Page:Ten Tragedies of Seneca (1902).djvu/146

126 Juvat ordinare. CHOR. Quem tamen ferro occupat?

NUNT. Primus locus (ne deesse pietatem putes)

Avo dicatur; Tantalus prima hostia est.

CHOR, Quo juvenis animo, quo tulit vultu necem?

NUNT. Stetit sui securus, & non est preces

Perire frustra passus: ast illi ferus

In vulnere ensem abscondit, & penitus premens

Jugulo manum commisit. educto stetit

Ferro cadaver: cumque dubitasset diu

Hac parte, an illa caderet, in patruum cadit.

Tunc ille ad aras Plisthenem fævus trahit,

Adicitque fratri: coUa percussa amputat.

Cervice cæsa truncus in pronum ruit:

Querulum cucurrit murmure incerto caput.

CHOR. Quid deinde gemina cæde perfunctis facit?

Puerone parcit; an scelus sceleri ingerit?

NUNT. Silva jubatus qualis Armenia leo

In cæde multa victor armento incubat,

Cruore rictus madidus, & pulsa fame

Non ponit iras; hinc & hinc tauros premens

Vitulis minatur, dente jam lasso piger:

Non aliter Atreus sævit, atque ira rumet,

Ferrumque gemina cæde perfusum tenens,

Oblitus in quem rueret, infesta manu

Exegit ultra corpus, at pueri statim

Pectore receptus ensis, in tergo exstitit.

Cadit ille, & aras sanguine extinguens suo,

Per utrumque vulnus moritur. CHOR. O sævum scelus!

NUNT. Exhorruistis? hactenus sistat nefas,

Pius est. CHOR. An ultra majus aut atrocius

Natura recipit? NUNT. Sceleris liunc finem putas?

Gradus est. CHOR. Quid ultra potuit? abjecit feris

Lanianda forsan corpora, atque igne arcuit.

 and he felt a sort of pleasure in doing such an alarming deed with some regard to arrangement!

CHOR. Which of the sons found occupation for the sword first?

MESS. The first place was dedicated to the Grandfather, Tantalus. (Thou dost not suppose that he was entirely wanting in family reverence.) Tantalus was his first victim (because his name was Tantalus).

CHOR. What was the demeanour of the youth? with what courage did he meet his death?

MESS. He stood with great firmness, and confidence in himself, as if he were not willing that any entreaties he might make should pass unheeded, but Atreus, remorseless with pent-up rage, seized with his hand the neck of his 