---
title: "Eumenides · Εὐμενίδες"
author: "Aeschylus"
translator: "Herbert Weir Smyth"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
url: https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-eumenides/
cite: "Aeschylus, tr. Herbert Weir Smyth, Eumenides · Εὐμενίδες. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-eumenides/"
---

# Eumenides · Εὐμενίδες

*Aeschylus, tr. Herbert Weir Smyth*

Hunted by the Furies, Orestes stands trial in Athens: the last play of the Oresteia.

> Greek: ed. Herbert Weir Smyth, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0085.tlg007, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Herbert Weir Smyth, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0085.tlg007.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## Contents

1. [Lines 1–507](https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-eumenides/1.md)
2. [Lines 508–1047](https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-eumenides/2.md)

## 1. Lines 1–507

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-eumenides/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-eumenides/1/#p-N

[¶0] The Priestess of Pythian Apollo:
First, in this prayer of mine, I give the place of highest honor among the gods to the first prophet, Earth; and after her to Themis, for she was the second to take this oracular seat of her mother, as legend tells.
And in the third allotment, with Themis’ consent and not by force, another Titan, child of Earth, Phoebe, took her seat here. She gave it as a birthday gift to Phoebus, who has his name from Phoebe. Leaving the lake and ridge of Delos,
he landed on Pallas’ ship-frequented shores, and came to this region and the dwelling places on Parnassus. The children of Hephaistos, road-builders taming the wildness of the untamed land, escorted him with mighty reverence.

> Greek: Πυθιάς:
πρῶτον μὲν εὐχῇ τῇδε πρεσβεύω θεῶν
τὴν πρωτόμαντιν Γαῖαν· ἐκ δὲ τῆς Θέμιν,
ἣ δὴ τὸ μητρὸς δευτέρα τόδʼ ἕζετο
μαντεῖον, ὡς λόγος τις· ἐν δὲ τῷ τρίτῳ
λάχει, θελούσης, οὐδὲ πρὸς βίαν τινός,
Τιτανὶς ἄλλη παῖς Χθονὸς καθέζετο,
Φοίβη· δίδωσι δʼ ἣ γενέθλιον δόσιν
Φοίβῳ· τὸ Φοίβης δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔχει παρώνυμον.
λιπὼν δὲ λίμνην Δηλίαν τε χοιράδα,
κέλσας ἐπʼ ἀκτὰς ναυπόρους τὰς Παλλάδος,
ἐς τήνδε γαῖαν ἦλθε Παρνησοῦ θʼ ἕδρας.
πέμπουσι δʼ αὐτὸν καὶ σεβίζουσιν μέγα
κελευθοποιοὶ παῖδες Ἡφαίστου, χθόνα
ἀνήμερον τιθέντες ἡμερωμένην.

[¶1] And at his arrival, the people and Delphus, helmsman and lord of this land, made a great celebration for him. Zeus inspired his heart with prophetic skill and established him as the fourth prophet on this throne; but Loxias is the spokesman of Zeus, his father.

> Greek: μολόντα δʼ αὐτὸν κάρτα τιμαλφεῖ λεώς,
Δελφός τε χώρας τῆσδε πρυμνήτης ἄναξ.
τέχνης δέ νιν Ζεὺς ἔνθεον κτίσας φρένα
ἵζει τέταρτον τοῖσδε μάντιν ἐν θρόνοις·
Διὸς προφήτης δʼ ἐστὶ Λοξίας πατρός.

[¶2] These are the gods I place in the beginning of my prayer. And Pallas who stands before the temple is honored in my words; and I worship the Nymphs where the Corycian rock is hollow, the delight of birds and haunt of gods. Bromius has held the region —I do not forget him—
ever since he, as a god, led the Bacchantes in war, and contrived for Pentheus death as of a hunted hare. I call on the streams of Pleistus and the strength of Poseidon, and highest Zeus, the Fulfiller; and then I take my seat as prophetess upon my throne.

> Greek: τούτους ἐν εὐχαῖς φροιμιάζομαι θεούς.
Παλλὰς προναία δʼ ἐν λόγοις πρεσβεύεται·
σέβω δὲ νύμφας, ἔνθα Κωρυκὶς πέτρα
κοίλη, φίλορνις, δαιμόνων ἀναστροφή·
Βρόμιος ἔχει τὸν χῶρον, οὐδʼ ἀμνημονῶ,
ἐξ οὗτε Βάκχαις ἐστρατήγησεν θεός,
λαγὼ δίκην Πενθεῖ καταρράψας μόρον·
Πλειστοῦ τε πηγὰς καὶ Ποσειδῶνος κράτος
καλοῦσα καὶ τέλειον ὕψιστον Δία,
ἔπειτα μάντις ἐς θρόνους καθιζάνω.

[¶3] And may they allow me now to have the best fortune, far better than on my previous entrances. And if there are any from among the Hellenes here, let them enter, in turn, by lot, as is the custom. For I prophesy as the god leads. She enters the temple and after a brief interval returns terror-stricken
Horrors to tell, horrors for my eyes to see, have sent me back from the house of Loxias,
so that I have no strength and I cannot walk upright. I am running on hands and knees, with no quickness in my limbs; for an old woman, overcome with fright, is nothing, or rather she is like a child. I was on my way to the inner shrine, decked with wreaths;

> Greek: καὶ νῦν τυχεῖν με τῶν πρὶν εἰσόδων μακρῷ
ἄριστα δοῖεν· κεἰ παρʼ Ἑλλήνων τινές,
ἴτων πάλῳ λαχόντες, ὡς νομίζεται.
μαντεύομαι γὰρ ὡς ἂν ἡγῆται θεός.
Πυθιάς:
ἦ δεινὰ λέξαι, δεινὰ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖς δρακεῖν,
πάλιν μʼ ἔπεμψεν ἐκ δόμων τῶν Λοξίου,
ὡς μήτε σωκεῖν μήτε μʼ ἀκταίνειν βάσιν,
τρέχω δὲ χερσίν, οὐ ποδωκείᾳ σκελῶν·
δείσασα γὰρ γραῦς οὐδέν, ἀντίπαις μὲν οὖν.
ἐγὼ μὲν ἕρπω πρὸς πολυστεφῆ μυχόν·

[¶4] I saw on the center-stone a man defiled in the eyes of the gods, occupying the seat of suppliants. His hands were dripping blood; he held a sword just drawn and an olive-branch, from the top of the tree, decorously crowned with a large tuft of wool,
a shining fleece; for as to this I can speak clearly. Before this man an extraordinary band of women slept, seated on thrones. No! Not women, but rather Gorgons I call them; and yet I cannot compare them to forms of Gorgons either.

> Greek: ὁρῶ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀμφαλῷ μὲν ἄνδρα θεομυσῆ
ἕδραν ἔχοντα προστρόπαιον, αἵματι
στάζοντα χεῖρας καὶ νεοσπαδὲς ξίφος
ἔχοντʼ ἐλαίας θʼ ὑψιγέννητον κλάδον,
λήνει μεγίστῳ σωφρόνως ἐστεμμένον,
ἀργῆτι μαλλῷ· τῇδε γὰρ τρανῶς ἐρῶ.
πρόσθεν δὲ τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε θαυμαστὸς λόχος
εὕδει γυναικῶν ἐν θρόνοισιν ἥμενος.
οὔτοι γυναῖκας, ἀλλὰ Γοργόνας λέγω,
οὐδʼ αὖτε Γοργείοισιν εἰκάσω τύποις.

[¶5] Once before I saw some creatures in a painting, carrying off the feast of Phineus; but these are wingless in appearance, black, altogether disgusting; they snore with repulsive breaths, they drip from their eyes hateful drops;

> Greek: εἶδόν ποτʼ ἤδη Φινέως γεγραμμένας
δεῖπνον φερούσας· ἄπτεροί γε μὴν ἰδεῖν
αὗται, μέλαιναι δʼ ἐς τὸ πᾶν βδελύκτροποι·
ῥέγκουσι δʼ οὐ πλατοῖσι φυσιάμασιν·
ἐκ δʼ ὀμμάτων λείβουσι δυσφιλῆ λίβα·

[¶6] their attire is not fit to bring either before the statues of the gods or into the homes of men.I have never seen the tribe that produced this company, nor the land that boasts of rearing this brood with impunity and does not grieve for its labor afterwards.

> Greek: καὶ κόσμος οὔτε πρὸς θεῶν ἀγάλματα
φέρειν δίκαιος οὔτʼ ἐς ἀνθρώπων στέγας.
τὸ φῦλον οὐκ ὄπωπα τῆσδʼ ὁμιλίας
οὐδʼ ἥτις αἶα τοῦτʼ ἐπεύχεται γένος
τρέφουσʼ ἀνατεὶ μὴ μεταστένειν πόνον.

[¶7] Let what is to come now be the concern of the master of this house, powerful Loxias himself. He is a prophet of healing, a reader of portents, and for others a purifier of homes. Exit
The interior of the temple is disclosed. Enter, from the inner sanctuary, Apollo, who takes his stand beside Orestes at the center-stone. Near the suppliant are the Furies asleep. Hermes in the background.

> Greek: τἀντεῦθεν ἤδη τῶνδε δεσπότῃ δόμων
αὐτῷ μελέσθω Λοξίᾳ μεγασθενεῖ.
ἰατρόμαντις δʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τερασκόπος
καὶ τοῖσιν ἄλλοις δωμάτων καθάρσιος.

[¶8] Apollo:
No! I will not abandon you. Your guardian to the end,
close by your side or far removed, I will not be gentle to your enemies. So now you see these mad women overcome; these loathsome maidens have fallen asleep, old women, ancient children, with whom
no god or man or beast ever mingles. They were even born for evil, since they live in evil gloom and in Tartarus under the earth, creatures hateful to men and to the Olympian gods. Nevertheless, escape and do not be cowardly.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
οὔτοι προδώσω· διὰ τέλους δέ σοι φύλαξ
ἐγγὺς παρεστὼς καὶ πρόσω δʼ ἀποστατῶν
ἐχθροῖσι τοῖς σοῖς οὐ γενήσομαι πέπων.
καὶ νῦν ἁλούσας τάσδε τὰς μάργους ὁρᾷς·
ὕπνῳ πεσοῦσαι δʼ αἱ κατάπτυστοι κόραι,
γραῖαι παλαιαὶ παῖδες, αἷς οὐ μείγνυται
θεῶν τις οὐδʼ ἄνθρωπος οὐδὲ θήρ ποτε.
κακῶν δʼ ἕκατι κἀγένοντʼ, ἐπεὶ κακὸν
σκότον νέμονται Τάρταρόν θʼ ὑπὸ χθονός,
μισήματʼ ἀνδρῶν καὶ θεῶν Ὀλυμπίων.
ὅμως δὲ φεῦγε μηδὲ μαλθακὸς γένῃ.

[¶9] For as you go always over the earth that wanderers tread, they will drive you on, even across the wide mainland, beyond the sea and the island cities. Do not grow weary too soon, brooding on this labor, but when you have come to Pallas’ city,
sit down and hold in your arms her ancient image. And there, with judges of your case and speeches of persuasive charm, we shall find means to release you completely from your labors. For I persuaded you to take your mother’s life.

> Greek: ἐλῶσι γάρ σε καὶ διʼ ἠπείρου μακρᾶς
βιβῶντʼ ἀνʼ αἰεὶ τὴν πλανοστιβῆ χθόνα
ὑπέρ τε πόντον καὶ περιρρύτας πόλεις.
καὶ μὴ πρόκαμνε τόνδε βουκολούμενος
πόνον· μολὼν δὲ Παλλάδος ποτὶ πτόλιν
ἵζου παλαιὸν ἄγκαθεν λαβὼν βρέτας.
κἀκεῖ δικαστὰς τῶνδε καὶ θελκτηρίους
μύθους ἔχοντες μηχανὰς εὑρήσομεν,
ὥστʼ ἐς τὸ πᾶν σε τῶνδʼ ἀπαλλάξαι πόνων·
καὶ γὰρ κτανεῖν σʼ ἔπεισα μητρῷον δέμας.

[¶10] Orestes:
Lord Apollo, you know how to do no wrong; and, since you know this, learn not to be neglectful also. For your power to do good is assured.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἄναξ Ἄπολλον, οἶσθα μὲν τὸ μὴ ʼδικεῖν·
ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐπίστᾳ, καὶ τὸ μὴ ʼμελεῖν μάθε.
σθένος δὲ ποιεῖν εὖ φερέγγυον τὸ σόν.

[¶11] Apollo:
Remember, do not let fear overpower your heart. You, Hermes, my blood brother, born of the same father,
watch over him; true to your name, be his guide, shepherding this suppliant of mine—truly Zeus respects this right of outlaws—as he is sped on towards mortals with the fortune of a good escort. Exit. Orestes departs escorted by Hermes. The Ghost of Clytaemestra appears.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
μέμνησο, μὴ φόβος σε νικάτω φρένας.
σὺ δʼ, αὐτάδελφον αἷμα καὶ κοινοῦ πατρός,
Ἑρμῆ, φύλασσε· κάρτα δʼ ὢν ἐπώνυμος
πομπαῖος ἴσθι, τόνδε ποιμαίνων ἐμὸν
ἱκέτην—σέβει τοι Ζεὺς τόδʼ ἐκνόμων σέβας—
ὁρμώμενον βροτοῖσιν εὐπόμπῳ τύχῃ.

[¶12] Ghost of Clytaemestra:
Sleep on! Aha! Yet what need is there of sleepers?

> Greek: Κλυταιμήστρας Εἴδωλον:
εὕδοιτʼ ἄν, ὠή, καὶ καθευδουσῶν τί δεῖ;

[¶13] It is due to you that I am thus dishonored among the other dead; because of those I killed the dead never cease to reproach me, and I wander in disgrace. I tell you that I am most greatly accused by them.

> Greek: ἐγὼ δʼ ὑφʼ ὑμῶν ὧδʼ ἀπητιμασμένη
ἄλλοισιν ἐν νεκροῖσιν, ὧν μὲν ἔκτανον
ὄνειδος ἐν φθιτοῖσιν οὐκ ἐκλείπεται,
αἰσχρῶς δʼ ἀλῶμαι· προυννέπω δʼ ὑμῖν ὅτι
ἔχω μεγίστην αἰτίαν κείνων ὕπο·

[¶14] And yet, although I have suffered cruelly in this way from my nearest kin, no divine power is angry on my behalf, slaughtered as I have been by the hands of a matricide. See these gashes in my heart, and from where they came! For the sleeping mind has clear vision,
but in the daytime the fate of mortals is unforeseeable. Truly, you have lapped up many of my offerings—wineless libations, a sober appeasement; and I have sacrificed banquets in the solemn night upon a hearth of fire at an hour unshared by any god.

> Greek: παθοῦσα δʼ οὕτω δεινὰ πρὸς τῶν φιλτάτων,
οὐδεὶς ὑπέρ μου δαιμόνων μηνίεται,
κατασφαγείσης πρὸς χερῶν μητροκτόνων.
ὁρᾶτε πληγὰς τάσδε καρδίας ὅθεν.
εὕδουσα γὰρ φρὴν ὄμμασιν λαμπρύνεται,
ἐν ἡμέρᾳ δὲ μοῖρʼ ἀπρόσκοπος βροτῶν.
ἦ πολλὰ μὲν δὴ τῶν ἐμῶν ἐλείξατε,
χοάς τʼ ἀοίνους, νηφάλια μειλίγματα,
καὶ νυκτίσεμνα δεῖπνʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχάρᾳ πυρὸς
ἔθυον, ὥραν οὐδενὸς κοινὴν θεῶν.

[¶15] I see all this trampled under foot. But he has escaped and is gone, like a fawn; lightly indeed, from the middle of snares, he has rushed away mocking at you. Hear me, since I plead for my life,
awake to consciousness, goddesses of the underworld! For in a dream I, Clytaemestra, now invoke you.

