MESS.  Not at least before some distinct informer[174] tell me this, whether the ruler of the land is within or not within.  Ho there!  Open the fastenings, I speak to those within, and tell the master that I am at the gates, bearing a weight of evil news.

THOAS. (coming out) Who makes this noise near the temple of the Goddess, hammering at the door, and sending fear within?

MESS.  These women told me falsely, (and tried to drive me from the house,) that you were away, while you really were in the house.

TH.  Expecting or hunting after what gain?

MESS.  I will afterward tell of what concerns them, but hear the present, immediate matter.  The virgin, she that presided over the altars here, Iphigenia, has gone out of the land with the strangers, having the sacred image of the Goddess; but the expiations were pretended.

TH.  How sayest thou? possessed by what breath of calamity?[175]

MESS.  In order to preserve Orestes, for at this thou wilt marvel.

TH.  What [Orestes]?  Him, whom the daughter of Tyndarus bore?

MESS.  Him whom she consecrated to the Goddess at these altars.

TH.  Oh marvel!  How can I rightly[176] call thee by a greater name?

MESS.  Do not turn thine attention to this, but listen to me; and having perceived and heard, clearly consider what pursuit will catch the strangers.

TH.  Speak, for thou sayest well, for they do not flee by the way of the neighboring sea, so as to be able to escape my fleet.

MESS.  When we came to the sea-shore, where the vessel of Orestes was anchored in secret, to us indeed, whom thou didst send with her, bearing fetters for the strangers, the daughter of Agamemnon made signs that we should get far out of the way, as she was about to offer the secret[177] flame and expiation, for which she had come.  But she, holding the fetters of the strangers in her hands, followed behind them.  And these matters were suspicious, but they satisfied your attendants, O king.  But at length, in order forsooth that she might seem to us to be doing something, she screamed aloud, and chanted barbarian songs like a sorceress, as if washing out the stain of murder.  But after we had remained sitting a long time, it occurred to us whether the strangers set at liberty might not slay her, and take to flight.  And through fear lest we might behold what was not fitting, we sat in silence, but at length the same words were in every body’s mouth, that we should go to where they were, although not permitted.  And upon this we behold the hull of the Grecian ship, [the rowing winged with well-fitted oars,[178]] and fifty sailors holding their oars in the tholes, and the youths, freed from their fetters, standing [on the shore] astern of the ship.[179] But some held in the prow with their oars, and others from the epotides let down the anchor, and others hastily applying the ladders, drew the