Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/256

228 I gave up all to him, obeyed his words,

My mother slew—and perish now myself!

Thine shall a tomb be: ne'er will I betray

Thy sister's bed, O hapless: I shall still

Hold thee a dearer friend in death than life.

Yet thee hath the God's oracle not yet

Destroyed, albeit thou standest hard by death.

Nay, misery's blackest night may chance, may chance,

By fortune's turn, to unfold a sudden dawn.

Peace! Phœbus' words avail me nothing now;

For yonder forth the temple comes the maid.

Enter Iphigeneia.

Depart ye, and within make ready all

For them whose office is the sacrifice.

Strangers, my letter's many-leavèd folds

Are here: but that which therebeside I wish

Hear:—in affliction is no man the same

As when he hath passed from fear to confidence.

I dread lest, having gotten from this land,

He who to Argos should my tablet bear

Shall set my letter utterly at nought.

What wouldst thou then? Why thus disquieted?

Let him make oath to bear to Argos this

To them to whom I fain would send my script.