Lady,whoe'er thou art,why for these things Dost thou lament?why mourn for ills,which soon Will fall on us?Him I esteem unwise,Who,when he sees death near,tries to o'ercome Its terrors with bewailings,without hope Of safety:ill he adds to ill,and makes His folly known,yet dies.We must give way To fortune;therefore mourn not thou for us:
We know,we are acquainted with your rites.
IPHIGENIA
Which of you by the name of Pylades Is call'd?This first it is my wish to know.
ORESTES
If aught of pleasure that may give thee,he.
IPHIGENIA
A native of what Grecian state,declare.
ORESTES
What profit knowing this wouldst thou obtain?
IPHIGENIA
And are you brothers,of one mother born?
ORESTES
Brothers by friendship,lady,not by birth.
IPHIGENIA
To thee what name was by thy father given?
ORESTES
With just cause I Unhappy might be call'd.
IPHIGENIA
I ask not that;to fortune that ascribe.
ORESTES
Dying unknown,rude scoffs I shall avoid.
IPHIGENIA
Wilt thou refuse?Why are thy thoughts so high?
ORESTES
My body thou mayst kill,but not my name.
IPHIGENIA
Wilt thou not say a native of what state?
ORESTES
The question naught avails,since I must die.
IPHIGENIA
What hinders thee from granting me this grace?
ORESTES
The illustrious Argos I my country boast.
IPHIGENIA
By the gods,stranger,is thy birth from thence?
ORESTES
My birth is from Mycenae,once the bless'd.
IPHIGENIA
Dost thou an exile fly,or by what fate?
ORESTES
Of my free will,in part not free,I fly.
IPHIGENIA
Wilt thou then tell me what I wish to know?
ORESTES
Whate'er is foreign to my private griefs.
IPHIGENIA
To my dear wish from Argos art thou come.
ORESTES
Not to my wish;but if to thine,enjoy it.
IPHIGENIA
Troy,whose fame spreads so wide,perchance thou know'st.
ORESTES
O that I ne'er had known her,ev'n in dreams!
IPHIGENIA
They say she is no more,by war destroy'd.
ORESTES
It is so:you have heard no false reports.
IPHIGENIA
Is Helena with Menelaus return'd?
ORESTES
She is;and one I love her coming rues.