Page:Ten Tragedies of Seneca (1902).djvu/155

Lines 868—900] which divides the two Bears, and the Cynosure, bitterly cold with its severe frost, and small comparatively, is joined with the great dragon, and Arctophylax (Boötes), the slow driver of his waggon, already not very firm in his position shall fall also from the heavens. And we, miserable mortals out of all the numerous peoples of the world, are thought to be deserving of such a fate, that fate will overwhelm us all—the very hinges of the universe being broken (the seasons being scattered). We have arrived at our last stage of time, oh, miserable! that we should have ever been created for such a hard lot, whether we have lost the Sun without our own faults, or whether we have driven away that Sun by our own crimes! But away with useless wailings, away with fruitless fears,—we are fond of life, but who would not wish to die, if the world would only perish with him!

Wicked Atreus crowingly congratulates himself on his cruel revenge towards his brother, and deliberates on the dreadful feast, which had been prepared, and the serving up of the blood of the sons of Thyestes.

abroad now, on an equality with the deified stars, and am attaining with my proud head, the highest pinnacles, a place in the lofty heavens, as it were, looking down upon all the mortal world below me at my feet! I am in possession of the regalia of power, and the throne of my father—I must now dismiss from my mind the Gods above. I have reached the summit of my desires, thus so far is good and appears even ample, already it looks enough for me, but what shall I say it will be later on? I shall persevere with my revenge, and I will cause the father to partake to repletion of his own offspring, and lest by any means misgivings should prevail, fortunately the day-time has passed away—push on, I say, whilst the heavens are void of light! I wish, indeed, that I could prevent the Gods from retiring, and keep them, here, even against their will, that they might all witness this revengeful entertainment! What would be enough now, however, for the present, is denied me. That I must see the father face to face, even if day-light be denied me,, at all events, I will banish the mental darkness from him and under which his 