Iphigenia in Aulis

He loves power. A terrible love.

No mortal ever knows happiness and good fortune all the way to the end. Each one is born with his bitterness waiting for him.

AGAMEMNON: Oh immovable law of heaven! Oh my anguish, my relentless fate! CLYTEMNESTRA: Yours? Mine. Hers. No relenting for any of us.

Death will be my wedding, children and glory.

We'll buy back our own harm with what is most dear to us.

Truly we are creatures of labor and suffering, and nothing for long. Labor and suffering, and the plain sight of our destiny is the cruelest thing of all.

AGAMEMNON: I will not slay my children, nor shall thy interests be prospered by justice in thy vengeance for a worthless wife, while I am left wasting, night and day, in sorrow for what I did to one of my own flesh and blood, contrary to all law and justice.

We would have to think the gods had no minds, to pray for murderers.

Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice behind them, and there is no law but lawlessness, and none join in fear of the gods?

If only the herdsman had not brought him up with the flocks, not reared him, Paris, Alexander, to watch his flock by the clear springs where the nymphs rise, and the rich pastures starred with roses and hyacinths for the goddesses to gather.

We gain the most hateful things at the hand of those dearest.

And ‘tis a rare prize for a man to obtain such a wife, but there is no lack of getting a bad spouse.

Behold, I am silent: for what need is there that, falsely speaking, I add shamelessness to misfortune?

Piangi con me, supplica il padre di non uccidere tua sorella: anche i bambini si rendono conto delle sciagure.

A terrible thing it is to be a mother, and it bears a great endearment, and one common to all, so as to toil on behalf of their children.

But do thou remain, there is no use for punctilio, if we can [but save your life.]

Verily we must believe the Gods are senseless, if we feel well disposed to murderers.

This thy wit hath no wit.

For the discreet among mortals are such as pass through life correctly with wisdom.

The powerful, in sooth, and the wealthy, are Gods to those of mortals who are unblest.

I was foolish and young, before that, viewing the matter closely, I saw what it is to beget children.

Tis dreadful for words and strife to happen between brothers, when they fall into dispute.