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Hold on! Godless! What would be the best action for him to take? Hide browse bar What should I call them? The goddess would much rather have this animal offered to her than the girl so that her altar would not be defiled by shedding the blood of a human. Your current position in the text is marked in blue. Menelaos Not if he dies first. The trilogy won first prize at the City Dionysia at Athens. Is it marriage? All this is his own doing. I take your kind welcome and gracious words as signs of a good omen. The Old Man is angry and tries to take the letter back from him. She was falsely called your future wife. A member of the chorus rushes into the tent. Its going past those seven stars, the Pleiades, my lord straight through the very centre of the heavens. Then Agamemnon came to me and ordered me to come here and tell you what Fate the gods have granted to your daughter. Who is this exquisite looking woman I see here? Where inGreecedoes he live? Can I not mourn my daughters loss? I offer my neck quietly and with no fear for the knife. 1550, Thats what she said and every man there was amazed at the bravery and the virtue of the young girl. It is unjust that you should be mourning while Im living a life full of joy. Let me make it absolutely clear, my lady: I was there and I saw it with my own eyes! No mother, no father. Returned soldiers emerge as protagonists in Pierre-Michel Tremblay's Au Champ de Mars, Hannah Moscovitch's This Is War, and George F. Walker's Dead Metaphor while Evan Webber and Frank Cox-O'Connell Little Iliad deals with a soldier about to be dispatched to Afghanistan. 43. I had put a wedding wreath on her head and brought her here to be your wife. Ah! Well then, tell me: what will your prayer, your plea to the gods be? Most treacherously wronged by your closest friends. Dent & Sons, 1920. Where shall I begin? The decision is yours and it is a brave one, I admit that. Why has their marriage brought about my death, father? Iphigeneia Will I go on my own or with mother? As she imagines Agamemnon killing Iphigenia, Clytemnestra. I told her to bring our daughter here so that she may marry Achilles. That in itself is your admission. Old Man And you know, too that I was part of your dowry when you married King Agamemnon. 402. Achilles Slave to whom? New troubles are now added upon those Im already suffering. Agamemnon Alone, darling. 1150. The play . Tears that come about from making our daughter a bride to Achilles. It is Hellas I must obey, darling, not Menelaos. Euripides (484 BCE - 406 BCE) Translated by Theodore Alois Buckley (1825 - 1856). The Aenians brought twelve ships, captained by their king, Gouneus; and beside them were moored the lords ofEliswhom everyone called Epeians. Wagner) / Akira Mori, conductor - Drake Symphony Orchestra / Recorded at Drake University, (date) Show more Show more Gluck. And Helen, Zeus daughter, will shed bitter tears, too, for betraying her husband. The whole place glitters with the bronze armour of the warriors. Whatever do you mean? Your old father-in-law, Tyndareus, gave me to your wife, Klytaimestra, as part of her dowry, to be her loyal servant. First Chorus The left flank of the Greek armada ended with the twelve trim and fast ships, led byAjaxwhose birthplace isSalamis. There is a small oil lamp on the table as well as various writing implements. She leans before him and embraces his knees. Be careful of one thing, Menelaos: Be careful when youre walking among the men not to let Klytaimestra find out anything about the sacrifice; at least not until after Ive sent my daughter to Hades. 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. Klytaimestra My question is nothing but reasonable. Iphigeneia Wish them joy for me and take good care of my little brother, Orestes for me. 1090. Iphigeneia Are you sending me to live with another family, daddy? Looking over the baby. When our esteemed prophet, Calchas, conducts his next sacrifice, when he will mingle his barley and his holy water upon the altar, he will pay bitterly for it! In his frenzy, he rushed about the whole ofGreece, calling upon everyone to remember Tyndareus solemn oath and to help him, since he was the wronged husband. Whether they treat me well or appallingly makes no difference to them. Leave now, Achilles. Agamemnon Zeus. Old Man You have dared to do a most frightening thing, my lord, Agamemnon! 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. Ive changed because of my love for my mothers son. What a shocking thing that would be! You shouldnt go against them! 