Athena.
O men of Athens, ye who first do judge
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The law of bloodshed, hear me now ordain,
Here to all time for Ægeus' Attic host
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Shall stand this council-court of judges sworn,
Here the tribunal, set on Ares' Hill
Where camped of old the tented Amazons,
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What time in hate of Theseus they assailed
Athens, and set against her citadel
A counterwork of new sky-pointing towers,
And there to Ares held their sacrifice,
Where now the rock hath name, even Ares' Hill.
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And hence shall Reverence and her kinsman Fear
Pass to each free man's heart, by day and night
Enjoining,
Thou shalt do no unjust thing;
So long as law stands as it stood of old
Unmarred by civic change. Look you, the spring
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Is pure; but foul it once with influx vile
And muddy clay, and none can drink thereof.
Therefore, O citizens, I bid ye bow
In awe to this command,
Let no man live
Uncurbed by law nor curbed by tyranny;
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Nor banish ye the monarchy of Awe
Beyond the walls; untouched by fear divine,
No man doth justice in the world of men.
Therefore in purity and holy dread
Stand and revere; so shall ye have and hold
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A saving bulwark of the state and land,
Such as no man hath ever elsewhere known,
Nor in far Scythia, nor in Pelops' realm.
Thus I ordain it now, a council-court
Pure and unsullied by the lust of gain,
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Sacred and swift to vengeance, wakeful ever
To champion men who sleep, the country's guard.
Thus have I spoken, thus to mine own clan
Commended it for ever. Ye who judge,
Arise take each his vote, mete out the right,
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Your oath revering. Lo, my word is said.
