Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/293

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Hercules Oetaeus
275

The awful dog throughout the towns of Greece,
Returned triumphant o'er the shades of hell,
Scorning the lord of death and death itself,
So did he lay him down upon the pyre.
What victor in his chariot ever shone
With such triumphant joy? What tyrant king
With such a countenance e'er uttered laws
Unto his subject tribes? So deep his calm 1685
Of soul. All tears were dried, our sorrows shamed
To silence, and we groaned no more to think
That he must perish. E'en Alcmena's self,
Whose sex is prone to mourn, now tearless stood,
A worthy mother of her noble son. 1690
Nurse: But did he, on the verge of death, no prayer
To heaven breathe, no aid from Jove implore?
Philoctetes: With peaceful soul he lay, and scanned the skies,
As searching from what quarter of the heavens
His sire would look on him, and thus he spake, 1695
With hands outstretched: "O father, whencesoe'er
From heaven thou lookest down upon thy son—
He truly is my father for whose sake
One day of old was swallowed up in night—
If both the bounds of Phoebus sing my praise,
If Scythia, and all the sun-parched lands; 1700
If peace fills all the world; if cities groan
Beneath no tyrant's hand, and no one stains
With blood of guests his impious altar stones;
If horrid crimes have ceased: then, take, I pray.
My spirit to the skies. I have no fear
Of death, nor do the gloomy realms of Dis 1705
Affright my soul; but Oh, I blush with shame
To go, a naked shade, unto those gods
Whom I myself aforetime overcame.
Dispel the clouds and ope the gates of heaven,
That all the gods may see Alcides burn.
Though thou refuse me place among the stars,
Thou shalt be forced to grant my prayer. Ah no: 1710
If grief can palliate my impious words,
Forgive; spread wide the Stygian pools for me,