< Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

248

EURIPIDES.


Iphigeneia.

Damsels beloved, I raise mine eyes to you.
Mine all is in your hands—for happiness,
Or ruin, and for loss of fatherland,
Of a dear brother, and a sister loved.
Of mine appeal be this the starting-point— 1060
Women are we, each other's staunchest friends,
In keeping common counsel wholly loyal.
Keep silence; help us to achieve our flight.
A loyal tongue is its possessor's crown.
Ye see three friends upon one hazard cast, 1065
Or to win back to fatherland or die.
If I escape,—that thou mayst share my fortune,—
Thee will I bring home. Oh, by thy right hand
Thee I implore—and thee!—by thy sweet face
Thee,—by thy knees—by all thou lov'st at home![1] 1070
What say ye? Who consents?—Who sayeth nay—
Oh speak!—to this?—for if ye hearken not,
I and mine hapless brother are undone.


Chorus.

Fear not, dear lady: do but save thyself. 1075
I will keep silence touching all the things
Whereof thou chargest me: great Zeus be witness.


Iphigeneia.

Heaven bless you for the word! Happy be ye!
(To Or. and Pyl.) 'Tis thy part now, and thine, to pass within;

  1. Line 1071, "By mother, father, babes—if any hath babes," is omitted by most editors, as inconsistent with line 130 of this play.
This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.