Iphigenia monologue — Iphigenia in Tauris

The Titan's mighty breast and nervous frame Was his descendant's certain heritage; But round their brow Jove forg'd a band of brass. Wisdom and patience, prudence and restraint, He from their gloomy, fearful eye conceal'd; In them each passion grew to savage rage, And headlong rush'd uncheck'd. The Titan's son, The strong-will'd Pelops, won his beauteous bride, Hippodamia, child of OEnomaus, Through treachery and murder; she ere long Bore him two children, Atreus and Thyestes; With envy they beheld the growing love Their father cherish'd for a first-born son Sprung from another union. Bound by hate, In secret they contrive their brother's death. The sire, the crime imputing to his wife, With savage fury claim'd from her his child, And she in terror did destroy herself--