His pride is the farthest possible remote from vanity.
His thoughts are as free as any in our own time.
"The prophet? what is he? a man
Who speaks, 'mong many falsehoods, but few truths,
Whene'er chance leads him to speak true; when false,
The prophet is no more."
Had Agamemnon possessed like clearness of sight, the virgin would not
have perished, but Greece would have had no religion and no national
existence.
When, in the interview with Agamemnon, the queen begins her speech, in
the true matrimonial style, dignified though her gesture be, and true
all she says, we feel that truth, thus sauced with taunts, will not
touch his heart, nor turn him from his purpose. But when Iphigenia,
begins her exquisite speech, as with the breathings of a lute,--
"Had I, my father, the persuasive voice
Of Orpheus, &c.
Compel me not
What is beneath to view. I was the first
To call thee father; me thou first didst call
Thy child. I was the first that on thy knees
Fondly caressed thee, and from thee received
The fond caress. This was thy speech to me:--
'Shall I, my child, e'er see thee in some house
Of splendor, happy in thy husband, live
And flourish, as becomes my dignity?'
My speech to thee was, leaning 'gainst thy cheek,
(Which with my hand I now caress): 'And what
Shall I then do for thee? Shall I receive
My father when grown old, and in my house
Cheer him with each fond office, to repay
The careful nurture which he gave my youth?'
These words are in my memory deep impressed;
Thou hast forgot them, and will kill thy child.
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