Iphigenia in Tauris Euripides Translated by Robert Potter eBooks ...

That I receive not
Pollution
IPHIGENIA
Tedious if my stay appear,-
THOAS
What bounds may be assign'd
IPHIGENIA
Deem it not strange.
THOAS
At leisure what the rites require perform.
IPHIGENIA
May this lustration as I wish succeed!
THOAS
Thy wish is mine.
(ORESTES and PYLADES, bound, are led from the temple in solemn procession by the guards.
THOAS and his retinue veil their heads as it slowly moves past.)
IPHIGENIA (chanting)
But from the temple, see,
The strangers come, the sacred ornaments,
The hallow'd lambs-for I with blood must wash
This execrable blood away,-the light
Of torches, and what else my rites require
To purify these strangers to the goddess.
But to the natives of this land my voice
Proclaims, from this pollution far remove,
Art thou attendant at the shrine, who liftest
Pure to the gods thy hands, or nuptial rites
Dost thou prepare, or pregnant matron; hence,
Begone, that this defilement none may touch.
Thou, daughter of Latona and high Jove,
O royal virgin, if I cleanse the stain
Of these, and where I ought with holy rites
Address thee, thou shalt hold thy residence
In a pure mansion; we too shall be bless'd.
More though I speak not, goddess, unexpress'd,
All things to thee and to the gods are known.
(IPHIGENIA, carrying the statue, joins the procession as is goes out. THOAS and his retinue enter
the temple.)
CHORUS (singing)
Latona's glorious offspring claims the song,
Born the hallow'd shades among,
Where fruitful Delos winds her valleys low;
Bright-hair'd Phoebus, skill'd to inspire
Raptures, as he sweeps the lyre,
And she that glories in the unerring bow.
From the rocky ridges steep,
At whose feet the hush'd waves sleep,
Left their far-famed native shore,