Iphigenia In Tauris. - Act The Fourth. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDEFGHBIJKLMNFOPQRF ASTBFUFVWXINFYZFA2UZ FZQKFB2C2FD2BC2 A F FFE2 BF2G2H2 FF BD2 FMMI2 BJ2K2NWFBL2M2KE FFJ2 BF FB BF FO BF FU BU FMBAN2FF BO2 FR BC2 FP2 BP2 FQ2 BF FF BB FFQ2R2FRRRC2FRP2FBFC 2RR BRP2 FS2R BFR FRF BP2F FP2P2 BFT2 FRRP2FR A BC2RRFKP2P2RDU2BFRFV 2FP2FW2X2Y2P2RDKFR T2 F FP2V BC2F FFRRT2BBRHR BFFR FFRRZ2RRC2KFFBFFM2P2 BP2ARRRFRB BRA3AB3RFP2B FFT2F BP2 FC3FFR BD3BRR FE3FBAFF3RRBI2RFFRRR P2FT2G3FRH3BFFT2 BBFRRBRT2R FFRX2FB BBP2 FRF BFQ2C2 FC2 BR FR BRR FF BR FR BP2 FT2 BFR FBFFP2FBI3T2FJ3BRF BR FRRK3R BFT2R FA3BL3RR BRT2T2 FRRFFRI3RT2R R BFRRM3RI3BRT2FB2FRFF RRFRRRT2RRFRP2B2RN3R RRAFP2 FBBFC2RRRFQ2RJ3F3RFQ 2RQ2FFBQ2FFO3FFRQ2FB FQ2C2N3BFP3FR| SCENE I | A |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| When the Powers on high decree | C |
| For a feeble child of earth | D |
| Dire perplexity and woe | E |
| And his spirit doom to pass | F |
| With tumult wild from joy to grief | G |
| And back again from grief to joy | H |
| In fearful alternation | B |
| They in mercy then provide | I |
| In the precincts of his home | J |
| Or upon the distant shore | K |
| That to him may never fail | L |
| Ready help in hours of need | M |
| A tranquil faithful friend | N |
| Oh bless ye heavenly powers our Pylades | F |
| And every project that his mind may form | O |
| In combat his the vigorous arm of youth | P |
| And in the counsel his the eye of age | Q |
| His soul is tranquil in his inner mind | R |
| He guards a sacred undisturb'd repose | F |
| And from its silent depths a rich supply | A |
| Of aid and counsel draws for the distress'd | S |
| He tore me from my brother upon whom | T |
| With fond amaze I gaz'd and gaz'd again | B |
| I could not realize my happiness | F |
| Nor loose him from my arms and heeded not | U |
| The danger's near approach that threatens us | F |
| To execute their project of escape | V |
| They hasten to the sea where in a bay | W |
| Their comrades in the vessel lie conceal'd | X |
| And wait a signal Me they have supplied | I |
| With artful answers should the monarch send | N |
| To urge the sacrifice Alas I see | F |
| I must consent to follow like a child | Y |
| I have not learn'd deception nor the art | Z |
| To gain with crafty wiles my purposes | F |
| Detested falsehood it doth not relieve | A2 |
| The breast like words of truth it comforts not | U |
| But is a torment in the forger's heart | Z |
| And like an arrow which a god directs | F |
| Flies back and wounds the archer Through my heart | Z |
| One fear doth chase another perhaps with rage | Q |
| Again on the unconsecrated shore | K |
| The Furies' grisly band my brother seize | F |
| Perchance they are surpris'd Methinks I hear | B2 |
| The tread of armed men A messenger | C2 |
| Is coming from the king with hasty steps | F |
| How throbs my heart how troubl'd is my soul | D2 |
| Now that I see the countenance of one | B |
| Whom with a word untrue I must encounter | C2 |
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| SCENE II | A |
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| IPHIGENIA ARKAS | F |
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| ARKAS | F |
| Priestess with speed conclude the sacrifice | F |
| Impatiently the king and people wait | E2 |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| I had perform'd my duty and thy will | F2 |
| Had not an unforeseen impediment | G2 |
| The execution of my purpose thwarted | H2 |
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| ARKAS | F |
| What is it that obstructs the king's commands | F |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Chance which from mortals will not brook control | D2 |
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| ARKAS | F |
| Possess me with the reason that with speed | M |
| I may inform the king who hath decreed | M |
| The death of both | I2 |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| The gods have not decreed it | J2 |
| The elder of these men doth bear the guilt | K2 |
| Of kindred murder on his steps attend | N |
| The dread Eumenides They seiz'd their prey | W |
| Within the inner fane polluting thus | F |
| The holy sanctuary I hasten now | B |
| Together with my virgin train to bathe | L2 |
| Diana's image in the sea and there | M2 |
| With solemn rites its purity restore | K |
| Let none presume our silent march to follow | E |
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| ARKAS | F |
| This hindrance to the monarch I'll announce | F |
| Do not commence the rite till he permit | J2 |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| The priestess interferes alone in this | F |
