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by blood to him she slew.
ORESTES
And I, am I by blood my mother's kin?
CHORUS
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.
CHORUS
Go to; thou sayest that from Zeus befel 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.
CHORUS
Zeus, as thou sayest, holds a father's death As first of crimes,--