Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/52

34 And stood in armed array, that viper brood, The troop of brothers sprung from dragon's teeth; And that fell pestilence, the curse of Thebes. Then grim Erinys raised her piercing cry, Blind Fury, Dread, and all the ghastly forms Which spawn and lurk within the endless shades: Grief, in her madness, tearing out her hair; Disease, scarce holding up her weary head; Age, burdened with itself, and brooding Fear. Our spirits died within us at the sight. Even the prophet's daughter stood amazed, Though well she knew her father's mystic arts. But he, undaunted, since he saw them not, Convoked the bloodless throng of gloomy Dis. Like clouds the shadowy forms come trooping up, And snuff the air of unrestricted heaven. Not lofty Eryx in his mountain glades As many falling leaves, nor Hybla's slopes As many flowers produce, in sunny spring, When greedy bees in teeming bunches swarm; As many waves break not upon the shore; As many birds deserting Strymon's streams, Exchange not wintry blasts and Arctic snows, And seek the milder valley of the Nile; As were the shades the prophet summoned forth. In eager haste the shivering spirits seek The hiding-places of the leafy grove. From out the cave, his right hand by the horns A raging bull restraining, Zethus came, And next Amphion, with that famous shell Whose magic strains insensate rocks allured. Here haughty Niobe, in safety now, Amongst her children lifts her head in scorn And proudly counts her shades. And worse than she, That mother, mad Agave, next appears, With all the impious band who rent the king. Then Pentheus' self, all torn and bleeding, comes, In rage pursuing those wild Bacchanals. At length, when often summoned, Laius comes