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.OrestesWho will sacrifice me and dare such a dreadful deed ?IphigeniaI will; for I hold the office of this goddess.OrestesIt is not envied, lady, and not blessed.IphigeniaBut I am dedicated to necessity, which must be kept.OrestesDo you yourself, a woman, sacrifice men with the sword?IphigeniaNo; but I sprinkle the holy water around your hair.OrestesWho is the slayer? If I may ask this.IphigeniaThat charge belongs to those within this temple.OrestesWhat sort of tomb will receive me, when I die?IphigeniaThe sacred fire within and the wide hollow of a cave.OrestesAh! Would that my sister’s hand might lay out my body!IphigeniaYou 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.OrestesThis 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.PyladesAn unenviable fate indeed for a friend, when his friend is to die.

ChorusO 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.OrestesBy the gods, Pylades, do you feel the same thing I do?PyladesI do not know; I have no reply to your question.