IPH. To do what thing? Is it one to be spoken of or kept in silence?
OR. I will tell you, but these are the beginning for me of many[125] woes.
After these evil things concerning my mother, on which I keep silence, had
been wrought, I was driven an exile by the pursuits of the Erinnyes, when
Loxias sent my foot[126] to Athens, that I might render satisfaction to the
deities that must not be named. For there is a holy council, that Jove once
on a time instituted for Mars on account of some pollution of his
hands.[127] And coming thither, at first indeed no one of the strangers
received me willingly, as being abhorred by the Gods, but they who had
respect to me, afforded me[128] a stranger's meal at a separate table,
being under the same house roof, and silently devised in respect to me,
unaddressed by them, how I might be separated from their banquet[129] and
cup, and, having filled up a share of wine in a separate vessel, equal for
all, they enjoyed themselves. And I did not think fit to rebuke my guests,
but I grieved in silence, and did not seem to perceive [their conduct,]
deeply groaning, because I was my mother's slayer.[130] But I hear that my
misfortunes have been made a festival at Athens, and that this custom still
remains, that the people of Pallas honor the Libation Vessel.[131] But when
I came to the hill of Mars, and stood in judgment, I indeed occupying one
seat, but the eldest of the Erinnyes the other, having spoken and heard
respecting my mother's death, Phœbus saved me by bearing witness, but
Pallas counted out for me[132] the equal votes with her hand, and I came
off victor in the bloody trial.[133] As many then as sat [in judgment,]
persuaded by the sentence, determined to hold their dwelling near the court
itself.[134] But as many of the Erinnyes as did not yield obedience to the
sentence passed, continually kept driving me with unsettled wanderings,
until I again returned to the holy ground of Phœbus, and lying stretched
before the adyts, hungering for food, I swore that I would break from life
by dying on the spot, unless Phœbus, who had undone, should preserve me.
Upon this Phœbus, uttering a voice from the golden tripod, sent me hither
to seize the heaven-sent image, and place it in the land of Athens. But
that safety which he marked out for me do thou aid in. For if we can lay
hold on the image of the Goddess, I both shall cease from my madness, and
embarking thee in the bark of many oars, I shall settle thee again in
Mycenæ. But, O beloved one, O sister mine, preserve my ancestral home, and
preserve me, since all my state and that of the Pelopids is undone, unless
we seize on the heavenly image of the Goddess.
CHOR. Some dreadful wrath of the Gods hath burst forth, and leads the seed
of Tantalus through troubles.[135]
IPH. I entertained the desire to reach Argos, and behold thee, my brother,
even before thou camest. But I wish, as you do, both to save thee, and to
restore again our sickening ancestral home from troubles, in no wise wrath
with him who would have slain me. For I should both release my hand from
thy slaughter, and preserve mine house. But I fear how I shall be able to
escape the notice of the Goddess and the king, when he shall find the stone
pedestal bared of the image. And how shall I escape death? What account can
I give? But if indeed these matters can be effected at once, and thou wilt
bear away the image, and lead me in the fair-pooped ship, the risk will be
a glorious one. But separated from this I perish, but you, arranging your
own affairs, would obtain a prosperous return. Yet in no wise will I fly,
not even if I needs must perish, having preserved thee. In no wise, I
say;[136] for a man who dies from among his household is regretted, but a
woman is of little account.
OR. I would not be the murderer both of thee and of my mother. Her blood is
enough, and being of the same mind with you, [with you] I should wish,
living or dying, to obtain an equal lot. †But I will lead thee, even though
I myself fall here, to my house, or, remaining with thee, will die.[137]†
But hear my opinion. If this had been disagreeable to Diana, how would
Loxias have answered, that I should remove the image of the Goddess to the
city of Pallas, and behold thy face? For, putting all these matters
together, I hope to obtain a return.
IPH. How then can it happen that neither you die, and that we obtain what
we wish? For it is in this respect that our journey homeward is at fault,
but the will is not wanting.
OR. Could we possibly destroy the tyrant?
IPH, Thou tellest a fearful thing, for strangers to slay their receivers.
OR. But if it will preserve thee and me, one must run the risk.
IPH. I could not--yet I approve your zeal.
OR. But what if you were secretly to hide me in this temple?
IPH. In order, forsooth, that, taking advantage of darkness, we might be
saved?
OR. For night is the time for thieves, the light for truth.
IPH. But within are the sacred keepers,[138] whom we can not escape.
OR. Alas! we are undone. How can we then be saved?
IPH. I seem to have a certain new device.
OR. Of what kind? Make me a sharer in your opinion, that I also may learn.
IPH. I will make use of thy ravings as a contrivance.
OR. Ay, cunning are women to find out tricks.
IPH. I will say that thou, being slayer of thy mother, art come from Argos.
OR. Make use of my troubles, if you can turn them to account.
IPH. I will say that it is not lawful to sacrifice thee to the Goddess.
OR. Having what pretext? For I partly suspect.
IPH. As not being pure, but I will [say that I will][139] give what is holy
to sacrifice.
OR. How then the more will the image of the Goddess be obtained?
IPH. I [will say that I] will purify thee in the fountains of the sea.
OR. The statue, in quest of which, we have sailed, is still in the temple.
IPH. And I will say that I must wash that too, as if you had laid hands on
it.
OR. Where then is the damp breaker of the sea of which you speak?
IPH. Where thy ship rides at anchor with rope-bound chains.
OR. But wilt thou, or some one else, bear the image in their hands?
IPH. I, for it is lawful for me alone to touch it.
OR. But in what part of this contrivance will our friend Pylades[140] be
placed?
IPH. He will be said to bear the same pollution of hands as thyself.
OR. And wilt thou do this unknown to, or with the knowledge of the king?
IPH. Having persuaded him by words, for I could not escape notice.