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IPHIGENIA
Some of thy train send with me。
THOAS
These shall go；
Attending thee。
IPHIGENIA
One to the city send。
THOAS
With what instructions charged？
IPHIGENIA
That all remain
Within their houses。
THOAS
That the stain of blood
They meet not？
IPHIGENIA
These things have pollution in them。
THOAS
Go thou； and bear the instructions。
（An attendant departs。）
IPHIGENIA
That none come
In sight；
THOAS
How wisely careful for the city！
IPHIGENIA
Warn our friends most。
THOAS
This speaks thy care for me。
IPHIGENIA
Stay thou before the shrine。
THOAS
To what intent？
IPHIGENIA
Cleanse it with lustral fires。
THOAS
That thy return
May find it pure？
IPHIGENIA
But when the strangers come
Forth from the temple；…
THOAS
What must I then do？
IPHIGENIA
Spread o'er thine eyes a veil。
THOAS
That I receive not
Pollution？
IPHIGENIA
Tedious if my stay appear；…
THOAS
What bounds may be assign'd？
IPHIGENIA
Deem it not strange。
THOAS
At leisure what the rites require perform。
IPHIGENIA
May this lustration as I wish succeed！
THOAS
Thy wish is mine。
（ORESTES and PYLADES； bound； are led from the temple in
solemn procession by the guards。 THOAS and his retinue
veil their heads as it slowly moves past。）
IPHIGENIA （chanting）
But from the temple； see；
The strangers come； the sacred ornaments；
The hallow'd lambs…for I with blood must wash
This execrable blood away；…the light
Of torches； and what else my rites require
To purify these strangers to the goddess。
But to the natives of this land my voice
Proclaims； from this pollution far remove；
Art thou attendant at the shrine； who liftest
Pure to the gods thy hands； or nuptial rites
Dost thou prepare； or pregnant matron； hence；
Begone； that this defilement none may touch。
Thou； daughter of Latona and high Jove；
O royal virgin； if I cleanse the stain
Of these； and where I ought with holy rites
Address thee； thou shalt hold thy residence
In a pure mansion； we too shall be bless'd。
More though I speak not； goddess； unexpress'd；
All things to thee and to the gods are known。
（IPHIGENIA； carrying the statue； joins the procession as is goes
out。 THOAS and his retinue enter the temple。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe
Latona's glorious offspring claims the song；
Born the hallow'd shades among；
Where fruitful Delos winds her valleys low；
Bright…hair'd Phoebus； skill'd to inspire
Raptures； as he sweeps the lyre；
And she that glories in the unerring bow。
From the rocky ridges steep；
At whose feet the hush'd waves sleep；
Left their far…famed native shore；
Them the exulting mother bore
To Parnassus； on whose heights
Bacchus shouting holds his rites；
Glittering in the burnish'd shade；
By the laurel's branches made；
Where the enormous dragon lies；
Brass his scales； and flame his eyes；
Earth…born monster； that around
Rolling guards the oracular ground；
Him； while yet a sportive child；
In his mother's arms that smiled；
Phoebus slew； and seized the shrine
Whence proceeds the voice divine：
On the golden tripod placed；
Throne by falsehood ne'er disgraced；
Where Castalia's pure stream flows；
He the fates to mortal shows。
antistrophe
But when Themis； whom of yore
Earth； her fruitful mother； bore；
From her hallow'd seat he drove；
Earth to avenge her daughter strove；
Forming visions of the night；
Which； in rapt dreams hovering light；
All that Time's dark volumes hold
Might to mortal sense unfold；
When in midnight's sable shades
Sleep the silent couch invades：
Thus did Earth her vengeance boast。
His prophetic honours lost；
Royal Phoebus speeds his flight
To Olympus； on whose height
At the throne of Jove he stands；
Stretching forth his little hands；
Suppliant that the Pythian shrine
Feel no more the wrath divine；
That the goddess he appease；
That her nightly visions cease。
Jove with smiles beheld his son
Early thus address his throne；
Suing with ambitious pride
O'er the rich shrine to preside；
He； assenting； bow'd his head。
Straight the nightly visions fled；
And prophetic dreams no more
Hover'd slumbering mortals o'er：
Now to Phoebus given again；
All his honours pure remain；
Votaries distant regions send
His frequented throne to attend：
And the firm decrees of fate
On his faithful voice await。
（A MESSENGER enters。）
MESSENGER
Say you； that keep the temple； and attend
The altar； where is Thoas； Scythia's king？
Open these strong…compacted gates； and cal
Forth from the shrine the monarch of the land。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Wherefore？ at thy command if I must speak。
MESSENGER
The two young men are gone； through the device
Of Agamemnon's daughter： from this land
They fly； and； in their Grecian galley placed；
The sacred image of the goddess bear。
LEADER
Incredible thy tale： but whom thou seek'st；
The monarch； from the temple went in haste。
MESSENGER
Whither？ for what is doing he should know。
LEADER
We know not： but go thou； and seek for him：
Where'er thou find him； thou wilt tell him this。
MESSENGER
See； what a faithless race you women are！
In all that hath been done you have a part。
LEADER
Sure thou art mad！ what with the strangers' flight
Have we to do？ But wilt thou not； with all
The speed thou mayst； go to the monarch's house？
MESSENGER
Not till I first am well inform'd； if here
Within the temple be the king； or not。
（Shouting）
Unbar the gates （to you within I speak）；
And tell your lord that at the portal here
I stand； and bring him tidings of fresh ills。
（THOAS and his attendants enter from the temple。）
THOAS
Who at the temple of the goddess dares
This clamour raise； and； thundering at the gates；
Strikes terror through the ample space within？
MESSENGER
With falsehoods would these women drive me hence；
Without to seek thee： thou wast in the shrine。
THOAS
With what intent？ or what advantage sought？
MESSENGER
Of these hereaf