_Atreus:_ He never could be taken, were his will Not bent on taking too. E'en now he hopes To take my kingdom from me. In this hope, He'll rush against the bolts of threat'ning Jove; 290 This hope will make him brave the whirlpools' wrath, And sail within the treacherous Libyan shoals; On this hope stayed, the greatest ill of all Will he have strength to bear--the sight of me. _Attendant:_ But who will give him confidence in peace? To whom will he such weighty credence give? 295 _Atreus:_ His wicked hope is ready to believe. Yet shall my sons this message bear from me: Now let the wretched exile roam no more, But leave his homeless state for royal halls, And rule at Argos, sharer of my throne. But if Thyestes harshly spurn my prayer, His guileless children, overspent with woes 300 And easily beguiled, will bend his will Unto their prayers. His ancient thirst for power, Together with his present poverty, And harsh demands of toil will move the man, However stubborn, by their weight of woes. _Attendant:_ But time by now has made his troubles light. 305 _Atreus:_ Nay; sense of wrong increases day by day. 'Tis easy to bear hardship for a time; But to endure it long, an irksome task. _Attendant:_ Choose other servants of thy grim design. _Atreus:_ Young men lend ready ear to base commands. _Attendant:_ Beware, lest what against their uncle now 310 Thou teachest them, they turn against their sire In time to come. Full oft do crimes recoil Upon the man who instigated them. _Atreus:_ Though none should teach them fraud and ways of crime, The throne itself would teach them. Dost thou fear Lest they grow evil? Evil were they born. What thou dost savage, cruel call in me, Dost deem impossible and impious, 315 Perchance my brother even now doth plot Against myself. _Attendant:_ Shall then thy children know What crime they do? _Atreus:_ Not so, for youthful years Cannot keep silent faith. They might perchance Betray the trick. The art of secrecy Is mastered only by the ills of life. _Attendant:_ And wilt thou then deceive the very ones 320 Through whom thou plann'st another to deceive?