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! We would be treating gods as fools if we thought that they would act kindly towards murderers. Menelaos Yes, you may well suffer now because I did break your seal and yes, I do know the secret trickery you were concocting! Agamemnon Achilles is acting in name only and not in deed. Theyre all just sitting idly around by the shore. Ah! Agamemnon It will take place at the most propitious time: When the moon completes its cycle again. Chorus Even though you were not raised among the sounds of the shepherds flute, even though you were raised, instead, by your mothers side, raised to be adorned one day as a bride to one of Iachus descendants, you, my young girl, will be dragged down like a spotted deer, or like a young heifer is dragged down from some rocky mountains cave, dragged down there to the goddess altar. Look there! Klytaimestra Why? Klytaimestra But it is rightfully yours, Achilles! Its an unbearable, harsh dread. 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. 500. By the goddess Hera, protector ofArgosand of marriage, I shall not do so! Klytaimestra Will he try and come here and drag my darling away, just like that, against her will? Can you see this stag, this animal that walks about in the mountains? Old Man Menelaos! Click anywhere in the And help me, too. The goddess son. No, he gave you life so that you may understand pain, as well as pleasure. What pain should I mention first or second, or last? Menelaos Leave! Klytaimestra Come, come, old man! 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. Effie (Sophie Melville) is a hard-nosed . Chorus There goes the girl with garlands on her hair and holy water upon her head! Tell me, Agamemnon: Tell me what will you say to someone who asks you why youve killed your daughter? Klytaimestra So, who raised the young Achilles, Thetis or his father? Image from Vermeule and Chapman (1971) Plate 71. What a terrible shame! Iphigeneia Stop! Enter Second Chorus of men and women, Attendants of Klytaimestra, Second Chorus Indicating behind the curtains (Stage Left) 590. May it be with you always, for helping the unfortunate! Im lost! Iphigenia I am ashamed to face Achilles. Let our friends here see how happy you make me. Agamemnon He lives in Phthia, by the river Apidanus. She was the Queen of the gods. Ah, but the common folk have it easy. Thats Achilles, my darling. It makes the mother love her child most deeply and she will defend it with her life. Only fools would pray to go down there. Dent & Sons, 1920. Its covered with a cloak. First Chorus There you were, Paris: a man brought up to be a cowherd, looking after the grazing, white cows of Ida with their heavy udders, playing Asian tunes in your reedy pipes, airs much like those Trojan songs from Mount Olympus when, suddenly, you had to judge between three goddesses; and it was this judging that has sent you to Helens ivory palace in Hellas. I am going to go and speak with your husband. The moment we got there with your daughter all the Greek soldiers gathered around us. Klytaimestra And is that where hell take our daughter? Ive also missed you! 583. Agamemnon Curse Calchas and his whole horde of glory-loving prophets! I see a throng of men approaching. Here she is but Ill do the talking for both of us. Oh! Brothers fight because of lust and because of greed in their inheritance. Klytaimestra Theyve tricked my daughter to her death by promising her to you in marriage. He walks slowly about the stage for a moment, anxiously searching the starry sky. Second Chorus They are the offspring of a great and most fortunate family. He lifted his cloak up and dug his face deep into it, trying to hide the tears that flooded his eyes. Iphigenia was sacrificed in the Boeotian harbor of Aulis, opposite the island of Euboea, or as others say, was saved at the last moment by Artemis, who substituted for her a deer or a bull at the altar, and transported her to Tauris where she later, having met his brother Orestes 2, was brought by him back home. All right, youve stopped me Im waiting. Youve forgotten them and so, now, you want to kill me. You saw the endless ships. Iphigeneia Mother, Im too ashamed to face Achilles. This last one, Helen, had received the most famous, the greatest sons of the whole ofHellasas her suitors ferocious threats of murder were uttered by those who had missed out on her. First Chorus Joy will come to those who share their marriage bed with the calm of Aphrodites love and not with the frenzy of Eros stinging arrows! This might turn out to be a blessing for us -. His head falls into his arms and he begins sobbing. IPHIGENIA Had I, my father, the persuasive voice Of Orpheus, and his skill to charm the rocks The second, Iphigenia at Aulis, so vastly different as to highlight the playwright's Protean invention, centres on the ultimate dysfunctional family, that of Agamemnon, as natural emotion is. What will you ask the gods to grant you as your knife cuts through your daughters throat? 