University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

Iphigenia, Chorus.
Iph.
Behold in Manacles the Grecians bound
Bend hitherward their Steps, a welcome Off'ring
To our great Goddess: Peace, ye Virgins, peace.
These fair First-fruits of Greece approach the Temple,
Nor hath the Shepherd with false Tales abus'd us.

Cho.
O venerable Goddess! if this Land
Hath in Obedience to thy heav'nly Will
These bloody Rites ordain'd, propitious now
Accept their Off'rings; Off'rings which the Greeks
Taught by their Laws deem horrid and profane.

Enter Orestes and Pylades bound, attended by Priests, Guards, &c.
Iph.
'Tis well. But it behoves me first to see
Perform'd in Order due, whate'er concerns
The Worship of the Goddess: loose their Chains,
For being holy, they may not be bound.
Depart ye now, and in the Sanctuary [to the Priests, &c.

Prepare the needfull and accustom'd Rites.
Alas! young Strangers, whence are ye deriv'd?
Whose Womb conceiv'd you? and whom call ye Father?
Whom style your Sister? if perchance ye have
A Sister; luckless Virgin! soon to lose
Such Brothers, “Who can see his future Fates,
“And say, Thus shall they be! The Ways of Heav'n
“Are imperceptible. And no one knows
“What Sorrows threaten him; th'Inconstancy
“Of Fortune still perplexing all Conjectures.
Whence came ye, wretched Strangers? a long Voyage
Hath brought you to this Shore; a longer yet
Remains, and to a Shore still more remote
From your dear Country—to the Shades below.

Ores.
Wherefore, O Virgin, whosoe'er thou art,
Dost thou bewail the common Woes of Life?
And why do our Misfortunes thus afflict thee?
“Fond is the Wretch, who, knowing he must die,
“Thinks by vain Sorrow and unmanly Tears
“To quell the Fear of Death; or, void of Hope,
“Grieves at th'Approach and Certainty of Fate,
“Creating thus two Evils out of one,
“By losing with his Life his Honour too.
Let Fortune take her Course; lament us not;
We know what Sacrifice your Customs here
Ordain, and know that we must be the Victims.

Iph.
Which of you Strangers is nam'd Pylades?
This Information I would first receive.

Ores.
He—But what Pleasure gain you from this Knowledge?

Iph.
Next, to what State of Greece doth he belong?

Ores.
Can this Intelligence import you aught?

Iph.
Are ye two Brothers of one Mother born?

Ores.
Brothers we are in Friendship, not in Blood.

Iph.
On thee what Name was by thy Sire impos'd?

Ores.
I shou'd, if rightly nam'd, be styl'd th'Unhappy.

Iph.
I meddle not with that, charge that on Fortune.

Ores.
Dying unknown we shall not be defam'd.

Iph.
Can such a Thought affect a Mind so great?

Ores.
You sacrifice my Body, not my Name.

Iph.
May I not learn what Country claims thy Birth?

Ores.
Thy Questions nought import a dying Man.

Iph.
Yet what with-holds your yielding me this Pleasure?

Ores.
Myself I boast from noble Argos sprung.

Iph.
Now, by the Gods! art thou indeed from Argos?

Ores.
Yea: of Mycenæ, once a potent City.

Iph.
Driv'n thence by Exile com'st thou here, or how?

Ores.
My Flight was voluntary, yet constrain'd.

Iph.
Vouchsafe then to reply to my Demands.

Ores.
I will, tho' it enhance my Misery.

Iph.
Thy Voyage hither, since thou cam'st from Argos,
Was greatly to be wish'd.

Ores.
By thee perchance.
If so, do thou rejoice; it joys not me.

Iph.
The Fame of Troy no doubt hath reach'd thy Ears.

Ores.
Wou'd that it never had, not even in Dreams!

Iph.
They say that famous City is no more.

Ores.
Troy is no more; Fame hath not ly'd in that.

Iph.
Is Helen to her Husband's Bed return'd?

Ores.
Return'd she is, and brought Perdition with her.

Iph.
Where dwells she now? She once did injure me.

Ores.
She dwells at Sparta with her former Lord.

Iph.
Thou common Bane of Greece, not mine alone!

Ores.
I too have reap'd the Fruits of her Espousals.

Iph.
Return'd the Grecians so as Fame reports?

Ores.
How many Questions hast thou ask'd in one!

Iph.
Fain wou'd I profit by thee, ere thou dy'st.

Ores.
Make thy Demands then; and indulge thy Pleasure.

Iph.
There was a Seer, nam'd Calchas, came he back?

Ores.
He dy'd; as in Mycenæ was reported.

Iph.
O mighty Goddess!—Lives Laertes' Son?

Ores.
He is not yet return'd, but lives, they say.

Iph.
O may he die, nor see his Country more!

Ores.
Spare, spare your Curses! nothing prospers with him.

Iph.
The Son of Thetis, is he yet alive?

Ores.
The valiant Son of Thetis, who in vain
At Aulis was espous'd, is now no more.

Iph.
Sure in those Spousals there was Treachery;
At least, so some pretend, who suffer'd by them.

Ores.
But in thy Turn, say, Virgin, who art thou,
That askest with such Knowledge about Greece?

Iph.
Myself am also from that Nation sprung,
But in my tender Years I was undone.

Ores.
I marvel not, if thou desire to learn
The State of Greece.

Iph.
The Leader of the Greeks,
He whom Men style the Happy, what of him?

Ores.
Whom say'st thou? for that Leader of the Greeks,
Whom I did know, was not among the happy.

Iph.
The royal Son of Atreus, Agamemnon.

Ores.
Virgin! I know not,—ask me not that Question.

Iph.
But by the Gods I will, and, gentle Stranger,
Vouchsafe to answer it, and make me happy.

Ores.
He fell; and others in his Fall involv'd.

Iph.
Fell! by what luckless Fate? Unhappy me!

Ores.
But wherefore dost thou sigh at his Misfortunes!
Can Agamemnon's Woes relate to thee?

Iph.
I sigh'd reflecting on his former Grandeur.

Ores.
He dy'd most wretched, murder'd by his Wife.

Iph.
Unhappy both, the Murd'ress and the Murder'd!

Ores.
Then finish here, and question me no farther.

Iph.
This only—Lives that wretched Monarch's Wife!

Ores.
No—she is dead—His Son did murder her.

Iph.
O noble House! how ruin'd, how confounded!
What cou'd incite the Son to such a Deed?

Ores.
He slew her to revenge his Father's Death.

Iph.
Oh! what a righteous Sin did he commit!

Ores.
Yet righteous as he was, neither in that,
Nor in obeying whatsoe'er besides
The Gods enjoin'd, hath he prov'd fortunate.

Iph.
Did Agamemnon leave no other Issue?

Ores.
He left a Virgin Daughter, nam'd Electra.

Iph.
And of his Daughter, that was sacrific'd
Is there no mention?

Ores.
None but of her Death.

Iph.
O wretched Daughter! O unhappy Sire!
Thou that cou'dst murder her.

Ores.
She fell indeed,
A thankless Victim for a worthless Woman.

Iph.
And dwells the murder'd Monarch's Son in Argos?

Ores.
That woefull Son dwells ev'ry where and no where.

aside.
Iph.
“Adieu, ye lying Visions! ye are nothing:
“As are those Dæmons also we call wise;
“E'en like the flitting Dreams which they inspire.
“In Things divine, it seems, as well as human,
“Confusion enters and Uncertainty.
This Solace yet remains, that if indeed
He be, as these pretend, who seem to know,
Lost and unhappy; not by his own Folly,
But by obeying Heav'n, he was undone.

Cho.
But we, alas! of whom shall we enquire
The Fortunes of our Friends; if yet they live?

Iph.
Strangers, attend: This Conf'rence to my Mind
A Purpose hath suggested, which pursued
With Care and Diligence (so all approve)
May in th'Event prove fortunate to all,
And above all most fortunate to me.
Wilt thou, so I preserve thee from the Altar, [to Orestes.

