Tragedies

TRAGEDIES
II

Translated by
FRANK JUSTUS MILLER

Complete list of Loeb titles can be
found at the end of each volume

SENECA, Lucius Annaeus, born at
Corduba (Cordova) c.5 or 4 B.C., of a
noble and wealthy family, after an ailing
childhood and youth at Rome in an aunt's
care, was a victim of life-long neurosis but
became famous in rhetoric, philosophy,
money-making, and imperial service.
After some disgrace during Claudius' reign
he became tutor and then, in A. 0.54,
advising minister to Nero, some of whose
worst misdeeds he did not prevent. In-
volved (innocently?) in a conspiracy, he
killed himself by order in A. 0.65. Wealthy,
he preached indifference to wealth;
evader of pain and death, he preached
scorn of both; and there were other
contrasts between practice and principle.
Wicked himself he was not. Of his works
we have 10 mis-called 'Dialogi', seven
being philosophical - on providence,
steadfastness, happy life, anger, leisure,
calmness of mind, shortness of life; 3
other treatises (on money, benefits, and
natural phenomena); 124 'Epistulae
morales' all addressed to one person; a
skit on the official deification of Claudius ;
and 9 rhetorical tragedies (not for acting)
on ancient Greek themes. Many 'Epistulae'
and all his speeches are lost. Much of his
thought is clever rather than deep, and his
style is pointed rather than ample.

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SENECA
IX

TRAGEDIES II

78

SENECA

IN NINE VOLUMES
IX

TRAGEDIES II

WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY

FRANK JUSTUS MILLER,
PH.D., LL.D.

PROFESSOR IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

AGAMEMNON THYESTES
HERCULES OETAEUS PHOENISSAE

OCTAVIA

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS

LONDON

WILLIAM HEINEMANN LTD

MCMLXXXVII

American ISBN 0-674-99087-0
British ISBN o 434 99078 7

First printed 1917
Reprinted and revised 1929
Reprinted 1953, 1961, 1968
Reprinted and revised 1987

Printed in Great Britain by
Richard Clay Ltd, Bungay, Suffolk

CONTENTS

PAGE

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY (1987) vi

AGAMEMNON 1

THYESTES 89

HERCULES OETAEUS 183

PHOENISSAE 343

OCTAVIA 399

APPENDIX. COMPARATIVE ANALYSES . 491

INDEX 511

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY (1987)

Editions

I. C. Giardina: Bologna, 1966

Otto Zwierlein: OCT, Oxford, 1986 (incl. Oetaeus and Octaria)
R. J. Tarrant: Agamemnon (with commentary), Cambridge, 1976
R. J. Tarrant: Thyestes (with commentary), APA Texts, Atlanta,

1985

Index Verborum

W. A. Oldfather, A. S. Pease, H. V. Canter: Urbana, 1918

Translations

Thomas Newton (1581): repr. with introd. by T. S. Eliot, Bloom-

ington, 1966
E. F. Wading: Four tragedies (incl. Thyestes) and Octaria (Penguin

Classics), Harmondsworth, 1966

Studies

B. Axelson: Korniptelenkult (textual study of the Oetaeus), Lund,
1967

T. S. Eliot: 'Seneca in Elizabethan Translation,' Collected Essays
65-105, London, 1951

C. J. Herington: 'Senecan Tragedy,' Anon 5 (1966) 422—4-71

C. J. Herington: Camb. Hist. Class. Lit. II (1982) 51 1-532 (includes

excursus on Octaria)

L. Herrmann: Le Theatre de Seneque, Paris 1924
B. L. Marti: 'Seneca's Tragedies: A New Interpretation,' TAP A 76

(1945)216-245
R. H. Philp: 'The Manuscript Tradition of Seneca's Tragedies,'

C£ 18 (1968) 150-179
Bernd Seidensticker: Die Gesprdchsrerdichtung in den Tragodien

Senecas, Heidelberg, 1969

Otto Zwierlein: Die Rezitationsdramen Senecas, Meisenheim, 1966
Otto Zwierlein: Prolegomena c.w einer kritischen Ausgabe der

Tragodien Senecas, Mainz, 1984

Bibliographical

Michael Coffey: 'Seneca, Tragedies 1922-55,' Lustrum 2 (1957)

113-186
E. Lefevre (ed.): Senecas Tragodien, Darmstadt, 1972, 583-592

(from 1956 onward)

VI

AGAMEMNON

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

AGAMEMNON, king oj Argos, and leader of all the Greeks in
their war against Troy.

GHOST OF THYESTES, returned to earth to urge on his son to the
vengeance which he was born to accomplish.

AEGISTHUS, son of Thyeste* by an incestuous union with his
daughter ; paramour of Clytemntstra.

CLYTEMNESTRA, wife of Agamemnon, who has been plotting
with Aegisthus against her husband, in his absence at
Troy.

CHORUS of Argive women.

EURYBATES, messenger of Agamemnon.

CASSANDRA, daughter of Priam , captive of Agamemnon.

KLECTRA, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.

STROPHIUS, king of Phocis.

ORESTES, son of Agamemnon (persona muta).

PYLADES, son of Strophius (persona muta).

BAND of captive Trojan women.

THE SCENE is laid partly within and partly without the
palace of Agamemnon at Argos or Mycenae, on the day of
the return of the king from his long absence at Troy, begin-
ning in the period of darkness just preceding the dawn.

ARGUMENT

THE blood -feud between Atreus and Thyestes was not
ended with the terrible vengeance which Atreus wreaked
upon his brother. It was yet in fate that Thyestes should
live to beget upon his own daughter a son, Aegistfius, who
should slay Atreus and bring ruin and death upon the
great Atridcs, Agamemnon.

The Trojan war is done. And now the near approach
of the victorious king, bringing his captives and treasure
home to Argos. has been announced. But little does he

O '

dream to what a home he is reluming. For Clytemnestra,
enraged at Agamemnon because he had sacrificed her

O O •'

daughter Iphigenia at Aulis to appease the winds, and
full of jealousy because he brings Cassandra as her rival
home, estranged also by the long-continued absence of her
lord, but most estranged by her own guilty union with
Aegisthus, is now plotting to slay her husband on his
return, gaining thus at once revenge and safety from
his wrath.

AGAMEMNON

THYESTIS VMBRA

OPACA linquens Ditis inferni loca

adsum profundo Tartar! emissus specu,

incertus utras oderim sedes magis —

fugio Thyestes inferos, superos fugo.

en horret animus et pavor membra excutit :

video paternos, immo fraternos lares.

hoc est vetustum Pelopiae limen domus ;

hinc auspicari regium capiti decus

mos est Pelasgis, hoc sedent alti toro

quibus superba sceptra gestantur manu, 10

locus hie habendae curiae — hie epulis locus.

Libet reverti. nonne vel tristes lacus
incolere satius, nonne custodem Stygis
trigemina nigris colla iactantem iubis ?
ubi ille celeri corpus evinctus rotae
in se refertur, ubi per adversum irritus
redeunte totiens luditur saxo labor,
ubi tondet ales avida fecundum iecur, ,

et inter undas fervida exustus siti
aquas fugaces ore decepto appetit 20

poenas daturus caelitum dapibus graves,
sed ille nostrae pars quota est culpae senex ?
reputemus omnes quos ob infandas manus
4

AGAMEMNON

GHOST OF THYESTES

LEAVING the murky regions of infernal Dis, I come,,
sent forth from Tartarus' deep pit, doubting which
world I hate the more — Thyestes flees the lower, the
upper he puts to flight. Lo, my spirit shudders, my
limbs quake with fear ; I see my father's, nay more,
my brother's house. This is the ancient seat of
Pelops' line ; here 'tis the custom of the Pelasgians
to crown their kings ; on this throne sit high lords
whose proud hands wield the sceptre ; here is their
council-chamber — here they feast.1

12 Fain would I turn me back. Is it not better to
haunt even the gloomy pools, better to gaze upon
the guardian of the Styx, tossing his three-fold neck
with sable mane ? where one,2 his body bound on
the swift-flying wheel, is whirled back upon himself;
where vain uphill toil 3 is mocked as the stone rolls
ever backward ; where a greedy bird tears at the
liver4 constantly renewed ; and the old man,5 thirst-
parched midst waters, catches at fleeing waves with
cheated lips, doomed to pay dearly for the banquet 6
of the gods. But how small a part of my offence is
his ? Let us take count of all whom for their

1 He is reminded of his own horrid banquet in this very
place.

a Ixion. 3 Of Sisyphus. 4 Of Tityus.

6 Tantalus. 6 See Index a.v. "Pelops."

5

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

quaesitor urna Cnosius versat reos :
vincam Thyestes sceleribus cunctos meis.
a fratre vincar, liberis plenus tribus
in me sepultis ; viscera exedi mea.

Nee hactenus Fortuna maculavit patrera,
sed maius aliud ausa commisso scelus
natae nefandos petere concubitus iubet. 30

non pavidus hausi dicta, sed cepi nefas.
ergo ut per onines liberos irem parens,
coacta fatis nata fert uterum gravem,
me patre dignum. versa natura est retro ;
avo parentem, pro nefas ! patri virum,
natis nepotes miscui — nocti diem.

Sed sera tandem respicit fessos malis
post fata demum sortis incertae fides ;
rex ille regum, ductor Agamemnon ducum,
cuius secutae mille vexillum rates 40

Iliaca velis maria texerunt suis,
post decima Phoebi lustra devicto Ilio
adest — daturus coniugi iugulum suae.
iam iam natabit sanguine alterno domus :
enses secures tela, divisum gravi
ictu bipennis regium video caput ;
iam scelera prope sunt, iam dolus, caedes, cruor —
parantur epulae. causa natalis tui,
Aegisthe, venit. quid pudor vultus gravat?
quid dextra dubio trepida consilio labat ? 50

quid ipse temet consulis, torques, rogas,
an deceat hoc te ? respice ad matrem ; decet.

1 Minos. " i.e. Thyestes.

3 i e. Thyestes acted by direction of an oracle, which de-
clared that by this means he might gain vengeance on
Atreus' line.

4 It will not be his branch of the family that shall suffer
this time.

6

AGAMEMNON

impious deeds the Cretan judge1 with whirling urn
condemns ; all of them by my crimes shall I, Thyes-
tes, conquer. But by my brother shall I be con-
quered, full of my three sons buried in me ; my own
Hesh have 1 consumed.

23 Nor thus far only has Fortune defiled the sire,2
but, daring greater crime than that committed, she
bade him seek his daughter's incestuous embrace.
Fearlessly and to the dregs did I drain her bidding,
but 'twas an impious thing I did. And therefore, that
a father's power might extend o'er all his children,
my daughter, forced by fate,3 bore child to me, wor-
thy to call me father. Nature has been confounded ;
father with grandsire, yea, monstrous ! husband with
father, grandsons with sons, have I confused — and
day with night.

37 But at length, though late and coming after
death, the promise of dim prophecy is fulfilled to me,
worn with my woes ; that king of kings, that leader
of leaders, Agamemnon, following whose banner a
thousand ships once covered the Trojan waters with
their sails, now that, after ten courses of Phoebus,
Ilium is o'erthrown, now is he near at hand — to give
his throat into his wife's power. Now, now shall this
house swim in blood other than mine ; 4 swords,
axes, spears, a king's head cleft with the axe's heavy
stroke, I see ; now crimes are near, now treachery,
slaughter, gore — feasts are being spread. The author
of thy birth has come, Aegisthus.5 Why dost hang
thy head in shame ? Why doth thy trembling hand,
doubtful of purpose, fall ? Why dost take counsel
with thyself, why turn the question o'er and o'er
whether this deed become thee ? Think on thy
mother ; it becomes thee well.

5 These and the remaining lines of the paragraph are
addressed to Aegisthus, seemingly as if he were present.

7

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Sed cur repente noctis aestivae vices
hiberna longa spatia producunt mora,
aut quid cadentes detinet stellas polo ?
Phoebum moramur? redde iam mundo diem.

CHORVS

O regnorum magnis fallax
Fortuna bonis, in praecipiti
dubioque locas nimis excelsos.
numquam placidam sceptra quietem 60

certumve sui tenuere diem ;
alia ex aliis cura fatigat
vexatque animos nova tempestas.
non sic Libycis syrtibus aequor
furit alternos volvere fluctus,
non Eu). ini turget ab imis
commota vadis unda nivali
vicina polo,

ubi caeruleis immunis aquis
lucida versat plaustra Bootes, 70

ut praecipites regum casus
Fortuna rotat. metui cupiunt
metuique timent, non nox illis
alma recessus praebet tutos,
non curarum somnus domitor
pectora solvit.

Quas non arces scelus alternum
dedit in praeceps ? impia quas non
arma fatigant ? iura pudorque
et coniugii sacrata fides 80

fugiunt aulas. sequitur tristis
sanguinolenta Bellona manu
quaeque superbos urit Erinys,

AGAMEMNON

53 But why suddenly is the summer night pro-
longed to winter's span ? or what holds the setting
stars still in the sky? Are we delaying Phoebus?
[Preparing to go.~\ Give back the day now to the
universe. [Ghost vanishes.]

CHORUS

O Fortune, who dost bestow the throne's high
boon \yith mocking hand, in dangerous and doubtful
state thou settest the too exalted. Never have
sceptres obtained calm peace or certain tenure ; care
on care weighs them down, and ever do fresh storms
vex their souls. Not so on Libyan quicksands does
the sea rage and roll up wave on wave ; not so,
stirred from their lowest depths, surge Euxine's
waters, hard by the icy pole, where, undipped in the
azure, waves,1 Bootes follows his shining wain, as
does Fortune roll on the headlong fates of kings.
To be feared they long, and to be feared they dread ;
kindly i ight gives them no safe retreat, and sleep,
which conquers care, soothes not their breasts.

77 What palace has not crime answering crime 2
hurled headlong ? What palace do impious arms not
vex? Law, shame, the sacred bonds of marriage,
all flee from courts. Hard in pursuit comes grim
Bellona of the bloody hand, and she who frets the

1 i.e. the Northern constellations never set beneath the
sea.

2 i.e. waged by one member of a royal house against another.

9

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

iiimias semper comitata domos,
quas in plarmm quaelibet hora
tulit ex alto.

Licet arma vacent cessentque doli,
sidunt ipso pondere magna
ceditque oneri Fortuna suo.
vela secundis inflata notis
ventos nimium timuere suos,
nubibus ipsis inserta caput
turris pluvio vapulat Austro,
densasque nemus spargens umbras
annosa videt robora frangi ;
feriunt celsos fulmina colles,
corpora morbis maiora patent
et cum in pastus armenta vagos
villa currant, placet in vulnus
maxima cervix. 100

Quidquid in altum Fortuna tulit,
ruitura levat. modicis rebus
longius aevum est ; felix mediae
quisquis turbae sorte quietus
aura stringit litora tuta
timidusque mari credere cumbam
remo terras propiore legit.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Quid, segnis anime, tuta consilia expetis?
quid fluctuaris ? clausa iam melior via est.
licuit pudicos coniugis quondam toros 1 1 0

et sceptra casta vidua tutari fide ;
periere mores ius decus pietas fides —
et qui redire cum perit nescit pudor.
da frena et omnem prona ncquitiam incita ;
per scelera semper sceleribus tutum est iter.
10

AGAMEMNON

proud, Erinys, forever dogging homes too high,
which any hour brings low from high estate.

87 Though arms be idle and treachery give o'er,
great kingdoms sink of their own weight, and For-
tune gives way 'neath the burden of herself. Sails
swollen with favouring breezes fear blasts too
strongly theirs ; the tower which rears its head to
the very clouds is beaten by rainy Auster ; the
grove, spreading dense shade around, sees ancient
oak-trees riven ; 'tis the high hills that the lightnings
strike ; large bodies are more to disease exposed,
and while common herds stray o'er vagrant pastures,
the head highest upreared is marked for death.

101 Whatever Fortune has raised on high, she lifts
but to bring low. Modest estate has longer life ;
then happy he whoe'er, content with the common
lot, with safe breeze hugs the shore, and, fearing to
trust his skiff to the wider sea, with unambitious oar
keeps close to land.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Why, sluggish soul, dost safe counsel seek ? Why
waver ? Already the better way is closed. Once
thou mightest have guarded thy chaste bed and thy
widowed sceptre with pure, wifely faith; gone are
good fashions, right doing, honour, piety, faith, — and
modesty, which, once 'tis gone, knows no return.
Fling loose the reins and, forward bent, rouse onward
all iniquity ; through crime ever is the safe way for

11

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

tecum ipsa nunc evolve femineos dolos, —

quod ulla coniunx perfida atque impos sui

amore caeco, quod novercales manus

ausae, quod ardens impia virgo face,

Phasiaca fugiens regna Thessalica trabe ; 120

ferrum, venena ; vel Mycenaeas domos

coniuncta socio profuge furtiva rate.

quid timida loqueris furta et exilium et fugas ?

soror ista fecit ; te decet maius nefas.

NVTRIX

Regina Danaum et inclitum Ledae genus,
quid tacita versas quidve consilii impotens
tumido feroces impetus animo geris ?
licet ipsa sileas, totus in vultu est dolor,
proin quidquid est, da tempus ac spatium tibi :
quod ratio non quit saepe sanavit mora. ISO

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Maiora cruciant quam ut moras possim pati ;
flammae medullas et cor exurunt meum,
mixtus dolori subdidit stimulos timor,
invidia pulsat pectus ; hinc animum iugo
premit cupido turpis et vinci vetat.
et inter istas mentis obsessae faces,
fessus quidem et devinctus et pessumdatus,
pudor rebellat. fluctibus variis agor,
ut cum hinc profundum ventus, hinc aestus rapit,
incerta dubitat unda cui cedat malo. 1 40

proinde omisi regimen e manibus meis—
quocumque me ira, quo dolor, quo spes feret,

1 Medea. * Helen.

12

AGAMEMNON

crime. Devise now in thine own heart a woman's
wiles, — what any faithless wife, beside herself with
blind passion, what step-mother's hands have dared,
or what she dared, that maid l ablaze with impious
love, who fled her Phasian realm in that Thessalian
bark ; dare sword, dare poison ; or else flee from
Mycenae with the partner of thy guilt, in stealthy
bark. But why timidly talk of stealth, of exile, and
of flight ? Such things thy sister 2 did ; thee some
greater crime becomes.

NURSE

Queen of the Greeks, Leda's illustrious child,
what ponderest thou in silence, what mad deed,
ungoverned in thy purpose, art planning with rest-
less soul? Though thou say no word, thy face
discovers all thy anguish. Wherefore, whate'er it be,
give thyself time and room ; what reason cannot,
delay has ofttimes cured.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Passions rack me too strong to endure delay ;
flames are burning my very marrow and my heart ;
here fear8 blent with anguish plies the spur, and
my breast throbs with jealousy;4 there base love
forces its yoke upon my mind and forbids me to
give way. And midst such fires that beset my soul,
shame, weary indeed and conquered and utterly
undone, still struggles on.5 By shifting floods am
I driven, as when here wind, there tide harries the
deep, and the waters halt uncertain to which foe
they will yield. Wherefore I have let go the rudder
from my hands — where wrath, where smart, where

3 i.e. of Agamemnon's vengeance.

4 Of Cassandra. _, 6 i.e. against lust.

IS

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

hue ire pergam ; fluctibus dedimus ratem.
ubi animus errat, optimum est casum sequi.

NVTR1X

Caeca est temeritas quae petit casum ducem.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Cui ultima est fortuna, quid dubiam timet?

NVTRIX
Tuta est latetque culpa, si pateris, tua.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Perlucet omne regiae vitium domus.

NVTRIX
Piget prioris et novum crimen struis ?

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Res est profecto stulta nequitiae modus. 150

NVTRIX

Quod metuit auget qui scelus scelere obruit.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Et ferrum et ignis saepe medicinae loco est.

NVTRIX

Extrema primo nemo temptavit loco.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Rapienda rebus in malis praeceps via est.

AGAMEMNON

hope shall carry me, there will J go ; to the waves
have I given my bark. Where reason fails, 'tis best
to follow chance.

NURSE

Blind is he and rash who follows chance.

CLYTEMNESTRA

When fortune is at its worst, why fear its hazard ?

NURSE
Safe is thy sin and hidden, if thou allow it so.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Open to view is a royal house's every sin.

NURSE

Dost repent the old crime, yet plan the new ?

CLYTEMNESTRA

Surely 'tis folly to stop midway in sin.

NURSE

Whoso piles crime on crime, makes greater what
ne dreads.1

CLYTEM-NESTRA

Both knife and cautery oft take the place of drugs.

NURSE
Desperate remedies no one tries at first.

CLYTEMNESTRA

In midst of ills, we must snatch at headlong ways.

1 i.e. the penalty.

15

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

NVTRIX

At te reflectat coniugi nomen sacrum.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Decem per annos vidua respiciam virum ?

NVTRIX

Meminisse debes sobolis ex illo tuae.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Equidem et iugales filiae memini faces
et generum Achillem ; praestitit matri fidem '

NVTRIX

Redemit ilia classis immotae moras 160

et maria pigro fixa languore impulit.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Pudet doletque — Tyndaris, caeli genus,
lustrale class! Doricae peperi caput !
revolvit animus virginis thalamos meae
quos ille dignos Pelopia fecit domo,
cum stetit ad aras ore sacrifice pater
quam nuptiales ! horruit Calchas suae
responsa vocis et recedentes focos.
o scelei'a semper sceleribus vincens domus !
cruore ventos emimus, bellum nece ! 170

sed vela pariter mille fecerunt rates ?
non est soluta prospero classis deo :
eiecit Aulis impias portu rates,
sic auspicatus bella non melius gerit.
amore captae captus, immotus prece

16

AGAMEMNON

NURSE

But let the hallowed name of wedlock turn thee
back.

CLYTEMNESTRA

For ten years widowed, shall I still think on
husband ?

NURSE

Thine offspring of him thou shouldst remember.

CLYTEMNESTRA

I do remember my daughter's l wedding fires, my
son-in-law, Achilles ; true faith he2 showed a mother !

NURSE

She freed our becalmed fleet from delay, and
roused the sluggish sea from its deep repose.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Oh, shame ! oh, anguish ! I, child of Tyndarus, of
heavenly lineage, have borne a sacrifice for the
Grecian fleet ! Once more in memory I see my
daughter's wedding rites, which he made worthy of
Pelops' house, when, with prayer on lip, the father
stood before the altars, how fit for nuptials ! Calchas
shuddered at his own oracles and at the recoiling
altar-fires. O house that ever o'ertops crime with
crime ! With blood we purchased winds, and war with
murder ! But, say you, by this means a thousand
ships spread sail together ? 'Twas by no favouring
god the fleet was freed; no! Aulis from port drave
forth the impious ships. Thus beginning, not more
happily did he wage the war. With love of a captive

1 Iphigenia. z i.e. Agamemnon.

17

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Zminthea tenuit spolia Phoebei senis,

ardore sacrae virgin is iam turn furens.

non ilium Achilles flexit indomitus minis,

non ille solus fata qui mundi videt,

(in nos fidelis augur, in captas levis), 180

non populus aeger et relucentes rogi.

inter ruentis Graeciae stragem ultimam

sine hoste victus marcet ac Veneri vacat

reparatque amores ; neve desertus foret

a paelice umquani barbara caelebs torus,

ablatam Achilli diligit Lyrnesida,

nee rapere puduit e sinu avulsam viri —

en Paridis hostein ! nunc novum vulnus gerens

amore Phrygiae vatis incensus furit,

et post tropaea Troica ac versum Ilium 190

captae maritus remeat et Priami gener !

Accingere, anime ; bella non levia apparas.
scelus occupandum est. pigra, quem expectas diem ?
Pelopia Phrygiae sceptra dum teneant nurus ?
an te morantur virgines viduae domi
patrique Orestes similis ? horum te mala
ventura moveant, turbo quis rerum imminet.
quid, misera, cessas ? en adest natis tuis
furens noverca. per tuum, si aliter nequit,
latus exigatur ensis et perimat duos. 200

misce cruorem, perde pereundo virum ;

mors misera non est common cum quo velis.

.

^Chryses, father of Chrysels.

2 Cassandra, his second infatuation. 8 Calchas.

4 i.e. Agamemnon believed him when he demanded the
death of Iphigenia, but not when he required the return of
Brisei's.

18

AGAMEMNON

smitten, unmoved by prayer, he held as spoil the
child of Smynthean Apollo's aged priest,1 then as
now mad with passion for a sacred maid.2 Neither
Achilles, unmoved by threats, could bend him, nor
he 3 who alone sees the secrets of the universe, (for
me and mine sure seer, for slave-girls of no weight),4
nor the plague-smit people, nor the blazing pyres.
Midst the death-struggle of falling Greece, conquered,
but by no foe, he languishes, has leisure for love,
seeks new amours ; and, lest his widowed couch ever
be free from some barbaric mistress, he lusted for the
Lyrnesian maid,5 Achilles' spoil, nor blushed to bear
her away, torn from her lord's embrace — he, the
enemy of Paris ! Now, wounded afresh, he rages
with passion for the inspired Phrygian maid ; 6 and
after Troy's conquest, after Ilium's overthrow, he
comes back home, a captive's husband and Priam's
son-in-law !

193 Now gird thee up, my soul ; no trivial strife art
thou preparing. Crime must be forestalled.7 Slug-
gish, what day dost thou await? Till Phrygian
wives shall wield our Pelops' sceptre ? Do the virgin
daughters of thy house and Orestes, image of his
father, hold thee back ? Nay, 'tis the ills that
that threaten them that should urge thee on ; o'er
them a storm of woes hangs lowering. Why, wretched
woman, dost thou hesitate ? For thy children a mad
step-dame is at hand. Through thine own side, if
not otherwise it can be done, let the sword be driven,
and so slay two. Mingle thy blood with his, in thy
death destroy thy husband ; death hath no pang when
shared with whom thou wouldest.

6 BriseTs. 6 Cassandra.

7 i.e. I must take revenge on Agamemnon before he does
the like to me.

19

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

NVTRIX

Regina, frena temet et siste impetus
et quanta temptes cogita ; victor venit
Asiae ferocis, ultor Europae, trahit
^aptiva Pergama et diu victos Phrygas.
hunc fraude nunc conaris et furto aggredi,
quern non Achilles ense violavit fero,
quamvis procacem torvus armasset manuin,
non melior Aiax morte decreta furens, 210

non sola Danais Hector et bello mora,
non tela Paridis certa, non Memnon niger,
non Xanthus armis corpora immixtis gerens
fluctusque Simois caede purpureos agens,
non nivea proles Cycnus aequorei dei,
non bellicoso Thressa cum Rheso phalanx,
non picta pharetras et securigera manu
peltata Amazon ? hunc domi reducem paras
mactare et aras caede maculare impia ?
victrix inultum Graecia hoc facinus feret ? 220

equos et arma classibusque horrens fretuni
propone et alto sanguine exundans solum
et tota captae fata Dardaniae domus
regesta Danais. coinprime adfectus truces
mentemque tibimet ipsa pacifica tuam.

AEO1STHVS

Quod tempus animo semper ac mente horrui
adest profecto, rebus extremum meis.

1 i.e. Ajax son of Telanion in contradistinction to Ajax the
son of Oileus, called Ajax " the Less."

AGAMEMNON

NURSE

O Queen, restrain thyself, check thine impetuous
wrath and think what thou art daring ; the conqueror
of wild Asia is at hand, Europe's avenger, dragging
in triumph captive Pergama and the Phrygians, long
since subdued. Against him now with guile and
stealth dost thou essay to fight, whom Achilles with
his savage sword hurt not, though in grim wrath he
armed his insolent hand, nor the better Ajax l raging
and bent on death, nor Hector, sole bulwark against
the warring Greeks, nor the sure-aimed shafts of
Paris, nor swarthy Memnon, nor Xanthus, rolling
down corpses and arms commingled, nor Simois, its
waves running red with blood, nor Cycnus, snowy 2
offspring of the Ocean-god, nor warlike Rhesus and
his Thracian horde, nor the Amazon, with her painted
quiver, battle-axe in hand, and crescent shield ?
Him, home-returning, dost thou prepare to slay and
to defile thine altars with slaughter impious ? Will
victorious Greece leave such a deed unavenged?
Horses and arms, the sea studded with ships, set
these before thine eyes, the ground flowing with
streams of blood, and the whole fate of the captured
house of Dardanus turned 'gainst the Greeks.3
Control thy fierce passions, and do thou thyself set
thine own soul at peace. [Exit.

[Enter AEGISTHUS.]

AEGISTHUS [in soliloquy]

The hour which always in my heart and soul I
dreaded is here indeed, the hour of fate for me.

'2 He was changed into a snow-white swan.
3 i.e. Agamemnon's death will be as terribly avenged as
was the injury to Helen.

21

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

quid terga vertis, anime ? quid primo impetu

deponis arma ? crede perniciem tibi

et dira saevos fata moliri deos. 230

oppone cunctis vile suppliciis caput,

ferrumque et ignes pectore adverse excipe,

Aegisthe ; non est poena sic nato mori.

Tu nos pericli socia, tu, Leda sata,
comitare tantum ; sanguinern reddet tibi
ignavus iste ductor ac fortis pater,
sed quid trementes circuit pallor genas
iacensque vultu languido optutus stupet ?

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Amor iugalis vincit ac flectit retro :
referamur1 illuc, unde non decuit prius 240

abire ; vel 2 nunc casta repetatur fides,
nam sera numquam est ad bonos mores via :
quern paenitet peccasse paene est innocens.

AEGISTHVS

Quo raperis amens ? credis aut speras tibi
Agamemnonis fidele coniugium ? ut nihil
subesset animo quod graves faceret metus,
tamen superba et impotens flatu nimis
Fortuna magno spiritus tumidos daret.
gravis ille sociis stante adhuc Troia fuit ;
quid rere ad animum suapte natura trucem 250

I'roiam addidisse ? rex Mycenarum fuit,
veniet tyrannus ; prospera animos efferunt.8
effusa circa paelicum quanto venit

1 referemus E: Leo referemur : Gronovius, followed by
Richter, referamur: remeemus A.

2 So Peiper, following Gronovius : Leo with AfSS. sed.

3 So the A1SS. : Leo, following Buecheler, eflerant

•£2

AGAMEMNON

Why, soul, dost fear to face it ? Why at the first
onslaught dost lay down thy arms ? Be sure that for
thee destruction and dread doom the pitiless gods
prepare. Then set thy vile life to face all punish-
ments, and with confronting breast welcome both
sword and flame, Aegisthus ; for one so born, 'tis no
penalty to die.

[To CLYTEMNESTRA]

234 Thou partner of my peril, thou, Leda's daughter,
be but my comrade still ; then blood for blood shall
he repay to thee, this cowardly warrior and valiant
sire. But why does pallor o'erspread thy ^trembling
cheeks, and why in thy listless face is thine eye so
dull and drooping ?

CLYTEMNESTRA

Love for my husband conquers and turns me back.
Return we thither whence 'twere well never to have
come away. E'en now let us reseek purity and
truth, for never too late is trod the path to honesty ;
whoso repents his sin is well-nigh innocent.

AEGISTHUS

Whither art borne, mad one ? Dost believe or hope
that Agamemnon is still true to his marriage vows ?
Though there were nought in thine own heart to
rouse grave fears, still would his arrogant, immoderate,
o'er-inflated fortune swell his pride. Harsh to his allies
was he while Troy still stood ; what thinkest thou
Troy x has added to a spirit by its own nature fierce ?
Mycenae's king he was ; he will come back her
tyrant ; — prosperity urges pride beyond itself. With
what magnificence the surging throng of- harlots

1 i.e. the fall of Troy.

23

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

turba apparatu ! sola sed turba eminet
tenetque regem famula veridici del.
feresne thalami victa consortem tui ?
at ilia nolet. ultimum«est nuptae malum
palam mariti possidens paelex domum.
nee regna socium ferre nee taedae sciunt.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Aegisthe, quid me rursus in praeceps agis 260
iramque flammis iam residentem incitas ?
permisit aliquid victor in captam sibi ;
nee coniugem hoc respicere nee dominam decet.
lex alia solio est, alia privato in toro.
quid quod severas ferre me leges viro
non patitur animus turpis admissi memor ?
det ille veniam facile cui venia est opus.

AEGISTHVS

Ita est ? pacisci mutuam veniam licet?
ignota tibi sunt iura regnorum aut nova ?
nobis maligni iudices, aequi sibi 270

id esse regni maximum pignus putant,
si quidquid aliis non licet solis licet.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Ignovit Helenae ; iuncta Menelao redit
quae Europam et Asiam paribus afflixit malis.

AEGISTHVS

Sed nulla Atriden Venere furtiva abstulit
nee cepit animum coniugi obstrictum suae.

24

AGAiMEMNON

comes ! But-one stands out among the throng and
holds the king in thrall, the handmaid l of the fate-
revealing god.2 Wilt thou give up and endure a
sharer in thy marriage bed ? But she will not. A
wife's utmost of woe is a mistress openly queening
it in her husband's house. Nor throne nor bed can
brook a partnership.

CLY3TEMNESTRA

Aegisthus, why dost thou again drive me headlong,
and fan to flame my wrath already cooling ? Suppose
the victor has allowed himself ,some liberty toward a
captive maid ; 'tis meet neither* for wife nor mistress
to take iiote.of this. There is one law for thrones,
one for the private bed. What ? Does my own
heart, itself conscious of base guilt, suffer me to pass
harsh judgment on my husband? Let her forgive
freely who forgiveness needs.

AEGISTHUS

Sayst thou so ? Canst bargain for mutual forgive-
ness? Are the rights of kings unknown to thee or
strange ? To us harsh judges, partial to themselves,
they deem this the greatest pledge of kingship, if
whate'er to others is unlawful is lawful to them
alone.

CLYTEMNESTRA

He pardoned Helen; joined to her Menelaiis she
returns, who Europe and Asia to like ruin dashed.

AEGISTHUS

Aye, but no woman with stealthy love has stolen
Atrides and captured his heart close-barred against
1 Cassandra. * Apollo.

25

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

iam crimen ille quaerit et causas parat.

nil esse crede turpe commissum tibi ;

quid honesta prodest vita, flagitio vacans ?

ubi dominus odit fit nocens, non quaeritur. 280

Spartamne repetes spreta et Eurotan tuum

patriasque sedes profuga ? non dant exitum

repudia regum. spe metus falsa levas.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Delicta novit nemo nisi fidus mea.

AEGISTHVS

Non intrat umquam regium limen fides.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Opibus merebor, ut fidem pretio obligem.

AEGISTHVS

Pretio parata vincitur pretio fides.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Surgit residuus pristinae mentis pudor ,
quid obstrepis ? quid voce blandiloqua mala
consilia dictas ? scilicet iiubet tibi, 290

regum relicto rege, generosa exuli ?

AEGISTHVS

Et cur Atrida videor inferior tibi,
natus Thyestae ?

26

AGAMEMNON

his wife.1 Already thy lord seeks charge against
thee, intends cause of strife. Suppose no baseness
has been done by thee ; what boots an honest life
and sinless? Whom a master hates is condemned of
guilt unheard. Spurned away, wilt thou go back to
Sparta and thy Eurotas, wilt flee to thy father's
house ? The rejected of kings have no escape. With
false hope dost thou relieve thy fears.

CLYTEMNESTRA

None knows my guilt save one faithful friend.

AEGISTHUS

Faith never crosses the threshold of a king.

CLYTEMNESTRA

With wealth will I purchase, with bribes will I
bind faith.

AEGISTHUS

Faith gained by bribes is overcome by bribes.

CLYTEMNESTRA

The remnant of my old time chastity revives ; why
dost thou cry against it ? Why with cozening words
dost give me evil counsel ? Deserting the king of
kings, shall I wed with thee, a high-born woman
with an outcast ?

AEGISTHUS

And wherefore less than Atreus' son do I seem to
thee, who am Thyestes' son ?

1 i.e. in Menelaiis' case his heart was not already hardened
against his wife by another mistress, as is the case with
Agamemnon.

27

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Si parum est, adde et nepos.

AEGISTHVS

Auctore Phoebo gignor ; baud generis pudet.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Phoebum nefandae stirpis auctorem vocas,
quern nocte subita frena revocantem sua
caelo expulistis ? quid deos probro addimus ?
subripere doctus fraude geniales toros,
quern Venere tantum scimus inlicita virum,
facesse propere ac dedecus nostrae domus 300

asporta ab oculis ; haec vacat regi ac viro.

AEGISTHVS

Exilia mihi sunt baud nova, assuevi malis.
si tu imperas, regina, non tantum domo
Argisve cedo : nil moror iussu tuo
aperire ferro pectus aerumnis grave.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Siquidem hoc cruenta Tyndaris fieri sinam.
quae iuncta peccat debet et culpae fidem.
secede mecum potius, ut rerum statum
dubium ac minacem iuncta consilia explicent.

CHORVS

Canite, o pubes inclita, Pboebum 1 310

tibi festa caput
turba coronat, tibi virgineas,

laurum quatiens,

28

AGAMEMNON

CLYTEMNESTRA

If that is not enough, say grandson, too.

AEGISTHUS

Phoebus was the source of my begetting ; mv
birth shames me not.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Dost thou name Phoebus as source of an inces-
tuous birth, whom, calling back his steeds in sudden
night, you l drove from heaven ? Why besmirch the
gods ? Thou, trained by guile to steal the marriage
bed, whom we know only as man of unlawful love,
depart at once, take from my sight the infamy of
our house ; this home is waiting for its king and lord.

AEGISTHUS

Exile is not new to me ; I am used to woe. If
thou commandest, O queen, not alone from home
and Argos do I flee: I am ready at thy bidding to
plunge sword into my heart, o'erweighed with grief.

CLYTEMNESTRA [aside]

Yet, should I, cruel daughter of Tyndareus, let
this be done.

[To AEGISTHUS.]

Who jointly sins owes also faith to crime. Come
thou with me, that the dark and threatening state

* O

of our affairs joint plans may set in order. [Exeunt.

CHORUS

Sing ye, O maids renowned, of Phoebus ! To thee,
Phoebus, the festal throng wreaths the head, to thee,
waving laurel-bough, the Argive maid in wonted

1 i.e. your house. At the horrid feast of Thyestes the sun
veiled his face in darkness that he might not see.

29

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

de more comas innuba fudit

stirps Inachia ; 315

quaeque Erasini gelidos fontes, 318

quaeque Eurotan,
quaeque virenti taciturn ripa 320

bibis Ismenon ;
tu quoque nostros, Thebais hospes, 316

comitare choros,1 317

quam fatorum praescia Manto, 322

sata Tiresia,
Latonigenas monuit sacris

celebrare deos.
Arcus, victor, pace relata,

Phoebe, relaxa
umeroque graves levibus telis

pone pharetras
resonetque manu pulsa citata 330

vocale chelys.
nil acre velim magnumque modis

intonet altis,
sed quale soles leviore lyra

flectere carmen
simplex, lusus cum docta tuos

Musa recenset.
licet et chorda graviore sones,

q u ale canebas
cum Titanas fulrnine victos 3 K)

videre del,
vel cum montes montibus altis

super impositi
struxere gradus trucibus monstris,

stetit imposita
Pelion Ossa, pinifer ambos

pressit Olympus.

1 Lines 316, 317 were transposed by Bothe.
30

AGAMEMNON

fashion spreads forth her virgin locks ; and thou who

drinkest of Erasmus' cool waters, who of Eurotas,
and who of Ismenus drinkest, silently flowing along
its green banks ; thou, too, though stranger in
Thebes, come join in our chorus, whom Manto,
reader of fate, Tiresias' daughter, warned with due
rites to worship the gods, offspring of Latona.

326 Thy bow, now peace lias come back, all-con-
quering Phoebus, loose, and thy quiver, full of swift
arrows, lay down from thy shoulder and let resound,
smit by thy flying fingers, the tuneful lyre. No
stern, high strains in lofty measures would I have it
sound, but such simple song as 'tis thy wont to
modulate on lighter shell, when the learned Muse
surveys thy sports. 'Tis thy right, too, on heavier
strings to sound such strain as thou sangest when
gods saw Titans by thunder overcome, even when
mountains, on lofty mountains set, furnished pathway
for grim monsters, when Pelion stood on Ossa set
beneath, and cloud-capped Olympus weighed on
both.

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Ades, o magni, soror et coniunx,

censors sceptri,
regia luno ! tua te colimus 350

turba Mycenae,
tu sollicitum supplexque tui

numinis Argos
sola tueris, tu bella inanu

pacemque regis.
tu nunc laurus Agamemnonias

accipe victrix.
tibi multifora tibia buxo

solemne canit,
tibi fila movent docta puellae 360

carmine molli,
tibi votivam matres Graiae

lampada iactant,
ad tua coniunx Candida tauri

delubra cadet,
nescia aratri, nullo collum

signata iugo.
Tuque, o magni nata Tonantis,

incluta Pallas,
quae Dardanias cuspide turres 370

saepe petisti,
te permixto matrona minor

maiorque choro
colit et reserat veniente dea

templa sacerdos.
tibi nexilibus turba coronis

redimita venit,
tibi grandaevi lassique senes

compote voto
reddunt grates libantque manu 380

vina trementi.
Et te Triviam nota memores

voce precamur :

32

AGAMEMNON

348 Thou, too, be near, who as wife and sister
sharest the sceptre's might, Juno the royal ! We,
thy chosen band, in Mycenae adore thee. Thou art
the sole protector of Argos that calls on thee with
anxious prayers ; thou in thy hand holdest war and
peace. Accept now the laurels of Agamemnon,
victorious goddess. To thee the box-wood flute of
many openings soundeth its solemn strains ; to thee
skilled maidens touch the strings in soothing melody ;
to thee Grecian mothers wave the votive torch ; at
thy shrines shall fall the bull's white mate, which
knows not the plough, whose neck the yoke ne'er
scarred.

868 And thou, child of the great Thunderer, glorious
Pallas, who oft with thy spear didst attack the
Dardanian towers, to thee in mingled chorus mothers,
younger and older, kneel, and at thy coming the
priest throws wide the doors of the temple. To thee
the throng, crowned with woven wreaths, advances ;
to thee aged and spent old men, their petitions
heard, give thanks and with trembling hand pour
wine in libation.

382 Thee, too, O Trivia,1 with mindful hearts and
prayer familiar we adore. Thou biddest thy natal

1 i.e. Diana.

S3

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

tu maternam sistere Delon,

Lucina, iubes,
hue atque illuc prius errantem

Cyclada ventis :
nunc iam stabilis fixa terras

radice tenet,
respuit auras religatque rates 390

assueta sequi.
tu Tantalidos funera matris

victrix numeras ;
stat nunc Sipyli vertice summo

flebile saxum,
et adhuc lacrimas marmora fundunt

antiqua novas,
colit impense femina virque

numen geminum.

Tuque ante omnes, pater ac rector 400

fu Imine pollens,
cuius nutu simul extremi

tremuere poll,
generis nostri, luppiter, auctor,

cape dona libens
abavusque tuam non degenerein

respice prolem.

Sed ecce, vasto concitus miles gradu
manifesta properat signa laetitiae ferens
(namque hasta summo lauream ferro gerit) 410

fidusque regi semper Eurybates adest.

EVRY BATES

Delubra et aras caelitum et patrios lares 392ai
post longa fessus spatia, vix credens mihi,

1 Leo in line notation has followed Gronovius except in the
chorus just ended, which Gronovius, with E, prints in dimeters,

34

AGAMEMNON

Delos to stand firm, Lucina,1 erstwhile a Cyclad,
drifting hither and yon at the will of the winds ; now
'tis a stable land with root firm fixed, repels the
winds and gives anchorage for ships, though wont to
follow them. Victorious, thou countest o'er the
corpses that their mother,2 child of Tantalus, be-
moaned ; now on Sipylus' high top she stands, a
weeping statue, and to this day fresh tears the
ancient marble drips. Zealously both maid and man
adore the twin divinities.3

400 And thou before all others, father and ruler,
god of the thunder, by whose mere nod the farthest
poles do tremble, O Jove, thou author of our race,
kindly accept our gifts, and with a father's care take
thought for thine own true progeny.

406 But lo, a soldier, hurrying with huge steps,
hastes hither with signs of joyful tidings clearly
visible, (for his spear bears a laurel wreath on its iron
tip,) and Eurybates, the ever faithful servant of the
king, is here.

[Enter EURYBATES with laurel-wreathed spear.]

EUR Y BATES

Ye shrines and altars of the heavenly gods, ye
household deities of my fathers, after long wanderings
wearied, and scarce trusting mine own eyes, I humbly

1 Diana. 2 Niobe. 8 i.e. Phoebus and Phoebe (Diana).

while A alternates dimeters with manometers. Leo follows A,
and adopts the notation 392a-4K/a, " in order not to break with
Gronovius throughout the remainder of the play."

S5

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

supplex adoro. vota superis solvite ;
telluris altum remeat Argolicae decus
tandem ad penates victor Agamemnon suos.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Felix ad aures nuntius venit meas !
ubinam petitus per decem coniunx mihi
annos moratur ? pelagus an terras premit ?

EVRYBATES

Incolumis, auctus gloria, laude inclitus 400a

reducem expetito litori impressit pedem.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Sacris colamus prosperum tandem diem
et si propitios attamen lentos deos.
tu pande vivat coniugis frater mei
et pande teneat quas soror sedes mea.

EVRYBATES

Meliora votis posco et obtestor deos ;
nam certa fari sors maris dubii vetat.
ut sparsa tumidum classis excepit mare,
ratis videre socia non potuit ratem.
quin ipse Atrides aequore immenso vagus 410a

graviora pelago damna quam bello tulit
remeatque victo similis, exiguas trahens
lacerasque victor classe de tanta rates.

36

AGAMEMNON

give reverence. \To the people.] Pay now your vows
to the high gods ; the pride and glory of the Argive
land returns to his own house at last, Agamemnon,
victorious !

[Enter CLYTEMNESTRA in time to hear the herald's con-
cluding words]

CLYTEMNESTRA

Blessed news this that falls upon mine ears ! But
where delays my husband whom I have sought
through ten long years ? Rests he on sea, or land ?

EUPYBATES

Unharmed, increased in glory, illustrious with
praise, he hath set homeward foot upon the longed-
for shore.

CLYTEMNESTRA

With sacred rites let us hail the day, fortunate at
last, and the gods, even if propitious, yet slow in
granting our request. But tell me, thou, does my
husband's brother live, and where is my sister,1 tell.

EURYBATES

Better than our hopes I pray and beseech the
gods ; for the sea's dubious lot forbids to speak
certainty. When our scattered fleet met swollen
seas, one ship could scarce descry her sister ship.
Nay, e'en Atrides' self, on the boundless ocean wan-
dering, endured losses heavier by sea than war, and
like a vanquished man, though victor, he returns,
bringing but few and shattered vessels from his

mighty fleet.

1 Helen.

37

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Eflfare casus quis rates hausit meas
aut quae rnaris fortuna dispulerit duces.

EVRYBATES

Acerba fatu poscis, infaustum iubes
miscere laeto nuntium. refugit loqui
mens aegra tantis atque inhorrescit mails.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Exprome ; clades scire qui refugit suas
gravat timorem ; dubia plus torquent mala. 420

EVRYBATES

Vt Pergamum omne Dorica cecidit face,
divisa praeda est, maria properantes petunt.
iamque ense fessum miles exonerat latus,
neglecta summas scuta per puppes iacent ;
ad militares remus aptatur manus
omnisque nimium longa properanti mora est
signum recursus regia ut fulsit rate
et clara laetum remigem monuit tuba,
aurata primas prora designat vias
aperitque cursus, mille quos puppes secent. 430

Hinc aura primo lenis impellit rates
adlapsa velis ; unda vix actu levi
tranquilla Zephyri mollis atflatu tremit,
s})lendetque classe pelagus et pariter latet.
iuvat videre nuda Troiae litora,
iuvat relicti sola Sigei loca.
properat iuventus omnis adductos simul

38

AGAMEMNON

CLYTEMNESTRA

Tell what calamity has swallowed up my ships,
or what mishap by sea has dispersed the chiefs.

EURYBATES

A tale bitter in the telling thou demandest; thou
biddest me mix the unlucky message with the glad.
My sick mind shrinks from speech and shudders at
the thought of such disasters.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Tell on ; who shrinks from knowledge of his
calamities but aggravates his fear; troubles half
seen do torture all the more.

EURYBATES

When all Pergamum fell 'neath the Doric fire, the
spoil was divided and in eager haste all sought the
sea. And now the warrior eases his side of the
sword's weary load, and unheeded lie the shields
along the high sterns ; the oar is fitted to the warrior's
hands, and to their eager haste all tarrying seems
over long. Then, when the signal for return gleamed
on the royal ship, and the loud trumpet-blast warned
the glad rowers, the king's gilded prow, leading,
marked out the way, and opened up the course for a
thousand ships to follow.

431 A gentle breeze at first steals into our sails and
drives our vessels onward ; the tranquil waves, scarce
stirring, ripple beneath soft Zephyr's breathing, and
the sea reflects the splendour of the fleet, hiding the
while beneath it. 'Tis sweet to gaze on the bare
shores of Troy, sweet to behold deserted Sigeum's
wastes. The young men all haste to bend the oars,

39

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

lentare remos, adiuvat ventos manu

et valida nisu bracchia alterno movet.

sulcata vibrant aequora et latera increpant 440

dirimuntque canae caerulum spumae mare.

ut aura plenos fortior tendit sinus,

posuere tonsas, credita est vento ratis

fususque transtris miles aut terras procul,

quantum recedunt vela, fugientes notat,

aut bella narrat : Hectoris fortis minas

currusque et empto redditum corpus rogo,

sparsum cruore regis Herceum lovem.

tune qui iacente reciprocus ludit salo

tumidumque pando transilit dorso mare 450

Tyrrhenus omni piscis exultat freto

agitatque gyros et comes lateri adnatat,

anteire naves laetus et rursus sequi ;

nunc prima tangens rostra lascivit chorus,

millesimam nunc ambit et lustrat ratem.

lam litus omne tegitur et campi latent
et dubia parent montis Idaei iuga ;
et iam, quod unum pervicax acies videt,
Iliacus atra fumus apparet nota.

iam lassa Titan colla relevabat iugo, 460

in astra iam lux prona, iam praeceps dies,
exigua nubes sordido crescens globo
nitidum cadentis inquinat Phoebi iubar ;
suspecta varius occidens fecit freta.

Nox prima caelum sparserat stellis, iacent
deserta vento vela, turn murmur grave,
maiora minitans, collibus summis cadit

1 i.e. of Achilles, by which Hector's body was dragged.

2 Priam was slain at the altar of Hercean Jove (Zet/s
'Ep-retoj, protector of the courtyard) in the courtyard of his
palace.

8 The dolphin is so called here in remembrance of th*

40

AGAMEMNON

with strokes together, aid winds with hands and move
their sturdy arms with rhythmic swing. The fur-
rowed waters quiver, the vessel's sides hiss through
the waves and dash the blue sea into hoary spray.
When a fresher breeze strains the swelling sails, the
warriors lay by their oars, trust ship to wind and,
stretched along the benches, either watch the far-
fleeing land as the sails retreat, or rehearse their
wars — brave Hector's threats, the chariot1 and his
ransomed body given to the pyre, Hercean Jove
sprinkled with royal blood.2 Then, too, the Tyrrhene
fish 3 plays to and fro in the smooth water, leaps over
the heaving seas with arching back, and sports
around, now dashing about in circles, now swimming
by our side, now gaily leading and again following
after ; anon the band in sheer wantonness touch the
leading prow, now round and round the thousandth
ship they swim.

456 Meanwhile all the shore is hid and the plains
sink from view, and dimly the ridges of Ida's mount
appear ; and now, what alone the keenest eye can see,
the smoke of Ilium shows but a dusky spot. Already
from the yoke Titan was freeing his horses' weary
neoks ; now to the stars his rays sink low, now day
goes headlong down. A tiny cloud, growing to a
murky mass, stains the bright radiance of the setting
sun, and the many coloured sun-set has made us
doubt the sea.4

465 Young night had spangled the sky with stars ;
the sails, deserted by the wind, hung low. Then
from the mountain heights there falls a murmur
deep, worse threatening, and the wide-sweeping

Tyrrhene pirates who under the wrath of Bacchus were
changed to dolphins. See Oedipus, 449 ff.
4 This is one of numerous weather-signs.

41

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

tractuque longo litus ac petrae gemunt ;

agitata ventis unda Venturis tumet —

cum subito luna conditur, stellae latent, 470

in astra pontus tollitur, caelum perit.

neo una nox est ; densa tenebras obruit

caligo et omni luce subducta fretum

caelumque miscet. undique incumbunt simul

rapiuntque pelagus infimo eversum solo 1

ad versus Euro Zephyrus et Boreae Notus.

sua quisque mittit tela et infesti fretum

emoliuntur, turbo convolvit mare.

Strymonius altas Aquilo contorquet nives

Libycusque harenas Auster ac Syrtes agit ; 480

nee manet in Austro : flat gravis nimbis Notus,

imbre auget undas, Eurus orientem movet

Nabataea quatiens regna et Eoos sinus.

quid rabidus ora Corus Oceano exerens ?

mundum revellit sedibus totum suis,

ipsosque rupto crederes caelo deos

decidere et atrum rebus induci chaos.

vento resistit aestus et ventus retro

aestum revolvit ; non capit sese mare

undasque miscent imber et fluctus suas. 490

nee hoc levamen denique aerumnis datur,

videre saltern et nosse quo pereant malo.

premunt tenebrae lumina et dirae Stygis

inferna nox est. excidunt ignes tamen

et nube dirum fulmen elisa micat,

miserisque lucis tanta dulcedo est malae ;

hoc lumen optant.

Ipsa se classis premit
et prora prorae nocuit et lateri latus.

1 So A : Leo infimum f everso polo with Et conjecturing
infimum venti polo, and deleting 1. 476.

42

AGAMEMNON

shore and rocky headlands send forth a moaning
sound ; the waves, lashed by the rising wind, roll
high — when suddenly the moon is hid, the stars sink
out of sight, skyward the sea is lifted, the heavens
are gone. 'Tis doubly night ; dense fog o'erwhelms
the dark and, all light withdrawn, confuses sea and
sky. From all sides at once the winds fall on and
ravage the sea, from its lowest depths upturned,
West wind with East wind striving, South with
North. Each wields his own weapons, with deadly
assault stirring up the deep, while a whirlwind churns
the waves. Strymonian Aquilo sends the deep snow
whirling, and Libyan Auster stirs up the sands of
Syrtes ; 1 nor stands the strife with Auster : Notus,
heavy with clouds, blows up, swells waves with rain,
while Eurus attacks the dawn, shaking Nabataean
realms, and eastern gulfs. What wrought fierce
Corus, thrusting forth his head from ocean? The
whole sky he tears from its foundations, and you
might think the very gods falling from the shattered
heavens, and black chaos enveloping the world
Flood strives with wind and wind backward rolls the
flood. The sea contains not itself, and rain and
waves mingle their waters. Then even this comfort
fails their dreadful plight, to see at least and know
the disaster by which they perish. Darkness weighs
on their eyes, and 'tis the infernal night of awful
Styx. Yet fires burst forth, and from the riven
clouds gleams the dire lightning flash, and to the
poor sailors great is the sweetness of that fearful
gleam ; even for such light they pray.

497 The fleet itself helps on its own destruction, prow
crashing on prow and side on side. One ship the

1 The Syrtes were shallow sand-bars off the northern coast
of Africa.

43

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

illam dehiscens pontus in praeceps rapit

hauritque et alto redditam revomit mari ; 500

haec onere sidit, ilia convulsum latus

submittit undis, fluctus hanc decimus tegit.

haec lacera et omni decore populate levis

fluitat nee illi vela nee tonsae manent

nee rectus altas maluS antemnas ferens,

sed trunca toto puppis Icario natat.

nil ratio et usus audet ; ars cessit malis.

tenet horror artus, omiiis officio stupet

navita relicto, remus efFugit manus.

in vota miseros ultimus cogit timor 510

eademque superos Troes et Danai rogant.

quid fata possunt ! invidet Pyrrhus patri,

Aiaci Vlixes, Hectori Atrides minor,

Agamemno Priamo ; quisquis ad Troiam iacet

felix vocatur, cadere qui meruit manu,1

quem fama servat, victa quern tell us tegit.

"nil nobile ausos pontus atque undae ferunt ?

ignava fortes fata consument viros ?

perdeiida mors est ? quisquis es nondum malis

satiate tantis caelitum, tandem tuum 520

numen serena ; cladibus nostris daret

vel Troia lacrimas. odia si durant tua

placetque mitti Doricum exitio genus,

quid hos simul perire nobiscum iuvat,

quibus perimus? sistite infestum mare;

vehit ista Danaos classis et Troas vehit."

nee plura possunt ; occupat vocem mare.

1 So A : Leo gradu.

1 Every tenth wave was supposed to be the greatest and
most destructive.

2 i.e. in safety. The contrast here is between timorous

44

AGAMEMNON

yawning deep sucks into the abyss, engulfs and spews
forth again, restored to the sea above ; one sinks
of its own weight, another turns its wrecked side to
the waves, and one the tenth l wave o'erwhelms.
Here, battered and stripped of all its ornament, one
floats, with neither sails nor oars nor straight mast
bearing the high sailyards, a broken hulk, drifting
wide on the Icarian sea. Reason, experience, are of
no avail ; skill yields to dire calamity. Horror holds
their limbs ; the sailors all stand stupefied, their
tasks abandoned ; oars drop from hands. To prayer
abject fear drives the wretches, and Trojans and
Greeks beg the same things of the gods. What can
near doom accomplish ? Pyrrhus envies his father,
Ulysses Ajax, the younger Atrides Hector, Agamem-
non Priam ; whoever at Troy lies slain is hailed as
blessed, who by deeds of arms earned death, whom
glory guards, whom the land he conquered buries.
" Do sea and wave bear 2 those who have dared
naught noble, and shall a coward's doom o'erwhelm
brave men ? Must death be squandered ? Whoe'er
of heaven's gods thou art, not yet with our sore
troubles sated, let thy divinity be at last appeased ;
o'er our calamities e'en Troy would weep. But if
thy hate is stubborn, and 'tis thy pleasure to send
the Greek race to doom, why wouldst have those 3
perish along with us, for whose sake we perish ?
Allay the raging sea: this fleet bears Greeks but it
bears Trojans too." They can no more ; the sea
usurps their words.

folk who have safely sailed the sea and these brave men
who must perish in it and throw away their lives for no
return.

3 i.e. the Trojans, on whose account, it is here assumed,
the destructive storm has been sent upon the Greeks.

45

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Ecce alia clades ! fulmine irati lovis
armata Pallas quidquid haut l hasta minax,
haut1 aegide haut2 furore Gorgoneo potest, 530

at3 igne patrio temptat, et caelo novae
spirant procellae. solus invictus malis
luctatur Aiax. vela cogentem hunc sua
tento rudente flamma perstrinxit cadens.
libratur aliud fulmen ; hoc toto impetu
certum reducta Pallas excussit manu,
imitata patrem. transit Aiacem et ratem
ratisque partem secum et Aiacem tulit.
nil ille motus, ardua ut cautes, salo
ambustus extat, dirimit insanum mare 540

fluctusque rumpit pectore et navem manu
complexus ignes traxit et caeco mari
conlucet Aiax, omne resplendet fretum.
tandem occupata rupe furibundum intonat :
"superasse cuncta,4 pelagus atque ignes iuvat,
vicisse caelum Palladem fulmen mare,
non me fugavit bellici terror dei,
et Hectorem una solus et Martem tuli;5
Phoebea nee me tela pepulerunt gradu.
cum Phrygibus istos vicimus — tene horream ? 550
aliena inerti tela mittis dextera.
quid; si ipse mittat — " 6 pi ura cum auderet furens,

1 So M. Mueller emending o>, followed by Richter : Leo aut.

2 et w, emended by M. Mueller : Leo et.

3 aut o>, emtnded by M. Mueller : Leo aut.

4 So Richter : nunc E : nunc se A : iuvit, Leo conj.

6 This line is jnroperly deleted by Leo, as applicable to the
greater Ajax and not to the present speaker. Farnabius, how-
ever, allow* the line to stand, as befitting the boastful, wild
words of Ajax Oileus.

6 All editors read quid si ipse mittat? a meaningless phrase.
I have changed the punctuation as indicated above, leaving the
sentence unfinished.

46

AGAMEMNON

528 But lo ! disaster on disaster ! Pallas, armed with
the bolt of angry Jove, threatening essays whate'er
she may, not with spear, not with aegis, not with
Gorgon's l rage, but with her father's lightning, and
throughout the sky new tempests blow. Ajax2
alone, undaunted by disaster, keeps up the struggle.
Him, shortening sail with straining halyard, the
hurtling lightning grazed. Another bolt is levelled ;
this, with all her might, Pallas launched true, with
hand back drawn, in imitation of her father. Through
Ajax it passed, and through his ship, and part of the
ship with it, and Ajax it bore away. Then he,
nothing moved, like some high crag, rises flame-
scorched from the briny deep, cleaves the raging sea,
with his breast bursts through the floods and, holding

o f O

to his wrecked vessel with his hand, drags flames
along, shines brightly midst the darkness of the sea
and illumines all the waves. At last, gaining a rock,
in mad rage he thunders : " 'Tis sweet to have
conquered all things, flood and flame, to have van-
quished sky, Pallas, thunderbolt and sea. I fled not
in terror of the god of war ; both Hector at once
and Mars did I with my sole arm withstand ; nor did
Phoebus' shafts force me to give way. Such warriors,
together with their Phrygians, I conquered ; — and
shall I shrink from thee ? Another's weapon with
weakling hand thou hurlest. What, if he himself
should hurl — ?"3 When in his madness he would

1 The shield (aegis) of Minerva was set with the terrifying
Gorgon's head given to her by Perseus.

2 i.e. Ajax "the Less," son of Oileus. This scene recalls
Vergil, Aen. I. 41 ff.

3 Ajax apparently would have finished by saying — " his
bolt, even then I would not fear."

47

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

tridente rupem submit pulsam pater
Neptunus imis exerens undis caput
solvitque montem ; quem cadens secum tulit
terraque et igne victus et pelago iacet.

Nos alia maior naufragos pestis vocat.
est humilis unda, scrupeis mendax vadis,
ubi saxa rapidis clausa verticibus tegit
fallax Caphereus ; aestuat scopulis fretum 560

fervetque semper fluctus alterna vice,
arx imminet praerupta quae spectat mare
utrimque geminum. Pelopis hinc oras tui
et Isthmon, arto qui recurvatus solo
Ionia iungi maria Phrixeis vetat,
hinc scelere Lemnon nobilem et Calchedona
tardamque ratibus Aulida. hanc arcem occupat
Palamedis ille genitor et clarum manu
lumen nefanda vertice e summo efferens
in saxa ducit perfida classem face. 570

haerent acutis rupibus fixae rates ;
has inopis undae brevia comminuunt vada,
pars vehitur huius prima, pars scopulo sedet ;
hanc alia retro spatia relegentem ferit
et fracta frangit. iam timent terram rates
et maria malunt. cecidit in lucem furor ;
postquam litatum est Ilio, Phoebus redit
et damna noctis tristis ostendit dies.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Vtrumne doleam laeter an reducem virum ?
remeasse laetor vulnus et regni grave 580

1 i e. of the women who killed all their men, except that
Hypsipyle saved her father, Thoas.

48

AGAMEMNON

be daring more, father Neptune, pushing with his
trident, o'erwhelmed the rock, thrusting forth his
head from his waves' depths, and broke off the crag.
This in his fall Ajax bears down with him, and now
he lies, by earth and fire and billows overcome.

557 But us shipwrecked mariners, another, worse
ruin challenges. There is a shallow water, a deceitful
shoal full of rough boulders, where treacherous Capher-
eus hides his rocky base beneath whirling eddies ;
the sea boils upon the rocks, and ever the flood
seethes with its ebb and flow. A precipitous head-
land o'erhangs, which on either hand looks out upon
both stretches of the sea. Hence thou mayst descry
thine own Pelopian shores, and Isthmus which,
backward curving with its narrow soil, forbids the
Ionian sea to join with Phrixus' waves ; hence also
Lemnos, infamous for crime,1 and Calchedon, and
Aulis which long delayed the fleet. Seizing this
summit, the father of Palamedes with accursed
hand raised from the high top a beacon-light and
with treacherous torch lured the fleet upon the reefs.
There hang the ships caught on jagged rocks ; some
are broken to pieces in the shallow water ; the prow
of one vessel is carried away, while a part sticks fast
upon the rock ; one ship crashes with another as it
draws back, both wrecked and wrecking. Now
ships fear land and choose the seas. Towards dawn
the storm's rage is spent ; now that atonement has
been made for Ilium, Phoebus returns and sad day
reveals the havoc of the night.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Shall I lament or rejoice me at my lord's return ?
I do rejoice to see him home again, but o'er our

49

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

lugere cogor. redde iam Grais, pater
altisona quatiens regna, placates decs,
nunc omne laeta fronde veletur caput,
sacrifica dulces tibia efiundat modos
et nivea magnas victima ante aras cadat.

Sed ecce, turba tristis incomptae comas
Iliades adsunt, quas super celso gradu
effrena Phoebas entheas laurus quatit.

CHORVS

Heu quam dulce malum mortal ibus additum
vitae dims amor, cum pateat malis 590

effugium et miseros libera mors vocet
portus aeterna placidus quiete.
nullus liunc terror nee impotentis
procella Fortunae movet aut iniqui
flamma Tonantis.
pax alta nullos l

civium coetus timet aut minaces
victoris iras, non maria asperis
insana coris, non acies feras

pulvereamve nubem 600

motam barbaricis equitum catervis ;
non urbe cum tota populos cadentes,
hostica muros populante flamma,
indomitumve bellum.
perrumpet omne servitium
contemptor levium deorum,
qui vultus Acherontis atri,
qui Styga tristem non tristis videt
audetque vitae ponere finem.

1 This awkward duplication of half-lines Kichter avoids,
while at the same time olto.ining a presumably more logical

50

AGAMEMNON

realm's heavy loss am I forced to grieve. At last
O father, that dost shake the high-resounding heavens,
restore to the Greeks their gods appeased. Now
let every head be crowned with festal wreaths, let
the sacrificial flute give forth sweet strains, and the
white victim at the great altars fall.

586 But see, a mournful throng with locks unbound,
the Trojan women are here, while high above them
all, with proud step advancing, Phoebus' mad priestess
waves the inspiring laurel branch.

[Enter band of Trojan women led by CASSANDRA.]

CHORUS OF TROJAN WOMEN

Alas, how alluring a bane is appointed unto
mortals, even dire love of life, though refuge from
their woes opes wide, and death with generous
hand invites the wretched, a peaceful port of ever-
lasting rest. Nor fear nor storm of raging Fortune
disturbs that calm, nor bolt of the harsh Thunderer.
Peace so deep fears no citizens' conspiracy, no victor's
threatening wrath, no wild seas ruffled by stormy
winds, no fierce battle lines or dark cloud raised by
barbaric squadrons' hoofs, no nations falling with
their city's utter overthrow, while the hostile flames
lay waste the walls, no fierce, ungovernable war.
All bonds will he break through, who dares scorn
the fickle gods, who on the face of dark Acheron, on
fearful Styx can look, unfearful, and is bold enough
to put an end to life. A match for kings, a match

arrangement, by reading II. 605-609 after I. 595. He then
prints 1. 596 with a lacuna : Alta pax . . . nullos.

51

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

par ille regi, par superis erit. 6 10

o quam miserum est nescire mori !

Vidimus patriam ruentem nocte funesta,
cum Dardana tecta Dorici raperetis ignes.
non ilia bello victa, non armis,
ut quondam, Herculea cecidit pharetra;
quam non Pelei Thetidisque natus
carusque Pelidae minium feroci
vicit, acceptis cum fulsit armis
fuditque Troas falsus Achilles,
aut cum ipse Pelides animos feroces 620

sustulit luctu celeremque saltu
Troades summis timuere muris,
perdidit in malis
extremum decus fortiter vinci ;
restitit quinis bis annis
unius noctis peritura furto.

Vidimus simulata dona
molis immensae Danaumque
fatale munus duximus nostra
creduli dextra tremuitque saepe
limine in primo sonipes, cavernis 630

conditos reges belhmique gestans ;
et licuit dolos versare ut ipsi
fraude sua caderent Pelasgi.
saepe commotae sonuere parmae
tacitumque murmur percussit aures,
ut fremuit male subdolo
parens Pyrrhus Vlixi.

Secura metus Troica pubes
sacros gaudet tangere funes.
hinc aequaevi gregis Astyanax, 640

1 Patroclus.

2 i.e. at the death of Patroclus.

52

AGAMEMNON

for the high gods will he be. Oh, how wretched 'tis to
know not how to die !

612 \ye saw our country fall on that night of death,
when you, ye Doric fires, ravished Dardania's homes.
She, not in war conquered, not by arms, not, as
aforetime, by Hercules' arrows, fell ; her, not Peleus'
and Thetis' son o'ercame, nor he,1 well-beloved by
overbrave Pelides, when in borrowed arms he shone
and drove Troy's sons in flight, a false Achilles ; nor,
when Pelides' self through grief2 gave o'er his fierce
resentment,3 and the Trojan women, from the ram-
parts watching, feared his swift attack, did she lose
amid her woes the crowning glory of suffering
conquest bravely ; for ten long years she stood, fated
to perish by one night's treachery.4

627 \ye saw tjlat; feigned gift, measureless in bulk,
and with our own hands trustfully dragged along the
Greeks' deadly offering ; and oft on the threshold of
the gate the noisy footed monster stumbled, bearing
within its hold hidden chiefs and war. We might
have turned their guile against themselves, and
caused the Pelasgians by their own trick to fall.
Oft sounded their jostled shields, and a low muttering
smote our ears, when Pyrrhus grumbled, scarce
yielding to crafty Ulysses' will.

638 All unafraid, the Trojan youth joy to touch the
fatal ropes.5 Companies of their own age here

3 i.e. against Agamemnon.

4 i.e. by the trick of the wooden horse.

6 With this whole passage compare Vergil's description,
and especially Aen. 11. 239.

53

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

hinc Haemonio desponsa rogo

ducunt turmas, haec femineas,

ille viriles. festae matres

votiva ferunt munera divis ;

festi patres adeunt aras,

unus tota est vultus in urbe ;

et, quod numquam post Hectorcos

vidimus ignes, laeta est Hecuba.

quid nunc primum, dolor infelix,

quidve extremum deflere paras? 650

moenia, divum fabricata manu,

diruta nostra ?

an templa deos super usta suos ?

non vacat istis lacrimare malis — •

te, magne parens, flent Iliades.

vidi, vidi senis in iugulo

telum Pyrrlri vix exiguo

sanguine tingui.

CASSANDRA

Cohibete lacrimas omne quas tempus petet,
Troades, et ipsae vestra lamentabili 660

lugete gemitu funera ; aerumnae meae
socium recusant, cladibus questus meis
reinovete. nostris ipsa sufficiam malis.

CHORVS

Lacrimas lacrimis miscere iuvat ;
magis exurunt quos secretae
lacerant curae, iuvat in medium
deflere suos ; nee tu, quamvis
dura virago patiensque mali,
poteris tantas flere ruinas.
non quae verno mobile carmen 670

ramo cantat tristis aedon

54

AGAMEMNON

Astyanax leads, there she,1 to the Thessalian pyre
betrothed, she leading maids, he youths. Gaily do
mothers bring votive offerings to the gods ; gaily dp
fathers approach the shrines ; each wears but one
look the city o'er ; and, what never we saw since
Hector's funeral, Hecuba was glad. And now,
unhappy grief, what first, what last, wilt thou
lament ? Walls by divine hands fashioned, by our
own destroyed ? Temples upon their own gods
consumed ? Time lacks to weep such ills — thee, O
great father, the Trojan women weep. I saw, I saw
in the old man's throat the sword of Pyrrhus scarce
wet in his scanty blood.

CASSANDRA

Restrain your tears which all time will seek, ye
Trojan women, and do you yourselves grieve for
your own dead with groans and lamentations ; my
losses refuse all sharing. Cease then your grief for
my disasters. I myself shall suffice for the woes of
mine own house.

CHORUS

"1'is sweet to mingle tears with tears ; griefs bring
more smart where they wound in solitude, but 'tis
sweet in company to bewail one's friends ; nor shalt
thou, though strong, heroic, and inured to woe,
avail to lament calamities so great. Not the sad
nightingale,2 which from the vernal bough pours

1 Polyxena. a Into which Philomela was changed.

55

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Ityn in varios modulata sonos,

non quae tectis Bistonis ales

residens summis impia diri

furta mariti garrula narrat,

lugere tuam poterit digne

conquesta domum. licet ipse velit

clarus niveos inter olores

Histrum cycnus Tanainque colens

extrema loqui, licet alcyones 680

Ceyca suum fluctu leviter

plangente sonent, cum tranquillo

male confisae credunt iterum

pelago audaces fetusque suos

nido pavidae titubante fovent ;

non si rnolles comitata viros

tristis laceret bracchia tecum

quae turritae turba parenti

pectora, rauco concita buxo,

ferit ut Plirygium lugeat Attin, — 690

non est lacrimis, Cassandra, modus,

quia quae patimur vicere modum.

Sed cur sacratas deripis capiti infulas ?
miseris colendos maxiine superos putem.

CASSANDRA

Vicere nostra iam metus omnes mala,
equidem nee ulla caelites placo prece
nee, si velint saevire, quo noceant habent.
Fortuna vires ipsa consumpsit suas.
quae patria restat, quis pater, quae iam soror ?

1 The swallow (hirundo] into which Procne was changed.
a Cycnus (see Index) is here conceived of as swan rather
than man.

56

AGAMEMNON

forth her liquid song, piping of Itys in ever changing
strains ; not the bird 1 which, perching on Bistonian
battlements, tells o'er and o'er the hidden sins of
her cruel lord, will e'er be able, with all her passionate
lament, worthily to mourn thy house. Should bright
Cycnus' 2 self, haunting midst snowy swans Ister
and Tanai's, utter his dying song ; should halcyons
mourn their Ceyx midst the light wave's lapping,
when, though distrustful, boldly they trust once
more to the tranquil ocean, and anxiously on un-
steady nest cherish their young ; should the sad
throng which follows the unmanned men 3 bruise

O

their arms along with thee, the throng which, by the
shrill flute maddened, smite their breasts to the
tower-crowned mother,4 that for Phrygian Attis they
may lament, — not so, Cassandra, is there measure
for our tears, for what we suffer has outmeasured
measure.

693 But why dost tear off the holy fillets from thy
head ? Methinks the gods should be most reverenced
by unhappy souls.

CASSANDRA

Now have our woes o'ermastered every fear.
Neither do I appease the heavenly gods by any
prayer, nor, should they wish to rage, have they
wherewith to harm me. Fortune herself has ex-
hausted all her powers. What fatherland remains ?
What father ? WThat sister now ? Altars 5 and

* Priests of Cybele. * Cybele.

6 Both her brother Polites and her father Priam hud been
slain at the altar of Hercean Jove. See A en. II. 526 ff.

57

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Dibere tumuli sanguinem atque arae meum. 700

quid ilia felix turba fraterni gregis ?

exhausta nempe ! regia miseri senes

vacua relicti ; totque per thalamos vident

praeter Lacaenam ceteras viduas nurus.

tot ilia regum mater et regimen Phrygum,

fecunda in ignes Hecuba fatorum novas

experta leges induit vultus feros :

circa ruinas rabida latravit suas,

Troiae superstes, Hectori, Priamo, sibi !

CHORVS

Silet repente Phoebas et pallor genas 7 1 0

creberque totum possidet corpus tremor ;
stetere vittae, mollis borrescit coma,
anhela corda murmure incluso fremunt,
incerta nutant lumiiia et versi retro
torquentur oculi, rursus immoti rigent.
nunc levat in auras altior solito caput
graditurque celsa, nunc reluctantes parat
reserare fauces, verba nunc clauso male
custodit ore maenas impatiens dei.

CASSANDRA

Quid me furoris incitam stimulis novi 720

quid mentis inopem, sacra Parnasi iuga,
rapitis ? recede, Phoebe, iam non sum tua,
extingue flammas pectori infixas meo.
cui nunc vagor vaesana ? cui bacchor furens ?
iam Troia cecidit — falsa quid vates ago ?

58

AGAMEMNON

tombs * have drunk up my blood. What of that
happy throng of brothers ? Gone, all ! in the
empty palace only sad old men are left ; and
throughout those many chambers they see all
women, save her of Sparta, widowed. That mother
of so many kings, queen of the Phrygians, Hecuba,
fruitful for funeral-fires, proving new laws of fate,
has put on bestial form : 2 around her ruined walls
madly she barked, surviving Troy, son, husband —
and herself!

CHORUS

The bride of Phoebus suddenly is still, pallor
o'erspreads her cheeks, and constant tremors master
all her frame. Her fillets stand erect, her soft locks
rise in horror, her labouring heart sounds loud with
pent murmuring, her glance wanders uncertain,
her eyes seem backward turned into herself, anon
they stare unmoving. Now she lifts her head into
the air higher than her wont, and walks with stately
tread ; now makes to unlock her struggling lips, now
vainly tries to close them on her words, a mad
priestess fighting against the god.

CASSANDRA

Why, O Parnassus' sacred heights, do ye prick me
with fury's goads anew, why do you sweep me on,
bereft of sense ? Away ! O Phoebus, I am no
longer thine ; quench thou the flames set deep
within my breast. For whose sake wander I now in
madness ? for whose sake in frenzy rave ? Now
Troy has fallen — what have I, false prophetess,
to do ?

1 Polyxena had been slain on Achilles' tomb.
8 i.e. she was changed into a dog.

59

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Vbi sum ? fugit lux alma et obscurat genas
nox alta et aether abditus tenebris latet.
sed ecce gemino sole praefulget dies
geminumque duplices Argos attollit dornus.
Idaea cerno nemora ; fatalis sedet 730

inter potentes arbiter pastor deas. —
timete reges, moneo, furtivum genus ;
agrestis iste alumnus evertet dornum.1
quid ista vaecors tela feminea manu
destricta praefert ? quern petit dextra virum
Lacaena cultu, ferrum Amazonium gerens ? —
quae versat oculos alia mine facies meos ?
victor ferarum colla sublimis iacet
ignobili sub dente Marmaricus leo,
morsus cruentos passus audacis leae. — 740

quid me vocatis sospitem solam e meis,
umbrae meorum ? te sequor testis, pater,
Troiae sepultae ; frater, auxilium Phrygum
terrorque Danaum, non ego antiquum decus
video aut calentes ratibus exustis manus,
sed lacera membra et saucios vinclo gravi
illos lacertos ; te sequor, nimium cito
congresse Achilli Troile ; incertos geris,
Deiphobe, vultus, coniugis munus novae,
iuvat per ipsos ingredi Stygios lacus, 750

iuvat videre Tartar! saevum canem
avidique regna Ditis ! haec hodie ratis
Phlegethontis atri regias animas vehet,
victamque victricemque. vos, umbrae, precor,
iurata superis unda, te pariter precor :

1 Wilamowitz conjectures that several lines have fallen out
after I. 733, concerning the fates of Troy and the crimes of the
Atridae. Lines 730-733 seem to Leo to be spurious.

1 These words have no logical connection with her previous
utterance, and are a dark allusion to Aegisthus.

60

AGAMEMNON

726 Where am I ? Fled is the kindly light, deep
darkness blinds my eyes, and the sky, buried in
gloom, is hidden away. But see ! with double sun
the day gleams forth, and double Argos lifts up
twin palaces ! Ida's groves I see ; there sits the
shepherd, fateful judge midst mighty goddesses.-
Fear him, ye kings, I warn you, fear the child of
stolen love ; l that rustic foundling shall overturn
your house. What means that mad woman with
drawn sword in hand ? What hero seeks she with
her right hand, a Spartan in her garb,2 but carrying
an Amazonian axe ? — What sight is that other which
now employs mine eyes ? The king of beasts with
his proud neck, by a base fang lies low, an Afric
lion, suffering the bloody bites of his bold lioness. -
Why do ye summon me, saved only of my house,
my kindred shades? Thee, father, do I follow, eye-
witness of Troy's burial ; thee, brother, help of the
Phrygians, terror of the Greeks, I see not in thine
old-time splendour, or with thine hands hot from
the burning of the ships, but mangled of limb, with
those arms wounded by the deep-sunk thongs ;
thee, Troilus, I follow, too early with Achilles met ;
unrecognisable the face thou wearest, Deiphobus,3
the gift of thy new wife.4 'Tis sweet to fare along
the very Stygian pools ; sweet to behold Tartarus'
savage dog and the realms of greedy Dis ! To-day
this skiff of murky Phlegethon shall bear royal
souls,5 vanquished and vanquisher. Ye shades, I
pray ; thou stream on which the gods make oath,
thee no less I pray : for a little withdraw the

2 She has a clairvoyant prevision of the act of Clyteinnestra.

3 See Vergil, A en. vi. 494 ff.

4 i.e. Helen.

8 Her own and Agamemnon's.

61

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

reserate paulum terga nigrantis poli,

levis ut Mycenas turba prospiciat Phrygum.

spectate, miseri ; fata se vertunt retro.

Instant sorores squalidae,
sanguinea iactant verbera, 760

fert laeva semustas faces
turgentque pallentes genae
et vestis atri funeris
exesa cingit ilia,
strepuntque nocturni metus
et ossa vasti corporis
corrupta longinquo situ
palude limosa iacent.1
et ecce, defessus senex

ad ora ludentes aquas 770

non captat oblitus sitim,
maestus future funere ;
exultat et ponit gradus
pater decoros Dardanus.

CHORVS

lam pervagatus ipse se fregit furor,
caditque flexo qualis ante aras genii
cervice taurus vulnus incertum gerens.
relevemus artus. en deos tandem suos
victrice lauru cinctus Agamemnon adit,
et festa coniunx obvios illi tulit 780

gressus reditque iuncta concordi gradu.

AGAMEMNON

Tandem revertor sospes ad patrios lares ;
o cara salve terra, tibi tot barbarae

1 Leo remarks upon the unintelligibility of II. 766-768.
62

AGAMEMNON

covering of that dark world, that on Mycenae the
shadowy throng of Phrygians may look forth. Be-
hold, poor souls ; the fates turn backward on them-
selves.

759 They press on, the squalid sisters, their bloody
lashes brandishing ; their left hands half-burned
torches bear ; bloated are their pallid cheeks, and
dusky robes of death their hollow loins encircle ;
the fearsome cries of night resound, and a huge
body's bones, rotting with long decay, lie in a slimy
marsh.1 And see ! that spent old man,2 forgetting
thirst, no longer catches at the mocking waters,
grieving at death 3 to come ; but father Dardanus
exults and walks along with stately tread.

CHORUS

Now has her rambling frenzy spent itself, and
falls, as before the altar with sinking knees falls the
bull, receiving an ill-aimed stroke upon his neck.
Let us lift up her body. But lo ! at last to his own
gods, wreathed with victorious bay, Agamemnon
comes ; his wife with joy has gone forth to meet
him, and now returns, joining her steps in harmony
with his.

[Enter AGAMEMNON. He has been met and greeted by
his wife, mho enters with him and goes on alone into
the palaceJ\

AGAMEMNON

At length am I returned in safety to my father's
house. O dear land, hail ! To thee many barbaric

1 If Seneca wrote lines 766-768, he may have had some
definite reference in his mind unknown to us, or he may have
meant merely to add further gruesome detail to the picture.

2 Tantalus.

3 i.e. of Agamemnon, great-grandson of Tantalus.

63

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

dedere gentes spolia, tibi felix diu

potentis Asiae Troia summisit manus. —

quid ista vates corpus effusa ac tremens

dubia labat cervice ? famuli, attollite,

refovete gelido latice. iam recipit diem

marcente visu. suscita sensus tuos !

optatus ille portus aerumnis adest. 790

festus dies est.

CASSANDRA

Festus et Troiae fuit.

AGAMEMNON

Veneremur aras.

CASSANDRA

Cecidit ante aras pater.

AGAMEMNON

lovem precemur pariter.

CASSANDRA

Herceum lovem ?

AGAMEMNON

Credis videre te Ilium ?

CASSANDRA

Et Priam um simul

AGAMEMNON

Hie Troia non est.

CASSANDRA

Vbi Helena est Troiam puto.

1 Cassandra. 3 See Vergil, A en. n. 249.

3 It was at the altar of Hercean Jove that Priam was
slain (A en. u. 512 fif.).

64

AGAMEMNON

nations have given spoil, to thee proud Asia's Troy,
long blest of heaven, has yielded. — Why does the
priestess l there faint and fall tottering with droop-
ing head ? Slaves, lift her up, revive her with cool
water. Now with languid gaze she again beholds
the light. [To CASSANDRA.] Awake to life ! that
longed for haven from our woes is here ; this is a
festal day.

CASSANDRA

'Twas festal,2 too, at Troy.

AGAMEMNON

Let us kneel before the altar.

CASSANDRA

Before the altar my father fell.

AGAMEMNON

To Jove let us pray together.

CASSANDRA

Hercean Jove ? 3

AGAMEMNON

Dost think thou lookst on Ilium?

CASSANDRA

And Priam, too.

AGAMEMNON

Here is not Troy.

CASSANDRA

Where a Helen 4 is, I think is Troy.

4 i.e. an evil, adulterous woman such as Helen. Helen
was not in Greece at this time. The reference is obviously
to Clytemnestra.

65

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

AGAMEMNON

Ne metue dominnm famula.

CASSANDRA

Libertas adest.

AGAMEMNON

Sectira vive.

CASSANDRA

Mihi mori est securitas.

AGAMEMNON

Nullum est periclum tibimet.

CASSANDRA

At magnum tibi

AGAMEMNON

Victor timere quid potest ?

CASSANDRA

Quod non timet.

AGAMEMNON

Hanc fida famuli turba, dum excutiat deum, 800
retinete ne quid impotens peccet furor,
at te, pater, qui saeva torques fulmina
pellisque nubes, sidera et terras regis,
ad quern triumphi spolia victores ferunt,
et te sororem cuncta pollentis viri,
Argolica luno, pecore votivo libens
Arabumque donis supplice et fibra colam.

1 Cassandra is supposed to be still under the influence of
Apollo.

66

AGAMEMNON

AGAMEMNON

Fear thou no mistress, though a slave.

CASSANDRA

Freedom is near at hand.

AGAMEMNON

Live on, secure.

CASSANDRA

For me, death is security.

AGAMEMNON

For thee there is naught to fear.

CASSANDRA

But much for thee.

AGAMEMNON

What can a victor fear?

CASSANDRA

What he doth not fear.

AGAMEMNON

Ye faithful slaves, restrain her till she throw off
the god,1 lest in her wild frenzy she do some harm.
But thee, O father, who the dire thunder hurlest,
and driv'st the clouds, who the stars and lands dost
rule, to whom in triumph victors bring their spoils;
and thee, sister of thine almighty lord, Argolian
Juno, gladly with votive flocks, with gifts 2 from
Araby, and with suppliant offerings of entrails will
1 adore.

[Exit into the palace.]

a Incense. en

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

CHORVS

Argos nobilibus nobile civibus,
Argos iratae carum novercae,
semper ingentes alumnos 810

educas, numerum deorum
imparem aequasti. tuus ille
bis seno meruit labore
adlegi caelo

magnus Alcides, cui lege mundi
Iup])iter rupta geminavit boras
roscidae noctis iussitque Phoebum
tardius celeres agitare currus
et tuas lente remeare bigas,
pallida Phoebe ;
rettulit pedem

nomen alternis stella quae mutat 820

seque mirata est Hesperum dici ;
Aurora movit ad solitas vices
caput et relabens imposuit seni
collura marito.
sensit ortus, sensit occasus
Herculem nasci ; violentus ille
nocte non una poterat creari.
tibi concitatus substitit mini d us,
o puer subiture caelum.

Te sensit Nemeaeus arto

pressus lacerto fulraineus leo 830

cervaque Parrhasis,
sensit Arcadii populator agri,

1 i.e. to Juno, constantly angered by the children of Jove's
mistresses.

2 Farnabius thus explains this curious statement : the
deification of Hercules (to which Juno at last consented)
added to the number, not of the great gods, who were

68

AGAMEMNON

CHORUS OF ARGIVE WOMEN

O Argos, ennobled by thy noble citizens, Argos,
dear to the step-dame though enraged,1 ever mighty
sons thou fosterest and hast made even 2 the odd
number of the gods. That hero of thine by his
twelve labours earned the right to be chosen for the
skies, great Hercules, for whom,3 the world's law-
broken, Jove doubled the hours of dewy night, bade
Phoebus more slowly drive his hastening car, and thy
team to turn back with laggard feet, O pale Phoebe.
Backward the star turned his steps, the star who
changes from name to name,4 and marvelled still to
be called Hesperus, evening star. Aurora stirred at
the accustomed hour of dawn, but, sinking back, laid
her head and neck upon the breast of her aged hus-
band.5 The rising, yea, and the setting of the sun
felt the birth of Hercules ; a hero so mighty could
not be begotten in a single night. For thee the
whirling universe stood still, O boy, destined to
mount the skies.

829 The lightning-swift lion of Nemea felt thy
power, crushed by thy straining arms, and the
Parrhasian hind, the ravager 6 of Arcady's fields, felt

twelve in number, but of the gods of the second rank (diis
communibus), three in number — Mais, Bellona, and Victoria
-thus making even the number which had been odd.

3 i.e. for his begetting. See Here. Fur 11 24 and 1158.

4 i.e. it is now called Lucifer and now Hesperus, according
as it is morning or evening star.

6 Tithonus.

• The Erymanthian boar.

69

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

gemuitque taurus Dictaea linquens

horridus arva.

morte fecundum domuit draconem

vetuitque collo pereunte nasci,

geminosque fratres

pectore ex uno tria monstra natos

stipite incusso fregit insultans,

duxitque ad ortus Hesperium pecus, 840

Geryonae spolium triformis.

egit Threicium gregem,

quern non Strymonii gramine fluminis

Hebrive ripis pavit tyrannus ;

hospitum dirus stabulis cruorem

praebuit saevis tinxitque crudos

ultimus rictus sanguis aurigae.

vidit Hippolyte ferox

pectore e medio rapi

spolium, et sagittis

nube percussa Stymphalis alto 850

decidit caelo ;

arborque pomis fertilis aureis

extimuit manus insueta carpi

fugitque in auras leviore ramo.

audivit sonitum crepitante lamna

frigidus custos nescius somni,

linqueret cum iam nemus omne fulvo

plenus Alcides vacuum metallo.

tractus ad caelum canis inferorum

triplici catena tacuit nee ullo 860

latravit ore,

lucis ignotae metuens colorem.

1 It was the nature of the hydra that as each head was cut
off two appeared in its place.

2 yeminoa here = triyeminos, referring to the triple-man
monster, Geryon.

70

AGAMEMNON

thee, too, and loud bellowed the savage bull, leaving
the fields of Crete. The hydra, fertile in death, he
overcame and forbade new births from each neck
destroyed;1 the mated2 brethren, springing three
monsters from a single body, he crushed, leaping on
them with his crashing club, and brought to the
east the western herd, spoil of the three-formed
Geryon. He drove the Thracian herd3 which the
tyrant fed, not on the grass of the Strymon or on
the banks of the Hebrus ; cruel, he offered his savage
horses the gore of strangers — and the blood of their
driver4 was the last to stain red their jaws. Warlike
Hippolyte saw the spoil5 snatched from about her
breast ; and by his shafts down from the riven cloud
from high heaven fell the Stymphalian bird. The
tree, laden with golden fruit, shrank from his hands,
unused to such plucking, and the bough, relieved of
its burden, sprang into the air. The cold, sleepless
guardian 6 heard the sound of the clinking metal,
only when heavy laden Alcides was leaving the grove
all stripped of its tawny gold. Dragged to the upper
world by triple fetters, the infernal dog was silent,
nor with any mouth did he bay, shrinking from the
hues of unexperienced light. Under thy leader-

3 The man-eating horses of Diomedes, tyrant of Thrace.

4 i.e. Hercules gave Diomedes to his own horses to devour.
6 The famous golden girdle.

' The dragon, set to guard the golden apples.

71

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

te duce succidit

mendax Dardanidae domus

et sensit arcus iterum timendos ;

te duce concidit

totidem diebus Troia quot annis.

CASSANDRA

Res agitur intus magna, par annis decem.
eheu quid hoc est ? anime, consurge et cape
pretium furoris — vicimus victi Phryges !
bene est, resurgit Troia ; traxisti iacens, 870

parens, Mycenas, terga dat victor tuus !
tarn clara numquam providae mentis furor
ostendit oculis ; video et intersum et fruor ;
imago visus dubia non fallit meos ;
spectemus.

Epulae regia instructae domo,
quales fuerunt ultimae Phrygibus dapes,
celebrantur ; ostro lectus Iliaco nitet
merumque in auro veteris Assaraci trahunt.
en ipse picta veste sublimis iacet,
Priaini superbas corpore exuvias gerens. 880

detrahere cultus uxor hostiles iubet,
induere potius coniugis fidae manu
textos amictus — horreo atque animo tremo !
regemne perimet exul et adulter virum ?
venere fata, sanguinem extremae dapes
domini videbunt et cruor Baccho incidet.
mortifera vinctum perfide tradit neci
induta vestis ; exitum manibus negant

1 In the time of Laomedon.

* The arrows of Hercules in the hands of Philoctetes
assisted in the final fall of Troy under Priam.
3 She either stands where she can see the interior of the

72

AGAMEMNON

ship fell the lying house 1 of Dardanus and suffered
the arrows, once again 2 to be feared ; under thy
leadership in as many days Troy fell as it took years
thereafter.

CASSANDRA [alone upon ike stage] 8

A great deed is done within, a match for ten years
of war. Ah ! What is this ? Rise up, my soul, and
take the reward of thy madness — we are conquerors,
we conquered Phrygians ! Tis well ! Troy has risen
again ! In thy fall, O father, thou hast dragged
down Mycenae ; thy conqueror gives way ! Never
before did my mind's prophetic frenzy give sight to
mine eyes so clear ; I see, I am in the midst of it, I
revel in it ; 'tis no doubtful image cheats my sight ;
let me gaze my fill.

