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Iphigenia - Jean Racine · Andromache

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  Speaker 1: Act one of Iphiginia by Jean Racine, translated by Robert
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  Speaker 1: Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings
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  Speaker 1: are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,
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  Speaker 1: please visit LibriVox dot org. Introduction to Iphiginia. Racine's version
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: of the time honored story of Iphiginia was acted for
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  Speaker 1: the first time in sixteen seventy four. The model upon
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  Speaker 1: which it is shaped is the Iphiginius in Ulus of
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  Speaker 1: his favorite Euripides, But the French poet has heightened the
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  Speaker 1: romantic interest and complicated the plot by the important part
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  Speaker 1: which erphyl Is made to play a character which he
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  Speaker 1: derived from Pausenius and other writers. Though her jealousy of Iphiginia,
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  Speaker 1: her treachery and suicide are due to his own invention.
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  Speaker 1: According to Eschylus and Sophocles, the daughter of Agamemnon was
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  Speaker 1: actually slain at Olus, and the graphic description of Lucretius,
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  Speaker 1: which embodies this view of the catastrophe de Ererum Natera
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  Speaker 1: Libra one eighty five, et cetera, has furnished Racine with
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  Speaker 1: one touch at least of exquisite pathos it was I
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  Speaker 1: who called thee first by the dear name of Father,
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  Speaker 1: Act four, Scene four. According to Euripides, a fawn was
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  Speaker 1: substituted for the maiden by divine interposition at the last moment,
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  Speaker 1: and Iphigenia herself was spirited away in a cloud to
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  Speaker 1: serve as priests to the shrine of Artibus Diana among
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  Speaker 1: the Torah, the savage inhabitants of what is now Crimea. Ovid,
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  Speaker 1: in his Metamorphoses Libro twelve thirty one et cetera, adopts
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  Speaker 1: this myth, and the genius of Citta has presented it
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  Speaker 1: fresh to the modern world in a drama which bears
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  Speaker 1: as closer relation to the Iphiginia in Taurus of Euripides
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  Speaker 1: as this play does to the Iphiginie Nolide. The tradition
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  Speaker 1: that Racine has followed introduces another Iphiginia, a daughter of
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  Speaker 1: Ellen by theseus as the actual victim. How far he
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  Speaker 1: has succeeded in disarming our sympathy with ariphyl is a
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  Speaker 1: matter that emits of dispute, but there is at least
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  Speaker 1: a dramatic justice in representing her destruction as the result
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  Speaker 1: of her own treachery.
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  Speaker 2: Characters Agamemnon read by Greg Giardano.
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  Speaker 3: Achilles read by Alam Mapstein.
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  Speaker 4: Ulysses read by Tod Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon, read by Sonya.
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  Speaker 5: If A Jenia, daughter of Agamemnon, read by Jen.
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  Speaker 6: Broda Airfully daughter of Helen, and Theseus read by Diana Kennedy.
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  Speaker 7: Arcus, servant of Agamemnon read by Thomas.
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  Speaker 8: Peter Eurypthes, Servants of Agamanna read or Marka Kelly.
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  Speaker 9: Egina attendant of Platymnestra read pays Sandra.
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  Speaker 10: Schmidt, dous friend of Arophylli, read by Joanna Michael Hoyte.
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  Speaker 1: Stage directions read by Larry Wilson. The scene is laid
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  Speaker 1: Ellis in the tint of Agamemnon, Act one, Scene one,
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  Speaker 1: Agamemnon arcis.
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  Speaker 9: I.
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  Speaker 2: It is Agamemnon, tis thy king that wakes thee. His
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  Speaker 2: is the voice that strikes thine ear.
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  Speaker 7: Ist Thou, indeed, my Lord, what great concern has made
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  Speaker 7: THEE leave thy couch before the dawn? A feeble light
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  Speaker 7: scarce lets me see thy face. No eyes but ours
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  Speaker 7: are open Yet in OLiS, hast thou caught any sound
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  Speaker 7: of rising winds? And can it be that Heaven has
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  Speaker 7: heard our prayer this night. Nay, all are sleeping winds
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  Speaker 7: and waves as sleeps the.
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  Speaker 2: Host happy, the man content with humble fortune, free from
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  Speaker 2: the proud yoke neath which I bow, who lives a
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  Speaker 2: life obscure thanks to kind Heaven.
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  Speaker 7: How long, my lord hast thou thought?
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  Speaker 8: Thus?
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  Speaker 7: What secret injury has worked, this hatred and contempt of
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  Speaker 7: all the honors that Heaven's rich bounty has on thee
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  Speaker 7: bestowed blest is King's sire and husband, son and heir
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  Speaker 7: of Atreus.
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  Speaker 1: The most favored.
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  Speaker 7: Land in Greece is thine, and thou canst bost kinship
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  Speaker 7: with Jove, both by direct descent as well as marriage
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  Speaker 7: and young achiries. Now to whom the gods promise such
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  Speaker 7: fame by all their oracles, soothes for thy daughter's hand,
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  Speaker 7: and at the flames of burning Troy would light the
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  Speaker 7: nuptial torch. What glory, Sire, What triumphs can be matched
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  Speaker 7: with this grand sight displayed along on these shoes, A
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  Speaker 7: thousand vessels and a score of kings, all waiting here.
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  Speaker 7: But for the winds to sail. Only thy command tis true.
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  Speaker 7: This tedious calm delays thy conguest, and for three months chained.
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  Speaker 7: The winds have blocked thy course to Troy too long.
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  Speaker 7: Supremely honors Thou art yet a mortal, nor has thy
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  Speaker 7: life from fortune shifting Breathe been promised happiness without a
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  Speaker 7: loy soon. But what troubles in that letter traced force
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  Speaker 7: from thine eyes, my lord? A burst of tears? Is
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  Speaker 7: thine orestes doomed in infancy to death? Clytemnestradost thou weep,
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  Speaker 7: or for iphiginia prithee, Tell me what is writ there?
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  Speaker 2: Thou shalt not die? No, never will I consent my thought.
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  Speaker 2: Thou seest my grief, learned thou its cause, and judge
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  Speaker 2: if I can rest. Thou dost Remember when in Oulus
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  Speaker 2: gathered our ships seemed summoned by the winds to see
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  Speaker 2: our sails unfurled, a thousand cries of joy already carried
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  Speaker 2: threats to distant Troy. When lo, a sudden marble hushed
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  Speaker 2: our shouts. The favoring breeze deserted us in port in vain,
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  Speaker 2: the oars smote the unruffled deep. We were constrained to
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  Speaker 2: stop the fruitless toil that wondrous portent made me turn
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  Speaker 2: mine eyes toward the goddess who is worshiped here with Menaelis,
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  Speaker 2: Nest and Ulysses. I sought her shrine and offered secret victims.
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  Speaker 2: What was her answer? Ah? With what distress I heard
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  Speaker 2: these awful words from Calhas's lips, the force he armed
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  Speaker 2: to conquer Troy vain unless with the rights of sacrifice
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  Speaker 2: and prayer upon Diana's altar, here be slain a maid
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  Speaker 2: of Helen's blood, divinely fair to obtained the welcome wind
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  Speaker 2: that Heaven denies tis needful that Ifigenia dies, thy daughter,
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  Speaker 2: thou mayst fancy. How I felt astonishment that seemed to
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  Speaker 2: freeze my blood. Speechless, I stood while my sole utterance
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  Speaker 2: was in a thousand choking sighs expressed, then cursed the gods, and,
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  Speaker 2: without hearing more, vowed on their altars. I would disobey them,
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  Speaker 2: Ah would that I had trusted Love's alarm and instantly
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  Speaker 2: disbanded all the host Ulysses seemed content with what I wished,
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  Speaker 2: nor checked the torrent of my angry words words, but
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  Speaker 2: soon returning to his cruel wiles, he set before me
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  Speaker 2: honor and the claims of country, kings and people to
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  Speaker 2: my sway, subject and sovereignty or Asia promised to Greece.
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  Speaker 2: How could I sacrifice? He asked the state to save
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  Speaker 2: a daughter and go home. Disgraced forever, I confess with shame.
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  Speaker 2: My power had yet some charm, and I was full
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  Speaker 2: of pride. Those sounding titles king of Kings, leader of
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  Speaker 2: Greece tickled my swelling heart to crown my trouble. Every
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  Speaker 2: night the gods oft as light slumber, gave me rest
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  Speaker 2: from care, avenged their cruel altars, and reproached my sacrilegious pity,
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  Speaker 2: brandishing the lightning's bolts before my dazzled eyes. Eyes with
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  Speaker 2: arm already raised as if to punish my fault, I yielded,
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  Speaker 2: conquered by ulysses, and with wet eyes ordered my daughter's death.
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  Speaker 2: But from a mother's arms she must be torn. I
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  Speaker 2: had to have recourse to base deceit. Achilles loved her,
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  Speaker 2: and I rode to Argos as if at his request,
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  Speaker 2: saying that he eager to start with us, wished for
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  Speaker 2: her presence that he might wed her. Ere we sailed
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  Speaker 2: for Troy.
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  Speaker 7: Fearest thou not. Achilles quickened quarrel, dosting this hero armed
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  Speaker 7: by love, and reason will calmly let his name be
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  Speaker 7: thus abused to expedite her murder, and be dumb seeing
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  Speaker 7: his loved ones slain before his eyes.
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  Speaker 2: Achilles was not here. His father Pelias, fearing the efforts
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  Speaker 2: of a neighboring foe, had, as thou wilt remember, called
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  Speaker 2: him from us, And there was every cause to think
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  Speaker 2: this war would have detained him longer than it did.
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  Speaker 2: But who can stop that torrent? In its course? Achilles
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  Speaker 2: goes to fight, and winds forthwith the victor, pressing on
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  Speaker 2: the heels of fame arrived last night, and now, as
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  Speaker 2: in the camp, yet stronger motives paralyze mine arm. My daughter,
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  Speaker 2: who was hastening to her death, far from suspecting such
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  Speaker 2: a dreadful sentence, is pleased. Perchance her father is so kind,
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  Speaker 2: my daughter name that in itself is sacred, so near
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  Speaker 2: in blood, so young. Yet not for that I mourn,
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  Speaker 2: but for her virtues and the love between us, tenderness
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  Speaker 2: in me in her, a piety that nothing can outweigh,
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  Speaker 2: for which I promis'd a more meet return. Can I
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  Speaker 2: believe thy justice, gracious Heaven approves this dark and savage
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  Speaker 2: sacrifice Thine oracles, But put me to attest, and thou
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  Speaker 2: thyself wouldst punish my obedience. Archas to THEE, this private
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  Speaker 2: task I trust herein display thy prudence and thy seal
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  Speaker 2: the Queen who found THEE faithful. When at Sparta has
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  Speaker 2: placed THEE near my person, take this letter and go
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  Speaker 2: to meet the Queen without delay, post haste thy course
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  Speaker 2: pursuing toward mycenaee, whom, when thou seest forbid her to advance,
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  Speaker 2: giving to her this letter I have written, Beware thou
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  Speaker 2: stray not take a trusty guide. If once my daughter
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  Speaker 2: dear sets foot in Olus, her life is lost. Calhous
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  Speaker 2: who waits her here, will, with a voice from heaven
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  Speaker 2: drown our cries, the voice of angry gods, to which,
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  Speaker 2: alarmed the Greeks will hearken. And to that alone, those
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  Speaker 2: two whose proud ambition loathes my glory will reassert their
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  Speaker 2: claims with fresh intrigues, rob me of power, offensive in
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  Speaker 2: their eyes. Go save her from my weak irresolution, But prithee,
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  Speaker 2: let not zeal outrun discretion, give her no inkling of
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  Speaker 2: my wretched secret. But still deceived, let not my daughter
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  Speaker 2: know the danger whereunto I had exposed her. Spare me
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  Speaker 2: the outcry of an angry mother, and with thy voice
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  Speaker 2: confirm what I have written. To send the daughter and
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  Speaker 2: the mother home. I tell them that achilles mind is changed,
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  Speaker 2: that he wishes to postpone this marriage for which ye
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  Speaker 2: was so keen till his return. Add that the secret
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  Speaker 2: of this sudden coldness is thought to lie with fair
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  Speaker 2: young Aeryphili, whom he himself from Lesbos brought a captive,
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  Speaker 2: and who was kept at Argos with my daughter. That
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  Speaker 2: is enough to say, and on all else be silent.
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  Speaker 2: See how grows the light of day. I hear a
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  Speaker 2: sound of voices. Tis Achilles go, and good heavens Ulysses
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  Speaker 2: follows him.
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  Speaker 1: Scene too, agamebnon Achilles, Ulysses, Prince.
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  Speaker 2: Can it be with such a rapid course that victory
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  Speaker 2: has brought THEE back to oless? Are these the first
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  Speaker 2: flights of an unfledged valor? What triumphs will succeed? Such
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  Speaker 2: grand exploits are thessily reduced to peace and conquest of
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  Speaker 2: Lesbos made while waiting our departure. These would be trophies
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  Speaker 2: of eternal glory to any other, but to THEE the
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  Speaker 2: sport of idle moments.
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  Speaker 3: Sir, my slight successes am too much praised. May heaven
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  Speaker 3: that now detains us soon show a nobler feel to
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  Speaker 3: rouse the haunt, that fame would prove itself worthy of priise,
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  Speaker 3: so rare as that thou offerest. But my Lord, am
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  Speaker 3: I to trust a rumor that I here with joy? Dostain?
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  Speaker 3: So to promote my wishes? Am I? So soon? The
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  Speaker 3: happiest of mortals, tis said the fisioneer comes to OLiS,
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  Speaker 3: And soon our fortunes will be linked together.
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  Speaker 2: My daughter, who has told thee she comes hither?
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  Speaker 3: What is there to astonish thee? In this?
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  Speaker 1: Iamein ma'am aside to ulysses heavens?
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  Speaker 2: Can my fatal stratagem have reached his ears?
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  Speaker 11: The King's astonishment is just dost thou forget how dark
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  Speaker 11: is all around us? Nay, by the gods, this is
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  Speaker 11: no time for weddings. While idly floats our vessels from
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  Speaker 11: the sea shut out, Our force is wasting, and all
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  Speaker 11: grease but herd. When to avert the wrath of heaven,
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  Speaker 11: we may be called on to spill blood. Most precious
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  Speaker 11: Achilles thinks of love, and love alone will he so
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  Speaker 11: rudely flow The general fear, And shall the Grecian leader
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  Speaker 11: so provoke the faith as here and now to celebrate
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  Speaker 11: a marriage feast?
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  Speaker 4: Ah?
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  Speaker 8: Is it?
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  Speaker 11: Thus thy soul, with patriotic favor, shares the woe.
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  Speaker 3: Of Greece, which loves her more thou or myself. Our
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  Speaker 3: deeds shall prove on the wide plains of Troy, Till
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  Speaker 3: then I leave thee to display thy zeal, Nor will
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  Speaker 3: I interrupt thy pious prayers on her behalf with victims,
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  Speaker 3: load the altars thyself, consult the entrails and inquire why
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  Speaker 3: Aeolus imprisons all the winds, But I, resigning all such
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  Speaker 3: cares to cauchi Us, must crape thy kind permission to
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  Speaker 3: dispatch a marriage inoffensive to the gods. But thirst for
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  Speaker 3: glory will not let me rest. Soon on this strand
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  Speaker 3: I will rejoin the Greeks. Two ad vex me sorely
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  Speaker 3: if another foot than mine should first land on the
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  Speaker 3: Trojan shore.
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  Speaker 2: Oh, why does Heaven, with secret envy stirred close all
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  Speaker 2: approach to Asia? Against such heroes? Have I beheld so
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  Speaker 2: noble a display of zeal? But to return more sick
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  Speaker 2: at heart? Gods? How is this.
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  Speaker 3: What dost thou dare to say that.
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  Speaker 2: Each and all brave prince must hence retire that Lord
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  Speaker 2: too long by hopes that have deceived us, we vainly
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  Speaker 2: wait for winds that will not come. Heaven shelters Troy
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  Speaker 2: and signifies its wrath by supernatural obstacles that bar our
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  Speaker 2: passage thither.
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  Speaker 3: By what sign have declared its wrath?