Repair to Argos, my Ambassador,
And to my yet surviving Friends from me
Convey a Letter, which a Captive once
Pen'd in my Name, condoling my Misfortunes,
And not imputing his sad Death to me,
But to the Laws and Customs of the Land,
And the dread Sanction of the Deity.
Till now I ne'er could find a Messenger,
That could escape from this inhuman Shore,
And bear my Letter to my Friends in Argos.
Thou therefore (for thou seem'st to entertain
No Enmity to me, and well to know
Argos, and those dear Objects of my Love)
Receive thy Life; no trifling Recompence
For the slight Task I wou'd impose upon thee.
But thou (for so these rigid Laws require) [to Pylades.

Must fall the Victim here, without thy Friend.

Ores.
O Virgin, all that thou hast said, is just,
One thing excepted, that my Friend must die.
I cannot bear the Burden of his Death;
For I have steer'd him into these Misfortunes,
The Pilot I, and he the Passenger,
The kind Companion of my Grief and Toil.
Then were it most unjust, that by his Death
Thy Favour I should purchase, and alone
Escape these Evils; therefore be it thus:
Thy Letter give to him, his faithfull Hand
Shall bear it safe to Argos; so shall Heav'n
Crown all thy Wishes with Success.—For me,
Let who so mindeth, slay me—“In the Laws
“Of Friendship 'tis most infamous and base
“To leave thy Friend to struggle with the Woes,
“In which thou hast involv'd him, and provide
“For thy own Safety only.” This Man here,
This Stranger, is my Friend, whose precious Life
I rate at no less Value than my own.

Iph.
O noble Youth! how gen'rous was the Root,
From whence such Virtue sprung! Thou best of Friends!
Pray Heav'n! that he, who now of all my Race
Alone survives, my Brother, prove like him!
For, gentle Strangers, I too have a Brother;
Tho' now deny'd to these desiring Eyes.
Then, since thy Choice determines so, let him
Convey my Letter, thou prepare to die;
Thou seem'st with Transport to embrace thy Death.

Ores.
By whom am I to bleed? what ruthless Priest
Performs these horrid and inhuman Rites?

Iph.
I; 'tis my Function to appease the Goddess.

Ores.
A Function neither to be lov'd nor envy'd.

Iph.
But laid on me by Force, which all obey.

Ores.
And doth thy Virgin Hand on Men perform
This slaught'rous Office?

Iph.
No, my sole Employ
Is on their Heads to pour the lustral Vase.

Ores.
May I demand who slays the Victim?

Iph.
They,
To whom that Charge belongs, are in the Temple:

Ores.
When I am dead, what Tomb is to receive me?

Iph.
A dismal Cavern in a yawning Rock
Deep sunk, and flaming round with sacred Fire.

Ores.
How then, my Sister! shall thy pious Hands
Perform a Sister's Part to thy dead Brother?

Iph.
O wretched Stranger! whosoe'er thou art,
Vain were a Wish like that: thy Sister far,
Far from this savage, barb'rous Land resides.
Yet since thou art of Argos, what I can,
What little Courtesies I can bestow,
Shall not be wanting to adorn thy Tomb,
Thy honorary Tomb; and on the Flame,
That shall consume thy Body, will I pour
The Flow'r-drawn Nectar of the Mountain-Bee,
And all the due Libations of the Dead.
Now go I, from Diana's Shrine to fetch
My Letter, where it lies. Unhappy Youth!
Thou shalt not find Malevolence from me.
Observe the Strangers, Guards; but bind them not. aside.

Joy, unexpected Joy shall I impart
To the dear Objects of my Love at Argos:
And when by my Epistle they shall learn
aside.
Her to be yet alive whom they think dead,
No anxious Doubts those Pleasures can allay.

Exit Iphigenia.
Cho.
Thee to the bloody Altar doom'd, [to Orestes.

Thee, Stranger, we lament and mourn.

Ores.
Rather rejoice; there is no Cause for Woe.

Cho.
But thee, to better Fortune born, [to Pyl.

Thee we felicitate; thee, happy Youth,
Who to thy Country shalt again return.

Pyl.
The Death of those we love blasts ev'ry Joy,
And saddens ev'ry Scene.

Cho.
O horrid Sacrifice! inhuman Rites!
Alas! thou dy'st. [to Ores.]
Alas! thou dy'st. [to Pyl.

Ah! which of you must die?
As yet I doubt, Oh! tell me which.
Tell me, to whom these Tears belong?
To whom must I address my mournfull Song?
Exit Chorus.

Ores.
Say, are thy Thoughts, my Friend, the same with mine?

Pyl.
I know not to thy Question what to answer.

Ores.
Who may this Virgin be? who with a Zeal
So truly Grecian strictly question'd us
About the Greeks? the Toils they underwent
Before the Walls of Troy? and their Return?
Of Calchas, the sage Augur? of the Son
Of Peleus? and the wretched Agamemnon?
Whose Woes how much did she commiserate!
And then with Eagerness examin'd me
About his Wife and Children! Sure she is
A Grecian born, and certainly of Argos:
Else would she never send her Letter there,
Nor with so much Sollicitude inquire,
As if united in one common Cause,
About the State of Argos.

Pyl.
I indeed,
But you my Tale prevented, was employ'd
On the same Question, with this Diff'rence,
I with myself reflected that the Woes
Of Kings are publick, and well known to all
Who yield Attention to the Voice of Fame.
My Mind too was with other Thoughts engag'd.

Ores.
What are they? by imparting them perchance
Thou may'st gain Knowledge.

Pyl.
With myself I thought
That to survive thy Death were infamous
In me thy Friend; together to this Shore
We sail'd, we liv'd, and we must die together.
In Argos shall I not, and Phocis too,
With Baseness and foul Cowardice be charg'd,
And seem to many (for most Men are evil)
Shou'd I return alone, to have betray'd,
Nay more, to have destroy'd thy Life, in this
So gen'ral Desolation of thy House,
That I might seize thy Sceptre, having wedded
Thy Sister, the sole Heiress of thy Kingdom.
These sad Reflexions with such Horror fill
My apprehensive Heart, that nought shall shake
Th'unalterable Purpose of my Soul,
To mingle my expiring Breath with thine,
At the dire Altar to be slain with thee,
And in one common Flame consume together.
This Part becomes a Friend, and him who dreads
Reproach and Infamy.

Ores.
Peace, peace, my Friend;
Me it behoves to bear my own Misfortunes;
And not by sharing double ev'ry Woe;
Were I with Murder to requite the Toils,
Thou for my sake hast suffer'd, what thou say'st
Of Infamy and Scorn, will all redound
On my detested Name: and sure for me
Thus hated, persecuted thus by Heav'n,
It cannot be calamitous to die.
But thou, my Pylades, art prosperous,
Art innocent and pure: no Curse attends
Thee or thy Family; while mine, alas!
Is all defil'd with Guilt and Wretchedness.
Thou with my Sister, whom to thee I gave
In Marriage, may'st with Children once again
My Father's House replenish, and preserve
My Memory and Name. Then go and live!
Live my Paternal Sceptre to enjoy.
But when to Argos thou shalt safe arrive,
By this Right Hand of Fellowship and Love,
I do conjure thee, Pylades, to raise
An honorary Tomb, and on it place
Some monumental Trophy to thy Friend;
And let my Sister offer on my Grave
Her Grief-shorn Tresses, and a pious Tear.
Then tell her how in Sacrifice I fell,
From all Pollutions by an Argive Maid
In my own Blood before the Altar purg'd.
And, oh! abandon not my Orphan Sister,
Nor naked leave my Father's wretched House,
Betraying the Alliance, thou should'st guard!
And now farewell! thou best and truest Friend!
Thou dear Companion of my youthfull Sports,
Twin-brother of one Nurse's tender Care!
Oh! what a Load of Sorrow and Distress
Have my Calamities impos'd upon thee!
Apollo, that great Prophet, hath deceiv'd us,
And, of his former Oracles asham'd,
Contriv'd to send me to this distant Shore;
Me, who resigning up myself to him,
As he commanded me, did slay my Mother,
In Vengeance of whose Death I perish now.

