Page:Ten Tragedies of Seneca (1902).djvu/114

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SENECA'S TRAGEDIES.
[Lines 154—185

Phineis avibus præda fugacior:
Hinc illinc gravidis frondibus incubat 155
Et curvata suis fœtibus, ac tremens
Alludit patulis arbor hiatibus:
Hæc, quamvis avidus, neq patiens moræ,
Deceptus toties tangere negligit,
Obliquatque oculos, oraque comprimit, 160
Inclusisque famem dentibus alligat:
Sed tunc divitias omne nemus suas
Demittit propius, pomaque desuper
Insultant foliis mitia languidis,
Accenduntque famem, quæ jubet irritas 165
Exercere manus: has ubi protulit,
Et falli libuit, totus in arduum
Antumnus rapitur, silvaque mobilis.
Instat deinde sitis non levior fame;
Qua cum percaluit sanguis, & igneis 170
Exarsit facibus, stat miser obvios
Fluctus ore vocans, quos profugus latex
Avertit, sterili deficiens vado,
Conantemque sequi, deserit. hic bibit
Altum de rapido gurgite pulverem. 175


ACTUS SECUNDUS.

ATREUS, SATELLES.

Atreus, ulciscendi fratrem certus, de vindictæ ratione cum Satellite
deliberat, quem honesta consulentem non audit, impiam
tandem & infandam ultionis rationem excogitat.


ATR. Ignave, iners, enervis, & (quod maximum
Probrum tyranno rebus in summis reor)
Inulte, post tot scelera, post fratris dolos
Fasque omne ruptum, questibus vanis agis
Iratus Atreus? fremere jam totus tuis 180
Debebat armis orbis, & geminum mare
Utrinque classes agere: jam flammis agros
Lucere & urbes decuit; ac strictum undique
Micare ferrum. tota sub nostro sonet
Argolica tellus equite: non silvæ tegant 185


there a tree droops downwards, with its heavily laden boughs, bending again with the weight of its fruit, and swaying to and fro, plays the part of tempter with its patulous openings—Although hungry and impatient of delay, he fails to reach them, being disappointed as often as he makes the attempt—he averts his eyes, and closes