No More Learning

Ah! ah! dost vex me so
That I madden and shiver
Stung through with dread?
Flash the fire down to burn me!
Heave the earth up to cover me!
Plunge me in the deep, with the salt waves over me,
That the sea-beasts may be fed!
O king, do not spurn me
In my prayer!
For this wandering everlonger, evermore,
Hath overworn me,
And I know not on what shore
I may rest from my despair.

_Chorus. _ Hearest thou what the ox-horned maiden saith?

_Prometheus. _ How could I choose but hearken what she saith,
The phrensied maiden? --Inachus's child? --
Who love-warms Zeus's heart, and now is lashed
By Here's hate along the unending ways?

_Io.
_ Who taught thee to articulate that name,--
My father's? Speak to his child
By grief and shame defiled!
Who art thou, victim, thou who dost acclaim
Mine anguish in true words on the wide air,
And callest too by name the curse that came
From Here unaware,
To waste and pierce me with its maddening goad?
Ah--ah--I leap
With the pang of the hungry--I bound on the road--
I am driven by my doom--
I am overcome
By the wrath of an enemy strong and deep!
Are any of those who have tasted pain,
Alas! as wretched as I?
Now tell me plain, doth aught remain
For my soul to endure beneath the sky?
Is there any help to be holpen by?
If knowledge be in thee, let it be said!
Cry aloud--cry
To the wandering, woful maid!

_Prometheus. _ Whatever thou wouldst learn I will declare,--
No riddle upon my lips, but such straight words
As friends should use to each other when they talk.
Thou seest Prometheus, who gave mortals fire.

_Io. _ O common Help of all men, known of all,
O miserable Prometheus,--for what cause
Dost thou endure thus?

_Prometheus.