> Greek: καὶ πάντα ταῦτα λὰξ ὁρῶ πατούμενα.
ὁ δʼ ἐξαλύξας οἴχεται νεβροῦ δίκην,
καὶ ταῦτα κούφως ἐκ μέσων ἀρκυστάτων
ὤρουσεν ὑμῖν ἐγκατιλλώψας μέγα.
ἀκούσαθʼ ὡς ἔλεξα τῆς ἐμῆς περὶ
ψυχῆς, φρονήσατʼ, ὦ κατὰ χθονὸς θεαί.
ὄναρ γὰρ ὑμᾶς νῦν Κλυταιμήστρα καλῶ.

[¶16] Chorus:
(whine) The Chorus begins to move uneasily, uttering a whining sound.

> Greek: Χορός:
(μ̔υγμός.)

[¶17] Ghost of Clytaemestra:
Whine, if you will! But the man is gone, fled far away. For he has friends that are not like mine!

> Greek: Κλυταιμήστρας Εἴδωλον:
μύζοιτʼ ἄν, ἁνὴρ δʼ οἴχεται φεύγων πρόσω·
φίλοι γάρ εἰσιν οὐκ ἐμοῖς προσεικότες.

[¶18] Chorus:
(whine) The Chorus continues to whine.

> Greek: Χορός:
(μ̔υγμός.)

[¶19] Ghost of Clytaemestra:
You are too drowsy and do not pity my suffering. Orestes, the murderer of me, his mother, is gone!

> Greek: Κλυταιμήστρας Εἴδωλον:
ἄγαν ὑπνώσσεις κοὐ κατοικτίζεις πάθος·
φονεὺς δʼ Ὀρέστης τῆσδε μητρὸς οἴχεται.

[¶20] Chorus:
(moan) The Chorus begins to moan

> Greek: Χορός:
(ὡ̓γμός.)

[¶21] Ghost of Clytaemestra:
You moan, you drowse—will you not get up at once? Is it your destiny to do anything other than cause harm?

> Greek: Κλυταιμήστρας Εἴδωλον:
ᾤζεις, ὑπνώσσεις· οὐκ ἀναστήσῃ τάχος;
τί σοι πέπρωται πρᾶγμα πλὴν τεύχειν κακά;

[¶22] Chorus:
(moan) The Chorus continues to moan.

> Greek: Χορός:
(ὡ̓γμός.)

[¶23] Ghost of Clytaemestra:
Sleep and toil, effective conspirators, have destroyed the force of the dreadful dragoness.
Chorus: With whining redoubled and intensified.

> Greek: Κλυταιμήστρας Εἴδωλον:
ὕπνος πόνος τε κύριοι συνωμόται
δεινῆς δρακαίνης ἐξεκήραναν μένος.

[¶24] Catch him! Catch him! Catch him! Catch him! Look sharp!

> Greek: Χορός:
(μ̔υγμὸς διπλοῦς ὀξύς.)
λαβὲ λαβὲ λαβὲ λαβέ, φράζου.

[¶25] Ghost of Clytaemestra:
In a dream you are hunting your prey, and are barking like a dog that never leaves off its keenness for the work. What are you doing? Get up; do not let fatigue overpower you, and do not ignore my misery because you have been softened by sleep.

> Greek: Κλυταιμήστρας Εἴδωλον:
ὄναρ διώκεις θῆρα, κλαγγαίνεις δʼ ἅπερ
κύων μέριμναν οὔποτʼ ἐκλείπων πόνου.
τί δρᾷς; ἀνίστω, μή σε νικάτω πόνος,
μηδʼ ἀγνοήσῃς πῆμα μαλθαχθεῖσʼ ὕπνῳ.

[¶26] Sting your heart with merited reproaches; for reproach becomes a spur to the right-minded. Send after him a gust of bloody breath, shrivel him with the vapor, the fire from your guts, follow him, wither him with fresh pursuit! The Ghost of Clytaemestra disappears; the Furies, roused by their leader, awake one after the other.

> Greek: ἄλγησον ἧπαρ ἐνδίκοις ὀνείδεσιν·
τοῖς σώφροσιν γὰρ ἀντίκεντρα γίγνεται.
σὺ δʼ αἱματηρὸν πνεῦμʼ ἐπουρίσασα τῷ,
ἀτμῷ κατισχναίνουσα, νηδύος πυρί,
ἕπου, μάραινε δευτέροις διώγμασιν.

[¶27] Chorus:
Awake! Wake her up, as I wake you. Still asleep? Get up, shake off sleep, let us see if any part of this beginning is in vain.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔγειρʼ, ἔγειρε καὶ σὺ τήνδʼ, ἐγὼ δὲ σέ.
εὕδεις; ἀνίστω, κἀπολακτίσασʼ ὕπνον,
ἰδώμεθʼ εἴ τι τοῦδε φροιμίου ματᾷ.

[¶28] Chorus:
Oh, oh! Alas! We have suffered, friends. Indeed I have suffered much and all in vain.
We have suffered very painfully, oh! an unbearable evil. The beast has escaped from our nets and is gone. Overcome by sleep, I have lost my prey.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰοὺ ἰοὺ πύπαξ. ἐπάθομεν, φίλαι,—
ἦ πολλὰ δὴ παθοῦσα καὶ μάτην ἐγώ,—
ἐπάθομεν πάθος δυσαχές, ὦ πόποι,
ἄφερτον κακόν·
ἐξ ἀρκύων πέπτωκεν οἴχεταί θʼ ὁ θήρ.—
ὕπνῳ κρατηθεῖσʼ ἄγραν ὤλεσα.

[¶29] Chorus:
Oh! Child of Zeus, you have become a thief—
you, a youth, have ridden down old divinities—by showing respect to your suppliant, a godless man and cruel to a parent; although you are a god, you have stolen away a man that killed his mother. What is there here that anyone shall call just?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ παῖ Διός, ἐπίκλοπος πέλῃ,—
νέος δὲ γραίας δαίμονας καθιππάσω,—
τὸν ἱκέταν σέβων, ἄθεον ἄνδρα καὶ
τοκεῦσιν πικρόν·
τὸν μητραλοίαν δʼ ἐξέκλεψας ὢν θεός.—
τί τῶνδʼ ἐρεῖ τις δικαίως ἔχειν;

[¶30] Chorus:
Reproach, coming to me in a dream, struck me like a charioteer with goad held tight, under my heart, under my vitals.
I can feel the cruel, the very cruel chill of the executioner’s destroying scourge.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐμοὶ δʼ ὄνειδος ἐξ ὀνειράτων μολὸν
ἔτυψεν δίκαν διφρηλάτου
μεσολαβεῖ κέντρῳ
ὑπὸ φρένας, ὑπὸ λοβόν.—
πάρεστι μαστίκτορος δαΐου δαμίου
βαρὺ τὸ περίβαρυ κρύος ἔχειν.

[¶31] Chorus:
They do such things, the younger gods, who rule, wholly beyond justice, a throne dripping blood,
about its foot, about its head. I can see the center-stone of the earth defiled with a terrible pollution of blood.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοιαῦτα δρῶσιν οἱ νεώτεροι θεοί,
κρατοῦντες τὸ πᾶν δίκας πλέον
φονολιβῆ θρόνον
περὶ πόδα, περὶ κάρα.—
πάρεστι γᾶς ὀμφαλὸν προσδρακεῖν αἱμάτων
βλοσυρὸν ἀρόμενον ἄγος ἔχειν.

[¶32] Chorus:
Although he is a prophet, he has stained his sanctuary
with pollution at its hearth, at his own urging, at his own bidding; against the law of the gods, he has honored mortal things and caused the ancient allotments to decay.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐφεστίῳ δὲ μάντις ὢν μιάσματι
μυχὸν ἐχράνατʼ αὐτόσσυτος, αὐτόκλητος,
παρὰ νόμον θεῶν βρότεα μὲν τίων,
παλαιγενεῖς δὲ μοίρας φθίσας.

[¶33] Chorus:
And he brings distress to me too, but he shall not win his release;
even if he escapes beneath the earth, he is never set free. A suppliant, he will acquire another avenger from his family.
Enters from the inner sanctuary.

> Greek: Χορός:
κἀμοί γε λυπρός, καὶ τὸν οὐκ ἐκλύσεται,
ὑπό τε γᾶν φυγὼν οὔ ποτʼ ἐλευθεροῦται.
ποτιτρόπαιος ὢν δʼ ἕτερον ἐν κάρᾳ
μιάστορʼ ἐκ γένους πάσεται.

[¶34] Apollo:
Out, I order you! Go away from this house at once,
leave my prophetic sanctuary, so that you may not be struck by a winged glistening snake shot forth from a golden bow-string, and painfully release black foam, vomiting the clots of blood you have drained from mortals.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ἔξω, κελεύω, τῶνδε δωμάτων τάχος
χωρεῖτʼ, ἀπαλλάσσεσθε μαντικῶν μυχῶν,
μὴ καὶ λαβοῦσα πτηνὸν ἀργηστὴν ὄφιν,
χρυσηλάτου θώμιγγος ἐξορμώμενον,
ἀνῇς ὑπʼ ἄλγους μέλανʼ ἀπʼ ἀνθρώπων ἀφρόν,
ἐμοῦσα θρόμβους οὓς ἀφείλκυσας φόνου.

[¶35] It is not right for you to approach this house; no, your place is where the punishments are beheading, gouging out of eyes, cutting of throats, and where young men’s virility is ruined by destruction of seed; where there is mutilation and stoning, and where those who are impaled beneath their spine moan long and piteously.
Do you hear what sort of feast is your delight? You are detested by the gods for it. The whole fashion of your form sets it forth. Creatures like you should live in the den of a blood-drinking lion, and not inflict pollution
on all near you in this oracular shrine. Be gone, you goats without a herdsman! No god loves such a flock.

> Greek: οὔτοι δόμοισι τοῖσδε χρίμπτεσθαι πρέπει·
ἀλλʼ οὗ καρανιστῆρες ὀφθαλμωρύχοι
δίκαι σφαγαί τε σπέρματός τʼ ἀποφθορᾷ
παίδων κακοῦται χλοῦνις, ἠδʼ ἀκρωνία,
λευσμός τε, καὶ μύζουσιν οἰκτισμὸν πολὺν
ὑπὸ ῥάχιν παγέντες. ἆρʼ ἀκούετε
οἵας ἑορτῆς ἔστʼ ἀπόπτυστοι θεοῖς
στέργηθρʼ ἔχουσαι; πᾶς δʼ ὑφηγεῖται τρόπος
μορφῆς. λέοντος ἄντρον αἱματορρόφου
οἰκεῖν τοιαύτας εἰκός, οὐ χρηστηρίοις
ἐν τοῖσδε πλησίοισι τρίβεσθαι μύσος.
χωρεῖτʼ ἄνευ βοτῆρος αἰπολούμεναι.
ποίμνης τοιαύτης δʼ οὔτις εὐφιλὴς θεῶν.

[¶36] Chorus:
Lord Apollo, hear our reply in turn. You yourself are not partially guilty of this deed;
you alone have done it all, and are wholly guilty.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄναξ Ἄπολλον, ἀντάκουσον ἐν μέρει.
αὐτὸς σὺ τούτων οὐ μεταίτιος πέλῃ,
ἀλλʼ εἷς τὸ πᾶν ἔπραξας ὢν παναίτιος.

[¶37] Apollo:
What do you mean? Draw out the length of your speech this much.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
πῶς δή; τοσοῦτο μῆκος ἔκτεινον λόγου.

[¶38] Chorus:
Through your oracle, you directed the stranger to kill his mother.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔχρησας ὥστε τὸν ξένον μητροκτονεῖν.

[¶39] Apollo:
Through my oracle, I directed him to exact vengeance for his father. What of it?

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ἔχρησα ποινὰς τοῦ πατρὸς πρᾶξαι. τί μήν;

[¶40] Chorus:
And then you agreed to take the fresh blood on yourself.

> Greek: Χορός:
κἄπειθʼ ὑπέστης αἵματος δέκτωρ νέου.

[¶41] Apollo:
And I ordered him to turn for expiation to this house.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
καὶ προστραπέσθαι τούσδʼ ἐπέστελλον δόμους.

[¶42] Chorus:
And do you then rebuke us, the ones who escorted him here?

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ τὰς προπομποὺς δῆτα τάσδε λοιδορεῖς;

[¶43] Apollo:
Yes, for you are not fit to approach this house.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
οὐ γὰρ δόμοισι τοῖσδε πρόσφορον μολεῖν.

[¶44] Chorus:
But this has been assigned to us—

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἡμῖν τοῦτο προστεταγμένον.

[¶45] Apollo:
What is this office of yours? Boast of your fine privilege!

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
τίς ἥδε τιμή; κόμπασον γέρας καλόν.

[¶46] Chorus:
We drive matricides from their homes.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοὺς μητραλοίας ἐκ δόμων ἐλαύνομεν.

[¶47] Apollo:
But what about a wife who kills her husband?

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
τί γὰρ γυναικὸς ἥτις ἄνδρα νοσφίσῃ;

[¶48] Chorus:
That would not be murder of a relative by blood.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐκ ἂν γένοιθʼ ὅμαιμος αὐθέντης φόνος.

[¶49] Apollo:
Then truly you dishonor and bring to nothing the pledges of Hera, the Fulfiller, and Zeus.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ἦ κάρτʼ ἄτιμα καὶ παρʼ οὐδὲν εἰργάσω
Ἥρας τελείας καὶ Διὸς πιστώματα.

[¶50] Cypris too is cast aside, dishonored by this argument, and from her come the dearest things for mortals. For marriage ordained by fate for a man and a woman is greater than an oath and guarded by Justice. If, then, one should kill the other and you are so lenient
as not to punish or visit them with anger, I claim that you unjustly banish Orestes from his home. For I see you taking the one cause very much to heart, but clearly acting more leniently about the other. But the goddess Pallas will oversee the pleadings in this case.

> Greek: Κύπρις δʼ ἄτιμος τῷδʼ ἀπέρριπται λόγῳ,
ὅθεν βροτοῖσι γίγνεται τὰ φίλτατα.
εὐνὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ καὶ γυναικὶ μόρσιμος
ὅρκου ʼστὶ μείζων τῇ δίκῃ φρουρουμένη.
εἰ τοῖσιν οὖν κτείνουσιν ἀλλήλους χαλᾷς
τὸ μὴ τίνεσθαι μηδʼ ἐποπτεύειν κότῳ,
οὔ φημʼ Ὀρέστην σʼ ἐνδίκως ἀνδρηλατεῖν.
τὰ μὲν γὰρ οἶδα κάρτα σʼ ἐνθυμουμένην,
τὰ δʼ ἐμφανῶς πράσσουσαν ἡσυχαιτέραν.
δίκας δὲ Παλλὰς τῶνδʼ ἐποπτεύσει θεά.

[¶51] Chorus:
I will never, never leave that man!

> Greek: Χορός:
τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἐκεῖνον οὔ τι μὴ λίπω ποτέ.

[¶52] Apollo:
Pursue him then and get more trouble for yourself.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
σὺ δʼ οὖν δίωκε καὶ πόνον πλείω τίθου.

[¶53] Chorus:
Do not cut short my privileges by your words.

> Greek: Χορός:
τιμὰς σὺ μὴ σύντεμνε τὰς ἐμὰς λόγῳ.

[¶54] Apollo:
I would not take your privileges as a gift.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
οὐδʼ ἂν δεχοίμην ὥστʼ ἔχειν τιμὰς σέθεν.

[¶55] Chorus:
No, for in any case you are called great at the throne of Zeus.

> Greek: Χορός:
μέγας γὰρ ἔμπας πὰρ Διὸς θρόνοις λέγῃ.

[¶56] But as for me—since a mother’s blood leads me, I will pursue my case against this man and I will hunt him down. Exeunt.

> Greek: ἐγὼ δʼ, ἄγει γὰρ αἷμα μητρῷον, δίκας
μέτειμι τόνδε φῶτα κἀκκυνηγετῶ.

[¶57] Apollo:
And I will aid my suppliant and rescue him! For the wrath of the one who seeks purification is terrible among mortals and gods, if I intentionally abandon him. Enters the Sanctuary.
The scene changes to Athens, before the temple of Athena. Enter Hermes with Orestes, who embraces the ancient image of the goddess.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ἐγὼ δʼ ἀρήξω τὸν ἱκέτην τε ῥύσομαι·
δεινὴ γὰρ ἐν βροτοῖσι κἀν θεοῖς πέλει
τοῦ προστροπαίου μῆνις, εἰ προδῶ σφʼ ἑκών.

