Ye men of Athens, hear what is ordained For this first trial of a homicide. So long as Aegeus' nation shall endure Upon this hill shall Justice hold her seat. Here Theseus' foes, the Amazons, did camp In days of old; here they a fortress built In rivalry to this new-founded town; Here sacrificed to Ares, whence the name Of Ares' Hill; and here, by day and night, Indwelling reverence and the fear of wrong Shall keep my people from unrighteousness, So they abstain from innovation rash. Foul the clear fountain with impurities, And of its waters thou canst drink no more. Hold fast the golden mean, from anarchy And from a despot's rule alike removed; Nor cast all awe out of the commonwealth, For who is righteous that is void of awe? What now is founded if ye will revere, Your land and state shall such a bulwark have As hath no nation in the universe From Pelops' realm to Scythia's utmost wild. This counsel I establish incorrupt, August, high-souled, and ever vigilant To guard the public weal while others sleep. Such is my counsel to my citizens For times to come. Now let the judges rise. Their ballots take, and a true verdict give According to their oath; no more I say. CHORUS. (_One_ FURY _speaking for the rest_.) I warn ye to respect this company, Whom else your land may find sore visitants. APOLLO. I warn ye to respect the oracles Of Zeus and mine, nor dare to make them void. CHORUS. Bloodshedding falls not within thy domain; Thy holy shrine will holy be no more. APOLLO. Was then my sire misled in that from blood He cleansed Ixion, first of homicides? CHORUS. Say what thou wilt of justice, if we miss, We shall return in wrath to haunt the land. APOLLO. Both by the new and by the ancient gods Thou art despised: the victory will be mine. CHORUS. 'Twas thou that didst in Pheres' house cajole The fates to grant a mortal endless life. APOLLO. Was it not well to do good unto him That honoured me, and at his utmost need? CHORUS. Thou didst, subverting all the rule of eld, Beguile with wine those ancient deities. APOLLO. And thou wilt soon, barred of thy cruel will, Spit forth thy venom, yet not harm thy foe. CHORUS. Since thy pert youth doth spurn my reverend age. I wait the issue of this cause in doubt Whether to lay my curse upon this land. ATHENE. To me it falls at last to give my vote, And I my vote will for Orestes give; No mother bore me, to the male I cleave In all things saving that I wedlock shun With my whole heart, and am my father's child. Therefore, a woman's fate that slew her lord, The guardian of her home, concerns me not. Now, if there be a tie, Orestes wins. Judges, to whom that office is assigned, Be quick, turn out the ballots from the urns. ORESTES. Phoebus, kind god, what will the verdict be? CHORUS. O Night, my sable mother, now look down. ORESTES. For me salvation or despair is nigh. CHORUS. For us, fresh veneration or disgrace. APOLLO.