Here is the body that your wife has given birth to. What a dreadful thought to have in your mind! Klytaimestra Well? Achilles I do, my lady and I can see its a horrible thing for you to endure. I wont let anyone take your life even though it would be against your wish. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License. Daughter of Tyndareus! That! How dare you! First Chorus We have left behind our land, Chalkis, a land washed by the salty waters of glorious Arethousa and weve travelled through the narrow straights of Euripus to come here, toAulis, to this sandy peninsula. The play is co-produced by the Court Theatre of Chicago, directed by Charles Newell, and translated by Nicholas Rudall. Klytaimestra These are lovely words, Agamemnon but what of your deeds? First Chorus Atreas son, Menelaos, brought with him fromMycenae, the city built by the Cyclopes, one hundred ships and all the sailors to man them. First Chorus We saw him, racing in full armour upon the shells of the shore, in a contest against a chariot pulled by a team of four horses, a contest out of which he came victorious. The gods deserted you and they wouldnt give you a favourable wind for our sails. First Chorus Ships fromPhocisand Locris were also there in similar numbers and their captain was Oileus whose city is the famous Thronium. They picked up their spears, strapped on their armour, and rushed over here, inAulis, with ships, troops, and a huge number of horses and chariots. What an awful Fate the gods have delivered to you! Difficult. Then, without anyone forcing you, totally of your accord and dont claim it wasnt- you had sent a letter to your wife to bring Iphigenia here, in the pretence that shed be marrying Achilles. I, the destroyer of Priams city and its people! Thats where all the gods held the wedding feast. i. Trans. You, too, my lord are a mortal and, whether you like it or not, this is how the gods want it: mortals must taste the good along with the bad. Out here, in front of the tent! To the lowly and weak mortals, the fortunate always appear like gods. Where is the army going? Agamemnon, her father will sacrifice her to the goddess Artemis. From now on I will live there in that other world. Then Achilles, Peleas son, took the golden basket and the holy water in his hands and ran around the goddess altar, chanting. 640. Why has their marriage brought about my death, father? Youll be standing right there at the altar. So, calm yourself now, Klytaimestra. 1260. They will say that even though you werent wedded to her, you were still the poor virgins promised husband. Ah! 1580. We use cookies for essential site functions and for social media integration. Achilles Not if Ill have anything to say about it! 1540. First Chorus I sped through Artemis woods, a place rich with sacrifices, my youthful shyness blushing my cheeks, anxious to see the armys might, the tents of the Greeks and their countless horses. You, Agamemnon, are doing what countless others have also done in public life: While theyre in power they put up enormous efforts to keep it but then, when the public makes a stupid decision sometimes understandably so because the leader is too weak to lead the State- these public figures fall all in a heap and they disgrace themselves! 1440. 378. I do but you dont! Menelaos How else, then, can you, Agamemnon, prove that we are brothers? 80. The first one to call you father, the first one you called daughter. Achilles I know, I have a bloated pride, madam but I can assure you, I feel the pain of misfortune and the joy of success with a wise temper, a moderate temper; because I also know that those with a moderate temper lead a wiser life. Why where do they say the Phrygians live, father? Agamemnon to trick Iphigenia into coming to Aulis. My home! There is nothing that I would not do for my darling Iphigeneia. My death will bring about all this liberation and my good name will live into eternity. Up there is my final argument. Save your child! Enter a Perseus citation to go to another section or work. And I? My baby boy, Orestes, will also be there and he, too, will cry. All the women are frightened and turn towards it. Iphigeneia Are you sending me to live with another family, daddy? The whole Greek army, Klytaimestra, thats who! I could not. Achilles Weighty words, old man! Ive changed because of my love for my mothers son. Come out here immediately! What a sweet joy! Its a meadow full of bright and beautiful flowers. A real miracle! Iphigenia in Aulis [2] | Monologue - Performer Stuff On my part, I wish you all happiness and may you return to the land of your fathers victorious. Iphigenia O mother that bore me! Achilles Yes, many and theyll be lead by Odysseus! Details. Darling, darling little brother! Whats with this flushed face of yours? Enter AGAMEMNON and ATTENDANT. Where has the strength of the face of Modesty or of Virtue gone? Me, Leda's daughter, hapless dame, First blooming offspring of her bed. I just heard your voice from inside and came out to greet you. Oh, your poor cheeks, your poor beautiful, golden hair, your youthful breasts! Give me your hand, my dear child. I saw you trying to write it by the light of that lamp there. Are these amazing words the words of a delirious woman? Dont bother making a long speech about it, husband! IPHIGENIA: Had I, my father, the persuasive voice Of Orpheus, and his skill to charm the rocks To follow me, and soothe whome'er I please With winning words, I would make trial of it; But I have nothing to present thee now Save tears, my only eloquence; and those I can present thee. Click anywhere in the Here, father, here is the body of a suppliant! Think nothing of it! Why all this violence? Dont waste any time! Abominable creature! July 4, 2022 . Your fathers holy water is waiting for you! I told her to bring our daughter here so that she may marry Achilles. She goes over to her mother and takes baby Orestes in her arms. Greece is lucky to have you as one of her