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.
- saying: Why do we tarry, Achilles? how much longer must we count the days to the start for Ilium? do something if you are so minded; or lead home your men, and do not wait for the tardy action of these Atridae.
- Hail to you, son of the Nereid goddess! I heard your voice
- from within the tent and came forth.
- O modesty revered! who can this lady be whom I behold, so richly dowered with beauty’s gifts?
- No wonder you do not know me, seeing I am one you have never before set eyes on; I praise your reverent address to modesty.
- Who are you, and why have you come to the mustering of the Danaids—you, a woman, to a fenced camp of men?
- I am the daughter of Leda; my name is Clytemnestra; and my husband king Agamemnon.
- Well and shortly answered on all important points,
- but it is shameful for me to stand talking to women.
- Stay; why seek to escape? give me your hand, a prelude to a happy marriage.
- What is it you say? I give you my hand? To lay a finger where I have no right, I could never meet Agamemnon’s eye.
- The best of rights you have, seeing it is my child you will wed, O son of the sea-goddess, daughter of Nereus.
- What wedding do you speak of? Words fail me, lady; can your wits have gone astray and are you inventing this?
- All men are naturally shy in the presence of new relations,
- when these remind[*](μεμνημένους, so Hermann and Dindorf; if μεμνημένοις be retained from the MSS., the meaning must be when they call their marriage to mind; the latter is preferred by Kirchhoff and Monk.) them of their wedding.
- Lady, I have never courted your daughter, nor have the sons of Atreus ever mentioned marriage to me.
- What can it mean? Your turn now to marvel at my words, for yours are very strange to me.
- Hazard a guess; that we can both do in this matter; for it may be we are both correct in our statements.[*](i.e., we may both be right, but at cross purposes. Markland proposes ἐφευδόμεθα, we may both have been deceived in what we say.)
- What! have I suffered such indignity? The marriage I am courting has no reality it seems; I am ashmed of it.
- Some one perhaps has made a mock of you and me;