Pyl.
An honorary Tomb to thee shall rise;
Nor will I e'er abandon or betray
Thy Sister's Bed; since thou, unhappy Youth,
Wilt needs constrain me to survive my Friend,
Here doom'd to perish. So it seems decreed:
Yet still some Hope remains; nor can I yet
Distrust the Gods, whose sacred Oracles,
Tho' on the perillous Brink of Ruin plac'd,
Have never cast me down the Precipice.
Oft at the lowest Ebb of hopeless Fortune
The Tide returns, and wond'rous Changes brings—

Ores.
No more—I say, Apollo hath abus'd me;
And lo! the Virgin from the Temple comes.

ACT IV.

Iphigenia, Orestes, Pylades.
Iph.
Depart ye, and returning to the Temple,
Aid in their sacred Offices the Priests,
And those who must intend the Sacrifice.
Ex. Guards.
Behold the Letter to whose secret Folds
My Soul commits her various Purposes!
Yet hear me, Strangers, still one Doubt remains:
What Man beset with Peril is the same,
As when he finds himself secure and free
From Dread and Danger? Justly then I fear
Lest he, who now so forward seems to bear
My Letter to Mycenæ, when escap'd
Safe from this barb'rous Shore, will disregard,
And slight my Message.

Ores.
Then declare thy Pleasure;
Say, what Security will ease thy Doubts?

Iph.
His Oath; let him engage his solemn Oath
To bear this Letter to my Friends in Argos.

Ores.
And wilt thou also pawn thy Faith to him?

Iph.
Say to what Purpose? What must I perform?

Ores.
To suffer him depart in Safety hence.

Iph.
How should he otherwise convey my Letter?

Ores.
But will your King, think'st thou, consent to this?

Iph.
For this Consent I will engage; and more,
Aboard some Vessel I myself will place him.

Ores.
Swear then, and thou, my Pylades, begin
The sacred Rite, for thou art pure and holy.

Pyl.
I will convey thy Letter.

Iph.
You must swear
To bear this Letter to my Argive Friends.

Pyl.
I will convey this Letter to thy Friends.

Iph.
And I will save thy Life and send thee hence.

Ores.
What God call'st thou as Witness to thy Oath?

Iph.
Diana, at whose Altar here I serve.

Pyl.
Jove, I invoke, the awfull King of Heav'n.

Iph.
What if, regardless of thine Oath, thou swear
But to abuse me?

Pyl.
To my native Land
Then may I ne'er return! And what if thou
Neglect, as thou hast sworn, to save my Life?

Iph.
Oh! may I never live to visit Argos.

Pyl.
But hold, one Circumstance hath pass'd unnoted.

Iph.
Thou may'st propose it, if it be material.

Pyl.
This one Exemption I wou'd crave; suppose
The Vessel shou'd be lost, and in the Wave
Thy Letter in the gen'ral Wreck shou'd perish,
And I alone 'scape naked to the Shore;
Thou in that Case must quit me of my Oath.

Iph.
This will I do. To various Casualties
Since all Things here are subject, the Contents
To thee will I rehearse, that so thy Tongue
May to my Friends th'important Tale report,
And I, whate'er befalls, have less to fear.
For if thou can'st preserve my Letter, that
Will of itself my Purposes relate;
If not, yet thou escaping, may'st preserve
My Message.

Pyl.
Wisely, Virgin, hast thou judg'd
Betwixt the Gods and me. Now then declare,
When I at Argos shall arrive, to whom
Thy Letter, or thy Message must I bear?

Iph.
Say to Orestes, Son of Agamemnon,
“She, who in Aulis at the Altar bled,
“His Sister Iphigenia, sends him this,
“Yet living, tho' in fact still dead to him.”

Ores.
Where is she? Lives she from the Grave return'd?

Iph.
I whom thou seest, am that same Iphigenia—
But interrupt me not with thy Discourse.
“O dearest Brother, yet before I die,
“Yet bring me back to Argos from this Land,
“This barb'rous Land, and, oh! deliver me
“From this detested Ministry, with which
“Invested at Diana's Shrine I serve,
“And stain her Altars with the Blood of Strangers.

Ores.
What, Pylades, what must I say? Where are we?

Iph.
“This do, or on thy House, on thee, and thine,
“Orestes, will I call the Curse of Heav'n.”
Twice have I nam'd him, that thou may'st remember.

Pyl.
Oh! ye just Gods.

Iph.
Why call'st thou on the Gods?

Pyl.
Nothing: Proceed: my Mind was otherwhere.
Perchance my Questions in their Turn, O Virgin,
May with no less Amazement strike thy Soul.

Iph.
Tell him, “that great Diana sav'd my Life,
“Conveying in my stead a sacred Hind,
“Which then my Father slew, the while he thought
“That in his Daughter's Breast he plung'd his Sword.
“Diana sav'd me, and hath brought me hither.”
There is my Letter; these are the Contents.

Pyl.
To what an easy Task stand I engag'd!
And O! how fortunately hast thou sworn,
Imperial Virgin! No great Space of Time
The full Performance of my Oath demands:
Behold I bear thy Letter, and to thee
Deliver it, Orestes, from thy Sister!

Ores.
And I receive it—but away, vain Paper—
I shall not waste on Words my first fond Transports—
O dearest Sister!—Thou art much amaz'd—
Nay—I myself can scarce receive Conviction—
Tho' I enfold thee thus—I can't contain
My Raptures, when I hear such Wonders told!

Enter Chorus.
Cho.
Thou art to blame, young Stranger, to pollute
The Priestess of the Goddess; seizing thus
With Hands profane her consecrated Robe.

Ores.
O Sister, of the self same Father sprung,
Daughter of Agamemnon, turn not from me:
Oh! turn not from thy Brother, thy Orestes,
Whom, against all thy Hopes, thou now hast found.

Iph.
Have I now found my Brother? say'st thou so?
Oh no—my Brother still resides in Argos.

Ores.
Thy Brother is not there, unhappy Maid!

Iph.
Art thou the Son of Tyndarus's Daughter?

Ores.
Yea, and the Grandson of the Son of Pelops.

Iph.
Ha! say'st thou; hast thou Evidence of this?

Ores.
I have; examine, prove me, question me
About my Father's Family.

Iph.
Speak on—
'Tis thine to bring the Proofs, and mine to hear.

Ores.
Then, Iphigenia, first reflect on this:
Thou know'st the fatal Contest that arose
'Tixt Atreus and Thyestes?

Iph.
I have heard;
About the Golden Ram, I think, they quarrell'd.

Ores.
In rich Embroid'ry didst thou not describe
This Story?

Iph.
Now thou com'st near my Soul.

Ores.
And how the flying Sun withdrew his Beams?

Iph.
That Figure in my Work I well remember.

Ores.
Did not in Aulis Clytæmnestra bathe
And deck thee for thy Spousals?

Iph.
Oh! 'tis true;
And those accurs'd Espousals were my Ruin.

Ores.
Why to thy Mother didst thou send thy Hair?

Iph.
That she might strew it on my empty Tomb,
In Memory of me.

Ores.
One Token more,
Of what myself have seen, will I produce.
In thy Apartment stands the antient Spear
Of Pelops, which he brandish'd in his Hand
Then, when he slew Oenomäus, and gain'd
Th'Elean Virgin, fair Hippodamia.

Iph.
O dearest Brother!—for thou art my Brother—
And I possess thee once again, Orestes!
Thee in a distant Region born,
Thee from thy native Country come,
From Argos hither come, dear, dear Orestes!

Ores.
And I again possess thee, Iphigenia!
Thee from the Grave return'd, for dead thou wert!
And see the precious Tears of Joy,
The Tears of Tenderness and Love,
Swell in thine Eyes, my Sister, swell in mine!

