Читать книгу The Greatest German Classics (Vol. 1-14) - Various - Страница 126

'Tis not for us, on reason's shifting grounds,

Lightly to guide and construe rites divine.

Perform thy duty; I'll accomplish mine.

Two strangers, whom in caverns of the shore

We found conceal'd, and whose arrival here

Bodes to my realm no good, are in my power.

With them thy goddess may once more resume

Her ancient, pious, long-suspended rites!

I send them here—thy duty not unknown.

[Exit.]

IPHIGENIA (alone)

Gracious protectress! thou hast clouds

To shelter innocence distress'd,

And from the arms of iron fate,

Gently to waft her o'er the sea,

O'er the wide earth's remotest realms,

Where'er it seemeth good to thee.

Wise art thou—thine all-seeing eye

The future and the past surveys;

Thy glance doth o'er thy children rest,

E'en as thy light, the life of night,

Keeps o'er the earth its silent watch.

O Goddess! keep my hands from blood!

Blessing it never brings, and peace;

And still in evil hours the form

Of the chance-murder'd man appears

To fill the unwilling murderer's soul

With horrible and gloomy fears.

For fondly the Immortals view

Man's widely scatter'd simple race;

And the poor mortal's transient life

Gladly prolong, that he may lift

Awhile to their eternal heavens

His sympathetic joyous gaze.