After this came King Thoas, inquiring whether they had offered the strangers for sacrifice, and had duly burnt their bodies with fire.  To him Iphigenia made answer, “These were unclean sacrifices that thou broughtest to me, O King.”

“How didst thou learn this?”

“The image of the goddess turned upon her place of her own accord, and covered also her face with her hands.”

“What wickedness, then, had these strangers wrought?”

“They slew their mother, and had been banished therefore from the land of Greece.”

“O monstrous!  Such deeds we barbarians never do.  And now what dost thou purpose?”

“We must purify these strangers before we offer them for a sacrifice.”

“With water from the river, or in the sea?”

“In the sea.  The sea cleanseth away all that is evil among men.”

“Well, thou hast it here, by the very walls of the temple.”

“Aye, but I must seek a place apart from men.”

“So be it; go where thou wilt; I would not look on things forbidden.”

“The image also must be purified.”

“Surely, if the pollution from these murderers of their mother hath touched it.  This is well thought of in thee.”

Then she instructed the King that he should bring the strangers out of the temple, having first bound them and veiled their heads.  Also that certain of his guards should go with her, but that all the people of the city should be straitly commanded to stay within doors, that so they might not be defiled; and that he himself should abide in the temple, and purify it with fire, covering his head with his garments when the strangers should pass by.

“And be not troubled,” she said, “if I seem to be long doing these things.”

“Take what time thou wilt,” he said “so that thou do all things in order.”

So certain of the King’s guards brought the two young men from out of the temple, and Iphigenia led them towards the place where the ship of Orestes lay at anchor.  But when they were come near to the shore, she bade them halt nor come over near, for that she had that to do in which they must have no part.  And she took the chain wherewith the young men were bound in her hands, and set up a strange song as of one that sought enchantments.  And after that the guard sat where she bade them for a long time, they began to fear lest the strangers should have slain the priestess, and so fled.  Yet they moved not, fearing to see that which was forbidden.  But at the last with one consent they rose up.  And when they were come to the sea, they saw the ship trimmed to set forth, and fifty sailors on the benches having oars in their hands ready for rowing; and the two young men were standing unbound upon the shore near to the stern.  And other sailors were dragging the ship by the cable to the shore that the young men might embark.  Then the guards laid hold of the rudder, and sought to take it from his place, crying,