[¶58] Orestes:
Lady Athena, at Loxias’ command I have come. Receive kindly an accursed wretch, not one who seeks purification, or with unclean hand, but with my guilt’s edge already blunted and worn away at other homes and in the travelled paths of men.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἄνασσʼ Ἀθάνα, Λοξίου κελεύμασιν
ἥκω, δέχου δὲ πρευμενῶς ἀλάστορα,
οὐ προστρόπαιον οὐδʼ ἀφοίβαντον χέρα,
ἀλλʼ ἀμβλὺς ἤδη προστετριμμένος τε πρὸς
ἄλλοισιν οἴκοις καὶ πορεύμασιν βροτῶν.

[¶59] Going over land and sea alike, keeping the commands of Loxias’ oracle, I now approach your house and image, goddess. Here I will keep watch and await the result of my trial.
The Furies enter dispersedly, hunting Orestes’ trail by scent.

> Greek: ὅμοια χέρσον καὶ θάλασσαν ἐκπερῶν,
σῴζων ἐφετμὰς Λοξίου χρηστηρίους,
πρόσειμι δῶμα καὶ βρέτας τὸ σόν, θεά.
αὐτοῦ φυλάσσων ἀναμένω τέλος δίκης.
Χορός:
εἶεν· τόδʼ ἐστὶ τἀνδρὸς ἐκφανὲς τέκμαρ.

[¶60] Chorus:
Aha! This is a clear sign of the man. Follow the hints of a voiceless informer. For as a hound tracks a wounded fawn, so we track him by the drops of blood. My lungs pant from many tiring struggles, for I have roamed over the whole earth,
and I have come over the sea in wingless flight, pursuing him, no slower than a ship. And now he is here somewhere, cowering. The smell of human blood gives me a smiling welcome.

> Greek: ἕπου δὲ μηνυτῆρος ἀφθέγκτου φραδαῖς.
τετραυματισμένον γὰρ ὡς κύων νεβρὸν
πρὸς αἷμα καὶ σταλαγμὸν ἐκματεύομεν.
πολλοῖς δὲ μόχθοις ἀνδροκμῆσι φυσιᾷ
σπλάγχνον· χθονὸς γὰρ πᾶς πεποίμανται τόπος,
ὑπέρ τε πόντον ἀπτέροις ποτήμασιν
ἦλθον διώκουσʼ, οὐδὲν ὑστέρα νεώς.
καὶ νῦν ὅδʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐστί που καταπτακών.
ὀσμὴ βροτείων αἱμάτων με προσγελᾷ.

[¶61] Look! Look again!
Look everywhere, so that the matricide will not escape by secret flight, with his debt unpaid! Yes, here he is again with a defense; his arms twisted around the image of the immortal goddess,
he wishes to be tried for his debt. But that is not possible; a mother’s blood upon the earth is hard to recover—alas, the liquid poured on the ground is gone. But you must allow me in return to suck
the red blood from your living limbs. May I feed on you—a gruesome drink! I will wither you alive and drag you down, so that you pay atonement for your murdered mother’s agony. And you will see any other mortal who has sinned by not honoring
a god or a stranger or dear parents, each having a just punishment. For Hades is mighty in holding mortals to account under the earth,
and he observes all things and within his mind inscribes them.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὅρα ὅρα μάλʼ αὖ,
λεύσσετε πάντα, μὴ
λάθῃ φύγδα βὰς
[ὁ ] ματροφόνος ἀτίτας.
ὁ δʼ αὖτέ γʼ [οὖν] ἀλκὰν ἔχων
περὶ βρέτει πλεχθεὶς θεᾶς ἀμβρότου
ὑπόδικος θέλει γενέσθαι χρεῶν.
τὸ δʼ οὐ πάρεστιν· αἷμα μητρῷον χαμαὶ
δυσαγκόμιστον, παπαῖ,
τὸ διερὸν πέδοι χύμενον οἴχεται.
ἀλλʼ ἀντιδοῦναι δεῖ σʼ ἀπὸ ζῶντος ῥοφεῖν
ἐρυθρὸν ἐκ μελέων πέλανον· ἀπὸ δὲ σοῦ
φεροίμαν βοσκὰν πώματος δυσπότου·
καὶ ζῶντά σʼ ἰσχνάνασʼ ἀπάξομαι κάτω,
ἀντίποινʼ ὡς τίνῃς ματροφόνου δύας.
ὄψει δὲ κεἴ τις ἄλλος ἤλιτεν βροτῶν
ἢ θεὸν ἢ ξένον
τινʼ ἀσεβῶν ἢ τοκέας φίλους,
ἔχονθʼ ἕκαστον τῆς δίκης ἐπάξια.
μέγας γὰρ Ἅιδης ἐστὶν εὔθυνος βροτῶν
ἔνερθε χθονός,
δελτογράφῳ δὲ πάντʼ ἐπωπᾷ φρενί.

[¶62] Orestes:
Taught by misery, I know many purification rituals, and I know where it is right to speak and equally to be silent; and in this case, I have been ordered to speak by a wise teacher.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἐγὼ διδαχθεὶς ἐν κακοῖς ἐπίσταμαι
πολλοὺς καθαρμούς, καὶ λέγειν ὅπου δίκη
σιγᾶν θʼ ὁμοίως· ἐν δὲ τῷδε πράγματι
φωνεῖν ἐτάχθην πρὸς σοφοῦ διδασκάλου.

[¶63] For the blood is slumbering and fading from my hand, the pollution of matricide is washed away; while it was still fresh, it was driven away at the hearth of the god Phoebus by purifying sacrifices of swine. It would be a long story to tell from the beginning,
how many people I have visited, with no harm from association with me. [Time purges all things, aging with them.] So now with a pure mouth I piously invoke Athena, lady of this land, to come to my aid. Without the spear,
she will win me and my land and the Argive people as faithful and true allies for all time. But whether in some region of the Libyan land, near the waters of Triton, her native stream, she is in action or at rest,
aiding those whom she loves, or whether, like a bold marshal, she is surveying the Phlegraean plain, oh, let her come—as a goddess, she hears even from far away—to be my deliverer from distress!

> Greek: βρίζει γὰρ αἷμα καὶ μαραίνεται χερός,
μητροκτόνον μίασμα δʼ ἔκπλυτον πέλει·
ποταίνιον γὰρ ὂν πρὸς ἑστίᾳ θεοῦ
Φοίβου καθαρμοῖς ἠλάθη χοιροκτόνοις.
πολὺς δέ μοι γένοιτʼ ἂν ἐξ ἀρχῆς λόγος,
ὅσοις προσῆλθον ἀβλαβεῖ ξυνουσίᾳ.
[χρόνος καθαιρεῖ πάντα γηράσκων ὁμοῦ.]
καὶ νῦν ἀφʼ ἁγνοῦ στόματος εὐφήμως καλῶ
χώρας ἄνασσαν τῆσδʼ Ἀθηναίαν ἐμοὶ
μολεῖν ἀρωγόν· κτήσεται δʼ ἄνευ δορὸς
αὐτόν τε καὶ γῆν καὶ τὸν Ἀργεῖον λεὼν
πιστὸν δικαίως ἐς τὸ πᾶν τε σύμμαχον.
ἀλλʼ εἴτε χώρας ἐν τόποις Λιβυστικοῖς,
Τρίτωνος ἀμφὶ χεῦμα γενεθλίου πόρου,
τίθησιν ὀρθὸν ἢ κατηρεφῆ πόδα,
φίλοις ἀρήγουσʼ, εἴτε Φλεγραίαν πλάκα
θρασὺς ταγοῦχος ὡς ἀνὴρ ἐπισκοπεῖ,
ἔλθοι—κλύει δὲ καὶ πρόσωθεν ὢν θεός—
ὅπως γένοιτο τῶνδʼ ἐμοὶ λυτήριος.

[¶64] Chorus:
No, neither Apollo nor Athena’s strength
can save you from perishing abandoned, not knowing where joy is in your heart—a bloodless victim of the gods below, a shadow. You do not answer, but scorn my words, you who are fattened and consecrated to me?

> Greek: Χορός:
οὔτοι σʼ Ἀπόλλων οὐδʼ Ἀθηναίας σθένος
ῥύσαιτʼ ἂν ὥστε μὴ οὐ παρημελημένον
ἔρρειν, τὸ χαίρειν μὴ μαθόνθʼ ὅπου φρενῶν,
ἀναίματον βόσκημα δαιμόνων, σκιάν.
οὐδʼ ἀντιφωνεῖς, ἀλλʼ ἀποπτύεις λόγους,
ἐμοὶ τραφείς τε καὶ καθιερωμένος;

[¶65] Living, you will be my feast, not slain at an altar; now you will hear this hymn, a spell to bind you.

> Greek: καὶ ζῶν με δαίσεις οὐδὲ πρὸς βωμῷ σφαγείς·
ὕμνον δʼ ἀκούσῃ τόνδε δέσμιον σέθεν.

[¶66] Chorus:
Come now, let us also join the dance, since we are resolved to display our hated song
and to declare our allotted office, how our party directs the affairs of men. We claim to be just and upright. No wrath from us will come stealthily to the one who holds out clean hands,
and he will go through life unharmed; but whoever sins, as this man has, and hides his blood-stained hands, as avengers of bloodshed we appear against him to the end, presenting ourselves as upright witnesses for the dead.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄγε δὴ καὶ χορὸν ἅψωμεν, ἐπεὶ
μοῦσαν στυγερὰν
ἀποφαίνεσθαι δεδόκηκεν,
λέξαι τε λάχη τὰ κατʼ ἀνθρώπους
ὡς ἐπινωμᾷ στάσις ἁμά.
εὐθυδίκαιοι δʼ οἰόμεθʼ εἶναι·
τὸν μὲν καθαρὰς χεῖρας προνέμοντʼ
οὔτις ἐφέρπει μῆνις ἀφʼ ἡμῶν,
ἀσινὴς δʼ αἰῶνα διοιχνεῖ·
ὅστις δʼ ἀλιτὼν ὥσπερ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ
χεῖρας φονίας ἐπικρύπτει,
μάρτυρες ὀρθαὶ τοῖσι θανοῦσιν
παραγιγνόμεναι πράκτορες αἵματος
αὐτῷ τελέως ἐφάνημεν.

[¶67] Chorus:
O mother Night, hear me, mother who gave birth to me as a retribution for the blind and the seeing. For Leto’s son dishonors me
by snatching away this cowering wretch, a proper expiation for his mother’s blood.

> Greek: Χορός:
μᾶτερ ἅ μʼ ἔτικτες, ὦ μᾶτερ
Νύξ, ἀλαοῖσι καὶ δεδορκόσιν
ποινάν, κλῦθʼ. ὁ Λατοῦς γὰρ ἶ-
νίς μʼ ἄτιμον τίθησιν
τόνδʼ ἀφαιρούμενος
πτῶκα, ματρῷον ἅ-
γνισμα κύριον φόνου.

[¶68] Chorus:
This is our song over the sacrificial victim—frenzied,
maddened, destroying the mind, the Furies’ hymn, a spell to bind the soul, not tuned to the lyre, withering the life of mortals.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ
τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,
παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής,
ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,
δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-
μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

[¶69] Chorus:
For this is the office that relentless
Fate spun for us to hold securely: when rash murders of kin come upon mortals, we pursue them until they go under the earth; and after death,
they have no great freedom.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία
Μοῖρʼ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν,
θνατῶν τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαι
ξυμπέσωσιν μάταιοι,
τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρʼ ἂν
γᾶν ὑπέλθῃ· θανὼν δʼ
οὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.

[¶70] Chorus:
This is our song over the sacrificial victim—frenzied, maddened, destroying the mind, the Furies’ hymn,
a spell to bind the soul, not tuned to the lyre, withering the life of mortals.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τεθυμένῳ
τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,
παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής,
ὕμνος ἐξ Ἐρινύων,
δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρ-
μικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

[¶71] Chorus:
This office was ordained for us at birth;

> Greek: Χορός:
γιγνομέναισι λάχη τάδʼ ἐφʼ ἁμὶν ἐκράνθη·

[¶72] but the immortal gods must hold back their hands from us, nor does any of them share a feast in common with us; and I have neither lot nor portion of pure white ceremonial robes …
Chorus:
For I have chosen the overthrow of houses,
whenever violence raised in the home seizes someone near and dear. So speeding after this man, we weaken him, even though he is strong, because of the fresh blood.

> Greek: ἀθανάτων δʼ ἀπέχειν χέρας, οὐδέ τις ἐστί
συνδαίτωρ μετάκοινος·
παλλεύκων δὲ πέπλων ἀπόμοιρος ἄκληρος ἐτύχθην
¯˘¯˘¯˘¯
Χορός:
⟨δωμάτων γὰρ εἱλόμαν⟩
⟨ἀνατροπάς, ὅταν Ἄρης⟩
⟨τιθασὸς ὢν φίλον ἕλῃ.⟩
⟨ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδʼ ἱέμεναι⟩
⟨κρατερὸν ὄνθʼ ὅμως ἀμαυ-⟩
⟨ροῦμεν ὑφʼ αἵματος νέου.⟩

[¶73] Chorus:
We are eager to take these cares away from another, and to establish for the gods exemption from my concerns, so that it will not come to trial;

> Greek: Χορός:
σπεύδομεν αἵδʼ ἀφελεῖν τινὰ τάσδε μερίμνας,
θεῶν δʼ ἀτέλειαν ἐμαῖς μελέταις ἐπικραίνειν,
μηδʼ εἰς ἄγκρισιν ἐλθεῖν·

[¶74] for Zeus has considered us, a blood-dripping, hateful band, unworthy of his council.
Chorus:
For I have chosen the overthrow of houses,
whenever violence raised in the home seizes someone near and dear. Speeding after this man, we weaken him, even though he is strong, because of the fresh blood.

> Greek: Ζεὺς δʼ αἱμοσταγὲς ἀξιόμισον ἔθνος τόδε λέσχας
ἇς ἀπηξιώσατο.
Χορός:
⟨δωμάτων γὰρ εἱλόμαν⟩
⟨ἀνατροπάς, ὅταν Ἄρης⟩
⟨τιθασὸς ὢν φίλον ἕλῃ.⟩
⟨ἐπὶ τὸν ὧδʼ ἱέμεναι⟩
⟨κρατερὸν ὄνθʼ ὅμως ἀμαυ-⟩
⟨ροῦμεν ὑφʼ αἵματος νέου.⟩

[¶75] Chorus:
And men’s thoughts, very proud under the sky, waste away and dwindle in dishonor beneath the earth,
at our attack in black robes and the vindictive dance of our feet.

> Greek: Χορός:
δόξαι τʼ ἀνδρῶν καὶ μάλʼ ὑπʼ αἰθέρι σεμναὶ
τακόμεναι κατὰ γᾶν μινύθουσιν ἄτιμοι
ἁμετέραις ἐφόδοις μελανείμοσιν, ὀρχη-
σμοῖς τʼ ἐπιφθόνοις ποδός.

[¶76] Chorus:
For surely with a great leap from above I bring down the heavily falling force of my foot,
my limbs that trip even swift runners—unendurable ruin.

> Greek: Χορός:
μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομένα
ἀνέκαθεν βαρυπεσῆ
καταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν,
σφαλερὰ ⟨καὶ⟩ τανυδρόμοις
κῶλα, δύσφορον ἄταν.

[¶77] Chorus:
But, as he falls, he does not know it, because of his senseless folly; pollution hovers over the man in such darkness, and mournful rumor speaks of
a dark mist over his house.

> Greek: Χορός:
πίπτων δʼ οὐκ οἶδεν τόδʼ ὑπʼ ἄφρονι λύμᾳ·
τοῖον [γὰρ] ἐπὶ κνέφας ἀνδρὶ μύσος πεπόταται,
καὶ δνοφεράν τινʼ ἀχλὺν κατὰ δώματος αὐδᾶ-
ται πολύστονος φάτις.

