The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume I Part 20

ARKAS

Almost it seems so. True, he speaks not of thee, But casual words have taught me that the wish Thee to possess hath firmly seiz'd his soul; O leave him not a prey unto himself, Lest his displeasure, rip'ning in his breast, Should work thee woe, so with repentance thou Too late my faithful counsel shalt recall.

IPHIGENIA

How! doth the monarch purpose what no man Of n.o.ble mind, who loves his honest name, Whose bosom reverence for the G.o.ds restrains, Would ever think of? Will he force employ To drag me from the altar to his bed?

Then will I call the G.o.ds, and chiefly thee, Diana, G.o.ddess resolute, to aid me; Thyself a virgin, wilt a virgin shield, And to thy priestess gladly render aid.

ARKAS

Be tranquil! Pa.s.sion, and youth's fiery blood Impel not Thoas rashly to commit A deed so lawless. In his present mood, I fear from him another harsh resolve, Which (for his soul is steadfast and unmov'd) He then will execute without delay.

Therefore I pray thee, canst thou grant no more; At least be grateful--give thy confidence.

IPHIGENIA

Oh tell me what is further known to thee.

ARKAS

Learn it from him. I see the king approach: Him thou dost honor, thine own heart enjoins To meet him kindly and with confidence.

A man of n.o.ble mind may oft be led By woman's gentle word.

IPHIGENIA (_alone_)

How to observe His faithful counsel see I not in sooth.

But willingly the duty I perform Of giving thanks for benefits receiv'd, And much I wish that to the king my lips With truth could utter what would please his ear.

SCENE III

IPHIGENIA, THOAS

IPHIGENIA

Her royal gifts the G.o.ddess shower on thee Imparting conquest, wealth, and high renown Dominion, and the welfare of thy house, With the fulfilment of each pious wish, That thou, whose sway for mult.i.tudes provides, Thyself may'st be supreme in happiness!

THOAS

Contented were I with my people's praise; My conquests others more than I enjoy.

Oh! be he king or subject, he's most blest; Whose happiness is centred in his home.

My deep affliction thou didst share with me What time, in war's encounter, the fell sword Tore from my side my last, my dearest son; So long as fierce revenge possessed my heart, I did not feel my dwelling's dreary void; But now, returning home, my rage appeas'd, Their kingdom wasted, and my son aveng'd, I find there nothing left to comfort me.

The glad obedience I was wont to see Kindling in every eye, is smother'd now In discontent and gloom; each, pondering, weighs The changes which a future day may bring, And serves the childless king, because he must.

To-day I come within this sacred fane, Which I have often enter'd to implore And thank the G.o.ds for conquest. In my breast I bear an old and fondly-cherish'd wish, To which methinks thou canst not be a stranger; I hope, a blessing to myself and realm, To lead thee to my dwelling as my bride.

IPHIGENIA

Too great thine offer, king, to one unknown; Abash'd the fugitive before thee stands, Who on this sh.o.r.e sought only what thou gavest, Safety and peace.

THOAS

Thus still to shroud thyself From me, as from the lowest, in the veil Of mystery which wrapp'd thy coming here, Would in no country be deem'd just or right.

Strangers this sh.o.r.e appall'd; 'twas so ordain'd, Alike by law and stern necessity.

From thee alone--a kindly welcom'd guest, Who hast enjoy'd each hallow'd privilege, And spent thy days in freedom unrestrain'd-- From thee I hop'd that confidence to gain Which every faithful host may justly claim.

IPHIGENIA

If I conceal'd, O king, my name, my race, It was embarra.s.sment, and not mistrust.

For didst thou know who stands before thee now, And what accursed head thine arm protects, Strange horror would possess thy mighty heart; And, far from wishing me to share thy throne, Thou, ere the time appointed, from thy realm Wouldst banish me; wouldst thrust me forth, perchance Before a glad reunion with my friends And period to my wand'rings is ordain'd, To meet that sorrow, which in every clime, With cold, inhospitable, fearful hand, Awaits the outcast, exil'd from his home.

THOAS

Whate'er respecting thee the G.o.ds decree, Whate'er their doom for thee and for thy house, Since thou hast dwelt amongst us, and enjoy'd The privilege the pious stranger claims, To me hath fail'd no blessing sent from heaven; And to persuade me, that protecting thee I shield a guilty head, were hard indeed.

IPHIGENIA

Thy bounty, not the guest, draws blessings down.

THOAS

The kindness shown the wicked is not blest.

End then thy silence, priestess; not unjust Is he who doth demand it. In my hands The G.o.ddess placed thee; thou hast been to me As sacred as to her, and her behest Shall for the future also be my law: If thou canst hope in safety to return Back to thy kindred, I renounce my claims: But is thy homeward path for ever closed-- Or doth thy race in hopeless exile rove, Or lie extinguish'd by some mighty woe-- Then may I claim thee by more laws than one.

Speak openly, thou know'st I keep my word.

IPHIGENIA

Its ancient bands reluctantly my tongue Doth loose, a long hid secret to divulge; For once imparted, it resumes no more The safe asylum of the inmost heart, But thenceforth, as the powers above decree, Doth work its ministry of weal or woe.

Attend! I issue from the t.i.tan's race.

THOAS

A word momentous calmly hast thou spoken.

Him nam'st thou ancestor whom all the world Knows as a sometime favorite of the G.o.ds?

Is it that Tantalus, whom Jove himself Drew to his council and his social board?

On whose experienc'd words, with wisdom fraught, As on the language of an oracle, E'en G.o.ds delighted hung?

IPHIGENIA

'Tis even he; But the immortal G.o.ds with mortal men Should not, on equal terms, hold intercourse; For all too feeble is the human race, Not to grow dizzy on unwonted heights.

Ign.o.ble was he not, and no betrayer; To be the Thunderer's slave, he was too great; To be his friend and comrade,--but a man.

His crime was human, and their doom severe; For poets sing, that treachery and pride Did from Jove's table hurl him headlong down To grovel in the depths of Tartarus.

Alas, and his whole race must bear their hate.

THOAS

Bear they their own guilt, or their ancestor's?

IPHIGENIA