University of Virginia Library

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.