The Supernatural in the Tragedies of Euripides 49 



must be dead ; cf . also 

 IT. 348-49: 



vvv 5 ef bvelpiov oX(tli> y^ypLdixeda, 

 SoKOvcr^ 'Opearrjv /xrj/cet?' rfkiov ^XkireLV. 



" But now, from dreams whereby my heart is steeled, — 

 Who deem Orestes seeth light no more."^ — 



and she has summoned her attendants to assist her in pouring a 

 libation to him as to a spirit in Hades, vv. 61 ff. 



By the knowledge of Iphigenia's delusion in supposing her 

 brother dead the spectator is led to think mainly about the fate 

 of Orestes when the arrival of the two strangers is announced. 

 A similar device of an ominous dream by which the spectators 

 are prepared for events to come has been adopted in the " He- 

 cuba," where a vision of a dappled fawn torn from Hecuba's 

 knees by a wolf, portends the sacrifice of Polyxena, Hec. 90 ff. 

 Iphigenia here makes the mistake of interpreting the dream with 

 reference to the past, while it was intended as a warning to her of 

 the coming event. This trust in an ominous dream is ridiculed by 

 Iphigenia ; when she hears that her brother lives, she cries : 



I.T. 569: ,,■_,, 



^evbels oveipoi, xatper'" ovbkv yjt apa. 

 " False dreams, avaunt ! So then ye were but nought." 



And Orestes who knows nothing of her dreams adapts his words 

 to hers in a characteristic reflection of his own, at the same time 

 directing his attack against the Gods especially Apollo whom 

 he siipposes to have deceived him, and the art of divination in 

 general : 



I. T. S70-7S : ^ 



ovb' ol aoipoi ye dai/JLOves KeKKrju'evoL 

 irrrivuiv ovelpcap eialv a\pev8ecrTepoL. 



" Ay, and not even Gods, whom men call wise. 

 Are less deceitful than the fleeting dreams. 

 Utter confusion is in things divine 

 And human. Wise men grieve at this alone 

 When — rashness ? — no, but faith in oracles 

 Brings ruin — how deep, they that prove it know." 



103 



