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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IPHIGENIA AT AULIS, by EURIPIDES Poet's Biography First Line: Had I the voice of orpheus, o my sire Last Line: Life is more precious than the noblest death! Subject(s): Euripides (484-406 B.c.); Fathers & Sons; Murder | |||
Had I the voice of Orpheus, O my Sire, And could I charm the stones to follow me, Beguiling hearers sweetly to my will, Words I would use—but now my only spell Lies in my tears, for tears are all I have! I hold no suppliant bough, but touch thy knees With this frail body which she bore for thee: I pray thee, slay me not before my time, For sweet it is to look upon the light, But thou wouldst thrust me down to nether gloom. I was the first to call thee Father: thou Didst call me first thy child, and I did cling First to thy knees and shower upon thy lips Sweet, loving kisses which thy lips returned. And thou wouldst say, "My darling, shall I live To see thee blooming in some chieftain's halls A joyous bride, an honour to thy sire?" And I would answer, toying with thy beard, Which now my hand doth fondly still caress:— "My Father, shall it be, when thou art old That I shall cherish thee within my home, Repaying thus the nurture of my youth?" I do remember me of all these words, But thou forgetting them, dost seek my death. Spare me I pray, by Pelops, by thy sire, And by my mother too, who at my birth Felt pangs less keen than those my death will cause. What part or lot have I in Helen's loves, Or why should Paris ruin also me? Look on me, Father! grant one look, one kiss, That if I fail to move thee by my words, I may in death, at least remember these. My brother! weak I fear me, is thine aid— Still, weep with me, with me beseech our sire To spare thy sister—there may be a sense Of sorrow even in an infant's mind. Behold, how silently he prays to thee, My Father. Pity me and spare my life. Two beings dear to thee are at thy feet, He, still a nursling—I, a maiden grown. One last brief plea I urge—'tis very sweet To live and look upon the light; but death Is darkness—they are mad who pray to die. Life is more precious than the noblest death! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...KILLING AT THE NEIGHBORS by JUDY JORDAN CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE:FALL RIVER HISTORICAL MUSEUM by JAN HELLER LEVI YOU GOTTA TAKE OUT MILT by PAUL MULDOON WE HAD SEEN A PIG by MARVIN BELL HOW DUKE VALENTINE CONTRIVED by BASIL BUNTING A DREAM OF THREE SISTERS by NORMAN DUBIE AEOLUS: THE OLD MEN by EURIPIDES |
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