A sire with joyous greed his children rend,

And hungrily devour their flesh. 'Tis good,

'Tis quite enough. This mode of punishment

So far doth please me well. But where is he?280

Why do the hands of Atreus rest so long

Inactive? Even now before mine eyes

The perfect image of the slaughter comes;

I seem to see the murdered children heaped

Before their father's face. O timid soul,

Why dost thou fear? Why droops thy courage now