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| ARKAS | F |
| An incident so strange the king should know | B |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Here nor his counsel nor command avails | F |
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| ARKAS | F |
| Oft are the great consulted out of form | O |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Do not insist on what I must refuse | F |
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| ARKAS | F |
| A needful and a just demand refuse not | U |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| I yield if thou delay not | U |
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| ARKAS | F |
| I with speed | M |
| Will bear these tidings to the camp and soon | B |
| Acquaint thee priestess with the king's reply | A |
| There is a message I would gladly bear him | N2 |
| 'Twould quickly banish all perplexity | F |
| Thou didst not heed thy faithful friend's advice | F |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| I willingly have done whate'er I could | O2 |
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| ARKAS | F |
| E'en now 'tis not too late to change thy mind | R |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| To do so is alas beyond our power | C2 |
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| ARKAS | F |
| What thou wouldst shun thou deem'st impossible | P2 |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Thy wish doth make thee deem it possible | P2 |
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| ARKAS | F |
| Wilt thou so calmly venture everything | Q2 |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| My fate I have committed to the gods | F |
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| ARKAS | F |
| The gods are wont to save by human means | F |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| By their appointment everything is done | B |
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| ARKAS | F |
| Believe me all doth now depend on thee | F |
| The irritated temper of the king | Q2 |
| Alone condemns these men to bitter death | R2 |
| The soldiers from the cruel sacrifice | F |
| And bloody service long have been disused | R |
| Nay many whom their adverse fortunes cast | R |
| In foreign regions there themselves have felt | R |
| How godlike to the exil'd wanderer | C2 |
| The friendly countenance of man appears | F |
| Do not deprive us of thy gentle aid | R |
| With ease thou canst thy sacred task fulfil | P2 |
| For nowhere doth benignity which comes | F |
| In human form from heaven so quickly gain | B |
| An empire o'er the heart as where a race | F |
| Gloomy and savage full of life and power | C2 |
| Without external guidance and oppress'd | R |
| With vague forebodings bear life's heavy load | R |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Shake not my spirit which thou canst not bend | R |
| According to thy will | P2 |
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| ARKAS | F |
| While there is time | S2 |
| Nor labour nor persuasion shall be spar'd | R |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Thy labour but occasions pain to me | F |
| Both are in vain therefore I pray depart | R |
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| ARKAS | F |
| I summon pain to aid me 'tis a friend | R |
| Who counsels wisely | F |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Though it shakes my soul | P2 |
| It doth not banish thence my strong repugnance | F |
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| ARKAS | F |
| Can then a gentle soul repugnance feel | P2 |
| For benefits bestow'd by one so noble | P2 |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Yes when the donor for those benefits | F |
| Instead of gratitude demands myself | T2 |
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| ARKAS | F |
| Who no affection feels doth never want | R |
| Excuses To the king I'll now relate | R |
| All that has happen'd Oh that in thy soul | P2 |
| Thou wouldst revolve his noble conduct priestess | F |
| Since thy arrival to the present day | R |
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| SCENE III | A |
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| IPHIGENIA alone | B |
| These words at an unseasonable hour | C2 |
| Produce a strong revulsion in my breast | R |
| I am alarm'd For as the rushing tide | R |
| In rapid currents eddies o'er the rocks | F |
| Which lie among the sand upon the shore | K |
| E'en so a stream of joy o'erwhelm'd my soul | P2 |
| I grasp'd what had appear'd impossible | P2 |