Iph.
An Infant in the Nurse's Arms,
An Infant sucking at the Breast
I left him, when I left my Father's House!
O! above all Expression fortunate!
My Soul, what shall I say?
Beyond all Wonders, all Imagination
Have these Things come to pass!

Ores.
Henceforward may we live both bless'd together!

Iph.
O Virgins! strange, almost incredible
Is the Delight, I have this Day received—
I fear I shall again as strangely lose him,
And that he'll make him Wings, and fly to Heav'n!
O Argos! O Mycenæ! Native Land!
Now do I thank thee for my Birth and Nurture,
Since thou hast likewise nurs'd this Brother up,
To give new Lustre to our fading Race?

Ores.
In Birth we both indeed are great and happy,
But in our Lives, alas! unfortunate.

Iph.
This Truth did I discover, wretched Maid!
Then, when my ruthless Father at my Throat
His murd'ring Faulchion held.

Ores.
Methinks, even now
I see thee at the dreadfull Altar stand.

Iph.
Then, when defrauded of my promis'd Nuptials
With the great Son of Peleus, I was brought
To that deceitfull Camp, the Haunt of Wolves:
When round that dreadfull Altar from each Eye
Stream'd Tears of Pity, and loud Groans were heard.

Ores.
Who would not weep at such a Sacrifice?

Iph.
Ev'n I could not but pity the Distress,
And Resolution of my cruel Father,—
Alas! how woefull was my Lot, to have
So hard and so unnatural a Father.

Ores.
One Evil ever ushers in another:
If thou by Fate or Chance had'st slain thy Brother,
Oh! Wretch, how horrid were a Deed like that!

Iph.
Oh horrible! most horrible!
And yet—how near was it, Orestes?
How hardly hast thou 'scap'd an impious Death,
Slain by thy Sister's Hand?
And oh! I tremble still to think,
How all these Things will end;
How Fortune will assist me to contrive
Some Means of his Escape from Death,
From this inhuman Shore!
That to his native Argos safe
I may convey him back, before
His precious Blood distain the sacred Knife.
Consider then, unhappy dear Orestes,
If best thou may'st resolve to quit thy Bark,
And, on thy Speed relying, over Land,
Thro' dreary Forests, and untravel'd Wilds,
And barb'rous Nations to expose thy Life:
Or whether passing the Cyanean Straits,
Thro' the long watry Way thou wilt attempt
With flying Sails to compass thy Escape?
Me miserable! luckless that I am!—
O that some God, some Mortal, some bless'd Chance,
Some unexpected Incident would rise
To open us a Passage thro' these Ills,
That have besieg'd us round, and shew
The two, the only two of Atreus' Race,
Some final Period of their Misery.

Cho.
When to each other's Arms long absent Friends
Are by surprizing strange Events restor'd,
Our own Experience, and consenting Custom,
Bids us permit them to indulge the Joy
Of warm Embraces and transporting Tears.
But now, Orestes, it imports us most
To check this unavailing Tenderness,
And think how we may win the glorious Name
Of Liberty, and fly this barb'rous Land.
“For 'tis the Part of wise and prudent Men
“Not to neglect their Fortune, but to use
“The present Good, as an Occasion offer'd
“Of gaining farther Happiness.”

Ores.
'Tis true;
And Fortune will (I trust) in this Attempt
Co-operate with us: her heav'nly Pow'r
By far transcends the Agency of Man.

Iph.
Yet for the present nought shall interrupt
(Since nought forbids) our Converse, till I learn
What Fate attends Electra: O tell me all,
For all thy Words sound gratefull to my Ear.

Ores.
My Friend hath bless'd her Life with wedded Love.

Iph.
Say whence, and from whose Loins he drew his Being?

Ores.
Of Phocis is his Father, and nam'd Strophius.

Iph.
My Kinsman! Son of Agamemnon's Sister!

Ores.
Thy Kinsman, and my faithfull only Friend.

Iph.
He was not born, when I at Aulis bled.

Ores.
The Bed of Strophius for a time was barren.

Iph.
Welcome, my Kinsman! Husband of my Sister!

Ores.
And more than Kinsman, Saviour of thy Brother.

Iph.
How could'st thou perpetrate that horrid Deed,
The Murder of thy Mother?

Ores.
Name it not!
I did it to revenge my Father's Death.

Iph.
What Cause incited her to slay her Husband?

Ores.
With what concerns thy Mother meddle not;
It is not good for thee to know.

Iph.
I'm silent.
The State of Argos now looks up to thee.

Ores.
No; Menelas is King, and we are Exiles.

Iph.
What? did our Uncle then Advantage take
Of our Distractions, to distress us more?

Ores.
No; the fell Furies drove me from my Country.

Iph.
This Madness seiz'd you now upon our Coast,
From whence some Shepherds brought me the Account
Of your Demeanour.

Ores.
Nor are they the first,
Or only Witnesses of my Afflictions.

Iph.
I understand you—for your Mother's Death
The Deities of Vengeance thus torment you.

Ores.
Yea, and controuling with an Iron Curb
My stubborn Spirit, ride me thro' the World.

Iph.
What Object steer'd you to this barb'rous Coast?

Ores.
The Oracles of Phœbus sent me hither.

Iph.
And on what Errand? May that be reveal'd?

Ores.
I'll tell thee, and from thence begin a Tale
Of many Labours and much Misery.
After those Crimes, which I forbear to mention,
Were in my Mother punish'd by my Hands,
Still haunted by the Furies up and down,
I roam'd an Exile and a Vagabond;
'Till Pythian Phœbus order'd me at length
To Athens to repair, and there defend
My Cause against the nameless Goddesses
In that impartial Court, which righteous Jove
Erected for the Trial once of Mars,
There brought to answer for the Guilt of Murder.
When thither I arriv'd, at first I found
All Doors against me barr'd, as one accurs'd,
And odious to the Gods; and those at last
Who yielded out of Shame to take me in,
And grant me the Reception due to Strangers,
Tho' under the same Roof they still remain'd,
Yet plac'd me at a Table by myself,
And by the studied Silence they observ'd,
Impos'd the like on me, that so I might
Hold no Communion with them, and apart
Take both my Food and Bev'rage; to this end
Was set by ev'ry Man, to each a Bowl,
Of the same Measure all, and fill'd alike.
Mean time, esteeming it not meet to blame
Or murmur at my Hosts, I griev'd in Silence,
And feigning to observe not what was done,
Groan'd inwardly that I had slain my Mother.
Yet have th'Athenians (for so Fame reports)
From this sad Circumstance of my Distress
Occasion taken to appoint a Feast,
To Pallas sacred, where the Law ordains,
In off'ring the Libations, to employ
A Bowl in Measure like to those assign'd
To ev'ry Guest by our Athenian Host.
But when, repairing to the Hill of Mars,
Before that dread Tribunal I appear'd
To plead my Cause, against me, on a Stone
As my Accuser sat, Tisiphone,
The eldest of the Furies; against whom
I on another as accus'd was plac'd:
Then came the Process on and Charge of Murder.
But Phœbus in the Court on my Behalf
Appearing, witness'd for me; and the Balls
On either Side by Pallas being told,
And found in Number equal, I was then
Presum'd by Rule of Justice innocent,
And from the Crime of Parricide discharg'd.
Such of the Furies then, as acquiesc'd
In this Decision of the Court, and heard
The Process, as Appellants strait resolv'd
To hold me by this solemn Sentence clear'd.
But others, by the righteous Rule of Law
Refusing to abide, continu'd still
Their persecuting Vengeance, over Greece
With restless Error driving me about;
Till coming to Apollo's Delphick Grove,
Before the Shrine I threw me on the Ground,
And from all Food abstaining, to him sware,
That I would there break short my Thread of Life,
If he, the Author of my Misery,
If Phœbus still refus'd to hear and save me.
Then from the golden Tripod spake the God,
And bade me hither come, and bearing hence
That sacred Image, which fell down from Heav'n,
In Athens to enshrine it.—Therefore, thou,
Co-operate, and aid me to attain
The only Means of Health, that Heav'n allows.
Of great Diana's Image once possess'd,
Soon shall I rest from these distracting Horrors,
And in a well-man'd Pinnace will transport
Thee, Iphigenia, to thy lov'd Mycenæ.
Then, dearest Sister, I conjure thee, save
Thy Father's House, O save thy wretched Brother!
For should we fail to gain that heav'nly Image,
Lost is thy Brother, lost the House of Atreus.

