The ſacred pledges of connubial Juno
And Jove haſt thou diſparag'd, ſet at nought;
And Venus is diſparag'd by thy words,
From whom the dearest joys, that ſweeten life,
Ariſe; for hallow'd is the nuptial bed,
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Of deeper ſanctity than oaths, and guarded
By justice. If to those, whoſe mutual rage
Bathes in each others' blood, thy chaſt'ning hand
Is gentle; if thine eye looks milder on them,
Nor flames with wrath; unjustly does thy vengeance
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Purſue Oreſtes; ſuch I now behold
Thy threat'ning mien, to others more benign.
But Pallas, righteous queen, ſhall judge this cauſe.
But Pallas, righteous queen, ſhall judge this cauſe.
CHORUS.
But never, never will I quit this man.
But never, never will I quit this man.
APOLLO.
Purſue him then; to toil add fruitless toil.
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Purſue him then; to toil add fruitless toil.
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CHORUS.
Think not thy words ſhall make my rage relent.
Think not thy words ſhall make my rage relent.
APOLLO.
Shall thy rage touch him? No; I brook it not.
Shall thy rage touch him? No; I brook it not.
CHORUS.
At Jove's high throne thou art reputed great:
Yet, ſince a mother's blood calls loud for vengeance,
My keen purſuit ſhall trace him ſtep by ſtep.
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At Jove's high throne thou art reputed great:
Yet, ſince a mother's blood calls loud for vengeance,
My keen purſuit ſhall trace him ſtep by ſtep.
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APOLLO.
To me his vows are paid; I will aſſiſt,
And ſet him free: for dreadful were the wrath
'Mongſt Gods and men, ſhou'd I betray my ſuppliant.
To me his vows are paid; I will aſſiſt,
And ſet him free: for dreadful were the wrath
'Mongſt Gods and men, ſhou'd I betray my ſuppliant.
CHORUS.
Theſe toils oppreſs me, as with breathless haſte
I urge the keen purſuit: o'er the long tract
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Of continent, and o'er th' extended ocean,
Swift as the flying ſhip I hold my courſe,
Tho' on no pennons born.
Theſe toils oppreſs me, as with breathless haſte
I urge the keen purſuit: o'er the long tract
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Of continent, and o'er th' extended ocean,
Swift as the flying ſhip I hold my courſe,
Tho' on no pennons born.
ORESTES.
Hither, divine Minerva, by the mandate
Of Phœbus am I come. Propitious pow'r,
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Receive me by the Furies' tort'ring rage
Purſued, no vile unhallow'd wretch, nor ſtain'd
With guilty blood, but worn with toil, and ſpent
With many' a painful ſtep to other ſhrines,
And in the paths of men. By land, by ſea
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Wearied alike, obedient to the voice,
The oracles of Phœbus, I approach
Thy ſhrine, thy ſtatue, Goddess; here to fix
My ſtand, till judgment ſhall decide my cauſe.
Hither, divine Minerva, by the mandate
Of Phœbus am I come. Propitious pow'r,
270
Receive me by the Furies' tort'ring rage
Purſued, no vile unhallow'd wretch, nor ſtain'd
With guilty blood, but worn with toil, and ſpent
With many' a painful ſtep to other ſhrines,
And in the paths of men. By land, by ſea
275
Wearied alike, obedient to the voice,
The oracles of Phœbus, I approach
Thy ſhrine, thy ſtatue, Goddess; here to fix
My ſtand, till judgment ſhall decide my cauſe.
CHORUS.
There, there he ſtands,
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His speed outſtripping mine. Have I then found thee?
With joy I ſnuff the ſcent of human blood.
Take heed, take heed; keep careful watch not let
This murderer of his mother once more 'ſcape,
By ſecret flight, your vengeance: trembling, weak,
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He hangs upon the image of the Goddess,
And wishes to be clear'd of his baſe deeds.
There, there he ſtands,
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His speed outſtripping mine. Have I then found thee?
With joy I ſnuff the ſcent of human blood.
Take heed, take heed; keep careful watch not let
This murderer of his mother once more 'ſcape,
By ſecret flight, your vengeance: trembling, weak,
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He hangs upon the image of the Goddess,
And wishes to be clear'd of his baſe deeds.
Eumenides. Aeschylus. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1779.
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