The whole place glitters with the bronze armour of the warriors. You, Paris, you son of Priam! What pain should I mention first or second, or last? IPHIGENIA IN AULIS A monologue from the play by Euripides NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Plays of Euripides in English, vol. I can see that youre angry at your husband but I think youre wrong about that. I could not. Chorus That is the city of Perseus, youre calling to! Go, now! The gods deserted you and they wouldnt give you a favourable wind for our sails. Chorus Let Agamemnons name live for ever in glory! Listen! What an awful burden Helen andTroyhave become for us! Klytaimestra May the gods give your heart strength! There will be no grave. Oh, my girl! This is the very same sky that heard your words then and the words you chose to write afterwards, reversing your message to your wife, telling her this time, in words to the effect that Ill no longer be my daughters murderer! 360. Iphigenia in Aulis or Iphigenia at Aulis (Ancient Greek: , romanized: phigneia en Auldi; variously translated, including the Latin Iphigenia in Aulide) is the last of the extant works by the playwright Euripides.Written between 408, after Orestes, and 406 BC, the year of Euripides' death, the play was first produced the following year in a trilogy . First Chorus Their captain was Eurytus. Tell me Agamemnon! Come out! Klytaimestra Unfortunate, Achilles, yes, that is true! The goddess son. Unjustly but I must! Mother, I see a group of men coming towards us! Old man, come out here! Klytaimestra Peers into the distance anxiously for a moment but is finally relieved. You were only too glad to take up that offer! Gather the baskets for the sacrifices, place wreaths on your head. Dont look at me for that, I cant give you one! I shall do as you say. Is this true or is it yet another one of these tales conjured up by the poets and then spread idly about the world through the ages? Tell me what plan I should adopt! Lets think through this together, my lady. Has my husband gone insane? Klytaimestra With Zeus will or against it? He goes to the tent and shouts through its door. When our esteemed prophet, Calchas, conducts his next sacrifice, when he will mingle his barley and his holy water upon the altar, he will pay bitterly for it! Chorus Joyous notes were sung to the glory of Peleas, son of Aeacus and Thetis, there, upon Mount Pelion, the woody realm of the Centaurs. But then, suddenly a miracle happened, my lady! Has the carriage lulled you to sleep? By the gods, Agamemnon! Not mine, thats for sure. Why all this violence? It is a madness I cannot control. You have betrayed your own brother! That in itself is your admission. The young heifers that will be sacrificed and that will deliver their abundant dark blood to the goddess Artemis are ready. We cant go on fighting against Necessity! You, too, Menelaos, get everything ready for this joyous occasion and lets hear the flutes sing and the dancers pound the earth with their feet. i. Trans. He sounds frightened. This is very dangerous indeed, my lord! And it was with this lie, about the girls mock-marriage, that I tried to persuade my wife to bring her here. Iphigeneia Im not afraid to say this in front of everyone: Helen, Tyndareus daughter, has caused wars and the endless spilling of blood because of her body. Its going past those seven stars, the Pleiades, my lord straight through the very centre of the heavens. Klytaimestra What? . Happy to be at your sisters wedding. Agamemnon An eloquent covering of a shameful act! Let me hug him tightly against my breast before you do! 773. A good man, my brother, must not change his manner just because his life is going well. I, too feel the same pain so I wont be angry with you. IPHIGENIA IN AULIS - Monologue (Clytemnestra) A monologue from the play by Euripides NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Plays of Euripides in English, vol. Chorus With what joy the Muses pounded the earth with their gold-sandaled feet as they climbed the mountain side to get to the wedding! Its a natural thing for men with decent hearts to do the decent thing. Come, then, father, turn to me and give me a final kiss. Come, my darling daughter, come, Iphigeneia, come and stand near me. Ill have none of it! Tyndareus, her father was in a dreadful dilemma: should he allow her daughter to marry or not? I Im not so sure. Horses can panic if theres no one to soothe them. All of us we all heard the awful thud of the striking sword but when we looked up, we could not see the girl anywhere! She swings him, sadly, gently back and forth and leans over him as she speaks to him. - Taken from "Iphigenia in Aulis" written by Euripides Read more Previous page Print length 94 pages Language English Publication date February 10, 2022 Dimensions Agamemnon Look at you? On the stern of his ships was an emblem portraying the riverAlpheus, his neighbour, who, on that emblem was given four feet and made to look like a bull. Let them all see which one should be sacrificed. Iphigeneia Looking into the distance