Cho.
Some fearfull Vengeance of the Gods pursues
The Race of Tantalus, and works them Woe.

Iph.
E're thy Arrival here, I oft have sigh'd
To visit Argos, and my dear Orestes,
And now my Wishes are the same with thine,
To free thee from thy Sorrows, and to heal
The sad Distractions of my Father's House,
No more resenting that he sought to slay me.
Thee from the Altar I perchance may save,
And save my Family: But to elude
The Goddess and the King, is what I fear.
When Thoas shall perceive the Marble Shrine
Robb'd of its Image, shall I not be slain?
For what can I alledge in my Excuse?
Could'st thou indeed by one advent'rous Act
Together with the Statue place me too
Aboard thy Vessel, it were worth the Hazard.
But this, without the other, will undo me.
And what of that?—Thy Object will be gain'd,
And thou return with Triumph to Mycenæ.
No Peril therefore, no, not Death itself,
Will I decline, thy Safety to procure.
Men are by all regretted when they die,
But a weak Woman is a trifling Loss.

Ores.
Let me not be my Mother's Murderer,
And thine too, Iphigenia; on my Head
Her Blood is full sufficient: no; with thee
I am resolv'd to share one common Fate,
Be it of Life or Death; and will attempt,
Unless I perish here, to waft thee home,
Or here will I remain and die with thee.
Now hearken to my Words: Can'st thou believe,
That if this Enterprize were opposite
To great Diana's Will, the Pythian God
To Athens would have order'd me to bear
Her sacred Image, and to see thy Face?
From all these Points conjoin'd I gather Hope,
That we shall happ'ly compass our Return.

Iph.
Be our first Care to 'scape impending Death,
Next, to obtain Possession of the Goddess,
Then think of our Return: Our Will is good.

Ores.
Can we not kill the King?

Iph.
'Tis hazardous
For Strangers to attempt to kill a King
In his own Kingdom.

Ores.
Yet must it be risqu'd,
If our own Safety hangs on the Success.

Iph.
To this I cannot yield, yet I applaud
Thy Fervency and Courage.

Ores.
Then suppose
Thou should'st conceal me in the Temple here?

Iph.
That thro' the Shades of Night we may escape.

Ores.
The thievish Night is friendly to Deceit;
The Day belongs to Truth and Honesty.

Iph.
Within the Temple watch a waking Guard
Of Priests, whose Vigilance we cannot cheat.

Ores.
Our Death, alas! is sure. O who can save us?

Iph.
A Scheme that seems to promise fairer Hopes
Now labours in my Breast.

Ores.
Impart it to us.

Iph.
I mean to make Advantage of thy Madness.

Ores.
A female Brain still teems with Stratagems.

Iph.
I will alledge, that, having slain thy Mother,
Thou art from Argos fled.

Ores.
Of my Mishap,
So it may profit aught, avail thee freely.

Iph.
That such a Victim will offend the Goddess.

Ores.
What Reason wilt thou render? I begin
To spy thy Purpose.

Iph.
That thou art unclean;
But shalt, when pure, be yielded up to Death.

Ores.
How will this aid us to obtain the Image?

Iph.
I will insist that in the Ocean Stream
Thou must be purified.

Ores.
Where stands the Goddess,
Whom here we sail'd to seek? within the Temple?

Iph.
That too, polluted by thy Touch impure,
Demands Ablution in the cleansing Flood.

Ores.
Where wilt thou do this? at the Southern Shore?

Iph.
Where thy moor'd Vessel at her Anchors rides.

Ores.
Whom wilt thou trust to bear the sacred Image?

Iph.
Myself: beside none may presume to touch it.

Ores.
To Pylades what Task must be allotted?

Iph.
He also must be said to be defil'd
With the same Guilt.

Ores.
But wilt thou act unseen,
Or to thy Monarch's Eye expose thy Deeds?

Iph.
Doubt not but I shall win him to our Purpose;
For done it cannot be without his Knowledge.

Ores.
The Bark and all the jovial Crew are ready.

Iph.
To have all that in Order be thy Care.

Ores.
Remains then one thing only: That these Women
Consent to keep our Secret: therefore beg,
Beseech them, and employ thy utmost Art,
And ev'ry moving Topick of Persuasion:
To move and touch the Heart thy Sex is strong:
For all the rest I doubt not of Success.

Iph.
My dearest Friends, I now look up to you! to the Cho.

In your Arbitrement my Fortune lies;
Henceforth, as ye determine, shall I be,
Be happy, or be nothing; be depriv'd
For ever of my Country, my dear Brother,
And this my dearest Kinsman. First for that.
But other Arguments I have to move you.
We Women still are friendly to each other,
True to the common Int'rests of our Sex.
Then be not only secret, but assisting,
And aid us in our Flight. Fidelity
And Secrecy are Virtues of great Worth.
Behold! in one and the same Fate involv'd
Three Friends, together destin'd to return
To their dear Country, or together die;
If I escape, that ye may likewise share
In the same Fortune, here do I engage
To waft you safe to Greece: Oh! then be secret;
Be faithfull: I conjure you by this Hand,
The Bond of Fellowship; by these fair Cheeks,
Which I salute in Friendship; by these Knees,
Which suppliant I embrace; by all the dear,
Dear Pledges left behind you at your Homes,
Your Parents and your Children: If there be
Among ye, who have Children, I appeal
To them, to all, to ev'ry one. Oh! speak:
What say ye? which of ye consents? which not?
Oh! tell me that; for if you disapprove,
I and my wretched Brother are undone.

Cho.
Fear not, dear Princess! have no other Care
But for thy Preservation. We will keep
Thy Purpose secret; so protect us, Jove!

Iph.
I thank ye, Friends: For this may Bliss attend ye!
Thou, Pylades, and thou, Orestes, now
Retire within the Temple; for the King
Will speedily come hither to inquire,
If yet the Victims at the Altar bleed.
O mighty Goddess! who in Aulis' Sands
Did'st save me from my Father's slaught'rous Hands,
To these and me once more thy Aid afford,
Nor falsify thy Brother's sacred Word:
Well-pleas'd with us to Athens O remove!
Nor with Reluctance quit this Scythian Grove:
To Athens thou art call'd, the rich, the great,
And can'st thou with Barbarians fix thy Seat?

Ex. Iphi. Orest. Pylad. with Guards.

STROPHE I.

Cho.
Sad Bird, who the Rocks still among
To the murm'ring Surges below
Repeatest thy dolorous Song,
In Numbers explaining thy Woe,
In Accents, which sadly declare
That Ceyx those Dirges inspires,
Lost Ceyx, the Cause of thy Care,
And Object of all thy Desires!
In Elegies, mournfull as thine,
Halcyone, we too complain;
In Banishment destin'd to pine,
And sigh for our Country in vain.
O Greece how I languish to see
Thy populous Cities once more!
How I languish, Lucina, for thee!
The Goddess, whom Matrons adore.
By Cynthius, where stands her rich Shrine,
By the Palm's high-embowering Shade,
By the Laurel, and Olive divine,
Where Latona reclin'd her sick Head;
By the Lake, on whose echoing Tides
The sweet Cygnet expiring complains,
Our Goddess Lucina resides,
Far, far from these barbarous Plains.

ANTISTROPHE I.

