Thine inmost heart reveals it. I am she,-- Iphigenia,--look on me, Orestes!
Hence, away, begone! I counsel thee, touch not these fatal locks! As from Creusa's bridal robe, from me An inextinguishable fire is kindled. Leave me! Like Hercules, a death of shame, Unworthy wretch, locked in myself, I'll die!
Thou shalt not perish! Would that I might hear One quiet word from thee! dispel my doubts, Make sure the bliss I have implored so long. A wheel of joy and sorrow in my heart, Ceaseless revolves. I from a man unknown With horror turn; but with resistless might My inmost heart impels me to my brother.
Is this Lyæus' temple? Doth the glow Of holy rage unbridled thus possess The sacred priestess?
Hear me, oh, look up! See how my heart, which hath been closed so long Doth open to the bliss of seeing thee, The dearest treasure that the world contains,-- Of falling on thy neck, and folding thee Within my longing arms, which have till now Met the embraces of the empty wind. Do not repulse me,--the eternal spring, Whose crystal waters from Parnassus flow, Bounds not more gaily on from rock to rock, Down to the golden vale, than from my heart The waters of affection freely gush, And round me form a circling sea of bliss. Orestes! O my brother!
Lovely nymph! Nor thy caresses, nor thyself I trust; Diana claims attendants more severe, And doth avenge her desecrated fane. Remove thy circling arm! Wilt thou indeed Safety and love upon a youth bestow, And fondly tender him earth's fairest joy Unto my friend, more worthy than myself, Impart thy favors; 'mong yon rocks he roves. Go, seek him; guide him hence, and heed not me.
Brother, command thyself, and better know Thy sister, newly found! Misconstrue not Her pure and heavenly rapture, blaming it As lustful heat unbridled. O ye gods, Remove delusion from his rigid gaze, Lest that this moment, fraught with bliss supreme, Should make us trebly wretched! She is here, Thine own, thy long-lost sister! From the altar The goddess rescued me, and placed me here, Secure within her consecrated fane-- A captive thou, prepared for sacrifice, And findest here a sister in the priestess.
Unblessèd one! So may the radiant sun The final horror of our house behold! Is not Electra here? That she with us May also perish, nor her life prolong For heavier destiny and direr woe. 'Tis well,--I follow, priestess! Fratricide Is an old custom of our ancient house; And you, ye gods, I thank, that ye resolve Childless to root me hence. Thee let me counsel To view too fondly neither sun nor stars. Come, follow to the gloomy realms below! As dragons, gender'd in the sulphur pool, Swallow each other with voracious rage, So our accursed race destroys itself. Childless and guiltless come below with me! There's pity in thy look! oh, gaze not so,-- 'Twas with such looks that Clytemnestra sought An entrance to her son Orestes' heart, And yet his uprais'd arm her bosom pierc'd. His mother fell!--Appear, indignant shade! Within the circle step, ye fiends of hell, Be present at the welcome spectacle, The last, most horrible that ye prepare! Nor hate, nor vengeance whets the poniard now; A loving sister is constrain'd to deal The fatal blow. Weep not! Thou hast no guilt. From earliest infancy I naught have lov'd, As thee I could have lov'd, my sister. Come, The weapon raise, spare not, this bosom rend, And make an outlet for its boiling streams!