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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 Excerpt:... fikireiv. "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 "Hecuba," 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: 4jevSel s Sceipoi, xi«P«"'-obSiv rir 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 supposes to have deceived him, and the art of divination in general: I. T. 570-75: 065' ol aoipol ye Salpovei KeKXjueroi irrrjvav dvdpwv Aalv tupevSkarepoi. "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." Dreams obtained by dream-oracles are described by the poet as a kind of spurious and deceptive divination sent by E...