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Euripides · Iphigenia in Tauris Ἰφιγένεια ἐν Ταύροις

Euripides, Iphigenia in Tauris 900–938: Second episode: Pylades urges caution; Orestes tells of Electra and the Furies

Ancient Sources / Euripides / Iphigenia in Tauris / 900–938

The Chorus Leader says that the event surpasses a fable, and Pylades urges that they leave off wailing and turn to the matter of safety. Iphigenia asks about Electra, and learns that she is married to Pylades. Orestes says that he is an exile driven by the Furies, and that he has come to this land at the command of Apollo's oracle.

Lines 900–938 · 398 words · click a number to copy its link
900–938
Χορός 900ἐν τοῖσι θαυμαστοῖσι καὶ μύθων πέρα τάδʼ εἶδον αὐτὴ κοὐ κλύουσʼ ἀπαγγελῶ. Πυλάδης τὸ μὲν φίλους ἐλθόντας εἰς ὄψιν φίλων, Ὀρέστα, χειρῶν περιβολὰς εἰκὸς λαβεῖν· λήξαντα δʼ οἴκτων κἀπʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ἐλθεῖν χρεών, 905ὅπως τὸ κλεινὸν ὄνομα τῆς σωτηρίας λαβόντες ἐκ γῆς βησόμεσθα βαρβάρου. σοφῶν γὰρ ἀνδρῶν ταῦτα, μὴ ʼκβάντας τύχης, καιρὸν λαβόντας, ἡδονὰς ἄλλας λαβεῖν. Ὀρέστης καλῶς ἔλεξας· τῇ τύχῃ δʼ οἶμαι μέλειν 910τοῦδε ξὺν ἡμῖν· ἢν δέ τις πρόθυμος ᾖ, σθένειν τὸ θεῖον μᾶλλον εἰκότως ἔχει. Ἰφιγένεια μηδέν μʼ ἐπίσχῃ γʼ· οὐδʼ ἀποστήσει λόγου, πρῶτον πυθέσθαι τίνα ποτʼ Ἠλέκτρα πότμον εἴληχε βιότου· φίλα γὰρ ἔστε πάντʼ ἐμοί. Ὀρέστης 915τῷδε ξυνοικεῖ βίον ἔχουσʼ εὐδαίμονα. Ἰφιγένεια οὗτος δὲ ποδαπὸς καὶ τίνος πέφυκε παῖς; Ὀρέστης Στρόφιος ὁ Φωκεὺς τοῦδε κλῄζεται πατήρ. Ἰφιγένεια ὁ δʼ ἐστί γʼ Ἀτρέως θυγατρός, ὁμογενὴς ἐμός; Ὀρέστης ἀνεψιός γε, μόνος ἐμοὶ σαφὴς φίλος. Ἰφιγένεια 920οὐκ ἦν τόθʼ οὗτος ὅτε πατὴρ ἔκτεινέ με. Ὀρέστης οὐκ ἦν· χρόνον γὰρ Στρόφιος ἦν ἄπαις τινά. Ἰφιγένεια χαῖρʼ ὦ πόσις μοι τῆς ἐμῆς ὁμοσπόρου. Ὀρέστης κἀμός γε σωτήρ, οὐχὶ συγγενὴς μόνον. Ἰφιγένεια τὰ δεινὰ δʼ ἔργα πῶς ἔτλης μητρὸς πέρι; Ὀρέστης 925σιγῶμεν αὐτά· πατρὶ τιμωρῶν ἐμῷ. Ἰφιγένεια ἡ δʼ αἰτία τίς ἀνθʼ ὅτου κτείνει πόσιν; Ὀρέστης ἔα τὰ μητρός· οὐδὲ σοὶ κλύειν καλόν. Ἰφιγένεια σιγῶ· τὸ δʼ Ἄργος πρὸς σὲ νῦν ἀποβλέπει; Ὀρέστης Μενέλαος ἄρχει· φυγάδες ἐσμὲν ἐκ πάτρας. Ἰφιγένεια 930οὔ που νοσοῦντας θεῖος ὕβρισεν δόμους; Ὀρέστης οὔκ, ἀλλʼ Ἐρινύων δεῖμά μʼ ἐκβάλλει χθονός. Ἰφιγένεια ταῦτʼ ἆρʼ ἐπʼ ἀκταῖς κἀνθάδʼ ἠγγέλης μανείς; Ὀρέστης ὤφθημεν οὐ νῦν πρῶτον ὄντες ἄθλιοι. Ἰφιγένεια ἔγνωκα· μητρός σʼ οὕνεκʼ ἠλάστρουν θεαί. Ὀρέστης 935ὥσθʼ αἱματηρὰ στόμιʼ ἐπεμβαλεῖν ἐμοί. Ἰφιγένεια τί γάρ ποτʼ ἐς γῆν τήνδʼ ἐπόρθμευσας πόδα; Ὀρέστης Φοίβου κελευσθεὶς θεσφάτοις ἀφικόμην. Ἰφιγένεια τί χρῆμα δράσειν; ῥητὸν ἢ σιγώμενον;

