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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow SCENE II. - Goethe's Works, vol. 3 (Goetz von Berlichingen, Iphigenia in Tauris, Tarquato Tasso, etc)

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SCENE II. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Goethe’s Works, vol. 3 (Goetz von Berlichingen, Iphigenia in Tauris, Tarquato Tasso, etc) [1885]

Edition used:

Goethe’s Works, illustrated by the best German artists, 5 vols. (Philadelphia: G. Barrie, 1885). Vol. 3.

Part of: Goethe’s Works, 5 vols.

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SCENE II.

Iphigenia, Arkas.

Arkas.

Priestess, with speed conclude the sacrifice!

Impatiently the king and people wait.

Iphigenia.

I had perform’d my duty and thy will,

Had not an unforeseen impediment

The execution of my purpose thwarted.

Arkas.

What is it that obstructs the king’s commands?

Iphigenia.

Chance, which from mortals will not brook control.

Arkas.

Possess me with the reason, that with speed

I may inform the king, who hath decreed

The death of both.

Iphigenia.

The gods have not decreed it.

The elder of these men doth bear the guilt

Of kindred murder; on his steps attend

The dread Erinnys. In the inner fane

They seiz’d upon their prey, polluting thus

The holy sanctuary. I hasten now,

Together with my virgin-train, to bathe

The goddess’ image in the sea, and there

With solemn rites its purity restore.

Let none presume our silent march to follow!

Arkas.

This hindrance to the monarch I’ll announce:

Commence not thou the rite till he permit.

Iphigenia.

The priestess interferes alone in this.

Arkas.

An incident so strange the king should know.

Iphigenia.

Here, nor his counsel nor command avails.

Arkas.

Oft are the great consulted out of form.

Iphigenia.

Do not insist on what I must refuse.

Arkas.

A needful and a just demand refuse not.

Iphigenia.

I yield, if thou delay not.

Arkas.

I with speed

Will bear these tidings to the camp, and soon

Acquaint thee, priestess, with the king’s reply.

There is a message I would gladly bear him;

’Twould quickly banish all perplexity:

Thou didst not heed thy faithful friend’s advice.

Iphigenia.

I willingly have done whate’er I could.

Arkas.

E’en now ’tis not too late to change thy purpose.

Iphigenia.

To do so is, alas, beyond our power.

Arkas.

What thou would’st shun, thou deem’st impossible.

Iphigenia.

Thy wish doth make thee deem it possible.

Arkas.

Wilt thou so calmly venture everything?

Iphigenia.

My fate I have committed to the gods.

Arkas.

The gods are wont to save by human means.

Iphigenia.

By their appointment everything is done.

Arkas.

Believe me, all doth now depend on thee.

The irritated temper of the king

Alone condemns these men to bitter death.

The soldiers from the cruel sacrifice

And bloody service long have been disus’d;

Nay, many, whom their adverse fortunes cast

In foreign regions, there themselves have felt

How godlike to the exil’d wanderer

The friendly countenance of man appears.

Do not deprive us of thy gentle aid!

With case thou canst thy sacred task fulfil;

For nowhere doth benignity, which comes

In human form from heaven, so quickly gain

An empire o’er the heart, as where a race,

Gloomy and savage, full of life and power,

Without external guidance, and oppress’d

With vague forebodings, bear life’s heavy load.

Iphigenia.

Shake not my spirit, which thou canst not bend

According to thy will.

Arkas.

While there is time,

Nor labor nor persuasion shall be spar’d.

Iphigenia.

Thy labor but occasions pain to me;

Both are in vain; therefore, I pray, depart.

Arkas.

I summon pain to aid me, ’tis a friend

Who counsels wisely.

Iphigenia.

Though it shakes my soul.

It doth not banish thence my strong repugnance.

Arkas.

Can then a gentle soul repugnance feel

For benefits bestow’d by one so noble?

Iphigenia.

Yes, when the donor, for those benefits,

Instead of gratitude, demands myself.

Arkas.

Who no affection feels doth never want

Excuses. To the king I will relate

What hath befallen. Oh, that in thy soul

Thou would’st revolve his noble conduct to thee

Since thy arrival to the present day!