875 A feast is spread within the royal house and
thronged with guests, like that last banquet of the
Phrygians; the couches gleam with Trojan purple,
and their wine they quaff from the golden cups of
old Assaracus. Lo, he himself4 in broidered vest-
ments lies on lofty couch, wearing on his body the
proud spoils of Priam. His wife bids him doff the
raiment of his foe and don instead a mantle her own
fond hands have woven — I shudder and my soul
trembles at the sight! Shall an exile5 slay a king?
an adulterer5 the husband? The fatal hour has
come. The banquet's close shall see the master's
blood, and gore shall fall into the wine. The deadly
mantle he has put on delivers him bound treacher-
ously to his doom ; the loose, impenetrable folds

palace, and describes what is going on within, or else she
sees it by clairvoyant power.

4 Agamemnon. * Aegisthus.

73

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

caputque laxi et invii claudunt sinus.

haurit trementi semivir dextra latus, 890

nee penitus egit ; vulnere in medio stupet.

at ille, ut altis hispidus silvis aper

cum casse vinctus temptat egressus tamen

artatque motu vincla et in cassum furit, —

cupit fluentes undique et caecos sinus

disicere et hostem quaerit implicitus suum.

armat bipenni Tyndaris dextram furens,

qualisque ad aras colla taurorum popa

designat oculis antequam ferro petat,

sic hue et illuc impiam librat manum. 900

habet ! peractum est ! pendet exigua male

caput amputatum parte et hinc trunco cruor

exundat, illic ora cum fremitu iacent.

nondum recedunt ; ille iam exanimem petit

laceratque corpus, ilia fodientem adiuvat.

uterque tanto scelere respondet suis —

est hie Thyeste natus, haec Helenae soror.

stat ecce Titan dubius emerito die,

suane currat an Thyestea via.

ELECTRA

Fuge, o paternae mortis auxilium unicum, 910
fuge et scelestas hostium vita manus.
eversa domus est funditus, regna occidunt.

Hospes quis iste concitos currus agit ?
germane, vultus veste furabor tuos.

1 i.e. Clytemnestra, daughter of Tyndareus.

2 i.e. the wound. The formula is taken from the gladia-
torial contests.

74

AGAMEMNON

refuse outlet to his hands and enshroud his head.
With trembling right hand the half-man stabs at his
side, but hath not driven deep ; in mid stroke he
stands as one amazed. But he, as in the deep woods
a bristling boar, though with the net entangled, still
tries for freedom, and by his struggling draws close
his bonds and rages all in vain, — he strives to throw
off the blinding folds all around him floating, and,
though closely enmeshed, seeks for his foe. Now
Tyndaris 1 in mad rage snatches a two-edged axe
and, as at the altar the priest marks with his eye the
oxen's necks before he strikes, so, now here, now
there, her impious hand she aims. He has it ! 2 the
deed is done ! The scarce severed head hangs by a
slender part ; here blood streams o'er his headless
trunk, there lie his moaning lips. And not yet do
they give o'er ; he attacks the already lifeless man,
and keeps hacking at the corpse ; she helps him in
the stabbing. Each one in this dire crime answers
to his own kin — he is Thyestes' son, she, Helen's
sister. See, Titan, the day's work done, stands
hesitant whether his own or Thyestes' 3 course to run.

[Remains beside the altar.
[Enter ELECTRA, leading her young brother , ORESTES.]

ELECTRA

Fly, O sole avenger of our father's death, fly and
escape our enemies' miscreant hands. O'erthrown
is our house to its foundations, our kingdom fallen.

913 But who is yonder stranger, driving his chariot
at speed ? Come brother, I will hide thee 'neath my

3 i.e. backward as on the occasion of Thyestes' banquet on
his own sons.

75

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA
quid, anime demens, refugis ? externos times?
domus timenda est. pone iam trepidos metus,
Oresta ; amici fida praesidia intuor.

STROI'HIVS

Phocide relicta Strophius Elea inclutus
palma revertor. causa veniendi fuit
gratari amico, cuius impulsum manu Q20

cecidit decenni Marte concussum Ilium,
quaenam ista lacrimis lugubrem vultum rigat
pavetque maesta ? regium agnosco genus.
Electra ! fletus causa quae laeta in domo est ?

ELECTRA

Pater peremptus scelere materno iacet,
comes paternae quaeritur natus neci,
Aegisthus arces Venere quaesitas tenet.

STIIOPHIVS
O nulla longi temporis felicitas '

ELECTRA

Per te parentis memoriam obtestor mei,
per sceptra terris nota, per dubios deos ; 930

recipe hunc Oresten ac pium furtum occule.

76

AGAMEMNON

robe. Why, foolish heart, dost thou shrink away ?
Strangers dost fear? Tis our home that must be
feared. Put away now thy trembling dread, Orestes ;
the trusty protection of a friend I see.

[Enter STROPHIUS in a chariot, accompanied by his son

PY LADES.]
STROPHIUS

I, Strophius, had Phocis left, and now am home
returning, made glorious by the Elean palm. The
cause of my coming hither was to congratulate my
friend, o'erthrown by whose hand and crushed by
ten years of war has Ilium fallen. [He notices
ELECTRA'S distress.] But who is that yonder, watering
her sad face with tears, fear-struck and sorrowful ?
One of the royal house I recognize. Electra ! What
cause of weeping can be in this glad house ?

ELECTRA

My father lies murdered by my mother's crime ;
they seek the son to share in his father's death ;
Aegisthus holds the throne by guilty love secured.

STROPHIUS
Alas ! no happiness is of lengthened stay.

ELECTRA

By the memory of my father I beseech thee, by
his sceptre known to all the world, by the fickle
gods : l take this boy, Orestes, and hide the holy
theft.

1 Who may bring quick downfall to thee also.

77

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

STROPHIVS

Etsi timendum caesus Agamemnon docet,
aggrediar et te, Oresta, furabor libens.
fidem secunda poscunt, adversa exigunt.1
cape hoc decorum ludicri certaminis,
insigne frontis ; laeva victricem tenens
frondem virenti protegat ramo caput,
et ista donum palma Pisaei lovis
velamen eadem praestet atque omen tibi.
tuque o paternis assidens frenis comes, 940

condisce, Pylade, patris exemplo fidem.
vos Graecia nunc teste veloces equi
infida cursu fugite praecipiti loca.

ELECTRA

Excessit, abiit, currus effreno impetu
effugit aciem. tuta iam opperiar meos
hostes et ultro vulneri opponam caput.

Adest cruenta coniugis victrix sui
et signa caedis veste maculata gerit.
manus recenti sanguine etiamnunc madent
vultusque prae se scelera truculenti ferunt. 950

concedam ad aras. patere me vittis tuis,
Cassandra, iungi paria metuentem tibi.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Hostis parentis, impium atque audax caput,
quo more coetus publicos virgo petis ?

1 Leo deletes this line, following Peiper.

1 Of olive. 2 Of palm. s In the Olympic games.
78

AGAMEMNON

STROPHIUS

Although murdered Agamemnon warns me to
beware, I will brave the danger and gladly, Orestes,
will I steal thee off. Good fortune asks for faith,
adversity demands it. [Takes ORESTES into the chariot .]
Take thou this crown,1 won in the games, as an orna-
ment for thy head, and, holding this victor's bough 2
in thy left hand, shield thy face with its great branch,
and may that palm, the gift of Pisaean Jove, afford
thee at once a covering and an omen. And do
thou, Pylades, who standest as comrade to guide thy
father's car, learn faith from the example of thy sire.
And now, do you, my horses, whose speed all Greece
has seen,3 flee from this treacherous place in head-
long flight. [Exeunt at great speed.

ELECTRA [looking after them]

He has departed, gone, his car at a reckless pace
has vanished from my sight. Now free from care
shall I await my foes, and willingly oppose myself to
death. [She sees CLYTEMNESTRA approaching.]

947 Here is the bloody conqueror of her lord, with
the signs of murder on her blood-stained robe. Her
hands are still reeking with blood fresh-spilled, and
her savage features bear tokens of her crime. I'll
take me to the altar. Let me be joined, Cassandra,
with thy fillets,4 since I fear like doom with thee.

[Etlter CLYTEMNESTRA.]
CLYTEMNESTRA

Foe of thy mother, unfilial and froward girl,
by what custom dost thou, a maid, seek public
gatherings ?

4 i.e. let me join her who with the sacred fillets on her
head has taken refuge at the altar.

79

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ELECTHA

Adulterorum virgo deserui domum.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Quis esse credat virginem?

ELECTRA

Natam tuam ?

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Modestius cum matre !

ELECTRA

Pietatem doces ?

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Animos viriles corde tumefacto geris
sed agere domita feminam disces malo.

ELECTRA

Nisi forte fall or, feminas ferrum decet.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Et esse demens te parem nobis putas ?

ELECTRA

Vobis ? quis iste est alter Agamemnon tuus ?
ut vidua loquere ; vir caret vita tuus.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Indomita posthac virginis verba impiae
regina frangam ; citius interea mihi
edissere ubi sit natus, ubi frater tuus.

80

AGAMEMNON

ELECTRA

Because I am a maid have I left the adulterers'
home.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Who would believe thee maid ?

ELECTRA

A child of thine?1

CLYTEMNESTRA

More gently with thy mother !

ELECTRA

Dost thou teach piety ?

CLYTEMNESTRA

Thou hast a mannish soul, a heart puffed up ; but,
tamed by suffering, shalt thou learn to play a
woman's part.

ELECTRA

If perchance, I mistake not, a sword befits a
woman.

CLYTEMNESTRA

And thinkest thou, mad one, thou art a match
for us ?

ELECTRA

For you ? What other Agamemnon is that of
thine ? Speak thou as widow ; lifeless is thy lord.

CLYTEMNESTRA

The unbridled tongue of an unfilial girl hereafter
as queen I'll check ; meanwhile be quick and tell
where is my son, where is thy brother.

1 i.e. surely no one, since I am thy child.

81

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ELECTRA

Extra Mycenas.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Redde nunc natum mihi.

ELECTRA

Et tu parentem redde.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Quo latitat loco ?

ELECTRA

Tuto quietus, regna non metuens nova ;
iustae parent! satis.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

At iratae parum. 970

morieris liodie.

ELECTRA

Dummodo hac moriar manu.
recedo ab aris. sive te iugulo iuvat
mersisse ferrum, praebeo iugulum tibi ;
seu more pecudum colla resecari placet,
intenta cervix vulnus expectat tuum.
scelus paratum est ; caede respersam viri
atque obsoletam sanguine hoc dextram ablue.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Consors pericli pariter ac regni mei,
Aegisthe, gradere. nata genetricem impie
probris lacessit, occulit fratrem abditum. 980

82

AGAMEMNON

ELECTRA

Far from Mycenae.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Restore me now my son.

ELECTRA

And do thou restore my father.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Where does he hide ?

ELECTRA

In peace and safety, where he fears no new-made
king ; for a righteous mother 'tis enough.

CLYTEMNESTRA

But too little for an angry one. Thou shalt die
this day.

ELECTRA

So but it be by this hand of thine. I leave the
altar. If 'tis thy pleasure in my throat to plunge
the sword, 1 offer my throat to thee ; or if, as men
smite sheep, thou wouldst cut off my neck, my bent
neck waits thy stroke. The crime is ready ; thy
right hand, smeared and rank with a husband's
slaughter, purge with this blood of mine.

[Enter AEGISTHUS.]

CLYTEMNESTRA

Thou partner equally in my perils and my throne,
Aegisthus, come. My child undutifully insults her
mother, and keeps her brother hidden.

83

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

AEGISTHVS

Furibunda virgo, vocis infandae sonurn
et aure verba indigna materna opprime.

ELECTRA

Etiam monebit sceleris infandi artifex,
per scelera natus, nomen ambiguum suis,
idem sororis natus et patris nepos ?

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Aegisthe, cessas impium ferro caput
demetere ? fratrem reddat aut animam statim.

AEGISTHVS

Abstrusa caeco carcere et saxo exigat
aevum, et per omnes torta poenarum modos
referre quern nunc occulit forsan volet. 990

inops egens inclusa, paedore obruta,
vidua ante thalamos, exul, invisa omnibus
aethere negate sero subcumbet malis.

ELECTRA

Concede mortem.

AEGISTHVS

Si recusares, darem.
rudis est tyrannus morte qui poenam exigit.

ELECTRA

Mortem aliquid ultra est*
84

AGAMEMNON

AEGISTHUS

Mad girl, hold thy impious tongue, and speak not
words unworthy thy mother's ears.

ELECTRA

Shall he e'en give instructions, the worker of an
impious crime, one criminally begot, whom even his
own parents cannot name, son of his sister, grandson
of his sire ?

CLYTEMNESTRA

Aegisthus, why dost hesitate to strike off her
wicked head with the sword ? Let her at once give
up her brother or her life.

AEGISTHUS

Mured in a dark, rocky dungeon shall she spend
her life and, by all kinds of tortures racked, perchance
she will consent to give back him she now conceals.
Resourceless, starving, in prison pent, buried in filth,
widowed ere wedded, in exile, scorned by all, denied
the light of day, then will she, though too late, yield
to her doom.

ELECTRA

Oh, grant me death.

AEGISTHUS

Shouldst plead against, I'd grant. An unskilled
tyrant he who punishes by death.

ELECTRA

Is aught worse than death ?

85

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

AEGISTHVS

Vita, si cupias niori.

abripite, famuli, monstrum et avectam procul
ultra Mycenas ultimo in regni angulo
vincite saeptam nocte tenebrosi specus,
ut inquietam virginem career domet. 100<;

CLYTAEMNESTRA

At ista poeiias capite persolvet suo
captiva coniunx, regii paelex tori,
trahite, ut sequatur coniugem ereptum mihi.

CASSANDRA

Ne trahite, vestros ipsa praecedam gradus.
perferre prima nuntium Phrygibus meis
propero — repletum ratibus eversis mare,
captas Mycenas, mille ductorem ducum,
ut paria fata Troicis lueret malis,
perisse dono feminae — stupro, dolo.
nihil moramur, rapite, quin grates ago. 1010

iam, iam iuvat vixisse post Troiam, iuvat.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Furiosa, morere.

CASSANDRA

Vreniet et vobis furor.

AGAMEMNON

AEGISTHUS

Yes, life, if thou longest to die. Away, ye slaves,
with this unnatural girl ; far from Mycenae bear her,
and in the remotest corner of the realm chain her
immured in the black darkness of a cell, that prison
walls may curb the unmanageable maid. [ELECTRA
is dragged away.]

CLYTEMNESTRA [indicating CASSANDRA]

But she shall pay her penalty with death, that
captive bride, that mistress of the royal bed. Drag
her away, that she may follow the husband whom she
stole from me.

CASSANDRA

Nay, drag me not, I will precede your going. I
hasten to be first to bear news unto my Phrygians —
of the sea covered with the wrecks of ships, of
Mycenae taken, of the leader of a thousand leaders
(that so he might meet doom equal to Troy's woes)
slain by a woman's gift — by adultery, by guile. Take
me away ; I hold not back, but rather give you
thanks. Now, now 'tis sweet to have outlived Troy,
'tis sweet.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Mad creature, thou shalt die.

CASSANDRA

On you, as well, a madness is to come.1

1 Referring to the madness of Orestes, who is later to slay
both Aegisthus and Clytemnestra.

THYESTES

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

THYESTES, brother of Atreus, in exile from his fatherland.

THE GHOST OF TANTALUS, doomed for his sing to come back to
earth and inspire his house to greater sin.

THE FURY, who drives the ghost on to do his allotted part.

ATREUS, king of Argot, grandson of Tantalus, who has
quarrelled with his brother and driven him into exile.

AN ATTENDANT OF ATREUS.

THREE SONS OF THYESTES, Tantalus, Plisthenes, and another,
only one of whom, Tantalus, takes part in the dialogue.

A MESSENGER.

CHORUS, Citizens of Mycenae.

THE SCENE is laid partly without the city of Argos, and
partly within the royal palace.

ARGUMENT

PELOPS, the son of Tantalus, had banished his sons for
the murder of their half-brother, Chi-ysippus, with a
curse upon them, that they and their posterity might
perish by each others' hands. Upon the death of Pelops,
Atreus returned and took possession of his father s
throne. Thyestes, also, claimed the throne, and sought to
&am it by the foulest means. For he seduced his
brother s wife, Acrope, and stole by her assistance the
magical, gold-Jleeced ram from Atreus' flocks, upon the
possession of which the right to rule was said to rest.
For this act he was banished by the king.

But Atreus has long been meditating a more complete
revenge upon his brother ; and now in pretended friend-
ship has recalled him from banishment, offering him a
place beside himself upon the throne, that thus he may
have Thyestes entirely in his power.

THYESTES

TANTALI VMBRA

Quis inferorum sede ab infausta extrahit
avido fugaces ore captantem cibos,
quis male deorum Tantaio vivas l domos
ostendit iterum ? peius inventura est siti
arente in undis aliquid et peius fame
hiante semper ? Sisyphi numquid lapis
gestandus umeris lubricus nostris venit
aut membra celeri differens cursu rota,
aut poena Tityi qui specu vasto patens
visceribus atras pascit effossis aves 10

et nocte reparans quidquid amisit die
plenum recenti pabulum monstro iacet ?
in quod malum transcribor ? o quisquis nova
supplicia functis durus umbrarum arbiter
disponis, addi si quid ad poenas potest
quod ipse custos carceris diri horreat,
quod maestus Acheron paveat, ad cuius metum
nos quoque tremamus, quaere, iam nostra subit
e stirpe turba quae suum vincat genus
ac me innocentem faciat et inausa audeat. 20

regione quidquid impia cessat loci
complebo ; numquam stante Pelopea domo
Minos .vacabit.

1 So A : too visas, with E : invisas N. Heinsius.
92

THYESTES

THE GHOST OF TANTALUS

WHO from the accursed regions of the dead haleth
me forth, snatching at food which ever fleeth from
my hungry lips ? What god for his undoing showeth
again to Tantalus the abodes of the living ? Hath
something worse been found than parching thirst
midst water, worse than ever-gaping hunger ? Cometh
the slippery stone of Sisyphus to be borne upon my
shoulders ? or the wheel l stretching apart my limbs
in its swift round ? or Tityus' pangs, who, stretched
in a huge cavern, with torn out vitals feeds the dusky

O .

birds and, by night renewing whate'er he lost by day,
lies an undiminished banquet for new monsters ?
To what new suffering am I shifted ? O whoe'er thou
art, harsh judge of shades, who dost allot fresh pun-
ishments to the dead, if aught can be added to my
sufferings whereat e'en the guardian of our dread
prison-house would quake, whereat sad Acheron would
be seized with dread, with fear whereof 1, too, should
tremble, seek thou it out. Now from my seed a
multitude is coming up which its own race shall
out-do, which shall make me seem innocent, and
dare things yet undared. Whatever space is still
empty in the unholy realm, I 2 shall fill up ; never,
while Pelops' house is standing, will Minos8 be at

rest.

1 Of Ixion. a i.e. with my descendants.
8 A judge in Hades.

93

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

FVKIA

Perge, detestabilis
umbra, et penates impios furiis age.
certetur omni scelere et alterna vice
stringatur ensis ; ne sit irarum modus
pudorve, mentes caecus instiget furor,
rabies parentum duret et longum nefas
eat in nepotes ; nee vacet cuiquam vetus
odisse crimen — semper oriatur novum, SO

nee unum in uno, dumque punitur seel us,
crescat. superbis fratribus regna excidant
repetantque profugos ; dubia violentae domus
fortuna reges inter incertos labet ;
miser ex potente fiat, ex misero potens
fluctuque regnum casus assiduo ferat.
ob scelera pulsi, cum dabit patriam deus
in scelera redeant, sintque tarn invisi omnibus,
quam sibi ; nihil sit ira quod vetitum putet :
fratrem expavescat frater et natum parens 40

natusque patrem, liberi pereant male,
peius tamen nascantur ; immineat viro
infesta coniunx, bella trans pontum vehant,
effusus omnes irriget terras cruor,
supraque magnos gentium exultet duces
Libido victrix. impia stuprum in domo
levissimum sit ; fratris et fas et fides
iusque omne pereat. non sit a vestris malis
immune caelum — cur micant stellae polo
flammaeque servant debitum mundo decus ? 50

1 Let the brothers, Atreus and Thyestes, reign, fall, be
exiled and recalled, each in turn. In the present case Atreus
94

THYESTES

THE FURY

Onward, damned shade, and goad thy sinful house
to madness. Let there be rivalry in guilt of every
kind ; let the sword be drawn on this side and on
that ; let their passions know no bounds, no shame ;
let blind fury prick on their souls ; heartless be
parents' rage, and to children's children let the long
trail of sin lead down ; let time be given to none to
hate old sins — ever let new arise, many in one, and
let crime, e'en midst its punishment, increase. From
haughty brothers' hands let kingdoms fall, and in
turn let them call back the fugitives ; l let the waver-
ing fortune of a home of violence midst changing
kings totter to its fall ; from power to wretchedness,
from wretchedness to power — may this befall, and
may chance with her ever-restless waves bear the
kingdom on. For crimes' sake exiled, when God
shall bring them home, to crime may they return,
and may they be as hateful to all men as to them-
selves ; let there be naught which passion deems un-
allowed ; let brother brother fear, father fear son,
and son father ; let children vilely perish and be yet
more vilely born ; let a murderous wife lift hand
against her husband, let wars pass over sea, let
streaming blood drench every land, and over the
mighty chiefs of earth let Lust exult, triumphant.
In this sin-stained house let shameful defilement be
a trivial thing ; let fraternal sanctity and faith and
every right be trampled under foot. By our sins let
not heaven be untainted — why do the stars glitter in
the sky ? Why do their fires preserve the glory due
the world? Let the face of night be changed, let

is on the throne, and Thyestes, who has been exiled, is
recalled.

95

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

nox alia fiat, excidat caelo dies,
misce penates, odia caedes funera
arcesse et imple Tantalo totam domum.1
Ornetur altum columen et lauro fores
laetae virescant, dignus adventu tuo
splendescat ignis — Thracium fiat nefas
maiore numero. dextra cur patrui vacat?
nondum Thyestes liberos deflet suos —
et quando toilet? ignibus iam subditis
spument aena, membra per partes eant 60

discerpta, patrios polluat sanguis focos,
epulae instruantur — non novi sceleris tibi
conviva venies. liberum dedimus diem
tuamque ad istas solvimus mensas famem ;
ieiunia exple, mixtus in Bacchum cruor
spectante te potetur ; inveni dapes
quas ipse fugeres — siste, quo praeceps ruis ?

TANTALI VMBRA

Ad stagna et amnes et recedentes aquas
labrisque ab ipsis arboris plenae fugas.
abire in atrum carceris liceat mei 70

cubile, liceat, si parum videor miser,
mutare ripas ; alveo medius tuo,
Phlegethon, relinquar igneo cinctus freto.

Quicumque poenas lege fatorum datas
pati iuberis, quisquis exeso iaces
pavidus sub antro iamque venturi times
montis ruinam, quisquis avidorum feros
rictus leonum et dira Furiarum agmina

1 imple scelere Tantaleam domum A.

1 Procne and her wronged sister, Philomela, served up
Itys as a banquet to his father, Tereus, king of Thrace.
a i.e. with the murder of three sons instead of one.

96

THYESTES

day fall from heaven. Embroil thy household gods,
summon up hatred, slaughter, death, and fill the
whole house with Tantalus.

64 Adorn the lofty pillar and with laurel let the
festal doors be green ; let torches worthy of thine
approach shine forth — then let the Thracian crime1
be done with greater number.2 Why is the uncle's8
hand inactive ? Not yet does Thyestes bewail his
sons — and when will he lift his hand ? Now set o'er
the flames let cauldrons foam ; let the rent members
one by one pass in ; let the ancestral hearth be stained
with blood, let the feast be spread — to no novel feast
of crime4 wilt come as banqueter. To-day have we
made thee free, have loosed thy hunger to the banquet
yonder; go, feed full thy fasting, and let blood, with
wine commingled, be drunk before thine eyes. I
have found feast which thou thvself wouldst flee —

•/

but stay ! Whither dost headlong rush ?

GHOST OF TANTALUS

Back to my pools and streams and fleeing waters,
back to the laden tree which shuns my very lips.
Let me return to the black couch of my prison-house;
let it be mine, if I seem too little wretched, to change

' O

my stream ; in thy bed's midst, O Phlegethon, let
me be left, hemmed round with waves of fire.

74 Whoe'er thou art, by the fates' law bidden to
suffer allotted punishment; whoe'er liest quaking
beneath the hollowed rock, and fearest the downfall
of the mountainous mass even now coming on thee ;5
whoe'er shudderest at the fierce gaping of greedy
lions, and, entangled in their toils, dost shudder at

8 i.e. Atreus. 4 See Index s. v. Pelops.

5 A common conception of punishment in Hades. See
Vergil, Aen. vi. 601.

97

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

implicitus horres, quisquis immissas faces

semiustus abigis, Tantali vocem excipe 80

properantis ad vos : credite experto milii,

amate poenas. quando continget rnihi

effugere superos ?

FVRIA

Ante perturba domum
inferque tecum proelia et ferri maluni
regibus amorern, concute insano ferum
pectus tumultu.

TANTALI VMBRA

Me pati poenas decet,
non esse poenam. mittor ut dirus vapor
tellure rupta vel gravera populis luem
sparsura pestis, ducam in horrendum nefas
avus nepotes. magne divorum parens 90

nosterque, quamvis pudeat, ingenti licet
taxata poena lingua crucietur loquax,
nee hoc tacebo; moneo, ne sacra1 manus
violate caede neve furiali malo
aspergite aras. stabo et arcebo scelus —
Quid ora terres verbere et tortos ferox
minaris angues ? quid fameni infixam intimis
agitas medullis ? flagrat incensura siti
cor et perustis flamma visceribus micat —
sequor.2 100

FVRIA

Hunc, hunc furorem divide in totam domum '
sic, sic ferantur et suum infensi invicem
sitiant cruorem. sentit introitus tuos

1 So A : Leo sacras. 3 Leo deletes this word.
98

THYESTES

the dread ranks of furies; whoe'er, half burned,
shunnest their threatening torches, hear ye the words
of Tantalus now hasting to you: believe me who
know, and love your punishments. Oh, when shall
it fall to me to escape the upper world ?

THE FURY

First throw thy house into confusion dire, bring
strife with thee, bring lust for the sword, an evil
thing for rulers, and rouse to mad passion the savage
breast.

GHOST OF TANTALUS

'Tis meet for me to suffer punishments, not be a
punishment. I am sent as some deadly exhalation
from the riven earth, or as a pestilence, spreading
grievous plague among the people, that I a grandsire
may lead my grandsons into fearful crime. O mighty
sire of gods, my father, too, however to thy shame I
say it, though to cruel punishment my tattling tongue
be doomed, I will not hold my peace; I warn ye, de-
file not your hands with accursed slaughter, nor stain
your altars with a madman's crime. Here will I stand
and prevent the evil deed. [To THE FURY.] Why
with thy scourge dost fright mine eyes, and fiercely
threaten with thy writhing snakes? Why deep in
my inmost marrow dost rouse hunger pains? My
heart is parched with burning thirst, and in my
scorched vitals the fire is darting — I follow thee.

THE FURY

This, this very rage of thine distribute throughout
thy house ! So, e'en as thou, may they be driven on,
raging to quench their thirst each in the other's
blood. Thy house feels thy near approach, and has

99

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

domus et nefando tota contactu horruit.

actum est abunde ! gradere ad infernos specus

amnemque notum ; iam tuum raaestae pedem

terrae gravantur. cernis ut fontes liquor

introrsus actus linquat, ut ripae vacant

ventusque raras igneus nubes ferat?

pallescit omnis arbor ac nudus stetit 110

fugiente porno ramus, et qua fluctibus

illinc propinquis Isthmos atque illinc fremit

vicina gracili dividens terra vada,

longe remotos litus exaudit sonos.

iam Lerna retro cessit et Phoronides

latuere venae nee suas profert sacer

Alpheos undas et Cithaeronis iuga

stant parte nulla cana deposita nive

timentque veterem nobiles Argi sitim.

en ipse Titan dubitat an iubeat sequi 120

cogatque habenis ire periturum diem.

CHORVS

Argos de superis si quis Acliaicum
Pisaeasque domos curribus inclitas,
Isthmi si quis amat regna Corinthii
et portus geminos et mare dissidens,
si quis Taygeti conspicuas nives,
quas cum Sarmaticus tempore frigido
in summis Boreas composuit iugis,
aestas veliferis solvit Etesiis,
quern tangit gelido flumine lucidus 130

Alpheos, stadio notus Olympico,
advertat placidum numen et arceat,
alternae scelerum ne redeant vices
nee succedat avo deterior nepos

100

THYESTES

shrunk in utter horror from thine accursed touch.
Enough ! more than enough ! Go thou to the infernal
caves and well-known stream ; now is the grieving
earth weary of thy presence. Seest thou how the
water, driven far within, deserts the springs, how
river banks are empty, how the fiery wind drives
away the scattered clouds ? Every tree grows pale,
and from the bare branches the fruit has fled ; and
where this side and that the Isthmus is wont to roar
with neighbouring waves, dividing near seas with
narrow neck of land, the shore but faintly hears the
far off sound. Now Lerna has shrunk back, the
Phoronean stream l has disappeared, the sacred Al-
pheus no longer bears his waters on, Cithaeron's
heights have lost their snows and nowhere stand
hoary now, and the lordly Argos fears its ancient
drought.2 Lo ! Titan himself stands doubtful whether

O

to bid day follow on, and, plying the reins, compel
it to come forth to its undoing.

CHORUS

If any god loves Achaian Argos and Pisa's homes
renowned for chariots ; if any loves Corinthian
Isthmus' realm, its twin harbours, its dissevered
sea ; if any, the far-seen snows of Mount Taygetus,
snows which, when in winter-time the Sarmatian
blasts have laid them on the heights, the summer
with its sail-filling Etesian breezes melts away ; if
any is moved by the cool, clear stream of Alpheus,
famed for its Olympic course — let him his kindly
godhead hither turn, let him forbid the recurrent
waves of crime to come again, forbid that on his
grandsire follow a worse grandson, and greater crime

1 i.e. the river Inachus.

? i.e. in the time of Phaethon.

101

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

et maior placeat culpa minoribus.

tandem lassa feros exuat impetus

sicci progenies impia Tan tali.

peccatum satis est ; fas valuit nihil

aut commune nefas. proditus occidit

deceptor domini Myrtilus, et fide 140

vectus qua tulerat nobile reddidit

mutato pelagus nomine ; notior

nulla est loniis labula navibus.

exceptus gladio parvulus impio

dum currit patrium natus ad osculum,

immatura focis victima concidit

divisusque tua est, Tan tale, dextera,

mensas ut strueres hospitibus dels.

hos aeterna fames persequitur cibos,

hos aeterna sitis ; nee dapibus feris 150

decerni potuit poena decentior.

Stat lassus vacuo gutture Tantalus ;
impendet capiti plurima noxio
Phineis avibus praeda fugacior ;
hinc illinc gravidis frondibus incubat
et curvata suis fetibus ac tremens
alludit patulis arbor hiatibus.
haec, quamvis avidus nee patiens morae,
deceptus totiens tangere neglegit
obliquatque oculos oraque comprimit 160

inclusisque famem dentibus alligat.
sed tune divitias omne nemus suas
demittit propius pomaque desuper
insultant foliis mitia languidis
accenduntque famem, quae iubet irritas

1 A retention of the rhetorical element in this line results
in an obscurity impossible to avoid in English. The meaning
is : Let not the descendants (minoribus) do worse sin than
their ancestor.

102

THYESTES

please lesser men.1 Wearied at last, may the impious
race of thirsty Tantalus give o'er its lust for savagery.
Enough sin has been wrought ; nothing has right
availed, or general wrong. Himself betrayed, fell
Myrtilus, betrayer of his lord, and, dragged down
by the faith which he bad shown, he made a sea 2
famous by its change of name ; to Ionian ships no
tale is better known. While the little son 3 ran to
his father's kiss, welcomed by sinful sword, he fell,
an untimely victim at the hearth, and by thy right
hand was carved, O Tantalus, that thou mightest
spread a banquet for the gods, thy guests. Such
food eternal hunger, such eternal thirst pursues ;
nor for such bestial viands could have been meted
penalty more fit.

152 Weary, with empty throat, stands Tantalus ;
above his guilty head hangs food in plenty, than
Phineus' 4 birds more elusive; on either side, with
laden boughs, a tree leans over him and, bending
and trembling 'neath its weight of fruit, makes sport
with his wide-straining jaws. The prize, though he
is eager and impatient of delay, deceived so oft, he
tries no more to touch, turns away his eyes, shuts
tight his lips, and behind clenched teeth he bars his
hunger. But then the whole grove lets its riches
down nearer still, and the mellow fruits above his
head mock him with drooping boughs and whet
again the hunger, which bids him ply his hands in

a The Myrtoan sea, that portion of the Aegean south of
Kuboea. The name is here fancifully derived from Myrtilus.
For the whole incident see Index-

8 Pelops. 4 The Harpies.

103

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

exercere manus. has ubi protulit

et falli libuit, totus in arduum

autunmus rapitur silvaque mobilis.

instat deinde sitis non levior fame ;

qua cum percaluit sanguis et igneis 170

exarsit facibus, stat miser obvios

fluctus ore petens, quos profugus latex

avertit sterili deficiens vado

conantemque sequi deserit ; hie bibit

altum de rapido gurgite pulverem.

ATREVS

Ignave, iners, enervis et (quod maximum
probrum tyranno rebus in summis reor)
inulte, post tot scelera, post f'ratris dolos
fasque omne ruptum questibus vanis agis
iratus Atreus ? fremere iam totus tuis 180

debebat armis orbis et geminum mare
utrimque classes agere, iam flammis agros
lucere et urbes decuit ac strictum undique
micare ferrum. tota sub nostro sonet
Argolica tellus equite ; non silvae tegant
hostem nee altis montium structae iugis
arces ; relictis bellicum totus canat
populus Mycenis, quisquis invisum caput
tegit ac tuetur, clade funesta occidat.
haec ipsa pollens incliti Pelopis domus 190

ruat vel in me, dummodo in fratrem ruat.
age, anime, fac quod nulla posteritas probet,
sed nulla tacent. aliquod audendum est nefas
atrox, cruentum, tale quod frater meus
suum esse mallet, scelera non ulcisceris,
nisi vincis. et quid esse tarn saevum potest

1 Not because he failed, but because he almost succeeded
104

THYESTES

vain. When lie has stretched these forth and gladly l
has been baffled, the whole ripe harvest of the bending
woods is snatched far out of reach. Then comes a
raging thirst, harder to bear than hunger; when by
this his blood has grown hot and glowed as with
fiery torches, the poor wretch stands catching at
waves that seem to approach his lips ; but these the
elusive water turns aside, failing in meagre shallows,
and leaves him utterly, striving to pursue ; then deep
from the whirling stream he drinks — but dust.

ATREUS [in soliloquy]

O undaring, unskilled, unnerved, and (what in
high matters I deem a king's worst reproach) yet
unavenged, after so many crimes, after a brother's
treacheries, and all right broken down, in idle com-
plaints dost busy thyself — a mere wrathful Atreus?
By now should the whole world be resounding with
thy arms, on either side thy fleets be harrying both
seas ; by now should fields and cities be aglow with
flames and the drawn sword be gleaming everywhere.
Let the whole land of Argolis resound with our
horses' tread ; let no forests shelter my enemy, nor
citadels, built on high mountain tops ; let the whole
nation leave Mycenae and sound the trump of war ;
and whoso hides and protects that hateful head, let
him die a grievous death. This mighty palace itself,
illustrious Pelops' house, may it e'en fall on me, if
only on my brother, too, it fall. Up ! my soul, do
what no coming age shall approve, but none forget.
I must dare some crime, atrocious, bloody, such as
my brother would more wish were his. Crimes thou
dost not avenge, save as thou dost surpass them.
And what crime can be so dire as to overtop his sin ?

105

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

quod superet ilium ? numquid abiectus iacet ?

numquid secundis patitur in rebus modum,

fessis quietem ? novi ego ingenium viri

indocile ; flecti non potest — frangi potest. 200

proinde antequam se firmat aut vires parat,

petatur ultro, ne quiescentem petat.

aut perdet aut peribit ; in medio est scelus

positum occupanti.

8ATELLES

Fama te populi nihil
adversa terret ?

ATREVS

Maximum hoc regni bonum est,
quod facta domini cogitur populus sui
tarn ferre quam laudare.

SATELLES

Quos cogit metus

laudare, eosdem reddit inimicos metus.
at qui favoris gloriam veri petit,
animo magis quam voce laudari volet. 210

ATREVS

Laus vera et humili saepe contingit viro,
non nisi potenti falsa, quod nolunt velint.

SATELLES

Rex velit honesta : nemo non eadem volet.

ATREVS

Vbicumque tantum honesta dominant! licent,
precario regnatur.

106

THYESTES

Does he lie downcast? Does he in prosperity endure
control, rest in defeat? I know the untamable spirit
of the man ; bent it cannot be — but it can be broken.
Therefore, ere he strengthen himself or marshal his
powers, we must begin the attack, lest, while we
wait, the attack be made on us. Slay or be slain will
he ; between us lies the crime for him who first
shall do it.

ATTENDANT

Does public disapproval deter thee not?

ATREUS

The greatest advantage this of royal power, that
their master's deeds the people are compelled as
well to bear as praise.

ATTENDANT

Whom fear compels to praise, them, too, fear makes
into foes; but he who seeks the glory of true favour,
will wish heart rather than voice to sing his praise.

ATREUS

True praise even to the lowly often comes ; false,
only to the strong. What men choose not, let them
choose.

ATTENDANT

Let a king choose the right ; then none will not
choose the same.

ATREUS

Where only right to a monarch is allowed, sove-
reignty is held on sufferance.

107

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

SATELLES

Vbi non est pudor
nee cura iuris sanctitas pietas fides,
instabile regnum est.

AT REVS

Sanctitas pietas fides
privata bona sunt ; qua iuvat reges eant.

SATELLES

Nefas nocere vel malo fratri puta.

ATREVS

Fas est in illo quidquid in fratre est nefas. 220
quid enim reliquit crimine intactum aut ubi
sceleri pepercit ? coniugeni stupro abstulit
regnumque furto ; specimen antiquum imperi
fraude est adeptus, fraude turbavit domum.
est Pelopis altis nobile in stabulis pecus,
arcanus aries, ductor opulenti gregis.
huius per omne corpus effuso coma
dependet auro, cuius e tergo l novi
aurata reges sceptra Tantalici gerunt ;
possessor huius regnat, hunc tantae domus 230

fortuna sequitur. tuta seposita sacer
in parte carpit prata, quae claudit lapis
fatale saxeo pascuum muro tegens.
hunc facinus ingens ausus assumpta in scelus
consorte iiostri perfidus thalami avehit.
hinc omne cladis mutuae fluxit malum ;
per regna trepidus exul erravi mea,

1 Leo conjectures tracto : Wilamoivitz, texto.

1 A ram with golden fleece, whose possession, according to
an oracle, guaranteed possession of the throne. See Index
s.v. Thyestes.

108

THYESTES

ATTENDANT

Where is no shame, no care for right, no honour,
virtue, faith, sovereignty is insecure.

ATREUS

Honour, virtue, faith are the goods of common
men ; let kings go where they please.

ATTENDANT

O count it wrong to harm even a wicked brother.

ATREUS

Whate'er is wrong to do unto a brother is right to
do to him. For what has he left untouched by
crime, or where has he failed to sin? My wife has
he debauched, my kingdom stolen ; the ancient
token l of our dynasty by fraud he gained, by fraud
o'erturned our house. There is within Pelops' lofty
folds a lordly flock, and a wondrous ram, the rich
flock's leader. O'er all his body a fleece of spun
gold hangs, and from his back 2 the new-crowned
kings of the house of Tantalus have their sceptres
wreathed with gold. His owner rules; him does the
fortune of the whole house follow. Hallowed and
apart he grazes in safe meadows fenced with stone,
that guards the fated pasture with its rocky wall. Him
did the perfidious one,3 daring a monstrous crime,
steal away, with the partner of my bed helping the
sinful deed. From this source has flowed the whole
evil stream of mutual destruction ; throughout my
kingdom have I wandered, a trembling exile ; no

2 i.e. from the golden fleece upon it.

3 Thyestes.

109

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

pars nulla generis tuta ab insidiis vacat,
corrupta coniunx, iniperi quassa est fides,
domus aegra, dubius sanguis est — certi nihil 240

nisi frater hostis. quid stupes ? tandem incipe
animosque sume ; Tantalum et Pelopem — aspice ;
ad haec manus exempla poscuntur meae.
Profare, dirum qua caput mactem via.

SATELLES

Ferro peremptus spiritum inimicum expuat.

ATREVS

De fine poenae loqueris ; ego poenam volo.
perimat tyrannus lenis ; in regno meo
mors impetratur.

SATELLES

Nulla te pietas movet ?

ATREVS

Excede, Pietas, si modo in nostra domo
umquam fuisti. dira Furiarum cohors 250

discorsque Erinys veniat et geminas faces
Megaera quatiens ; non satis magno meum
ardet furore pectus ; impleri iuvat
maiore monstro.

SATELLES

Quid novi rabidus struis ?

ATREVS

Nil quod doloris capiat assueti m6dus ;
nullum relinquam facinus et nullum est satis.

1 i.e. by which tho two brothers were to reign alternately.
110

THYESTES

part of my family is safe and free from snares ; my
wife seduced, our pledge1 of empire broken, my
house impaired, my offspring dubious — no one thing
certain save my brother's enmity. Why standest in-
active ? At last begin, put on thy courage ; Tantalus
and Pelops — look on them ; to work like theirs my
hands are summoned.

244 Tell thou, by what means I may bring ruin on
his wicked head.

ATTENDANT

Slain by the sword, let him spew forth his hateful
soul.

ATREUS

Thou speakest of punishment's completion ; I
punishment itself desire. Let the mild tyrant slay ;
in my dominion death is a boon to pray for.

ATTENDANT

Does piety move thee not ?

ATREUS

Be gone, O Piety, if ever in our house thou hadst
a place. Let the dread band of Furies come, the
fiend Discord, and Megaera, brandishing her torches
twain ; not great enough the frenzy with which my
bosom burns ; with some greater horror would I be
filled.

ATTENDANT

What strange design does thy mad soul intend ?

ATREUS

Naught that the measure of accustomed rage can
hold ; no crime will I leave undone, and no crime is
enough.

Ill

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

SATELLES

Ferrum ?

AT REVS

Parum est.

SATELLES

Quid ignis ?

ATREVS

Etiamnunc parum est

SATELLES

Quonam ergo telo tantus utetur dolor ?

ATREVS

Ipso Thyeste.

SATELLES

Mains hoc ira est malum.

ATREVS

Fateor. tumultus pectora attonitus quatit 260
penitusque volvit ; rapior et quo nescio,
sed rapior. imo mugit e fundo solum,
tonat dies serenus ac totis domus
ut fracta tectis crepuit et moti lares
vertere vultum — fiat hoc, fiat nefas
quod, di, timetis.

SATELLES

Facere quid tandem paras ?

ATREVS

Nescio quid animo maius et solito amplius
supraque fines moris humani tumet
instatque pigris manibus — haud quid sit scio,
112

THYESTES

ATTENDANT

The sword ?

ATREUS

'Tis not enough.

ATTENDANT

Fire, then ?

ATREUS

Still not enough.

ATTENDANT

What weapon, pray, will thy great anguish use ?

ATREUS
Thyestes* self.

ATTENDANT

This plague is worse than passion.

ATREUS

I do confess it. A frantic tumult shakes and
heaves deep my heart. I am hurried I know
not whither, but I am hurried on. The ground
rumbles from its lowest depths, the clear sky thun-
ders, the whole house crashes as though 'twere rent
asunder, and the trembling Lares turn away their
faces — let it be done, let a deed of guilt be done
whereat, O gods, ye are affrighted.

ATTENDANT

What, pray, wouldst do ?

ATREUS

Some greater thing, larger than the common and
beyond the bounds of human use is swelling in my
soul, and it urges on my sluggish hands — I know not

113

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

sed grande quiddam est. ita sit. hoc, anime,
occupa. 270

dignum est Thyeste facinus et dignum Atreo ;
uterque faciat. vidit infandas domus
Odrysia mensas — fateor, immane est scelus,
sed occupatum ; maius hoc aliquid dolor
inveniat. animum Daulis inspira parens
sororque ; causa est similis ; assiste et manum
impelle nostram. liberos avidus pater
gaudensque laceret et suos artus edat.
bene est, abunde est. hie placet poenae modus.

Tantisper1 ubinam est? tarn diu cur innocens 280
versatur Atreus ? tota iam ante oculos meos
imago caedis errat, ingesta orbitas
in ora patris — anime, quid rursus times
et ante rem subsidis ? audendum est, age !
quod est in isto scelere praecipuum nefas,
hoc ipse faciet.

SATELLE8

Sed quibus captus dolis
nostros dabit perductus in laqueos pedem?
inimica credit cuncta.

ATREVS

Non poterat capi,

nisi capere vellet. regna nunc sperat mea ;
hac spe minanti fulmen occurret Jovi, 290

hac spe subibit gurgitis tumidi minas
dubiumque Libycae Syrtis intrabit fretum,
hac spe, quod esse maximum retur malum,
fratrem videbit.

1 All editors punctuate modus | taritisper. ubinam est?
114

THYESTES

what it is, but 'tis some mighty thing. So let it be.
Haste, thou, my soul, and do it. Tis a deed worthy
of Thyestes, and of Atreus worthy ; let each perform
it. The Odrysian l house once saw a feast unspeak-
able— 'tis a monstrous crime, I grant, but it has
been done before ; let my smart find something
worse than this. Inspire my soul, O Daulian 2
mother, aye and sister,3 too ; my case is like to yours ;
help me and urge on my hand. Let the father with
joyous greed rend his sons, and his own flesh devour.
'Tis well, more than enough. This way of punish-
ment is pleasing.

280 Meanwhile, where is he ? Why does Atreus so
long live harmless ? Already before mine eyes flits
the whole picture of the slaughter ; his lost children
heaped up before their father's face — O soul, why
dost shrink back in fear and halt before the deed ?
Come ! thou must dare it ! What is the crowning
outrage in this crime he himself shall do.

ATTENDANT

But with what wiles caught will he be led to set
foot within our snares? He counts us all enemies.

ATREUS

He could not be caught were he not bent on
catching. Even now he hopes to gain my kingdom ;
in this hope he will face Jove as he brandishes his
thunder-bolt, in this hope will brave the whirlpool's
rage and enter the treacherous waters of the Libyan
sands; in this hope (what he deems the greatest
curse of all), he will see his brother.

1 i.e. Thracian. See Index. * Procne. 8 Philomela.

115

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

SATELLES

Quis fidem pacis dabit?
cui tanta credet ?

ATREVS

Credula est spes improba.
natis tamen mandata quae patruo ferant
dabimus : relictis exul hospitiis vagus
regno ut miserias mutet atque Argos regat
ex parte dominus. si nimis durus preces
spernet Tliyestes, liberos eius rudes 300

malisque fessos gravibus et faciles capi
prece commovebunt. hinc vetus regni furor,
illinc egestas tristis ac durus labor
quaravis rigentem tot mails subigent virum.

SATELLES

lam tempus illi fecit aerumnas leves.

ATREVS

Erras ; malorum sensus accrescit die.
leve est miserias ferre, perferre est grave.

SATELLES

Alios ministros consili tristis lege.

ATREVS

Peiora iuvenes facile praecepta audiunt.

SATELLES

In patre facient quidquid in patruo doces ; .310
saepe in magistrum scelera redierunt sua.

1 i.e. other than Atreus' own sons.

116

THYESTES

ATTENDANT

Who will give him confidence in peace? Whose
word will he so greatly trust ?

ATREUS

Base hope is credulous. Still to my sons will I
give a message to carry to their uncle : let the exiled
wanderer quit strangers' homes, for a throne exchange
his wretched state and rule at Argos, a partner of
my sway. If too stubbornly Thyestes spurns my
prayer, his sons, guileless and spent with hard mis-
fortunes and easy to be entreated, will be moved.
On this side, his old mad thirst for power, on that,
grim want and unfeeling toil by their many woes will
force the man, however stiff, to yield.

ATTENDANT

By now time has made his troubles light.

ATREUS

Not so ; a sense of wrongs increases day by day.
'Tis easy to bear misfortune ; to keep on bearing it a
heavy task.

ATTENDANT

Choose other l agents of thy grim design.

ATREUS

To the worse schooling youth lends ready ear.

ATTENDANT

Toward their father they will act as toward their
uncle thou instructest them ; often upon the teacher
have his bad teachings turned.

11?

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

AT REVS

Vt nemo doceat fraudis et sceleris vias,
regnum docebit. ne mail fiant times ?
nascuntur. istud quod vocas saevum asperum
agique dure credis et nimium impie,
fortasse et illic agitur.

SATELLES

Hanc fraudem scient
nati parari ?

AT REVS

Tacita tarn rudibus fides
non est in annis ; detegent forsan dolos ;
tacere multis discitur vitae malis.

SATELLES

Ipsosque per quos fallere alium cogitas 820

falles ?

ATREVS

Vt ipsi crimine et culpa vacent.
quid enim necesse est liberos sceleri meos
inserere? per nos odia se nostra explicent.—
male agis, recedis, anime : si parcis tuis,
parces et illis. consili Agamemnon mei
sciens minister fiat et patri sciens
Menelaus assit. prolis incertae fides
ex hoc petatur scelere : si bella abnuunt
et gerere nolunt odia, si patruum vocant,
pater est. eatur. — multa sed trepidus solet 830

detegere vultus, magna nolentem quoque
consilia produnt : nesciant quantae rei
fiant ministri. nostra tu coepta occules.

1 By Thyestes against Atreus.
118

THYESTES

ATREUS

Though none should teach them the ways of
treachery and crime, the throne will teach them.
Lest they become evil, fearest thou ? They were
born evil. What thou callest savage, cruel, thinkest
is done ruthlessly, with no regard for heaven's law,
perchance even there l is being done.

ATTENDANT

Shall thy sons know that this snare is being laid ?

ATREUS

Silent discretion is not found in years so in-
experienced ; perchance they will disclose the plot ;
the art of silence is taught by life's many ills.

ATTENDANT

Even those by whom thou plannest to deceive
another, wilt thou deceive ?

ATREUS

That they themselves may be free even from
blame of crime. What need to entangle my sons in
guilt ? By my own self let my hatred be wrought
out. — Thou doest ill, thou shrinkest back, my soul.
Let Agamemnon be the witting agent of my plan,
and Menelaus wittingly assist his father. By this deed
let their uncertain birth be put to proof: if they
refuse the combat, if they will not wage the war of
hate, if they plead he is their uncle, he is their sire.
Let them set forth. — But a troubled countenance oft
discloses much ; great plans betray their bearer even
against his will ; let them not know of how great a
matter they are the ministers. And do thou conceal
my plans.

119

THE TRAGEDIES OF SEN7ECA

SATELLES

Haud sum monendus ; ista nostro in pectore
fides timorque, sed magis claudet fides.

CHORVS

Tandem regia nobilis,
antiqui genus Inachi,
fratrum composuit minas.1

Quis vos exagitat furor,
alternis dare sanguinem 340

et sceptrum scelere aggredi ?
nescitis, cupidi arcium,
regnum quo iaceat loco,
regem non faciunt opes,
non vestis Tyriae color,
non frontis nota regiae,
non auro nitidae fores 2 ;
rex est qui posuit metus
et diri mala pectoris,

quern non ambitio inpotens 350

et numquam stabilis favor
vulgi praecipitis movet,
non quidquid fodit Occidens
aut unda Tagus aurea
claro devehit alveo,
non quidquid Libycis tent
fervens area messibus,
quern non concutiet cadens
obliqui via fulminis,

non Eurus rapiens mare S60

aut saevo rabidus freto
ventosi tumor Hadriae,
quern non lancea militis,

1 Richter deletes 336-338. * trabes A,

120

THYESTES

ATTENDANT

No need to admonish me ; both fear and loyalty
shall shut them in my heart, but rather loyalty.

CHORUS

At last our noble house, the race of ancient Inachus,
hath allayed the strife of brothers.

339 VVhat madness pricks you on to shed by turns
each others' blood, and by crime to gain the throne ?
Ye know not, for high place greedy, wherein true
kingship lies. A king neither riches make, nor robes
of Tyrian hue, nor crown upon the royal brow, nor
doors with gold bright-gleaming ; a king is he who
has laid fear aside and the base longings of an evil
heart ; whom ambition unrestrained and the fickle
favour of the reckless mob move not, neither all the
mined treasures of the West nor the golden sands
which Tagus sweeps along in his shining bed, nor all
the grain trod out on burning Libya's threshing-
floors ; whom no hurtling path of the slanting
thunderbolt will shake, nor Eurus, harrying the sea,
nor wind-swept Adriatic's swell, raging with cruel
wave ; whom no warrior's lance nor bare steel ever

121

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

non strictus domuit chalybs,
qui tuto positus loco
infra se videt omnia
occurritque suo libens
fato nee queritur mori.

Reges conveniant licet
qui sparsos agitant Dahas, S70

qui rubri vada litoris
et gemmis mare lucidis
late sanguineum tenent,
aut qui Caspia fortibus
recludunt iuga Sarmatis,
certet Danuvii vadum
audet qui pedes ingredi
et (quocumque loco iacent)
Seres vellere nobiles —
mens regnum bona possidet. 380

nil ullis opus est equis,
nil armis et inertibus
telis quae procul ingerit
Parthus, cum simulat fugas,
admotis nihil est opus
urbes sternere machinis,
longe saxa rotantibus.
rex est qui metuit nihil,
rex est qui cupiet nihil.1
hoc regnum sibi quisque dat. 390

Stet quicumque volet potens
aulae culmine lubrico ;
me dulcis saturet quies ;
obscuro positus loco
leni perfruar otio,
nullis nota Quiritibus
aetas per taciturn fluat.

1 Leo deletes lines 388, 389.
122

THYESTES

mastered ; who, in safety 'stablished, sees all things
beneath his feet, goes gladly to meet his fate nor
grieves to die.

369 Though kings should gather themselves to-
gether, both they who vex the scattered Scythians
and they who dwell upon the Red Sea's marge, who
hold wide sway o'er the blood-red main with its
gleaming pearls, they who leave unguarded l the
Caspian heights to the bold Sarmatians ; though he
strive against him, who dares on foot to tread the
Danube's waves 2 and (wheresoe'er they dwell,) the
Serians 3 for fleeces famous — 'tis the upright mind
that holds true sovereignty. He has no need of
horses, none of arms and the coward weapons which
the Parthian hurls from far when he feigns flight,
no need of engines hurling rocks, stationed to batter
cities to the ground. A king is he who has no fear ;
a king is he who shall naught desire. Such kingdom
on himself each man bestows.

391 Let him stand who will, in pride of power, on
empire's slippery height ; let me be filled with sweet
repose ; in humble station fixed, let me enjoy un-
troubled ease, and, to my fellow citizens 4 unknown,
let my life's stream flow in silence. So when my

1 Because they do not fear these enemies.

2 i.e. the frozen surface.

3 The poet here conceives of the Serians as near by Scythia.

4 Quirites must be taken in a general sense. Specifically,
it would be impossible, since it applies only to Roman citi-
zens, who at this time had not come into existence.

123

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

sic cum transierint mei

nullo cum strepitu dies,

plebeius moriar senex. 400

illi mors gravis incubat

qui, notus nimis omnibus,

ignotus moritur sibi.

THYESTES

Optata patriae tecta et Argolicas opes
miserisque summum ac maximum exulibus bonum,
tractum soli natalis et patrios deos
(si sunt tamen di) cerno, Cyclopum sacras
turres, labore maius humano decus,
celebrata iuveni stadia, per quae nobilis
palmam paterno non semel curru tuli 4 1 0

occurret Argos, populus occurret frequens —
sed nempe et Atreus. repete silvestres fugas
saltusque densos potius et mixtam feris
similemque vitam ; clarus hie regni nitoi
fulgore non est quod oculos falso auferat ;
cum quod datur spectabis, et dantem aspice.
modo inter ilia, quae putant cuncti aspera,
fortis fui laetusque ; nunc contra in metus
revolvor ; animus haeret ac retro cupit
corpus referre, moveo nolentem gradum. 420

TANTALVS

Pigro (quid hoc est ?) genitor incessu stupet
vultumque versat seque in incerto tenet.

124

THYESTES

days have passed noiselessly away, lowly may I die
and full of years. On him does deatli lie heavily,
who, but too well known to all, dies to himself
unknown.

[Enter THYESTES, returning from banishment, accompanied

by his three sons.]

THYESTES

At last I see the welcome dwellings of my father-
land, the wealth of Argolis, and, the greatest and
best of sights to wretched exiles, a stretch of native
soil and my ancestral gods (if after all gods there
are), the sacred towers reared by the Cyclopes, in
beauty far excelling human effort, the race-course
thronged with youth, where more than once, lifted
to fame, have I in my father's chariot won the palm.
Argos will come to meet me, the thronging populace
will come — but surely Atreus too ! Rather seek
again thy retreats in the forest depths, the impene-
trable glades, and life shared with beasts and like to
theirs ; this gleaming splendour of the throne is
naught that should blind my eyes with its false tinsel
show ; when thou lookest on the gift, scan well the
giver, too. Of late midst such fortune as all count
hard, 1 was brave and joyous ; but now I am returned
to fears ; my courage falters and, eager to go back, I
move unwilling feet along.

TANTALUS [aside]

My father (what can it mean ?) with faltering pace
goes as if dazed, keeps turning his face away, and
holds uncertain course.

125

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

THYESTES

Quid, anime, pendes quidve consilium diu
tarn facile torques ? rebus incertissimis,
fratri atque regno, credis ac metuis mala
iam victa, iam mansueta et aerumnas fugis
bene collocatas ? esse iam miserum iuvat.
reflecte gressum, dum licet, teque eripe.

TANTALVS

Quae causa cogit, genitor, a patria gradum
referre visa ? cur bonis tantis sinum 430

subducis ? ira frater abiecta redit
partemque regni reddit et lacerae domus
componit artus teque restituit tibi.

THYESTES

Causam timoris ipse quam ignore exigis.
nihil timendum video, sed timeo tamen.
placet ire, pigris membra sed genibus labant
alioque quam quo nitor abductus feror.
sic concitatam remige et velo ratem
aestus resistens remigi et velo refert.

TANTALVS

Evince quidquid obstat et mentem impedit 440
reducemque quanta praemia expectent vide,
pater, potes regnare.

THYESTES

Cum possim mori.

1 i.e. made the best of by learning how to bear them.
a Blessings are being poured into his bosom and he will
not receive them.

126

THYESTES

THYESTES [m soliloquy]

Why O soul, dost hesitate, or why dost so long
turn o'er and o'er a plan so simple ? Dost thou trust
to things most unsure, to a brother and to kingship?
Dost fear hardships already mastered, already easier
to bear, and dost flee from distresses well employed P1
'Tis sweet now to be wretched. Turn back, while
still thou mayest, and save thyself.

TANTALUS

What cause compels thee, father, to turn thee
back from sight of thy native land ? Why from so
great blessings dost withhold thy bosom ? 2 Thy
brother returns to thee with wrath given o'er, gives
thee back half the realm, unites the members of thy
sundered house, and to thyself restores thee.

THYESTES

My cause of fear, which I myself know not, thou
demandest of me. Naught to be feared I see, but
still I fear. Fain would I go, but my limbs totter
with faltering knees, and other-whither than I strive
to go am I borne away in thrall. Just so a ship,
urged on by oar and sail, the tide, resisting both oar
and sail, bears back.

TANTALUS

O'ercome thou whate'er opposes and thwarts thy
will, and see how great rewards await thee on thy
return. Father, thou canst be king.

THYESTES

Yea, since 1 can die.3

3 The power to die is more precious than the power of
kings ; since, therefore, he can die, Thyestes has indeed regal
power.

127

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

TANTALVS

Summa est potestas —

THYESTES

Nulla, si cupias nihil.

TANTALVS

Natis relinques.

THYESTES

Non capit regnum duos.

TANTALVS

Miser esse mavult esse qui felix potest ?

THYESTES

Mihi crede, falsis magna nominibus placent,
frustra timentur dura, dum excelsus steti,
numquam pavere destiti atque ipsum mei
ferrum timere lateris. o quantum bonum est
obstare nulli, capere securas dapes 450

humi iacentem ! scelera non intrant casas,
tutusque mensa capitur angusta cibus ;
venenum in auro bibitur. expertus loquor :
malam bonae praeferre fortunam licet.
non vertice alti montis impositam domum
et eminentem civitas humilis tremit
nee fulget altis splendidum tectis ebur
somnosque non defendit excubitor meos ;
non classibus piscamur et retro mare
iacta fugamus mole nee ventrem improbum 460

alimus tributo gentium, nullus mihi

128

THYESTES

TANTALUS

The height of power is —

THYESTES

Naught, if nothing thou desirest.

TANTALUS

To thy sons wilt thou bequeath it.

THYESTES

The throne admits not two.

TANTALUS

Would he wish wretchedness who can be blest?

THYESTES

False, believe me, are the titles that give greatness
charm ; idle our fears of hardship. While I stood
high in power, never did I cease to dread, yea, to
fear the very sword upon my thigh. Oh, how good
it is to stand in no man's road, care-free to eat one's
bread, on the ground reclining ! Crime enters not
lowly homes, and in safety is food taken at a slender
board ; poison is drunk from cups of gold. I speak
that I do know : evil fortune is to be preferred to
good.1 The lowly citizen fears no house of mine set
high and threatening on a mountain top ; my tower-
ing roofs flash not with gleaming ivory, no guard
watches o'er my slumbers ; with no fleet of boats I
fish, with no piled break-water do I drive back the
sea ; I gorge not my vile belly at the world's expense;
for me no fields are harvested beyond the Getae and

1 Having tried both, he comes to this conclusion.

129

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ultra Getas metalur et Parthos ager ;

non tare colimur nee meae excluso love

ornantur arae ; nulla culminibus meis

imposita nutat silva nee fumant manu

succensa multa stagna nee somno dies

Baechoque nox iungenda pervigili datur :

sed non timemur, tuta sine telo est domus

rebusque parvis magna praestatur quies.

immane regnum est posse sine regno pati. 470

TANTALVS

Nee abnuendum, si dat imperium deus,
nee appetendum est ; frater lit regnes rogat.

THYESTES

Rogat? timendtim est. errat hie aliquis dolus.

TANTALVS

Redire pietas unde submota est solet
reparatque vires iustus amissas amor.

THYESTES

Amat Thyesten frater? aetherias prius
perfundet Arctos pontus et Siculi rapax
consistet aestus unda et lonio seges
matura pelago surget et lucem dabit
nox atra terris, ante cum flammis aquae, 480

cum morte vita, cum mari ventus fidem
foedusque iungent.

TANTALVS

Quam tamen fraudem times ?

THYESTES

Omnem ; timori quern meo statuam modum ?
tantum potest quantum odit.

130

THYESTES

the Parthians ; no incense burns for me, nor are my
shrines adorned in neglect of Jove ; no planted
grove waves on my battlements, nor does many a
pool heated by art steam for me ; my days are not
given to sleep nor are my nights linked with wakeful
revelry : but I am not feared, safe without weapons
is my house and to my small estate great peace is
granted. Tis a boundless kingdom, — the power
without kingdoms to be content.

TANTALUS

Neither is empire to be refused if a god bestows it,
nor needst thou seek it ; thy brother invites thee to
be king.

THYESTES

Invites? Then must I fear. Some trick strays
hereabouts.

TANTALUS

Brotherly regard ofttimes returns unto the heart
whence it was driven, and true love regains the
vigour it has lost.

THYESTES

His brother love Thyestes ? Sooner shall ocean
bathe the heavenly Bears, and the devouring waves
of the Sicilian tides stand still ; sooner shall ripening
grain spring from the Ionian sea, and dark night
illume the world ; sooner shall fire with water, life
with death commingle, and winds join faith and
treaty with the sea.

TANTALUS

And yet what treachery dost thou fear ?

THYESTES

All treachery ; to my fear what limit shall I set ?
His power is boundless as his hate.

131

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

TANTALVS

In te quid potest?

THYESTES

Pro me nihil iam metuo ; vos facitis mihi
Atrea timendum.

TANTALVS

Decipi cautus times?

THYESTES

Serum est cavendi tempus in mediis malis ;
eatur. unum genitor hoc testor tamen :
ego vos sequor, non duco.

TANTALVS

Respiciet deus
bene cogitata. perge non dubio gradu. 490

ATREVS

Plagis tenetur clausa dispositis fera ;
et ipsum et una generis invisi indolem
iunctam parenti cerno. iam tuto in loco
versantur odia. venit in nostras manus
tandem Thyestes, venit, et totus quidem
vix tempero animo, vix dolor frenos capit.
sic, cum feras vestigat et longo sagax
loro tenetur Vmber ac presso vias
scrutatur ore, dum procul lento suem
odore sentit, paret et tacito locum 500

132

THYESTES

TANTALUS

What power has he against thee ?

THYESTES

For myself I have now no fear ; 'tis you, my sons,
who make Atreus cause of dread to me.

TANTALUS

Dost fear to be entrapped if on thy guard ?

THYESTES

'Tis too late to guard when in the midst of
dangers; but let us on. Yet this one thing your
father doth declare : I follow you, not lead.

TANTALUS

God will protect us if we heed well our ways.
With assured step haste thou on.

[Enter ATREUS. Seeing THYESTES and his sons, he gloats
over the fact that his brother is at last in his power.']

ATREUS [aside]

The prey is fast caught in the toils I spread ; both
the sire himself and, together with the sire, the
offspring of his hated race I see. Now on safe
footing does my hatred fare. At last has Thyestes
come into my power ; he has come, and the whole J
of him ! Scarce can I control my spirit, scarce does
my rage admit restraint. So when the keen Umbrian
hound tracks out the prey and, held on a long leash,
with lowered muzzle snuffs out the trail, while with
faint scent he perceives the boar afar, obediently and

1 i.e. sons and all.

133

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

rostro pererrat ; praeda cum propior fuit,

cervice tota pugnat et gemitu vocat

dominum morantem seque retinenti eripit.

cum sperat ira sapguinem, nescit tegi ;

tamen tegatur. aspice, ut multo gravis

squalore vultus obruat maestos coma.

quam foeda iaceat barba. praestetur fides —

fratrem iuvat videre. complexus mihi

redde expetitos. quidquid irarum fuit

transient ; ex hoc sanguis ac pietas die 510

colantur, animis odia damnata excidant.

THYESTES

Diluere possem cuncta, nisi talis fores,
sed fateor, Atreu, fateor, admisi omnia
quae credidisti. pessimam causam meam
hodierna pietas fecit, est prorsus nocens
quicumque visus tarn bono fratri est nocena
lacrimis agendinr est ; supplicem primus vides ;
hae te precantur pedibus intactae manus :
ponatur omnis ira et ex animo tumor
erasus abeat. obsides fidei accipe 520

hos innocentes, frater.

ATREVS

A genibus manum

aufer meosque potius amplexus pete,
vos quoque, senum praesidia, tot iuvenes, meo
pendete collo. squalidam vestem exue
oculisque nostris parce et ornatus cape
pares meis laetusque fratemi imperi
134-

THYESTES

with silent tongue he scours the field ; but when the
game is nearer, with his whole strength of neck he
struggles, loudly protests against his master's loitering,
and breaks away from his restraint. When rage
scents blood, it cannot be concealed ; yet let it be
concealed. See how his thick hair, all unkempt,
covers his woeful face, how foul his beard hangs
down. [In bitter irony.] Now let me keep my pro-
mise.1 [To THYESTES.] Tis sweet to see my brother
once again. Give me the embrace that I have
longed for. Let all our angry feelings pass away ;
from this day let ties of blood and love be cherished
and let accursed hatred vanish from our hearts.

THYESTES

I might excuse all my deeds wert thou not such as
this. But I confess, Atreus, I confess that I have
done all that thou believedst of me. Most foul has
thy love to-day made my case appear. Sinful indeed
is he who has been proved sinful toward so good a
brother. My tears must plead for me ; thou art the
first to see me suppliant. These hands, which have
never touched man's feet, beseech thee : put away
all thy wrath and let swollen anger pass from thy
heart and be forgot. As pledge of my faith, O brother,
take these guiltless boys.

ATREUS

From my knees remove thy hand and come rather
into my embrace. And you, too, boys, all of you,
comforters of age, come cling about my neck. Thy
foul garments put off, spare my eyes, and put on
royal trappings equal to my own, and with glad

1 Which he had made through his sons. See I. 296.

135

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

capesse partem. maior haec laus est mea,
fratri paternum reddere incolumi decus ;
habere regnum casus est, virtus dare.

THYESTE8

Di paria, frater, pretia pro tantis tibi 530

meritis rependant. regiam capitis notam
squalor recusat noster et sceptrum manus
infausta refugit. liceat in media mihi
latere turba.

ATREVS

Recipit hoc regnum duos.

THYESTES

Meum esse credo quid quid est, frater, tuuui.

ATREVS
Quis influentis dona fortunae abnuit ?

THYESTES

Expertus est quicumque quam facile effluant.

ATREVS
Fratrem potiri gloria ingenti vetas ?

THYESTES

Tua iam peracta gloria est, restat mea ;
respuere certum est regna consilium mihi. 540

ATREVS
Meam relinquam, nisi tuam partem accipis.

136

THYESTES

heart share a brother's kingdom. Mine is the greater
glory, to restore to a brother all unharmed ancestral
dignity ; wielding of power is the work of chance,
bestowing of it, virtue's.

THYESTES

May the gods, my brother, fitly repay thee for so
great deserts. The kingly crown my wretched state
refuses, and the sceptre my ill-omened hand rejects.
Let it be mine to hide amidst the throng.

ATREUS
Our throne has room for two.

THYESTES

I count, my brother, all of thine as mine.1

ATREUS
Who puts aside inflowing fortune's gifts ?

THYESTES

Whoso has found how easily they ebb.

ATREUS

Dost forbid thy brother to gain great glory ?

THYESTES

Thy glory is won already ; mine is still to win : to
refuse the throne is my fixed intent.

ATREUS

My glory must I abandon, unless thou accept thy

share.

1 But I will not take possession of it.

137

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

THYESTES

Accipio ; regni nomen impositi ferara,
sed iura et arma servient mecum tibi.

AT REVS

Imposita capiti vincla venerando gere ;
ego destinatas victimas superis dabo.

CHORVS

Credat hoc quisquam ? ferus ille et acer
nee potens mentis truculentus Atreus
fratris aspectu stupefactus haesit.
nulla vis maior pietate vera est ;
iurgia externis inimica durant, 550

quos amor verus tenuit tenebit.
ira cum magnis agitata causis
gratiam rupit cecinitque bellum,
cum leves frenis sonuere turmae,
fulsit hinc illinc agitatus ensis
quern movet crebro furibundus ictu
sanguinem Mavors cupiens recentem —
opprimet ferrum manibusque iunctis
ducet ad Pacem Pietas negantes.

Otium tanto subitum e tumultu 5b'0

quis deus fecit ? modo per Mycenas
arma civil is crepuere belli ;
pallidae natos tenuere matres,
uxor armato timuit marito,
cum manum invitus sequeretur ensis,
sordidus pacis vitio quietae ;
ille labentes renovare muros,
hie situ quassas stabilire turres,
ferreis portas cohibere claustris
ille certabat, pavidusque pinnis 570

anxiae noctis vigil incubabat —

138

THYESTES

THYESTES

I do accept ; the name of king set on me will I
wear ; but unto thee shall laws and arms along with
myself be subject.

ATREUS [placing the crown upon his brother s head]

This crown, set on thy reverend head, wear thou ;
but I the destined victims to the gods will pay. [Exit.

CHORUS

Such things are past belief. Atreus, there, the
fierce and savage, reckless of soul and cruel, at
sight of his brother stood as one amazed. There is
no power stronger than true love ; angry strife 'twixt
strangers doth endure, but whom true love has bound
'twill bind for ever. When wrath, by great causes
roused, has burst friendship's bonds and sounded
alarms of war ; when fleet squadrons with ringing
bridles come ; when the brandished sword gleams
now here, now there, which the mad god of war,
thirsting for fresh-flowing blood, wields with a rain
of blows, — then will Love stay the steel, and lead
men, even against their will, to the clasped hands of
Peace.

560 This sudden lull out of so great uproar what
god has wrought ? But now throughout Mycenae
the arms of civil strife resounded ; pale mothers held
fast their sons, the wife feared for her lord full
armed, when to his hand came the reluctant sword,
foul with the rust of peace ; one strove to repair
tottering walls, one to strengthen towers, crumbling
with long neglect ; another strove to shut gates tight
with iron bars, while on the battlements the trembling
guard kept watch o'er the troubled night — for worse

139

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

peior est bello timor ipse belli.

iam minae saevi cecidere ferri,

mm silet murmur grave classicorum,

iam tacet stridor litui strepentis ;

alta pax urbi revocata laetae est.

sic, ubi ex alto tumuere fluctus

Bruttium Coro feriente pontum,

Scylla pulsatis resonat cavernis

ac mare in portu timuere nautae 580

quod rapax haustum revomit Charybdis,

et ferus Cyclops metuit parentem

rupe ferventis residens in Aetnae,

ne superfusis violetur undis

ignis aeternis resonans caminis,

et putat mergi sua posse pauper

regna Laertes Ithaca tremente —

si suae ventis cecidere vires,

mitius stagno pelagus recumbit;

alta, quae navis timuit secare, 590

hinc et bine fusis speciosa velis

strata ludenti patuere cumbae,

et vacat mersos numerare pisces

hie ubi ingenti modo sub procella

Cyclades pontum timuere motae.

Nulla sors longa est ; dolor ac voluptas
invicem cedunt; brevior voluptas.
ima permutat levis hora summis.
ille qui donat diadema fronti,
quern genu nixae tremuere gentes, 600

cuius ad nutum posuere bella
Medus et Phoebi propioris Indus
et Dahae Parthis equitem minati,
anxius sceptrum tenet et moventes
cuncta divinat metuitque casus
mobiles rerum dubiumque tempus.

140

THYESTES

than war is the very fear of war. Now the sword's
dire threats have fallen ; now still is the deep
trumpet-blare ; now silent the shrill clarion's blast ;
deep peace to a glad city is restored. So, when the
floods heave up from ocean's depths and Corus l
lashes the Bruttian waters ; when Scylla roars in
her disturbed cavern, and mariners in harbour
tremble at the sea which greedy Charybdis drains
and vomits forth again ; when the wild Cyclops,
sitting on burning Aetna's crag, dreads his sire's 2
rage, lest the o'erwhelming waves put out the fires
that roar in immemorial furnaces ; and when beg-
gared Laertes thinks, while Ithaca reels beneath the
shock, that his kingdom may be submerged — then,
if their strength has failed the winds, the sea sinks
back more peaceful than a pool ; and the deep waters
which the ship feared to cleave, now far and wide,
studded with bellying sails, a beauteous sight, to
pleasure-boats spread out their waves ; and you may
now count the fish swimming far below, where but
lately beneath the mighty hurricane the tossed
Cyclads trembled at the sea.

596 No lot endureth long ; pain and pleasure, each
in turn, give place ; more quickly, pleasure. Lowest
with highest the fickle hour exchanges. He who
wears crown on brow, before whom trembling nations
bend the knee, at whose nod the Medes lay down
their arms, and the Indians of the nearer sun,3 and
the Dahae who hurl their horse upon the Parthians,
— he with anxious hand holds the sceptre, and both
foresees and fears fickle chance and shifting time that
change all things.

1 The North-west wind. 2 Neptune.

8 The sun was supposed to be nearer to the oriental
nations.

141

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Vos quibus rector maris atque terrae
ius dedit magnum necis atque vitae,
ponite inflates tumidosque vultus ;
quidquid a vobis minor expavescit. 610

maior hoc vobis dominus minatur ;
omne sub regno graviore regnum est.
quern dies vidit veniens superbum,
hunc dies vidit fugiens iacentem.
nemo confidat nimium secundis,
nemo desperet meliora lapsis :
miscet haec illis prohibetque Clotho
stare fortunam, rotat omne fatum.
nemo tarn divos habuit faventes,
crastinum ut posset sibi polliceri : 620

res deus nostras celeri citatas
turbine versat.

NVNTIVS

Quis me per auras turbo praecipitem vehet
atraque nube involvet, ut tantum nefas
eripiat oculis ? o domus Pelopi quoque
et Tantalo pudenda !

CHORVS
Quid portas novi?

NVNTIVS

Quaenam ista regio est ? Argos et Sparte, pios
sortita fratres, et maris gemini premens
fauces Corinthos, an feris Hister fugam
praebens Alanis, an sub aeterna nive 630

Hyrcana tellus an vagi passim Scythae ?
quis hie nefandi est conscius monstri locus ?

1 i.e. Castor and Pollux. See Phoenissae, 128.
142

THYESTES

607 O you, to whom the ruler of sea and land has
given unbounded right o'er life and death, abate your
inflated, swelling pride ; all that a lesser subject
fears from you, 'gainst you a greater lord shall
threaten ; all power is subject to a weightier power.
Whom the rising sun hath seen high in pride, him
the setting sun hath seen laid low. Let none be
over-confident when fortune smiles ; let none despair
of better things when fortune fails. Clotho blends
weal and woe, lets no lot stand, keeps every fate
a-turning. No one has found the gods so kind that
he may promise to-morrow to himself. God keeps
all mortal things in swift whirl turning.

[Enter MESSENGER breathlessly announcing the horror
which has just been enacted behind the scenes.]

MESSENGER

What whirlwind will headlong bear me through
the air and in murky cloud enfold me, that it may
snatch this awful horror from my sight ? O house,
to Pelops even and to Tantalus a thing of shame !

CHORUS
What news bringst thou ?

MESSENGER

What place is this? Is it Argos? Is it Sparta,
to which fate gave loving brothers ? J Corinth,
resting on the narrow boundary of two seas ? Or
the Ister, giving chance of flight to the barbarous
Alani ? Or the Hyrcanian land 'neath its ever-
lasting snows ? Or the wide-wandering Scythians ?
What place is this that knows such hideous crime ?

143

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

CHORVS

Effare et istud pande, quodcumque est, malura.

NVNTIVS

Si steterit animus, si metu corpus rigens
remittet artus. haeret in vultu trucis
imago facti ! ferte me insanae procul,
illo, procellae, ferte quo fertur dies
hinc raptus.

CHORVS

Animos gravius incertos tenes.
quid sit quod horres ede et auctorem indica.
non quaere quis sit, sed uter. effare ocius. 640

NVNTIVS

In arce summa Pelopiae pars est domus
conversa ad austros, cuius extremum latus
aequale monti crescit atque urbem premit
et contumacem regibus populum suis
habet sub ictu ; fulget hie turbae capax
immane tectum, cuius auratas trabes
variis columnae nobiles maculis ferunt.
post ista vulgo nota3 quae populi colunt,
in multa dives spatia discedit domus ;
arcana in imo regio secessu iacet, 650

alta vetustum valle compescens nemus,
penetrale regni, nulla qua laetos solet
praebere ramos arbor aut ferro coli,
sed taxus et cupressus et nigra ilice
obscura nutat silva, quam supra eminens
despectat alte quercus et vincit nemus.
144

THYESTES

CHORUS

Speak out and tell this evil, whate'er it is.

MESSENGER

When my spirit is composed, when numbing fear
lets go its hold upon my limbs. Oh, but I see it
still, the picture of that ghastly deed ' Bear me far
hence, wild winds, oh, thither bear me whither l the
vanished day is borne.

CHORUS

More grievously dost thou hold our minds in
doubt. Tell thou what is this thing which makes
thee shudder, and point out the doer of it. I
ask not who it is, but which.2 Speak out and
quickly.

MESSENGER

On the summit of the citadel a part of Pelops'
palace faces south ; its farthest side rises to moun-
tainous height, and o'erlooks the city, having beneath
its menace the people, insolent to their kings. Here
gleams the great hall that could contain a multitude,
whose gilded architraves columns glorious with varied
hues upbear. Behind this general hall, which nations
throng, the gorgeous palace stretches out o'er many
a space ; and, deep withdrawn, there lies a secret
spot containing in a deep vale an ancient grove, the
kingdom's innermost retreat. Here 110 tree ever
affords cheerful shade or is pruned by any knife ; but
the yew-tree and the cypress and woods of gloomy
ilex-trees wave obscure, above which, towering high,
an oak looks down and overtops the grove. From

1 i.e. to the other side of the world.
3 It must be one of the two brothers.

145

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

hinc auspicari regna Tantalidae solent,

hinc petere lapsis rebus ac dubiis opem.

affixa inhaerent dona ; vocales tubae

fractique currus, spolia Myrtoi maris, 660

victaeque falsis axibus pendent rotae

et omne gentis facinus ; hoc Phrygius loco

fixus tiaras Pelopis, hie praeda hostium

et de triumpho picta barbarico chlamys.

Fons stat sub umbra tristis et nigra piger
liaeret palude ; talis est dirae Stygis
deformis unda quae facit caelo fidem.
hinc nocte caeca gemere ferales deos
fama est, catenis lucus excussis sonat
ululantque manes, quidquid audire est metus 670
illic videtur ; errat antiquis vetus
emissa bustis turba et insultant loco
maiora notis monstra ; quin tota solet
micare silva flamma, et excelsae trabes
ardent sine igne. saepe latratu nemus
trino remugit, saepe simulacris domus
attonita magnis. nee dies sedat metum ;
nox propria luco est et superstitio mferum
in luce media regnat. hinc orantibus
responsa dantur certa, cum ingenti sono 680

laxantur adyto fata et inmugit specus
vocem deo solvente.

Quo postquam furens
intravit Atreus liberos fratris trahens,
ornantur arae — quis queat digne eloqui ?
post terga iuvenum nobiles religat manus

146

THYESTES

this spot the sons of Tantalus are wont to enter on
their reign, here to seek aid midst calamity and
doubt. Here hang their votive gifts ; resounding
trumpets and broken chariots, spoils of the Myrtoan
Sea,1 and wheels o'ercome by treacherous axle-trees
hang there, and memorials of the race's every crime ;
in this place is Pelops' Phrygian turban hung, here
spoil of the enemy, and the embroidered robe, token
of triumph o'er barbaric foes.

665 A dismal spring starts forth beneath the shadow,
and sluggish in a black pool creeps along ; such are
the ugly waters of dread Styx, on which the gods
take oath. 'Tis said that from this place in the dark
night the gods of death make moan ; with clanking
chains the grove resounds, and the ghosts howl
mournfully. Whatever is dreadful but to hear of,
there is seen ; throngs of the long-since dead come
forth from their ancient tombs and walk abroad,
and creatures more monstrous than men have known
spring from the place ; nay more, through all the
wood flames go flickering, and the lofty beams
glow without help of fire. Oft-times the grove
re-echoes with three-throated bayings ; oft-times
the house is affrighted with huge, ghostly shapes.
Nor is terror allayed by day ; the grove is a night
unto itself, and the horror of the underworld reigns
even at midday. From this spot sure responses are
given to those who seek oracles ; with thundering
noise the fates are uttered from the shrine, and
the cavern roars when the god sends forth his voice.

682 When to this place maddened Atreus came,
dragging his brother's sons, the altars were decked
— but who could worthily describe the deed ? Be-
hind their backs he fetters the youths' princely

1 See Index s.v. " Myrtilus."

147

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

et maesta vitta capita purpurea ligat ;
non tura desunt, non sacer Bacchi liquor
tangensque salsa victimam culter mola.
servatur omnis ordo, ne tantum nefas
non rite fiat.

CHORVS
Quis manum ferro admovet ? 690

NVNTIVS

Ipse est sacerdos, ipse funesta preee
letale carmen ore violento canit,
stat ipse ad aras, ipse devotos neci
contrectat et componit et ferro admovet l ;
attendit ipse — nulla pars sacri perit.
lucus tremescit, tota succusso solo
nutavit aula, dubia quo pondus daret
ac fluctuant! similis ; e laevo aethere
atrum cucurrit limitem sidus trahens.
libata in ignes vina mutato fluunt 700

cruenta Baccho, regium capiti decus
bis terque lapsum est, flevit in templis ebur.

Movere cunctos monstra, sed solus sibi
immotus Atreus constat atque ultro deos
terret minantes. iamque dimissa mora
adsistit aris, torvum et obliquum intuens.
ieiuna silvis qualis in Gangeticis
inter iuvencos tigris erravit duos,
utriusque praedae cupida quo primum ferat
incerta morsus (flectit hue rictus suos, 710

illo reflectit et famem dubiam tenet),
sic durus Atreus capita devota impiae
speculatur irae. quern prius mactet sibi

1 The fall form of this technical phrase w seen in line 690.
148

THYESTES

hands nnd their sad brows he binds with purple
fillets. Nothing is lacking, neither incense, nor
sacrificial wine, the knife, the salted meal to sprinkle
on the victims. The accustomed ritual is all ob-
served, lest so great a crime be not duly wrought.

CHORUS
Who lays his hand unto the knife ?

MESSENGER

Himself is priest ; himself with baleful prayer
chants the death-song with boisterous utterance ;
himself stands by the altar ; himself handles those
doomed to death, sets them in order and lays hand
upon the knife ; himself attends to all — no part of
the sacred rite is left undone. The grove begins to
tremble ; the whole palace sways with the quaking
earth, uncertain whither to fling its ponderous mass,
and seems to waver. From the left quarter of the
sky rushes a star, dragging a murky trail. The
wine, poured upon the fire, changes from wine and
flows as blood ; from the king's head falls the crown
twice and again, and the ivory statues in the temples
weep.

703 These portents moved all, but Atreus alone,
true to his purpose, stands, and e'en appals the
threatening gods. And now, delay at end, he stands
before the altar with lowering, sidelong glance. As
in the jungle by the Ganges river a hungry tigress
wavers between two bulls, eager for each prey, but
doubtful where first to set her fangs (to the one she
turns her jaws, then to the other turns, and keeps
her hunger waiting), so does cruel Atreus eye the
victims doomed by his impious wrath. He hesitates

149

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

dubitat, secunda deinde quern caede immolet.
nee interest, sed dubitat et saevum scelus
iuvat ordinare.

CHORVS

Quern tamen ferro occupat ?

NVNTIVS

Primus locus (ne desse pietatem putes)
avo dicatur : Tantalus prima hostia est.

CHORVS
Quo iuvenis animo, quo tulit vultu necem ?

NVNTIVS

Stetit sui securus et non est preces 720

perire frustra passus ; ast illi ferus
in vulnere ensem abscondit et penitus premens
iugulo manum commisit : educto stetit
ferro cadaver, cumque dubitasset diu,
hac parte an ilia caderet, in patruum cadit.
tune ille ad aras Plisthenem saevus trahit
adicitque fratri ; colla percussa amputat ;
cervice caesa truncus in pronum ruit,
querulum cucurrit murmure incerto caput,

CHORVS

Quid deinde gemina caede perfunctus facit ? 7SG
puerone parcit an scelus sceleri ingerit ?

150

THYESTES

within himself whom first to slay, whom next to
sacrifice by the second stroke. It matters not, but
still he hesitates, and gloats over the ordering of his
savage crime.

CHORUS

Whom, for all that, does he first attack with the
steel ?

MESSENGER

The place of honour (lest you deem him lacking
in reverence) to his grandsire 1 is allotted — Tantalus
is the first victim.

CHORUS

With what spirit, with what countenance bore the
lad his death ?

MESSENGER

Careless of self he stood, nor did he plead, knowing
such prayer were vain ; but in his wound the savage
buried the sword and, deep thrusting, joined hand
with throat. The sword withdrawn, the corpse still
stood erect, and when it had wavered long whether
here or there to fall, it fell upon the uncle. Then
Plisthenes to the altar did that butcher drag and set
him near his brother. His head with a blow he
severed ; down fell the body when the neck was
smitten, and the head rolled away, grieving with
murmur inarticulate.

CHORUS

What did he then after the double murder ? Did
he spare one boy, or did he heap crime on crime ?

1 ».«. the boy, Tantalus, is named after his grandfather.
This " place of honour " is a ghastly jest.

151

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

NVNTIVS

Silva iubatus qualis Armenia leo
in caede multa victor armento incubat
(cruore rictus madidus et pulsa fame
non ponit iras ; hinc et hinc tauros premens
vitulis minatur dente iam lasso piger) —
non aliter Atreus saevit atque ira tumet,
ferrumque gemina caede perfusum tenens,
oblitus in quern fureret, infesta manu
exegit ultra corpus ; ac pueri statim 740

pectore receptus ensis in tergo exstitit.
cadit ille et aras sanguine extinguens suo
per utrumque vulnus moritur.

CHORVS

O saevum seel us !
NVNTIVS

Exhorruistis ? hactenus si stat nefas,
pius est.

CHORVS

An ultra maius aut atrocius
natura recipit ?

NVNTIVS

Sceleris hunc finem putas?
gradus est.

CHORVS

Quid ultra potuit ? obiecit feris
lanianda forsan corpora atque igne arcuit?

NVNTIVS

Vtiiiam arcuisset ! ne tegat functos humus
nee solvat ignis ' avibus epulandos licet 750

152

THYESTES

MESSENGER

E'en as a maned lion in the Armenian woods with
much slaughter falls victorious on the herd (his jaws
reek with gore, and still, though hunger is appeased,
he rages on ; now here, now there charging the bulls,
he threatens the calves, sluggishly now and with
weary fangs) — not otherwise Atreus raves and swells
with wrath and, still grasping his sword drenched
with double slaughter, scarce knowing 'gainst whom
he rages, with deadly hand he drives clean through
the body ; and the sword, entering the boy's breast,
straightway stood out upon his back. He falls and,
staining the altar with his blood, dies by a double
wound.

CHORUS

Oh, savage crime !

MESSENGER

Are you so horror-stricken? If only the crime
stops there, 'tis piety.

CHORUS

Does nature admit crime still greater or more
dread ?

MESSENGER

Crime's limit deemst thou this ? 'Tis the first
step of crime.

CHORUS

What further could he do? Did he perchance
throw the bodies to the beasts to tear, and refuse
them fire ?

MESSENGER

Would that he had refused ! I pray not that earth
cover or fire consume the dead ! He may give them
to the birds to feast upon, may drag them out as a

153

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ferisque triste pabulum saevis trahat —
votum est sub hoc quod esse supplicium solet —
pater insepultos spectet ! o nullo scelus
credibile in aevo quodque posteritas neget —
erepta vivis exta pectoribus tremunt
spirantque venae corque adhuc pavidum salit.
at ille fibras tractat ac fata inspicit
et adhuc calentes viscerum venas notat.

Postquam hostiae placuere, securus vacat
iam fratris epulis. ipse divisum secat 760

in membra corpus, amputat trunco tenus
umeros patentes et lacertorum moras,
denudat artus durus atque ossa amputat ;
tantum ora servat et datas fidei man us.
haec veribus haerent viscera et lentis data
stillant caminis, ilia flammatus latex
candente aeno iactat. impositas dapes
transiluit ignis inque trepidantes focos
bis ter regestus et pati iussus moram
invitus ardet. stridet in veribus iecur ; 770

nee facile dicam corpora an flammae magis
gemuere. piceos ignis in fumos abit ;
et ipse fumus, tristis ac nebula gravis,
non rectus exit seque in excelsum levat —
ipsos penates nube deformi obsidet.

O Phoebe patiens, fugeris retro licet
medioque ruptum merseris caelo diem,
sero occidisti. lancinat natos pater
artusque mandit ore funesto suos ;
nitet fluente madidus unguento comam 780

gravisque vino ; saepe praeclusae cibum
tenuere fauces, in malis unum hoc tuis
154

THYESTES

ghastly meal for ravenous beasts — oh, after what
befell, one might pray for what is oft held punish-
ment— unburied may the father gaze upon his sons !
O crime incredible to any age, which coming genera-
tions will deny — torn from the still living breasts the
vitals quiver ; the lungs still breathe and the flutter-
ing heart still beats. But he handles the organs and
enquires the fates, and notes the markings of the
still warm entrails.

759 When with the victims he has satisfied himself,
he is now free to prepare his brother's banquet.
With his own hands he cuts the body into parts,
severs the broad shoulders at the trunk, and the
retarding arms, heartlessly strips off the flesh and
severs the bones ; the heads only he saves, and the
hands that had been given to him in pledge of faith.
Some of the flesh is fixed on spits and, set before
slow fires, hangs dripping; other parts boiling water
tosses in heated kettles. The fire overleaps the
feast that is set before it and, twice and again thrown
back upon the shuddering hearth and forced to tarry
there, burns grudgingly. The liver sputters on the
spits ; nor could I well say whether the bodies or the
flames made more complaint. The fire dies down in
pitchy smoke ; and the smoke itself, a gloomy and
heavy smudge, does not rise straight up and lift itself
in air — upon the household gods themselves in dis-
figuring cloud it settles.

776 O all-enduring Phoebus, though thou didst
shrink afar, and in mid-sky didst bury the darkened
day, still thou didst set too late. The father rends
his sons and with baleful jaws chews his own flesh ;
with hair dripping with liquid nard he sits resplendent,
heavy with wine ; oft-times the food sticks in his
choking gullet. In the midst of these thy woes,

155

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

bonum est, Thyesta, quod mala ignoras tua.
sed et hoc peribit. verterit currus licet
sibi ipse Titan obvium ducens iter
tenebrisque lacinus obruat tetrum novis
nox missa ab ortu tempore alieno gravis,
tamen videndum est. tota patefient mala.