Chorus Leader It is marvelous and surpasses a fable, this event that I myself have seen and shall relate, not as hearsay.

Pylades When friends come into the sight of friends, Orestes, it is reasonable to embrace; but we must leave off wailing and turn to other matters: how we shall get the glorious name of safety and leave the foreign land. For wise men take opportunities, and do not overstep their fate to get other pleasures.

Orestes Well said; but I think fortune will take care of that with us; when one is eager, divine strength is likely to be greater.

Iphigenia Let nothing hold me back; nor will it prevent me speaking before I first find out Electra’s fate, for you are all dear to me.

Orestes She lives with this man, and has a happy life.

Iphigenia What country is he from, and who is his father?

Orestes Strophius of Phocis is the name of his father.

Iphigenia He is related to me, by the daughter of Atreus?

Orestes He is a cousin, and my only true friend.

Iphigenia He was not born when my father tried to kill me.

Orestes He was not; for Strophius was childless for some time.

Iphigenia Welcome, husband of my sister!

Orestes And also my savior, not only a relation.

Iphigenia But how did you dare that dreadful deed with our mother?

Orestes Let us be silent on that; I was avenging my father.

Iphigenia What reason did she have to kill her husband?

Orestes Let our mother’s affairs be; nor is it good for you to hear.

Iphigenia I am silent; does Argos now look to you?

Orestes Menelaus rules there; I am an exile from my country

Iphigenia Our uncle has surely not maltreated our afflicted house, has he?

Orestes No, but fear of the Furies drives me out of the land.

Iphigenia That was the madness that they reported there on the shore?

Orestes That was not the first time that I was seen to be wretched.

Iphigenia I know; the goddesses were driving you for the sake of your mother.

Orestes So as to put a bloody bit in my mouth.

Iphigenia Why have you made a journey to this land?

Orestes I have come at the commands of Phoebus’ oracles.

Iphigenia To do what? Can you speak of it, or must you be silent?

People and places in this passage

Passages in other works that tell of the same people and places, oldest and closest first.

  1. Euripides, Orestes 729–785bFourth episode: Pylades arrives; he has been banished by his father
  2. Aeschylus, Libation Bearers 479–584End of the kommos: Clytaemestra's dream and Orestes' plan
  3. Euripides, Orestes 211–267First episode: Orestes wakes and hears that Menelaus has come
  4. Aeschylus, Libation Bearers 892–930Episode: Orestes confronts Clytaemestra
  5. Sophocles, Electra 1288–1383Fourth episode (cont.): the Paedagogus urges haste
  6. Sophocles, Electra 1098–1170Fourth episode: Orestes brings the urn; Electra's lament

English translation by Edward P. Coleridge (1891). Original text: Greek text: Gilbert Murray (ed.), Euripidis Fabulae, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913, as digitised by Perseus. English: Edward P. Coleridge, The Plays of Euripides, London: George Bell and Sons, first published 1891 (Bohn's Classical Library; the Perseus header records a later printing).

Greek text and translation from the Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Perseus Digital Library); translation public domain. Introductions, summaries and notes © GreekMythology.com.

Iphigenia in Tauris 900–938: Pylades urges caution