But Zeus, to stir up strife and slaughter of men,
A phantom Helen unto Ilium sent.
And Pylades shall take his virgin wife,
And from the land Achaian lead her home; 1285
And him, thy kinsman by repute,[1] shall bring
To Phocis, and shall give him store of wealth.
Thou, journey round the neck of Isthmian land,[2]
Till thou attain Kekropia's blissful home.[3]
For, when thou hast fulfilled this murder's doom, 1290
Thou shalt be happy, freed from all these toils.
Chorus.
Ochildren of Zeus, may we draw nigh
Unto speech of your Godhead lawfully?
Kastor.
Yea: stainless are ye of the murderous deed.
Orestes.
I too, may I speak to you, Tyndareus' seed?
Kastor.
Thou too: for on Phœbus I lay the guilt
Of the blood thou hast spilt.
Chorus.
How fell it, that ye Gods, brethren twain
Of her that is slain,
Kept not from her halls those Powers of Bane? 1300