| It was as though another gentle cloud | R |
| Around me lay to raise me from the earth | D |
| And rock my spirit in the same sweet sleep | U2 |
| Which the kind goddess shed around my brow | B |
| What time her circling arm from danger snatch'd me | F |
| My brother forcibly engross'd my heart | R |
| I listen'd only to his friend's advice | F |
| My soul rush'd eagerly to rescue them | V2 |
| And as the mariner with joy surveys | F |
| The less'ning breakers of a desert isle | P2 |
| So Tauris lay behind me But the voice | F |
| Of faithful Arkas wakes me from my dream | W2 |
| Reminding me that those whom I forsake | X2 |
| Are also men Deceit doth now become | Y2 |
| Doubly detested O my soul be still | P2 |
| Beginn'st thou now to tremble and to doubt | R |
| Thy lonely shelter on the firm set earth | D |
| Must thou abandon and embark'd once more | K |
| At random drift upon tumultuous waves | F |
| A stranger to thyself and to the world | R |
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| SCENE IV | T2 |
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| IPHIGENIA PYLADES | F |
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| PYLADES | F |
| Where is she that my words with speed may tell | P2 |
| The joyful tidings of our near escape | V |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Oppress'd with gloomy care I much require | C2 |
| The certain comfort thou dost promise me | F |
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| PYLADES | F |
| Thy brother is restor'd The rocky paths | F |
| Of this unconsecrated shore we trod | R |
| In friendly converse while behind us lay | R |
| Unmark'd by us the consecrated grove | T2 |
| And ever with increasing glory shone | B |
| The fire of youth around his noble brow | B |
| Courage and hope his glowing eye inspir'd | R |
| And his free heart exulted with the joy | H |
| Of saving thee his sister and his friend | R |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| The gods shower blessings on thee Pylades | F |
| And from those lips which breathe such welcome news | F |
| Be the sad note of anguish never heard | R |
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| PYLADES | F |
| I bring yet more for Fortune like a prince | F |
| Comes not alone but well accompanied | R |
| Our friends and comrades we have also found | R |
| Within a bay they had conceal'd the ship | Z2 |
| And mournful sat expectant They beheld | R |
| Thy brother and a joyous shout uprais'd | R |
| Imploring him to haste the parting hour | C2 |
| Each hand impatient long'd to grasp the oar | K |
| While from the shore a gently murmuring breeze | F |
| Perceiv'd by all unfurl'd its wing auspicious | F |
| Let us then hasten guide me to the fane | B |
| That I may tread the sanctuary and seize | F |
| With sacred awe the object of our hopes | F |
| I can unaided on my shoulder bear | M2 |
| Diana's image how I long to feel | P2 |
| The precious burden | B |
| While speaking the last words he approaches the Temple | P2 |
| without perceiving that he is not followed by | A |
| Iphigenia at length he turns round | R |
| Why thus ling'ring stand | R |
| Why art thou silent wherefore thus confus'd | R |
| Doth some new obstacle oppose our bliss | F |
| Inform me hast thou to the king announc'd | R |
| The prudent message we agreed upon | B |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| I have dear Pylades yet wilt thou chide | R |
| Thy very aspect is a mute reproach | A3 |
| The royal messenger arriv'd and I | A |
| According to thy counsel fram'd my speech | B3 |
| He seem'd surpris'd and urgently besought | R |
| That to the monarch I should first announce | F |
| The rite unusual and attend his will | P2 |
| I now await the messenger's return | B |
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| PYLADES | F |
| Danger again doth hover o'er our heads | F |
| O priestess why neglect to shroud thyself | T2 |
| Within the veil of sacerdotal rites | F |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| I never have employ'd them as a veil | P2 |
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| PYLADES | F |
| Pure soul thy scruples will destroy alike | C3 |
| Thyself and us Why did I not foresee | F |
| Such an emergency and tutor thee | F |
| This counsel also wisely to elude | R |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Chide only me for mine alone the blame | D3 |
| Yet other answer could I not return | B |
| To him who strongly and with reason urg'd | R |
| What my own heart acknowledg'd to be right | R |
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| PYLADES | F |
| The danger thickens but let us be firm | E3 |