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  Speaker 2: Thou knowest thine own fate predicted by the gods forgive
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  Speaker 2: my freedom to thee? Have they assigned great iliums fall.
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  Speaker 2: But as the price of such a glorious conquest, thy
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  Speaker 2: tomb is marked out on the plains of Troy. We
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  Speaker 2: know thy life, that else were long and happy, is
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  Speaker 2: destined there to perish in its prime.
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  Speaker 3: Shall then so many kings met to avenge Thee and
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  Speaker 3: thine house turn home disgraced and shamed forever, And shall Paris,
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  Speaker 3: in his love triumphants keep unharmed Thy consort's sister.
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  Speaker 2: Has not thy valor Prince, outstripping ours, sufficiently avenged our
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  Speaker 2: wounded honor unhappy Lesbos by thine hands laid way, Wat
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  Speaker 2: strikes terror into all the Aegean isles. Troy has beheld
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  Speaker 2: the flames, and to her ports the waves of road,
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  Speaker 2: charred beams and mangled corpses. Nay more, the trojans weep
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  Speaker 2: another helen whom to mycenee thou hast sent a captive
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  Speaker 2: for tis in vain to keep that birth a secret
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  Speaker 2: which pride and beauty, and each glance betray her very
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  Speaker 2: silence marks nobility and tells us her illustrious origin.
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  Speaker 3: No, No, all, this is plausible evasion. Dem in far
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  Speaker 3: distance are the secrets known to heaven? Shall I be
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  Speaker 3: daunted by vain threats and shun the path of honor
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  Speaker 3: in thy track? The fates tis true. When to a
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  Speaker 3: mortal's couch my mother came warned her my choice would
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  Speaker 3: lie between a life long and inglorious, or else an
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  Speaker 3: early death with fame to follow. But since I soon
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  Speaker 3: or late must reach the tomb, shall I a useless
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  Speaker 3: burden on the earth and cherry of the blood. A
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  Speaker 3: goddess gave wait with my father for obscure old age
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  Speaker 3: and the scorning glory, leave behind no name to outlive
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  Speaker 3: death away with obstacles unworthy. On her speaks, it is enough,
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  Speaker 3: This is my oracle. The gods command our span of life,
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  Speaker 3: but in our own hand rests our glory. Why should
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  Speaker 3: we torment ourselves with what belongs to heaven? Be it
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  Speaker 3: ours to rival the immortals, and let fate act as
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  Speaker 3: it will. Embrace the course that leads to destinies as
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  Speaker 3: mighty as their own. That goal is Troy, and warn
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  Speaker 3: me as they may. I ask no other boon than
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  Speaker 3: winds to waft me thither. And though I alone should
• 21:18
  Speaker 3: wage this war, Petrocolos and myself will wreak your vengeance,
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  Speaker 3: but not so to THEE is given the task, I
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  Speaker 3: only crave a follower's place. No more. I urge approval
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  Speaker 3: of the passion, which for a time would part me
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  Speaker 3: from these shores. That very love, careful of thy renown,
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  Speaker 3: prompts me to stay, and by a firm example, encourage
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  Speaker 3: all the army nor consents to leave, THEE to be
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  Speaker 3: swayed by timid counsels.
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: Scene three, agamebnon ulysses.
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  Speaker 11: You hear, my lord, whatever price it cost, he is
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  Speaker 11: resolved to speed his course. De Troy, we feared his love,
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  Speaker 11: and happily mistaken to day he arms our hands against himself.
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  Speaker 11: Alas what must I deem this sip or tends? Is
• 22:23
  Speaker 11: it a protest of reluctant nature, and has a single
• 22:27
  Speaker 11: knight sufficed to shake your purpose? Did your heart speak
• 22:32
  Speaker 11: in the words just heard? Think well, you owe to
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  Speaker 11: Greece your daughter. Your word is pledged to us, And
• 22:43
  Speaker 11: on that promise, Calcus, relaying to the Greeks, foretells the
• 22:47
  Speaker 11: sure return of favorable winds. If the event conflicts with
• 22:52
  Speaker 11: his prediction. Think you that Calcus can continue silent, that
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  Speaker 11: he will be persuaded to allow the gods are false
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  Speaker 11: without accusing you. Who knows what in their wrath that
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  Speaker 11: seems them just the Greeks may do, defrauded of their victim.
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  Speaker 11: Beware of forcing an indignant people to make their choice
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  Speaker 11: between the gods and you. Was it not you yourself
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  Speaker 11: whose urgent voice summoned us all to farce Commander's banks
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  Speaker 11: from town to town, appealing to those oaths which Helen's
• 23:27
  Speaker 11: suitors took in former days, when all your brother's rivals
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  Speaker 11: throughout Greece sought her in marriage from Pyindarius, her sire,
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  Speaker 11: whatever bridegroup she might choose. His right, we then swore
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  Speaker 11: stoutly to defend, and should his prize be stolen, we
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  Speaker 11: engage to bring him the presumptuous robber's head. But without you,
• 23:50
  Speaker 11: that oath which love imposed would with that love have
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  Speaker 11: passed and been forgotten. You made us loose the later
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  Speaker 11: ties that bound our hearts to home, leaving our wives
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  Speaker 11: and children. And when assembled here from land and sea,
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  Speaker 11: the eyes of all flash vengeance for your sake. When Greece,
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  Speaker 11: already voting you her leader, owes you the author of
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  Speaker 11: this grand enterprise, when all her kings who might dispute
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  Speaker 11: that rank with you, are ready in your cause to
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  Speaker 11: risk their very lives. Lo only Agamemnon refuses to buy
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  Speaker 11: victory and fame with a few drops of blood, and Sow,
• 24:32
  Speaker 11: dismayed in at the outset, orders a retreat.
• 24:36
  Speaker 2: Ah. It is easy for a heart that knows no
• 24:40
  Speaker 2: woe like mine to be magnanimous. But if you saw
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  Speaker 2: your son Telemachus approach the altar decked for sacrifice, that
• 24:51
  Speaker 2: dreadful spectacle would make you blench, and we should see
• 24:55
  Speaker 2: you soon exchange your scorn for tears pierced the much
• 25:00
  Speaker 2: grief as now I feel, and cast yourself between Calchus
• 25:06
  Speaker 2: and your boy. You know that I have given my
• 25:10
  Speaker 2: solemn word, and if my daughter comes, she shall be slain.
• 25:16
  Speaker 2: But if a happier fate, in spite of me, keeps
• 25:20
  Speaker 2: her at home or stops her on the way. Then
• 25:24
  Speaker 2: let these savage rights be urged no more. Let me
• 25:28
  Speaker 2: interpret in my daughter's favor this obstacle, and welcome it
• 25:33
  Speaker 2: as sent by some kind God who watches o'er her life.
• 25:38
  Speaker 2: Your cruel counsels have prevailed too far, and now I blush.
• 25:45
  Speaker 1: Scene four, I gamend on ulysses your petties.
• 25:49
  Speaker 2: My lord Ah, with what message come you?
• 25:53
  Speaker 8: The queen who stops my hasteile stripped, will soon consign
• 25:57
  Speaker 8: your daughter to your arms. She now draws me, but
• 26:00
  Speaker 8: for some time she lost the way within these woods
• 26:03
  Speaker 8: around the camp. Amidst her gloomy shades, we hardly found
• 26:07
  Speaker 8: again the right direction.
• 26:08
  Speaker 2: We has quitted good heavens.
• 26:11
  Speaker 8: She also brings young Eueryphiley, who fell into achilles hands
• 26:15
  Speaker 8: in Lesbos, and comes to ALUs as she says to
• 26:18
  Speaker 8: ask of Calcus what her own known destiny may be
• 26:22
  Speaker 8: already are the tidy spread of their approach and an
• 26:26
  Speaker 8: enchances crowd admiring view Ephiginia's charms and cry allows to
• 26:31
  Speaker 8: heaven with ceciless prayers to bless her. Some greet her
• 26:34
  Speaker 8: respectful homage the queen, while others fain would learn the
• 26:38
  Speaker 8: cause which brings her. But they all alike confess that
• 26:42
  Speaker 8: if the gods never enthroned the king, or glorious, or
• 26:45
  Speaker 8: with equal favors crowned, never was Father happier for yourself.
• 26:50
  Speaker 2: Enough, you're abatis. Now you may leave us. I must
• 26:54
  Speaker 2: consider what is to be done.
• 26:58
  Speaker 1: Scene five.
• 27:00
  Speaker 2: I am none ulysses just heaven tis, thus making thy
• 27:05
  Speaker 2: vengeance sure that thou dost break the web vain prudence spins,
• 27:11
  Speaker 2: would that I were at least free to let fall
• 27:15
  Speaker 2: tears that relieve the anguish of the heart, sad destiny
• 27:20
  Speaker 2: of kings slaves that we are to fate's severity. In
• 27:26
  Speaker 2: men's opinions, we see ourselves beset with witnesses, and the
• 27:31
  Speaker 2: most wretched do not dare to weep.
• 27:35
  Speaker 11: I am no stranger to a father's weakness. My own
• 27:39
  Speaker 11: heart tells me all that thou must feel, and sympathizing
• 27:44
  Speaker 11: with each troubled sigh, I'm more disposed to share than
• 27:48
  Speaker 11: blame thy tears. But now no plea is left for
• 27:52
  Speaker 11: love to urge with justice. Lo, the gods have brought
• 27:56
  Speaker 11: their victim to Calcus, and he knows it. If if
• 28:00
  Speaker 11: she terry, he will not fail himself to come and
• 28:02
  Speaker 11: claim her. Are we not yet alone? Indulge thy grief,
• 28:08
  Speaker 11: Check not the tears that tenderness extorts. Mourn for the
• 28:12
  Speaker 11: maiden's blood. Mourn, but to soothe thine anguish. Think what
• 28:17
  Speaker 11: honor that will spring? See hellas spont all white beneath
• 28:22
  Speaker 11: our oars, and faithless troy in flames, her people, lead
• 28:25
  Speaker 11: in fetters, cry and prostrate at thy knees, and helen
• 28:30
  Speaker 11: to her spouse. By THEE restored. See the gay garlands
• 28:35
  Speaker 11: on each lofty stern of our triumphant fleet. With THEE
• 28:38
  Speaker 11: return to all us here in glory. That shall be
• 28:41
  Speaker 11: the theme of countless ages.
• 28:43
  Speaker 2: Yet unborn, I know too well tis useless to resist. Go,
• 28:50
  Speaker 2: and the victim soon shall follow THEE. But silence, calhous
• 28:56
  Speaker 2: until all is ready help me the dreadful miss street
• 29:00
  Speaker 2: to hide, how far from sight so sad a mother's
• 29:04
  Speaker 2: steps eye guide.
• 29:07
  Speaker 1: End of Act one, Act Too of A Virginia by
• 29:17
  Speaker 1: John Racine, translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a
• 29:21
  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
• 29:26
  Speaker 1: For more information or to volunteer. Please visit LibriVox dot
• 29:31
  Speaker 1: org scene one aerphyl Doris.
• 29:37
  Speaker 6: Let us relieve them of our presence, Doris, while in
• 29:40
  Speaker 6: the arms of father and of husband they vie and
• 29:42
  Speaker 6: demonstration of their love, thus setting free my sorrow and
• 29:46
  Speaker 6: their joy.
• 29:48
  Speaker 10: Why madam, acting as your own tormentor give you yourself
• 29:51
  Speaker 10: up to tears and misery? All is displeasing to a
• 29:56
  Speaker 10: captive's eyes. Joy vanishes with liberty, I know. But when
• 30:00
  Speaker 10: in sorrow straits we crossed the waves against our will
• 30:03
  Speaker 10: with him who conquered Lesbos, when in his vessel borne
• 30:07
  Speaker 10: a timid thrall you saw the victor, who in human
• 30:10
  Speaker 10: blood had waited from your eyes, fell fewer tears and
• 30:13
  Speaker 10: sorrow was not then your sole employment. Now all smiles brightly,
• 30:18
  Speaker 10: Sweetyphigenia is bound to you by ties of true affection.
• 30:22
  Speaker 10: She pities you with all a sister's love, and in
• 30:25
  Speaker 10: at Troy you would not meet such kindness. You wished
• 30:28
  Speaker 10: to see the place to which your father called her,
• 30:30
  Speaker 10: And here at Alice you arrive with her. Yet strange fatality,
• 30:34
  Speaker 10: Your grief seems to increase with every step we take.
• 30:38
  Speaker 6: Nay, strange twould be if hapless aeryphilia could be a
• 30:42
  Speaker 6: calm spectator of their joy. Think you that my dejection
• 30:47
  Speaker 6: ought to vanish at sight of happiness I may not share.
• 30:51
  Speaker 6: I see a daughter in a father's arms, the pride
• 30:56
  Speaker 6: and glory of a mother's heart. Well, I exposed to
• 31:01
  Speaker 6: perils ever knew, indebted from my cradle to the care
• 31:05
  Speaker 6: of strangers. Live since first I saw the light without
• 31:09
  Speaker 6: the comfort of apparent smile, I know not who I am,
• 31:16
  Speaker 6: And worst of all, a dreadful oracle to ignorance attaches safety,
• 31:22
  Speaker 6: saying that the day that brings to light the source
• 31:25
  Speaker 6: from which I spring must see me perish.
• 31:29
  Speaker 10: Nay, pursue your search undaunted. Heaven delights in mystery and
• 31:33
  Speaker 10: hides its meaning under strange disguise. Losing a false name,
• 31:36
  Speaker 10: You will thus regain your own. No other danger need
• 31:39
  Speaker 10: you dread. Just thus that Arophyli is to perish. You
• 31:43
  Speaker 10: know the name was changed in infancy.
• 31:46
  Speaker 6: Naught else about myself to me is known. Your poor,
• 31:50
  Speaker 6: ill fated sire, who knew the rest, never vouchsafed me
• 31:53
  Speaker 6: any further light.
• 31:55
  Speaker 12: He said my proper rank should be restored to me
• 31:57
  Speaker 12: in Troy. Whether I.
• 32:01
  Speaker 6: Thought to go invited and resume the name derived from
• 32:04
  Speaker 6: royal ancestors. Already I seemed to look upon that famous city,
• 32:11
  Speaker 6: But heaven brought to Lesbo's fell Achilles, and all gave
• 32:15
  Speaker 6: way before his dire attack. Your father married neath a
• 32:20
  Speaker 6: heap of slain, left me a captive to myself unknown,
• 32:27
  Speaker 6: And there remain of all my promised greatness to me
• 32:31
  Speaker 6: the slave of Greeks. Naught but the pride of noble blood,
• 32:35
  Speaker 6: which I am powerless to prove.
• 32:38
  Speaker 10: In slaying such a faithful witness. How cruel, madam, must
• 32:41
  Speaker 10: that hand appear, which did the deed? But Calcus, famous
• 32:45
  Speaker 10: Calcus is here, who reads the secrets of the gods
• 32:48
  Speaker 10: they deemed themselves to teach him, and he sees the
• 32:51
  Speaker 10: future and the past alike unveiled. He cannot fail to
• 32:54
  Speaker 10: know your parentage. This camp itself is full of kind protectors.
• 32:59
  Speaker 10: Wedding Achille. Soon, Ephigenia will offer you a home beneath
• 33:03
  Speaker 10: his care, as promised in my presence and confirmed with oaths.
• 33:06
  Speaker 10: She looks for this as the first pledge of faith
• 33:08
  Speaker 10: from him.
• 33:10
  Speaker 6: What would you say, dear Doris, if of my woes
• 33:13
  Speaker 6: this marriage was the worst, What Madam, it surprises you
• 33:18
  Speaker 6: to see that my distress refuses consolation.
• 33:22
  Speaker 12: Listen and you will marvel that I live.
• 33:27
  Speaker 6: To be a stranger, captive and unknown.
• 33:30
  Speaker 12: End to myself is but of.
