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THOAS
With what intent？ or what advantage sought？
MESSENGER
Of these hereafter； what more urgent now
Imports thee； hear： the virgin； in this place
Presiding at the altars； from this land
Is with the strangers fled； and bears with her
The sacred image of the goddess； all
Of her ablutions but a false pretence。
THOAS
How say'st thou？ What is her accursed design？
MESSENGER
To save Orestes： this too will amaze thee。
THOAS
Whom？ What Orestes？ Clytemnestra's son？
MESSENGER
Him at the altar hallow'd now to bleed。
THOAS
Portentous！ for what less can it be call'd？
MESSENGER
Think not on that； but hear me； with deep thought
Reflect： weigh well what thou shalt hear； devise
By what pursuit to reach and seize the strangers。
THOAS
Speak： thou advisest well： the sea though nigh；
They fly not so as to escape my spear。
MESSENGER
When to the shore we came； where station'd rode
The galley of Orestes； by the rocks
Conceal'd to us； whom thou hadst sent with her
To hold the strangers' chains； the royal maid
Made signs that we retire； and stand aloof；
As if with secret rites she would perform
The purposed expiation： on she went；
In her own hands holding the strangers' chains
Behind them： not without suspicion…this；
Yet by thy servants； king； allow'd。 At length；
That we might deem her in some purpose high
Employ'd； she raised her voice； and chanted loud
Barbaric strains； as if with mystic rites
She cleansed the stain of blood。 When we had sat
A tedious while； it came into our thought；
That from their chains unloosed； the stranger youths
Might kill her； and escape by flight： yet fear
Of seeing what we ought not； kept us still
In silence； but at length we all resolved
To go； though not permitted； where they were。
There we behold the Grecian bark with oars
Well furnish'd； wing'd for flight； and at their seats；
Grasping their oars； were fifty rowers； free
From chains beside the stern the two youths stood
Some from the prow relieved the keel with poles；
Some weigh'd the anchors up； the climbing ropes
Some hasten'd； through their hands the cables drew；
Launch'd the light bark； and gave her to the main。
But when we saw their treacherous wiles； we rush'd
Heedless of danger； seized the priestess； seized
The halsers； hung upon the helm； and strove
To rend the rudder…bands away。 Debate
Now rose：…〃What mean you； sailing o'er the seas；
The statue and the priestess from the land
By stealth conveying？ Whence art thou； and who；
That bear'st her； like a purchased slave； away？〃
He said； 〃I am her brother； be of this
Inform'd； Orestes； son of Agamemnon：
My sister； so long lost； I bear away；
Recover'd here。〃 But naught the less for that
Held we the priestess； and by force would lead
Again to thee： hence dreadful on our cheeks
The blows； for in their hands no sword they held；
Nor we； but many a rattling stroke the youths
Dealt witb their fists； against our sides and breasts
Their arms fierce darting； till our batter'd limbs
Were all disabled： now with dreadful marks
Disfigured； up the precipice we fly；
Some bearing on their heads； some in their eyes
The bloody bruises： standing on the heights；
Our fight was safer； and we hurl'd at them
Fragments of rocks； but； standing on the stern；
The archers with their arrows drove us thence；
And now a swelling wave roll'd in； which drove
The galley towards the land。 The sailors fear'd
The sudden swell： on his left arm sustain'd；
Orestes bore his sister through the tide；
Mounted the bark's tall side； and on the deck
Safe placed her； and Diana's holy image；
Which fell from heaven； from the midship his voice
He sent aloud：…〃Ye youths； that in this bark
From Argos plough'd the deep； now ply your oars；
And dash the billows till they foam： those things
Are ours； for which we swept the Euxine sea。
And steer'd our course within its clashing rocks。〃
They gave a cheerful shout； and with their oars
Dash'd the salt wave。 The galley； while it rode
Within the harbour； work'd its easy way；
But having pass'd its mouth； the swelling flood
Roll'd on it； and with sudden force the wind
Impetuous rising drove it back： their oars
They slack'd not； stoutly struggling 'gainst the wave；
But towards the land the refluent flood impell'd
The galley： then the royal virgin stood；
And pray'd：…〃O daughter of Latona； save me；
Thy priestess save； from this barbaric land
To Greece restore me； and forgive my thefts：
For thou； O goddess； dost thy brother love；
Deem then that I love those allied to me。〃
The mariners responsive to her prayer
Shouted loud paeans； and their naked arms；
Each cheering each； to their stout oars apply。
But nearer and yet nearer to the rock
The galley drove： some rush'd into the sea；
Some strain'd the ropes that bind the loosen'd sails。
Straight was I hither sent to thee； O king；
To inform thee of these accidents。 But haste；
Take chains and gyves with thee： for if the flood
side not to a calm； there is no hope
Of safety to the strangers。 Be assured；
That Neptune； awful monarch of the main；
Remembers Troy； and； hostile to the race
Of Pelops； will deliver to thy hands；
And to thy people； as is meet； the son
Of Agamemnon； and bring back to the
His sister； who the goddess hath betray'd；
Unmindful of the blood at Aulis shed。
LEADER
Unhappy Iphigenia； thou must die；
Thy brother too must die； if thou again；
Seized in thy flight； to thy lord's hands shalt come。
THOAS
Inhabitants of this barbaric land；
Will you not rein your steeds； will you not fly
Along the shore； to seize whate'er this skiff
Of Greece casts forth； and； for your goddess roused；
Hunt down these impious men？ Will you not launch
Instant your swift…oar'd barks； by sea； by land
To catch them； from the rugged rock to hurl
Their bodies； or impale them on the stake？
But for you； women； in these dark designs
Accomplices； hereafter； as I find
Convenient leisure； I will punish you。
The occasion urges now； and gives no pause。
（MINERVA appears above。）
MINERVA
Whither； O royal Thoas； dost thou lead
This vengeful chase？ Attend： Minerva speaks。
Cease thy pursuit； and stop this rushing flood
Of arms； for hither； by the fateful voice
Of Phoebus； came Orestes； warn'd to fly
The anger of the Furies； to convey
His sister to her native Argos back；
And to my land