Alas! what a Torrent of Tears
Continually stream'd from these Eyes,
When fill'd with a thousand sad Fears,
To Pyrates we first fell a Prize?
When War and Oppression's strong Hand
Had laid our proud Cities all waste,
And we, a disconsolate Band,
Aboard their black Vessels were plac'd;
Thence savagely barter'd for Gold,
We came to this barb'rous Land;
And there to Captivity sold,
Around the dire Altar we stand,
Ordain'd on the Priestess to wait,
And assist at these horrible Rites!
For such an unfortunate State
Have we chang'd all our former Delights.
The Wretches long practis'd to mourn,
Perceive not the Weight of their Grief;
A Change in their Fortune must turn
To a better, and bring them Relief.
But they are completely unbless'd,
Who, bred and accustōm'd to Bliss,
Like us, on a sudden oppress'd,
Are plung'd in a hopeless Abyss.

STROPHE II.

Thee, Iphigenia, thro' yon watry Way
A well mann'd Bark to Argos shall convey:
While the toiling Crew to chear,
Pan his whistling Pipe shall bring,
And Apollo, heav'nly Seer,
Tuning to the Lyrick String
His Voice divine, shall speed the lab'ring Oar,
With joyous Pæans to th'Athenian Shore.
Iphigenia, thou shalt go,
Leaving wretched me behind,
And to favour thee shall blow
Ev'ry fair and gentle Wind:
Fair blow the Wind, and swell the puffing Sail,
'Till the tough Cordage stretch before the Gale.

ANTISTROPHE II.

Oh! might I travel thro' yon lucid Road,
Where rolls the Chariot of the fiery God!
Might I thro' th'impassive Air
My unwearied Course pursue!
Till, distinguish'd from afar,
My dear Country rose to view!
Then quick descending from my airy Height,
My Pinions would I close, and stay my Flight.
Then lead on the dancing Choir,
As upon my bridal Morn,
When I strove with rich Attire
Each fair Feature to adorn,
And shading with my Hair my blushing Face,
By half concealing heighten'd ev'ry Grace.

ACT V.

Thoas with Attendants, Chorus.
Tho.
Where is the Guardian of this sacred Dome,
The Grecian Virgin? Hath she yet prepar'd
The Strangers for the Altar? Or within
Burn now their Bodies in the sacred Fire?

Cho.
Behold she comes! herself will tell you all.

[Iphigenia appears in the Door of the Temple, with the Statue of the Goddess in her Arms.]
Tho.
Hold! wherefore, Iphigenia, hast thou heav'd,
And bearest from its Shrine that heav'nly Image,
Which from the Base may never be remov'd?

Iph.
O! King, advance not, stay thy Footsteps there.

Tho.
Hath ought befall'n unwonted in the Temple?

Iph.
Abominations! for my holy Lips
Must style them so.

Tho.
To what strange History
Will this Preamble usher us? Explain.

Iph.
The Victims thou hast taken for the Altar,
O Thoas, are unclean.

Tho.
Declar'st thou this
From Knowledge, Iphigenia, or Opinion?

Iph.
The Statue of the Goddess on her Base.
Turn'd round.

Tho.
Self-mov'd, or by an Earthquake shaken?

Iph.
Self-mov'd and clos'd the Curtain of her Eyes.

Tho.
But to what Cause ascrib'st thou an Event
So wonderfull? Uncleanness in these Strangers?

Iph.
Doubtless; for they have done a horrid Deed.

Tho.
Have they with Scythian Blood their Hands defil'd?

Iph.
The Guilt of Murder they brought hither with them.

Tho.
What Murder? Thou hast fill'd me with Impatience.

Iph.
Against their Mother they conspir'd, and slew her.

Tho.
O Phœbus! No Barbarian would have dar'd
A Deed so horrible!

Iph.
And therefore Greece
Hath driv'n and hunted them from all her Coasts.

Tho.
Were these the Motives that incited thee
To bring the sacred Image forth?

Iph.
To keep her
From the Contagion of this horrid Guilt
I mov'd her from her Shrine, to this all-pure
And holy Cope of Heav'n.

Tho.
From what Signs
Did'st thou collect these Strangers were unclean?

Iph.
When I beheld the Goddess backward turn,
I straight inferr'd the Cause.

Tho.
An Eye so sharp,
A Judgment so sagacious, speaks thee wise,
And well instructed in the Arts of Greece.

Iph.
The Strangers upon this, with a sweet Bait
Sought to allure my Heart.

Tho.
By charming thee
With some good Tidings of thy Friends in Argos?

Iph.
They told me, that Orestes liv'd, my dear
And only Brother!

Tho.
That the pleasing Tale
Might in return prevail on thee to save them.

Iph.
They told me farther, that my Father liv'd,
And prosper'd.

Tho.
Yet hast thou escap'd the Snare,
Still faithfull to our Goddess and her Worship.

Iph.
My Soul abhors all Greeks: They caus'd my Ruin.

Tho.
Say then, how must we treat these Grecian Strangers?

Iph.
The Law must be respected and obey'd.

Tho.
The cleansing Lavers, and the bloody Knife
Of Slaughter is prepar'd.

Iph.
The Victims first
With pure Ablutions must be sanctify'd.

Tho.
Sufficeth for these sacred Purposes
The living Fountain, or the briny Wave?

Iph.
The Sea best cleanses all Impurities.

Tho.
So shall the Victims fall more acceptable.

Iph.
And so shall my Designs more surely speed.

Tho.
Ev'n at the Temple's Foot the salt Wave breaks.

Iph.
Retirement I demand, and Solitude,
For other Matters have I to perform.

Tho.
Go where thy Purpose calls: fear no Intrusion.
I pry not into hidden Mysteries.

Iph.
This Image also must be purify'd.

Tho.
Yea, doubtless, if polluted by the Filth
Of him, who slew his Mother.

Iph.
Otherwise
Ne'er had my Hand remov'd it from the Shrine.

Tho.
How good is Piety with Prudence join'd!

Iph.
Know'st thou what should now be order'd?

Tho.
'Tis thy Office to prescribe.

Iph.
Let them bind in Chains the Strangers.

Tho.
Canst thou fear they should escape.

Iph.
Trust no Greek; Greece is perfidious.

Tho.
Slaves, depart, and bind the Greeks.

Iph.
Having bound, conduct them hither from the Temple.

Tho.
Be it done.

Iph.
Then with Mantles veil their Faces from the Sun's ætherial Flame,
And let some of thy Attendants wait on me.

Tho.
Be these thy Guard,

Iph.
To the City next thy Mandate issue—

Tho.
What must it import?

Iph.
That all keep within their Houses.

Tho.
Lest they meet the Murderer?

Iph.
Yea; for that will cause Pollution.

Tho.
Go, and publickly proclaim
That to all it is forbidden to appear in view.

Iph.
O King!
Thy Affection to thy People far exceeds the Love of Friends.

Tho.
What to me, O royal Virgin, thou hast courteously apply'd,
Better suits thy wond'rous Merit, whom we all admire and praise.

Iph.
Thou before the Fane remaining—

Tho.
What must Thoas here perform?

Iph.
Purify the sacred Mansion.

Tho.
Cleans'd and bless'd for thy Return?

Iph.
But as forth proceed the Strangers—

Tho.
What to me dost thou enjoin?

Iph.
Spread before thine Eyes thy Mantle.

Tho.
That their Sight pollute me not?

Iph.
Long should I delay returning—

Tho.
Fix the Limits of thy Stay.

Iph.
Marvel not.

Tho.
O take thy Leisure to perform the solemn Rites.

Iph.
Grant, ye Gods, these Expiations may, as I intend, succeed!

Tho.
I subscribe to that Petition.

