Than hunger, which inflames his blood, 170 And with its parching fires burns up Its moisture. There the poor wretch stands, Striving to quaff the nearby waves; But the fleeing waters whirl away, And leave but the empty bed to him Who seeks to follow. Quick he quaffs At that swift stream, but to drink--the dust. 175 FOOTNOTES: [47] Reading, _vectus_. ACT II _Atreus_ [_in soliloquy_]: O soul, so sluggish, spiritless, and weak, And (what in kings I deem the last reproach) Still unavenged, after so many crimes, Thy brother's treacheries, and every law Of nature set at naught, canst vent thy wrath In vain and meaningless complaints? By now The whole wide world should be astir with arms, 180 Thy arms, and on both seas thy ships of war Should swarm; the fields and town's should be ablaze, And gleaming swords should everywhere be seen. Beneath our charging squadrons' thundering tread Let Greece resound; let this my enemy Within no forest's depths a hiding find. 185 No citadel upon the mountain heights Shall shelter him. Let all the citizens, Mycenae leaving, sound the trump of war. Whoe'er grants refuge to that curséd head, Shall die a dreadful death. This noble pile, The home of our illustrious Pelops' line, 190 I would might fall on me, if only thus It might destroy my hated brother too. But come, my soul, do what no coming age Shall e'er approve--or e'er forget; some deed Must be attempted, impious, bloody, dire, Such as my brother's self might claim as his. No crime's avenged save by a greater crime. 195 But where the crime that can surpass his deeds? Is he yet crushed in spirit? Does he show In prosperous circumstances self-control, Contentment in defeat? Full well I know His tameless spirit; it can ne'er be bent-- But can be broken. Then, before his force 200 He strengthens and opposing powers prepares, We must the attack begin, lest, while we wait, He strike us unprepared. For well I know That he must either slay me or be slain By me. There lies the crime between us two: Who leaps to grasp it first, the crime shall do. _Attendant:_ But does the evil fame of such a deed Deter you not? _Atreus:_ The greatest blessing this Of royal power, that men are forced to praise 205 Their monarchs' deeds as well as bear them. _Attendant:_ Yea, But they whose praise is forced by fear become By that same fear in turn the bitterest foes. But he who seeks the people's heartfelt praise, Will wish their hearts and not their tongues to speak. 210 _Atreus:_ True praise may often fall to humble men, But false alone to kings. Let subjects learn To want what they would not.