HKB
Straight on up the steeps of gold Where the joyous Sun in fire doth run, Till the wings should faint and fold O'er the house that was mine of old:
Or watch where the glade below With a marriage dance doth glow, And a child will glide from her mother's side Out, out, where the dancers flow: As I did, long ago.
Oh, battles of gold and rare Raiment and starred hair, And bright veils crossed amid tresses tossed In a dusk of dancing air! O Youth and the days that were!
[enter KING THOAS, with soldiers.]
THOAS. Where is the warden of this sacred gate, The Greek woman? Is her work ended yet With those two strangers? Do their bodies lie Aflame now in the rock-cleft sanctuary?
LEADER. Here is herself, O King, to give thee word. enter, from the temple, IPHIGENIA, carrying the image on high.
THOAS. How, child of Agamemnon! Hast thou stirred From her eternal base, and to the sun Bearest in thine own arms, the Holy One?
IPHIGENIA. Back Lord! No step beyond the pillared way.
THOAS. But how? Some rule is broken?
IPHIGENIA. I unsay That word. Be all unspoken and unwrought!
THOAS. What means this greeting strange? Disclose thy thought.
IPHIGENIA. Unclean the prey was that ye caught, O King.
THOAS. Who showed thee so? Thine own imagining?
IPHIGENIA. The Image stirred and shuddered from its seat.
THOAS. Itself? ... Some shock of earthquake loosened it.
IPHIGENIA. Itself. And the eyes closed one breathing space.
THOAS. But why? For those two men's bloodguiltiness?
IPHIGENIA. That, nothing else. For, Oh, their guilt is sore.
THOAS. They killed some of my herdsmen on the shore?
IPHIGENIA. Their sin was brought from home, not gathered here.
THOAS. What? I must know this.--Make thy story clear.
IPHIGENIA. (she puts the image down and moves nearer to thoas.) The men have slain their mother.
THOAS. God! And these Be Greeks!
IPHIGENIA They both are hunted out of Greece.
THOAS. For this thou has brought the Image to the sun?
IPHIGENIA. The fire of heaven can cleanse all malison.
THOAS. How didst thou first hear of their deed of shame?
IPHIGENIA. When the Image hid its eyes, I questioned them.
THOAS. Good. Greece hath taught thee many a subtle art.
IPHIGENIA. Ah, they too had sweet words to move my heart.
THOAS. Sweet words? How, did they bring some news of Greece?
IPHIGENIA. Orestes, my one brother, lives in peace.
THOAS. Surely! Good news to make thee spare their lives ...
IPHIGENIA. My father too in Argos lives and thrives.
THOAS. While thou didst think but of the goddess' laws!
IPHIGENIA. Do I not hate all Greeks? Have I not cause?
THOAS. Good cause. But now ... What service should be paid?
IPHIGENIA. The Law of long years needs must be obeyed.
THOAS. To work then, with thy sword and handwashing!
IPHIGENIA. First I must shrive them with some cleansing thing.
THOAS. What? Running water, or the sea's salt spray?
IPHIGENIA. The sea doth wash all the world's ills away.
THOAS. For sure. 'Twill make them cleaner for the knife.
IPHIGENIA. And my hand, too, cleaner for all my life.
THOAS. Well, the waves lap close by the temple floor.
IPHIGENIA. We need a secret place. I must do more.
THOAS. Some rite unseen? 'Tis well. Go where thou wilt.
IPHIGENIA. The Image likewise must be purged of guilt.
THOAS. The stain hath touched it of that mother's blood?
IPHIGENIA. I durst not move it else, from where it stood.
THOAS. How good thy godliness and forethought! Aye, Small wonder all our people holds thee high.
IPHIGENIA. Dost know then what I fain would have?
THOAS. 'Tis thine to speak and it shall be.
IPHIGENIA. Put bondage on the strangers both ...
THOAS. Why bondage? Whither can they flee?
IPHIGENIA. Put not thy faith in any Greek.
THOAS (to ATTENDANTS). Ho, men! Some thongs and fetters, go!