303. I just couldnt get through to them! I dont understand, father. You have betrayed your own brother! . Why all this violence? "I envy you old man. I know, Im behaving as if I were some god towards you though Im a mere mortal. You write down some words, then you scratch them out and write other words in their place. The whole Greek army, Klytaimestra, thats who! Klytaimestra But tell me, good servant, where did you hear all this? 80. Buy used: $6.99. 86 Boston MFA 6.67. Can you see what the goddess has placed upon her altar? Miserable, Agamemnon says he has no choice. CLYTEMNESTRA Now hear me, for my thoughts will I unfold In no obscure and coloured mode of speech. But tell me what I must do. Klytaimestra Odysseus? Figure 2.2: Black-figure lekythos showing Iphigenia 89 led to the altar, c. 470 BCE. Now call her out here so she can follow me to the altar. If youre wise youll heed them; if not then, have no fear, I know how to settle my own affairs well. She will be begging me, my sweet young girl! Achilles Yes, it might be just that. Thats true, Ive changed and Ive changed because I love you, brother. 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. Lift your head up for me, darling, smile for me. Consistently, Menelaos No, they can do nothing if you secretly send her back toArgos. Let that act be what Ill be remembered by. An XML version of this text is available for download, What demon has taken possession of his mind? We also let the horses loose to drink and to graze at a meadow nearby. You were still the man she loved. If the gods are just, then they should reward just men like you. Your voice has horrified me! Give you my right hand? Come, then, Lord Agamemnon, make a start on the celebrations. But they cant, my darling daughter. Iphigenia at Aulis was first performed in 405 B.C.E., the year after Euripides' death. It all starts at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis (Achilles' parents) Thetis is divine, so they invite all the gods and goddesses, except Strife. All the women are frightened and turn towards it. 340. Full of joy and yet tears flow from your eyes 650. But I will talk: the strong ought to help the weak where they can, even if they have little to do with their plight. Her unexpected arrival has added to my ruin. Here we are, eagerly obedient to your wish! What has brought on all this anxiety? Theyd love to go precisely because they are mad. Iphigeneia Im not afraid to say this in front of everyone: Helen, Tyndareus daughter, has caused wars and the endless spilling of blood because of her body. The gods do strange things, madam, things that baffle us mortals but they save those they love. No fancy, confusing words for you. Still, if I fail? Iphigeneia Yes, mother, please let me run to him before you do. However, it is considered to be not an authentic part of the original text. Chorus Hell be able to confirm the messengers words. Hell grab her by her blond hair, if he has to and. 666 words. Klytaimestra Oh, no, child! Agamemnon That will be his decision. Wont you cry with me, Orestes? Pause. Has my husband gone insane? 919. Agamemnon What? Chorus He is the Trojan Ganymede, the loving delight of Zeus bed! For use by any theatrical, educational or cinematic organisation, however, including a non-commercial one, permission must be sought. First, come, give your father a kiss. Chiron, they cried out, Chiron who knows well the meaning of Apollos words, foretells that youll give Thessaly a son, a boy wholl be its brightest light. Here I am. Id rather live a life full of misery than die a heros death! The gods are no fools and they know when oaths are falsely pledged or forced upon people. How. i. Trans. Klytaimestra Hes an evil man, my husband. Dont be so afraid of the masses! I acted like a stupid child before but now I thought more deeply about what its really like to kill your own children. Old Man To stop you By then he had come back to his senses. Agamemnon We are brothers when we are doing what is reasonable, not when we do what is madness. The Theme of Heroism Achilles is often regarded as a great and mighty hero in Greek. We use cookies for essential site functions and for social media integration. Let me, instead, save Greece, if I can. Stay here with us, with all your children!