| Nor with incautious haste betray ourselves | F |
| Calmly await the messenger's return | B |
| And then stand fast whatever his reply | A |
| For the appointment of such sacred rites | F |
| Doth to the priestess not the king belong | F3 |
| Should he demand the stranger to behold | R |
| Who is by madness heavily oppress'd | R |
| Evasively pretend that in the fane | B |
| Securely guarded thou retain'st us both | I2 |
| Thus you secure us time to fly with speed | R |
| Bearing the sacred treasure from this race | F |
| Unworthy its possession Phoebus sends | F |
| Auspicious omens and fulfils his word | R |
| Ere we the first conditions have perform'd | R |
| Free is Orestes from the curse absolv'd | R |
| Oh with the freed one to the rocky isle | P2 |
| Where dwells the god waft us propitious gales | F |
| Thence to Mycene that she may revive | T2 |
| That from the ashes of the extinguish'd hearth | G3 |
| The household gods may joyously arise | F |
| And beauteous fire illumine their abode | R |
| Thy hand from golden censers first shall strew | H3 |
| The fragrant incense O'er that threshold thou | B |
| Shalt life and blessing once again dispense | F |
| The curse atone and all thy kindred grace | F |
| With the fresh bloom of renovated life | T2 |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| As doth the flower revolve to meet the sun | B |
| Once more my spirit to sweet comfort turns | F |
| Struck by thy words' invigorating ray | R |
| How dear the counsel of a present friend | R |
| Lacking whose godlike power the lonely one | B |
| In silence droops for lock'd within his breast | R |
| Slowly are ripen'd purpose and resolve | T2 |
| Which friendship's genial warmth had soon matur'd | R |
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| PYLADES | F |
| Farewell I haste to re assure our friends | F |
| Who anxiously await us then with speed | R |
| I will return and hid within the brake | X2 |
| Attend thy signal Wherefore all at once | F |
| Doth anxious thought o'ercloud thy brow serene | B |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Forgive me As light clouds athwart the sun | B |
| So cares and fears float darkling o'er my soul | P2 |
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| PYLADES | F |
| Oh banish fear With danger it hath form'd | R |
| A close alliance they are constant friends | F |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| It is an honest scruple which forbids | F |
| That I should cunningly deceive the king | Q2 |
| And plunder him who was my second sire | C2 |
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| PYLADES | F |
| Him thou dost fly who would have slain thy brother | C2 |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| To me at least he hath been ever kind | R |
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| PYLADES | F |
| What Fate commands is not ingratitude | R |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Alas it still remains ingratitude | R |
| Necessity alone can justify it | R |
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| PYLADES | F |
| Thee before gods and men it justifies | F |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| But my own heart is still unsatisfied | R |
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| PYLADES | F |
| Scruples too rigid are a cloak for pride | R |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| I cannot argue I can only feel | P2 |
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| PYLADES | F |
| Conscious of right thou shouldst respect thyself | T2 |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Then only doth the heart know perfect ease | F |
| When not a stain pollutes it | R |
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| PYLADES | F |
| In this fane | B |
| Pure hast thou kept thy heart Life teaches us | F |
| To be less strict with others and ourselves | F |
| Thou'lt learn the lesson too So wonderful | P2 |
| Is human nature and its varied ties | F |
| Are so involv'd and complicate that none | B |
| May hope to keep his inmost spirit pure | I3 |
| And walk without perplexity through life | T2 |
| Nor are we call'd upon to judge ourselves | F |
| With circumspection to pursue his path | J3 |
| Is the immediate duty of a man | B |
| For seldom can he rightly estimate | R |
| Or his past conduct or his present deeds | F |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Almost thou dost persuade me to consent | R |
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| PYLADES | F |
| Needs there persuasion when no choice is granted | R |
| To save thyself thy brother and a friend | R |
