Thoas Where is the gate-keeper of this temple, the woman of Hellas? Has she already begun the rites on the strangers? Are they glowing with fire in the holy sanctuary?
Chorus Leader Here she is, to tell you everything clearly, lord.
Thoas Oh! Daughter of Agamemnon, why have you lifted up in your arms the statue of the goddess from its pedestal that must not be moved?
Iphigenia Lord, stand there in the entrance!
Thoas Iphigenia, what has happened in the temple?
Iphigenia I spit out the pollution; I say this for Holiness.
Thoas What is this news in your introduction? Tell it clearly.
Iphigenia The victims you caught for me are not pure, lord.
Thoas What taught you this? Or are you only saying what you think?
Iphigenia The image of the goddess turned back from its place.
Thoas By itself, or did an earthquake turn it?
Iphigenia By itself; it closed up its eyes.
Thoas What was the reason? Was it the uncleanness of the strangers?
Iphigenia That was the reason, and nothing else; for they have done dreadful things.
Thoas What, have they killed one of the barbarians on the shore?
Iphigenia They come with murder done at home.
Thoas What murder? For I strongly want to know.
Iphigenia They killed their mother together with their swords.
Thoas Apollo! No barbarian would have dared this.
Iphigenia They were driven in pursuit from all of Hellas.
Thoas Is it for this that you bring the statue outside?
Iphigenia Yes, to the holy air, to remove it from slaughter.
Thoas How did you know the blood-pollution of the strangers?
Iphigenia I questioned them, because the image of the goddess had turned back.
Thoas Hellas has brought you up to be clever; how well you understood this.
Iphigenia And yet they dangled a sweet lure for my heart.
Thoas Reporting to you some charm of news from Argos?
Iphigenia That Orestes, my only brother, is happy.
Thoas So that you might save them, for the delight of their messages.
Iphigenia And that my father is alive and doing well.
Thoas But you turned to the goddess, with reason.
Iphigenia Yes, for I hate all Hellas, which has ruined me.
Thoas Tell me, what shall we do with the strangers?
Iphigenia We must reverence the law as it stands.
Thoas But the libations and your sword are not at work?
Iphigenia First I want to wash them, with holy purification.
Thoas In fountain waters, or the drops of the sea?
Iphigenia The sea washes away all men’s evils.
Thoas They would certainly be holier victims for the goddess.
Iphigenia And in this way my plans would succeed better.
Thoas Doesn’t the wave beat against this very temple?
Iphigenia This requires solitude; and I shall do more.
Thoas Then where you wish; I do not want to see what should not be seen.
Iphigenia I must purify the image of the goddess also.
Thoas Yes, if a stain from the matricide has fallen on it.
Iphigenia For I would not have lifted it from its base otherwise.
Thoas Your piety and forethought are correct.
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