[¶78] Chorus:
For surely with a great leap from above I bring down the heavily falling force of my foot,
my limbs that trip even swift runners—unendurable ruin.

> Greek: Χορός:
⟨μάλα γὰρ οὖν ἁλομένα⟩
⟨ἀνέκαθεν βαρυπεσῆ⟩
⟨καταφέρω ποδὸς ἀκμάν,⟩
⟨σφαλερὰ καὶ τανυδρόμοις⟩
⟨κῶλα, δύσφορον ἄταν.⟩

[¶79] Chorus:
For it remains. We are skilled in plotting, powerful in execution, and we remember evil deeds; we are revered and hard for mortals to appease,
pursuing our allotted office which is without rights, without honor, separated from the gods in sunless light—our office that makes the path rough for seeing and dim-sighted alike.

> Greek: Χορός:
μένει γάρ. εὐμήχανοί
τε καὶ τέλειοι, κακῶν
τε μνήμονες σεμναὶ
καὶ δυσπαρήγοροι βροτοῖς,
ἄτιμʼ ἀτίετα διόμεναι
λάχη θεῶν διχοστατοῦντʼ ἀνηλίῳ
λάμπᾳ, δυσοδοπαίπαλα
δερκομένοισι καὶ δυσομμάτοις ὁμῶς.

[¶80] Chorus:
What mortal, then, does not
stand in awe and dread of this, when he hears from me the law ordained by Fate, given by the gods for perfect fulfilment? My ancient privilege still remains, I do not meet with dishonor,
although I have my place under the earth and in sunless darkness.
Enter Athena, wearing the aegis.

> Greek: Χορός:
τίς οὖν τάδʼ οὐχ ἅζεταί
τε καὶ δέδοικεν βροτῶν,
ἐμοῦ κλύων θεσμὸν
τὸν μοιρόκραντον ἐκ θεῶν
δοθέντα τέλεον; ἔτι δέ μοι
⟨μένει⟩ γέρας παλαιόν, οὐδʼ ἀτιμίας
κύρω, καίπερ ὑπὸ χθόνα
τάξιν ἔχουσα καὶ δυσήλιον κνέφας.

[¶81] Athena:
From afar I heard the call of a summons, from the Scamander, while I was taking possession of the land, which the leaders and chiefs of the Achaeans
assigned to me, a great portion of the spoil their spears had won, to be wholly mine forever, a choice gift to Theseus’ sons. From there I have come, urging on my tireless foot, without wings rustling the folds of my aegis,
[yoking this chariot to colts in their prime.] As I see this strange company of visitors to my land, I am not afraid, but it is a wonder to my eyes. Who in the world are you? I address you all in common—this stranger sitting at my image,
and you, who are like no race of creatures ever born, neither seen by gods among goddesses nor resembling mortal forms. But it is far from just to speak ill of one’s neighbor who is blameless, and Right stands aloof.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
πρόσωθεν ἐξήκουσα κληδόνος βοὴν
ἀπὸ Σκαμάνδρου γῆν καταφθατουμένη,
ἣν δῆτʼ Ἀχαιῶν ἄκτορές τε καὶ πρόμοι,
τῶν αἰχμαλώτων χρημάτων λάχος μέγα,
ἔνειμαν αὐτόπρεμνον εἰς τὸ πᾶν ἐμοί,
ἐξαίρετον δώρημα Θησέως τόκοις·
ἔνθεν διώκουσʼ ἦλθον ἄτρυτον πόδα,
πτερῶν ἄτερ ῥοιβδοῦσα κόλπον αἰγίδος.
[πώλοις ἀκμαίοις τόνδʼ ἐπιζεύξασʼ ὄχον]
καινὴν δʼ ὁρῶσα τήνδʼ ὁμιλίαν χθονὸς
ταρβῶ μὲν οὐδέν, θαῦμα δʼ ὄμμασιν πάρα.
τίνες ποτʼ ἐστέ; πᾶσι δʼ ἐς κοινὸν λέγω·
βρέτας τε τοὐμὸν τῷδʼ ἐφημένῳ ξένῳ,
ὑμᾶς θʼ ὁμοίας οὐδενὶ σπαρτῶν γένει,
οὔτʼ ἐν θεαῖσι πρὸς θεῶν ὁρωμένας
οὔτʼ οὖν βροτείοις ἐμφερεῖς μορφώμασιν.
λέγειν δʼ ἄμομφον ὄντα τοὺς πέλας κακῶς
πρόσω δικαίων ἠδʼ ἀποστατεῖ θέμις.

[¶82] Chorus:
Daughter of Zeus, you will hear it all in brief. We are the eternal children of Night. We are called Curses in our homes beneath the earth.

> Greek: Χορός:
πεύσῃ τὰ πάντα συντόμως, Διὸς κόρη.
ἡμεῖς γάρ ἐσμεν Νυκτὸς αἰανῆ τέκνα.
Ἀραὶ δʼ ἐν οἴκοις γῆς ὑπαὶ κεκλήμεθα.

[¶83] Athena:
I now know your family and the names by which you are called.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
γένος μὲν οἶδα κληδόνας τʼ ἐπωνύμους.

[¶84] Chorus:
You will soon learn my office.

> Greek: Χορός:
τιμάς γε μὲν δὴ τὰς ἐμὰς πεύσῃ τάχα.

[¶85] Athena:
I shall understand, if someone would tell the story clearly.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
μάθοιμʼ ἄν, εἰ λέγοι τις ἐμφανῆ λόγον.

[¶86] Chorus:
We drive murderers from their homes.

> Greek: Χορός:
βροτοκτονοῦντας ἐκ δόμων ἐλαύνομεν.

[¶87] Athena:
And where is the end of flight for the killer?

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
καὶ τῷ κτανόντι ποῦ τὸ τέρμα τῆς φυγῆς;

[¶88] Chorus:
Where joy is absent and unknown.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὅπου τὸ χαίρειν μηδαμοῦ νομίζεται.

[¶89] Athena:
And would you drive this man with your shrieks to such flight?

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ἦ καὶ τοιαύτας τῷδʼ ἐπιρροιζεῖς φυγάς;

[¶90] Chorus:
Yes, for he thought it right to be his mother’s murderer.

> Greek: Χορός:
φονεὺς γὰρ εἶναι μητρὸς ἠξιώσατο.

[¶91] Athena:
Through other compulsions, or in fear of someone’s wrath?

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ἄλλαις ἀνάγκαις, ἤ τινος τρέων κότον;

[¶92] Chorus:
Where is there a spur so keen as to compel the murder of a mother?

> Greek: Χορός:
ποῦ γὰρ τοσοῦτο κέντρον ὡς μητροκτονεῖν;

[¶93] Athena:
Two parties are present; only half the case is heard.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
δυοῖν παρόντοιν ἥμισυς λόγου πάρα.

[¶94] Chorus:
But he will not receive an oath nor does he want to give one.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ὅρκον οὐ δέξαιτʼ ἄν, οὐ δοῦναι θέλοι.

[¶95] Athena:
You want to be called just rather than to act justly.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
κλύειν δίκαιος μᾶλλον ἢ πρᾶξαι θέλεις.

[¶96] Chorus:
How so? Teach me. For you are not poor in subtleties.

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς δή; δίδαξον· τῶν σοφῶν γὰρ οὐ πένῃ.

[¶97] Athena:
I say that oaths must not win victory for injustice.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ὅρκοις τὰ μὴ δίκαια μὴ νικᾶν λέγω.

[¶98] Chorus:
Well then, question him, and make a straight judgment.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ἐξέλεγχε, κρῖνε δʼ εὐθεῖαν δίκην.

[¶99] Athena:
Then would you turn over the decision of the charge to me?

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ἦ κἀπʼ ἐμοὶ τρέποιτʼ ἂν αἰτίας τέλος;

[¶100] Chorus:
How not?—since we honor you because you are worthy and of worthy parentage.

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς δʼ οὔ; σέβουσαί γʼ ἀξίαν κἀπʼ ἀξίων.

[¶101] Athena:
What do you want to say to this, stranger, in turn? After you name your country and family and fortunes, then defend yourself against this charge; if indeed, relying on the justice of your case,
you sit clinging to my image near my hearth, as a sacred suppliant, like Ixion. To all this give me a plain answer.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
τί πρὸς τάδʼ εἰπεῖν, ὦ ξένʼ, ἐν μέρει θέλεις;
λέξας δὲ χώραν καὶ γένος καὶ ξυμφορὰς
τὰς σάς, ἔπειτα τόνδʼ ἀμυναθοῦ ψόγον·
εἴπερ πεποιθὼς τῇ δίκῃ βρέτας τόδε
ἧσαι φυλάσσων ἑστίας ἁμῆς πέλας
σεμνὸς προσίκτωρ ἐν τρόποις Ἰξίονος.
τούτοις ἀμείβου πᾶσιν εὐμαθές τί μοι.

[¶102] Orestes:
Lady Athena, first of all I will take away a great anxiety from your last words.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἄνασσʼ Ἀθάνα, πρῶτον ἐκ τῶν ὑστάτων
τῶν σῶν ἐπῶν μέλημʼ ἀφαιρήσω μέγα.

[¶103] I am not a suppliant in need of purification, nor did I sit at your image with pollution on my hands. I will give you strong proof of this. It is the law for one who is defiled by shedding blood to be barred from speech until he is sprinkled with the blood of
a new-born victim by a man who can purify from murder. Long before at other houses I have been thus purified both by victims and by flowing streams. And so I declare that this concern is out of the way. As to my family, you will soon learn.

> Greek: οὐκ εἰμὶ προστρόπαιος, οὐδʼ ἔχων μύσος
πρὸς χειρὶ τἠμῇ τὸ σὸν ἐφεζόμην βρέτας.
τεκμήριον δὲ τῶνδέ σοι λέξω μέγα.
ἄφθογγον εἶναι τὸν παλαμναῖον νόμος,
ἔστʼ ἂν πρὸς ἀνδρὸς αἵματος καθαρσίου
σφαγαὶ καθαιμάξωσι νεοθήλου βοτοῦ.
πάλαι πρὸς ἄλλοις ταῦτʼ ἀφιερώμεθα
οἴκοισι, καὶ βοτοῖσι καὶ ῥυτοῖς πόροις.
ταύτην μὲν οὕτω φροντίδʼ ἐκποδὼν λέγω.
γένος δὲ τοὐμὸν ὡς ἔχει πεύσῃ τάχα.

[¶104] I am an Argive; my father—you rightly inquire about him—was Agamemnon, the commander of the naval forces; along with him, you made Troy, the city of Ilion, to be no city. He did not die nobly, after he came home; but my black-hearted
mother killed him after she covered him in a crafty snare that still remains to witness his murder in the bath. And when I came back home, having been an exile in the time before, I killed the woman who gave birth to me, I will not deny it, as the penalty in return for the murder of my dearly-loved father.

> Greek: Ἀργεῖός εἰμι, πατέρα δʼ ἱστορεῖς καλῶς,
Ἀγαμέμνονʼ, ἀνδρῶν ναυβατῶν ἁρμόστορα,
ξὺν ᾧ σὺ Τροίαν ἄπολιν Ἰλίου πόλιν
ἔθηκας. ἔφθιθʼ οὗτος οὐ καλῶς, μολὼν
εἰς οἶκον· ἀλλά νιν κελαινόφρων ἐμὴ
μήτηρ κατέκτα, ποικίλοις ἀγρεύμασιν
κρύψασʼ, ἃ λουτρῶν ἐξεμαρτύρει φόνον.
κἀγὼ κατελθών, τὸν πρὸ τοῦ φεύγων χρόνον,
ἔκτεινα τὴν τεκοῦσαν, οὐκ ἀρνήσομαι,
ἀντικτόνοις ποιναῖσι φιλτάτου πατρός.

[¶105] Together with me Loxias is responsible for this deed, because he threatened me with pains, a goad for my heart, if I should fail to do this deed to those who were responsible. You judge whether I acted justly or not; whatever happens to me at your hands, I will be content.

> Greek: καὶ τῶνδε κοινῇ Λοξίας ἐπαίτιος,
ἄλγη προφωνῶν ἀντίκεντρα καρδίᾳ,
εἰ μή τι τῶνδʼ ἔρξαιμι τοὺς ἐπαιτίους.
σὺ δʼ εἰ δικαίως εἴτε μὴ κρῖνον δίκην·
πράξας γὰρ ἐν σοὶ πανταχῇ τάδʼ αἰνέσω.

[¶106] Athena:
The matter is too great, if any mortal thinks to pass judgment on it; no, it is not lawful even for me to decide on cases of murder that is followed by the quick anger of the Furies, especially since you, by rites fully performed, have come a pure and harmless suppliant to my house;

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
τὸ πρᾶγμα μεῖζον, εἴ τις οἴεται τόδε
βροτὸς δικάζειν· οὐδὲ μὴν ἐμοὶ θέμις
φόνου διαιρεῖν ὀξυμηνίτου δίκας·
ἄλλως τε καὶ σὺ μὲν κατηρτυκὼς ἐμοῖς
ἱκέτης προσῆλθες καθαρὸς ἀβλαβὴς δόμοις·

[¶107] and so I respect you, since you do not bring harm to my city. Yet these women have an office that does not permit them to be dismissed lightly; and if they fail to win their cause, the venom from their resentment will fall upon the ground, an intolerable, perpetual plague afterwards in the land.

> Greek: οὕτως δʼ ἄμομφον ὄντα σʼ αἰδοῦμαι πόλει.
αὗται δʼ ἔχουσι μοῖραν οὐκ εὐπέμπελον,
καὶ μὴ τυχοῦσαι πράγματος νικηφόρου,
χώρᾳ μεταῦθις ἰὸς ἐκ φρονημάτων
πέδοι πεσὼν ἄφερτος αἰανὴς νόσος.

[¶108] So stands the case: either course—to let them stay, to drive them out—brings disaster and perplexity to me. But since this matter has fallen here, I will select judges of homicide bound by oath, and I will establish this tribunal for all time.

> Greek: τοιαῦτα μὲν τάδʼ ἐστίν· ἀμφότερα, μένειν
πέμπειν τε δυσπήμαντʼ ἀμηχάνως ἐμοί.
ἐπεὶ δὲ πρᾶγμα δεῦρʼ ἐπέσκηψεν τόδε,
φόνων δικαστὰς ὁρκίους αἱρουμένη
θεσμὸν τὸν εἰς ἅπαντʼ ἐγὼ θήσω χρόνον.

[¶109] Summon your witnesses and proofs, sworn evidence to support your case; and I will return when I have chosen the best of my citizens, for them to decide this matter truly, after they take an oath that they will pronounce no judgment contrary to justice. Exit
Chorus:
Here is the overturning of new laws, if the wrongful cause of this matricide is to triumph. Now his deed will accustom all men
to recklessness; many sorrowful wounds, given in truth by children, wait for parents in the future time.

> Greek: ὑμεῖς δὲ μαρτύριά τε καὶ τεκμήρια
καλεῖσθʼ, ἀρωγὰ τῆς δίκης ὁρκώματα·
κρίνασα δʼ ἀστῶν τῶν ἐμῶν τὰ βέλτατα
ἥξω, διαιρεῖν τοῦτο πρᾶγμʼ ἐτητύμως,
ὅρκον πορόντας μηδὲν ἔκδικον φράσειν.
Χορός:
νῦν καταστροφαὶ νέων
θεσμίων, εἰ κρατή-
σει δίκα ⟨τε⟩ καὶ βλάβα
τοῦδε ματροκτόνου.
πάντας ἤδη τόδʼ ἔργον εὐχερεί-
ᾳ συναρμόσει βροτούς·
πολλὰ δʼ ἔτυμα παιδότρωτα
πάθεα προσμένει τοκεῦ-
σιν μεταῦθις ἐν χρόνῳ.

[¶110] Chorus:
For the wrath of us, the Furies who keep watch on mortals,
will not come stealthily upon such deeds—I will let loose death in every form. And as he anticipates his neighbor’s evils, one man
will ask of another when hardship is to end or to decrease; and the poor wretch offers the vain consolation of uncertain remedies.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐδὲ γὰρ βροτοσκόπων
μαινάδων τῶνδʼ ἐφέρ-
ψει κότος τις ἐργμάτων—
πάντʼ ἐφήσω μόρον.
πεύσεται δʼ ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν, προφω-
νῶν τὰ τῶν πέλας κακά,
λῆξιν ὑπόδοσίν τε μόχθων·
ἄκεά τʼ οὐ βέβαια τλά-
μων [δέ τις ] μάταν παρηγορεῖ.

