Stasimon 5
[Episode]
Lead me away, the destroyer of Ilium’s town and the Phrygians; give me wreaths to cast about me; bring them here; here are my tresses to crown; bring lustral water too.
1475
Iphigenia
Dance to Artemis, queen Artemis the blest, around her shrine and altar; for by the blood of my sacrifice I will blot out the oracle,
1480
O mother, lady revered! I will, not give you my tears;
for at the holy rites it is not fitting.Lines 1488-90 are assigned by some editors to the Chorus, but there seems little reason for the arrangement.
1490
Sing with me, maidens, sing the praises of Artemis, whose temple faces Chalcis,
where angry spearmen madly chafe, here in the narrow havens of Aulis, because of me.
1495
O Pelasgia, land of my birth, and Mycenae, my home!
Chorus
Is it on Perseus’ citadel you call, that town Cyclopean workmen built?
1500
Iphigenia
To be a light to Hellas did you rear me, and so I do not say No to death.
Chorus
You are right; no fear that fame will ever desert you!
Iphigenia
Hail to you, bright lamp of day and light of Zeus! A different life, a different lot is henceforth mine. Farewell I bid you, light beloved! Exit Iphigenia. .
1505
Chorus
Behold the maiden on her way, the destroyer of Ilium’s town and the Phrygians, with garlands twined about her head, and drops of lustral water on her, soon to be sprinkled with her gushing blood
1510
the altar of a murderous goddess, when her shapely neck is severed.Lines 1514-16 read διαίμονος with Markland for γε δαίμονοσ; ῥανοῦσαν, Markland for θανοῦσαν; and omit τε with Bothe after εὐφυᾶ.
1515
For you fair streams of a father’s pouring and lustral waters are in store, for you Achaea’s army is waiting, eager
to reach the citadel of Ilium. But let us celebrate Artemis, the daughter of Zeus, queen among the gods, as if upon some happy chance.
1520
O lady revered, delighting in human
sacrifice, send on its way to Phrygia’s land the army of the Hellenes, to Troy’s abodes of guile, and grant that Agamemnon may wreathe his head with deathless fame,
1525
a crown of fairest glory for the spearmen of Hellas.
1530
Messenger
Come forth, O Clytemnestra, daughter of Tyndareus, from the tent, to hear my news.
