Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/312

294 The Fury: First must thou plunge thy house In dire disorders, stir up deadly feuds, Awake the kings to evil lust for blood, And rouse to wild amaze their maddened hearts. Tantalus: 'Tis fit that I should suffer, not bestow, The punishment. But thou wouldst have me go, Like deadly vapor from the riven earth, Or like the plague amongst the people spread, And lead my grandsons into crime most foul. mighty sire of gods, my sire as well, Although 'tis shame to thee to own me son, Though cruel tortures seize my tattling tongue, I will not hold my peace: [He cries aloud as to his family.] I warn ye all, Stain not your kindred hands with sacred blood, And with no madman's gifts pollute the shrines. Lo, here I stand, and shall avert the deed. [To the Fury.] Why dost thou fright me with thy brandished scourge, And shake thy writhing serpents in my face? Why in mine inmost marrow dost thou rouse These gnawing hunger pangs? My very heart Is parched with burning thirst, and leaping flames Dart scorching through my vitals—Oh, desist; I yield me to thy will. The Fury: Then fix this thirst, This maddening thirst in all thy kindred here; So, e'en as thou, may they be driven on To quench their thirst each in the others' blood. But lo, thy house perceives thy near approach, And shrinks in horror from thy loathsome touch. But now enough. Do thou go back again To thine infernal caves and 'customed stream; For here the sad earth groans beneath thy feet. Dost thou not see how, driven far within, The waters flee their springs? how river banks Are empty, and the fiery wind drives on The scattered clouds? The trees grow sickly pale,