[enter IPHIGENIA from the Temple.]

IPHIGENIA.

Go ye within; and have all things of need In order set for them that do the deed.

There wait my word.

[ATTENDANTS go in.]

Ye strangers, here I hold The many-lettered tablet, fold on fold.

Yet ... one thing still. No man, once unafraid And safe, remembereth all the vows he made In fear of death. My heart misgiveth me, Lest he who bears my tablet, once gone free, Forget me here and set my charge at naught.

ORESTES.

What wouldst thou, then? Thou hast some troubling thought.

IPHIGENIA.

His sworn oath let him give, to bear this same Tablet to Argos, to the friend I name.

ORESTES.

And if he give this oath, wilt thou swear too?

IPHIGENIA.

What should I swear to do or not to do?

ORESTES.

Send him from Tauris safe and free from ill.

IPHIGENIA.

I promise. How else could he do my will?

ORESTES.

The King will suffer this?

IPHIGENIA.

Yes: I can bend The King, and set upon his ship thy friend.

ORESTES.

Choose then what oath is best, and he will swear.

IPHIGENIA (to PYLADES, who has come up to her).

Say: "To thy friend this tablet I will bear."

PYLADES (TAKING THE TABLET).

Good. I will bear this tablet to thy friend.

IPHIGENIA.

And I save thee beyond this kingdom's end.

PYLADES.

What G.o.d dost thou invoke to witness this?

IPHIGENIA.

Her in whose house I labour, Artemis.

PYLADES.

And I the Lord of Heaven, eternal Zeus.

IPHIGENIA.

And if thou fail me, or thine oath abuse ...?

PYLADES.

May I see home no more. And thou, what then?

IPHIGENIA.

May this foot never tread Greek earth again.

PYLADES.

But stay: there is one chance we have forgot.

IPHIGENIA.

A new oath can be sworn, if this serve not.

PYLADES.

In one case set me free. Say I be crossed With shipwreck, and, with ship and tablet lost And all I bear, my life be saved alone: Let not this oath be held a thing undone, To curse me.

IPHIGENIA.

Nay, then, many ways are best To many ends. The words thou carriest Enrolled and hid beneath that tablet's rim, I will repeat to thee, and thou to him I look for. Safer so. If the scrip sail Unhurt to Greece, itself will tell my tale Unaided: if it drown in some wide sea, Save but thyself, my words are saved with thee.

PYLADES.

For thy sake and for mine 'tis fairer so.

Now let me hear his name to whom I go In Argolis, and how my words should run.

IPHIGENIA (REPEATING THE WORDS BY HEART).

Say: "To Orestes, Agamemnon's son She that was slain in Aulis, dead to Greece Yet quick, Iphigenia sendeth peace:"

ORESTES.

Iphigenia! Where? Back from the dead?

IPHIGENIA.

'Tis I. But speak not, lest thou break my thread.-- "Take me to Argos, brother, ere I die, Back from the Friendless Peoples and the high Altar of Her whose b.l.o.o.d.y rites I wreak."

ORESTES (ASIDE).

Where am I, Pylades? How shall I speak?

IPHIGENIA.

"Else one in grief forsaken shall, like shame, Haunt thee."

PYLADES (aside).

Orestes!

IPHIGENIA (overhearing him).