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Ah me！ the sad remembrance of those ills
Yet lives： how often did I stroke thy cheek；
And； hanging on thy knees； address thee thus：…
〃Alas； my father！ I by thee am led
A bride to bridal rites unbless'd and base：
Them； while by thee I bleed； my mother hymns；
And the Argive dames； with hymeneal strains；
And with the jocund pipe the house resounds：
But at the altar I by thee am slain；
For Pluto was the Achilles； not the son
Of Peleus； whom to me thou didst announce
The affianced bridegroom； and by guile didst bring
To bloody nuptials in the rolling car。〃
But； o'er mine eyes the veil's fine texture spread；
This brother in my hands who now is lost；
I clasp'd not； though his sister； did not press
My lips to his； through virgin modesty；
As going to the house of Peleus： then
Each fond embrace I to another time
Deferr'd； as soon to Argos to return。
If； O unhappy brother； thou art dead；
From what a state； thy father's envied height
Of glory； loved Orestes； art thou torn！…
These false rules of the goddess much I blame：
Whoe'er of mortals is with slaughter stain'd；
Or hath at childbirth given assisting hands；
Or chanced to touch aught dead； she as impure
Drives from her altars； yet herself delights
In human victims bleeding at her shrine。
Ne'er did Latona from the embrace of Jove
Bring forth such inconsistence： I then deem
The feast of Tantalus； where gods were guests；
Unworthy of belief； as that they fed
On his son's flesh delighted； and I think
These people； who themselves have a wild joy
In shedding human blood； their savage guilt
Charge on the goddess： for this truth I hold；
None of the gods is evil； or doth wrong。
（She enters the temple。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Ye rocks； ye dashing rocks； whose brow
Frowns o'er the darken'd deeps below；
Whose wild； inhospitable wave；
From Argos flying and her native spring；
The virgin once was known to brave；
Tormented with the brize's maddening sting；
From Europe when the rude sea o'er
She pass'd to Asia's adverse shore；
Who are these hapless youths； that dare to land；
Leaving those soft； irriguous meads；
Where； his green margin fringed with reeds；
Eurotas rolls his ample tide；
Or Dirce's hallow'd waters glide；
And touch this barbarous； stranger…hating strand；
The altars where a virgin dews；
And blood the pillar'd shrine imbrues？
antistrophe 1
Did they with oars impetuous sweep
（Rank answering rank） the foamy deep；
And wing their bark with flying sails；
To raise their humble fortune their desire；
Eager to catch the rising gales；
Their bosoms with the love of gain on fire？
For sweet is hope to man's fond breast；
The hope of gain； insatiate guest；
Though on her oft attends Misfortune's train；
For daring man she tempts to brave
The dangers of the boisterous wave；
And leads him heedless of his fate
Through many a distant barbarous state。
Vain his opinions； his pursuits are vain！
Boundless o'er some her power is shown；
But some her temperate influence own。
strophe 2
How did they pass the dangerous rocks
Clashing with rude； tremendous shocks？
How pass the savage…howling shore；
Where once the unhappy Phineus held his reign；
And sleep affrighted flies its roar；
Steering their rough course o'er this boisterous main；
Form'd in a ring； beneath whose waves
The Nereid train in high arch'd caves
Weave the light dance； and raise the sprightly song；
While； whispering in their swelling sails；
Soft Zephyrs breathe； or southern gales
Piping amid their tackling play；
As their bark ploughs its watery way
Those hoary cliffs； the haunts of birds； along；
To that wild strand； the rapid race
Where once Achilles deign'd to grace？
antistrophe 2
O that from Troy some chance would bear
Leda's loved daughter； fatal fair
（The royal virgin's vows are mine）
That her bright tresses roll'd in crimson dew；
Her warm blood flowing at this shrine
The altar of the goddess might imbrue；
And Vengeance； righteous to repay
Her former mischiefs； seize her prey！
But with what rapture should I hear his voice；
If one this shore should reach from Greece；
And bid the toils of slavery cease！
Or might I in the hour of rest
With pleasing dreams of Greece be bless'd；
So in my house； my native land rejoice；
In sleep enjoy the pleasing strain
For happiness restored again
（IPHIGENIA enters from the temple。）
IPHIGENIA
But the two youths； their hands fast bound in chains；
The late…seized victims to the goddess； come。
Silence； my friends； for； destined at the shrine
To bleed； the Grecian strangers near approach；
And no false tidings did the herdsman bring。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Goddess revered； if grateful to thy soul
This state presents such sacrifice； accept
The victims； which the custom of this land
Gives thee； but deem'd unholy by the Greeks。
（Guards lead in ORESTES and PYLADES； bound。）
IPHIGENIA
No more； that to the goddess each due rite
Be well perform'd shall be my care。 Unchain
The strangers' hands； that； hallow'd as they are；
They may no more be bound。
（The guards release ORESTES and PYLADES。）
Go you； prepare
Within the temple what the rites require。
Unhappy youths； what mother brought you forth；
Your father who？ Your sister； if perchance
Ye have a sister； of what youths deprived？
For brother she shall have no more。 Who knows
Whom such misfortunes may attend？ For dark
What the gods will creeps on； and none can tell
The ills to come： this fortune from the sight
Obscures。 But； O unhappy strangers； say；
Whence came you？ Sail'd you long since for this land？
But long will be your absence from your homes；
For ever； in the dreary realms below。
ORESTES
Lady； whoe'er thou art； why for these things
Dost thou lament？ why mourn for ills； which soon
Will fall on us？ Him I esteem unwise；
Who； when he sees death near； tries to o'ercome
Its terrors with bewailings； without hope
Of safety： ill he adds to ill； and makes
His folly known； yet dies。 We must give way
To fortune； therefore mourn not thou for us：
We know； we are a