IPHIGENIA IN TAURIS
The door! Is the king there? Tell him to hurry! 1305
Tell him a soldier's out here—with bad news.
(He beats at the door. The door opens and
Thoas appears.)
Thoas
Why are you making this ungodly uproar?
Everyone's in a panic!
The Soldier
These women lied!
They said that you had left, they lied to me, 1310
Tried not to let me find you!
Thoas
"What do you mean?
Why should they wish—
The Soldier
That will come later. Listen,
Oh listen first to me, listen to this!
Your Priestess, Iphigenia! She has freed
The prisoners! They've stolen Artemis! 1315
The ocean ceremony was a trick.
Thoas
But why should she be playing tricks on me?
The Soldier
To save Orestes. Yes, I said Orestes!
Thoas
Orestes? What Orestes? Not her brother?
The Soldier
Whom we had brought to you for Artemis. 1320
Thoas
But that's impossible! How can I grasp it?
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