Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/347

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IPHIGENEIA AT AULIS.
319

For some there are of us who, yet unwed, 805
Have left their dwellings wardenless, and here
Sit idle on the shore, some that have wives
And children: such strange longing for this war
Hath upon Hellas fallen by heaven's will.
Mine own, my righteous grievance, must I speak,— 810
Let whoso will beside, his own cause plead:—
Pharsalia's land and Peleus have I left,
And through these light airs of Euripus wait,
Checking my Myrmidons: yet urgent aye
They cry, "Why dally, Achilles,? How long time 815
Yet must the Troyward-bound array wait on?
Act,[1] if thou canst; else lead thy war-host home,
Waiting no more on Atreus' son's delays.

Enter Klytemnestra.

Klytemnestra.

Child of the Nereïd Goddess, from within
Thy voice I heard, and come without the tent. 815


Achilles.

Great Queen of Shamefastness,[2] what lady here
Behold I crowned with peerless loveliness?


Klytemnestra.

No marvel thou shouldst know me not, unseen
Ere this:—thy shrinking modesty I praise.

  1. ↑ Reading δρᾶ δ’.
  2. ↑ This invocation of the Goddess of Modesty (as though to protect him), reminds us that in Euripides' time the same reserve towards strangers, especially those of the opposite sex, was expected from a well-brought-up Greek youth, that we expect from girls.
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