CHORUS
But by whose word, whose craft, wert thou impelled?
But by whose word, whose craft, wert thou impelled?
Aeschylus
For, till my judges fill this judgment-seat,
Silence behoves,--that this whole city learn,
What for all time mine ordinance commands,
And these men, that the cause be judged aright.
[_Apollo approaches. _
CHORUS
O king Apollo, rule what is thine own,
But in this thing what share pertains to thee?
APOLLO
First, as a witness come I, for this man
Is suppliant of mine by sacred right,
Guest of my holy hearth and cleansed by me
Of blood-guilt: then, to set me at his side
And in his cause bear part, as part I bore
Erst in his deed, whereby his mother fell.
Let whoso knoweth now announce the cause.
ATHENA (_to the Chorus_)
'Tis I announce the cause--first speech be yours;
For rightfully shall they whose plaint is tried
Tell the tale first and set the matter clear.
CHORUS
Though we be many, brief shall be our tale.
(_To Orestes_) Answer thou, setting word to match with
word;
And first avow--hast thou thy mother slain?
ORESTES
I slew her. I deny no word hereof.
CHORUS
Three falls decide the wrestle--this is one.
ORESTES
Thou vauntest thee--but o'er no final fall.
CHORUS
Yet must thou tell the manner of thy deed.
ORESTES
Drawn sword in hand, I gashed her neck. Tis told.
CHORUS
But by whose word, whose craft, wert thou impelled?
ORESTES
By oracles of him who here attests me.
CHORUS
The prophet-god bade thee thy mother slay?
ORESTES
Yea, and thro' him less ill I fared, till now.
CHORUS
If the vote grip thee, thou shalt change that word.
ORESTES
Strong is my hope; my buried sire shall aid.
CHORUS
Go to now, trust the dead, a matricide!
ORESTES
Yea, for in her combined two stains of sin.
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?
