ANTISTROPHE III. Yet, again, I tell thee truly, At Justice' altar bend thee duly. Wean thine eye from lawless yearning After gain; with godless spurning Smite not thou that shrine most holy. Punishment, that travels slowly, Comes at last, when least thou fearest. Yet, once more; with truth sincerest, Love thy parents and revere, {159} And the guest, that to protect him, Claims thy guardian roof, respect him, With an holy fear.[f17] STROPHE IV. Whoso, with no forced endeavour, Sin-eschewing liveth, Him to hopeless ruin never Jove the Saviour giveth. But whose hand, with greed rapacious, Draggeth all things for his prey, He shall strike his flag audacious, When the god-sent storm shall bray, Winged with fate at last; When the stayless sail is flapping, When the sail-yard swings, and, snapping, Crashes to the blast. ANTISTROPHE IV. He shall call, but none shall hear him, When dark ocean surges; None with saving hand shall near him, When his prayer he urges. Laughs the god, to see him vainly Grasping at the crested rock; Fool, who boasted once profanely Firm to stand in Fortune's shock; Who so great had been His freighted wealth with fearful crashing, On the rock of Justice dashing, Dies, unwept, unseen. [_Enter_ ATHENA, _behind a Herald._ ATHENA. Herald, proclaim the diet, and command The people to attention; with strong breath Give the air-shattering Tyrrhene trump free voice,[n42] To speak shrill-throated to the assembled throngs; And, while the judges take their solemn seats, In hushed submission, let the city hear My laws that shall endure for aye; and these, In hushed submission, wait the righteous doom. {160} [_Enter_ APOLLO.[n43] CHORUS. Sovran Apollo, rule where thou art lord; But here what business brings the prophet? Speak. APOLLO. I come a witness of the truth; this man Is suppliant to me, he on my hearth Found refuge, him I purified from blood. I, too, am patron of his cause, I share The blame, if blame there be, in that he slew His mother. Pallas, order thou the trial. ATHENA. (_to the Furies_) Speak ye the first, 'tis wiseliest ordered thus, That, who complains, his plaint set forth in order, Point after point, articulately clear. CHORUS. Though we be many, yet our words are few. Answer thou singly, as we singly ask; This first--art thou the murderer of thy mother? ORESTES. I did the deed. This fact hath no denial. CHORUS. Once worsted! With three fits I gain the trial. ORESTES. Boast, when thou seest me fall. As yet I stand. CHORUS. This answer now--how didst thou do the deed. ORESTES. Thus; with my pointed dagger, in the neck I smote her. CHORUS. Who the bloody deed advised? ORESTES. The god of oracles. Here he stands to witness.