CHORVS

Quo terrarum superumque parens,
cuius ad ortus noctis opacae 790

decus omne fugit, quo vertis iter
medioque diem perdis Olympo?
cur, Phoebe, tuos rapis aspectus ?
nondum serae nuntius horae
nocturna vocat lumina Vesper ;
nondum Hesperiae flexura rotae
iubet emeritos solvere currus ;
nondum in noctem vergente die
tertia misit bucina signum ;
stupet ad subitae tempora cenae 800

nondum fessis bubus arator.
quid te aetherio pepulit cursu ?
quae causa tuos limite certo
deiecit equos ? numquid aperto
carcere Ditis victi temptant
bella Gigantes ? numquid Tityos
pectore fesso renovat veteres
saucius iras ? num reiecto
latus explicuit monte Typhoeus ?
numquid struitur via Phlegraeos 810

alta per hostes et Thessalicum
Thressa premitur Pelion Ossa ?

1 i.e. the day's. * i.e. in mid-heaven, at noon.
156

THYESTES

Thyestes, this only good remains, that thou knowest
not thy woes. But even this will perish. Though
Titan himself should turn his chariot back, taking
the opposite course ; though heavy night, rising at
dawn and at another's 1 time, with strange shadows
should bury this ghastly deed, still it must out.
There is no sin but it shall be revealed.

[Unnatural darkness has settled over the world.]

CHORUS

Whither, O father of the lands and skies, before
whose rising thick night with all her glories flees,
whither dost turn thy course and why dost blot out
the day in mid-Olympus ? 2 Why, O Phoebus, dost
snatch away thy face ? Not yet does Vesper,
twilight's messenger, summon the fires of night ; not
yet does thy wheel, turning its western goal, bid free
thy steeds from their completed task ; not yet as day
fades into night has the third trump sounded ; 3 the
ploughman with oxen yet unwearied stands amazed at
his supper-hour's quick coming. What has driven
thee from thy heavenly course ? What cause from
their fixed track has turned aside thy horses? Is
the prison-house of Dis thrown wide and are the
conquered Giants again essaying war ? Doth sore-
wounded Tityos renew in his weary breast his ancient
wrath ? Has Typhoeus thrown off the mountainous
mass and set his body free? Is a highway being built
by the Phlegraean 4 foe, and does Thessalian Pelion
press on Thracian Ossa ?

3 The Greek day was divided into three parts of four
hours each. The third trump sounding would indicate the
beginning of day's last third.

4 t «. the Giants, so called from Phlegra, a valley in Thrace,
where started their battle against the gods.

157

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Solitae mundi periere vices ;
cihil occasuSj nihil ortus erit.
stupet Eoos, assueta deo
tradere frenos genetrix primae
roscida lucis, perversa sui
limina rcgni ; nescit fessos
tinguere currus nee fumarites
sudore iubas mergere ponto. 820

ipse insueto novus hospitio
Sol Auroram videt occiduus,
tenebrasque iubet surgere nondum
nocte parata. non succedunt
astra nee ullo micat igne polus,
non Luna graves digerit umbras.

Sed quidquid id est, utinam nox sit!
trepidant, trepidant pectora magno
percussa metu :

ne fatali cuncta ruina 830

quassata labent iterumque deos
hominesque premat deforme chaos,
iterum terras et mare cingens
et vaga picti sidera mundi
n at ura tegat. non aeternae
facis exortu dux astrorum
saecula ducens dabit aestatis
brumaeque notas, non Phoebeis
obvia flammis demet nocti
Luna timores vincetque sui 840

fratris habenas, curvo brevius
limite currens. ibit in unum
congesta sinum turba deorum.
hie qui sacris pervius astris
secat obliquo tramite zonas
flectens longos signifer annos,
lapsa videbit sidera labens;

158

THYESTES

813 Heaven's accustomed alternations are no more;
no setting, no rising shall there be again. The dewy
mother l of the early dawn, wont to hand o'er to the
god his morning reins, looks in amaze upon the
disordered threshold of her kingdom ; she is not
skilled 2 to bathe his weary chariot, nor to plunge his
steeds, reeking with sweat, beneath the sea. Startled
himself at such unwonted welcoming, the sinking
sun beholds Aurora, and bids the shadows arise,
though night is not yet ready. No stars come out ;
the heavens gleam not with any fires : no moon
dispels the darkness* heavy pall.

827 But whatever this may be, would that night
were here ! Trembling, trembling are our hearts,
sore smit with fear, lest all things fall shattered in
fatal ruin and once more gods and men be o'erwhelmed
by formless chaos ; lest the lands, the encircling sea,
and the stars that wander in the spangled sky, nature
blot out once more. No more by the rising of his
quenchless torch shall the leader of the stars, guiding
the procession of the years, mark off the summer and
the winter times ; no more shall Luna, reflecting
Phoebus' rays, dispel night's terrors, and outstrip
her brother's reins, as in scantier space 8 she speeds
on her circling path. Into one abyss shall fall the
heaped-up throng of gods.4 The Zodiac, which,
making passage through the sacred stars, crosses the
zones obliquely, guide and sign-bearer for the slow-
moving years, falling itself, shall see the fallen

1 Aurora. 2 As is Tethys of the western sea.

8 i.e. her monthly orbit.

4 By gods is meant planets, i.e. Saturn, Jupiter, Mars.

159

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

hie qui nondum vere benigno

redd it Zephyro vela tepenti,

Aries praeceps ibit in undas, 850

per quas pavidam vexerat Hellen ;

hie qui nitido Taurus cornu

praefert Hyadas, secum Geminos

trahet et curvi bracchia Cancri ;

Leo flammiferis aestibus ardens

iterum e caelo cadet Herculeus,

cadet in terras Virgo relictas

iustaeque cadent pondera Librae

secumque trahent Scorpion acrem ;

et qui nervo tenet Haemonio 860

pinnata senex spicula Chiron,

rupto perdet spicula nervo ;

pigram referens hiemem gelidus

cadet Aegoceros frangetque tuam,

quisquis es, urnam ; tecum excedent

ultima caeli sidera Pisces,

Plostraque numquam perfusa mari

merget condens omnia gurges ;

et qui medias dividit Vrsas,

fiuminis instar lubricus Anguis, 870

magnoque minor iuncta Draconi

frigida duro Cynosura gelu,

custosque sui tardus plaustri

iam non stabilis ruet Arctophylax.

1 This lion and other monsters were said to have fallen
from the moon.

2 Astraea. See Index.

3 Chiron is Sagittarius in the constellations of the Zodiac.

4 Capricornus.

5 A reference to the Zodiacal sign, Aquarius, the "Water-
man," concerning whose identity ancient authorities have
not agreed.

160

THYESTES

constellations ; the Ram, who, ere kindly spring has
come, gives back the sails to the warm West-wind,
headlong shall plunge into the waves o'er which he
had borne the trembling Helle ; the Bull, who
before him on bright horns bears the Hyades, shall
drasr the Twins down with him and the Crab's wide-

o

curving claws ; Alcides' Lion, with burning heat
inflamed, once more l shall fall down from the sky ;
the Virgin 2 shall fall to the earth she once abandoned,
and the Scales of justice with their weights shall fall
and with them shall drag the fierce Scorpion down ;
old Chiron,3 who sets the feathered shafts upon
Haemonian chord, shall lose his shafts from the
snapped bowstring; the frigid Goat4 who brings
back sluggish winter, shall fall and break thy urn,
whoe'er thou 5 art ; with thee shall fall the Fish, last
of the stars of heaven, and the Wain,6 which was
ne'er bathed by the sea, shall be plunged beneath
the all-engulfing waves ; the slippery Serpent which,
gliding like a river, separates the Bears, shall fall,
and icy Cynosura, the Lesser Bear, together with the
Dragon vast, congealed with cold ; and that slow-
moving driver of his wain, Arctophylax,7 no longer
fixed in place, shall fall.

* Otherwise known as the "Bear." The constellation is
unfortunately named here, since there was no mythological
reason why the Wain should not be bathed in the Ocean, as
was the case with the Bear.

7 Seneca badly mixes his mythology here. Arctophylax,
the " bear-keeper," is appropriate only if the Bear is men-
tioned in his connection ; he should be Bootes if the com-
panion constellation is thought of as the Wain.

161

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Nos e tanto visi populo
digni premeret quos everso
cardine mundus ?
in nos aetas ultima venit ?
o nos dura sorte creates,

seu perdidimus solem miseri, 880

sive expulimus !

abeant questus, discede, timor !
vitae est avidus quisquis non vult
mundo secum pereunte mori.

ATREVS

Aequalis astris gradior et cunctos super
altum superbo vertice attingens polum.
nunc decora regni teneo, nunc solium patris.
dimitto superos ; summa votorum attigi.
bene est, abunde est, iam sat est etiam mihi.
sed cur satis sit ? pergam et impleto patre 1 890
funere suorum.2 ne quid obstaret pudor,
dies recessit. perge dum caelum vacat.
utinam quidem tenere fugientes deos
possem et coactos trahere, ut ultricem dapem
omnes viderent ! quod sat est, videat pater,
etiam die nolente discutiam tibi
tenebras, miseriae sub quibus latitant tuae.
nimis diu conviva secure iaces
hilarique vultu, iam satis mensis datum est
satisque Baccho ; sooiio tanta ad mala 900

opus est Thyeste.

Turba famularis, fores
templi relaxa, festa patefiat domus.

1 So L. Mutter, followed by Richter : MSS. implebo patrem.

2 Leo deletes lines 890b , 891 n.

1 Probably referring to the golden ram. See 11. 223 ff.

2 i.e. I need make no more prayers to them.

162

THYESTES

875 Have we of all mankind been deemed de-
serving that heaven, its poles uptorn, should over-
whelm us ? In our time has the last day come ?
Alas for us, by bitter fate begotten, to misery
doomed, whether we have lost the sun or banished
it ! Away with lamentations, begone, O fear !
Greedy indeed for life is he who would not die
when the world is perishing in his company.

[Enter ATREUS, exulting.]

ATREUS

Peer of the stars I move, and, towering over all,
touch with proud head the lofty heavens. Now the
glory 1 of the realm I hold, now my father's throne.
I release the gods,2 for the utmost of my prayers
have I attained. 'Tis well, 'tis more than well, now
'tis enough even for me. But why enough ? Nay,
I will go forward, e'en though the father is full-fed
with his dead sons.3 That shame might not hold
me back, day has departed. On ! while heaven is
tenantless. O that I might stay the fleeing deities,4
might force and draw them hither that they all
might see the avenging feast ! But 'tis enough if
but the father see. Even though daylight refuse
me aid, I'll dispel the darkness from thee, beneath
which thy woes are lurking. Too long thou liest at
feast with care-free and cheerful countenance ; now
enough time has been given to tables, enough to
wine ; for such monstrous ills there needs Thyestes
sober. [To the slaves.] Ye menial throng, open the
temple doors, let the banquet-hall be disclosed. 'Tis

3 The horror of the draught of blood and wine is still to
follow.

4 i.e. the stars which have fled in horror from the sky.

163

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA
libet videre, capita natorum intuens
quos det colores, verba quae primus dolor
effundat aut ut spiritu expulso stupens
corpus rigescat. fructus hie operis mei est.
miserum videre nolo, sed dum fit miser.

Aperta multa tecta conlucent face,
resupinus ipse purpurae atque auro incubat,
vino gravatum fulciens laeva caput. Q10

eructat. o me caelitum excelsissimum,
regum atque regem ! vota transcendi mea.
satur est, capaci ducit argento merum —
ne parce potu ; restat etiamnunc cruor
tot hostiarum ; veteris hunc Bacchi color
abscondet. hoc, hoc mensa cludatur scypho.
mixtum suorum sanguinem genitor bibat :
meum bibisset. ecce, iam cantus ciet
festasque voces nee satis menti imperat.

THVESTES

Pectora longis hebetata malis,
iam sollicitas ponite curas.
fugiat maeror fugiatque pavor,
fugiat trepidi comes exilii
tristis egestas rebusque gravis
pudor afflictis ; magis unde cadas
quam quo refert. magnum, ex alto
culmine lapsum stabilem in piano
figere gressum ; magnum, ingenti
164

THYESTES

sweet to note, when he sees his children's heads,
what hue his cheeks display, what words his first
grief pours forth, how his body, breathless with the
shock, grows stiff. This is the fruit of all my toil.
To see him wretched I care riot, but to see the
wretchedness come upon him.

[The doors are thrown open, showing THYESTES at the

banquet-tabled]

908 The open hall with many a torch is gleaming.
There he himself reclines at full length on gold and
purple, propping his wine-heavy head on his left
hand. He belches with content. Oh, most exalted
of the gods am I, and king of kings ! I have o'er-
topped my hopes. His meal is done ; from the
great silver cup he quaffs the wine — spare not thy
drinking; there still remains the blood of all the
victims, and this the colour of old wine will well
disguise. With this, this goblet let the meal be
done. His sons' mingled blood let the father
drink ; he would have drunk my own. Lo, now he
raises his joyous voice in song, nor well controls his
spirit.

[THVESTKS sits alone at the banquet -table, half overcome
with wine ; he tries to sing and be gay, but, in spile
of this, some vague premonition of evil neighs upon
his spirits.]

THYESTES

O heart, dulled with long miseries, now put aside
anxious cares. Away with grief, away with terror,
away with bitter want, the companion of hunted
exiles, and shame that weighs heavy on misfortune ;
more matters it whence thou fallest, than to what.
'Tis a great thing, when fall'n from a lofty pinnacle,
to set foot firmly on the plain ; great, midst the

165

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

strafe malorum pressum fracti

pondera regni non inHexa 930

cervice pati nee degenerem

victurnque mails rectum impositas

ferre ruinas. sed iam saevi

nubila fati pelle ac miseri

temporis omnes dimitte notas ;

redeant vultus ad laeta boni,

veterem ex animo mitte Thyesten.

Proprium hoc miseros sequitur vitium,
numquam rebus credere laetis ;
redeat felix fortuna licet, 94-0

tamen afflictos gaudere piget.
quid me revocas f'estumque vetas
celebrare diem, quid flere iubes,
nulla surgens dolor ex causa ?
quid me prohibes flore decent!
vincire comam ? prohibet, prohibet
vernae capiti fluxere rosae,
pingui madidus crinis amomo
inter subitos stetit horrores,
imber vultu nolente cadit, 950

venit in medias voces gemitus.
maeror lacrimas amat assuetas,
flendi miseris dira cupido est.
libet infaustos mittere questus,
libet et Tyrio saturas ostro
rumpere vestes, ululare libet.
mittit luctus signa futuri
mens, ante sui praesaga mali ;
instat nautis fen tempestas,
cum sine vento tranquilla tument. 960

quos tibi luctus quosve tumultus
fingis, demens ? credula praesta
pectora fratri. iam, quidquid id est,

166

THYESTES

ruins of huge and crushing woes, with unbending
neck to endure a wrecked kingdom's weight, and
with soul heroic, by woes unconquered, erect to bear
the burden of misfortune. But now, banish the
clouds of bitter fate, and remove all marks of those
unhappy days ; greet present happiness with joyful
countenance, and dismiss the old Thyestes from thy
thoughts.

938 But this peculiar failing dogs the wretched,
never to believe that happiness is here ; though
lucky fortune come again, still they who have suffered
find it hard to smile. Why dost restrain me and
oppose my celebration of this joyful day ? Why dost
bid me weep, O grief, that rises from no cause?
Why dost forbid with beauteous flowers to wreathe
my hair ? It forbids, it does forbid ! The spring
roses have fallen from my head ; my hair, dripping
with precious nard, has started up in sudden horror,
a rain of tears falls down my unwilling cheeks, and
in the midst of speech comes groaning. Grief loves
her accustomed tears, and to the wretched comes an
ominous desire for weeping. Even so, I long to
utter ill-omened lamentation, I long to rend these gar-
ments, rich dyed with Tyrian purple, I long to shriek
aloud. My mind gives warnings of distress at hand,
presaging its own woe ; oft does a fierce storm draw
nigh to mariners, when without wind the tranquil
waters heave. What distresses, what upheavals dost
thou imagine for thyself, thou fool ? Let thy heart
trust thy brother. Already, whate'er it be, either

167

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

vel sine causa vel sero times,
nolo infelix, sed vagus intra
terror oberrat, subitos fundunt
oculi fletus, nee causa subest.
dolor an metus est ? an habet lacrimas
magna voluptas ?

ATREVS

Festum diem, germane, consensu pari 970

celebremus ; hie est, sceptra qui firmet mea
solidamque pacis alliget certae fidem.

THYESTES

Satias dapis me nee minus Bacchi tenet,
augere cumulus hie voluptatem potest,
si cum meis gaudere felici datur.

ATREVS

Hie esse natos crede in amplexu patris ;
hie sunt eruntque ; nulla pars prolis tuae
tibi subtrahetur. ora quae exoptas dabo
totumque turba iam sua implebo patrem.
satiaberis, ne metue. nunc mixti meis 980

iucunda mensae sacra iuvenilis colunt;
sed accientur. poculum infuso cape
gentile Baccho.

THYESTES

Capio fraternae dapis
donum ; paternis vina libentur deis,
tune hauriantur. — sed quid hoc ? nolunt manus
parere, crescit pondus et dextram gravat ;
admotus ipsis Bacchus a labris fugit
168

THYESTES

causelessly or too late thou fearest. I would fain
not be unhappy, but within me vague terror wanders,
sudden tears pour from mine eyes, and all for naught.
Is it from grief or fear? Or doth great joy hold
tears ?

ATREUS

[advancing to his brother with show of effusive affection]

With mutual accord, brother, let us keep this
festal day j this is the day which shall make strong
my sceptre and bind firm the bonds of peace assured.

THYESTES [pushing the remains of the feast from

I have had my fill of food, and no less of wine.
My pleasure by this crowning joy can be increased,
if with my sons I may share my happiness.

ATREUS

Be sure that here, in their father's bosom, are thy
sons ; — here now, and here shall be ; no one of thy
children shall be taken from thee. The faces thou
desirest shall be thine, and wholly with his family
will I fill the sire. Thou shalt be satisfied, have
no fear of that. Just now, in company with my
own, at the children's table, they are sharing the
joyful feast ; but 1 will summon them. Take thou
this cup, an heirloom, filled with wine.

THYESTES

I accept this bounty of my brother's feast ; let wine
be poured to our ancestral gods, and then be quaffed.
— But what is this ? My hands refuse their service,
and the cup grows heavy and weighs down my hand ;
the lifted wine recoils from my very lips; around my

169

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

circaque rictus ore deccpto fluit

et ipsa trepido mensa subsiluit solo.

vix lucet ignis ; ipse quin aether gravis 990

inter diem noctemque desertus stupet.

quid hoc ? magis magisque concussi labant

convexa caeli ; spissior densis coit

caligo tenebris noxque se in noctem addidit ;

fugit omne sidus. quidquid est, fratri precor

natisque parcat, omnis in vile hoc caput

abeat procella. redde iam natos inihi 1

ATREVS

Reddam. et tibi illos nullus eripiet dies.

THYESTKS

Quis hie tumultus viscera exagitat mea ?
quid tremuit intus ? sentio impatiens onus 1000
meumque gemitu non meo pectus gemit.
adeste, nati, genitor infelix vocat,
adeste. visis fugiet hie vobis dolor —
unde oblocuntur ?

ATllEVS

Expedi amplexus, pater;
venere. — natos ecquid agnoscis tuos ?

THYESTES

Agnosco fratrem. sustines tantum nefas
gestare, Tellus ? non ad infernam St yga
tenebrasque rnergis rupta et ingenti via

1 Time itself, as indicated by the heavens, is in suspense.
170

THYESTES

gaping jaws, cheating my mouth, it flows, and the very
table leaps up from the trembling floor. The lights
burn dim ; nay, the very heavens, grown heavy, stand
in amaze 'twixt day and night,1 deserted.2 What next ?
Now more, still more the vault of the shattered sky
is tottering ; a thicker gloom with dense shades is
gathering, and night has hidden away in a blacker
night; every star is in full flight. Whate'er it is, I
beg it may spare my brother and my sous, and may
the storm break with all its force on this vile head.
Give back now my sons to me !

ATREUS

I will give them back, and no day shall tear them
from thee. [Exif.

THYESTES

What is this tumult that disturbs my vitals? What
trembles in me ? t feel a load that will not suffer
me, and my breast groans with a groaning that is
not mine. O come, my sons, your unhappy father
calls you, come ; this pain will pass away at the sight
of you — whence come their reproachful voices ?
[Re-enter ATREUS with a covered platter in his hands.]

ATREUS

Now, father, spread out thine arms ; they are here.
[He uncovers the platter, revealing the severed heads of
THYESTES' so7is.] Dost recognize thy sons?

THYESTES

I recognize my brother. Canst thou endure, O
Earth, to bear a crime so monstrous ? Why dost not
burst asunder and plunge thee down to the infernal

8 i.e. by sun, moon, and stars.

171

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ad chaos inane regna cum rege abripis ?

non tota ab imo tecta convellens solo 1010

vertis Mycenas ? stare circa Tantalum

uterque iam debuimus. hinc compagibus

et hinc revulsis, si quid infra Tartara est

avosque nostros, hue tuam inmani sinu

demitte vallem nosque defossos tege

Acheronte toto. noxiae supra caput

animae vagentur nostrum et ardenti freto

Phlegethon harenas igneus totas agens

exilia supra nostra violentus fluat —

immota tellus pondus ignavum iacet, 1020

fugere superi.

ATREVS

Iam accipe hos potius libens
diu expetitos. nulla per fratrem est mora ;
fruere, osculare, divide amplexus tribus.

THYESTES

Hoc foedus ? haec est gratia, haec fratris fides ?
sic odia ponis ? non peto, incolumes pater
natos ut habeam ; scelere quod salvo dari
odioque possit, frater hoc fratrem rogo :
sepelire liceat. redde quod cernas statim
uri ; nihil te genitor habiturus rogo,
sed perditurus.

ATREVS

Quidquid e natis tuis 1030

superest habes, quodcumque non superest habes.

172

THYESTES

Stygian shades and, by a huge opening to void chaos,
snatch this kingdom with its king away ? Why dost
not raze this whole palace to the very ground, and
overturn Mycenae ? We should both of us long since
have been with Tantalus. Rend asunder thy prison-
bars on every side, and if there is any place 'neath
Tartarus and our grandsires,1 thither with huge abyss
let down thy chasm and hide us buried beneath all
Acheron. Let guilty souls wander above our head,
and let fiery Phlegethon, with glowing flood down-
pouring all his sands, flow tempestuous above our
place of exile — but the earth lies all unmoved, an
insensate mass ; the gods have fled away.

ATREUS

Now, rather, take these with joy, whom thou hast
so long desired. Thy brother delays thee not ; enjoy
them, kiss them, divide thy embraces 'mongst the
three.

THYESTES

Is this thy bond? Is this thy grace, this thy
fraternal pledge ? Thus puttest thou hate away ?
I do not ask that I, a father, may have my sons un-
harmed ; what can be granted with crime and hate
intact, this I, a brother, of a brother ask : that I may
bury them. Give me back what thou mayst see
burned at once. The father asks naught of thee
with hopes of having, but of losing it.

ATIIEUS

Whatever of thy sons is left, thou hast ; whatever
is not left, thou hast.

1 He means Tantalus alone, using the plural for the
singular by enallage.

173

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

THYESTES

Vtrumne saevis pabulum alitibus iacent,
an beluis servantur, an pascunt feras ?

ATREVS
Epulatus ipse es impia natos dape.

THYESTES

Hoc est deos quod puduit, hoc egit diem
aversum in ortus. quas miser voces dabo
questusque quos ? quae verba sufficient mihi ?
abscisa cerno capita et avulsas manus
et rupta fractis cruribus vestigia —
hoc est quod avidus capere non potuit pater. 1040
volvuntur intus viscera et clusum nefas
sine exitu luctatur et quaerit fugam.
da, frater, ensem (sanguinis multum mei
habet ille) ; ferro liberis detur via.
negatur ensis ? pectora inliso sonent
contusa planctu — sustine, infelix, manum,
parcamus umbris. tale quis vidit nefas ?
quis inhospitalis Caucasi rupem asperam
Heniochus habitans quisve Cecropiis metus
terris Procrustes? genitor en natos premo 1050

premorque natis — sceleris est aliquis modus ?

ATREVS

Sceleri modus debetur ubi facias scelus,
non ubi reponas. hoc quoque exiguum est mihi.
ex vulnere ipso sanguinem calidum in tua
defundere ora debui, ut viventium
biberes cruorem — verba sunt irae data

174

THYESTES

THYESTKS

Do they lie a prey for the wild birds? Are they
reserved for monsters ? Are they food for beasts ?

ATHEUS
Thyself hast feasted on thy sons, an impious meal.

THYESTES

'Twas this that shamed the gods ; this drove the
day back against its dawning. What cries in my
misery shall I utter, what complaints ? What words
will suffice for me ? I see the severed heads, the
torn-oflf hands, the feet wrenched from the broken
legs — this much the father, for all his greed, could
not devour. Their flesh is turning round within me,
and my imprisoned crime struggles vainly to come
forth and seeks way of escape. Give me thy sword,
O brother, the sword reeking with my blood ; by the
steel let deliverance be given to my sons. Dost
refuse the sword ? Then let my breast resound,
bruised by crushing blows — hold thy hand, unhappy
man, let us spare the shades. Who ever beheld such
crime? What Heniochian, dwelling on wild Caucasus'
rough rocks, or what Procrustes, terror of the Ce-
cropian land? Lo, I, the father, overwhelm my sons,
and by my sons am overwhelmed — of crime is there
no limit ?

ATREUS

Crime should have limit, when the crime is wrought,
not when repaid. E'en this is not enough for me.
Straight from the very wound I should have poured
the hot blood down thy throat, that thou mightst
drink gore of thy living sons — my wrath was cheated

175

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

dum propero. ferro vulnera impresso dedi,

cecidi ad aras, caede votiva focos

placavi et artus, corpora exanima amputans,

in parva carpsi frusta et haec ferventibus 1060

demersi aenis, ilia lentis ignibus

stillare iussi. membra nervosque abscidi

viventibus, gracilique traiectas veru

mugire fibras vidi et aggessi manu

mea ipse flammas. omnia haec melius pater

fecisse potuit, cecidit in cassum dolor :

scidit ore natos impio, sed nesciens,

sed nescientes

THVESTES
Clausa litoribus vagis

n

audite rnaria, vos quoque audite hoc seel us,

quocumque, di, fugistis ; audite inferi, 1070

audite terrae, Noxque Tartarea gravis

et atra nube, vocibus nostris vaca

(tibi sum relictus, sola tu miserum vides,

tu quoque sine astris), vota non faciam improba,

pro me nihil precabor — et quid iam potest

pro me esse ? vobis vota prospicient mea.

tu, summe caeli rector, aetheriae potens

dominator aulae, nubibus totum horridis

convolve mundum, bella ventorum undique

committe et omni parte violentum intona, 1080

manuque 1 non qua tecta et immeritas domos

telo petis minore, sed qua montium

tergemina moles cecidit et qui montibus

stabant pares Gigantes, — haec arma expcdi

1 So A : Leo, with E, manumque.

THYESTES

by my haste. With the deep-driven sword I smote
them ; I slew them at the altars ; with their offered
blood I appeased the sacred fires ; hewing their life-
less bodies, into small scraps I tore them, and some
into boiling cauldrons did I plunge, and some before
slow fires I set to drip. Their limbs and sinews 1
rent asunder while still they lived, and their livers,
transfixed on slender spits and sputtering I saw, and
with my own hand I fed the flames. All these things
better the father might have done ; my grief has
fallen fruitless ; with impious teeth he tore his sons,
but unwittingly, but them unwitting.1

THYESTES

Hear, O ye seas, by shifting shores imprisoned, and
ye, too, hear this crime, whithersoever you have fled,
ye gods ; hear, lords of the underworld ; hear, lands,
and Night, heavy with black, Tartarean fogs, give ear
unto my cries ; (to thee am I abandoned, thou only
lookest on my woe, thou also forsaken of the stars ;)
no wicked pleas will I make, naught for myself im-
plore— and what now can I ask in my own behalf?
For you2 shall my prayers be offered. O thou, ex-
alted ruler of the sky, who sittest in majesty upon
the throne of heaven, enwrap the whole universe in
awful clouds, set the winds warring 011 every hand,
and from every quarter of the sky let the loud
thunders roll ; not with what hand thou seekest
houses and undeserving homes, using thy lesser bolts,
but with that hand by which the threefold mass of
mountains fell, and the Giants, who stood level with

1 Atreus would have had both father and sons conscious of
what they did and suffered.

a i.e. the gods of heaven, who have fled from the sight of
crime, and whom he now addresses.

177

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ignesque torque, vindica amissum diem,

iaculare flammas, lumen ereptum polo

fulminibus exple. causa, ne dubites diu,

utriusque mala sit ; si minus, mala sit mea :

me pete, trisulco flammeam telo facem

per pectus hoc transmitte. si natos pater 1090

humare et igni tradere extremo volo,

ego sum cremandus. si nihil superos movet

nullumque telis impios numen petit,

aeterna nox permaneat et tenebris tegat

inmensa longis scelera. nil, Titan, queror,

si perseveras.

ATREVS

Nunc meas laudo manus,

nunc parta vera est palma. perdideram scelus,
nisi sic doleres. liberos nasci inihi
nunc credo, castis nunc fidem reddi toris.

THYESTES

Quid liberi meruere ?

ATREVS

Quod fuerant tui. 1100

THYESTES

Natos parenti

ATREVS

Fateor et, quod me iuvat,

certos.
178

THYESTES

the mountains — these arms let loose and hurl thy
fires. Make compensation for the banished day,
brandish thy flames, and the light that was snatched
from heaven with thy lightning's flash supply. Let
the cause, lest long thou hesitate, of each one of us
be evil ; if not, let mine be evil ; aim thou at me,
through this heart send thy three-forked flaming
bolt. If I their father would give his sons to burial
and commit them to the funeral flames, I must
myself be burned. But if naught moves the gods.,
and no divinity hurls darts against the impious, may
night stay on for ever, and cover with endless dark-
ness boundless crimes. No protest do I make, O
sun, if thou continue steadfast.1

ATREUS

Now do I praise my handiwork, now is the true
palm won. I had wasted my crime, didst thou not
suffer thus. Now do I believe my children are my
own, now may I trust once more that my marriage-
bed is pure.

THYESTES

What was my children's sin ?

ATREUS
That they were thine.

THYESTES

Sons to the father 2

ATREUS

Yea, and what gives me joy, surely thy sons.

1 i.e. in hiding thy face, as at present.

2 thou didst give to be devoured.

179

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

THVESTES

Piorum praesides tester deos.

ATREVS

Quin coniugales?

THYESTES

Scelere quis pensat scelus ?

ATREVS

Scio quid queraris : scelere praerepto doles,
nee quod nefandas hauseris angit dapes ;
quod non pararis. fuerat hie animus tibi
instruere similes inscio fratri cibos
et adiuvante liberos matre aggredi
similique leto sternere. hoc unum obstitit —
tuos putasti.

THYESTES

Vindices aderunt dei ; 1110

his puniendum vota te tradunt mea.

ATREVS
Te puniendum liberis trado tuis.

80

THYESTES

THYESTES

I call on the gods who guard the innocent.

ATREUS

Why not the marriage-gods ?

THYESTES

Who punishes crime with crime ?

ATREUS

I know what thou complainst of: thou grievest
that I have forestalled thee in the crime, and art
distressed, not because thou hast consumed the
ghastly feast, but because thou didst not offer it
to me. This had been thy purpose, to prepare for
thine unwitting brother a like feast, and with their
mother's aid to assail his sons and lay them low in
like destruction. This one thing stayed thee — thou
didst think them thine.

THYESTES

The gods will be present to avenge ; to them for
punishment my prayers deliver thee.

ATREUS
To thy sons for punishment do J deliver thee.

181

HERCVLES OETAEVS

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

HERCULES, son of Jupiter and Alcmena.
HYLLUS, son of Hercules and Deianira.
ALCMENA, daughter of Electry on , king of Mycenae.

DEIANIRA, daughter of Oeneus, king of Aetolia, and wife of
Hercules.

IOLE, daughter of Eurytus, king of Oechalia.
NURSE of Deianira.

PHILOCTETKS, a prince of Thessaly, son of Poeas, and the
faithful friend of Hercules.

LICHAS, the messenger (persona muta) of Deianira to Hercules.
CHORUS of Aetolian women, faithful to Deianira.

CHORUS of Oechalian maidens, suffering captivity in company
with lole.

THE SCENE is laid, first in Euboea, and later at the home
of Hercules in Trachin.

ARGUMENT

THE long, heroic life of Hercules has neared its end.
His twelve great tasks, assigned him by Eurystheus
through Juno's haired, have been done. His latest
victory was over Eurytus, king of Occhalia. Him he
slew and overthrew his house, because the monarch would
not give him lole to wife.

And now the hero, having overcome the world, and
Pluto's realm beneath the earth, aspires to heaven. He
sacrifices to Cenaean Jove, and prays at last to be
received into his proper hone.

HERCVLES OETAEVS

HERCVLES

SATOR deorum, cuius excussum manu
utraeque Phoebi sentiunt fulmen domus,
secure regna ; protuli pacem tibi,
quacumque Nereus porrigi terras vetat.
non est tonandum ; perfidi reges iacent,
saevi tyranni. freginius quidquid fuit
tibi fulminandum. sed mihi caelum, parens,
adhuc negatur ? parui certe love
ubique dignus teque testata est meuin
patrem noverca. quid tamen nectis rnoras ? 10

numquid timemur ? numquid impositum sibi
non poterit Atlas ferre cum caelo Herculem?
quid astra, genitor, quid negas ? mors me tibi
certe remisit, omne concessit malum
quod terra genuit, pontus aer inferi.
nullus per urbes errat Arcadias leo,
Stymphalis icta est, Maenali nulla est fera ;
sparsit peremptus aureum serpeiis nemus
et hydra vires posuit et iiotos Hebro
cruore pingues hospitum fregi greges 20

1 East and West, or both hemispheres.

2 The Arcadian stag. Its capture was the third labour of
Hercules.

186

HERCULES OETAEUS

[ In Euboea, near Oechalia, after the overthrow of Eurytus,

king of that city.]

HERCULES

O SIRE of gods, hurled by whose hand both homes 1
of Phoebus feel the thunderbolt, reign thou un-
troubled ; peace have I 'stablished for thee wherever
Nereus forbids the land to extend its bounds. Thou
needst not thunder now ; false kings lie low, and
cruel tyrants. I have crushed all who merited thy
bolts. But to me, father, is heaven still denied?
Of a surety have I everywhere proved worthy Jove ;
arid that thou art sire of mine my stepdame testifies.
Yet why dost still contrive delays ? Am I cause of
fear ? Will Atlas not avail to bear up Hercules
placed upon him together with the sky ? Why, O
father, why dost thou deny the stars to me ? Verily
hath death given me back to thee ; and every evil
thing which earth, sea, air, the lower world, produced,
hath yielded to my might. No lion prowls amidst
Arcadia's towns ; the Stymphalian bird is smitten ;
the beast of Maenalus2 is no more; the dragon,3
slain, hath sprinkled the golden orchard with his
blood ; the hydra's 4 strength is gone ; the herds,5
well known to Hebrus, fat with strangers' blood, have

3 Which guarded the apples of the Hesperides. See Index
s.v. " Hesperides."

4 See Index. 6 i.e. of Diomedes.

187

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

hostisque traxi spolia Thermodontiae.
vidi silentum fata nee tantum redi,
sed trepidus atrum Cerberum vidit dies
et ille solem. nullus Antaeus Libys
animam resumit, cecidit ante aras suas
Busiris, una est Geryon sparsus manu
taurusque populis horridus centum pavor.
quodcumque tellus genuit infesta occidit
meaque fusum est dextera ; iratis dels
non licuit esse.

Si negat mundus feras SO

~ nimum noverca,1 redde nunc nato patrem
vel astra forti. nee peto ut monstres iter ;
permitte tantum, genitor ; inveniam viam.
vel si times ne terra concipiat feras,
properet malum quodcumque, dum terra Herculem
habet videtque ; nam quis invadet mala
aut quis per urbes rursus Argolicas erit
lunonis odio dignus ? in tutum meas
laudes redegi, nulla me tellus silet.
me sensit ursae frigidum Scythicae genus 40

Indusque Phoebo subditus, cancro Libys.
te, clare Titan, tester : occurri tibi
quacumque fulges, nee meos lux prosequi
potuit triumphos, solis excessi vices
intraque nostras substitit metas dies,
natura cessit, terra defecit gradum :
lassata prior est. nox et extremum chaos

1 So Richter, with A : Leo f animum novercam, conjecturing
tandem novercae.

1 i.e. the golden girdle of Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons.

2 The gods, in wrath, were supposed to have sent monsters
on the earth, and by slaying these Hercules has frustrated
that wrath.

188

HERCULES OETAEUS

I destroyed, and have brought away Thermodon's
spoils l of war. The lot of the silent throng have 1
beheld ; and not alone have I returned, but shuddering
day hath seen black Cerberus, and he the sun. No
longer doth the Libyan Antaeus renew his strength ;
before his own altars hath Busiris fallen ; by my sole
hand hath Geryon been o'erthrown, and the bull,
dread terror of a hundred tribes. Whatever hostile
earth hath 'gendered is fallen, by my right hand
laid low ; the anger of the gods hath been set at
naught.2

30 If the earth is done with monsters, if my step-
dame is done with wrath, give back now the father to
his son, yea, the stars unto the hero. I ask thee not
to show the way to me ; but grant thy permission,
father, and the way I'll find. Or, if thou fearest that
earth shall yet give birth to monsters, let the ill make
haste, whate'er it be, while yet the earth doth hold
and look on Hercules ; for who else will attack evil
things, or who, throughout the Argive cities, will be
worthy Juno's hate ? I have my honours safe be-
stowed ; there is no land but sings my praise. The
race that shivers 'neath the Scythian Bear3 hath
known me ; the sun-scorched Indian and the tropic
African. O glowing Sun, bear witness : I have
encountered thee where'er thou shinest, nor could
thy beams keep pace with my triumphant course ;
I have gone beyond the changes of the sun, and day
hath halted far within my bounds. Nature hath
yielded to me, and earth hath failed my feet ; she
hath been weary first.4 Night and utter chaos have

3 i.e. the Scythians, dwelling far north beneath the Bear.

4 It is as if the whole earth, trying to keep pace with
Hercules, and to give him new land to travel over, has
become weary of the attempt.

189

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

in me incucurrit ; inde ad hunc orbem redi,

nemo unde retro est. tulimus Oceani minas,

nee ulla valuit quatere tempestas ratem 50

quamcumque pressi. pars quota est Perseus mei ?

iam vacuus aether non potest odio tuae

sufficere nuptae quasque devincam feras

tellus timet concipere nee monstra invenit.

ferae negantur; Hercules monstri loco

iam coepit esse. quanta enim fregi mala,

quot scelera nudus ! quidquid irnmane obstitit,

solae manus stravere ; nee itivenis feras

timui nee infans. quidquid est iussum leve est,

nee ulla nobis segnis illuxit dies. 60

o quanta fudi monstra quae nullus mihi

rex imperavit ! institit virtus mihi

lunone peior.

Sed quid inpavidum genus
fecisse prodest ? non habent pacem dei ;
purgata tellus omnis in caelo videt
quodcumque timuit ; transtulit luno feras.
ambit peremptus cancer ardentem plagam
Libyaeque sidus fertur et messes alit ;
annum fugacem tradit Astraeae leo,
at ille, iactans fervidam collo iubam, 70

austrum madentem siccat et nimbos rapit.
invasit omnis ecce iam caelum fera
meque antecessit ; victor e terris meos
specto labores, astra portentis prius

1 i.e. he is the only unconquered creature left on earth— a
marvel, past the bounds of nature.

2 On the very day of his birth he killed two huge snakes
which Juno sent against him. 3 i.e. Eurystheus.

190

HERCULES OETAEUS

assailed me, and thence to this world have 1 come
asrain whence none e'er returns. I have borne

o

Ocean's threats, and no storm of his has availed to
wreck the ship which I have weighted down. How
trivial Perseus' deeds compared with mine ! Now
can the empty air no more suffice the hatred of thy
wife, and earth fears to produce beasts for me to
conquer, nor can she find monsters more. Beasts are
at end ; 'tis Hercules now begins to hold the place
of monster.1 For how great evils have I crushed,
how many crimes, and all unarmed ! Whatever
monstrous thing opposed me, with but my hands I
laid it low ; nor was there ever savage thing which
as youth or babe 2 I feared. All my commanded
toils seem light, and no inactive day has ever dawned
for me. Oh, how great monsters have I overthrown,
which no king 3 bade me meet ! My courage, more
relentless than Juno's self, has urged me on.

63 But what avails it to have freed the race of men
from fear ? Now have the gods no peace ; the freed
earth sees in the sky all creatures which she feared ;
for there hath Juno set them.4 The crab I slew
goes round the torrid zone, is known as Libya's
constellation,6 and matures her grain ; the lion to
Astraea gives the flying year;6 but he, his burning
mane upon his neck back tossing, dries up the
dripping south-wind and devours the clouds. Behold,
now has every beast invaded heaven, forestalling me ;
though victor, I gaze upon my labours from the
earth ; for to monsters first and to wild beasts has

4 i.e. she has changed them to constellations in the sky.

5 The zodiacal constellation of the Crab, in which the sun
attains his summer solstice.

6 i.e. the sun passes from Leo into Virgo. For Astrea see
Index, s.v.

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ferisque luno tribuit, ut caelum mihi

faceret timendum. sparserit mundum licet

caelumque terris peius ac peius Styge

irata faciat, dabitur Alcidae locus.

si post feras, post bella, post Stygium canem

baud dum astra merui, Siculus Hesperium latus 80

tangat Pelorus, una iam tellus erit ;

illinc fugabo maria. si iungi iubes,

committat undas Isthmos, et iuncto salo

nova ferantur Atticae puppes via.

mutetur orbis : vallibus currat novis

Hister novasque Tanais accipiat vias.

da, da tuendos, luppiter, saltern deos ;

ilia licebit fulmen a parte auferas,

ego quam tuebor. sive glacialem polum,

seu me tueri fervidam partem iubes, 9^

hac esse superos parte secures puta.

Cirrhaea Paean templa et aetheriam domum

serpente caeso meruit — o quotiens iacet

Python in hydra ! Bacchus et Perseus deis

iam se intulere ; sed quota est mundi plaga

oriens subactus aut quota est Gorgon fera !

quis astra natus laudibus meruit suis

ex te et noverca ? quern tuli mundum peto.

Sed tu, comes laboris Herculei, Licha,
perfer triumphos, Euryti victos lares 100

stratumque regnum. vos pecus rapite ocius

1 i.e. Italian.

8 The Isthmus of Corinth.

192

HERCULES OETAEUS

Juno given stars, that to me she might make the sky
a place of dread. Yet, though in her rage she scatter
them o'er the sky, though she make heaven worse
than earth, yea, worse than Styx, to Alcides shall
room be given. If after beasts, after wars, after
the Stygian dog, I have not yet earned the stars, let
Sicilian Pelorus touch the Hesperian l shore, and they
both shall become one land ; thence will I put seas
to flight. If thou bidst seas be joined, let Isthmus 2
give passage to the waves and on their united waters
let Attic ships along a new way be borne. Let
earth be changed ; along new valleys let Ister run
and Tanai's receive new channels. Give, give me,
O Jupiter, at least the gods to guard ; there mayst
thou put aside thy thunderbolts where I shall be on
guard. Whether thou bidst me guard the icy pole,
whether the torrid zone, there count the gods secure.
Cirrha's shrine3 and a place in heaven did Pean4
earn by one serpent's 5 slaughter — oh, how many
Pythons in the hydra lie o'erthrown ! Already have
Bacchus and Perseus reached the gods ; but how
small a tract of earth was the conquered east,6 or how
meagre a spoil was Gorgon ! 7 what son of thine and
of my stepdame has by his praises merited the
stars ? I seek the skies which I myself have borne.8

[He turns to Lie HAS]

99 But do thou, Lichas, comrade of the toils of
Hercules, proclaim his triumphs — the conquered
house of Eurytus, his kingdom overthrown. [To the
other attendants.] Do you with speed drive the

8 i.e. Delphi. 4 Apollo. 5 The Python.

6 i.e. India, the scene of Bacchus' conquests.

7 Slain by Perseus.

* i.e. when he relieved Atlas of his burden.

193

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

qua templa tollens acta Cenaei lovis
austro timendum spectat Euboicum mare.

CHORVS

Par ille est superis cui pariter dies
et fortuna fuit ; mortis habet vices
lente cum trahitur vita gementibus.
quisquis sub pedibus fata rapacia
et puppem posuit fluminis ultimi,
non captiva dabit bracchia vinculis
nee pompae veniet nobile ferculum ; 110

numquam est ille miser cui facile est mori.
ilium si medio decipiat ratis
ponto, cum Borean expulit Africus
aut Eurus Zephyrum, cum mare dividunt,
non puppis lacerae fragmina conligit,
ut litus medio speret in aequore ;
vitam qui poterit reddere protinus,
solus non poterit naufragium pati.

Nos turpis macies et lacrimae tenent
et crinis patrio pulvere sordidus ; 1 20

nos non flamma rapax, non fragor obruit.
felices sequeris, mors, miseros fugis.
stamus, nee patriae l messibus 2 heu locus
at3 silvis dabitur, lapsaque sordidae
fient templa casae ; iam gelidus Dolops
hac ducet pecudes qua tepet obrutus
stratae qui superest Oechaliae cinis.

1 So Richter, with A : patriis E.

2 messibus N. Heinsius : moenibus A : Leo marks the line
corrupt, and conjectures stamus nee patria est : messibus h. 1.

3 Leo et, with «. corrected by Scaliger.

HERCULES OETAEUS

herds to where the shore, lifting on high the shrine
of Cenaean Jove,1 looks out upon the Euboic sea,
fearsome with southern gales.

[Exit HERCULES on his way to the Cenaean Promontory,
intending there to sacrifice to Jove.]

CHORUS OF CAPTIVE OECHALIAN MAIDENS IN COMPANY

WITH IOLE

Mate of the gods is he whose life and fortune
have gone side by side ; but when 'tis slowly dragged
out midst lamentations, life has the lot of death.
Whoe'er has set beneath his feet the greedy fates,
and the last river's barque,2 he will not give his captive
arms to bonds nor fare in the victor's train a noble
spoil ; ne'er is he wretched for whom to die is easy.
Should his boat be wrecked far out upon the deep,
where South with North-wind strives, and East with
West, rending the sea asunder, he does not gather
up the wreckage of his broken ship, that in mid-
ocean he may hope for land ; he who can straightway
render up his life, he only from a wreck can suffer
naught.

119 But us, foul wasting claims, and tears, and hair
denied by the dust of fatherland ; us nor greedy
flame nor crashing wall has overwhelmed. The
happy dost thou pursue, O Death, the wretched thou
fleest. Here we stand, yet alas ! the spot shall no
more be given to our country's crops, but to forests
wild, and squalid hovels shall our fallen shrines
become. Here soon shall the chill Dolopian lead
his flocks where the buried ashes, sole remnant of
Oechalia's ruins, still are warm. Here in our very

1 So called because his temple stood at Cenaeum, a lofty
promontory on the north-west point of the island of Euboea.

2 i.e. he who does not fear death.

195

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ipso Thessalicus pastor in oppido
indocta referens carmina fistula
cantu nostra canet tempora flebili ; 130

et dum pauca deus saecula contrahet,
quaeretur patriae quis fuerit locus,
felix incolui non steriles focos
nee ieiuna soli iugera Thessali ;
ad Trachina vocor, saxa rigentia
et dumeta iugis horrida torridis,
vix gratum pecori montivago nemus.
at si quas melior sors famulas vocat,
illas aut volucer transferet Inachus
aut Dircaea colent moenia, qua fluit 140

Ismenos tenui flumine languidus ;
hie mater tumidi nupserat Herculis. 142

Falsa est de geminis fabula noctibus,1 147

aether cum tenuit sidera longius
commisitque vices Lucifer Hespero
et Solern vetuit Delia tardior. 150

quae cautes Scythiae, quis genuit lapis? 143

num Titana ferum te Rhodope tulit,
te praeruptus Athos, te fera Caspia,2
quae virgata tibi praebuit ubera ? 146

nullis vulneribus pervia membra sunt ; 151

ferrum sentit hebes, lentior est chalybs ;
in nudo gladius corpore frangitur
et saxum resilit, fataque neglegit
et mortem indomito corpore provocat.
non ilium poterant figere cuspides,
non arcus Scythica tensus harundine,
non quae tela gerit Sarmata frigidus
aut qui soliferae suppositus plagae
vicino Nabatae vulnera dirigit l6()

1 The transposition of II. 147-150 after I. 142 is Leo's.

2 So Avantius, with a : caseta A : Leo Caspias, with E.

196

HERCULES OETAEUS

city a Thessalian shepherd, on rude pipe going
o'er his songs, shall sing of our story with doleful
notes ; and ere God shall bring a few more generations
to an end, men will be asking where our country lay.
Once I was blest ; not barren the hearth nor hungry
the acres of Thessalian soil whereon I dwelt; but now
to Trachin am I called, to a rough and stony land, to
brambles bristling on her parched hills, to woods
which e'en the wandering goats disdain. But if
some captives by a milder fate are called, then either
swift Inachus will bear them o'er,1 or within Dir-
caean 2 walls shall they abide, where flows slow
Ismenus with scanty stream, where the mother 3 of
haughty Hercules once was wed.4

147 False is the story 5 of the double night, when
the stars lingered in the sky o'erlong, when Lucifer
changed place with Hesperus, and Delia,6 too slow,
kept back the sun. What Scythian crag, what rocky
cliff begot thee ? As some fierce Titan, did Rhodope
bring thee forth, or Athos rough ? Did some wild
Caspian beast, some striped tigress give thee suck ?
By no wounds may his limbs be assailed ; iron he
feels blunt, steel is too dull ; upon his naked body
swords are broken, and stones rebound ; and so he
scorns the fates, and with body all invincible defies
mortality. Sharp spear-points could not pierce him,
nor Scythian arrows shot from bended bow, nor darts
which cold Sarmatians wield, or the Parthians who,
in the land of the rising sun, with surer aim than
ever Cretan's was, direct their shafts against the

1 i.e. either to Argos or Mycenae.

2 Theban, so called from the neighbouring fountain of
Dirce. 3 Alcmena. 4 i.e. to Amphit^on.

6 See Index s.v. " Hercules," first part. The chorus meam
to say that Hercules is not the son of Jove and Alcmena.
8 The moon.

197

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Partbus Cnosiacis certior ictibus.

muros Oechaliae corpore propulit,

nil obstare valet ; vincere quod parat

iam victum est. quota pars vulnere concidit !

pro fato patuit vultus iniquior

et vidisse sat est Herculeas minas.

quis vastus Briareus, quis tumidus Gyas,

supra Tbessalicum cum stetit aggerem

caeloque inseruit vipereas manus,

boc vultu riguit ? conAinoda cladibus 170

magnis magna patent : nil superest mali —

iratum miserae vidimus Herculem.

IOLE

At ego infelix non templa suis
conlapsa deis sparsosve focos,
natis mixtos arsisse patres
hominique deos, templa sepulchris,
nullum querimur commune malum;
alio nostras fortuna vocat
lacrimas, alias flere ruinas

me fata iubent. quae prima querar? 180

quae summa gemam ? pariter cuncta
deflere iuvat — l nee plura dedit
pectora Tellus, ut digna soiient
verbera fatis.

Me vel Sipylum flebile saxura
fingite, superi, vel in Eridani
ponite ripis, ubi maesta sonat
Phaetontiadum silva sororum ;

1 After iuvat D. Heinsius recognized a lacuna, which Gro-
nowus thought should bt JiUed as follows: cur non oculos
plures nobis.

198

HERCULES OETAEUS

neighbouring Arabians. With his bare hands did he
o'erthrow Oechalia's walls, and naught can make
stand against him ; for whate'er he plans to over-
come is overcome already. How few the foes who
by his wounds have fallen ! His angry countenance
was death in open view, and but to have seen the
threats of Hercules is enough.1 What huge Briareus,
what Gyas, puffed with pride, when upon Thessalia's
mountain-heap 2 they stood and clutched at heaven
with snaky hands, had countenance inflexible as his ?
But mighty ills have mighty recompense. No more
is left to suffer — we have seen, oh, woe ! the angry
Hercules.

IOLE

But I, unhappy one, bewail not temples fallen on
their gods, or hearth-fires scattered, or fathers burned
in mingled heaps with sons, and gods with men,
temples with tombs, — nay, no common misfortune
do I mourn ; elsewhither doth fortune call my tears,
for other ruins the fates bid me weep. What lament
shall I make first ? \Vhat last shall I bewail ? Equally
all things is it meet to mourn. Oh me, that Mother
Earth hath not given me more eyes for tears,3 more
breasts, that blows worthy of my losses might
resound.

185 Me to a weeping rock4 on Sipylus, ye heavenly
gods, transform, or set me on the banks of Po, where
the woods give back the grief of Phaethon's sad

1 i.e. was enough to kill his opponent.

2 The giants piled up Ossa, Pelion, and Olympus in their
effort to reach the skies.

3 Translating the suggested insertion of Gronovius.

4 She is thinking of the fate of Niobe.

199

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

me vel Siculis addite saxis,

ubi fata gemam Thessala Siren, 190

vel in Edonas tollite silvas

qualis natum Daulias ales

solet Ismaria flere sub umbra ;

formam lacrimis aptate meis

resonetque mails aspera Trachin.

Cyprias lacrimas Myrrha tuetur,

raptum coniunx Ceyca gemit,

sibi Tantalis est facta superstes;

fugit vultus Philomela suos

natumque sonat flebilis Atthis : 200

cur mea nondum capiunt volucres

bracchia plumas ? felix, felix,

cum silva domus nostra feretur

patrioque sedens ales in agro

referam querulo murmure casus

volucremque lolen fama loquetur

Vidi, vidi miseranda mei
fata parentis, cum letifero
stipite pulsus tota iacuit

sparsus in aula. 210

a si tumulum fata dedissent,
quotiens, genitor, quaerendus eras!
potuine tuam spectare necem,
nondum teneras vestite genas
necdum forti sanguine, Toxeu ?
quid vestra queror fata, parentes,
quos in tutum mors aequa tulit ?
mea me lacrimas fortuna rogat.
iam iam dominae captiva colus
fusosque legam. pro saeve decor

1 i.e. make me one of the number of the Sirens who haunt
those roc-ks.

2 i.e. Thracian. 8 Procr^ See Index s.v.

200

HERCULES OETAEUS

sisters ; or add l me to the rocks of Sicily, where as
a Siren I may weep Thessalia's fate ; or bear me to
Edonia's2 woods where I may mourn as, beneath
Ismarian shade, the Daulian bird3 ever mourns her
son. Give me a form to fit my tears, and let rough
Trachin reecho with my woes. Myrrha, the Cyprian
maid, yet guards her tears;4 the wife5 of Ceyx
mourns his taking off; and Niobe lives on, surviving
e'en herself; her human form has Philomel escaped,
and still the Attic maid bewails her son.6 Why not
yet do my arms become swift wings? Happy, ah,
happy shall I be when the woods shall be called my
home, and, in my native meadows resting, with
plaintive strains I shall recall my fate, and fame shall
tell of winged lole.

207 I saw, I saw my father's wretched fate, when,
beaten down by the death-dealing club, he lay in
scattered fragments throughout the hall. Ah me, if
fate had given him burial, how often, father, must
thou have been sought ! How could I have looked
upon thy death, O Toxeus,7 with thy boyish cheeks
as yet unbearded, and thy veins not yet filled with
manly vigour ? But why do I lament your fates, my
parents, whom kindly death has to a place of safety
borne ? Tis my own fortune that requires my tears.
Soon, soon in captive state shall I whirl the distaff
and the spindle of my mistress. O cruel beauty,

4 The exuding gum of the myrrh tree into which the maid
was changed.

6 Alcyone, still alive in feathered form.

6 Itys was not the son of Philomela, but of her sister,
Procne. 7 Her brother.

201

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

formaque mortem paritura mihi, 220

tibi cuncta domus concidit uni,
dum me genitor negat Alcidae
atque Herculeus socer esse timet.
sed iam dominae tecta petantur.

CHORUS

Quid regna tui clara parentis
casusque tuos respicis amens ?
fugiat vultus fortuna prior,
felix quisquis novit famulum
regemque pati vultusque suos
variare potest. rapuit vires 230

pondusque malis casus animo
qui tulit aequo.

NVTRIX

O quam cruentus feminas stimulat furor,
cum patuit una paelici et nuptae domus !
Scylla et Charybdis Sicula contorquens freta
minus timendae, nulla non melior fera est.
namque ut reluxit paelicis captae decus
et fulsit lole qualis innubis dies
purisve clarum noctibus sidus micat,
stetit furenti similis ac torvum intuens 240

Herculea coniunx ; feta ut Armenia iacens
sub rupe tigris hoste conspecto exilit
aut iussa thyrsum quatere conceptum ferens
Maenas Lyaeum, dubia quo gressus ferat
haesit parumper ; turn per Herculeos lares
attonita fertur, tota vix satis est domus.
incurrit, errat, sistit, in voltus dolor
processit omnis, pectori paene intimo

1 Lyaeus.
202

HERCULES OETAEUS

and form doomed to bring death to me, for thee
alone is all my house undone, for that my sire refused
me to Alcides and feared to have Hercules for son-
in-law. But now must I betake me to a mistress'
home.

CHORUS

Why dost thou, foolish one, ever look back upon
thy sire's illustrious kingdom and thine own misfor-
tunes ? Banish from thy face thy former fortune.
Happy is he whoever knows how to bear the estate
of slave or king and can match his countenance with
either lot. For he who bears his ills with even soul
has robbed misfortune of its strength and heaviness.

[The scene changes to the space before the palace of
Hercules and De'ianira at Trachin. Enter NURSE

OF DEIANIRA.]

NURSE

O how bloody is the rage that goads women on,
when to mistress and to wife one house has opened !
Scylla and Charybdis, whirling Sicilia's waves, are
not more fearful, nor is any wild beast worse. For
when her captive rival's beauty was revealed, and
lole shone like the unclouded day or a bright star in
the clear night glittering, even as one distraught the
wife of Hercules stood there with lowering gaze (as
a tigress, lying big with young 'neath some Armenian
rock, at sight of an enemy leaps forth ; or as a
maenad, bidden to toss the thyrsus, what time she
bears the god1 within her breast, in doubt where she
shall take her way, stands still a while) ; then through
the house of Hercules she madly dashed and scarce
did all the house give space enough. Forward she
rushes, wanders aimlessly, stands still. All her pas-
sion has come forth into her face ; in her heart's

203

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

nihil est relictum ; fletus insequitur minas.

nee unus habitus durat aut uno furit 250

contenta voltu ; nunc inardescunt genae,

pallor ruborem pellit et formas dolor

errat per omnes ; queritur, implorat, gemit.

Sonuere postes — ecce praecipiti gradu
secreta mentis ore confuso exerit

DEIANIRA

Quamcumque partem sedis aetheriae premis,
coniunx Tonantis, mitte in Alciden feram
quae mihi satis sit. si qua fecundum caput
palude tota vastior serpens movet,
ignara vinci, si quid excessit feras 260

immane dirum horribile, quo viso Hercules
avertat oculos, hoc specu immenso exeat,
vel si ferae negantur, hanc animam precor
converte in aliquod — quodlibet possum malum
hac mente fieri, commcda effigiem mihi
parem dolori ; non capit pectus minas.
quid excutis telluris extremae sinus
orbemque versas ? quid rogas Ditem mala ?
omnes in isto pectore invenies feras
quas timeat ; odiis accipe hoc telum tuis. 270

ego sim noverca. perdere Alciden potes ;
perfer manus quocumque. quid cessas, dea ?
utere furente — quod iubes fieri nefas?

1 i.e. the Hydra.
204

HERCULES OETAEUS

depths almost naught is left ; tears follow hard on
threats. Nor does one posture last, nor can one
countenance contain her rage ; now do her cheeks
flame with wrath, now pallor drives the flush away,
and from form to form her smarting anguish wanders ;
she wails, she begs, she groans.

254 The doors have sounded — behold, at headlong
pace she comes, with confused words revealing all
the secrets of her soul.

\Enter DEIANIRA from within Ike palace.]

DE'IANIRA

Wife of the Thunderer, whatever portion of thy
heavenly home thou treadest, send 'gainst Alcides a
wild beast which shall suffice for me. If any ser-
pent,1 vaster than all the marsh, rears up its head, to
conquest all unknown ; if anything is worse than
other beasts, monstrous, dire, horrible, from sight of
which Hercules would turn away his eyes, let this
from its huge den come forth. Or, if beasts be
denied, change, I pray thee, this heart of mine into
some — any evil thing there is can I with this present
mind become. Give me a form to match my smart-
ing grief; my breast cannot contain its rage. Why
dost thou search out the folds of farthest earth, and
overturn the world ? Why dost ask ills of Dis ? In
such a breast thou'lt find all beasts to cause him
dread ; take thou this weapon for thy hate — let me
be step-dame.2 Thou canst destroy Alcides ; use but
these hands for any end thou wilt. Why dost thou
hesitate, O goddess ? Use me, the mad one — what

a She thinks of the possible children of Hercules by lole
and her chance for vengeance on them,

205

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

reperi. quid haeres ? ipsa iam cesses licet,
haec ira satis est.

NVTRIX

Pectoris sani pavum,

alumna, qnestus comprime et flanmias doma ;
frena dolorem. coniugem ostende Herculis.

DEIANIRA

lole meis captiva germanos dabit
natis lovisque fiet ex fainula nurus ?
non flamma cursus pariter et torrens feret 280

et ursa pontum sicca caeruleum bibet —
non ibo inulta. gesseris caelum licet
totusque pacem debeat mundus tibi,
est aliquid hydra ])eius : iratae dolor
nuptae. quis ignis tantus in caelum furit
ardentis Aetnae ? quidquid est victum tibi
hie vincet animus, capta praeripiet toros ?
adhuc timebam monstra, iam nullum est malum ;
cessere pestes, in locum venit ferae
invisa paelex. summe pro rector deum 290

et clare Titan, Herculis tantum fui
coniunx timentis ; vota quae superis tuli
cessere captae, paelici felix fui,
illi meas audistis, o superi, preces,
incolumis illi remeat. — o nulla dolor
contente poena, quaere supplicia horrida,
incogitata, infanda, lunonem doce
quid odia valeant ; nescit irasci satis.
pro me gerebas bella, propter me vagas
Achelous undas sanguine infecit suo, 300

1 See Index «. v. "Bears."
206

HERCULES OETAEUS

crime dost bid me do ? Decide. Why dost thou
falter? Though now thou dost thyself shrink back,
this rage of mine suffices.

NURSE

Dear child, thy mad heart's plaints restrain, quench
passion's fire and curb thy grief. Show thyself wife
of Hercules.

DEIANIRA

Shall captive lole give brothers to my sons ? Shall
a slave become daughter-in-law of Jove ? Together
will flame and torrent never run, and the thirsty
Bear l from the blue sea ne'er will drink — nor will I
go unavenged. Though thou didst bear the heavens
up, though the whole world owes its peace to thee, a
worse pest than Hydra waits thee — the wrath of an
angered wife. What fire as hot as this rages to heaven
from burning Aetna ? Whate'er has been conquered
by thy might, this passion of mine shall conquer.-
And shall a slave seize on my marriage bed ? Till
now did I fear monsters, but now is no evil more ;
the pests have vanished and in the place of beasts
has come the hated harlot. O most high ruler of the
gods, O lustrous Sun, I have been wife to Hercules
but in his perils ; the prayers which to the heavenly
ones I raised have been granted to a slave ; for a
harlot have I been fortunate ; for her have ye heard
my prayers, O gods, for her is he safe returned. — O
grief that can be satisfied with no revenge, seek thee
some dreadful punishment, unthought, unspeakable ;
teach Juno's self what hate can do ; she knows not
to rage enough. For me didst thou do battle ;
on my account did Acheloiis dye his wandering
waves with his own blond, when now he became a

207

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

cum lenta serpens fieret, in taurum trucem
nunc flecteret serpente deposita minas,
et mille in hoste vinceres uno feras.
iam displicemus, capta praelata est mihi —
non praeferetur ; qui dies thalami ultimus
nostri est futurus, hie erit vitae tuae.

Quid hoc ? recedit animus et ponit minas.
iam cessat ira ; quid miser langues dolor ?
perdis furorem, coniugis tacitae fidem
mihi reddis iterum. — quid vetas flammas ali ? 310
quid frangis ignes ? hunc mihi serva impetum,
pares eamus l — non erit votis opus ;
aderit noverca quae manus nostras regat
nee iuvocata.

NVTRIX

Quod paras demens scelus ?
perimes maritum cuius extremus dies
primusque laudes novit et caelo tenus
erecta terras fama suppositas habet ?
Graiorum in istos terra consurget lares
domusque soceri prima et Aetolum genus
sternetur omne ; saxa iam dudum ac faces 320

in te ferentur, vindicem tellus suum
defendet omnis. una quot poenas dabis !
effugere terras crede et humanum genus
te posse — fulmen genitor Alcidae gerit.
iam iam minaces ire per caelum faces
specta et tonantem fulmine excusso diem,
mortem quoque ipsam, quam putas tutam, time ;

1 So Leo and Richter, following an emendation of Madvig :
patres erimus E : pares eramus A.

208

HERCULES OETAEUS

stubborn serpent, now to a fierce bull changed his
threats, the serpent form discarded, and thou in that
one foe didst conquer a thousand beasts. But now I
please thee not ; a captive is preferred to me — but
she shall not be preferred ; for that day which shall
end our marriage joys shall end thy life.

307 But what is this ? My passion dies away and
abates its threats. Now anger ceases ; why dost
thou languish, O wretched grief? Thou givest o'er
thy madness, makest me again the faithful, uncom-
plaining wife. — Why dost forbid the feeding of the
flames ? Why checkest the fire ? Keep but this
passion in me ; hand in hand let us go on — there
will be no need of prayers ; a step-dame * will be
near to direct my hands and unbcsought.

NURSE

What crime, distraught one, dost thou purpose ?
Wilt slay thy husband whose praises the evening and
the morning2 know full well, whose fame, towering
to the sky, holds all the world beneath ? The land
of Greece will rise to defend that home, and this thy
father's 3 house and the whole Aetolian race will be
the first to be o'erthrown ; soon rocks and firebrands
will be hurled against thee, since every land will
rally to its defender. How many penalties wilt thou,
one woman, pay ! Suppose thou canst escape the
world and the race of men — the father of Alcides
wields the thunder-bolt. Now, even now behold his
threat'ning fires flashing athwart the sky, and the
heavens thundering with the lightning shock. Even
death itself, which thou deemest a place of safety,

1 Juno. a i.e. East and West.

3 Deianira's father, the father-in-law (socer) of Hercules.

209

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

dominatur illic patruus Alcidae tui.
quocumque perges, niisera, cognates deos
illic videbis.

DEIANIRA

Maximum fieri scelus 330

et ipsa fateor, sed dolor fieri iubet.

NVTRIX

Moriere.

DEIANIRA

Moriar Herculis nempe incluti
coniunx nee ullus nocte discussa dies
viduam notabit nee meos paelex toros
captiva capiet. ante ab occasu dies
nascetur, Indos ante glacialis polus
Seythasve tepida Phoebus inficiet rota,
quam me relictam Thessalae aspiciant nurtis.
meo iugales sanguine extinguam faces,
aut pereat aut me perimat ; elisis feris 340

et coniugeni addat, inter Herculeos licet
me quoque labores numeret ; Alcidae toros
moritura certe corpora amplectar meo.
ire, ire ad umbras Herculis nuptam libet,
sed non inultam. si quid ex nostro Hercule
concepit lole, manibus evellam meis
ante et per ipsas paelicem invadam faces,
me nuptiali victimam feriat die
infestus, lolen dum supra exanimem ruam —
felix iacet quicumque quos odit premit. 350

NVTRIX

Quid ipsa flammas pascis et vastum foves
ultro dolorem ? misera, quid cassum times ?

1 Pluto, the brother of Jove. 2 i.e. lole's.

210

HERCULES OETAEUS

fear ; for there the uncle l of thine Alcides reigns.
Turn where thou wilt, poor woman, there wilt thou
see his kindred gods.

DEIANIRA

That I am doing a fearful crime, e'en I myself con-
fess ; but passion bids me do it.

NURSE
Thou'lt die.

DEIANIRA

Yea, truly, will I die, but the wife of glorious
Hercules ; neither shall any dawn, banishing night,
brand me as widow ; nor shall captive creature make
capture of my bed. Sooner shall day be born in the
western sky, sooner shall Indians grow pale 'neath
the icy pole, or Scythians tan 'neath Phoebus'
burning car, than shall the dames of Thessaly see me
abandoned. With my own blood will I quench her 2
marriage torches. Either let him die or do me to

o

death. To slaughtered beasts let him add wife as
well, and let him count me, too, 'mongst the toils of
Hercules ; to Alcides' couch, aye with my dying body,
will I cling. Ah, sweet, 'tis sweet to go to the
shades as bride of Hercules, — but not without my
vengeance. If lole from my Hercules has conceived
a child, with mine own hands will I tear it forth
untimely, and by her very wedding torches' glare
will I face the harlot. Let him in wrath slay me
as victim on his nuptial day, so I but fall on the
corpse of lole. Happy he lies who crushes those he
hates.

NURSE

Why dost thyself feed thy flames and wantonly
foster an unmeasured grief? Poor soul, why dost
thou cherish a needless fear ? He did love lole ;

211

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

dilexit lolen ; nempe cum staret parens
regisque natam peteret. in famulae locum
regina cecidit ; perdidit vires amor
multumque ab ilia traxit infelix status,
illicita amantur, excidit quidquid licet.

DEIANIRA

Fortuna amorem peior inflammat magis ;
amat vel ipsum quod caret patrio lare,
quod nudus auro crinis et gemma iacet, 360

ipsas misericors forsan aerumnas amat ;
hoc usitatum est Herculi, captas amat.

NVTRIX

Dilecta Priami nempe Dardanii soror
concessa famula est ; adice quot nuptas prius,
quot virgines dilexit. erravit vagus.
Arcadia nempe virgo, Palladios choros
dum nectit, Auge, vim stupri passa excidit,
nullamque amoris Hercules retinet notam.
referam quid alias ? nempe Thespiades vacant
brevique in illas arsit Alcides face. 370

hospes Timoli Lydiam fovit nurum
et amore captus ad leves sedit col us,
udum feroci stamen intorquens manu.
nempe ilia cervix spolia deposuit ferae
crinemque mitra pressit et famulus stetit,
hirtam Sabaea marcidus mvrrha comam.

J

ubique caluit, sed levi caluit face.

1 Hesione.
212

HERCULES OETAEUS

but 'twas while yet her father reigned secure, and
'twas a king's daughter that he sought. The
princess has now fallen to the place of slave ; love
has lost its power, and much from her charm her
unhappy lot has stolen. What is forbidden we love ;
if granted it falls from our desire.

DEIAN1RA

Nay, but fallen fortunes fan hotter the flames of
love ; for this very cause he loves her, that she hath
lost her father's house, that her hair lies stripped of
gold and gems ; out of pity, perchance, he loves her
very woes; 'tis the wont of Hercules to love captive
maids.

NURSE

Tis true he loved the captive sister1 of Dardanian
Priam, but he gave her to another;2 add all the
dames, all the maids he loved before. A wanderer
on earth, a wanderer in love was he. Why, the
Arcadian maiden, Auge, while leading Pallas' sacred
dance, suffered his lust's violence, but fell from his
regard, and Hercules retains no trace of his love for
her. Why mention others ? The Thespiades are
forgotten ; for them with but a passing flame Alcides
burned. When a guest on Timolus, he caressed the
Lydian woman 3 and, daft with love, sat beside her
swift distaff, twisting the moistened thread with
doughty fingers. His shoulders, indeed, had laid
aside the famous lion's-skin, a turban confined his
hair, and there he stood like any slave, his shaggy
locks dripping with Sabaean myrrh. Everywhere has
he burned with love, but burned with feeble flame.

a i.e. to Telamon, who assisted him in the capture of Troy.
8 Omphale, queen of Lydia.

2J3

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

DEIANIRA

Haerere amantes post vagos ignes solent.

NVTRIX
Famulamne et hostis praeferet natam tibi ?

DEIANIRA

Vt laeta1 silvas forma vernantes habet, 380

cum nemora nuda primus investit tepor,
at cum solutos expulit Boreas Notos
et saeva totas bruma discussit comas,
deforme solis aspicis truncis nemus ;
sic nostra longurn forma percurrens iter
deperdit aliquid semper et fulget minus,
nee ilia vetus 2 est. quidquid in nobis fuit
olim petitum cecidit, aut pariter labat.3
aetas citato senior eripuit gradu,4 390

materque multum rapuit ex illo mihi, 389

vides ut altum famula non perdat decus ? 391

cessere cultus penitus et paedor sedet ;
tamen per ipsas fulget aerumnas decor
nihilque ab ilia casus et fatum grave
nisi regna traxit. hie meum pectus timor,
altrix, lacessit, hie rapit somnos pavor.
praeclara totis gentibus coniunx eram
thalamosque nostros invido voto nurus
optabat omnis ; quaeve mens quicquam deos
orabat ullos, nuribus Argolicis fui 400

mensura voti. quern lovi socerum parem,
altrix, habebo ? quis sub hoc mundo mihi

1 alta !\r$S., corrected by Madvig.

9 So liichter : nee ilia Venua E : haec ilia Venus Kiessling,
followed by Leo.

214

HERCULES OETAEUS

DEIAN1RA

Oft after wandering fires lovers have clung to one.

NURSE

A slave and daughter of his foe shall he prefer to
thee ?

DEI'ANIRA

As a gladsome beauty covers the budding groves
when the first warmth of spring clothes the bare
forest trees, but, when the North-wind has put the
mild South to flight, and savage winter has shaken
off all the leaves, thou seest but a shapeless grove of
trunks alone ; so does my beauty, pursuing a length-
ening way, lose something ever, and less brightly
gleams, nor is it as of yore. Whate'er in me was
sought in former days has vanished or is failing along
with me. Old age with hastening steps hath taken
much, and much of it hath motherhood stolen from
me. But seest thou how this slave hath not lost her
glorious charm ? Gone are her adornings and squalor
clings close upon her ; and yet through her very dis-
tresses beauty shines and naught have misfortune and
this hard stroke of fate stolen from her save her realm.
O nurse, this fear of her racks my heart ; this dread
doth destroy my slumbers. I was a wife celebrated
in every land, and for marriage such as mine all
women prayed with envious prayer; or whatever
soul asked aught of any gods, for the prayers of
Grecian dames I was the measure. What father-in-
law like to Jove, O Nurse, shall I e'er have ? Who
beneath these heavens will be given me as husband ?

3 So Richter : et . . . labat E : et partu labat A : Leo con-
jectures labor. * Leo deletes this line.

215

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

dabitur maritus ? ipse qui Alcidae imperat
facibus suis me iungat Eurystheus licet,
minus est. toris caruisse regnantis leve est :
alte ilia cecidit quae viro caret Hercule.

NVTRIX

Conciliat animos coniugum partus fere.

DEIANIRA
Hie 1 ipse forsan dividet partus toros.

NVTRIX
Famula ilia trahitur interim donum tibi.

DKIANIRA

Hie quern per urbes ire praeclarum vides 410

et fulva tergo spolia gestantem ferae,
qui regna miseris donat et celsis rapit,
vasta gravatus horridam clava manum,
cuius triumphos ultimi Seres canunt
et quisquis alius orbe concepto 2 iacet, —
levis est nee ilium gloriae stimulat decor ;
errat per orbem, nori ut aequetur lovi
nee ut per urbes magrius Argolicas eat :
quod amet requirit, virginum thalamos petit,
si qua est negata, rapitur ; in populos furit, 420

nuptas ruinis quaerit et vitium impotens
virtus vocatur. cecidit Oechalia inclita
unusque Titan vidit atque unus dies
stantem et cadentem ; causa bellandi est amor.

1 So Richter after emendation of N. Heinsius : sic AfSS.
and Leo.

a Leo fconcepto, with ~2.A : consepto ^ : Qrotius conjectures
consumpto : Gronovius conpecto.

216

HERCULES OETAEUS

Though Eurystheus' self, who rules Alcides, should
wed me with his own torches, 'tis not enough. 'Tis
a trivial thing to have lost a royal couch ; but from a
far height has she fallen who loses Hercules.

NURSE

Children ofttimes win back the love of husbands.

DEIANIRA

These children themselves perchance will dissolve
the bond.1

NURSE

Meanwhile that slave is brought as gift to thee.

DEIANIRA

He whom thou seest going, big with fame, from
town to town, wearing the spoil of a tawny lion on
his back ; who gives kingdoms to the lowly and
takes them from the proud, his dread hand laden
with a massive club; whose triumphs the far off
Seres sing, and whoe'er besides dwells in the whole
known world, — he is a trifler, nor does the charm of
glory urge him on. He goes wandering o'er the
earth, not in the hope that he may rival Jove, nor
that he may fare illustrious through Grecian cities.
Some one to love he seeks ; his quest is maidens'
chambers. If any is refused him, she is ravished ;
against nations doth he rage, midst ruins seeks his
brides, and unrestrained excess is called heroic.
Oechalia, the illustrious, fell; one sun, one day
beheld her stand and fall ; and passion was the

1 i.e. if one woman's child holds her husband to her,
another's child (lole's) will turn him from the old to his new
love.

217

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

totiens timebit Herculi natam parens

quotiens negabit, hostis est quotiens socer

fieri recusat ; si gener non fit, ferit.

post haec quid istas innocens servo manus,

donee furentem simulet ac saeva manu

intendat arcus meque natumque opprimat ? 430

sic coniuges expellit Alcides suas,

haec sunt repudia. nee potest fieri nocens ;

terris videri sceleribus causam suis

fecit novercam. quid stupes, segnis furor ?

scelus occupandum est; perage dum fervet manus.

NVTRIX

Perimes maritum ?

DE'fANIRA

Paelicis certe meae

NVTRIX

At love creatum.

DEIANIRA

Nempe et Alcmena satum.

NVTRIX
Ferrone ?

DEIANIRA

Ferro.

NVTRIX

Si nequis ?

DEIANIRA

Perimam dolo.

218

HERCULES OETAEUS

mother of that strife. As oft as a father shall deny
his child to Hercules, as oft as a foeman refuses to be
his father-in-law, so oft shall he have cause to fear;
if he is not accepted as a son in-law, he smites. After
all this, why do I harmlessly keep back these hands un-
til he feign another fit of madness,1 with deadly hand
bend his bow, and slay me and my son ?2 Thus does
Alcides put away his wives ; such is his manner of
divorce. Yet naught can make him guilty ! He has
made the world believe his step-dame answerable for
his crimes. Why art inactive then, thou sluggish rage?
His crime must be forestalled; act while thy hand
is hot !

NURSE

Wilt slay thy husband ?

DEIANIRA

Truly, my rival's husband.

NURSE

But the son of Jove ?

DEIANIRA

Yes, but the son of Alcmena, too.

NURSE
With the sword ?

DEIANIRA

The sword.

NURSE

If thou canst not ?

DEIANIRA

I'll slay with guile.

1 The reference is to the death of Megara and her sons at
the hands of mad Hercules. 2 Hyllus.

219

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

NVTRIX

Quis iste furor est ?

DEIANIRA

Quern meus coniunx docet.

NVTRIX
Quern nee noverca potuit, hunc perimes virum? 440

DEIANIRA

Caelestis ira quos premit, miseros facit ;

humana nullos.

NVTRIX

Parce, miseranda, et time.

DEIANIRA

Contempsit omnes ille qui mortem prius ;
libet ire in enses.

NVTRIX

Maior admisso tuus,

alumna, dolor est ; culpa par odium exigat.
cur saeva modicis statuis ? ut laesa es dole.

DEIANIRA

Leve esse credis paelicem nuptae malum ?
quidquid dolorem pascit, hoc nimium puta.

NVTRIX

Amorne clari fugit Alcidae tibi ?

1 i.e. whatever else.
220

HERCULES OETAEUS

NURSE

What madness that ?

DEI AN IRA

That which my husband teaches me.

NURSE

Whom e'en his step-dame could not slay — wilt
thou slay him ?

DEI AN IRA

Celestial wrath but makes wretched those on
whom it falls ; man's wrath makes them naught.

NURSE
Spare him, O wretched one, and fear.

DEIANIRA

He has scorned all men, who first has scorn of
death ; 'tis sweet to go against the sword.

NURSE

Thy smart is too great for the offence, my child ,
let his fault claim but equal hate. Why dost so
fiercely judge a light offence ? According as thou
hast been injured, grieve.

DEIANIRA

Thinkst thou a mistress is light evil for a wife ?
Whatever 1 fosters anguish, count this 2 beyond all
bounds.

NURSE
Has thy love for glorious Alcides fled away ?

8 i.e. the situation described in the preceding line.

221

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

DEIANIRA

Non fugit, altrix, remanet et penitus sedet 450
fixus medullis, crede ; sed magnus dolor
iratus amor est.

NVTRIX

Artibus magicis fere

coniugia nuptae precibus admixtis ligant.
vernare iussi frigore in medio nemus
missumque fulmen stare ; concuss! freturn
cessante vento, turbidum explicui mare
et sicca tellus fontibus patuit novis ;
habuere motum saxa, discussi fores l
umbrasque Ditis,2 et mea iussi prece
manes locuntur, tacuit infernus canis ; 460

nox media solem vidit et noctem dies 3 ; 462

mare terra caelum et Tartarus servit mihi 46 1

nihilque leges ad meos cantus tenet,
flectemus ilium, carmina invenient iter.

DEIANIRA

Quas Pontus herbas generat aut quas Thessala
sub rupe Pindus alit4 ubi inveniam malum
cui cedat ille ? carmine in terras mago
descendat astris Luna desertis licet
et bruma messes videat et cantu fugax
stet deprehensum fulmen et versa vice 470

medius coactis ferveat stellis dies :
non flectet ilium.

1 fores cu : regarded as corrupt by Leo, who conjectures
inferos : arbores Birt.

2 So Rid der : Leo umbrae stetistis, with «.

222

HERCULES OETAEUS

DEI'ANIRA

Not fled, dear Nurse ; it still remains, believe me,
deep-seated and fixed in my heart's core ; but to be
angry with one's love brings mighty madness.

NUHSB

By magic arts and prayers commingled do wives
oft hold fast their husbands. I have bidden the
trees grow green in the midst of winter's frost,
and the hurtling lightning stand ; I have stirred up
the deep, though the winds were still, and have
calmed the heaving sea ; the parched earth has
opened with fresh fountains ; rocks have found
mooion ; the gates have I rent asunder and the
shades of Dis, and at my prayer's demand the spirits
talk, the infernal dog is still ; midnight has seen the
sun, and day, the night ; the sea, land, heaven and
Tartarus yield to my will, and naught holds to law
against my incantations. Bend him we will ; my
charms will find the way.

DEIANIRA

What herbs does Pontus grow, or what does Pindus
nourish 'neath the rocks of Thessaly,1 wherein I may
find a bane to conquer him ? Though Luna should
leave the stars and come down to earth, obedient to
magic ; though winter should see ripe grain ; though
the swift bolt should stand still, arrested by thy
charm ; though times be changed, and midday burn
amid the crowding stars : 'twill not bend him.

1 Where Medea, the famous witch, gathered magic herbs.

* Lines 461, 46S transposed by Bothe.

4 Leo, faluit, with E: corrected by Peiper, followed by
Richttr.

223

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

NVTRIX

Vicit et superos Amor.

DEIANIRA

Vincetur uni forsan et spolium dabit
Amorque summus fiet AJcidae labor. —
sed te per omne caelitum numen precor,
per hunc timorem : quidquid arcani apparo
penitus recondas et fide tacita premas.

NVTRIX
Quid istud est quod esse secretum petisf

DEIANIRA

Non tela sunt, non arma, non ignis minax.

NVTHIX

Praestare fateor posse me tacitam fidem, 480

si scelere careat ; interim scelus est fides.

DEIANIRA

Circumspice agedum, ne quis arcana occupet,
partemque in omnem vultus inquirens eat.

NVTRIX
En locus ab omni tutus arbitrio vacat.

DEIANIRA

Est in remoto regiae sedis loco
arcana tacitus nostra defendens specus.
non ille primos accipit soles locus,

224

HERCULES OETAEUS

NURSE

But love has conquered e'en heavenly gods.

DEIAN1RA

By one1 alone, perchance, will he be conquered
and yield his spoils, and Love become Alcides'
crowning toil. — But thee by all the deities of heaven
I pray, by this my fear : whatever secret thing 1 am
preparing, hide it deep, and in faithful silence hold
it fast.

NURSE

What is it that thou seekst to keep in secret ?

DEIANIRA

It is not spears, not arms, not threatening fire.

NURSE

That I can keep faithful silence I confess, if it be
free from crime ; but silence itself sometimes is
criminal.

DEIANIRA

Come, look about, lest someone grasp my secret,
and in all directions turn thy questful glance.

NURSE

Behold the place is safe and free from all
observers.

DEIANIRA

In a remote corner of the royal dwelling is a
recess that silently guards my secret. Neither the
first rays of the sun can reach that spot, nor yet his

1 Hercules.

225

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

non ille seros, cum ferens Titan diem l

lassum rubenti mergit Oceano iugum 2

illic amoris pignus Herculei latet. 490

altrix, fatebor : auctor est Nessus mail

quern gravida Nephele Thessalo genuit duci,

qua celsus 3 astris inserit Pindus caput

ultraque nubes Othrys eductus riget.

namque ut subactus Herculis clava horridi

Achelous omnes facilis in species dari

tandem peractis omnibus patuit feris

unoque turpe subdidit cornu caput,

me coniugem dum victor Alcides habet,

repetebat Argos.

Forte per campos vagus 500

Euenos altum gurgitem in pontum ferens
iam paene summis turbidus silvis erat.
transire Nessus verticem solitus vadis
pretium poposcit. meque iam dorso ferens
qua iungit hominem spina deficiens equo,
frangebat ipsas fluminis tumidi minas.
iam totus undis Nessus exierat ferox
medioque adhuc errabat Alcides vado,
vasto rapacem verticem scindens gradu,
at ille ut esse vidit Alciden procul : 510

" tu praeda nobis " inquit " et coniunx eris ;
prohibetur undis/' meque complexus ferens
gressum citabat.

Non tenent undae Herculem :
"infide vector" inquit " immixti licet
Ganges et Hister vallibus iunctis eant,

1 Leo thinks there is a lacuna after line 488 and Jills it thus.
exurgit undis, cumque germanam vocans.

2 &o Richter: diem Leo with E.

3 So A: ftrepidus Leo, with E, conjecturing aethcrius :
rigidus 0. Itossbach.

226

HERCULES OETAEUS

last, when Titan, bringing the day to rest, plunges
his weary yoke in the ruddy sea. There lurks the
surety of Alcides' love. Nurse, I'll confess to thee :
the giver of the baleful thing was Nessus, whom
Nephele, heavy with child, to the Thessalian chief-
tain l bore, where lofty Hindus to the stars lifts up
his head and Othrys stands stiff', towering above the
clouds. For when Achelous, forced by the club of
dread Hercules to shift with ready ease from form to
form, his beast-shapes all exhausted, at last stood
forth and bowed his head, marred and with single
horn,'2 victorious Hercules, with me, his bride, set out
for Argos.

500 It chanced that Evenus, wandering through the
plains, rolling his deep eddies to the sea, was now
in flood almost to the tree- tops' level. Nessus, ac-
customed to ford the whirling stream, offered to
take me over for a price; and, bearing me on his back,
where the backbone, leaving the equine enters the
human form, soon was stemming even the threatening
waves of the swollen flood. Now had wild Nessus
entirely left the waters and Alcides was still wander-
ing in mid-stream, cleaving the down-sweeping flood
with his mighty strides ; but when the centaur saw
Alcides still afar, "Thou shalt be spoil of mine," he
cried, " and wife ; he is kept from thee by the waves ";
and, clasping me in his arms as he bore me on, was
galloping away.

513 But the waves did not hold Hercules ; " O
faithless ferryman," he cried, "though Ganges and
Hister commingled in united beds should flow, I

1 Ixion.

2 Hercules had wrenched away one horn from Achelous
while the latter was fighting in bull-form.

227

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

vincemus ambos, consequar telo fugam."
praecessit arcus verba ; turn longum ferens
harundo vulnus tenuit haerentem fugam
mortemque fixit. ille, iam quaerens diem,
tabum fluentem1 volneris dextra excipit 520

traditque nobis ungulae insertum suae,
quam forte saeva sciderat avolsam manu
tune verba moriens addit ; " hoc " inquit " magae
dixere amorem posse defigi malo ;
hoc docta Mycale Thessalas docuit minis,
unam inter omnes Luna quam sequitur magas
astris relictis. inlitas vestes dabis
hac " inquit "ipsa tabe, si paelex tuos
invisa thalamos tulerit et coniunx levis
aliam parenti dederit altisono nurum. 530

hoc nulla lux conspiciat, hoc tenebrae tegant
tantum remotae ; sic potens vires suas
sanguis tenebit." verba deprendit quies
mortemque lassis intulit membris sopor.
Tu, quam meis admittit arcanis fides,
perge ut nitentem virus in vestem datum
mentem per artus adeat et taciturn means *
intret medullas

NVTRIX

Ocius iussa exsequar,

alumna, precibus tu deum invictum advoca,
qui certa tenera tela dimittit manu. 540

1 So E : Leo fluente : tabem fluentis A.

2 So Ricldzr • tactus sinus A : tacitua mas E Leo tactu
sinus.

228

HERCULES OETAEUS

shall o'ercome them both and with my shaft o'ertake
thy flight." His bow was swifter than his words.
Then the reedy shaft, wounding from afar, stayed
his hampered flight and implanted death. The
Centaur, now groping for light, in his right hand
caught the poison l flowing from the wound, and this
he gave me, pouring it into his hoof, which with
mad hand he had chanced to wrench away. Then
with his dying words he spoke : " By this charm
magicians have said love can be firmly fixed ; so were

c5 *

Thessalian wives by the wise Mycale instructed,
whom only, midst all wonder-working crones, Luna
will forsake the stars and follow. A garment,
smeared with this very gore, shalt thou give to him,
if ever a hated mistress should usurp thy chamber,
and thy fickle husband should give another daughter
to his 'high-thundering sire. This let no light be-
hold ; let darkness only, thick and hidden, cover it ;
so shall the potent blood retain its powers." Silence
seized on his words and to his weary limbs came the
sleep of death.

535 Now do thou, whom loyalty makes sharer of
my secret, haste thee that the poison, upon a
glittering robe besmeared, go through his heart
and limbs and, stealing silently, enter his very
marrow.

NURSE

With speed will I do thy bidding, dearest child ;
and do thou pray to the god 2 invincible, who with
tender hand doth send unerring shafts. [Exit NURSE.

1 Communicated to the blood by the Hydra-poisoned arrow
of Hercules.

2 Cupid.

229

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

DElANIRA

Te deprecor, quern inundus et superi timent
et aequor et qui fulmen Aetnaeum quatit,
timende matri te aliger saevae puer :
intende certa spiculum velox manu,
non ex sagittis levibus. e numero precor
graviore prome quod tuae nondum manus
misere in aliquern ; non levi telo est opus,
ut amare possit Hercules, rigidas manus
intende et arcinn cornibus iunctis para,
nunc, nunc sagittam prome qua quondam hor-

ridum 550

lovem petisti, fulmine abiecto deus
cum fronte subita tumuit et rabidum mare
taurus puellae vector Assyriae scidit ;
immitte amorem, vincat exempla omnia — •
amare discat coniugem. si quas decor
loles inussit pectori Herculeo faces,
extingue totas, perbibat formam mei.
tu fulminantem saepe domuisti lovem,
tu furva nigri sceptra gestantem poll,
turbae ducem maioris et dominum Stygis ; 560

tuque o noverca gravior irata deus,
cape hunc triumph urn solus et vince Herculem.

NVTRIX

Prolata vis est quaeque Palladia colu
lassavit omnem texta famularum manum.
nunc congeratur virus et vestis bibat

1 The bolts of Jove were forged in Vulcan's smithy under
Aetna. 2 Europa.

230

HERCULES OETAEUS

DEI A NIK A

Thee do I pray, by earth and heaven-dwellers held
in fear, by sea, by him who wields Aetnaean l thunder-
bolts, and by thy ruthless mother to be feared, O
winged boy ; with unerring hand aim a swift shaft,
and not of thy lighter arrows. Choose thee, I pray,
one of thy heavier shafts, which thy hands have
ne'er yet shot at any; for no light weapon must thou
use that Hercules may feel the power of love.
Stretch thy hands stiffly forth, and bend thy bow
until the tips shall meet. Now, now that shaft let
loose with which once thou aimedst at Jove the
terrible, what time the god threw down his thunder-
bolt and as a bull, with horns quick-sprouting on his
brow, clove through the boisterous sea, bearing the
Assyrian maid.2 Fill him with love ; let him outstrip
all precedents, — let him learn to love his wife. If
lole's beauty hath kindled fires in the breast of
Hercules, extinguish them every one, and of my
beauty let him deeply drink. Oft hast thou con-
quered Jove, the thunderer, oft him who wields the
dark sceptre of the dusky world, king of the greater
throng, and lord of Styx ; and now, O god more
dreadful than a step-dame's wrath, win thou this
triumph all alone, and conquer Hercules.

\Re-enter NURSE, with robe and charm.~\

NURSE

The charm has been brought out and a robe from
Pallas' s distaff, at whose weaving thy maidens all
have wrought with weary hands. Now let the
poison be prepared and let the robe of Hercules

3 The arts of spinning and weaving were of Pallas' in-
vention.

231

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA
Herculea pestem ; precibus augebo malum.

In tenipore ipso navus occurrit Lichas ;
celanda vis est (lira, ne pateant doli.

DEIANIRA

O quod superbae non habent umquam domus,
fidele semper regibus nomen Licha, 570

cape hos amictus, nostra quos nevit manus,
dum vagus in orbe fertur et victus mero
tenet feroci Lydiam gremio nurum,
dum poscit lolen. sed iecur fors horridum
flectam merendo ; merita vicerunt malos.
non ante coniunx induat vestes iube
quam ture flammas pascat et placet deos,
cana rigentem populo cinctus comam.

