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Rh Made clean and harmless, suppliant at my knee,

I, in my City's name, must pity thee

And chide not. Yet these too, I may not slight;

They have their portion in the Orb of Right

Eternal. If they are baffled of their will,

The wrath of undone Justice shall distil

Through all the air a poison; yea, a pall

Intolerable about the land shall fall

And groaning sickness. Doubtful thus it lies:

To cast them out or keep them in mine eyes

Were equal peril, and I must ponder sore.

Yet, seeing fate lays this matter at my door,

Myself not judging, I will judges find

In mine own City, who will make no blind

Oath-challenge to pursuer and pursued,

But follow this new rule, by me indued

As law for ever. Proofs and witnesses

Call ye on either side, and set to these

Your oaths. Such oath helps Justice in her need.

I will go choose the noblest of the breed

Of Athens, and here bring them to decide

This bloody judgement even as truth is tried,

And then, their oath accomplished, to depart,

Right done, and no transgression in their heart.

—This day there is a new Order born.

If this long coil of judging and of strife

Shall uplift the mother-murderer to life,