• 33:31
  Speaker 6: Light affliction, Achilles, author of the woes of Lesbos, of
• 33:38
  Speaker 6: thine and mine, who took me prisoner, who snatched your
• 33:42
  Speaker 6: father from me, and with him the knowledge of my birth,
• 33:45
  Speaker 6: whose very name should make me shudder, is of mortals,
• 33:51
  Speaker 6: dearest to me, Oh, what is this you say? I
• 33:57
  Speaker 6: thought to let eternal silence hide my weakness. But when
• 34:01
  Speaker 6: the heart is full, it overflows, and once for all,
• 34:06
  Speaker 6: I make a true confession. Ask me not on one
• 34:11
  Speaker 6: slender hope relying I learned to entertain this faintal love.
• 34:16
  Speaker 6: I cannot charge there with any false pity that my
• 34:19
  Speaker 6: misfortune seemed to waken him. The gods, without a doubt,
• 34:23
  Speaker 6: take cruel joy in shooting all the shafts of their
• 34:25
  Speaker 6: ill will at me. Shall I recall the dread remembrance
• 34:31
  Speaker 6: of that sad day which.
• 34:32
  Speaker 12: Cast us both in chains.
• 34:36
  Speaker 6: Long in those hands that tore me from my home,
• 34:38
  Speaker 6: I laid in darkness, lifeless and despairing. At last my
• 34:45
  Speaker 6: one eyes sought the light of day, seeing myself seized
• 34:49
  Speaker 6: by an arm in your blood. I trembled, Doris, and
• 34:52
  Speaker 6: I feared to meet a savage conqueror's frightful frown. I
• 34:58
  Speaker 6: went on board his vessel, holding him a hateful monster
• 35:02
  Speaker 6: that my eyes were loath to look on.
• 35:06
  Speaker 4: I beheld him.
• 35:08
  Speaker 12: In his face. I saw no fierceness on my lips.
• 35:14
  Speaker 6: Reproach remain unuttered. While against myself my heart declared, and
• 35:21
  Speaker 6: all my wrath forgotten. I could but weep to such
• 35:24
  Speaker 6: a gentle guide, submissive, loved at Lesbos, no less dear
• 35:31
  Speaker 6: as he at Alice. Offers of protection, of sympathy and succor,
• 35:37
  Speaker 6: all are vain, so works the madness that torments my heart.
• 35:43
  Speaker 6: If a Jennia's proffered hand, I take only unseen to
• 35:47
  Speaker 6: arm myself against your and thwart the happiness I cannot bear.
• 35:53
  Speaker 10: How can a feeble spite avail to harm her? Were
• 35:56
  Speaker 10: it not better than ever who have left my senayes
• 35:58
  Speaker 10: and tend counter torture. He struggling against a hopeless hidden flame.
• 36:04
  Speaker 6: I wish to stay my dars. But the more I
• 36:07
  Speaker 6: shun the picture of her triumph, here, so sad to
• 36:11
  Speaker 6: me fate drew me to these shores. I heard a
• 36:17
  Speaker 6: secret voice that bade me come, and whispered that my
• 36:19
  Speaker 6: presence might relieve my aching heart, and on their joy
• 36:23
  Speaker 6: intruding with your approach, some shadow of my woe might fall,
• 36:27
  Speaker 6: perchance on them with fatal blight. That is what brings
• 36:32
  Speaker 6: me hither, not impatience to learn whom I owe a
• 36:35
  Speaker 6: birth so wretched, or rather that their marriage may to
• 36:38
  Speaker 6: me serve as a sentence that shall end my life. Yes,
• 36:43
  Speaker 6: dares I will die a sudden stroke, shall bury in
• 36:48
  Speaker 6: the darkness of the tomb, my shame, heedless of parents
• 36:52
  Speaker 6: still unknown, whom my infatuation has dishonored.
• 36:58
  Speaker 10: How I pity you?
• 36:59
  Speaker 12: What any loll Agamemnon and Iphigenia.
• 37:05
  Speaker 1: Scene two, Agamemnon Ephiginia erphyl Doris.
• 37:12
  Speaker 5: Whither so fast away? What urgent need calls THEE, my lord,
• 37:16
  Speaker 5: so soon from our embrace to What shall I impute
• 37:20
  Speaker 5: this hasty flight? With due respect? I yielded to the
• 37:24
  Speaker 5: Queen the earliest greeting. May I not, in turn detain
• 37:28
  Speaker 5: THEE for a moment and display the joy that.
• 37:32
  Speaker 2: Yes, my daughter, let thine arms clasp me. Thy father
• 37:37
  Speaker 2: has not ceased to love THEE.
• 37:40
  Speaker 5: Dear, is that love to me? How I rejoice to
• 37:43
  Speaker 5: see THEE in new majesty, resplendent? What power and glory
• 37:49
  Speaker 5: fame had told already a tale of wonder which had
• 37:52
  Speaker 5: reached our ears. But seeing close at hand a sight
• 37:55
  Speaker 5: so welcome, How my surprise and pleasure are increased? Ye, Gods,
• 38:01
  Speaker 5: how Greece must love and honor him? What bliss to
• 38:04
  Speaker 5: be the child of such a sire daughter?
• 38:08
  Speaker 2: Thou didst deserve a happier father?
• 38:12
  Speaker 5: What happiness is wanting to thy wishes? What king to
• 38:16
  Speaker 5: greater honors can aspire? Are not my thanks? Thanks only
• 38:21
  Speaker 5: due to Heaven?
• 38:23
  Speaker 1: Bega, men, none aside great Gods?
• 38:26
  Speaker 2: Shall I prepare her for her fate?
• 38:30
  Speaker 5: Why dost thou hide thy face, my Lord and sigh?
• 38:34
  Speaker 5: It seems to pain THEE? But to look on me?
• 38:37
  Speaker 5: Have we by THEE unbidden left mycenee?
• 38:41
  Speaker 2: I see THEE child with the same eyes of love
• 38:44
  Speaker 2: as ever, but with change of time and place, gladness
• 38:50
  Speaker 2: is overmatched with anxious thoughts.
• 38:54
  Speaker 5: Father, forget the cares of office. Now I know we
• 38:58
  Speaker 5: must be parted, and for love Thou needest not blush
• 39:02
  Speaker 5: to give a father's love a moment's sway, Thou seest
• 39:05
  Speaker 5: that none is near but a young princess who has
• 39:08
  Speaker 5: heard me boast thy tenderness to me a hundred times.
• 39:12
  Speaker 5: I promise thou wouldst love her for my sake and
• 39:15
  Speaker 5: made no secret of my happiness. What will she think
• 39:19
  Speaker 5: of this indifference? Have I buoyed up her wishes with
• 39:22
  Speaker 5: false hopes? Wilt thou not clear this trouble from thy brow?
• 39:27
  Speaker 2: My daughter speak? I hear, Ah, No, I cannot.
• 39:35
  Speaker 5: Perish the trojan prince who caused these ills?
• 39:39
  Speaker 2: Ere that may be to accost us many.
• 39:42
  Speaker 5: A tear the gods with special care watch o'er thy life?
• 39:47
  Speaker 2: Long? Have I found them cruel and unheeding?
• 39:52
  Speaker 5: Calcus? I hear a solemn sacrifice prepares?
• 39:57
  Speaker 2: Ah? Might I first their hearts and clind to mercy?
• 40:02
  Speaker 5: Will it soon be offered?
• 40:04
  Speaker 2: Sooner than I could wish?
• 40:07
  Speaker 5: Shall I be free to join my prayers with thine?
• 40:10
  Speaker 5: Shall thy glad family surround the altar?
• 40:14
  Speaker 2: Ah?
• 40:16
  Speaker 5: Why art thou silent?
• 40:19
  Speaker 2: Thou shalt be there? My daughter fare thee well.
• 40:25
  Speaker 1: Scene three. If Virginia raphyl Doris.
• 40:31
  Speaker 5: What am I to expect from this sad greeting? The
• 40:35
  Speaker 5: secret horror makes my blood run cold against my will,
• 40:38
  Speaker 5: I dread some ill unknown. Just God, ye know whose
• 40:43
  Speaker 5: safety I implore.
• 40:45
  Speaker 6: Man anxious cares that needs must overwhelm him. Does but
• 40:50
  Speaker 6: a little coldness make you tremble alass What reason, then
• 40:56
  Speaker 6: do I have to say? Who never knew a parent's
• 40:59
  Speaker 6: tender care? Cast among strangers from my very birth, not
• 41:04
  Speaker 6: even then, perchance welcomed with looks of love.
• 41:08
  Speaker 12: If your affection by a father is.
• 41:09
  Speaker 6: Scorned, at least you have a mother's breast whereon to weep.
• 41:14
  Speaker 6: Your woe is not so keen, but that a lover's
• 41:16
  Speaker 6: hand can dry your tears.
• 41:19
  Speaker 5: I'll not gainsay it. Grief itself must yield ere long
• 41:23
  Speaker 5: before the efforts of Achilles, his love, his valor, I
• 41:29
  Speaker 5: a daughter's duty, give him just claim over my heart
• 41:32
  Speaker 5: and soul, But of himself. I know not what to think,
• 41:37
  Speaker 5: this lover so impatient to behold me, whom nothing could
• 41:41
  Speaker 5: induce to leave these shores, till from my distant home
• 41:44
  Speaker 5: a father called me to be his bride? Where is
• 41:47
  Speaker 5: the eagerness with which I deemed him waiting to receive me?
• 41:52
  Speaker 5: For two days past? As every hour we came nearer
• 41:55
  Speaker 5: this place which I so wished to see. I thought
• 41:59
  Speaker 5: each timid glance would light on him, with which I
• 42:02
  Speaker 5: scanned the ways that led from allus, sending my heart
• 42:06
  Speaker 5: far in advance to meet him, and asked, of all
• 42:09
  Speaker 5: I saw, where was Achilles? At last, without his escort,
• 42:15
  Speaker 5: we arrive, jostled and stared at by a crowd of strangers.
• 42:19
  Speaker 5: Still he appears, not Agamemnon seems afraid to let his
• 42:24
  Speaker 5: lips pronounce his name. Where is he who can solve
• 42:29
  Speaker 5: this mystery? And shall I find the lover no less
• 42:32
  Speaker 5: cold than the sad father? Have the cares of war
• 42:36
  Speaker 5: extinguished in all hearts? The warmth of love, But no
• 42:41
  Speaker 5: unjust alarm wrongs his devotion. Twas I who urged him
• 42:45
  Speaker 5: to assist the cause of Greece. He was not present
• 42:49
  Speaker 5: when at Sparta all Helen's suitors to her father took
• 42:53
  Speaker 5: their solemn oath alone of all the Greeks, unbound by
• 42:57
  Speaker 5: any pledge. If against Troy he sails, tis for my sake, myself,
• 43:04
  Speaker 5: the prize sufficient wedding me. Thither he flies.
• 43:10
  Speaker 1: Scene four, cried gymnestra e Hrginia erville doors, my daughter.
• 43:17
  Speaker 4: We must hence without delay and save by flying your
• 43:21
  Speaker 4: honor and my own. I am no more astonished that
• 43:25
  Speaker 4: your father seemed overwhelmed with sorrow and confusion at seeing
• 43:28
  Speaker 4: us again, wishing to spare the insult of rejection he
• 43:32
  Speaker 4: by Arcas had sent this letter only just received, for
• 43:36
  Speaker 4: as we went astray he failed to find us. Come then,
• 43:40
  Speaker 4: and let us save our wounded honor. Achilles, it would
• 43:44
  Speaker 4: seem has changed his mind about your marriage and declines
• 43:49
  Speaker 4: the favor we would bestow, postponing the espousals till his return.
• 43:55
  Speaker 5: What do I hear?
• 43:56
  Speaker 4: This insult flushes your cheek? Let pry your courage arm
• 44:02
  Speaker 4: though of his suit approving it was I myself who
• 44:05
  Speaker 4: promised you to him in Argos, moved by the fame
• 44:09
  Speaker 4: of his nobility to wed you to the offspring of
• 44:11
  Speaker 4: a goddess. Yet, since his base repentance now belies birth
• 44:16
  Speaker 4: so divine as rumor has reported, it rests with us
• 44:20
  Speaker 4: to show him who we are and see in him
• 44:23
  Speaker 4: the lowest of mankind. Shall we, by staying longer, make
• 44:28
  Speaker 4: him think we wish and wait for the return of
• 44:30
  Speaker 4: love to his cold heart? The nuptials he differs, let
• 44:35
  Speaker 4: us dissolve. Your father has been told of my intent
• 44:39
  Speaker 4: and comes to take farewell. I must make ready for
• 44:42
  Speaker 4: our prompt departure to Arothhyl. I do not urge you, madame,
• 44:47
  Speaker 4: to return with us in dearer hands. I leave you here.
• 44:51
  Speaker 4: Your secret schemes have come to light. Nor was it
• 44:55
  Speaker 4: Calcus who drew your willing steps to all?
• 44:59
  Speaker 1: See five Evirginia, Yrville Doris.
• 45:04
  Speaker 5: In what despair and woe these words have left me? Achilles?
• 45:08
  Speaker 5: Then is fickle in his love? I must go back
• 45:11
  Speaker 5: to Ergos and disgrace, And tis not Calcus you are
• 45:15
  Speaker 5: seeking here.
• 45:17
  Speaker 12: Madam, I fail to understand such speech.
• 45:20
  Speaker 5: Nay, you can comprehend me if you will. Fate's cruel
• 45:24
  Speaker 5: sentence robs me of a husband. Will you abandon me
• 45:28
  Speaker 5: to my misfortune? You could not stay without me at Messini?
• 45:33
  Speaker 5: Are we to start from allus without you?
• 45:36
  Speaker 6: I wish to see the proved ere I start.
• 45:39
  Speaker 5: Why do you then delay to let him know it?
• 45:42
  Speaker 12: A moment more will see you on your way.
• 45:45
  Speaker 5: A moment sometimes clears up many doubts. But I am
• 45:48
  Speaker 5: pressing you too closely, Madam. I see what I was
• 45:52
  Speaker 5: loath to think. Achilles, in your impatience to get rid
• 45:56
  Speaker 5: of me.
• 45:57
  Speaker 13: I you suspect me of this whatery?
• 46:01
  Speaker 6: How can I love the cruel hand that crushed me,
• 46:05
  Speaker 6: dye crimson into the blood, all of my kid that
• 46:08
  Speaker 6: lit the blazing torch and laiden ashes lesbos.
• 46:11
  Speaker 5: Ah, Yes, you love him, base deceiver. The savage conduct
• 46:17
  Speaker 5: that you paint so well, Those arms that you have seen,
• 46:21
  Speaker 5: stained red with gore, fury and flames, and lesbos burnt
• 46:25
  Speaker 5: to ashes, all these have stamped his image on your heart,
• 46:30
  Speaker 5: And far from shuddering at their remembrance, it even gives
• 46:33
  Speaker 5: you pleasure to repeat them. When your complaints were loudest.
• 46:37
  Speaker 5: More than once I might have seen your thoughts, and
• 46:40
  Speaker 5: so I did, but always with good natured readiness, replace
• 46:45
  Speaker 5: the bandage from mine eyes removed. You love him?
• 46:50
  Speaker 7: Ah?
• 46:51
  Speaker 5: What fatal misconception made me receive my rival in mine arms?
• 46:57
  Speaker 5: My heart? I gave her blindly, and today pledged the
• 47:01
  Speaker 5: protection of its perjured lover. Little I thought so soon
• 47:04
  Speaker 5: to see her triumph and be myself chained to her
• 47:08
  Speaker 5: chariot wheels. The selfishness of passion I can pardon that
• 47:12
  Speaker 5: robs me of the heart I deemed mine own. But
• 47:16
  Speaker 5: not the treachery that laid a snare to catch me,
• 47:19
  Speaker 5: and then suffered me unwarned to step therein, finding thus
• 47:24
  Speaker 5: far from home, no ardent welcome, but a cold repulse.
• 47:30
  Speaker 6: This charge is one that fills me with surprise. I
• 47:36
  Speaker 6: have not been accustomed to such words. And though the
• 47:39
  Speaker 6: gods have long pressed heart against me, as yet they
• 47:44
  Speaker 6: spared my ears a wound so grievous, but some excuses
• 47:50
  Speaker 6: due to love's injustice. What warning would you wish me
• 47:54
  Speaker 6: to a given?
• 47:57
  Speaker 12: Can you suppose Achilles would prefer.
