Iphigenia in Tauris

IPHIGENIA. Her royal gifts the goddess shower on thee! Imparting conquest, wealth, and high renown, Dominion, and the welfare of thy house, With the fulfilment of each pious wis...

IPHIGENIA. Unhappy man, I only loose thy bonds In token of a still severer doom. The freedom which the sanctuary imparts, Like the last life-gleam o'er the dying face, But heral...

ORESTES. It is the path of death that now we tread: At every step my soul grows more serene. When I implor'd Apollo to remove The grisly band of Furies from my side, He seem'd,...

IPHIGENIA. Believe my cares ere ye begin to speak. I fear contention, if thou wilt not hear The voice of equity, O king,--if thou Wilt not, my brother, curb thy headstrong youth.

IPHIGENIA. If to this cruel deed thy heart is steel'd, Thou shouldst not come! A king who meditates A deed inhuman, may find slaves enow, Willing for hire to bear one half the c...

ARKAS. The king hath sent me hither, and commands To hail Diana's priestess. This the day, On which for new and wonderful success, Tauris her goddess thanks. The king and host D...

PYLADES. Thy brother is restor'd! The rocky paths Of this unconsecrated shore we trod In friendly converse, while behind us lay, Unmark'd by us, the consecrated grove; And ever...

IPHIGENIA. Whence art thou? Stranger, speak! To me thy bearing Stamps thee of Grecian, not of Scythian race. (_She unbinds his chains._) The freedom that I give is dangerous: Th...

IPHIGENIA. The gods have not decreed it. The elder of these men doth bear the guilt Of kindred murder; on his steps attend The dread Eumenides. They seiz'd their prey Within the...

ORESTES. How! are ye come already? Sister, welcome. Electra still is missing: some kind god With gentle arrow send her quickly hither. Thee, my poor friend, I must compassionate...

IPHIGENIA, _alone_. I must obey him, for I see my friends Beset with peril. Yet my own sad fate Doth with increasing anguish move my heart. May I no longer feed the silent hope...

IPHIGENIA. Beneath your leafy gloom, ye waving boughs Of this old, shady, consecrated grove, As in the goddess' silent sanctuary, With the same shudd'ring feeling forth I step,...

Give yet another! reach from Lethe's stream The last reviving draught of cool refreshment! Soon shall its waters in my bosom still Life's fitful fever; and my spirit then Adown...

IPHIGENIA. When the Powers on high decree For a feeble child of earth Dire perplexity and woe, And his spirit doom to pass With tumult wild from joy to grief, And back again fro...

IPHIGENIA, _alone_. These words at an unseasonable hour Produce a strong revulsion in my breast; I am alarm'd!--For as the rushing tide In rapid currents eddies o'er the rocks W...

ORESTES, _addressing his followers_. Redouble your exertions! hold them back! Few moments will suffice; retain your ground, And keep a passage open to the ship For me and for my...

THOAS, _alone_. Fierce anger rages in my riven breast, First against her, whom I esteem'd so pure; Then 'gainst myself, whose foolish lenity Hath fashion'd her for treason. Man...

PYLADES. Do not delay! our friends are putting forth Their final strength, and yielding step by step, Are slowly driven backward to the sea.-- A conference of princes find I her...

ARKAS. I own I am perplex'd, and scarcely know 'Gainst whom to point the shaft of my suspicion, Whether the priestess aids the captives' flight, Or they themselves clandestinely...