And tell the chiefs, and we be seized by force.
But when the eye of murky night is come,110
That carven image must we dare to take
Out of the shrine with all the craft we may.
Mark thou betwixt the triglyphs a void space
Whereby to climb down. Brave men on all toils
Adventure; nought are cowards anywhere.115
Have we come with the oar a weary way,
And from the goal shall we turn back again?
Orestes.
Good: I must heed thee. Best withdraw ourselves
Unto a place where we shall lurk unseen.
For, if his oracle fall unto the ground,120
The God's fault shall it not be. We must dare,
Since for young men toil knoweth no excuse.
Enter Chorus and Iphigeneia.
Chorus.
Keep reverent silence, ye
Beside the Euxine Sea
Who dwell, anigh the clashing rock-towers twain.
Maid of the mountain-wild,
Dictynna, Leto's child,
Unto thy court, thy lovely-pillared fane,
Whose roofs with red gold burn,
Pure maiden feet I turn,130
Who serve the hallowed Bearer of the Key,
Banished from Hellas' towers,
From trees and meadow-flowers
That fringe Eurotas by mine home o'ersea.
