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To some within the temple this belongs。
ORESTES
What tomb is destined to receive my corse？
IPHIGENIA
The hallow'd fire within； and a dark cave。
ORESTES
O； that a sister's hand might wrap these limbs！
IPHIGENIA
Vain wish； unhappy youth； whoe'er thou art；
Hast thou conceived； for from this barbarous land
Far is her dwelling。 Yet； of what my power
Permits （since thou from Argos draw'st thy birth）；
No grace will I omit： for in the tomb
I will place much of ornament； and pour
The dulcet labour of the yellow bee；
From mountain flowers extracted； on thy pyre。
But I will go； and from the temple bring
The letter； yet 'gainst me no hostile thought
Conceive。 You； that attend here； guard them well；
But without chains。 To one； whom most I love
Of all my friends； to Argos I shall send
Tidings perchance unlook'd for； and this letter；
Declaring those whom he thought dead alive；
Shall bear him an assured and solid joy。
（She enters the temple。）
CHORUS （chanting）
Thee； o'er whose limbs the bloody drops shall soon
Be from the lavers sprinkled； I lament。
ORESTES
This asks no pity； strangers： but farewell。
CHORUS （chanting）
Thee for thy happy fate we reverence； youth
Who to thy country shall again return。
PYLADES
To friends unwish'd； who leave their friends to die。
CHORUS （chanting）
Painful dismission！ Which shall I esteem
Most lost； alas； alas！ which most undone？
For doubts my wavering judgment yet divide；
If chief for thee my sighs should swell； or thee。
ORESTES
By the gods； Pylades； is thy mind touch'd
In manner like as mine？
PYLADES
I cannot tell；
Nor to thy question have I to reply。
ORESTES
Who is this virgin？ With what zeal for Greece
Made she inquiries of us what the toils
At Troy； if yet the Grecians were return'd；
And Calchas； from the flight of birds who form'd
Presages of the future。 And she named
Achilles： with what tenderness bewail'd
The unhappy Agamemnon！ Of his wife
She ask'd me；…of his children： thence her race
This unknown virgin draws； an Argive； else
Ne'er would she send this letter； nor have wish'd
To know these things； as if she bore a share
（If Argos flourish） in its prosperous state。
PYLADES
Such were my thoughts （but thou hast given them words；
Preventing me） of every circumstance；
Save one： the fate of kings all know； whose state
Holds aught of rank。 But pass to other thoughts。
ORESTES
What？ Share them； so thou best mayst be inform'd。
PYLADES
That thou shouldst die； and I behold this light；
Were base： with thee I sail'd； with thee to die
Becomes me； else shall I obtain the name
Of a vile coward through the Argive state；
And the deep vales of Phocis。 Most will think
（For most think ill） that by betraying the
I saved myself； home to return alone；
Or haply that I slew thee； and thy death
Contrived； that in the ruin of thy house
Thy empire I might grasp； to me devolved
As wedded to thy sister； now sole heir。
These things I fear； and hold them infamous。
Behooves me then with thee to die； with the
To bleed a victim； on the pyre with thine
To give my body to the flames； for this
Becomes me as thy friend。 who dreads reproach。
ORESTES
Speak more auspicious words： 'tis mine to bear
Ills that are mine； and single when the wo；
I would not bear it double。 What thou say'st
Is vile and infamous； would light on me；
Should I cause thee to die； who in my toils
Hast borne a share： to me； who from the gods
Suffer afflictions which I suffer； death
Is not unwelcome： thou art happy； thine
An unpolluted and a prosperous house；
Mine impious and unbless'd： if thou art saved；
And from my sister （whom I gave to thee；
Betroth'd thy bride） art bless'd with sons； my name
May yet remain； nor all my father's house
In total ruin sink。 Go then； and live：
Dwell in the mansion of thy ancestors：
And when thou comest to Greece； to Argos famed
For warrior…steeds； by this right hand I charge the
Raise a sepulchral mound； and on it place
