Page:Ten Tragedies of Seneca (1902).djvu/27

Lines 34—68]  he finally subdued—he sallies forth, forsooth, furnished with mementoes of the Nemean Lion, and the formidable Hydra. Nor is this earth considered by him, an arena sufficiently ample for his daring exploits! He breaks through the territories of Jupiter Infernus (Pluto) and afterwards brings that especial prerogative—Pluto's emblem of Power—Cerberus as a trophy from the conquered king, when he rejoins the living beings on the earth above; but his having returned from the regions of Pluto is only a trifling matter to be alluded to, for he actually violates the established agreement, as regards the exclusive dominion over the Manes, entered into with his brothers Jupiter and Neptune. I myself have seen him, positively seen him with my own eyes, after he had dispersed the darkness of the infernal regions, and after Pluto had been brought into subjection, boastingly displaying to his father the spoils which had been taken from that father's brother! Why! I wonder why he did not drag Pluto along, as well, conquered and beaten down and held in chains! the one too, who claims equal rights in his own Kingdom to those possessed by his brother in his! Holding Erebus captive, he had the Stygian Kingdom entirely in his power, and he lays bare all the mysteries thereof! And the path from the abode of the Manes towards the earth has been brought into view, and the solemn secrets of sad mortality revealed! But having burst open the prisons of the dead he savagely triumphs over me, and drags with haughty display the frightful Cerberus through the cities of Argos—I have actually seen the bright day grow dim at the sight of Cerberus, and Phœbus himself tremble at his aspect! A tremor, indeed, comes across myself, in-as-much as, casting my eyes in his direction, I have had misgivings as to my prudence in having urged on my commands respecting that three-headed monster. Yet I am complaining, now, only of trifles! But we must now be apprehensive for the safety of Heaven itself, as he who so easily subdued the Kingdom below will aspire to occupy the regions above! He will seize, in short, on his own father's sceptre! Nor will his passage towards heaven be effected so quietly as Bacchus made his. Hercules will push his way by causing the utter downfall of every obstacle that obstructs his path, and he will do his best to find the heavens deserted by the Gods and empty to his grasp! He swells out with puffed-up pride now that he has discovered his own strength and capabilities. And judging from what he has already achieved, he fancies that he can subdue heaven by his own unaided strength! It is true that he has borne the heavens above his head, nor has the difficulty of raising such an immense 