Leader. 
Here is herself, O King, to give thee word.
enter, from the temple, iphigenia, carrying
    the image on high.

Thoas. 
How, child of Agamemnon!  Hast thou stirred
From her eternal base, and to the sun
Bearest in thine own arms, the Holy One?

Iphigenia. 
Back Lord!  No step beyond the pillared way.

Thoas. 
But how?  Some rule is broken?

Iphigenia. 
                             I unsay
That word.  Be all unspoken and unwrought!

Thoas. 
What means this greeting strange?  Disclose thy thought.

Iphigenia. 
Unclean the prey was that ye caught, O King.

Thoas. 
Who showed thee so?  Thine own imagining?

Iphigenia. 
The Image stirred and shuddered from its seat.

Thoas. 
Itself? ...  Some shock of earthquake loosened it.

Iphigenia. 
Itself.  And the eyes closed one breathing space.

Thoas. 
But why?  For those two men’s bloodguiltiness?

Iphigenia. 
That, nothing else.  For, Oh, their guilt is sore.

Thoas. 
They killed some of my herdsmen on the shore?

Iphigenia. 
Their sin was brought from home, not gathered here.

Thoas. 
What?  I must know this.—­Make thy story clear.

Iphigenia. (she puts the image down and moves
            nearer to thoas.)
The men have slain their mother.

Thoas. 
                                  God!  And these
Be Greeks!

Iphigenia
They both are hunted out of Greece.

Thoas. 
For this thou has brought the Image to the sun?

Iphigenia. 
The fire of heaven can cleanse all malison.

Thoas. 
How didst thou first hear of their deed of shame?

Iphigenia. 
When the Image hid its eyes, I questioned them.

Thoas. 
Good.  Greece hath taught thee many a subtle art.

Iphigenia. 
Ah, they too had sweet words to move my heart.

Thoas. 
Sweet words?  How, did they bring some news of Greece?

Iphigenia. 
Orestes, my one brother, lives in peace.

Thoas. 
Surely!  Good news to make thee spare their lives ...

Iphigenia. 
My father too in Argos lives and thrives.

Thoas. 
While thou didst think but of the goddess’ laws!

Iphigenia. 
Do I not hate all Greeks?  Have I not cause?

Thoas. 
Good cause.  But now ...  What service should be paid?

Iphigenia. 
The Law of long years needs must be obeyed.

Thoas. 
To work then, with thy sword and handwashing!

Iphigenia. 
First I must shrive them with some cleansing thing.