Then the Furies made answer, “We will tell thee the matter shortly, daughter of Zeus.  We are the children of Night, and we are called the Curses, and our office is to drive the murderer from his home.”

Then said the goddess, “And whither do ye drive him?”

“We drive him to the land where no joy abideth.”

“And why do ye pursue this man?”

“Because he dared to slay his mother.”

“Did aught compel him to this deed?”

“What should compel a man to such wickedness?”

“There are two stories to be told, and I have heard but one.”

And when they had thus talked together for a while the Furies said that they would abide by the judgment of the goddess.  Whereupon she turned herself to Orestes, and bade him set forth his case; who he was, and what deed he had done.  To which he made this answer:  “I am a man of Argos, and my sire, King Agamemnon, thou knowest well; for he was ruler of the host of the Greeks, and by his hands thou madest the great city of Troy to be no city.  Now this man perished in a most unrighteous fashion, when he was returned to his home, for my mother, having an evil heart, slew him foully in the bath.  And I, coming back to my country, from which in time past I had fled, slew her that bare me.  This I deny not.  Yea, I slew her, taking vengeance for my father.  And in this matter Apollo hath a common share with me, for he said that great woes should pierce my heart if I recompensed not them that had done this deed.  But do thou judge this matter; for with thy judgment, whatsoever it be, I will be content.”

Then the goddess said, “This is a hard matter to judge; for thou, Orestes, art come as a suppliant to this house, being innocent of guilt, and I may not reject thee.  And yet these have a suit which may not lightly be dismissed; for haply, if they fail of that which they seek, they will send a wasting disease upon this land and consume it.  But seeing that this great matter has fallen to me to deal with, I will do this.  Judges will I choose, binding them with an oath, and they shall judge in all cases, whensoever one man hath slain another.  And this will I stablish for all time to come.  Do you, therefore, call witnesses and proofs with oaths for confirmation thereof.  And I will choose such as are worthiest among my citizens, righteous men, who will have regard unto their oath, and they shall judge this matter.”

So they went all of them to the hill of Ares, where the cause should be judged.  And twelve men that were worthiest in the city sat on the seat of judgment, and Athene came forth and said to the herald that stood by, “Blow the trumpet, that the people keep silence, and that this cause may be tried justly, as is meet.”

Then came forth Apollo.  And when the Furies saw him they cried, “What hast thou to do with this matter, King Apollo?”

And he said, “As a witness am I come, for I commanded this man to do this deed.”