⁠[To Attendant.]
Tell thou me then how vengeance may be won.
Attendant: Drive out his hostile spirit with the sword. 245
Atreus: ⁠Thou speakest of the end of punishment.
But I the punishment itself desire.
Let easy-going rulers slay their foes;
In my domain death is a longed-for boon.
Attendant: Do pious motives stir thee not at all?
Atreus: ⁠Away, O Piety, if ever thou
Didst dwell within my house, and in thy stead
Let come dire furies' cohorts, fiends at war, 250
Megaera holding high in either hand
Her flaming torch; for with a mighty rage
'Tis not enough my heart should be inflamed:
I fain would be by greater horrors filled
Attendant: What new design does thy mad soul conceive?
Atreus: ⁠No deed within the accustomed bounds of grief. 255
I'll leave no crime undone; and yet no crime
Is bad enough for me.
Attendant: ⁠Wilt use the sword?
Atreus: ⁠'Tis not enough.
Attendant: ⁠The flames?
Atreus: ⁠Still not enough.
Attendant: What weapon then will thy mad passion use?
Atreus: ⁠Thyestes' self.
Attendant: ⁠Far worse than madness this.
Atreus: ⁠I do confess it. Deep within my heart, 260
A fearful tumult rages unrestrained,
And I am hurried on, I know not where;
I only know that I am hurried on.
From lowest depths a moaning sound is heard,
And thunders rumble in the cloudless skies;
A crashing noise resounds throughout the house
As though 'twere rent in twain; upon my hearth
The frightened Lares turn their gaze from me. 265
Yet this shall be, this awful thing shall be,
Ye gods, which ye do fear to think upon.