behind curtains. Iphigeneia Youre going off on a long journey daddy and youre living me behind! We also let the horses loose to drink and to graze at a meadow nearby. IPHIGENIA IN AULIS Essay Summary A monologue from the play by Euripides NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Plays of Euripides in English, vol. In revenge for Agamemmnon killing one of her sacred stags, the goddess Artemis demands the sacrifice of his eldest daughter . By my grand-father, my mothers father, Nereus, who was nurtured by the ocean waves! Thats what theyll be saying; and all this because of you, Helen! Menelaos No, they can do nothing if you secretly send her back toArgos. Iphigenia's father is Agamemnon and his brother is King Menelaus. That way, not only will I not lose a friend but the army will also not be angry with me when it sees that Ive used my brains rather than my brawn. It was upon the forests of Trojan Ida, its woods covered thickly by the shroud of snow where King Priam once abandoned his child boy, Paris. The Old Man fearfully pokes his head through the flaps of the tent. Its obvious that theres no escaping my death; so now, I want to die nobly. First Chorus Our husbands told us they are all gathered here, under the helm of Agamemnon and his fair haired brother, Menelaos, noblemen both, preparing to launch an expedition againstTroy. An introduction to a classic play. Checking out the situation carefully. 720. Agamemnon The heir was Peleas. The world beneath the earth is a world of nothing. Then you seal the letter. But wholl carry the bridal torch? Agamemnon It will take place at the most propitious time: When the moon completes its cycle again. No, it will not be necessary. Menelaos Not if he dies first. I have brought with me your daughter, Iphigeneia and her mother -your wife- Klytaimestra, as well as your young son, Orestes. Klytaimestra Well? I know too well that this awful plight is mine and mine alone you have nothing to do with it 980. He is the son of the goddess Thetis, and his tutor was Cheiron, the most honourable of all the centaurs. Ive changed, youll say! Klytaimestra What shall I do for you in Argos? Its not my fault she left you for another man, so why should I pay for your mistakes? First Chorus Atreas son, Menelaos, brought with him fromMycenae, the city built by the Cyclopes, one hundred ships and all the sailors to man them. I would have given it to serve the greater good of our soldiers. Soon youll wake up a happy young man, my son. Achilles Alone? How can I insult them all -insult their efforts, by trying to save myself I, one, single life? Are we not all wasting our time here, by the banks ofEpirus? Ha! Achilles Who? Forget it, madam! 520. So angry were my twin brothers, the Dioscuri, that they came charging down from Zeus side on their glistening horses to fight you but you went begging to my old father, Tyndareus and he, not only saved you but made me your wife! I wish you could avert it somehow. Agamemnon I know well about pity I know well who deserves it and who does not and I -I love my children! I feel too humiliated to face you after the lies Ive uttered, after the dreadful way Ive been treated! Ill obey your every command. Pleasure, my old friend, is a dubious thing, an unstable thing; and as for all the trappings of office, all the power that goes with it, sure they might look sweet from the distance but once you get them, they become unbearable pains! Why should I, a faithful wife, endure the misery of having my daughter killed while she, a slut, gets to rejoice by having her daughter kept safely at home, in Sparta? Gone are the harsh words, suddenly! My friend, neither kill nor be killed because of me. Iphigeneia hugs her mother. The circumstances are too dire now for modesty and for polite coyness! Your old father-in-law, Tyndareus, gave me to your wife, Klytaimestra, as part of her dowry, to be her loyal servant. Your fathers holy water is waiting for you! Open Document. 940. Menelaos No, youre not! Klytaimestra I am Klytaimestra, Ledas daughter and Agamemnons wife. Orestes is begging you, too! Iphigeneia Damn all these spears of Menelaos! Give thanks to the goddess Hope! Klytaimestra And he will achieve this by trickery. And then am I mad if I had changed my mind about something which I later realised I was wrong? There is a small oil lamp on the table as well as various writing implements. I do but you dont! 700. Iphigeneia But but look at you, father! And how can I be certain that this isnt just an idle little story to cheer me up, to ease my dreadful grief for you? Click anywhere in the How dreadful! First Chorus Theyre off to bring back Helen, Menelaos wife, whom Paris, the Trojan cowherd, abducted from her home inSparta, a city built by the reed-covered banks of the river, Eurotas. First Chorus Different words now but better. Whos done you wrong and what is it that you want? Iphigeneia Servants, quickly, open the doors of the tent so that I may hide! Begging you by his silence. For a while, Iphigenia in Splott (a district of Cardiff about 20 minutes' walk