| One path presents itself and canst thou ask | K3 |
| If we shall follow it | R |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Still let me pause | F |
| For such injustice thou couldst not thyself | T2 |
| Calmly return for benefits receiv'd | R |
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| PYLADES | F |
| If we should perish bitter self reproach | A3 |
| Forerunner of despair will be thy portion | B |
| It seems thou art not used to suffer much | L3 |
| When to escape so great calamity | R |
| Thou canst refuse to utter one false word | R |
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| IPHIGENIA | B |
| Oh that I bore within a manly heart | R |
| Which when it hath conceiv'd a bold resolve | T2 |
| 'Gainst every other voice doth close itself | T2 |
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| PYLADES | F |
| In vain thou dost refuse with iron hand | R |
| Necessity commands her stern decree | R |
| Is law supreme to which the gods themselves | F |
| Must yield submission In dread silence rules | F |
| The uncounsell'd sister of eternal fate | R |
| What she appoints thee to endure endure | I3 |
| What to perform perform The rest thou know'st | R |
| Ere long I will return and then receive | T2 |
| The seal of safety from thy sacred hand | R |
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| SCENE V | R |
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| IPHIGENIA alone | B |
| I must obey him for I see my friends | F |
| Beset with peril Yet my own sad fate | R |
| Doth with increasing anguish move my heart | R |
| May I no longer feed the silent hope | M3 |
| Which in my solitude I fondly cherish'd | R |
| Shall the dire curse eternally endure | I3 |
| And shall our fated race ne'er rise again | B |
| With blessings crown'd All mortal things decay | R |
| The noblest powers the purest joys of life | T2 |
| At length subside then wherefore not the curse | F |
| And have I vainly hop'd that guarded here | B2 |
| Secluded from the fortunes of my race | F |
| I with pure heart and hands some future day | R |
| Might cleanse the deep defilement of our house | F |
| Scarce was my brother in my circling arms | F |
| From raging madness suddenly restor'd | R |
| Scarce had the ship long pray'd for near'd the strand | R |
| Once more to waft me to my native shores | F |
| When unrelenting fate with iron hand | R |
| A double crime enjoins commanding me | R |
| To steal the image sacred and rever'd | R |
| Confided to my care and him deceive | T2 |
| To whom I owe my life and destiny | R |
| Let not abhorrence spring within my heart | R |
| Nor the old Titan's hate toward you ye gods | F |
| Infix its vulture talons in my breast | R |
| Save me and save your image in my soul | P2 |
| An ancient song comes back upon mine ear | B2 |
| I had forgotten it and willingly | R |
| The Parc 's song which horribly they sang | N3 |
| What time hurl'd headlong from his golden seat | R |
| Fell Tantalus They with their noble friend | R |
| Keen anguish suffer'd savage was their breast | R |
| And horrible their song In days gone by | A |
| When we were children oft our ancient nurse | F |
| Would sing it to us and I mark'd it well | P2 |
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| Oh fear the immortals | F |
| Ye children of men | B |
| Eternal dominion | B |
| They hold in their hands | F |
| And o'er their wide empire | C2 |
| Wield absolute sway | R |
| Whom they have exalted | R |
| Let him fear them most | R |
| Around golden tables | F |
| On cliffs and clouds resting | Q2 |
| The seats are prepar'd | R |
| If contest ariseth | J3 |
| The guests are hurl'd headlong | F3 |
| Disgrac'd and dishonour'd | R |
| And fetter'd in darkness | F |
| Await with vain longing | Q2 |
| A juster decree | R |
| But in feasts everlasting | Q2 |
| Around the gold tables | F |
| Still dwell the immortals | F |
| From mountain to mountain | B |
| They stride while ascending | Q2 |
| From fathomless chasms | F |
| The breath of the Titans | F |
| Half stifl'd with anguish | O3 |
| Like volumes of incense | F |
| Fumes up to the skies | F |
| From races ill fated | R |
| Their aspect joy bringing | Q2 |
| Oft turn the celestials | F |
| And shun in the children | B |
| To gaze on the features | F |
| Once lov'd and still speaking | Q2 |
| Of their mighty sire | C2 |
| Thus sternly the Fates sang | N3 |
| Immur'd in his dungeon | B |
| The banish'd one listens | F |
| The song of the Parc | P3 |
| His children's doom ponders | F |
| And boweth his head | R |
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
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