_Ch._ Assist not mortals now unseasonably, And neglect yourself unfortunate; for I Am of good hope that, from these bonds Released, you will yet have no less power than Zeus.
_Pr._ Never thus has Fate the Accomplisher Decreed to fulfill these things, but by a myriad ills And woes subdued, thus bonds I flee; For art 's far weaker than necessity.
_Ch._ Who, then, is helmsman of necessity?
_Pr._ The Fates three-formed, and the remembering Furies.
_Pr._ Ay, he could not escape what has been fated.
_Ch._ But what to Zeus is fated, except always to rule?
_Pr._ This thou wilt not learn; seek not to know.
_Ch._ Surely some awful thing it is which you withhold.
_Pr._ Remember other words, for this by no means Is it time to tell, but to be concealed As much as possible; for keeping this do I Escape unseemly bonds and woes.
_Ch._ Never may the all-ruling Zeus put into my mind Force antagonist to him. Nor let me cease drawing near The gods with holy sacrifices Of slain oxen, by Father Ocean's Ceaseless passage, Nor offend with words, But in me this remain And ne'er be melted out. 'Tis something sweet with bold Hopes the long life to Extend, in bright Cheerfulness the cherishing spirit. But I shudder, thee beholding By a myriad sufferings tormented.... For, not fearing Zeus, In thy private mind thou dost regard Mortals too much, Prometheus. Come, though a thankless Favor, friend, say where is any strength, From ephemerals any help? Saw you not The powerless inefficiency, Dream-like, in which the blind ... Race of mortals are entangled? Never counsels of mortals May transgress the harmony of Zeus. I learned these things looking on Thy destructive fate, Prometheus. For different to me did this strain come, And that which round thy baths And couch I hymned, With the design of marriage, when my father's child With bridal gifts persuading, thou didst lead Hesione the partner of thy bed.
_Io._ What earth, what race, what being shall I is this I see in bridles of rock Exposed? By what crime's Penalty dost thou perish? Show, to what part Of earth I miserable have wandered. Ah! ah! alas! alas! Again some fly doth sting me wretched, Image of earth-born Argus, cover it, earth; I fear the myriad-eyed herdsman beholding; For he goes having a treacherous eye, Whom not e'en dead the earth conceals. But me, wretched from the Infernals passing, He pursues, and drives fasting along the seaside Sand, while low resounds a wax-compacted reed, Uttering sleep-giving law; alas! alas! O gods! Where, gods! where lead me far-wandering courses? In what sin, O son of Kronos, In what sin ever having taken, To these afflictions hast thou yoked me? alas! alas! With fly-driven fear a wretched Frenzied one dost thus afflict? With fire burn, or with earth cover, or To sea monsters give for food, nor Envy me my prayers, king. Enough much-wandered wanderings Have exercised me, nor can I learn where I shall escape from sufferings.