Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/319

Rh Atreus: Some greater evil lurks within my soul, And, monstrous, swells beyond all human bounds, My sluggish hands impelling to the deed. I know not what it is; but this I know, That 'tis some monstrous deed. So let it be. Haste thee and do this deed, O soul of mine! 'Tis worthy of Thyestes—and of me. Let both perform it then. The Odrysian house Was wont to look on feasts unspeakable— A monstrous thing, 'tis true, but long ago Performed. This grief of mine some greater sin Must find to feed upon. Do thou inspire My heart, O Daulian Procne, who didst know A mother's and a sister's feelings too. Our cause is similar. Assist thou then, And nerve my hand to act. Let once again A sire with joyous greed his children rend, And hungrily devour their flesh. 'Tis good, 'Tis quite enough. This mode of punishment So far doth please me well. But where is he? Why do the hands of Atreus rest so long Inactive? Even now before mine eyes The perfect image of the slaughter comes; I seem to see the murdered children heaped Before their father's face. O timid (soul, Why dost thou fear? Why droops thy courage now Before the deed is done? Then up, and dare. Of this mad crime the most revolting part Thyestes' self shall do.  Attendant: But by what wiles  Shall we unto our snares entice his feet? For he doth count us all his enemies.  Atreus: He never could be taken, were his will  Not bent on taking too. E'en now he hopes To take my kingdom from me. In this hope, He'll rush against the bolts of threat'ning Jove;  This hope will make him brave the whirlpools' wrath, And sail within the treacherous Libyan shoals; On this hope stayed, the greatest ill of all