Stasimon 2
[Episode]
Silence; the words of Phoebus are no benefit to me; here comes the woman out of the temple.
Iphigenia
(to the guard.) Go away and make the preparations within for those who attend to the sacrifice.
725
Here are the many folds of the tablet, strangers. Hear what I want in addition. No man is the same when he is in troubles
and when he falls out of fear into courage. I am afraid that when the one who is going to take this tablet to Argos leaves this land, he will put aside my letter as worth nothing.
730
Orestes
What do you want, then? What are you perplexed about?
Iphigenia
Let him give me an oath that he will convey this letter to Argos, to the friends to whom I wish to send it.
735
Orestes
And will you give in return the same words to him?
Iphigenia
To do what, or refrain from doing? Tell me.
Orestes
To send him from this barbarous land alive.
Iphigenia
What you say is right; how else could he deliver it?
740
Orestes
Will the king agree to this?
Iphigenia
Yes. I will persuade the king, and I myself will put this man on the ship.
Orestes
(to Pylades.) Swear; begin a pious oath.
Iphigenia
(to Pylades.) You must say: I will give this to your friends.
Pylades
I will give this letter to your friends.
745
Iphigenia
And I will see you safely outside the dark rocks.
Pylades
What god do you do you swear by, as witness to your oath?
Iphigenia
Artemis, in whose temple I hold office.
Pylades
And I swear by the king of heaven, revered Zeus.
Iphigenia
But if you leave off your oath, and wrong me?
750
Pylades
May I not return. What about you, if you do not save me?
Iphigenia
May I never set foot in Argos alive.
Pylades
Now listen to a consideration we have passed over.
Iphigenia
But it will be something new, if it is good.
Pylades
Give me this exception: if the ship suffers and the tablet is lost with its cargo in the waves, and I rescue myself only, may this oath not hinder me.
755
Iphigenia
Do you know what I will do? For many attempts hit many targets.
I will tell you what is written in the folds of this tablet for you to report to my friends. For this is secure: if you preserve the writing, itself, though silent, will speak its message; if the writing is lost in the sea,
760
when you save yourself, you will save my words.
765
Pylades
You have spoken well, on behalf of the gods and me. Make clear to whom I must bring this letter in Argos, and what I must say when I have heard it from you.
Iphigenia
Report to Orestes, the son of Agamemnon:
