Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/406

388 That ever wades through crime to other crime! With blood we soothe the winds, with blood we war. Nurse: Yet by that blood a thousand vessels sailed. Clytemnestra: But not with favoring omens did they sail; The port of Aulis fairly drave them forth. So launched in war, he still no better fared. Smit with a captive's love, unmoved by prayer, He held as spoil the child of Phoebus' priest, E'en then, as now, a sacred maiden's thrall. Nor could the stern Achilles bend his will, Nor he whose eye alone can read the fates (A faithful seer to us, to captives mild), Nor his pest-smitten camp and gleaming pyres. When baffled Greece stood tottering to her fall, This man with passion pined, had time for love, Thought ever on amours; and, lest his couch Should be of any Phrygian maid bereft, He lusted for Achilles' beauteous bride, Nor blushed to tear her from her lover's arms. Fit foe for Paris! Now new wounds he feels, And burns, inflamed by mad Cassandra's love. And, now that Troy is conquered, home he comes, A captive's husband, Priam's son-in-law! Arise, my soul; no easy task essay; Be swift to act. What dost thou, sluggish, wait Till Phrygian rivals wrest thy power away? Or do thy virgin daughters stay thy hand, Or yet Orestes, image of his sire? Nay, 'tis for these thy children thou must act, Lest greater ills befall them; for, behold, A mad stepmother soon shall call them hers. Through thine own heart, if so thou must, prepare To drive the sword, and so slay two in one. Let thy blood flow with his; in slaying, die. Nurse: My queen, restrain thyself, check thy wild wrath, And think how great thy task. Atrides comes Wild Asia's conqueror and Europe's lord; He leads Troy captive, Phrygia subdued.