## 2. Lines 508–1047

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-eumenides/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-eumenides/2/#p-N

[¶0] Chorus:
Do not let anyone who is struck by misfortune make an appeal
and cry aloud this word, “Justice!” “Thrones of the Furies!” Perhaps some father, or mother, in new sorrow,
may cry out these words piteously, now that the house of Justice is falling.

> Greek: Χορός:
μηδέ τις κικλῃσκέτω
ξυμφορᾷ τετυμμένος,
τοῦτʼ ἔπος θροούμενος,
ὦ δίκα,
ὦ θρόνοι τʼ Ἐρινύων.
ταῦτά τις τάχʼ ἂν πατὴρ
ἢ τεκοῦσα νεοπαθὴς
οἶκτον οἰκτίσαιτʼ, ἐπει-
δὴ πίτνει δόμος δίκας.

[¶1] Chorus:
There is a time when fear is good and ought to remain seated as a guardian of the heart.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔσθʼ ὅπου τὸ δεινὸν εὖ,
καὶ φρενῶν ἐπίσκοπον
δεῖ μένειν καθήμενον.

[¶2] It is profitable to learn wisdom under strain. But who, if he did not train his heart in fear, either city or mortal,
would still revere justice in the same way?

> Greek: ξυμφέρει
σωφρονεῖν ὑπὸ στένει.
τίς δὲ μηδὲν ἐν δέει
καρδίαν ⟨ἂν⟩ ἀνατρέφων
ἢ πόλις βροτός θʼ ὁμοί-
ως ἔτʼ ἂν σέβοι δίκαν;

[¶3] Chorus:
Do not approve of a lawless life or one subject to a tyrant.
The god grants power to moderation in every form, but he oversees other matters in different ways. I have a timely word of advice: arrogance is truly the child of impiety,
but from health of soul comes happiness, dear to all, much prayed for.

> Greek: Χορός:
μήτʼ ἀνάρχετον βίον
μήτε δεσποτούμενον
αἰνέσῃς.
παντὶ μέσῳ τὸ κράτος
θεὸς ὤπασεν, ἄλλʼ
ἄλλᾳ δʼ ἐφορεύει.
ξύμμετρον δʼ ἔπος λέγω,
δυσσεβίας μὲν ὕβρις
τέκος ὡς ἐτύμως·
ἐκ δʼ ὑγιεί-
ας φρενῶν ὁ πάμφιλος
καὶ πολύευκτος ὄλβος.

[¶4] Chorus:
And as for the whole matter, I say to you: respect the altar of Justice
and do not, looking to profit, dishonor it by spurning with godless foot; for punishment will come upon you. The appointed fulfilment remains.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐς τὸ πᾶν δέ σοι λέγω,
βωμὸν αἴδεσαι Δίκας·
μηδέ νιν
κέρδος ἰδὼν ἀθέῳ
ποδὶ λὰξ ἀτίσῃς·
ποινὰ γὰρ ἐπέσται.
κύριον μένει τέλος.

[¶5] Therefore, let a man rightly put first in honor the reverence owed to his parents, and have regard for attentions paid to guests welcomed in his house.

> Greek: πρὸς τάδε τις τοκέων
σέβας εὖ προτίων
καὶ ξενοτί-
μους δόμων ἐπιστροφὰς
αἰδόμενός τις ἔστω.

[¶6] Chorus:
Whoever is just willingly and without compulsion will not lack happiness; he will never be utterly destroyed. But I say that the man who boldly transgresses, amassing a great heap unjustly—by force,
in time, he will strike his sail, when trouble seizes him as the yardarm is splintered.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἑκὼν δʼ ἀνάγκας ἄτερ δίκαιος ὢν
οὐκ ἄνολβος ἔσται·
πανώλεθρος ⟨δʼ⟩ οὔποτʼ ἂν γένοιτο.
τὸν ἀντίτολμον δέ φαμι παρβάταν
ἄγοντα πολλὰ παντόφυρτʼ ἄνευ δίκας
βιαίως ξὺν χρόνῳ καθήσειν
λαῖφος, ὅταν λάβῃ πόνος
θραυομένας κεραίας.

[¶7] Chorus:
He calls on those who hear nothing and he struggles in the midst of the whirling waters.

> Greek: Χορός:
καλεῖ δʼ ἀκούοντας οὐδὲν ⟨ἐν⟩ μέσᾳ
δυσπαλεῖ τε δίνᾳ·

[¶8] The god laughs at the hot-headed man, seeing him, who boasted that this would never happen, exhausted by distress without remedy and unable to surmount the cresting wave. He wrecks the happiness of his earlier life on the reef of Justice,
and he perishes unwept, unseen.
Enter, in procession, Athena, a herald, the jury of the Areopagus, a crowd of citizens. Orestes removes to the place appointed for the accused. Apollo appears after Athena’s first speech.

> Greek: γελᾷ δὲ δαίμων ἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ θερμῷ,
τὸν οὔποτʼ αὐχοῦντʼ ἰδὼν ἀμαχάνοις
δύαις λαπαδνὸν οὐδʼ ὑπερθέοντʼ ἄκραν·
διʼ αἰῶνος δὲ τὸν πρὶν ὄλβον
ἕρματι προσβαλὼν δίκας
ὤλετʼ ἄκλαυτος, αἶστος.

[¶9] Athena:
Herald, give the signal and restrain the crowd; and let the piercing Tyrrhenian trumpet, filled with human breath, send forth its shrill blare to the people!

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
κήρυσσε, κῆρυξ, καὶ στρατὸν κατειργαθοῦ,
ἥ τʼ οὖν διάτορος Τυρσηνικὴ
σάλπιγξ, βροτείου πνεύματος πληρουμένη,
ὑπέρτονον γήρυμα φαινέτω στρατῷ.

[¶10] For while this council-hall is filling, it is good to be silent, and for my ordinances to be learned, by the whole city for everlasting time, and by these appellants, so that their case may be decided well.
Enter Apollo.

> Greek: πληρουμένου γὰρ τοῦδε βουλευτηρίου
σιγᾶν ἀρήγει καὶ μαθεῖν θεσμοὺς ἐμοὺς
πόλιν τε πᾶσαν εἰς τὸν αἰανῆ χρόνον
καὶ τούσδʼ ὅπως ἂν εὖ καταγνωσθῇ δίκη.

[¶11] Chorus:
Lord Apollo, be master of what is yours.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄναξ Ἄπολλον, ὧν ἔχεις αὐτὸς κράτει.

[¶12] Say what part you have in this matter.

> Greek: τί τοῦδε σοὶ μέτεστι πράγματος λέγε.

[¶13] Apollo:
I have come both to bear witness—for this man was a lawful suppliant and a guest of my sanctuary, and I am his purifier from bloodshed—and to be his advocate myself. I am
responsible for the murder of his mother. To Athena. Bring in the case, and, in accordance with your wisdom, decide it.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
καὶ μαρτυρήσων ἦλθον—ἔστι γὰρ νόμῳ
ἱκέτης ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ καὶ δόμων ἐφέστιος
ἐμῶν, φόνου δὲ τοῦδʼ ἐγὼ καθάρσιος—
καὶ ξυνδικήσων αὐτός· αἰτίαν δʼ ἔχω
τῆς τοῦδε μητρὸς τοῦ φόνου. σὺ δʼ εἴσαγε
ὅπως ⟨τʼ⟩ ἐπίστᾳ τήνδε κύρωσον δίκην.

[¶14] Athena:
To the Furies. It is for you to speak—I am only bringing in the case; for the prosecutor at the beginning, speaking first, shall rightly inform us of the matter.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ὑμῶν ὁ μῦθος, εἰσάγω δὲ τὴν δίκην·
ὁ γὰρ διώκων πρότερος ἐξ ἀρχῆς λέγων
γένοιτʼ ἂν ὀρθῶς πράγματος διδάσκαλος.

[¶15] Chorus:
We are many, but we will speak briefly. To Orestes. Answer our questions, one by one. Say first if you killed your mother.

> Greek: Χορός:
πολλαὶ μέν ἐσμεν, λέξομεν δὲ συντόμως.
ἔπος δʼ ἀμείβου πρὸς ἔπος ἐν μέρει τιθείς
τὴν μητέρʼ εἰπὲ πρῶτον εἰ κατέκτονας.

[¶16] Orestes:
I killed her. There is no denial of this.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἔκτεινα· τούτου δʼ οὔτις ἄρνησις πέλει.

[¶17] Chorus:
Of the three falls that win the wrestling match, this one is already ours.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἓν μὲν τόδʼ ἤδη τῶν τριῶν παλαισμάτων.

[¶18] Orestes:
You make this boast over a man who is not down yet.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐ κειμένῳ πω τόνδε κομπάζεις λόγον.

[¶19] Chorus:
You must, however, say how you killed her.

> Greek: Χορός:
εἰπεῖν γε μέντοι δεῖ σʼ ὅπως κατέκτανες.

[¶20] Orestes:
I will say it: with drawn sword in hand, I stabbed her in the throat.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
λέγω· ξιφουλκῷ χειρὶ πρὸς δέρην τεμών.

[¶21] Chorus:
By whom were you persuaded and on whose advice?

> Greek: Χορός:
πρὸς τοῦ δʼ ἐπείσθης καὶ τίνος βουλεύμασιν;

[¶22] Orestes:
By the oracles of this god here; he is my witness.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τοῖς τοῦδε θεσφάτοισι· μαρτυρεῖ δέ μοι.

[¶23] Chorus:
The prophet directed you to kill your mother?

> Greek: Χορός:
ὁ μάντις ἐξηγεῖτό σοι μητροκτονεῖν;

[¶24] Orestes:
Yes, and to this very hour, I do not blame my fortune.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
καὶ δεῦρό γʼ ἀεὶ τὴν τύχην οὐ μέμφομαι.

[¶25] Chorus:
But if the jury’s vote catches hold of you, you’ll soon speak differently.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ εἴ σε μάρψει ψῆφος, ἄλλʼ ἐρεῖς τάχα.

[¶26] Orestes:
I have good confidence. My father will send protection from his grave.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πέποιθʼ. ἀρωγὰς δʼ ἐκ τάφου πέμψει πατήρ.

[¶27] Chorus:
Put your confidence in the dead now, after you have killed your mother!

> Greek: Χορός:
νεκροῖσί νυν πέπισθι μητέρα κτανών.

[¶28] Orestes:
I do, for she was twice afflicted with pollution.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
δυοῖν γὰρ εἶχε προσβολὰς μιασμάτοιν.

[¶29] Chorus:
How so? Teach the judges this.

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς δή; δίδαξον τοὺς δικάζοντας τάδε.

[¶30] Orestes:
By murdering her husband, she killed my father.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἀνδροκτονοῦσα πατέρʼ ἐμὸν κατέκτανεν.

[¶31] Chorus:
And so, although you are alive, she is free of pollution by her death.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοιγὰρ σὺ μὲν ζῇς, ἡ δʼ ἐλευθέρα φόνῳ.

[¶32] Orestes:
But why did you not drive her into exile, while she lived?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί δʼ οὐκ ἐκείνην ζῶσαν ἤλαυνες φυγῇ;

[¶33] Chorus:
She was not related by blood to the man she killed.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐκ ἦν ὅμαιμος φωτὸς ὃν κατέκτανεν.

[¶34] Orestes:
Then am I my mother’s kin by blood?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἐγὼ δὲ μητρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ἐν αἵματι;

[¶35] Chorus:
How else could she have nurtured you, murderer, beneath her belt? Do you reject the nearest kinship, that of a mother?

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς γάρ σʼ ἔθρεψʼ ἂν ἐντός, ὦ μιαιφόνε,
ζώνης; ἀπεύχῃ μητρὸς αἷμα φίλτατον;

[¶36] Orestes:
Apollo, give your testimony now. Explain, on my behalf,
whether I was justified in killing her. For I do not deny that I did it, as it is done. But decide whether this bloodshed was, to your mind, just or not, so that I may inform the court.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἤδη σὺ μαρτύρησον· ἐξηγοῦ δέ μοι,
Ἄπολλον, εἴ σφε σὺν δίκῃ κατέκτανον.
δρᾶσαι γὰρ ὥσπερ ἐστὶν οὐκ ἀρνούμεθα.
ἀλλʼ εἰ δίκαιον εἴτε μὴ τῇ σῇ φρενὶ
δοκεῖ τόδʼ αἷμα, κρῖνον, ὡς τούτοις φράσω.

[¶37] Apollo:
I will speak justly before you, Athena’s great tribunal,—
since I am a prophet, I cannot lie. I have never yet, on my oracular throne, said anything about a man or woman or city that Zeus, the father of the Olympians, did not command me to say. Learn how strong this plea of justice is;
and I tell you to obey the will of my father; for an oath is not more powerful than Zeus.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
λέξω πρὸς ὑμᾶς τόνδʼ Ἀθηναίας μέγαν
θεσμὸν δικαίως,—μάντις ὢν δʼ οὐ ψεύσομαι.
οὐπώποτʼ εἶπον μαντικοῖσιν ἐν θρόνοις,
οὐκ ἀνδρός, οὐ γυναικός, οὐ πόλεως πέρι,
ὃ μὴ κελεύσαι Ζεὺς Ὀλυμπίων πατήρ.
τὸ μὲν δίκαιον τοῦθʼ ὅσον σθένει μαθεῖν,
βουλῇ πιφαύσκω δʼ ὔμμʼ ἐπισπέσθαι πατρός·
ὅρκος γὰρ οὔτι Ζηνὸς ἰσχύει πλέον.

[¶38] Chorus:
Zeus, as you say, gave you this oracular command, to tell Orestes here to avenge his father’s murder but to take no account at all of the honor due his mother?

> Greek: Χορός:
Ζεύς, ὡς λέγεις σύ, τόνδε χρησμὸν ὤπασε,
φράζειν Ὀρέστῃ τῷδε, τὸν πατρὸς φόνον
πράξαντα μητρὸς μηδαμοῦ τιμὰς νέμειν;

[¶39] Apollo:
Yes, for it is not the same thing—the murder of a noble man, honored by a god-given scepter, and his murder indeed by a woman, not by rushing arrows sped from afar, as if by an Amazon, but as you will hear, Pallas, and those
who are sitting to decide by vote in this matter. She received him from the expedition, where he had for the most part won success beyond expectation, in the judgment of those favorable to him; then, as he was stepping from the bath, on its very edge, she threw a cloak like a tent over it,
fettered her husband in an embroidered robe, and cut him down. This was his death, as I have told it to you—the death of a man wholly majestic, commander of the fleet. As for that woman, I have described her in such a way as to whet the indignation of the people who have been appointed to decide this case.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
οὐ γάρ τι ταὐτὸν ἄνδρα γενναῖον θανεῖν
διοσδότοις σκήπτροισι τιμαλφούμενον,
καὶ ταῦτα πρὸς γυναικός, οὔ τι θουρίοις
τόξοις ἑκηβόλοισιν, ὥστʼ Ἀμαζόνος,
ἀλλʼ ὡς ἀκούσῃ, Παλλὰς οἵ τʼ ἐφήμενοι
ψήφῳ διαιρεῖν τοῦδε πράγματος πέρι.
ἀπὸ στρατείας γάρ νιν ἠμποληκότα
τὰ πλεῖστʼ ἄμεινον εὔφροσιν δεδεγμένη,
δροίτῃ περῶντι λουτρὰ κἀπὶ τέρματι
φᾶρος περεσκήνωσεν, ἐν δʼ ἀτέρμονι
κόπτει πεδήσασʼ ἄνδρα δαιδάλῳ πέπλῳ.
ἀνδρὸς μὲν ὑμῖν οὗτος εἴρηται μόρος
τοῦ παντοσέμνου, τοῦ στρατηλάτου νεῶν.
ταύτην τοιαύτην εἶπον, ὡς δηχθῇ λεώς,
ὅσπερ τέτακται τήνδε κυρῶσαι δίκην.

