_Enter in her Chariot [along the balcony of the permanent scene]
Athene._
_Athene_ has heard far off Orestes' cry, and has come in her swift
chariot. What is this strange presence in her own city, and who is
this suppliant? The _Chorus_, in parallel dialogue, explain who they
are, and seek to enlist Athene against the matricide; but _Athene_
answers she has only heard one side. _Chorus_ rejoin that the
adversary dares not rest his case on oath for oath [_political allusion
to procedure of ordinary Athenian Courts_]; Athene thinks that a poor
way of getting at truth, and as Chorus express confidence in her
judgment she calls on _Orestes_; he details again all the rites of
purification he has gone through, and how Apollo bade him do the deed.
_Athene_ pauses: Murder stirred by wrath [_i.e., homicide as
distinguished from murder, the special province of the Court of
Areopagus_] is too much for mortal or even herself to decide; but she
hereby appoints jurors on oath [_the special distinction of the
Areopagus_] as a perpetual institution for dealing with such cases.
Let the parties prepare, she will return soon with the best of her
citizens [_observe, the Court was an Aristocratic Court_] as Jurors.
{467}