ARKAS: Priestess, with speed conclude the sacrifice! Impatiently the king and people wait. IPHIGENIA: The gods have not decreed that it should be. The elder of these men of kindred-murder Bears guilt. The dread Erinnys here within Have seized upon their prey, polluting thus The sanctuary. I hasten now to bathe The goddess' image in the sea, and there With solemn rites its purity restore. ARKAS: This hindrance to the monarch I'll announce. [_Exit_ ARKAS. Enter PYLADES. PYLADES: Thy brother is restor'd! The fire of youth With growing glory shines upon his brow. Let us then hasten; guide me to the fane. I can unaided on my shoulder bear The goddess' image; how I long to feel The precious burden! Hast thou to the king Announced the prudent message as agreed? IPHIGENIA: The royal messenger arrived, and I, According to thy counsel, fram'd my speech. PYLADES: Danger again doth hover o'er our heads. Alas! Why hast thou failed to shroud thyself Within the veil of sacerdotal rights? IPHIGENIA: I never have employed them as a veil. PYLADES: Pure soul! Thy scruples will alike destroy Thyself and us. Come, let us be firm. Nor with incautious haste betray ourselves. IPHIGENIA: It is an honest scruple, which forbids That I should cunningly deceive the king, And plunder him who was my second father. PYLADES: Him dost thou fly, who would have slain thy brother. If we should perish, bitter self-reproach, Forerunner of despair, will be thy portion; Necessity commands. The rest thou knowest. [_Exit._ IPHIGENIA: I must obey him, for I see my friends Beset with peril. Yet my own sad fate Doth with increasing anguish move my heart To steal the image, sacred and rever'd, Confided to my care, and him deceive To whom I owe my life and destiny! Let not abhorrence spring within my heart! ACT V THOAS _alone_. THOAS: 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. Vain my hope To bind her to me. Now that I oppose Her wish, she seeks to gain her ends by fraud. [_Enter_ IPHIGENIA. Wherefore delay the sacrifice; inform me! IPHIGENIA: The goddess for reflection grants thee time. THOAS: To thee this time seems also opportune. IPHIGENIA: Are we not bound to render the distress'd The gracious kindness from the gods received? Thou know'st we are, and yet wilt thou compel me? THOAS: Obey thine office, not the king. IPHIGENIA: Oh, couldst thou see the struggle of my soul, Courageously toward the first attack Of an unhappy doom which threatens me; Must I implore a miracle from heaven? THOAS: Extravagant thy interest in the fate Of these two strangers. Tell me who they are.