_Chor._ And I advise you not to treat with scorn A troop that can sit heavy on your land. _Apol._ And I do bid you dread my oracles, And those of Zeus, nor rob them of their fruit. _Chor._ Uncalled thou com'st to take a murderer's part; No longer pure the oracles thou'lt speak. _Apol._ And did my father then in purpose err, Then the first murderer he received, Ixion?[532] _Chor._ Thou talk'st, but should I fail in this my cause, I will again dwell here and vex this land. _Apol._ Alike among the new Gods and the old 690 Art thou dishonoured: I shall win the day. _Chor._ This did'st thou also in the house of Pheres,[533] Winning the Fates to make a man immortal. _Apol._ Was it not just a worshipper to bless In any case,—then most, when he's in want? _Chor._ Thou did'st o'erthrow, yea, thou, laws hoar with age, And drug with wine the ancient Goddesses.[534] _Apol._ Nay, thou, non-suited in this cause of thine, Shall venom spit that nothing hurts thy foes. 700 _Chor._ Since thou, though young, dost ride me down, though old, I wait to hear the issue of the cause, Still wavering in my wrath against this city. _Athena._ 'Tis now my task to close proceedings here; And this my vote I to Orestes add; For I no mother own that brought me forth, And saving that I wed not, I prefer The male with all my heart, and make mine own The father's cause, nor will above it place A woman's death, who slew her own true lord, The guardian of her house. Orestes wins, 710 E'en though the votes be equal. Cast ye forth With all your speed the lots from out the urns, Ye jurors unto whom that office falls. _Orest._ Phœbos Apollo! what will be the judgment? _Chor._ Dark Night, my mother! dost thou look on this? _Orest._ My goal is now the noose, or full, clear day. _Chor._ Ours too to come to nought, or work on still. [_A pause. The jurors take out the voting tablets from the two urns (one of bronze, the other of wood) for acquittal or condemnation_ _Apol._ Now count ye up the votes thrown out, O friends, And be ye honest, as ye reckon them; One sentence lacking, sorrow great may come, 720 And one vote given hath ofttimes saved a house. [_A pause, during which the urns are emptied and the votes are counted_ _Athena._ The accused is found “not guilty” of the murder: For lo! the numbers of the votes are equal.[535]