Page:House of Atreus 2nd ed (1889).djvu/197

Rh Upon the reef of Rightful Doom is hurled,

And he is rapt away

Unwept, for ever, to the dead forgotten world.

[Re-enter Athena, with twelve Athenian citizens.

O herald, make proclaim, bid all men come.

Then let the shrill blast of the Tyrrhene trump,

Fulfilled with mortal breath, thro' the wide air

Peal a loud summons, bidding all men heed.

For, till my judges fill this judgment-seat,

Silence behoves,—that this whole city learn,

What for all time mine ordinance commands,

And this man, that his cause be judged aright.

[Apollo approaches.

O king Apollo, rule what is thine own,

But in this thing what right hast thou to claim?

First, as a witness come I, for this man

Is suppliant of mine by sacred right,

Guest of my holy hearth and cleansed by me

Of blood-guilt: then, to set me at his side

And in his cause bear part, as part I bore

Erst in his deed, whereby his mother fell.

Let whoso knoweth now announce the cause.

'Tis I announce the cause—first speech be yours;

For rightfully shall they whose plaint is tried

Tell the tale first and set the matter clear.