• 47:59
  Speaker 6: To agaman Nun's daughter, one who knows nought of her birth,
• 48:03
  Speaker 6: save that within her veins flows blood, such as Achilles
• 48:06
  Speaker 6: burns to shed.
• 48:09
  Speaker 5: You triumph, cruel one, and flout my wrongs, making me
• 48:13
  Speaker 5: feel my misery the more. Why, with the honors of
• 48:16
  Speaker 5: my birth, compare your exile, but the better to enhance
• 48:20
  Speaker 5: your victory unjust, but curb your transports. This Agamemnon, whom
• 48:26
  Speaker 5: you choose to mock, holds sway over Greece, yet condescends
• 48:30
  Speaker 5: to love his daughter and resents her injuries more warmly
• 48:35
  Speaker 5: than herself. My tears and prospect moved him to sighs.
• 48:39
  Speaker 5: He sought in vain to stifle alas his gloomy greeting
• 48:44
  Speaker 5: I condemned, and dare to blame his want of tenderness.
• 48:50
  Speaker 1: Scene six Achilles Ephiginia aerophyl Doris.
• 48:55
  Speaker 3: Can it be so? Is it yourself? I see? I
• 49:01
  Speaker 3: thought that all the camp had been deceived. You here
• 49:06
  Speaker 3: in OLiS? With what purpose? Come you? I heard another
• 49:12
  Speaker 3: tale from Magamemnon.
• 49:15
  Speaker 5: Be of good cheer, my lord. I shall not thwart
• 49:18
  Speaker 5: your wishes, and shall soon be gone again.
• 49:22
  Speaker 1: Scene seven Achilles aerville Doris.
• 49:27
  Speaker 3: She flies from me? Am, I awake or dreaming? Into
• 49:33
  Speaker 3: What fresh distraction? Am I plunged? Madam? I know not
• 49:39
  Speaker 3: if without offense Achilles may present himself before you, But
• 49:45
  Speaker 3: if you will not scorn a foe's entreaty, if ere
• 49:49
  Speaker 3: his captive touched a chord of pity in him? You
• 49:53
  Speaker 3: know what brings their footsteps hither? You know?
• 49:59
  Speaker 12: And does my lord not? Noah too?
• 50:02
  Speaker 6: Did not your eager love a month ago desire their
• 50:04
  Speaker 6: presence here without delay?
• 50:07
  Speaker 3: A month ago? I was not here myself. It was
• 50:11
  Speaker 3: but yesterday that I returned.
• 50:14
  Speaker 2: What was it?
• 50:16
  Speaker 14: Not?
• 50:16
  Speaker 6: Your love inspired the letter that Agamemnon to Mycene wrote,
• 50:20
  Speaker 6: Were you not smitten with his daughter's charms?
• 50:24
  Speaker 3: I am more captivated now than ever. If wishes could
• 50:30
  Speaker 3: have carried me to Argoths, I would myself this journey
• 50:34
  Speaker 3: have forestalled. Yet she flies from me. What has been
• 50:39
  Speaker 3: my crime? I see around me none but hostile eyes
• 50:45
  Speaker 3: this very moment, Couchious and Ulysses with Nestor too used
• 50:51
  Speaker 3: all their eloquence in opposition to my love and seemed
• 50:55
  Speaker 3: to urge that honor had superior claim. What subtle scheme
• 51:01
  Speaker 3: can they be hatching?
• 51:02
  Speaker 2: Here?
• 51:04
  Speaker 3: Am I a laughing stop to all the army. I'll
• 51:09
  Speaker 3: enter and extort from them their secret.
• 51:14
  Speaker 1: Scene eight erphyl Doris, Ye, gods who see my shame?
• 51:21
  Speaker 12: Where shall I hide me? Proud rival? Thou art loved?
• 51:29
  Speaker 12: Yet dost thou murmur? Must I at.
• 51:34
  Speaker 6: Once thy triumph and reproaches endure?
• 51:38
  Speaker 4: Oh?
• 51:39
  Speaker 12: Rather, but I'm much mistaken.
• 51:43
  Speaker 6: Or over them, a storm ready to burst threatens disturbance
• 51:46
  Speaker 6: to their happiness. If Adanaia is deceived, Achilles marked Agamemnon groans,
• 51:56
  Speaker 6: I'll not despair, And if my hatred find support from fate,
• 52:02
  Speaker 6: I shall know how to turn it to my profit.
• 52:06
  Speaker 6: Nor we be alone, nor die without revenge.
• 52:13
  Speaker 1: In the fact two Act three of I Virginia by
• 52:22
  Speaker 1: Jean Racine, translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a
• 52:27
  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
• 52:32
  Speaker 1: For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
• 52:38
  Speaker 1: Scene one. I give me none clytemnestra tis true.
• 52:43
  Speaker 4: My lord, We should have gone here now, far on
• 52:46
  Speaker 4: our way to Argos, where your daughter might weep for
• 52:48
  Speaker 4: her disgrace leaving Achilles and you in anger, had not
• 52:53
  Speaker 4: he himself just now, astonished that our sudden flight restrained
• 52:57
  Speaker 4: us with such oath as could not to make us
• 53:00
  Speaker 4: trust him, urge and for the marriage we thought postponed,
• 53:05
  Speaker 4: where love and wrath contended for mastery. Disowning the false rumor,
• 53:10
  Speaker 4: eager to know its author and confound him, banish suspicions
• 53:14
  Speaker 4: which have maud our joy.
• 53:17
  Speaker 2: Yes, madam, with my sanction, you may trust him. I
• 53:21
  Speaker 2: recognize the error that deceived me, and share your joy
• 53:26
  Speaker 2: to the utmost of my power. Would you have calhous
• 53:31
  Speaker 2: to my family, unite him, send your daughter to the altar.
• 53:36
  Speaker 2: I will be there, but ere Proceeding further, I wished
• 53:41
  Speaker 2: to speak a word with you in private. You see
• 53:45
  Speaker 2: how you have brought her to a place where all
• 53:49
  Speaker 2: breathes war, not him. In all songs, the tumult of
• 53:54
  Speaker 2: a camp soldiers and sailors with spears and javelins rustling
• 54:00
  Speaker 2: round the altar, offer a scene to swell Achilles' pride.
• 54:06
  Speaker 2: But to your tender sight, harsh and uncouth shall grease
• 54:11
  Speaker 2: their sea, the consort of their king be reft of
• 54:16
  Speaker 2: dignity and royal state. Hear me without you that if
• 54:21
  Speaker 2: Eugenia go to this marriage by your maids attended, what.
• 54:27
  Speaker 4: Must I then to other arms? Confiding my child not
• 54:31
  Speaker 4: finish what I have begun, and after bringing her from
• 54:34
  Speaker 4: Argos hither, refuse to guide her footsteps to the altar?
• 54:39
  Speaker 4: Is yours to be a nearer place than mine? By Calcus?
• 54:42
  Speaker 4: Who will give her to Achilles or order the procession
• 54:46
  Speaker 4: as ismeat.
• 54:47
  Speaker 2: This is not Achuria's palace where you are but a
• 54:52
  Speaker 2: rude camp.
• 54:54
  Speaker 4: Who are all submits to you, wage as fate is
• 54:58
  Speaker 4: to your hands and trusted when mar should meet your sway,
• 55:02
  Speaker 4: I see the whole of Greece, where Thetis's son will
• 55:06
  Speaker 4: call me mother? In what proud palace upon all the
• 55:09
  Speaker 4: earth could I appear with more magnificence.
• 55:13
  Speaker 2: Deign, Madam, for the sake of the immortals from whom
• 55:17
  Speaker 2: we spring to grant my love this favor.
• 55:21
  Speaker 4: I have my reasons, but your self same gods deprive me,
• 55:27
  Speaker 4: not my lord of sight so sweet? Why should my
• 55:30
  Speaker 4: presence here make you ashamed?
• 55:33
  Speaker 2: I had hoped more from your obliging temper, But since
• 55:38
  Speaker 2: the force of reason cannot move you, and my entreaty
• 55:42
  Speaker 2: has so little power, my tone must change to one
• 55:46
  Speaker 2: of stern command. It is my will. You do as
• 55:50
  Speaker 2: I have said.
• 55:51
  Speaker 1: Obey scene too, cried Temnestra.
• 55:58
  Speaker 4: What means he cruel and unjust? Thus from the marriage
• 56:02
  Speaker 4: altar to the Barmey, proud of new rank, forgets he
• 56:06
  Speaker 4: who I am? And am I deemed unworthy to appear
• 56:10
  Speaker 4: beside him? Or timid mid all his power fears he
• 56:14
  Speaker 4: that Helen's sister may bring scorn on him? Why should
• 56:18
  Speaker 4: I hide me? Is it fair? His shame should be
• 56:21
  Speaker 4: reflected on my brow? But since it is his will,
• 56:27
  Speaker 4: my own submits thy happiness. My daughter makes amends for all.
• 56:33
  Speaker 4: Heaven gives Achilles to thine arms, and I am overjoyed.
• 56:37
  Speaker 4: But lo himself.
• 56:41
  Speaker 1: Scene three Achilles Clytemnestra.
• 56:45
  Speaker 3: Madam all goes according to my wishes. Misunderstandings cleared, the
• 56:51
  Speaker 3: king is pleased to trust my ardor and ere all
• 56:55
  Speaker 3: is said with warm embraces, accepts me for sun. Few
• 57:02
  Speaker 3: words expressed consent. But have you heard what joy your
• 57:08
  Speaker 3: presence to the camp has brought? The gods will be appeased.
• 57:12
  Speaker 3: Coucious proclaims their reconciliation in an hour that Neptune and
• 57:18
  Speaker 3: the winds our prayers will grant soon as his hand
• 57:21
  Speaker 3: the victim's blood shall spill. Already, every ship, with sails outspread,
• 57:27
  Speaker 3: is turned toward Troy, relying on his promise. As for myself,
• 57:33
  Speaker 3: though love were gratified if Heaven were still to keep
• 57:37
  Speaker 3: his breezes back. Though I must grieve to quit this
• 57:41
  Speaker 3: happy shore, where soon for me the nuptial torch will glow.
• 57:46
  Speaker 3: Yet can I fail to welcome an occasion to seal
• 57:50
  Speaker 3: our marriage bond with Trojan blood, and neath Troy's ruins
• 57:55
  Speaker 3: bury the disgrace of one whose family will then be mine?
• 58:01
  Speaker 1: Scene four Achilles clytemnestra, iphigenia ervil dors a gina.
• 58:09
  Speaker 3: On you, dear princess, All my hopes depend your father
• 58:15
  Speaker 3: to our union yields consent, and that the altar waits there.
• 58:21
  Speaker 3: Take a heart already yours.
• 58:25
  Speaker 5: Tis not yet time to go. Would the queen's leave,
• 58:28
  Speaker 5: My Lord, I dare to ask a pledge your love
• 58:31
  Speaker 5: should grant right willingly on this young princess for my sake,
• 58:37
  Speaker 5: take pity. Heaven on her brow has stamped nobility, her
• 58:42
  Speaker 5: eyes bedewed with tears. She ever mourns her misery. You
• 58:47
  Speaker 5: know it, for from you it came, And I, myself,
• 58:51
  Speaker 5: unjustly wroth, have made her more unhappy than before. I
• 58:56
  Speaker 5: fain would counteract by timely help the wrong my words
• 58:59
  Speaker 5: have done her. If I may my voice, I lend
• 59:03
  Speaker 5: her now. I can no more, My lord, you only
• 59:08
  Speaker 5: can undo your work. She is your captive, and at
• 59:12
  Speaker 5: your command her chains will fall and give my heart relief. Thus,
• 59:17
  Speaker 5: then inaugurate this happy day, Nor let the sight of
• 59:21
  Speaker 5: us increase her woe. Show that I am about to wed.
• 59:24
  Speaker 5: A king who not content to strike men's heart with fear,
• 59:29
  Speaker 5: does not confine his fame to fire and sword, but
• 59:33
  Speaker 5: melted by the tears of one he loves, and in
• 59:36
  Speaker 5: his hour of victory, disarmed by grief, can imitate the
• 59:40
  Speaker 5: gods from whom he springs.
• 59:43
  Speaker 6: Yes, Sir, assuage these poignant pangs. Lisbo subdued your captive.
• 59:49
  Speaker 6: I became, but is to push the rights of war
• 59:52
  Speaker 6: too far, to add the torment that I suffer here.
• 59:55
  Speaker 15: You, Madam, Yes, my lord, all else omitted. What punishment
• 1:00:01
  Speaker 15: more dire can you impose than this of giving my
• 1:00:04
  Speaker 15: sad eyes the pain of seeing those who persecute me happy.
• 1:00:10
  Speaker 15: I hear on all sides threats against my people. I
• 1:00:15
  Speaker 15: see an army raging to attack them, and now to
• 1:00:19
  Speaker 15: add a soreer wound, I see flames to devour my
• 1:00:23
  Speaker 15: country in the torch of Hymen, far from Alice and
• 1:00:28
  Speaker 15: from you, forever, wretched and unknown, forever, let me go
• 1:00:31
  Speaker 15: hide to fate that claims compassion, whose betterness these tears
• 1:00:36
  Speaker 15: but half express too much.
• 1:00:39
  Speaker 3: Fair Princess, come that in the sight of Greece, Achilles
• 1:00:45
  Speaker 3: may pronounce you free. This hour to me more sweet
• 1:00:49
  Speaker 3: than all before, shall gladden you with liberty once more.
• 1:00:56
  Speaker 1: Scene five, Achilles, Clementesta, an iraphyl Arcus, a Gina Doris.
• 1:01:04
  Speaker 7: Madam, All's ready for the solemn right. Beside the altar,
• 1:01:09
  Speaker 7: the king waits his daughter. I come to claim her
• 1:01:13
  Speaker 7: or more truly, sir, I come for her, thy sucker,
• 1:01:16
  Speaker 7: to implore against.
• 1:01:18
  Speaker 3: Him arcass What is this?
• 1:01:22
  Speaker 4: Great gods?
• 1:01:24
  Speaker 1: Arcus two achilles.
• 1:01:26
  Speaker 7: Thou sir, and thou alone canst now defend her?
• 1:01:30
  Speaker 3: Gainst whom he's a name?
• 1:01:33
  Speaker 7: I utter with regret too long? Already have I kept
• 1:01:38
  Speaker 7: his secret? The knife, the fire, the filet all are ready?
• 1:01:43
  Speaker 7: And where the stroke on mine own head to fall?
• 1:01:46
  Speaker 7: I needs must speak.
• 1:01:48
  Speaker 4: Explain thyself.
• 1:01:50
  Speaker 3: I tremble speak be it what may?
• 1:01:53
  Speaker 7: And have no fear thou her affinest husband, Thou her
• 1:01:59
  Speaker 7: mother be? Where send not the princess to her father?
• 1:02:04
  Speaker 5: Why?
• 1:02:05
  Speaker 4: What have we to dread?
• 1:02:07
  Speaker 3: Wherefore distrust him?
• 1:02:09
  Speaker 7: He at the altar waits to offer her in sacrifice.
• 1:02:13
  Speaker 4: Her sire, his child, my father?
• 1:02:18
  Speaker 12: He God's what tidings?
• 1:02:20
  Speaker 3: What blind rage? Can armies mind against her? Who could
• 1:02:24
  Speaker 3: hear of it without a shudder?
• 1:02:27
  Speaker 7: What that I could doubt it? By calcus voice, the
• 1:02:31
  Speaker 7: oracle demands her, refusing to accept another victim. The gods,
• 1:02:36
  Speaker 7: who hitherto have favored Paris at this price, only promise
• 1:02:40
  Speaker 7: favoring winds and Troy's destruction.
• 1:02:44
  Speaker 4: Can the gods command foul murder.
• 1:02:47
  Speaker 5: For what guilt, Am I condemned to such a fate.
• 1:02:52
  Speaker 4: No more am I surprised that I should be forbidden
• 1:02:55
  Speaker 4: to approach the altar.
• 1:02:57
  Speaker 1: Ifhrginia to Achilles.
• 1:02:59
  Speaker 5: This then, is my destined marriage.
