80
t is, to near this fane.
CHORUS
Yet is such office ours, imposed by fate.
APOLLO
What office? vaunt the thing ye deem so fair.
CHORUS
From home to home we chase the matricide.
APOLLO
What? to avenge a wife who slays her lord?
CHORUS
That is not blood outpoured by kindred hands.
APOLLO
How darkly ye dishonour and annul The troth to which the high accomplishers, Hera and Zeus, do honour. Yea, and thus Is Aphrodite to dishonour cast, The queen of rapture unto mortal men. Know, that above the marriage-bed ordained For man and woman standeth Right as guard, Enhancing sanctity of troth-plight sworn; Therefore, if thou art placable to those Who have their consort slain, nor will'st to turn On them the eye of wrath, unjust art thou In hounding to his doom the man who slew His mother. Lo, I know thee full of wrath Against one deed, but all too placable Unto the other, minishing the crime. But in this cause shall Pallas guard the right.
CHORUS
Deem not my quest shall ever quit that man.
APOLLO
Follow then, make thee double toil in vain!
CHORUS
Think not by speech mine office to curtail.
APOLLO
None hast thou, that I would accept of thee!
CHORUS
Yea, high thine honour by the throne of Zeus: But I, drawn on by scent of mother's blood, Seek vengeance on this man and hound him down.
APOLLO
But I will stand beside him; 'tis for me To guard my suppliant: gods and men alike Do dread the curse of such an one betrayed, And in me Fear and Will say Leave him not.
[Exeunt omnes
The scene changes to Athens. In the foreground, the Temple of Athena on the Acropolis; her statue stands in the centre; Orestes is seen dinging to it.
ORESTES
Look on me, queen Athena; lo, I come By Loxias' behest; thou of thy grace Receive me, driven of avenging powers-- Not now a red-hand slayer unannealed, But w