Iphigenia Which of you is called by the name of Pylades? I want to know this first.
Orestes That one, if you have any pleasure in the knowledge.
Iphigenia Of what city of Hellas were you born a citizen?
Orestes What would you gain by learning this, lady?
Iphigenia Are you brothers, from one mother?
Orestes By friendship, yes; we are not brothers by birth, lady.
Iphigenia What name did your father give you?
Orestes I might rightly be called Unfortunate.
Iphigenia I do not ask that; ascribe that to fortune.
Orestes If I die unnamed, I would not be mocked at.
Iphigenia Why do you begrudge this? Are you so proud?
Orestes You will sacrifice my body, not my name.
Iphigenia Can you not say what city you are from?
Orestes You are seeking nothing profitable, since I am going to die.
Iphigenia What hinders you from doing me this favor?
Orestes The famous Argos I claim as my native land.
Iphigenia By the gods, truly, stranger, were you born there?
Orestes Yes, from Mycenae, which was once prosperous.
Iphigenia Have you left your country as an exile, or by what fate?
Orestes My flight is in some manner willed and unwilled.
Iphigenia Could you then tell me something that I wish to know?
Orestes It will be no great addition to my own misfortune.
Iphigenia Indeed, I am so glad that you have come from Argos!
Orestes I am not; but if you are, take pleasure in it.
Iphigenia Perhaps you know Troy, whose fame is everywhere.
Orestes Would that I did not, even seen in a dream!
Iphigenia They say it is no more, lost to the spear.
Orestes It is so; you have heard nothing that has not happened.
Iphigenia Has Helen come back to Menelaus’ home?
Orestes She has; it was an unfortunate arrival for one dear to me.
Iphigenia And where is she? She deserves an ill turn from me also.
Orestes She lives at Sparta with her former bedfellow.
Iphigenia Creature hated by Hellas, not by me alone!
Orestes I have also had some benefit from the marriage of that woman!
Iphigenia Have the Achaeans returned, as reported?
Orestes How you put everything together and ask me all at once!
Iphigenia Before you die, I want to profit by your answers.
Orestes Question me, since you desire this; I will tell you.
Iphigenia Has a certain Calchas, a prophet, come back from Troy?
Orestes He is dead, as the story goes in Mycenae.
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