IO
O daring, proven champion of man's race,
What sin, Prometheus, dost thou thus atone?
O daring, proven champion of man's race,
What sin, Prometheus, dost thou thus atone?
Aeschylus
in pity hold
Io, the ox-horned maid, thy love of old!
PROMETHEUS
Hear Zeus or not, I hear and know thee well,
Daughter of Inachus; I know thee driven,
Stung by the gadfly, mazed with agony.
Ay, thou art she whose beauty fired the breast
Of Zeus with passion; she whom Hera's hate
Now harasses o'er leagues and leagues of land.
IO
Alack, thou namest Inachus my sire!
Wottest thou of him? how, from lips of pain,
Comes to my woeful ears truth's very strain?
How knowest thou the curse, the burning fire
The god-sent, piercing pest that stings and clings?
Ah me! in frenzied, foodless wanderings
Hither I come, and on me from on high
Lies Hera's angry craft! Ah, men unblest!
Not one there is, not one, that is unblest as I.
But thou--tell me the rest!
Utter the rede of woes to come for me;
Utter the aid, the cure, if aid or cure there be!
PROMETHEUS
Lo, clearly will I show forth all thy quest--
Not in dark speech, but with such simple phrase
As doth befit the utterance of a friend.
I am Prometheus, who gave fire to men.
IO
O daring, proven champion of man's race,
What sin, Prometheus, dost thou thus atone?
PROMETHEUS
One moment since, I told my woes and ceased.
IO
Then should I plead my suit to thee in vain?
PROMETHEUS
Nay, speak thy need; nought would I hide from thee.
IO
Pronounce who nailed thee to the rocky cleft.
PROMETHEUS
Zeus, by intent; Hephaestus, by his hand.
IO
For what wrongdoing do these pains atone?
PROMETHEUS
What I have said, is said; suffice it thee!
IO
Yet somewhat add; forewarn me in my woe
What time shall bring my wandering to its goal?
PROMETHEUS
Fore-knowledge is fore-sorrow; ask it not.
IO
Nay, hide not from me destiny's decree.
PROMETHEUS
I grudge thee not the gift which I withhold.
IO
Then wherefore tarry ere thou tell me all?
PROMETHEUS
Nothing I grudge, but would not rack thy soul.
IO
Be not compassionate beyond my wish.
PROMETHEUS
Well, thou art fain, and I will speak.
Io, the ox-horned maid, thy love of old!
PROMETHEUS
Hear Zeus or not, I hear and know thee well,
Daughter of Inachus; I know thee driven,
Stung by the gadfly, mazed with agony.
Ay, thou art she whose beauty fired the breast
Of Zeus with passion; she whom Hera's hate
Now harasses o'er leagues and leagues of land.
IO
Alack, thou namest Inachus my sire!
Wottest thou of him? how, from lips of pain,
Comes to my woeful ears truth's very strain?
How knowest thou the curse, the burning fire
The god-sent, piercing pest that stings and clings?
Ah me! in frenzied, foodless wanderings
Hither I come, and on me from on high
Lies Hera's angry craft! Ah, men unblest!
Not one there is, not one, that is unblest as I.
But thou--tell me the rest!
Utter the rede of woes to come for me;
Utter the aid, the cure, if aid or cure there be!
PROMETHEUS
Lo, clearly will I show forth all thy quest--
Not in dark speech, but with such simple phrase
As doth befit the utterance of a friend.
I am Prometheus, who gave fire to men.
IO
O daring, proven champion of man's race,
What sin, Prometheus, dost thou thus atone?
PROMETHEUS
One moment since, I told my woes and ceased.
IO
Then should I plead my suit to thee in vain?
PROMETHEUS
Nay, speak thy need; nought would I hide from thee.
IO
Pronounce who nailed thee to the rocky cleft.
PROMETHEUS
Zeus, by intent; Hephaestus, by his hand.
IO
For what wrongdoing do these pains atone?
PROMETHEUS
What I have said, is said; suffice it thee!
IO
Yet somewhat add; forewarn me in my woe
What time shall bring my wandering to its goal?
PROMETHEUS
Fore-knowledge is fore-sorrow; ask it not.
IO
Nay, hide not from me destiny's decree.
PROMETHEUS
I grudge thee not the gift which I withhold.
IO
Then wherefore tarry ere thou tell me all?
PROMETHEUS
Nothing I grudge, but would not rack thy soul.
IO
Be not compassionate beyond my wish.
PROMETHEUS
Well, thou art fain, and I will speak.