Iph.
From the Temple, lo! I view
This way marching the Greek Strangers, with the Pomp of Sacrifice,
Holy Ensigns of Diana, blooming Youths to Slaughter doom'd,
Victims, whom I now must offer, Blood to expiate with Blood,
And the solemn Blaze of Torches, with all other Rites requir'd,
To perform the due Ablution, of the Goddess and the Greeks.
From the Reach of this Contagion, fly! I warn ye all to fly!
Be thou Priest, who at the Altars of the Gods wouldst spotless serve!
Be thou Bridegroom with Impatience hasting to complete thy Bliss!
Or a Matron sick and lab'ring with the Burden of thy Womb!
Fly! avaunt! lest this Pollution should infect and blast your Joys!
Virgin Daughter of Latona, mighty Goddess, heav'nly Queen!
So I may for these propitiate, and to thee in such a Place,
As by thee shall be accepted, may due Sacrifice perform,
In a Temple pure and holy, thou unspotted Maid, shalt dwell,
And we also shall be happy—What I farther would express,
Tho' unutter'd, thou omniscient, Heav'n and thou canst understand.

[Exeunt Iph. Ores. Pyl. and Procession, &c. manet Chorus.

ODE.

Cho.
Great is Latona's Offspring! which of yore
In rich Ortygia's fruitfull Vale she bore!
Phœbus with curling Gold array'd,
Sweet Master of the Lyrick String,
And great Diana, Silver-shafted Maid,
The Mighty Seed of Heav'n's immortal King
From Delos, that o'erlooks the circling Floods,
From Delos, famous for the Birth of Gods,
To high Parnassus, on whose sacred Head
His holy Revels oft young Bacchus holds,
Her heav'nly Offspring did Latona bear,
Where underneath a Laurel's verd'rous shade,
A monstrous Serpent in unnumber'd Folds
Wound up his spotted Train, and from afar
Glitt'ring with brazen Scales, and glaring wide
With fiery Orbs suffus'd with Blood,
Before th'inspiring Cavern stood,
And to the Tripod all Access deny'd.
Him, the foul Spawn of Earth, Apollo slew,
While at Latona's Breast as yet he hung,
And in her Arms with sportive Vigour sprung
Exulting in his Might,
Impatient for the Fight,
Impatient his huge Foe the Python to subdue.
Then entring the Prophetick Cave,
Down on the Golden Tripod sate the God,
And from that Seat of Truth his Answers gave,
From that divine Abode
His sacred Oracles he sung,
While anxious Mortals listen'd to his Tongue.
There by Castalia's Silver Tides
The Delphick Seer resides,
All in the Center of the Globe enthron'd,
Thence equally to deal his heav'nly Truths around.
But when the Beldam Earth beheld
Her Daughter Themis from her Shrine expell'd,
Fantastick Spectres in her fruitful Womb
She bred, Companions of Night's thickest Gloom;
And to inquiring Mortals, as they lay
Stretch'd in her darksom Grotts, she bade them rise,
And in Prophetick Dreams display
Their present, past, and future Destinies.
While in Resentment of her injur'd Child,
Thus of a Prophet's Praise Apollo she beguil'd.
But to Olympus' airy Height
With Speed Apollo took his Flight,
And there besought th'Almighty Sire
To interpose his Pow'r divine,
To quell the vengefull Beldam's Ire,
And drive her Spectres from the Pythian Shrine.
The Father smil'd, to hear his Son
Sollicit such a gainful Boon,
And for his Pythian Dome demand
The Gold, as well as Worship of the Land.
The Father smil'd, and bow'd his Head;
Earth's visionary Phantoms fled;
And lying Dreams no more believ'd,
No more inquiring Man deceiv'd.
To Phœbus was restor'd his former Fame:
Again to Delphi crouding Nations came,
Consulting boldly that unerring Shrine,
Where Truth once more had plac'd her Throne divine.

Enter a Messenger.
Mes.
Ye Servants of the Temple, ye who wait
At great Diana's Altars, tell me, Where?
Say, where is Thoas King of Scythia gone?
Call, open your strong Gates, and call him forth,
Forth from the Temple bid our Monarch come.

Cho.
What would'st thou?—but strict Silence was enjoin'd us.

Mes.
The two young Grecian Strangers are gone off;
By Iphigenia's Counsel and Assistance
They are departed hence, and in their Bark
Bear with them the fam'd Image of our Goddess.

Cho.
The Tale thou tellest merits not our Faith,
But he, for whom thou dost inquire, the King,
Is hastily departed from the Temple.

Mes.
Where? for 'tis fit he know what now is doing.

Cho.
We know not; hasten thou, and seek him out,
And if perchance thou find him, tell thy Tale.

Mes.
Are not all Women treacherous and false?
Ye are Accomplices in this Transaction.

Cho.
Thy Words proceed from a distemper'd Mind.
How can these Strangers Flight relate to us?

Mes.
Then wherefore fly ye not to the King's Palace?

Cho.
Not till we first have gain'd Intelligence,
If in the Temple yet our King remains.

Mes.
Ho! open there! To you within I call.
Inform the King, that at the Gate there stands
One, fraught with Tidings horrible and strange.

Enter Thoas.
Tho.
What's he that round the Temple of the Goddess
This Clamour raises, forcing the barr'd Gates,
And striking all within with Fear and Horrour?

Mes.
These Women, Thoas, have with Lyes deceiv'd me,
And sought to send me hence, reporting falsly
Thou from the Fane wert hastily departed.

Tho.
From such a Fraud to them what Gain accrues?

Mes.
That will I shew hereafter: Now attend
To what is now more urgent. The young Virgin,
Who at Diana's Altars here presides,
Young Iphigenia, with the Grecian Strangers,
Is flying from this Shore, and with her bears
The venerable Image of our Goddess.
Th'Ablutions, she pretended, were a Cheat.

Tho.
How say'st thou, what bad Dæmon hath possess'd her?

Mes.
Know then, fresh Matter for Astonishment,
She did it to preserve Orestes' Life.

Tho.
Whom? what Orestes? Clytæmnestra's Son?

Mes.
The Victim, whom she feign'd to purify.

Tho.
A Miracle! I cannot style it less!

Mes.
Fix not thy Thoughts on that; but lift to me,
And when thou shalt have heard, and weigh'd my Tale,
Advise how to pursue and take these Strangers.

Tho.
Say on; thou counsel'st well; no narrow Frith
Have they to pass, that soon they should expect
To fly beyond the Reach of my strong Spear.

