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And each with loyalty revere the guest
That in his halls doth rest。
strophe 4
For whoso uncompelled doth follow what is just；
He ne'er shall be unblest；
Yea； never to the gulf of doom
That man shall come。
But he whose will is set against the gods；
Who treads beyond the law with foot impure；
Till o'er the wreck of Right confusion broods；…
Know that for him； though now he sail secure；
The day of storm shall be； then shall he strive and fail
Down from the shivered yard to furl the sail；
antistrophe 4
And call on Powers； that heed him nought； to save；
And vainly wrestle with the whirling wave。
Hot was his heart with pride…
I shall not fall； he cried。
But him with watching scorn
The god beholds； forlorn；
Tangled in toils of Fate beyond escape；
Hopeless of haven safe beyond the cape…
Till all his wealth and bliss of bygone day
Upon the reef of Rightful Doom is hurled；
And he is rapt away
Unwept； for ever； to the dead forgotten world。
（ATHENA enters； with TWELVE ATHENIAN CITIZENS。 A large
crowd follows。）
ATHENA
O herald； make proclaim； bid all men come。
Then let the shrill blast of the Tyrrhene trump；
Fulfilled with mortal breath； thro' the wide air
Peal a loud summons； bidding all men heed。
For； till my judges fill this judgment…seat；
Silence behoves；…that this whole city learn；
What for all time mine ordinance commands；
And these men； that the cause be judged aright。
（APOLLO enters。）
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
O king Apollo； rule what is thine own；
But in this thing what share pertains to thee？
APOLLO
First； as a witness come I； for this man
Is suppliant of mine by sacred right；
Guest of my holy hearth and cleansed by me
Of blood…guilt： then； to set me at his side
And in his cause bear part； as part I bore
Erst in his deed； whereby his mother fell。
Let whoso knoweth now announce the cause。
ATHENA （to the CHORUS）
'Tis I announce the cause…first speech be yours；
For rightfully shall they whose plaint is tried
Tell the tale first and set the matter clear。
LEADER
Though we be many； brief shall be our tale。
（To ORESTES）
Answer thou； setting word to match with word；
And first avow…hast thou thy mother slain？
ORESTES
I slew her。 I deny no word hereof。
LEADER
Three falls decide the wrestle…this is one。
ORESTES
Thou vauntest thee…but o'er no final fall。
LEADER
Yet must thou tell the manner of thy deed。
ORESTES
Drawn sword in hand； I gashed her neck。 'Tis told。
LEADER
But by whose word； whose craft； wert thou impelled？
ORESTES
By oracles of him who here attests me。
LEADER
The prophet…god bade thee thy mother slay？
ORESTES
Yea； and thro' him less ill I fared； till now。
LEADER
If the vote grip thee； thou shalt change that word。
ORESTES
Strong is my hope； my buried sire shall aid。
LEADER
Go to now； trust the dead； a matricide！
ORESTES
Yea； for in her combined two stains of sin。
LEADER
How？ speak this clearly to the judges' mind。
ORESTES
Slaying her husband； she did slay my sire。
LEADER
Therefore thou livest； death assoils her deed。
ORESTES
Then while she lived why didst thou hunt her not？
LEADER
She was not kin by blood to him she slew。
ORESTES
And I； am I by blood my mother's kin？
LEADER
O cursed with murder's guilt； how else wert thou
The burden of her womb？ Dost thou forswear
Thy mother's kinship； closest bond of love？
ORESTES
It is thine hour； Apollo…speak the law；
Averring if this deed were justly done；
For done it is； and clear and undenied。
But if to thee this murder's cause seem right
Or wrongful； speak…that I to these may tell。
APOLLO
To you； Athena's mighty council…court；
Justly for justice will I plead； even I；
The prophet…god； nor cheat you by one word。
For never spake I from my prophet…seat
One word； of man； of woman； or of state；
Save what the Father of Olympian gods
Commanded unto me。 I rede you then；
Bethink you of my plea； how strong it stands；
And follow the decree of Zeus our sire；…
For oaths prevail not over Zeus' command。
LEADER
Go to； thou sayest that from Zeus befell
The oracle that this Orestes bade
With vengeance quit the slaying of his sire；
And hold as nought his mother's right of kin！
APOLLO
Yea； for it stands not with a common death；
That he should die； a chieftain and a king
Decked with the sceptre which high heaven confers…
Die； and by female hands； not smitten down
By a far…shooting bow； held stalwartly
By some strong Amazon。 Another doom
Was his： O Pallas； hear； and ye who sit
In judgment； to discern this thing aright！…
She with a specious voice of welcome true
Hailed him； returning from the mighty mart
Where war for life gives fame； triumphant home；
Then o'er the laver； as he bathed himself；
She spread from head to foot a covering net；
And in the endless mesh of cunning robes
Enwound and trapped her lord； and smote him down。
Lo； ye have heard what doom this chieftain met；
The majesty of Greece； the fleet's high lord：
Such as I tell it； let it gall your ears；
Who stand as judges to decide this cause。
LEADER
Zeus； as thou sayest； holds a father's death
As first of crimes；…yet he of his own act
Cast into chains his father； Cronus old：
How suits that deed with that which now ye tell？
O ye who judge； I bid ye mark my words！
APOLLO
O monsters loathed of all； O scorn of gods；
He that hath bound may loose： a cure there is。
Yea； many a plan that can unbind the chain。
But when the thirsty dust sucks up man's blood
Once shed in death； he shall arise no more。
No chant nor charm for this my Sire hath wrought。
All else there is； he moulds and shifts at will；
Not scant of strength nor breath； whate'er he do。
LEADER
Think yet； for what acquittal thou dost plead：
He who hath shed a mother's kindred blood；
Shall he in Argos dwell； where dwelt his sire？
How shall he stand before the city's shrines；
How share the clansmen's holy lustral bowl？
APOLLO
This too I answer； mark a soothfast word
Not the true parent is the woman's womb
That bears th