Page:Ten Tragedies of Seneca (1902).djvu/116

96 Hostem, nec altis montium structæ jugis

Arces. relictis bellicum totus canat

Populis Mycenis. quisquis invisum caput

Tegit ac tuerur, clade sunesta occidat.

Hæc ipsa pollens incliti Pelopis domus

Ruat vel in me, dummodo in fratrem ruat.

Age, anime, fac, quod nulla posteritas probet;

Sed nulla taceat. aliquod audendum est nesas

Atrox, cruentum; tale, quod frater meus

Sunm esse mallet, scelera non ulcisceris,

Nili vincis. & quid esse tam sævum potest,

Quod superet ilium? numquid abjectus jacet?

Numquid secundis patitur in rebus modum,

Fessis quietem? novi ego ingenium viri

Indocile: flecti non potest, frangi potest.

Proin antequam se sirmet, aut vires paret,

Petatur ultro; ne quiescentem petat.

Ant perdet, aut peribit. in medio est scelus

Positum occupanti. SAT. Fama te populi nihil

Adversa terret? ATR. Maximum hoc regni bonum est,

Quod facta domini cogitur populus sui

Tam ferre, quam laudare. SAT. Quos cogit metus

Laudare, eosdem reddit inimicos metus.

At qui favoris gloriam veri petit,

Animo magis, quam voce, laudari volet.

ATR. Laus vera & humili sæpe contingit viro:

Non nisi potenti falsa. quod nolunt, velint.

SAT. Rex velit honesta; nemo non eadem volet.

ATR. Ubicunque tantum honesta dominanti licent,

Precario regnatur. SAT. Ubi non est pudor,

Nee cura juris, sanctitas, pietas, fides;

Instabile regnum est. ATR. Sanctitas, pietas fides,

Privata bona sunt: qua juvat, reges eant.

SAT. Nefas nocere vel malo fratri puta.

 sounding again with the stamping hoofs of thy cavalry. Let not the forests afford a retreat for the enemy, or fortifications constructed on the lofty summits of mountains—leaving Mycenæ behind, let all my subjects sound the trumpet of war. Whosoever has protected or countenanced this hateful brother of mine, the powerful following of the illustrious dynasty of Pelops, shall slay with merciful slaughter! Let every living man rush upon me, even provided he serves my brother in a similar manner! Come, soul of mine! Do what no posterity would hail as proper! but what in sooth, they may never forget—Some atrocious bloody deed must be done, which my brother would rather be done by himself against me, but it is impossible thoroughly to revenge wickedness unless thou surpassest it in degree! but lo! what savage deed, in 