Prometheus

I will tell you plainly all that you would like to know,

not weaving riddles, but in simple language, since it is right to speak openly to friends. Look, I whom you see am Prometheus, who gave fire to mankind.

610

Io

O you who have shown yourself a common benefactor of mankind, wretched Prometheus, why do you suffer so?

Prometheus

I have only just now finished lamenting my own calamities.

615

Io

You will not then do this favor for me?

Prometheus

Say what it is you wish; for you can learn all from me.

Io

Tell me who has bound you fast in this ravine.

Prometheus

Zeus by his will, Hephaestus by his hand.

Io

And for what offence do you pay the penalty?

620

Prometheus

It suffices that I have made clear to you this much and no more.

Io

No, also tell me the end of my wandering—what time is set for wretched me.

Prometheus

It would be better not to know than to know, in your case.

Io

I beg you, do not hide from me what I am doomed to suffer.

625

Prometheus

No, it is not that I do not want to grant your request.

Io

Why then your reluctance to tell me everything?

Prometheus

I am not unwilling; but I hesitate to crush your spirit.

Io

Do not be more kind to me than I myself desire.

Prometheus

Since you insist, I must speak. Listen, then.

630

Chorus

No, not yet. Grant us too a portion of the pleasure. Let us first inquire the story of her affliction and let her with her own lips relate the events that brought horrid calamity upon her. Then let her be instructed by you as to the toils still to come.

Prometheus

It is for you, Io, to grant them this favor, especially since they are your father’s sisters. For it is worthwhile to indulge in weeping and in wailing over evil fortunes when one is likely to win the tribute of a tear from the listener.

635

Io

I do not know how to refuse you. You shall learn in truthful speech all that you would like to know. Yet I am ashamed to tell about the storm of calamity sent by Heaven, of the marring of my form, and of the source from which it swooped upon me, wretched that I am.

640

 

For visions of the night, always haunting my maiden chamber, sought to beguile me with seductive words, saying: O damsel greatly blessed of fortune, why linger in your maidenhood so long when it is within your power to win a union of the highest? Zeus is inflamed by passion’s dart

645

for you and is eager to unite with you in love. Do not, my child, spurn the bed of Zeus, but go forth to Lerna ’s meadow land of pastures deep and to your father’s flocks and where his cattle feed, so that the eye of Zeus may find respite from its longing.

650

 

By such dreams was I, to my distress, beset night after night, until at last I gained courage to tell my father of the dreams that haunted me. And he sent many a messenger to Pytho and Dodona so that he might discover

655

what deed or word of his would find favor with the gods. But they returned with report of oracles, riddling, obscure, and darkly worded. Then at last there came an unmistakable utterance to Inachus, charging and commanding him clearly that

660

he must thrust me forth from home and native land to roam at large to the remotest confines of the earth; and, if he would not, a fiery thunderbolt would come from Zeus that would utterly destroy his whole race.
  Yielding obedience to such prophetic utterances of Loxias,

665

he drove me away and barred me from his house, against his will and mine; but the constraint of Zeus forced him to act by necessity. Immediately my form and mind were distorted, and with horns, as you see, upon my forehead,

670

stung by a sharp-fanged gadfly I rushed with frantic bounds to Cerchnea’s sweet stream and Lerna ’s spring. But Argus, the earth-born herdsman, untempered in his rage, pursued me, peering with his many eyes upon my steps.

675

A sudden death robbed him of life unexpectedly; while I, still tormented by the gadfly, am driven on from land to land before the heaven-sent plague.
  That is what happened ; and if you can declare what toils still remain, reveal them. Do not, from pity, seek

680

to soothe me with untrue words ; for I consider false words to be the foulest sickness.

685

Chorus

Oh, ah, go away, alas! Never, oh never, did I dream that words so strange would greet my ears;

or that sufferings so grievous to look upon, yes, and so grievous to endure, a tale of outrage, would strike my soul as if with double-pronged goad. Alas, O Fate, O Fate,

690

I shudder to behold the plight that has befallen Io.

695

Prometheus

You lament and are full of fear all too soon. Wait until you have learned the rest as well.

Chorus

Proceed, tell all. It is comforting for the sick to know clearly beforehand what pain still awaits them.

Prometheus

You gained your former request easily from me; for you first desired the story of her ordeal from her own lips. Hear now the sequel, the sufferings this maid is fated to endure at Hera’s hand.

700

And may you, daughter of Inachus, lay to heart my words so that you may learn the end of your wanderings. First, from this spot, turn yourself toward the rising sun and make your way over untilled plains; and you shall reach the Scythian nomads, who dwell

705

in thatched houses, perched aloft on strong-wheeled wagons and are equipped with far-darting bows. Do not approach them, but keeping your feet near the rugged shore, where the sea breaks with a roar, pass on beyond their land. On the left hand dwell the workers in iron,

710

the Chalybes, and you must beware of them, since they are savage and are not to be approached by strangers. Then you shall reach the river Hybristes, ¹ which does not belie its name. Do not cross this, for it is hard to cross, until you come to Caucasus itself,

715

loftiest of mountains, where from its very brows the river pours out its might in fury. You must pass over its crests, which neighbor the stars, and enter upon a southward course, where you shall reach the host of the Amazons, who loathe all men. They shall in time to come

720

inhabit Themiscyra on the Thermodon, where, fronting the sea, is Salmydessus’ rugged jaw, evil host of mariners, step-mother of ships. The Amazons will gladly guide you on your way. Next, just at the narrow portals of the harbor, you shall reach

725

the Cimmerian isthmus. This you must leave with stout heart and pass through the channel of Maeotis; and ever after among mankind there shall be great mention of your passing, and it shall be called after you the Bosporus . ² Then, leaving the soil of Europe ,

730

you shall come to the Asian continent.
  Does it not seem to you that the tyrant of the gods is violent in all his ways? For this god, desirous of union with this mortal maid, has imposed upon her these wanderings. Maiden, you have gained a cruel suitor

735

for your hand. As to the tale you now have heard— understand that it has not even passed the introduction.