A monument to me； and to my tomb
Her tears； her tresses let my sister give；
And say； that by an Argive woman's hand
I perish'd； to the altar's bloody rites
A hallow'd victim。 Never let thy soul
Betray my sister； for thou seest her state；
Of friends how destitute； her father's house
How desolate。 Farewell。 Of all my friends；
Thee have I found most friendly； from my youth
Train'd up with me； in all my sylvan sports
Thou dear associate； and through many toils
Thou faithful partner of my miseries。
Me Phoebus； though a prophet； hath deceived；
And； meditating guile； hath driven me far
From Greece； of former oracles ashamed；
To him resign'd； obedient to his words；
I slew my mother； and my meed is death。
PYLADES
Yes； I will raise thy tomb： thy sister's bed
I never will betray； unhappy youth；
For I will hold thee dearer when thou art dead；
Than while thou livest； nor hath yet the voice
Of Phoebus quite destroy'd thee； though thou stand
To sometimes mighty but sometimes mighty woes
Yield mighty changes； so when Fortune wills。
ORESTES
Forbear： the words of Phoebus naught avail me；
For； passing from the shrine； the virgin comes。
（IPHIGENIA enters from the temple。 She is carrying a letter。）
IPHIGENIA （to the guards）
Go you away； and in the shrine prepare
What those； who o'er the rites preside； require。
（The guards go into the temple。）
Here； strangers； is the letter folded close：
What I would further； hear。 The mind of man
In dangers； and again； from fear relieved；
Of safety when assured； is not the same：
I therefore fear lest he； who should convey
To Argos this epistle； when return'd
Safe to his native country； will neglect
My letter； as a thing of little worth。
ORESTES
What wouldst thou then？ What is thy anxious thought？
IPHIGENIA
This： let him give an oath that he will bear
To Argos this epistle to those friends；
To whom it is my ardent wish to send it。
ORESTES
And wilt thou in return give him thy oath？
IPHIGENIA
That I will do； or will not do； say what。
ORESTES
To send him from this barbarous shore alive。
IPHIGENIA
That's just： how should he bear my letter else？
ORESTES
But will the monarch to these things assent？
IPHIGENIA
By me induced。 Him I will see embark'd。
ORESTES
Swear then； and thou propose the righteous oath。
IPHIGENIA
This； let him say； he to my friends will give。
PYLADES
Well； to thy friends this letter I will give。
IPHIGENIA
Thee will I send safe through the darkening rocks。
PYLADES
What god dost thou invoke to attest thy oath？
IPHIGENIA
Diana； at whose shrine high charge I hold。
PYLADES
And I heaven's potent king； the awful Jove。
IPHIGENIA
But if thou slight thy oath； and do me wrong？
PYLADES
Never may I return。 But if thou fail；
And save me not？
IPHIGENIA
Then never； while I live；
May I revisit my loved Argos more！
PYLADES
One thing； not mention'd； thy attention claims。
IPHIGENIA
If honour owes it； this will touch us both。
PYLADES
Let me in this be pardon'd； if the bark
Be lost； and with it in the surging waves
Thy letter perish； and I naked gain
The shore； no longer binding be the oath。
IPHIGENIA
Know'st thou what I will do？ For various ills
Arise to those that plough the dangerous deep。
What in this letter is contain'd； what here
Is written； all I will repeat to thee；
That thou mayst bear my message to my friends。
'Gainst danger thus I guard： if thou preserve
The letter； that though silent will declare
My purport； if it perish in the sea；
Saving thyself； my words too thou wilt save。
PYLADES
Well hast thou said touching the gods and me。
Say then to whom at Argos shall I bear
This letter？ What relate as heard from thee？
IPHIGENIA （reading）
This message to Orestes； to the son
Of Agamemnon； bear：…She； who was slain
At Aulis； Iphigenia； sends thee this：
She lives； but not to those who then were there。
ORESTES
Where is she？ From the dead return'd to life？
IPHIGENIA
She whom thou seest： but interrupt me not。
To Argos； O my brother； ere I die；
Bear me from this