First, as a witness in this cause I come, To say this man with me took sanctuary, And that I cleansed him of the stain of blood. Next, as a party to this cause I come, Since I was the prime mover of the deed. Call on the cause, then, and let right be done. ATHENE. The cause is called, and the word rests with you. (_To the_ FURIES.) Let the accuser first be heard and lay The cause before the court, for so is best. CHORUS. Many we are, yet brief our speech shall be; Do thou to questions plain, plain answer give; And tell us first, didst thou thy mother slay? ORESTES. I slew my mother, and deny it not. CHORUS. One bout, then, of our wrestling match is won. ORESTES. Too soon thou boastest; not yet am I thrown. CHORUS. Now must thou tell us how the deed was done. ORESTES. I drew my sword and smote her that she died. CHORUS. Who was it counselled thee, and set thee on? ORESTES. His oracle that is my witness here. CHORUS. Sayest thou the prophet counselled matricide? ORESTES. He did, and so far I repent me not. CHORUS. Thou wilt when in the judgment thou art cast. ORESTES. No fear have I; aid from the dead will come. CHORUS. Aid from the dead to thee, a matricide? ORESTES. My mother bore a double taint of crime. CHORUS. How doubly? let the judges understand. ORESTES. She slew her consort and my sire in one. CHORUS. Her death has made her peace, but thou still liv'st. ORESTES. Why did ye not pursue her while she lived? CHORUS. Because she was not kin to him she slew. ORESTES. Am I of kin, then, to my mother's blood? CHORUS. Wretch, wast thou not beneath her girdle borne, And dar'st thou to forswear thy mother's blood? ORESTES. Apollo, now stand forth and testify. Say, was my mother rightly slain or not? The deed itself is not by us denied; Whether't was rightly done or not, judge thou, That I may plead thy sentence to this court. APOLLO. I will before this high Athenian court Bear witness true: the prophet cannot lie; For never in my seat of prophecy Spoke I of man, of woman, or of state, Aught else than the Olympian father bade. I pray you, mark the force of this my plea, And yield obedience to the will of Zeus, For Zeus is mightier than a judge's oath. CHORUS. Zeus, as thou sayest, inspired this oracle Which bade Orestes, for his father's death Take vengeance, reckless of a mother's claim. APOLLO.