And then he calls on those who hear him not, And struggles all in vain, In the fierce waves' mid-whirl; And God still mocks the man of fevered mood, 530 When he sees him who bragged it ne'er would come, With woes inextricable Worn out, and failing still To weather round the perilous promontory; And for all time to come, Wrecking on reefs of Vengeance bliss once high, He dies unwept, unseen. _The scene changes to the Areopagos._ _Enter_ ATHENA, _followed by Herald and twelve Athenian citizens_ _Athena._ Cry out, O herald; the great host hold back; Then let Tyrrhenian trumpet,[513] piercing heaven, Filled with man's breath, to all that host send forth The full-toned notes, for while this council-hall 540 Is filling, it is meet men hold their peace. [_Herald blows his trumpet_ And let the city for all time to come Learn these my laws, and this accused one too, That so the trial may be rightly judged.[514] [_As_ ATHENA _speaks_, APOLLO _enters_ _Chor._ O King Apollo, rule thou o'er thine own; But what hast thou to do with this our cause? _Apol._ I am come both as witness,—for this man Is here as suppliant, that on my hearth sat, And I his cleanser am from guilt of blood,— And to plead for him as his advocate: I bear the blame of that his mother's death. But thou, whoe'er dost act as president, Open the suit in way well known to thee.[515] 550 _Athena._ [_to the Erinnyes._] 'Tis yours to speak; I thus the pleadings open, For so the accuser, speaking first, shall have, Of right, the task to state the case to us. _Chor._ Many are we, but briefly will we speak; And answer thou [_to_ ORESTES], in thy turn, word for word; First tell us this, did'st thou thy mother slay? _Orest._ I slew her: of that fact is no denial. _Chor._ Here, then, is one of our three bouts[516] decided. _Orest._ Thou boastest this o'er one not yet thrown down. 560 _Chor._ This thou at least must tell, how thou did'st slay her. _Orest._ E'en so; her throat I cut with hand sword-armed. _Chor._ By whom persuaded, and with whose advice? _Orest._ [_Pointing to_ APOLLO.] By His divine command: He bears me witness. _Chor._ The prophet-God prompt thee to matricide! _Orest._ Yea, and till now I do not blame my lot. _Chor._ Nay, when found guilty, soon thou'lt change thy tone. _Orest._ I trust my sire will send help from the tomb. _Chor._ Trust in the dead, thou murderer of thy mother! _Orest._ Yes; for in her two great pollutions met. 570 _Chor._ How so, I pray? Inform the court of this. _Orest._ She both her husband and my father slew. _Chor._ Nay then, thou liv'st, and she gets quit by death. _Orest._ Why, while she lived, did'st thou to chase her fail?