Stasimon 2
[Episode]
let anyone who wishes kill me. It is most shameful for anyone to save himself by hurling his friends’ affairs into catastrophe. That man is my friend, and I wish him to live, no less than myself.
605
Iphigenia
O brave spirit! How you were born from some noble
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.
610
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.
615
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.
620
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?
625
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,
630
of the tawny mountain bee.
635
But I will go and bring the tablet from the temple of the goddess; take care not to bear me ill-will.