Ipsa in penates regios gressus feram
precibusque Amoris horridi matrem colam. 580

vos, quas paternis extuli comites focis,
Calydoniae, lugete deflendam vicem.

CHORVS
Flemus casus, Oenei, tuos

comitum primes turba per annos,
232

HERCULES OETAEUS

soak up its pestilence ; and by my incantations
will I increase its evil.

[While they are occupying themselves with the robe,
LICHAS is seen approaching.]

667 But in the nick of time the zealous Lichas
comes; the dire potency of the robe must be con-
cealed lest our wiles be punished.

[Enter LICHAS.]

DEIANIRA

O Lichas, name ever loyal to thy lords, though
loyalty proud houses ne'er possess, take thou this
garment which my hands have woven while he was
wandering o'er the earth, or, spent with wine, was
holding in his doughty arms the Lydian queen, or
seeking lole. And yet, perchance, I may turn his
rough heart to me again by my deserving ; for
deserts oft conquer those who work us ill. Before
my husband puts this garment on, bid him burn in-
cense and appease the gods, his stiff locks wreathed
the while with hoary poplar.

[LICHAS lakes the robe and departs upon his mission.]
679 I will myself pass within the royal palace and
with prayers worship the mother of relentless Love.

[To her Aetolian attendants.]

Do ye, whom I have brought as comrades from my
father's house, ye Calydonian maids, bewail the for-
tune that demands your tears. [Exit.

CHORUS OF AETOLIAN WOMEN

O child of Oeneus, truly do we weep for thy
misfortunes, the band of thy companions through
thy childhood years, we weep thy couch dishonoured,

233

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

flemus dubios, veneranda, toros.

nos Acheloi tecum solitae

pulsare vadum, cum iam tumidas

vere peracto poneret undas

gracilisque gradu serperet aequo,

nee praecipitem volveret amnem

flavus rupto fonte Lycormas ;

nos Palladias ire per aras

et virgin eos celebrare chores,

nos Cadmeis orgia ferre

tecum solitae condita cistis,

cum iam pulso sidere brumae

tertia soles evocat aestas

et spiciferae concessa deae

Attica mystas cludit Eleusin.

nunc quoque casum quemcumque times, 600

fidas comites accipe fatis ;

nam rara fides ubi iam melior

fortuna ruit.

Tu quicumque es qui sceptra tenes,
licet omne tua vulgus in aula
centum pariter limina pulset ;
cum tot populis stipatus eas,
in tot populis vix una fides,
tenet auratum limen Erinys,
et cum magnae patuere fores, 610

intrant fraudes cautique doli
ferrumque latens ; cumque in populos
prodire paras, comes invidia est.

1 Identified by Strabo with the Evenus, a neighbouring
river of Aetolia.

2 The sacred objects used in the orgiastic worship of
Bacchus.

8 Called in the text Cadmaean from Cadmus, founder of
Thebes.

234

HERCULES OETAEUS

lady whom we revere. Often with thee have we
splashed in Acheloiis' shallows, when now, the
springtime passed, he allayed his swollen waters
and, a slender stream, crept on with quiet course,
and Lycormas 1 no longer rolled his headlong waters
on, dark-hued with bursting fountains. Together
were we wont to fare to Pallas' shrines and join in
virgin dances, to bear the mysteries2 in Theban3
baskets hidden, when now the wintry star had fled,
and each third summer 4 called forth the sun, and
when the grain-giving goddess' 5 sacred seat, Attic
Eleusis, shut in her mystic worshippers. Now too,
whatever lot thou fearest, take us as trusted comrades
of thy fates ; for rare is loyalty when now better
fortune fails.

604 O thou,6 whoe'er thou art who the sceptre
holdest, though all the people throng within thy hall,
pressing together through its thousand doors ;
though when thou walkst abroad whole nations hem
thee round ; in all those nations scarce one man is
true. Erinys keeps the gilded gate, and when the
great doors have opened wide, there come in
treacheries and cunning wiles and the lurking
dagger ; and when amongst the people thou wouldst
walk, envy walks by thy side. As often as dawn

4 The festival of Bacchus was celebrated every third year
in honour of his conquest of India.

8 Ceres. The reference is to the Eleusinian mysteries.
All these festivals these women had been wont to attend
together in childhood.

' Addressed to kings in general

235

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

noctem quotiens summovet Eos,

regem totiens credite nasci.

pauci reges, non regna colunt ;

plures fulgor concitat aulae.

cupit hie regi proximus ipsi

clarus latas ire per urbes ;

urit niiserum gloria pectus. 620

cupit hie gazis implere famem ;

nee tamen omnis plaga gemmiferi

sufficit Histri nee tola sitim

Lydia vincit nee quae Zephyro

subdita tellus stupet aurato

flumine clarum radiare Tagum ;

nee si totus serviat Hebrus

ruraque dives iungat Hydaspes

intraque suos currere fines

spectet toto flumine Gangen. 630

avidis, avidis natura parum est.

Colit hie reges regumque lares,
non ut presso vomere semper
numquam cesset curvus arator
vel mille secent arva coloni ;
solas optat quas ponat opes,
colit hie reges, calcet ut omnes
perdatque aliquos nullumque levet ;
tantum ut noceat, cupit esse potens.

Quota pars moritur tempore fati 1 640

quos felices Cynthia vidit,
vidit miseros enata dies,
rarum est felix idemque senex.
caespes Tyrio mollior ostro
solet inpavidos ducere somnos ;

1 i.e. so many dangers to the king's life lurk in the night
that if he survives these it is as if he were born anew iu the
morning.

236

HERCULES OETAEUS

drives out the night, so often believe a king is born.1
Few worship kings and not their thrones ; for 'tis the
glitter of the royal hall that stirs the most. One
man is eager to fare illustrious through broad towns
next to the king himself; for greed of glory burns
his wretched breast. Another longs with treasure
to appease his hunger ; and yet not all gem-bearing
Eiister's tract would satisfy, nor would the whole of
Lydia sate his thirst, nor the land 2 which, lying
'neath the west-wind, marvels to see bright Tagus
gleam with golden water ; nor if all Hebrus were
his own, and rich Hydaspes should be added to his
fields, and he should gaze on Ganges flowing with all
its stream within his boundaries. For greed, for
greed all nature is too little.

632 One man courts kings and homes of kings, not
that his ploughman, forever stooping o'er the deep-
driven share, may never cease his toil, or that the
peasantry may till his thousand fields ; but wealth
alone, which he may hoard away, he seeks. Another
man courts kings that he may trample all, may ruin
many and establish none ; he covets power only to
harm therewith.

640 How few live out their allotted span ! Whom
Cynthia z saw in happiness, the new-born day sees
wretched. 'Tis rare to find old age and happiness
in one. The couch of turf, softer than Tynan
purple, oft soothes to fearless slumber; but gilded

2 Spain.

8 i.e. the moon of the previous night.

237

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

aurea rumpunt tecta quietem

vigilesque trahit purpura rioctes

o si pateant pectora ditum !

quantos intus sublimis agit

fortuna metus ! Bruttia Coro 650

pulsante fretum lenior unda est.

pectora pauper secura gerit ;

tenet e patula pocula fago,

sed non trepida tenet ilia manu ;

carpit faciles vilesque cibos,

sed non strictos respicit enses.

aurea miscet pocula sanguis.

Coniunx modico nupta marito
non disposito clara moriili

gestat pelagi dona rubentis, 660

nee gemmiferas detrahit aures
lapis Eoa lectus in unda,
nee Sidonio mollis aeno
repetita bibit lana rubores,
nee Maeonia distinguit acu
quae Phoebeis subditus euris
legit Eois Ser arboribus.
quaelibet herbae tinxere colus
quas indoctae nevere manus ;
sed non dubios fovet ilia toros. 670

sequitur dira lampade Erinys
quarum populi coluere diem ;
nee sibi felix pauper habetur
nisi felices cecidisse videt.

Quisquis medium defugit iter
stabili numquam tramite currit.
dum petit unum praebere diem

1 The north-west wind.

a The reference is to the story of the sword of Damocles.
See Index,

238

HERCULES OETAEUS

ceilings break our rest, and purple coverlets drag out
wakeful nights. Oh, if the hearts of rich men
were laid bare ! What fears does lofty fortune stir
within! The waves of Bruttium, when Corus l
lashes up the sea, are calmer far. The poor man's
heart is free from care ; he holds cups carved from
the wide-spreading beech, but holds them with hand
untrembling ; he eats but cheap and common food,,
yet sees no drawn sword 2 hanging o'er his head !
'Tis in golden cups that blood is mixed with wine.3

658 The wife who is wed to one of modest means
is not bedecked with necklaces of pearl, the red sea's
gift, nor do stones gathered on Orient shores weigh
down her gem-laden ears ; for her no soft wool twice
dipped in Sidonian cauldrons drinks scarlet dyes ;
not hers with Maeonian 4 needle to embroider stuffs
which Serians under sunlit skies gather 5 from eastern
trees. 'Tis but common herbs that dye the webs
which her unskilled hands have woven ; but she
cherishes a marriage-couch all undisturbed. With
cruel torch doth Fury pursue the bride whose wed-
ding-day great throngs have celebrated ; nor does the
poor man count himself full blest, unless he sees the
blessed fallen from their height.

675 Whoever has left the middle course fares never
in path secure. While for one day the youth 6 sought

3 The author may have the story of Atreus and Thyestes
in mind.

4 The Lvdian (Maeonian) women were famous for their
skill in embroidery.

6 The reference is to silk -culture, for which the Seres (the
Chinese) were well known among the ancients.
8 Phaethon.

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

patrioque puer constitit axe

nee per solitum decurrit iter,

sed Phoebeis ignota petens 680

sidera fiammis errante rota,

secum pariter perdidit orbem.

medium caeli dum sulcat iter,

tenuit placitas Daedalus oras

nullique dedit nomina ponto ;

sed dum volucres vincere veras

Icarus audet patriasque puer

despicit alas Phoeboque volat

proxumus ipsi, dedit ignoto

nomina ponto. male pensantur 690

magna ruinis.

Felix alius magnusque sonet ;
me nulla vocet turba potentem.
stringat tenuis litora puppis
nee magna meas aura phaselos
iubeat medium scindere pontum ;
transit tutos Fortuna sinus
medioque rates quaerit in alto,
quarum feriunt si para nubes.

Sed quid pavido territa vultu, 700

qualis Baccho saucia maenas,
fertur dubio 1 regina gradu ?
quae te rursus fortuna rotat?
miseranda, refer : licet i])sa neges,
vultus loquitur quodcumque tegis.

DEIANIRA

Vagus per artus errat excussos tremor,
erectus horret crinis, impulsis adhuc

1 So Gronovins : ]mc(V\o Leo, with K : rap i do A. trepido
Paphtliug: fert in medium . . . gradum Rickltr.

240

HERCULES OETAEUS

to furnish light and took his stand within his father's
car, and while he passed not o'er the accustomed
track, but sought the stars unknown to Phoebus' rays
with wandering wheel, himself he ruined and the
world, as well. Daedalus, cleaving his path midway
the heavens, reached peaceful shores and to no sea
gave his name; but while young Icarus dared rival
true birds in flight, looked down upon his father's
wings and soared aloft close to the sun itself, to an un-
known sea l he gave his name. To our undoing,
high fortunes are by ruin balanced.

692 Let another be noised abroad as blest and great ;
but let no throng hail me as powerful. Let my frail
craft keep close to shore, and let no strong wind
compel my bark to plough the mighty deep ; mis-
fortune passes by quiet ports, and seeks for ships
sailing the open sea, whose topsails smite the clouds-

[DEIANIRA appears hurrying distractedly from the palace.]

700 But why in terror and with face of fear, like
some rage-smit Bacchante, comes the queen with
step uncertain ?

[Enter DEIANIRA]

What new reverse of fortune whirls thee about ?
Poor lady, tell us. Though thou thyself sayst naught,
thy face speaks out whate'er thou hidest.

DEIANIRA

Vague shivers steal through my trembling limbs,
my hair starts up in horror ; fear sticks in my soul

1 The Icariaa sea.

241

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

stat terror animis et cor attonitum salit

pavidumque trepidis pal pi tat venis iecur.

ut fractus austro pontus etiamnum tumet, 710

quamvis quiescat languidis ventis dies,

ita mens adhuc vexatur excusso metu.

semel profecto premere felices deus

cum coepit, urget. hos habent magna exitus.

NVTRIX
Quis tarn impotens, miseranda, te casus rotat ?

DEIANIRA

Vt missa palla est tabe Nessea inlita
thalamisque maerens intuli gressum meis,
nescio quid animus timuit 1 et fraudem struit?
libet experiri. solibus dirus ferum
flammisque Nessus sanguinem ostcndi arcuit ; 720
hie ipse fraudes esse praemonuit dolus.

Et forte, nulla nube respersus iubar,
laxabat ardens fervidum Titan diem. —
vix ora solvi patitur etiam nunc timor. —
medios in ignes solis eiceram facem 2
quo tincta fuerat palla vestisque inlita.
abiectus horret sanguis et Phoebi coma 3
tepefactus ardet — vix queo monstrum eloqui.4
nives ut Eurus solvit aut tepidus Notus,
quas vere primo lucidus perdit Mimas, 730

1 Leo conjectures a lacuna here and suggests an moriens
viro I poenas parat Centaurus : Richter reads timuit. an
fraudem struit?

2 f eiceram facem Leo, with E, conjecturing medios in ignes
vellus eieci madens : solis et claram facem A.

242

HERCULES OETAEUS

till now so passion-tossed ; my heart leaps wildly
and my quaking liver throbs with pulsing veins. As
when the storm-tossed sea still heaves, though the
skies are clear and the winds have died away, so is
my soul still troubled, though my fear has been
allayed. Surely when God has once begun to oppress
the fortunate, he bears down hard. To such an end
do mighty fortunes come.

NURSE

What headstrong fate, poor soul, whirls thee
about ?

DEIANIRA

When I had sent away the robe anointed with
Nessus' blood, and, sad at heart, betook me to my
chamber, my soul feared I know not what — did the
dying centaur 'gainst my husband plan revenge,1 and
plot some treachery ? I was pleased to make the test.
Dread Nessus forbade me to expose the wild blood
to the sun's rays and to fire ; and this artifice itself
forewarned me of treachery.

722 It chanced the burning sun, its radiance by no
cloud dimmed, was setting free the day's fervid
heat. — Even now my fear scarce suffers me to speak. —
Right into the hot sunlight I had thrown the blood-
soaked fleece1 with which the robe had been
moistened and the garment smeared. The bloody
fleece I flung writhed horribly and, warmed with the
sun's rays, burst aflame — I have scarce words to
tell of the awful thing. As the East or the warm
South-wind melts the snows which glistening Mimas
1 Translating Leo's conjecture.

3 So 5- ; Leo fcomam.

* £o A : Leo fastris vix quoque est. m. elocor.

243

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA
utque evolutos frangit lonio salo
opposita fluctus Leucas et lassus tumor
in litore ipso spumat, aut caelestibus
aspersa tepidis tura laxantur focis,
sic languet omne vellus et perdit comas,
dumque ista miror, causa mirandi perit ;
quin ipsa tell us spumeos motus agit
et quidquid ilia tabe contactum est labat.1

Natum paventem cerno et ardenti pede 740

gressus ferentem. prome quid portes novi.2

HYLLVS

!_, profuge, quaere si quid ulterius patet
terris freto sideribus Oceano inferis, — •
ultra labores, mater, Alcidae fuge !

DEI AN IRA

Nescio quod animus grande praesagit malum.

HYLLVS

Regnat, triumphat 3 ; templa lunonis pete,
haec tibi patent ; delubra praeclusa omnia.

DEIANIRA

Effare quis me casus insontem premat.

1 Following line 738 in A stands (he unintelligible line
tumensque tacita sequitur et (juassat caput.

a Leo deletes lines 740, 741, assuming a considerable lacuna
between 738 and 742.

244

HERCULES OETAEUS

loses in early spring ; as 'gainst Leucadia's crags,
breasting the Ionian sea, the up-flung waves are
broken and with spent fury foam upon the shore, or
as incense sprinkled on holy shrines is melted in the
hot altar-fires ; so all the wool withered and lost its
fleece. And while I stood wondering at it, the
object of my wonder disappears ; nay, even the very
ground begins to foam, and whatever that poison
touched begins to shrink.

[HVLLUS is seen approaching]

740 But I see my son approaching with face of fear
and hurrying feet.

\To HYLLUS]

Speak out — what tidings dost thou bear ?

HYLLUS [hurrying upon the scene]

Go ! flee ! seek out whatever place lies far away
on land, on sea, 'mongst stars, in Ocean, under-
world— far beyond the labours of Alcides, mother,
flee!

DEIANIRA

Some great disaster doth my mind presage.

HYLLUS

She l reigns, she triumphs ; Juno's temple seek.
This sanctuary waits thee ; closed is all refuge else.

DEIANIRA

Tell what disaster my guiltless self o'erwhelms.

1 i.e. Juno.

3 Leo's conjecture for regna triumphi of MSS.

245

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

HYLLVS

Decus illud orbis atque praesidium unicum,
quern fata terris in locum dederant lovis, 750

o mater, abiit. membra et Herculeos toros
urit lues nescio qua ; qui domuit feras,
ille ille victor vincitur maeret dolet.
quid quaeris ultra?

DEIAMRA

Miserias properant suas
audire miseri. fare, quo posita in statu
iam nostra domus est ? o lares, miseri lares 1
nunc vidua, nunc expulsa, nunc ferar obruta,

HYLLVS

Non sola maeres Herculem, toto iacet
mundo gemendus. fata nee, mater, tua
privata credas : iam genus totum obstrepit. 760

hunc ecce luctu quern gemis cuncti gemunt,
commune terris omnibus pateris malum.
luctum occupasti : prima, non sola Herculem,
miseranda, maeres.

DEIANIRA

Quam prope a leto tamen
ede, ede quaeso iaceat Alcides meus.

HYLLVS

Mors refugit ilium victa quae in regno suo
semel est nee audent fata tarn vastum nefas
admittere. ipsas forsitan trepida colus
Clotho manu proiecit et fata Herculis

246

HERCULES OETAEUS

HYLLUS

That glory and sole guardian of the world, whom
the fates had given to the lands in the place of Jove,

0 mother, is no more. The limbs and thews of
Hercules a mysterious plague is wasting; and he
who conquered monsters, he, he, the victor, is van-
quished, is in grief, in agony. What more dost ask ?

DEIANIRA

The wretched are in haste to hear their wretched-
ness. Tell me : in what condition now stands our
house ? O home, O wretched home I Now truly am

1 widowed, exiled, overwhelmed.

HYLLUS

Not thou alone dost lament Hercules ; low he
lies for the whole world to mourn. And think not,
mother, thine is a private loss ; now the whole
race is clamorous with woe. Lo, all men utter thy
self-same groans of grief; common to all lands is the
ill thou sufferest. Thou hast forestalled their grief;
first, but not all alone, poor soul, dost thou mourn
Hercules.

DEIANIRA

Yet tell me, tell, I beg, how near to death does
my Alcides lie.

HYLLUS

Death, who once in his own realm was overcome,1
flees from him ; nor do the fates dare countenance
so great a crime. Perchance Clotho has thrown
aside her very distaff from her trembling hand, and

1 A probable reference to the struggle of Hercules with
Death for the recovery of Alcestis.

247

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

timet peragere. pro diem, infandum diem ! 770

hocne ille summo magnus Alcides erit ?

DEIANIRA

Ad fata et umbras adque peiorem polum
praecedere ilium dicis ? an possum prior
mortem occupare ? fare, si nondum occidit.

HYLLVS

Euboica tell us vertice immense tumens
pulsatur omni latere. Phrixeum mare
scindit Caphereus, servit hoc Austro latus ;
at qua nivosi patitur Aquilonis minas,
Euripus undas flectit instabilis vagas
septemque cursus volvit et totidem refert, 780

dum lassa Titan mergat Oceano iuga.
hie rupe celsa, multa quam nubes ferit,
annosa fulgent templa Cenaei lovis.

Ut stetit ad aras omne votivum pecus
totumque tauris gemuit auratis nemus,
spolium leonis sordidum tabo exuit
posuitque clavae pondus et pharetra graves
laxavit umeros. veste turn fulgens tua,
cana revinctus populo horrentem comam,
succendit aras ; " accipe has " inquit " focis 790

non false messes genitor et largo sacer
splendescat ignis ture, quod Phoebum colens
dives Sabaeis colligit truncis Arabs,
pacata tellus " inquit " et caelum et freta,

1 i.e. the Aegaean. See Index s.v. "Phrixus."

2 Seneca's description in this passage of the topography of
Euboea is not correct. The Cenaean Promontory is at the
far north-western point of the island, while the Strait of

248

HERCULES OETAEUS

is afraid to complete the fates of Hercules. O day,
O awful day ! And shall this for the great Alcides
be the last ?

DEIANIRA

To the shades of death and to that darker world
dost say he has gone already? Can I not go before
and anticipate his death ? Speak, if he is not yet
fallen.

HYLLUS

Euboea's shore, swelling with mighty headland,
on every side is beaten by the waves. Caphereus
cleaves the Phrixean 1 Sea, on this side the south-
wind blows ; but on the side which feels the
blasts of snowy Aquilo, restless Euripus turns his
wandering waves, whose currents seven times flow
and seven times ebb again, till Titan plunges his
weary horses in the sea. Here on a lofty cliff, by
many a storm-cloud beaten, an ancient temple of
Cenaean Jove stands gleaming.2

78J When all the votive herd stood at the altars,
and the whole grove was filled with the bellowing
of the gilded bulls, he3 put off his lion's skin, all
stained with gore, laid down his heavy club and
freed his shoulders of the quiver's weight. Then
radiant in thy robe, his rough hair wreathed with
hoary poplar, he lit the altar-fires. "Accept these
gifts," he said, " upon thy shrine, O father, not
falsely claimed, and let thy sacred fire blaze brightly
with copious incense which the rich Arab gathers
from Sabaean trees, in worship of the Sun. Peace
has been given to earth, to sky, to sea ; all monsters

Euripu8 is very nearly off the middle point. Caphereus,
moreover, is exposed not to the south but almost directly to
the east wind. 8 i.e. Hercules.

249

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

feris subactis omnibus victor redi.
depone fulmen."

Gemitus in medias preces
stupente et ipso cecidit ; hinc caelum horrido
clamore complet. qualis impressa fugax
taurus bipenni volnus et telum ferens
delubra vasto trepida mugitu replet, 800

aut quale mundo fulmen emissum tonat,
sic ille gemitu sidera et pontum ferit,
et vasta Chalcis sonuit et voces Cyclas
excepit omnis ; hinc petrae Capherides,
hinc omne voces reddit Herculeas nemus.
flentem videmus. volgus antiquam putat
rabiem redisse ; turn fugam famuli petimt.

At ille voltus ignea torquens face
unum inter omnes sequitur et quaerit Lichan.
complexus aras ille tremibunda manu 810

mortem metu consumpsit et parvum sui
poenae reliquit. dumque 1 tremibundum manu
tenuit cadaver : " hac manu, hac " inquit " ferar,
o fata, victus ? Herculem vicit Lichas?
ecce alia clades : Hercules perimit Lichan.
facta inquinentur ; fiat hie summus labor."
in astra missus fertur et nubes vago
spargit cruore. talis in caelum exilit
harundo Getica visa dimitti manu
aut quam Cydon excussit : inferius tamen 820

et tela fugient. truncus in pontum cadit,
in saxa vertex ; unus ambobus iacet.

1 Leo conjectures semianiraum pareua.

HERCULES OETAEUS

have I subdued and in triumph come again. Lay
down thy thunderbolt."

736 As he thus prayed a groan fell from his lips,
even he standing aghast ; then with dreadful cries
he filled the air. As when a bull, fleeing the deep-
driven axe, bearing both wound and weapon, fills
with his huge bellowings the affrighted shrine, or as
the launched thunder crashes in the sky ; so did he
with his roarings smite the stars and sea ; towering
Chalcis reechoed and all the Cyclades heard his
cries ; then all Caphereus' crags and the whole
forest resounded with the cries of Hercules. We
saw him weep. The commons thought his ancient
madness had returned ; then his attendants fled.

808 But he, his face writhing with pain of the
burning heat, pursued and sought out Lichas alone
among them all. The boy, embracing the altar with
trembling hands, through sheer terror tasted the
pangs of death, and left small part of his life for
punishment. Then Hercules, by his hand seizing
the quivering corpse, exclaimed : " By such a hand,
by such a hand as this, ye fates, shall I be said to
haye been undone ? Has Lichas conquered Hercules ?
Behold another slaughter ; Hercules in turn slays
Lichas. Be my deeds dishonoured ; be this my
crowning task." To the stars the boy went hurtling
and sprinkled the clouds with his scattered blood.
So does a Getan arrow, from the hand let fly, go
speeding skyward, or the shaft a Cydonian has shot ;
but far below l even these weapons will wing their
flight. His body falls into the sea, his head upon the
rocks ; one youth lies slain in both.2

1 i.e. below the height reached by Lichas.
* i.e. both head and body.

251

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

" Resistite " inquit " non furor mentem abstulit,
furore gravius istud atque ira malum est :
in me iuvat saevire." vix pestem indicat
et saevit ; artus ipse dilacerat suos
et membra vasta carpit avellens manu.
exuere amictus quaerit ; hoc solum Herculem
non posse vidi. trahere conatus tamen
et membra traxit ; corporis palla horridi 830

pars est et ipsa ; pestis immiscet cuti.1
nee causa dirae cladis in medio patet,
sed causa tamen est ; vixque sufficiens malo
nunc ore terram languidus prono premit,
nunc poscit undas — unda non vincit malum ;
fluctisona quaerit litora et ponturn occupat ;
famularis ilium retinet errantem manus —
o sortem acerbam ! fuimus Alcidae pares !

Nunc puppis ilium litore Euboico refert
Austerque lenis pondus Herculeum rapit ; 840

destituit animus membra, nox oculos premit.

DEI AN IRA

Quid, anime, cessas? quid stupes? factum est scelus.
natum reposcit luppiter, luno aemulum ;
reddendus orbi est. quod potes redde exhibe :
eat per artus ensis exactus meos.
sic, sic agendum est. tarn levis poenas manus
tantas reposcit ? perde fulminibus, socer,

1 Following Richter's reconstruction: pars (parum E) est et
ipsam (ipsa A) MSS., for which Leo conjectures ipsam pestis
immiscet cutem (scil. pcdlae).

1 And not against others as heretofore.
252

HERCULES OETAEUS

823 « But hold ! " said Hercules ; " 'tis not madness
has robbed me of my wits ; this bane is worse than
madness and than rage ; I am fain to rave against
myself." l Scarce has he named the plague when
lo, he raves,, he tears his own flesh apart, with his
own hand wounding and rending his huge limbs.
He seeks to throw aside the robe ; in this alone have
I seen Alcides fail. Yet striving to tear the robe,
he tears his limbs as well. The robe is part and
parcel of his rugged body ; the pest blends it with
the skin. The cause of his dire suffering is hid, but
still there is a cause ; and, scarce able to endure his
pain, now he lies spent, face down upon the ground,
now calls for water — water checks not his pain ; he
seeks the wave-resounding shore and plunges in the
sea, but a slave's hand restrains him wandering
aimless there — oh, bitter lot ! we were Alcides'
equals ! 2

839 And now a vessel is bringing him from Euboea's
shore, and a gentle south wind wafts his huge bulk
along ; his spirit has left his body ; night seals his
eyes.

DE'IANIRA

Why, soul, dost hesitate ? Why art amazed ? The
crime is done. Jupiter demands back his son of
thee, Juno, her rival ; yea, to the world must he be
restored.3 What still thou canst, give back, make
restitution ; let the sword, deep driven, through my
body pass. So, so must it be done. But does so
frail hand as this exact punishment so great ? With
thy thunderbolts, O sire, destroy thy guilty daughter.

2 i.e. in the hero's present weakness, common men were
able to control him.

3 She has robbed the world of Hercules, and now must
make such restitution as she may.

953

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

nurum scelestam. nee levi telo manus

armetur; illud fulmen exiliat polo,

quo, nisi fuisset genitus Alcides tibi, 850

hydram cremasses. pestem ut insolitam feri

et ut noverca potius irata malum.

emitte telum quale in errantem prius

Phaethonta missum est : perdidi in solo Hercule

et ipsa populos.

Quid rogas telum deos ?
iam parce socero ; coniugem Alcidae necem
optare pudeat ; haec erit voto manus,
a me petatur ; occupa ferrum ocius.
cur deinde ferrum ? quidquid ad mortem trahit
telum est abunde — rupe ab aetheria ferar. 860

haec, haec renatum prima quae poscit diem,
Oeta eligatur, corpus hinc mitti placet,
abrupta cautes scindat et partem mei
ferat omne saxum, pendeant lacerae manus
totumque rubeat asperi montis latus.
levis una mors est — levis ? at extendi potest.
eligere nescis, anime, cui telo incubes ;
utinam esset, utinam fixus in thalamis meis
Herculeus ensis ! huic decet ferro inmori.
una perire dextera nobis sat est ? 870

coite, gentes, saxa et immensas faces
iaculetur orbis, nulla nunc cesset manus,
corripite tela, vindicem vestrum abstuli.
impune saevi sceptra iam reges gerent,
impune iam nascetur indomitum malum ;
repetentur arae cernere assuetae hostiam
similem colenti. sceleribus feci viarn ;

254

HERCULES OETAEUS

And with no common weapon let thy hand be armed ;
let that bolt leap from heaven with which, had
Alcides not sprung from thee, thou wouldst have
scorched the Hydra. Destroy me as some strange
pest, as a scourge far worse than step-dame's wrath.
Launch such a bolt as once thou didst hurl at stray-
ing Phaethon ; for I, e'en I myself, in Hercules alone
have ruined nations.

855 But why dost ask weapons of the gods? At
last spare thy father.1 The wife of Hercules should
be ashamed to pray for death ; this hand shall grant
my prayer ; from myself let death be sought. Then
quickly seize the sword. — Why then the sword?
Whatever brings to death is weapon all-sufficient —
from a sky-piercing cliff I'll cast me down. Let this,
this crag of Oeta, which is the first to greet the new-
born day, be chosen ; from this 'tis well to fling me.
May its broken crags rend asunder, and every rock
take its share of me ; may my mangled hands hang
there, and may the whole rough mountain-side run
red. One death is all too light — light? but still it
can be prolonged. Thou canst not choose, O soul,
on what weapon thou shalt fall. Oh, would that the
sword of Hercules were hanging in my chamber!
Upon that steel 'twere well for me to die. But is it
enough that by one right hand I perish ? Come all
ye nations ; let the world cast rocks and huge fire-
brands on me ; let no hand shrink its task ; seize
weapons, for your avenger have I done to death.
Now with impunity shall cruel kings wield sceptres ;
yea, with impunity now fierce monsters shall be born ;
again shall altars be found wont to behold victim
like to worshipper.2 A highway to crime have I

1 i.e. do not impose thy punishment on Jove.

2 i.e. where human sacrifices are offered up.

255

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ego vos tyrannis regibus monstris feris

saevisque rapto vindice opposui deis.

cessas, Tonantis socia ? non spargis facem 880

imitata fratrem et mittis ereptam lovi

meque ipsa perdis ? laus tibi erepta incluta est,

ingens triumphus ; aemuli, luno, tui

mortem occupavi.

HYLLVS

Quid domum impulsam trahis ?
erroris est hie omne quodcumque est nefas.
liaut est nocens quicumque non sponte est nocens.

DEIANIRA

Quicumque fato ignoscit et parcit sibi,
errare meruit. morte damnari placet.

HYLLVS
Nocens videri qui mori quaerit cupit.

DEIANIRA
Mors innocentes sola deceptos facit. 890

HYLLU8

Titana fugiens —

DEIANIRA
Ipse me Titan fug't.

HYLLVS
Vitam relinques ?

1 i.e. the "nation" addressed in line 871.
256

HERCULES OETAEUS

prepared ; I have exposed you l to tyrants, kings,
monsters, wild beasts and cruel gods, by slaying your
avenger. Dost shirk thy task, wife2 of the thun-
derer? Why dost thou not, in imitation of thy
brother,2 scatter fire, snatch from Jove's hand his
bolt, hurl it, and thyself destroy me ? Illustrious
praise and mighty triumph have been snatched from
thee ; I have forestalled thee, Juno, in thy rival's
death.

HYLLUS

Why dost drag down a house already shaken ?
From error springs wholly whatever crime is here.
He does no sin who sins without intent.

DEIANIRA

Whoever, because of fate, excuses and spares him-
self, has deserved to err. My sentence is for death.

HYLLUS
Fain would he seem guilty who seeks to die.

DEIANIRA

'Tis death alone can make the beguiled 3 innocent.

HYLLUS
Fleeing the sun —

DEIANIRA

The sun himself flees me.

HYLLUS

Wilt abandon life ?

2 Juno was both sister and wife of Jove.
* i.e. those who have been ensnared into sin.

257

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

DEIANIRA

Miseram, ut Alciden sequar.

HYLLVS

Superest et auras ille caelestes trahit.

DEIANIRA

Vinci Hercules cum potuit, hinc coepit mori.

HYLLVS

Natum relinques fataque abrumpes tua ?

DEIANIRA

Quamcumque natus sepelit haec vixit diu.

HYLLVS

Virum sequeris.

DEIANIRA

Praegredi castae solent.

HYLLVS

Si te ips.i damnas, scelere te misera arguis.

DEIANIRA

Nemo nocens sibi ipse poenas abrogat.

HYLLVS

Multis remissa est vita quorum error nocens, 900
non dextra fuerat. fata quis damnat sua ?

258

HERCULES OETAEUS

DEIANIRA

Ay ! a wretched life — that Alcides I may follow.

HYLLUS

But he still lives and breathes the air of heaven.

DEIANIRA

When Hercules could be conquered, then he
began to die.

HYLLUS

Wilt leave thy son? Wilt break thy thread of
life?

DEIANIRA

She whom her son has buried has lived long.

HYLLUS

Follow thy husband.1

DEIANIRA

Faithful wives go before.

HYLLUS

If thou thyself dost doom thee, thou convictest
thyself, unhappy one, of sin.

DEIANIRA

No guilty one himself annuls his punishment.

HYLLUS

Life has been granted many whose guilt lay in
wrong judgment, not in act. Who blames his own

destiny ?

1 i.e. do not die until he is dead.

259

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

DE'IANIRA

Quicuraque fata iniqua sortitus fuit.

HYLLVS

Hie ipse Megaram nempe confixam suis
stravit sagittis atque natorum indolem
Lernaea figens tela furibunda manu ;
ter parricida factus ignovit tamen
sibi, non furori. fonte Cinyphio scelus
sub axe Libyco tersit et dextram abluit.
quo, misera, pergis ? cur tuas damnas man us ?

DEIANIRA

Damnat meas devictus Alcides manus. 910

placet scelus pilnire.

HYLLVS

•

Si novi Herculem,
aderit cruenti forsitan victor mali
dolorque fractus cedet Alcidae tuo.

DE'IANIRA

Exedit artus virus ut fama est hydrae ;
immensa pestis coniugis membra abstulit.

HYLLVS

Serpentis illi virus enectae autumas
haut posse vinci qui malum vivum tulit?
elisit hydram, dente cum infixo stetit l
media palude victor, effuso obrutus
artus veneno. sanguis hunc Nessi opprimet, 920
qui vicit ipsas horridi Nessi manus ?

1 So Peiper, with A : fcum fixo tenens Leo, with E, and
conjectures dum in fee to tumet : Richter conjectures iam infixo
tumens.

260

HERCULES OETAEUS

DEIANIRA

Whoever has fallen on unkind fates.

HYLLUS

But Hercules himself slew Megara, pierced by his
arrows, and his own sons as well, shooting Lernaean
shafts with furious hand ; still, though thrice mur-
derer, he forgave himself, but not his madness. At
the source of Cinyps 'neath Libyan skies he washed
away his guilt and cleansed his hands. Whither,
poor soul, dost haste thee ? Why dost condemn thy
hands ?

DEI' AN 1 11 A

'Tis Alcides' overthrow that doth condemn my
hands. 'Tis well to punish crime.

HYLLUS

If I know Hercules, he will soon be here, per-
chance victorious o'er the cruel plague ; and pain,
subdued, will yield to thy Alcides.

DEIANIRA

The hydra's poison, as report declares, hath con-
sumed his frame ; the deadly plague hath wasted his
giant limbs.

HYLLUS

Thinkst thou the poison of a serpent, slain, cannot
be overcome by him who met and overcame the
monster, living? He crushed the hydra, and deep
in the marsh, with the fangs fixed in his flesh, he
stood victorious, while his limbs were bathed in
venom. Shall Nessus' blood destroy the man who
overcame e'en the hands of savage Nessus?

26]

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

DEIANIRA

Frustra tenetur ille qui statuit mori ;
proinde lucem fugere decretum est mihi.
vixit satis quicumque cum Alcide occidit.

NVTRIX

Per has aniles ecce te supplex comas
atque ubera ista paene materna obsecro :
depone tumidas pectoris laesi minas
mortisque dirae expelle decretum horridum.

DEIANIRA

Quicumque misero forte dissuadet mori,
crudelis ille est ; interim poena est mori, 930

sed saepe donum ; pluribus veniae fuit.

NVTRIX

Defende saltern dexteram, infelix, tuam
fraudisque facinus esse, non nuptae, sciat.

DEIANIRA

Defendar illic ; inferi absolvent ream,
a me ij>sa damnor ; purget has Pluton manus.
stabo ante ripas immemor, Lethe, tuas
et umbra tristis coniugem excipiam meum.

Sed tu, nigrantis regna qui torques poli,
para laborem (scelera quae quisquam ausus est,
hie vincet error ; luno non ausa Herculem est 940
eripere terris) horridam poenam para.
Sisyphia cervix cesset et nostros lapis

262

HERCULES OETAEUS

DEIANIRA

Vainly is he restrained who is bent on death ; my
will is fixed straightway to flee the light. Whoever
has died with Hercules has lived enough.

NURSE

Lo, by these aged locks and by these breasts
which were almost as a mother's to thee, I humbly
pray ; put by the wild threatenings of thy wounded
heart, and banish thy dread resolve of cruel death.

DEIANIRA

Whoever, perchance, dissuades the wretched from
death, he is the cruel one ; sometimes death is a
punishment, but often 'tis a boon, and to many a
way of pardon has it proved.

NURSE

At least absolve thy hand, unhappy one, that he
may know that the deed was a treacherous foeman's,
not his wife's.

DEIANIRA

There1 shall I be absolved; the lower gods will
acquit the criminal, though I condemn myself. Let
Pluto cleanse these hands. Upon thy banks, O
Lethe, shall I stand, the past forgotten, and my
grieving shade will welcome its lord again.

938 But do thou, who torturest the realms of the dark
under-world, prepare a toil — for this fault of mine
outweighs all sins that man has ever dared; Juno
was never bold enough to rob the world of Hercules
— some dreadful toil prepare. Let Sisyphus' neck

1 In the lower world.

263

THE TRAGEDIES OB' SENECA

impellat umeros ; me vagus fugiat latex
meamque fallax unda deludat sitim.
merui manus praebere turbinibus tuis,
quaecumque regem Thessalum torques rota;
effodiat avidus hinc et hinc vultur fibras.
vacat l una Danais, has ego explebo vices —
laxate manes, recipe me comitem tibi,
Phasiaca coniunx ; peior haec, peior tuo 950

utroque dextra est scelere, seu mater nocens
seu dira soror es ; adde me comitem tuis,
Threicia coniunx, sceleribus ; natam tuam,
Althaea mater, recipe, nunc veram tui
agnosce prolem — quid tamen tantum manus
vestrae abstulerunt? claudite Elvsium mihi

J

quaecumque fidae coniuges nemoris sacri

lucos tenetis ; si qua respersit manus

viri cruore nee memor castae facis

stricto cruenta Belias ferro stetit, 9^0

in me suas agnoscat et laudet manus.

in hanc abire coniugum turbam libet —

sed et ilia fugiet turba tarn diras manus.

Invicte coniunx, innocens animus mihi,
scelesta manus est. pro nimis mens credula !
pro Nesse fallax atque semiferi doli!
auferre cupiens paelici eripui mihi.
recede, Titan, tuque quae blanda tenes
in luce miseros vita ; caritura Hercule
lux vilis ista est. exigam poenas tibi 970

reddamque vitam — fata an extendo mea
mortenlique, coniunx, ad tuas servo manus \

1 So Richter . Leo vacet, with «, corrected by Raphding,

1 The punishment of Tantalus.

2 Ixion. 8 Hypermnestra.
4 Medea. * Procue.

264

HERCULES OETAEUS

be eased and let his rock press hard upon my shoul-
ders ; let the inconstant water fly my lips, my thirst
let the elusive waves deceive.1 Unto thy whirlings
have I deserved to give my hands, whatsoe'er wheel
thou art which rackest Thessalia's king ; 2 from every
side let the greedy vulture tear my entrails out. There
still lacks one 3 from the Danaides ; I will fill up
their number — ye ghosts make room for me. Take
me as thy companion, O Phasian wife;4 my deed is
worse, far worse than both thy crimes, whether as
mother or as cruel sister thou hast sinned ; let me be
comrade also to thy crimes, thou Thracian wife;5
Althea, mother,6 welcome thy daughter, now recog-
nize in me thine own true child — yet what crime so
great have your hands ever done ? Shut Elysium
against me, O all ye faithful wives who have your
dwelling in its sacred grove; but if any has be-
spattered her hands with her husband's blood and
her chaste marriage torch forgot, has stood with
drawn sword like Belus' bloody child, in me let her
recognize and praise her own handiwork. To such
a company of wives 'tis well to pass — but e'en that
company will shun hands so accursed.

964 O my unconquered husband, my soul is inno-
cent, though my hands have sinned. O mind too
credulous! O Nessus, false and of half-bestial
guile ! Striving to snatch him from a concubine, I
have snatched him from myself. Away ! thou sun,
and life, who by thy cozening arts dost keep the
unhappy in the light of day ; worthless that light
without my Hercules. I will exact penalty for thee,7
will give up my life — or shall I put off my fate, O
husband, and save myself for death at thine own

6 For Althaea's crime see Index.

7 i.e. will see that he is avenged.

26.5

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

virtusne superest aliqua et armatae manus

intendere arcum tela missurum valent ?

an arma cessant teque languenti manu

non audit arcus ? si potes letum dare,

animose coniunx, dexteram expecto tuam.

mors differatur ; frange ut insontem Lichan,

alias in urbes sparge et ignotum tibi

inmitte in orbem. perde ut Arcadiae nefas 980

et quidquid aliud cessit l ; ab illis tamen,

coniunx, redisti.

HYLLVS

Parce iam, mater, precor,
ignosce fatis ; error a culpa vacat.

DEIANIRA

Si vera pietas, Hylle, quaerenda est tibi,
iam perime matrem — trepida quid tremuit manus ?
quid ora flectis ? hoc erit pietas scelus.
ignave dubitas ? Herculem eripuit tibi
haec, haec peremit dextra cui debes patri
avum Tonantem. maius eripui decus,
quam in luce tribui. si tibi ignotum est nefas, 990
a matre disce. seu tibi iugulo placet
mersisse ferrum sive maternum libet
invadere uterum, mater intrepidum tibi
praebebit animum. non erit tantum scelus
a te peractum ; dextera sternar tua,
sed mente nostra. natus Alcidae, times ?
ita nulla perages iussa nee franges mala 2

1 fcessit Leo, with E : restitit A.

3 Line 90S, omitted by Et deleted by Leo: erres por orbem.
si qua nascetur fera.

266

HERCULES OETAEUS

hands ? Hast still some strength, and can thy
armed hands still bend the bow and send the arrow
darting ? Or do thy weapons fail thee, and does thy
bow no more heed thy enfeebled hand ? If thou
canst deal destruction, O undaunted husband, I
await thy stroke. Let death be stayed awhile l ;
crush me as thou didst the unoffending Lichas ; to
other cities scatter me, yea, hurl me to a world to
thee unknown. Destroy me as thou didst the
Arcadian monster,2 and whatever else succumbed to
thee ; yet from them, my husband, thou didst
return.

HYLLUS

Give o'er now, mother, I beseech thee, pardon thy
fate ; an error is not counted as a crime.

DEIANIRA

If, Hyllus, thou wouldst be truly filial, come, slay
thy mother — why does thy hand quake and tremble?
Why turnst thy face away ? This crime will be
filial piety. Tamely dost hesitate ? This hand
robbed thee of Hercules, yea, this right hand
destroyed him to whom as father thou owest descent
from Jove. Of greater glory have I robbed thee
than I gave thee at thy birth. If thou art un-
skilled in monstrous crime, learn from thy mother.
Whether in my throat it pleases thee to plunge the
sword, or 'tis thy will to assail thy mother's womb,
thy mother herself will give thee unshrinking
courage. Not by thee will this dreadful crime be
done ; by thy hand, truly, shall I fall, but by my
will. Son of Alcides, art afraid ? Wilt thou not do
as bidden, wilt not crush monsters, and so be like

1 i.e. until she may die at her husband's hands.
a The Erymanthian boar, Hercules' fourth labour.

267

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

referens parentem ? dexteram intrepidam para. 999
patet ecce plenum pectus aerumnis : feri ; 1000

scelus remitto, dexterae parcent tuae
Eumenides ipsae — verberum crepuit sonus.

Quaenam ista torquens angue vipereo l comam
temporibus atras 2 squalidis pinnas quatit ?
quid me flagrant! dira persequeris face,
Megaera ? poenas poscis Alcidae ? dabo.
iamne inferorum, dira, sedere arbitri ?
sedent. reclusas 3 carceris video fores,
quis iste saxum immane detritis gerit
iam senior umeris ? ecce iam victus lapis 1010

quaerit relabi ? membra quis quatitur rota ?
hie ecce pallens dira Tisiphone stetit,
causam reposcit. parce verberibus precor,
Megaera, parce, sustine Stygias faces ;
scelus est amoris.

Sed quid hoc ? tellus labat
et aula tectis crepuit excussis — minax
unde iste coetus ? totus in voltus meos
decurrit orbis, hinc et hinc populi fremunt
totusque poscit vindicem mundus suum.
iam parcite, urbes. quo fugam praeceps agam ? 1020
mors sola portus dabitur aerumnis meis.
tester nitentis flammeam Phoebi rotam
superosque testor : Herculem in terris adhuc
moritura linquo.

1 fangue vipereo Leo: angui E: igne N. Heimius : angue
vibrato Peiper.

268

HERCULES OETAEUS

thy sire ? Thy dauntless hand make ready. Behold
my breast, so full of cares, lies open : smite ; I
forgive the deed, the Eumenides themselves will
acquit thy hand — but I hear their scourges hissing.

iocs oh, who is that in whose locks viperous
serpents coil, who brandishes deadly shafts at her
foul temples? Why dost pursue me, awful Megaera,
with blazing torch ? Penalty for Alcides' murder
dost demand ? I'll pay. Already, dread one, have
the arbiters of hell passed judgment on me? They
have. I see the prison doors opened wide. Who is
that ancient1 who bears a huge stone on his toil-worn
back ? But see ! already does the mastered stone
seek to roll back again ? Whose 2 limbs on the
wheel are racked ? Look ! here has Tisiphone
taken her stand, ghastly and dread ; she demands
revenge. Oh, spare thy scourge, I pray thee,
Megaera, spare ! Keep back the Stygian torches ;
mine was the crime of love.

1015 But what is this ? The earth quakes, the
palace resounds with the noise of crashing roofs—
whence comes that threatening throng? The whole
world comes rushing 'gainst me, on every side the
nations rage and the whole universe demands of me
its saviour. Oh, spare me now, ye cities. Whither
shall I rush in headlong flight? Death alone will
be granted as a haven for my cares. By gleaming
Phoebus' flaming car I swear, I swear by the
heavenly gods : though to my death I go, I leave
Alcides still upon the earth.

[She rushes wildly from the scene.]
1 Sisyphus. 2 Ixion.

• So A : Leo fhastas, with E : Madvig aptas.
3 So Richter : Leo, with A, fsed ecce diras.

269

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

HYLLVS

Fugit attonita, ei mihi.
peracta iam pars matris est — statuit mori ;
nunc nostra superest, mortis auferre impetum.
o misera pietas ! si mori matrem vetas,
patri es scelestus ; si mori patens, tamen
in matre peccas. urget hinc illinc scelus.
inhibenda tamen est, verum ut eripiam scelus. 1030

CHORVS

Verum est quod cecinit sacer
Thressae sub Khodopes iugis
aptans Pieriam chelyn
Orj)heus Calliopae genus,
aeternum fieri nihil.
ill i us stetit ad modos
torrentis rapidi fragor,
oblitusque sequi fugam
amisit liquor impetum ;
et dum fluminibus mora est, 101-0

defecisse putant Getae
Hebrum Bistones ultimi.
advexit volucrem nemus
et silva residens venit ;
aut si qua aera pervolat,
auditis vaga cantibus
ales deficiens cadit.
abrumpit scopulos Athos
Centauros obiter ferens
et iuxta Rhodopen stetit 1050

laxata nive cantibus ;
et quercum fugiens suam
ad vatem properat Dryas
ad cantus veniunt tuos

270

HERCULES OETAEUS

HYLLUS

Ah me ! in frenzy has she fled. Already has my
mother played her part — she has resolved on death ;
now does my part remain, to thwart her deadly
purpose. O wretched plight of love ! if thou
forbidst thy mother's death, thou wrongst thy father ;
if thou sufferest her to die, still 'gainst thy mother
dost thou sin. Crime drives from either hand ; still
must I check her, that from true l crime she may be
saved. [Exit after his mother.]

CHORUS

True sang the bard beneath the heights of
Thracian Rhodope, fitting the word to his Pierian
lyre, e'en Orpheus, Calliope's blest son, that naught
for endless life is made. At his sweet strains the
rushing torrents' roar was stilled, and, forgetful of
their eager flight, the waters ceased their flow ;
and, while the river stayed to hear, the far
Bistonians thought their Hebrus had failed the
Getan. The woods came with their birds to him,
yea, perched among the trees they came ; or if, in
the high air soaring, some wandering bird caught
sound of the charming song, his drooping wings sank
earthward. Athos broke off his crags, bringing the
Centaurs as he came, and next to Rhodope he
stood, his snows melted by the music ; the Dryad,
leaving her oaken haunts, sped to the singer's
side. To hear thy song, with their very lairs the

1 i.e. the true crime of her own death as contrasted with
the fancied crime of her act against Hercules.

271

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ipsis cum latebris ferae,

iuxtaque inpavidum pecus

sedit Marmaricus leo

nee dammae trepidant lupos

et serpens latebras fugit,

tune oblita veneni. 1060

Quin per Taenarias fores
manes cum tacitos adit
maerentem feriens chelyn,
cantu Tartara flebili
et tristes Erebi deos
vicit nee timuit Stygis
iuratos superis lacus.
haesit non stabilis rota
victo languida turbine ;

increvit Tityi iecur, 1070

dum cantu volucres tenet; 1071

et vinci lapis improbus 1081

et vatem potuit sequi.1 1082

tune primum Phrygius senex 1075

undis stantibus immemor
excussit rabidam sitim

nee pomis adhibet manus. 1078

audis tu 2 quoque, navita; 1072

inferni ratis aequoris 1073

nullo remigio venit. 1074

sic cum vinceret inferos 1079

Orpheus carmine funditus, 1080

consumptos iterum deae 1083

supplent Eurydices colus. 1084

sed dum respicit immemor

1 The arrangement of lines 1070-1084 as they stand in Leo
(he A/SS. is more or lestt i//ot/i<-al, besides presenting

syntactic dificidtita. The rc-arrangemeid of Richter has been
adojit&d here,

272

HERCULES OETAEUS

wild beasts came, and close to the fearless herds the
Marmaric lion crouched ; does felt no fear of wolves,
and the serpent fled her gloomy den, her venom at
last forgot.

1061 Nay, when through the gates Taenarian to the
silent ghosts he came, smiting his mournful lyre,
with his sad song he conquered Tartarus and the
sullen gods of Erebus ; nor was he daunted by the
pools of Styx, by which the high gods swear. The
never staying wheel l stood still, listless, with
conquered whirling ; the liver of Tityus grew,
undevoured, while spell-bound the singer held the
birds. The impish stone 2 allowed defeat and
attended on the bard. Then first the aged Phrygian,3
though the waves stood still, banished his raging
thirst, forgetful quite, nor to the apples stretched
his hand. Thou also, ferryman,4 didst hear, and thy
boat that plies the infernal sea came oarless on.
So when by his song Orpheus had utterly o'ercome
the infernal gods, then did the goddesses5 renew
again Eury dice's exhausted thread. But while
Orpheus thoughtlessly looked back, all unbelieving

1 On which Ixion was bound.

2 Which Sisyphus was rolling.

3 Tantalus. 4 Charon.

6 i.e. the fatal sisters, the Parcae.

3 So Birt'a emendation of the impossible MSS. rending audito
qnoque : Richter's auditum quoque is also impossible.

273

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

nee credens sibi redditam
Orpheus Eurydicen sequi,
cantus praemia perdidit ;
quae nata est iterum perit.

Tune, solamina cantibus 1090

quaerens, flebilibus modis
1 haec Orpheus cecinit Getis :
leges in superos datas,
et qui tempora digerit
quattuor praecipites deus
anni disposuit vices
nulH non avidi colus
Parcas stamina nectere,
quod natum est, quod erit, raori2

Vati credere Thracio 1100

devictus iubet Hercules,
iam, iam legibus obrutis
mundo cum veniet dies,
australis polus obruet
quidquid per Libyam iacet
et sparsus Garamas tenet ;
arctous polus obruet
quidquid subiacet axibus
et siccus Boreas ferit.

amisso trepidus polo 1 1 ] 0

Titan excutiet diem,
caeli regia concidens
ortus atque obitus trahet
atque omnes pariter deos
perdet mors aliqua et chaos,
et mors fata novissima
in se constituet sibi.
quis mundum capiet locus ?

1 Leo is of the opinion that the beginning and the end of
Orpheus' song have fallen out, and that lines 1097-1099 are to

274

HERCULES OETAEUS

his Eurydice restored to him and following, he lost
his singing's recompense ; and she had come to the
verge of life only to die once more.

1090 Then, solace in song still seeking, in mournful
measures Orpheus thus to the Getans sang : that the
gods are under law, e'en he who rules the seasons,
who has arranged the four changes of the flying
year ; that for no one the Parcae spin again the
threads of the greedy distaff, and that all which has
been and shall be born shall die.1

1100 The overthrow of Hercules bids us believe the
Thracian bard. Soon, soon, when to the universe
shall come the day that law shall be o'erwhelmed,
the southern skies shall fall upon Libya's plains and
all that the scattered Garamantians possess ; the
northern heavens shall overwhelm all that lies
beneath the pole and that Boreas smites with
withering blasts. Then from the lost sky the
affrighted sun shall fall and banish day. The palace
of heaven shall sink, dragging down East and West,
and death in some form and chaos shall o'erwhelm
all gods in one destruction ; and death shall at last
bring doom upon itself. What place will then
receive the world ? Will the gates of Tartarus

1 Reading according to the arrangement of Richter. See
critical note a.

be joined with the following lines. Richter reads 1098-1099 as
OrpheuS song.

2 fiichter proposes quod natum est, poterit mori.

275

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

discedet via Tartar!,

fractis ut pateat polis ? 1 120

an quod dividit aethera

a terris spatium sat est

et mundi nimium malis ?

quis tantum capiet (nefas)

fatum, quis superos locus ?

pontum Tartara sidera

regna unus capiet tria.

Sed quis non modicus fragor
aures attonitas mo vet ?
est est Herculeus sonus. 1130

HERCVLES

Converte, Titan clare, anhelantes equos,
emitte noctem ; pereat hie mundo dies
quo morior, atra nube inhorrescat polus ;
obsta novercae. nunc, pater, caecum chaos
reddi decebat, hinc et hinc compagibus
ruptis uterque debuit frangi polus.
quid parcis astris ? Herculem amittis, pater,
nunc partem in omnem, luppiter, specta poli,
ne quis Gyas Thessalica iaculetur iuga
et fiat Othrys pondus Encelado leve. 114-0

laxabit atri carceris iam iam fores
Pluton superbus, vincula excutiet patri
caelumque reddet. ille qui pro fulmine
tuisque facibus natus in terris eram,
ad Styga revertor ; surget Enceladus ferox
mittetque quo nunc premitur in superos onus ;
regnum omne, genitor, aetheris dubium tibi

1 Let the world be shrouded in darkness, that Juno may
not see the death of Hercules.

276

HERCULES OETAEUS

spread wide, that room for the shattered heavens
may be found ? Or is the space 'twixt heaven and
earth great enough (perchance too great) for the
evils of the world ? What place will be great
enough to hold (oh, horrible !) a death so vast, what
place, the gods ? Sea, Tartarus and heaven — three
kingdoms shall one place contain.

1128 But what outrageous clamour this that assails
our startled ears? It is, it is the sound of Hercules.

\Enter HERCULES in Ike extremity of suffering.]

HERCULES

Turn back, O shining Sun, thy panting steeds, and
let loose the night ; let this day wherein I die perish
for the world, and let heaven shudder in the pitchy
dark. So thwart l my stepdame. Now, father, were
it fitting to restore blind chaos ; now this side and
that should heaven's frame be burst and both poles
rent asunder. Why dost thou spare the stars ?
Thou art losing Hercules, O father. Now, Jupiter,
look well to every part of heaven, lest any Gyas
hurl Thessalian crags and Othrys become a slight
missile for Enceladus.2 Now, now will haughty
Pluto open his dark prison gates, strike off his
father's 3 chains and give him back to heaven.
Since I thy son, who on earth have been in place of
thy bolt and lightning flash, am turning me back to
Styx, Enceladus, the fierce, will rise, and the mass
'neath which he now is crushed will he hurl against
the gods ; yea, father, thy whole realm of air will
my death put to hazard. Then ere thou art utterly

2 The reference is to the former battle of the Giants
against Jupiter, See Index s.v. "Giants."
s Saturn.

277

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

mors nostra faciet. antequam spolium tui l

caelum omne fiat, conde me tota, pater,

mundi ruina, frange quern perdis polum. 1150

CHORVS

Non vana times, nate Tonantis.
mine Thessalicam Pelion Ossam
premet et Pindo congestus Athos
nemus aetheriis inseret astris ;
vincet scopulos inde Typhoeus
et Tyrrhenam feret Inarimen ;
feret Aetnaeos inde caminos
scindetque latus mentis aperti
nondum Enceladus fulmine victus.
iam te caeli regna secuntur.2 1160

HERCVLES

Ego qui relicta morte, contempta Styge
per media Lethes stagna cum spolio redi
quo paene lapsis excidit Titan equis,
ego quern deorum regna senserunt tria,
morior ; nee ullus per meum stridet latus
transmissus ensis, haut meae telum necis 8
est totus Othrys, non truci rictu gigans 1 168

Pindo cadaver obruit toto meum :
sine hoste vincor, quodque me torquet magis 1170
(o misera virtus !) summus Alcidae dies
nullum malum prosternit ; inpendo, ei mihi,
in nulla vitam facta.

Pro mundi arbiter

superique quondam dexterae testes meae,
pro cuncta tellus, Herculem vestrum placet

1 tibi E. 2 signa sequentur A.

3 Leo deletes line 1167, saxuni est nee icstar mentis abrupti
latus.

278

HERCULES OETAEUS

despoiled of heaven, bury me, father, 'neath the
whole ruined world ; shatter the skies which thou art
doomed to lose.

CHORUS

Not vain thy fears, son of the Thunderer. Soon
now shall Pelion weigh down Thessalian Ossa, and
Athos, on Pindus heaped, shall thrust his forests
midst the heavenly stars ; then shall Typhoeus
overcome the crags l and upheave Tuscan Inarime ;
the Aetnean furnaces then shall Enceladus upheave,
not yet by thy bolt o'ercome, and rend the gaping
mountain's side. E'en now the kingdoms of the sky
are following thee.2

HERCULES

Lo I, who have escaped from death, who scorned
the Styx, who through the midst of Lethe's pool
have returned with spoil,3 at sight whereof Titan
was almost flung from his falling car, I, whose
presence three realms of gods have felt, am perishing.
No deep-thrust sword grates through my side, nor is
all Othrys the instrument of my death ; no giant
with fierce and gaping jaws has buried my body
beneath the whole of Pindus ; no, without enemy
am I overcome and, thought which racks me more,
(shame to my manhood !) the last day of Alcides has
seen no monster slain. Ah, woe is me ! I am
squandering my life for no return.

1173 O thou ruler of the world, ye gods, once
witnesses of my deeds, O earth entire, is it resolved

1 Beneath which he is buried.

8 i.e. Jupiter is falling and his kingdom with him.

8 Cerberus.

279

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

morte hac perire ? l dirus o nobis pudor,

o turpe fatum — femina Herculeae necis

auctor feretur ! morior Alcides quibus ?

invicta si me cadere feminea manu

voluere fata perque tarn turpes colus 1180

mea mors cucurrit, cadere potuissem, ei mini,

lunonis odio. feminae caderem manu,

sed caelum habentis. si nimis, superi, fuit,

Scythico sub axe genita domuisset meas

vires Amazon, feminae cuius manu

lunonis hostis vincor ? hinc gravior tibi,

noverca, pudor est. quid diem hunc laetum vocas ?

quid tale tellus genuit iratae tibi ?

mortalis odia femina excessit tua.

adhuc ferebas esse te Alcidae imparem ; 1 190

victa es duobus — pudeat irarum deos !

utinam meo cruore satiasset suos

Nemeaea rictus pestis aut centum anguibus

vallatus hydram tabe pavissem mea !

utinam fuissem praeda Centauris datus

aut inter umbras vinctus aeterno miser

saxo sederem ! spolia nunc traxi ultima

Fato stupente, nunc ab inferna Styge

lucem recepi, Ditis evici moras —

ubique mors me fugit, ut leto inclitae 1200

sortis carerem. pro ferae, victae ferae !

non me triformis sole conspecto canis

ad Styga revexit, non sub Hesperio polo

Hibera vicit turba pastoris feri,

1 So N. Heinsius : fniorte ferire Leo, with E, conjecturing
inertem obire : mortem perire A : perire inertem L. M tiller.

1 He is thinking of the many monsters, beasts, tyrants,
whom he has slain, he who must now die by a woman's hand.

2 i.e. than for me.

280

HERCULES OETAEUS

your Hercules should perish by such death as this ?
Oh, cruel shame to me, oh, end most foul — a woman
will be called author of Alcides' death ! And for
whom1 is Alcides dying? If the fates unchanging
have willed that by a woman's hand 1 fall, if through
distaff so base the thread of my death has run, ah
me ! that I might have fallen by Juno's hate ! 'Twould
be by woman's hand, but of one who holds the
heavens. If, O ye gods, that were too much to
ask, the Amazon, born 'neath Scythian skies, might
have o'ercome my strength. But by what woman's
hand is Juno's foe o'ercome ? This is for thee, my
stepdame, heavier2 shame. Why callest thou this
day joyful ? What monster such as this has earth
produced to sate thy wrath3? A mortal woman
has outdone thy hate. Till now thou deemdst
thyself by Alcides alone outmatched ; by two hast
thou been surpassed — of such wrath let heaven be
ashamed ! Oh, that the Nemean lion with my blood
had sated his gaping jaws, or that, hedged by a
hundred snakes, I had fed the hydra with my gore !
O that I had been given to the Centaurs as a prey,
or that midst the shades I, bound to an everlasting
rock, in wretchedness were sitting ! But now have I
dragged here my latest spoil4 while Death looked
on amazed ; now from infernal Styx have I regained
the light, the bars of Dis I've conquered — on every
hand death shunned me, that I might lack at last
a glorious end. O beasts, O conquered beasts !
Neither did the three-formed dog, when he saw the
sun, drag me back to Styx, nor 'neath western skies
did the Spanish rout of the wild shepherd 5 conquer

8 He counts Deianira as worse than all monsters Juno has
sent against him. She has outdone even Juno's hate. Hence
Juno is put to shame. 4 Cerberus. 6 Geryon.

281

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

non gemma serpens — perdidi mortem, ei mihi,
totiens honestam ! titulus extremus quis est ?

CHORVS

Viden ut laudis conscia virtus
non Lethaeos horreat amnes ?
pudet auctoris, non morte dolet ;
cupit extremum finire diem 1210

vasta tumidi mole gigantis
et montiferum Titana pati
rabidaeque necem debere ferae,
sed tua causa est, miserande, manus,
quod nulla fera est nullusque gigas ;
nam quis dignus necis Herculeae
superest auctor nisi dextra tui ?

HERCVLES

Heu qualis intus scorpios, quis fervida
plaga revulsus cancer infixus meas
urit medullas? sanguinis quondam capax 1220

tumidi igne cor l pulmonis arentes fibras
distendit, ardet felle siccato iecur
totumque lentus sanguinem avexit vapor,
primam cutem consumpsit, hinc aditum nefas
in membra fecit, abstulit pestis latus,
exedit artus penitus et costas malum,
hausit medullas, ossibus vacuis sedet ;
nee ossa durant ipsa, sed compagibus
discussa ruptis mole conlapsa fluunt.
defecit ingens corpus et pesti satis 1230

Herculea non sunt membra — pro quantum est malum
quod esse vastum fateor, o dirum nefas !

1 «S'o Richter : Leo, tumidi fiecur, with o>, conjecturing
tumet igne cor : tumidi cor en N. Heinaiue.

282

HERCULES OETAEUS

me, nor the twain serpents l — ah, woe is me ! how
often have I missed a glorious death ! My final
claim to glory — what is it ?

CHORUS

Seest thou how virtue, conscious of its fame,
shrinks not from Lethe's stream ? He grieves not
at death but blushes for its cause ; he longs 'neath
some towering giant's vasty bulk to end the last
day of life, to suffer some mountain-heaving Titan's
weight, to owe his death to some wild, raging beast.
But no, poor soul, because of thine own hand, there
is no beast, no giant ; for what worthy author of
the death of Hercules is left save thy right hand ?

HERCULES

Alas, what scorpion,2 what crab,2 torn from the
torrid zone, burns deep fixed in my marrow? My
heart, once filled with pulsing streams of blood,
hotly distends the parched fibres of my lungs ; my
liver glows, its bile dried quite away, and a slow fire
has exhausted all my blood. First did the dread
plague feed upon my skin, next to my limbs it
passed, devoured my sides, then deep-in my joints
and ribs the pest ate its way, and drank my very
marrow. In my hollow bones it lurks ; nor do my
bones themselves retain their hardness, but, shattered
with broken structure, fall in a crumbling mass. My
huge frame has shrivelled, and even the limbs of
Hercules sate not the pest. — Oh, how mighty the ill
which I admit is great ! Oh, cruel curse ! Behold,

1 Which Juno sent against him in his infancy.

2 Pestilent creatures from among the constellations of the
zodiac (fervida plaga).

283

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

en cernite, urbes, cernite ex illo Hercule

quid iam supersit. Herculem agnoscis, pater?

hisne ego lacertis colla Nemeaei mail

elisa press! ? tensus hac arcus manu

astris ab ipsis detulit Stymphalidas ?

his ego citatam gressibus vici feram

radiante clarum fronte gestantem caput ?

his fracta Calpe manibus emisit fretum? 1240

his tot ferae, tot scelera, tot reges iacent?

his mundus umeris sedit ? haec moles mea est,

haecne ilia cervix ? hasne ego opposui manus

caelo ruenti ? quis mea custos manu

trahetur ultra Stygius ? ubi vires prius

memet sepultae ? quid patrem appello lovem ?

quid per Tonantem vindico caelum miser ?

iam, iam meus credetur Amphitryon pater.

Quaecumque pestis viscere in nostro lates,
procede — quid me vulnere occulto petis ? 1250

quis te sub axe frigido pontus Scythes,
quae pigra Tethys genuit aut Maurum premens
Hibera Calpe litus ? o dirum malum !
utrumne serpens squalidum crista caput
vibrans an aliquod et mihi ignotum malum,
numquid cruore es genita JLernaeae ferae
an te reliquit Stygius in terris canis ?
omne es malum nullumque — quis voltus tibi est ?
concede saltern scire quo peream malo.
quaecumque pestis sive quaecumque es fera, 1 260

284

'

HERCULES OETAEUS

ye cities, behold what now remains of that great
Hercules. Dost recognize thy Hercules, my father?
Was it with these arms I crushed and overwhelmed
the Nemean plague? Was it with this hand I
stretched the bow that brought down the Stym-
phalian birds from the very stars ? With these feet
did I o'ertake the swift-fleeing beast l with golden
antlers gleaming on his head ? By these hands
shattered, did Calpe2 let out the sea? So many
beasts, so many monstrous things, so many kings,
have these hands of mine brought low ? Upon
these shoulders did the heavens rest ? Is this my
massive frame, is this my neck ? These hands did I
oppose to the falling sky ? What Stygian watch-dog
will hereafter be dragged forth by my hand ?
Where are my powers, buried before my burial ?
Why on Jove as father do I call ? Why, wretched
man, by right of the Thunderer do I claim heaven ?
Now, now will Amphitryon be deemed my sire.

1249 O pest, whate'er thou art that lurkest in my
vitals, come forth — why dost attack me with a
hidden smart? What Scythian Sea beneath the
icy pole, what sluggish Tethys, what Spanish Calpe,
crowding the Moorish coast, begot thee ? O cursed
bane ! Art thou some serpent, brandishing his foul,
full -crested head, or some evil thing even to me
unknown ? Art thou begotten of the Lernaean
monster's3 gore, or did the Stygian dog leave thee
here on earth ? Every ill thou art and yet no ill —
what form hast thou ? Grant me at least to know
by what ill I am perishing. Whatever pest or what-

1 The Arcadian stag.

1 When Hercules rent the cliffs of Calpe and Abyla (the
pillars of Hercules) asunder and gave outlet to the Mediter-
ranean Sea. * The hydra.

285

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

palam timere ! quis tibi in medias locum
fecit medullas ? ecce direpta cute
viscera manus detexit ; ulterior tamen
inventa latebra est— o malum simile Herculi !

Unde iste fletus ? unde in has lacrimae genas ?
invictus olim voltus et numquam malis
lacrimas suis praebere consuetus (pudet)
iam flere didicit. quis dies fletum Herculis,
quae terra vidit ? siccus aerumnas tuli.
tibi ilia virtus, quae tot elisit mala, 1270

tibi cessit uni ; prima et ante omnes mihi
fletum abstulisti ; durior saxo horrido
et chalybe voltus et vaga Symplegade
rictus meos infregit et lacrimam l expulit.2
flentem gementem, summe pro rector poli,
me terra vidit, quodque me torquet magis,
noverca vidit. urit ecce iterum fibras,
incaluit ardor — unde nunc fulmen mihi ?

CHORVS

Quid non possit superare dolor?
quondam Getico durior Haemo 1280

nee Parrhasio lenior axe
saevo cessit membra dolori
fessumque movens per colla caput
latus alterno pondere flectit,
fletum virtus saepe resorbet.
sic arctoas laxare nives
quamvis tepido sidere Titan
non tamen audet vincitque faces
solis adusti glaciale iubar.

1 lacrimas E. 2 extulit A.

286

HERCULES OETAEUS

ever beast thou be, oppose me openly ! Who gave
thee place within my inmost marrow ? See, my hand
has ripped away the skin and the flesh uncovered ;
yet deeper still must its lurking place be found — O
woe, invincible as Hercules !

1265 But whence this lamentation ? Whence tears
upon these cheeks ? My face, before unmoved, and
never wont to express its woes in tears, at last (oh,
shame !) has learned to weep. What day, what
country has seen the tears of Hercules ? Dry-eyed
have I borne my cares. To thee * that strength,
which has crushed so many monsters, to thee alone
has yielded ; thou first of all hast forced tears from
mine eyes ; my face, harder than rough rock, harder
than steel and the wandering Symplegades, has re-
laxed my visage and driven forth my tears. Me,
weeping and groaning, O most high ruler of the
heaven, the earth has seen and, thought which
racks me more, my step-dame has seen. But lo,
again the scorching heat flames up and burns my
vitals. Oh, where is the lightning flash to bring
me death ?

CHORUS

What may not suffering overcome ? But now,
harder than Thracian Haemus' crags, than Par-
rhasian skies more calm, to dire agony has he
yielded him ; his head drops wearily upon his neck,
from side to side he turns his mighty bulk and oft
does his fortitude drain back his tears. So, with
however fervent beam he shine, Titan avails not to
melt the arctic snows, whose icy splendour defies the
torches of the burning sun.

1 Addressed to the hidden pest.

287

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

HERCVLES

Converte voltus ad meas clades, pater. 1290

numquam ad tuas confugit Alcides manus,
non cum per artus hydra fecundum meos
caput explicaret ; inter infernos lacus
possessus atra nocte cum Fato steti
nee invocavi ; tot feras vici horridas,
reges, tyranhos, nee tamen voltus meos
in astra torsi — semper haec nobis manus
votum spopondit ; nulla propter me sacro
micuere caelo fulmina — hie aliquid dies
optare iussit. primus audierit preces 1300

idemque summus. unicum fulmen peto ;
giganta crede. non minus caelum mihi
asserere potui ; dum patrem verum puto,
caelo peperci. sive crudelis, pater,
sive es misericors, commoda nato manum
properante morte et occupa hanc laudem tibi.

Vel si piget man usque detrectat nefas,
emitte Siculo vertice ardentes, pater,
Titanas in me, qui manu Pindon ferant
aut te, Ossa, qui me monte proiecto opprimant.1 1310
abrumpat Erebi claustra, me stricto petat
Bellona ferro ; mitte Gradivum trucem,
armetur in me dirus. est frater quidem,
sed ex noverca. tu quoque, Alcidae soror
tantum ex parente, cuspidem in fratrem tuum
iaculare, Pallas, supplices tendo manus
ad te, noverca : sparge tu saltern, precor,

1 So A : Madvig aut te, Ossa, quae me . . . opprimat : Leo
taut Ossa qui . . . opprimat with E% conjecturing Ossamque
ut in me . . . opprimar.

288

HERCULES OETAEUS

HERCULES

O father, turn thou thine eyes on my calamity.
Never till now has Alcides fled to thee for aid, not
even when around my limbs the hydra entwined its
fertile heads. Midst the infernal pools, by the black
pall of night enfolded, 1 stood with Death nor did I
call upon thee. So many dreadful beasts have I
o'ercome, yea kings and tyrants ; yet have I ne'er
lifted my face unto the stars. This hand of mine
has ever been surety for my prayers ; no bolts for
my sake have flashed from the sacred sky — but this
day has bidden me ask somewhat of thee. 'Tis the
first to hear my prayers, 'twill be the last. Just one
thunderbolt I ask ; count me a giant.1 I could have
laid hands on heaven no less than they ; but while I
thought thee my sire in very truth, I spared the
skies. Oh, whether thou be harsh, my sire, or
merciful, lay hands on thy son with speedy death
and claim thee this great renown.2

isu7 Qr^ if thy hand shrinks reluctant from the
impious task, 'gainst me release from Aetna's mount
the burning Titans, who in their hands may heave
Pindus up, or, Ossa, thee, and by the hurled mountain
overwhelm me quite. Let Bellona burst the bars of
Erebus and with drawn sword rush upon me ; or
send fierce Mars ; let the dread god 'gainst me be
armed. He is my brother, true, but of my step-
dame born. Thou too, Alcides' sister, but by our
sire alone, hurl thy spear, O Pallas, against thy
brother hurl. And to thee, my step-dame, do I
stretch suppliant hands ; do thou at least, 1 pray, let

1 Think of me as one of the old giants storming heaven, and
hurl a bolt at me.
1 i.e. of killing Hercules ere Juno can do so.

289

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

telum (perire feminae possum manu)

iam fracta, iam satiata, quid pascis minas ?

quid quaeris ultra ? supplicem Alciden vides, 1320

et nulla tellus, nulla me vidit fera

te deprecantem. nunc mihi irata quidem 1

opus est noverca — nunc tuus cessat dolor ?

nunc odia ponis ? parcis ubi votum est mori.

o terra et urbes, non facem quisquam Herculi,

non arma tradet ? tela subtrahitis mihi ?

ita nulla saevas terra concipiat feras

post me sepultum nee meas umquam manus

imploret orbis ; si qua nascentur mala,

nascatur ultor.2 undique infelix caput 1330

mactate saxis, vincite aerumnas meas.

ingrate cessas orbis ? excidimus tibi ?

adhuc malis ferisque suppositus fores,

ni me tulisses. vindicem vestrum malis

eripite, populi ; tempus hoc vobis datur

pensare merita — mors erit pretium omnium.

ALCMENA

Quas misera terras mater Alcidae petam ?
ubi natus, ubinam ? certa si visus notat,
reclinis ecce corde anhelante aestuat ;
gemit ; peractum est. membra conplecti ultima, 1340
o nate, liceat, spiritus fugiens meo
legatur ore ; bracchia, amplexus cape —
ubi membra sunt? ubi ilia quae mundum tulit
stelligera cervix ? quis tibi exiguam tui
partem reliquit ?

1 So A : f pater Leo with E, conjecturing ac fera.

2 So Richter : nascatur alius A: nascetur odium E: Leo
conjectures nascatur opifer.

290

HERCULES OETAEUS

fly thy bolt (I brook to perish by a woman's hand) ;
oh, at last yielding, at last glutted, why still feed thy
vengeance ? What seekest thou further ? Thou
seest Alcides suppliant ; whereas no land, no monster
has ever seen me begging thee for quarter. Now
have I need of a wrathful, raging step-dame — now
has thy passion cooled ? Now dost lay by thy hate ?
Thou sparest me when my prayer is all for death.
O earth and cities of the earth, have ye none to
bring torches 'gainst your Hercules, none to bring
arms ? Do ye withhold weapons from me ? So l
may no land produce savage monsters more when I
am dead, and let the world ne'er ask for aid of
mine ; if any evils rise, let avenger rise as well.
From every side crush out my luckless life with
stones, o'erwhelm my woes. O ungrateful world,
dost falter? Hast quite forgotten me? E'en now
wouldst thou be prey to ills and savage beasts hadst
thou not borne me. Then, O ye peoples, rescue your
champion from his woes. This chance is given you
to requite my services — death will be reward for all.

[Enter ALCMENA.]

ALCMENA

What lands shall Alcides' wretched mother seek ?
Where is my son, oh, where ? If mine eyes see
aright, yonder he lies, panting and fever-tossed ; he
groans, his life is at an end. In a last embrace let
me enfold thee, O my son, and gather thy parting
spirit in my mouth ; take my embracing arms to thine
— but where are thy limbs? Where is that star-
bearing neck which propped the heavens up ? Who
is it has left to thee but a shadow of thyself?

1 i.e. according as ye grant my prayer.

291

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

IIERCVLES

Herculem spectas quidem,
mater, sed umbram et vile nescio quid mei.
agnosce, mater — ora quid flectis retro
voltumque mergis ? Herculem dici tuum
partum erubescis ?

ALCMENA

Quis feram mundus novam,

quae terra genu it ? quodve tarn dirum nefas 1350
de te triumphal ? victor Herculeus quis est?

HERCVLES
Nuptae iacentem cernis Alciden dolis.

ALCMENA

Quis tantus est qui vincat Alciden dolus ?

HERCVLES

Quicumque, mater, feminae iratae sat est.

ALCMENA

Et unde in artus pestis aut ossa incidit ?

HERCVLES

Aditum venenis palla femineis dedit.

ALCMENA

Vbinam ista palla est ? membra nudata intuor.

HERCVLES

Coiisumpta mecum est.

ALCMENA

Tantane inventa est lues ?
292

HERCULES OETAEUS

HERCULES

Hercules thou seest indeed, my mother, but 'tis
the shadow and the vile somewhat of myself. Behold
me, mother why dost thou turn thine eyes away and
hide thy face ? Art ashamed to have Hercules
called thy son ?

ALCMENA

What world, what land has given birth to a fresh
monster ? What so dread horror is triumphing over
thee ? Who is a victor over Hercules ?

HERCULES

By his wife's wiles thou seest Alcides low.

ALCMENA

What wile is great enough to worst Alcides ?

HERCULES

Whatever, mother, suffices a woman's wrath.

ALCMENA

And how gained the pest entrance to thy joints

and bones ?

HERCULES

A robe, poisoned by woman's hands, gave entrance
to it.

ALCMENA

Where is that robe ? I see but naked limbs.

HERCULES

'Twas consumed with me.

ALCMENA

Was so destructive pestilence ever found ?

293

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

HERCVLES

Errare mediis crede visceribus meis,
o mater, hydram et mille cum Lerna feras. 1360

quae tanta nubes flamma Sicanias secat,
quae Lemnos ardens, quae plaga igniferi poli
vetans flagrant! currere in zona diem ?
in ipsa me iactate, pro comites, freta
mediosque in amnes — quis sat est Hister mihi?
non ipse terris maior Oceanus meos
franget vapores, omnis in nostris mails
deficiet umor, omnis arescet latex,
quid, rector Erebi, me remittebas lovi ?
decuit tenere ; redde me tenebris tuis, 1370

talem subactis Herculem ostende inferis.
nil inde ducam, quid times iterum Herculem?
invade, mors, non trepida ; iam possum mori.

ALCMENA

Compesce lacrimas saltern et aerumnas doma
malisque tantis Herculem indomitum refer
mortemque differ ; quos soles vince inferos.

HERCVLES

Si me catenis horridus vinctum suis
praeberet avidae Caucasus volucri dapem,
Scythia gemente flebilis gemitus mihi
non extitisset ; si vagae Symplegades 1380

utraque premerent rupe, redeuntis miriax l

1 So Richter : redeuntes fminas Leo with E, suggesting
silens.

1 i.e. the hydra.

2 He compares these flames with the fires of Aetna.

294.

HERCULES OETAEUS

HERCULES

Believe me, mother, through my inmost parts the
hydra is wandering and with the Lernaean one 1 a
thousand savage beasts. What flames 2 as hot as
these pierce the Sicilian clouds, what Lemnian fires,
or heaven's burning tract, within whose scorching
zone 3 the sun's path may not lie ? O comrades,
throw me into the sea itself, into the river's midst-
alas! what Hister is enough for me? Though
greater than all lands, the Ocean itself will not cool
my burning pains ; to ease my woe all water will dry
up, all moisture fail. Why, ruler of Erebus, didst
send me back to Jove ? Twere more seemly to have
held me fast. To thy glooms restore me, and show
such Hercules as this to the ghosts 4 I conquered.
Naught will I take away ; why dost fear Hercules a
second time ? Assail me, Death, and fear not ; now
do I brook to die.

ALCMENA

Restrain thy tears, at least, master thy pains ; even
to such woes show Hercules invincible ; put death
away ; conquer the lords of hell as is thy wont.

HERCULES

If rugged Caucasus should offer me, bound by its
chains, as a feast to greedy birds,5 while Scythia
mourned around, no doleful cry would issue from my
lips ; should the wandering Symplegades crush me
'twixt both their cliffs, their returning rushes would

3 i.e. the space between the ecliptic and the celestial
equator.

4 All the creatures he conquered on earth are now ghosts
in the lower world.

6 He is thinking of the sufferings of Prometheus.

295

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ferrem ruinas ; Pindus incumbat mihi

atque Haeinus et qui Thracios fluctus Athos

frangit lovisque fulmen excipiens Mimas;

non ipse si in me, mater, hie mundus ruat

superque nostros flagret incensus toros

Phoebeus axis, degener mentem Herculis

clamor domaret. mille decurrant ferae

pariterque lacerent, hinc feris clangoribus

aetheria me Stymphalis, hinc taurus minax 1390

cervice tota pulset et quidquid fuit

solum quoque ingens ; surgat hinc illinc nemus

artusque nostros durus immittat Sinis :

sparsus silebo — non ferae excutient mihi,

non arma gemitus, nil quod impelli potest.

ALCMENA

Non virus artus, nate, femineum coquit,
sed dura series operis et longus tibi
pavit cruentos forsitan morbos labor.

HERCVLES

Vbi morbus, ubinam est ? estne adhuc aliquid mali
in orbe mecum ? veniat ; hue aliquis mihi 1400

intendat arcus — nuda sufficiet manus.
procedat agedum hue.

ALCMENA

Ei mihi, sensum quoque
excussit ille nimius impulsans dolor.

296

HERCULES OETAEUS

I bear, defiant ; were Pindus lying on me, and
Haemus, and Athos which resists the Thracian
waves, and Mimas which welcomes the bolts of
Jupiter ; mother, if even this sky should fall upon
my head, and over my shoulders the fiery car of
Phoebus should go flaming, no coward cry would
subdue Alcides' soul. * Though a thousand beasts at
once should rush against me and rend me sore ;
though here from the skies Stymphalus' bird,
swooping with clangour wild, and there with full
strength the threatening bull should push upon me,
and whatever huge monster has sprung from earth ;
though Sinis' groves should arise this side and that,
and the rough giant shoot my limbs ] afar ; rent limb
from limb, still will I hold my peace — no beasts, no
arms, naught that can be met and vanquished shall
extort one groan from me.

ALCMENA

Son, 'tis no woman's poison melts thy frame ; but
thy hard round of labours, thine unceasing toil, per-
chance has fed some deadly disease in thee.

HERCULES

Disease? Where is it? Where is it, pray? Is
there still aught of evil in the world with me alive ?
Let it come on ; let some one reach hither my bow
to me — nay, my bare hands will be enough. Let it
come on, I say. [He sinks into a deep, swoon-Like
slumber.]

ALCMENA

Alas ! the too great shock of agony hath reft e'en
his sense away. [Yb attendants.] Remove his weapons,

1 See Index «.u. " Sinis. "

297

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

removete quaeso tela et infestas precor

rapite hinc sagittas : igne suffuso genae

seel us minantur. quas petam latebras anus ?

dolor iste furor est : Herculem solus domat.

cur deinde latebras aut fugam vaecors petam ?

obire forti meruit Alcmene manu :

vel scelere pereat, antequam letum mihi 1410

ignavus aliquis niaiidet l ac turpis manus

de me triumphet.

Ecce lassatus mails
sopore fessas alligat venas dolor
gravique anhelum pectus impulsu quatit.
favete, superi. si mihi riatum inclutum
miserae negastis, vindicem saltern precor
servate terris. abeat excussus dolor
corpusque vires reparet Herculeum suas.

HYLLVS

Pro lux acerba, pro capax scelerum dies !
minis Tonaiitis occidit, natus iacet, 1420

nepos supersum ; scelere materno hie perit,
fraude ilia capta est. quis per annorum vices
totoque in aevo poterit aerumnas senex
referre tantas ? unus eripuit dies
parentem utrumque ; cetera ut sileam mala
parcamque fatis, Herculem amitto patrem,

ALCMENA

Compesce voces, inclutum Alcidae genus
miseraeque fato similis Alcmenae nepos :
longus dolorem forsitan vincet sopor.

1 So A : mandat . . . triumphal Leo with E.
298

HERCULES OETAEUS

take these deadly shafts out of his reach, I pray you ;
his burning cheeks portend some violence. Where
shall an old woman hide herself? That is the smart
of madness ; it alone masters Hercules. But why
should I, foolish that I am, seek flight or hiding ? By
a brave hand Alcmena deserves to die ; so let me
perish even impiously, before some craven decree my
death, or a base hand triumph over me.

1412 But see, all spent with woe, his pain holds his
worn heart fast bound in slumber, and his panting
chest heaves with laboured breathing. Help him, ye
gods ! If to my misery ye have denied my glorious
son, at least spare to the world, I pray, its champion.
May his smart be driven quite away, and the body of
Hercules renew its strength.

[Enter HYLLUS.]

HYLLUS

0 bitter light, O crime-filled day! Dead is the
Thunderer's daughter.1 his son lies dying, and I, his
grandson, still survive. By my mother's crime is he
perishing, but she was by guile ensnared. What
aged man, throughout his round of years, in his
whole life, will be able to recount woes so great ?
Both parents has one day taken off; to say naught
of other ills and to spare the fates,2 Hercules, my
father, am I losing.

ALCMENA

Restrain thy words, child of illustrious sire,
wretched Alcmena's grandson, like her in fate; per-
chance long slumber will o'ercome his pains. But

1 Dei'anira, who has just killed herself offstage.

2 i.e. not to speak too hardly of them by recounting all
their cruelty.

299

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA
sed ecce, lassam deserit mentem quies 1 4-30

redditque morbo corpus et luctum raihi.

HERCVLES

Quid hoc ? rigenti cernitur Trachin iugo
aut inter astra positus evasi genus
mortal e tandem ? quis mihi caelum parat ?
te te, pater, iam video, placatam quoque
specto novercam. quis sonus nostras ferit
caelestis aures ? luno me generum vocat !
video nitentem regiam clari aetheris
Phoebique tritam flammea zonam rota,
cubile video Noctis ; hinc tenebrae vocant.1 144-0

Quid hoc ? quis arcem cludit et ab ipsis, pater,
deducit astris ? ora Phoebeus modo
afflabat axis, iam prope a caelo fui —
Trachina video, quis mihi terras dedit ?
Oete modo infra steterat ac totus fuit
suppositus orbis. quam bene excideras, dolor I
cogis fateri — parce et hanc vocem occupa.

Hoc, Hylle, dona matris hoc munus parant.
utinam liceret stipite ingesto impiam
efFringere animam quale Amazonium malum 1450
circa nivalis Caucasi domui latus.
o cara Megara, tune cum furerem mihi
coniunx fuisti ? stipitem atque arcus date,

1 So Richter with MSS. order; Leo reads this line after
U44.
300

HERCULES OETAEUS

see, repose is deserting his weary heart, and gives
back his frame to suffering, me to grief.

HERCULES [awakening in delirium]

Why, what is this ? Do I see Trachin midst her
rugged hills, or have I, set 'mongst the stars, at last
left behind the race of men ? Who opens heaven for
me ? Thee, thee, my father, now do I behold, and
my step- dame also, at last appeased, I see. What
heavenly sound strikes on mine ears ? Juno calls
me son ! I see bright heaven's gleaming palace, and
the track worn by Phoebus' burning wheels. I see
Night's couch ; her shadows call me hence.
[Begins to come out of his delirium.]

1441 But what is this ? Who shuts heaven's gates
to me, O father, and draws me down even from the
stars ? But now the car of Phoebus breathed hot
upon my face, now was I near to heaven — but I see
Trachin. Who has given me earth again ? A
moment since, and Oeta stood below me, and the
whole world lay beneath my feet. How well, O
pain, hadst thou fallen from me ! Thou compellest
me to confess — but stay, forestall that word.1

[7b HYLLUS.]

H48 o Hyllus, this, this is thy mother's boon, her
gift to me. Would that with lifted club I might
crush out her wicked life just as I smote down the
Amazonian pest - upon the slopes of snowy Caucasus.
O well-loved Megara, wast thou wife 3 to me when
madness came upon me ? Give me my club and

1 He thus checks himself on the brink of an unmanly
confession of his weakness.

2 i.e. the Amazons themselves.

3 It should have been Delanira.

301

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

dextra inquinetur, laudibus maculam imprimam,
summus legatur femina Herculeus labor.

HYLLVS

Compesce diras, genitor, irarum minas ;
habet, peractum est, quas petis poenas dedit ;
sua perempta dextera mater iacet.

HERCVLES

Cecidit dolose 1 ; manibus irati Herculis
occidere meruit ; perdidit comitem Lichas. 1 4-60

saevire in ipsum corpus exanime impetus
atque ira cogit. cur minis nostris caret
ipsum cadaver ? pabulum accipiant ferae.

HYLLVS

Plus misera laeso doluit ; hinc aliquid quoque
detrahere velles. occidit dextra sua,
tuo dolore ; plura quam poscis tulit.
sed non cruentae sceleribus nuptae iaces
nee fraude matris ; Nessus hos struxit dolos
ictus sagittis qui tuis vitam expuit.
cruore tincta est palla semiferi, pater, 1470

Nessusque nunc has exigit poeiias sibi.

HERCVLES

Habet, peractum est, fata se nostra explicant ;
lux ista summa est. quercus hanc sortem mihi

1 So Richter: relicte dolor es Leo: caeci dolores A : recte
dolor es E : iacet ? ei dolori est Ptiper.

302

HERCULES OETAEUS

bow, let my right hand be defiled, let me put stain
upon my glory, and let a woman be chosen as the last
toil of Hercules.

HYLLUS

Check the dire threatenings of thy wrath, my
father ; she has it,1 'tis over, the penalty which thou
desirest she has paid ; slain by her own hand, my
mother lies in death.

HERCULES

Treacherously has she fallen ; by the hands of
enraged Hercules should she have died ; Lichas has
lost a comrade. I am moved to rage e'en 'gainst
her lifeless body, and wrath impels me. Why is
even her corpse safe from my assaults ? Let the
wild beasts make banquet on it.

HYLLUS

The unhappy woman has suffered more than him
she injured ; somewhat still of this thou wouldst
wish to lighten. By her own hand has she fallen,
through grief for thee ; more suffering than thou
demandest has she borne. But 'tis not by crimes of
a murderous wife, nor by my mother's guile, thou
liest low ; Nessus contrived this snare, who, by thine
arrow smit, spewed out his life. Father, 'twas in
that half-beast's gore the robe was dipped, and
Nessus by these thy sufferings doth requite his
own.

HERCULES

'Tis well,2 'tis over, my fate unfolds itself; this is
my last day on earth. This oracle the prophetic

1 The formula of the gladiatorial contest when one of the
contestants has received his death stroke.

2 See note on 1. 1457.

303

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA
fatidica quondam dederat et Parnassio
Cirrhaea quatiens templa mugitu specus :
" dextra perempti victor, Alcide, viri
olim iacebis ; hie tibi emenso freta
terrasque et umbras finis extremus datur."
nil querimtir ultra ; decuit hunc finem dari,
ne quis superstes Herculis victor foret. 1480

nunc mors legatur clara memoranda incluta,
me digna prorsus. nobilem hunc faciam diem,
caedatur omnis silva et Oetaeum nemus
conripite, ut ingens Herculem accipiat rogus,
sed ante mortem, tu, genus Poeantium,
hoc triste nobis, iuvenis, officium appara ;
Herculea totum flamma succendat diem.

Ad te preces nunc, Hylle, supremas fero.
est clara captas inter, in voltu genus
regnumque referens, Euryto virgo edita 14-90

lole. tuis hanc facibus et thalamis para,
victor cruentus abstuli patriam lares
nihilque miserae praeter Alciden dedi ;
et ipse rapitur. penset aerumnas suas,
lovis nepotem foveat et natum Herculis ;
tibi ilia pariat quidquid ex nobis habet.

Tuque ipsa planctus pone funereos, precor,
o clara genetrix ; vivit Alcides tibi.
virtute nostra paelicem feci tuam

1 The oracle of the talking oaks, sacred to Jupiter, was at
Dodona, in Kpirus ; the oracle of Apollo at Delphi was in
Phocis, on Mount Parnassus. The poet either means that

304

HERCULES OETAEUS

oak l once gave me, and the Parnassian grot,1 shaking
the shrines of Cirrha with rumbling tones, declared :
" By the hand of one whom, conquering, thou hast
slain, Alcides, one day shalt thou lie low ; this end,
when thou hast traversed seas and lands and shades,
awaits thee at the last." We complain no more ;
such end was meet, that no living thing might
conquer Hercules. Now let me choose a death
glorious, renowned, illustrious, full worthy of myself.
This day will I make famous. Go, cut down all the
woods, heap Oeta's grove together, that a mighty
pyre may receive Hercules, and that before he dies.
Thou, son 2 of Poeas, dear youth, perform this sad
office for me ; set the whole sky aglow with the
flames of Hercules.

1488 And now to thee, Hyllus, I bring my latest
prayer. Among the captives is a beauteous maid, in
feature revealing her race and royal state, iole,
daughter of king Eurytus. Lead her to thy
chamber with wedding torch. Victorious, blood-
stained, I robbed her of her fatherland and home,
and to the wretched girl gave naught except
Alcides ; and now e'en he is reft from her. Let her
find recompense for her sorrows, and cherish Jove's
grandson and the son of Hercules ; to thee be born
whatever seed she has conceived by me.

[To ALCMENA.]

1497 Do thou thyself cease thy death-wails for me,
I pray, illustrious mother ; thy Alcides lives ; by my
heroic deeds have I made my step-dame seem but

two oracles foretold the same fate, or simply mingles the two
references by way of emphasis on the oracular utterance
itself.

2 Philoctetea.

305

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

credi novercam. sive nascente Hercule .. 1500

nox ilia certa est sive mortalis meus

pater est — licet sit falsa progenies mei,1

merui parentem ; contuli caelo decus

materque me concepit in laudes lovis.

quin ipse, quamquam luppiter, credi meus

pater esse gaudet. parce iam lacrimis, parens ;

superba matres inter Argolicas eris.

quid tale luno genuit aetherium gerens

sceptrum et Tonanti nupta ? mortali tamen J510

caelum tenens invidit, Alciden suum

dici esse voluit.

Perage nunc, Titan, vices
solus relictus ; ille qui vester comes
ubique fueram, Tartara et manes peto.
hanc tamen ad imos perferam laudem inclutam,
quod nulla pestis fudit Alciden palam
omnemque pestem vicit Alcides palam.

CHORVS

O decus mundi, radiate Titan,
cuius ad primes Hecate vapores
lassa nocturnae levat ora bigae, 1520

die sub Aurora positis Sabaeis,
die sub occasu positis Hiberis,
quique sub plaustro patiuntur ursae
quique ferventi quatiuntur axe,
die sub aeternos properare manes
1 Leo deletes 1. 1503 : materna culpa cesset et crimen lovis.

1 By bearing such a son to Jove, Alcmena is proved to be
real wife, and Juno the mistress.

3C6

HERCULES OETAEUS

the concubine.1 Whether the tale 2 of the night of
Hercules' begetting be the truth, or whether my sire
be mortal 3 — though I be falsely called the son of
Jove, I have deserved to be his son ; glory on heaven
have I conferred, and to Jove's glory did my mother
bring me forth. Nay, he himself, though he be
Jupiter, is glad to be believed my sire. Dry now
thy tears, my mother; proud 'mongst the Grecian
mothers shalt thou be. What son like thine has
Juno borne, though she wield the sceptre of the
skies, and be the Thunderer's bride ? Still, though
queen of heaven, she envied a mortal woman, and
wished that Alcides might be called her own.

1512 Now, O Sun, must thou speed thy course
alone, for I, who have been thy companion every-
where, am bound for Tartarus and the land of
shades. Yet to the depths shall I bear this glorious
fame, that no pest openly has laid Alcides low,
and that all pests openly has Alcides slain.

[He goes out toward the pyre which has been prepared for

him.]

CHORUS

O glory of the world, O ray-girt Sun, at whose
first warmth Hecate loosens the bits from the weary
steeds of her nocturnal car, tell the Sabaeans who
lie beneath the dawn, tell the Iberians who lie
beneath thy setting, tell those who suffer 'neath the
Wagon of the Bear,4 and those who pant beneath
thy burning car : Hercules is hasting to the endless

2 See Index s.v. " Hercules," at beginning.
* i.e. Amphitryon.

4 This northern constellation is either the Wain (wagon)
or the Bear. The poet confuses the two conceptions.

307

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Herculem et regnum canis inquieti,

unde non umquam remeabit ille.1

sume quos nubes radios sequantur,

pallid us maestas speculare terras

et caput turpes nebulae pererrent. 1530

quando, pro Titan, ubi, quo sub axe

Herculem in terris alium sequeris ?

quas manus orbis miser invocabit,

si qua sub Lerna numerosa pestis

sparget in centum rabiem dracones,

Arcadum si quis populis vetustis

fecerit silvas aper inquietas,

Thraciae si quis Rhodopes alumnus

durior terris Helices nivosae

sparget humano stabulum cruore ? 1540

quis dabit pacem populo timenti,

si quid irati superi per orbem

iusserint nasci ? iacet omnibus par,

quern parem tell us genuit Tonanti.

planctus immensas resonet per urbes

et comas nullo cohibente nodo

feminae exertos feriant lacertos,

solaque obductis foribus deorum

templa securae pateant novercae.

Vadis ad Lethen Stygiumque litus, 1550
unde te nullae referent carinae ;
vadis ad manes miserandus, unde
Morte devicta tuleras triumphum,
umbra nudatis veniens lacertis
languido vultu tenuique collo ;
teque non solum feret ilia puppis 2

1 So Richter : unde non umquam remeavit ullus A : Leo
funde non numquam remeavit inde with E, Leo conjecturing
denuo numquam remeabit inde.

3 Peiper notes a lacuna after I. 1556, which Leo thus sup-
plies: quae tulit solum metuitque mergi.

308

HERCULES OETAEUS

shades, to the realm of sleepless Cerberus, whence
he will never more return. Let thy bright rays be
overcast with clouds ; gaze on the grieving world
with pallid face and let disfiguring mists roam o'er
thy head. When, O Titan, where, beneath what
sky wilt thou follow another Hercules on the earth ?
To whose aid will the wretched world appeal if
within Lerna's swamp some many-headed pest in a
hundred snakes shall spread its poisonous rage ; if
for the ancient tribes of Arcady some boar shall
disturb the quiet of the woods ; if some son l of
Thracian Rhodope, harder than the ground of snow-
clad Helice, shall spatter his stalls with the blood of
men ? Who to the trembling nations will give peace,
if the angry gods shall raise up new monsters o'er
the world ? Level with all men he lies,2 whom
earth produced level with the Thunderer. Through
countless cities let cries of brief resound ; let
women with streaming hair smite their bare arms ;
let the temples of all gods be closed save his step-
dame's only, for she only is free from care.

1550 Thou farest to Lethe and the Stygian shore
whence no keel will ever bring thee back ; thou
farest, lamented one, unto the ghosts whence, over-
coming Death, thou didst once return in triumph,
now but a shade, with fieshless arms, wan face and
drooping neck ; nor will that skiff, which once bore
thee alone and feared 'twould be plunged beneath

1 Like Diomedes, the bloody tyrant of Thrace.

2 i.e. brought to the common level by death.

309

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

non tamen viles eris inter umbras,

Aeacon l inter geminosque Gretas

facta discernens, feriens tyrannos.

parcite, o elites, inhibete dextras. 1560

laudis est purum tenuisse ferrum,

cumque regnabas, minus in procellis

in tuas urbes licuisse fatis.

Sed locum virtus habet inter astra.
sedis arctoae spatium tenebis
an graves Titan ubi promit aestus ?
an sub occasu tepido nitebis,
unde commisso resonare ponto
audies Calpen ? loca quae sereni
deprimes caeli ? quis erit recepto 1 570

tutus Alcide locus inter astra ?
horrido tantum procul a leone
det pater sedes calidoque cancro,
ne tuo vultu tremefacta leges
astra conturbent trepidetque Titan,
vere dum flores venient tepenti
et comam silvis hiemes recident,
vel comam silvis revocabit aestas
pomaque autumno fugiente cedent,
nulla te terris rapiet vetustas ; 1580

tu comes Phoebo, comes ibis astris.
ante nascetur seges in profundo
vel fretum dulci resonabit unda,
ante descendet glacialis ursae
sidus et ponto vetito fruetur,
quam tuas laudes populi quiescant.

Te, pater rerum, miseri precamur :
nulla nascatur fera, nulla pestis,
non duces saevos miseranda tellus
horreat, nulla dominetur aula 1590

1 So Oronovius : Aeacos Leo with E : Aeacumque A.
310

HERCULES OETAEUS

the waves,1 bear thee alone. And yet thou shall
not dwell midst common shades ; midst Aeacus and
the two Cretans 2 shalt thou be, sitting in judgment
on men's deeds, scourging tyrannic kings. Spare, O
ye mighty, restrain your hands. 'Tis thy praise to
have kept the sword unstained and that, what time
thou didst bear sway, fate midst its storms had less
power against thy cities.

1564 But now has thy manhood place amongst the
stars. Wilt occupy the spaces of the north, or
where Titan sends forth his oppressive rays ? Or in
the warm western sky wilt shine, where thou wilt
hear Calpe resound with the charging sea? What
region of the cloudless heavens wilt thou weigh
down? What place, when Alcides comes, will be
safe amidst the stars ? Only may Jove give thee thy
seat far from the dread Lion and the burning Crab,
lest at sight of thee the affrighted stars make turmoil
of their laws and Titan tremble. While flowers shall
bloom as the spring days grow warm ; while winter
shall strip the foliage from the trees, and summer to
the trees recall their foliage ; while fruits shall fall as
autumn takes his flight, no lapse of time shall snatch
thee from the world ; comrade of Phoebus, comrade
of the stars, shalt thou pass on. Sooner shall wheat
sprout from the surface of the deep ; sooner the
roaring waves of the sea be sweet ; sooner shall the
icy Bear come down and enjoy the forbidden waters,
than shall the nations be silent of thy praise.

1587 To thee, father of all, in wretchedness we
pray : let no dread beast be born, no pest ; from the
fear of savage kings keep this poor world free ; let
no one lord it in palace hall who deems it the sole

1 Translating Leo's suggested line.
* Minos and Rhadamanthus.

311

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

qui putet solum decus esse regni
semper impensum tenuisse ferrum.
si quid in terris iterum timetur,
vindicem terrae petimus relictae.

Heu quid hoc ? mundus sonat. ecce maeret,
maeret Alciden pater ; an deorum
clamor, an vox est timidae novercae ?
Hercule an viso fugit astra luno ?
passus an pondus titubavit Atlas?
an magis diri tremuere manes 1600

Herculem et visum canis iiiferorum
fugit abruptis trepidus catenis ?
fallimur ; laeto venit ecce voltu
quern tulit Poeans umerisque tela
gestat et notas populis pharetras,
Herculis heres.

Eflfare casus, iuvenis, Herculeos precor
voltuque quonam tulerit Alcides riecem.

PHILOCTETES 1

Quo nemo vitam.

CHORVS

Laetus adeone ultimos
invasit ignes ?

PHILOCTETES

Esse iam flammas nihil 1610

ostendit ille. quid sub hoc mundo Hercules
immune vinci liquit ? en domita oninia.

CHORVS
Inter vapores quis fuit forti locus ?

1 The dialogue, throughout this scene is given by Leo and
Rirhfer to Xuntius and Chorus, fo/lo>nng E\ to Nutrix and
PhUoctetes A ; since the messenger is obviously Philoctetes (see

312

HERCULES OETAEUS

glory of his realm to have held the sword e'er
threatening. If some dread thing should come
again to earth, oh, give to forsaken earth a champion.
1595 But what is this ? The universe resounds.
Behold, he mourns, the father mourns Alcides ; or is
it the outcry of the gods or the voice of his frighted
step-dame ? At the sight of Hercules does Juno flee
the stars? Under the mighty weight has Atlas
staggered? Or is it that the awful ghosts have
trembled and at sight of Hercules the hell-hound in
affright has broken his chains and fled ? No, we are
wrong ; behold with joyful face comes Poeas' son
and on his shoulders he bears the shafts and the
quiver known to all, the heir of Hercules.

[Enter PHILOCTETES.]

1607 Speak out, good youth, and tell the end of
Hercules, I pray, and with what countenance Alcides
bore his death.

PHILOCTETES

With such as none e'er bore his life.

CHORUS
So joyous did he mount his funeral pyre ?

PHILOCTETES

He showed that now flames were as naught to
him. What 'neath the heavens has Hercules left
by defeat unscathed ? Lo, all things have been
subdued.

CHORUS

Midst the hot flames what room was there for
valour ?

I. 1604) and there is no pertinency in the introduction of the
nurse, we have given the dialogue to Philoctetes and the Chorus.

313

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

PHILOCTKTES

Quod unum in orbe vicerat nondum malum,
et flamma victa est ; haec quoque accessit feris :
inter labores ignis Herculeos abit.

CHORVS
Edissere agedum, flamma quo victa est modo ?

PHILOCTETES

Vt omnis Oeten maesta corripuit manus,
huic fagus umbras perdit et toto iacet
succissa trunco, flectit hie pinum ferox 1620

astris minantein et nube de media vocat ;
ruitura cautem movit et silvam tulit
secum minorem. Chaonis qualis loquax
stat vasta late quercus et Phoebum vetat
ultraque totos porrigit ramos manus ;
gemit ilia multo volnere impresso ininax
frangitque cuneos, resilit incussus chalybs
volnusque ferrum patitur et rigidum est parum.
commota tandem cum cadens latam sui
duxit ruinam, protinus radios locus 630

admisit omnes ; sedibus pulsae suis
volucres pererrant nemore succiso diem
quaeruntque lassis garrulae pinnis domus.
iamque omnis arbor sonuit et sacrae quoque
sensere quercus horridam ferro manum
nullique priscum profuit luco nemus.
aggeritur omnis silva et alternae trabes
in astra tollunt Herculi angustum rogum :

1 See Index s.v. "Chaoiiian Oaks."

2 Oak-trees were especially sacred to Jove.

314

HERCULES OETAEUS

PHILOCTETES

The one enemy on earth which he had not o'ei-
come, e'en fire, is vanquished ; this also has been
added to the beasts ; fire has taken its place midst
the toils of Hercules.

CHORUS

But tell us, in what wise were the flames o'er-
come ?

PHILOCTETES

When the whole sorrowing band fell upon Oeta's
woods, by the hands of one the beech-tree lost its
shade and lay full length, hewn to the ground ; one
fiercely felled a pine-tree, towering to the stars, and
from the clouds' midst he summoned it ; in act to
fall, it shook the rocky slope and with itself brought
down the lesser woods. A huge oak stood, wide
spreading, such as Chaonia's oak 1 of prophecy, ex-
cluding the light of day and stretching its branches
far beyond all the grove. Threat'ning it groaned,
by many a blow beset, and broke the wedges ; back
bounded the smiting steel ; its edge was dulled, too
soft for such a task. When the tree, at last dis-
lodged, falling, brings widespread ruin down, straight-
way the place lets in the sun's full rays ; the birds,
driven from their perches, flit aimless through the
day midst the felled grove, and, loudly complaining,
with wearied wings seek for their nests. And now
every tree resounded, and even the sacred oaks 2 felt
the dread steel-armed hand, and its ancient woods
availed no holy grove.3 The whole forest was piled
into a heap ; and the logs, starward in layers rising,
made all too small a pyre for Hercules — the pine-

8 A deep, primeval forest, for ages left untouched, had
acquired a special sanctity.

315

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

raptura flammas pinus et robur tenax

et brevior ilex silva ; sed complet rogum 1640

populea silva, frontis Herculeae decus.

At ille, ut ingens nemore sub Nasamonio
aegro reclinis pectore immugit leo,
fertur — quis ilium credat ad flammas rapi ?
voltus petentis astra, non ignes erat,
ut pressit Oeten ac suis oculis rogum
lustravit omnem. fregit impositus trabes.
arcus poposcit. "accipe haec " inquit, "sate
Poeante, dona et munus Alcidae cape,
has hydra sensit, his iacent Stymphalides 16.50

et quidquid aliud eminus vici malum.
virtute felix,1 iuvenis, has numquam irritas
mittes in hostem ; sive de media voles
auferre volucres nube, descendent aves
et certa praedae tela de caelo fluent,
nee fallet umquam dexteram hie arcus tuam.
librare tela didicit et certam dare
fugam sagittis, ipsa non fallunt iter
emissa nervo tela. tu tantum precor
accommoda ignes et facem extremam mihi. 1660

hie nodus " inquit " nulla quern cepit manus,
mecum per ignes flagret ; hoc telum Herculem
tantum sequetur. hoc quoque acciperes ' ait
"si ferre posses, adiuvet domini rogum."
turn rigida secum spolia Nemeaei mail
arsura poscit ; latuit in spolio rogus.

Jngemuit omnis turba nee lacrimas dolor
cuiquam remisit. mater in luctum furens
diduxit avidum pectus atque utero tenus

So Gronorius with $- : fvictrice felix Leo with E : victure
felix. has enim numquam irritas A : his utere felix Peiper :
arguing from sive (1653) Leo thinks the other alternative mtist
have begun in 1. 165.1 with some such words as sive eria in acie.

316

HERCULES OETAEUS

tree, quick to burn, the tough-fibred oak, the ilex
of shorter trunk ; but poplar wood, whose foliage
adorns Alcides' brow, filled out the pyre.

1(542 But he, like some huge, suffering lion, which,
in Libyan forest lying, roars out his pain, hurried
along, — who would suppose him hasting to the
flames ? His gaze was of one who seeks the stars,
not fires of earth, when he set foot on Oeta and
with his eyes surveyed the pyre complete. The
great beams broke beneath him. Then for his
shafts and bow he called, and said : " Take these,
thou son of Poeas, take them as Alcides' gift and
pledge of love. These did the Hydra feel ; by
these the StymphaJian birds lie low, and all other
pests which at distance I overcame. O youth with
valour blest, never in vain shalt thou send these
'gainst a foe ; or if birds from the very clouds thou
wouldst fetch away, birds will fall down, and out of
the sky will thy shafts, sure of their prey, come
floating; and ne'er will this bow disappoint thy
hand. Well has it learned to poise the feathered
shafts and unerringly send them flying ; while the
shafts themselves, loosed from the string, fail never
to find their mark. Only do thou, I pray, apply the
fire and set the last torch for me. Let this club,"
he said, " which no hand but mine has wielded, burn
in the flames with me ; this weapon alone shall
follow Hercules. This also shouldst thou have,"
said he, " if thou couldst wield it. Let it add fuel
to its master's pyre." Then did he call for the
Nemean monster's shaggy skin to burn with him ;
'neath the skin the pyre was hidden.

1607 The whole throng set up a lamentation, and
sorrow filled the eyes of all with tears. His mother,
passionate in grief, her eager bosom stript, and she

317

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

exerta vastos ubera in planctus ferit, 1670

superosque et ipsum vocibus pulsans lovem

implevit omneni voce feminea locum.

" deforme letum, mater, Herculeum facis ;

compesce lacrimas" inquit, " introrsus dolor

femineus abeat. luno cur laetum diem

te flente ducat? paelicis gaudet suae

spectare lacrimas. comprime infiraium iecur,

mater ; nefas est ubera atque uterum tibi

laniare, qui me genuit." et dirum fremens,

qualis per urbes duxit Argolicas canem, 1680

cum victor Erebi Dite contempto redit

tremente fato, talis incubuit rogo.

quis sic triumphans laetus in curru stetit

victor ? quis illo gentibus voltu dedit

leges tyrannus ? quanta pax habitum tulit !

haesere lacrimae, cecidit impulsus dolor

nobis quoque ipsis, nemo periturum ingemit.

iam flere pudor est ; ipsa quam sexus iubet

maerere, siccis haesit Alcmene genis

stetitque nato paene iam similis parens. 1690

CHORVS

Nullasne in astra misit ad superos preces
arsurus aut in vota respexit lovem ?

PHILOCTETES

lacuit sui securus et caelum intuens
quaesivit oculis, parte an ex aliqua pater
despiceret ilium, turn manus tendens ait :
" quacumque parte prospicis natum pater
(iste est pater, cui nocte commissa dies

318

HERCULES OETAEUS

smote her breasts, naked e'en to the waist, in endless
lamentation ; and with her cries assailing the gods
and Jove himself, she filled all the region round
with womanish bewailings. " Mother/' he said,
"thou dost disgrace the death of Hercules ; restrain
thy tears and confine thy womanish grief within thy
heart. Why for thy weeping should Juno count this
day joyful ? For she rejoices to see her rival's tears.
Curb thy faint heart, my mother ; 'tis a sin to tear
the breasts and the womb that bore Alcides." Then
with dread mutterings, as when through Argive
towns he dragged the dog, what time, triumphant
over hell, in scorn of Dis and trembling death he
returned to earth, so did he lay him down upon the
pyre. What victor ever stood in his chariot so joy-
fully triumphant? What tyrant king with such a
countenance ever gave laws to nations ? How calmly
he bore his fate ! Even our tears were stayed, griefs
shock subsided, none grieves that he must perish.
Now were we 'shamed to weep ; Alcmena, herself,
whose sex impels to mourning, stood with dry cheeks,
a mother now well-nigh equal to her son.

CHORUS

Sent he no supplications heavenward to the gods
e'er the fire was lit ? Looked he not to Jove to hear
his prayers ?

PHILOCTETES

Careless of self he lay and, gazing at heaven,
quested with his eyes whether from any quarter his
sire looked down at him. Then, with hands out-
stretched, he spoke: "O father, from what quarter
soe'er thou lookest on thy son, (he truly is my
father, for whose sake night joined with day and one

319

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

quievit unus), si meas laudes canit

utrumque Phoebi litus et Scythiae genus

et oninis ardens ora quam torret dies, 1700

si pace tellus plena, si nullae gemunt

urbes nee aras impias quisquam inquinat,

si scelera desunt, spiritum admitte hunc precoi

in astra. non me mortis infernae locus

nee maesta nigri regna conterrent lovis ;

sed ire ad illos umbra, quos vici, deos,

pater, erubesco. nube discussa diem

pande, ut deorum voltus ardeiitem Herculem

spectet ; licet tu sidera et mundum neges,

ultro, pater, cogere — si voces dolor 1710

abstulerit ullas, pande turn Stygios lacus

et redde fatis ; approba natum prius.

ut dignus astris videar, hie faciet dies.

leve est quod actum est ; Herculem hie, genitor, dies

inveniet aut damnabit."

Haec postquam edidit, 1715

flammas poposcit. "hoc age, Alcidae comes 1717
non segnis " inquit " corripe Oetaeam facem ;
noverca cernat quo feram flammas modo.1 171 6

quid dextra tremuit? num manus pavida impium 171.9
scelus refugit ? redde iam pharetras mihi, 1720

ignave iners inermis — en nostros manus
quae tendat arcus ! quid sedet pallor genis?
animo faces invade quo Alciden vides
voltu iacere. respice arsurum, miser.

Vocat ecce iam me genitor et pandit polos,
venio, pater." voltusque non idem fuit.
tremente pinum dextera ardentem impuli ; 2

1 Leo deletes this line, with E : Richter, following Gronovius
places it after I. 1718.

2 So A : Leo impulit with E.

320

HERCULES OETAEUS

day ceased to be,) if both the bounds of Phoebus
sing my praise, the tribes of Scythia and every burn-
ing strand which daylight parches; if peace fills all
the earth ; if no cities groan and no man stains with
sin his altar-fires ; if crimes have ceased, admit this
soul, I pray thee, to the stars. I have no fear of the
infernal realm of death, nor do the sad realms" of
dusky Jove l affright me ; but to go, naught but a
shade, to those gods I overcame, O sire, I am
ashamed. Dispel the clouds, spread wide the day,
that the eyes of gods may gaze on burning Hercules.
Though thou deny me stars and a place in heaven,
O sire, thou shalt even be compelled — ah ! if pain
will excuse any words 2 of mine, then open the
Stygian pools and give me to death again ; but prove
me first thy son. This day will make me seem
worthy ol the stars. Worthless is all that has been
done ; this day, my father, will bring Hercules to
light or doom him."

mo When lie had thus said, he called for fire.
"Up now, Alcides' willing friend," said he, "catch
up the Oetaean torch ; let my step-dame see how 1
can bear the flames. Why did thy right hand
tremble? Did thy hand shrink timid from such
unholy deed ? Then give me my quiver back, thou
undaring, unskilled, un warlike — that the hand to
bend my bow ! Why do thy cheeks grow pale ?
Come, seize on the torch with courage, with face
thou seest on prone Alcides. Poor soul, have sqme
regard for him who soon will burn.

1725 But lo ! now doth my father call me and he
opens heaven. I come, O sire." Then was his face
no more the same. With trembling hand I applied

1 Pluto.

3 i.e. the latest defiant word, "compelled."

321

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

refugit ignis et reluctantur faces

et membra vitant, sed recedentem Hercules

insequitur ignem. Caucasum aut Pindum aut

Athon 1730

ardere credas ; nullus erumpit sonus,
tantum ingemescit ignis, o durum iecur !
Typhon in illo positus immanis rogo
gemuisset ipse quique convulsam solo
imposuit umeris Ossan Enceladus ferox.

At ille medias inter exurgens faces,
semiustus ac laniatus, intrepidum tuens :
" nunc es parens Herculea ; sic stare ad rogum
te, mater," inquit, " sic decet fieri Herculem."
inter vapores positus et flammae minas 1740

immotus, inconcussus, in neutrum latus
correpta torquens membra adhortatur, monet,
gerit aliquid ardens. omnibus fortem addidit
animum ministris ; urere ardentem putes.
stupet omne volgus, vix habent flammae fidem,
tarn placida frons est, tanta maiestas viro.
nee properat uri ; cumque iam forti datum
leto satis pensavit, igniferas trabes
hinc inde traxit, minima quas flamma occupat,
totasque in ignes vertit et quis plurimus 1750

exundat ignis repetit intrepidus ferox.
tune ora flammis implet. ast illi graves
luxere barbae ; cumque iam voltum minax
appeteret ignis, lainberent flammae caput,
non pressit oculos. — sed quid hoc ? maestam intuor
322

HERCULES OETAEUS

the blazing pine ; the flames shrunk back, the torch
resisted and would not touch his limbs ; but Hercules
followed up the shrinking flames. Thou wouldst
suppose that Caucasus or Pindus or Athos was
ablaze ; no sound burst forth, save that the fire
seemed groaning. O stubborn heart ! Had huge
Typhon been lying on that pyre, he would have
groaned aloud, and fierce Enceladus who upon his
shoulders bore Ossa, uptorn from earth.

1736 But Hercules, midst roaring flames upstarting,
all charred and mangled, gazed dauntless round and
cried : " Now art thou parent true of Hercules ; thus
'tis meet that thou shouldst stand, my mother,
beside the pyre, and thus 'tis meet that Hercules be
mourned." Midst scorching heat and threat'ning
flames, unmoved, unshaken, to neither side turning
his tortured limbs, he encourages, advises, is active
still, though all aflame. To all his ministrants stout-
ness of soul he gives ; you would deem him all on
fire to burn. The whole crowd stands in speechless
wonder and the flames have scarce belief,1 so calm
his brow, the hero so majestic. Nor does he speed
his burning ; but when now he deemed that courage
enough had been shown in death, from every side he
dragged the burning logs which the fire least fed
upon, and into that blazing mass he strode and
sought where the flames leaped highest, all unafraid,
defiant. Awhile he feasted his eyes upon the fires.
But now his heavy beard burned bright ; and even
when threat'ning fire assailed his face and the hot
tongues licked about his head, he did not close his
eyes. — But what is this ? I see the sad mother

1 The people hardly believed that the fire was real.

323

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

sinu gerentem reliquias magm Herculis l
crinemque iactans squalid um Alcmene gemit.

ALCMENA

Timete, superi, fata ! tarn parvus cinis
Herculeus, hue hue ille deerevit gigans !
o quanta. Titan, ad nihil moles abit ! 1760

anilis, heu me, recipit Alciden sinus,
hie tumulus illi est. ecce vix totam Hercules
complevit urnam ; quam leve est pondus mihi,
cui totus aether pondus incubuit leve.
ad Tartara olim regnaque, o nate, ultima
rediturus ibas — quando ab inferna Styge
remeabis iterum ? non ut et spolium trahas
rursusque Theseus debeat lucem tibi —
sed quando solus ? mundus impositus tuas
compescet umbras teque Tartareus canis 1770

inhibere poterit ? quando Taenarias fores
pulsabis, aut quas mater ad fauces agar
qua mors aditur ? vadis ad manes iter
habiturus unum. quid diem questu tero ?
quid misera duras vita? quid lucem tenes?
quern parere rursus Herculem possum lovi ?
quis me parentem natus Alcmenen suam
tantus vocabit ? o nimis felix nimis,
Thebane coniunx, Tartan intrasti loca
florente nato teque venientem inferi 1780

timuere forsan, quod pater tantum Herculis,

1 Leo deletes II. 1755, 1756, Richter 1755-1757: the last part
of the speech of Philoctetes is supposed to have fallen out.

324

HERCULES OETAEUS

bearing in her bosom the remains of great Alcides,
and Alcmena, tossing her squalid locks, bewails her
son.

[Enter ALCMFNA, carrying in her bosom a funeral urn.]

ALCMENA

Fear ye the fates, O powers above ! (Holding up
the urn.} See the scant dust of Hercules — to this,
to this has that mighty body shrunk ! O Sun, how
great a mass has passed away to nothingness ! Ah
me, this aged breast can hold Alcides, this is a tomb
for him. See, Hercules has scarce filled all the urn;
how light for me his weight upon whose shoulders
the whole heavens as a light weight rested. Once to
the farthest realms of Tartarus, O son, didst thou go
but to return — Oh, when from infernal Styx wilt
thou come again ? Not in such wise as to bring e'en
spoil with thee, nor that Theseus again may owe
thee the light of day, — but when, though all alone?
Will the whole world, heaped on thee, hold thy
shade, or the hell-hound avail to keep thee back?
When wilt thou batter down the Taenarian * gates,
or to what yawning jaws shall thy mother betake
herself, where is the approach to death ? Thou
takest tliy journey to the dead, and 'twill be thy
only one. Why do I waste time in wailing? W7hy
dost endure, O wretched life ? Why clingest to the
light ? What Hercules can I again bring forth to
Jove ? What son so great will call me mother, will
call me his Alcmena ? Oh, too, too happy thou, my
Theban husband,2 for thou to the realms of Tartarus
didst descend, thy son still living ; at thy approach
the internal ones, perchance, were filled with fear,
merely because thou wast the sire of Hercules, even
1 See Index a.v. " Taenarus." * Amphitryon.

S25

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

vel falsus, aderas — quas petam terras anus,

invisa saevis regibus, si quis tamen

rex est relictus saevus ? ei miserae mihi 1

quicurnque caesos ingemit natus patres,

a me petet supplicia, me cuncti obruent.

si quis minor Busiris aut si quis minor

Antaeus orbem fervidae terret plagae,

ego praeda ducar ; si quis Ismarius greges

Thracis cruenti vindicat, carpent greges 1790

rnea membra diri. forsitan poenas petet

irata luno ; totus hue verget l dolor ;

secura victo tandem ab Alcide vacat,

paelex supersum — a quanta supplicia expetet

ne parere possim ! fecit hie natus mihi

uterum timendum.

Quae petam Alcmene loca ?
quis me locus, quae regio, quae mundi plaga
defendet aut quas mater in latebras agar
ubique per te nota ? sic patriam petam
laresque miseros ? Argos Eurystheus tenet. 1800
niarita Thebas regna et Ismenon petam
thalamosque nostros, in quibus quondam lovem
dilecta vidi ? pro nimis felix, nimis,
si fulminantem et ipsa sensissem lovem !
utinam meis visceribus Alcides foret
exectus infans ! nunc datum est tempus, datum est
videre natum laude certantem lovi,
ut et hoc daretur, scire quid fatum mihi
eripere posset.

1 So Richter with N. Heinsiua : Leo reads furetur with &,
and conjectures exurget.

326

HERCULES OETAEUS

though falsely called. — What lands shall an aired

O •'

woman seek, hated by savage kings, if spite of all
any savage king is left alive ? Oh, woe is me ! All
sons1 who lament their murdered sires will seek
revenge from me ; they all will overwhelm me. If
any young Busiris or if any young Antaeus terrifies
the region of the burning zone,2 I shall be led off as
booty; if any Ismarian 3 seeks revenge for the herds
of the bloody king 4 of Thrace, upon my limbs
will his horrid herds be fed. Juno, perchance, in
anger will seek revenge ; against me will the whole
force of her wrath incline ; though her soul is no
more disturbed by Alcides, o'ercome at last, I, the
concubine, am left — ah ! what punishments will she
inflict, lest I be again a mother ! This son has made
my womb a thing of fear.

1796 Whither shall Alcmena flee? What place,
what region, what quarter of the world will take my
part, or to what hiding-place shall thy mother betake
herself, known everywhere through thee ? Shall I
seek my fatherland and my wretched home ?
Eurystheus is king at Argos. Shall I seek Thebes,
my husband's kingdom, the Ismenus and my bridal
chamber, where once, greatly beloved by him, I
looked on Jove ? Oh, happy, far too happy had I
been, if I myself, too,5 had known Jove's thunder-
bolt ! Oh, would that from my womb the infant
Alcides had been ripped ! But now was the chance
given me, yea 'twas given to see my son vying in
praise with Jove, that this, too, might be given me —
to know of how much fate had power to rob me.

1 i.e. whose fathers Hercules has slain.
3 Both these enemies of Hercules had lived in Africa.
3 i.e. Thracian. 4 Diomedes.
She is thinking of the experience of Semele.

327

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Quis memor vivet tui,

o nate, populus? omne iam ingratum est genus. 1810
petam Cleonas ? Arcadum populos petam
meritisque terras nobiles quaeram tuis ?
hie dira serpens cecidit, hie ales fera,
hie rex cruentus, hie tua fractus manu
qui te sepulto possidet caelum leo.
si grata terra est, populus Alcmenen tuam
defendat omnis. Thracias gentes petam
Hebrique populos ? haec quoque est meritis tuis
defensa tell us ; stabula cum regno iacent.
hie pax cruento rege prostrate data est ; 1820

ubi enim negata est ?

Quod tibi infelix anus
quaeram sepulchrum ? de tuis totus rogis
contendat orbis. reliquias magni Herculis
quis populus aut quae templa, quae gentes rogant ?
quis, quis petit, quis poscit Alcmenes onus ?
quae tibi sepulchra, nate, quis tumulus sat est ?
hie totus orbis ; fama erit titulus tibi.
quid, anime, trepidas ? Herculis cineres tenes ;
complectere ossa; reliquiae auxilium dabunt,
erunt satis praesidia, terrebunt tuae 1830

reges vel umbrae.

HYLLVS

Debitos nato quidem
compesce fletus, mater Alcidae incluti.
non est gemendus nee gravi urgendus prece,

1 Lerna. * The Stymphalian bird.

328

HERCULES OETAEUS

1809 What people will live mindful of thee, O son ?
Now is the whole race ungrateful. Shall I seek
Cleonae ? seek the Arcadian tribes and hunt out the
lands made famous by thy righteous toils ? Here 1
fell the serpent dire, here the bird-monster,2 here 3
fell a bloody king, and here 4 by thy hand subdued,
the lion fell, who, while thou liest buried here, holds
a place in heaven. If earth is grateful, let every
people shield thine Alcmena. Shall I go to the
Thracian peoples, and to Hebrus' tribes? for this
land, too, was defended by thy toils ; low do the
stables5 with the kingdom lie. Here peace was
granted when the bloody king was overthrown ; for
where has it not been granted ?

is^i What tomb for thee shall a luckless old woman
seek? Let the whole world contend for thy remains.
The ashes of mighty Hercules, what people or what
temples, what races desire to have ? Who then, who
seeks, who demands Alcmena's burden b ? What
sepulchre, O son, what tomb is great enough for
thee? Thy tomb is the whole wide world, and fame
shall be thine epitaph. Why, soul of mine, art fear-
ful ? Thou holdst the dust of Hercules; embra'ce
his bones ; his mere dust will bring thee aid, will be
defence enough ; even thy ghost will cause kings to
tremble.

HYLLUS \who seems to have been present during the

preceding scene\

Though truly they are due thy son, restrain thy
tears, mother of Alcides the illustrious. He is
neither to be mourned nor pursued with grievous

3 Egypt, Thrace, or Libya, according as Busiris, Diomedw,
or Antaeus is in her mind. 4 Neniea. 6 i.e. of DiomeJes.
8 i.e. the urn containing the ashes of Hercules.

329

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

virtute quisquis abstulit fatis iter ;
aeterna virtus Herculem fieri vetat.
fortes vetant maerere, degeneres iubent.1

ALCMENA

Sedabo questus vindice arnisso parens ?

HYLLVS

Terra atque pelagus quaque purpureus dies
utrurnque clara spectat Oceanum rota2

ALCMENA

Quot misera in uno condidi natos parens ! 1840
regno carebam, regna sed poteram dare,
unu inter omnes terra quas inatres gerit
votis perperci, nil ego a su peris peti
iiicolume nato ; quid dare Herculeus mihi
non poterat ardor ? quis deus quicquam mihi
negare poterat ? vota in hac fuerant manu ;
quidquid negaret luppiter, daret Hercules,
quid tale genetrix ulla mortalis tulit ?
deriguit aliqua mater ut toto stetit
succisa fetu bisque septenos gregem 18.50

deplanxit una ; gregibus aequari meus
quot ille poterat ? matribus miseris adhuc
exemplar ingens derat — Alcmene dabo.
cessate, matres, pertinax si quas dolor
adhuc iubet lugere, quas luctus gravis
in saxa vertit ; cedite his cunctae malis.
agedum senile pectus, o miserae nianus,
pulsate — et una funeri tan to sat es,

1 Leo deletes this lint.

- Evidently there is a lacuna following this line. LAO $ug-
<jLnts: (non sola raaeres) vindice amisso dolent.

.S30

HERCULES OETAEUS

prayers, whoe'er by his valour hath halted the march
of fate ; his deathless valour forbids to weep for
Hercules. Brave men forbid to mourn, cowards
command.

ALCMENA

When her deliverer is lost, shall a mother abate
her grief?

HYLLUS

Both land and sea and where the shining sun from
his bright car looks down upon both oceans, (not
thou alone dost grieve) all mourn for their lost
deliverer.1

ALCMENA

How many sons has his wretched mother buried
in him alone ! Kingdom I lacked, yet kingdoms
could I give. I only, midst all the mothers whom
the earth contains, refrained from prayer ; naught
from the gods I asked, while my son remained ; for
what could the love of Hercules not grant to me ?
What god could deny me aught ? In my own hands
were the answers to my prayers ; whatever Jove
denied, Hercules could bestow. What son like this
has a mortal mother borne ? Once a mother 2
stiffened into stone when, stripped of her whole
brood, she stood and, one alone, lamented her twice
seven children ; but to how many broods like hers
could my son be compared ? Till now for mother's
grief a measure vast enough was lacking — Alcmena
will furnish it. Then cease, ye mothers, whom
persistent woe still bids to mourn, whom crushing
sorrow has transformed to stone ; yield ye, yea, all of
you, to these my woes. Then come, beat on this
aged breast, O wretched hands, — and canst thou alone

1 Translating Leo's conjecture. 2 Niobe.

331

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

grandaeva anus defecta, quam totus brevi
lain quaeret1 orbis ? expedi in planctus tamen I860
defessa quamquam bracchia ; invidiam ut dels
lugendo facias, advoca in planctus genus.

Ite Alcmenae magnique lovis
plangite natum, cui concepto
lux una peril noctesque duas
contulit Eos : ipsa quiddam
plus luce perit.
totae pariter plangite gentes,
quarum saevos ille tyrannos
iussit Stygias penetrare domos 1870

populisque madens ponere ferrum.
tietum meritis reddite tantis,
totus, totus personet orbis.
fleat Alciden caerula Crete,
magno tellus cara Tonanti ;
centum po]vuli bracchia pulsent ;
nunc Curetes, nunc Corybantes
arma Idaea quassate manu ;
armis ilium lugere decet ;
nunc, nunc funus plangite verum ; 1880
iacet Alcides non minor ipso,
Creta, Tonante.

flete Herculeos, Arcades, obitus,
nondum Phoebe nascente genus ;
iuga Parthenii Nemeaeque 2 sonent
feriatque graves Maenala planctus.
magno Alcidae poscit gemitum

1 Leo fiam quaeret with E, and conjectures iam totus
brevi | concurret orbis : sequetur N. Heinsiu* : conveniet
Koe.fschau : iam peraget Richter.

2 j Nemeaeque Leo with u: Tegeaeque de Wilamowitz:
Pheneique Richter.

332

HERCULES OETAEUS

suffice for loss so vast, an aged spent old woman ?
Soon will the whole world unite to mourn with
thee.1 Yet raise thy arms, however weary, in
lamentation ; that by thy grief thou mayst stir
envy in the gods, summon the whole race of men
unto thy mourning.

[Here follows ALCMENA'S formal song of mourning
accompanied by the usual Oriental gestures of
lamentation]

1863 Come ye, bewail Alcmena's son and mighty
Jove's, for whose conception one day was lost and
lingering dawn joined two nights in one ; something
greater than the day itself is lost. Together lament,
ye nations all, whose cruel tyrants he bade descend
to the abodes of Styx and lay down the sword,
reeking with blood of peoples. To such deserts pay
tribute of your tears ; let all, yea all the world echo
to your laments. Alcides let sea-girt Crete bewail,
land to the great Thunderer dear ; let its hundred
peoples beat upon their arms. Now Cretans, now
priests of Cybele, with your hands clash Ida's
cymbals ; 'tis meet that with arms ye mourn him.
Now, now make him just funeral ; low lies Alcides,
equal, O Crete, to the Thunderer himself. Weep
for Alcides' passing, O Arcadians, who were a people
ere yet the moon was born ; let Parthenius' heights
and Nemea's hills resound and Maenalus smite heavy
blows of grief. The bristly boar, within your fields
laid low, demands lament for great Alcides, and the

1 Translating Leo's conjecture, See critical note 1.

333

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

stratus vestris saetiger agris

alesque sequi iussa sagittas

totum pinna velante diem. 1890

flete Argolicae, flete, Cleonae ;

hie terrentem moenia quondam

vestra leonem fregit nostri

dextera nati ; date Bistoniae

verbera matres gelidusque sonet

planctibus Hebrus ; flete Alciden,

quod non stabulis nascitur infans

nee vestra greges viscera carpunt.

fleat Antaeo libera tellus

et rapta fero plaga Geryonae ; 1900

mecum miserae plangite gentes,

audiat ictus utraque Tethys.

Vos quoque, mundi turba citati,
flete Herculeos, numina, casus ;
vestrum Alcides cervice meus
mundum, superi, caelumque tulit,
cum stelligeri vector Olympi
pondere liber spiravit Atlans.
ubi nunc vestrae, luppiter, arces ?
ubi promissi regia mundi ? 1910

nempe Alcides mortalis obit,
nempe sepultus. quotiens telis
facibusque tuis ille pepercit,
quotiens ignis spargendus erat !
in me saltern iaculare facem
Semelenque puta.

lamne Rlysias, o nate, domus,
iam litus habes ad quod populos
natura vocat ?

an post raptum Styx atra canem
praeclusit iter teque in primo 1920

limine Ditis fata moraiitur ?

334

HERCULES OETAEUS

huge bird whose wings hid all the sky, challenged l
to meet his shafts. Weep, Argive Cleonae, weep ;
here long ago the lion who kept your walls in fear
my son's right hand destroyed. Ye Bistonian dames,
beat your breasts, and let cold Hebrus resound to
your beatings ; weep for Alcides, for no more are
your children born for the stalls,2 nor your offspring
as food for the herds. Weep thou, O land from
Antaeus delivered, ye regions from fierce Geryon
saved ; yea, with me, ye unhappy nations, lament ;
let both seas 3 re-echo your beatings.

1903 YOU too, ye thronging deities of the whirling
heavens, bewail Hercules' fate ; for my Alcides bore
your heavens upon his shoulders, your sky, ye gods
above, when Atlas, starry Olympus' prop, was eased
of his load awhile. Where now are thy heights,
O Jove? Where is the promised4 palace in the sky?
Alcides, mortal, is dead ! mortal, is buried ! How
oft did he save thee thy lightnings, how seldom thy
fire needed hurling ! 5 Against me at least brandish
thy lightning, and deem me Semele.

1916 And now, O son, holdst thou the Elysian seats,
holdst now the shore whither nature calls all peoples?
Or after the dog was stolen has the dark Styx
barred thy way, and on the very threshold of Dis do
the fates delay thee ? What confusion now, my

1 Hercules roused the bird from its Stymphalian lair by
the noise of a great rattle. 9 i.e. of Diomedes.

3 i.e. the eastern and western limits of the sea.

4 Jove had promised Hercules a place in heaven.

6 i.e. Hercules had taken upon himself the punishment of
sinful men.

335

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

quis nunc umbras, nate, turaultus

manesque tenet?

fu«>it abducta navita cumba

et Centauris Thessala motis

ferit attonitos ungula manes

anguesque suos hydra sub undas

territa mersit teque labores,

o nate, timent ?

fallor, fallor vaesana furens ! 1930

nee te manes umbraeque timent,

non Ar«£olico rapta leoni

fulva pellis contecta iuba

laevos operit dira lacertos

vallantque ferae tempora dentes ;

donum pharetrae cessere tuae

telaque mittet iam dextra minor.

vadis inermis, nate, per umbras,

ad quas semper mansurus eris.

vox HERCVL,

Quid me tenentem regna siderei poll 194-0

caeloque tandem redditum planctu iubes
sentire fatum ? parce ; iam virtus mihi
in astra et ipsos fecit ad superos iter.

ALCMENA

Vnde, unde sonus trepidas aures
ferit ? unde meas inhibet lacrimas
fragor ? agnosco victum esse cliaos.

A Styge, nate, redis iterum mihi
fractaque non semel est mors horrida?
vicisti rursus mortis loca
puppis et infernae vada tristia? 1950

336

HERCULES OETAEUS

son, seizes the shadowy spirits ? Does the boatman
draw away his skiff in flight ? Do Thessalian
Centaurs with flying hoofs smite the affrighted
ghosts ? Does the hydra in terror plunge his snaky
heads beneath the waves and do thy toils all fear
thee, O my son? Fooled, fooled am I, distracted, mad!
Nor ghosts nor shadows are afraid of thee ; the fear-
some pelt, stripped from the Argolic lion, with its
tawny mane shields thy left arm no more, and its
savage teeth hedge not thy temples ; thy quiver
thou hast given away and now a lesser hand will
aim thy shafts. Unarmed, my son, thou farest
through the shades, and with them forever shalt
thou abide.

THE VOICE OF HERCULES [from

Why, since I hold the realms of starry heaven and
at last have attained the skies, dost by lamentation
bid me taste of death ? Give o'er ; for now has my
valour borne me to the stars and to the gods them-
selves.

ALCMENA [bewildered.]

Whence, oh, whence falls that sound upon my
startled ears ? Whence do the thunderous tones bid
check my weeping ? Now know I that chaos has
been o'ercome.

1947 From the Styx, O son, art come again to me ?
Broken a second time is the power of grisly death ?
Hast escaped once more death's stronghold and the
infernal skiff's dark pools? Is Acheron's wan stream

337

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

pervius est Acheron iam languidus

et remeare licet soli tibi

nee te fata tenent post funera ?

an tibi praeclusit Pluton iter

et pavidus regni metuit sibi ?

certe ego te vidi flagrantibus

impositum silvis, cum plurimus

in caelum fureret flammae metus.

arsisti — cur te, cur ultima

non tenuere tuas umbras loca ? I960

quid timuere tui manes precor ?

umbra quoque es Diti nimis horrida ?

HERCVLES

Non me gementis stagna Cocyti tenent
nee puppis umbras furva transvexit meas ;
iam parce, mater, questibus ; manes semel
umbrasque vidi. quidquid in nobis tui
mortale fuerat, ignis evictus tulit ;
paterna caelo, pars data est flammis tua.
proinde planctus pone, quos nato paret
genetrix inerti. luctus in turpes eat ; 1970

virtus in astra tendit, in mortem timor.
praesens ab astris, mater, Alcides cano :
poenas cruentus iam tibi Eurystheus dabit ;
curru superbum vecta transcendes caput.
me iam decet subire caelestem plagam ;
inferna vici rursus Alcides loca.
338

HERCULES OETAEUS

retraceable and mayst thou alone recross it ? And
after thy death do the fates hold thee no more ?
Has Pluto barred thy way, and trembling feared for
his own sovereignty? Surely upon the blazing logs
I saw thee laid, when the vast, fearful flames raged
to the sky. Thou wast consumed — why, why did the
bottomless abyss not gain thy shade ? What part of
thee did the ghosts fear, I pray ? Is e'en thy shade
too terrible for Dis ?

HERCULES [his form now taking shape in the air above,]

The pools of groaning Cocytus hold me not, nor
has the dark skiff borne o'er my shade ; then cease
thy laments, my mother ; once and for all have I
seen the shadowy ghosts. Whate'er in me was mortal
and of thee, the vanquished flame has borne away1
my father's part to heaven, thy part to the flames has
been consigned. Cease then thy lamentations which
to a worthless son might well be given. Let tears
for the inglorious flow ; valour fares starward, fear, to
the realm of death. In living presence, mother,
from the stars Alcides speaks; soon shall bloody
Eurystheus make thee full recompense; o'er his
proud head shalt thou in triumph ride. But now 'tis
meet that I pass to the realm above ; Alcides once
again has conquered hell.

[He vanishes from sight.]

1 Both text and meaning are doubtful here. The sense seems
to be that though the mortal part of Hercules has been
consumed by the flames, they have in reality been vanquished
by his spirit.

339

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ALCMENA

Mane parumper — cessit ex oculis, abit,
in astra fertur. fallor an voltus putat
vidisse natum ? misera mens incredula est —
es numen et te mundus aeternum tenet ; 1980

credo triumphis.

Regna Thebarum petara
novumque templis additum numen canam.

CHORV8

Numquam Stygias fertur ad umbras
inclita virtus, vivunt fortes
nee Lethaeos saeva per amnes
vos fata trahent, sed cum sunimas
exiget horas consumpta dies,
iter ad superos gloria pandet.

Sed tu, domitor magne ferarum
orbisque simul pacator, ades ; 1990

nunc quoque nostras respice terras,
et si qua novo belua voltu
quatiet populos terrore gravi,
tu fulminibus frange trisulcis —
fortius ipso genitore tuo
fulmina mitte.

HERCULES OETAEUS

ALCMENA

Stay but a little ! — he has vanished from my sight,
is gone, to the stars faring. Am I deceived or do my
eyes but deem they saw my son? My soul for very
grief cannot believe it. — But no ! thou art divine,
and deathless the heavens possess thee. In thy
triumphant entrance I believe.

1981 New- will 1 take me to the realm of Thebes and
there proclaim the new god added to their temples.

[Exit.

CHORUS

Never to Stygian shades is glorious valour borne.
The brave live on, nor shall the cruel fates bear you
o'er Lethe's waters ; but when the last day shall
bring the final hour, glory will open wide the path
to heaven.

1989 But do thou, O mighty conqueror of beasts,
peace-bringer to the world, be with us yet ; still as
of old regard this earth of ours ; and if some strange -
visaged monster cause us with dire fear to tremble^
do thou o'ercome him with the forked thunder-
bolts— yea, more mightily than thy father's self the
thunders hurl.

341

PHOENISSAE

DRAMATIS PERSON AE

OEDIPUS, late, king of Thtbes.

ANTIGONE, daughter of Oedipus, constant to him in his mis-
fortunes.

JOCASTA, ivife and mother of Oedipus.

POLYNICES,^

}- sons of Oedijnts and rivals for the throne.
ETEOCLES, J

MESSENGER.

THE SCENE is laid, first in the wild country to which
Oedipus, accompanied by Antigone, has betaken himself;
then in Thebes ; and lastly in the plain before Thebes.

THE TIME is three years after the downfall of Oedipus.

ARGUMENT

THE stroke of fate, that has been threatening Oedipus
since long before his birth, has fallen at last, and he has
.done the thing he feared to do. And now, self-blinded
and self-exiled from his land, he has for three years
wandered in rough and trackless places, attended by
Antigone, his daughter, who, alone of all his friends, has
condoned his fated sins and remained attached to him.

Meanwhile his sons, though they agreed to reign alter-
nate years, are soon to meet in deadly strife ; for Etcocles,
although his year of royal power is at an end, refuses to
give up the throne ; and now Polynices, who has in exile
wed the daughter of Adrastus, king of Argos, is march-
ing against the gates of Thebes, with seven great armies
to enforce his rights.

[By a different version from the " Oedipus," Jocasta
did not slay herself at once as in that tale, but still is
living on in grief and shame, and strives to reconcile her
sons.]

PHOENISSAE

OEDIPVS

CAECI parentis regimen et fessi unicum
lateris levamen, nata, quam tanti est mihi
genuisse vel sic, desere infaustum patrem.
in recta quid deflectis errantem gradum ?
permitte labi ; melius inveniam viam,
quam quaero, solus, quae me ab hac vita extrahat
et hoc nefandi capitis aspectu levet
caelum atque terras, quantulum hac egi manu ?
11011 video noxae conscium nostrae diem,
sed videor. hinc iam solve inhaerentem manum 10
et patere caecum qua volet ferri pedem.
ibo, ibo qua praerupta protendit iuga
meus Cithaeron, qua peragrato celer
per saxa monte iacuit Actaeon suis
nova praeda canibus, qua per obscurum nemus
silvamque opacae vallis instinctas deo
egit sorores mater et gaudens malo
vibrante fixum praetulit thyrso caput ;
vel qua cucurrit, corpus inlisum trahens,
Zethi iuvencus, qua per horrentes rubos 20

1 In the corresponding Greek play a chorus of Phoenician
maidens on their way to Delphi chanced to be at Thebes.
This circumstance gives the play its name.

346

PHOENISSAE,1 OR THEBAIS

A FRAGMENT

OEDIPUS

[To ANTIGONE, who has followed him into exile. "\
THOU guide of thy blind father's steps, his weary
side's sole stay, daughter, whose getting, even so,
was worth the cost to me, quit thou thy heaven-cursed
sire. Why into right paths wouldst turn aside my
wandering feet ? Let me stumble on ; better alone
shall I find the way I seek, the way which from this
life shall deliver me and free heaven and earth from
sight of this impious head. How little did I
accomplish with this hand ! I do not see the light,
witness of my crime, but I am seen. Therefore,
now unclasp thy clinging hand and let my sightless
feet wander where they will. I'll go, I'll go where my
own Cithaeron lifts his rugged crags ; where, speed-
ing over the mountain's rocky ways, Actaeon lay at
last, strange quarry for his own hounds ; where,
through the dim grove and woods of the dusky
glade, a mother2 led her sisters, by the god impelled,
and, rejoicing in the crime, bore in advance the
head s fixed on a quivering thyrsus ; or where
Zethus' bull rushed along, dragging a mangled
corpse, while through the thorny brambles the mad

8 Agave, who with her sisters, in a frenzy inspired by
Bacchus, slew her son, Pentheus.
8 i.e. of Pentheus.

347

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

tauri ferocis sanguis ostendit fugas ;
vel qua alta maria vertice immense premit
Inoa rupes, qua scelus fugiens novum
novumque faciens mater insiluit freto
mersura natum seque. felices quibus
fortuna melior tarn bonas matres dedit.

Est alius istis noster in silvis locus,
qui me reposcit, hunc petam cursu incite ;
non haesitabit gressus, hue omni duce
spoliatus ibo. quid moror sedes meas ? SO

mortem, Cithaeron, redde et hospitium mihi
illud meum restitue, ut expirem senex
ubi debui infans. recipe supplicium vetus.
semper cruente saeve crudelis ferox,
cum occidis et cum parcis, olim iam tuum
est hoc cadaver : perage mandatum patris,
iam et matris. animus gestit antiqua exequi
supplicia. quid me, nata, pestifero tenes
amore vinctum ? quid tenes ? genitor vocat.
sequor, sequor, iam parce — sanguineum gerens 40
insigne regni Laius rapti furit ;
en ecce, inanes manibus infestis petit
foditque vultus. nata, genitorem vides ?
ego video, tandem spiritum inimicum expue,
desertor anime, fortis in partem tui.
omitte poenae languidas longae moras,
mortemque totam admitte. quid segnis traho
quod vivo ? nullum facere iam possum scelus.
possum miser, praedico — discede a patre,
discede, virgo. timeo post matrem omnia. 50

348

PHOENISSAE

creature's flight was traceable in blood; or where
Ino's cliff juts out into the deep sea with tower-
ing peak, where, fleeing strange crime and yet
strange crime committing, a mother leaped into the
strait to sink both son and self.1 Oh, happy they
whose better fortune has given such kindly mothers !
27 There is another place within these woods, my
own place, which calls for me ; I would fain hasten to
it; my steps will falter not; thither will I go bereft
of every guide. Why keep my own place waiting .*
Death, O Cithaeron, give me back ; restore me that
restinsr-place of mine, that I may die in a^e where I

*

should have died in infancy. Claim now that penalty
of old. O ever bloody, savage, cruel, fierce, both
when thou slayest and when thou sparest, this carcass
of mine long since belonged to thee ; fulfil my father's
behest — aye, and now mv mother's too. My soul

J * * *

yearns to suffer the penalty of long ago. Why,
daughter, dost hold me bound by thy baleful love ?
Why dost thou hold me? Mv father calls. I come.

•/ *

I come ; at last let me go - — Laius rages yonder,
wearing the blood-stained badge of his ravished
kingdom ; see ! behold ! there he assails and seeks to
tear at my sightless countenance with his threatening
hands. Daughter, dost see my father ? I surely see
him. [He soliloquizes.] At length spew out thy hateful
breath, O traitor soul, brave 'gainst but a portion of
thyself. Away with the slow delays of thy long-
due punishment ; receive death wholly. Why do
I sluggishly drag on this life? Now can I do no
crime. I can, wretch that I am, this I forebode — away

from thy father, away, while still a maid. After mv
j , ' .

mother I fear all happenings.

1 See Index a.v. "Ino."

3 i.e. (to his daughter) " spare me thy further opposition."

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ANTIGONA

Vis nulla, genitor, a tuo nostram manum
corpora resolvet, nemo me comitem tibi
eripiet umquam. Labdaci claram domum,
opulenta ferro regna germani petant ;
pars summa magno patris e regno mea est,
pater ipse. non hunc auferet frater mihi
Thebana rapto sceptra qui regno tenet,
non hunc catervas alter Argolicas agens ;
non si revulso luppiter mundo tonet
mediumque nostros fulmen in nexus cadat, 60

manum hanc remittam. prohibeas, genitor, licet;
regam abnuentem, dirigam inviti gradum.
in plana tendis ? vado ; praerupta appetis ?
non obsto, sed praecedo ; quo vis utere
duce me : dwobus omnis eligitur via.
perire sine me non potes, mecum potes.
hie alta rupes arduo surgit iugo
spectatque longe spatia subiecti maris,
vis hanc petamus ? nudus hie pendet silex,
hie scissa tellus faucibus ruptis hiat ; 70

vis hanc petamus ? hie rapax torrens cadit
partesque lapsi montis exesas rotat ;
in hunc ruamus ? dum prior, quo vis eo.
non deprecor, non hortor. extingui cupis
votumque, genitor, maximum mors est tibi ?
si moreris, antecedo ; si vivis, sequor.
sed flecte mentem, pectus antiquum advoca
victasque magno robore aerumnas doma ;
resiste ; tantis in malis vinci mori est.
350

PHOEN1SSAE

ANTIGONE

No force, my father, shall loose my hold of thee ;
no one shall ever tear me from thy side. The
sovereignty of Labdacus' noble house and all its
riches — let my brothers fight over these ; the best
part of my father's mighty kingdom is my own, my
father's self. Him no brother shall take from me,
not he l who holds the Theban sceptre by stolen
right, not he 2 who is leading the Argive hosts ;
no, though Jove should rend the universe with his
thunders, and his bolt fall 'twixt our embrace, I
will not let go my hands. Thou mayst forbid me,
father; I'll guide thee against thy will, I'll direct
thine unwilling feet. Wouldst go to the level plain ?
I go. Wouldst seek the craggy mountains? I
oppose not, but I go before. Whither thou wilt,
use me as guide ; by two will all paths be chosen.
Without me thou canst not perish ; with me thou
canst. Here rises a cliff, lofty, precipitous, and looks
out upon the long reaches of the underlying sea;
wouldst have us seek it ? Here is a bare rock over-
hanging, here the riven earth yawns with gaping
jaws ; shall we go here ? Here a raging torrent
falls and rolls along worn fragments of the fallen
mountains ; shall we plunge to this ? Where'er
thou wilt, I go, so it be first. I neither oppose nor
urge. Art eager to be destroyed, and is death,
father, thy highest wish? If thou diest, I go before
thee ; if thou livest, I follow. But change thy
purpose ; summon up thine old-time courage ;
conquer thy sorrows and with all thy might be
master of them, resist them ; amidst such woes, to
be conquered is to die.

1 Eteoclea. 2 Polynices.

351

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

OEDIPVS

Vnde in nefanda specimen egregium domo ? 80
unde ista generi virgo dissimilis suo ?
Fortuna, credis ? aliquis est ex me pius?
non esset umquam, fata bene novi mea,
nisi ut noceret. ipsa se in leges novas
natura vertit ; regeret in fontern citas
revolutus undas amnis, et noctem afferet
Phoebea lampas, Hesperus faciet diem ;
ut ad miserias aliquid accedat meas,
pii quoque erimus. unica Oedipodae est sal us,
non esse salvum. liceat ulcisci patrem 90

adhuc inultum ; dextra quid cessas iners
exigere poenas? quidquid exactum est adliuc,
matri dedisti. mitte genitoris inanum,
animosa virgo ; funus extendis meum
longasque vivi ducis exequias patris.
aliquando terra corpus invisum tege ;
peccas honesta mente, pietatem vocas
patrem insepultum trahere. qui cogit mori
nolentem in aequo est quique properantem impedit ;
occidere est vitare cupientem mori,1 100

nee tamen in aequo est ; alterum gravius reor.
malo imperari quam eripi mortem mihi.
desiste coepto, virgo ; ius vitae ac necis
meae penes me est. regna deserui libens,
rejnium mei retineo. si fida es comes,

O '

ensem parent! trade, sed notum nece

ensem paterna. tradis ? an nati tenent

cum regno et ilium ? facinore ubicumque est opus,

ibi sit — relinquo ; natus hunc habeat meus,

1 Leo deletes this line.
352

PHOENISSAE

OEDIPUS

Whence this rare type in a house so impious ?
Whence this maid so unlike her race ? Is it fortune.,
thinkst thou? Has any dutiful child sprung from
me ? Never would it be so, for well I know my fate,
save for harmful ends. Nature herself has reversed
her laws ; now will the river turn and bear its swift
waters backward to their source, Phoebus' torch
will bring in the night, and Hesperus herald the
day ; and, that something be added to my woes, I, too,
shall become holy. For Oedipus the only salvation
is not to be saved. Let me avenge my father, till
now unavenged ; why, sluggish hand, dost thou hesi-
tate to exact penalty ? All thou hast as yet exacted,
to my mother hast thou given. Let go thy father's
hand, courageous girl ; thou dost but protract my
burying, and prolong the funeral rites of a living
sire. Bury in the earth at last this hateful body ;
thou wrongst me, though with kind intent, and
thou deemst it piety to drag along an unburied
father. 'Tis all one — to force him who shrinks from
death, and stay him who seeks to die ; 'tis the same
as killing to forbid death to him who wants it ; and
yet 'tis not all one ; the second course I count the
worse. Rather would I have death enforced than
snatched from me. Desist, girl, from thine attempt ;
the right to live or die is in my own hands. The
sovereignty over my realm have I yielded gladly;
the sovereignty over myself I keep. If thou art
true comrade, hand thy sire a sword, but be it the
sword made famous by his father's slaughter. Dost
give it ? or hold my sons that, too, together with my
kingdom ? Wherever is need of crime, there let it be
— I relinquish it ; let my son have it — nay, both my

353

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

sed uterque. flammas potius et vastum aggerem 1 10

compone ; in altos ipse me immittam rogos,

haerebo ad ignes, funebri abscondar strue ;

pectusque solvam durum et in cinerem dabo

hoc quidquid in me vivit. ubi saevum est mare ?

due ubi sit altis prorutum saxis iugum,

ubi torva rapidus ducat Ismenos vada.1 116

si dux es, illuc ire morituro placet, 118

ubi sedit alta rupe semifero dolos

Sphinx ore nectens. dirige hue gressus pedum, 120

hie siste patrem. dira ne sedes vacet,

monstrum repone maius. hoc saxum insidens

obscura nostrae verba fortunae loquar,

quae nemo solvat. quisquis Assyrio loca

possessa regi scindis et Cadmi nemus

serpente notum, sacra quo Dirce latet,

supplex adoras, quisquis Eurotan bibis

Spartamque fratre nobilem gemino colis,

quique Elin et Parnason et Boeotios

colonus agros uberis tondes soli, 130

adverte mentem — saeva Thebarum lues

luctifica caecis verba committens modis

quid simile posuit ? quid tarn inextricabile ?

avi gener patrisque rivalis sui,

frater suorum liberum et fratrum parens ;

uno avia partu liberos peperit viro,

sibi et nepotes. monstra quis tanta explicat ?

ego ipse, victae spolia qui Sphingis tuli,

haerebo fati tardus interpres mei.

2
*****

1 Leo deletes line 117 : due ubi ferae sunt, ubi fretum, ubi
praeceps locus.

2 A speech of Antigone may have dropped out at this point,
or Oedipus may hark back to the earlier speech of Antigone

354

PHOENISSAE

sons. Flames, if thou prefer, and a huge mound
prepare ; myself, will I fling me on the lofty pyre,
embrace the flames, and hide in the funeral pile.
There will I set free this stubborn soul and give up
to ashes this — all that is left of me alive. Where is
the raging sea ? Lead me where some beetling crag
juts out with its high, rocky cliff, or where swift
Ismenus rolls his wild waters. If thou art my guide,
thither would I go to die where on a high cliff the
Sphinx once sat and wove crafty speech with her
half-bestial lips. Guide my feet thither, there set
thy father. Let not that dreadful seat be empty,
but place thereon a greater monster. On that rock
will I sit and propound the dark riddle of my fate
which none may answer. All ye who till the fields
once ruled by the Assyrian king,1 who suppliant
worship in the grove of Cadmus for the serpent
famed, where sacred Dirce lies ; all ye who drink of
the Eurotas, who dwell in Sparta for its twin
brethren 2 famous ; ye farmers who reap Elis and
Parnassus and Boeotia's fertile fields, give ear. That
dire pest of Thebes, who wrapped death-dealing
words in puzzling measures, what riddle like ;this
did she ever propound ? What maze so bewildering ?
He was Ids grandfather s son-in-law and his father s
rival, brother of his children and father of his brothers ;
at one birth the grandmother bore children to her husband

O

and grandchildren to herself. Who can unfold a coil
so monstrous ? Even I, who gained spoils from the
conquered Sphinx, shall prove but slow in unriddling
mine own doom.

*****
1 Cadmus. 8 Castor and Pollux.

after a dramatic pause. Leo holds that the hiatus is, as
Swoboda thinks, left by the poet himself.

355

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Quid perdis ultra verba ? quid pectus ferum 140
mollire temptas precibus ? hoc animo sedet
effundere hanc cum morte luctantem diu
animam et tenebras petere ; nam sceleri haec meo
parum alta nox est ; Tartaro condi iuvat,
et si quid ultra Tartarum est; tandem libet
quod olim oportet. morte prohiberi baud queo.
ferrum negabis ? noxias lapsu vias
eludes et artis colla laqueis inseri
prohibebis ? herbas quae ferunt letum auferes ?
quid ista tandem cura proficiet tua ? 1 50

ubique mors est. optume hoc cavit deus :
eripere vitam nemo non homini potest,
at nemo mortem ; mille ad hanc aditus patent,
nil quaero. dextra noster et nuda solet
bene animus uti — dextra, nunc toto impetu,
toto dolore, viribus totis veni.
non destino unum vulneri nostro locum —
totus nocens sum ; qua voles mortem exige.
effringe pectus corque tot scelermn capax
evelle, totos viscerum nuda sinus. 160

fractum incitatis ictibus guttur sonet
laceraeque fixis unguibus venae fluant.
aut dirige iras quo soles ; haec vulnera
rescissa multo sanguine ac tabe inriga,
hac extrahe animam duram, inexpugnabilem.
et tu, parens, ubicumque poenarum arbiter
adstas mearum — non ego hoc tantum scelus
ulla expiari credidi poena satis
umquam, nee ista morte contentus fui,
nee me redemi parte ; membratim tibi 170

356

PHOENISSAE

340 Why dost thou waste further words? Why dost
try to soften my hard heart with prayers ? My will
is fixed to pour forth this life which has long been
struggling with death, and to seek the nether dark-
ness ; for this deep night is not deep enough for my
crime ; in Tartarus would I be buried, or if there be
aught deeper than Tartarus ; 'tis pleasing to do at
last what long ago I should have done. I cannot be
kept from death. Wilt withhold the sword? Wilt
bar paths where I might fall to death ? Wilt keep
my neck from the choking noose ? Wilt remove
death -bringing herbs ? What, pray, will that care of
thine accomplish ? Death is everywhere. This hath
God with wisdom excellent provided : of life anyone
can rob a man, but of death no one ; to this a thousand
doors lie open. I ask for naught. This right hand,
though bare, my soul hath practice to use well — O
hand of mine, come now with all thy force, with all
thy smarting rage, with all thy might. Not one spot
only do I mark out for the wound — I am all sin ;
inflict death where thou wilt. Break through my
breast and tear out my heart, which has room for so
many crimes ; lay bare my vitals, every nook ; rain
resounding blows upon my neck until it break, and
let my veins flow, torn by my gouging fingers. Or
aim thy mad attack at the accustomed place ; l these
wounds reopen ; bathe them in streams of blood and
gore ; through this passage drag out my stubborn life,
impregnable. And do thou, my father, where'er thou
standst as arbiter of my sufferings — I have never
deemed that this grievous crime of mine was
sufficiently atoned by any suffering, nor have I been
content with such death as this, nor have I bought
my pardon with a portion of myself; limb by limb

JHis eyes.

S57

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

perire volui — debitum tandem exige.

nunc solvo poenas, tune tibi inferias dedi.

ades atque inertem dexteram introrsus preme

magisque merge ; timida tune parvo caput

libavit haustu vixque cuplentes sequi

eduxit oculos. haeret etiam nunc mihi

ille animus, haeret, cum recusantem manum

pressere vultus. audies verum, Oedipus :

minus eruisti lumina audacter tua,

quam praestitisti. nunc manum cerebro indue ; 1 SO

hac parte mortem perage qua coepi mori.

ANTIGONA

Pauca, o parens magnanime, miserandae precor
ut verba natae mente placata audias.
non te ut reducam veteris ad speciem domus
habitumque regni flore pollentem inclito
peto aut ut iras, temporum haut ipsa mora
fractas, remisso pectore ac pi acid o feras ;
at hoc decebat roboris tanti virum,
non esse sub dolore nee victum malis
dare terga ; non est, ut putas, virtus, pater 1 90

timere vitam, sed malis ingentibus
obstare nee se vertere ac retro dare,
qui fata proculcavit ac vitae bona
proiecit atque abscidit et casus suos
oneravit ipse, cui deo nullo est opus,
quare ille mortem cupiat aut quare petat?
utrumque timidi est ; nemo contempsit mori
qui concupivit. cuius haut ultra mala
exire possunt, in loco tuto est situs.
358

PHOENISSAE

have I desired to die for thee — at length exact the
debt. Now am I paying my penalty ; before, I did
but offer sacrifices to thy ghost. Come to my aid,
help me to plunge my nerveless hand deep down and
deeper ; timidly, aforetime, and with but a meagre
outpouring did it sprinkle my head, when it scarce
drew forth the eyes that yearned to follow. Even
now this soul of mine halts, yes halts, when my face
has bent downward to mv shrinking hands. Thou
shalt hear the truth, Oedipus : less boldly didst
thou pluck out thine eyes than thou didst undertake
to do. Thrust now thy hand e'en to the brain ;
through that door whereby I began to die fulfil my
death.

ANTIGONE

Father, great-souled, I beseech thee that with
calm mind thou listen to some few words of thy
wretched daughter. I seek not to lead thee back
again to the splendours of thine ancient home, and
to thy royal estate, flourishing in power and fame ;
nor do I ask that thou bear with calm and peaceful
soul that tempest of passion which has not been
allayed even by lapse of time ; and yet 'twere fitting
that one so stalwart should not yield to pain nor
turn in flight, by disaster overcome. It is not man-
hood, father, as thou deemst it, to shrink from life,
but to make stand against mighty ills and neither
turn nor yield. He who has trodden destiny under
foot, who has torn off and thrown away life's blessings,
and himself piled up the burden of his woes, who has
no need of God, wherefore should he desire death, or
wherefore seek it? Each is a coward's act ; no one
despises death who yet yearns for it. He whose
misfortunes can no further go, is safely lodged.

359

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Quis iam deorum, velle fac, quicquam potest 200
mails tuis adicere ? iam nee tu potes
nisi hoc, ut esse te putes dignum nece.
non es nee ulla pectus hoc culpa attigit.
et hoc magis te, genitor, insontem voca,
quod innocens es dis quoque invitis. quid est
quod te efferarit, quod novos suffixerit
stimulos dolori ? quid te in infernas agit
sedes, quid ex his pellit ? ut eareas die ?
cares, ut altis nobilem muris domum
patriamque fugias ? patria tibi vivo perit. 210

natos fugis matremque ? ab aspectu omnium
fortuna te summovit, et quidquid potest
auferre cuiquam mors, tibi hoc vita abstulit.
regni tumultus ? turba fortunae prior
abscessit a te iussa — quern, genitor, fugis ?

OEDIPVS

Me fugio, fugio conscium scelerum omnium
pectus, manumque hanc fugio et hoc caelum et deos ;
et dira fugio scelera quae feci innocens.1
ego hoc solum, frugifera quo surgit Ceres,
premo ? has ego auras ore pestifero traho ? 220

ego laticis haustu satior aut ullo fruor
almae parentis munere ? ego castam manum
nefandus incestificus exsecrabilis
attrecto ? ego ullos aure concipio sonos,
per quos parentis nomen aut nati audiam ?
utinam quidem rescindere has quirem vias

1 Leo deletes this line.
360

PHORNISSAE

200 Who now of the gods, granting he wills it so, can
add aught to thy misfortunes ? Now not even canst
thou add aught save this, to deem thyself worthy of
death. Thou art not worthy, nor has any taint of
guilt touched thy heart. And for this all the more,
father, call thyself guiltless ; for thou art guiltless,
though even the gods willed otherwise. What is it
which has so maddened thee, which has goaded thy
grief afresh ? What drives thee to the infernal
regions ? What forces thee out of these ? That
thou mayst avoid the light of day? Thou dost
avoid it. That thou mayst flee thy noble palace
with its high walls, and thy native land ? Thy
native land, though thou still livest, is dead to thee.
Dost flee from thy sons and mother? From the
sight of all men fate has removed thee, and whatever
death can take away from any man, this has life taken
from thee. Wouldst avoid the tumult around a
throne ? They who once in prosperity thronged
around thee, at thy command have left thee. Whom
dost thou flee, my father ?

OEDIPUS

Myself I flee ; I flee my heart conscious of all
crimes ; I flee this hand, this sky, the gods ; I flee
the dread crimes which I committed, though in
innocence. Do I tread this earth from which whole-
some grain springs up ? This air do I inhale with
pestilential lips? Does water quench my thirst,
or do I enjoy any gift of kindly mother earth ?
Do I, impious, incestuous, accursed, touch thy pure
hand ? Do my ears take in sound by which I may
still hear the name of parent or of son ? I would
indeed that I might destroy these paths and might

361

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

manibusque adactis omne qua voces meant

aditusque verbis tramite angusto patet

eruere possem ; nata, iam sensum tui,

quae pars meorum es criminum, infelix pater 230

fugissem.

Inhaeret ac recrudescit nefas
subinde, et aures ingerunt quidquid mihi
donastis, oculi. cur caput tenebris grave
non mitto ad umbras Ditis aeternas ? quid hie
manes meos detineo ? quid terram gravo
mixtusque superis erro ? quid restat mali ?
regnum parentes liberi, virtus quoque
et ingeni sollertis eximium decus
periere, cuncta sors mihi infesta abstulit.
lacrimae supererant — has quoque eripui mihi. 240

Absiste ! nullas animus admittit preces
novamque poenam sceleribus quaerit parem.
et esse par quae poterit ? infanti quoque
decreta mors est. fata quis tarn tristia
sortitus umquam ? videram nondum diem
uterique nondum solveram clausi moras,
et iam timebar. protinus quosdam editos
nox occupavit et novae luci abstulit ;
mors me antecessit ; aliquis intra viscera
materna letum praecoquis fati tulit ; 250

sed numquid et peccavit ? abstrusum, abditum
dubiumque an essem sceleris infandi reum
deus egit ; illo teste damnavit parens
calidoque teneros transuit ferro pedes
et in alta nemora pabulum misit feris

362

PHOENISSAE

with my hands driven deep pluck out every part
where voices enter and where a narrow passage gives
access to the words of men ; then, daughter, thy
wretched father would have escaped all consciousness
of thee, who art part and parcel of my crimes.

231 My guilt sticks fast within me, threatens each
moment to break out afresh, and my ears pour in upon
me all that you, my eyes, have bestowed.1 Why do
I not plunge this life, weighted with gloom, down to
the everlasting shades of Dis ? Why here do I detain
my ghost ? Why do I burden the earth and wander
amongst the living ? What evil is left for me ? My
kingdom, parents, children, my manhood, too, and
the illustrious fame of my cunning wit — all these
have perished, all have been stripped from me by
hostile chance. Tears were still left me — of these,
too, have I robbed myself.

241 Stand off ! My soul will not listen to any prayers
and seeks some new punishment to match its crimes.
And what match can there be ? Even in my infancy
I was doomed to death. Who ever drew lot so sad ?
I had not yet seen the light, was still imprisoned in
the womb, and already I was held in fear. Some
there are whom straightway at birth night hath
seized upon and snatched from their first dawn ; but
on me death came ere birth. Some, while still
within the mother's womb, have suffered untimely
death ; but have they sinned also ? Hidden away,
confined, my very being in doubt, the god made
me guilty of a charge unspeakable. On that charge
my sire condemned me, spitted my slender ankles
on hot iron, and sent me to the deep forest as prey

1 Oedipus paradoxically deems that his eyes in their blind-
ness bestow on him the boon of avoiding sight ; but his ears

still bring Antigone to his consciousness.

363

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

avibusque saevis quas Cithaeron noxius

cruore saepe regio tinctas alit.

sed quern deus damnavit, abiecit pater,

mors quoque refugit. praestiti Del phis fidem ;

genitorem adortus impia stravi nece. 260

hoc alia pietas redimet : occidi patrem,

sed matrem — amavi. proloqui hymenaeum pudet

taedasque nostras. has quoque invitum pati

te coge poenas ; facinus ignotum efferum

inusitatum effare quod populi horreant,

quod esse factura nulla non aetas neget,

quod parricidam pudeat : in patrios toros

tuli paterno sanguine aspersas manus

scelerisque pretium maius accepi scelus.

Leve est paternum facinus ; in thalamos meos 270
deducta mater, ne parum sceleris foret,
fecunda — nullum crimen hoc maius potest
natura ferre. si quod etiamnum est tamen,
qui facere possunt dedimus. abieci necis
pretium paternae sceptrum et hoc iterum manus
armavit alias ; optime regni mei
fatum ipse novi ; nemo sine sacro feret
illud cruore. magna praesagit mala
paternus animus, iacta iam sunt semina
cladis futurae ; spernitur pacti fides. 280

hie occupato cedere imperio negat,
ius ille et icti foederis testes deos
invocat et Argos exul atque urbes movet
Graias in arma. non levis fessis venit
ruina Thebis ; tela flammae vulnera

364

PHOENISSAE

for wild beasts and savage birds which baleful
Cithaeron, oft stained with royal blood, doth breed.
Yet him whom God condemned, whom his sire cast
away, hath death also shunned. I kept faith with
Delphi ; I assailed my father and with impious
death-stroke slew him. For this another act of
piety will atone ; I killed my father, true, but my
mother — I loved. Oh, 'tis shame to speak of wed-
lock and my marriage torches. But this punishment
also force thyself to bear though against thy will ;
proclaim thy crime, unheard of, bestial, unexampled,
at which nations would shudder, which no age
would believe ever befell, which would put even a
parricide to shame : into my father's bed I bore hands
smeared with my father s blood, and there, as the reward
of my crime, I did worse crime.

270 A trivial sin is my father's murder ; my mother,
brought to my marriage chamber, that my guilt might
be complete, conceived — no greater crime than this
can nature brook. And yet, if there is even now
worse crime, we have given the world those who can
commit it. I have flung away the sceptre, price of
my father's murder, and this, again, has armed other
hands. I myself best know my kingdom's destiny ;
no one unstained by sacred blood shall bear sway there.
Dire misfortunes my father-soul presages. Already
are sown the seeds of calamity to come ; the plighted
pact 1 is scorned. The one will not retire from the
throne he has usurped ; the other proclaims his right,
calls on the gods to witness the broken bond, and,
wandering in exile, is rousing Argos and the cities
of Greece to arms. 'Tis no light destruction that is
coming on weary Thebes ; weapons, flames, wounds

1 i.e. between Eteocles and Polynices.

365

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

instant et istis si quod est maius malum, —
ut esse genitos nemo non ex me sciat.

ANTIGONA

Si nulla, genitor, causa vivendi tibi est,
haec una abunde est, ut pater natos regas
graviter furentes. tu impii belli minas 290

avertere unus tuque vaecordes potes
inhibere iuvenes, civibus pacem dare,
patriae quietem, foederi laeso fidem.
vitam tibi ipse si negas, multis negas.

OEDIPVS

Illis parentis ullus aut aequi est amor,
avidis cruoris imperi armorum doli,
diris, scelestis, breviter ut dicam — meis?
certant in omne facinus et pensi nihil
ducunt, ubi ipsos ira praecipites agit,
nefasque nullum per nefas nati putant. 300

non patris illos tangit afflicti pudor,
non patria ; regno pectus attonitum furit.
scio quo ferantur, quanta moliri parent,
ideoque leti quaero maturam viam
morique propero, dum in domo nemo est mea
nocentior me. nata, quid genibus meis
fles advoluta ? quid prece indomitum domas?
unum hoc habet fortuna quo possim capi,
invictus aliis ; sola tu affectus potes
mollire duros, sola pietatem in domo 310

docere nostra. nil grave aut miserum est mihi
quod te sciam voluisse ; tu tantum impera ;
366

PHOENISSAE

press round her and a greater ill than these, if
greater there be, — that all may know I have begotten
sons.

ANTIGONE

If, my father, thou hast no other cause for living,
this one is more than enough, that as father thou
mayst restrain thy sons from their fatal frenzy.
Thou alone canst avert the threats of impious war,
canst check these mad youths, give peace to our
citizens, rest to our land, faith to the broken pact.
If life to thyself thou dost deny, to many dost thou
deny it.

OEDIPUS

Have they any love for father or for right, they
who lust for blood, power, arms, treachery, they the
cruel, the accursed, — in brief, my sons ? They vie
one with the other in every crime, and have no
scruple where passion drives them headlong ; im-
piously born, they count nothing impious. No feeling
for their stricken father, none for their fatherland,
moves them ; their hearts are mad with lust of
empire. I know well whither they tend, what
monstrous deeds they are planning, and for this
cause I seek an early path to destruction, rush on
my death, while still there is none in my house
more guilty than myself. Daughter, why dost thou
fall weeping at my knees ? Why seekst with prayer
to conquer my unconquerable resolve ? This is the
one means by which fortune can take me captive,
invincible in all else ; thou only canst soften my
hard heart, thou only canst teach piety in our house.
Nothing is heavy or grievous to me which I know
thou hast desired. Do thou but command ; I,

367

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

hie Oedipus Aegaea transnabit freta
iubente te, flammasque quas Siculo vomit
de monte tellus igneos volvens globos,
excipiet ore seque serpenti offeret,
quae saeva furto nemoris Herculeo furit ;
iubente te praebebit alitibus iecur —
iubente te vel vivet.

368

PHOENISSAE

Oedipus, at thy bidding will swim the Aegean sea,
will drink the flames which earth from the Sicilian
mountains belches forth, pouring down balls of fire,
will beard the dragon still savagely raging in the
grove at the theft of Hercules; at thy bidding will
offer my liver to the birds — at thy bidding e'en will
live.

The first episode seems to be complete here, except for the
commenting chorus which would naturally follow.
OEDIPUS has temporarily yielded to his daughter's
will.

369

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

NUNTIUS1
*****

Exemplum in ingens regia stirpe editum 820

Tbebae paventes arma fraterna invocant
rogantque tectis arceas patriis faces.
non sunt minae, iam propius accessit malum ;
nam regna repetens frater et pactas vices
in bella cunctos Graeciae populos agit.
septena muros castra Thebanos premunt.
succurre, prohibe pariter et bellum et scelus.

OEDIPVS

Ego ille sum qui scelera committi vetem
et abstineri sanguine a caro manus
doceam ? magister iuris et amoris pii 330

ego sum ? meorum facinorum exempla appetunt,
me nunc secuntur ; laudo et agnosco libens,
exhortor, aliquid ut patre hoc dignum gerant.
agite, o propago cara, generosam indolem

1 Leo, with Etyy assigns this speech to Antigone: Richter,
with A, gives it to Nuntius.

370

PHOENISSAE

The following passage fittingly opens the second episode.
Although some editors would assign it to ANTIGONE,
it seems more properly to belong to a messenger who
has just arrived, for the double reason that it gives
fresher information from Thebes than ANTIGONE
would naturally possess; and that OEDIPUS, after
the speech to his daughter with which the previous
episode ended} would hardly address to her as rough
a reply as he uses in his next speech.

MESSENGER

Thee, sprung from regal ancestry to be our great
exemplar, Thebes calls to her aid, trembling at
fratricidal strife, and prays that thou fend off from
thy country's homes the brands of war. These are
no mere threats ; already is destruction at our gates ;
for the brother T demands his turn to rule according
to the bond, and is marshalling to war all the peoples
of Greece. Seven bands are encamped against the
walls of Thebes. Haste to our aid ; prevent in one
act both war and crime.

OEDIPUS

Am I one to forbid crime and teach hands to
refrain from the blood of loved ones ? Am 1 a teacher
of righteousness and love of kin ? Tis from my
crimes they seek their pattern, 'tis my example they
follow now. I praise them and gladly acknowledge
them as sons ; I urge them on to do something
worthy of such a father. Go on, dear offspring,
prove your noble breeding by your deeds ; surpass

1 Polynices.

371

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

probate factis, gloriam ac laudes meas

superate et aliquid facite propter quod patrem

adhuc iuvet vixisse. facietis, scio :

sic estis orti. scelere defungi haut levi,

haut usitato tanta nobilitas potest.

ferte arma, facibus petite penetrales deos 340

frugemque flamma metite natalis soli,

miscete cuncta, rapite in exitium omnia,

disicite passim moenia, in planum date,

templis deos obruite, maculates lares

conflate, ab imo tota considat domus ;

urbs concremetur — primus a thalamis meis

incipiat ignis.

ANTIOONA

Mitte violentum impetum
doloris ac te publica exorent mala,
auctorque placidae liberis pacis veni.

OEUIPVS

Vides modestae deditum menti senem 350

placidaeque amantem pacis ad partes vocas ?
tumet animus ira, fervet iminensus dolor,
maiusque quam quod casus et iuvenum furor
conatur aliquid cupio. non satis est adhuc
civile bellum ; frater in fratrem ruat ;
nee hoc sat est ; quod debet, ut fiat nefas
de more nostro, quod meos deceat toros,
date arma matri. nemo me ex his eruat
silvis ; latebo rupis exesae cavo

aut sepe densa corpus abstrusum tegam. 360

hinc aucupabor verba rumoris vagi
et saeva fratrum bella, quod possum, audiam.

372

PHOENISSAE

my fame and praises and do some deed whereat your
father may rejoice that he has lived till now. You
will do it, I know : of such mind were you born ; no
trivial, no common crime can such high birth per-
form. Forward your arms ! With torches have at
your household gods ; reap with fire the ripened
grain of your native land ; confound all things, hurry
all to destruction ; on all sides throw down the walls,
raze them to the ground ; bury the gods beneath
their own temples ; the defiled deities of your
hearths melt in the fire, and let our whole house
from its foundations fall ; let the city be consumed
— and be my marriage chamber the first to feel the
flames.

ANTIGONE

Give o'er this raging storm of grief; let the
public calamities prevail with thee ; go to thy sons
as the adviser of calm peace.

OEDIPUS

Seest thou an old man given to gentle thoughts ?
dost summon me as lover of calm peace to take her
part ? My heart swells with rage, my smarting grief
burns measureless, and I long for some crime more
dreadful than what the casual madness of young men
attempts. Not enough for me is war that as yet is
between citizens ; let brother rush on brother. Nor
is that enough ; that, as is due, a horror may be
wrought after my fashion, one that may befit my
marriage-couch, arm ye your mother. Let no one
drag me from these woods ! I'll lurk in the cliffs'
wave-worn caves or hide away in the thick under-
brush. Here will I catch at vague rumour's words
and the dire strife of brothers, as I can, will hear.

373

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

IOCASTA

Felix Agaue ! facinus horrendum manu,
qua fecerat, gestavit et spolium tulit
cruenta nati maenas in partes dati ;
fecit scelus, sed misera non ultro suo
sceleri occucurrit. hoc leve est quod sum nocens ;
feci nocentes. hoc quoque etiamnunc leve est ;
peperi nocentes. derat aerumnis meis,
ut et hostem amarem. bruma ter posuit nives 370
et tertia iam falce decubuit Ceres,
ut exul errat natus et patria caret
profugusque regum auxilia Graiorum rogat.
gener est Adrasti, cuius imperio mare
quod scindit Isthmos regitur ; hie gentes suas
septemque secum regna ad auxilium trahit
genero. quid optem quidve decernam haut scio.
regnum reposcit ; causa repetentis bona est,
mala sic petentis. vota quae faciam parens ?
utrimque natum video ; nil possum pie 380

pietate salva facere. quodcumque alteri
optabo nato fiet alterius malo.
sed utrumque quamvis diligam affectu pari,
quo causa melior sorsque deterior trahit
inclinat animus semper infirmo favens.
miseros magis fortuna conciliat suis.

1 i.e. Polynices, who has now become a public foe of
Thebes.

374

PHOENISSAE

It is possible that the following fragments belong to
another play. The presence of ANTIGONE in
Thebes, notwithstanding her resolve to remain with
her father, would strengthen this view.

JOCASTA

Fortunate Agave ! she carried her ghastly crime
in the hand that wrought it, and as a bloody maenad
bore spoil of her dismembered son. She wrought a
crime, but not wantonly did the wretched woman
go to meet her crime. 'Tis but a trivial thing that
I am guilty ; I have made others guilty. This, too,
bad as it is, is trivial ; I have borne guilty sons. 'Twas
as yet lacking to my woes that I should love even
my enemy.1 Thrice have the snows of winter fallen,
three harvests now have yielded to the sickle, while
my son in exile wanders, expatriate, and as an outcast
begs aid from the Greek kings. And now he is son-
in-law of Adrastus, whose sway is over the waters
which Isthmus cleaves, and who brings with him his
own tribes and seven kingdoms to the aid of his
son-in-law. What I should pray for, or which side
espouse, I know not. He demands back the king-
dom ; to reseek it is an honest plea, but ill to seek
it thus. What should be a mother's prayer ? On
either side I see a son ; I can do nothing piously
that is not impious. Whatever blessing I shall ask
for one, to the other will prove a curse. But, though
I love both equally, whither the better cause and
the worse fortune draw, my heart inclines, which
always takes the weaker side. Misfortune knits
the wretched closer to their kin.

[Enter MESSENGER in haste.]

375

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

SATELLES

Regina, dum tu flebiles questus cies
terisque tempus, saeva nudatis adest
acies in armis ; aera iam bcllum cient
aquilaque pugnam signifer mota vocat ; 890

septena reges bella dispositi parant,
animo pari Cadmea progenies subit,
cursu citato miles hinc atque hinc ruit.
viden ? atra nubes pulvere abscondit diem
fumoque similes campus in caelum erigit
nebulas, equestri fracta quas tellus pede
summittit et, si vera metuentes vident,
infesta fulgent signa, subrectis adest
frons prima telis, aurea clarum nota
nomen ducum vexilla praescriptum ferunt. 400

i, redde amorem fratribus, pacem omnibus,
et impia arma matris oppositu impedi.

ANTIGONA

Perge, o parens, perge et cita celerem gradum,
compesce tela, fratribus ferrum excute,
nudum inter enses pectus infestos tene !
aut solve bellum, mater, aut prima excipe.

IOCASTA

Ibo, ibo et armis obvium opponam caput,
stabo inter arma ; petere qui fratrem volet,
petat ante matrem. tela, qui fuerit pius,
rogante ponat matre ; qui non est pius 410

incipiat a me. fervidos iuvenes anus
tenebo, nullum teste me net nefas ;
376

PHOENISSAE

MESSENGER

0 queen, whilst thou art uttering tearful com-
plaints and wasting time, the fierce battle-line with
bared swords is at hand ; the trumpets' blare sounds
to war, the standard-bearer with eagle advanced
signals for contest ; the kings, each in his place, are
setting their sevenfold battle in array, while with
equal courage Cadmus' race advances ; at the double-
quick the soldiers on either side rush on. Dost see
them ? A dark cloud of dust hides the day ; the
plain lifts heavenward dense, smoke-like billows
which the earth, beaten by horses' hoofs, sends up ;
and, if terror-stricken eyes see aught aright, hostile
standards are gleaming there ; the front rank, with
lifted spears, is close at hand, and the battle-flags
have the leaders' names clearly limned in golden
characters. Go, restore love to brothers, peace to
us all, and let a mother be the barrier to stay unholy
arms.

ANTIGONE

Hasten, mother, hasten on flying feet ! hold back
their weapons, strike the steel from my brothers'
hands, set thy bared breast between their hostile
swords ! Either stop the war, mother, or be the
first to feel it.

JOCASTA

1 go, I go, and my own life will I set against their
arms ; I'll stand between their arms ; and he who shall
wish to attack his brother must attack his mother first.
Let the more filial lay down his arms at a mother's
prayer ; let the unfilial begin with me. These fiery
youths, old though I be, will I restrain ; there shall
be no impious crime committed in my sight ; or, if

377

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

aut si aliquod et me teste committi potest,
non fiet unum.

ANTIGONA

Signa collatis micant
vicina signis, clamor hostilis fremit ;
scelus in propinquo est ; occupa, mater, preces.
et ecce motos fletibus credas meis,
sic agmen armis segne compositis venit.

SATELLKS

Procedit acies tarda, sed properant duces.

IOCASTA

Quis me procellae turbine insane vehens 420

volucer per auras ventus aetherias aget ?
quae Sphinx vel atra nube subtexens diem
Stymphalis avidis praepetem pennis feret ?
aut quae per altas aeris rapiet vias
Harpyia saevi regis observans famem
et inter acies proiciet raptam duas ?

SATELLES

Vadit furenti similis aut etiam furit.
sagitta qualis Parthica velox manu
excussa fertur, qualis insane ratis

premente vento rapitur, aut qualis cadit 430

delapsa caelo stella, cum stringens polum
rectam citatis ignibus rumpit viam,
attonita cursu fugit et binas statim
diduxit acies. victa materna prece
haesere bella, iamque in alternam necem
378

PHOENISSAE

e'en in my sight one crime can be committed, it shall
not be only one.

ANTIGONE

The opposing standards gleam face to face, the
hostile battle-cry is sounding, the crime is near at
hand ; forestall it, mother, with thy prayers ! And
see, you might deem them moved by tears of mine,
so sluggishly moves the line with weapons held at
rest.

MESSENGER

The line advances slowly, but the leaders haste.

JOCASTA

What swift wind with the storm-blast's mad whirl
will carry me through the air of heaven? What
Sphinx, what Stymphalian bird, with its dark cloud
veiling day, will speed me headlong on eager wings ?
Or what Harpy, hovering over the barbarian king's l
famished board, will hurry me along the highways
of the air, hurry and fling me 'twixt the two battle-
lines?

[Exit]

MESSENGER [looking after her]

She goes like a mad thing, or is mad indeed.
Swift as a dart hurled by some Parthian's hand, or as
a vessel driven on by wild, raging winds, or as a star,
dislodged from the firmament, when, sweeping o'er the
heavens, with swift fire it cleaves its unswerving way,
so has the frenzied queen sped on and at once has
parted the two battle-lines. Stayed by a mother's
prayer the battle hangs ; and now the bands, eager to
1 See Index s.v. "Phineus."

379

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA
illinc et hinc miscere cupientes mantis
librata dextra tela suspensa tenent.
paci favetur, omnium ferrum iacet
cessatve tectum ; vibrat in fratrum manu.
laniata canas mater ostendit comas, 440

rogat abnuentes, inrigat fletu genas.
negare matri, qui diu dubitat, potest.

IOCASTA

In me arma et ignes vertite, in me omnis ruat
unam iuventus quaeque ab Inacbio venit
animosa muro quaeque Thebana ferox
descendit arce ; civis atque hostis simul
hunc petite ventrem, qui dedit fratres viro.
haec membra passim spargite ac divellite.
ego utrumque peperi — ponitis ferrum ocius ?
an dico et ex quo ? dexteras matri date, 450

date dum piae sunt. error invitos adhuc
fecit nocentes, omne Fortunae fuit
peccantis in nos crimen ; hoc primum nefas
inter scientes geritur. in vestra manu est,
utrum velitis : sancta si pietas placet,
donate matri pacem l ; si placuit scelus,
maius paratum est — media se opponit parens.
proinde bellum tollite aut belli moram.

1 So Leo and Richttr, with <a : matri pacta L. Midler: date
arma matri saeva Tachau ' domate Martem pace M. Mutter.

380

PHOENISSAE

join from both sides in mutual slaughter, hold their
swords poised in lifted hands. They incline to peace,
the swords of all are lowered, or idly sheathed ; but
they still quiver in the brothers' hands. The mother
shows them her hoary hair, tearing it, beseeching
them as they stubbornly refuse, and floods her cheeks
with weeping. Who wavers long may say his mother
"No!"

[The scene shifts to the field before Thebes, between the

battle-lines.]

JOCASTA

[Kneeling between her two hostile sons.]
Against me turn your arms and torches ; against
me only let every warrior charge, both those who
come with high courage from the city of Inachus,1
and those who from the Theban citadel descend
thirsting for the fray. 'Townsman and enemy, to-
"•ether attack this womb which bore my husband
brothers. Rend these limbs asunder and scatter
them everywhere. I bore you both — lay you not
down your arms with speed ? Or shall I tell from
what father, too ? Your right hands — to your mother
give them, give while they are still filial. Ignorance
till now against our will hath made us 2 guilty ; the
whole crime was Fortune's, who sinned against us;
this is the first crime wrought between those who
know. It is yours to choose which thing you will :
if holy affection please you, grant to your mother
peace ; if crime has pleased, a greater is to hand —
your mother sets herself between you. Therefore
rid ye of strife or of this stay of strife.3

1 Argos. 2 t e. Oedipus and Jocasta especially.

8 i.e. or kill me who stand between you to stay your
fighting.

381

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Sollicita cui nunc mater alterna prece
verba admovebo? misera quern amplectar prius? 460
in utramque partem ducor aflfectu pari.
hie afuit ; sed pacta si fratrum valent,
nunc alter aberit. ergo iam numquam duos
nisi sic videbo ?

lunge complexus prior,
qui tot labores totque perpessus mala
longo parentem fessus exilio vides.
accede propius, elude vagina impium
ensem et trementem iamque cupientem excuti
hastam solo defige ; maternum tuo
coire pectus pectori clipeus vetat ; 470

hunc quoque repone. vinculo frontem exue
tegumenque capitis triste belligeri leva
et ora matri redde. quo vultus refers
acieque pavida fratris observas manum ?
affusa totum corpus amplexu tegam,
tuo cruori per meum fiet via.
quid dubius haeres ? an times matris fid em ?

POLYNICES

Timeo ; nihil iam iura naturae valent.
post ista fratrum exempla ne matri quidem
fides habenda est.

IOCASTA

Redde iam capulo manum, 480
astringe galeam, laeva se clipeo inserat ;
dum frater exarmatur, armatus mane.

1 i.e. in enmity.
382

PHOENISSAE

459 To which of you now shall your anxious mother
with alternate prayers address her words ? Whom
shall I in my wretchedness first embrace ? To both
sides am I drawn with equal love. This son has
been absent from me ; but if the brothers keep their
pact, now will the other be away. And shall I never
see you both, save thus ? l

[Turning to POLYNICES]

464 Come thou first to thy mother's arms, thou who
hast endured so many toils, so many misfortunes,
and, worn with long exile, seest thy mother at last.
Come nearer, sheathe thine impious sword, and thy
spear, which is even now quivering and eager to be
thrown, thrust it in the ground. Thy shield keeps
thee from coming close to thy mother, breast to
breast ; put that by, too. Unbind thy brow, take
the grim helmet from thy warlike head, and let thy
mother see thy face. Why dost thou look away,
and with fearful glance watch thy brother's hand ?
I will cover thy whole body with my protecting
embrace and allow way to thy blood only through
my own. Why dost thou still halt in doubt ? Dost
fear thy mother's pledge ?

POLYNICES

I am in fear ; no longer do nature's laws avail.
Since this example of a brother's faithlessness, even
a mother's pledge may not be trusted.

JOCASTA

Put now hand to hilt again, bind on thy helmet,
let thy left hand clasp its shield ; and while thy
brother unarms, remain thou armed.
[She turns to ETEOCLES.]

383

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Tu pone ferrum, causa qui ferri es prior,
si pacis odium est, furere si bello placet,
inducias te mater exiguas rogat,
ferat ut reverso post fugam nato oscula
vel prima vel suprema. dum pacem peto,
audite inermes. ille te, tu ilium times ?
ego utrumque, sed pro utroque. quid strictum abnuis
recondere ensem ? qualibet gaude mora ; 490

id gerere bellum cupitis, in quo est optimum
viiici. vereris fratris infesti dolos ?
quotiens necesse est fallere aut falli a suis,
patiare potius ipse quam facias scelus.
sed ne verere ; mater insidias et hinc
et rursus illinc abiget. exoro ? an patri
invideo vestro ? veni ut arcerem nefas
an ut viderem propius ? hie ferrum abdidit,
reclinis hasta est, arma defixa incubant.

Ad te preces nunc, nate, maternas feram, 500

sed ante lacrimas. teneo longo tempore
petita votis ora. te profugum solo
patrio penates regis externi tegunt,
te maria tot diversa, tot casus vagum
egere. non te duxit in thalamos parens
comitata primos, nee sua festas manu
ornavit aedes, nee sacra laetas faces
vitta revinxit ; dona non auro graves
gazas socer, non arva, non urbes dedit ;
dotale bellum est. hostium es factus gener, 510
patria remotus hospes alieni laris,

384

PHOENISSAE

488 Do thou put by the sword, who art the sword's
first cause. If thou liatest peace, if 'tis thy pleasure
to rage in war, thy mother begs brief truce of thee,
that to her son returned from exile she may give a
kiss — the first, perchance the last. While I beg for
peace, hearken ye, unarmed. Doth he fear thee ;
thou, him ? I fear you both, but for the sake of
both. Why dost refuse to sheathe thy drawn sword ?
Be glad of any delay ; ye both seek to wage a war
wherein 'twere best to be o'ercome. Dost thou fear
thy hostile brother's wiles? When one must either
cheat or be cheated by one's own, do thou thyself
suffer rather than commit the crime. But do not
fear ; thy mother will shield thee from snares on
either hand. Do I prevail ? or must I envy l your
father ? Have I come to prevent crime ? or to see
it done before my eyes? [ETEOCLES yields to her.] He
has sheathed his sword, his spear droops, his arms
are laid aside.

[She turns back to POLYNICES.]

500 Now to thee, son, thy mother will bring her
prayers, but her tears first. After a weary time I hold
the face I prayed to see. Thee, an outcast from thy
native soil, the gods of a foreign king protect ; thee
many seas far distant, many fates have driven wan-
dering. Thy mother, at thy side, did not lead thee
to thy first bridal chamber, nor with her own hand
deck the festal hall, nor with sacred fillets wreathe
the glad torches. As wedding gifts no rich golden
treasure, no fields, no cities did thy father-in-law
bestow : war is thy bridal gift. Thou hast become
thine enemy's son, far from thy land, guest of an

1 i.e. his blindness, which would shield her from unhallowed
sights.

385

THE TRAGEDIES OF SKNECA

externa consecutus, expulsus tuis,
sine crimine exul. ne quid e fatis tibi
desset paternis, hoc quoque ex illis habes,
eiTasse thalamis.

Nate post multos mihi
remisse soles, nate suspensae metus
et spes parentis, cuius aspectum deos
semper rogavi, cum tuus reditus mihi
tantum esset erepturus, adventu tuo
quantum daturus : " quando pro te desinam " 520
dixi " timere ? " dixit inridens deus :
"ipsum timebis." nempe nisi bellum foret,
ego te carerem ; nempe si tu non fores,
bello carerem. a, triste conspectus datur
pretium tui durumque, sed matri placet,
nine modo recedant arma, dum nullum nefas
Mars saevus audet ; hoc quoque est magnum nefas,
tarn prope fuisse. stupeo et exanguis tremo,
cum stare fratres hinc et hinc video duos
sceleris sub ictu. membra quassantur metu ; 530
quam paene mater maius aspexi nefas,
quam quod miser videre non potuit pater,
licet timore facinoris tanti vacem
videamque iam nil tale, sum infelix tamen
quod paene vidi.

Per decem mensum graves
uteri labores perque pietatem inclitae
precor sororis et per irati sibi
genas parentis, scelere quas nullo nocens,
erroris a se dira supplicia exigens,
hausit — nefandas moenibus patriis faces 54-0

averte, signa bellici retro agminis
flecte. ut recedas, magna pars sceleris tameD
vestri peracta est ; vidit hostili grege

386

PHOENISSAE

alien house, seeking another's, driven from thine own,
exiled for no fault. That thou mightst lack nothing
of thy father's fates, this also thou hast of them, that
thou hast erred in marriage.

515 O son, returned to' me after so many years, son,
fear and hope of thy anxious mother, for sight of
whom I have ever prayed the gods, though thy
return was destined to take as much from me as by
thy coming it could give : " When shall I cease to
fear for thee ? ' I cried ; and the god, mocking me,
answered : " Tis himself thou shalt fear." Surely if
there were no war, I should be without thee ; surely
if thou wert not here, I should be free from war.
Oh, bitter price and hard, to pay for a sight of thee ;
but thy mother pays it willingly. Only let thy hostile
hosts fall back while as yet savage Mars dares no
impious crime. Even this is an outrageous crime,
that they have come so near. I am appalled ; pale
am I and I tremble to see two brothers stand, one
here, one there, 'neath guilt's o'erhanging stroke.
My limbs quake with fear : how near did I, thy
mother, come to seeing greater infamy than that
which thy wretched father could not bear to see.
Though I am free from fear of so great a crime, and
now see no such thing, still I am unhappy because I
almost saw it.

635 By the womb that bore thee for ten weary
months, by the devotion of thy noble sister, by thy
self-hating father's eyes which he, though innocent,
yet, seeking to inflict on himself dire punishment for
his mistake, tore from their sockets — save thy
country's walls from the accursed torch ; turn back
again the standards of this warring host. Though
thou shouldst retire, still is the great part of your sin
already done ; thy country has seen its plains o'errun

387

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

campos repleri patria, fulgentes procul

armis catervas vidit, equitatu levi

Cadmea frangi prata et excelsos rotis

volitare proceres, igne flagrantes trabes

fumare, cineri quae petunt nostras domos,

fratresque (facinus quod novum et Thebis fuit)

in se ruentes. totus hoc exercitus, 550

hoc populus omnis ; utraque hoc vidit soror

genetrixque vidi : nam pater debet sibi

quod ista non spectavit. occurrat tibi

nunc Oedipus, quo iudice erroris quoque

poenae petuntur. ne, precor, ferro erue

patriam ac penates neve, quas regere expetis,

everte Thebas. quis tenet mentem furor ?

petendo patriam perdis ? ut fiat tua,

vis esse nullam ? quin tuae causae nocet

ipsum hoc quod armis uris infestis solum 560

segetesque adultas sternis et totos fugam

edis per agros. nemo sic vastat sua ;

quae corripi igne, quae meti gladio iubes

aliena credis. rex sit ex vobis uter,

manente regno quaerite. haec telis petis

flammisque tecta ? poteris has Amphionis

quassare moles ? nulla quas struxit manus

stridente tardum machina ducens onus,

sed convocatus vocis et citharae sono

per se ipse summas venit in turres lapis — 570

haec saxa franges ? victor hinc spolia auferes

vinctosque duces patris aequales tui,

matresque ab ipso coniugum raptas sinu

saevus catena miles imposita trahet ?

adulta virgo, mixta captivo gregi,

Thebana nuribus munus Argolicis eat ?

388

PHOENISSAE

by hostile hordes, has seen armed squadrons gleaming
from afar, the Cadmean meadows trampled by flying
hoofs, princes in their chariots careering high, the
smoke and flames of blazing torches which seek to burn
our homes, and brothers (a crime new even to Thebes)
rushing upon each other. This crime the whole army
saw, this, all the people, this, both thy sisters saw and I,
thy mother, saw — for thy father owes it to his own act
that he beheld not such deeds. Let Oedipus stand
before thee now, in whose judgment even for error
is penalty demanded. Do not, I beg of thee, with
the sword destroy thy country and thy household
gods, nor overthrow Thebes, which thou seekst to
rule. What madness holds thee ? By seeking thy
land wouldst wreck it? to make it thine, wouldst
have it no land at all ? Nay, thou harmst thine own
cause in this very act of harrying the land with
hostile arms, trampling the full-grown crops, and
spreading terror through the whole country-side.
No one works such havoc on his own ; what thou
bidst be plundered with fire and reaped with sword,
thou deemst another's. Question whether of you
be king, but let the kingdom stand. These homes
dost thou seek with sword and fire ? Wilt have the
heart to batter these walls which Amphion built,
whose stones no hand set in place, moving the slow
weight with creaking crane, but, marshalled by
sound of singing and of lyre, each stone of its own
accord came to the turrets' top— wilt batter down
these stones ? Wilt thou bear spoils hence as victor,
and shall conquered chieftains, thy father's friends,
and matrons torn from their husbands' very arms, be
led off in chains by thy rough soldiery? Shall
Thebes' grown maidens, mingled with the captive
herd, go as gifts to the dames of Argos ? Or shall

$89

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

an et ipsa, palmas vincta post tergum datas,
mater triumph i praeda fraterni vehar ?
potesne cives leto et exitio datos

videre passim ? moenibus caris potes 680

hostem admovere, sanguine et flamma potes
implere Thebas ? tarn ferus durum geris
saevumque in iras pectus ? et nondum imperas —
quid sceptra facient ? pone vaesanos, precor,
animi tumores teque pietati refer.

POLYNICES

Vt profugus errem ? semper ut patria arcear
opemque gentis hospes externae sequar ?
quid paterer aliud, si fefellissem fidem ?
si peierassem ? fraudis alienae dabo
poenas, at ille praemium scelerum feret? 590

iubes abire ; matris imperio obsequor.
da quo revertar. regia frater mea
habitet superbus, parva me abscondat casa,
hanc date repulso, liceat exiguo lare
pensare regnum. coniugi donum datus
arbitria thalami dura felicis feram
humilisque socerum lixa dominantem sequar ?
in servitutem cadere de regno grave est.

IOCASTA

Si regna quaeris nee potest sceptro manus
vacare saevo, multa quae possunt peti 600

in orbe toto quaelibet tellus dabit.
hinc nota Baccho Tmolus attollit iuga
qua lata terris spatia frugiferis iacent,
390

PHOENISSAE

I myself, with hands bound behind my back, thy
mother, be borne as prize in thy triumph o'er a
brother ? Canst thou bear to see thy countrymen
given to death and destruction on every hand ?
Against these dear walls canst thou lead the enemy,
canst fill Thebes with blood and fire ? Art thou so
wild, is thy heart so hard, so full of savage rage ?
And thou art not yet a king — what will the sceptre
do ? Oh, I beseech thee, allay the mad ferment of
thy soul, and come back to duty's ways.

POLYNICKS

That I may wander outcast ? That I may be for
ever shut out from my country and as a stranger
look to the bounty of an alien race ? What worse
should I suffer if I had broken faith, if I had forsworn
myself? Am I to pay the penalty of another's sin,
while he enjoys the profit of his crimes ? Thou
bidst me go ; I bend to my mother's will. Show
me whither I shall get me back. Let my haughty
brother dwell in my palace, let a little hut hide me
away ; this grant to the banished brother, let it be
mine to match a kingdom with a paltry hearth. A
wife's mere chattel, shall I bear the harsh sway of a
rich bride and, like a humble camp-follower, attend
upon her domineering father? To fall from a king's
estate to slavery is hard.

JOCASTA

If thou seekst a king's estate, and the harsh
sceptre thy hand cannot forego, any land in the
whole world will offer many kingdoms to be won.
Here Tmolus lifts his ridges, the Wine-god's haunts,
where stretch broad plains of grain-producing lands,

391

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

et qua trahens opulenta Pactolus vada

inundat auro rura ; nee laetis minus

Maeandros arvis flectit errantes aquas,

rapidusque campos fertiles Hermus secat.

hinc grata Cereri Gargara et dives solum

quod Xantluis ambit nivibus Idaeis tumens;

hinc qua relinquit nomen lonii mare L 610

faucesque Abydo Sestos opposita premit;

aut qua latus 2 iam propior orienti dedit

tutamque crebris portibus Lyciam videt.

haec regna ferro quaere, in hos populos ferat

socer arma fortis, has tuo sceptro paret

tradatque gentes. hoc adliuc regnum puta

tenere patrem. melius exilium est tibi

quam reditus iste. crimine alieno exulas,

tuo redibis. melius istis viribus

nova regna nullo scelere maculata appetes. 620

quin ipse frater arma comitatus tua

tibi militabit.

Vade et id bellum gere
in quo pater materque pugnanti tibi
favere possint. regna cum scelere omnibus
sunt exiliis graviora. nunc belli mala
propone, dubias Martis incerti vices :
licet omne tecum Graeciae robur trahas,
licet arma longe miles ac late explicet,
fortuna belli semper ancipiti in loco est,
quodcumque Mars decernit. exaequat duos, b'30
licet impares sint, gladius ; et spes et metus
Fors caeca versat. praemium incertum petis,
certum scelus. favisse fac votis deos

1 So Richfer : Leo, with CD, maris : Biicheler conjectures
Ionium Thetis : Wi'amowitz qua reliquit nomen Inois mari.

2 So Leo, with w : Richter quae : N. H&n&ius aut qua
Thetis se.

392

PHOENISSAE

and where Pactolus, rolling his rich waves, o'erflows
the fields with gold ; nor does Meander through
meadows less joyful bend his wandering waters, and
swift Hermus cleaves the fertile plains. Here is
Gargara, beloved of Ceres, and the soil which rich
Xanthus compasses, swollen by Ida's snows ; here the
land where the Ionian sea gives up its name, and
Sestos, over against Abydos, hugs the narrow strait1 ;
or where, now nearer to the east, it curves and sees
Lycia secure with its many harbours. These kingdoms
seek thou with the sword ; against these peoples let
thy brave father in-law bear arms ; these tribes let him
acquire and deliver to thy sway. As for this king-
dom, deem that thy father still holds it fast. Better
is exile for thee than such return as this. Through
another's sin thou livest in exile, through thine
own wilt thou return. With yonder forces, 'twere
better to seek new realms, stained by no crime.
Nay, thy brother's self, accompanying thine arms,
will fight for thee.

622 Go thou, then, and wage such warfare that,
as thou fightest, thy father and thy mother may
pray for thy success. Kingdoms won by crime are
heavier than any exile. Now picture to thy-
self war's mishaps, the wavering chances of un-
certain Mars : though thou bring with thee the
whole strength of Greece, though thy armed soldiery
spread far and wide, the fortune of war hangs ever
in doubtful scale, according as Mars determines. The
sword makes two warriors equal though they be ill-
matched ; both hope and fear are in blind Fortune's
hand. The prize thou seekst is uncertain ; certain,
the crime. Grant that all the gods have been

1 The Hellespont

393

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

omnes tuis ; cessere et aversi fugam

petiere cives, clade funesta iacens

obtexit agros miles — exultes licet

victorque fratris spolia deiecti geras,

frangenda palma est. quale tu hoc bellum putas,

in quo execrandum victor admittit nefas,

si gaudet ? hunc quern vincere infelix cupis, 640

cum viceris, lugebis. infaustas age

dimitte pugnas, libera patriam metu,

luctu parentes.

POLYNICES

Sceleris et fraudis suae
poenas nefandus frater ut nullas ferat ?

IOCASTA

Ne metue. poenas et quidem solvet graves :
regnabit. est haec poena. si dubitas, avo
patrique crede ; Cadmus hoc dicet tibi
Cadmique proles, sceptra Thebano fuit
impune nulli gerere, nee quisquam fide
rupta tenebit ilia, iam numeres licet 650

fratrem inter istos.

ETEOCLES

Numeret, est tanti mihi

cum regibus iacere. te turbae exulum
ascribe.

IOCASTA

Regna, dummodo invisus tuis.
394

PHOENISSAE

favourable to thy prayers ; grant that the citizens
have given way, that they have turned and fled, that
soldiers, lying in bloody heaps, cover the fields—
though thou shouldst triumph and as victor bear off
the spoils of thy conquered brother, broken must
be the victor's palm. What manner of war deemst
thou that, wherein the conqueror takes on him the
curse of guilt if he rejoices? Him whom, unhappy
man, thou art so eager to o'ercome, when thou hast
o'ercome thou wilt lament. Oh, then, forego this
unhallowed strife, free thy country from fear, from
agony thy parents.

POLYNICES

That my cursed brother may receive no penalty
for his crime and treachery ?

JOCASTA

Have no fear. Penalty, yes, heavy penalty shall he
pay : he shall reign. That is the penalty. If thou dost
doubt it, believe thy grandsire and thy sire ; Cadmus
will tell thee this, and the race of Cadmus. No
Theban hath e'er borne sceptre without penalty, nor
will any hold it who has broken faith. Now mayst
thou count thy brother amongst these.

ETEOCLES

So let him count me ; 'tis worth the price, me-
thinks, to lie with kings.

[To POLYNICES.]
652 Thee I enrol amongst the exiled throng.

JOCASTA
Reign, then, but hated by thy people,

895

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

ETEOCLES

Regnare non vult esse qui invisus timet ;
simul ista mundi conditor posuit deus,
odium atque regnum. regis hoc magni reor,
odia ipsa premere. multa dominantem vetat
amor suorum ; plus in iratos licet,
qui vult amari, languida regnat manu.

IOCASTA
Invisa numquam imperia retinentur diu 660

ETEOCLES

Praecepta melius imperi reges dabunt ;
exilia tu dispone. pro regno velim —

IOCASTA
Patriam penates coniugem flammis dare ?

ETEOCLES
Imperia pretio quolibet constant bene.

*****

396

PHOENISSAE

ETEOCLES

To reign he hath no will who feareth to be hated ;
the god who made the world set those two things
together, hatred and sovereignty. This is the part
of a great sovereign, I think, to tread e'en hatred
under foot. A people's love forbids a ruler many
things ; against their rage he has more rights. Who
would be loved reigns with a nerveless hand.

JOCASTA
But hated sovereignty is never long retained.

ETEOCLES

The rules for sovereignty kings will better give ;
do thou make rules for exiles. For sovereignty I
would fain —

JOCASTA

Give country, home, wife to the flames ?

ETEOCLES

Sovereignty is well bought at any price.
*****

S97

OCTAVIA

OCTAVIA

A FABULA PRAETEXTA

THE ONLY EXTANT ROMAN HISTORICAL

DRAMA

INTRODUCTION

THE Roman historical drama had a place among
the earliest products of Roman literature, and seems
to have enjoyed a degree of popularity through all
succeding periods. That Roman literary genius did
not find a much fuller expression through this
channel was not due to a lack of national pride and
patriotism, nor yet to a dearth of interesting and
inspiring subjects in Roman history. The true reason
is probably to be found in the fact that by the time
national conditions were ripe for the development of
any form of literature, the Greeks had already worked,
and well worked, nearly all available fields, and had
produced a mass of literature which dazzled the
Roman mind when at last circumstances brought
these two nations into closer contact.

The natural and immediate result was an attempt
on the part of the Romans to imitate these great
models. And hence we have in drama, both in
tragedy and in comedy, a wholesale imitation of the
Greek dramas, oftentimes nothing more than a trans-
lation of these, with only here and there an attempt
to produce something of a strictly native character,
entirely independent of the Greek influence.

This imitative impulse was augmented by the fact

401

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

that the Romans were following the line of least
resistance, since it is always easier to imitate than
to create. Furthermore, they had as yet developed
no national pride of literature to hold them to their
own lines of national development ; they had no
forms of their own so well established that the mere
force of literary momentum would carry them steadily
on toward a fuller development, in spite of the dis-
turbing effects of the influx of other and better models.
They had, indeed, developed a native Saturnian verse
which, had it been allowed a free field, might have
reached a high pitch of literary excellence. But it
speedily gave way at the approach of the more elegant
imported forms.

The overwhelming influence of Greek tragedy upon
the Roman dramatists can be seen at a glance as we
review the dramatic product of the Roman tragedians.
We have titles and fragments of nine tragedies by
Livius Andronicus, seven by Naevius, twenty-two by
Ennius, thirteen by Pacuvius, forty-six by Accius, and
many fragments from each of these, unassignable to
definite plays, which indicate numerous other plays of
the same character. To these should be added addi-
tional fragments from nearly a score more of Roman
writers during the next two hundred yeaj*s after
Accius. All the above-mentioned plays are on Greek
subjects ; and most of those whose fragments are suf-
ficiently extensive to allow us to form an opinion of
their character are either translations or close imita-
tions of the Greeks, or are so influenced by these as to
be decidedly Greek rather than Roman in character.

And what of the genuine Roman dramatic product ?
Speaking for the fabula praetexta, or Roman historical
drama, alone, the entire output, so far as our records
go, is contained in the following list of authors and
titles.

402

OCTAVIA

From Naevius (265-204 B.C.) we have the Clastidium,
written in celebration of the victory of Marcellus (at
Clastidium in 222 B.C.) over Vidumarus, king of the
Transpadane Gauls, whom Marcellus slew and stripped
of his armour, thus gaining the rare spolia opima. The
play was probably written for the especial occasion
either of the triumph of Marcellus or of the celebra-
tion of his funeral.

We have also from Naevius a play variously entitled
Lupus or Romulus or Alimonium Remi et Romuli,
evidently one of those dramatic reproductions of
scenes in the life of a god, enacted as a part of the
ceremonies of his worship. This play is comparable
to dramatic representations among the Greeks in the
worship of Dionysus.

The Ambracia and the Sabinae of Ennius (239-169
B.C.) are ordinarily classed as fabulae praetextae,
although Lucian Miiller classes the fragments of
the Ambracia among the Saturae of Ennius ; while
Vahlen puts the Ambracia under the heading Comoe-
diarum et ceterormn carminum reliquiae, and classifies
the fragments of the Sabinae under ex incertis satur-
arum libris. The Ambracia is evidently called after
the city of that name in Epirus, celebrated for the
long and remarkable siege which it sustained against
the Romans under M. Fulvius Nobilior. That general
finally captured the city in 189 B.C. If the piece is
to be considered as a play, it was, like the Clastidium,
written in honour of the Roman general, and acted on
the occasion either of his triumph or of his funeral.

We have four short fragments from the Paulus of
Pacuvius (220-130 B.C.), written in celebration of the
exploits of L. Aemilius Paulus who conquered Perseus,
king of Macedonia, in the battle of Pydna, 168 B.C.

The fragments of the plays already mentioned

403

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

are too brief to afford any adequate idea of their
character or content. But in the Brutus of Accius
(b. 170. B.C.), which centres around the expulsion
of the Tarquins and the establishment of the Re-
public, we have a larger glimpse into the play
through two most interesting fragments consisting
of twelve iambic trimeters and ten trochaic tetra-
meters, respectively. In the first, King Tarquin re-
lates to his seer an ill-ominous dream which he has
had ; the second is the seer's interpretation of this
dream, pointing to Tarquin's dethronement by Brutus.
Other short fragments give glimpses of the outrage
of Lucretia by Sextus at Collatia, and the scene in
the forum where Brutus takes his oath of office as
first consul. This play, unlike most of its predecessors,
was not written at the time of the events which it
portrays, but may still be classed with them, so far as
its object is concerned, since it is generally thought
to have been written in honour of D. Junius Brutus,
who was consul in 138 B.C., and with whom the poet
enjoyed an intimate friendship.

Another praetexta of Accius is preserved, the Decius,
of which eleven short fragments remain. This play
celebrates the victory of Quintus Fabius Maximus
and P. Decius Mus over the Samnites and Gauls at
Sentinum in 295 B.C. The climax of the play would
be the self-immolation of Decius after the example
of his father in the Latin war of 340 B.C.

In addition to these plays of the Roman dramatists
of the Republic, we have knowledge of a few which
date from later times. There was a historical drama
entitled Iter, by L. Cornelius Balbus, who dramatized
the incidents of a journey which he made to Pompey's
camp at Dyrrachium at the opening of civil war in
49 B.C. Balbus was under commission from Caesar

4-04.

OCTAVIA

to treat with the consul, L. Cornelius Lentulus, and
other optimates who had fled from Rome, concerning
their return to the city. The journey was a complete
fiasco, so far as results were concerned ; but the
vanity of Balbus was so flattered by this (to him)
important mission that he must needs dramatize his
experiences and present the play under his own
direction in his native city of Gades.

We have mention also of an Aeneas by Pomponius
Secundus, and of two praetextae by Curiatius Maternus,
entitled Domitius and Cato.

These eleven historical plays are, as we have seen,
for the most part, plays of occasion, and would be at
best of but temporary interest, born of the special
circumstances which inspired them. They are in no
way comparable with such historical dramas on Roman
subjects as Shakespeare's Julius Caesar or Coriolanus,
whose interest is for all times.

We have still a twelfth play of this class, which
enjoys the unique distinction of being the only
Roman historical drama which has come down to us
in its complete form — the Octavia. Its authorship is
unknown, although tradition gives it a place among
the tragedies of Seneca, the philosopher. The
general opinion of modern critics, however, is
against this tradition, chiefly because one passage
in the play, in the form of a prophecy, too circum-
stantially describes the death of Nero, which occurred
three years after the death of Seneca. It is generally
agreed that the play must have been written soon
after the death of Nero, and by some one, possibly
Maternus, who had been an eye-witness of the
events, and who had been inspired by his sympathies
for the unfortunate Octavia to write this story of her

sufferings.

405

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

SUMMARY OF THE IMPERIAL FAMILY HISTORY WHICH
FORMS A BACKGROUND TO THE Octavia AND TO
WHICH REFERENCES ARE MADE THROUGHOUT THE
PLAY.

TIBERIUS CLAUDIUS DRUSUS NERO CAESAR GER-
MANICUS, more commonly known as Claudius, fourth
emperor of Rome, had taken for his third wife the
daughter of M. Valerius Messala, Messalina, who
bore to him two children, Britannicus and Octavia.
Always notorious for her profligacy and licentiousness,
Messalina crowned her career by publicly marrying
C. Silius at Rome during the temporary sojourn of
her imperial husband at Ostia. Claudius long wavered
as to her punishment, but at last, through the influence
of his favourite, Narcissus, he signed her death
warrant, and she was executed by a tribune of the
guards in 48 A.D.

In the following year, through the intrigue of the
freedman Pallas, Claudius married his brother's
daughter, Agrippina, who brought with her into the
emperor's household Lucius Domitius, her son by
her first husband, Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus.

Immediately Agrippina began to plot for the
succession of her son to the throne of the Caesars.
In 50 A.D. she prevailed upon Claudius to adopt, to
the prejudice of Britannicus, her own son, who was
thereafter known as Nero. She had already caused
Seneca, who had been exiled at the instance of
Messalina, to be recalled that he might serve as

406

OCTAVIA

Nero's tutor. In 53 A.D. she further advanced
her plans by compassing the marriage of her son to
Octavia, the emperor's daughter. Octavia had already
been betrothed by Claudius to L. Silanus, who now,
to escape the vengeance of Agrippina, committed
suicide.

Her plans being now fully laid for the final act,
Agrippina secretly poisoned Claudius on October 12th,
54 A.D., and on the following day Nero succeeded
to the throne, being then seventeen years of age.
In the following year, by the joint plotting of
mother and son, the young Britannicus, also, was
poisoned.

Because of the youth and inexperience of her son,
Agrippina enjoyed four years of practically imperial
power ; but at last, in 59 A.D., Nero, tired of his
mother's ascendancy, caused her to be assassinated,
after an unsuccessful attempt upon her life by means
of a treacherous vessel, in which death-trap he had
sent her to sea.

Nero had long since become enamoured of Poppaea,
a beautiful profligate, who had left her husband,
Rufinus Crispinus, to live with Otho, and who now
became mistress of the emperor. Aspiring to be his
wife, she had plotted to bring about the death of
Agrippina and later the divorce of Octavia. Through
these machinations of his mistress and Nero's own
more than ready acquiescence, Octavia was falsely
accused of adultery and in 62 A.D. she was banished
to Pandataria, where she was shortly afterwards put
to death.

Poppaea herself died in 65 A.D. as the result, it
was said, of a kick by her brutal husband when she
was far advanced in pregnancy. In the same year,
at the command of the emperor, Seneca committed

407

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

suicide ; and three years thereafter, in 68 A.D., Nero
himself, deposed by the praetorian guards, who had
espoused the cause of Galba, and condemned to
death by the Senate, fled from Rome and, after vain
efforts to escape, received his death-stroke by his
own request at the hands of a faithful attendant
who had fled with him.

408

DRAMATIS PERSON AE

OOTAVIA, step-sister and wife of Nero.

NURSE of Octavia.

POPPAEA, mistress and afterward wife of Nero.

NURSE of Poppaea.

GHOST OF AGRIPPINA, mother of Nero, slain by him.

NERO, Emperor of Some.

SENECA, former tutor of Nero, and later one of his chief
counsellors.

PREFECT OF ROMAN SOLDIERS.

MESSENGER.

CHORUS or ROMANS, sympathetic with Octavia.

CHORUS, attached to the interests of the court.

THE SCENE is laid throughout in different apartments of
the palace of Nero, and is concerned with the events of the
year 62 A. D.

OCTAVIA

OCTAVIA

IAM vaga caelo sidera fulgens
Aurora fugat, surgit Titan
radiante coma mundoque diem
reddit clarum.

age, tot tantis onerata malis,
repete assuetos iam tibi questus
atque aequoreas vince Alcyonas,
vince et volucres Pandionias ;
gravior namque his fortuna tua est.
semper, genetrix, deflenda rnihi, 10

priina meorum causa malorum,
tristes questus natae exaudi,
si quis remanet sensus in umbris.
utinam ante manu grandaeva sua
mea rupisset stamina Clotho,
tua quam maerens vulnera vidi
oraque foedo sparsa cruore !
o lux semper funesta mihi,
tempore ab illo

lux es tenebris invisa magis ! 20

tulimus saevae iussa novercae,
hostilem animum vultusque truces,
ilia ilia meis tristis Erinys
thalamis Stygios praetulit ignes
teque extinxit, miserande pater,
modo cui totus paruit orbis
ultra Oceanum

410

OCTAVIA

OCTAVIA

Now doth flushing dawn drive the wandering stars
from heaven ; with radiant beams the sun arises and
gives the world once more the light of day. On
then, with all thy woes weighed down, resume thy
now accustomed plaints and out-wail the sea-bred
Halcyons,1 out-wail the birds 2 of old Pandion's
house ; for more grievous is thy lot than theirs.
O mother, constant source of tears to me, first
cause of my misfortunes, hearken to thy daughter's
sad complaints, if any consciousness remains among
the shades. Oh, that the ancient Clotho with her
own hand had clipped my threads before sadly I saw
thy wounds, thy face with foul gore besmeared ! O
light, ever calamitous to me, from that time, O light,
thou art more hateful than the dark ! We have
endured a cruel step-dame's3 orders, her hostile
spirit and her aspect fierce. 'Twas she, 'twas she,
the baleful fury, who bore the Stygian torches to my
bridal chamber, and quenched thy light, O wretched
father, whom but yesterday the whole world obeyed,
even beyond Ocean's bounds, before whom the

1 See Index s.v. " Ceyx."

2 See Index s.v. "Philomela."
* Agrippina.

411

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

cuique Britanni terga dedere,

ducibus nostris ante ignoti

iurisque sui. SO

coniugis, heu me, pater, insidiis

oppresse iaces servitque domus

cum prole tua capta tyranno.

NVTRIX

Fulgore primo captus et fragili bono 1
fallacis aulae quisquis attonitus stupet,
subito2 latentis ecce Fortunae impetu
modo praepotentem cernat eversam domum
stirpemque Claudi, cuius imperio fuit
subiectus orbis, paruit liber diu

Oceanus et recepit invitus rates. 40

en qui Britannis primus imposuit iugum,
ignota tantis classibus texit freta
interque gentes barbaras tutus fuit
et saeva maria, coniugis scelere occidit ;
mox ilia nati ; cuius extinctus iacet
frater venenis. maeret infelix soror
eademque coniunx nee graves luctus valet
ira coacta tegere crudelis viri ;
quern sancta refugit semper, atque odio pari
ardens maritus impia flagrat face. 50

animum dolentis nostra solatur fides
pietasque frustra ; vincit immitis dolor
consilia nostra nee regi mentis potest
generosus ardor, sed malis vires capit.
heu quam nefandum prospicit noster timor
seel us, quod utinam numen aver tat deum.

1 So Richter: Leo conjectures facie nova.

2 So Richter • Leo sub uno, with n*, but conjectures subito
involantis.

412

OCTAVIA

Britons1 fled, erstwhile to our leaders all unknown
and unsubdued. Alas, my father, by thy wife's plots
thou liest crushed, and thy house together with thy
child 2 bends to a tyrant's 3 will.

[Exit to her chamber. Enter NURSE.]

NURSE

Whoso, o'erpowered by the novel splendour and
the frail blessings of deceitful royalty, stands awe-
struck and amazed, lo, 'neath the sudden blow of
lurking Fate, let him behold, o'erthrown, the house
and stock of Claudius, but now all powerful, under
whose rule the whole world was brought, whom the
Ocean, long to sway unknown, obeyed and, all un-
willingly, received his ships. Lo, he who first on
the Britons set a yoke, who covered unknown floods
with his mighty fleets, who was safe midst tribes
barbaric, midst raging seas, by his wife's4 crime is
fallen ; she soon by her son's hand fell ; and by his
poison lies my brother 5 slain. The unhappy sister,6
yea, the unhappy wife grieves on, nor can she hide
her bitter sufferings, forced to the angry will of her
cruel husband. From him ever the pure girl recoils,
and her husband, though by equal hate inspired,
with incestuous passion burns. Our fond love strives
in vain to console her grieving heart ; her cruel
smart o'ercomes our counsels, nor can the noble pas-
sion of her soul be governed, but from her woes she
draws new strength. Alas ! how my fears forbode
some desperate deed, which may the gods forbid.

1 Claudius had made an expedition to Britain in 43 A.D.

2 i.e. herself. 3 Nero.

4 Agrippina. 6 Britannicus.

6 i.e. step-sister, Octavia ; she was also Nero's sister by
adoption.

413

414.

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

OCTAVIA

O mea nullis aequanda malis
fortuna, licet

repetam luctus, Electra tuos.
tibi maerenti caesum licuit 60

flere parentem,
seel us ulcisci vindice fratre,
tua quern pietas hosti rapuit
texitque fides ;
me crudeli sorte parentes
raptos prohibet lugere timor
fratrisque necem deflere vetat,
in quo fuerat spes una mihi
totque malorum breve solamen.
nunc in luctus servata meos 70

magni resto nominis umbra.

NVTRIX

Vox en iiostras perculit aures
tristis alumnae ; cesset thalamis
inferre gradus tarda senectus ?

OCTAVIA

Excipe nostras lacrimas, nutrix,
testis nostri fida doloris.

NVTRIX

Quis te tantis solvet curis,
miseranda, dies ?

OCTAVIA

Qtii me Stygias mittet ad umbras.

NVTRIX
Omina quaeso sint ista procul. 80

OCTAVIA

OCTAVIA [heard speaking from her chamber]

O fate of mine, to be matched by no misfortunes,
though I recall thy woes, Electra. Thou couldst
weep out thy grief for thy father's murder, couldst
take vengeance on the crime with thy brother as
avenger, whom thy love snatched from the foe and
thy faithful care protected ; but me fear forbids to
mourn my parents reft from me by cruel fate, forbids
to bewail my brother's taking off", in whom was my
sole hope, the fleeting solace of my many woes. And
now, saved but to my suffering, I remain, the shadow
of a noble name.

NURSE

Hark ! the voice of my sad foster-child strikes on
mine ears. Does thy slow age take thee to her
chamber with lagging steps ?

[She advances toward the chamber, but is met by Octavia,

coming forth.]

OCTAVIA

Receive my tears, dear nurse, thou trusty witness

of my suffering.

NURSE

What day will free thee from thy mighty cares,
poor child ?

OCTAVIA

The day that sends me to the Stygian shades.

NURSE
Far from us be the omen of that word, I pray.

415

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

OCTAVIA

Non vota meos tua nunc casus,
sed fata regunt.

NVTRIX

Dabit afflictae meliora deus
tempora mitis ; tu modo blando
vince obsequio placata virum.

OCTAVIA

Vincam saevos ante leones
tigresque truces, fera quam saevi
corda tyranni.
odit genitos sanguine claro,
spernit superos hominesque simul, 90

nee fortunam capit ipse suam
quam dedit illi per scelus ingens
infanda parens. licet ingratum
dirae pudeat munere matris
hoc imperium cepisse, licet
tantum munus morte rependat,
feret hunc titulum post fata tamen
feraina longo semper in aevo.

NVTRIX

Animi retine verba furentis,
temere emissam comprime vocem.

OCTAVIA

Toleranda quamvis patiar, baud umquam que-

ant 100

nisi morte tristi nostra finiri mala,
genetrice caesa, per scelus rapto patre,
orbata fratre, miseriis luctu obruta,
maerore pressa, coniugi invisa ac meae
4-16

OCTAVIA

OCTAVIA

No longer is it thy prayers that shape my life but

the fates.

NURSE

God in his mercy will bring to thine affliction
better days. Do thou but be soothed, and win thy
husband with gentle courtesy.

OCTAVIA

Sooner shall I win savage lions and fierce tigers,
than that savage tyrant's brutal heart. He hates all
born of noble blood, scorns gods and men alike ; nor
can he of himself wield his high fortune which by a
monstrous crime his impious mother bestowed on
him. Yes ! though the ungrateful wretch count it
shame to take this empire as his cursed mother's
gift, though he requite her mighty gift with death,
still will the woman even after death win the fame
thereof for ever through unending age.

NURSE

Check thou the utterance of thy raging heart ;
repress the words thou hast poured forth too rashly.

OCTAVIA

Though I should endure what must be borne, ne'er
could my woes be ended, save by gloomy death.
With my mother slain, my father by crime snatched
from me, robbed of my brother, by wretchedness and
grief o'erwhelmed, by sorrow crushed, by my husband

417

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

subiecta famulae luce non grata fruor,

trepidante semper corde non mortis metu

sed sceleris — absit crimen a fatis meis,

mori iuvabit ; poena nam gravior nece est

videre tumidos et truces miserae mihi

vultus tyranni iungere atque host! oscula, 110

timere nutus cuius obsequium meus

baud ferre posset fata post fratris dolor

scelere interempti, cuius imperium tenet

et sorte gaudet auctor infaiidae necis.

quam saepe tristis umbra germani meis

offertur oculis, membra cum solvit quies

et fessa fletu lumina oppressit sopor.

modo facibus atris armat infirrnas manus

oculosque et ora fratris infestus petit,

modo trcpidus idem refugit in thalamos meos ; 120

persequitur hostis atque inhaerenti mihi

violentus ensem per latus nostrum rapit.

tune tremor et ingens cxcutit somnos pavor

renovatque luctus et metus miserae mihi.

adice his superbam paelicem, nostrae domus

spoliis nitentem, cuius in munus suam

Stygiae parentem natus imposuit rati,

quam dira post naufragia superato mari

ferro interemit saevior pelagi fretis.

quae spes salutis post nefas tantum mihi ? ISO

inimica victrix imminet thalamis meis

odioque nostri flagrat et pretium stupri

iustae maritum coniugis poscit caput.

emergere umbris et fer auxilium tuae

natae invocanti, genitor, aut Stygios sinus

tellure rupta pande, quo praeceps ferar.

1 i.e. Acte. See line 197, note.

2 Nero, in divorcing Octavia, alleged adultery as the cause.

418

OCTAVIA

hated, and set beneath my slave,1 the sweet light
brings no joy to me ; for my heart is ever trembling,
not with the fear of death, but of crime 2 — be crime
but lacking to my misfortunes, death will be delight.
For 'tis a punishment far worse than death to look
in the tyrant's face, all swollen with rage 'gainst
wretched me, to kiss my foe, to fear his very nod,
obedience to whom my smarting grief could not
endure after my brother's death, most sinfully de-
stroyed, whose throne he usurps, and rejoices in being
the worker of a death unspeakable. How oft does
my brother's sad shade appear before my eyes when
rest has relaxed my body, and sleep wreighed down
my eyes, weary with weeping. Now with smoking
torches he arms his feeble hands, and with deadly
purpose aims at his brother's eyes and face ; and now
in trembling fright takes refuge in my chamber ; his
enemy pursues and, e'en while the lad clings in my
embrace, savagely he thrusts his sword through both
our bodies. Then trembling and mighty terror
banish my slumbers, and bring back to my wretched
heart its grief and fear. Add to all this the proud
concubine, bedecked with our house's spoil, as gift
for whom the son set his own mother on the Stygian
bark ; and, when she had o'ercome dread shipwreck
and the sea, himself more pitiless than ocean's
waves, slew her with the sword. What hope of
safety, after crime so great, have I ? My victorious
foe threatens my chamber, blazes with hate of me,
and, as the reward of her adultery, demands of my
husband his lawful consort's head. Arise thou, my
father, from the shades and bring help to thy
daughter who calls on thee ; or else, rending the
earth, lay bare the Stygian abyss, that I may plunge
thither headlong.

419

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

NVTRIX

Frustra parentis in vocas^ manes tui,
miseranda, frustra, nulla cui prolis suae
manet inter umbras cura ; qui nato suo
praeferre potuit sanguine alieno satum 140

genitamque fratris coniugem pactus sibi
toris nefandis flebili iunxit face,
hinc orta series facinorum — caedes, doli,
regni cupido, sanguinis clari sitis ;
mactata soceri concidit thalamis gener
victima, tuis ne fieret hymenaeis potens.
pro facinus ingens ! feminae est munus datus
Silanus et cruore foedavit suo
patrios penates, criminis ficti reus.
intravit hostis, ei mihi, captam domum, 150

dolis novercae principis factus gener
idemque natus, iuvenis infandi ingeni,
scelerum capacis, dira cui genetrix facem
accendit et te iunxit invitam metu.
tantoque victrix facta successu ferox
ausa imminere est orbis imperio sacri.
quis tot referre facinorum formas potest
et spes nefandas feminae et blandos dolos
regnum petentis per gradus scelerum omnium ?
tune sancta Pietas extulit trepidos gradus l6o

vacuamque Erinys saeva funesto pede
intravit aulam, polluit Stygia face
sacros penates, iura naturae furens
fasque omne rupit. miscuit coniunx viro
venena saeva, cecidit atque eadem sui
mox scelere nati ; tu quoque extinctus iaces,
deflende nobis semper infelix puer,
modo sidus orbis, columen augustae domus,
Britannice, heu me, nunc levis tantum cinis
420

OCTAVIA

NURSE

In vain dost thou call upon thy father's ghost,
poor girl, in vain, for no care for his child abides
amidst the shades with him who to his own son
could prefer one born of other blood, and, taking his
brother's child to wife, wed her with couch incestuous
and gloomy torch. Thence sprung a train of crimes
— murders, deceits, the lust for empire, thirst for
illustrious blood ; as victha offered to the father's
marriage bed the son-in-law was slain, lest, wedded
to thee he might become too strong. Oh, monstrous
crime ! To a woman was Silanus given as a boon
and with his blood denied the ancestral gods, charged
with a crime that was not his. Then entered the
foe, ah me ! into the conquered palace, by a step-
mother's wiles made an emperor's son-in-law and
son withal, a youth of bent unnatural, fertile in crime,
whose passion thy cruel mother fanned, and forced
thee by fear to wed him, 'gainst thy will. Triumphant
and emboldened by such success, she dared aspire to
the awful empire of the world. Who can rehearse
the various forms of crime, the wicked hopes, the
cozening wiles of her who by all crimes would mount
to empire round by round ? Then holy Piety with
trembling step withdrew, and raging Fury with bale-
ful feet entered the empty palace, denied with
Stygian torch the holy household-gods, and in mad
rage rent nature's laws and all things sacred. The
wife for her husband mingled deadly poison, and
soon by her son's crime the same wife fell. Thou
too dost lie dead, unhappy youth, ever to be mourned
by us, but late the world's star, the prop of a noble
house, Britannicus, and now, ah me ! only light ashes

42 J

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

et tristis umbra; saeva cui lacrimas dedit 170

etiam noverca, cum rogis artus tuos
dedit1 cremandos membraque et vultus deo
similes volanti funebris flamma abstulit.2

OCTAVIA
Extinguat et me, ne manu nostra cadat !

NVTRIX
Natura vires non dedit tantas tibi.

OCTAVIA
Dolor ira maeror miseriae luctus dabunt.

NVTRIX
Vmce obsequendo potius immitem virum.

OCTAVIA
Vt fratrem ademptum seel ere restituat mihi ?

NVTRIX

Incolumis ut sis ipsa, labentem ut domum
genitoris olim subole restituas tua. 180

OCTAVIA

Expectat aliam principis subolem domus ;
me dira miseri fata germani trahunt.

NVTRIX
Confirmet animum civium tantus favor.

1 So the MSS.: Leo, with Biiecheler, dedi.
8 Some editors suggest a lacuna of thirty or more lines fol-
lowing 173.

422

OCTAVIA

and a mournful shade, o'er whom e'en thy step-
mother wept, when on the pyre she gave thy body
to be burned, and when thy limbs and features, that
were like a winged god's, were by the mournful
flame consumed.

OCTAVIA

Let him1 destroy me also, lest by my hand he fall.

NURSE

Nature has not bestowed on thee such strength.

OCTAVIA

Anguish, anger, sorrow, wretchedness, grief will
bestow it.

NURSE

By compliance, rather, win thine unfeeling lord.

OCTAVIA

That he may give back to me my brother, wickedly
destroyed ?

NURSE

That thou mayst be thyself unharmed, that one
day thou mayst restore thy father's tottering house
with sons of thine.

OCTAVIA

The royal house expects another son ; 2 me my
poor brother's cruel fates drag down.

NURSE

Let thy soul be strengthened by the citizens' great
love.

1 Nero.

3 i.e. Nero's by Poppaea.

423

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

OCTAVIA

Solatur iste nostra, non relevat mala.

NVTRIX
Vis magna populi est.

OCTAVIA

Principis maior tamen.

NVTRIX
Respiciet ipse coniugem.

OCTAVIA

Paelex vetat.

NVTRIX
Invisa cunctis nempe.

OCTAVIA
Sed cara est viro.

NVTRIX
Nondum uxor est.

OCTAVIA
lam fiet, et genetrix simul.

NVTRIX

luvenilis ardor impetu primo furit,
languescit idem facile nee durat diu
in Venere turpi, ceu levis Mammae vapor ;
amor perennis coniugis castae manet.
violare prima quae toros ausa est tuos
animumque domini famula possedit diu,
iam metuit eadem—

424

OCTAVIA

OCTAVIA

That comforts my woes but does not lighten them.

NURSE
The people's power is mighty.

OCTAVIA

But the emperor's mightier.

NURSE

Of himself will he respect his wife.

OCTAVIA

His concubine forbids.

NURSE
Surely she is scorned by all.

OCTAVIA

But to her husband, dear.

NURSE
She is not yet a wife.

OCTAVIA
But soon will be, and a mother, too.

NURSE

Youthful passion burns fierce at the first rush but
readily grows dull, nor long endures in foul adultery,
like heat of flickering flame ; but a chaste wife's love
remains perpetual. She who first dared profane thy
bed, and, though a slave, has long held in thrall her
master's heart, already herself fears —

425

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

OCTAVIA

Nempe praelatam sibi.

NVTRIX

subiecta et humilis, atque moniraenta extruit

quibus timorem fassa testatur suum.

et hanc levis fallaxque destituet deus

volucer Cupido ; sit licet forma eminens,

opibus superba, gaudium capiet breve. 200

Passa est similes ipsa dolores
regina deum,

cum se formas vertit in omnes
dominus caeli divumque pater,
et modo pennas sumpsit oloris
modo Sidonii cornua tauri,
aureus idem fluxit in imbri ;
fulgent caelo sidera Ledae,
patrio residet Bacchus Olympo,
deus Alcides possidet Heben 210

nee lunonis iam timet iras,
cuius gener est qui fuit hostis.
vicit sapiens tamen obsequium
coniugis altae pressusque dolor ;
sola Tonantem tenet aetherio
secura toro maxima luno,
nee mortal i captus forma
deserit altam luppiter aulam.
tu quoque, terris altera luno,
soror Augusti coniunxque, graves 220

vince dolores.

1 It is the opinion of Gruterus that the common inter-
pretation of this whole passage is wrong in its assumption
that the poet has Poppaea in mind ; he would have it that
the freed-woman, Acte, is the concubine referred to here.

OCTAV1A

OCTAVIA

Aye ! a more favoured mistress.

NURSE

— subdued and humble, and gives signs by which
she confesses her own great fear.1 Even her shall
winged Cupid, false and fickle god, betray ; though
she be passing fair, boastful in power, hers shall be
but a transitory joy.

201 The queen of the gods herself like sorrows suf-
fered, when the lord of heaven and father of the gods
into all forms changed, and now wings of a swan 2 put
on, now the horns of a bull 3 of Sidon, and again in a
golden shower4 poured down ; the stars of Leda
glitter in the sky, Bacchus 5 on his father's Olympus
dwells, Alcides 5 as a god possesses Hebe and now
no more fears Juno's wrath ; he is her son-in-law
who was her enemy. Yet wise compliance and
controlled wrath won victory for the queenly wife ;
without rival, without care does Juno hold the
Thunderer on her heavenly couch, and no more
does Jupiter, by mortal beauty smitten, desert the
court of heaven. Thou too, on earth a second Juno,
Augustus'6 wife and sister, thy grievous woes
o'ercome.

3 In which form he came to Leda.

3 Thus he appeared to Europa.

4 Thus he appeared to Danae.

8 Son of Jove and a mortal woman. See Index.
8 A surname not only of the first, but of all the Roman
emperors. Here, Nero.

427

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

OCTAV1A

Iimgentur ante saeva sideribus freta
et ignis undae, Tartaro tristi polus,
lux alma tenebris, roscidae nocti dies,
quam cum scelesti coniugis mente impia
mens nostra, semper fratris extincti memor.
utinam nefandi principis dirum caput
obruere flammis caelitum rector paret,
qui saepe terras fulmine infesto quatit
mentesque nostras ignibus terret sacris 230

novisque monstris ; vidimus caelo iubar
ardens cometam pandere infestam facem,
qua plaustra tardus noctis aeterna vice
regit Bootes, frigore Arctoo rigens.
en ipse diro spiritu saevi ducis
polluitur aether, gentibus clades novas
minantur astra, quas regit dux impius.
non tarn ferum Typhona neglecto love
irata Tellus edidit quondam parens ;
hie gravior illo pestis, hie hostis deum 24-0

hominumque templis expulit superos suis
civesque patria, spiritum fratri abstulit,
hausit cruorem matris — et lucem videt
fruiturque vita noxiam atque animam trahit '
pro summe genitor, tela cur frustra iacis
invicta totiens temere regali manu ?
in tarn nocentem dextra cur cessat tua ?
utinam suorum facinorum poenas luat
Nero insitivus, Domitio genitus patre,
orbis tyrannus, quern premit turpi iugo 250

morumque vitiis nomen Augustum inquinat !

1 A comet actually did appear at this time (Tacitus, An-
nales, xiv. 22). The appearance of a comet was portentous,
and was supposed to prelude the death of a king.

428

OCTAV1A

OCTAVIA

Sooner shall savage seas unite with stars, water with
fire, heaven with sad Tartarus, the kindly light with
darkness, day with the dewy night, than with my
accursed husband's impious soul this soul of mine,
that ever broods upon my brother's death. And oh,
that the lord of the heaven-dwellers, who often
shakes the lands with deadly bolt and terrifies our
souls with awful fires and portents strange, would
make ready to whelm with flames this impious prince.
We have seen a glowing radiance in the sky, a
comet l spreading its baleful trail, where slow Bootes,
numb with Arctic chill, with endless, nightlong
wheeling, guides his wain. Lo, by the pestilential
breath of this destructive leader the very air is
tainted ; the stars threaten unheard disasters for the
nations which this godless leader rules. Not such a
pest was Typhon, whom wrathful mother Earth pro-
duced in scorn of Jove ; this scourge, worse than he,
this enemy of gods and men, has driven the heavenly
ones from their shrines, and citizens from their
country, from his brother has he reft the breath of life,
and drained his mother's blood — and he still sees the
light of day, still lives and draws his baneful breath !
O high exalted father, why vainly, why so oft at
random dost thou hurl thy darts invincible with thine
imperial hand ? 'Gainst one so criminal why is thy
right hand stayed ? Would that he might pay
penalty for his crimes, this spurious 2 Nero, son of
Domitius, tyrant of a world he burdens with his
shameful yoke, and with foul ways pollutes the name
Augustus !

2 Referring to the fact that Nero was not the true son and
rightful heir of Claudius.

429

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

NVTRIX

Indignus ille, fateor, est thalamis tuis ;
sed cede fatis atque fortunae tuae,
alumna, quaeso neve violent! move
iram rnariti. forsitan vindex deus
existet aliquis, laetus et veniet dies.

OCTAVIA

Gravi deorum nostra iam pridem domus
tirgetur ira, prima quam pressit Venus
furore miserae dura genetricis meae,
quae nupta demens nupsit incesta face, 260

oblita nostri, coniugis, legum immemor.
illi soluta crine, succincta anguibus

ultrix Erinvs venit ad Stvgios toros

j •" ,,

raptasque thalamis sanguine extinxit faces ;
incendit ira principis pectus truci
caedem in nefandam ; cecidit infelix parens,
heu, nostra ferro meque perpetuo obruit
extincta luctu ; coniugem traxit suum
natumque ad umbras, prodidit lapsam domum.

NVTRIX

Renovare luctus parce cum fletu pios, 270

manes parentis neve sollicita tuae,
graves furoris quae sui poenas dedit.

CHORVS

Quae fama modo venit ad aures ?
utinam falso credita perdat
frustra totiens iactata fidem,

1 i.e. C. Siliua.
430

OCTAVIA

NURSE

Unworthy he, I do confess it, to mate with thee ;
but yield thee to the fates and to thy lot, ray child,
I beg, nor rouse thy violent husband's wrath. Per-
chance some god will arise as thine avenger, and a
day of happiness will come again.

OCTAVIA

Long since has the heavy wrath of the gods
pursued our house, which harsh Venus first o'er-
whelmed in my poor mother's madness ; for she,
already wed, in mad folly wed another l with un-
holy torch, of me, of her husband forgetful, and re-
gardless of the laws. Against her to that hellish
couch, with streaming hair and girt about with snakes,
came the avenging Fury and quenched those stolen
wedding fires in blood ; with rage she inflamed the
cruel emperor's heart to impious murder ; my ill-
starred mother fell, alas, and, by the sword destroyed,
o'erwhelmed me in endless suffering ; her husband
and her son did she drag down to death 2 and shame-
fully betrayed our fallen house.

NURSE

Forbear with weeping to renew thy filial griefs, and
vex not thy mother's spirit, who for her madness has
grievously atoned. [Exeunt.

CHORUS

What rumour has but now come to our ears ?
May it prove false and gain no credence though
vainly told o'er and o'er ; and may no new wife the

2 Because, after Messalina's death, Claudius married
Agrippina who was responsible for the death of Claudius
and Britannicus.

431

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

nee nova coniunx nostri thalamos

principis intret teneatque suos

nupta penates Claudia proles ;

edat partu pignora pacis

qua tranquillus gaudeat orbis 280

servetque decus Roma aeternum.

fratris thalamos sortita tenet

maxima luno ; soror August!

sociata toris cur a patria

pellitur aula? san eta quid illi

prodest pietas divusque pater,

quid virginitas castusque pudor ?

nos quoque nostri sumus immemores

post fata ducis, cuius stirpem

prodimus aegro l suadente metu. 290

vera priorum virtus quondam

Romana fuit verumque genus

Martis in illis sanguisque viris.

illi reges hac expulerunt

urbe superbos ultique tuos

sunt bene manes,

virgo, dextra

caesa parentis, ne servitium

paterere grave et improba ferret

praemia victrix dira libido. 300

te quoque bellum triste secutum est,2

mactata tua miseranda manu,

nata Lucreti, stuprum saevi

passa tyranni.

dedit infandi sceleris poenas

cum Tarquinio Tullia coniunx,

quae per caesi membra parentis

egit saevos impia currus

laceroque seni violenta rogos

nata negavit.

432

OCTAVIA

emperor's chamber enter, and may his bride, the
child of Claudius, keep her rightful home, and bring
forth sons, pledges of peace, wherein the untroubled
world may rejoice and Rome preserve her everlast-
ing glory. Her brother's bridal chamber mightiest
Juno won and holds ; why is Augustus's sister, made
partner of his couch, driven from her father's house ?
Of what avail to her is pure devotion, a father deified,
virginity, unblemished chastity ? We too, after his
death have quite forgot our leader, and betray his
child at the bidding of sick fear. Right Roman virtue
of old our fathers had ; in such men was the true
race and blood of Mars. They from this city arrogant
kings expelled, and well did they avenge thy ghost,
O virgin,1 slain by thy father's hand lest thou shouldst
suffer slavery's heavy load, and lest cruel lust,
victorious, should gain its shameless prize. Thee
also a sad war followed, daughter of Lucretius, slain,
poor girl, by thine own hand, by a brutal tyrant
outraged. With Tarquin Tullia, his wife, paid penalty
for crime unspeakable, who, over the body of her
murdered father heartlessly drove her cruel car, and,
mad daughter, refused the mangled old man a

funeral-pyre.

1 Virginia. See Index.
8 Lucretia. See Index.

1 So Richter : Leo taevo : A sevo : ^ evo : Peiper eheu.
s Leo deletes lines 297-301.

433

2

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Haec quoque nati videre nefas 310

saecula magnum, cum Tyrrhenum
rate ferali princeps captam
fraude parentem misit in aequor.
properant placidos linquere portus
iussi nautae, resonant remis
pulsata freta.

fertur in altum provecta ratis,
quae resoluto robore labens
pressa dehiscit sorbetque mare,
tollitur ingens clamor ad astra 320

cum femineo mixtus planctu.
mors ante oculos dira vagatur ;
quaerit leti sibi quisque fugam ;
alii lacerae puppis tabulis
haerent nudi fluctusque secant,
repetunt alii litora nantes ;
multos mergunt fata profundo.
scindit vestes Augusta suas
laceratque comas rigat et maestis
fletibus ora. 330

Postquam spes est nulla salutis,
ardens ira, iam victa malis :
(f haec " exclamat " mihi pro tanto
munere reddis praemia, nate ?
hac sum, fateor, digna carina,
quae te genui, quae tibi lucem
atque imperium nomenque dedi
Caesaris amens. exere vultus
Acheronte tuos poenisque meis
pascere, coniunx ; 34C

ego causa tuae, miserande, necis
natoque tuo funeris auctor
en, ut merui, ferar ad manes
inhumata tuos, obruta saevis
aequoris undis."
4-34-

OCTAVIA

310 This age as well has seen a son's dire
when in a deadly bark the prince l sent his mother
out on the Tyrrhene sea, by a trick ensnared. At his
bidding the sailors make haste to leave the peaceful
port and, smit by the oars, the sea resounds. The
vessel is borne far out upon the deep ; and there,
with loosened timbers, sinking, overwhelmed, it yawns
wide and drinks in the sea. A mighty outcry rises
to the stars, mingled with shrieks of women. Death
stalks dire before the eyes of all ; each for himself
seeks refuge from destruction ; some cling naked to
planks of the broken ship and face the floods, while
others, swimming, seek to gain the shore ; fate
plunges many into the depths below. Augusta2
rends her garments and tears her hair and waters
her cheeks with grieving tears.

831 At last, with hope of safety gone, blazing with
anger and now o'ercome with woe, she cries ; " Such
reward as this for my great boon, O son, dost thou
return me ? Worthy am I of this ship, I do confess,
who brought thee forth, who gave thee light and
empire and the name of Caesar, fool that I was.
Thrust forth thy face from Acheron, and glut thee
with my punishment, O husband ; I caused thy
death, poor soul, was the author of thy son's de-
struction, and lo, as I have merited, to thy ghost
am I now borne unburied, whelmed in the cruel
waters of the sea."

1 Nero. * i.e. Agrippina.

435

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Feriunt fluctus ora loquentis,
ruit in pelagus rursumque salo
pressa resurgit, pellit palmis
cogente metu freta, set cedit
fessa labori. raansit tacitis 350

in pectoribus spreta tristi
iam morte fides, multi dominae
ferre auxilium pelago fractis
viribus audent, bracchia quamvis
lenta trahentem voce hortantur
manibusque levant, quid tibi saevi
fugisse maris profuit undas ?
ferro es nati moritura tui,
cuius facinus vix posteritas,
tarde semper saecula credent. 36<J

furit ereptam pelagoque dolet
vivere matrem

impius, ingens geminatque nefas ;
ruit in miserae fata parentis
patiturque moram sceleris nullam.
missus peragit iussa satelles ;
reserat dominae pectora ferro.
caedis moriens ilia ministrum
rogat infelix, utero dirum
condat ut ensem : $10

"hie est, hie est fodiendus " ait
"ferro, monstrum qui tale tulit."
post hanc vocem
mixtam gemitu cum supremo
animam tandem per fera tristem
vulnera reddit.

SENECA

Quid me, potens Fortuna, fallaci mihi
blandita vultu, sorte contentum mea

436

OCTAVIA

846 E'en while she speaks the waves wash o'er her

lips, and down into the deep she plunges ; anon she

rises from the briny weight and with her hands, fear

driving her, lashes the sea ; but soon, outwearied,

gives o'er the struggle. There still lived in secret

hearts1 fidelity which scorned the grim fear of

death. Many to their mistress dare bring aid,

when her strength is exhausted by the sea, and, as

she drags her arms, though sluggishly, along, with

their voices cheer her and lift her with their hands.

But what availed it to have escaped the waters of

the cruel sea ? By the sword of thine own son thou

art to die, to whose crime scarce will posterity,

slowly will all future ages, give belief. He rages

and grieves that his mother, snatched from the sea,

still lives, the impious monster, and heaps huge

guilt on guilt ; bent on his wretched mother's

death, he brooks no stay of crime. Sent to the

task, his creature works his will, and with the sword

lays open his mistress' breast. The unhappy woman,

dying, begs her murderer to sheathe his fell sword

within her womb : " Tis this, 'tis this that must

with the sword be pierced, which gave such monster

birth ! " After such utterance, with a dying groan

commingled, at length through the cruel wound she

yielded her sad ghost.

SENECA [a/one]

Why, potent Fortune, with false, nattering looks;
hast high exalted me when contented with my lot,

1 »'. e. of some of her servants.

437

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

alte extulisti, gravius ut ruerem edita

receptus arce totque prospicerem metus ? 380

melius latebam procul ab invidiae mails

remotus inter Corsici rupes maris,

ubi liber animus et sui iuris mihi

semper vacabat studia recolenti mea.

o quam iuvabat, quo nihil maius parens

Natura genuit, operis immensi artifex,

caelum intueri, solis et currus sacros

mundique motus,1 solis alternas vices

orbemque Phoebes, astra quern cingunt vaga,

lateque fulgens aetheris magni decus ; 390

qui si senescit, tantus in caecum chaos

casurus iterum, tune adest mundo dies 2

supremus ille, qui premat3 genus impium

caeli ruina, rursus ut stirpem novam

generet renascens melior, ut quondam tulit

iuvenis, tenente regna Saturno poli.

tune ilia virgo, numinis magni dea,

lustitia, caelo missa cum sancta Fide

terris regebat mitis humanum genus.

non bella norant, non tubae fremitus truces, 400

non anna gentes, cingere assuerant suas

muris nee urbes : pervium cunctis iter,

communis usus omnium rerum fuit ;

et ipsa Tell us laeta fecundos sinus

pandebat ultro, tarn piis felix parens

et tuta alumnis.

Alia sed suboles, minus
experta mitis, tertium sellers genus
novas ad artes extitit, sanctum tarn en ;
mox inquietum, quod sequi cursu feras

1 Leo deletes solis . . . motus.

1 So Pickter with MSS. : Lto casurus iterum est — nunc ades
nmndo, dies. 3 So Richttr with MSS.: Leo premas.

438

OCTAV1A

that, raised to a lofty pinnacle, in heavier ruin I
might fall, and might look out upon so many fears ?
Better was I hid, far out of the reach of envy's sting,
midst the crags of Corsica, facing on the sea, where
my spirit, free and its own lord, had ever time to
contemplate my favourite themes. Oh, 'twas joy —
a joy surpassing anything to which mother Nature,
contriver of this fabric infinite, hath given birth, to
gaze upon the heavens, the sun's sacred chariot, the
motions of the universe and the sun's recurring
rounds, and the orb of Phoebe, which the wandering
stars encircle, and the far effulgent glory of the mighty
sky. If this sky is growing old, doomed wholly
once more to fall into blind nothingness, then for the
universe is that last day at hand which shall crush
sinful man beneath heaven's ruin, that so once more
a reborn and better world may bring forth a new
race such as she bore in youth, when Saturn1 held the
kingdoms of the sky. Then did that virgin, Justice,2
goddess of mighty sway, from heaven sent down with
holy Faith to earth, rule with mild sway the race of
men. No wars the nations knew, no trumpet's
threatening blasts, no arms, nor were they used to
surround their cities with a wall : open to all was
the way, in common was the use of every thing ; and
the glad Earth herself willingly laid bare her fruitful
breast, a mother happy and safe amid such duteous
nurslings.

406 But another race arose which proved less
gentle ; another yet, cunning in unknown arts, but
holy still ; then came a restless race, which dared

1 In the Golden Age. • i.e. Astraea.

439

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

auderet acres, fluctibus tectos gravi 410

extrahere pisces rete vel calamo levi,

decipere volucres1

tenere laqueo, premere subiectos iugo

tauros feroces, vomere immunem prius

sulcare terrain, laesa quae fruges suas

interius alte condidit sacro sinu.

sed in parentis viscera intravit suae

deterior aetas ; emit ferrum grave

aurumque, saevas mox et armavit manus;

partita fines regna constituit, novas 420

extruxit urbes, tecta defendit sua,

aliena telis aut petit praedae imminens.

neglecta terras fugit et mores feros

hominum et cruenta caede pollutas manus

Astraea virgo, siderum magnum decus.

cupido belli crevit atque auri fames

totum per orbem, maximum exortum est malum

luxuria, pestis blanda, cui vires dedit

roburque longum tempus atque error gravis.

collecta vitia per tot aetates diu 430

in nos redundant ; saeculo premimur gravi,

quo scelera regnant, saevit impietas furens,

turpi libido Venere dominatur potens,

luxuria victrix orbis immensas opes

iam pridem avaris manibus, ut perdat, rapit.

Sed ecce, gressu fertur attonito Nero
trucique vultu. quid ferat mente horreo.

NERO

Perage imperata ; mitte, qui Plauti mihi
Sullaeque caesi referat abscisum caput.

1 Leo conjectures a lacuna, and suggests <turbidos forti
canes >.

4-40

OCTAVIA

pursue the wild beasts in the chase, draw fish from
their coverts 'neath the sea with weighted net or
slender rod, catch birds, on a strong leash hold
unruly dogs,1 force headstrong bullocks to endure
the yoke, furrow the earth which had never felt the
plough, and which, now thus outraged, had hidden
her fruits deeper in her sacred bosom. But into its
mother's bowels did that degenerate age intrude ; it
dug out heavy iron and gold, and soon did it arm
savage hands for war. Marking out boundaries, it
established kingdoms, built cities, hitherto unknown,
guarded its own dwellings or, bent on booty, with
weapons attacked another's. Away from earth that
scorned her, from the wild ways of men and hands
defiled with bloody slaughter, fled the maid, Astraea,
chief glory of the firmament. Lust for war increased
and hunger for gold throughout the world ; luxury
arose, deadliest of ills, a luring pest, which acquired
strength and force by long use and grievous error.
These sins, through many ages gathering, are o'er-
flowing upon us; a heavy age weighs us down, wherein
crime is regnant, impiety runs mad, all-potent lust
lords it with shameless love, and triumphant luxury
has long with greedy hands been clutching the world's
unbounded stores — that she may squander them.

[NERO is seen approaching.]

436 But see, with startled step and savage mien Nero
approaches. At thought of what he brings I tremble.
\Enter NERO, followed by a Prefect.']

NERO [to Prefect]

Go do my bidding ; send one to slay me Plautus
and Sulla and bring back their severed heads.

1 Translating Leo's conjecture.

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

PRAEFECTVS

lussa baud morabor : castra confestim petam.

SENECA
Nihil in propinquos temere constitui decet. 440

NERO
lustum esse facile est cui vacat pectus metu.

SENECA
Magnum timoris remedium dementia est.

NERO
Extinguere hostem maxima est virtus ducis.

SENECA
Servare cives maior est patriae |)atri.

NERO
Praecipere mitem converiit pueris senem.

SENECA
Regenda rnagis est fervida adolescentia.

NERO

Aetate in hac sat esse consilii reor.

SENECA
Vt facta superi comprobent semper tua.

NERO
Stulte verebor, ipse cum faciam, deos.

442

OCTAV1A

PREFECT

Thy bidding will I do: to the camp forthwith I'll
take me. [Exit.

SENECA

'Tis not becoming to proceed rashly 'gainst one's
friends.

NERO

'Tis easy to be just when the heart is free from
fear.

SENECA

A sovereign cure for fear is clemency.

NERO
To destroy foes is a leader's greatest virtue.

SENECA

For the father of his country to save citizens, is
greater still.

NERO

A mild old man should give schooling to boys.

SENECA
More needful 'tis that fiery youth be ruled.

NERO
I deem that at this age we are wise enough.

SENECA
May thy deeds be ever pleasing to the gods.

NERO

Foolish I'd be to fear the gods, when I myself
make them.1

1 Referring to his own act in deifying the late Claudius.

448

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

SENECA

Hoc plus verere quod licet tantum tibi. 450

NERO
Fortuna nostra cuncta permittit mihi.

SENECA

Crede obsequenti parcius ; levis est dea.

NERO
Inertis est nescire quid liceat sibi.

SENECA
Id facere laus est quod decet, non quod licet.

NERO
Calcat iacentem vulgus.

SENECA

Invisum opprimit.

NERO
Ferrum tuetur principem.

SENECA

Melius fides.

NERO

Decet timeri Caesarem.

SENECA
At plus diligi.1

NERO

Metuant necesse est —

1 Leo deletes decet . . . diligi.
444

OCTAVIA

SENECA

Fear thou the more, that so great power is thine.

NERO
My fortune doth allow all things to me.

SENECA

Indulgent fortune trust more cautiously ; she is a
fickle goddess.

NERO

"Tis a dullard's part not to know what he may do.

SENECA

'Tis praiseworthy to do, not what one may, but
what one ought.

NERO

Him who lies down the crowd trample on.

SENECA
Him whom they hate, they crush.

NERO
The sword protects the prince.

8ENECA

Still better, loyalty.

NERO
A Caesar should be feared.

SENECA

But more be loved.

NERO

But men must fear —

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

SENECA

Quidquid exprimitur grave est.

NERO
lussisque nostris pareant.

SENECA

lusta impera — •

NERO
Statuam ipse.

SENECA

Quae consensus efficiat rata. 460

NERO
Respectus l ensis faciet.

SENECA

Hoc absit nefas.

NERO

An patiar ultra sanguinem nostrum peti,
inultus et contemptus ut subito opprimar?
exilia non fregere summotos procul
Plautum atque Sullam, pertinax quorum furor
armat ministros sceleris in caedem meam,
absentium cum maneat etiam ingens favor
in urbe iiostra, qui fovet spes exulum.
tollantur hostes ense suspecti mihi,
invisa coniunx pereat et carum sibi 470

fratrem sequatur. quidquid excelsum est cadat.

SENECA

Fulcrum eminere est inter illustres viros,
consulere patriae, parcere afflictis, fera

1 So Buecheler and Richter: Leo, with the MSS.t Despectus
Wilamowitz despectum ut ensis feriat ?

446

OCTAVIA

SENECA

What is compelled is burdensome.

NERO
Let them obey our orders.

SENECA

Give righteous orders —

NERO
I shall myself decide.

SENECA

which the general thought may ratify.

NERO
Reverence for the sword wUl ratify them.

SENECA

May heaven forbid !
NERO

Shall I then go on suffering them to seek my blood,
that, unavenged and scorned, I may suddenly be
crushed ? Exile has not broken Plautus and Sulla,
though far removed, whose persistent rage arms the
agents of their guilt to work my death, since still,
though absent, great is the favour they enjoy in this
our city, which nurtures the exiles' hopes. Let the
sword remove foemen whom I suspect ; let my hateful
wife perish and follow the brother whom she loves.
Whatever is high exalted, let it fall.

SENECA

'Tis glorious to tower aloft amongst great men, to
have care for father-land, to spare the downtrodden,

447

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

caede abstinere tempus atque irae dare,

orbi quietem, saeculo pacem suo.

haec summa virtus, petitur hac caelum via.

sic ille patriae primus Augustus parens

complexus astra est colitur et templis dens.

ilium tamen Fortuna iactavit diu

terra marique per graves belli vices, 480

hostes parentis donee oppressit sui ;

tibi numen incruenta summisit suum

et dedit habenas imperi facili manu

nutuque terras maria subiecit tuo.

invidia tristis victa consensu pio

cessit ; senatus, equitis accensus favor ;

plebisque votis atque iudicio patrum

tu pacis auctor, generis humani arbiter

electus orbem iam sacra specie regis

patriae parens ; quod nomen ut serves petit 490

suosque cives Roma commendat tibi.

NERO

Munus deorum est, ipsa quod servit mihi
Roma et senatus quodque ab invitis preces
humilesque voces exprimit nostri metus.
servare cives principi et patriae graves,
claro tumentes genere — quae dementia est,
cum liceat una voce suspectos sibi
mori iubere ? Brutus in caedem ducis,
a quo salutem tulerat, armavit manus ;
invictus acie, gentium domitor, lovi 500

aequatus altos ipse per honorum gradus
Caesar nefando civium scelere occidit.
quantum cruoris Roma turn vidit sui,
lacerata totiens ! ille qui meruit pia
virtute caelum, divus Augustus, viros

448

OCTAVIA

to abstain from cruel bloodshed, to be slow to wrath,
give quiet to the world, peace to one's time. This is
virtue's crown, by this way is heaven sought. So did
that first Augustus, his country's father, gain the
stars, and is worshipped in the temples as a god.
Yet him did Fortune toss for long on land and sea
in battle's deadly chances, until his father's foes he
overwhelmed. But to thee hath she yielded her
divinity, unstained of blood ; hath with easy hand
given thee the reins of government, and to thy nod
subjected lands and seas. Sour hate, o'ercome, hath
yielded in loyal harmony ; the senate's favour and
the knights' is warm toward thee ; and by the
people's prayers and the judgment of the Fathers,
thou art the source of peace, the arbiter of human
destinies, chosen to rule the world with godlike mien,
the country's father. This name Rome prays thee
to preserve, and to thy care commends her citizens.

NERO

'Tis the gift of heaven that Rome herself and the
senate are subject unto me, and that from unwilling
lips prayers and servile words are extorted by fear
of me. To preserve citizens, to ruler and father-
land alike oppressive, puffed up with pride of race-
what folly is't, when with a word one may give to
death those he suspects ? Brutus for the murder of
his chief, to whom he owed his safety, armed his
hands ; and Caesar, invincible in battle shock, tamer
of nations, walking, a very Jove, along the upward
path of honours, died by the unspeakable crime of
citizens. What streams of her own blood did Rome
then behold, so often rent with strife ! He who
earned heaven by piety, the deified Augustus, how

449

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

quot interemit nobiles, iuvenes senes

sparsos per orbem, cum suos mortis metu

fugerent penates et trium ferrum ducum,

tabula notante deditos tristi neci !

exposita rostris capita caesorum patres 5 1 0

videre maesti, flere nee licuit suos,

non gemere dira tabe pollute foro,

stillante sanie per putres vultus gravi.

nee finis hie cruoris aut caedis stetit :

pavere volucres et feras saevas diu

tristes Philippi, hausit et Siculum mare

classes virosque l saepe cedentes ; suis

concussus orbis viribus. magnus ducum

superatus acie, puppibus Nilum petit

fugae parutis, ipse periturus brevi ; 520

hausit cruorem incesta Romani ducis

Aegjptus iterum ; nunc leves umbras tegit.

illic sepultum est impie gestum diu

civile bellum. condidit tandem suos

iam fessus enses victor hebetatos feris

vulneribus, et continuit imperium metus.

armis fideque militis tutus fuit,

pietate nati factus eximia deus,

post fata consecratus et templis datus.

nos quoque manebunt astra, si saevo prior 530

ense occuparo quidquid infestura est mihi

dignaque nostram subole fundaro domum.

1 The text here is hopelessly corrupt and has been variously
emended. Schroeder's emendation is at least \ntelligible. Leo
reads

saepe cedentes suos
concussus orbis viribus magnus ducum
superatus, etc.
450

OCTAVIA

many nobles did he put to death, young men and old,
scattered throughout the world, when they fled their
own homes through fear of death and the sword of
the three banded chiefs ] — all by the accusing list 2
delivered to grim destruction ! The grieving fathers
saw the heads of the slain set out upon the rostra,
but dared not weep their dead nor groan, while the
forum reeked with foul corruption, and sluggish gore
dripped down the rotting faces. Nor was this the
end of slaughter and of blood : long did grim Philippi
feed birds and beasts of prey, and the Sicilian sea
engulfed fleets and men often retreating ; the world 3
was shaken by its own contending forces. The great 4
commander, by the leaders' array o'ercome, with his
ships prepared for flight, hied him to the Nile, him-
self doomed soon to perish ; incestuous 5 Egypt a
second 6 time drank a Roman leader's blood, and
now covers his flitting shade. There civil strife is
buried, waged impiously and long. At last the
victor 7 now weary, sheathed his sword, blunted with
savage blows, and maintained his sway by fear. Safe
under the protection of his loyal guards he lived, and
when he died, by the surpassing piety of his son 8
was made a god, hallowed and enshrined. Me, too,
shall the stars await, if with relentless sword I first
destroy whate'er is hostile to me, and on a worthy
offspring found my house.

1 The Second Triumvirate, Lepidus, Antonius, and
Octavius. 2 The proscription lists.

3 i.e. the world of the Roman Empire.

4 Evidently referring to Marcus Antonius, as the context
shows.

* Because of the marriage of Cleopatra with her brother,
Ptolemy.

6 The implied first was On. Pompeius. 7 Octavius.

* Tiberius, the adopted son of Augustus.

45 J

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

SENECA

Implebit aulam stirpe caelesti tuam
generata divo Claudiae gentis decus,
sortita fratris more lunonis toros.

NERO

Incesta genetrix detrahit generi fidem,
animusque numquam coniugis iunctus milri.

SENECA

Teneris in annis baud satis clarus ferest,1
pudore victus cum tegit Mammas, amor.

NERO

Hoc equidem et ipse credidi frustra diu, 540

manifesta quamvis pectore insociabili
vul tuque signa proderent odium mei ;
tandem quod ardens statuit ulcisci dolor,
dignamque thalamis coniugem inveni meis
genere atque forma, victa cui cedat Venus
lovisque coniunx et ferox armis dea.

SENECA

Probitas fidesque coniugis, mores pudor
placeant marito ; sola perpetuo manent
subiecta nulli mentis atque animi bona ;
Horem decoris singuli carpunt dies. 550

NERO

Omnes in unam contulit laudes deus
talemque nasci fata voluerunt mihi.

1 clara eat fides A, emended by Leo, and with reason, for
the fides of line 536 is not in question, but the amor implicit in
line 537.

4-52

OCTAVIA

SENECA

With stock celestial will she l fill thy halls, she,
the daughter of a god,2 the Claudian race's glory,
who has, like Juno, gained her brother's bed.

NERO

A harlot mother 3 brings her birth in doubt;—
and the soul of my wife was never linked with mine.

SENECA

In tender years rarely is love revealed, when, by
modesty o'ercome, it hides its fires.

NERO

This truly I, too, myself have vainly trusted long,
although clear signs from her unloving heart and
face betrayed her hate of me ; which to avenge at
last my hot grief has resolved. And now I have
found a wife worthy of my bed in birth and beauty, to
whom Venus, outshone, would yield, and the wife of
Jove and the goddess4 bold in battle.

SENECA

But honour, wifely faith, virtue and modesty,
should please a husband ; for 'tis these only, the
treasures of mind and heart, that, subject to none,
abide perpetual ; but beauty's flower each passing
day despoils.

NERO

All charms upon one woman has God bestowed,
and such was she born, — so have the fates decreed, —
for me.

1 Octavia.

J Claudius, by courtesy and custom called divus after
death. * Messalina. * Minerva.

453

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

SENECA

Recedet a te (temere ne credas) amor.

NERO

Quern summovere fulminis dominus nequit,
caeli tyrannum, saeva qui penetrat freta
Ditisque regna, detrahit superos polo ?

SENECA

Volucrem esse Amorem fingit immitem deum
mortalis error, armat et telis manus
arcuque sacras, instruit saeva face
genitumque credit Venere, Vulcano satum. 560

vis magna mentis blandus atque animi calor
Amor est ; iuventa gignijtur, luxu otio
nutritur inter laeta Fortunae bona ;
quern si fovere atque alere desistas, cadit
brevique vires perdit extinctus suas.

NERO

Hanc esse vitae max imam causam reor,
per quam voluptas oritur ; interitu caret,
cum procreetur semper humanum genus
Amore grato, qui truces mulcet feras.
hie mihi iugales praeferat taedas deus 570

iungatque nostris igne Poppaeam toris.

SENECA

Vix sustinere possit hos thalamos dolor
videre populi, sancta nee pietas sinat.

NERO
Prohibebor unus facere quod cunctis licet ?

454

OCTAVIA

SENECA

Love will depart from thee, be not too credulous.

NERO

What ? He whom the lightning's lord cannot put
off? Heaven's tyrant, who enters the savage seas and
the realm of Dis, and draws gods from the sky?

SENECA

'Tis our human ignorance fashions Love a winged
god, implacable, and arms with shafts and bow his
sacred hands, equips him with blazing torch, and
counts him the son of Venus, Vulcan's seed. This
" Love " is a mighty force of mind, a fond heat of the
soul ; 'tis born of youth, 'tis nursed by luxury and
ease midst the glad gifts of Fortune ; and if thou
cease to feed and foster it, it falls away and quickly
is its power dead and lost.

NERO

This do I deem the chiefest source of life, whence
pleasure hath its birth ; 'tis a deathless thing, since
the human race is evermore renewed by pleasing
Love, who softens e'en savage beasts. May this god
bear before me the wedding torch, and with his fire
join Poppaea to my bed.

SENECA

The people's grief could scarce endure to see such
marriage, nor would holy reverence allow it.

NERO
Shall 1 alone be forbidden what all may do ?

455

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

SENECA

Maiora populus semper a summo exigit.

NERO

Libet experiri, viribus fractus meis
an cedat animis temere conceptus favor.

SENECA
Obsequere potius civibus placidus tuis.

NERO
Male imperatur, cum regit vulgus duces.

SENECA
Nihil impetrare cum valet, iuste dolet. 580

NERO
Exprimere ius est, ferre quod nequeunt preces ?

SENECA
Negare durum est.

NERO

Principem cogi nefas.

SENECA
Remittat ipse.

NERO
Fama sed victum feret.

SENECA
Levis atque vana.

NERO

Sit licet, multos notat.
456

OCTAVIA

SENECA

Greatest from highest ever the state exacts.

NERO

Fain would I make trial whether, broken by my
might, this rashly cherished regard would not vanish
from their hearts.

SENECA

Bend, rather, peacefully to thy people's will.

NERO
111 fares the state when commons govern kings.

SENECA

He justly chafes who naught avails by prayer

NERO
Is it right to extort what prayer cannot obtain

SENECA
To refuse is harsh.

NERO

To force a prince is outrage.

SENECA
He should himself give way.

NERO
But rumour will report him conquered.

SENECA
A trivial and empty thing is rumour.

NERO

E'en so, it disgraces many.

457

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

SENECA

Excelsa metuit.

NERO

Non minus carpit tamen.

SENECA

Facile opprimetur. merita te divi patris
aetasque frangat coniugis, probitas pudor.

NERO

Desiste tandem, iam gravis nimium mihi,
instare ; liceat facere quod Seneca improbat.
iam pridem et ipse vota Poppaeae moror,1 590

cum portet utero pignus et partem mei.
quin destinamus proximum thalamis diem ?

AGRIPP1NA

Tellure rupta Tartaro gressum extuli,
Stygiam cruenta praeferens dextra facem
thalamis scelestis. iiubat his flammis meo
Poppaea nato iuncta, quas vindex manus
dolorque matris vertet ad tristes rogos.
manet inter umbras impiae caedis mihi
semper memoria, manibus nostris gravis
adhuc inultis. reddita est meritis meis 600

funesta merces puppis et pretium imperi
nox ilia qua naufragia deflevi mea ;
comitum necem natique crudelis nefas
deflere votum fuerat — hand tempus datum est

1 So Bueclider. Leo reads et ipse populi vota iam pridem
moror. populi is impossible in view of the next line.

4-58

OCTAVIA

SENECA

It fears the high exalted.

NEKO

But none the less maligns.

SENECA

Twill easily be crushed. Let the merits of thy
sainted father l break thy will,2 and thy wife's youth,
her faith, her chastity.

NERO

Have done at last ; already too wearisome has thy
insistence grown ; permit me to do what Seneca
disapproves. Long since am I myself Poppaea's
prayers delaying, since in her womb she bears a
pledge and part of me. Why not appoint to-morrow
for the wedding day ? [Exeunt.

[Enter Ghost of AGRIPPINA beating a flaming torch.]

AGRIPPINA

Through the rent earth from Tartarus have I come
forth, bringing in bloody hand a Stygian torch to
these curst marriage rites. With these flames let
Poppaea wed my son, which a mother's avenging
hand and grief shall turn to grim funeral pyres.
Ever amidst the shades the memory of my impious
murder abides with me, burdening my ghost still
unavenged. The payment I received for all my
services was that death-fraught ship, and the reward
of empire, that night wherein I mourned my wreck.
My comrades' murder and my son's heartless
crime I would have wept — no time was given for

1 i.e. his adoptive father, Claudius.
* In the matter of Poppaea.

459

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

lacrimis, sed ingens scclere geminavit nefas.

perempta ferro, foeda vulneribus sacros

intra penates spiritum efFudi gravem

erepta pelago, sanguine extinxi meo

nee odia nati. saevit in nomen ferus

matris tyrannus, obrui meritum cupit, 610

simulacra, titulos destruit mortis l metu

totum per orbem quern dedit poenam in meam

puero regendum noster infelix amor.

Extinctus umbras agitat infestus meas
flammisque vultus noxios coniunx petit,
instat, minatur, imputat fatum mihi
tumulumque nati, poscit auctorem necis.
iam parce ; dabitur, tempus baud longum peto.
ultrix Erinys impio dignum parat
letum tyranno, verbera et turpem fugam 620

poenasque quis et Tantali vincat sitim,
dirum laborem Sisyphi, Tityi alitem
Ixionisque membra rapientem rotam.
licet extruat marmoribus atque auro tegat
superbus aulam, limen armatae ducis
servent cohortes, mittat immensas opes
exhaustus orbis, supplices dextram petant
Parthi cruentam, regna divitias ferant ;
veniet dies tempusque quo reddat suis
animam nocentem sceleribus, iugulum hostibus 630
desertus ac destructus et cunctis egens.

o

Heu, quo labor, quo vota ceciderunt mea ?
1 So A. Leo, following Buechder, matris.

Britannicus. * Nero.

1 It is the following passage which forms the chief argu-

460

OCTAVIA

tears, but with crime he doubled that awful crime.
Though saved from the sea, yet by the sword un-
done, loathsome with wounds, midst the holy images
I gave up my troubled ghost. Still my blood
quenched not the hatred of my son. Rages the
mad tyrant against his mother's name, longs to blot
out her merits ; my statues, my inscriptions he
destroys by threat of death throughout the world-
the world which, to my own punishment, my ill-
starred love gave to a boy's government.

[She seems to sec her husband's ghost. ,]
en Wrathfully doth my dead husband harass my
ghost, and with torches attacks my guilty face ; pur-
sues me, threatens, charges to me his death and his
son's1 burial mound, demands the author2 of the
murderous deed. Have done ; he shall be given ; 'tis
no long time I seek. The avenging Fury plans for
the impious tyrant a worthy doom 3 ; blows and base
flight and sufferings whereby he may surpass e'en
Tantalus' thirst, the dread toil of Sisyphus, the bird
of Tityus and the wheel which whirls Ixion's limbs
around. Though in his pride he build him marble
palaces and roof them in with gold, though armed
guards stand at their chieftain's door, though the
beggared world send him its boundless riches, though
Parthians in suppliance seek his bloody hand, though
kingdoms bring wealth to him ; the day and the hour
will come when for his crimes he shall pay his guilty
soul, shall give his throat to his enemies, abandoned
and undone and stripped of all.

632 Alas ! to what end my labour and my prayers ?

ment of those who deny the Senecan authorship of this play,
on the ground that it gives in the form of prophecy a cir-
cumstantial account of the death of Nero, in 68 A.D., whereas
Seneca died in 65.

461

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

quo te furor provexit attonitum tuus

et fata, nate, cedat ut tantis malis

genetricis ira quae tuo scelere occidit ?

utinam antequam te parvulum in lucem edidi

aluique, saevae nostra lacerassent ferae

viscera ; sine ullo scelere, sine sensu innocens

meus occidisses ; iunctus atque haerens mihi

semper quietam cerneres sedem inferum, 640

proavos patremque, nominis magni viros,

quos nunc pudor luctusque perpetuus manet

ex te, nefande, meque quae talem tuli.

quid tegere cesso Tartaro vultus meos,

noverca coniunx mater infelix meis ?

OCTAVIA

Parcite lacrimis urbis festo
laetoque die, ne tantus amor
nostrique favor principis acres
suscitet iras vobisque ego sim
causa malorum. non hoc primum 650

pectora vulnus mea senserunt ;
graviora tuli ; dabit hie nostris
finem curis vel morte dies,
non ego saevi cernere cogar
coniugis ora,
non invisos intrare mihi
thalamos famulae ;
soror Augusti, non uxor ero.
absint tantum tristes poenae
letique metus. 660

scelerum diri, miseranda, viri
potes hoc demens sperare memor ?
hos ad thalamos servata diu
4-62

OCTAVIA

Hath thy frenzy carried thee so far in madness, and
thy destiny, my son, that the wrath of a mother
murdered by thy hand gives way before such woes ?
Would that, ere I brought thee, a tiny babe, to light,
and suckled thee, savage beasts of prey had rent
my vitals ; then without crime, without sense and
innocent, thou wouldst have died— my own; close
clinging to my side, thou wouldst forever see the
quiet seats of the underworld, thy grandsires and
thy sire, heroes of glorious name, whom now shame
and grief perpetual await because of thee, thou
monster, and of me who bore such son. But why
delay to hide my face in Tartarus, as step-dame,
mother, wife, a curse unto my own ?

[The Ghost vanishes. Enter OCTAVIA.]

OCTAVIA [to the Chorus]

Restrain your tears on this glad, festal day of
Rome, lest your great love and care for me arouse
the emperor's sharp wrath, and I be cause of
suffering to you. This wound l is not the first my
heart has felt ; far heavier have I borne ; but this
day shall end my cares e'en by my death. No more
shall I be forced to look on my brutal husband's face,
nor to enter a slave's chamber which I hate ;
Augustus' sister shall I be, not wife. Only may I
be spared dire punishments and fearful death. -
And canst thou, poor, foolish girl, remembering thy
cruel husband's crimes, yet hope for this? Long
kept back for this marriage-festival, thou shalt fall

1 i.e. her divorce and disgrace.

463

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

victima tandem funesta cades,
sed quid patrios saepe penates
respicis udis confusa genis ?
propera tectis efferre gradus,
linque cruentam principis aulam.

CIIORVS

En illuxit suspecta diu,

fama totiens iactata dies. 670

cessit thalamis Claudia diri
pulsa Neronis, quo iam victrix
Poppaea tenet, cessat pietas
dum nostra gravi compressa metu
segnisque dolor,
ubi Romani vis est populi,
fregit claros quae saepe duces,
dedit invictae leges patriae,
fasces dignis civibus olim,
iussit bellum pacemque, feras 680

gentes domuit,
captos reges carcere clausit ?
gravis en oculis undique nostris
iam Poppaeae fulget imago,
iuncta Neroni !
affligat humo violenta manus
similes nimium vultus dominae
ipsamque toris detrahat altis,
petat infestis mox et flammis
telisque feris principis aulam.

NVTRIX POPPAEAE

Quo trepida gressum coniugis thalamis tui 690
effers, alumna, quidve secretum petis

1 i.e. Octavia.
464

OCTAVIA

at last, an ill-starred victim. But why so often to
thy father's house dost look back with streaming
eyes? Haste thee to leave this roof; abandon the
blood-stained palace of the emperor. [Exit.

CHORUS

Lo, now has dawned the day long dim foreseen,,
so oft by rumour bruited. Departed is Claudia1
from cruel Nero's chamber, which e'en now Poppaea
holds in triumph, while lags our love by grievous
fear repressed, and grief is numb. Where is the
Roman people's manhood now, which oft in olden
times hath crushed illustrious chiefs, given laws to
an unconquered land,2 the fasces to worthy citizens,
made war and peace at will, conquered wild races
and imprisoned captive kings ? Lo, grievous to our
sight, on every hand now gleams Poppaea's image,
with Nero's joined ! Let violent hands throw them
to the ground, too like their mistress' features ; let
them drag her down from her lofty couch, and then
with devouring flames and savage spears attack the
palace of the emperor. [Exit CHORUS.

[Enter POPPAEA'S NURSE and POPPAEA herself, who
appears, distraught, coming out of her chamber.']

NURSE

Whither, dear child, dost pass all trembling from
the chamber of thy lord, or what hidden place seekst

2 i.e. withstood all outside enemies and righteously ruled
within the father-land.

465

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

turbata vultu ? cur genae fletu madent ?

certe petitus precibus et votis dies

aostris refulsit ; Caesari iuncta es tuo

taeda iugali, quern tuus cepit decor,

contempta l Senecae tradidit vinctum tibi

genetrix Amoris, maximum numen, Venus.

o qualis altos quanta pressisti toros

residens in aula ! vidit attonitus tuam

formam senatus, tura cum superis dares 700

sacrasque grato spargeres aras mero,

velata summum flammeo tenui caput ;

et ipse lateri iunctus atque haerens tuo

sublimis inter civium laeta omina

incessit habitu atque ore laetitiam gerens

princeps superbo. talis emersam freto

spumante Peleus coniugem accepit Thetin,

quorum toros celebrasse caelestes ferunt,

pelagique numen omne consensu pari.

quae subita vultus causa mutavit tuos ? 710

quid pallor iste, quid ferant lacrimae doce.

POPPA EA

Confusa tristi proximae noctis metu
visuque, nutrix, mente turbata feror,
defecta sensu. laeta nam postquam dies
sideribus atris cessit et nocti polus,
inter Neronis iuncta complexus mei
somno resolvor ; nee diu placida frul
quiete licuit. visa nam thalamos meos
celebrare turba est maesta ; resolutis comis
matres Latinae flebiles planctus dabant ; 720

inter tubarum saepe terribilem sonum
sparsam cruore coniugis genetrix mei
vultu minaci saeva quatiebat facem.

1 et culpa Senecae A, variously emended by Leo as above.

466

OCTAVIA

thou with troubled face ? Why are thy cheeks wet
with weeping ? Surely the day sought by our prayers
and vows has dawned ; to thy Caesar art thou joined
by the marriage torch, him whom thy beauty snared,
whom Venus hath delivered in bonds to thee, Venus,
of Seneca flouted, mother of Love, most mighty
deity. Oh, how beautiful and stately wast thou on
the high couch reclining in the hall ! The senate
looked on thy beauty in amaze, when incense to the
gods thou offeredst and with pleasing wine didst
sprinkle the sacred shrines, thy head covered with
filmy marriage-veil, flame-coloured. And close beside
thee, majestic midst the favouring plaudits of the
citizens, walked the prince himself, showing, in look
and bearing, his joy and pride. So did Peleus take
Thetis for his bride, risen up from Ocean's foam,
to whose marriage, they say, the heaven-dwellers
thronged, and with equal joy each sea divinity.
What cause so suddenly has changed thy face ?
Tell me what mean thy pallor and thy tears.

POPPAEA

My sad heart, dear nurse, is confused and troubled
by a fearful vision of yester-night, and my senses
reel. For, after joyful day had to the dark stars
yielded, and the sky to night, held close in my Nero's
arms I lay relaxed in slumber. But not long was it
granted to enjoy sweet rest ; for my marriage chamber
seemed thronged with many mourners ; with stream-
ing hair did Roman matrons come, making tearful
lamentations ; midst oft repeated and fearful trumpet
blasts, my husband's mother,1 with threatening mien
and savage, brandished a blood-spattered torch.

1 Agrippina.

467

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

quarn dum sequor coacta praesenti metu,

diducta subito patuit ingenti mihi

tellus hiatu ; lata quo praeceps toros

cerno iugales pariter et miror meos,

in quis residi fessa. venientem intuor

comitante turba coniugem quondam meum

natumque ; properat petere complexus meos 730

Crispinus,.intermissa libare oscula ;

irrupit intra tecta cum trepidus mea

ensemque iugulo condidit saevum Nero.

tandem quietem magnus excussit timor ;

quatit ossa et artus horridus nostros tremor

pulsatque pectus ; coiitinet vocem timor,

quam mine fides pietasque produxit tua.

heu quid minantur inferum manes mihi

aut quern cruorem coniugis vidi mei ?

NVTRIX

Quaecumque mentis agitat intentus l vigor 740
ea per quietem sacer et arcanus refert
veloxque sensus. coniugem thalamos toros
vidisse te miraris amplexu novi
haerens mariti ? sed movent laeto die
pulsata palmis pectora et fusae comae ?
Octaviae discidia planxerunt sacros
inter penates fratris et patrium larem.
fax ilia, quam secuta es, Augustae manu
praelata clarum nomen invidia tibi
partum ominatur. inferum sedes toros 750

stabiles futures spondet aeternae domus.
iugulo quod ensem condidit princeps tuus,
bella haud movebit, pace sed ferrum teget.

1 So Gronovius : Leo, with A, infestus.

1 Crispinus.
4-68

OCTAV1A

While I was following her, driven by urgent fear,
suddenly the earth yawned beneath me in a mighty
chasm. Downward through this I plunged and there,
as on earth, beheld my wedding-couch, wondering
to behold it, whereon I sank in utter weariness. I
saw approaching, with a throng around him, my
former husband1 and my son.2 Crispinus3 hastened
to take me in his ai ms, to kiss me as long ago ; when
hurriedly into my chamber Nero burst and buried
his savage sword in the other's throat-. At length a
mighty fear roused me from slumber ; my bones and
limbs shook with a violent trembling ; my heart beat
wildly ; fear checked my utterance, which now thy
love and loyalty have restored to me. Alas ! What
do the spirits of the dead threaten me, or what means
the blood of my husband that I saw ?

NURSE

Whate'er the mind's waking vigour eagerly pur-
sues, a mysterious, secret sense, swift working, brings
back in sleep. Dost marvel that thou didst behold
husband and marriage-bed, held fast in thy new
lord's arms? But do hands beating breasts and
streaming hair on a day of joy trouble thee ? 'Twas
Octavia's divorce they mourned midst her brother's
sacred gods and her father's house. That torch
which thou didst follow, borne in Augusta's 4 hand,
foretells the name that thou shall gain illumed by
envy. Thy abode in the lower world5 promises the
stablished marriage-bed of a home unending. Where-
as thine emperor buried his sword in that other's
throat, wars shall he not wage, but in peace shall

8 Rufrius Crispinus. For his fate, see Index.
* i.e. her husband. 4 i.e. Agrippina's.

s Since in that world all things are changeless.

469

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

recollige animum, recipe laetitiam, precor,
timore pulso redde te thalamis tuis.

POPPAEA

Delubra et aras petere constitui sacras,
caesis litare victimis numen deum,
ut expientur noctis et somni minae
terrorque in hostes redeat attonitus meos.
tu vota pro me suscipe et precibus piis 760

superos adora, maneat ut praesens status.

CHORVS

Si vera loquax fama Tonantis
furta et gratos narrat amores
(quern modo Ledae pressisse sinum
tectum plumis pennisque ferunt,
modo per fluctus raptam Europen
taurum tergo portasse trucem),
quae regit et nunc deseret astra,
petet amplexus, Poppaea, tuos,
quos et Ledae praeferre potest 770

et tibi, quondam cui miranti
fulvo, Danae, fluxit in auro.
formam Sparte iactet alumnae
licet et Phrygius praemia pastor
vincet vultus haec Tyndaridos

•>

qui moverunt horrida bella
Phrygiaeque solo regna dedere.
Sed quis gressu ruit attonito
aut quid portat pectore anhelo ?

NVNTIVS

Quicumque tectis excubat miles ducis, 780

defendat aulam cui furor populi imminet.

4-70

OCTAVIA

sheathe his sword. Take heart again, recall thy
joy, I pray ; banish thy fear and return thee to thy
chamber.

POPPAEA

Rather am I resolved to seek the shrines and
sacred altars, and with slain victims sacrifice to the
holy gods, that the threats of night and sleep may be
averted, and that my crazed terror may turn against
my foes. Do thou make vows for me and with pious
prayers implore the gods of heaven that my present
lot may be abiding. [Exeunt.

CHORUS [of Roman women in sympathy with POPPAEA]

If truly speaks babbling rumour of the Thunderer's
sweet stolen loves, (who now, they say, in feathery
plumage hid, held Leda in his embrace, now over
the waves, in fierce bull-form, the stolen Europa
bore,) e'en now will he desert the stars o'er which
he rules and seek thy arms, Poppaea, which even to
Leda's he might prefer, and to thine, O Danae,
before whose wondering eyes in olden time he
poured down in yellow gold. Let Sparta vaunt the
beauty of her daughter,1 and let the Phrygian
shepherd 2 vaunt his prize ; she 3 will outshine the
face of Tyndaris,4 which set dread war on foot and
levelled Phrygia's kingdom with the ground.

778 But who comes running with excited steps ?
What tidings bears he in his heaving breast ?

[Enter MESSENGER.]

MESSENGER

Whatever guard holds watch o'er our leader's
house, let it defend the palace which the people's

1 Helen. * Paris. • Poppaea. 4 Helen.

471

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

trepidi cohortes ecce praefecti trahunt
praesidia ad urbis, victa nee cedit metu
concepta rabies temere, sed vires capit.

CHORUS
Quis iste mentes agitat attonitus furor ?

NVNTIVS

Octaviae favore percussa agmina
et efferata per nefas ingens ruunt.

CHORVS
Quid ausa facere quove consilio doce.

NVNTIVS

Reddere penates Claudiae divi parant
torosque tratris, debitara partem imperi. 79(!

CHORVS
Quos iam tenet Poppaea concordi fide ?

NVNTIVS

Hie urit animos pertinax nimium favor
et in farorem temere praecipites agit.
quaecumque claro marmore effigies stetit
aut acre fulgens, ora Poppaeae gerens,
afflicta vulgi manibus et saevo iacet
eversa ferro ; membra per partes trahunt
deducta laqueis, obruunt turpi diu
calcata caeno. verba conveniunt feris
immixta factis quae timor reticet meus. 800

sepire flammis principis sedem parant,

472

OCTAV1A

fury threatens. See, in trembling haste the captains
are bringing cohorts to defend the town ; nor does
the mob's madness, rashly roused, give place, o'er-
come with fear, but gathers strength.

CHORUS
What is that wild frenzy which stirs their hearts ?

MESSENGER

Smitten with love for Octavia and beside them-
selves with rage, the throngs rush on, in mood for
any crime.

CHORUS

What do they dare to do, or what is their plan,
tell thou.

MESSENGER

They plan to give back to Claudia1 her dead father's
house, her brother's bed and her due share of empire.

CHORUS

Which even now Poppaea shares with her lord in
mutual loyalty ?

MESSENGER

'Tis this too stubborn love 2 that inflames their
minds and into rash madness drives them headlong.
Whatever statue was set up of noble marble or of
gleaming bronze, which bore the features of Poppaea,
lies low, cast down by base-born hands and by
relentless bars o'erturned ; the limbs, pulled down by
ropes, they drag piecemeal, trample them o'er and
o'er and cover them with foul mud. Commingled
curses match their savage acts, which I am afraid to
tell of. They make ready to hem the emperor's

1 Octavia. a i.e. for Octavia.

473

TUB TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

populi nisi irae coniugem reddat novara,
reddat penates Claudiae victus suos.
ut noscat ipse civium motus, mea
voce baud morabor iussa praefecti exequi.

CHOUVS

Quid ft-ra frustra bella movetis ?
invicta gerit tela Cupido ;
flammis vestros obruet ignes
quibus extinxit fulmina saepe
captumque lovem caelo traxit. 810

laeso tristes dabitis poenas
sanguine vestro. non est paticns
fervidus irae facilisque regi ;
ille ferocem iussit Achillem
pulsare lyram, fregit Danaos,
fregit Atridem, regna evertit
Priami, claras diruit urbes ;
et nunc animus quid ferat h or ret
vis immitis violenta dei.

NERO

0 lenta nimium militis nostri manus 820
et ira patiens post nefas tantum mea,

quod non cruor civiiis accensas faces

extinguit in nos, caede nee populi madet

funerea Roma quae viros tales tulit. 824 l

at ilia, cui me civium subicit furor, 827

suspecta coniunx et soror semper niilii,

tandem dolori spiritum reddat meo

iramque nostram sanguine extinguat suo. 830

admissa sed iam morte puniri parum est.

graviora meruit impium plebis scelus ;

1 The inverted order of the following lines is that oj Richter.
474

OCTAVIA

house with Haines should he not yield to the people's
wrath his new-made bride, not yield to Claudia the
home that is her own. That he himself may know
of the citizens' uprising, with my own lips will I
hasten to perform the prefect's bidding. [Exit.

CHORUS

Why do you stir up dire strife in vain ? Invincible
the shafts that Cupid bears ; with his own flames
will he o'erwhelm your fires, with which he oft has
quenched thunderbolts and dragged Jove as his
captive from the sky. To the offended god 1 dire
penalties shall you pay e'en with your blood. Not
slow to wrath is the glowing boy, nor easy to be
ruled ; 'twas he who bade the fierce Achilles smite
the lyre, broke down the Greeks, broke down Atrides,
the kingdoms of Priam overthrew, and famed cities
utterly destroyed ; and now my mind shudders at
the thought of what the unchecked power of the
relentless god will do.

[Enler NERO.]

NERO

Oh, too slow are my soldiers' hands, and too
patient my wrath after such sacrilege as this, seeing
that the blood of citizens has not quenched the fires
they kindled 'gainst me, and that with the slaughter
of her people mourning Rome reeks not, who bore
such men as these. But she for whose sake the
citizens rage at me, my sister-wife whom with dis-
trust I ever look upon, shall give her life at last to
sate my grief, and quench my anger with her blood.
But now death is too light a punishment for her
deeds. Heavier doom has the people's unhallowed

1 Cupid.

475

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

mox tecta flammis conckiant urbis meis, 83 J

ignes ruinae noxium populum premant

turpisque egestas, saeva cum luctu fames.

exsultat ingens saeculi nostri bonis

corrupta turba nee capit clementiam

ingrata nostram ferre ncc pacem potest,

sed inquieta rapitur hinc audacia,

hinc temeritate fertur in praeceps sua.

mails domanda est et gravi semper iugo

premenda, ne quid simile temptare audeat 840

contraque sanctos coniugis vultus meae

attollere oculos ; fracta per poenas metu

par ere discet principis nutu sui.

Sed adesse cerno rara quern pietas virum
fidesque castris nota praeposuit meis.

PRAEFECTVS

Populi furorem caede paucorum, diu
qui restiterunt temere, compressum affcro.

NERO

Et hoc sat est ? sic miles audisti ducem ?
compescis ? haec vindicta debetur mihi ?

PRAEFECTVS

Cecidere motus impii ferro duces. 850

NERO

Quid ilia turba, petere quae flammis meos
ausa est penates, principi legcm dare,
476

OCTAV1A

guilt deserved. Quickly let Rome's roofs fall be-
neath my flames ; let fires, let ruins crush the guilty
populace, and wretched want, and grief and hunger
dire. The huge mob grows riotous, distempered by
the blessings of my age, nor hath it understanding
of my mercy in its thanklessness nor can it suffer
peace ; but here 'tis swept along by restless insolence
and there by its own recklessness is headlong borne.
By suffering must it be held in check, be ever
pressed beneath the heavy yoke, that it may never
dare the like again, and against my wife's sacred
countenance lift its eyes ; crushed by the fear of
punishment, it shall be taught to obey its emperor's
nod.

84>1 But here I see the man whose rare loyalty and
proven faith have made him captain of my royal
guards.

[Enter PREFECT.]

PREFECT

The people's rage by slaughter of some few, who
recklessly long resisted, is put down : such is my
report.

NERO

And is this enough ? Is't thus a soldier has obeyed
his chief? "Put down," sayst thou ? Is this the
vengeance due to me ?

PREFECT

The guilty ring-leaders of the mob have fallen by
the sword.

NERO

But the mob itself, that dared to attack my house-
hold with their torches, dictate to the emperor, from

477

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

abstrahere nostris coniugem tan tarn toris,
violare quantum licuit incesta manu
et voce dira ? debita poena vacat ?

PRAEFECTVS

Poenam dolor constituet in cives tuos ?

NERO
Constituet, aetas nulla quam f'amae exiinat.

PRAEFECTVS

Quam l temperet non ira, non rioster timor ?

NERO
Iram expiabit prima quae meruit meam.

PRAEFECTVS

Quam poscat ede, nostra ne parcat manus.

NERO
Caedem sororis poscit et dirum caput.

PRAEFECTVS

Horrore vinctum trepidus astrinxit rigor

NERO
Parere dubitas?

PRAEFECTVS

Cur meam damnas fidem ?

NERO
Quod parcis hosti.

1 Reading with Schroeder. Leo tua . . . DOS.
478

OCTAVIA

my very bed to drag my noble wife, to ofler her
violence, so far as lay in their power, with hands
unclean and voices insolent ? Are they still without
due punishment ?

PREFECT

Shall angry grief determine penalty against thy
citizens ?

NERO

It shall determine, the talc of which no age shall
banish from men's lips.

PREFECT

Which neither wrath nor fear of us can hold in
check ?

NERO

She first shall appease who has first deserved mv
wrath.

PREFECT

Whom it demands tell thou, that mv hand may

J *•

spare not.

NERO

The slaughter of my sister it demands, and her
hateful head.

PREFECT
Fearful, benumbing horror holds me fast.

NERO

Does thy obedience falter?

PREFECT

Why dost condemn my faith ?

NERO
Because thou spar'st my foe.

479

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

PKAEFCCTVS

Femina hoc nomen capit ?

NERO

Si scelera cepit.

PRAEFECTVS

Estne qui sontem arguat ?

NERO
Populi furor.

PRAEFECTVS

Quis regere denientes valet?

NERO

Qui concitare potuit.

PRAEFECTVS

Haud quemquam reor.

NERO

Mulier, dedit natura cui pronum malo
animum, ad nocendurn pectus instruxit dolis.

Sed vim negavit.

PRAEFECTVS

NERO

Vt ne inexpugnabilis 870

esset, sed aegras frangeret vires timor
vel poena ; quae iam sera damnatam premet
diu nocentem.

Tolle consilium ac preces
et imperata perage : devectam rate

480

OCTAVIA

PREFECT

Call'st thou a woman foe ?

NERO

If crime she has committed.

PREFECT

Who charges her with guilt ?

NERO
The people's rage.

PREFECT

But who can check their madness ?

NERO
She who could rouse it.

PREFECT

Not any one, I think.

NERO

Woman, to whom nature has given a mind to mis-
chief prone, and equipped her heart with wiles to
work us ill.

PREFECT

But strength it has denied her.

NERO

That so she might not be impregnable, but that
fear or punishment might break her feeble strength,
a punishment which now, though late, shall crush
the criminal, who has too long been guilty.

873 But have done with advice and prayers, and do
my bidding : let her be borne by ship to some far

481

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

procul in remotum litus interimi iube,
tandem ut residat pectoris nostri timor.

CHORVS

O funestus multis populi
dirusque favor, qui cum flatu
vela secundo ratis implevit
vexitque procul, languid us idem 88

deserit alto saevoque mari.
flevit Gracchos miseranda parens,
perdidit ingens quos plebis amor
nimiusque favor genere illustres,
pietate fide lingua claros,
pec tore fortes, legibus acres.
te quoque, Livi, simili leto
Fortuna dedit, quern neque fasces
texere suae nee tecta domus.
pi ura referre prohibet praesens 890

exempla dolor, modo cui patriam
reddere cives aulam et fratris
voluere toros, nunc ad poenam
letumque trahi flentem miseram
cernere possunt. bene paupertas
humili tecto contenta latet ;
quatiunt altas saepe procellae
aut evertit Fortuna domos.

OCTAVIA

Quo me trahitis quodve tyrannus
aut ex ilium regina iubet, 900

si inihi vitam fracta remittit
tot iam nostris et victa malis ?
sin caede mea cumulare })arat
luctus nostros, invidet etiam

482

OCTAVIA

distant shore and there be slain, that at last the
terror at my heart may be at rest. [Exeunt.

CHORUS

Oh, dire and deadly to many has the people's
favour proved, that has filled their vessels' sails with
prosperous breeze and borne them out afar, then,
languishing, has failed them on the deep and
dangerous sea. The wretched mother 1 of the
Gracchi wept her sons, whom, though nobly born,
for loyal faith and eloquence renowned, though brave
in heart, keen in defence of law, the great love and
excessive favour of the citizens destroyed. Thee
also, Livius,2 to fate like theirs did fortune give,
whom neither his lictors' rods nor his own house
protected. But present grief forbids us to rehearse
more instances. Her, to whom but now the citizens
decreed the restoration of her father's house, her
brother's bed, now may they see dragged out in tears
and misery to punishment and death. Oh, blessed
poverty, content to hide beneath a lowly roof, while
lofty homes the storm-blasts oft-times shatter, or
fortune overthrows.

[E?iter OCTAVIA in the custody of the palace guards, who
are dragging her roughly away.]

OCTAVIA

Oh, whither do ye drag me ? What exile does the
tyrant or his queen ordain, if, softened and o'ercome by
all my miseries, she grants me life ? But if by death
she is ready to crown my sufferings, why, cruel, does

1 Cornelia. a Livius Drusus. See Index.

483

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

cur in patria milii saeva inori ?

sed iam spes est nulla salutis —

fratris cerno miseranda ratem.

hac en cuius vecta carina

quondam genetrix,, mine et thalamis

expulsa soror miseranda vehar. 910

nullum Pietas nunc numen habet

nee sunt superi ; regnat mundo

tristis Erinys.

quis mea digne deflere potest

mala ? quae lacrimis nostris questus

reddat aedon ? cuius pennas

utinam miserae mihi fata darent !

fugerem luctus sublata meos

penna volucri procul et coetus

hominum tristes caedemque feram 920

sola in vacuo nemore et tenui

ramo pendens querulo possem

gutture maestum fundere murmur.

CHORVS

Regitur fatis mortale genus,
nee sibi quisquam spondere potest
firmum et stabilem vitae cursum 1
per quern casus volvit varios
semper nobis metuenda dies,
animum firment exempla tuum_,
iam multa domus quae vestra tulit. 930

quid saevior est Fortuna tibi ?

Tu mihi primum
tot natorum memoranda parens,
nata Agrippae, nurus Augusti,

* Reading with JRichter's proposed emendation. Leo with
the MSS. reads firmum et stabile * * per quae. The
lacuna has been variously filled and the passage variously
emended.

484

OCTAVIA

she e'en grudge me death at home ? But now is no
hope of safety — ah, woe is me, I see my brother's
ship. And lo, on that vessel on which his mother
once was borne, now, driven from his chamber, his
wretched sister, too, shall sail away. Now Piety no
longer has divinity, nor are there any gods ; grim
Fury reigns throughout the universe. Who -worthily
can lament my evil plight ? What nightingale can
match my tears with her complaints ? Whose wings
would that the fates might grant to wretched me !
Then on swift pinions borne, would I leave my
grievous troubles far behind, the dismal haunts of
men, and cruel slaughter. There, all alone, within
some solitary wood, perched on a slender bough,
might I pour forth from plaintive throat my song
of woe.

CHORUS

Our mortal race is ruled by fate, nor may any
promise to himself that the path of life will be sure
and steadfast, along which each coming day with its
continual fears brings ever-shifting chances. Comfort
now thy heart with the many sufferings which thine
own house has borne. In what has fortune been
more harsh to thee ?

932 And thee first must I name, the mother of so
many sons, Agrippa's child,1 Augustus' 2 daughter-

1 Agrippina, (1) daughter of M. Vipsanius Agrippa and of
Julia, d. of Augustus ; married Germanicus, sou of Tiberius
Augustus, and bore to him nine sons.

1 i.e. Tiberius.

485

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Caesaris uxor, cuius nonien

clarum toto fulsit in orbe,

ntero totiens cnixa gravi

pignora pacis, mox exilium

verbera, saevas passa catenas,

funera, luctus, tandem letum

cruciata dm. felix thalamis

Livia Drusi natisque ferum

ruit in facinus poenamque suam.

lulia matris fate secuta est ;

post longa temen tempora ferro

caesa est, quamvis crimine nullo.

quid non potuit quondam genetrix

tua quae rexit principis aulam

cara marito partuque potens ?

eadem famulo subiecta suo 950

cecidit diri militis ense.

quid cui licuit regnum in caelum

sperare, parens tanta Neronis ?

non funesta violate manu

remigis ante,

niox et ferro lacerate diu

saevi iacuit victima nati ?

OCTAVIA

Me quoque tristes mittit ad umbras
ferus et manes ecce tyrannus.
quid iam frustra miseranda moror ? 9^0

rapite ad letum quis ius in nos
Fortuna dedit. testor superos —
quid agis, demens ? parce precari

1 i.e. Germanicus.

a She was banished by Tiberius, who was jealous of the
people's favour toward her, to the island of Pandataria,
where she died three years afterward.

486

OCTAVIA

in-law, a Caesar's1 wife, whose name shone bright
throughout the world, whose teeming womb brought
forth so many hostages of peace ; yet thou wast
doomed to suffer exile, blows and galling chains, loss
of thy friends, and bitter grief, and at last a death of
lingering agony.2 And Livia,3 blest in her Drusus'
chamber, in her sons, fell into brutal crime — and
punishment. Julia met her mother's fate; though
after long delay, yet she was slain by the sword,
though no man called her guilty. What power once
was thy mother's,4 who ruled the palace of the em-
peror,5 dear to her husband, and in her son 6 secure ?
Yet she was made subject to her slave,7 and fell
beneath a brutal soldier's sword. And what of her
who might have hoped for the very throne of heaven,
the emperor's great mother ? Was she not first by
a murderous boatman's hand abused, then, mangled
by the sword, lay she not long the victim of her
cruel son?

OCTAVIA

Me also to the gloomy shades and ghosio, the
cruel tyrant, see, is sending. Why do I now make
vain and pitiable delay? Hurry me on to death, ye
to whose power fortune hath given me. Witness, ye
heavenly gods- -what wouldst thou, fool ? Pray not

* See. Index. 4 Messaliua.

8 Claudius. 6 Britannicus.

7 The freedman, Narcissus.

487

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

quibus invisa es numina divum.

Tartara tester

Erebique deas scelerum ultrices

et te, genitor l dignum tali

morte et poena. non invisa est

mors ista inihi.

armate ratem, date vela fretis 970

ventisque petat puppis rector

Pandatariae litora terrae.

CHORVS

Lenes aurae zephyrique leves,
tectam quondam nube aetheria
qui vexistis raptam saevae
virgin is aris Iphigeniam,
hanc quoque tristi procul a poena
portate, precor, templa ad Triviae.
urbe est nostra mitior Aulis
et Taurorum barbara tellus : 980

hospitis illic caede litatur
numen superum ;
civis gaudet Roma cruore.

Leo suggests perde tyrannum between genitor and dignuni.

488

OCTAVIA

to deities who scorn thee. Witness, O Tartarus, ye
goddesses of Erebus who punish crime, and thou, O
father : destroy the tyrant,1 worthy such death and
punishment. \To her guards.] I dread not the death
you threaten. Put your ship in readiness, set sail
upon the deep, and let your pilot speed before the
winds to Pandataria's shore.

[Exit OCTAVIA with her guards.]

CHORUS

Ye gentle breezes and ye zephyrs mild, that once
caught Iphigenia wrapped in an airy cloud, and bore
her from the altar of the cruel maid,2 this maiden,
too, far from her dire punishment bear ye, I pray, to
the shrine of Trivia. More merciful than Rome is
Aulis and the Taurians' barbarous land : there by the
blood of strangers are the gods appeased ; but Rome's
delight is in her children's blood.

1 Translating Leo's suggestion. a Diana.

48P

COMPARATIVE ANALYSES

OF THE TRAGEDIES IN THIS VOLUME AND
THE CORRESPONDING GREEK DRAMAS

The Phoenissae, if, indeed, these fragments are to be
considered as belonging to one play, has no direct corre-
spondent in Greek drama ; although, in the general situations
and in some details, it is similar to parts of three plays :
The Seven against Thebes of Aeschylus, the Oedipus at
Colonus of Sophocles, and the Phoenician Damsels of
Euripides. The Thyestes is without a parallel in extant
Greek drama ; and the Octavia, of course, stands alone.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSES

THE GREEK DRAMAS

THE AGAMEMNON OF AESCHYLUS

Prologue. — A watchman, stationed upon the palace roof at
Argos, laments the tedium of his long and solitary task ;
and prays for the time to come when, through the darkness
of the night, he shall see the distant flashing of the beacon
fire, and by this sign know that Troy has fallen and that
Agamemnon is returning home. And suddenly he sees the
gleam for which he has been waiting so long. He springs
up with shouts of joy and hastens to tell the queen. At
the same time he makes dark reference to that which has
been going on within the palace, and which must now be
hushed up.

Parode, or chorus entry. — A chorus of twelve Argive
elders rings of the Trojan war, describing the omens with
which the Greeks started on their mission of vengeance.
They dwell especially upon the hard fate which forced
Agamemnon to sacrifice his daughter. And in this the}'
unconsciously voice one of the motives which led to the
king's own death.

First episode. — Clytemnestra appears M'ith a statel}' pro-
cession of torch -bearers, having set the whole city in gala
attire, with sacrificial incense burning on all the altars.
The chorus asks the meaning of this. Has she had news
from Troy ? The queen replies that this very night she
has had news, and describes at length how the signal

492

COM PAR ATI VE ANALYSES

SENECA'S TRAGEDIES

THE AGAMEMNON OF SENECA

Prologue. — The ghost of Thyestes coming from the lower
pegions recites the mntif of the play : how he had been most
foully dealt with by Agamemnon's father, Atreus, and how
he had been promised revenge by the oracle of Apollo
through his son Aegisthus, begotten of an incestuous union
with his daughter. The ghost announces that the time for
his revenge is come with the return of Agamemnon from the
Trojan war, and urges Aegisthus to perform his fated part.

Parode, or chorus entry. — The chorus of Argive women
complains of the uncertain condition of exalted fortune, and
recommends the golden mean in preference to this.

First episode. — Clytemnestra, conscious of guilt, and
fearing that her returning husband will severely punish
her on account of her adulterous life with Aegisthus, resolves
to add crime to crime and murder Agamemnon as soon as
he comes back to his home. She is further impelled to this
action by his conduct in the matter of her daughter,

493

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Second choral interlude. — The chorus sings of Helen as
the bane of the Trojans :

" Dire cause of strife with bloodshed in her train."

And now

" The penalty of foul dishonour done
To friendship's board and Zeus "

has been paid by Troy, which is likened to a man who
fosters a lion's cub, which is harmless while still young, but
when full grown " it shows the nature of its sires," and
brings destruction to the house that sheltered it.

Third episode. — Agamemnon is seen approaching in his
chariot, followed by his train of soldiers and captives. The
chorus welcomes him, but with a veiled hint that all is not
well in Argos. Agamemnon fittingly thanks the gods for his
success and for his safe return, and promises in due time to
investigate affairs at home.

Clytemnestra, now entering, in a long speech of fulsome
welcome, describes the grief which she lias endured for her
lord's long absence in the midst of perils, and protests her
own absolute faithfulness to him. She explains the absence
of Orestes by saying that she has entrusted him to Strophius,
king of Phocis, to be cared for in the midst of the troublous
times. She concludes with the ambiguous prayer :

" Ah, Zeus, work out for me
All that I pray for ; let it be thy care
To look to that thou purposest to work."

Agamemnon, after briefly referring to Cassandra and
bespeaking kindly treatment for her, goes into the palace,
accompanied by Clytemnestra.

Third choral interlude. — The chorus, though it sees with
its own eyes that all is well with Agamemnon, that he is
returned in safety to his own home, is filled with sad
forebodings of some hovering evil which it cannot dispel.

Exode. — Clytemnestra returns and bids Cassandra, who
still remains standing in her chariot, to join the other slaves
in ministering at the altar. But Cassandra stands motionless,
paying no heed to the words of the queen, who leaves the
scene saying :

"I will not bear the shame of uttering more."

496

COMPARATIVE ANALYSES

Second choral interlude. — A chorus of captive Trojan
women sings the fate and fall of Troy ; while Cassandra,
seized with fits of prophetic fury, prophesies the doom that
hangs over Agamemnon.

Third episode. — Agamemnon comes upon the scene, and,
meeting Cassandra, is warned by her of the fate that hangs
over him ; but she is not believed.

Third choral interlude. — Apropos of the fall of Troy, the
chorus of Argive women sing the praises of Hercules, whose
arrows had been required by fate for the destruction of Troy.

Exode. — Cassandra, either standing where she can see
within the palace, or else by clairvoyant power, reports the
murder of Agamemnon, which is being done within.

Electra urges Orestes to flee before his mother and
Aegisihus shall murder him also. Very opportunely,
Strophius comes in his chariot, just returning as victor from

497

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Cassandra now descends from her chariot and bursts into
wild and woeful lamentations. By her peculiar clairvoyant
power she foresees and declares to the chorus the death of
Agamemnon at the hands of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, as
well as the manner of it ; she also foretells the vengeance
which Orestes is destined to work upon the murderers. Her
own fate is as clearly seen and announced, as she passes
through the door into the palace.

Soon the chorus hears the death-cry of Agamemnon, that
he is "struck down with deadly stroke." They are faint-
heartedly and with a multiplicity of counsel discussing what
it is best to do, when Clytemnestra, with bloodstained
garments and followed by a guard of soldiers, comes out
from the palace. The corpses of Agamemnon and Cassandra
are seen through the door within the palace. The queen
confesses to, describes, and exults in the murder of her
husband. The chorus makes elaborate lamentation for
Agamemnon, and prophesies that vengeance will light on
Clytemnestra. But she scorns their threatening prophecies.
In the end Aegisthus enters, avowing that he has plotted
this murder and has at last avenged his father, Thyestes.
upon the father of Agamemnon, Atreus, who had so foully
wronged Thyestes. The choi us curses him and reminds hitti
that Orestes still lives and will surely avenge his father.

THE MAIDENS OF TRACHIN OF SOPHOCLES

Proloyue.—In the courtyard of her palace in Trachin.
Deianira recounts to her attendants and the chorus of
Trachinian maidens how her husband had won her from the
river god, Acheloii?, and how, during all these years, she
has lived in fear and longing for her husband, who has been
kept constantly wandering over the earth by those who hold
him in their power ; and even now he has been for many
months absent, she knows not where.

An old servant proposes that she send her son, Hyllus,
abroad to seek out his father. This the youth, who enters
at this juncture, readily promises to do, especially on

4-98

COMPARATIVE ANALYSES

the Olympic games. Electra entrusts her brother to his care,
and betakes her own self to the altar for protection.

Electra, after defying and denouncing her mother and
Aegisthus, is dragged away to prison and torture, and
Cassandra is led out to her death.

THE HEKOULES OETAEUS OF SENECA

Prologue. — Hercules, about to sacrifice to Cenaean Jove
after having conquered Eurytus, king of Oechalia, recounts
at length his mighty toils on earth, and prays that now at
last he may be given his proper place in heaven. He dis-
patches his herald, Lichas, home to Trachin, to tell the
news of his triumph, and to conduct the train of captives
thither.

4-99

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

hearing from his mother that the oracle declares this is the
year in which his father shall end his life,

•J

" Or, having this his task accomplished,
Shall, through the coming years of all his life,
Rejoice and prosper."

Parode, or chorus entry. — The chorus prays to Helios, the
bright sun-god, for tidings of Hercules, for Deianira longs
for him, and "ever nurses unforgetting dread as to her
husband's paths." Hercules is tossed upon the stormy sea
of life, now up, now down, but ever kept from death
by some god's hands. Deianira should, therefore, be
comforted :

"For who hath known in Zeus forgetfulness
Of those he children calls?"

First episode. — Deianira confides to the chorus her special
cause for grief : she feels a strong presentiment that
Hercules is dead ; for, when he last left home, he left a
tablet, as it were a will, disposing of his chattels and his
lands,

"and fixed a time,

That when for one whole year and three months more
He from his land was absent, then 'twas his
Or in that self-same hour to die, or else,
Escaping that one crisis, thenceforth live with life unvexed."

At this moment, however, a messenger enters and
announces the near approach of Hercules, accompanied by
his spoils of victory.

First choral interlude. — The chorus voices its exultant joy
over this glad and unexpected news.

500

COMPARATIVE ANALYSES

Parode, or cJiorus entry. — The place of the chorus entry,
which should be filled by the chorus proper, composed of
Aetolian maidens, is taken by the band of captive Oechalian
maidens. They bewail their lot and long for death ; they
dwell upon the utter desolation of their fatherland, and
upon the hard-heartedness of Hercules, who has laid it
waste.

lole, their princess, joins in their lamentations, recalls
the horrors of her native city's overthrow, and looks
forward with dread to her captivity.

First episode. — During the interval just preceding this
episode the captives have been led to Trachin ; Deianira has
seen the beauty of lole, and learned of Hercules' infatuation
for her. She has by this news been thrown into a mad rage
of jealousy, and takes counsel with her nurse as to how she
may wreak vengeance upon her faithless husband, while the
nurse vainly advises moderation.

The nurse at last suggests recourse to magic, professing
herself to be proficient in these arts. This suggests to
Deianira the use of that blood of Nessus which the dying
centaur had commended to her as an infallible love-charm.
She takes occasion to relate at length the Nessus incident.
She at once acts upon her decision to use the charm ; and
speedily, with the nurse's aid, a gorgeous robe is anointed
with the blood, and this is sent by Lichas' hand to
Hercules.

First choral interlude. — The chorus of Aetolian women,
who have followed Deianira from her girlhood's home to this
refuge in Trachin, now tender to her their sympathy in her
present sufferings. They recall all their past intercourse
with her, and assure her of their undying fidelity.

This suggests the rarity of such fidelity, especially in the
courts of kings, and they discourse at large upon the sordid-
ness and selfishness of courtiers in general. The moral of
their discourse is that men should not aspire to great wealth
and power, but should choose a middle course in life, which
alone can bring happiness.

50J

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Second episode. — Lichas, the personal herald of Hercules,
now enters, followed by lole and a company of captive
women. He explains to Deianira how Hercules had been
driven on by petty persecutions to slay Iphitus, the son
of Eurytus, treacherously ; how he had for this been doomed
by Zeus to serve Omphale, queen of Lydia, for a year ;
and how in revenge he has now slain Eurytus, and even
now is sending home these Oechalian captives as spoil ;
Hercules himself is delaying yet a little while in Euboea,
until he has sacrificed to Cenaean Jove.

Deianira looks in pity upon the captives, praying that
their lot may never come to her or hers ; and is especially
drawn in sympathy to one beautiful girl, who, howevor, will
answer no word as to her name and state.

As all are passing into the palace, the messenger detains
Deianira and tells her the real truth which Lichas has
withheld: that this seemingly unknown girl is lole, daughter
of Eurytus ; that it was not in revenge, but for love of
lole, that Hercules destroyed her father's house, and that
he is now sending her to his own home, not as his slave,
but as his mistress, and rival of his wife.

Lichas, returning from the palace, on being challenged by
the messenger and urged by Deianira to speak the whole
truth, tells all concerning Hercules' love for lole.

Deianira receives this revelation with seeming equanimity
and acquiescence.

Second choral interlude. — The chorus briefly reverts to thy
battle of Acheloiis and Hercules for the hand of Deianira.

Third episode.— Deianira tells to the chorus the story of
how Nessus, the centaur, had once insulted her, and for
this had been slain by Hercules with one of his poisoned

.-)02

COMPARATIVE ANALYSES

Second episode. — Deianira comes hurrying distractedly out
of the palace, and relates her discovery as to the horrible
and deadly power of the charm which she has sent to her
husband.

While she is still speaking, Hyllus rushes in and cries
out to his mother to flee from the wrath of Hercules,
whose dreadful sufferings, after putting on the robe which
his wife had sent to him, the youth describes at length.
He narrates also the death of Lichas. The suffering hero
is even now on his way by sea from Euboea, in a death-like
swoon, and will soon arrive at Trachin.

Deianira, smitten with quick repentance, begs Jupiter to
destro}' her with his wrathful thunderbolts. She resolves on
instant self-destruction, though H\ llus and the nurse vainly
try to dissuade her, and to belittle her responsibility for
the disaster ; and in the end she rushes from the scene,
Hyllua following.

Second choral interlude. — The chorus, contemplating the
changing fates of their prince's house, is reminded of the
saying of Orpheus, "that naught for endless life is made.''
This leads to an extended description of Orpheus' sweet
music and its power over all things, both animate and
inanimate, and suggests the story of his unsuccessful attempt
to regain Eurydioe.

Returning to the original theme, the chorus speculates
upon the time when all things shall fall into death, and
chaos resume her primeval sway.

It is startled out of these thoughts by loud groans,
which prove to be the outcries of Hercules, borne home
to Trachin.

Third (pisode. —Hercules in his ravings warns Jove to
look well to his heavens, since now their defender is
perishing. The giants will be sure to rise again and make

503

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

arrows ; how, also, the centaur in dying had given her a
portion of his blood, saying this would be a charm able
to restore to her her husband's wandering love. She now
resolves to use this charm. She anoints a gorgeous robe
with the blood which she has preserved through all these
years, and bids Lichas carry this to her lord as a special
gift from her. He is to wear it as he offers his sacrifices
to Cenaean Jove. Lichas departs upon this mission.

504-

COMPARATIVE ANALYSES

another attempt upon the skies. He bitterly laments that
he, who has overcome so many monsters, must die at last,
slain by a woman's hand, and that woman not Juno, nor
even an Amazon :

" Ah, woe is me,

How often have I 'scaped a gloiion.s death !
What honour comes from such an end as this ?"

His burning pains coming on again, he cries out in agony,
and describes the abject misery and weakness that have
come upon him. Are these the shoulders, the hands, the
feet, that were once so strong to bear, so terrible to strike,
so swift to go? He strives to apprehend and tear away
the pest that is devouring him, but it is too deep-hidden
in his frame. He curses the day that has seen him weep,
and beseeches Jove to smite him dead with a thunderbolt.

Alcmena enters, and while she herself is full of grief,
she strives to soothe and comfort her suffering son. He
falls into a delirium, and thinks that he is in the heavens,
looking down upon Trachin. But soon he awakes, and,
realizing his pains once more, calls for the author of his
misery, that he may slay her with his own hands.

Hyllus, who has just entered from the palace, now informs
his father that Deianira is already dead, and by her own
hand ; that it was not her fault, moreover, but by the
guile of Nessus, that Hercules is being done to death.
The hero recognizes in this the fulfilment of an oracle once
delivered to him :

" By the hand of one whom thou hast slain, some day,
Victorious Hercules, shalt thou lie low."

And he comforts himself with the reflection that nuch an
end as this is meet, for

" Thus shall no conqueror of Hercules
Survive to tell the tale."

He now bids Philoctetes prepare a mighty pyre on
neighbouring Mount Oeta, and there take and burn his
body while still alive. Hyllus he bids to take the captive
princess, lole, to wife. He calls upon his mother, Alcmena,
to comfort her grief by pride in her great son's deeds on
earth, and the noble fame which he has gained thereby.

505

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

Third choral interlude.— The chorus prays for the earl;.
;ind safe return of Hercules from where he lingers :

" Thence may he come, yea, come with strong desire,

Tempered by suasive spell
Of that rich unguent, as the monster spake."

Fourth episode. — Deianira discovers by experiment, now
that it is too late, the destructive and terrible power of
the charm which she has sent, and is filled with dire
forebodings as to the result.

Her lamentations are interrupted by Hyllus, who comes
hurrying in ; he charges his mother with the murder of
his father, and curses her. He then describes the terrible
sufferings that have come upon the hero through the magic
robe, and how Hercules, in the madness of pain, has slain
Lichas, as the immediate cause of his sufferings. He has
brought his father with him from Euboea to Trachin.
Deianira withdraws into the palace, without a word, in
an agony of grief.

Fourth choral interlude. — The chorus recalls the old oracle
that after twelve years the son of Zeus should gain rest from
toil, and sees in his impending death the fulfilment of this
oracle. They picture the grief of Deianira over her act, and
foresee the great changes that are coming upon their prince's
house.

Fifth episode. — The nurse rushes in from the palace, and
tells how Deianira has slain herself with the sword, bewail-
ing the while the sufferings which she has unwittingly
brought on Hercules; and how Hyllus repents him of his
harshness towards his mother, realizing that she was not to
blame.

Fifth choral interlude. — The chorus pours out its grief for
the double tragedy. And now it sees Hyllus and attendants
bearing in the dying Hercules.

Exode. — Hercules, awaking from troubled sleep, laments
the calamity that has befallen him ; he chides the lands
which h<i has helped, that now they do not hasten to his aid ;
and prays Hyllus to kill him with the sword, and so put him
out of his misery.

506

COMPARATIVE ANALYSES

Third choral interlude. — The chorus bids all nature mourn
the death of Hercules. Verily the earth is bereft of her
defender, and there is no one left to whom she may turn if
again harassed by monsters. They speculate upon the place
of the departed Hercules. Shall he sit in judgment among
the pious kings of Crete in Hades, or shall he be given a
place in heaven ? At least on earth he shall live in deathless
gratitude and fame.

Exode. — Philoctetea enters and, in response to the
ijuestions of the nurse, describes the final scene on Oeta's top.
There a mighty pyre had been built, on which Hercules joy-
fully took his place. There he reclined, gazing at the heavens,
and praying hia father, Jupiter, to take him thither, in

507

THE TRAGEDIES OF SENECA

He denounces Deianira because she has brought suffering
aud destruction upon him which no foe, man or beast, has
ever been able to bring. He curses his own weakness, and
laments that he must weep and groan like a woman.

He marvels that his mighty frame, which for years has
withstood so many monsters, his encounters with which he
describes, can now be so weak and wasted. Reverting to his
wife, he bids her to be brought to him that he may visit
punishment upon her.

Hyllus informs his father that Deianira has died by her
own hand, for grief at what she has unwittingly brought
upon her dear lord. It was, indeed, through Nessus' guile
that the deed was done.

Hercules, on hearing this, recognizes the fulfilment of the
oracle :

" Long since it was revealed of my sire
That I should die by hand of none that live,
But one who, dead, had dwelt in Hades dark."

He exacts an oath of obedience from Hyllus, and then bids
him take him to Mount Oeta, and there place him upon a
pyre for burning. Hyllus reluctantly consents in all but the
actual firing of the pyre. The next request is concerning
lole, that Hyllus should take her as his wife. This mandate
he indignantly refuses to obey, but finally yields assent.
And in the end Hercules is borne away to his burning,
while the chorus mournfully chants its concluding comment :

" What cometh no man may know ;
What is, is piteous for us,
Base and shameful for them
And for him who emlureth this woe,
Above all that live hard to bear."

508

COMPARATIVE ANALYSES

compensation for his service on the earth. His prayer seemed
to be answered, and he cried aloud :

" ' But lo, my father calls me from the sky,
And opens wide the gates. 0 sire, I come 1 '
And as he spake his face was glorified."

He presented his famous bow and arrows to Philoctetcs,
bidding him for this prize apply the torch and light the pyre,
which his friend most reluctamtly did. The hero courted the
flames, and eagerly pressed into the very heart of the burn-
ing mass.

In the midst of this narrative Alcmena enters, bearing in
her bosom an urn containing the ashes of Hercules. The
burden of her lament is that so small a compass and so
pitiful an estate have come to the mighty body of her son,
which one small urn can hold. But when she thinks upon
his deeds, her thoughts fly to the opposite pole :

" What sepulchre, 0 son, what tomb for thee
Is great enough ? Naught save the world itself."

Then she takes up in quickened measures her funeral song
of mourning, in the midst of which the deified Hercules,
taking shape in the air above, speaks to his mother, bidding
her no longer mourn, for he has at last gained his place in
heaven.

The chorus strikes a fitting final note, that the truly brave
are not destined to the world below :

" But when life's days are all consumed,
And comes the final hour, for them
A pathway to the gods is spread
By glory."

509

INDEX

INDEX

[References are to the lines of the Latin text. If the passage Is longer
than one line, only the first line is cited. Line citations to passages of
especial importance to the subject under discussion are starred. The
names of the characters appearing in these tragedies are printed In large
capitals, with the name of the tragedy in which the character occurs
following in parentheses.]

ABsrRTUS, son of Aeetes and
brother of Medea. Medea, fleeing
with Jason from Colchis, slew
him and scattered his mangled
remains behind her, in order to
retard her father's pursuit, Med.
121, 125, *131, 452, 473, 911 ; his
dismembered ghost appears to
Medea, ibid. 963

ABYLA, see CALPE

AOASTUS, son of Pelias, king of
Thessaly Demands Jason and
Medea from Creon, king of Cor-
inth, to punish him for the
murder of Pelias through Medea's
machinations, Med. 257, 415,
521, 526

ACHELOUS, the river-god. Fought
with Hercules for the possession
of Deianira, changing himself into
various forms, H, Get. *299 ;
defeated by Hercules, ibid. *495

ACHERON, one of the rivers of
Hades, Thy. 17 ; described by
Theseus, H. Fur. 715

ACHILLES, son of Peleus and Thetis,
a hero in the Trojan War. Was
connected by birth with heaven
(Jupiter), the sea (Thetis), and
the lower world (Aeacus), Tro.
344 ; educated by Chiron, the
centaur, ibid. 832 ; hidden by his
mother in the court of Lycomedes,
king of Scyros, in a girl's dis-
guise, in order to keep him from
the war, ibid. 213 ; while there,
became the father of Pyrrhus b>

Deldamia, the king's daughter,
ibid. 342 ; his activit'es early in
Trojan War, ibid. 182 ; wounds
and cures Telephus, ibid. *215 ;
overthrows Lyrnessus and Chry-
sa, taking captive Briseis and
Chryseis, ibid. 220 ; his anger on
account of the loss of Briseis,
ibid. 194, 318 ; example of the
taming power of love, Oct. 814 ;
slays Memnon and trembles at
his own victory, Tro. *239 ; slays
Penthesilea, the Amazon, ibid.
243 ; works havoc among Trojans
in revenge for Patroclus' death,
Agam. 619 ; slays Hector and
drags his body around walls,
Tro. 189 ; is slain by Paris, ibid.
347 ; his ghost appears to Greeks
on eve of their homeward voyage,
demanding sacrifice of Polyxena
upon his tomb, ibid. *170

ACTAEON, grandson of Cadmus, who
saw Diana bathing near Cithae-
ron. For this was changed by the
goddess into a stag which was
pursued and slain by his own
dogs, Oed. *751 ; Phoen. 14

ACTE, the mistress of Nero who
displaced Poppaea, Oct. 195

ADMETUS, see ALCESTIS

ADRASTUS, king of Argos. Received
the fugitive Pqlynices, gave him
his daughter in marriage, and
headed the Seven against Thebes,
in order to seat Polynices upon
throne, Phoen. 374

513

INDEX

ABACUS, son of Jupiter and Eurqpa,
father of Peleus ; for his just
rule on earth was made a judge
in Hades, E. Oet. 1558 ; U. Fur.
734. See under JUDGED IN HADES

AEETES, king of Colchis, son of
Phoebus and Persa, father of
Medea, Med. 210 ; grandeur, ex-
tent, and situation of kingdom,
ibid. 209 ; its wealth, ibid. 483 ;
had a wonderful robe as proof
that Phoebus was his father;
this Medea anoints with magic
poison and sends to Creusa, ibid.
670 ; was despoiled of realm
through theft of golden fleece,
ibid. 913

AEGEUS, see THESEUS

AEGISTHUS (Agamemnon), son of
incestuous union of Thyestes and
his daughter. His birth the
result of Apollo's advice to
Thyestes, Agam. 48, 294 ; recog-
nises that the fatal day is come
for which he was born, ibid. 226 ;
lived In guilty union with
Clytemnestra, wife of Agamem-
non, ibid, passim

AEGOCEROS, poetical expression for
Capricornus, constellation of the
Goat, Thy. 864

AEGYPTUS, see DANAIDES

AESCULAPIUS, son of Apollo and the
nymph Coronis ; was versed in
medicine, was deified, and wor-
shipped at Epidaurus, Hip. 1022

AETNA, volcano in Sicily, Phoen.
314 ; Its fires, Hip. 102 ; H. Oet.
285 ; seat of Vulcan's forge, H
Fur. 106 ; lay upon the buried
Titan's breast, Med. 410

AGAMEMNON (Troades, Agamem-
non), king of Mycenae, son of
Atreus, brother of Menelaiis,
commander of the Greeks at Troy.
He and Menelaiis used by Atreus
to entrap Thyestes, Thy. 325 ;
tamed by love, Oct. 815 ; took
captive Chryseig, Agam. 175 ;
compelled to give her up, he took
Bryseis from Achilles, ibid. 186;
attempts to dissuade Pyrrhus
from the sacrifice of Polyxena,
Tro. *203 ; loved Cassandra,
Agam. 188, 255 ; his power
magnified ibid. 204 ; his home-
ward voyage and wreck of his

5U

fleet, ibid. *421 ; returns to
Mycenae, ibid. 782 ; his murder
described by Cassandra, ibid.
•867. See CASSANDRA, CLYTEM-
NESTRA, IPHIGENIA, PYRRHUS

AGAVE, daughter of Cadmus and
Harmonia mother of Pentheus,
king of Thebes. She and her
Bisters, In Bacchic frenzy, slew
Pentheus on Cithaeron, and bore
his head to Thebes, Oed. 1006 ;
Phoen. 15, 363 ; her shade appears
from Hades, Oed. 616. See
PENTHEUS

AGRIPPINA I, daughter of M. Vip-
sanius Agrippa and Julia, daugh-
ter of Augustus, mother of
Caligula. Died in exile at
Pandataria, Oct. *932

AGRIPPINA II (Octavia), daughter
of the preceding, wife of Cn.
Domitius Ahenobarbus, mother
of Nero. Married Claudius, whom
she poisoned, Oct. 26, 45, 165,
340 ; was stepmother of Octavia,
and cause or all her woes, ibid.
22 ; plotted murder of Silanus,
betrothed lover of Octavia, and
forced her to marry Nero, ibid.
150 ; sought in all this her own
power, ibid. 155, 612 ; was
murdered by her son, Nero, ibid.
46, 95, 165 ; her murder attribu-
ted to Poppaea's influence, ibid.
126 ; described in full detail,
ibid. *310, *600; former high
estate and pitiable death con-
trasted, ibid. 952 ; her ghost
appears to curse Nero, ibid.
*593

AJAX, son of Olleus, called simply
Oileus ; his death described, Med.
660 ; for his defiance of the gods
was destroyed by Pallas and
Neptune in storm which wrecked
the Greek fleet, Agam. *532

AJAX, son of Telamon, crazed with
rage because the armour of
Achilles was awarded to Ulysses,
Agam. 210

ALCKSTIS, wife of Admetus, king of
Pherae, to save whose life she
resigned her own, Med. 662

ALClDES, see HERCULES

ALCMENA (Hercules Oetaeus), wife
of Amphitryon, a Theban prince,
beloved of Jupiter, mother by

INDEX

him of Hercules, H. Fur. 22, 490,
See HERCULES

ALCYONE, see CEYX

ALTHAEA, wife of Oeneus, king of
Calydonia, mother of Meleager.
In revenge for Meleager's slaugh-
ter of her two brothers, burned
the charmed billet on which her
son's life depended, and so
compassed his death, Med. 779 ;
unnatural mother, H. Oet. 954

AMALTHEA, goat of Olenus, fed the
infant Jove, was set as constella-
tion in the sky ; not yet known as
such in the golden age, Med. 313.
See OLENUS.

AMAZONS, warlike women on Ther-
modon, Med. 215 ; even they
have loved, Uip. 575 ; conquered
by Bacchus, Oed. 479 ; Clytem-
nestra compared to them, Agam.
736; allies of Troy, Tro. 12;
their queen, Penthesilea, slain by
Achilles, ibid. 243 ; Hercules
laments that he had not been
slain by the Amazon, Hippolyte,
H. Oet. 1183. See ANTIOPE,
PENTHESILEA, HIPPOLYTE

AMPHlON, son of Antiope by
Jupiter, king of Thebes, husband
of Niobes renowned for his music ;
built Thebes' walls by the magic
of his lyre, Phoen. 566 ; H. Fur
262 ; his hounds are heard baying
at the time of the plague at
Thebes, Oed. 179 ; his shade
arises from Hades, ibid. 612

AMPHITRYON (Hercules Furens)>
Theban prince, husband of Her-
cules' mother. Alcmena, H. Fur.
309 ; proves that Jupiter is father
of Hercules, ibid. 44U; welcomes
Hercules returning from Hades,
ibid. 618

ANCAEUS, Arcadian hero, Argonaut,
slam by Calydonian boar, Med.
643

ANDROMACHE (Troades), wife of
Hector, mother of Astyanax ;
attempts to hide and save her
son from Ulysses, Tro. *430 ;
given by lot to Pyrrhus, ibid.
976. See ASTYANAX

ANTAEUS, Libyan giant, son of
Neptune and Terra, famous
wrestler, who gained new strength
by being thrown to mother earth ;

strangled by Hercules, who held
him aloft, H. Fur. 482, 1171 ;
H. Oet. 24, 1899 ; Alcmena fears
that a son of his may come to
vex the earth, H. Oet. 1788 See

TT PR.OTTT VS

ANTIGONE (Phoenissae), daughter
of Oedipus and Jocasta ; refuses
to desert Oedipus, Phoen. 51 ;
Oedipus wonders that one so pure
should have sprung from so vile
a house, ibid. 80 ; argues her
father's innocence, ibid. 203

ANTIOPB, Amazon wife of Theseus,
slain by him, Hip. 226, 927,
1167 ; mother of Hippolytus by
Theseus, ibid. 398 ; personal
appearance, ibid. *398 ; her
beauty inherited by Hippolytus,
ibid. 659

ANTONIUS (Marc Antony), Roman
general, defeated by Octavianus
at Actium ; fled with Cleopatra
to Egypt, Oct. 518

APOLLO, son of Jupiter and Latona,
born hi Delos, H. Fur. 453 ;
twin brother of Diana, Med. 87 ;
the laurel his sacred tree, Agam.
588 ; god of the prophetic tripod,
Med. 86 ; inspirer of priestess at
liis oracle, Oed. 269 ; god of the
bow, is himself pierced by
Cupid's arrows, Hip. 192 ; killed
Python, H. Fur. 455 ; doomed
to serve a mortal for killing the
Cyclopes, kept the flocks of
Admetus, ibid. 451 ; Hip. 296 ;
hymn in praise of, Agam. 310 ;
worshipped as the sun under the
name of Phoebus Apollo. See
PHOEBUS

AQUARIUS, zodiacal constellation,
the Water-bearer, Thy. 865

ARABES, inhabitants of Arabia,
famed for their spices, Oed. 117 ;
sun-worshippers, H . Oet. 793 ;
use poisoned darts, Med. 711

ARCTOPHYLAX, Bear-keeper, a nor-
thern constellation, called also
Bootes, according as the two
adjacent constellations are called
the Bears (Arctos, Ursae), or the
Wagons (Plaustra). By a fusion
of the two conceptions, is called
Arctophylax and custos plaustri
in the same connection, Thy.
874. See BOOTES

515

INDEX

ARCADIANS, most ancient race of
men, H. Get. 1883 ; Hip. 786

ARCADIAN BEARS, constellations of
the Great and Little Bears, which
do not set, H. Fur. 129. See
ARCTOS, BEARS, and CALLISTO

ARCADIAN BOAR, captured by Her-
cules and brought to Eurystheu*,
Agam. 832 ; II. Fur. 229 ; 11.
Oet. 1536. See HERCULES

ARCADIAN STAG, captured by Her-
cules, H. Fur. 222. See HERCULES

4RCTOS, the double constellation
of the Great and Little Bears,
Oed. 507 ; called also Arcadian
stars, ibid. 478 See BEAKS and
CALLISTO

ARQO, ship in which the heroes
under Jason sailed to Colchis in
quest of the golden fleece, Mcd.
361 ; sailed from lolchos in
Thessaly, Tro. 819 n. • adventure
of the Argonauts, ibid. *301 ; this
voyage was impious, ibid. 335 ;
Tiphys the builder and pilot of
Argo, ibid. 3, 318 ; he was in-
structed by Minerva, ibid. 3,
365 ; the Argo's keel made from
the talking oak of Dodona, ibid.
349 ; sailing of the new ship
described, ibid. *318 ; how it
escaped the Symplegades, ibid.
*341 ; roll of the Argonauts,
ibid. *227 ; nearly all came to a
violent death, ibid. *607

AROOS, capital of Argolis, sacred to
Juno, home of heroes, Agam.
808 ; paid homage to Bacchus,
after he had won Juno's favour,
Oed. 486

ARIADNE, daughter of Minos, king
of Crete ; loved Theseus, whom
she helped escape from the
labyrinth, Hip. 662; fled with
Theseus, but was deserted by
him on Naxos, ibid. 665 ; was
there found and beloved by
Bacchus, Oed. 448, who married
her and set her bridal crown as a
constellation in the sky, ibid.
497 ; H. Fur. 18 ; Hip. 663 ;
pardoned by her father for her
love of Theseus, ibid. 245

ARIES, golden-fleeced ram which
bore Phrixus and Helle, and was
afterwards set in the sky as a
zodiacal constellation, Thy. 850

516

ASTRAEA, goddess of Justice, who
lived among men in the golden
age, but finally left earth because
of man's sins, Oct. 424, Thy. 857 ;
is the zodiacal constellation,
Virpo, H. Oet. 69 ; called, incor-
rectly and perhaps figuratively,
mother of Somnus, H. Fur. 1068.
See JUSTICE

ASTYANAX (Troades), son of
Hector and Andromache, pic-
tured as leading his playmates in
a dance around the wooden horse,
Agam. 634 ; compared with his
father, Tro. 464 ; his death
demanded by the Greeks, ibid.
369 ; reasons for his death from
the Greek standpoint, ibid. 526 ;
his doom announced to Andro-
mache, ibid. 620, who tells of
her disappointed hopes of him.
ibid. *770 ; his death described
by messenger, ibid. *1068

ATLANTIADES, see PLEIADES

ATLAS, mountain in north-west
Libya, conceived as a giant upon
whose head the heavens rest
H. Oet. 12, 1599 ; eased of his
burden by Hercules, ibid. 1905

ATREUS (Thyestes), son of Pelops,
father of Agamemnon and Mene-
laiis, brother of Thyestes, between
whom and himself existed a
deadly feud. Plans how he will
avenge himself upon his brother,
Thy. 176 ; describes his brother's
sins against himself, ibid. 220 ;
his revenge takes shape, ibid.
260 ; place and scene of his
murder of the sons of Thyes-
tes. ibid. *650 ; gloats over his
brother's agony, ibid. 1057

ATTIS. Phrygian shepherd, mourned
by priests of Cybele, Agam. 686

AUQE, Arcadian maiden, loved by
Hercules, mother by Mm of
Telephus, H. Oet. 367

AUGEAN STABLES, stables of Augeas,
king of Elis, containing three
thousand head of cattle and
uncleansed for thirty years ;
cleaned by Hercules in a single
day, H. Fur. 247

AUGUSTUS, first emperor of Rome ;
his rule cited by Seneca to Nero
as a model of strong but merciful
away, Oct. *477 ; his bloody path

INDEX

to power described by Nero,
ibid. *505 ; deified at death, ibid
528

AULIS, seaport of Boeotia, rendez-
vous of the Greek fleet. Here it
was stayed by adverse winds,
until Iphigenia was sacrificed,
Agam. 567 ; Tro. 164 ; hostility
of Aulis to all ships because her
king, Tiphys, had met death on
the Argonautic expedition, Med.
622. See IPHIGENIA

B

RACCHTTS, son of Jupiter and
Semele, daughter of Cadmus.
Saved from the womb of his
mother. Oed. 602 ; Med. 84 ; H.
Fur. 457 ; to escape the wrath of
Juno, he was hidden in Arabian
(or Indian) Nysa, where, dis-
guised as a girl, he was nourished
by the nymphs, Oed. *418 ; in
childhood captured by Tyrian
pirates, who, frightened by
marvellous manifestations of di-
vine power on board their ship,
leaped overboard and were
changed into dolphins, ibid. *449 ;
visited India, accompanied by
Theban heroes, ibid. *113 ; H.
Fur. 903 ; visited Lydia and
sailed on the Pactolus, Oed.
467 ; conquered the Amazons and
many other savage peoples, ibid.
469 ; god of the flowing locks,
crowned with ivy, carrying the
thyrsus, ibid. 403 : H Fur. 472 ;
Hip. *753 ; marvellous powers of
the thyrsus, Oed. *491 ; attended
by his foster-father Silenus, ibid.
429 ; called Bassareus, Oed. 432 ;
Bromius, Hip. 760 ; Ogygian
lacchus, Oed. 437 ; Nyctelius,
ibid. 492 ; destroyed Lycurgus,
king of Thrace, because of oppo-
sition to him, H. Fur. 903 ;
inspired his maddened worship-
pers, the women of Thebes, to
rend Pentheus in pieces, Oed.
441, 483 ; helped Jupiter in war
against the giants, H. Fur. 458 ;
found Ariadne on Naxos, made
her his wife, and set her bridal
crown in the sky, Oed. 488, 497

Hip. 760 ; H Fur. 18 ; dithyram
bic chorus in his praise, giving*
numerous incidents in his career,
Oed. **403 ; won the favour of
Juno and the homage of her city
of Argos, ibid. 486 ; gamed a
place in heaven, H. Oet. 94. See
ARIADNE, BASSARIDES.BROMIUS,
NYCTELIUS, OOYQES, PENTHEUS,
PROETIDES, SEMELE, SILENUS

BASSARIDES, female worshippers of
Bacchus, so called because clad
in fox-skins. Oed. 432

BEARS, the northern constellations
of the Great and Little Bears ;
were forbidden by the jealous
Juno to bathe in the ocean, H.
Oet. 281, 1585 ; Thy. 477 ; Med.
405 ; have plunged into the sea
under influence of magic, ibid
758 ; shall some day, by reversal
of Nature's laws, plunge beneath
the sea, Thy. 867 ; Great Bear
used for steering ships by Greeks,
Little Bear by Phoenicians, Med.
694. See ARCADIAN BEARS,
ARCTOS, CALLISTO

BELIAS, one of the Belldes, or
granddaughters of Belus; they
were also called Danaldes from
their father, Danatis, H. Oet. 960

BELLONA, goddess of war, dwells
in hell, H. Oet. 1312 ; haunts the
palaces of kings, Agam. 82

BOEOTIA, named from the heifer
which guided Cadmus to the
place where he should found his
city, Oed. 722

BOOTES, northern constellation of
the Wagoner, driving his wagons
(plaustra), under which form
also the two Bears are conceived,
Oct. 233 ; Agam. 70 ; unable to
set beneath the sea, ibid. 69 ;
not yet known as a constellation
in the golden age, Med. 315

BRIAREUS, one of the giants who
stormed heaven, H. Oet. 167

BRISEIS, a captive maiden, beloved
by her captor, Achilles, from
whom she was taken by Aga-
memnon, Tro. 194, 220, 318

BRITANNICUS, son of the emperor
Claudius and Messalina, brother
of Octavia, and stepbrother of
Nero, by whom, at the instigation
of Agrippiua, Nero's mother, he

517

INDEX

was murdered, In order that Nero
might undisputed have the throne,
Oct. 47, 67, *166, 242, 269

BROMIUS (the " noisy one "), epithet
of Bacchus, Hip. 760

BRUTUS, friend of Julius Caesar,
leader of the conspirators against
him, Oct. 498

BUSIRIS, king of Egypt, who sacri-
ficed strangers and was slain
by Hercules, Tro. 1106; fl. Fur.
483 ; H. Oet. 26 ; Alcmena fears
that a son of his may come to
vex the earth, ibid. 1787

CADMEYPES, daughters of Cadmus,
e.g. Agave, Autonoe, Ino, who
tore Pentheus in pieces, H. Fur.
758

CADMUS, son of Agenor, king of
Phoenicia. Sent by his father
to find his lost sister, Europa,
he wandered over the earth, at
last founding a land of his own
(Bpeotia), guided thither by a
heifer sent by Apollo. Here he
kills the serpent sacred to Mars,
BOWS its teeth, and from them
armed men spring up, Oed.
**712 ; H. Fur. 261, 917 ;
Phoen. 125 ; was changed to a
serpent, H. Fur. 392 ; his house
was accursed, Phoen. 644

CAESAR, Julius, a mighty general,
slain by his fellow-citizens, Oct.
500

CALCHAS (Troades), seer of the
Greeks before Troy ; his prophetic
power, Tro. *353 ; decides that
Polyxena must be sacrificed,
ibid. 360

CALLISTO, nymph of Arcadia, be-
loved of Jove, changed into a
bear by Juno, and set in the
heavens by Jove as the Great
Bear, while her son Areas was
made the Little Bear, fl. Fur.
6 ; is the constellation by which
Greek sailors guided their ships,
ibid. 7 ; called the frozen Bear,
ibid. 1139. See JUPITER, ARCTOS,
BEAKS

CALPE, one side of the passage
rent by Hercules. One of the

518

" pillars of Hercules," Gibraltar,
the opposite mass in Africa being
called Abyla, H. Fur. 237 ; fl.
Oet. 1240, 1253, 1569

CANCER, zodiacal constellation of
the Crab, in which the sun is
found at the summer solstice,
Thy. 854 ; Hip. 287 ; fl. Oet.
41, 67, 1219, 1573

CAPHEREUS, cliff of Euboea, where
Nauplius lured the Greek fleet
to destruction, Agam 560. See
NAUPLIUS

CAPNOMANTIA, method of divining
by observation of the smoke of
sacrifice, Oed. *325

CASSANDRA (Agamemnon), be-
loved by Apollo, but, since she was
false to him, the gift of prophecy
was made of no avail by his decree
that she should never be believed,
Tro. 34 ; Agam. 255, 588 ; given
by lot to Agamemnon, Tro. 978 ;
in prophetic frenzy describes the
murder of Agamemnon, Agam.
*720 ; is led to death, predicting
death of Clytemnestra and Aegis-
thus, ibid. 1004

CASTOR, one of the twin sons of
Jupiter and Leda, wife of Tyn-
dareus, king of Sparta ; his
brother was Pollux, Phoen. 128 ;
Castor rode the famous horse.
Cyllarus, given by Juno, Hip.
810 ; the twins were Argonauts,
Med. 230 ; called Tyndaridae,
fl. Fur. 14 ; Castor a horseman,
Pollux a boxer, Med. 89 ; the
two were set as constellations in
the sky to the grief of Juno, Oct.
208 ; Thy. 628

CAUCASUS, mountain range between
the Black and Caspian Seas,
Thy. 1048 ; here Prometheus was
chained, fl. Oet. 1378 ; Med.
709. See PROMETHEUS

CECROPS, mythical founder and
first king of Athens ; the Athe-
nians called Cecropians, Med. 76 ;
Thy. 1049

CENAEUM, north-west promontory
of Euboea ; here Hercules sacri-
ficed to Cenaean Jove after his
victory over Eurytus, fl Oet.
102 ; while sacrificing here,
Hercules donned the poisoned
robe sent by Deianira, ibid. 782

INDEX

CENTAURS, race in Thessaly, half
man, half horse, H. Oet. 1049,
1195, 1925; their fight with
Lapithae. H. Fur. 778 ; the
centaur Nessus killed by Her-
cules, H. Oet. *503. See CHIRON,

N ESSUS

CERUERUS, three-headed dog, guar-
dian of Hades, Thy. 16 ; H. Oet.
2;i ; H. Fur. 1107 ; his existence
denied, Tro. 404 ; said to have
broken out of Hades and to be
abroad in the Theban land, Oed.
171 ; his clanking chains heard
on earth, ibid. 581 ; Hercules
brought him to the upper world,
H. Oet. 1245 ; Agam. 859 ; H.
Fur. *50, 547 ; Theseus describes
him and tells how he was brought
to the upper world by Hercules,
ibid. *760 ; his actions in the
light of day, ibid. *813 See
HERCULES

CERES, daughter of Saturn, sister
of Jupiter, mother of Proserpina,
and goddess of agriculture ; her
vain and anxious search for her
daughter, H. Fur. 659 ; taught
Triptolemus the science of agri-
culture, Hip. 838 ; mystic rites
of her worship. H. Fur. 300, 845.
Her name used by metonymy
for grain. See ELEUSIN, PROSER-
PINA, TRIPTOLEMUS

CEYX, king of Trachin, suffered
death by shipwreck. His wife,
Alcyone, mourned him incessant-
ly ; finally both were changed
into kingfishers, H. Oet. 197 ;
Agam. 681 ; Oct. 7

CHAONIAN OAKS, sacred grove in
Chaonia of Epirus containing a
temple and oracle of Jupiter, said
to be oldest oracle in Greece ;
oracles supposed to be given
out by the oaks themselves,
endowed with speech, or by the
doves which resorted there.
" Chaonian trees " used for tall
trees in general, Oed. 728 ; the
" talking oak " of Chaonia, H .
Oet. 1623. See DODONA

CHARON, aged ferryman of the
Styx, E. Fur. 555; Agam. 752;
his personal appearance, ibid.
*764 ; forced by Hercules to bear
him across the Lethe (not Styx),

ibid. *770 ; overwearied by
transporting throngs of Theban
dead, Oed. 166 ; charmed by
-music of Orpheus, H. Oet. 1072

CHARYBDIS, whirlpool between
Italy and Sicily, opposite Scylla,
Med. 408 ; H. Oet. 235 ; Thy.
581. See SCYLLA

CHIMAERA, monster combining lion,
dragon, and goat, vomited forth
fire, Med. 828

CHIRON, centaur dwelling In a
cavern on Pelion, famous for his
knowledge of medicine and
divination. To his training
were entrusted Jason, Hercules,
Aesculapius, and Achilles, H. Fur.
971 ; Tro. 832 ; set in the sky
as zodincal constellation of
Sagittarius, Thy. 860

CHRYSEIS, daughter of Chryses,
priest of Apollo at Chrysa.
Taken captive, she fell to the lot
of Agamemnon, who, forced to
give her up, claimed Briseis
captive maid of Achilles. Hence
arose strife between the two,
Tro. 223. See ACHILLES

CIRRHA, ancient town In Phocis,
near Delphi, Oed. 269 ; H. Oet.
92, 1475

CITHAERON, mountain near Thebes
where the infant Oedipus was
exposed, Phoen. 13 ; the scene of
many wild and tragic deeds, see
AOTAEON, AGAVE, DIRGE, PEN-

THEUS

CLAUDIUS, fourth Roman emperor,
father of Octavia, murdered by
his second wife, Agrippina, Oct.
26, 45, 269.

CLOTHO, one of the three fates or
Parcae, supposed to hold the
distaff and spin the thread of life,
H. Oet. 768 ; Oct. 16 ; Thy. 617

CLYTEMNESTRA (Agamemnon),
daughter of Tyndareus and Leda,
sister of Helen, wife of Agamem-
non, mother of Orestes, Iphigenia,
and Electra ; called Tyndaris,
Agam. 897 During uer husband's
absence engaged in conspiracy
with Aegisthus to murder Aga-
memnon. Deliberates whether to
give up her course of crime or
carry it through, ibid. 108 ; tests
Aegisthus' courage and deter-

519

INDEX

mlnation, ibid. 239 ; her murder
of Agamemnon prophesied and
described by Cassandra, *734. See
AGAMEMNON and AEGISTHUS

OOCYTUS, "the river of lamen-
tation," river of Hades, H. Oct.
1963 ; " sluggish, vile," H. Fur.
686 ; the river over which spirits
cross to the land of the dead,
ibid. 870

COLCHIAN BULL, fire-breathing mon-
ster which Jason was set to
yoke to the plough ; Medea claims
to have preserved some of his
breath for her magic uses, Med. 829

COLCHIAN WOMAN, see MEDEA

:REON (Medea), king of Corinth,
to whose court Jason and Medea
fled when driven out of Thessaly ;
father of Creiisa, for whom he
selected Jason as husband, de-
creeing banishment of Medea ;
headstrong and arbitrary, Med.
143 ; allows Medea one day of
respite from exile, ibid. *190 ;
called son of Sisyphus, ibid. 512 ;
his death and that of his daughter,
ibid. *879

CREON (Oedipus), Theban prince,
brother of Jocasta. Oed. 210 ;
sent by Oedipus to consult oracle,
reports that cause of plague is
unavenged murder of Lalus,
ibid. *210 ; announces that
Oedipus himself is guilty of the
murder. Is thrown into prison
by Oedipus on charge of conspi-
racy with Tiresias, ibid. *509 ;
slain by the usurper, Lycus, fl.
Fur. 254

CRETAN BULL, laid waste the island
of Crete ; caught and taken to
Eurystheus by Hercules, H. Fur.
230 ; Agam. 833. See HERCULES

CEF.OSA (Medea), daughter of
Creon, king of Corinth ; Creon
chose Jason as her husband,
Med. 105 : Jason's wife, Medea,
swears that Creiisa shall not bear
brothers to her children, ibid.
509 ; Jason charged by Medea
with love for Creiisa, ibid. 495 ;
Medea prepares a magic robe as
present for Creiisa, ibid. *816 ;
Creiisa's death, ibid. 879

CRISPINUS, Roman knight, the
husband of Poppaea, Oct. 731

520

CUPID, god of love, son of Veuus ;
addressed and characterised by
Deianira, H. Oet. *541 ; all-power-
ful over gods and men, Uip.
*185 ; his wide sway and instances
of his irresistible power, ibid.
**275 ; his power, Oct. 806 ;
there is no such god, ibid. **557 ;
Hip. **275

CYBELE, goddess worshipped In
Phrygian groves, Hip. 1135 ;
pines of Ida sacred to her,
Tro. 72 ; wears a turreted crown,
her worship described, Agam.
686

CYCLOPES, race of giants in Sicily,
each having but one eye ; said to
have built walls of Mycenae,
U. Fur. 997 ; Thy. 407 ; Poly-
phemus, a Cyclop, sits on a crag
of Aetna, ibid. 582

CYCNUS, son of Mars, slain by
Hercules, H. Fur. 485

CYCNUS, son of Neptune, slain by
Achilles and changed into a
swan, Agam. 215 ; Tro. 184

CYLLARUS, famous horse which
Jtmo received from Neptune and
presented to Castor, Hip. 811

CYNOSURA, constellation of the
Lesser Bear, Thy. 872

D

DAEDALUS, Athenian architect, the
father of Icarus. Helped Pasi-
phae, wife of Minos, to accom-
plish her unnatural desires, Hip.
120 ; built the labyrinth for
Minotaur, ibid. 122, 1171 ; his
escape from Crete on wings, Oed.
*822 ; safe because he pursued a
middle course, H. Oet. 683

DAMOCLES, a courtier of Dionysius,
tyrant of Syracuse, who showed
his guest a sword hanging by a
hair over his head as he lay at
banquet, H. Oet. 656

DANAE, daughter of Acrisius,
mother of Perseus by Jupiter,
who approached her in a golden
shower, Oct. 207, 772. See
PERSEUS

DANAIDES, fifty daughters of Dan-
aiis. brother of Aegyptus. They,
being forced to marry the fifty

INDEX

sons of Aegyptus, slew their
husbands on their wedding night,
with the exception of Hyper-
mnestra, H. Fur. 498 ; their
punishment in Hades the task of
filling a bottomless cistern with
water carried in sieves, ibid. 757 ;
Medea summons these to her
aid, Med. 749 ; Deianira would
fill the vacant place in their
number, H. Oct. 948 ; called also
Belides, ibid. 960. See BELIAS,
HYPERMNESTRA

DARDANUS, son of Jupiter and
Electra, one of the royal house
of Troy. Exults in Hades over
the impending doom of Aga-
memnon, enemy of his house,
Agam. 773

DAULIAN BIRD, i.e. Procne, changed
into a nightingale after the
tragedy connected with her
name, enacted at Daulis, a city
of Phocis. She mourns continu-
ally for Itys, H. Oet. 192. See
PHILOMELA and ITYS

DEIANIRA (Hercules Oetaeug).
daughter of Oeneus. king of
Calydonia, sister of Meleager, wife
of Hercules, mother of Hyllus,
plays with her maidens on banks
of Acheloiis, H. Oet. 586 ; her
abduction by Nessus, ibid. *500 :
her rage when she hears 01
Hercules' Infatuation for lole,
ibid. 237 ; ignorant of its power,
prepares to send the charmed
robe to Hercules, ibid. *535 ;
gives it to Lichas, ibid. 569 ;
discovers its power, ibid. *716 ;
learns from Hyllus effect of
poison on Hercules, ibid. *742 ;
prays for death, ibid. 842 ; begs
Hyllus to slay her, ibid. 984 ;
goes mad, ibid. 1002 ; dies by
her own hand, ibid. 1420

DElDAMlA, daughter of Lycomedes.
king of Scyros, mother of
Pyrrhus by Achilles, Tro. 342

DEIPHOBUS, son of Priam and
Hecuba, husband of Helen after
death of Paris ; slain and mangled
by the Greeks through wife's
treachery, Agam. 749

DELOS, floating island in Aegean
Sea, birthplace of Apollo and
Diana, H. Fur 453 ; made firm

at command of Diana, Agam.
384

DELPHIO ORACLEJ of Apollo at
Delphi in Phocis ; expressed in
enigmatic form, Oed. 214 ; the
giving out of an oracle described,
ibid. *225 ; H. Oet. 1475

DEUCALION, son of Prometheus,
husband of Pyrrha ; this pair
the only survivors of the flood,
Tro. 1039. See PYRRHA

DIANA, daughter of Jupiter and
Latona, twin sister of Apollo, H.
Fur. 905 ; hymn to, Agam. *367 ;
caused Delos to stand firm, ibid.
369 ; punished Niobe for impiety,
ibid. 375 ; conceived as Luna or
Phoebe in heaven, Diana on
earth, and Hecate in Hades, Hip.
412 ; called Trivia, worshipped
where three ways meet, Agam.
367 ; Hippolytus prays to her as
goddess of the chase, Hip. 54;
her wide sway, ibid. *54 ; nurse
of Phaedra prays that she may
turn Hippolytus to love, ibid.
406 ; in form of Luna, an object
of attack by Thessalian witch-
craft, ibid. 421 ; slighted by
Oeneus, she sent a huge boar to
ravage the country. Hence
Pleuron is hostile to her, Tro.
827

DICTYNNA, " goddess of the nets,"
epithet of Diana, Med. 795

DIOMEDES, king of the Bistones, in
Thrace, who gave his captives to
his man-eating horses to devour,
H. Oet. 1538; Tro. 1108; Her-
cules captured his horses, having
given their master to them to
devour, Agam. 842 ; H. Fur. 226,
1170 ; H. Oet. 20; Alcmena fears
that she may be given to these
horses now that Hercules is dead,
H. Oet. 1790. See HEROULBS

DIRCE, wife of Lycus, king of
Thebes, who, on account of her
cruelty to Antiope, was tied by
her sons, Zethus and Amphion,
by the hair to a wild bull, and so
dragged to death on Cithaeron,
Phoen. 19 ; changed to the
fountain Dirce, ibid. 126 ; H. Fur.
916 ; this fountain flowed with
blood at the time of the plague
at Thebes, Oed. 177

521

INDEX

DISCORD, a Fury, summoned by
Juno from Hades to drive Her-
cules to madness, H. Fur. 93 ;
her abode, ibid. *93

DODONA, city of Chaonia in Epirus,
famous for ancient oracle of
Jupiter, in a grove of oaks, which
had the gift of speech, H. Oct.
1473 ; when Minerva aided in
the construction of the Argo, she
set in its prow timber cut from
the speaking oak of Dodona, and
this piece had oracular power ;
the Argo's " voice " was lost
through fear of the Symplegades,
Med. 349. See CHAONIAN OAKS

DOMITIUS, father of Nero, Oct. 249

DRAGON, (1) guardian of the apples
of the Hesperides, slain by Her-
cules, and afterwards set in the
heavens as constellation Draco,
between the two Bears, Thy. 870 ;
Med. 694 ; (2) of Colchis, guardian
of the golden fleece, put to
sleep by Medea's magic, Med.
703 ; (3) dragon sacred to Mars
killed by Cadmus near the site
of his destined city of Thebes.
From the teeth of this dragon,
sown by Cadmus, armed men
sprang up, Oed. **725 ; H. Fur.
260 ; some of these teeth were
sown by Jason in Colchis with a
similar result, Med. 469 ; the
brothers who sprang up against
Cadmus are described as living in
Hades, Oed. 586

DRUSTJS, Livius, the fate of, Oct.
887, 942

DRYADS, race of wood-nymphs, fl.
Oet. 1053 ; Hip. 784

E

ECHO, nymph who pined away to
a mere voice for unrequited love
of Narcissus. She dwells in
mountain caves, and repeats the
last words of all that is said in
her hearing, Tro. 109

ELECTRA (Agamemnon), daughter
of Agamemnon and Clytemnes-
tra, sister of Orestes ; gives her
brother to Strophius, king of
Phocis, to save him from Cly-
temnestra and Aegisthus, Agam.

522

910 ; defies her mother and
Aegisthus, ibid. 953 ; is taken
away to imprisonment, ibid. 1000 ;
Octavia compares her woes with
Electra's, to the advantage of the
latter, Oct. 60

ELEUSIN (Eleusis), ancient city of
Attica, famous for its mysteries
of Ceres, H. Oet. 599 ; Tro. 843 ;
H. Fur. 300 ; Hip. 838 ; the
mysteries described, H. Fur.
*842. See CERES, TRIPTOLEMUS

ELYSIUM, abode of the blest, Tro.
159, 944; H. Oet. 956, 1916;
H. Fur. 744

ENCELADUS, one of the Titans who
attempted to dethrone Jove,
overthrown and buried under
Sicily, H. Fur. 79 ; H. Oet. 1140,
1145, 1159, 1735

ERIDANUS, mythical and poetical
name of the Po, H. Oet. 186.
See PHAETHONTIADES

ERINYES, the Furies, H. Fur. 982 ;
Med. 952 ; Oed. 590 ; Agam. 83 ;
Thy. 251 ; H. Oet. 609, 671 ; Oct.
23, 161, 263, 619, 913. See
FURIES

ERYX, son of Butes and Venus,
famous boxer, overcome by Her-
cules, H. Fur. 481 ; mountain in
Sicily, said to have been named
from the preceding, Oed. 600

ETEOCLES (Phoenissae), one of
the two sons of Oedipus and
Jocasta. After Oedipus aban-
doned the throne of Thebes
(Phoen. 104), Eteocles and Poly-
nices agreed to reign alternately.
Eteocles, the elder, ascended the
throne, but when his year was up
refused to give way to his
brother, Phoen. 55,280, 389; H.
Fur. 389. See POLYNICES

EUMENIDES (" the gracious ones "),
a euphemistic name for the
Furies, H. Fur. 87 ; H. Oet. 1002

EUROPA, daughter of Agenor, king
of Tyre, beloved of Jupiter, who,
as a bull, carried her away to
Crete, Oct. 206, 766 ; H. pet.
550 ; this episode immortalised
by the constellation of Taurus,
H. Fur. 9 ; sought in vain by her
brother Cadmus, Oed. 715 ; the
continent of Europe named after
her, Agam. 205, 274 ; Tro. 896

INDEX

EUEYBATES (Agavufmnon), mes-
senger of Agamemnon who an-
nounces victory of Greeks at
Troy and the hero's near approach
to Mycenae, Agam. 392 ; relates
the sufferings of the Greek fleet
on the homeward voyage, ibid.
*421

EURYDICE, wife of Orpheus, slain
by a serpent's sting on her wed-
ding day ; story of Orpheus'
quest for her in Hades, H. Fur.
*569 ; rescued by Orpheus from
the lower world, but lost again,
H. Oet. *1084. See ORPHEUS

EURYSTHEUS, son of Sthenelus,
grandson of Perseus, who, by
a trick of Juno, was given power
over Hercules, and, at Juno's
instance, laid upon Hercules his
various labours, II. Oet. 403 ;
H. Fur. 43, 78, 479, 526, 830 ; lord
of Argos and Mycenae, ibid.
1180; H. Oet. 1800: his punish-
ment predicted, ibid. 1973

EURYTUS, king of Oechalia and
father of lole, H. Oet. 1490 ; he
and his house destroyed by
Hercules because he refused the
latter's suit for lole, ibid 100,
207, 221 ; E. Fur. 477. See
HERCULES

FESOENNINE, of Fescennla, ancient
town of Etruria, famous for a
species of coarse dialogues in
verse which bear its name, Med.
113

FORTUNE, goddess of fate, ruling
over affairs of men, H. Fur. 326,
524; Tro. *1, *259, 269, 697,
735 ; Phoen. 82, 308, 452 ; Med.
159, 176, 287; Hip. 979, 1124,
1143 ; Oed. 11, 86, 674, 786, 825,
934 ; Agam. 28, 58, 72, 89, 101,
248, 594, 698 ; H. Oet. 697 ; Oct.
36, 377, 479, 563, 888, 898, 931,
962 ; Thy. 618

FURIES, avenging goddesses, dwell-
ing in Hades, set to punish and
torment men both on earth and
in the lower world ; described and
appealed to, Med. 13 ; Juno
plots to summon them from

Hacks to make Hercules mad,
H. Fur. 86 ; described, ibid. 87 ;
described by Cassandra, Agam.
*759 ; move in bands, Thy. 78,
250 ; Med. 958 ; a Fury used a?
a character in prologue, driving
on Thyestes' ghost to perform
his mission, Thy. *23. See
EUMENIDES, ERINYES, MEQAERA,
TISIPHONE

GEMINI, zodiacal constellation of
the Twins, Castor and Pollux,
Thy. 853

GERYON, mythical king In Spain,
having three bodies ; Hercules
slew him and brought his famous
cattle to Eurystheus as his tenth
labour, H. Fur. 231, 487, 1170;
Agam. 837 ; H. Oet. 26, 1204,
1900. See HERCULES

GHOSTS. The ghost appears as a
dramatis persona in the following
plays: Agamemnon, in which the
ghost of Thyestes appears in the
prologue to urge Aegisthus on to
fulfil his mission; Thyestes, in
which the ghost of Tantalus simi-
larly appears in the prologue ;
Octavia, in which the ghost of
Agrippina appears. In the fol-
lowing plays the ghost affects the
action though not actually ap-
pearing upon the stage : Troades,
in which the ghost of Achilles is
reported to have appeared to the
Greeks and demanded the sacri-
fice of Polyxena, 168 ff.; Andro-
mache also claims to have seen
the ghost of Hector warning her
of the impending fate of Astyanax,
443 ff.; Oedipus, in which the
ghost of Lalus and other departed
spirits are described as set free by
the necromancy of Tiresias, 582
ff.; Medea, in which the mangled
ghost of Absyrtus seems to appear
to the distracted Medea, 963 ;
ghosts appear larger than mortu-1
forms, Oed. 175

GIANTS, monstrous sons of Earth,
made war upon the gods, scaling
heaven by piling mountains one
on another, Tro. 829 ; Thy. 804,

523

INDEX

810, 1084; H. Fur. 445, 976;
H. Oet. 1139, *1151 ; over-
thrown by Jove's thunderbolt,
H. Oet. 1302 ; Oed. 91 ; with
the help of Hercules, H. Oet.
1215 ; buried under Sicily, ibid.
1309. See BRIAREUS, ENCELA-
DUS. GYAS, MIMAS, OTHRYS, TY-
PHOEUS, TITANS

GOLDEN AGE, first age of mankind,
when peace and innocence reigned
on earth, Hip. *525 ; Oct. *395 ;
Med. *329

GOLDEN-FLEECED RAM, (l) on
which Phrixus and his sister,
Helle, escaped from Boeotia ; as
they fled through the air Helle
fell off into the sea, Tro. 1035 ;
on arrival at Colchis Phrixus
sacrificed the ram and gave his
fleece to King Aeetes, who hung
it in a tree sacred to Mars. This
fleece the prize sought by the
Argonauts, Med. 361, 471. See
PHRIXUS, HELLE, ARGONAUTS.
(2) The emblem and pledge of
sovereignty in the house of
Pelops, Thy. *225

GORGON, Medusa, one of the three
daughters of Phorcys. whose
head was covered with snaky
locks ; the sight of her turned
men to stone. Killed by Perseus,
her head presented to Minerva,
who fixed it upon her shield, E.
Oet. 96 ; Agam. 530. See PER-
SEUS

GRACCHI, two popular leaders of
the Sempronian gens, brought to
ruin by popular renown, Oct.
882

GRADIVUS, surname of Mars, H.
Fur. 1342

GYAS, one of the giants who sought
to dethrone Jove, E. Oet. 167,
1139

HADES, place of departed spirits,
situated in the underworld ;
entrance to, E. Fur. 662 ;
description of, ibid. 547 ; Theseus,
returned therefrom, describes
places and persons there, ibid.
**658 ; the world of the dead

524

and the throngs who pour into it.
ibid. *830 ; its torments and
personages described by ghost
of Tantalus, Thy. 1 ; its regions
and inhabitants seen by Creon
through the chasm in the earth
made by Tiresias' incantations.
Oed *582

HARPIES, mythical monsters, half
woman and half bird : driven
from Phineus by Zetes and
Calais, Med. 782 ; still torment
Phineus in Hades, H. Fur. 759 ;
used as type of winged speed,
Phoen. 424

HEBE, daughter of Juno, cupbearer
to the gods, given as bride to
Hercules, Oct. 211

HECATE, daughter of Perses, pre-
sider over enchantments ; identi-
fied with Proserpina as the
underworld manifestation of the
deity seen in Diana on earth and
Luna in heaven, E. Oet. 1519 ;
Med. 6, 577, 833, 841 ; Tro. 389 ;
Eip. 412 ; Oed. 569

HECTOR, son of Priam and Hecuba,
husband of Andromache, bravest
warrior and chief support of
Troy, Tro. 125 ; burns Greek
fleet, ibid. 444 ; Agam. 743 ;
slays Patroclus, Tro. 446 ; slain
by Achilles and his body dragged
around the walls, ibid. *413 ;
Agam. 743 ; his body ransomed
by Priam, ibid. 447 ; lamented by
the captive Trojan women, Tro.
98 ; his ghost warns Andromache
in a dream of the danger of their
son Astyanax, ibid. 443

HECUBA (Troades), wife of Priam,
survives Troy ; leads the captive
women in lament for Troy's
downfall, Tro. *1 ; before the
birth of Paris, dreamed that she
had given birth to a firebrand,
ibid. 36 ; her once happy estate
described, and contrasted with
her present wretchedness, ibid.
*958 ; given to Ulysses by lot,
ibid. 980 ; having suffered the loss
of all her loved ones, she is at
last changed into a dog, Agam.
*705 ; rejoices for the first time
after Hector's death on occasion
of wooden horse being taken into
Troy, ibid. 648

INDEX

HELEN (Troades), daughter of
Jupiter and Leda, sister of
Clytemnestra, wife of Menelaiis,
the most beautiful woman in
Greece ; given by Venus to Paris
as a reward for his judgment in
her favour, Oct. 773 ; fled from
her husband for love of Paris,
Agam. 123 ; pardoned by Aga-
memnon, she returns home with
Menelaiis, ibid. 273 ; sent by
Greeks to deceive Polyxena and
prepare her for sacrifice on
Achilles' tomb, Tro. 861 ; cursed
by Andromache, ibid. *892 ;
bewails her own lot. ibid. 905 ;
she is not to blame for the woes
of Troy, ibid. 917 ; Clytemnestra
likened to her, Agam'. 795

HELLE, sister of Phrixus, who fled
with him on the golden-fleeced
ram, and fell off into the sea,
which thereafter bore her name
(Hellespont), Tro. 1034 ; Thy.
851. See PHRIXUS

HERCEAN JOVE, epithet of Jupiter
as protector of the house ; at his
altar Priam was slain, Tro. 140 ;
Agam. 448, 793

HERCULES (Hercules Furens, Her-
cules Oetaeus), son of Jupiter and
Alcmena, H. Fur. 20 ; H. Oet.
7 and passim : night unnaturally
prolonged at his conception,
Agam. 814; H. Fur. 24, 1158;
H. Oet. 147, 1500, 1697, 1864;
born in Thebes, Oed. 749 ; in
infancy strangled two serpents
which Juno sent against him, H.
Fur. *214 ; H. Oet. 1205 ; by a
trick of Juno was made subject
to Eurystheus, who set him vari-
ous labours, H. Oet. 403 ; H. Fur.
78, 524, *830. These twelve
labours are as follows : (1)
Killing of Nemean lion, H. Fur.
46, 224; H. Oet. 16, 411, 1192,
1235, 1885 ; Agam. 829 ; (2)
destruction of Lernean hydra,
Agam. 835; Med. 701 ; H. Fur.
46, 241, 529, 780, 1195; H. Oet.
19, 918, 1193, 1534, 1813 ; (3)
capture of Arcadian stag, famous
for its fleetness and its golden
antlers, H. Fur. 222 ; H. Oet.
17, 1238 ; Agam. 831 ; (4) capture
of wild boar of Erymanthus, H.

Fur. 228 ; H. Oet. 980, 1536,
1888 ; Agam. 832 ; (5) cleansing
of Augean stables, H. Fur. 247 ;
(6) killing of Stymphalian birds,
H. Fur. 244 ; H. Oet. 17, 1237,
1813, 1889 ; Agam. 850 ; (7)
capture of Cretan bull, H. Fur.
230 ; H. Oet. 27 ; Agam. 834 ; (8)
capturing mares of Diomedes and
slaying of Diomedes, H. Fur.
226 ; H. Oet. 20, 1538, 1814, 1894 ;
Agam. 842 ; (9) securing girdle
of Hippolyte, H. Fur. 245, 542 ;
H. Oet. 21, 1183, 1450 ; Agam.
848 ; (10) killing Geryon and
capturing his oxen, H. Fur. 231,
487 ; H. Oet. 26, 1204, 1900 ;
Agam. 837 ; (11) securing golden
apples of Hesperides, H. Fur
239, 530 ; H. Oet. 18 ; Phoen. 316 ;
Agam. *852 ; (12) descent to
Hades and bringing back Cerbe-
rus, H. Fur. *46, **760 ; H. Oet.
23, 1162, 1244 ; Agam. 859.
Other deeds of Hercules are : bore
the heavens upon his shoulders
in place of Atlas, H. Fur *69,
528, 1101; H. Oet. 282, 1241,
1764, 1905 ; burst a passage for
Peneus between Ossa and Olym-
pus, H. Fur. *283 ; rent Calpe
and Abyla (the " Pillars of
Hercules ") apart and made a
passage for the sea into the
ocean, H. Fur. 237 ; H. Oet. 1240,
1253, 1569 ; overcame Centaurs,
ibid. 1195 ; fought with Acheloiis
for possession of Deianira, ibid.
299, 495 ; slew Nessus, who was
carrying off his bride, ibid. *500,
921 ; overcame Eryx the boxer,
H. Fur. 481 ; slew Antaeus, H.
Fur. 482, 1171 ; H. Oet. 24, 1899 ;
killed Busiris, H. Fur. 483 ; H.
Oet. 26 ; Tro. 1106 ; slew Cycnus,
son of Mars, H. Fur. 485 ; killed
Zetes and Calais, Med. 634;
killed Periclymenus, ibid. 635;
wounded Pluto, who was going
to aid the Pylians, H. Fur. 560 ;
fought with Death for the reco-
very of Alcestis, H. Oet. 766 n. ;
wrecked off the African coast,
made his way on foot to shore,
ibid. 319 ; assisted the gods in
their fight against the giants,
ibid. 444 ; H. Oet. 170 ; captured

525

INDEX

Troy with aid of Telamon during
reign of Laomedqn, Tro. 136,
719 ; his arrows said to be twice
fated for the destruction of
Troy, ibid. 825 ; Agam. 863 ;
forced Charon to bear him across
the Lethe (not Styx), H. Fur.
*762 ; H. Oet. 1556 ; rescued
Theseus from Hades, Hip. 843 ;
H. Fur. 806 ; E. Oet. 1197, 1768 ;
overcame Eurytus, king of Oecha-
lia, H. Fur. 477 ; H. Oet. 422.
More or less extended recapitula-
tions of the deeds of Hercules are
found in the following passages :
Agam. 808-866 ; H. Fur. 205-308,
481-487, 524-560 ; H. Oet. 1-98,
410-435, 1161-1206, 1218-1257,
1518-1606,1810-1830, 1872-1939.
The loves of Hercules are as
follows : Hesione, daughter of
Laomedon, rescued from the
sea-monster, and made captive
to Hercules with the first fall
of Troy ; he afterward* gave her
to Te'amon, H. Oet. 363 ; Auge,
daughter of Aleus, king of Tegea.
ibid. 367 ; the fifty daughters of
Thespius, ibid. 369 ; Omphale,
queen of Lydia, to whom Her-
cules, in expiation of an act of
sacrilege, went into voluntary
servitude for three years, ibid.
*371, 573 ; H. Fur. *465 ; Hip.
317 ; lole, daughter of Eurytus,
king of Oechalia, whom Hercules
destroyed because lole was
denied to him, H. Oet. 100, 207,
221 ; H. Fur. 477. His wives
were (1) Megara, daughter of
Creon, king of Thebes ; Hercules,
in a fit of madness, slew her and
his children by her, H. Fur.
*987, *1010; H. Oet. 429, 903;
when his sanity returned, The-
seus promised him cleansing for
his crime by Mars at Athens,
H. Fur. 1341 ; elsewhere said to
have been cleansed by washing
in the Cinyps, a river in Africa,
H. Oet. 907; (2) Deianira,
daughter of Oeneus, king of
Calydonia. See DEIA.NIRA and
ACHELOPS. The favourite tree
of Hercules was the poplar, H.
Fur. 894, 912; H. Oet. 1641.
Hercules destined to come to ft

526

tragic end after a life of great
deeds. Med. 637 ; death in
accordance with an oracle which
declared that he should die by
the hand of one whom he had
slain, H. Oet. 1473 ; Deianira,
ignorantly seeking to regain her
husband's love from lole, sends
him a robe anointed with the
poisoned blood of Nessus, ibid.
535 ; Lichas bears the robe to
his master, ibid. 569 ; Hercules
was worshipping Cenaean Jove
in Euboea when the robe was
brought to him, ibid. 775 ; his
sufferings caused by the poison.
ibid. *749, 1218 ; hurls Lichas
over a cliff, ibid. 809 ; after dire
suffering, is borne by boat from
Euboea to Mt. Oeta, where he
was to perish, ibid. 839 ; funeral
pyre built for him on Oeta, ibid.
1483 ; his place in heaven after
death, ibid. 1565 ; his triumphant
death in the midst of the flames,
ibid. **1610, 1726 ; his fated bow
is given to Philoctetes, ibid.
1648 ; his ashes are collected by
his mother, Alcmena, ibid. 1758 ;
Medea possessed some of the
ashes of Oeta's pyre soaked with
his blood, Med. Ill ; his voice is
heard from heaven. H. Oet. * 1940 ;
received into heaven in spite of
Juno's opposition, he is given
Hebe as his wife, Oct. 210

HERMIONE, daughter of Menelatis
and Helen, Tro. 1134

HESIONE, daughter of Laomedon,
exposed to a sea-monster sent by
Neptune to punish the perfidy
of Laomedon. Rescued by Her-
cules when he and Telamon took
Troy, H. Oet. 363

HESPERIDES, golden apples of, on
far western islands, watched over
by three nymphs, guarded by
dragon ; Hercules in eleventh
labour secured them for Eurys-
theus, Agam. 852 ; Phoen. 316 ;
H. Fur. 239, 530

HESPERUS, evening star, messenger
of night, Med. 878 ; Hip. 750 ;
H. Fur. 883 ; impatiently awaited
by lovers, Med. 72 ; Phoen. 87 ;
functions of evening and morning
Btars interchanged at the concep-

INDEX

tion of Hercules, H Fur. 821 ;
H. Oet. 149

HlEROSCOPiA (extispicium), method
of prophesying by inspecting
viscera of sacrificial victim,
practised by Tiresias, Oed. *353

HIPPODAMIA, daughter of Oeno-
maiis, king of Pisa. See MYRTILUS

HIPPOLYTB, queen of Amazons,
possessed of belt of Mars ;
Hercules as his ninth labour
secured this belt, Aqam. 848 ;
H. Fur. 245, 542; H. Oet. 21,
1183, 1450

HIPPOLYTUS (Hippolytus), son of
Theseus and Hippolyte, or,
according to others, of Theseus
and Antiope ; devoted to the
hunt and to Diana, Hip. 1 ;
object of Phaedra's guilty 19 ve,
ibid. *99 ; hates all womankind,
ibid. 230 ; his life as a recluse,
ibid. 435 ; sings the praises of
life in woods and fields, ibid.
*483 ; is charged with assaulting
Phaedra, ibid. 725 ; death caused
by a monster sent by Neptune in
response to prayer of Theseus,
ibid. 1000 ; his innocence dis-
covered, ibid. 1191

HYADES, daughters of Atlas and
sisters of the Pleiades ; a con-
stellation borne on horns of
Taurus, Thy. 852 ; storm-bringing
constellation, not yet recognised
as such in the golden age, Med.
311 ; disturbed by magic power
of Medea, ibid. 769

HYDRA, monster which infested the
marsh of Lerna ; had nine heads,
one of which was immortal.
Slain by Hercules as his second
labour, Agam. 835 ; Med. 701 ;
H. Fur. 46, 241, 529, 780, 1195 ;
H. Oet. 19, 94, 259, 851, 914, 918,
1193, 1534, 1650, 1813, 1927

HYLAS, youth, beloved by Her-
cules, accompanied him on Ar-
gonautic expedition ; was seized
by water-nymphs, Hip. 780 ;
Med. *647

HYLLUS (Hercules Oetaeus), son of
Hercules and Deianira, H. Oet.
742 : the grandson of Jove, ibid.
1421 ; lole consigned to him as
wife by the dying Hercules, ibid.
1490

HYMEN, god of marriage, Tro. 861,
805 ; Med. *66. 110, 116, 300

HYPERMNESTRA, one of the fifty
daughters of Danaiis, who refused
to murder her husband, H. Fur.
500 ; not punished with her
sisters in Hades, H. Oet. 948.
See DANAIDES

ICARUS, son of Daedalus ; the wings
on which he attempted flight
were melted by the sun ; fell into
the sea, which received his name,
Agam, 506 ; Oed. *892 ; H. Oet.
686. See DAEDALUS

IDMON, son of Apollo and Asteria.
Argonaut, had prophetic power ;
was killed by a wild boar, not, as
Seneca says, by a serpent, Med.
652

INO, daughter of Cadmus, sister of
Semele, wife of Athamas, king of
Thebes. Athamas, driven mad
by Juno, because luo had nursed
the infant Bacchus, attempted to
slay her ; she escaped by leaping
into the sea with her son Meli-
certa. Both changed into sea-
divinities, Phoen. 22 ; Oed. 445
See PALAEMON

IOLE (Hercules Oetaeus), daughter
of Eurytus, king of Oechalia.
Was sought in marriage by
Hercules, who, when refused,
destroyed her father and all his
house, H. Oet. 221 ; in captivity
she mourns her fate, ibid. 173 ;
sent as captive to Deianira, ibid.
224 ; her reception by Deiauira,
ibid. 237 ; is given to Hyllus as
wife by the dying Hercules, ibid.
1490

iPHiGENlA, daughter of Agamem-
non and Clytemnestra ; taken to
be sacrificed at Aulis, on pretext
of marriage to Achilles, Agam.
158 ; sacrificed that Greeks might
sail from Aulis, ibid. 160 ; Tro.
249, 360, 555 n., 570 n. ; her
sacrifice described, Agam. *164 ;
rescued by Diana and taken to
serve in goddess' temple among
the Taurians, Oct. 972

527

INDEX

IRIS, messenger of Juno, goddess
of the rainbow, Oed. 315

ITYS, son of Tereus, king of Thrace,
and Procne, who, to punish her
husband for his outrage upon
her sister, Philomela, slew and
served Itys at a banquet to his
father. The sisters, changed to
birds, ever bewail Itys, H. Oet.
192 ; Agam. 670

IxION, for his insult to Juno
whirled on a wheel in Hades,
Hip. 1236 : Thy. 8 ; Agam. 15 ;
Oct. 623 ; H. Fur. 750 ; H. Oet.
945, 1011: Med. 744; his wheel
stood still at music of Orpheus,
ibid. 1068. See NEPHELE

JASON (Medea), son of Aeson, king
of Thessaly, nephew of the
usurping king, Pelias. Was
persuaded by Pelias to undertake
the adventure of the Golden
Fleece, for which he organised
and led the Argonautic expedi-
tion. Through Medea's aid per-
formed the tasks in Colchis set
by Aeetes : tamed the fire-breath-
ing bull, Med. 121, 241, 466;
overcame the giants sprung from
the serpent's teeth, ibid. 467 ;
put to sleep the dragon, ibid.
471. Had no part in murder of
Pelias, for which he and Medea
were driven out of Thessaly, ibid.
262 ; but this and all Medea's
crimes had been done for his
sake, ibid. *275 ; living in exile
in Corinth, is forced by Creon
into marriage with the king's
daughter, Creiisa, ibid. 137 ;
Medea curses him, ibid. 19 ; he
laments the dilemma in which he
finds himself, ibid. 431 ; decides
to yield to Crepn's demands for
the sake of his children, ibid.
441

JOCASTA (Oedipus, Phoenissae),
wife of Lalus, king of Thebes,
mother and afterwards wife of
Oedipus ; on learning that Oedi-
pus is her son, kills herself, Oed.
1024. According to another
version, she is still living after

528

Oedipus goes Into exile ; bewail?
the strife between her sons,
Eteocles and Polynices, Phoen.
377 ; rushing between the two
hosts, tries to reconcile her sons,
ibid. *443

JUDGES IN HADES, Aeacus, Minos,
and Rhadamanthus. weep when
they hear Orpheus strains, H.
Fur. 579 ; Theseus describes
then- persons and judgments, the
moral law under which the souls
of men are judged, the punish-
ments and rewards meted out,
ibid. **727

JULIA, daughter of Drusus and
Livia Drusilla, exiled and after-
wards slain, Oct. 944

JUNO (Hercules Furens), reveals
her motive hi persecuting Her-
cules ; recounts Jove's infidelities
and relates her struggles with
Hercules ; she cannot overcome
him by any toil, H. Fur. *1 ff. ;
type of wife who, by wise manage-
ment, won back her husband's
love, Oct. *201 ; hymn in praise
of, Agam. 340 ; Argos is dear to
her, ibid. 809

JUPITER, lord of Olympus, ruler of
the skies and seasons, Hip. *960 ;
ruler of heaven and earth, to
whom victors consecrate their
spoils, Agam. *802 ; his mother,
Rhea, brought him forth in Crete
and hid him in a cave of Ida, lest
his father, Saturn, should dis-
cover and destroy him, H. Fur.
459; hymn in praise of, Agam
381 ; his thunderbolts forged in
Aetna, Hip. 156 ; his amours
with mortals : with Leda, to
whom he appeared as a swan,
Hip. 301 ; H. Fur. 14 ; with
Europa, as a bull, Hip. 303 ;
H. Fur. 9; H. Oet. 550; with
Danae, as a golden shower, H.
Fur. 1 3 ; with Callisto, ibid. 6 ;
with the Pleiades (Electra, Maia,
Taygete), ibid. 10 ; with Latona,
ifctrf. 15 ; with Semele, ibid. 16 ;
with Alcmena, ibid. 22. For his
ancient oracle in Epirus, see
DODONA ; see also HERCEAN
JOVE and CENAETJM

JUSTICE (JustUia), the goddess
Astraea, who once lived on earth

INDEX

during the innocence of man in
the golden age of Saturn, Oct.
398 ; fled the earth when sin
became dominant, ibid. 424.
See ASTRAEA

LABDACIDAE, Thebans, from Lab-
dacus, king of Thebes, father of
Lalus, Oed. 710 ; Phoen. 53 ;
H. Fur. 495

LAOHESIS, one of the three fates,
or Parcae, who measured out the
thread of human life, Oed. 985.
The other two were Clotho and
Atropos. See CLOTHO

LAERTES, father of Ulysses, dwell-
ing in Ithaca, Tro. 700 ; Thy.
587

LAltus, king of Thebes, husband of
Jocasta, father of Oedipus, whom,
fearing an oracle, he had exposed
in infancy ; his murder by an
unknown man must be avenged
before the plague afflicting Thebes
can be relieved, Oed. *217 ; place
and supposed manner of his
death, ibid. *276, 776 ; his shade,
raised by Tiresias, declares that
Oedipus is his murderer, ibid.
*619 ; his shade seems to appear
to the blind Oedipus in exile,
Phoen. 39

LAOMEDON, king of Troy, father of
Priam ; deceived Apollo and
Neptune, who built the walls of
Troy, and again cheated Her-
cules out of his promised reward
for delivering Hesione ; hence
his house is called a " lying
house," Agam. 864

LAPITHAE, tribe of Thessaly, asso-
ciated in story with the Centaurs,
and both with a struggle against
Hercules in which they were
worsted ; hi Hades still fear their
great enemy when he appears,
H. Fur. 779

LATONA, beloved of Jupiter, to
whom she bore Apollo and
Diana, Agam. 324 ; the floating
island, Delos, the only spot
allowed her by jealous Juno for
her travail, H. Fur. 15

LEDA, wife of Tyndareus, king of
Sparta ; was beloved by Jupiter
in the form of a swan, Oct. 205.
764 ; became by him mother of
Castor and Pollux, H. Fur. 14 ;
Oct. 208 ; mother of Clytemnes-
tra by Tyndareus, Agam. 125,
234

LEMNOS, island in the Aegean,
where Vulcan fell and established
his forges, H. Get. 1362 ; all
the Lemnian women, except
Hypsipyle, murdered their male
relatives, Agam. 566

LEO, zodiacal constellation of the
Lion, representing the Nemean
lion slain by Hercules, H. Fur.
69, 945 ; Thy. 855 ; said to have
fallen from the moon, where,
according to the Pythagoreans,
all monsters had their origin, H.
Fur. 83

LETHE, river of the lower world
whose waters cause those who
drink to forget the past, H. Oet.
936 ; H. Fur. 680 ; flip. 1202 ;
is used as equivalent to Styx or
the lower world hi general, ibid.
147 ; Oed. 560 ; E. Oet. 1162,
1208, 1550, 1985 ; Charon plies
his boat over this river, H. Fur.
777

LIBRA, zodiacal constellation of the
Scales, marking the autumnal
equinox, Hip. 839 ; Thy. 858

LICHAS, messenger of Hercules to
Deianira, H. Oet. 99 ; bearer of
the poisoned robe from Deianira,
thrown over a cliff by Hercules,
ibid. 567, 570, 809, 814, 978,
1460

LIVIA, wife of Drusus ; her fate,
Oct. 942

LOVES, "Epoj? (Cupid) and 'AiTt'pu>?,
twin sons of Venus, Hip. 275

LUCIFER, morning star, the herald
of the sun, Hip. 752 ; Oed. 507,
741 ; H. Oet. 149

LUOINA, goddess who presides over
child-birth, i.e. Diana or Luna,
Agam. 385 ; Med. 2 ; or Juno,
ibid. 61

LUCRETIA, daughter of Lucretius,
wife of Collatinus, avenged by a
bloody war for the outrage
committed upon her by Sextus
Tarquinius, Oct. 300

529

INDEX

LUNA, goddess of the moon, iden-
tified with Diana upon the earth,
called also Phoebe as sister of
Phoebus, Oed. 44 ; reflects her
brother's fires, ibid. 253 ; passes
his car in shorter course, Thy.
838 ; in love with Endymion, she
seeks the earth, Hip. 309, 422,
785 ; gives her chariot to her
brother to drive, ibid. 310 ; saved
by the clashing of vessels from
the influence of magic, ibid.
790

LYCURGUS, king of Thrace ; des-
troyed for his opposition to
Bacchus, H. Fur. 903; Oed. 471

LYCUS (Hercules Furens), usurper
in Thebes while Hercules is
absent in Hades ; slew Creon and
his sons, H. Fur. 270 ; boasts of
his power and wealth, ibid. 332 ;
desires union with Megara, wife
of the absent Hercules, daughter
of Creon, ibid. 345 ; proposes
marriage to Megara, ibid. 360 ;
scorned by her, ibid. 372 ; slain
by Hercules, ibid. 895

LYNCEUS, one of the Argonauts,
renowned for his keenness of
vision, Med. 232

M

MAEANDER, river of Phrygia, cele-
brated for its winding course,
Phoen. 606; H. Fur. 684

MAENADS, female attendants and
worshippers of Bacchus, Oed.
436 ; mad under inspiration of
Bacchus, H. Oet. 243 ; uncon-
sciousness of pain, Tro. 674 ;
range over the mountains, Med.
383

MAGIO ARTS, as practised by
Medea, Med. 670-842 ; by Tire-
sias, Oed. 548-625 ; by the nurse
of Deianira, H. Oet. 452-64

MANTO (Oedipus), prophetic daugh-
ter of Tiresias, Agam. 22 ; leads
her blind father, Oed. 290 ;
describes to him the sacrifices,
which he interprets, ibid. 303

MARS, son of Jupiter and Juno, god
of war, Tro. 185, 783, 1058;
Phoen. 527, 626, 630 ; Med. 62 ;

530

Hip. 465. 808 ; Oct. 293 ; Agam.
548 ; called also Mavors, Hip.
550 ; Thy. 557 ; Oed. 90; and Gra-
divus, H. Fur. 1342 ; used of war
or battle, Oed. 275, 646; Agam.
921 ; his amour with Venus
discovered by Phoebus, who with
the aid of Vulcan caught them in
a net : for this reason Venus hates
the race of Phoebus, Hip. 125;
summoned to judgment by Nep-
tune for the murder of bis son,
was tried and acquitted by the
twelve gods at Athens on the
Areopagus. H. Fur. 1342

MEDEA (Medea), daughter of
Aeetes, king of Colchis, grand-
daughter of Sol and Persels, Med.
28, 210 ; grandeur of her estate
in Aeetes' kingdom, ibid. *209,
483 ; mistress of magic arts, ibid.
*750, whereby she helped Jason
perform the tasks set by Aeetes,
ibid. 169, 467, 471 ; helped Jason
carry off the golden fleece, ibid.
130 ; did all for love of Jason,
ibid. 119 ; slew her brother,
Absyrtus, and strewed his mem-
bers to retard Aeetes' pursuit,
ibid. 121 ; H. Oet. 950 ; tricked
the daughters of Pelias into
murdering their father, Med. 133,
201, *258 ; driven out of Thessaly
and pursued by Acastus, she,
with Jason, sought safety in
Corinth, ibid. 247, 257 ; all her
crimes were for Jason's sake, ibid.
275 ; exiled by Creon, she obtains
one day of respite, ibid. 295 ;
prepares a deadly robe for her
rival, Creusa, ibid. 570 ; her
magic incantations, ibid. *675 ;
sends robe to Creusa, ibid. 816 ;
rejoices in its terrible effect, ibid.
893 ; kills her two sons, ibid.
970, 1019 ; gloats over her hus-
band's misery and vanishes hi the
air in a chariot drawn by dragons,
ibid. 1025 ; goes to Athens and
marries Aegeus ; type of an evil
woman, Hip. 563 ; stepmother of
Theseus, ibid. 697

MEDUSA, one of the three Gorgons,
slain by Perseus. He cut off her
head, which had power to petrify
whatever looked upon it, and gave
it to Minerva, who set it upon her

INDEX

aegis, Agam. 530 ; her gall used
by Medea in magic, Med. 831

MEGAERA, one of the Furies, sum-
moned by Juno to drive Hercules
to madness, H. Fur. 102 ; appears
to the maddened Medea with
scourge of serpents, Med. 960 ;
seems to appear to the distracted
Deianira, U. Oet. 1006, 1014 ;
summoned by Atreus to assist
him in his revenge upon his
brother, Thy. 252. See FURIES

MEGARA (Hercules Furens), daugh-
ter of Creon, king of Thebes,
wife of Hercules, H. Fur. 202 ;
laments her husband's constant
absence from home, ibid. *205 ;
scorns the advances of Lycus,
ibid. *372 ; slain by her husband
in a nt of madness brought on
by Juno, ibid. 1010 ; H. Oet. 429,
903, 1452

MELEAGER, son of Oeneus, king of
Calydon, and Althaea ; his tragic
death caused by his mother's
wrath because he had killed her
brothers, Med. 644, 779. See
ALTHAEA

MELICERTA, see INO

MEMNON, son of Aurora, slain by
Achilles, Tro. 10, 239 ; Agam.
212

MENELIUS, son of Atreus, brother
of Agamemnon, husband of Helen,
king of Sparta, employed by his
father to trick his uncle, Thyestes,
Thy. 327 ; Helen looks forward
with fear to his judgment, Tro.
923 ; pardoned Helen for her
desertion of him, Agam. 273

MEROPE, wife of Polybus, king of
Corinth ; adopted Oedipus and
reared him to manhood as her
own child, Oed. 272, 661, 802

MESSALINA, wife of Claudius,
mother of Octavia, Oct. 10 ;
cursed by Venus with insatiate
lust, ibid. 258 ; openly married
Silius in the absence of Claudius,
ibid. *26p ; slain for this by order
of Claudius, ibid. 265 ; her death,
ibid. *974

MIMAS, one of the giants, H. Fur.
981. See GIANTS

MINOS, son of Jupiter, king of
Crete ; father of Phaedra, Uip
1 49 ; father of Ariadne, ibid. 245 ;

powerful monarch, ibid. 149 ; no
daughter of Minos loved without
sin, ibid. 127 ; because of his
righteousness on earth, made a
judge in Hades, Agam. 24 ; Thy.
23 ; H. Fur. 733. See JUDGES IN
HADES

MINOTAUR, hybrid monster, born
of the union of Pasiphae, wife
of Minos, and a bull ; called
brother of Phaedra, Hip. 174 ;
confined in the labyrinth in
Crete, ibid. 649, 1171

MOPSUS, Thessalian soothsayer,
Argonaut, killed by the bite of a
serpent in Libya, Med. 655

MULCIHER, name of Vulcan. Gave
to Medea sulphurous fires for her
magic, Med. 824

MYCALE, witch of Thessaly, H. Oet.
525

MYCENAE, city of Argolis ; its walls
built by the Cyclopes, Thy. 407 ;
H. Fur. 997 ; ruled by the house
of Pelops, Thy. 188, 561, 1011;
Tro. 855 ; favourite city of Juno,
Agam. 351 ; home of Agamemnon,
ibid. 121, 251, 757, 871, 967,
998 ; Tro. 156, 245

MYRRHA, daughter of Cinyras ;
conceived an unnatural passion
for her father. Pursued by him,
she was changed into" the myrrh
tree, whose exuding gum resem-
bles tears, H. Oet. 196

MYRTILUS, son of Mercury, chariot-
eer of Oenomaiis. Bribed by
Pelops, suitor of Hippodamia,
daughter of Oenomaiis, he secret-
ly withdrew the linch-pins of his
master's chariot, thus wrecking
his master's car in the race which
was to decide the success of
Pelops' suit. His sin and fate,
Thy. 140 ; the wrecked chariot
preserved as a trophy in palace
of Pelopidae, ibid. 660

N AIDES, deities, generally conceived
as young and beautiful maidens,
inhabiting brooks and springs.
Hip. 780. See HYLAS

NAUPLIUS, son of Neptune, king
of Euboea ; to avenge death of

531

INDEX

his son, Palainedes, lured the
Greek fleet to destruction by
displaying false beacon fires off
Euboea, Agam. *567 ; when
Ulysses, whom he hated most,
escaped, threw himself from the
cliff, M ed. 659. See PALAMEDES

NECROMANT!A, necromancy. Prac-
tised by Tiresias in order to
discover Laius' murderer, Oed.
**530

NEMEAN LION, slain by Hercules
near Nemea, a city of Argolis,
first of his twelve labours, Agam
830 ; H. Fur. 224 ; H. Oet. 1193,
1235, 1665, 1885; set hi the
heavens as a zodiacal constella-
tion, Oed. 40. See LEO

NEPHELE, cloud form of Juno,
devised by Jupiter, upon which
Ixion begot the centaur Nessus,
in the belief that it was Juno
herself, H. OeL. 492

NEPTUNE, son of Saturn, brother of
Jupiter and Pluto, with whom,
after the dethronement of Saturn,
he cast lots for the three great
divisions of his father's realm :
the second lot, giving him the
sovereignty over the sea, fell to
Neptune, Med. 4, 597 : H. Fur.
615, 599; Oed. 266; Hip. 904,
1159 ; rides over the sea hi his
car, Oed. 254 ; sends a monster
to destroy Hippolytus in answer
to Theseus' prayer, Hip. 1015 ;
assists Minerva to destroy Ajax,
son of Olleus, hi the storm which
assailed the Greek fleet, Agam.
554 ; father of Theseus, to whom
he gave three wishes, ibid. 942;
other sons were Cycnus, Agam.
215: Tro. 183; Periclymenus,
Med. 635

NEREUS, sea-deity, used often for
the sea itself, Oed. 450. 508 ;
H. Oet. 4 ; Hip. 88 ; father by
Doris of Thetis and the other
Nereids, Tro. 882; Oed. 446;
even they feel the fires of love,
Hip. 336

NERO (Octavia), son of Cn.
Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrip-
pina, Oct. 249 ; married his step-
sister, Octavia, whom he treated
with great cruelty ; his character
depicted by her, ibid. 86 ; em-

532

peror from A.D. 54 until his death
in 68 ; murdered his mother, ibid.
46, 95, 243 ; lauds beauty of
Poppaea and proclaims her his
next wife, ibid. 544 ; his death
prophesied by ghost of Agrippina,
ibid. **618 ; decrees banishment
and death of Octavia, ibid. 861

NESSUS, centaur, son of Ixion and
Nephele, H. Oet. 492 ; insults
Deianira, is slain by Hercules ;
dying gives his blood, poisoned
by the arrow of Hercules, to
Deianira as a charm which shall
recall her husband's wandering
affections, ibid. *500 ; some of
this blood is in Medea's collection
of charms, Med. 775 ; the power
of this blood tested by Deianira
after she has sent the fatal robe
to Hercules, H. Oet. 716; Nessus
conceived the plot against Her-
cules, Deianira the innocent
instrument, ibid. 1468

NIOBE, daughter of Tantalus, wife
of Amphion, king of Thebes ;
punished by the loss of her seven
sons and seven daughters by
Diana for her defiance of Latona,
mother of the goddess, Agam.
392 ; changed to stone, she still
sits on Mt. Sipylus and mourns
her children, Agam. 394 ; H. Fur.
390 ; H. Oet. 185, 1849 ; her shade
comes up from Hades, still
proudly counting her children's
shades, Oed. 613

NYCTELIUS. epithet of Bacchus,
because his mysteries were cele-
brated at night, Oed. 492

O

OCTAVIA (Octavia), daughter of
the Emperor Claudius and Mes-
salina. Oct. 10, 26, 45 ; became
first the stepsister and then the
wife of Nero, ibid. 47 ; with
whom she led a most wretched
life, ibid. *100; had been be-
trothed to Silanus, ibid. 145, who
was murdered to make way for
Nero, ibid. 154 ; beloved by her
people, ibid. 183 ; is compared
with Juno, sister and wife of
her husband, ibid. 282 ; doomed

INDEX

by Nero to exile and death, ibid.
868 ; banished to Pandataria,
ibid. 971

ODRYSIAN HOUSE, of the Thracian
king, Tereus, polluted by the
banquet in which Tereus' son
was served up to him, Thy. 273

OEDIPUS (Oedipus, Phoenissae),
king of Thebes, son of Jocasta
and Lalus. An oracle had
declared that Lalus should meet
death at the hands of his son.
Oedipus was accordingly to be
slain Oed. 34, 235 ; Phoen. 243 ;
at birth was exposed upon
Cithaeron, ibid. 13, *27, with an
iron rod through his ankles,
ibid. 254; Oed. 857; by a shep-
nerd was given to Merope, wife
of the king of Corinth, by
whom he was brought up as
her own son, ibid. 806; grown
to manhood, fled the kingdom
of his supposed parents that
he might not fulfil an oracle
that had come to him, that he
should kill his father and wed
his mother, ibid. 12, 263 ; in the
course of his flight met and killed
Lalus, his real father, Phoen. 166,
260 ; Oed. 768, 782 ; solved the
riddle of the Sphinx, and so saved
Thebes from that pest, Phoen.
120 ; Oed. *92, 216 ; as a reward
for this gained the throne of
Thebes, and Jocasta (his mother)
as his wife, Oed. 104 ; Phoen. 50,
262; Oed. 386; fl. Fur. 388;
attempts to find out the murderer
of Lalus, and utters a curse upon
the unknown criminal, ibid.
•257 ; declared by the ghost of
Lalus, which Tiresias had raised,
to be his father's murderer and
bJs mother's husband, ibid. *634;
refutes this charge by the asser-
tion that his father and mother
are still living in Corinth, ibid.
661 ; learns by messenger that
Polybus and Merope are not his
true parents, ibid. 784 ; rushes
on his fate and forces old Phorbas
to reveal the secret of his birth,
ibid. *848 ; in a frenzy of grief
digs out his eyes. ibid. 915 ; goes
into exile, thus lifting the curse
from Thebes, ibid. 1042 ; Phoen

104 ; begs Antigone, who alone

had followed him, to leave him,

bewailing his fate and longing

for death, ibid. 1
OQYQES, mythical founder and king

of Thebes ; hence —
OGYGIAN, i.e. Theban, epithet of

Bacchus, whose mother was a

Theban, Oed. 437 ; epithet of the

Thebans, ibid. 589
OlLEUS, used instead of his son,

Ajax, Med. 662. See AJAX
OLENUS, city in Aetolia, Tro. 826 ;

Oed. 283 ; hence —
OiENiAN GOAT, nurtured in the

vicinity of this place. See

AMALTHEA
OMPHALE, queen of Lydia, to whose

service Hercules submitted for

three years, H Oet. *371, 573 ;

H. Fur. 465; Hip. 317 See

HERCULES
OPHION, one of the companions of

Cadmus, sprung from the ser-

Sent's teeth ; in adjectival form,
; means simply Theban, H. Fur.
268 ; referring to Pentheus, Oed.
485.

OPHIUCHUS, the northern constella-
tion of the " Serpent Holder,"
Med. 698

ORESTES (Agamemnon), son of
Agamemnon and Clytemnestra,
Agam. 196 ; Tro. 555 ; saved by
his sister, through the agency of
Strophius, king of Phocis, from
death at the hands of his mother
and Aegisthus, Agam. 910 ;
avenged his father's murder,
Oct. 62 ; Agam. 1012 n.

ORION, said to have been miracu-
lously generated by Jupiter,
Neptune, and Mercury out of an
ox's hide ; set as a constellation
in the heavens, where his glitter-
ing sword menaces the heavenly
ones, H. Fur 12

ORPHEUS, son of Apollo and the
muse Calliope, Med. 625 ; king
of Thrace ; Argonaut ; sweet
singer and harper, whose music
could draw to him rocks and
trees, ibid. 228; H. Oet. *1036;
dropped his lyre in fear of the
Symplegades, Med. 348 ; played
so sweetly that the Argonauts
were not enchanted by the Sirens,

533

INDEX

ibid. *355 ; went to Hades in
search of his wife, Eurydice, and
by the charm of his music
persuaded the nether gods to
release her ; lost her again,
because he did not keep the con-
dition imposed upon him, H.
Fur. **569; H. Oet. *1061;
M ed. 632 ; sang that nothing is
everlasting, H. Oet. 1035, 1100;
his death at the hands of
the Thracian women, Med. *625

PACTOLUS, river of Lydia, cele-
brated for its golden sands,
Phoen. 604 ; Oed. 467

PAEAN, appellation of Apollo, who
gained the oracle at Delphi and
earned a place in heaven by
slaving the Python, H. Oet. 92

PALAEMON, once a mortal, called
Helicerta, son of Athamas and
Ino, changed by Neptune into a
sea-divinity, Oed. 448. See INO

PALAMEDES, son of Nauplius, king
of Euboea ; put to death by the
Greeks on false charges brought
by Ulysses ; avenged by his
father, who displayed false lights
to the Greek fleet, Agam. 568
ALLAS, appellation of Minerva.
Friend and helper of Hercules in
his labours, H. Fur. 900 ; bearer
of aegis upon which was Medusa's
head, ibid. 902 ; Agam. 530 ;
patroness of woman's handi-
crafts, Hip. 103 ; patron goddess
of Athenians, ibid. 109, 1149;
helps to overthrow Troy, Agam.
370 ; stirs up storm against the
Greek ships, ibid. 529 ; with
Jove's thunderbolt destroys Ajax,
son of Oileus, ibid. *532 ; hymn
in praise of, ibid. 368-81 ; helped
build the Argo, Med. 2, 365

PANDATARIA, lonely island near
Italy, Oct. 972

PANDION, mythical king of Athens,
father of Procne and Philomela,
who were changed to birds, 0 t. 8

PARCAE, the three Fates, who spin
out the threads of human life.
H. Fur. 181, 559. See CLOTHO
and LAOUESIS

534

PARIS, son of Priam and Hecnba
Doomed to destroy Troy, Tro.
36 ; exposed to die on Ida, but
preserved by shepherds and
brought up in ignorance of his
parentage, Agam. 733 ; " judg-
ment of Paris," Tro. 66, 920 ;
Agam. *730 ; abducts Helen, Tro.
70 ; slays Achilles, ibid. 347, 956

PARRHASIAN (i.e. Arcadian) hind,
captured by Hercules, his third
labour, Agam. 831 ; bear, Hip.
288 ; axis (i.e. Northern), H.
Oet. 1281

PASIPIIAE, daughter of the Sun and
Persels, wife of Minos, king of
Crete ; her unnatural passion for
a bull, Hip. 113, 143 ; mother of
the Minotaur, ibid. *688

PATROCLUS, Greek chief before
Troy, friend of Achilles ; fought
in Achilles' armour, Agam. 617 ;
slain by Hector. Tro. 446

PEGASUS, winged horse, offspring of
Neptune and Medusa, Tro. 385

PELBOS, son of Aeacus, and king of
Thessaly ; married the sea-god-
dess Thetis, Oct. 708 ; Med. 657 ;
father of Achilles, Tro. 247, 882 ;
Agam. 616; Argonaut, died in
exile, Med. 657

PELIAS, usurper of throne of lol-
chos, whence he drove Aeson,
father of Jason. Proposed Ar-
gonautic expedition, wherefore
was doomed to suffer violent
death, Med. 664 ; his daughters,
tricked by Medea? cut him in
pieces and boiled him in order to
rejuvenate him, Med. 133, 201,
258, 475, 913

PELION, mountain range in Thes-
saly ; the giants piled Pelion
upon Ossa and Olympus in
attempt to scale heaven, H. Fur.
971; Tro. 829; Agam. *346 ;
Thy. 812 ; H. Oet. 1152 ; home of
Chiron, who educated Achilles,
H. Fur. 971; Tro. *830 ; fur-
nished Argo's timbers, Med. 609

PELOPIA, daughter of Tliyestes
became by him mother of
Aegisthus, Agam. 30, 294

PKLOPS, was slain by his father,
Tantalus, and served as a banquet
to the gods, Thy. *144 ; restored
to life, and Tantalus punished

INDEX

(see TANTALUS) ; Pelops and
Tantalus, ibid. 242 ; his house
doomed to sin, ibid. 22 ; degener-
ate, ibid. 625 ; came from
Phrygia and settled Pelopon-
nesus (whence its name), H. Fur
1165 ; Tro. 855 ; Agam. 563 ; his
palace, Thy. *641

PELORUS, promontory of Sicily
opposite Italy, H. Oet. 81 ;
Scylla dwelt under it, Med. 350

PENTHESILEA, queen of Amazons,
came to aid Priam ; armed with
battle-axe and moon -shaped
shield, Agam. 217 ; her struggles
in battle, Tro. 12, 672 ; slain by
Achilles, ibid. 243

PENTHEUS, king of Thebes, son of
Echion and Agave ; opposed
worship of Bacchus ; spying upon
his mother and her sisters, was
torn in pieces by them in their
Bacchic madness, Phoen. 15,
363 ; Oed. 441, 483 ; his shade
comes up from Hades, ibid. 618

PERICLYMENUS, son of Neptune,
who could assume various shapes;
Argonaut, slain by Hercules,
Med. 635

PERSEUS, son of DanaS and Jove,
H. Fur. 13 ; earned a place in
heaven by slaying the Gorgon,
H. Oet. 51, 94

PHAEDRA (Hippolytus or Phae-
dra), daughter of Minos, king of
Crete, and Pasiphae, daughter of
the Sun, Hip. 155, 156, 678, 688,
888 ; sister of the Minotaur, ibid.
174 ; of Ariadne, ibid. 245, 760 ;
bewails her exile from Crete, and
her marriage to Theseus, ibid.
85 ; her unnatural passion for
Hippolytus, ibid. 113, 640 ; is
scorned by him, ibid. *671 ;
confesses her sin to her husband
and slays herself, ibid. 1159

PHAETHON, son of Clymene and
Phoebus ; driving his father's
chariot, was hurled from the car,
Hip. 1090 ; slain by Jove's
thunderbolt, H. Oet. 854 ; a
warning against ambition and
impious daring, ibid. 677 ; Med.
599 ; gave magic fire to Medea,
ibid. 826

PHAETHONTIADES, sisters of Phae-
thon wept for him on the banks

of the Po, and were changed into
poplar trees, H. Oet. 188

PHASIS, river of Colchis, Med. 44,
211, 451, 762 ; Hip. 907 ; Agam.
120 ; Medea named from the
river, H. Oet. 950

PHERAK, city in Thessaly, ruled
over by Admetus, husband of
Alccstis, Med. 663 ; here Apollo
kept Admetus' flocks, H. Fur.
451

PHILOCTETES (Hercules Oetaeus),
Thessalian prince, son of Poeas,
friend of Hercules, H. Oet. 1604 ;
receives bow and arrows of
Hercules, ibid. 1648, to whose
pyre he applies the torch, ibid.
1727; describes death of Hercules,
ibid. *1610 ; Hercules' arrows
used a second time against Troy,
Tro. 136 and note

PHILIPPI, city of Thrace; there
Antony and Octavianus con-
quered forces of Brutus and
Cassius, Oct. 516

PHILOMELA, daughter of Pandion,
king of Athens, sister of Procne,
who had married Tereus, king of
Thrace ; outraged by Tereus, she
and Procne punished Tereus by
slaying and serving to him his
son Itys ; she was changed into a
nightingale, who ever mourns
for Itys, Agam. 670 ; H. Oet.
199 ; Thracia pellex, used simply
as a nightingale singing at sunrise
and hovering over her young,
H. Fur 149

PHINEUS, king of Salmydessus in
Thrace ; blind and tormented by
the Harpies, Thy. 154 ; tormented
in Hades, H. Fur. 759

PHLEQETHON, fiery river in the
lower world, Oed. 162 ; Thy. 73,
1018 ; encircles the guilty, Hip.
1227 ; the river over which
Charon rows his boat, Agam.
753 ; for Hades in general. Hip.
848

PHLEQRA, vale in Thrace where the
giants fought with the gods, Thy.
810 ; Hercules assisted the gods,
H. Fur. 444

PHOEBUS, one of Apollo's names ;
most frequently conceived of as
the sun-god, driving his fiery
chariot across the sky, seeing all

535

INDEX

things, darkening his face or
withdrawing from the sky at
sight of monstrous sin, lord of the
changing seasons, etc., H. Fur.
595, 607, 844, 940 ; Phoen. 87 ;
Med. 728, 874; Hip. 889; Oed.
250; Agam. 42, 816; Thy. 776,
789, 838; H. Oet. 2, 680, 792,
1387, 1439, 1442 ; his sister is
Luna, or Phoebe, H. Fur. 905 ;
Med. 86; Hip. 311; Oed. 44;
the name frequently used of the
sun, its light, its heat, etc., H.
Fur 25, 940; Tro. 1140; Med.
298, 768; Oed. 122, 540, 545;
Agam. 463, 577 ; Thy. 602 ; H.
Oet. 41, 337, 666, 688, 727, 1022,
1581, 1624, 1699; intimately
concerned in the affairs of men ;
is grandfather of Medea, Med.
512 ; father of Pasiphae", Hip.
126, 154, 654, 889 ; lover and
inspirer of Cassandra, Tro. 978 ;
Agam. 255, 722 ; god of prophecy,
giving oracles to mortals, Med.
86 ; Oed. 20, 34, 214, 222, 225,
231, 235, 269, 288, 291, 296, 719,
1046 ; Agam. 255, 294, 295 ; god
of the lyre, H. Fur. 906 ; Oed.
498 ; Agam. 327 ; of the bow, H.
Fur. 454 ; Hip. 192 ; Agam. 327,
549 ; his tree is the laurel, Oed.
228, 453: Agam. 588; Cilia is
dear to him, Tro. 227 ; beautiful
god of flowing locks. Hip. 800 ;
worshipped as Smintheus, Agam.
176 ; hymn in praise of, ibid. 310 ;
slew Python, H. Fur. 454 ;
exposed the shame of Venus,
whence her wrath is upon his
descendants, Hip. 126 : kept
flocks of Admetus. king of
Pherae, for a year, ibid. 296

PHORBAS (Oedipus), old man,
head shepherd of the royal flocks,
tells the secret of Oedipus' birth.
Oed. 867

PHRIXUS. son of Athamas and
Nephele, brother of Helle ; per-
secuted by his stepmother, Ino,
fled through the air with Helle
upon a golden-fleeced ram ob-
tained from Mercury, Tro. 1034 ;
Helle fell into the sea (Hellespont),
H. Oet. 776 ; Aegean Sea is called
Phrixian Sea. Agam. 565 ; H.
Oet. 776 ; Phrixus fared on alone

536

to Colchis, where he sacrificed the
ram and presented to Aeetes its
golden fleece, which was the
object of the Argonauts' quest
Med. 361, 471

PIRITHOUS. son of Ixion, Hip. 1235 ;
friend of Theseus; with Theseus
attempted to steal Proserpina
from Hades, ibid. 94, 244, 831

PISA, city of Elis where the Olympic
games were held, H. Fur. 840;
Thy. 123 ; Agam. 938

PISCES, zodiacal constellation of
the Fish, Thy. 866

PLEIADES, called also Atlantides.
the seven daughters of Atlas and
Pleione, three of whom, Electra.
Maia, and Taygete, were beloved
of Jove? H. Fur. 10 ; a constella-
tion which pales before the moon,
Med. 96

PLISTHENES, son of Thyestes, slain
by Atreus, Thy. 726

PLUTO, brother of Jupiter and Nep-
tune, lord of the underworld,
H. Fur. 560, 658 ; Oed. 256, 869 ;
Med. 11 ; Hip. 625, 1240 ; H.
Oet. 559, 935, 938, 1142, 1369,
1954 ; " grim Jove," H. Fur.
608; " dark Jove," H. Oet. 1705;
obtained his kingdom by drawing
lots with his two brothers, H.
Fur. 833 ; his wife is Proserpina,
ibid. 658 ; Theseus and Pirithoiis
try to steal his wife, Hip. 95, are
punished, ibid. 625 ; Hercules
prevails upon him to give up
Cerberus, H. Fur. 805; H. Oet.
550 ; gives up Theseus to Her-
cules, H. Fur. 805; Hip. 1152;
uncle of Hercules, H. Oet. 328 ;
and of Pallas, Hip. 1152 ; un-
moved by tears, H Fur. 578 ;
conquered by Orpheus' music,
ibid. 582 ; his court and appear-
ance, ibid. *721 ; wounded by
Hercules, H. Fur. 660

POLLUX, see CASTOR

POLYBUS, king of Corinth, adopted
Oedipus, Oed. 12, 270 ; his death
announced, ibid 784

POLYN1CES (Phoenissae), son of
Oedipus and Jocasta ; cheated of
the throne of Thebes by his
brother Eteocles, fled to Adrastus,
king of Argos, who made him his
son-in-law. To avenge Polynices,

INDEX

Adrastus marched against Thebes
with an army headed by seven
chiefs, Phoen. 58, 320 ; Oedipus
foretells this fraternal strife and
the death of both, ibid. 273, 334,
855; Polynioes remains at court of
Adrastus three years, ibid. 370,
*502; hardships of his exile, ibid.
*586 ; appears before walls of
Thebes, ibid. 387 ; Jocasta ap-
peals to her sons, ibid. 434. See
ETEOCLES

POLYXENA, daughter of Priam and
Hecuba ; the ghost of Achilles,
who had been enamoured of her,
appears to the Greeks and de-
mands her sacrifice on Achilles'
tomb, Tro. 170 ; Calchas ratifies
her doom, ibid. 360; Helen
announces this fate to her, and
she receives it with joy, ibid.
945 ; her death described, ibid.
•1117 ; leads in dance about the
wooden horse, unconscious of
her approaching doom, Agam.
641

POPPAEA (Octavia), one of the
most beautiful and unscrupulous
women of her time ; was first
married to Rufus Crispin us,
pretorian prefect under Claudius ;
abandoned him for Otho, and
him, in turn, she left to become
mistress of Nero, rival of Nero's
wife, Octavia, Oct. 125; influenced
Nero to murder his mother,
ibid. 126 ; demanded Octavia's
death, ibid. 131 ; with child by
Nero. ibid. 188, 591 ; her rejection
by Nero prophesied, ibid. 193 ;
her beauty lauded by Nero, ibid.
644 ; her wedding with Nero
cursed by Agrippina's ghost, ibid.
595 ; her marriage, ibid. *698 ;
is terrified by a dream, ibid.
*712

PRIAM, king of Troy ; in his youth,
at the first taking of Troy, was
spared by Hercules and allowed
to retain throne, Tro. 719 ;
views contending hosts from
battlements of Troy in company
with Astyanax, ibid. *1068;
sues to Achilles for body of
Hector, ibid. 315, 324 ; his city
destroyed through power of love.
Oct. 817 ; his death at Pyrrhus*

hands, Tro *44 ; Agam. 655 :
fell before altar of Hercean Jove,
Agam. 448, 792 ; his death and
former greatness, Tro. 140

PROCNE, daughter of Pandion, wife
of Tereus, king of Thrace ; in
revenge for Tereus' outrage upon
her sister, Philomela, served to
him his sou, Itys, H. Oet. 192,
953 ; Agam. 673 ; Thy. 275

PROCRUSTES, robber of Attica,
killed by Theseus, Hip. 1170 ;
Thy. 1050

PROETIDES, daughters of Proetus,
king of Argolis ; counted them-
selves more beautiful than Juno,
and refused to worship Bacchus.
Made mad by Bacchus, they
thought themselves cows and
wandered through the woods.
Bacchus thus won favour of
Juno Oed. 486

PROMETHEUS, son of lapetus and
Clymene ; gave fire to mortals,
Med. 821 ; for this was bound by
Jove's command to a crag of
Caucasus, where an eagle fed
upon his ever-renewed vitals,
H. Fur. 1206 ; Med. 709 ; H. Oet.
1378

PROSERPINA, daughter of Ceres and
Jupiter ; stolen away by Pluto
and made his queen in Hades,
Med. 12; H. Fur. 1105; was
sought in vain by her mother,
ibid. 659: Pirithoiis and Theseus
attempt to steal her away from
lower world, Hip. 95

PROTEUS, son of Oceanus and
Tethys, shepherd and guardian
of the sea-calves. Hip. 1205

PYLADES, son of Strophius, king of
Phocis, one of Agamemnon's
sisters ; accompanied his father
as charioteer when Strophius
visited Argos just after Agamem-
non's murder ; they take Orestes
away and so save him from death,
Agam. 940

PYROMANTIA, soothsaying by means
of fire, practised by Tiresias in
his effort to discover Laius'
murderer, Oed. *307

PYRRHA. sister of Deucalion, saved
with him from the flood, Tro.
1038. See DEUCALION

PYRRHUS (Troades), son of Achil-

537

INDEX

les and Deklamia, daughter of
Lycomedes, king of Scyros ; bora
on island of Scyros, Tro. 339 ;
quarrelled with Ulysses inside
the wooden horse, Agam. 635 ;
slew old Priam, Tro. 44, 310
PYTHON, huge serpent that sprang
from the slime of the earth when
the flood subsided ; slain by
Apollo, H. OeL 93 ; Med. 700

RHADAMANTHUS, son of Jupiter and
Europa, brother of Minos ; was
made one of three judges in
Hades, H. Fur. 734

RHESUS, king of Thrace, who came,
late in Trojan War, to Priam's
aid ; oracle that Troy could never
be taken if horses of Rhesus
should drink of the Xanthus and
feed upon grass of Trojan plain
was frustrated by Ulysses and
Diomedes, Agam. 216 ; Tro. 8

S

SATURN, son of Coelus and Terra,
succeeded to his father's kingdom
of heaven and earth ; golden age
was said to have been ia his reign,
Oct. 395 ; dethroned by his three
sons, Jupiter, Neptune, and
Pluto, who divided up his
kingdom ; kept chained in Hades
by Pluto, E. Oet. 1141 ; Hercules
threatens to unchain him against
Jove unless the latter grant him
a place in heaven, H. Fur. 965

SCALES (Libra), zodiacal constel-
lation marking the autumnal
equinox, H. Fur. 842

SCIKON, robber in Attica, who threw
his victims over cliffs into sea ;
was slain by Theseus, Hip. 1023,
1225

SCORPION, one of the zodiacal con-
stellations, Thy. 859

SCYLLA, one of the two shipwreck-
ing monsters in Sicilian Strait,
E. Fur. 376 ; H. Oet. 235 ; Med.
350, 407 ; Thy 579. See CHARYB-
DIS

538

SOYTHIA, a portion of northern
Asia of indefinite extent ; its
nomadic tribes, frozen streams,
H. Fur. *533

SEMELE, Theban princess, daughter
of Cadmus, beloved of Jove, by
whom she became mother of
Bacchus, H. Fur. 16 ; was blasted
by a thunderbolt while Bacchus
was still unborn, H. Fur. 457 ;
H. Oet. 1804. See BACCHUS

SENECA (Octavia), introduced into
the play as Nero's counsellor,
Oct. 377 ; recalls his life in exile
in Corsica, and considers it
happier and safer than his
present life, ibid. 381 ; strives
in vain to prevent marriage of
Nero and Poppaea, ibid. 695

SERES, nation of Asia, supposed to
be the Chinese ; they gather silken
threads (spun by the silkworm)
from trees, H. Oet. 666; Hip
389 ; Thy. 379

SILANUS, L. Junius, praetor in
A.D. 49 ; was betrothed to
Octavia, but slain that Octavia
might marry Nero, Oct. 145

SILENUS, demigod, foster-father and
constant attendant of Bacchus,
Oed. 429

SINIS, giant robber of the Isthmus
of Corinth, who bent d9wn tree-
tops and, fixing his victims to
these, shot them through the
air ; was slain by Theseus, H
Oet. 1393 ; Hip. 1169, 1223

SIN ON, Greek warrior, who deceived
the Trojans as to character and
purpose of wooden horse, and so
procured downfall of Troy, Tro.
39 ; Agam. *626

SIPYLUS, mountain in Phrygia, on
which Niobe, changed to stone,
was said to sit and weep eternally
over her lost children, H. Oet.
185; Agam. 394; H. Fur. 391.
See NIOBE

SIRENS, mythical maidens dwelling
on an island of the ocean, whose
beautiful singing lured sailors to
destruction, H. Oet. 190 ; were
passed in safety by Argonauts
because Orpheus played sweeter
music Med. 355

SISYPHUS, son of Aeolus, founder
of ancient Corinth father of

INDEX

Creon, Med. 512, 776 ; Oed. 282 ;
for disobedience to the gods was
set to rolling a huge stone up a
hill in Hades, which ever rolled
back again, Med. 746 ; Uip.
1230 ; Agam. 16 ; H. Fur. 751 ;
Thy. 6; Oct. 622; H. Oet. 942,
1010; the stone followed the
music of Orpheus, ibid. 1081

SHINTHEUS, epithet of Phoebus
Apollo, Agam. 176

SOL, the Sun personified as sun-god,
H. Fur. 37, 61; Med. 29, 210;
Thy. 637, 776, 789, 822, 990,
1035 ; Hip. 124, 1091 ; H Oet.
150

SOMNUS, god of sleep, brother of
Death, H. Fur. 1069 ; called son
of Astraea, ibid. 1068 ; character-
istics, symbols, and powers,
ibid. *1065

SPHINX, fabulous monster with face
of a woman, breast, feet, and
tail of a lion, and wings of a bird ;
sent to harass Thebes, slaying
everyone who could not answer
her riddle, Oed. 246 ; Phoen. 120,
131; Oedipus' encounter with her,
Oed. *92 ; slain by Oedipus, ibid
641 ; seen by Creon in Hades,
called by him the " Oeygian
(i.e. Boeotian or Theban) pest,
ibid. 589 ; type of winged speed,
Phoen. 422

STROPH1US (Agamemnon), see
PYLADES

STYMPHALIAN BIRDS, monstrous
creatures haunting a pool near
town of Stymphalus in Arcadia ;
were killed by Hercules as his
sixth labour, H. Fur. 244 ; Med
783 ; Agam. 850 ; H. Oet. 17,
1237, 1890 ; type of winged speed,
Phoen. 422

STYX, river of Hades, H. Fiir. 780;
Oed. 162, over which spirits pass
into nether world, river of
death ; in Seneca, this conception
is not confined to Styx, but is
used of that river in common
with Acheron, H. Fur. *713 ;
Hip. 1180; Agam. 608; with
Lethe, Hip. 148; H. Oet. 1161,
1550 ; with Phlegethon, Agam.
*750 ; by the Styx the gods
Bwear their inviolable oaths, H.
Fur. 713; Hip. 944; Thy. 666;

H. Oet. 1066 ; cornea to mean
death itself, H. Fur. 185, 558;
most frequently the river signifies
the lower world in general, the
land of the dead ; so are found
Stygian " shades," " homes,"
" caverns," " ports," " gates,"
" borders," " torches," " tires,"
etc., H. Fur. 54, 90, 104, 1131;
Tro. 430 ; Med. 632, 804 ; Hip
477, 625, 928, 1151; Oed. 396,
401, 621; Agam. 493; Thy.
1007; H. Oet. 77, 560, 1014,
1145, 1198, 1203, 1711, 1766,
1870, 1919, 1983; Oct. 24, 79,
135, 162, 263, 594 ; Cerberus is
the " Stygian dog " and " Sty-
gian guardian," Agam. 13 ; Hip.
223 ; H. Oet. 79 1245 ; the " deep
embrace of Styx " is the pit
which Andromache prays may
open up beneath Hector's tomb
and hide Astyanax, Tro. 520 ;
the boat on which Agrippina was
to meet her death is called the
Stygian boat, Oct. 127
SYMPLEGAUES (the " dashers "),
two rocks or crags at entrance of
Euxine Sea, which clashed to-
gether when an object passed
between them, H. Fur. 1210;
H. Oet. 1273, 1380 ; escaped by
the Argo, Med. 341, 456, 610

T

TAENARTJS, promontory on the
southernmost point of Pelopon-
nesus, near which was a cave,
said to be entrance to the lower
world, Tro. 402; H. Fur. 587,
*663, 813; Oed. 171; Hip.
1203; H. Oet. 1061, 1771

TAGUS, river of Spain, celebrated
for its golden sands, H. Fur.
1325 ; Thy. 354 ; H. Oet. 626

TANTALUS (Thyestes) (1), king of
Lydia, son of Jupiter and the
nymph Pluto, father of Pelops
and Niobe, H. Fur. 390 ; Oed.
613 ; Med. 954 ; Agam. 392 ;
H. Oet. 198 ; because of his sin
against the gods (see PELOPS)
was doomed to suffer in Hades
endless pangs of hunger and thirst
with fruit and water almost
within reach of his lips, H Fur.

539

INDEX

*752 ; Hip. 1232 ; Agam. 19 ;
Thy. 1011 ; Oct. 621 ; his sin
and punishment, Thy. *137 ;
H. Oft. 943 ; his ghost appears,
describes his sufferings in Hades,
and is incited by a fury to urge
on his house to greater crimes,
ibid. 1 ; Med. 745 ; type of out-
rageous sinner, Thy. 242 ; he
forgets his thirst In his grief for
disasters which threaten his
house, Agam. 769 ; forgets his
thirst under influence of Orpheus'
music, H. Oet. 1075

TANTALUS (Thyestes) (2). one of
the sons of Thyestes, great-grand-
son of Tantalus (1), encourages
his father to hope for reconcilia-
tion with his brother Atreus,
Thy. 421 ; slain by Atreus, ibid.
718

TARTARUS (also written TARTARA),
strictly that portion of the lower
world devoted to the punishment
of the wicked, the abode of the
Furies and of those like Tantalus,
Ixion, etc., who are suffering
torments, H. Fur. 86 ; Oed. 161 ;
Med. 742 ; Oct. 965 ; usually,
however, the lower world in
general, whence ghosts come back
to earth, Agam. 2 ; Oct. 593 ; to
which Orpheus went hi search
of his wife, Med. 632; H. Oet.
1064 ; to which Hercules went to
fetch Cerberus, H. Oet. 461 ; Hip.
844 ; where was the palace of
Dis, ibid. 951 ; Agam. 751 ; where
Cerberus stands guard, H. Fur
649 ; H. Oet. 1770 ; where are
the " Tartarian pools," Hip
1179 ; and so in general, H. Fur
436, 710, 889, 1225 ; Oed. 869 ;
Phoen. 144, 145; Thy. 1013,
1071 ; H. Oet. 1126, 1119, 1514,
1765, 1779 ; Oct. 223, 644

TAURUS, second zodiacal constel-
lation, the Bull : the bull (Jupiter)
which bore Europa from Phoe-
nicia to Crete, H. Fur 9, 952;
Thy. 852

TELEPHUS, king of Mysia, wounded
by Achilles' spear, and afterwards
cured by application of the rust
scraped from its point, Tro. 215

TEREUS, king of Thrace, whose
feast upon his own son, Itys, is

540

called the " Thracian crime,'
Thy. 56. See PHILOMELA and
PROCNE

TETHYS, goddess of the sea, used
frequently for the sea itself, hi
which the sun sets and from
which it rises, Hip. 571, 1161 ;
H. Fur. 887, 1328; Tro. 879;
Med. 378 ; H. Oet. 1252, 1902

THEBES, capital city of Boeotia,
founded by Cadmus, H. Fur.
268 ; its walls built by magic of
Amphion's lyre, ibid. 262 ; fre-
quently visited by the gods,
especially Jove, ibid. 265 ; plague-
smitten under Oedipus, Oed.
*37 ; plague described, ibid. *125 ;
a curse was on Thebes from the
time of Cadmus, ibid. *709 ;
conquered by Lycus, usurper,
who slew Creon, father of
Megara, H. Fur. 270 ; scene of
the Hercules Furens, Oedipus, and
Phoenissae (in part)

THESEUS (Hercules Furens, Hip-
polytus), king of Athens, son of
Aegeus and Aethra, daughter of
Pittheus, king of Troezene ;
reputed son of Neptune, who had
granted him three wishes, Hip.
942, 943, 1252, the last of which
he used against his son, Hippoly-
tus, ibid. 945 ; went to Crete to
slay the Minotaur ; his beauty,
ibid. *646, 1067 ; finds his way
out of the labyrinth by aid of a
thread given by Ariadne, ibid.
650, 662 ; fled with Ariadne, but
deserted her on Naxos, Oed.
488 ; was cause of his father's
death, since he did not display
the white sail on his return to
Athens, Hip. 1165 ; married
Antiope, the Amazon, who be-
came the mother of Hippolytus,
but afterwards slew her, ibid.
226, 927, 1167 ; married Phaedra,
ibid, passim ; went to Hades
with his friend Pirithoxis, to
assist in carrying away Proserpina,
ibid. 91, 627; the two were appre-
hended by Dis and set upon an
enchanted rock which held them
fast, H. Fur. 1339 ; Theseus
rescued by Hercules, ibid. 806 ;
H. Oet. 1197, 1763; Hip. 843;
returns from Hades, ibid 829

INDEX

THESPIADES, fifty daughters of
Thespiua, loved by Hercules, H.
Oet. 369

THETIS, sea-goddess, daughter of
Nereus ; was given as wife to
Peleus, Med. 657 ; Oct. 707 ;
became by him mother of
Achilles, Tro. 346, 880; Agam.
616 ; to keep her son from Trojan
War hid him disguised in girl's
garments at the court of Lyco-
medes, Tro. 213 ; this ruse
discovered and exposed by Ulys-
ses, ibid. 569

THULE, farthest known land ;
all lands one day will be known,
and there will be no ultima Thule,
Med. 379

THYESTES (Thyestes, Agamem-
non), see ATREUS

TIPHYS, pilot of the Argo, Med.
3, 318 ; his management of the
vessel, ibid. *318 ; grew pale at
sight of Symplegades, ibid. 346 ;
death, *617

TIRESIAS (Oedipus), prophet of
Thebes, father of Manto ; at-
tempts to discover the murderer
of Lai us, Oed. 288 ; practises
pyromantia, capnomantia, hiero-
scopia, and later necromantia,
ibid. *307 ; discovers by the last
process that Oedipus himself
slew Lalus, ibid. *530

TISIPHONE, one of the Furies, who
seems to appear to Deianira, H.
Oet. 1012 ; seems to appear to
Hercules, H. Fur. 984. See
FURIES

TITANS, sons of Coelus and Terra,
one of whom was Hyperion,
identified by ^mer with the
Sun. Warred against one of their
own number, Saturn, who had
succeeded to his father's throne.
Frequently confounded with the
Giants, who banded together to
dethrone Jove ; they piled up
mountains in their attempt to
scale heaven, but were over-
thrown by Jove's thunderbolt
and buried under Sicily, H. Fur.
79, 967 ; Med. 410 ; Agam 340 ;
fl. Oet. 144, 1212, 1309 in all
other passages in Seneca Titan
means the Sun, more or less
completely personified as the

sun-god, H. Fur. 124, 133, 443,
1060, 1333; Med. 5; Tro. 170;
Hip. 678, 779 ; Oed. 1, 40 ;
Thy. 120, 785, 1095 ; Agam. 460,
908; H. Oet. 42, 291, 423, 488,
723, 781, 891, 968, 1111, 1131,
1163, 1287, 1512, 1518, 1566,
1575, 1760 ; Oct. 2. See GIANTS,
PHOEBUS

TITYUS, giant, son of Earth, who
offered violence to Latona ; for
this he was punished in Hades,
where a vulture kept feeding
upon his ever-renewed vitals,
H. Fur. 756, 977 ; H. Oet. 947 ;
Hip. 1233 ; Agam. 17 ; Thy. 9,
806 ; Oct. 622 ; relieved for a
while by music of Orpheus, H.
Oet. 1070

TMOLUS, mountain in Lydia, haunt
of Bacchus, Phoen. 602

TOXEUS, youth slain by Hercules,
H. Oet. 214

TRiPTOLEiMUS, son of the king of
Eleusis, through whom Ceres gave
the arts of agriculture to man-
kind, Hip. 838

TRITONS, sea-deities ; they sang the
marriage chorus of Achilles, Tro.
202

TRIVIA, epithet of Diana, because
she presided over places where
three roads meet, Agam. 382 ;
Oct. 978 ; applied by association
to Luna, the heavenly manifesta-
tion of Diana, Med. *787

TROILUS, son of Priam, slain by
Achilles, Agam. 748

TROY, ancient city of Troas; its
walls built by Neptune and
Apollo, Tro. 7 ; first destroyed in
reign of Laomedon, father of
Priam, by Hercules and Telamon,
because of the perfidy of Laome-
don, Agam. 614, 862; Tro. 135,
*719 ; its second fall was after
ten years of siege by the Greeks,
ZVo.74 ; her festal day turned out
to be a day of doom, Agam.
791 ; it was Sinon who destroyed
Troy, by deceiving the Trojans
about the wooden horse, ibid.
615 ; mourning for the fall of
Troy, ibid. 589 ; smouldering
ruins as seen from the Greek
vessels, ibid. 456

TULLIA, daughter of Servius Tul-

541

INDEX

lius, king of Home ; her impious
Bin and its punishment, Oct.
304

TYNDARI-DAE, Castor and Pollux,
sons of Jupiter and Leda, but
falsely named from Tyndareus,
husband of Leda ; their stars give
help to sailors B. Fur. 14, 552 ;
Oct. 208. See CASTOR, LEDA

TYNDAJUS, Clytemnestra, Agam.
897

TYPHOEUS, one of the Giants who
fought against Jove, Med. 773 ;
Thy. 809 ; he is supposed to be
buried under the island of
Itiarime, H. Oet. 1155

TYPBON, giant, apparently the
same as Typhoeus, H. Oet. 1733 ;
Oct. 238

TYRRHENE, epithet applied to
Phoenician pirates who attempted
to kidnap Bacchus, Oed. 249 ;
to the dolphin, because these
pirates were changed into dol-
phins by Bacchus, Agam. 451 ;
to the Tuscan Sea, because the
Etrurians were supposed to have
been of Tyrrhenian stock, Oct.
311 ; to Inarime, an island,
possibly to be identified with
Iscniii, lying in the Tyrrhene Sea
off Campania, H. Oet. 1156

ULYSSES (Troades), Tro. passim

VENUS, goddess, sprung from the
foam of the sea, Hip. 274 ;
goddess of love, ibid. 417, 576,
910 ; Oct. 545 ; mother of Cupid,
Hip 275 ; H. Oet. 543 ; Oct. 697;
called Erycina, because Mt. Eryx
in Sicily was sacred to her. Hip.
199 ; persecuted the stock of
Phoebus (i.e. Pasiphae and
Phaedra) because that god had
published her amours with Mars,
ibid. 124 ; cursed Messalina with
insatiate lust, Oct. 253 ; effect

upon the world which the ces-
sation of Venus' power would
produce, Hip. **469 ; has no
existence, but is used as an
excuse for men's lust. ibid. 203 ;
used frequently for the passion
of love, either lawful or unlawful,
ibid. 211, 237, 339, 447, 462,
721, 913 ; Agam. 183, 275, 927 ;
Oct. 191, 433

VIRGINIA, daughter of Virginius,
slain by her father to save her
from the lust of Appius Claudius,
Oct. 296

VIRGO, zodiacal constellation of the
Virgin, Astraea, daughter of
Jove and Themis, who left the
earth last of all the gods on
account of man's sin, Thy. 857

VULCAN, god of fire ; forges thun-
derbolts of Jove, Hip. 190 ; is
pierced by Cupid's darts, ibid.
193 ; father of Cupid and husband
of Venud, Oct. 560

ZETES, winged son of Boreas, who,
together with his brother Calais,
was a member of Argonautic
expedition ; they were slain by
Hercules, Med. 634 ; they had
previously driven away the
Harpies from Phineus, ibid.
782

ZETBUS, Theban prince, son of
Antiope, niece of Lycus, king of
Thebes ; he and his twin brother,
Amphion, exposed in infancy on
Cithaeron, but were saved by
shepherds. Arrived at manhood,
they killed Lycus and Dirce, his
wife, on account of their cruelties
to Antiope, and together reigned
in Thebes. Reference is made to
their rustic life in H. Fur. 916 ;
the shade of Zethus comes up
from Hades, still holding by the
horn the wild bull to which he
had tied Dirce, Oed. 610. See
DIRCE

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APOLLODORUS. Sir James G. Frazer. 2 Vols.
APOLLONIUS RHODIUS. R. G. Seaton.
THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS. Kirsopp Lake. 2 Vols.
APPIAN: ROMAN HISTORY. Horace White. 4 Vols.
ARATUS. Cf. CALLIMACHUS.
ARISTOPHANES. Benjamin Bickley Rogers. 3 Vols. Verse

trans.

ARISTOTLE: ART OF RHETORIC. J. H. Freese.
ARISTOTLE: ATHENIAN CONSTITUTION, EUDEMIAN ETHICS,

VICES AND VIRTUES. H. Rackham.
ARISTOTLE: GENERATION OF ANIMALS. A. L. Peck.
ARISTOTLE: HISTORIA ANIMALIUM. A. L. Peck. Vol. I.
ARISTOTLE: METAPHYSICS. H. Tredennick. 2 Vols.
ARISTOTLE: METEOROLOGICA. H. D. P. Lee.
ARISTOTLE: MINOR WORKS. W. S. Hett. On Colours, On

Things Heard, On Physiognomies, On Plants, On Marvellous

Things Heard, Mechanical Problems, On Indivisible Lines,

On Situations and Names of Winds, On Melissus, Xenophanes,

and Gorgias.

ARISTOTLE: NICOMACHEAN ETHICS. H. Rackham.
ARISTOTLE: OECONOMICA and MAONA MORALIA. G. C. Arm-
strong; (with Metaphysics, Vol. II.).
ARISTOTLE: ON THE HEAVENS. W. K. C. Guthrie.
ARISTOTLE: ON THE Sour/. PARVA NATURALIA. ON BREATH.

W. S. Hett.
ARISTOTLE: CATEGORIES, ON INTERPRETATION, PRIOR

ANALYTICS. H. P. Cooke and H. Tredennick.
ARISTOTLE: POSTERIOR ANALYTICS, TOPICS. H. Tredennick

and E. S. Forster.
ARISTOTLE: ON SOPHISTICAL REFUTATIONS.

On Coming to be and Passing Away, On the Cosmos. E. S.

Forster and D. J. Furley.
ARISTOTLE: PARTS OF ANIMALS. A. L. Peck; MOTION AND

PROGRESSION OF ANIMALS. E. S. Forster.

ARISTOTLE: PHYSICS. Rev. P. Wicksteed and F. M. Cornford.

2 Vols.
ARISTOTLE: POETICS and LONGINUS. W. Hamilton Fyfe;

DEMETRIUS ON STYLE. W. Rhys Roberts.
ARISTOTLE: POLITICS. H. Rackham.
ARISTOTLE: PROBLEMS. W. S. Hett. 2 Vols.
ARISTOTLE: RHETORICA AD ALEXANDRTJM (with PROBLEMS.

Vol. II.) H. Rackham.
ARRIAN: HISTORY OF ALEXANDER and INDICA. Rev. E. Ilift'e

Robson. 2 Vols.

ATHENAEUS: DEIPNOSOPHISTAE. C. B. GULICK. 7 Vols.
BABRIUS AND PHAEDRUS (Latin). B. E. Perry.
ST. BASIL: LETTERS. R. J. Deferrari. 4 Vols.
CALLIMACHUS: FRAGMENTS. C. A. Trypanis.
CALLIMACHUS, Hymns and Epigrams, and LYCOPHRON. A. W.

Mair; ARATUS. G. R. MAIR.

CLEMENT of ALEXANDRIA. Rev. G. W. Butterworth.
COLLUTHUS. Cf. OPPIAN.
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. Thornley's Translation revised by

J. M. Edmonds; and PARTHENIUS. S. Gaselee.
DEMOSTHENES I. : OLYNTHIACS, PHILIPPICS and MINOR ORA-
TIONS. l.-XVII. AND XX. J. H. Vince.
DEMOSTHENES II.: DE CORONA and DE FALSA LEGATIONS.

C. A. Vince and J. H. Vince.
DEMOSTHENES III.: MEIDIAS, ANDROTION, ARISTOCRATES,

TIMOCRATES and ARISTOGEITON, I. AND II. J. H. Vince.
DEMOSTHENES IV .-VI.: PRIVATE ORATIONS and IN NEAERAM.

A. T. Murray.
DEMOSTHENES VII. : FUNERAL SPEECH, EROTIC ESSAY, EXORDIA

and LETTERS. N. W. and N. J. DeWitt.
Dio CASSIUS: ROMAN HISTORY. E. Cary. 9 Vols.
Dio CHRYSOSTOM. J. W. Cohoon and H. Lamar Crosby. 5 Vols.
DIODORUS SICULUS. 12 Vols. Vols. I.-VI. C. H. Oldfather.

Vol. VII. C. L. Sherman. Vol. VIII. C. B. Welles. Vols.

IX. and X. R. M. Geer. Vols. XI.-XII. F. Walton,

General Index, R. M. Geer.
DIOGENES LAERTIUS. R. D. Hicks. 2 Vols.
DIONYSIUS OF HALICARNASSUS : ROMAN ANTIQUITIES. Spel-

man's translation revised by E. Gary. 7 Vols.
EPICTETUS. W. A. Oldfather. 2 Vols.
EURIPIDES. A. S. Way. 4 Vols. Verse trans.
EUSEBIUS: ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. Kirsopp Lake and

J. E. L. Oulton. 2 Vols.

GALEN: ON THE NATURAL FACULTIES. A. J. Brock.
THE GREEK ANTHOLOGY. W. R. Paton. 5 Vols.
GREEK ELEGY AND IAMBUS with the ANACREONTEA. J. M.

Edmonds. 2 Vols.

5

THE GREEK BUCOLIC POETS (THEOCRITUS, BION, MOSCHUS).
J. M. Edmonds.

GREEK MATHEMATICAL WORKS. Ivor Thomas. 2 Vols.

HERODES. Cf. THEOPHRASTUS : CHARACTERS.

HERODOTUS. A. D. Godley. 4 Vols.

HESIOD AND THE HOMERIC HYMNS. H. G. Evelyn White.

HIPPOCRATES and the FRAGMENTS OF HERACLEITUS. W. H. S.

Jones and E. T. Withington. 4 Vols.
HOMER: ILIAD. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols.
HOMER: ODYSSEY. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols.
ISAEUS. E. W. Forster.
ISOCRATES. George Norlin and LaRue Van Hook. 3 Vols.

[ST. JOHN DAMASCENE]: BARLAAM AND IOASAPH. Rev. G. R.

Woodward, Harold Mattingly and D. M. Lang.
JOSEPHUS. 9 Vols. Vols. I .-IV.; H. Thackeray. Vol. V.;

H. Thackeray and R. Marcus. Vols. VI.-VII.; R. Marcus.

Vol. VIII.; R. Marcus and Allen Wikgren. Vol. IX. L. H.

Feldman.

JULIAN. Wilmer Cave Wright. 3 Vols.

LUCIAN. 8 Vols. Vols. I.-V. A. M. Harmon. Vol. VI. K.

Kilburn. Vols. VII.-VIII. M. D. Macleod.
LYCOPHRON. Cf. CALLIMACHUS.
LYRA GRAECA. J. M. Edmonds. 3 Vols.
LYSIAS. W. R. M. Lamb.

MANETHO. W. G. Waddell: PTOLEMY: TETRABIBLOS. F. E.

Robbins.

MARCUS AURELIUS. C. R. Haines.
MENANDER. F. G. Allinson.
MINOR ATTIC ORATORS (ANTIPHON, ANDOCIDES, LYCURQUS,

DEMADES, DINARCHUS, HYPERIDES). K. J. Maidment and

J. O. Burrt. 2 Vols.

NONNOS: DIONYSIACA. W7. H. D. Rouse. 3 Vols.
OPPIAN, COLLUTHUS, TRYPHIODORUS. A. W. Mair.
PAPYRI. NON-LITERARY SELECTIONS. A. S. Hunt and C. C.

Edgar. 2 Vols. LITERARY SELECTIONS (Poetry). D.L. Page.
PARTHENIUS. Cf. DAPHNIS and CHLOE.
PAUSANIAS: DESCRIPTION OF GREECE. W. H. S. Jones. 4

Vols. and Companion Vol. arranged by R. E. Wycherley.
PHILO. 10 Vols. Vols. I.-V.; F. H. Colson and Rev. G. H.

Whitaker. Vols. VI.-IX.; F. H. Colson. Vol. X. F. H.

Colson and the Rev. J. W. Earp.

PHILO: two supplementary Vols. (Translation only.) Ralph
Marcus.

PHILOSTRATUS : THE LIFE or APOLLONIUS OF TYANA. F. C.
Conybeare. 2 Vols.

6

PHILOSTRATUS : IMAGINES; CALLISTRATUS : DESCRIPTIONS. A.

Fairbanks.
PHILOSTRATUS and EUNAPIUS : LIVES OF THE SOPHISTS. Wilmer

Cave Wright.

PINDAR. Sir J. E. Sandys.
PLATO: CHARMLDES, ALCIBIADES, HIPPARCHUS, THE LOVERS,

THEAGES, MINOS and EPINOMIS. W. R. M. Larab.
PLATO: CRATYLUS, PARMENIDES, GREATER HIPPIAS, LESSER

HIPPIAS. H. N. Fowler.
PLATO: EUTHYPHRO, APOLOGY, CRITO, PHAEDO, PHAEDRUS.

H. N. Fowler.
PLATO: LACHES, PROTAGORAS, MENO, EUTHYDEMUS. W. R. M.

Lamb.

PLATO: LAWS. Rev. R. G. Bury. 2 Vols.
PLATO: LYSIS, SYMPOSIUM, GORGIAS. W. R. M. Lamb.
PLATO: REPUBLIC. Paul Shorey. 2 Vols.
PLATO: STATESMAN, PHILEBUS. H. N. Fowler; ION. W. R. M.

Lamb.

PLATO: THEAETETUS and SOPHIST. H. N. Fowler.
PL/ TO: TIMAEUS, CRITIAS, CLITOPHO, MENEXENUS, EPISTULAE.

Rev. R. G. Bury.

PLOTINUS: A. H. Armstrong. Vols. I.-III.
PLUTARCH: MORALIA. 15 Vols. Vols. I.-V. F. C. Babbitt.

Vol. VI. W. C. Helmbold. Vols. VII. and XIV. P. H. De

Lacy and B. Einarson. Vol. IX. E. L. Minar, Jr., F. H. Sand-
bach, W. C. Helmbold. Vol. X. H. N. Fowler. Vol. XI.

L. Pearson and F. H. Sandbach. Vol. XII. H. Cherniss and

W. C. Helmbold.

PLUTARCH: THE PARALLEL LIVES. B. Perrin. 11 Vols.
POLYBIUS. W. R. Paton. 6 Vols.

PROCOPIUS : HISTORY OF THE WARS. H. B. Dewing. 7 VoU.
PTOLEMY: TETRABIBLOS. Cf. MANETHO.
QUTNTUS SMYRNAEUS. A. S. Way. Verse trans.
SEXTUS EMPIRIC as. Rev. R. G. Bury. 4 Vols.
SOPHOCLES. F. Storr. 2 Vols. Verse trans.
STRABO: GEOGRAPHY. Horace L. Jones. 8 Vols.
THEOPHRASTUS : CHARACTERS. J. M. Edmonds. HERODES,

etc. A. D. Ivnox.
THEOPHRASTUS: ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS. Sir Arthur Hort,

Bart. 2 Vols.

THUCYDIDES. C. F. Smith. 4 Vols.
TBYPHIODORUS. Cf. OPPIAN.

XENOPHON : CYROPAEDIA. Walter Miller. 2 Vols.
XENOPHON: HELLENICA, ANABASIS, APOLOGY, and SYMPOSIUM.

C. L. Brownson and O. J. Todd. 3 Vols.

XENOPHON : MEMORABILIA and OECONOMICUS. E. C. Marchant.
XENOPHON: SCRIPTA MINORA. E. C. Marchant and G. W.

Bowersock.

7

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