Iphigenia in Tauris Part 4

And love and courage are the spirit's wings Wafting to n.o.ble actions.

ORESTES.

n.o.ble actions?

Time was, when fancy painted such before us!

When oft, the game pursuing, on we roam'd O'er hill and valley; hoping that ere long With club and weapon arm'd, we so might track The robber to his den, or monster huge.

And then at twilight, by the gla.s.sy sea, We peaceful sat, reclin'd against each other The waves came dancing to our very feet.

And all before us lay the wide, wide world.

Then on a sudden one would seize his sword, And future deeds shone round us like the stars, Which gemm'd in countless throngs the vault of night.

PYLADES.

Endless, my friend, the projects which the soul Burns to accomplish. We would every deed At once perform as grandly as it shows After long ages, when from land to land The poet's swelling song hath roll'd it on.

It sounds so lovely what our fathers did, When, in the silent evening shade reclin'd, We drink it in with music's melting tones; And what we do is, as their deeds to them, Toilsome and incomplete!

Thus we pursue what always flies before; We disregard the path in which we tread, Scarce see around the footsteps of our sires, Or heed the trace of their career on earth.

We ever hasten on to chase their shades, Which G.o.dlike, at a distance far remote, On golden clouds reclin'd, the mountains crown.

The man I prize not who esteems himself Just as the people's breath may chance to raise him.

But thou, Orestes, to the G.o.ds give thanks, That they have done so much through thee already.

ORESTES.

When they ordain a man to n.o.ble deeds, To shield from dire calamity his friends, Extend his empire, or protect its bounds, Or put to flight its ancient enemies, Let him be grateful! For to him a G.o.d Imparts the first, the sweetest joy of life.

Me have they doom'd to be a slaughterer, To be an honour'd mother's murderer, And shamefully a deed of shame avenging.

Me through their own decree they have o'erwhelm'd.

Trust me, the race of Tantalus is doom'd; Nor may his last descendant leave the earth, Or crown'd with honour or unstain'd by crime.

PYLADES.

The G.o.ds avenge not on the son the deeds Done by the father. Each, or good or bad, Of his own actions reaps the due reward.

The parents' blessing, not their curse, descends.

ORESTES.

Methinks their blessing did not lead us here.

PYLADES.

It was at least the mighty G.o.ds' decree.

ORESTES.

Then is it their decree which doth destroy us.

PYLADES.

Perform what they command, and wait the event.

Do thou Apollo's sister bear from hence, That they at Delphi may united dwell, Rever'd and honour'd by a n.o.ble race: Thee, for this deed, the heav'nly pair will view With gracious eye, and from the hateful grasp Of the infernal Powers will rescue thee.

E'en now none dares intrude within this grove.

ORESTES.

So shall I die at least a peaceful death.

PYLADES.

Far other are my thoughts, and not unskill'd Have I the future and the past combin'd In quiet meditation. Long, perchance, Hath ripen'd in the counsel of the G.o.ds The great event. Diana wish d to leave This savage region foul with human blood.

We were selected for the high emprize; To us it is a.s.sign'd, and strangely thus We are conducted to the threshold here.

ORESTES.

My friend, with wondrous skill thou link'st thy wish With the predestin'd purpose of the G.o.ds.

PYLADES.

Of what avail is prudence, if it fail Heedful to mark the purposes of Heaven?

A n.o.ble man, who much hath sinn'd, some G.o.d Doth summon to a dangerous enterprize, Which to achieve appears impossible.

The hero conquers, and atoning serves Mortals and G.o.ds, who thenceforth honour him.

ORESTES.

Am I foredoom'd to action and to life, Would that a G.o.d from my distemper'd brain Might chase this dizzy fever, which impels My restless steps along a slipp'ry path, Stain'd with a mother's blood, to direful death; And pitying, dry the fountain, whence the blood, For ever spouting from a mother's wounds, Eternally defiles me!

PYLADES.

Wait in peace!

Thou dost increase the evil, and dost take The office of the Furies on thyself.

Let me contrive,--be still! And when at length The time for action claims our powers combin'd, Then will I summon thee, and on we'll stride, With cautious boldness to achieve the event.

ORESTES.

I hear Ulysses speak!

PYLADES.

Nay, mock me not.

Each must select the hero after whom To climb the steep and difficult ascent Of high Olympus. And to me it seems That him nor stratagem nor art defile Who consecrates himself to n.o.ble deeds.

ORESTES.

I most esteem the brave and upright man.

PYLADES.

And therefore have I not desir'd thy counsel.

One step is ta'en already: from our guards I have extorted this intelligence.

A strange and G.o.dlike woman now restrains The execution of that b.l.o.o.d.y law: Incense, and prayer, and an unsullied heart, These are the gifts she offers to the G.o.ds.

Her fame is widely spread, and it is thought That from the race of Amazon she springs, And hither fled some great calamity.

ORESTES.

Her gentle sway, it seems, lost all its power At the approach of one so criminal, Whom the dire curse enshrouds in gloomy night.

Our doom to seal, the pious thirst for blood Again unchains the ancient cruel rite: The monarch's savage will decrees our death; A woman cannot save when he condemns.

PYLADES.

That 'tis a woman is a ground for hope!

A man, the very best, with cruelty At length may so familiarize his mind, His character through custom so transform, That he shall come to make himself a law Of what at first his very soul abhorr'd.

But woman doth retain the stamp of mind She first a.s.sum'd. On her we may depend In good or evil with more certainty.

She comes; leave us alone. I dare not tell At once our names, nor unreserv'd confide Our fortunes to her. Now retire awhile, And ere she speaks with thee we'll meet again.

SCENE II.

IPHIGENIA. PYLADES.

IPHIGENIA.

Whence art thou? Stranger, speak! To me thy bearing Stamps thee of Grecian, not of Scythian race.

(_She unbinds his chains._) The freedom that I give is dangerous: The G.o.ds avert the doom that threatens you!