Page:House of Atreus 2nd ed (1889).djvu/207

Rh The man is Argive once again, and dwells

Again within his fathers' wealthy hall,

By Pallas saved, by Loxias, and by Him,

The great third saviour, Zeus omnipotent—

Who thus in pity for my father's fate

Doth pluck me from my doom, beholding these,

Confederates of my mother. Lo, I pass

To mine own land, but proffering this vow

To thine and to thy people: Nevermore,

Thro' all the manifold years of Time to be,

Shall any chieftain of mine Argive land

Bear hitherward his spears for fight arrayed.

For we, though lapped in earth we then shall lie,

By thwart adversities will work our will

On them who shall transgress this oath of mine,

Paths of despair and journeyings ill-starred

For them ordaining, till their task they rue.

But if this oath be rightly kept, to them

Will we the dead be full of grace, the while

With loyal league they honour Pallas' town.

And now farewell, thou and thy city's folk—

Firm be thine arms' grasp, closing with thy foes,

And, strong to save, bring victory to thy spear.

[Exit Orestes, with Apollo.

Woe on you, younger gods! the ancient right

Ye have o'erridden, rent it from my hands.

I am dishonoured of you, thrust to scorn!

But heavily my wrath

Shall on this land fling forth the drops that blast and burn,

Venom of vengeance, that shall work such scathe

As I have suffered; where that dew shall fall,

Shall leafless blight arise,