Yale University Prize Poem 
 1899
 
 
 AT LOS ANGELES 
 
 4 V U U- V> ^J I ll VJI JLj U-. JL< J 
 

 
 YALE UNIVERSITY PRIZE POEM 
 
 i8 99 
 
 THOAS 
 
 AN EPILOGUE TO GOETHE'S IPHIGENIE AUF TAURIS 
 
 ARTHUR S. MANN 
 
 NEW HAVEN 
 
 TUTTLK, MOREHOUSK, AND TAYLOR 
 1899
 
 CQ 
 
 Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon, has been 
 
 secretly carried by Artemis to the land of the Taurians, 
 and there serves in the temple of the goddess. She soon 
 gains the favor of King Thoas, and is sought by him in 
 
 ^ marriage. Upon the appearance of her brother Orestes, 
 with Pylades, in the country, she asks the consent of the 
 
 ^ king to return with them to Greece. After a severe 
 struggle with himself he yields, and grants permission for 
 them to depart.
 
 THOAS 
 
 AN EPILOGUE TO GOETHE'S IPHIGENIE AUF TAURIS 
 
 Did she not say that it was for the best 
 That she should cross the loud-resounding sea, 
 And, tossing on the crested waves, again 
 Behold the purple coastline rise to sight ? 
 Perhaps it was the best ; perhaps her heart, 
 Eating itself out here with longing deep, 
 Might have destroyed the happiness of both. 
 Better to feel a passing pain, though sharp, 
 Than ever to have with me day and night 
 Her pale and chiding look. 
 
 Ah with what grace 
 
 And eager earnestness she begged from me 
 To let her go once more unto her home ! 
 How at the name of Greece the sparkles played 
 Upon those deep blue eyes, like sunbeams glancing
 
 From off the dark waves of a mountain lake, 
 Rippling and bright, but deep in mystery ! 
 But once before have I beheld her thus, 
 And that was when I granted her request 
 To do away the ancient sacrifice. 
 For then her face, in wont so calm and grave, 
 As did beseem a priestess, changed its look, 
 And glowed in happy, girlish smiles ; and then 
 She seized my hands, and poured out all her thanks 
 In words that showed the eager ardent spirit 
 Better than years of faithful temple service 
 And wise advice to me, the king. Ah then 
 Were locked, O Iphigenie, those strong chains 
 Which thy fair face and golden words had long 
 Been forging for my spirit ; and those chains 
 Shall never now slip link from link until 
 In Lethe's waves I shall find peace again.
 
 How can I let thee go ? How can I bear 
 To pass the weary, slowly moving years 
 Without thee at my side ? Why did I not, 
 When she was helpless at my feet, speak out 
 One kingly word and claim the prize as mine ? 
 O for one moment's glorious maddening joy, 
 To see those proud eyes drop before my look, 
 To seize that soft white body in my arms, 
 To feel the pulse of life beat wildly high 
 That would be triumph, that be victory ! 
 
 Gone, gone forever ! How the word sounds cold 
 And mocking in my ears ! Just so would seem 
 A crow's harsh caw above the fresh laid sod 
 Where all one's love lay buried. Even hope, 
 The one gift granted to allay the swarm 
 Of human ills, is gone ; on me is poured 
 The heaviest curse the mighty three can give. 
 
 Kfrr-? oo 
 
 ,OJJL(CL/
 
 Why have the gods dealt with me thus ? Have I 
 Lacked aught in reverence, or with impious hands 
 Defiled their holy places ? Have I not 
 Served much more faithfully than many men 
 Whom I behold in happiness and pride ; 
 While I, who in all things have sought to live 
 According to their will, am now bereft 
 Of wife, of son, and of a destined bride ? 
 Answer me that, aloud I call to you ! 
 Answer me, powers of earth, air, heaven, or sea. 
 No answer comes, but still the great waves roll 
 Relentlessly upon the sandy beach, 
 And earth lies wrapped in silence like the Sphinx. 
 With dread the future comes before my mind, 
 Nor life, nor death, can give me joy or hope.
 
 UCLA-Young Research Library 
 
 PS536 .Y12p 1899 
 
 L 009 561 493 9
 
 f'Y of CALIFORNIA 
 AT 
 
 ANGELES 
 RY
 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 AA 001 220 286 7