_Megara:_ And dost thou think that I would touch the hand That is besprinkled with my father's gore, And my two brothers' blood? Oh, sooner far Shall day's last beams go out in eastern skies, And dawn break in the west; sooner shall peace 375 Be made 'twixt snow and flame, and Scylla join Sicilia's shores with those of Italy; And sooner shall Euripus' rushing waves Lap peacefully upon Euboea's shores. My father and my brothers hast thou slain, My kingdom ruined, home and native land. What still is left? One thing remains to me, 380 That's dearer than my father, brother, home, And kingdom: 'tis my deadly hate of thee. That I must share this with the land at large Is grief to me. For in their cause for hate How small a share have I? Thou, swollen with pride, Rule on, and let thy soul exalt itself; But know that evermore the avenging god Pursues the proud of heart. Well do I know 385 The history of Thebes. Why need I tell Of matrons who have dared and suffered wrong? Why name the double crime, the mingled names Of husband, father, son, the opposing camps Of brothers? Why describe the funeral pyres? The haughty mother, child of Tantalus, 390 Still sits in stony grief; the mourning rock On Phrygian Sipylus still drips with tears. Nay, Cadmus' self, in form of serpent, still Flees through Illyria's realm with crested head, And leaves behind his dragging body's trail. Such fates admonish thee. Rule as thou wilt: 395 But may the accustomed doom of Thebes be thine. _Lycus:_ Come then, have done with this wild talk of thine, And learn from Hercules to obey the will Of kings. Although by right of victory I wield this scepter, though I reign supreme 400 Without the fear of laws which arms annul, Still will I briefly speak in my defense. And did thy father fall in bloody war? Thy brothers too? But arms no limit know, Cannot be checked with ease, nor can the sword, Once drawn, restrain its wrath. War will have blood. 405 But (you will say), he fought to save his state, While I was prompted by the lust of power. Still we should look, not at the cause of war, But at its outcome. Now let memory Of all the former wrongs pass from thy heart. When the victor lays aside his arms, 'tis meet The vanquished should abandon hatred too. 410 I ask thee not upon thy bended knees To acknowledge me as king; for it is well That thou shouldst meet thy ruin dauntlessly. Lo, thou art worthy of a royal mate: Be then my wife and not my enemy.