06.03.27: Level 1-2 (review): Julia (a Latin Reader) [10] (3)

ĪPHIGENĪA (3)

Rēx, ubi ōrāculī respōnsum audīvit, diū sēcum lacrimābat. "Est mihi domī," inquit, "fīlia cāra, Īphigenīa nōmine, sēdecim annōrum puella. Sine dubiō Diāna Īphigenīam victimam petit. Dīra et crūdēlis est dea; sed nōn sine dīs immortālibus ad urbem Trōiam nāvigābimus, et Helenam ex urbe perfidā domum reportābimus."

Nūntium igitur ad Clytaemnēstram, uxōrem suam, mīsit. "Ō Rēgīna," inquit, "fīliam nostrum ad nūptiās ōrnā, et cum fīdīs cūstōdibus ad portum mitte. Achillēs, vir fortis et praeclārus, virginem in mātrimōnium dūcet."

Clytaemnēstra, ubi rēgis dicta audīvit, magnō gaudiō fīliam ad nūptiās parāvit; gemmīs pretiōsīs, vestīmentīs pictīs, puellam ōrnāvit, et tandem cum fīdīs cūstōdibus ad portum mīsit.

Achillēs, -is [3/m]: Achilles, a Greek hero, who fought at Troy

Clytaemnestra, -ae [1/f]: Clytaemnestra, wife of Agamemnon

Īphigenīa, -ae [1/f]: Iphigeneia, daughter of Agamemnon

[i]

custōs, -ōdis [3 m/f]: guard, sentinel

dubium, -ī [2/n]: doubt

gemma, -ae [1/f]: jewel

mātrimōnium, -ī [2/n]: marriage

nuptiae, -ārum [1/f pl]: marriage

[ii]

fīdus, -a, -um: faithful

immortālis, -e: immortal

pretīōsus, -a, -um: precious

[iii]

audiō, -īre [4]: I hear

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The king, when he heard the oracle's answer, wept to himself for a long time.

“I have at home,” he said, “a dear daughter, a girl of sixteen years, named Iphigenia. Without doubt Diana demands Iphigenia as a sacrifice. The goddess is dreadful and cruel; but we shall not sail to the city of Troy without the immortal gods, nor shall we bring Helen home from the treacherous city.”

Accordingly he sent a messenger to Clytaemnestra, his wife.

“O Queen,” he said, “dress our daughter for a wedding and send her to the harbour with trustworthy guards. Achilles, a brave and famous man, will take the maiden in marriage.”

When Clytaemnestra heard the king's words, she prepared her daughter for the wedding with great joy; she adorned the girl with precious jewels and embroidered garments, and at last sent her to the harbour with faithful guards.