Читать книгу The Greatest German Classics (Vol. 1-14) - Various - Страница 106

Atreus' eldest son

Was Agamemnon; he, O king, my sire:

But I may say with truth, that, from a child,

In him the model of a perfect man

I witness'd ever. Clytemnestra bore

To him, myself, the firstling of their love,

Electra then. Peaceful the monarch rul'd,

And to the house of Tantalus was given

A long-withheld repose. A son alone

Was wanting to complete my parents' bliss;

Scarce was this wish fulfill'd, and young Orestes,

The household's darling, with his sisters grew,

When new misfortunes vex'd our ancient house.

To you hath come the rumor of the war,

Which, to avenge the fairest woman's wrongs,

The force united of the Grecian kings

Round Ilion's walls encamp'd. Whether the town

Was humbled, and achieved their great revenge,

I have not heard. My father led the host.

In Aulis vainly for a favoring gale

They waited; for, enrag'd against their chief,

Diana stay'd their progress, and requir'd,

Through Chalcas' voice, the monarch's eldest daughter.

They lured me with my mother to the camp,

They dragged me to the altar, and this head

There to the goddess doomed.—She was appeased;

She did not wish my blood, and shrouded me

In a protecting cloud; within this temple

I first awakened from the dream of death;

Yes, I myself am she, Iphigenia,

Grandchild of Atreus, Agamemnon's child,

Diana's priestess, I who speak with thee.