Appeals with dying tongue: "Nay here, Here rather strike the murderous blow, Here sheathe thy sword, deep in the womb 370 Which such a monster bore." So spake the dying queen, her words And groans commingling. So at last Through gaping wounds her spirit fled 375 In grief and agony. FOOTNOTES: [55] Reading, _mariti mutua_. [56] Reading, _saevo_. ACT II _Seneca_ [_alone_]: Why hast thou, potent Fate, with flattering looks, Exalted me, contented with my lot, That so from this great height I might descend With heavier fall, and wider prospect see 380 Of deadly fears? Ah, better was I, hid Far from the stinging lash of envy's tongue, Amid the lonely crags of Corsica. There was my spirit free to act at will, Was master of itself, had time to think And meditate at length each favorite theme. Oh, what delight, than which none greater is, 385 Of all that mother nature hath produced, To watch the heavens, the bright sun's sacred rounds, The heavenly movements and the changing night, The moon's full orb with wandering stars begirt, The far-effulgent glory of the sky! 390 And is it growing old, this structure vast, Doomed to return to groping nothingness? Then must that final doomsday be at hand, That shall by heaven's fall o'erwhelm a race So impious, that thus the world may see A newer race of men, a better stock, 395 Which once the golden reign of Saturn knew. Then virgin Justice, holy child of heaven, In mercy ruled the world; the race of men Knew naught of war, the trumpet's savage blare, 400 The clang of arms; not yet were cities hedged With ponderous walls; the way was free to all, And free to all the use of everything. The earth, untilled, spread wide her fertile lap, 405 The happy mother of a pious stock. Then rose another race of sterner mold; Another yet to curious arts inclined, But pious still; a fourth of restless mood, Which lusted to pursue the savage beasts, 410 To draw the fishes from their sheltering waves With net or slender pole, to snare the birds, To force the headstrong bullocks to endure The bondage of the yoke, to plow the earth Which never yet had felt the share's deep wound, And which in pain and grief now hid her fruits Within her sacred bosom's safer hold. 415 Now deep within the bowels of the earth Did that debased, unfilial age intrude; And thence it dug the deadly iron and gold, And soon it armed its savage hands for war. It fixed the bounds of realms, constructed towns, 420 Fought for its own abodes, or threat'ning strove To plunder those of others as a prize. Then did abandoned Justice, heavenly maid,