from the the theatre) seems like a pretty normal contemporary monologue. I was not going to slaughter my own daughter, old man! Are these amazing words the words of a delirious woman? The only voice I have, father, my only skill, is in my tears and, here, father, Im giving them to you! I take your kind welcome and gracious words as signs of a good omen. Oh, goddess who lets her brilliant light roll along through the gloomy darkness of the night! Current location in this text. What do you think I and the rest of your family will feel towards you? Words escape me! Achilles Me, too! I ask only for a modest share of Aphrodites love; let it be not excessive! Now, come, take me away to the altar! Open navigation menu. How should I start? Stay here with us, with all your children! Attic tragedies were performed in Athens about the 5th century BC. 1090. Old Man That? Then he placed a garland upon the girls head and sprinkled holy water on her hair. Menelaos Why is that? 1279. And others, is there going to be a wedding? Yet others again, did the king call his daughter here because hes missed her? Then there were others who said, the girl will be presented to the goddess Artemis, protector ofAulis, before the wedding. 583. In it I spoke of Achilles high rank, his bravery, his honour and told her that the man refused to sail with us unless one of our daughters became his wife and went to live at his house, in Phthia. Introduction. Klytaimestra No, I wont. 231. See this letter, this contemptible letter with the contemptible message inside it? Do not send our daughter here, inAulis, the place whose harbours are well protected from the harsh seas and which juts out towardsColchis. I also saw the Boetian fleet, fifty in number, led by Leitus, a mortal, born of the Earth. IPHIGENIA A T A ULIS presents many problems to the literary and textual critic. Famously, they partnered on Seamus Heaney's "The Burial at Thebes" at the Guthrie in fall 2011. Come, tell me, share your story with me. 950. Agamemnon Zeus. First Chorus And fast-footed Achilles, too, whose feet fly faster than the wind. Menelaos Brother, give me your right arm! 1010. Poor, poor child! I am forced to do it! Klytaimestra But why didnt you deliver that message to me, if it was in your hand? I envy the man who knows no fame; and I dont envy the man whose life is heavy with the trappings of office. Agamemnon I would, but some god has made both you andGreeceinsane! 330. The Watchman, whose . One of the myths in the Cypria inspired the tragedy Iphigenia in Aulis, written by Euripides (ca. I see a throng of men approaching. Here we are, eagerly obedient to your wish! Agamemnon This is scandalous! 1560. If he doesn't go through with the sacrifice, the army will rise up, sacrifice her, and kill their entire family. When Agamemnon tries to avoid sacrificing Iphigenia, Menelaus calls Agamemnon a traitor to both Greece and his own brother. Chorus And so, the blessed couple were wed by the gods: The nobly born oldest daughter of Nereas and Peleas. Your voice has horrified me! Iphigeneia hands baby Orestes to her mother, Iphigeneia If only I could sing like Orpheus, father! Who can help me here? You were terrified of losing face and authority! If Im right, do the sensible thing and dont kill out darling. To let this man succeed in this deed, to let him use my name as his bloody sword, would be to make me the worst of all the Greeks a worthless man, one more cowardly than Menelaos, as if I were not the son of Peleas but that of some evil demon. Surely I could find another wife elsewhere! And how did you respond to that? Iphigeneia Do not hate daddy my daddy, your husband. Old Man Menelaos! Agamemnon Little girls should not be bothered with such things. Agamemnon Here, at the harbour, near our beautiful Greek ships. On thy knees I hang, A suppliant wreath, this body, which she bore Achilles Then listen to me carefully, madam so that well achieve our aim. He was the one responsible for that job. Hold on! Details. No, its not my ambition thats bothering you, my brother! But my brother, using all sorts of arguments, finally persuaded me to commit this dreadful deed! It is, in fact, at that time when his friends should be able to rely on him because it is at that time, the time when things are going well with him, that he can help them the most. Agamemnon Curse Calchas and his whole horde of glory-loving prophets! Youve persuaded me with wise words. The true leader of a city and of an army is not merely brave but intelligent. Youd greet anyone and everyone, hoping with this behaviour to gain their approval and thus become their leader. Cover the baby with one of your cloaks. Do you think Im some slave of yours? To stop me from coming here or to urge me to do so? 1600. Finally, he picks up the scroll and gets up and moves away from the table. What a dreadful thought to have in your mind! 530. Klytaimestra Answer me honestly, my husband! He alone did it, he, alone, with his very own hand! Now, Ill tell you everything Ive written in this folded scroll because you are a true