Stasimon 5
[Episode]
Lead me away, the destroyer of Ilium’s town and the Phrygians; give me wreaths to cast about me; bring them here; here are my tresses to crown; bring lustral water too.
1475
Iphigenia
Dance to Artemis, queen Artemis the blest, around her shrine and altar; for by the blood of my sacrifice I will blot out the oracle,
1480
O mother, lady revered! I will, not give you my tears;
for at the holy rites it is not fitting.Lines 1488-90 are assigned by some editors to the Chorus, but there seems little reason for the arrangement.
1490
Sing with me, maidens, sing the praises of Artemis, whose temple faces Chalcis,
where angry spearmen madly chafe, here in the narrow havens of Aulis, because of me.
1495
O Pelasgia, land of my birth, and Mycenae, my home!
Chorus
Is it on Perseus’ citadel you call, that town Cyclopean workmen built?
1500
Iphigenia
To be a light to Hellas did you rear me, and so I do not say No to death.
Chorus
You are right; no fear that fame will ever desert you!
Iphigenia
Hail to you, bright lamp of day and light of Zeus! A different life, a different lot is henceforth mine. Farewell I bid you, light beloved! Exit Iphigenia. .
1505
Chorus
Behold the maiden on her way, the destroyer of Ilium’s town and the Phrygians, with garlands twined about her head, and drops of lustral water on her, soon to be sprinkled with her gushing blood
1510
the altar of a murderous goddess, when her shapely neck is severed.Lines 1514-16 read διαίμονος with Markland for γε δαίμονοσ; ῥανοῦσαν, Markland for θανοῦσαν; and omit τε with Bothe after εὐφυᾶ.
1515
For you fair streams of a father’s pouring and lustral waters are in store, for you Achaea’s army is waiting, eager
to reach the citadel of Ilium. But let us celebrate Artemis, the daughter of Zeus, queen among the gods, as if upon some happy chance.
1520
O lady revered, delighting in human
sacrifice, send on its way to Phrygia’s land the army of the Hellenes, to Troy’s abodes of guile, and grant that Agamemnon may wreathe his head with deathless fame,
1525
a crown of fairest glory for the spearmen of Hellas.
1530
Messenger
Come forth, O Clytemnestra, daughter of Tyndareus, from the tent, to hear my news.
Clytemnestra
I heard your voice and have come
in sad dismay and fearful dread, not sure but what you have arrived with tidings of some fresh trouble for me besides the present woe.
1535
Messenger
No, rather I want to unfold to you a strange and marvellous story about your child.
Clytemnestra
Do not delay, then, but speak at once.
Messenger
Dear mistress, you shall learn all clearly; from the outset will I tell it, unless my memory fails me somewhat and confuses my tongue in its account. As soon as we reached the grove of Artemis, the child of Zeus, and the flowery meadows,
1540
where the Achaean troops were gathered, bringing your daughter with us, at once the Argive army began assembling; but when king Agamemnon saw the maiden on her way to the grove to be sacrificed, he gave one groan, and, turning away his face, let the tears burst
1545
from his eyes, as he held his robe before them. But the maid, standing close by her father, spoke thus: O my father, here I am; willingly I offer my body for my country and all Hellas,
1550
that you may lead me to the altar of the goddess and sacrifice me, since this is Heaven’s ordinance. May good luck be yours for any help that I afford! and may you obtain the victor’s gift and come again to the land of your fathers. So then let none of the Argives lay hands on me,
1555
for I will bravely yield my neck without a word.
1560
She spoke; and each man marvelled, as he heard the maiden’s brave speech. But in the midst Talthybius stood up, for this was his duty, and bade the army refrain from word or deed;
