I am resolved to die; and this I want to do with honor, dismissing from me what is mean. He has used it to lure and snare his daughter and to convince Klytaimestra to bring her here, to me, to be presented as my wife! During those days you shook the hand of everyone you came across and, whether they wanted it or not, your doors were always wide open and ready to receive everyone. Iphigeneia Then I shall be stupid and make you laugh! Be careful not to disgrace your ancestors house. Agamemnon And when you come across some fork in the road, check it carefully. Agamemnon That will be his decision. Oh, this is a terrible thing youre doing! She was the Queen of the gods. I know, Im behaving as if I were some god towards you though Im a mere mortal. However, it is considered to be not an authentic part of the original text. Ill now stand by you and so I advise you not to kill your daughter or put my own interests before yours. London. IPHIGENIA Had I, my father, the persuasive voice Of Orpheus, and his skill to charm the rocks Agamemnon My old friend, Thestius daughter, Leda, had three daughters: Phoebe, Klytaimestra (my wife) and Helen. What an awful Fate the gods have delivered to you! Holy Spirit of mine! Look! I have brought this bride here with strong hopes for a wonderful marriage. The true leader of a city and of an army is not merely brave but intelligent. London: J.M. Give me a big hug! Agamemnon Can you not see him standing in the midst of all the Greeks, telling them all about Calchas prophesies and all about how Ive promised to sacrifice my daughter to Artemis but then went back on my word? You have declared the girl to be the bride of a goddess son, yet you bring her here to be a sacrificial offering for the benefit of the Greeks! Old Man That? 164. By my grand-father, my mothers father, Nereus, who was nurtured by the ocean waves! Agamemnon Pleasure! You can see it! A prophet? Whether they treat me well or appallingly makes no difference to them. You used to ask me, I wonder, my darling, will I get to see you married one day, married and settled happily in your husbands home, your life ever blossoming, making me proud of you? And Id touch your chin, my father, hang from your beard, father, like Im doing now and say, and what about you, father, will I get to see you, father, an old man, visiting me at my house, ready for me to repay you for your hard work in raising me?, No, you dont remember these words, father. changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. Last Updated on July 14, 2022, by eNotes Editorial. They were sitting together on stools, joyfully immersed in a game of draughts, a game full of complex moves. What a price to pay for the sake of saving a slut! Iphigeneia Yes, mother, please let me run to him before you do. At one point he is satisfied with what hes written, seals it with his ring but then, a moment later, he scratches away the seal and re-reads the letter. His baby sounds will make no sense but theyll be full of meaning. You are, indeed, a noble soul and you leave me speechless and unable to argue against your views. Moderate. The fleet of the war-loving Taphians, with its foaming oars, was commanded by their king, Phyleus son, Meges who had left the Echinae, islands that are far too unwelcoming for sailors. First Chorus The left flank of the Greek armada ended with the twelve trim and fast ships, led byAjaxwhose birthplace isSalamis. A god or a mortal? Hell have the whole army eating out of his hand and then make them kill us and sacrifice the girl anyway! Then Agamemnon came to me and ordered me to come here and tell you what Fate the gods have granted to your daughter. Let our friends here see how happy you make me. Remember, father? Clytemnestra But why? The Aenians brought twelve ships, captained by their king, Gouneus; and beside them were moored the lords ofEliswhom everyone called Epeians. Daddy, do you want to kill me? These are things you should know nothing about! Iphigenia in Aulis has been added to your Cart . Accomplish your tasks, old man! Klytaimestra The whole of the Greek army? It is a horrible thing for one to lose a child! Image from Vermeule and Chapman (1971) Plate 71. I would have given it for the sake of my fellow soldiers. Youve persuaded me with wise words. Pleasure, my old friend, is a dubious thing, an unstable thing; and as for all the trappings of office, all the power that goes with it, sure they might look sweet from the distance but once you get them, they become unbearable pains! Agamemnon Neither. Agamemnon saw his child on her way to her slaughter and immediately groaned with horrible pain. Now, you must take with you our newborn son from here and go back home. The Plays of Euripides, translated by E. P. Coleridge. Klytaimestra Good idea. Mother, no! Full of joy and yet tears flow from your eyes 650. Agamemnon It will take place at the most propitious time: When the moon completes its cycle again. Your father has gone, my darling and abandoned you to Hades! I accepted my fortune and youll admit that I have always been a good wife to you. Klytaimestra Thats not what the laws of the custom say. I swear by my mother, the goddess Thetis, that I shall fight the Greeks to save you! Still, by then it is too late. Sadly, softly so that she wont hear him. 330. Iphigeneia Hands Orestes back to her mother. Help us! Come! 370. I will never permit your husband to perform such treacherous deeds! They say that Zeus had