[¶40] Chorus:
Zeus gives greater honor to a father’s death, according to what you say; yet he himself bound his aged father, Cronus. How does this not contradict what you say? I call on you as witnesses turning to the judges to hear these things.

> Greek: Χορός:
πατρὸς προτιμᾷ Ζεὺς μόρον τῷ σῷ λόγῳ·
αὐτὸς δʼ ἔδησε πατέρα πρεσβύτην Κρόνον.
πῶς ταῦτα τούτοις οὐκ ἐναντίως λέγεις;
ὑμᾶς δʼ ἀκούειν ταῦτʼ ἐγὼ μαρτύρομαι.

[¶41] Apollo:
Oh, monsters utterly loathed and detested by the gods!
Zeus could undo fetters, there is a remedy for that, and many means of release. But when the dust has drawn up the blood of a man, once he is dead, there is no return to life. For this, my father has made no magic spells,
although he arranges all other things, turning them up and down; nor does his exercise of force cost him a breath.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ὦ παντομισῆ κνώδαλα, στύγη θεῶν,
πέδας μὲν ἂν λύσειεν, ἔστι τοῦδʼ ἄκος
καὶ κάρτα πολλὴ μηχανὴ λυτήριος·
ἀνδρὸς δʼ ἐπειδὰν αἷμʼ ἀνασπάσῃ κόνις
ἅπαξ θανόντος, οὔτις ἔστʼ ἀνάστασις.
τούτων ἐπῳδὰς οὐκ ἐποίησεν πατὴρ
οὑμός, τὰ δʼ ἄλλα πάντʼ ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω
στρέφων τίθησιν οὐδὲν ἀσθμαίνων μένει.

[¶42] Chorus:
See how you advocate acquittal for this man! After he has poured out his mother’s blood on the ground, shall he then live in his father’s house in Argos?

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς γὰρ τὸ φεύγειν τοῦδʼ ὑπερδικεῖς ὅρα·
τὸ μητρὸς αἷμʼ ὅμαιμον ἐκχέας πέδοι
ἔπειτʼ ἐν Ἄργει δώματʼ οἰκήσει πατρός;

[¶43] Which of the public altars shall he use? What purification rite of the brotherhoods will receive him?

> Greek: ποίοισι βωμοῖς χρώμενος τοῖς δημίοις;
ποία δὲ χέρνιψ φρατέρων προσδέξεται;

[¶44] Apollo:
I will explain this, too, and see how correctly I will speak. The mother of what is called her child is not the parent, but the nurse of the newly-sown embryo.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
καὶ τοῦτο λέξω, καὶ μάθʼ ὡς ὀρθῶς ἐρῶ.
οὔκ ἔστι μήτηρ ἡ κεκλημένου τέκνου
τοκεύς, τροφὸς δὲ κύματος νεοσπόρου.

[¶45] The one who mounts is the parent, whereas she, as a stranger for a stranger, preserves the young plant, if the god does not harm it. And I will show you proof of what I say: a father might exist without a mother. A witness is here at hand, the child of Olympian Zeus,
who was not nursed in the darkness of a womb, and she is such a child as no goddess could give birth to. For my part, Pallas, as in all other matters, as I know how, I will make your city and people great; and I have sent this man as a suppliant to your sanctuary
so that he may be faithful for all time, and that you, goddess, might win him and those to come after him as a new ally and so that these pledges of faith might remain always, for the later generations of these people to cherish.

> Greek: τίκτει δʼ ὁ θρῴσκων, ἡ δʼ ἅπερ ξένῳ ξένη
ἔσωσεν ἔρνος, οἷσι μὴ βλάψῃ θεός.
τεκμήριον δὲ τοῦδέ σοι δείξω λόγου.
πατὴρ μὲν ἂν γένοιτʼ ἄνευ μητρός· πέλας
μάρτυς πάρεστι παῖς Ὀλυμπίου Διός,
οὐδʼ ἐν σκότοισι νηδύος τεθραμμένη,
ἀλλʼ οἷον ἔρνος οὔτις ἂν τέκοι θεός.
ἐγὼ δέ, Παλλάς, τἄλλα θʼ ὡς ἐπίσταμαι,
τὸ σὸν πόλισμα καὶ στρατὸν τεύξω μέγαν,
καὶ τόνδʼ ἔπεμψα σῶν δόμων ἐφέστιον,
ὅπως γένοιτο πιστὸς εἰς τὸ πᾶν χρόνου
καὶ τόνδʼ ἐπικτήσαιο σύμμαχον, θεά,
καὶ τοὺς ἔπειτα, καὶ τάδʼ αἰανῶς μένοι
στέργειν τὰ πιστὰ τῶνδε τοὺς ἐπισπόρους.

[¶46] Athena:
Am I to assume that enough has been said,
and shall I now command these jurors to cast an honest vote according to their judgment?

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ἤδη κελεύω τούσδʼ ἀπὸ γνώμης φέρειν
ψῆφον δικαίαν, ὡς ἅλις λελεγμένων;

[¶47] Chorus:
For our part, every bolt is already shot. But I am waiting to hear how the trial will be decided.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἡμῖν μὲν ἤδη πᾶν τετόξευται βέλος.
μένω δʼ ἀκοῦσαι πῶς ἀγὼν κριθήσεται.

[¶48] Athena:
Why not? As for you, To Apollo and Orestes. how shall I arrange matters so that I will not be blamed by you?

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
τί γάρ; πρὸς ὑμῶν πῶς τιθεῖσʼ, ἄμομφος ὦ;

[¶49] Apollo:
You have heard what you have heard;
and as you cast your ballots, keep the oath sacred in your hearts, friends.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ἠκούσαθʼ ὧν ἠκούσατʼ, ἐν δὲ καρδίᾳ
ψῆφον φέροντες ὅρκον αἰδεῖσθε, ξένοι.

[¶50] Athena:
Hear now my ordinance, people of Attica, as you judge the first trial for bloodshed. In the future, even as now, this court of judges will always exist for the people of Aegeus.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
κλύοιτʼ ἂν ἤδη θεσμόν, Ἀττικὸς λεώς,
πρώτας δίκας κρίνοντες αἵματος χυτοῦ.
ἔσται δὲ καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν Αἰγέως στρατῷ
αἰεὶ δικαστῶν τοῦτο βουλευτήριον.

[¶51] And this Hill of Ares, the seat and camp of the Amazons, when they came with an army in resentment against Theseus, and in those days built up this new citadel with lofty towers to rival his, and sacrificed to Ares, from which this rock takes its name,
the Hill of Ares: on this hill, the reverence of the citizens, and fear, its kinsman, will hold them back from doing wrong by day and night alike, so long as they themselves do not pollute the laws with evil streams; if you stain clear water
with filth, you will never find a drink. Neither anarchy nor tyranny—this I counsel my citizens to support and respect, and not to drive fear wholly out of the city. For who among mortals, if he fears nothing, is righteous?

> Greek: πάγον δʼ Ἄρειον τόνδʼ, Ἀμαζόνων ἕδραν
σκηνάς θʼ, ὅτʼ ἦλθον Θησέως κατὰ φθόνον
στρατηλατοῦσαι, καὶ πόλιν νεόπτολιν
τήνδʼ ὑψίπυργον ἀντεπύργωσαν τότε,
Ἄρει δʼ ἔθυον, ἔνθεν ἔστʼ ἐπώνυμος
πέτρα, πάγος τʼ Ἄρειος· ἐν δὲ τῷ σέβας
ἀστῶν φόβος τε ξυγγενὴς τὸ μὴ ἀδικεῖν
σχήσει τό τʼ ἦμαρ καὶ κατʼ εὐφρόνην ὁμῶς,
αὐτῶν πολιτῶν μὴ ʼπιχραινόντων νόμους
κακαῖς ἐπιρροαῖσι· βορβόρῳ δʼ ὕδωρ
λαμπρὸν μιαίνων οὔποθʼ εὑρήσεις ποτόν.
τὸ μήτʼ ἄναρχον μήτε δεσποτούμενον
ἀστοῖς περιστέλλουσι βουλεύω σέβειν,
καὶ μὴ τὸ δεινὸν πᾶν πόλεως ἔξω βαλεῖν.
τίς γὰρ δεδοικὼς μηδὲν ἔνδικος βροτῶν;

[¶52] Stand in just awe of such majesty, and you will have a defense for your land and salvation of your city, such as no man has, either among the Scythians or in Pelops’ realm. I establish this tribunal, untouched by greed,
worthy of reverence, quick to anger, awake on behalf of those who sleep, a guardian of the land. I have prolonged this advice to my citizens for the future; but now you must rise and take a ballot, and decide the case
under the sacred obligation of your oath. My word has been spoken. The judges rise from their seats and cast their ballots one by one during the following altercation.

> Greek: τοιόνδε τοι ταρβοῦντες ἐνδίκως σέβας
ἔρυμά τε χώρας καὶ πόλεως σωτήριον
ἔχοιτʼ ἄν, οἷον οὔτις ἀνθρώπων ἔχει,
οὔτʼ ἐν Σκύθῃσιν οὔτε Πέλοπος ἐν τόποις.
κερδῶν ἄθικτον τοῦτο βουλευτήριον,
αἰδοῖον, ὀξύθυμον, εὑδόντων ὕπερ
ἐγρηγορὸς φρούρημα γῆς καθίσταμαι.
ταύτην μὲν ἐξέτεινʼ ἐμοῖς παραίνεσιν
ἀστοῖσιν εἰς τὸ λοιπόν· ὀρθοῦσθαι δὲ χρὴ
καὶ ψῆφον αἴρειν καὶ διαγνῶναι δίκην
αἰδουμένους τὸν ὅρκον. εἴρηται λόγος.

[¶53] Chorus:
And I counsel you not to dishonor us in any way, since our company can be a burden to your land.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν βαρεῖαν τήνδʼ ὁμιλίαν χθονὸς
ξύμβουλός εἰμι μηδαμῶς ἀτιμάσαι.

[¶54] Apollo:
And I, for my part, command you to stand in fear of the oracles, both mine and Zeus’, and not cause them to be unfulfilled.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
κἄγωγε χρησμοὺς τοὺς ἐμούς τε καὶ Διὸς
ταρβεῖν κελεύω μηδʼ ἀκαρπώτους κτίσαι.

[¶55] Chorus:
Although it is not your office, you have respect for deeds of bloodshed. You will prophesy, dispensing prophecies that are no longer pure.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ αἱματηρὰ πράγματʼ οὐ λαχὼν σέβεις,
μαντεῖα δʼ οὐκέθʼ ἁγνὰ μαντεύσῃ νέμων.

[¶56] Apollo:
Then was my father mistaken in any way in his purposes when Ixion, who first shed blood, was a suppliant?

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ἦ καὶ πατήρ τι σφάλλεται βουλευμάτων
πρωτοκτόνοισι προστροπαῖς Ἰξίονος;

[¶57] Chorus:
You do argue! But if I fail to win the case,
I will once more inflict my company on this land as a burden.

> Greek: Χορός:
λέγεις· ἐγὼ δὲ μὴ τυχοῦσα τῆς δίκης
βαρεῖα χώρᾳ τῇδʼ ὁμιλήσω πάλιν.

[¶58] Apollo:
But you have no honor, among both the younger and the older gods. I will win.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ἀλλʼ ἔν τε τοῖς νέοισι καὶ παλαιτέροις
θεοῖς ἄτιμος εἶ σύ· νικήσω δʼ ἐγώ.

[¶59] Chorus:
You did such things also in the house of Pheres, when you persuaded the Fates to make mortals free from death.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοιαῦτʼ ἔδρασας καὶ Φέρητος ἐν δόμοις·
Μοίρας ἔπεισας ἀφθίτους θεῖναι βροτούς.

[¶60] Apollo:
Is it not right, then, to do good for a worshipper, especially when he is in need?

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
οὔκουν δίκαιον τὸν σέβοντʼ εὐεργετεῖν,
ἄλλως τε πάντως χὤτε δεόμενος τύχοι;

[¶61] Chorus:
It was you who destroyed the old dispensations when you beguiled the ancient goddesses with wine.

> Greek: Χορός:
σύ τοι παλαιὰς διανομὰς καταφθίσας
οἴνῳ παρηπάτησας ἀρχαίας θεάς.

[¶62] Apollo:
Soon, when you have lost the case,
you will spit out your venom—no great burden to your enemies. The balloting is now ended.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
σύ τοι τάχʼ οὐκ ἔχουσα τῆς δίκης τέλος
ἐμῇ τὸν ἰὸν οὐδὲν ἐχθροῖσιν βαρύν.

[¶63] Chorus:
Since you, a youth, would ride me down, an old woman, I am waiting to hear the verdict in the case, since I have not decided whether to be angry at the city.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπεὶ καθιππάζῃ με πρεσβῦτιν νέος,
δίκης γενέσθαι τῆσδʼ ἐπήκοος μένω,
ὡς ἀμφίβουλος οὖσα θυμοῦσθαι πόλει.

[¶64] Athena:
It is my duty to give the final judgment
and I shall cast my vote for Orestes. For there was no mother who gave me birth; and in all things, except for marriage, whole-heartedly I am for the male and entirely on the father’s side. Therefore, I will not award greater honor to the death of a woman
who killed her husband, the master of the house. Orestes wins, even if the vote comes out equal. Cast the ballots out of the urns, as quickly as possible, you jurors who have been assigned this task. The ballots are turned out and separated.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ἐμὸν τόδʼ ἔργον, λοισθίαν κρῖναι δίκην.
ψῆφον δʼ Ὀρέστῃ τήνδʼ ἐγὼ προσθήσομαι.
μήτηρ γὰρ οὔτις ἐστὶν ἥ μʼ ἐγείνατο,
τὸ δʼ ἄρσεν αἰνῶ πάντα, πλὴν γάμου τυχεῖν,
ἅπαντι θυμῷ, κάρτα δʼ εἰμὶ τοῦ πατρός.
οὕτω γυναικὸς οὐ προτιμήσω μόρον
ἄνδρα κτανούσης δωμάτων ἐπίσκοπον.
νικᾷ δʼ Ὀρέστης, κἂν ἰσόψηφος κριθῇ.
ἐκβάλλεθʼ ὡς τάχιστα τευχέων πάλους,
ὅσοις δικαστῶν τοῦτʼ ἐπέσταλται τέλος.

[¶65] Orestes:
O Phoebus Apollo! How will the trial be decided?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὦ Φοῖβʼ Ἄπολλον, πῶς ἀγὼν κριθήσεται;

[¶66] Chorus:
O Night, our dark Mother, do you see this?

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ Νὺξ μέλαινα μῆτερ, ἆρʼ ὁρᾷς τάδε;

[¶67] Orestes:
Now I will meet my end by hanging, or I will live.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
νῦν ἀγχόνης μοι τέρματʼ, ἢ φάος βλέπειν.

[¶68] Chorus:
Yes, and we will be ruined, or maintain our honors further.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἡμῖν γὰρ ἔρρειν, ἢ πρόσω τιμὰς νέμειν.

[¶69] Apollo:
Correctly count the ballots cast forth, friends, and be in awe of doing wrong in the division of the votes.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
πεμπάζετʼ ὀρθῶς ἐκβολὰς ψήφων, ξένοι,
τὸ μὴ ʼδικεῖν σέβοντες ἐν διαιρέσει.

[¶70] Error of judgment is the source of much distress, and the cast of a single ballot has set upright a house. The ballots are shown to Athena.

> Greek: γνώμης δʼ ἀπούσης πῆμα γίγνεται μέγα,
βαλοῦσά τʼ οἶκον ψῆφος ὤρθωσεν μία.

[¶71] Athena:
This man is acquitted on the charge of murder, for the numbers of the casts are equal. Apollo disappears.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ἀνὴρ ὅδʼ ἐκπέφευγεν αἵματος δίκην·
ἴσον γάρ ἐστι τἀρίθμημα τῶν πάλων.

[¶72] Orestes:
Pallas, savior of my house!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὦ Παλλάς, ὦ σώσασα τοὺς ἐμοὺς δόμους.

