These Grecian dames back to their country lead,I charge thee;justice this return demands,For I saved thee,when on the mount of Mars The votes were equal;and from that decree The shells in number equal still absolve.
But,son of Agamemnon,from this land Thy sister bear;nor,Thoas,be thou angry.
THOAS
Royal Minerva,he that hears the gods Commanding,and obeys not,is unwise.
My anger 'gainst Orestes flames no more,Gone though he be,and bears with him away The statue of the goddess,and his sister.
Have mortals glory 'gainst the powerful gods Contending?Let them go,and to thy land The sacred image bear,and fix it there;Good fortune go with them.To favour Greece,These dames,at thy high bidding,I will send.
My arms will I restrain,which I had raised Against the strangers,and my swift-oar'd barks,Since,potent goddess,this is pleasing to thee.
MINERVA
I praise thy resolution;for the power Of Fate o'er thee and o'er the gods prevails.
Breathe soft,ye favouring gales,to Athens bear These sprung from Agamemnon;on their course Attending,I will go,and heedful save My sister's sacred image.You too go (to the CHORUS)Prosperous,and in the fate that guards you bless'd.
(MINERVA vanishes.)
CHORUS (chanting)
O thou,among the immortal gods revered And mortal men,Minerva,we will do As thou commandest;for with transport high,Exceeding hope,our ears receive thy words.
O Victory,I revere thy awful power:
Guard thou my life,nor ever cease to crown me!
-THE END-