THOAS, _alone_. Fierce anger rages in my riven breast, First against her, whom I esteem'd so pure; Then 'gainst myself, whose foolish lenity Hath fashion'd her for treason. Man is soon Inur'd to slavery, and quickly learns Submission, when of freedom quite depriv'd. If she had fallen in the savage hands Of my rude sires, and had their holy rage Forborne to slay her, grateful for her life, She would have recogniz'd her destiny. Have shed before the shrine the stranger's blood, And duty nam'd what was necessity. Now my forbearance in her breast allures Audacious wishes. Vainly I had hop'd To bind her to me; rather she contrives To shape an independent destiny. She won my heart through flattery; and now That I oppose her, seeks to gain her ends By fraud and cunning, and my kindness deems A worthless and prescriptive property. SCENE III. IPHIGENIA. THOAS. IPHIGENIA. Me hast thou summon'd? wherefore art thou here? THOAS. Wherefore delay the sacrifice? inform me. IPHIGENIA. I have acquainted Arkas with the reasons. THOAS. From thee I wish to hear them more at large. IPHIGENIA. The goddess for reflection grants thee time. THOAS. To thee this time seems also opportune. IPHIGENIA. If to this cruel deed thy heart is steel'd, Thou shouldst not come! A king who meditates A deed inhuman, may find slaves enow, Willing for hire to bear one half the curse, And leave the monarch's presence undefil'd. Enwrapt in gloomy clouds he forges death, Whose flaming arrow on his victim's head His hirelings hurl; while he above the storm Remains untroubl'd, an impassive god. THOAS. A wild song, priestess, issued from thy lips. IPHIGENIA. No priestess, king! but Agamemnon's daughter; While yet unknown, thou didst respect my words: A princess now,--and think'st thou to command me From youth I have been tutor'd to obey, My parents first, and then the deity; And thus obeying, ever hath my soul Known sweetest freedom. But nor then nor now Have I been taught compliance with the voice And savage mandates of a man. THOAS. Not I, An ancient law doth claim obedience from thee. IPHIGENIA. Our passions eagerly catch hold of laws Which they can wield as weapons. But to me Another law, one far more ancient, speaks, And doth command me to withstand thee, king! That law declaring sacred every stranger.