OR.  Be silent—­the words of Phoebus avail me naught, for the lady is coming hither without the temple.

IPH.  Depart ye, and go and make ready the things within for those who superintend the sacrifice.  These, O stranger, are the many-folded inclosures of the letter, but hear thou what I further wish.  No man is the same in trouble, and when he changes from fear into confidence.  But I fear, lest he having got away from this land, will deem my letter of no account, who is about to bear this letter to Argos.[93]

OR.  What wouldst thou?  Concerning what art thou disturbed?

IPH.  Let him make me oath that he will ferry these writings to Argos, to those friends to whom I wish to send them.

OR.  Wilt thou in turn make the same assertion to him?

IPH.  That I will do, or will not do what thing? say.

OR.  That you will release him from this barbarian land, not dying.

IPH.  Thou sayest justly; for how could he bear the message?

OR.  But will the ruler also grant this?

IPH.  Yea.  I will persuade him, and will myself embark him on the ship’s hull.

OR.  Swear, but do thou commence such oath as is holy.

IPH.  Thou must say “I will give this [letter] to my friends.”

PYL.  I will give this letter to thy friends.

IPH.  And I will send thee safe beyond the Cyanean rocks.

PYL.  Whom of the Gods dost thou call to witness of thine oath in these words?

IPH.  Diana, in whose temple I hold office.

PYL.  But I [call upon] the king of heaven, hallowed Jove.

IPH.  But if, deserting thine oath, thou shouldst wrong me—­

PYL.  May I not return?  But thou, if thou savest me not—­

IPH.  May I never living set footprint in Argos.

PYL.  Hear now then a matter which we have passed by.

IPH.  There will be opportunity hereafter, if matters stand aright.

PYL.  Grant me this one exception.  If the vessel suffer any harm, and the letter be lost[94] in the storm, together with the goods, and I save my person only, that this mine oath be no longer valid.[95]

IPH.  Knowest thou what I will do?[96] for the many things contained in the folds of the letter bear opportunity for many things.[97] I will tell you in words all that you are to convey to my friends, for this plan is safe.  If indeed thou preservest the letter, it will itself silently tell the things written, but if these letters be lost at sea, saving thy body, thou wilt preserve my message.

PYL.  Thou hast spoken well on behalf of the Gods[98] and of myself.  But tell me to whom at Argos I must needs bear these epistles, and what hearing from thee, I must tell.

IPH.  Bear word to Orestes, the son of Agamemnon, (reading) “she[99] that was sacrificed at Aulis gives this commission, Iphigenia alive, but no longer alive as far as those in Argos are concerned.”