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158 Yet have these foes of thine such dues by fate,

I may not banish them: and if they fail,

O'erthrown in judgment of the cause, forthwith

Their anger's poison shall infect the land—

A dropping plague-spot of eternal ill.

Thus stand we with a woe on either hand—

Stay they, or go at my commandment forth,

Perplexity or pain must needs befal.

Yet, as on me Fate hath imposed the cause,

I choose unto me judges that shall be

An ordinance for ever, set to rule

The dues of blood-guilt, upon oath declared.

But ye, call forth your witness and your proof,

Words strong for justice, fortified by oath;

And I, whoe'er are truest in my town,

Them will I choose and bring, and straitly charge,

Look on this cause, discriminating well,

And pledge your oath to utter nought of wrong.

[Exit Athena.

Now are they all undone, the ancient laws,

If here the slayer's cause

Prevail; new wrong for ancient right shall be,

If matricide go free.

Henceforth a deed like his by all shall stand,

Too ready to the hand:

Too oft shall parents in the aftertime

Rue and lament this crime,—

Taught, not in false imagining, to feel

Their children's thrusting steel:

No more the wrath, that erst on murder fell

From us, the Queens of Hell,