IO
Yet somewhat add; forewarn me in my woe
What time shall bring my wandering to its goal?
Yet somewhat add; forewarn me in my woe
What time shall bring my wandering to its goal?
Aeschylus
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. Attend!
CHORUS
Nay--ere thou speak, hear me, bestow on me
A portion of the grace of granted prayers.
First let us learn how lo's frenzy came--
(She telling her disasters manifold)
Then of their sequel let her know from thee.
PROMETHEUS
Well were it, Io, thus to do their will--
Right well! they are the sisters of thy sire.
'Tis worth the waste and effluence of time,
To tell, with tears of perfect moan, the doom
Of sorrows that have fallen, when 'tis sure
The listeners will greet the tale with tears.
IO
I know not how I should mistrust your prayer;
Therefore the whole that ye desire of me
Ye now shall learn in one straightforward tale.
Yet, as it leaves my lips, I blush with shame
To tell that tempest of the spite of Heaven,
And all the wreck and ruin of my form,
And whence they swooped upon me, woe is me!
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. Attend!
CHORUS
Nay--ere thou speak, hear me, bestow on me
A portion of the grace of granted prayers.
First let us learn how lo's frenzy came--
(She telling her disasters manifold)
Then of their sequel let her know from thee.
PROMETHEUS
Well were it, Io, thus to do their will--
Right well! they are the sisters of thy sire.
'Tis worth the waste and effluence of time,
To tell, with tears of perfect moan, the doom
Of sorrows that have fallen, when 'tis sure
The listeners will greet the tale with tears.
IO
I know not how I should mistrust your prayer;
Therefore the whole that ye desire of me
Ye now shall learn in one straightforward tale.
Yet, as it leaves my lips, I blush with shame
To tell that tempest of the spite of Heaven,
And all the wreck and ruin of my form,
And whence they swooped upon me, woe is me!
