Hostem, nec altis montium structæ jugis
Arces. relictis bellicum totus canat
Populis Mycenis. quisquis invisum caput
Tegit ac tuerur, clade sunesta occidat.
Hæc ipsa pollens incliti Pelopis domus 190
Ruat vel in me, dummodo in fratrem ruat.
Age, anime, fac, quod nulla posteritas probet;
Sed nulla taceat. aliquod audendum est nesas
Atrox, cruentum; tale, quod frater meus
Sunm esse mallet, scelera non ulcisceris, 195
Nili vincis. & quid esse tam sævum potest,
Quod superet ilium? numquid abjectus jacet?
Numquid secundis patitur in rebus modum,
Fessis quietem? novi ego ingenium viri
Indocile: flecti non potest, frangi potest. 200
Proin antequam se sirmet, aut vires paret,
Petatur ultro; ne quiescentem petat.
Ant perdet, aut peribit. in medio est scelus
Positum occupanti. SAT. Fama te populi nihil
Adversa terret? ATR. Maximum hoc regni bonum est, 205
Quod facta domini cogitur populus sui
Tam ferre, quam laudare. SAT. Quos cogit metus
Laudare, eosdem reddit inimicos metus.
At qui favoris gloriam veri petit,
Animo magis, quam voce, laudari volet. 210
ATR. Laus vera & humili sæpe contingit viro:
Non nisi potenti falsa. quod nolunt, velint.
SAT. Rex velit honesta; nemo non eadem volet.
ATR. Ubicunque tantum honesta dominanti licent,
Precario regnatur. SAT. Ubi non est pudor, 215
Nee cura juris, sanctitas, pietas, fides;
Instabile regnum est. ATR. Sanctitas, pietas fides,
Privata bona sunt: qua juvat, reges eant.
SAT. Nefas nocere vel malo fratri puta.
sounding again with the stamping hoofs of thy cavalry. Let not the forests afford a retreat for the enemy, or fortifications constructed on the lofty summits of mountains—leaving Mycenæ behind, let all my subjects sound the trumpet of war. Whosoever has protected or countenanced this hateful brother of mine, the powerful following of the illustrious dynasty of Pelops, shall slay with merciful slaughter! Let every living man rush upon me, even provided he serves my brother in a similar manner! Come, soul of mine! Do what no posterity would hail as proper! but what in sooth, they may never forget—Some atrocious bloody deed must be done, which my brother would rather be done by himself against me, but it is impossible thoroughly to revenge wickedness unless thou surpassest it in degree! but lo! what savage deed, in