[¶73] I was deprived of a fatherland, and it is you who have given me a home there again. The Hellenes will say, “The man is an Argive once again, and lives in his father’s heritage, by the grace of Pallas and of Loxias and of that third god, the one who accomplishes everything,”
“the savior”—the one who, having respect for my father’s death, saves me, seeing those advocates of my mother. I will return to my home now, after I swear an oath to this land and to your people for the future and for all time to come,
that no captain of my land will ever come here and bring a well-equipped spear against them. For I myself, then in my grave, will accomplish it by failure without remedy,
making their marches spiritless and their journeys ill-omened, so that those who violate my present oath will repent their enterprise. But while the straight course is preserved, and they hold in everlasting honor this city of Pallas with their allied spears, I will be the more well-disposed to them.

> Greek: γαίας πατρῴας ἐστερημένον σύ τοι
κατῴκισάς με· καί τις Ἑλλήνων ἐρεῖ,
Ἀργεῖος ἁνὴρ αὖθις ἔν τε χρήμασιν
οἰκεῖ πατρῴοις, Παλλάδος καὶ Λοξίου
ἕκατι, καὶ τοῦ πάντα κραίνοντος τρίτου
σωτῆρος, ὃς πατρῷον αἰδεσθεὶς μόρον
σῴζει με, μητρὸς τάσδε συνδίκους ὁρῶν.
ἐγὼ δὲ χώρᾳ τῇδε καὶ τῷ σῷ στρατῷ
τὸ λοιπὸν εἰς ἅπαντα πλειστήρη χρόνον
ὁρκωμοτήσας νῦν ἄπειμι πρὸς δόμους,
μήτοι τινʼ ἄνδρα δεῦρο πρυμνήτην χθονὸς
ἐλθόντʼ ἐποίσειν εὖ κεκασμένον δόρυ.
αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς ὄντες ἐν τάφοις τότε
τοῖς τἀμὰ παρβαίνουσι νῦν ὁρκώματα
ἀμηχάνοισι πράξομεν δυσπραξίαις,
ὁδοὺς ἀθύμους καὶ παρόρνιθας πόρους
τιθέντες, ὡς αὐτοῖσι μεταμέλῃ πόνος·
ὀρθουμένων δέ, καὶ πόλιν τὴν Παλλάδος
τιμῶσιν αἰεὶ τήνδε συμμάχῳ δορί,
αὐτοῖσιν ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν εὐμενέστεροι.

[¶74] And so farewell—you and the people who guard your city. May your struggle with your enemies let none escape, bringing you safety and victory with the spear! Exit.

> Greek: καὶ χαῖρε, καὶ σὺ καὶ πολισσοῦχος λεώς·
πάλαισμʼ ἄφυκτον τοῖς ἐναντίοις ἔχοις,
σωτήριόν τε καὶ δορὸς νικηφόρον.

[¶75] Chorus:
Younger gods, you have ridden down the ancient laws and have taken them from my hands!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ θεοὶ νεώτεροι, παλαιοὺς νόμους
καθιππάσασθε κἀκ χερῶν εἵλεσθέ μου.

[¶76] And I—dishonored, unhappy, deeply angry—on this land, alas, I will release venom from my heart, venom in return for my grief, drops that the land cannot endure. From it,
a blight that destroys leaves, destroys children—a just return—speeding over the plain, will cast infection on the land to ruin mortals. I groan aloud. What shall I do? I am mocked by the people.

> Greek: ἐγὼ δʼ ἄτιμος ἁ τάλαινα βαρύκοτος
ἐν γᾷ τᾷδε, φεῦ,
ἰὸν ἰὸν ἀντιπενθῆ
μεθεῖσα καρδίας, σταλαγμὸν χθονὶ
ἄφορον· ἐκ δὲ τοῦ
λειχὴν ἄφυλλος, ἄτεκνος,
ἰὼ δίκα, πέδον ἐπισύμενος
βροτοφθόρους κηλῖδας ἐν χώρᾳ βαλεῖ.
στενάζω· τί ῥέξω;
γελῶμαι πολίταις.

[¶77] What I have suffered is unbearable. Ah, cruel indeed are the wrongs of the daughters of Night, mourning over dishonor!

> Greek: δύσοισθʼ ἅπαθον.
ἰὼ μεγάλα τοὶ κόραι δυστυχεῖς
Νυκτὸς ἀτιμοπενθεῖς.

[¶78] Athena:
Be persuaded by me not to bear it with heavy lament.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ἐμοὶ πίθεσθε μὴ βαρυστόνως φέρειν.

[¶79] For you have not been defeated; the trial resulted fairly in an equal vote, without disgrace to you; but clear testimony from Zeus was present, and he himself who spoke the oracle himself gave witness that Orestes should not suffer harm for his deed.

> Greek: οὐ γὰρ νενίκησθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἰσόψηφος δίκη
ἐξῆλθʼ ἀληθῶς, οὐκ ἀτιμίᾳ σέθεν·
ἀλλʼ ἐκ Διὸς γὰρ λαμπρὰ μαρτύρια παρῆν,
αὐτός θʼ ὁ χρήσας αὐτὸς ἦν ὁ μαρτυρῶν,
ὡς ταῦτʼ Ὀρέστην δρῶντα μὴ βλάβας ἔχειν.

[¶80] Do not be angry, do not hurl your heavy rage on this land, or cause barrenness, letting loose drops whose savage spirit will devour the seed. For I promise you most sacredly that you will have
a cavernous sanctuary in a righteous land, where you will sit on shining thrones at your hearths, worshipped with honor by my citizens here.

> Greek: ὑμεῖς δὲ μὴ θυμοῦσθε μηδὲ τῇδε γῇ
βαρὺν κότον σκήψητε, μηδʼ ἀκαρπίαν
τεύξητʼ, ἀφεῖσαι δαιμόνων σταλάγματα,
βρωτῆρας αἰχμὰς σπερμάτων ἀνημέρους.
ἐγὼ γὰρ ὑμῖν πανδίκως ὑπίσχομαι
ἕδρας τε καὶ κευθμῶνας ἐνδίκου χθονὸς
λιπαροθρόνοισιν ἡμένας ἐπʼ ἐσχάραις
ἕξειν ὑπʼ ἀστῶν τῶνδε τιμαλφουμένας.

[¶81] Chorus:
Younger gods, you have ridden down the ancient laws and have taken them from my hands!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ θεοὶ νεώτεροι, παλαιοὺς νόμους
καθιππάσασθε κἀκ χερῶν εἵλεσθέ μου.

[¶82] And I—dishonored, unhappy, deeply angry—on this land, alas, I will release venom from my heart, venom in return for my grief, drops that the land cannot endure. From it a blight
that destroys leaves, destroys children—a just return—speeding over the plain, will cast infection on the land to ruin mortals. I groan aloud. What shall I do? I am mocked by the people.

> Greek: ἐγὼ δʼ ἄτιμος ἁ τάλαινα βαρύκοτος
ἐν γᾷ τᾷδε, φεῦ,
ἰὸν ἰὸν ἀντιπενθῆ
μεθεῖσα καρδίας, σταλαγμὸν χθονὶ
ἄφορον· ἐκ δὲ τοῦ
λειχὴν ἄφυλλος, ἄτεκνος,
ἰὼ δίκα, πέδον ἐπισύμενος
βροτοφθόρους κηλῖδας ἐν χώρᾳ βαλεῖ.
στενάζω· τί ῥέξω;
γελῶμαι πολίταις·

[¶83] What I have suffered is unbearable. Ah, cruel indeed are the wrongs of the daughters of Night, mourning over dishonor!

> Greek: δύσοισθʼ ἅπαθον.
ἰὼ μεγάλα τοι κόραι δυστυχεῖς
Νυκτὸς ἀτιμοπενθεῖς.

[¶84] Athena:
You are not dishonored; so, although you are goddesses, do not, in excessive rage,
blight past all cure a land of mortals. I also rely on Zeus—what need is there to mention that?—and I alone of the gods know the keys to the house where his thunderbolt is sealed. But there is no need of that. So yield to my persuasion
and do not hurl the words of a reckless tongue against the land, that all things bearing fruit will not prosper. Calm the black wave’s bitter anger, since you will receive proud honors and will live with me. And when you have the first-fruits of this great land forever,
offerings on behalf of children and of marriage rites, you will praise my counsel.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
οὐκ ἔστʼ ἄτιμοι, μηδʼ ὑπερθύμως ἄγαν
θεαὶ βροτῶν κτίσητε δύσκηλον χθόνα.
κἀγὼ πέποιθα Ζηνί, καὶ τί δεῖ λέγειν;
καὶ κλῇδας οἶδα δώματος μόνη θεῶν,
ἐν ᾧ κεραυνός ἐστιν ἐσφραγισμένος·
ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν αὐτοῦ δεῖ· σὺ δʼ εὐπιθὴς ἐμοὶ
γλώσσης ματαίας μὴ ʼκβάλῃς ἔπη χθονί,
καρπὸν φέροντα πάντα μὴ πράσσειν καλῶς
κοίμα κελαινοῦ κύματος πικρὸν μένος
ὡς σεμνότιμος καὶ ξυνοικήτωρ ἐμοί·
πολλῆς δὲ χώρας τῆσδʼ ἔτʼ ἀκροθίνια
θύη πρὸ παίδων καὶ γαμηλίου τέλους
ἔχουσʼ ἐς αἰεὶ τόνδʼ ἐπαινέσεις λόγον.

[¶85] Chorus:
For me to suffer this, alas! For me, with ancient wisdom, to live beneath the earth, alas, without honor, unclean!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐμὲ παθεῖν τάδε, φεῦ,
ἐμὲ παλαιόφρονα κατά τε γᾶς οἰκεῖν,
φεῦ, ἀτίετον μύσος.

[¶86] I am breathing fury and utter rage. Oh, oh, the shame of it! What anguish steals into my breast! Hear my anger, mother
Night; for the deceptions of the gods, hard to fight, have deprived me of my ancient honors, bringing me to nothing.

> Greek: πνέω τοι μένος ἅπαντά τε κότον.
οἶ οἶ δᾶ, φεῦ.
τίς μʼ ὑποδύεται, ⟨τίς⟩ ὀδύνα πλευράς;
θυμὸν ἄιε, μᾶτερ
Νύξ· ἀπὸ γάρ με τι-
μᾶν δαναιᾶν θεῶν
δυσπάλαμοι παρʼ οὐδὲν ἦραν δόλοι.

[¶87] Athena:
I will endure your anger, for you are older, and in that respect you are surely wiser than I;

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ὀργὰς ξυνοίσω σοι· γεραιτέρα γὰρ εἶ.
καὶ τῷ μὲν ⟨εἶ⟩ σὺ κάρτʼ ἐμοῦ σοφωτέρα·

[¶88] yet Zeus has given me, too, no mean understanding. But as for you, if you go to a foreign land, you will come to love this land—I forewarn you. For time, flowing on, will bring greater honor to these citizens. And you,
having a seat of honor at the house of Erechtheus, will obtain from hosts of men and women more than you could ever win from other mortals. So do not cast on my realm keen incentives to bloodshed, harmful to young hearts,
maddening them with a fury not of wine; and do not, as if taking the heart out of fighting cocks, plant in my people the spirit of tribal war and boldness against each other. Let their war be with foreign enemies, and without stint for one
in whom there will be a terrible passion for glory; but I say there will be no battling of birds within the home. It is possible for you to choose such things from me: bestowing good, receiving good, well honored in this land that is most beloved to the gods.

> Greek: φρονεῖν δὲ κἀμοὶ Ζεὺς ἔδωκεν οὐ κακῶς.
ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐς ἀλλόφυλον ἐλθοῦσαι χθόνα
γῆς τῆσδʼ ἐρασθήσεσθε· προυννέπω τάδε.
οὑπιρρέων γὰρ τιμιώτερος χρόνος
ἔσται πολίταις τοῖσδε. καὶ σὺ τιμίαν
ἕδραν ἔχουσα πρὸς δόμοις Ἐρεχθέως
τεύξῃ παρʼ ἀνδρῶν καὶ γυναικείων στόλων,
ὅσων παρʼ ἄλλων οὔποτʼ ἂν σχέθοις βροτῶν.
σὺ δʼ ἐν τόποισι τοῖς ἐμοῖσι μὴ βάλῃς
μήθʼ αἱματηρὰς θηγάνας, σπλάγχνων βλάβας
νέων, ἀοίνοις ἐμμανεῖς θυμώμασιν,
μήτʼ, ἐξελοῦσʼ ὡς καρδίαν ἀλεκτόρων,
ἐν τοῖς ἐμοῖς ἀστοῖσιν ἱδρύσῃς Ἄρη
ἐμφύλιόν τε καὶ πρὸς ἀλλήλους θρασύν.
θυραῖος ἔστω πόλεμος, οὐ μόλις παρών,
ἐν ᾧ τις ἔσται δεινὸς εὐκλείας ἔρως·
ἐνοικίου δʼ ὄρνιθος οὐ λέγω μάχην
τοιαῦθʼ ἑλέσθαι σοι πάρεστιν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,
εὖ δρῶσαν, εὖ πάσχουσαν, εὖ τιμωμένην
χώρας μετασχεῖν τῆσδε θεοφιλεστάτης.

[¶89] Chorus:
For me to suffer this, alas! For me, with ancient wisdom, to live beneath the earth, alas, without honor, unclean! I am breathing fury and utter rage. Oh, oh the shame of it!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐμὲ παθεῖν τάδε, φεῦ,
ἐμὲ παλαιόφρονα κατά τε γᾶς οἰκεῖν,
φεῦ, ἀτίετον μύσος.
πνέω τοι μένος ἅπαντά τε κότον.
οἶ οἶ δᾶ, φεῦ.

[¶90] What anguish steals into my breast! Hear my anger, mother Night; for the deceptions of the gods, hard to fight, have deprived me of my ancient honors, bringing me to nothing.

> Greek: τίς μʼ ὑποδύεται, τίς ὀδύνα πλευράς;
θυμὸν ἄιε, μᾶτερ
Νύξ· ἀπὸ γάρ με τι-
μᾶν δαναιᾶν θεῶν
δυσπάλαμοι παρʼ οὐδὲν ἦραν δόλοι.

[¶91] Athena:
No, I will not grow tired of telling you about these good things, so you will never be able to say that you, an ancient goddess, were cast out, dishonored and banished, from this land by me, a younger goddess, and by the mortal guardians of my city.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
οὔτοι καμοῦμαί σοι λέγουσα τἀγαθά,
ὡς μήποτʼ εἴπῃς πρὸς νεωτέρας ἐμοῦ
θεὸς παλαιὰ καὶ πολισσούχων βροτῶν
ἄτιμος ἔρρειν τοῦδʼ ἀπόξενος πέδου.

[¶92] But if you give holy reverence to Persuasion, the sweetness and charm of my tongue, then you might remain. But if you are not willing to stay, then surely it would be unjust for you to inflict on this city any wrath or rage or harm to the people.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ εἰ μὲν ἁγνόν ἐστί σοι Πειθοῦς σέβας;
γλώσσης ἐμῆς μείλιγμα καὶ θελκτήριον,
σὺ δʼ οὖν μένοις ἄν· εἰ δὲ μὴ θέλεις μένειν,
οὔ τἂν δικαίως τῇδʼ ἐπιρρέποις πόλει
μῆνίν τινʼ ἢ κότον τινʼ ἢ βλάβην στρατῷ.

[¶93] For it is possible for you to have a share of the land justly, with full honors.

> Greek: ἔξεστι γάρ σοι τῆσδε γαμόρῳ χθονὸς
εἶναι δικαίως ἐς τὸ πᾶν τιμωμένῃ.

[¶94] Chorus:
Lady Athena, what place do you say I will have?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄνασσʼ Ἀθάνα, τίνα με φὴς ἔχειν ἕδραν;

[¶95] Athena:
One free from all pain and distress; accept it.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
πάσης ἀπήμονʼ οἰζύος· δέχου δὲ σύ.

[¶96] Chorus:
Say that I have accepted it, what honor awaits me?

