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

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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! ^[1] 1110
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 1115
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, 1120
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 1125
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, 1130
To this, to that side turning still the targe;

1. Adopting Paley's explanation of the scene.