IPHIGENIA IN TAURIS
Long ready for a friend of mine who lives there?
My words were written down by one who died
A victim here and yet was sorry for me, 585
Blaming his death on Artemis, not me.
No one had come from Hellas till you came,
No Greek who might be spared and take my letter. 590
But you are gentle, you are the very man
To carry it. You know the names of places
And of persons dear to me. And so I ask
Your help and in return could grant your life,
With one condition—that your friend shall pay 595
The price the state exacts for Artemis.
Orestes
Strange lady, you have made a fair proposal
Save in that one respect. What would my life
Be worth to me, gained by forsaking a friend?
I am the captain of this misadventure
And he the loyal shipmate who stayed by me. 600
A sorry ending if he paid the cost
And I rejected my own enterprise!
Your errand shall be done—but not by me.
Give him your confidence, give him your letter.
To you it makes no difference which of us
Carries your message home. To me it would make
No difference when or how my life should finish
If through continuing it, saving it, 605
I brought disaster on a friend and knew
No honor left in me, no faith, no love.
Besides, this man is dear to me, his life
Is even closer to me than my own.
Iphigenia
Your heart is made of gold. You must have come
From some great seed, to be so true a friend. 610
If only the last member of my line
Be such as you! I have a brother living,
Though face to face with him, I should not know him.
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