and loyal servant to my house and to my wife. 751. Look at him for the last time. How much more time do we need to waste on this expedition toTroy? Do you not want to fight for her? I wont let anyone take your life even though it would be against your wish. Chorus And their call to the Nereid was loud and clear: 1061. And then theres also this: what right do I have to love my life so much? Its true, my lady that there are times when it is more pleasant to avoid excessive wisdom and there are times when wisdom is helpful but I, madam, I was raised in the house of Chiron, a centaur who respected the simple ways, the honest ways. Klytaimestra How can there be a death and not a grave? Then Agamemnon came to me and ordered me to come here and tell you what Fate the gods have granted to your daughter. Dont bother making a long speech about it, husband! You saw the endless ships. Hell be the man wholl take his army of spear-loving Myrmidons and turn Priams city into rubble. Perhaps were both being deceived. Look here, father! I can see you there now: a nobleman becoming a brother-in-law to a nobleman, to the divine Achilles, the son of Thetis the Nereid. I would have given it for the sake of my fellow soldiers. Download Pleiades ancient places geospacial dataset for this text. You will say that youve killed our daughter so that Menelaos, your brother, can get back his Helen! She goes to the door of the tent and opens it so that the servant may hear her. Chorus Your words are worthy of you, Achilles and of your mother who is a splendid goddess. What a shocking thing that would be! 543. Achilles Weighty words, old man! All right, youve stopped me Im waiting. Can you see this stag, this animal that walks about in the mountains? No, dont bury your face inside your cloak! Klytaimestra Good idea. It is our custom to bury sacrificial offerings. Those worthy of praise find it a hateful thing when they are praised too profusely. Listen to Books & Original Audio Performances : Book Depository Books With Free Delivery Worldwide: Box Office Mojo Find Movie Box Office Data: ComiXology Make sure this golden hair god stays far away from my bed chamber! What a lusty fervour the whole ofGreecehas stirred up for this expedition! Of beauty kindling flames of love, High on my splendid car I move, Betrothed to Thetis' son a bride: Ah hapless bride, to all the train. A terrible love." Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis tags: euripides , greek-tragedy , iphigenia-at-aulis , power , power-hungry 11 likes Like Please dont get angry with me. George Bell and Sons. "Iphigenia at Aulis" (Gr: "Iphigeneia en Aulidi") is the last extant tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides. 450. You felt a great deal of joy when you came in that house, and when you went out of it you felt a wealthy man. Well, then, may you and your friends also enjoy a marriage such as mine! She will say to me! Its blood spattered about, saturating the goddess altar! Chorus He is the Trojan Ganymede, the loving delight of Zeus bed! Youve forgotten them and so, now, you want to kill me. This breath that quieted the breezes in the Greek sails! The Theme of Heroism Achilles is often regarded as a great and mighty hero in Greek. It seems Im eagerly preparing for an imaginary wedding! Menelaos If you dont let go of it I shall crack your skull open with this staff! This work is licensed under a Agamemnon It will take place after I make the sacrifice. You, too, my lord are a mortal and, whether you like it or not, this is how the gods want it: mortals must taste the good along with the bad. Iphigeneia Oh, Im so happy youve brought me here to see you. Remember, father? 1290. Weve never met before. My daughters life hangs on your will. Klytaimestra Thats where they say the centaurs live. Now call her out here so she can follow me to the altar. What demon has taken possession of his mind? Messenger No, my lady! It was written sometime between 408 and 406 BCE (the date of his death) and was first produced in the year following his death, where it won first place at the Athenian City Dionysia contest. Agamemnon dares to commit a most dreadful deed! Klytaimestra And is that where hell take our daughter? 1130. Here she is but Ill do the talking for both of us. Achilles They were the worst of them all! 785, Chorus Do you hear them, Helen? Iphigenia O mother that bore me! Iphigenia in Aulis (a.k.a. The only other Greeks who know about this are Calchas, Odysseus and Menelaos. He managed to film a Greek tragedy to screen without losing its effectiveness and importance. Iphigeneia If only it were possible to take me with you, father. Agamemnon That will be his decision. First Chorus Diomedes, too, was there amusing himself, throwing a discus. Agamemnon Wife, we should consider ourselves very much blessed. You find my words strange but I find yours equally odd!
Brittani Marcell Injury Photos,
When Was Ain't Added To The Merriam Webster Dictionary,
James Earl Crittenden Lynch,
Boring Vs Trenching Costs,
Heat Transfer Vinyl Designs Ready To Press,
Articles I