transformed himself into a bird and then slept with your mother. Iphigenia in Aulis is an Attic, or Greek, tragedy composed by Euripides (circa 480-406 BCE). Finally, he picks up the scroll and gets up and moves away from the table. Chorus Where has the strength of your face gone? How could I ever speak the truth now? Menelaos Not if he dies first. Now, Ill tell you everything Ive written in this folded scroll because you are a true and loyal servant to my house and to my wife. Your father, my lord, Atreas, didnt bring you into this world so that you may taste only its pleasures, my lord. Iphigeneia Oh, Im so happy youve brought me here to see you. Iphigeneia But but look at you, father! No, its not my ambition thats bothering you, my brother! Dent & Sons, 1920. Those with dignity are respected, those without are shamed, though defending ones dignity is not always possible. It is the wish of the Heavens. This is something I wont tolerate. Iphigeneia Are you sending me to live with another family, daddy? Now let go of my letter! Overview. Then Calchas, the priest, took out a sharp sword out of its sheath and placed it in a basket made of gold. As is common, there is a dowry, here brought by her mother from the household of Agamemnon (lines 612-13). "I envy you old man. You ask me what theyve done to me? How I wish he never lived near the gurgling white waters of those springs, the springs where nymphs gathered. I must go. Klytaimestra goes into the tent. Agamemnon shall never lay a finger on your daughter not even to touch her robes! What an awful burden Helen andTroyhave become for us! The very last thing you do. Chorus Oh, I hope Ill never see the day, nor should my children nor my grand children, should see the day when I suffer the torture that the golden Lydian women will suffer, the wives of those Trojan men, who will be suffering when, years later, working at their looms theyd be talking of this! And I also hear what theyve done to me! Dont bother making a long speech about it, husband! Old Man To stop you By then he had come back to his senses. Weddings are blessed things but still very tough on the hearts of the brides parents. Cassandra who shakes loose her golden hair beneath the green garland of laurel whenever the god grips her with his prophetic gasp. NI 1886. - Taken from "Iphigenia in Aulis" written by Euripides Read more Previous page Print length 94 pages Language English Publication date February 10, 2022 Dimensions Ill have none of it! 1080. Agamemnon No, the wedding was held in the sacred valleys of Pelion, where Cheiron lives. 280. IPHIGENIA Had I, my father, the persuasive voice Of Orpheus, and his skill to charm the rocks To follow me, and soothe whome'er I please With winning words, I would make trial of it; But I have nothing to present thee now Save tears, my only eloquence; and those I can present thee. 0 rating. How should I start? And where will I be at the time? George Bell and Sons. I wrap its limbs around your knees and beg you: Please father, do not cut off my life short. Klytaimestra I hear you, I hear you! Figure 2.2: Black-figure lekythos showing Iphigenia 89 led to the altar, c. 470 BCE. Achilles I did but theyre shouting at me, too! Achilles I do, my lady and I can see its a horrible thing for you to endure. Is being a General the only thing in your head? 378. Sweet daughter! 510. Achilles But, dont worry, Ill certainly make it hard for him! You are the cause of it! Klytaimestra May joy be with you for ever, Achilles. Iphigenia in Aulis. It would be shameful if Agamemnon saw me touching whats not rightfully mine! Come, tell me, share your story with me. You saw the endless ships. You will be doing so to a man whos loyal and faithful to you. And you, dear wife, daughter of Leda, I ask forgiveness from you, too, for all my tears. 1290. Iphigeneia Of course. You already know your fathers intentions, poor love. On thy knees I hang, A suppliant wreath, this body, which she bore Let hers be the last one to do so! He sends all sorts of winds to sailors: winds to make them happy to lift their sails and plunge into the sea, winds to make them sad because they must furl their sails; and winds that make other sailors crazy because theyre forced to move too slowly. 411, Menelaos Enjoy the glory of your sceptre then! You say youre happy to see me but your face looks worried! Achilles Me, too! Agamemnon and I have separate properties. Come, friends, sing with me in praise of the goddess whose temple faces Chalkis, the place where the spears of war are waiting for me in anger! Come, then, Lord Agamemnon, make a start on the celebrations. Achilles By the goddess Modesty! Buy used: $6.99. And so, soldiers, take heart and head for your ships because today we must leave behind the deep harbours of Aulis and cross our way through the vast Aegean sea!, And when the animal was thoroughly burned in the flames of the god of fire, Hephaistus, and when the holy rites were completed, Calchas prayed for our safe return. Let someone go and prepare the sacrificial basket and may the blessed fire burn high with the purifying barley. Agamemnon Very soon. It is unjust that your children should die while mine still enjoy the sunlight. 1580. The circumstances are too dire now for modesty and for polite coyness! Then, without anyone forcing you, totally of your accord and dont claim it wasnt- you had sent a letter to your wife to bring Iphigenia here, in the pretence that shed be marrying Achilles. It is unjust that you should be mourning while Im living a life full of joy. Thats Achilles, my darling. 