Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/363

Rh Of life despoiled; and Memnon, swarthy son Of bright Aurora, goddess of the dawn, For whose untimely death his mother's face Was sicklied o'er with grief, while day was veiled In darkness. When the heaven-born Memnon fell, Achilles trembled at his victory; For in that fall he learned the bitter truth That even sons of goddesses may die. Then, 'mongst our latest foes, the Amazons, Fierce maidens, felt my father's deadly power. So, if thou rightly estimate his deeds, Thou ow'st Achilles all that he can ask, E'en though he seek from Argos or Mycenae Some high-born maid. And dost thou hesitate And haggle now, inventing scruples new, And deem it barbarous to sacrifice This captive maid of Troy to Peleus' son? But yet for Helen's sake didst thou devote Thy daughter to the sacrificial knife. I make in this no new or strange request, But only urge a customary rite. Agamemnon: 'Tis the common fault of youth to have no check On passion's force; while others feel alone The sweeping rush of this first fire of youth, His father's spirit urges Pyrrhus on. I once endured unmoved the blustering threats Of proud Achilles, swoll'n with power; and now, My patience is sufficient still lo bear His son's abuse. Why do you seek to smirch With cruel murder the illustrious shade Of that famed chief? 'Tis fitting first to learn Within what bounds the victor may command, The vanquished suffer. Never has for long Unbridled power been able to endure, But lasting sway the self-controlled enjoy. The higher fortune raises human hopes, The more should fortune's favorite control His vaulting pride, and tremble as he views The changing fates of life, and fear the gods