Iphigenia in Aulis

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.

  1. It is buying what we most detest[*](Reading τἄχθιστα τοῖσι.) with what we hold most dear. Again, if you go forth with the army, leaving me in your halls and are long absent at Troy, what will my feelings be at home, do you think? when I behold each vacant chair
  2. and her chamber now deserted, and then sit down alone in tears, making ceaseless lamentation for her, Ah! my child, he that begot you has slain you himself, he and no one else, nor are was it by another’s hand,[*](Paley thinks a line has here fallen out to the effect, How wilt thou dare to return to thy wife and . . . Monks rejects l. 1179; omitting it, the sense might be continuous, thus; Thy father was the real murderer and no one else; for it only needed a slight excuse on thy part and the sacrifice might have been prevented . . .; but this is extremely awkward, and Paley’s view is preferable.) leaving behind him such a return to his home.
  3. For it needs[*](Reading ἐνδεῖ with Reiske.) now only a trifling pretext for me and the daughters remaining to give you the reception it is right you should receive. I adjure you by the gods, do not compel me to sin against you, or sin yourself.
  4. Well; suppose you sacrifice the child; what prayer will you utter, when it is done? what will the blessing be that you will invoke upon yourself as you are slaying our daughter? An ill returning, seeing the disgrace that speeds your going forth? Is it right that I should pray for any luck to attend you? Surely we should deem the gods devoid of sense,
  5. if we harbored a kindly feeling towards murder? Shall you embrace your children on your coming back to Argos? No, you have no right. Will any child of yours ever face you, if you have surrendered one of them to death?[*](Reading ἐὰν σφῶν προέμενος, as Nauck edits from the joint correction of Hartung and Elmsley.) Has this ever entered into your calculations, or does your one duty consist