Page:Ten Tragedies of Seneca (1902).djvu/108

88 Jusque omne pereat. non sit a vestris malis

Immune cœlum. cum micant stellæ polo,

Flammæque servant debitum mundo decus;

Nox atra fiat, excidat cœlo dies.

Misce penateis: odia, cædes, funera

Arcesse, & imple Tantalo totam domum.

Ornetur altum columen, & lauro fores

Lætæ virescant; dignus adventu tuo

Splendescat ignis. Thraciam fiat nesas

Majore numero. dextra cur patrui vacat?

Nondum Thyestes liberos deflet suos?

Ecquando tollet ignibus jam subditis

Spumante aheno? membra per partes eant

Discerpta: patrios polluat sanguis socos:

Epulæ instruantur, non novi sceleris tibi

Conviva venies; liberum dedimus diem,

Tuamque ad istas solvimus mensas famem.

Jejunia exple. mixtus in Bacchum cruor

Spectante te potetur. inveni dapes,

Quas ipse fugeres. Siste. quo præceps ruis?

TANT. Ad stagna, & amnes, & recedentes aquas,

Labrisque ab ipsis arboris plenas fugas,

Abire in atrum carceris liceat mei

Cubile: liceat, si parum videor miser,

Mutare ripas: alveo medius tuo

Phlegethon relinquar, igneo cinctus freto.

Quicunque pœnas lege fatorum datas

Pati juberis: quisquis exeso jaces

Pavidus sub antro, jamque venturi times

Montis ruinam: quisquis avidorum feros

Rictus leonum, & dira Furiarum agmina

Implicitus horres: quisquis immissas faces.

Semiustus abigis, Tantali vocem excipe

Properantis ad vos: credite experto mihi,

Amate pœnas, quando continget mibi

Effugere superos? MEG. Ante perturba domum,

 consideration with them in their wicked palace! Let the binding confidence between brothers, every friendship, every trust and all that is holy and sacred amongst kindred be trampled on—defied! And let heaven itself claim no immunity from the effects of thy crimes! Why do the stars shine in the heavens? why does their light continue its task of giving ornament to the world? As a matter of right? No! let night be rendered as black as possible, let no daylight emanate from the heavens! Let us throw the household Gods into disorder; bring about enmities, slaughters, deaths! Let the entire palace be filled with and reveal the presence of Tantalus! Let 