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220

EURIPIDES.

Iphigeneia.

This only—lives the hapless hero's wife?⁠555


Orestes.

Lives not. Her son—ay,[1] whom herself bare—slew her.


Iphigeneia.

O house distraught! Slew her!—with what intent?


Orestes.

To avenge on her his murdered father's blood.


Iphigeneia.

Alas!—ill justice, wrought how righteously!


Orestes.

Not blest of Heaven is he, how just soe'er.[2]⁠560


Iphigeneia.

Left the king other issue in his halls?


Orestes.

One maiden child, Electra, hath he left.


Iphigeneia.

How, is nought said of her they sacrificed?

  1. ↑ The Greek οὗτος conveys the same covert hint of the identity of the speaker with the person spoken of, which is conveyed to an English ear by the identity in sound of ay and I : Hence we may have here an instance of that "Tragic Irony" so much appreciated by Athenian audiences.
  2. ↑ Or, "Yet doth Heaven's blessing match not his deserts."
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