daughters I envy her and I envy you because you are lucky to have Greece as your mother. Mother, I see a group of men coming towards us! Give thanks to the goddess Hope! Iphigeneia Hands Orestes back to her mother. Klytaimestra So, who raised the young Achilles, Thetis or his father? Its not proper for young girls to be in the public eye for too long. Let me hug him tightly against my breast before you do! Youre the son of a god and I am a mere mortal! Here, take him into your arms for the last time. It was written sometime between 408 and 406 BCE (the date of his death) and was first produced in the year following his death, where it won first place at the Athenian City Dionysia contest. She runs her hand over his chin, over his right hand. They might be from the wagon that is bringing the girl here, to the Greek ships. IPHIGENIA: Had I, my father, the persuasive voice Of Orpheus, and his skill to charm the rocks To follow me, and soothe whome'er I please With winning words, I would make trial of it; But I have nothing to present thee now Save tears, my only eloquence; and those I can present thee. Chorus How the dance-loving lyre and the enchanting notes of the reedy flute brought the fair haired Muses up from their home, the Pierian Springs, to the top of Mount Pelios! Come, tell me, share your story with me. Go! Iphigeneia Of course. 90. 'The Sacrifice of Iphigenia' and Agamemnon's Dilemma: In - Medium Agamemnon I have failed miserably! I see. Oh, Achilles! Klytaimestra Odysseus? Chorus Even though you were not raised among the sounds of the shepherds flute, even though you were raised, instead, by your mothers side, raised to be adorned one day as a bride to one of Iachus descendants, you, my young girl, will be dragged down like a spotted deer, or like a young heifer is dragged down from some rocky mountains cave, dragged down there to the goddess altar. Before the play begins: The background of Iphigeneia at Aulis is the Trojan War. You were totally bewildered by the change of your luck! Effie (Sophie Melville) is a hard-nosed . Dont waste time kissing my hand. Hes gone mad only so far as your daughter and you are concerned. Shhhh listen to me! Chorus Let Agamemnon place a crown upon the head of Greece and let him be crowned in turn! Theyre bound to serve someone well, sometime. Agamemnon dares to commit a most dreadful deed! What can I possibly say now? Klytaimestra The whole army? This is very dangerous indeed, my lord! 1010. Klytaimestra Come, come, old man! Soldiers who have been gathered together, away from the chores of their homes and are idle have malice and gossip ready at their tongue. 1500. . Iphigenia decides to sacrifice her life for the glory of Greece. Iphigenia in Aulis (a.k.a. 1020. Old Man My lady, you know who I am and just how loyal Ive been to you and your children. I offer my body to my country and to the rest of Greece, willingly. Copyright 2000-2023 A. S. Kline, All Rights Reserved. First Chorus The right wing of this naval force was taken up by the fifty swift ships of the war-loving Myrmidons from Phthia. They will speak badly of you if you do not help her. Iphigenia was sacrificed in the Boeotian harbor of Aulis, opposite the island of Euboea, or as others say, was saved at the last moment by Artemis, who substituted for her a deer or a bull at the altar, and transported her to Tauris where she later, having met his brother Orestes 2, was brought by him back home. First Chorus Their captain was Eurytus. Chorus He said your daughter is still alive, my lady! In order to appease her and sail on to Troy, Agamemnon was forced to sacrifice his daughter, Iphigenia; the Chorus describes in detail her pitiful cries for mercy as her father's men cut her throat. Klytaimestra May the gods give your heart strength! Now go inside, my good man and everything will happen according to the will of Fate. Klytaimestra Thats what a mob is like! Achilles, stay! Menelaos I was waiting to see if your daughter would leaveArgosto come to the army camp. I I am shocked, my lady! First Chorus Our husbands told us they are all gathered here, under the helm of Agamemnon and his fair haired brother, Menelaos, noblemen both, preparing to launch an expedition againstTroy. I ask only for a modest share of Aphrodites love; let it be not excessive! His servants use the other. It was there, at that meadow, that these three women came before Paris to put an end to their dire contest about which of them was the most beautiful. Or else, we might as well call Mount Sipylus, the Asian city where his barbarous ancestors came from a great city and wipe out of our mind the name of Phthia! Chorus Then the Greeks shall tie a garland around your fair hair and stain your human throat with your own blood. line to jump to another position: The Annenberg CPB/Project provided support for entering this text. Come on, wont you beg your father not to kill your big sister? Now come out of Agamemnons tent. What has brought on all this anxiety? Achilles The whole army wants her your daughter- killed! Where is the leader of the Greek army? Agamemnon I, with all the Greeks as witnesses shall give Iphigeneia away. Can you see what the goddess has placed upon her altar? Stay here. What? You both know the size of the army gathered here. You used to ask me, I wonder, my darling, will I get to see you married one day, married and settled happily in your husbands home, your life ever blossoming, making me proud of you? And Id touch your chin, my father, hang from your beard, father, like Im doing now and say, and what about you, father, will I get to see you, father, an old man, visiting me at my house, ready for me to repay you for your hard work in raising me?, No, you dont remember these words, father. Tell me what plan I should adopt! Menelaos First, look at me in the eye and then Ill tell you! You shouldnt go against them! If he doesn't go through with the sacrifice, the army will rise up, sacrifice her, and kill their entire family.