• 1:03:03
  Speaker 7: The king devised these nuptiales to deceive you, deceived with
• 1:03:07
  Speaker 7: all the army like yourselves.
• 1:03:10
  Speaker 4: See how I stoop to clasp thine knees.
• 1:03:13
  Speaker 1: Achilles raising her ah Madam, I loathe my royal dignity.
• 1:03:20
  Speaker 4: Forget it. This sad humiliation suits a lot desperate. Unless
• 1:03:25
  Speaker 4: my tears can stir thy pity. A mother feels no shame.
• 1:03:30
  Speaker 4: Thus at thy feet to fall alas it is thy
• 1:03:34
  Speaker 4: bright day, snatch out of thine arms, whose tender hopes
• 1:03:38
  Speaker 4: I nursed from childhood. Twas in search of THEE we
• 1:03:42
  Speaker 4: reach this fatal shore. Thy name brings her to death.
• 1:03:46
  Speaker 4: Shall she go beg for justice from the gods and
• 1:03:49
  Speaker 4: clasp their altars for her sacrifice. For stooned, she has
• 1:03:53
  Speaker 4: none other here than THEE. Thou art to her father,
• 1:03:57
  Speaker 4: husband Heaven, her only shelter. In thine eyes, I read
• 1:04:03
  Speaker 4: unutterable grief with him, my child. I leave THEE, quit
• 1:04:08
  Speaker 4: her not, but wait for me to faith Zagamemnon. Must
• 1:04:12
  Speaker 4: I hasten and overwhelm him with indignant fury. Calcus will
• 1:04:17
  Speaker 4: have to find another victim, Or if I cannot save
• 1:04:21
  Speaker 4: my daughter's life, my neck shall first be offered to
• 1:04:25
  Speaker 4: the knife.
• 1:04:27
  Speaker 1: Scene six Achilles and Virginia.
• 1:04:31
  Speaker 3: Madam, My tongue is silent, and my limb sing palsied.
• 1:04:37
  Speaker 3: Is it to mine ears that such words are spoken?
• 1:04:41
  Speaker 3: Must the mother kneel and sue to me? For thee
• 1:04:45
  Speaker 3: a queen fall at my feet, pross straight and wronging
• 1:04:49
  Speaker 3: me by fears? Unjust as she recourse to tears to
• 1:04:53
  Speaker 3: melt my heart. Thy life to me is dearer than
• 1:04:57
  Speaker 3: to all. Besides, my faithful heart claims full reliance. No
• 1:05:04
  Speaker 3: harm to THEE can fail to touch mine honor. I
• 1:05:08
  Speaker 3: answer for a life that to mine own is joined.
• 1:05:12
  Speaker 3: But indignation moves me further. Tis little to protect THEE.
• 1:05:17
  Speaker 3: To revenge, I run and punishment for that vile scheme
• 1:05:22
  Speaker 3: which dares to use my name for thy destruction.
• 1:05:26
  Speaker 5: Ah, stay, my lord, and deign to hear me.
• 1:05:30
  Speaker 3: What shall I endure so barbarous an insult he sees me?
• 1:05:37
  Speaker 3: Eager to avenge the wrong, his sister suffered knows that
• 1:05:41
  Speaker 3: It was I who voted first for him to be
• 1:05:44
  Speaker 3: elected commander over twenty kings, his rivals, and for the
• 1:05:49
  Speaker 3: fruit of all my toiling care, my sole reward, for
• 1:05:53
  Speaker 3: victory that will bring vengeance and wealth to him with
• 1:05:57
  Speaker 3: Glory's crown. The height of my ambition was to hear
• 1:06:02
  Speaker 3: THEE call me husband to be thine was all I
• 1:06:06
  Speaker 3: asked of him. Yet savage and forsworn to day, he
• 1:06:11
  Speaker 3: thinks it little to do outrage to natural affection and
• 1:06:15
  Speaker 3: to show me thy bleeding heart consumed upon an altar,
• 1:06:21
  Speaker 3: veiling this sacrifice with marriage rights. He would that it
• 1:06:25
  Speaker 3: were I should lead thee hither my hand should be
• 1:06:29
  Speaker 3: his tool to hold the knife. Thy promised bridegroom, be
• 1:06:33
  Speaker 3: thy murderer. Ah, how these bloody nuptials might have ended
• 1:06:40
  Speaker 3: had I come one day later than I did this
• 1:06:44
  Speaker 3: very moment, in their ruthless power placed Thou wouldst search
• 1:06:49
  Speaker 3: for me beside the altar in vain. Then unforeseen, the
• 1:06:53
  Speaker 3: knife would fall, and dying, thou wouldst blame me for deceit.
• 1:06:58
  Speaker 3: Most base, then must I, in the sight of Greece,
• 1:07:03
  Speaker 3: claim satisfaction for such treachery? Thy husband's honor, Madam is
• 1:07:10
  Speaker 3: with thine involved, and thou must needs praise mine intent.
• 1:07:15
  Speaker 3: The cruel monster who has poured disdain on me shall
• 1:07:19
  Speaker 3: learn whose name he dares to stain.
• 1:07:23
  Speaker 5: Oh, if thou lovest me, and one last favor wilt
• 1:07:27
  Speaker 5: grant attentive to a lover's prayer, Now is the time
• 1:07:31
  Speaker 5: for me to prove it, Sir, bethink THEE that this
• 1:07:35
  Speaker 5: monster thou defiest, this barbaroust, bloodthirsty, unjust foe, is still
• 1:07:42
  Speaker 5: whatever he may have done my father, thy.
• 1:07:46
  Speaker 3: Father, Nay, after this horrid scheme, I know him only
• 1:07:51
  Speaker 3: as thy foul assassin.
• 1:07:54
  Speaker 5: He is my father, Sir. Once more I say it,
• 1:07:58
  Speaker 5: yea and a father whom I love and honor himself.
• 1:08:03
  Speaker 5: He holds me dear until to day, no tokens but
• 1:08:07
  Speaker 5: of tenderness from him have I received my heart from childhood,
• 1:08:11
  Speaker 5: taught a daughter's duty. Cannot but be grieved at words
• 1:08:15
  Speaker 5: that would wound him. Far from being changed so suddenly
• 1:08:19
  Speaker 5: as to approve thy rage, still less to fan this
• 1:08:23
  Speaker 5: fury with my breath. Believe me, it is only the
• 1:08:26
  Speaker 5: excess of love for THEE that suffered me to hear
• 1:08:30
  Speaker 5: those hateful names with which thou hast assailed him. Why
• 1:08:35
  Speaker 5: will you deem him so unnatural as not to groan
• 1:08:38
  Speaker 5: at the impending blow? What father gladly would bereave himself
• 1:08:43
  Speaker 5: of his own offspring? Why should he destroy me if
• 1:08:47
  Speaker 5: he could save me? I saw him weep. Believe me
• 1:08:51
  Speaker 5: condemn him, not, my lord ere thou hast heard him
• 1:08:56
  Speaker 5: alas his heart already is with horror, sore, oppressed. Let
• 1:09:01
  Speaker 5: not thy hatred crush it?
• 1:09:04
  Speaker 3: What Madam midst such subjects for alarm? Are these the
• 1:09:09
  Speaker 3: terrors that distress thee most? A cruel sire? How can
• 1:09:14
  Speaker 3: I call him else? Intends to slay thee by the
• 1:09:18
  Speaker 3: hand of counch Us, And when my love his fury
• 1:09:22
  Speaker 3: would withstand thy soul concern is to secure his peace.
• 1:09:27
  Speaker 3: To shut my mouth to pity and excuse tis I
• 1:09:32
  Speaker 3: that do affright thee? And thy fears are all for him.
• 1:09:36
  Speaker 3: So little has my care availed to reach thy soul
• 1:09:40
  Speaker 3: and fix achilles there.
• 1:09:43
  Speaker 5: Ah, it is cruel. Thus to doubt my love? Have
• 1:09:47
  Speaker 5: I so long waited to make it known? Thou seest
• 1:09:50
  Speaker 5: with what a calm indifference I have received the tidings
• 1:09:53
  Speaker 5: of my doom? Nor did my cheek turn pale? What
• 1:09:57
  Speaker 5: thou hast seen how just before, distracted with despair, I
• 1:10:02
  Speaker 5: heard when we arrived a false report that thou hast
• 1:10:07
  Speaker 5: proved in constant in what anguish? With what a torrent
• 1:10:11
  Speaker 5: of upbraiding words? I blamed the spite alike of gods
• 1:10:15
  Speaker 5: and men. Ah, hast thou seen me? Then? Thou wouldst
• 1:10:20
  Speaker 5: not need to hear me say how much thy love
• 1:10:23
  Speaker 5: is dearer to me than life? Who knows of heaven?
• 1:10:27
  Speaker 5: Provoked by my exceeding happiness has willed its end alas
• 1:10:33
  Speaker 5: a flame so fair and bright seemed to uplift me
• 1:10:36
  Speaker 5: to a higher sphere than earth.
• 1:10:39
  Speaker 3: My princess live if still to thee I'm dear.
• 1:10:45
  Speaker 1: Scene seven achilles, clemenestra ephiginia a gina.
• 1:10:51
  Speaker 4: My lord. Unless you save us, all is lost for
• 1:10:55
  Speaker 4: a kammemnon fierce to see my face, refusing me all
• 1:10:59
  Speaker 4: excess today Altar. The guards whom he has stationed there himself,
• 1:11:03
  Speaker 4: have on all sides forbidden me to pass. He shuns
• 1:11:08
  Speaker 4: me for my passion makes him quail.
• 1:11:12
  Speaker 3: Then, Madam, tis for me to take your place. I'll
• 1:11:16
  Speaker 3: see him and accost him face to face.
• 1:11:22
  Speaker 5: Ah, mother, whither will you go? My lord? What means
• 1:11:27
  Speaker 5: you by unreasonable prayers.
• 1:11:29
  Speaker 3: Still must it be at first against yourself?
• 1:11:33
  Speaker 4: I have to fight, my child. Explain your purpose in
• 1:11:39
  Speaker 4: Heaven's name.
• 1:11:40
  Speaker 5: Restrain a frantic lover. Let us avert this perilous encounter.
• 1:11:45
  Speaker 5: Your fierce reproaches, sir, would leave a sting too sharp.
• 1:11:49
  Speaker 5: Exasperated love I know runs wild with rage. My father's
• 1:11:55
  Speaker 5: jealousy brooks no control. Proud are the sons of atreus?
• 1:12:00
  Speaker 5: Leave it till lips more timid to address him. Surprised
• 1:12:04
  Speaker 5: at my delay, doubt not that hither he will himself
• 1:12:08
  Speaker 5: soon come in search of me. A mother's lamentations he
• 1:12:12
  Speaker 5: will hear, and I perchance shall fill myself inspired with
• 1:12:17
  Speaker 5: arguments that may prevent your tears. Your indignation quell. Can
• 1:12:22
  Speaker 5: let me live for you?
• 1:12:25
  Speaker 3: Since such is your pleasure, I submit. Let's sound advice
• 1:12:30
  Speaker 3: fall from your lips. Together, recall his reason and persuade
• 1:12:35
  Speaker 3: his heart not to destroy our peace and more than
• 1:12:40
  Speaker 3: ours his own. In idle talk. The precious moments I
• 1:12:45
  Speaker 3: lose from me, Not words, but deeds are wanted.
• 1:12:50
  Speaker 1: To Clademnestra madam.
• 1:12:53
  Speaker 3: I will do all I can to serve you. Go
• 1:12:57
  Speaker 3: seek your chamber and take need for rest your daughter
• 1:13:02
  Speaker 3: shall not die, So I predict an oracle more sure
• 1:13:07
  Speaker 3: than that of Councius. Believe me that, as long as
• 1:13:12
  Speaker 3: ideal breath in vain, the gods may have ordained her death.
• 1:13:19
  Speaker 1: In the Fact III, Act four of Iphiginia by Jean Racine,
• 1:13:29
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 1:13:34
  Speaker 1: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 1:13:38
  Speaker 1: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Scene
• 1:13:44
  Speaker 1: one erthhyl Doris.
• 1:13:47
  Speaker 10: Have s you what strange madness makes you envy Evagenia's lot?
• 1:13:52
  Speaker 10: Within an hour she perishes? Yet never so you tell me?
• 1:13:55
  Speaker 10: Were you are more jealous of her happiness?
• 1:13:58
  Speaker 3: Who could believe it?
• 1:14:00
  Speaker 10: Where his heart so wild?
• 1:14:02
  Speaker 16: My mouth has never uttered a word more true, Never
• 1:14:05
  Speaker 16: has her felicity so moved my anxious soul with envious unrest,
• 1:14:10
  Speaker 16: such danger were delight, But hope is vain?
• 1:14:16
  Speaker 12: Did you not see her triumph?
• 1:14:18
  Speaker 10: His concern?
• 1:14:21
  Speaker 6: I saw and shun tokens I could not doubt this
• 1:14:26
  Speaker 6: hero terrible to all.
• 1:14:28
  Speaker 12: Besides, who knows no.
• 1:14:30
  Speaker 17: Tears but those he makes to flow, Who steeled himself
• 1:14:34
  Speaker 17: from infancy against them? And who if womer tells a
• 1:14:38
  Speaker 17: tale of truth sucked the fierce blood of lions and
• 1:14:41
  Speaker 17: of bears.
• 1:14:44
  Speaker 13: For her sake, learns the language of alarm. Yes, she
• 1:14:50
  Speaker 13: has seen him weep, his cheek turned pale. Yet Doris,
• 1:14:56
  Speaker 13: pities are the dire misfortune.
• 1:15:01
  Speaker 18: Would I not suffer my those tears be shed for me,
• 1:15:09
  Speaker 18: though I were doomed to die like her within an hour?
• 1:15:14
  Speaker 5: Die?
• 1:15:15
  Speaker 9: Huh?
• 1:15:17
  Speaker 4: Nay?
• 1:15:19
  Speaker 5: Believe it not?
• 1:15:21
  Speaker 2: Thank you.
• 1:15:22
  Speaker 6: Achilles is an idle dreamer that, fearing for her safety,
• 1:15:24
  Speaker 6: heat will spare his boldest efforts to achieve her rescue. No,
• 1:15:31
  Speaker 6: you shall find this oracle was spoken but to enhance
• 1:15:34
  Speaker 6: his glory and my torment, to leave her fairer in.
• 1:15:38
  Speaker 4: His eyes than ever see you not all that in.
• 1:15:43
  Speaker 12: Her favor works.
• 1:15:46
  Speaker 6: The fatal sentence has been kept a secret, And though
• 1:15:50
  Speaker 6: the funeral pyre being now prepared, the victim's name is
• 1:15:53
  Speaker 6: still unknown. The camp remains in ignorance. This island stars
• 1:16:02
  Speaker 6: cannot but indicate a wavering purpose.
• 1:16:06
  Speaker 12: What will he do?
• 1:16:09
  Speaker 6: Has he a heart of iron to bear the attack
• 1:16:12
  Speaker 6: of their combined entreaties, a mother's anger and a daughter's tears,
• 1:16:16
  Speaker 6: Cries of despair from all his family, his own affection,
• 1:16:20
  Speaker 6: ready to relent, nor at least Achilles threats that never fell, but.
• 1:16:25
  Speaker 12: To overwhelm No.
• 1:16:30
  Speaker 19: Tis in vain that Heaven condemns her misery is mine
• 1:16:35
  Speaker 19: alone forever. If I followed my own impulse.
• 1:16:42
  Speaker 10: What's in your mind?
• 1:16:44
  Speaker 14: I know not what restrains my anger from revealing all
• 1:16:47
  Speaker 14: the truth, divulging straightway what the gods have threatened, and
• 1:16:52
  Speaker 14: publishing abroad the guilty plots laid to dishonor them and
• 1:16:56
  Speaker 14: cheat their altars.
• 1:17:00
  Speaker 10: Oh what a thought, what joy?
• 1:17:05
  Speaker 2: If it were done?
• 1:17:08
  Speaker 6: How would the Trojan temples smoke with incense?
• 1:17:13
  Speaker 7: If in revenge for.
