Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/109

Rh The nurslings of the glades Parnassian,

And went and stood beside the holy hearths

With public-hosts and Pythian oracle-seers.

And one spake thus: "Prince, what request for thee

Shall we make to the God? For what com'st thou?"

"To Phœbus," said he, "would I make amends

For my past sin: for I required of him

Once satisfaction for my father's blood."

Then was Orestes' slander proved of might

In the hoarse murmur from the throng, "He lies!

He hath come for felony!" On he passed, within

The temple-fence, before the oracle

To pray, and was in act to sacrifice:—

Then rose with swords from ambush screened by bays

A troop against him: Klytemnestra's son

Was of them, weaver of this treason-web.

Full in view standing, still to the God he prayed,—

When lo, with swords keen-whetted unawares

They stab Achilles' son, a man unarmed.

Back drew he, stricken, yet not mortally,

Draweth his sword, and, snatching helm and shield

Upon a column's nails uphung, he stood

On the altar-steps, a warrior grim to see;

And cried to Delphi's sons, and this he asked:

"Why would ye slay me, who on holy mission

Have come?—on what charge am I doomed to die?"

But of the multitude that surged around

None answered word, but ever their hands hurled stones.

Then, by that hail-storm battered from all sides,

With shield outstretched he warded him therefrom,

To this, to that side turning still the targe;