Apollo Out, I order you! Go away from this house at once, leave my prophetic sanctuary, so that you may not be struck by a winged glistening snake shot forth from a golden bow-string, and painfully release black foam, vomiting the clots of blood you have drained from mortals. It is not right for you to approach this house; no, your place is where the punishments are beheading, gouging out of eyes, cutting of throats, and where young men’s virility is ruined by destruction of seed; where there is mutilation and stoning, and where those who are impaled beneath their spine moan long and piteously. Do you hear what sort of feast is your delight? You are detested by the gods for it. The whole fashion of your form sets it forth. Creatures like you should live in the den of a blood-drinking lion, and not inflict pollution on all near you in this oracular shrine. Be gone, you goats without a herdsman! No god loves such a flock.
Chorus Lord Apollo, hear our reply in turn. You yourself are not partially guilty of this deed; you alone have done it all, and are wholly guilty.
Apollo What do you mean? Draw out the length of your speech this much.
Chorus Through your oracle, you directed the stranger to kill his mother.
Apollo Through my oracle, I directed him to exact vengeance for his father. What of it?
Chorus And then you agreed to take the fresh blood on yourself.
Apollo And I ordered him to turn for expiation to this house.
Chorus And do you then rebuke us, the ones who escorted him here?
Apollo Yes, for you are not fit to approach this house.
Chorus But this has been assigned to us—
Apollo What is this office of yours? Boast of your fine privilege!
Chorus We drive matricides from their homes.
Apollo But what about a wife who kills her husband?
Chorus That would not be murder of a relative by blood.
Apollo Then truly you dishonor and bring to nothing the pledges of Hera, the Fulfiller, and Zeus. Cypris too is cast aside, dishonored by this argument, and from her come the dearest things for mortals. For marriage ordained by fate for a man and a woman is greater than an oath and guarded by Justice. If, then, one should kill the other and you are so lenient as not to punish or visit them with anger, I claim that you unjustly banish Orestes from his home. For I see you taking the one cause very much to heart, but clearly acting more leniently about the other. But the goddess Pallas will oversee the pleadings in this case.
Chorus I will never, never leave that man!
Apollo Pursue him then and get more trouble for yourself.
Chorus Do not cut short my privileges by your words.
Apollo I would not take your privileges as a gift.
Chorus No, for in any case you are called great at the throne of Zeus. But as for me—since a mother’s blood leads me, I will pursue my case against this man and I will hunt him down.
Apollo And I will aid my suppliant and rescue him! For the wrath of the one who seeks purification is terrible among mortals and gods, if I intentionally abandon him.
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