• 1:17:15
  Speaker 6: My captivity I could arm Agamemnon against Achilles and Troy forgotten,
• 1:17:20
  Speaker 6: make them turn the sword waited for her destruction on
• 1:17:23
  Speaker 6: each other, and Greece embroiled in civil strife by me
• 1:17:30
  Speaker 6: he sacrifice to save my countrymen.
• 1:17:35
  Speaker 10: I hear a sound. I think the queen approaches. Madam,
• 1:17:39
  Speaker 10: compose your spirits overtire.
• 1:17:41
  Speaker 6: Let us go in and think how best my rage
• 1:17:43
  Speaker 6: that Heaven sanctions may confound this.
• 1:17:46
  Speaker 1: Marriage scene two, replied, aymnestra a gina, It breaks.
• 1:17:53
  Speaker 4: My heart to see her, dear Egena. She sheds no
• 1:17:57
  Speaker 4: tears nor trembles for her life. But all her care
• 1:18:00
  Speaker 4: is to excuse her father and to persuade me to
• 1:18:04
  Speaker 4: respect the hand that slays her. Oh, what filial constancy
• 1:18:10
  Speaker 4: he in return for love so tender chides delay, and
• 1:18:13
  Speaker 4: soon will ask of me the reason. Still hoping to
• 1:18:17
  Speaker 4: concede his treachery, he comes. Let me not taunt him
• 1:18:22
  Speaker 4: with injustice, but see if he persists in his deceit.
• 1:18:28
  Speaker 1: Scene three, I give him none clytemnestra a gina.
• 1:18:33
  Speaker 2: What do you hear? Where is your daughter? Madam? How
• 1:18:37
  Speaker 2: is she not with you as I expected?
• 1:18:40
  Speaker 15: Why?
• 1:18:40
  Speaker 2: Wait? She did not Arcas bring my orders to send her?
• 1:18:45
  Speaker 2: Is it you who keep her back? Do you resist
• 1:18:48
  Speaker 2: my reasonable wishes and saved by you conducted? Can she
• 1:18:54
  Speaker 2: not approach the altar? Speak?
• 1:18:58
  Speaker 4: If she must go? My child is ready? But have you,
• 1:19:03
  Speaker 4: my lord, no reason for delay?
• 1:19:06
  Speaker 2: I madam, have you forgotten not? The altar is prepared
• 1:19:13
  Speaker 2: and calhous by its side, all as it should be, My.
• 1:19:19
  Speaker 4: Lord, you do not tell me of the victim?
• 1:19:23
  Speaker 2: What mean you, madam? Why should your concern.
• 1:19:28
  Speaker 1: Scene for I gimem none clytemnestra ephrginia a Gina.
• 1:19:35
  Speaker 4: Come daughter Come, They only wait for THEE come. Thank
• 1:19:40
  Speaker 4: a father who so loves his child that he himself
• 1:19:45
  Speaker 4: will lead her to the altar.
• 1:19:47
  Speaker 2: What do I see in here? Why weeps my daughter
• 1:19:51
  Speaker 2: with downcast eyes, as if ashamed to meet mine own?
• 1:19:56
  Speaker 2: What troubles thee? Thy mother too is weeping arcas has
• 1:20:02
  Speaker 2: betrayed me.
• 1:20:04
  Speaker 5: Father, Cease to be anxious. Thou art not betrayed. What
• 1:20:08
  Speaker 5: thou commandest, shall by me be done? Thy will it
• 1:20:12
  Speaker 5: is to take the life thou gavest I know it,
• 1:20:17
  Speaker 5: And all subterfuge is vain with heart, no less submissive
• 1:20:21
  Speaker 5: and content than when the bridegroom of thy choice I hailed.
• 1:20:25
  Speaker 5: Will I, if need, be an obedient victim, offer a
• 1:20:29
  Speaker 5: guiltless head to Calcus's knife, And since it is thy will,
• 1:20:35
  Speaker 5: with due respect, yield the existence that I owe to THEE.
• 1:20:40
  Speaker 5: But if this dutiful obedience seem to merit in thine
• 1:20:43
  Speaker 5: eyes some recompense. If thou hast pity for a mother's tears,
• 1:20:48
  Speaker 5: let me be bold to say that, young and happy,
• 1:20:52
  Speaker 5: I well might find life sweet enough to make me
• 1:20:55
  Speaker 5: wish that it should not be snatched away, That cruel
• 1:20:59
  Speaker 5: fate had not so soon cut short the thread of
• 1:21:02
  Speaker 5: which so little has been spun, I Agamemnon's daughter. It
• 1:21:07
  Speaker 5: was I who called thee first by the dear name
• 1:21:10
  Speaker 5: of Father, and I in whom so long your eyes
• 1:21:14
  Speaker 5: delighted have made thee. Thank the gods that name was thine.
• 1:21:20
  Speaker 5: How often hast thou lavished fond caresses on me, nor
• 1:21:24
  Speaker 5: scorned as weakness love so tender?
• 1:21:27
  Speaker 4: Ah?
• 1:21:28
  Speaker 5: With what pleasure did I make thee tell of countries
• 1:21:31
  Speaker 5: that await thy conquering arm, and arguing thy triumph over troy.
• 1:21:36
  Speaker 5: I was already in my mind, preparing glad welcome home.
• 1:21:40
  Speaker 5: I little thought my blood would be the first that
• 1:21:43
  Speaker 5: thou wouldst have to shed. It is not dread of
• 1:21:47
  Speaker 5: this impending blow that makes me call past kindness to
• 1:21:50
  Speaker 5: thy mind. Fear not my heart is jealous of thine honor,
• 1:21:55
  Speaker 5: Nor will I make my father blush to own me.
• 1:21:59
  Speaker 5: And had I only to defend my life, I never
• 1:22:02
  Speaker 5: would have raised fond recollections. But well thou knowest how
• 1:22:06
  Speaker 5: on my sad lot, a lover's and a mother's happiness
• 1:22:11
  Speaker 5: depend a prince worthy to be thy son trusted this
• 1:22:16
  Speaker 5: day would light for him the torch of hymen and
• 1:22:19
  Speaker 5: relying on my heart and on thy promise, deemed it
• 1:22:23
  Speaker 5: one of joy. He knows thy purpose, judge of his alarm.
• 1:22:29
  Speaker 5: Look on my mother and behold her tears. Forgive these
• 1:22:34
  Speaker 5: efforts to prevent the grief that I shall cost them
• 1:22:38
  Speaker 5: if I die.
• 1:22:40
  Speaker 2: My daughter too true. It is I know not for
• 1:22:45
  Speaker 2: what crime the anger of the God's demands a victim.
• 1:22:49
  Speaker 2: But they have named THEE, and an oracle dooms THEE
• 1:22:53
  Speaker 2: to death upon an altar. Here to guard thy life
• 1:22:58
  Speaker 2: from this their murderous scents. My love forestalled thy prayers.
• 1:23:04
  Speaker 2: I will not say how often I resisted. Never doubt
• 1:23:08
  Speaker 2: that love to which thou hast thy self born. Witness
• 1:23:13
  Speaker 2: this very knight, as thou, perchance hast heard I had
• 1:23:17
  Speaker 2: revoked the order I was forced to write, and o'er
• 1:23:21
  Speaker 2: the general good of Greece, Thou didst prevail for THEE.
• 1:23:25
  Speaker 2: I sacrificed my rank, my safety arcas from the camp.
• 1:23:32
  Speaker 2: When to forbid thine entrance, Heaven forbade your meeting, and
• 1:23:37
  Speaker 2: frustrated my last hope of saving one condemned by its decree.
• 1:23:44
  Speaker 2: Rely not, then, upon my feeble power, what can avail
• 1:23:49
  Speaker 2: to check a rebel army? When Heaven has given us
• 1:23:52
  Speaker 2: up to their blind zeal and freeze them from a
• 1:23:57
  Speaker 2: yoke that they resent. We must submit my child. Thine
• 1:24:02
  Speaker 2: hour is come. Bethink THEE of thy royal rank and
• 1:24:07
  Speaker 2: nurture alas I need the counsel that I give. The
• 1:24:12
  Speaker 2: death stroke that awaits THEE will no less strike me.
• 1:24:17
  Speaker 2: Then show THEE worthy of thy birth, and put to
• 1:24:21
  Speaker 2: shame the gods who have condemned THEE.
• 1:24:25
  Speaker 7: Go.
• 1:24:26
  Speaker 2: Let the Greeks who to thy sacrifice consent. See in
• 1:24:30
  Speaker 2: thy blood that shall be shed mine own.
• 1:24:36
  Speaker 4: Fit offspring of a fatal stock. Thine is the blood
• 1:24:40
  Speaker 4: of a trays, and thiestes thy daughter's murderer. There but
• 1:24:46
  Speaker 4: remains one horror more to serve her as a feast
• 1:24:50
  Speaker 4: before her mother sat it. This is then the gladsome
• 1:24:54
  Speaker 4: sacrifice thou wast preparing with artful care. Did not thy
• 1:24:59
  Speaker 4: hand refuse the infamy of writing a command so cruel?
• 1:25:03
  Speaker 4: Why dost thou pretend to feel a false distress? Think
• 1:25:08
  Speaker 4: not that tears can prove a love that shrinks from
• 1:25:12
  Speaker 4: bold defense in arms? Why has not blood been shed
• 1:25:16
  Speaker 4: for her intrrance? What wreck and ruin tell of thy resistance?
• 1:25:21
  Speaker 4: What field with corps is covered seals my mouth proves
• 1:25:26
  Speaker 4: such as these I would have had the bring me
• 1:25:29
  Speaker 4: of thine affection and desire to save her. A fatal
• 1:25:34
  Speaker 4: oracle ordains her death. But what an oracle may seem
• 1:25:38
  Speaker 4: to say not always is its meaning. Can just Heaven
• 1:25:43
  Speaker 4: thirst for the blood of innocence or be honored by murder?
• 1:25:47
  Speaker 4: Ha if for Helen's crime, her kin are punished for
• 1:25:52
  Speaker 4: her daughter sent to Sparta. So let Manelaus ransom the
• 1:25:58
  Speaker 4: wife whose frailty, in his eyes seem small matched with
• 1:26:02
  Speaker 4: her charms. But surely it is madness to make thyself
• 1:26:06
  Speaker 4: the victim for her sin? And why should I, smiting
• 1:26:10
  Speaker 4: upon my breast with my own flesh and blood, pay
• 1:26:14
  Speaker 4: for her folly? Does Helen, then, for whom such jealous
• 1:26:19
  Speaker 4: fires were kindled, curs of Europe and of Asia seem
• 1:26:23
  Speaker 4: worthy of thine efforts to regain her? How often have
• 1:26:29
  Speaker 4: we blushed to speak her name? Ere to his woe,
• 1:26:33
  Speaker 4: thy brother linked his fate with hers. She had been
• 1:26:36
  Speaker 4: carried off by theseus, who, as thou knowest and hast
• 1:26:40
  Speaker 4: heard from Calcus a thousand times, clandestinely unloosed her virgin
• 1:26:46
  Speaker 4: zone and pledge of that amour a princess of her
• 1:26:50
  Speaker 4: blood has been by her captain concealment. But a brother's
• 1:26:56
  Speaker 4: honor is the least cause of thy solicitude, that lust
• 1:27:00
  Speaker 4: of empire. Nothing can extinguish the pride of seeing twenty
• 1:27:05
  Speaker 4: monarchs serve and fear the empire to thine hands, confided, Ha,
• 1:27:12
  Speaker 4: These are gods who claimed this sacrifice from thee, who,
• 1:27:17
  Speaker 4: far from offering resistance, dost make a barbarous merit of submission.
• 1:27:22
  Speaker 4: Jealous of power that can excite their envy. Thou dost
• 1:27:26
  Speaker 4: not grudge to pay a heavy price from thine own veins,
• 1:27:30
  Speaker 4: that so thou mayest quell all of position to thy
• 1:27:34
  Speaker 4: sovereign sway is this to be a father outrage? Nature
• 1:27:39
  Speaker 4: revolts at this perfidious cruelty. A priest surrounded by a
• 1:27:45
  Speaker 4: brutal crowd will on my child lay hands of violence,
• 1:27:49
  Speaker 4: rent her bare had bosom, and with curious eye for
• 1:27:53
  Speaker 4: omens such a palpitating heart. While I, who brought her
• 1:27:58
  Speaker 4: hither a proud and happy must needs go back alone
• 1:28:01
  Speaker 4: and in despair. Still will the ways be sented with
• 1:28:07
  Speaker 4: the flowers that neither her feet were scattered as we came,
• 1:28:11
  Speaker 4: It shall not be that to her doom. I brought
• 1:28:14
  Speaker 4: her what thou wilt have to add my death to hers.
• 1:28:19
  Speaker 4: I thou shalt never tear her from these arms. While
• 1:28:23
  Speaker 4: life is mine. No feast can shake my purpose ruthless
• 1:28:28
  Speaker 4: alike as husband and as father. Come, if thou darest
• 1:28:33
  Speaker 4: snatch her from the breast that nursed her, Go within again,
• 1:28:38
  Speaker 4: my child, and for the last time, heed thy mother's voice.
• 1:28:44
  Speaker 1: Scene five, Agamemnon, Such frenzied outburst might have been expected.
• 1:28:51
  Speaker 1: These are the cries of anger that I feared, and
• 1:28:55
  Speaker 1: I were happy if my harassed soul had nothing worse
• 1:28:59
  Speaker 1: to dread than idle clamor alas great gods who have
• 1:29:05
  Speaker 1: imposed this task, why were the feelings of a father
• 1:29:09
  Speaker 1: left me? Scene six, Agamemnon, Achilles.
• 1:29:16
  Speaker 3: My lord, A strange report has reached mine, ears which
• 1:29:21
  Speaker 3: I am slow to credit. It is said, and tis
• 1:29:27
  Speaker 3: with horror I repeat the tale. This day a fisioneer
• 1:29:32
  Speaker 3: is to die by thy command, that, stifling every instinct
• 1:29:38
  Speaker 3: of pity, thou wilt give her up to conscious, And
• 1:29:43
  Speaker 3: that the maiden whom I thought to wed shall be
• 1:29:47
  Speaker 3: by me conducted to the altar. A victim, not a
• 1:29:51
  Speaker 3: bride so vile, a part assigned to me, deceived as
• 1:29:57
  Speaker 3: well as she by a mock marriage? What am I
• 1:30:02
  Speaker 3: to think? Wilt thou not silence such offensive rumors?
• 1:30:09
  Speaker 2: I am not bound, my lord, to give account of
• 1:30:13
  Speaker 2: my designs. My daughter knows not yet my sovereign will
• 1:30:19
  Speaker 2: when she shall be informed. Thou too shalt learn what
• 1:30:24
  Speaker 2: all the host shall hear.
• 1:30:27
  Speaker 3: Too well? I know what fate thou dost reserve for her.
• 1:30:32
  Speaker 2: If known to THEE? Why ask it? Then?
• 1:30:36
  Speaker 3: Why ask? Oh heavens, am I to believe thou darest
• 1:30:42
  Speaker 3: to confess to so foul a crime? Dost think I
• 1:30:47
  Speaker 3: will abet thy villainy and let THEE slay thy child
• 1:30:52
  Speaker 3: before my face? Forgetful of my faith, my love, mine honor.
• 1:30:59
  Speaker 2: But thou who thus assailest to me with threats, dost
• 1:31:03
  Speaker 2: thou forget to whom thou speakest here?
• 1:31:07
  Speaker 3: Thou hast forgotten that it is thy daughter whom thou
• 1:31:10
  Speaker 3: dost wrong, and whom I love.
• 1:31:14
  Speaker 2: Who gave THEE charge of my family. Art thou her
• 1:31:19
  Speaker 2: husband to question my disposal of my daughter? Am I
• 1:31:24
  Speaker 2: no more her father? May she not?
• 1:31:27
  Speaker 3: She is no longer? Thine vain promises shall not deceive
• 1:31:32
  Speaker 3: me while a drop of blood flows in my veins.
• 1:31:37
  Speaker 3: Her life is linked to mine. I will protect my
• 1:31:42
  Speaker 3: rights based on thine oaths. Whatst not for me that
• 1:31:46
  Speaker 3: thou didst summon her blame?
