Story of Orestes Part 6

And thou (to a third) breathe on him with thy blood-flecked breath, And with thy vapour, thy maw's fire, consume him; Chase him, and wither with a fresh pursuit.

_Leader of the Chor._ Wake, wake, I say; wake her, as I wake thee.

Dost slumber? Rise, I say, and shake off sleep.

Let's see if this our prelude be in vain. {134}

_The Furies start up and (still on the roller-stage) perform a Fury Dance for Prelude in three short Strophes and Antistrophes._

Our prey is gone! Apollo, ever known as a robber-G.o.d, has now delivered a matricide from his due doom. Even in my dreams a feeling of reproach stung me as a whip. Such are the doings of these 'younger G.o.ds.' See Earth's Central Shrine is stained with blood, and Apollo has taken sides with a mortal against a G.o.d; but though the G.o.d may vex them, the culprit shall not escape. {169}

_Apollo, re-appearing from the Inner Shrine, threatens the Furies with his bow_. He bids them leave his sacred precincts and seek scenes more fitted to them.

There where heads upon the scaffold lie, And eyes are gouged and throats of men are cut, Where men are maimed and stoned to death, and groan With bitter wailing 'neath the spine impaled.

A stichomuthic contest ensues; the Furies reproach Apollo with taking the part of a matricide. He urges she had first slain her husband--they retort that husband is not kin, to which Apollo pleads the sanct.i.ty of the marriage tie; this authorized by the great example of Zeus and Hera, with its special patroness Cypris, this "a.s.signed by Fate and guided by the Right is more than any oath." Neither party will give way; Apollo appeals to Pallas as Umpire, the Furies declare they will never desist from the pursuit. {225}

CHANGE OF SCENE

_By the turning of the periacti and other mechanical changes the scene is s.h.i.+fted to the familiar Acropolis of Athens itself, the open Central Doors being arranged to represent the Porch of the Temple of 'Athene, Guardian of the City.' Enter by Distance side-door Orestes, who advances to the Centre and clasps the Statue of Pallas._ {226}

_Orestes_ has come as suppliant, but no longer with the stain of blood on his hands; that during his long wanderings has been by due rites washed away.

_Suddenly by the same door the Furies enter upon the Stage, their faces to the ground and tracking Orestes' steps._ {235}

_Chorus of Furies_: they have been long off the track, at last the 'dumb informer' is clear again, already they catch the loved scent of blood.--There he is clasping in confidence the statue of the G.o.ddess, but watch, he escapes not: no trial, as he hopes, for the matricide; his own blood they must suck from his living members, and when they have had their fill of this drink undrinkable they will drag him down alive to bear the fate of a matricide. _Orestes not yet perceiving them continues his prayer_: long experience has taught him the various cleansing rites, and they have all been paid; he has dwelt amongst men and no impurity has been brought on them; this and all-cleansing Time show that the stain of matricide is removed, and with pure hands he can clasp Athene, queen of this land, and pledge the Argive alliance for her City [_one of the political hits of the piece_] if she will befriend him. _The Furies suddenly spring up_: Not Apollo nor Athene can save thee from thy doom! _Orestes clings convulsively to the Statue_. Thou resistest? then feel our spell! {296}

_Chanting in marching rhythm they rapidly descend the Orchestra staircase, form about the Altar and then proceed to_

CHORAL SPELL (FOR ENTRY ODE)

_in four Strophes and Antistrophes._

_Strophe I_

O Mother who didst bear me, mother Night, A terror of the living and the dead, Hear me, oh hear!

The son of Leto puts me to disgrace And robs me of my spoil, This crouching victim for a Mother's blood: And over him as slain, We raise this chant of madness, frenzy-working, The hymn the Erinnyes love, A spell upon the soul, a lyreless strain That withers up men's strength.

_Antistrophe I_

This lot the all-pervading destiny Hath spun to hold its ground for evermore, That we should still attend On him on whom there rests the guilt of blood Of kin, shed causelessly, Till earth lie o'er him; nor shall death set free.

And over him as slain, We raise this chant of madness, frenzy-working, The hymn the Erinnyes love, A spell upon the soul, a lyreless strain, That withers up men's strength. {328}

_Strophe II_

Such lot was then a.s.signed us at our birth: From us the Undying Ones must hold aloof: Nor is there one who shares The banquet-meal with us; In garments white I have nor part nor lot; My choice was made for overthrow of homes, Where home-bred slaughter works a loved one's death: Ha! hunting after him, Strong though he be, 'tis ours To wear the newness of his young blood down.

_Antistrophe II_

Since 'tis our work another's task to take, The G.o.ds indeed may bar the force of prayers Men offer unto me, But may not clash in strife; For Zeus doth cast us from his fellows.h.i.+p, "Blood-dropping, worthy of his utmost hate."

For leaping down as from the topmost height, I on my victim bring The crus.h.i.+ng force of feet, Limbs that o'erthrow e'en those that swiftly run, An Ate hard to bear. {350}

_Strophe III_

And fame of men, though very lofty now Beneath the clear, bright sky, Below the earth grows dim and fades away Before the attack of us, the black-robed ones, And these our dancings wild, Which all men loathe and hate.

_Antistrophe III_

Falling in frenzied guilt, he knows it not; So thick the blinding cloud That o'er him floats; and Rumour widely spread With many a sigh reports the dreary doom, A mist that o'er the house In gathering darkness broods. {358}

_Strophe IV_

Fixed is the law, no lack of means find we; We work out all our will, We, the dread Powers, the registrars of crime, Whom mortals fail to soothe, Fulfilling tasks dishonoured, unrevered, Apart from all the G.o.ds, In foul and sunless gloom, Driving o'er rough steep road both those that see, And those whose eyes are dark.

_Antistrophe IV_

What mortal man then doth not bow in awe And fear before all this, Hearing from me the destined ordinance a.s.signed me by the G.o.ds?

This task of mine is one of ancient days; Nor meet I here with scorn, Though 'neath the earth I dwell, And live there in the darkness thick and dense, Where never sunbeam falls. {374}

EPISODE I

_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 inst.i.tution 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}

CHORAL INTERLUDE

_in four Strophes and Antistrophes._

Unless the right cause gains here there will be an outbreak of new laws, general recklessness, and woes of slain kindred with no Furies to avenge. Awe is good as watchman of the soul, and calm Wisdom gained by sorrow; it is not the lawless life that is to be praised, but from the soul's true health comes the fair fortune, loved of all mankind and aim of many a prayer. He who reveres not the High Altar of Justice, but dareth and transgresseth all, will, perforce, as time wears on, have to take in sail,

When trouble makes him hers, and each yard-arm Is s.h.i.+vered by the blast,

and in vain he struggles mid the whirling waves, ever failing to weather round the perilous promontory till he is wrecked on the reefs of Vengeance. {535}

CHANGE OF SCENE

_to Mars' Hill. Enter Athene, followed by Herald and Twelve Citizens._

EXODUS, OR FINALE

_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.