IPHIGENEIA IN TAURICA.
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Orestes.
To thrust a bloody bridle in my mouth. 935
Iphigeneia.
Wherefore to this land didst thou steer thy foot?
Orestes.
Bidden of Phœbus' oracle I came.
Iphigeneia.
With what intent? May this be told or no?
Orestes.
Nay, I will tell it, source of many a woe.[1]
When to mine hands' avenging fell the sin 940
I name not, of my mother, chasing fiends
Drave me to exile, until Loxias
Guided my feet to Athens at the last,
To make atonement to the Nameless Ones.
For there is a tribunal, erst ordained 945
Of Zeus, to cleanse the War-god's blood-stained hands.[2]
Thither I came: but no bond-friend at first
Would welcome me, as one abhorred of heaven.
They which took shame,[3] at a several table gave
- ↑ Or, "I'll tell it: here begins a tale of woes."
- ↑ See Electra, 1258–63.
- ↑ Or, "felt compassion." Divided between their shrinking from the murderer, and their fear of violating the laws of hospitality, they adopted the expedient of having a separate table for every guest, (thus making no invidious distinction), and, instead of the usual great mixing-bowl, from which wine-and-water was ladled into all the cups, a separate