• 1:31:49
  Speaker 2: Then the gods who ask her at my hands accuse
• 1:31:54
  Speaker 2: the prophet Carhus, the whole army Ulysses Menelius, most thyself myself. Aye,
• 1:32:05
  Speaker 2: dost thou not complain to Heaven daily for checking thee
• 1:32:10
  Speaker 2: and thy desire to conquer Asia? Wast thou not offended
• 1:32:14
  Speaker 2: at my just fears making thy fury fill the camp?
• 1:32:20
  Speaker 2: I showed THEE how she might be saved, But thou
• 1:32:23
  Speaker 2: canst think of nothing else than Troy. I would have
• 1:32:27
  Speaker 2: closed the course, Thou feign what'st run? Go have thy wish?
• 1:32:32
  Speaker 2: Her death will open it before thee?
• 1:32:36
  Speaker 3: How ye, Gods, can I endure this language that adds
• 1:32:41
  Speaker 3: taunts to perjury. I at the cost of her dear
• 1:32:46
  Speaker 3: life to wish to leave this shore? What has Troy
• 1:32:50
  Speaker 3: done to me? What is my interest in her destruction?
• 1:32:55
  Speaker 3: Deaf to the warnings of a goddess mother, nor he
• 1:33:00
  Speaker 3: a distracted father's voice? Why should I seek the death
• 1:33:04
  Speaker 3: so off predicted as they're my doom. No ships ere
• 1:33:10
  Speaker 3: left's commander to plunder, and they waste the Salian fields.
• 1:33:15
  Speaker 3: No soft seducer to Larissa came to carry off my
• 1:33:19
  Speaker 3: sister or my wife? What private grudge of eye? What
• 1:33:24
  Speaker 3: loss sustain'd tis but for thee Barbarian that I go,
• 1:33:31
  Speaker 3: though I alone, of all the Greeks to THEE owe nothing,
• 1:33:36
  Speaker 3: And by my voice thou wast made their chief, and
• 1:33:40
  Speaker 3: mine did not mine arm avenge thee in lesbos Ere
• 1:33:45
  Speaker 3: thou hadst this host assembled? And with what purpose are
• 1:33:49
  Speaker 3: we gathered here but to restore his wife to Menelaus?
• 1:33:55
  Speaker 3: How long have I been thought so chicken hearted as
• 1:33:59
  Speaker 3: to let any snatch away from me the bride I love?
• 1:34:04
  Speaker 3: Is then thy brother's right to punish such an outrage
• 1:34:07
  Speaker 3: his alone? Thy daughter pleased me. I essayed to win
• 1:34:13
  Speaker 3: her favor, and my vows of love were paid only
• 1:34:17
  Speaker 3: to her. The prospect of our bliss made me pledge
• 1:34:22
  Speaker 3: all to her, nothing to him ship's soldiers arms. Let him,
• 1:34:30
  Speaker 3: if so he will recover Helen seek the victory my
• 1:34:34
  Speaker 3: blood must purchase prim paris Helen. I know them not.
• 1:34:41
  Speaker 3: I wished thy daughter's hand, and sail not else.
• 1:34:47
  Speaker 2: Fly then to thessaly return lo, I release thee from
• 1:34:53
  Speaker 2: thine oath of others more submissive, I shall find no
• 1:34:57
  Speaker 2: lack to wear the laurels thee to force the fates
• 1:35:02
  Speaker 2: to grant their arms success, and see the day of
• 1:35:07
  Speaker 2: iliums overthrow thy scornful speech tells me how dear a
• 1:35:12
  Speaker 2: price for thy proud succor I shall have to pay,
• 1:35:17
  Speaker 2: self constituted arbiter of Greece, Thou fain wouldst leave me
• 1:35:23
  Speaker 2: but an empty name, vaunting thy valor. Thou wouldst claim
• 1:35:28
  Speaker 2: the lead and make all grease cringe to thy sovereign will.
• 1:35:34
  Speaker 2: A benefit that serves as ground for censure is an offense.
• 1:35:40
  Speaker 2: Less care I for thy valor than for obedience. Fly
• 1:35:46
  Speaker 2: thy feeble anger. I fear not, and I snap all
• 1:35:50
  Speaker 2: ties between us.
• 1:35:53
  Speaker 3: Be thankful for the single tie that holds my wrathy check.
• 1:36:00
  Speaker 3: When Nia's father I still respect happily without that name.
• 1:36:06
  Speaker 3: Great as thy power may be, such bold defiance, were
• 1:36:10
  Speaker 3: thy last utterance here but one word, I have thy
• 1:36:17
  Speaker 3: daughter and my fame alike to guard. If her thou
• 1:36:22
  Speaker 3: art resolved to slay, thy sword must through this body
• 1:36:28
  Speaker 3: carve its way.
• 1:36:31
  Speaker 1: Scene seven Agamemnon.
• 1:36:34
  Speaker 2: Thus is it made impossible to save her? My child,
• 1:36:38
  Speaker 2: unaided had more power to move me. His saucy love
• 1:36:43
  Speaker 2: that thinks to make me tremble, will speed the stroke
• 1:36:47
  Speaker 2: that he would fain prevent. No more, demore defy his violence.
• 1:36:53
  Speaker 2: My honor is at stake and turns the scale. Achilles
• 1:36:58
  Speaker 2: threats settle my wavering heart. Pity would seem the consequence
• 1:37:04
  Speaker 2: of fear. Ho Guards Advance.
• 1:37:10
  Speaker 1: Scene eight, Agamimnon, your boddies guards my lord Agamemnon aside.
• 1:37:20
  Speaker 2: What shall I do? How can I give them orders
• 1:37:24
  Speaker 2: so inhuman? For what fierce conflict? Must I make me ready?
• 1:37:30
  Speaker 2: Who is this foe whom they are to arrest? A
• 1:37:33
  Speaker 2: mother waits, intrepid to defend her offspring from a father
• 1:37:39
  Speaker 2: bent on slaughter my troops, then I less cruel will
• 1:37:44
  Speaker 2: respect the daughter of their king clasp in her arms.
• 1:37:50
  Speaker 2: Achilles utters scornful threats. Does that lessen my daughter's dutiful submission?
• 1:37:58
  Speaker 2: Has she been eager to escape the altar? Or cried
• 1:38:02
  Speaker 2: in terror at the stroke I wished to deal her?
• 1:38:06
  Speaker 2: Why such wish? This impious zeal? What cannot gain by
• 1:38:11
  Speaker 2: sacrificing her? However glorious be the prize proposed? What bays
• 1:38:18
  Speaker 2: can please me? Watered with her blood? I wish to
• 1:38:23
  Speaker 2: move the almighty powers of heaven. What God's can be
• 1:38:27
  Speaker 2: more cruel than myself? I cannot do it. No, A
• 1:38:32
  Speaker 2: father's love shall conquer, and compassion raise no longer a
• 1:38:37
  Speaker 2: blush of shame. Yes, she shall live. But what shall
• 1:38:44
  Speaker 2: proud Achilles trample on mine? Honor? His arrogant presumption so
• 1:38:49
  Speaker 2: puffed up will think he made me tremble, made me yield,
• 1:38:54
  Speaker 2: vain cares perplex my mind? Can I not bring the
• 1:39:00
  Speaker 2: haughty spirit of Achilles low? Let my child be a
• 1:39:04
  Speaker 2: sight to vex his eyes. He loves her, he shall
• 1:39:09
  Speaker 2: see her wed another to your abaddies, Go call the
• 1:39:15
  Speaker 2: princess and the queen and say that they have naught
• 1:39:19
  Speaker 2: to fear.
• 1:39:22
  Speaker 1: See nine Agaminon, guards.
• 1:39:26
  Speaker 2: Great gods, if still determined to bereave me of my
• 1:39:30
  Speaker 2: child before your hatred, what can mortals do?
• 1:39:35
  Speaker 7: My love?
• 1:39:36
  Speaker 2: I know that Fain would rescue her, but weighs her down.
• 1:39:41
  Speaker 2: But such a costly victim is worth a second Summons
• 1:39:45
  Speaker 2: to obey the harsh injunction that on me, ye lay.
• 1:39:53
  Speaker 1: Scene ten Agamennon Clytemnestra Iphiginia Erphil, your baddies, doors, guards.
• 1:40:03
  Speaker 2: Go, Madam go, be careful of her life. I give
• 1:40:08
  Speaker 2: you back your child a sacred trust. Hasten her steps
• 1:40:12
  Speaker 2: far from this dangerous place. Arcas shall be your escort,
• 1:40:18
  Speaker 2: with my guards his happy indiscretion. I will pardon all
• 1:40:24
  Speaker 2: hangs on secrecy and quick dispatch. As yet no word
• 1:40:29
  Speaker 2: have Calhous or Ulysses spoken. Beware they hear not of
• 1:40:34
  Speaker 2: this flight, that no one see your daughter. All the
• 1:40:38
  Speaker 2: camp must think I keep her still and send you
• 1:40:42
  Speaker 2: home alone. Now speed you hence a heaven content with
• 1:40:48
  Speaker 2: tears already shed. Withhold her long from my sad.
• 1:40:53
  Speaker 1: Eyes to his guards.
• 1:40:57
  Speaker 2: Follow the queen lord father, let Calhou's thirsting for her
• 1:41:04
  Speaker 2: blood be foiled. Delay not, and to mask your flight.
• 1:41:10
  Speaker 2: I will beguile him with some feigned excuse. I'll cause
• 1:41:15
  Speaker 2: the fatal rights to be suspended, claiming a respite till
• 1:41:19
  Speaker 2: this day be ended.
• 1:41:22
  Speaker 1: Scene eleven Araville, Doris, follow.
• 1:41:27
  Speaker 12: Me, dars, are we lies not there?
• 1:41:30
  Speaker 10: Go you not with them?
• 1:41:32
  Speaker 4: Ha ha.
• 1:41:34
  Speaker 6: How lest I yield Achilles loves her thought that burns
• 1:41:40
  Speaker 6: like fire. I will not carry hands the useless rage,
• 1:41:44
  Speaker 6: I hesitate no more. I must destroy her or die myself.
• 1:41:51
  Speaker 6: Come caucusts shall know all.
• 1:41:56
  Speaker 1: End of Act four, Act five of Iphiginia by Jean Racine,
• 1:42:07
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 1:42:12
  Speaker 1: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 1:42:16
  Speaker 1: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Scene one.
• 1:42:23
  Speaker 1: Ifhiginia a gina.
• 1:42:25
  Speaker 5: Hinder me, not a gena to the queen, go back.
• 1:42:29
  Speaker 5: The wrathful gods must be appeased in wishing to deprive
• 1:42:34
  Speaker 5: them of my blood. Look what a storm they rouse
• 1:42:37
  Speaker 5: ready to fall. Consider how my mother needs your care.
• 1:42:42
  Speaker 5: See how our flight is blocked by all the army,
• 1:42:45
  Speaker 5: with what insulting gestures everywhere? They flash their spear points
• 1:42:49
  Speaker 5: in our very faces. Our guards have been repulsed. The
• 1:42:54
  Speaker 5: queen has fainted. Ah tis too great a risk. Detain
• 1:42:59
  Speaker 5: me not? Why should I hear await her feeble succor
• 1:43:03
  Speaker 5: leave me to take advantage of this swoon? My father too,
• 1:43:07
  Speaker 5: if I must tell the truth, even while he saves
• 1:43:10
  Speaker 5: my life, tells me to die.
• 1:43:13
  Speaker 9: Your father, madam, Why what then has happened?
• 1:43:17
  Speaker 5: Achilles, in his zeal made to the king, have given offense,
• 1:43:22
  Speaker 5: and he would have me share his hatred, and commands
• 1:43:25
  Speaker 5: my heart to make this sacrifice. Arcus conveyed his wishes
• 1:43:30
  Speaker 5: a gina. He forbids me air again to breathe his name, Oh, madam,
• 1:43:37
  Speaker 5: cruel sentence. The gods are kinder. They would ask my life,
• 1:43:42
  Speaker 5: then let me die. But who is this I see? Heavens?
• 1:43:48
  Speaker 5: 'tis Achilles?
• 1:43:50
  Speaker 1: Scene two Achilles ephiginia, madam, follow me, fear not the
• 1:43:58
  Speaker 1: clamor of the crowd who press around this tent. They bay,
• 1:44:03
  Speaker 1: but cannot bite. Face them, and without waiting for my
• 1:44:08
  Speaker 1: arm to strike, these roaring billows will be parted to
• 1:44:12
  Speaker 1: give you passage. See Petroculus brings with other captains in
• 1:44:18
  Speaker 1: my train the flower of my Thessalian troops around my standard.
• 1:44:25
  Speaker 1: The rest are gathered with a wall of iron to
• 1:44:28
  Speaker 1: guard you. There take refuge from the storm of persecution.
• 1:44:34
  Speaker 1: Neath Achilles tent. Let couches find you what and is it?
• 1:44:41
  Speaker 1: Thus you welcome timely aid tears, the sole answer to
• 1:44:47
  Speaker 1: my appeal. Still look you for support to arms so
• 1:44:52
  Speaker 1: weak delay not tears already have failed to move your sire.
• 1:44:59
  Speaker 5: I I know it well, and in the death. I
• 1:45:02
  Speaker 5: am resolved to meet lies my last hope death.
• 1:45:07
  Speaker 3: Speak not of your death, think of the oath which
• 1:45:10
  Speaker 3: binds us to each other, and to cut short such
• 1:45:14
  Speaker 3: foolish words. Believe me, my happiness depends upon your life.
• 1:45:21
  Speaker 5: Nay to a life so darkened by misfortune. Heaven has
• 1:45:25
  Speaker 5: not joined achilles happiness. Our love deceived us, and by
• 1:45:30
  Speaker 5: Fate's decree, my death will make you happier than my life.
• 1:45:35
  Speaker 5: Think of the honors to be reaped, my lord, which
• 1:45:38
  Speaker 5: victory offers to your valiant arm. That feeld of fame
• 1:45:42
  Speaker 5: to which you all aspire is barren if not watered
• 1:45:46
  Speaker 5: with my blood. Thus to my father have the gods
• 1:45:50
  Speaker 5: pronounced their will and death to Caalcus, he in vain
• 1:45:55
  Speaker 5: struggled against it. Greece with one consent, confirm the voice
• 1:46:00
  Speaker 5: of Heaven. Go to Troy. I will not be a
• 1:46:04
  Speaker 5: hindrance to your glory. Redeem the credit of those oracles
• 1:46:08
  Speaker 5: that promised your heroic aid to Greece, and turn your
• 1:46:12
  Speaker 5: rage against her enemies. Priam grows pale already, and Troy trembles,
• 1:46:19
  Speaker 5: dreading my death in terror at your tears. Go and
• 1:46:25
  Speaker 5: within her walls of men, bereft, make trojan widows wail
• 1:46:29
  Speaker 5: and weep for me. This prospect lets me die calm
• 1:46:34
  Speaker 5: and content. If life with my Achilles is denied me,
• 1:46:39
  Speaker 5: I hope, at least in happier times to come My
• 1:46:43
  Speaker 5: memory to your immortal deeds may cling my death the
• 1:46:47
  Speaker 5: fountain of your fame, wherewith the stirring story shall begin. Farewell,
• 1:46:53
  Speaker 5: dear prince, live worthy of the gods from whom you spring.
• 1:46:59
  Speaker 3: No, no, oh, we part not thus in spite of
• 1:47:03
  Speaker 3: cruel words, you cannot wish to serve your father by
• 1:47:07
  Speaker 3: the sacrifice of love like mine, vainly to death. Devoted
• 1:47:13
  Speaker 3: you try to make me leave you to your doom
• 1:47:16
  Speaker 3: for glory's sake. In serving you, ambition finds honors and
• 1:47:22
  Speaker 3: renowned ready to hand. And what could win my favor
• 1:47:27
  Speaker 3: if your safety be not secured by our intended marriage,
• 1:47:33
  Speaker 3: My glory no less than my love says live. Come
• 1:47:38
  Speaker 3: trust them, and dear damsel follow me.
• 1:47:43
  Speaker 5: Who I a rebel to my father's orders? Were they
• 1:47:47
  Speaker 5: to die the death that I would shun, shall I
• 1:47:51
  Speaker 5: so disregard my highest duty?
