erve to be consulted.

[30] [Greek: kratounta] can not be used passively. [Greek: klaionta] is the
conjecture of Orelli, approved by Dindorf. I have expressed the sense, not
the text.

[31] See Musgrave's note (apud Dindorf). Tyrwhitt considers all the
dramatis personae wrongly assigned.

[32] Ironically spoken.

[33] There seems to be something wrong here.

[34] See Matthiae, who explains it: "_me et supplicem_, qui mortem
deprecetur, _et fortem_, qui mortem contemnat, _dicere licet_."

* * * * * *

IPHIGENIA IN AULIS.

* * * *

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

AGAMEMNON.
OLD MAN.
MENELAUS.
ACHILLES.
MESSENGER.
ANOTHER MESSENGER.
IPHIGENIA.
CLYTAEMNESTRA.
CHORUS.

* * * * *

THE ARGUMENT.

* * * *

When the Greeks were detained at Aulis by stress of weather, Calchas
declared that they would never reach Troy unless the daughter of Agamemnon,
Iphigenia, was sacrificed to Diana. Agamemnon sent for his daughter with
this view, but repenting, he dispatched a messenger to prevent Clytaemnestra
sending her. The messenger being intercepted by Menelaus, an altercation
between the brother chieftains arose, during which Iphigenia, who had been
tempted with the expectation of being wedded to Achilles, arrived with her
mother. The latter, meeting with Achilles, discovered the deception, and
Achilles swore to protect her. But Iphigenia, having determined to die
nobly on behalf of the Greeks, was snatched away by the Goddess, and a stag
substituted in her place. The Greeks were then enabled to set sail.

* * * * *

IPHIGENIA IN AULIS.

* * * *

AGAMEMNON. Come before this dwelling, O aged man.

OLD MAN. I come. But what new thing dost thou meditate, king Agamemnon?

AG. You shall learn.[1]

OLD M. I hasten. My old age is very sleepless, and sits wakeful upon mine
eyes.

AG. What star can this be that traverses this way?

OLD M. Sirius, flitting yet midway (between the heavens and the ocean,)[2]
close to the seven Pleiads.

AG. No longer therefore is there the sound either of birds or of the sea,
but silence of the winds reigns about this Euripus.

OLD M. But why art thou hastening without the tent, king Agamemnon? But
still there is silence here by Aulis, and the guards of the fortifications
are undisturbed. Let us g