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ δὴ δέδεγμαι· τίς δέ μοι τιμὴ μένει;

[¶97] Athena:
That no house will flourish without you.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ὡς μή τινʼ οἶκον εὐθενεῖν ἄνευ σέθεν.

[¶98] Chorus:
Will you gain for me the possession of such power?

> Greek: Χορός:
σὺ τοῦτο πράξεις, ὥστε με σθένειν τόσον;

[¶99] Athena:
Yes, for we will set straight the fortunes of those who worship.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
τῷ γὰρ σέβοντι συμφορὰς ὀρθώσομεν.

[¶100] Chorus:
And will you give me a pledge for all time?

> Greek: Χορός:
καί μοι πρόπαντος ἐγγύην θήσῃ χρόνου;

[¶101] Athena:
Yes, for I have no need to say what I will not accomplish.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ἔξεστι γάρ μοι μὴ λέγειν ἃ μὴ τελῶ.

[¶102] Chorus:
It seems you will win me by your spells; I am letting go my anger.

> Greek: Χορός:
θέλξειν μʼ ἔοικας καὶ μεθίσταμαι κότου.

[¶103] Athena:
Then stay in the land and you will gain other friends.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
τοιγὰρ κατὰ χθόνʼ οὖσʼ ἐπικτήσῃ φίλους.

[¶104] Chorus:
What blessings then do you advise me to invoke on this land?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί οὖν μʼ ἄνωγας τῇδʼ ἐφυμνῆσαι χθονί;

[¶105] Athena:
Blessings that aim at a victory not evil; blessings from the earth and from the waters of the sea
and from the heavens: that the breathing gales of wind may approach the land in radiant sunshine, and that the fruit of the earth and offspring of grazing beasts, flourishing in overflow, may not fail my citizens in the course of time, and that the seed of mortals will be kept safe.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ὁποῖα νίκης μὴ κακῆς ἐπίσκοπα,
καὶ ταῦτα γῆθεν ἔκ τε ποντίας δρόσου
ἐξ οὐρανοῦ τε· κἀνέμων ἀήματα
εὐηλίως πνέοντʼ ἐπιστείχειν χθόνα·
καρπόν τε γαίας καὶ βοτῶν ἐπίρρυτον
ἀστοῖσιν εὐθενοῦντα μὴ κάμνειν χρόνῳ,
καὶ τῶν βροτείων σπερμάτων σωτηρίαν.

[¶106] May you make more prosperous the offspring of godly men; for I, like a gardener, cherish the race of these just men, free of sorrow. Pointing to the audience. Such blessings are yours to give. I, for my part, will not allow this city to be without honor among mortals,
this city victorious in the glorious contests of deadly war.

> Greek: τῶν εὐσεβούντων δʼ ἐκφορωτέρα πέλοις.
στέργω γάρ, ἀνδρὸς φιτυποίμενος δίκην,
τὸ τῶν δικαίων τῶνδʼ ἀπένθητον γένος.
τοιαῦτα σοὔστι. τῶν ἀρειφάτων δʼ ἐγὼ
πρεπτῶν ἀγώνων οὐκ ἀνέξομαι τὸ μὴ οὐ
τήνδʼ ἀστύνικον ἐν βροτοῖς τιμᾶν πόλιν.

[¶107] Chorus:
I will accept a home with Pallas, and I will not dishonor a city which she, with Zeus the omnipotent and Ares, holds as a fortress of the gods,
the bright ornament that guards the altars of the gods of Hellas. I pray for the city, with favorable prophecy, that the bright gleam of the sun may cause blessings that give happiness to life
to spring from the earth, in plenty.

> Greek: Χορός:
δέξομαι Παλλάδος ξυνοικίαν,
οὐδʼ ἀτιμάσω πόλιν,
τὰν καὶ Ζεὺς ὁ παγκρατὴς Ἄρης τε
φρούριον θεῶν νέμει,
ῥυσίβωμον Ἑλλάνων ἄγαλμα δαιμόνων·
ᾇτʼ ἐγὼ κατεύχομαι
θεσπίσασα πρευμενῶς
ἐπισσύτους βίου τύχας ὀνησίμους
γαίας ἐξαμβρῦσαι
φαιδρὸν ἁλίου σέλας.

[¶108] Athena:
I act zealously for these citizens in this way, installing here among them divinities great and hard to please.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
τάδʼ ἐγὼ προφρόνως τοῖσδε πολίταις
πράσσω, μεγάλας καὶ δυσαρέστους
δαίμονας αὐτοῦ κατανασσαμένη.

[¶109] For they have been appointed to arrange everything among mortals. Yet the one who has not found them grievous does not know where the blows of life come from. For the sins of his fathers
drag him before them; destruction, in silence and hateful wrath, levels him to the dust, for all his loud boasting.

> Greek: πάντα γὰρ αὗται τὰ κατʼ ἀνθρώπους
ἔλαχον διέπειν.
ὁ δὲ μὴ κύρσας βαρεῶν τούτων
οὐκ οἶδεν ὅθεν πληγαὶ βιότου.
τὰ γὰρ ἐκ προτέρων ἀπλακήματά νιν
πρὸς τάσδʼ ἀπάγει, σιγῶν ⟨δʼ⟩ ὄλεθρος
καὶ μέγα φωνοῦντʼ
ἐχθραῖς ὀργαῖς ἀμαθύνει.

[¶110] Chorus:
May no hurtful wind blow to harm the trees—I declare my favor—
and may no burning heat, stealing the buds from plants, pass the border of its proper place; may no deadly plague draw near to kill the fruit; may the earth nurture the thriving flocks
with twin offspring at the appointed time; and may the rich produce of the earth always pay the gods’ gift of lucky gain.

> Greek: Χορός:
δενδροπήμων δὲ μὴ πνέοι βλάβα,
τὰν ἐμὰν χάριν λέγω·
φλογμός τʼ ὀμματοστερὴς φυτῶν, τὸ
μὴ περᾶν ὅρον τόπων,
μηδʼ ἄκαρπος αἰανὴς ἐφερπέτω νόσος,
μῆλά τʼ εὐθενοῦντα γᾶ
ξὺν διπλοῖσιν ἐμβρύοις
τρέφοι χρόνῳ τεταγμένῳ· γόνος ⟨δʼ⟩
πλουτόχθων ἑρμαίαν
δαιμόνων δόσιν τίοι.

[¶111] Athena:
Do you hear, guards of my city,
the things she will accomplish? For the lady Erinys is very powerful, both with the deathless gods and with those below the earth; and in their dealings with mankind, they accomplish matters visibly, perfectly; to some giving songs,
to others a life made dim by tears.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ἦ τάδʼ ἀκούετε, πόλεως φρούριον,
οἷʼ ἐπικραίνει; μέγα γὰρ δύναται
πότνιʼ Ἐρινὺς παρά τʼ ἀθανάτοις
τοῖς θʼ ὑπὸ γαῖαν, περί τʼ ἀνθρώπων
φανερῶς τελέως διαπράσσουσιν,
τοῖς μὲν ἀοιδάς, τοῖς δʼ αὖ δακρύων
βίον ἀμβλωπὸν παρέχουσαι.

[¶112] Chorus:
I forbid deadly and untimely fate for men; grant to lovely maidens life with a husband,
you that have the rightful power; you, divine Fates, our sisters by one mother, divinities who distribute justly, who have a share in every home,
and whose righteous visitations press heavily at every season, most honored everywhere among the gods!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀνδροκμῆτας δʼ ἀώρ-
ους ἀπεννέπω τύχας,
νεανίδων τʼ ἐπηράτων
ἀνδροτυχεῖς βιότους
δότε, κύριʼ ἔχοντες,
θεαί τʼ ὦ Μοῖραι
ματροκασιγνῆται,
δαίμονες ὀρθονόμοι,
παντὶ δόμῳ μετάκοινοι,
παντὶ χρόνῳ δʼ ἐπιβριθεῖς
ἐνδίκοις ὁμιλίαις,
πάντᾳ τιμιώταται θεῶν.

[¶113] Athena:
I am glad that they are zealously accomplishing these things for my land;
and I am grateful to Persuasion, that her glance kept watch over my tongue and mouth, when I encountered their fierce refusal. But Zeus of the assembly has prevailed. Our rivalry
in doing good is victorious forever.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
τάδε τοι χώρᾳ τἠμῇ προφρόνως
ἐπικραινομένων
γάνυμαι· στέργω δʼ ὄμματα Πειθοῦς,
ὅτι μοι γλῶσσαν καὶ στόμʼ ἐπωπᾷ
πρὸς τάσδʼ ἀγρίως ἀπανηναμένας·
ἀλλʼ ἐκράτησε Ζεὺς ἀγοραῖος·
νικᾷ δʼ ἀγαθῶν
ἔρις ἡμετέρα διὰ παντός.

[¶114] Chorus:
I pray that discord, greedy for evil, may never clamor in this city, and may the dust not drink
the black blood of its people and through passion cause ruinous murder for vengeance to the destruction of the state.
But may they return joy for joy in a spirit of common love, and may they hate with one mind; for this is the cure of many an evil in the world.

> Greek: Χορός:
τὰν δʼ ἄπληστον κακῶν
μήποτʼ ἐν πόλει στάσιν
τᾷδʼ ἐπεύχομαι βρέμειν.
μηδὲ πιοῦσα κόνις
μέλαν αἷμα πολιτᾶν
διʼ ὀργὰν ποινᾶς
ἀντιφόνους ἄτας
ἁρπαλίσαι πόλεως.
χάρματα δʼ ἀντιδιδοῖεν
κοινοφιλεῖ διανοίᾳ,
καὶ στυγεῖν μιᾷ φρενί·
πολλῶν γὰρ τόδʼ ἐν βροτοῖς ἄκος.

[¶115] Athena:
Do they not then intend to find the path of good speech?

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
ἆρα φρονοῦσιν γλώσσης ἀγαθῆς
ὁδὸν εὑρίσκειν;

[¶116] From these terrible faces I see great profit for these citizens; for, if you always greatly honor with kindness the kindly ones, you will surely be pre-eminent, keeping your land and city in the straight path
of justice.

> Greek: ἐκ τῶν φοβερῶν τῶνδε προσώπων
μέγα κέρδος ὁρῶ τοῖσδε πολίταις·
τάσδε γὰρ εὔφρονας εὔφρονες αἰεὶ
μέγα τιμῶντες καὶ γῆν καὶ πόλιν
ὀρθοδίκαιον
πρέψετε πάντως διάγοντες.

[¶117] Chorus:
Farewell, farewell, in the wealth allotted to you by fate. Farewell, people of the city, seated near to Zeus, the beloved of the beloved maiden,
learning at last the way of wisdom. The Father stands in awe of you, since you are under Pallas’ wings.

> Greek: Χορός:
⟨χαίρετε⟩ χαίρετʼ ἐν αἰσιμίαισι πλούτου.
χαίρετʼ ἀστικὸς λεώς,
ἴκταρ ἥμενοι Διός,
παρθένου φίλας φίλοι
σωφρονοῦντες ἐν χρόνῳ.
Παλλάδος δʼ ὑπὸ πτεροῖς
ὄντας ἅζεται πατήρ.

[¶118] Athena:
Farewell to you also; but I must lead the way to show you your dwellings
by the sacred light of these, your escorts. Go, and, speeding beneath the earth with these solemn sacrifices, hold back what is ruinous to the land, but send what is profitable for the city to win her victory.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
χαίρετε χὐμεῖς· προτέραν δʼ ἐμὲ χρὴ
στείχειν θαλάμους ἀποδείξουσαν
πρὸς φῶς ἱερὸν τῶνδε προπομπῶν.
ἴτε καὶ σφαγίων τῶνδʼ ὑπὸ σεμνῶν
κατὰ γῆς σύμεναι τὸ μὲν ἀτηρὸν
χώρας κατέχειν, τὸ δὲ κερδαλέον
πέμπειν πόλεως ἐπὶ νίκῃ.

[¶119] You who hold the city, children of Cranaus, lead on their way these new dwellers here. May there be good will in the citizens in return for good done to them!

> Greek: ὑμεῖς δʼ ἡγεῖσθε, πολισσοῦχοι
παῖδες Κραναοῦ, ταῖσδε μετοίκοις.
εἴη δʼ ἀγαθῶν
ἀγαθὴ διάνοια πολίταις.

[¶120] Chorus:
Farewell, farewell, again, I repeat,
all you in the city, both gods and mortals, living in Pallas’ city; if you duly revere my residence among you, you will not blame
the chances of life.

> Greek: Χορός:
χαίρετε, χαίρετε δʼ αὖθις, ἐπανδιπλάζω,
πάντες οἱ κατὰ πτόλιν,
δαίμονές τε καὶ βροτοί,
Παλλάδος πόλιν νέμον-
τες· μετοικίαν δʼ ἐμὴν
εὖ σέβοντες οὔτι μέμ-
ψεσθε συμφορὰς βίου.

[¶121] Athena:
I approve the words of your invocation, and will escort you by the light of gleaming torches to the places below and beneath the earth, with the attendant women who guard my image
in duty bound. For the eye of the whole land of Theseus will come forth, a glorious troop of children, matrons and a band of old women. Dress them honorably in robes dyed scarlet, and let the torches’ light move on,
so that this kindly company of visitors to our land may show itself afterwards in blessings that bring prosperity to men.

> Greek: Ἀθηνᾶ:
αἰνῶ τε μύθους τῶνδε τῶν κατευγμάτων
πέμψω τε φέγγει λαμπάδων σελασφόρων
εἰς τοὺς ἔνερθε καὶ κατὰ χθονὸς τόπους
ξὺν προσπόλοισιν, αἵτε φρουροῦσιν βρέτας
τοὐμὸν δικαίως. ὄμμα γὰρ πάσης χθονὸς
Θησῇδος ἐξίκοιτʼ ἂν εὐκλεὴς λόχος
παίδων, γυναικῶν, καὶ στόλος πρεσβυτίδων.
φοινικοβάπτοις ἐνδυτοῖς ἐσθήμασι
τιμᾶτε, καὶ τὸ φέγγος ὁρμάσθω πυρός,
ὅπως ἂν εὔφρων ἥδʼ ὁμιλία χθονὸς
τὸ λοιπὸν εὐάνδροισι συμφοραῖς πρέπῃ.

[¶122] Chorus of the Processional Escort:
Go on your way to your home, children of Night: mighty, lovers of honor, children, yet aged, under kindly escort—
you who dwell in the land, refrain from inauspicious speech!
Chorus of the Processional Escort:
Under the primeval caverns of the earth, gaining the high honor of worship and sacrifice—all you people, refrain from inauspicious speech!

> Greek: Προπομποί:
βᾶτε δόμῳ, μεγάλαι φιλότιμοι
Νυκτὸς παῖδες ἄπαιδες, ὑπʼ εὔφρονι πομπᾷ,
Προπομποί:
εὐφαμεῖτε δέ, χωρῖται,
γᾶς ὑπὸ κεύθεσιν ὠγυγίοισιν,
[καὶ] τιμαῖς καὶ θυσίαις περίσεπτα τυχοῦσαι,
εὐφαμεῖτε δὲ πανδαμεί.

[¶123] Chorus of the Processional Escort:
Gracious and favorable to the land, come here, venerable goddesses, with flame-fed torch, rejoicing as you go—cry aloud now in echo to our song!

> Greek: Προπομποί:
ἵλαοι δὲ καὶ σύμφρονες γᾷ
δεῦρʼ ἴτε, σεμναί, ⟨ξὺν⟩ πυριδάπτῳ
λαμπάδι τερπόμεναι καθʼ ὁδόν.
ὀλολύξατε νῦν ἐπὶ μολπαῖς.

[¶124] Chorus of the Processional Escort:
Peace endures for all time between Pallas’ citizens and these new dwellers here.
Zeus who sees all and Fate have come down to lend aid—cry aloud now in echo to our song! Exeunt omnes.

> Greek: Προπομποί:
σπονδαὶ δʼ ἐς τὸ πᾶν ἐκ μετοίκων
Παλλάδος ἀστοῖς. Ζεὺς ⟨ὁ⟩ πανόπτας
οὕτω Μοῖρά τε συγκατέβα.
ὀλολύξατε νῦν ἐπὶ μολπαῖς.