• 1:47:54
  Speaker 3: You will, but trust yourself to one whose claims were
• 1:47:57
  Speaker 3: sanctioned by himself. He shall not rob me of what
• 1:48:02
  Speaker 3: he once bestowed. Our oaths by him made to be broken.
• 1:48:07
  Speaker 3: Was he not your father? What time he made you
• 1:48:10
  Speaker 3: mine to be obeyed as strict as duty bids? Why
• 1:48:15
  Speaker 3: do you heed him only when he has ceased to
• 1:48:19
  Speaker 3: recognize his child? Too long you linger and my fears.
• 1:48:25
  Speaker 5: Surely, my lord, you will not use constraint. Let not
• 1:48:29
  Speaker 5: the warmth of passion, so mislead you. You surely would
• 1:48:32
  Speaker 5: not add to my afflictions, this crowning ill holding in
• 1:48:36
  Speaker 5: less esteem my honor than my life. Spare me, my lord,
• 1:48:41
  Speaker 5: subject to orders I am bound to obey. Too long, sir,
• 1:48:46
  Speaker 5: have I listened to your voice? It were unfair to
• 1:48:50
  Speaker 5: press your victory farther or else by my own hands,
• 1:48:53
  Speaker 5: set free from danger of the succor you propose, I
• 1:48:57
  Speaker 5: would prefer self slaughter to discover.
• 1:49:01
  Speaker 3: Ah cruel maid, I say no more, obey and seek
• 1:49:08
  Speaker 3: a death you deem so glorious, Offer your sire a
• 1:49:13
  Speaker 3: heart wherein I read hatred for me more than respect
• 1:49:17
  Speaker 3: for him. Just indignation fires my soul with fury. If
• 1:49:23
  Speaker 3: you must to the altar, go, then I will thither
• 1:49:27
  Speaker 3: hie me too. If heaven thirst for blood its altars
• 1:49:33
  Speaker 3: never will have reaped with more to my blind love.
• 1:49:39
  Speaker 3: Naught shall be sacred. The priest himself shall be the
• 1:49:44
  Speaker 3: foremost victim. The funeral pyre, by me thrown down, destroyed,
• 1:49:50
  Speaker 3: shall in the blood of the vile butcher's swim. And
• 1:49:55
  Speaker 3: if amid the carnage and confusion your father should be
• 1:50:00
  Speaker 3: wounded to fall and perish, then, seeing the sad fruits
• 1:50:05
  Speaker 3: of your respect, take to yourself the blame for every blow.
• 1:50:12
  Speaker 5: Cruel Achilles. He has fled and left me some mighty
• 1:50:16
  Speaker 5: just gods who have decreed my death. Lo here I
• 1:50:20
  Speaker 5: am alone, end with my life this terror, and me
• 1:50:25
  Speaker 5: only overwhelm Scene three.
• 1:50:30
  Speaker 1: Cladymnestra Itthhiginia, your bodies Agina guards.
• 1:50:36
  Speaker 4: Yes, I'll defend her against all the host cowards. Will
• 1:50:41
  Speaker 4: ye betray your injured queen.
• 1:50:44
  Speaker 8: No, Madam, tis enough for us that you have given command,
• 1:50:48
  Speaker 8: and you shall see us fice to latch your feet
• 1:50:51
  Speaker 8: we fall. But what can hands a week avail against
• 1:50:54
  Speaker 8: so many folks who can defend you? Tis no idle
• 1:50:58
  Speaker 8: crowd raising a tumult, but the fatal zeal of a
• 1:51:01
  Speaker 8: whole camp where Calcus reigns. This poduct pissy is banished
• 1:51:06
  Speaker 8: as severe religion. Its offering claims, the king sees himselves
• 1:51:10
  Speaker 8: strips of power, and bids us to the torrent yield invincible.
• 1:51:14
  Speaker 8: Achilles would himself vainly opposes valor to the storm. What
• 1:51:18
  Speaker 8: will he do? Who can disperse these waves foaming with
• 1:51:22
  Speaker 8: rage already to engulf him?
• 1:51:24
  Speaker 4: Ah? Me, then, let the impious zeal be proved and
• 1:51:28
  Speaker 4: rob me of what little life is left. Death, death
• 1:51:32
  Speaker 4: alone can burst in knotted bends with which these arms
• 1:51:35
  Speaker 4: of mine with fain unite us. My body shall be
• 1:51:39
  Speaker 4: parted from my soul. Yeah, I will ever suffer.
• 1:51:44
  Speaker 5: My child under What baleful planet? Did you bear? The
• 1:51:47
  Speaker 5: unhappy object of a love so tender? What can you
• 1:51:51
  Speaker 5: do in our forlorness state? How can you struggle against
• 1:51:55
  Speaker 5: gods and men? Will you confront an angry multitude? Ah?
• 1:52:00
  Speaker 5: Go not to a camp that has revolted against your husband,
• 1:52:03
  Speaker 5: nor alone resist their will. Lest hailed in an unseemly
• 1:52:07
  Speaker 5: manner by soldier's hands. You offer to mine eyes as
• 1:52:11
  Speaker 5: fruit of wasted efforts, a worse sight than death itself.
• 1:52:16
  Speaker 1: Go.
• 1:52:17
  Speaker 5: Let the Greeks complete their work and quit this doleful
• 1:52:20
  Speaker 5: shore forever. Linger not near or on your eye may
• 1:52:25
  Speaker 5: strike the flame uprising from the pyre that waits me
• 1:52:29
  Speaker 5: and mother, if you love me above all, never reproach
• 1:52:34
  Speaker 5: my father with my death, by.
• 1:52:37
  Speaker 4: Whom your heart offered to cruel calcus.
• 1:52:41
  Speaker 5: What efforts to restore me to your tears? Has he
• 1:52:43
  Speaker 5: not made?
• 1:52:45
  Speaker 4: What treason left untried to trick me?
• 1:52:49
  Speaker 5: He but renders to the gods the gift they gave
• 1:52:53
  Speaker 5: My death bereaves you not of all the pledges of
• 1:52:55
  Speaker 5: your mutual love. Your eyes will see my image orestes ah.
• 1:53:02
  Speaker 5: May he prove less fatal to his mother. You hear
• 1:53:06
  Speaker 5: the cries of an impatient people, open your arms, that
• 1:53:09
  Speaker 5: in a last embrace our lips may meet. Take courage
• 1:53:15
  Speaker 5: to the altar. Your ripeites conduct the willing victim.
• 1:53:21
  Speaker 1: Scene four, like Hymnestra Aegina guards.
• 1:53:26
  Speaker 4: You shall not go alone. I am determined, But crowds
• 1:53:31
  Speaker 4: press forward to arrest my steps. Traitors come gratify your
• 1:53:35
  Speaker 4: first for blood? What would you do, dear madam, with
• 1:53:39
  Speaker 4: a haste you alas, I waste my strength in fruitless
• 1:53:43
  Speaker 4: efforts rising from anguish, but to sink again? How can
• 1:53:48
  Speaker 4: I die so often and yet live?
• 1:53:51
  Speaker 9: Ah? Madam? Know you who's the crime, And who's the treason?
• 1:53:56
  Speaker 4: Know you?
• 1:53:56
  Speaker 9: What, ungrateful serpent, if Eugenia cherish in her bosom, twas
• 1:54:01
  Speaker 9: Irriphillie by yourself brought hither, and none but she who
• 1:54:06
  Speaker 9: to the Greeks betrayed your flight, the monster offspring.
• 1:54:10
  Speaker 4: Of Marjira, cast out of Hell to harbor in our arms.
• 1:54:15
  Speaker 4: What wilt not die to punish crimes so foul? But
• 1:54:21
  Speaker 4: where shall indignation seek a victim? Wilt thou not pleasant?
• 1:54:26
  Speaker 4: See vast gulfs disclose to welm a thousand vessels with
• 1:54:31
  Speaker 4: their crews. When all is casting up, that guilty fleet
• 1:54:35
  Speaker 4: shall drive it forth out of the port that hides it.
• 1:54:38
  Speaker 4: Will not those self same winds so long accused, covered
• 1:54:42
  Speaker 4: Thy's surface over with shattered ships. And thou, o son,
• 1:54:47
  Speaker 4: who in this land dost see and know the genuine
• 1:54:51
  Speaker 4: son and the rightful air of a terrays Thou who
• 1:54:53
  Speaker 4: didst refuse to light the father's feast? Go back, as
• 1:54:57
  Speaker 4: they have taught thee me. While immortal God's unhappy mother,
• 1:55:04
  Speaker 4: my daughter, crowned with hateful chaplet, bears her throat head
• 1:55:09
  Speaker 4: in her father's hands, and knives see Calcus treads on blood.
• 1:55:15
  Speaker 4: Barbarians stop that blood is drawn from him who wields
• 1:55:20
  Speaker 4: the lightning. I hear the thunder roar phil the earth shake,
• 1:55:25
  Speaker 4: another crash. God comes swift revenge.
• 1:55:29
  Speaker 5: To take.
• 1:55:31
  Speaker 1: Scene five cled Ymnestra aegina Arcus guards.
• 1:55:37
  Speaker 7: Doubt it not, Madam. A god fights for you, Achilles,
• 1:55:41
  Speaker 7: even now answers your prayers. He forcing the weak barrier
• 1:55:45
  Speaker 7: of the Greeks, stands at the altar. Calcus is dismayed.
• 1:55:49
  Speaker 7: The fatal sacrifice is interrupted. The air resounds with threats,
• 1:55:54
  Speaker 7: and to and fro men run with flashing swords around
• 1:55:58
  Speaker 7: your child, Achilles. Musters are all his friends devoted to
• 1:56:01
  Speaker 7: save her. Agamemnon loathes to own his grief, whether to
• 1:56:05
  Speaker 7: hide his eyes from that he dreads to see, or
• 1:56:08
  Speaker 7: to conceal. His tears covers his face. Come speak while
• 1:56:13
  Speaker 7: he is silent, and with wise words, support your brave defender.
• 1:56:17
  Speaker 7: He longs with his own hands, deep dyed in blood,
• 1:56:21
  Speaker 7: to give you back, unharmed, the maid he loves himself.
• 1:56:26
  Speaker 7: He charged me to conduct your steps. Fear nothing, fear.
• 1:56:31
  Speaker 4: Say you, Oh, let us say soon. I dread no danger.
• 1:56:35
  Speaker 4: We'll go anywhere, But oh, you gods do I not
• 1:56:40
  Speaker 4: see Ulysses, does he My child is dead? Too late,
• 1:56:46
  Speaker 4: too late?
• 1:56:49
  Speaker 1: Scene six Ulysses Clytemnestra archas Aegina guards.
• 1:56:55
  Speaker 11: No, your child lives. The gods are satisfied, be of
• 1:57:01
  Speaker 11: good cheer. Heaven deigns to give her back.
• 1:57:06
  Speaker 4: She lives. And is it you who tell me so?
• 1:57:10
  Speaker 1: Yes?
• 1:57:11
  Speaker 11: It is I who long against you both have thought
• 1:57:14
  Speaker 11: it right to steal your husband's heart, who, jealous of
• 1:57:19
  Speaker 11: the honor of our arms by counsel stern, have caused
• 1:57:23
  Speaker 11: your tears to flow? Who come? Since Heaven is now
• 1:57:27
  Speaker 11: at last appeased to heal the wound that I erewhile
• 1:57:31
  Speaker 11: inflicted my child?
• 1:57:34
  Speaker 4: Good heavens marvel most astounding a prince. What God restores
• 1:57:41
  Speaker 4: her to my arms?
• 1:57:43
  Speaker 11: You see me, madam, at this happy moment, struck with
• 1:57:47
  Speaker 11: religious awe, with joy and rapture. Never did they appear
• 1:57:52
  Speaker 11: to grease more fatal discord. Already mistress in the camp
• 1:57:57
  Speaker 11: had spread a fatal blindness over all, and given the
• 1:58:00
  Speaker 11: dread signal for the conflict. Your daughter, at the horrid sight, alarmed,
• 1:58:06
  Speaker 11: saw the whole host against her on her side. Achilles
• 1:58:10
  Speaker 11: only he but armed with fury that daunted all and
• 1:58:13
  Speaker 11: gave the gods themselves divided counsels. In the air arose
• 1:58:18
  Speaker 11: a cloud of arrows. Blood already flowed first fruits of carnage.
• 1:58:24
  Speaker 11: Calcus in the midst stepped forth stern was his look,
• 1:58:29
  Speaker 11: his whistling hair and wild eyes showed him mastered by
• 1:58:32
  Speaker 11: the god. He cried, Achilles, hear me, hear ye, Greeks.
• 1:58:40
  Speaker 11: The God, who by my voice now speaks to you,
• 1:58:43
  Speaker 11: explains his oracle, declares his choice. Another child of Helen's blood,
• 1:58:51
  Speaker 11: another Iphiginia, must be sacrificed here on this shore. Helen erst,
• 1:58:57
  Speaker 11: carried off by theseus, was with him secret wedlock, soon
• 1:59:01
  Speaker 11: after joined, and from that union sprang a daughter whom
• 1:59:06
  Speaker 11: her mother hid her name Ephygenia. I myself then saw
• 1:59:12
  Speaker 11: the infant and foretold disaster, dire threatening her future under
• 1:59:18
  Speaker 11: a false name. Has fate and her own madness brought
• 1:59:21
  Speaker 11: her hither. She sees me, hears me. Is before your eyes. Yes,
• 1:59:28
  Speaker 11: she it is whose life the gods demand. Thus Colpus
• 1:59:34
  Speaker 11: speaks in silence and in awe. All listening stand and
• 1:59:39
  Speaker 11: look on Eriphylee. She was beside the altar in her heart,
• 1:59:44
  Speaker 11: perhaps impatient for the sacrifice, for she herself had gone
• 1:59:49
  Speaker 11: with hasty steps to tell the Grecian leaders of your flight,
• 1:59:54
  Speaker 11: all wonder at her birth and destiny. But since the
• 1:59:59
  Speaker 11: sack of Troy hangs on her death, the army with
• 2:00:02
  Speaker 11: loud voice to clare against her and ratify the prophet's
• 2:00:06
  Speaker 11: fatal sentence. Already Calcus lifts his arm to seize her.
• 2:00:12
  Speaker 11: Stop there she her eyes approach me. Not the blood
• 2:00:16
  Speaker 11: of heroes whom you make my ancestors, needs not your
• 2:00:21
  Speaker 11: impious hands to give it. Exit. Then, springing wildly to
• 2:00:27
  Speaker 11: the altar, snatches the sacred knife and plunges in a
• 2:00:32
  Speaker 11: mane into her breast, scarce as her life's blood dyed
• 2:00:38
  Speaker 11: the earth. When peals of thunder from the gods are
• 2:00:41
  Speaker 11: heard auspiciously, the rustling winds begin to blow. The roaring
• 2:00:47
  Speaker 11: sea responds, and the white breakers on the distant shore
• 2:00:51
  Speaker 11: make moan self kindled flames the funeral pyre. The heavens
• 2:00:56
  Speaker 11: are opened, and the lightnings flash inspires a hole alle
• 2:01:01
  Speaker 11: that reassures our hearts. Some say that, riding on a cloud,
• 2:01:08
  Speaker 11: Diana to the blazing pile descended that, rising then above
• 2:01:12
  Speaker 11: the flames once more, she bore to Heaven, our incense
• 2:01:16
  Speaker 11: and our prayers, all is astir. Soon all are gone.
• 2:01:24
  Speaker 11: Your daughter, amid the General joy alone deplores her enemy.
• 2:01:30
  Speaker 11: Go from her father's hands, receive her, longing to see
• 2:01:35
  Speaker 11: you again. He and Achilles, henceforth reconciled, are ready to
• 2:01:40
  Speaker 11: confirm the marriage contract.
• 2:01:43
  Speaker 4: How can the thanks I owe be paid to Heaven
• 2:01:47
  Speaker 4: and to Achilles meet reward be given?
• 2:01:51
  Speaker 1: In the fact five End of Ephiginia by Jean Racine,
• 2:01:56
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell,