Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/318

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Such deeds as theirs must by my hands be done.
⁠[To Attendant.]
Tell thou me then how vengeance may be won.
Attendant: Drive out his hostile spirit with the sword. 245
Atreus: ⁠Thou speakest of the end of punishment.
But I the punishment itself desire.
Let easy-going rulers slay their foes;
In my domain death is a longed-for boon.
Attendant: Do pious motives stir thee not at all?
Atreus: ⁠Away, O Piety, if ever thou
Didst dwell within my house, and in thy stead
Let come dire furies' cohorts, fiends at war, 250
Megaera holding high in either hand
Her flaming torch; for with a mighty rage
'Tis not enough my heart should be inflamed:
I fain would be by greater horrors filled
Attendant: What new design does thy mad soul conceive?
Atreus: ⁠No deed within the accustomed bounds of grief. 255
I'll leave no crime undone; and yet no crime
Is bad enough for me.
Attendant: ⁠Wilt use the sword?
Atreus: ⁠'Tis not enough.
Attendant: ⁠The flames?
Atreus: ⁠Still not enough.
Attendant: What weapon then will thy mad passion use?
Atreus: ⁠Thyestes' self.
Attendant: ⁠Far worse than madness this.
Atreus: ⁠I do confess it. Deep within my heart, 260
A fearful tumult rages unrestrained,
And I am hurried on, I know not where;
I only know that I am hurried on.
From lowest depths a moaning sound is heard,
And thunders rumble in the cloudless skies;
A crashing noise resounds throughout the house
As though 'twere rent in twain; upon my hearth
The frightened Lares turn their gaze from me. 265
Yet this shall be, this awful thing shall be,
Ye gods, which ye do fear to think upon.
Attendant: What then is this which thou dost meditate?