stock, and are rightly a friend to your friends! May that one of my relatives who is left be such as you! For I am not without a brother, strangers, except in so far as I do not see him. Since you wish it, I will send this man with the tablet, and you will die; a great eagerness for this seems to possess you. Orestes Who will sacrifice me and dare such a dreadful deed ? Iphigenia I will; for I hold the office of this goddess. Orestes It is not envied, lady, and not blessed. Iphigenia But I am dedicated to necessity, which must be kept. Orestes Do you yourself, a woman, sacrifice men with the sword? Iphigenia No; but I sprinkle the holy water around your hair. Orestes Who is the slayer? If I may ask this. Iphigenia That charge belongs to those within this temple. Orestes What sort of tomb will receive me, when I die? Iphigenia The sacred fire within and the wide hollow of a cave. Orestes Ah! Would that my sister’s hand might lay out my body! Iphigenia You have prayed in vain, unhappy youth, whoever you are; for she lives far from a barbarian land. Yet indeed, since you happen to be an Argive , I too will not leave out any favor that I can do. I will set much ornament on the tomb and quench your body with yellow oil, and throw onto your funeral pyre the gleaming honey, that streams from flowers, of the tawny mountain bee. But I will go and bring the tablet from the temple of the goddess; take care not to bear me ill-will. Guard them, attendants, without chains. Perhaps I will send unexpected news to one of my friends, whom I especially love, in Argos ; and the tablet, in telling him that those whom he thought dead are alive, will report a joy that can be believed. Exit Iphigenia. Chorus (to Orestes.) I raise a lament for you; the drops from the holy water, mingled with blood, will soon take you into their care. Orestes This is not a case for pity, but farewell, strangers. Chorus (to Pylades.) We honor you, young man, for your happy fate, because you will tread on your native land some day. Pylades An unenviable fate indeed for a friend, when his friend is to die. Chorus O cruel mission! Ah, ah! You are destroyed! Alas, alas! Which is better? For still my mind disputes a double argument, shall I mourn for you or rather for you. Orestes By the gods, Pylades, do you feel the same thing I do? Pylades I do not know; I have no reply to your question.