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SCENE FROM THE EUMENIDES.[1]
(235—275.)
ORESTES. CHORUS OF THE THREE FURIES.
ORESTES APPEARS BEFORE THE SHRINE OF PALLAS AT ATHENS.
ΟΡ. Ἄνασσ' Ἀθάνα, Λοξίου κελεύσμασιν
Ἥκω, κ.τ.λ.
Ἥκω, κ.τ.λ.
ORESTES.
I seek thy shrine, Athenè, not unbidden
By Power Divine. Apollo led my steps.
But do thou, Mighty Goddess, look on me
With mercy; nor reject a suppliant,
Accused indeed of murder, but to whom
Now no pollution clings. My hands are clean,
And offence is dulled and worn away
By the long course of wanderings and woes
Which I, by Phœbus ordered, have endured.
To whose behests obedient, I approach
Thine image, Goddess; and must here remain
Until my cause be finally adjudged.
I seek thy shrine, Athenè, not unbidden
By Power Divine. Apollo led my steps.
But do thou, Mighty Goddess, look on me
With mercy; nor reject a suppliant,
Accused indeed of murder, but to whom
Now no pollution clings. My hands are clean,
And offence is dulled and worn away
By the long course of wanderings and woes
Which I, by Phœbus ordered, have endured.
To whose behests obedient, I approach
Thine image, Goddess; and must here remain
Until my cause be finally adjudged.
- ↑ See Introductory Observations, at page 1.