ACT I

IPHIGENIA _and_ THOAS.

THOAS: To-day I come within this sacred fane, Which I have often entered to implore And thank the gods for conquest. In my breast I bear an old and fondly-cherish'd wish, To which methinks thou canst not be a stranger: I hope, a blessing to myself and realm, To lead thee to my dwelling as my bride.

IPHIGENIA: Too great thine offer, king, to one unknown, Who on this shore sought only what thou gavest, Safety and peace.

THOAS: Thus still to shroud thyself From me, as from the lowest, in the veil Of mystery which wrapp'd thy coming here, Would in no country be deem'd just or right.

IPHIGENIA: If I conceal'd, O king, my name, my race, It was embarrassment, and not mistrust. For didst thou know who stands before thee now, Strange horror would possess thy mighty heart, And, far from wishing me to share thy throne, Thou wouldst more likely banish me forthwith.

THOAS: Whate'er respecting thee the gods decree, Since thou hast dwelt amongst us, and enjoy'd The privilege the pious stranger claims, To me hath fail'd no blessing sent from heaven. End then thy silence, priestess!

IPHIGENIA: I issue from the Titan's race.

THOAS: From that same Tantalus, whom Jove himself Drew to his council and his social board?

IPHIGENIA: His crime was human, and their doom severe; Alas, and his whole race must bear their hate. His son, Pelops, obtained his second wife Through treachery and murder. And Hebe's sons, Thyestes and Atreus, envious of the love That Pelops bore his first-born, murdered him. The mother, held as murderess by the sire, In terror did destroy herself. The sons, After the death of Pelops, shared the rule O'er Mycenæ, till Atreus from the realm Thyestes drove. Oh, spare me to relate The deeds of horror, vengeance, cruel infamy That ended in a feast where Atreus made His brother eat the flesh of his own boys.

THOAS: But tell me by what miracle thou sprangest From race so savage.

IPHIGENIA: Atreus' eldest son Was Agamemnon; he, O king, my sire; My mother Clytemnestra, who then bore To him Electra, and to fill his cup Of bliss, Orestes. But misfortunes new Befel our ancient house, when to avenge The fairest woman's wrongs the kings of Greece Round Ilion's walls encamp'd, led by my sire. In Aulis vainly for a favouring gale They waited; for, enrag'd against their chief, Diana stay'd their progress, and requir'd, Through Chalcas' voice, the monarch's eldest daughter. They lured me to the altar, and this head There to the goddess doomed. She was appeased, And shrouded me in a protecting cloud. Here I awakened from the dream of death, Diana's priestess, I who speak with thee.

THOAS: I yield no higher honour or regard To the king's daughter than the maid unknown; Once more my first proposal I repeat.

IPHIGENIA: Hath not the goddess who protected me Alone a right to my devoted head?

THOAS: Not many words are needed to refuse, The _no_ alone is heard by the refused.

IPHIGENIA: I have to thee my inmost heart reveal'd. My father, mother, and my long-lost home With yearning soul I pine to see.

THOAS: Then go! And to the voice of reason close thine ear. Hear then my last resolve. Be priestess still Of the great goddess who selected thee. From olden time no stranger near'd our shore But fell a victim at her sacred shrine; But thou, with kind affection didst enthral Me so that wholly I forgot my duty; And I did not hear my people's murmurs. Now they cry aloud. No longer now Will I oppose the wishes of the crowd. Two strangers, whom in caverns of the shore We found conceal'd, and whose arrival here Bodes to my realm no good, are in my power. With them thy goddess may once more resume Her ancient, pious, long-suspended rites! I send them here--thy duty not unknown. [_Exit._

IPHIGENIA: O goddess! Keep my hands from blood!