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As she crieth to thee "Son"

Let thy "Father" quell her breath!

But a stroke and it is done,

The unblamèd deed of death.

—The heart of Perseus, darkly strong,

Be lifted in thy breast to-day:

For them thou lovest in the grave,

For them on Earth, be blind, be brave:

Uphold the cloak before thine eyes

And see not while thy Gorgon dies;

But him who sowed the seed of wrong,

Go, look him in the face and slay!

Oh, in courage and in power,

When the deed comes and the hour,

As she crieth to thee "Son,"

Let thy "Father" quell her breath!

But a stroke and it is done,

The unblamèd deed of death.

[Enter from the country.

A message called me; else I scarce had thought

To have come so quick. 'Tis a strange rumour, brought,

They tell me, by some Phocian wayfarers

In passing: strange, nor grateful to our ears.

Orestes dead! A galling load it were

And dripping blood for this poor House to bear,