Orestes
Who will sacrifice me and dare such a dreadful deed ?
Iphigenia
I will; for I hold the office of this goddess.
Orestes
It is not envied, lady, and not blessed.
Iphigenia
[620]
But I am dedicated to necessity, which must be kept.
Orestes
Do you yourself, a woman, sacrifice men with the sword?
Iphigenia
No; but I sprinkle the holy water around your hair.
Orestes
Who is the slayer? If I may ask this.
Iphigenia
That charge belongs to those within this temple.
Orestes
[625]
What sort of tomb will receive me, when I die?
Iphigenia
The sacred fire within and the wide hollow of a cave.
Orestes
Ah! Would that my sister's hand might lay out my body!
Iphigenia
You have prayed in vain, unhappy youth, whoever you are; for she lives far from a barbarian land.
[630]
Yet indeed, since you happen to be an Argive, I too will not leave out any favor that I can do. I will set much ornament on the tomb and quench your body with yellow oil, and throw onto your funeral pyre the gleaming honey, that streams from flowers,
[635]
of the tawny mountain bee. But I will go and bring the tablet from the temple of the goddess; take care not to bear me ill-will.
Guard them, attendants, without chains. Perhaps I will send unexpected news to one of my friends, [640] whom I especially love, in Argos; and the tablet, in telling him that those whom he thought dead are alive, will report a joy that can be believed.She enters the temple.