Iphigenia in Aulis

Two versions of Euripides' masterpiece in a new verse translation

Euripides, Andy Hinds, Martine Cuypers

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781786821355
• eBook ISBN: 9781786821362
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Two versions of Euripides' masterpiece in a new verse translation by Andy Hinds, with Martine Cuypers. The first version of Iphigenia in Aulis in this volume is a translation of the complete text as it has come down to us via the only surviving manuscript – a highly corrupt text containing numerous interpolations by hands other than Euripides. The second, shorter version offers a tried and tested, more performable 'stage' version of the play. The translation is the result of a close collaboration between theatre director and playwright, Andy Hinds (author of Acting Shakespeare's Language), and Classics scholar, Dr. Martine Cuypers (Trinity College, Dublin). Whilst preserving a scholarly fidelity to the original Greek, the translation is written in a clear and energetic verse, designed to be as 'performable' in the theatre, as it is 'readable' in the home or study. It will be of equal interest and use, therefore, to teachers, students and academics, to actors and directors, and to the general reader. Companion Volume
Iphigenia in Aulis is released as a companion volume to Hinds' translation of The Oresteia. Iphigenia represents Euripides' version of a key episode in the great saga, The Fall of the House of Atreus, while The Oresteia relates Aeschylus' version of the continuation and conclusion of the saga.

IPHIGENIA IN AULIS
Full Version

Scene

The camp of the Greeks at Aulis, before Agamemnon’s quarters

Characters

AGAMEMNON King of Argos

CLYTEMNESTRA Wife of Agamemnon

IPHIGENIA Daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra

MENELAUS King of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon

OLD MAN Servant of Agamemnon

ACHILLES Leader of the Myrmidons

MESSENGER from Clytemnestra’s entourage

MESSENGER from the Greek army

A CHORUS Women of Chalcis in Euboea

AGAMEMNONOld man, come here!

Before my quarters!

OlD MANI am coming!

What on earth is this about,

Lord Agamemnon?

AGAMEMNONHurry!

OlD MANI am hurrying!

Since sleep begs off with age,

My eyes are wide awake and watchful.

AGAMEMNONWhat foreboding star is that?

Passing by the Seven Pleiades –

Up high there in the sky?

And still no murmur

From the birds,

Or from the sea;

The windless quiet

Reigning still

Along these straits of Euripus.

OLD MANBut why, Lord Agamemnon,

Do you come so restless

From your quarters?

Not a sound, as ever,

Here in Aulis.

Nor a guard astir yet

On the ramparts.

Let us go inside.

AGAMEMNONHow much I envy you, old man;

Envy any man

Who moves through life so,

Unassailed by fame

And all the perils that it brings.

I envy less

Those burdened with authority.

OLD MANBut they have all

That might be coveted in life.

AGAMEMNONIt is a treacherous thing,

This ‘might be coveted’.

High honour’s sweetness comes

Forever mixed with pain.

At times the gods

Withhold success,

Or you are ground to pieces

By the many peevish notions

Of the people.

OLD MANIn a prince,

Such talk is unbecoming.

Atreus did not beget you

For a life of ease and blessings.

You are mortal –

Liable to pain

As much as pleasure.

Please you, it may not,

But it remains the way

The gods lay down.

My lord, that letter in your hand –

You drafted it

By fall of lamplight,

Striking, then rewriting,

What you wrote.

You seal it,

Then, with showers of tears,

Tear off the seal,

And hurl it to the ground.

Your agitation bounds

On raving madness.

What calamity, my King,

Has brought you such distress?

Disclose your woes to me:

You will be talking

To a good and loyal man.

Did not Tyndareus

Give me as trusted servant

To his daughter,

When you took her as your wife?

AGAMEMNON Leda, child of Thestius,

Brought forth three daughters:

They were Phoebe,

Clytemnestra, whom I married,

And the be...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Note on the Play by Martine Cuypers
• Author’s Note on the Translation
• Author’s Note on the Two Versions
• Iphigenia in Aulis (Full Version)
• Iphigenia in Aulis (Performance Version)
• Author’s Note on the Verse
• Author’s Note on Directing Iphigenia in Aulis
• Index of Name Pronounciations