Orestes. 
Enough.  Nor god nor man can any more
Aid me.  The woman standeth at the door.

[enter iphigenia from the Temple.]

Iphigenia. 
Go ye within; and have all things of need
In order set for them that do the deed. 
There wait my word.

[Attendants go in.]

Ye strangers, here I hold
The many-lettered tablet, fold on fold. 
Yet ... one thing still.  No man, once unafraid
And safe, remembereth all the vows he made
In fear of death.  My heart misgiveth me,
Lest he who bears my tablet, once gone free,
Forget me here and set my charge at naught.

Orestes. 
What wouldst thou, then?  Thou hast some troubling thought.

Iphigenia. 
His sworn oath let him give, to bear this same
Tablet to Argos, to the friend I name.

Orestes. 
And if he give this oath, wilt thou swear too?

Iphigenia. 
What should I swear to do or not to do?

Orestes. 
Send him from Tauris safe and free from ill.

Iphigenia. 
I promise.  How else could he do my will?

Orestes. 
The King will suffer this?

Iphigenia. 
                 Yes:  I can bend
The King, and set upon his ship thy friend.

Orestes. 
Choose then what oath is best, and he will swear.

Iphigenia (to Pylades, who has come up to her). 
Say:  “To thy friend this tablet I will bear.”

Pylades (taking the tablet). 
Good.  I will bear this tablet to thy friend.

Iphigenia. 
And I save thee beyond this kingdom’s end.

Pylades. 
What god dost thou invoke to witness this?

Iphigenia. 
Her in whose house I labour, Artemis.

Pylades. 
And I the Lord of Heaven, eternal Zeus.

Iphigenia. 
And if thou fail me, or thine oath abuse ...?

Pylades. 
May I see home no more.  And thou, what then?

Iphigenia. 
May this foot never tread Greek earth again.

Pylades. 
But stay:  there is one chance we have forgot.

Iphigenia. 
A new oath can be sworn, if this serve not.

Pylades. 
In one case set me free.  Say I be crossed
With shipwreck, and, with ship and tablet lost
And all I bear, my life be saved alone: 
Let not this oath be held a thing undone,
To curse me.

Iphigenia. 
            Nay, then, many ways are best
To many ends.  The words thou carriest
Enrolled and hid beneath that tablet’s rim,
I will repeat to thee, and thou to him
I look for.  Safer so.  If the scrip sail
Unhurt to Greece, itself will tell my tale
Unaided:  if it drown in some wide sea,
Save but thyself, my words are saved with thee.