Shall mingle, when the thirsty Theban soil
Drinks eager the black-clotting sanguine flood,
Who then shall purge the murderous stain,
Who wash it clean again?
When ancient guilt and new shall burst,
In one dire flood of woe?
ANTISTROPHE II.
With urgent pace the Fury treadeth,
To generations three
Avenging Laius’ sin on Laius’ race;