APPENDIX.
193
| Of Helen rise; but die not thou for me, | |
| O Stranger, nor distain thy sword with blood, | |
| But let me save my country if I may.” | |
| Achilles. “ | O glorious spirit! nought have I 'gainst this |
| To urge, since such thy will, for what thou sayst | |
| Is generous. Why should not the truth be spoken?” |
But feeling that human weakness may conquer yet, he goes to wait at the altar, resolved to keep his promise of protection thoroughly.
In the next beautiful scene she shows that a few tears might overwhelm her in his absence. She raises her mother beyond weeping them, yet her soft purity she cannot impart.
| Iphi. | “My father, and thy husband do not hate: |
| Cly. | For thy dear sake fierce contests must he bear. |
| Iphi. | For Greece reluctant me to death he yields; |
| Cly. | Basely, with guile unworthy Atreus son.” |
This is truth incapable of an answer and Iphigenia attempts none.
She begins the hymn which is to sustain her,
| “ | Lead me; mine the glorious fate, |
| To o'erturn the Phrygian state.” |
After the sublime flow of lyric heroism, she suddenly sinks back into the tenderer feeling of her dreadful fate.
| “ | O my country, where these eyes |
| Opened on Pelasgic skies! | |
| O ye virgins, once my pride, | |
| In Mycenæ who abide! | |
| Chorus. | |
| Why of Perseus name the town, | |
| Which Cyclopean ramparts crown? | |
| Iphigenia. | |
| Me you rear'd a beam of light, | |
| Freely now I sink in night.” |
Freely; as the messenger afterwards recounts it.