1590, He spoke and he said, Chiefs of the Greek army, can you see this offering? Ultimately, Euripides uses Iphigenia at Aulis to argue that the ancient Greek impulse to revere one's lineage or parentage while effectively ignoring the duty one has to one's living, breathing family is one which creates sadness, discord, anger, and even the impulse for revenge. The Greeks were then enabled to set sail. My friend, neither kill nor be killed because of me. I shall look elsewhere for friends and help. 220, First Chorus I came to take a look at the great number of ships, a sight most pleasant and most able to satisfy my girlish eyes. Iphigenia at Aulis was first performed in 405 B.C.E., the year after Euripides' death. He and no one else! 1180. Calchas gave you the answer and you jumped with joy when he told you that the Greeks would be able to sail forTroyonly after you had sacrificed your daughter to Artemis. An XML version of this text is available for download, Youd greet anyone and everyone, hoping with this behaviour to gain their approval and thus become their leader. $3.99 delivery March 10 - 14. I dont want anyone to think despicable things about me. A dreadful sickness! She has flown away to the Heavens! He came all the way fromTroy, dressed in all his colourful garb, and, typical of the barbarians love for splendour, his whole body was sparkling with gold jewels! I can see that youre angry at your husband but I think youre wrong about that. Checking out the situation carefully. Intelligence, brother, can turn any man into a head of State. How much more time do we need to waste on this expedition toTroy? Youve murdered Tantalus, my first husband and with even more brutal violence, youve torn my baby from my breast and dashed it hard against the ground! The Greek fleet is waiting at Aulis, Boeotia, with its ships ready to sail for Troy, but it is unable to depart due to a strange lack of wind. The whole of Greece is gathered here and they all want one thing: to go to the famous city of Troy and tear down her towers. Klytaimestra What? Youre drowning me in misery. Forget your old age and run! Here are the two of us, ones a baby, the other a grown up girl, a brother and a sister, both your children, begging you, by your beard, pleading with you. Just answer my question! Other men may have different views but let me give you my own. Ive tried all manner of subtle tricks to get my closest friends to agree with me and there, too, Ive failed. In fact, had he asked me for my permission to use my name for this, I would have given it. A nanny is holding the baby Orestes in her arms. The play . Spare me! My Mycenae! Achilles Ah! If only this town, if only Aulis, had refused to let all these Troy-destined ships enter her harbour! To Dardanos house, in Troy, to bring back Menelaos wife, Helen. You, too, my lord are a mortal and, whether you like it or not, this is how the gods want it: mortals must taste the good along with the bad. His wifes doing, so, let him kill his wifes daughter. My lady your daughter her father he is about to kill her! Achilles Yes, it might be just that. Tell me the reason you will give no let me speak on your behalf, because I know what you will say. Where shall I begin? After a while, Calchas, our prophet, came up to us and suggested much to our dismay- that we should sacrifice my own daughter, Iphigenia, to the goddess Artemis, whose shrine is in these parts! Ive rushed here before them so that you can be ready to receive them. After you have gone gone away on your expedition and you have left me here, alone in the house -and alone for a long time, our darling daughters chair empty her bedroom empty -what sort of heart do you think will be beating in my breast? Its good that the children will be spared. Achilles I told them that if thats what they thought, then they should not kill my intended wife. Klytaimestra Did they? Klytaimestra Odysseus? Unjustly but I must! And it was with this lie, about the girls mock-marriage, that I tried to persuade my wife to bring her here. 27. Come, son of the goddess, lend us a hand, help us, or else we are doomed! 550. Klytaimestra I know well that you are an old servant of my house. I want to marry you, to take you to my home and to protect you. Klytaimestra Thats where they say the centaurs live. There is no need! Achilles Yes. Come, give me your right hand and lets make this the beginning of a blessed marriage! With his own sword, madam he will make bloody the young girls white neck bloody it with her own blood! If only I could! The girl deserves better still, may the gods be with us! Clytemnestra hears that Achilles is faithless, whereupon she at once urges Iphigenia to leave Aulis and return home. Klytaimestra Achilles, son of the Nereid! Old Man No, madam! My life, mummy, my life has been saved! Whats in your mind, this time, my lord Agamemnon? Achilles You must grab her and not let go of her. Achilles First, let us try and bring her father back to his senses. A goddess, mother, the goddess Artemis has called for my body. Look here, father! I see. And then theres also this: what right do I have to love my life so much? Cover the baby with one of your cloaks. Agamemnon I have failed miserably! Klytaimestra Falls down and clasps Achilles knees. By your chin, Achilles, by your right hand and by your mother, stand by us!