Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/167

Rh O warlike Pallas, unto thee I pray, Upon whose left the petrifying shield Makes direful threats. And be thou here I pray, Thou tamer of Lycurgus, who didst cross The ruddy sea, who in thy hand dost bear The thyrsus, ivy-wreathed; and ye twin gods, Apollo and Diana, hear my prayer. (Her hand the bow adorns, but his, the lyre.) Ye, too, I worship, all ye brothers mine, Who dwell in heaven; but not my stepdame's sons. [To his attendants.] And do ye hither drive my richest flocks; Whatever fragrant spices India bears And far Arabia, to the altars bring, And let the savory smoke of sacrifice To heaven ascend. Now let us crown our locks With wreaths of poplar; but the olive leaves, Thy nation's symbol, should adorn thy head, O Theseus. Now in prayer we lift our hands To Jove the Thunderer: do thou protect The founders of our state, the wooded caves Of savage Zethus, Dirce's famous fount, And the Tyrian lares of our pilgrim king. [To the attendants.] Now throw the fragrant incense on the flames. Amphitr.: O son, thy hands, all dripping with the blood Of thy slain foe, thou first shouldst purify. Hercules: Would that his hateful blood I might pour out Unto the gods; for no libation poured Could stain the altars more acceptably. No ampler, richer victim could be paid To mighty Jove, than this unrighteous king. Amphitr.: Beseech thy father that he end thy tasks; Pray that at last he give surcease of toil, And to the wearied rest. Hercules: I shall myself Frame prayers more worthy Jupiter and me: May heaven, earth, and air their order keep, And the everlasting stars wheel on their way,