aeschylus - Conscious Evolution TV

a deliverance from trouble for the two survivors of
the house of Atreus?
Ch. This that I have seen with mine eyes, not
merely heard men tell may rank with miracles; 'tis
stranger than fiction.
Py. Orestes, it is natural for friends to embrace
each other when they meet, but thou must leave
lamenting and face that other question as well, how
we are to escape from this savage land, with our
safety honourably secured. For the wise man's way,
when once he gets a chance, is not to indulge in
pleasures foreign to it, abandoning his fortune.
Or. Thou art right; and fortune, I feel sure, is bent
on helping our efforts here; for if a man exerts himself,
the gods naturally have greater power.
Ip. (To PYLA DES) Thou shalt not stop me or prevent
me from first inquiring how Electra fares; for
any news of her will be welcome to me.
Or. Here is her husband (pointing 10 PYLA DES),
with whom she leads a happy life.
Ip. What is his country? who his sire?
Or. His father's name is Strophius, a Phocian.
Ip. Why then, he is the son of Atreus' daughter
and my kinsman?
Or. Thy cousin, yes; my one loyal friend.
Ip. He was not born, when my father sought my
life.
Or. No, for Strophius had no son for some time.
Ip. My sister's husband, hail!
Or. My saviour too and no mere kinsman.
Ip. How didst thou bring thyself to that awful
deed regarding our mother?
Or. Let us say nothing of the deed; 'twas my
vengeance for my sire.
Ip. What was her reason for slaying her husband?
Or. Forego our mother's story; 'tis no tale for thy
ears.
Ip. I say no more; but does Argos now look up to
thee?
Or. Menelaus is king, and I an exile from my
country.
Ip. Surely our uncle never so insulted our afflicted
house?
Or. No, but the fear of the avenging fiends drives
me from the land.
Ip. Then that explains the story of thy madness
even here upon the beach.
Or. This is not the first time I have been seen in
my misery.
Ip. I understand; the goddesses were chasing thee
on account of thy mother's murder.
Or. To put a bloody bridle in my mouth.
Ip. But why was it to this land thou didst guide
thy steps?
Or. I came obedient to an oracle of Pha:bus.
Ip. With what intent? Is it a secret or may it be
told?
Or. I will tell thee. All my sorrows date from this;
after my mother's punishment-of which I say nothing-had
devolved on me, I was chased ·into exile
by vengeful fiends in hot pursuit, till Loxias at last
guided my footsteps to Athens to make atonement
IPHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURI 944-1002
to the unnamed goddesses; for there is there a holy
tribunal, which Zeus set up one day to try Arcs for
some pollution, it is said. Now, on my arrival at
Athens, not one of my friends was ready to receive
me at first, as a man abhorred by Heaven; afterwards
they, who had pity on me, supplied me with
stranger's cheer at a table apart, being in the same
room with me, but by their silence they contrived
to exclude me from conversation, that I might keep
aloof from their eating and drinking; and, filling
each man's cup with the same measure of wine for
all, they were enjoying themselves. I meantime did
not presume to question my hosts, but was sorrowing
in silence and pretending not to notice it, though
grieving bitterly that I was my mother's murderer.
Moreover, I hear that amongst the Athenians my
misfortunes have become the occasion for a festival,
and the custom yet survives of the people of Pallas
honouring the pitcher. But when I came to Ares'
hill and stood my trial, I on one platform, the eldest
of the vengeful fiends upon the other, Pha:bus, having
made his speech and heard the evidence about
my mother's murder, saved me by his testimony,
and Pallas, counting out the votes in her hand, made
them equal for me; so I came off triumphant in the
murder-trial. Thereon as many of the avenging fiends
as agreed with the verdict and were for settling
there, resolved to have a temple close to the tribunal;
but such of them as concurred not with the
precedent, continued to persecute me in restless pursuit,
till once again I sought the hallowed soil of
Pha:bus, and stretching myself starving before his
shrine, I swore to end my life then and there, unless
he who had ruined me would find me salvation;
whereupon the voice of Pha:bus pealed from his
golden tripod, and he sent me hither to fetch the
image, which fell from heaven, and set it up in Attica.
Help me then to compass the means of safety
he has appointed me; for if I can secure the image of
the goddess, I shall not only cease from my mad fits,
but setting out on well-rowed ship restore thee to
Myceme once again. Ah! my sister, well-beloved!
preserve thy father's house and send me hence in
safety; for I and the fortunes of Pelops' race are
utterly undone, unless we secure the image of the
goddess, that fell from heaven.
Ch. Some god's dire anger once burst forth against
the seed of Tantalus, and it is leading them through
trouble.
Ip. It was long my eager wish, brother, even before
thy coming, to be at Argos and see thee face to
face; and my desire is thine, to set thee free from
suffering and restore my father's stricken house, harbouring
no angry thoughts towards him who would
have slain me; for so should I be spared thy blood
and save my house; but how am I to elude the goddess,
and the king, when he finds the stone pedestal
robbed of its image? That is my fear. How shall I
escape death? what account can I give? If thou canst
combine the acts of carrying off the image and placing
me upon thy gallant ship, the risk becomes worth
running; but, once I am separated from it, I am lost,