Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/441



Octavia: Now doth the flushing dawn from heaven drive The wandering stars; the sun mounts into sight With radiant beams, and brings the world once more The light of day. Up, then, my heavy soul, With grievous cares o'erburdened, and resume Thy woe; out-wail the sea-bred Halcyons, And those sad birds of old Pandion's house; For this thy lot is heavier far than theirs. O mother, constant source of tears to me, Hear now thy woeful daughter's sad complaints, If aught of sense remains among the shades. Oh, that the grizzly Clotho long ago, With her own hand had dipt my thread of life! Through blinding tears I saw thy bleeding wounds, Thy features sprinkled with defiling blood. Oh, light of day, abhorrent to my eyes! From that dread hour I hate the day's pure light More than the night's dark gloom; for daily now Must I endure a cruel stepdame's rule, Must daily bear her hateful looks and words. She, she the baleful fury fiend it was Who at my marriage rites bore torches lit With hellish fires; 'twas she who wrought thy death, O wretched father, whom but yesterday The whole world owned as lord on land and sea; To whom the Britain bowed, though ne'er before Had he a Roman master known or owned. Alas, my father, by thy wife's fell plots Thou liest low, and I and all thy house Like captives groan beneath the tyrant's sway. [Exit to her chamber.] Nurse [entering]: Who stands in wonder, smitten by the gloss And splendor of a princely court, amazed At sight of easy-won prosperity, Let him behold how, at the stroke of fate,