Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/96

78 When thou hast gained thy wish, thou wilt lament. Oh, then, forego this most unhallowed strife, And free at last thy fatherland from fear, Thy parents from their grief. Polynices: Shall I do this, That so for all his treachery and crime My curséd brother be not recompensed? Jocasta: Fear not. He shall indeed be recompensed, For he shall reign. Polynices: Is that a punishment? Jocasta: If thou believe me not, believe thy sire, Believe thy grandsire too. This truth to thee Will Cadmus and the house of Cadmus tell. Without disaster has no Theban king E'er held the scepter, nor will anyone Who wins the kingly power by broken faith Retain it long. And 'mongst those faithless ones Count now thy brother. Eteocles: Be it even so: If I must die, I count it worthy death, To die with kings. [To Polynices.] Thee to the exiled band I doom. Jocasta: Reign then, but hated by thy friends. Eteocles: Who shrinks from hatred does not wish to reign. That great divinity who made the world Made of one substance royalty and hate. For me, I count it worthy of a king To overcome this hate. By love of friends Too oft is royal power circumscribed. O'er those who hate him is the king more free To lord it as he will. Who would be loved, With but a weak and languid scepter reigns. Jocasta: But hated empire never long endures. Eteocles: 'Tis for the king to speak of empire's rules. Do thou give laws for exiles. For the throne— Jocasta: Wouldst burn thy native land, thy home and all? Eteocles: A kingdom is well bought at any price.