Since he has set me on this strife of swords. [_Exeunt_ ORESTES, PYLADES, _and_ ELECTRA STROPHE I _Chor._ Many dread forms of evils terrible Earth bears, and Ocean's bays With monsters wild and fierce *O'erflow, and through mid-air the meteor lights 580 Sweep by; and wingèd birds And creeping things can tell the vehement rage Of whirling storms of winds. ANTISTROPHE I But who man's temper overbold may tell, Or daring passionate loves Of women bold in heart, Passions close bound with men's calamities? Love that true love disowns, That sways the weaker sex in brutes and men, 590 Usurps o'er wedlock's ties. STROPHE II Whoso is not bird-witted, let him think What scheme she learnt to plan, Of subtle craft that wrought its will by fire, That wretched child of Thestios, who to slay Her son did set a-blaze The brand that glowed blood-red, Which had its birth when first from out the womb He came with infant's wail, And spanned the measure of its life with his, 600 On to the destined day.[433] ANTISTROPHE II Another, too, must we with loathing name, Skylla, with blood defiled.[434] Who for the sake of foes a dear one slew, Won by the gold-chased bracelets brought from Crete, The gifts that Minos gave, And knowing not the end, Robbed Nisos of his lock of deathless life, She with her dog-like heart 610 Surprising him deep-breathing in his sleep; But Hermes comes on her.[435] STROPHE III And since I tell the tale of ruthless woes....[436] Yet now 'tis not the time *To tell of evil marriage which this house Doth loathe and execrate, And of a woman's schemes and stratagems Against a warrior chief, *Chief whom his people honoured as was meet, I give my praise to hearth from hot broils free, And praise that woman's mood That dares no deed of ill. ANTISTROPHE III But of all crimes the Lemnian foremost stands[437] 620 *And the Earth mourns that woe As worthy of all loathing. Yes, this guilt One might have well compared With Lemnian ills; and now that race is gone, To lowest shame brought down By the foul guilt the Gods abominate: For no man honours what the Gods condemn, Which instance of all these Do I not rightly urge?[438] STROPHE IV