Page:House of Atreus 2nd ed (1889).djvu/187

Rh Our sway among mankind to tell,

The guidance of our power.

Of Justice are we ministers,

And whosoe'er of men may stand

Lifting a pure unsullied hand,

That man no doom of ours incurs,

And walks thro' all his mortal path

Untouched by woe, unharmed by wrath.

But if, as yonder man, he hath

Blood-dropping hands he strives to hide,

We stand avengers at his side,

Decreeing, Thou hast wronged the dead:

We are doom's witnesses to thee.

The price of blood, his hands have shed,

We wring from him; in life, in death,

Hard at his side are we!

Night, Mother Night, who brought me forth, a torment

To living men and dead,

Hear me, O hear! by Leto's stripling son

I am dishonourèd:

He hath ta'en from me him who cowers in refuge,

To me made consecrate,—

A rightful victim, him who slew his mother,

Given o'er to me and fate.

Hear the hymn of hell,

O'er the victim sounding,—

Chant of frenzy, chant of ill,

Sense and will confounding!

Round the soul entwining

Without lute or lyre—

Soul in madness pining,

Wasting as with fire!