_Athene_ bids the Herald sound a summons, for the whole city is to
learn the laws she makes for all time to come. _Apollo enters above_.
The Chorus challenging his right, Apollo declares himself Witness and
Advocate for Orestes. {551}
_The Proceedings from this part are exactly modelled on those of the
Court of the Areopagus_. The _Chorus_ called on to open, cross-examine
Orestes in stichomuthic dialogue, who admits the deed, and pleads
justification that she slew his father.--_Cho._ rejoin she has been
paid by death, Orestes still lives. Why, then, _Orestes_ enquires, did
they not pursue her while alive? _Chorus_ rest on plea that hers was
not kindred blood. On this _Orestes_ joins issue and appeals to
_Apollo_. He answers: Though the Jurors are on oath, yet Zeus gave the
oracle, and he is mightier than an oath.--_Cho._ What, Zeus take a
matricide's part?--_Apollo_ details the base manner of Agamemnon's
murder.--_Cho._ taunt Apollo that Zeus himself rose by imprisoning his
father.--_Apollo_ rejoins that imprisonment is remediable, but blood
once spilt can never be brought back.--_Cho._ appeal to impossibility
of restoring such a criminal to the house he has polluted.--Then
_Apollo_ puts forth the essence of his case (in a subtle plea which
would delight the litigious Athenians): the mother is only the nurse,
the father is the true parent; as proof here is Pallas sprung from a
Father without any Mother; none can be shown born without Father. {650}
Both parties join issue, and then (_amidst intense political
excitement_) _Athene_ delivers the Inauguration Address of the Court of
the Areopagus.
_Athene_. Hear ye my order, O ye Attic people,
In act to judge your first great murder-cause.
And henceforth shall the host of Aegeus' race
For ever own this council-hall of judges:
And for this Ares' hill, the Amazons' seat
And camp when they, enraged with Theseus, came
In hostile march, and built as counterwork
This citadel high-reared, a city new,
And sacrificed to Ares, whence 'tis named
As Ares' hill and fortress: in this, I say,
The reverent awe its citizens shall own,
And fear, awe's kindred, shall restrain from wrong
By day, nor less by night, so long as they,
The burghers, alter not themselves their laws:
But if with drain of filth and tainted soil
Clear river thou pollute, no drink thou'lt find.
I give my counsel to you, citizens,
To reverence and guard well that form of State
Which is nor lawless, nor tyrannical,
And not to cast all fear from out the city;
For what man lives devoid of fear and just?
But rightly shrinking, owning awe like this,
Ye then would have a bulwark of your land,
A safeguard for your city, such as none
Boast or in Skythia's or in Pelops' clime.
This council I establish pure from bribe,
Reverend, and keen to act, for those that sleep
An ever-watchful sentry of the land. {676}
After a rapid stichomuthic interchange of promises and threats by the
two parties the voting is proceeded with, _Athene_ first giving her
casting vote, in case of equality, to Orestes, as preferring the male
cause. [_This was a political allusion to the 'vote of Athene' or
custom of the Areopagite Court to give the casting vole to the
accused._] The votes are counted, found equal, and Athene declares
Orestes acquitted.--_Orestes_, in a burst of gratitude, declares his
Argive people shall always be firm friends with the people of Athens.
[Political hit.] {747}
_The Chorus breaking into Strophic Lyrics_ vow vengeance and long train
of ills on the city for this, Athene (_in Blank Verse_) propitiating
them, and pleading that the cause has been fairly tried. Moreover they
would lose all the good things the city will do for them if friendly,
offering them a house in its midst. Gradually the _Chorus_ calm down,
and having (_in parallel dialogue_) gained a repeated promise from
Athene they change their tone and (_in Strophic Lyrics_) promise all
good to the land, Athene making acknowledgment on behalf of the city
(_in marching rhythm as signifying exultation_). Finally Athene offers
to conduct them at once to their homes, the cave-chapels where the
Eumenides were worshipped.
_Enter on the stage an array of Matrons and Girls in festal robes, as
worn in the rites of the Furies, now called Eumenides or 'Gentle
Goddesses' [thus spectacular effect with which Aeschylus loved to
conclude]. They, with Athene, chanting the Ritual hymn, file down into
the Orchestra, and so lead the Chorus out in the direction of the
Shrines of the Eumenides._
[1] Euphemism for the Furies, as the popular name 'Good Neighbours' for
Mischievous Fairies.