Pant my deep vitals, for on every spot
Of the wide earth my charge I shepherded, 240
And now in hot pursuit with wingless flight
Swift as swift galley o'er the sea I course;
Here in some nook ensconced, crouching he lies;
Of human blood the odour gladdens me.
[The Furies having taken their stations opposite to one another in the orchestra, sing the following Strophes in responsive order.]
Chorus.
1, 2. Look here! Look there!
Peer everywhere;
Lest, scathless in flight, illuding our sight,
The matricide 'scape unaware.
3, 4. He refuge hath found;
With arms twined around
The goddess immortal, this murderous wight
A verdict now seeks through her aid 'gainst the right 250
5, 6. But baseless his trust;
Mother's blood from the dust
Is hard to recover;—once shed on the plain,
The life-blood is gone, it returns not again.
7, 8. Lo, suffer thou must
In requital most just,
And I the red clot from thy members will drain.
9, 10. The foul draught I'll taste,
Thy strength I will waste,
Then drag thee still living to regions below,
