_Apol._ This too I'll say; judge thou if I speak right: The mother is not parent of the child That is called hers, but nurse of embryo sown. He that begets is parent:[523] she, as stranger, 630 For stranger rears the scion, if God mar not; And of this fact I'll give thee proof full sure. A father there may be without a mother: Here nigh at hand, as witness, is the child Of high Olympian Zeus, for she not e'en Was nurtured in the darkness of the womb,[524] Yet such a scion may no God beget. I, both in all else, Pallas, as I know, Will make thy city and thy people great, And now this man have sent as suppliant Upon thy hearth, that he may faithful prove 640 Now and for ever, and that thou, O Goddess, May'st gain him as ally, and all his race, And that it last as law for evermore, That these men's progeny our treaties own. _Athena._ [_To jurors._] I bid you give, according to your conscience, A verdict just; enough has now been said. _Chor._ We have shot forth our every weapon now: I wait to hear what way the strife is judged. _Athena._ [_To Chorus._] How shall I order this, unblamed by you? _Chor._ [_To jurors._] Ye heard what things ye heard, and in your hearts Reverence your oaths, and give your votes, O friends. 650 _Athena._ Hear ye my order, O ye Attic people, In act to judge your first great murder-cause. And henceforth shall the host of Ægeus' race[525] For ever own this council-hall of judges: And for this Ares' hill, the Amazons' seat And camp when they, enraged with Theseus, came[526] In hostile march, and built as counterwork This citadel high-reared, a city new, And sacrificed to Ares, whence 'tis named As Ares' hill and fortress: in this, I say, 660 The reverent awe its citizens shall own, And fear, awe's kindred, shall restrain from wrong By day, nor less by night, so long as they, The burghers, alter not themselves their laws: But if with drain of filth and tainted soil Clear river thou pollute, no drink thou'lt find.[527] I give my counsel to you, citizens, To reverence and guard well that form of state Which is not lawless, nor tyrannical, And not to cast all fear from out the city;[528] For what man lives devoid of fear and just? But rightly shrinking, owning awe like this, 670 Ye then would have a bulwark of your land, A safeguard for your city, such as none Boast or in Skythia's[529] or in Pelops' clime. This council I establish pure from bribe, Reverend, and keen to act, for those that sleep[530] An ever-watchful sentry of the land. This charge of mine I thus have lengthened out For you, my people, for all time to come. And now 'tis meet ye rise, and take your ballots,[531] And so decide the cause, maintaining still Your reverence for your oath. My speech is said. 680