by learning this, lady?
- Are you brothers, from one mother?
- By friendship, yes; we are not brothers by birth, lady.
- What name did your father give you?
- I might rightly be called Unfortunate.
- I do not ask that; ascribe that to fortune.