Justice pays the sinner’s debt.

Blood for blood and blow for blow,

Thou shalt reap as thou didst sow;

Age to age with hoary wisdom

Speaketh thus to men.[n26]

STROPHE I.
Orestes.

O father, wretched father, with what air

Of word or deed impelling,

Shall I be strong to waft the filial prayer

To thy dim distant dwelling?