Messenger O you that guard the temple and stand by the altar, where has Thoas, the lord of this land, gone? Open the well-fastened gates, and call forth from this shrine the ruler of the land.
Chorus Leader What is it, if I may speak when not commanded?
Messenger The two young men are gone away, through the plots of Agamemnon’s daughter; they are escaping from this land, with the holy image deep within a Hellene ship.
Chorus Leader What you say is incredible; but the one you want to see, the lord of the country, has gone in haste from the temple.
Messenger Where? For he should know what has been done.
Chorus Leader We don’t know; but go after him, and report these things to him where you find him.
Messenger See, what a faithless race you women are! You also have a share in what has been done.
Chorus Leader You are mad! What do we have to do with the flight of the strangers? Go as quickly as you can to the ruler’s door!
Messenger No! Not until this interpreter brings word if the king is inside or not. Ho there! Unbar the doors—I am speaking to those within— and inform the master that I am at the gate with a burden of bad news.
Thoas Who is raising this clamor at the temple of the goddess, striking at the gates and sending his noise within?
Messenger Ah! These women told me that you were outside; they would have driven me away from the temple, but you were inside after all.
Thoas What advantage were they expecting and hunting after?
Messenger I will tell you about them later; hear what is currently at hand. The girl who presided at this altar, Iphigenia, has left the country with the strangers, and takes with her the holy statue of the goddess; the purification was a cheat.
Thoas What are you saying? What influence in her character brought her to this?
Messenger To save Orestes; here is a marvel for you!
Thoas To save whom? Clytemnestra’s son?
Messenger The one whom the goddess was dedicating to herself at this altar.
Thoas Marvelous! for what more can it be called?
Messenger Do not think of that, but listen to me; consider it clearly and when you hear, devise a pursuit to hunt down the strangers.
Thoas Speak; you have said well; for their flight is not so brief a voyage as to escape my spear.
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