Video The Eumenides Lines 571 614 by Aeschylus Letras

Aeschylus - The Eumenides Lines 571 614 Lyrics

ATHENA:
Call for order, herald, marshal our good people.
Lift the Etruscan battle -trumpet,
strain it to full pitch with human breath,
crash out a stabbing blast along the ranks.

[The trumpet sounds. The judges take up positions between the audience and the actors, Athena separates the Furies and
Orestes, directing him to the Stone of Outrage and the leader
to the Stone of Unmercifulness, where the furies form their chorus. Then Athena takes her stand between two urns that will receive the ballots.]

And while this court of judgement fills, my city, silence will be best. So that you can learn my
everlasting laws. And you too,

[To Orestes and the Furies.]

that our verdict may be well observed by all.

[Apollo enters suddenly and looms behind
Orestes.]

Lord Apollo -rule it over your own sphere!
What part have you in this? Tell us.

APOLLO:
I come as a witness. This man, according to custom, this suppliant sought out my house and
hearth. I am the one who purged his bloody hands. His champion too, I share responsibility
for his mother's execution.
Bring on the trial. You
know the rules, now turn them into justice.
[Athena turns to the furies.]

ATHENA:
The trial begins! Yours is the first word-
the prosecution opens. Start to finish,
set the facts before us, make them clear.

LEADER:
Numerous as we are, we will be brief.
To Orestes.
Answer count for count, charge for charge. First, tell us, did you kill your mother?

ORESTES:
I killed her. There's no denying that.

LEADER:
Three falls in the match. One is ours already.

ORESTES:
You exult before your man is on his back.

LEADER:
But how did you kill her? You must tell us that.

ORESTES:
I will. I drew my sword -more, I cut her throat.
LEADER:
And who persuaded you? who led you on?

ORESTES:
This god and his command.

[Indicating Apollo.]

He bears me witness.

LEADER:
The Seer? He drove you on to matricide?

ORESTES:
Yes, and to this hour I have no regrets.

LEADER:
If the verdict brings you down, you'll change your story quickly.

ORESTES:
I have my trust; my father will help me from the grave.

LEADER:
Trust to corpses now! You made your mother one.

ORESTES:
I do. She had two counts against her, deadly crimes.
LEADER:
How? Explain that to your judges.

ORESTES:
She killed her husband -killed my father too,

LEADER:
But murder set her free, and you live on for trial.

ORESTES:
She lived on. You never drove her into exile -why?

LEADER:
The blood of the man she killed was not her own.

ORESTES:
And I? Does mother's blood run in my veins?

LEADER:
How could she breed you in her body, murderer? Disclaim your mother's blood? She
gave you life.