CHORUS
How? speak this clearly to the judges’ mind.
ORESTES
Slaying her husband, she did slay my sire.
CHORUS
Therefore thou livest; death assoils her deed.
ORESTES
Then while she lived why didst thou hunt her not?
CHORUS
She was not kin 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!