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The Tragedies of Seneca: Translated into English Verse, to Which Have Been Appended Comparative Analyses of the Corresponding Greek and Roman Plays, and a Mythological IndexSeneca, Lucius Annaeus

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The Tragedies of Seneca: Translated into English Verse, to Which Have Been Appended Comparative Analyses of the Corresponding Greek and Roman Plays, and a Mythological Index

Name: The Tragedies of Seneca: Translated into English Verse, to Which Have Been Appended Comparative Analyses of the Corresponding Greek and Roman Plays, and a Mythological Index
Author: Seneca, Lucius Annaeus

Seneca, Lucius Annaeus

Mythology, Classical -- Drama; Seneca, Lucius Annaeus, approximately 4 B.C.-65 A.D. -- Translations into English

_Chorus:_ If it were mine to choose my fate
        And fashion as I would,
    I'd trim my sails to the gentle breeze,
    Lest, by the raging blasts o'erwhelmed,                          885
        My spars should broken be.
    May soft and gently blowing winds
        My dauntless bark lead on;
    And ever on the middle course,
    Where safely runs the path of life,                              890
        May I be traveling.
    Fearing the Cretan king, 'tis said,
        And trusting in strange arts,
    Young Icarus essayed the stars,
    And strove to conquer birds in flight,                           895
        On false wings balancing.
    He fell into the raging sea
        And his name alone survived.
    But, wiser far, old Daedalus                                     900
    A safer course midst the clouds pursued,
        Awaiting his wingéd son.
    As the timid bird flees the threat'ning hawk,
        And collects her scattered young;                            905
    So the father watched till he saw his son
    Plying his hands in the gulfing sea,
        Enmeshed in his useless wings.
    So does he stand in treacherous ways,
    Whoever goes beyond the bounds
        Ordained by nature's law.                                    910
                          [_Enter_ Messenger _from within the palace._]
  But what is this? The palace gates resound;
  Behold, it is the royal messenger.
  With wild and woeful mien he seems to come.
  Speak out, and tell us what the news thou bring'st.


ACT V

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Tragedies of Seneca: Translated into English Verse, to Which Have Been Appended Comparative Analyses of the Corresponding Greek and Roman Plays, and a Mythological Index

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