Mes.
When to the Sea-beat Shore we now arriv'd,
Where undescry'd Orestes' Vessel lay,
The Daughter of Atrides, Iphigenia,
As she were then beginning to perform
Some mystick Sacrifice, or solemn Rite
Of Expiation, which with earnest Care
She seem'd to be preparing, with a Nod
Commanded us, who, as thou didst enjoin,
Attended her, and led the Pris'ners bound,
Back to retire; and taking in her Hand
Their Chains, march'd on, herself conducting them.
This seem'd indeed suspicious, but thy Slaves,
O Thoas, acquiesc'd in her Commands.
Some short Space after, that she might appear
Still in her Mysteries engag'd, she scream'd
Aloud, and chaunted forth some barb'rous Strain,
As the dread Act of holy Expiation
That Instant were perform'd—But when in vain
Long time we sate expecting, in our Minds
A sudden Fear arose, lest those Greek Strangers,
Bursting their Fetters, might attempt to slay
The Virgin Priestess, and escape by Flight.
Yet cautious of surveying what the Gods
Ordain to be conceal'd, we silent sate:
At length, by common Vote it was decreed
To go, altho' forbidden, to the Place:
There we no sooner came, but we descry'd
A Grecian Gally, with her Oars like Wings
Advanc'd, and flutt'ring for immediate Flight,
With fifty jovial Sailors by her Sides,
Rang'd on their Benches, and the two young Greeks
Unbound, and standing on the lofty Poop:
Some kept the Prow with Staves, while on the Bows
Some stow'd the Anchors, others to the Rocks,
That butted o'er the Main, with nimble Feet
On Ladders climbing, by the Hausers drew
The Vessel to the Shore, to take on board
The Virgin Priestess, to the Deck beneath,
Now o'er the Billows hasting to descend.
But we perceiving then their treacherous Schemes,
Regardless of all Danger, on her seiz'd,
And grasping fast the Hausers, boldly leapt
Upon the Stern, and tore the Rudder off;
And thus expostulating with them, said:
On what Pretence, O Strangers, sail ye hither
O'er the wide Ocean, from our Shrine to steal,
And bear away our Priestess and our Image?
What Right hast thou to force this Virgin hence,
Like a bought Slave? and whence? and who art thou?
To this he quick reply'd, “That thou mayst know,
“I am Orestes, Brother to this Virgin,
“The Son of Agamemnon, hither come
“Home to convey my Sister, lost so long.”
Yet fast we held the Virgin still, and fain
Wou'd have compell'd her to return to thee;
Whence many a Bruise and Buffet soon ensu'd;
For Weapons we had none, but carried on
The Fight with Nature's Arms, which in our Sides
And Breasts the two young Strangers darted fierce,
Till ev'ry Limb was batter'd and with Toil
Forespent: Then flying on a craggy Cliff
We mounted, bearing on our Heads and Eyes
The bloody Marks of Violence and Strife.
There more at Ease the Battle we renew'd
From the high Rocks, and batter'd them with Stones,
But thence the Archers standing on the Deck
Soon drove us, and compell'd us to retire.
Mean while (for then a mighty Wave roll'd in,
Wafting the Gally nearer to the Shore)
Orestes boldly plunging in the Sea
(The Crew all seeming fearfull and unwilling)
His Sister seiz'd, and placing on his Back,
Safe thro' the Waves transported her aboard.
Then too the Statue of the Jove-born Maid,
The sacred Image, that fell down from Heav'n,
In the Mid-Gally utter'd thus her Voice:
“Haste, haste, ye jovial Mariners of Greece,
“Now ply your Oars, and spread the Waves with Foam:
“Now have we gain'd those Points for which we sail'd
“The stormy Euxine and dire Bosphorus!”
Whereat the Crew, forth carolling at once
Their toil-begotten Note, each other chear'd,
And beat with lusty Oars the dashing Brine;
While yet within the Bay the Gally swam,
She ran a head amain, but passing out,
A mighty Swell she met, that heav'd her back;
And a brisk Gale arising suddenly
Still lock'd her in the Port, while all in vain
The struggling Oar essay'd to stem the Wave,
That drove them ever backward on the Shore.
Then stood the Daughter of Atrides forth,
And to Diana thus address'd her Pray'r:
“O Daughter of Latona, save me, save
“Thy Priestess, flying from this barb'rous Land
“To her own native Greece, and O forgive
“My pious Theft! Thou, Goddess, lov'st thy Brother,
“Allow me then to love my Brother too!”
To this the Virgin's Pray'r the Sailors all
Reply'd with Pæans loud, and to the Oar
Their broad bare Arms applying, toil'd and sung.
Yet nearer to the Rocks the Gally drew:
Which noting, some into the Billows plung'd,
While some more prudent got their Anchors out.
Mean time I hither was dispatch'd, O King,
To make Relation of these strange Events.
Then haste, provide us Manacles and Chains!
For if the Waves abate not of their Rage,
All Hopes of Safety to the Greeks are lost.
The Ruler of the Sea is Ilion's Friend,
The Foe profess'd to the whole Race of Pelops,
And will again deliver to our Hands,
As is most meet, the Son of Agamemnon,
With his false Sister; who no longer seems
To bear in Mind the Sacrifice in Aulis.

Cho.
Unhappy Iphigenia, thou, alas!
Thou and thy Brother, should our mighty Lord
Once more attach you, must together perish.

Tho.
Natives of Scythia, all, attend my Summons!
Why mount ye not your Steeds, and on the Shore
Fly to receive the Freight of this Greek Vessel
Now cast upon our Coast? Diana's self
Shall lend you Wings to chace these impious Wretches.
Haste others, and with speed launch your swift Barks,
That whether on the Land or Ocean seiz'd
We may or cast them headlong from the Rocks,
Or fix their Bodies on the painful Stake.
For you, th'Accomplices of these vile Schemes,
Ye wretched Women, when Occasion fits,
You shall receive your Punishment. At present
Affairs of greater haste demand our Care.

Minerva descends.
Min.
Hold, Thoas! whither hastest thou to lead
Thy furious Squadrons? List! Minerva speaks.
Stay thy Pursuit! nor rouze the Waves of War!
For by Apollo's Oracles enjoin'd
Orestes hither came, to shun at once
The persecuting Furies' vengeful Ire,
His Sister back to Argos to convey,
And to my City bear the sacred Image.
Thus much to thee, O Thoas; as for him,
Whom intercepted by the swelling Surge
Thou thoughtest to have slain, the young Orestes,
Him o'er the level and unruffled Deep
At my Request hath Neptune wafted far.
And now, Orestes, listen to my Voice!
(Tho' absent thou canst hear the Voice divine)
Proceed now with thy Sister and the Goddess:
But when to Heav'n-built Athens thou shalt come,
There on her utmost Confines is a Spot,
Adjoining to the high Carystian Shore,
Deem'd holy, and my People call it Alæ:
There shalt thou raise a Temple, and enshrine
The heav'nly Image, which shall bear the Name
Of Scythian Artemis, to future Times
A lasting Monument of all the Woes
Which in thy devious Travels thou didst bear,
When the fell Furies hunted thee thro' Greece.
There Mortals shall henceforth their Off'rings bring,
And celebrate in Hymns the Taurick Maid.
This Custom also shalt thou institute,
That when my People hold the solemn Feast
Memorial of thy having here escap'd
The deadly Altar, shall a Man be brought,
And to his Throat the sacrificing Knife
The Pontiff shall present, and draw his Blood
An Off'ring to the Goddess, that she lose
No Portion of her customary Honours.
There also, Iphigenia, still shalt thou
Continue on her Altars to attend,
The Guardian of the rich Brauronian Shrine.
And there, when thou art dead, shalt thou be laid,
And to thy Tomb, as Off'rings, shall be brought
Silk-broider'd Mantles of all curious Woofs,
Such as unhappy Matrons, in the Pangs
Of Travail dying, shall behind them leave.
Moreover, this Injunction do I lay
On thee, Orestes, from this barb'rous Land
That to their Homes thou bring these Grecian Women:
An equitable Law; for I preserv'd
Thy Life, and in thy Favour Sentence gave,
When at thy Trial on the Hill of Mars
The Votes were equal found; and 'tis my Will
That in whatever Cause the Votes henceforth
In Number shall be equal, on the Side
Of Mercy shall the Judgment be presum'd.
And, Son of Agamemnon, now sail on!
Sail with thy Sister from this barb'rous Shore!
And thou, O Thoas! mitigate thy Rage.

Tho.
O Pallas! mighty Goddess! heav'nly Queen!
Fond and unwise is he, who doth refuse
To hearken to the high Behests of Heav'n.
Nor 'gainst Orestes, tho' he bear from hence
The venerable Image of our Goddess,
Nor 'gainst his Sister, in my Breast henceforth
Shall harbour any Rage! For mortal Man
To struggle with the mighty Gods, is vain.
Then may they safely to thy Land transport
The sacred Image, and enshrine it there.
And farther in Obedience to thy Voice,
These Women will I send to Heav'n-lov'd Greece,
And lay aside the Spear and hostile Bark,
Prepar'd the flying Greeks to intercept,
Whatever thou commandest, I applaud.
It is most meet that Heav'n's high Will prevail.

Min.
Go, gentle Gales, and favourably waft,
Waft young Orestes to th'Athenian Shore!
Myself will also go with you along,
In Person to convoy my Sister's Image.
And, Mortals, ye whom Heav'n's protecting Hand
Hath wonderfully sav'd, depart in Joy!

[Minerva re-ascends.
Cho.
Virgin Pallas! Child of Jove!
By the Gods rever'd above!
And by Mortals fear'd below!
To thy sov'reign Will we bow!
Thy Behest, celestial Maid,
Shall with Rev'rence be obey'd!
Joys not ev'n in Hope attain'd
Hath thy heav'nly Voice ordain'd,
Virgin Pallas! Child of Jove,
Fear'd below, rever'd above!