[The twelve judges come forward, one by one, to the urns of decision; the first votes; as each of the others follows, the Chorus and Apollo speak alternately.
CHORUS
I rede ye well, beware! nor put to shame,
In aught, this grievous company of hell.
APOLLO
I too would warn you, fear mine oracles—
From Zeus they are,—nor make them void of fruit.
CHORUS
Presumptuous is thy claim, blood-guilt to judge,
And false henceforth thine oracles shall be.
APOLLO
Failed then the counsels of my sire, when turned
Ixion, first of slayers, to his side?
CHORUS
These are but words; but I, if justice fail me,
Will haunt this land in grim and deadly deed.
APOLLO
Scorn of the younger and the elder gods
Art thou: ’tis I that shall prevail anon.
CHORUS
Thus didst thou too of old in Pheres’ halls,
O’erreaching Fate to make a mortal deathless.
APOLLO
Was it not well, my worshipper to aid,
Then most of all when hardest was the need?
CHORUS
I say thou didst annul the lots of life,
Cheating with wine the deities of eld.