_Octavia_ [_heard speaking from within her chamber_]: O fate of mine, that can no equal know! Thy woes, Electra, were no match for these; For thou couldst soothe with tears the grief thou hadst 60 For thy dear father's fall; thou couldst avenge The murder by thy brother's ready hand, Who by thy piety was saved from death, And whom thy faith concealed. But me base fear Forbids to weep my parents reft away 65 By cruel fate; forbids to weep the death Of him, my brother, who my sole hope was, My fleeting comfort of so many woes. And now, surviving but to suffer still, I live, the shadow of a noble name. 70 _Nurse:_ Behold, the voice of my sad foster-child Falls on my list'ning ears. Slow steps of age, Why haste ye not within her chamber there? [_Starts to enter the chamber, but is met by_ Octavia _coming forth_.] _Octavia:_ Within thy bosom let me weep, dear nurse, Thou ever trusty witness of my grief. 75 _Nurse:_ What day shall free thee from thy woes, poor child? _Octavia:_ The day that sends me to the Stygian shades. _Nurse:_ May heaven keep such dark omens far away! 80 _Octavia:_ 'Tis not thy prayers, but fate that shapes my life. _Nurse:_ But God will bring thy life to better days. Do thou but be appeased, and win thy lord With mild obedience. 85 _Octavia:_ I'll sooner tame The savage lion's heart, the tiger's rage, Than curb that brutal tyrant's cruel soul. He hates all sons of noble blood, and gods And men he sets at naught; nor can he bear 90 That high estate to which along the paths Of shameful crime his impious mother led; For though it shames him now, ungrateful one, To hold the scepter which his mother gave; And though by death he has requited her: 95 Still will the glory of the empire won Belong to her for centuries to come. _Nurse:_ Restrain these words that voice thy raging heart, And check thy tongue's too rash and thoughtless speech.