Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/326

308 Behold, thy brother bids thee to the throne. Thyestes: He bids? 'Tis but a cloak for treachery. Tantalus: But brotherly regard oft times returns Onto the heart from which it has been driven; And righteous love regains its former strength. Thyestes: And dost thou speak of brother's love to me? Sooner shall ocean bathe the heavenly Bears, The raging waves of Sicily be still; And sooner shall the Ionian waters yield Ripe fields of grain; black night illume the earth; And fire shall mate with water, life with death, And winds shall make a treaty with the sea: Than shall Thyestes know a brother's love. Tantalus: What treachery dost thou fear? Thyestes: All treachery. What proper limit shall I give my fear? My brother's power is boundless as his hate. Tantalus: How can he harm thee? Thyestes: For myself alone I have no fears; but 'tis for you, my sons, That Atreus must be held in fear by me. Tantalus: But canst thou be o'ercome, if on thy guard? Thyestes: Too late one guards when in the midst of ills. But let us on. In this one thing I show My fatherhood: I do not lead to ill, But follow you. Tantalus: If well we heed our ways, God will protect us. Come with courage on. Atreus [coming upon the scene, sees Thyestes ''and his three sons, and gloats over the fact that his brother is at last in his power. He speaks aside'']: Now is the prey fast caught within my toils. I see the father and his hated brood, I And here my vengeful hate is safe bestowed; For now at last he's come into my hands; He's come, Thyestes and his children—all! When I see him I scarce can curb my grief, And keep my soul from breaking madly forth. So when the Umbrian hound pursues the prey,