Eksodos
Messenger
O you that guard the temple and stand by the altar,
where has Thoas, the lord of this land, gone? Open the well-fastened gates, and call forth from this shrine the ruler of the land.
1285
Chorus Leader
What is it, if I may speak when not commanded?
Messenger
The two young men are gone away,
through the plots of Agamemnon’s daughter; they are escaping from this land, with the holy image deep within a Hellene ship.
1290
Chorus Leader
What you say is incredible; but the one you want to see, the lord of the country, has gone in haste from the temple.
Messenger
Where? For he should know what has been done.
1295
Chorus Leader
We don’t know; but go after him, and report these things to him where you find him.
Messenger
See, what a faithless race you women are! You also have a share in what has been done.
Chorus Leader
You are mad! What do we have to do the the flight of the strangers? Go as quickly as you can to the ruler’s door!
1300
Messenger
No! Not until this interpreter brings word if the king is inside or not. Ho there! Unbar the doors—I am speaking to those within—
and inform the master that I am at the gate with a burden of bad news.
1305
Thoas
(appearing at the temple door.) Who is raising this clamor at the temple of the goddess, striking at the gates and sending his noise within?
Messenger
Ah! These women told me that you were outside; they would have driven me away from the temple,
but you were inside after all.
1310
Thoas
What advantage were they expecting and hunting after?
Messenger
I will tell you about them later; hear what is currently at hand. The girl who presided at this altar, Iphigenia, has left the country
with the strangers, and takes with her the holy statue of the goddess; the purification was a cheat.
1315
Thoas
What are you saying? What influence in her character brought her to this?
Messenger
To save Orestes; here is a marvel for you!
