_ Yea--but who shall loose
While Zeus is adverse?
While Zeus is adverse?
Elizabeth Browning
_ He shall wed;
And in the marriage-bond be joined to grief.
_Io. _ A heavenly bride--or human? Speak it out
If it be utterable.
_Prometheus. _ Why should I say which?
It ought not to be uttered, verily.
_Io. _ Then
It is his wife shall tear him from his throne?
_Prometheus. _ It is his wife shall bear a son to him,
More mighty than the father.
_Io. _ From this doom
Hath he no refuge?
_Prometheus. _ None: or ere that I,
Loosed from these fetters--
_Io.
_ Yea--but who shall loose
While Zeus is adverse?
_Prometheus. _ One who is born of thee:
It is ordained so.
_Io. _ What is this thou sayest?
A son of mine shall liberate thee from woe?
_Prometheus. _ After ten generations, count three more,
And find him in the third.
_Io. _ The oracle
Remains obscure.
_Prometheus. _ And search it not, to learn
Thine own griefs from it.
_Io. _ Point me not to a good,
To leave me straight bereaved.
_Prometheus. _ I am prepared
To grant thee one of two things.
And in the marriage-bond be joined to grief.
_Io. _ A heavenly bride--or human? Speak it out
If it be utterable.
_Prometheus. _ Why should I say which?
It ought not to be uttered, verily.
_Io. _ Then
It is his wife shall tear him from his throne?
_Prometheus. _ It is his wife shall bear a son to him,
More mighty than the father.
_Io. _ From this doom
Hath he no refuge?
_Prometheus. _ None: or ere that I,
Loosed from these fetters--
_Io.
_ Yea--but who shall loose
While Zeus is adverse?
_Prometheus. _ One who is born of thee:
It is ordained so.
_Io. _ What is this thou sayest?
A son of mine shall liberate thee from woe?
_Prometheus. _ After ten generations, count three more,
And find him in the third.
_Io. _ The oracle
Remains obscure.
_Prometheus. _ And search it not, to learn
Thine own griefs from it.
_Io. _ Point me not to a good,
To leave me straight bereaved.
_Prometheus. _ I am prepared
To grant thee one of two things.