740

Io

Ah me, ah me, alas!

Prometheus

What! You are crying and groaning again? What will you do, I wonder, when you have learned the sufferings still in store for you?

Chorus

What! Can it be that you have sufferings still left to recount to her?

745

Prometheus

Yes, a tempestuous sea of calamitous distress.

Io

What gain have I then in life? Why did I not hurl myself straightaway from this rugged rock, so that I was dashed to earth and freed from

all my sufferings? It is better to die once and for all than linger out all my days in misery.

750

Prometheus

Ah, you would hardly bear my agonies to whom it is not foredoomed to die; for death would have freed me from my sufferings.

But now no limit to my tribulations has been appointed until Zeus is hurled from his sovereignty.

755

Io

What! Shall Zeus one day be hurled from his dominion?

Prometheus

You would rejoice, I think, to see that happen.

Io

Why not, since it is at the hand of Zeus that I suffer?

Prometheus

Then you may assure yourself that these things are true.

760

Io

By whom shall he be despoiled of the sceptre of his sovereignty?

Prometheus

By himself and his own empty-headed purposes.

Io

In what way? Oh tell me, if there be no harm in telling.

Prometheus

He shall make a marriage that shall one day cause him distress.

Io

With a divinity or with a mortal? If it may be told, speak out.

765

Prometheus

Why ask with whom? I may not speak of this.

Io

Is it by his consort that he shall be dethroned?

Prometheus

Yes, since she shall bear a son mightier than his father.

Io

And has he no means to avert this doom?

Prometheus

No, none—except me, if I were released from bondage.

770

Io

Who then is to release you against the will of Zeus?

Prometheus

It is to be one of your own grandchildren.

Io

What did you say? A child of mine will release you from your misery?

Prometheus

The third in descent after ten generations.

Io

Your prophecy is not easy to understand.

775

Prometheus

Yes, so do not seek to learn the full extent of your own sufferings.

Io

Do not offer me a favor and then withdraw it.

Prometheus

I will present you with one or other of two tales.

Io

Which two? Set them forth and offer me the choice.

Prometheus

I am making the offer: choose whether I shall reveal the sufferings still in store for you or the one who will be my deliverer.

780

Chorus

Consent to bestow on her one of these favors, and on me the other; do not deny me the tale. Tell her about her further wanderings;

tell me who will deliver you—for I would like to know this.

785

Prometheus

Well, since you are bent on this, I will not refuse to proclaim all that you still crave to know. First, to you, Io, will I declare your much-vexed wandering, and may you engrave it on the recording tablets of your mind.

 

When you have crossed the stream that bounds the two continents, toward the flaming east, where the sun walks,...... crossing the surging sea until you reach the Gorgonean plains of Cisthene, where the daughters of Phorcys dwell, ancient maids,

790

three in number, shaped like swans, possessing one eye amongst them and a single tooth; neither does the sun with his beams look down upon them, nor ever the nightly moon. And near them are their three winged sisters, the snake-haired Gorgons, loathed of mankind,

795

whom no one of mortal kind shall look upon and still draw breath. Such is the peril that I bid you to guard against. But now listen to another and a fearsome spectacle. Beware of the sharp-beaked hounds of Zeus that do not bark, the gryphons,

800

and the one-eyed Arimaspian folk, mounted on horses, who dwell about the flood of Pluto’s ³ stream that flows with gold. Do not approach them. Then you shall come to a far-off country of a dark race that dwells by the waters of the sun, where the river Aethiop is.

805

Follow along its banks until you reach the cataract, where, from the Bybline mountains, Nile sends forth his hallowed and sweet stream. He will conduct you on your way to the three-angled land of Nilotis, where, at last, it is ordained for you,

810

O Io, and for your children to found your far-off colony.
  If anything of this is confusing to you and hard to understand, may you question me yet again, and gain a clear account; for I have more leisure than I crave.

815

Chorus

If there is anything still remaining or passed over

of her direful wandering that you have to tell, oh speak. But if you have told all, grant us in turn the favor we request—you probably have it still in memory.

820

Prometheus

She has now heard the full end of her travels; yet so she may know that she has heard no vain tale from me,

I will describe the toils she has endured before she came here, giving this as a sure proof of my account.
  Most of the weary tale I shall leave out and come to the very close of your wanderings.
  For when you reached the Molossian plains

825

and the sheer ridge that encircles Dodona , where lies the prophetic seat of Thesprotian Zeus and that marvel, passing all belief, the talking oaks, by which you clearly, and in no riddling terms, were saluted as the renowned

830

bride-to-be of Zeus (is any of this pleasing to you?), then, stung by the gadfly, you rushed along the pathway by the shore to the great gulf of Rhea, from where you are tossed in backward-wandering course; and for all time to come a recess of the sea,

835

be well assured, shall bear the name Ionian, as a memorial of your crossing for all mankind.
  These, then, are the tokens to you of my understanding, to show that it discerns more than has been made manifest. The rest I shall declare both to you and her,

840

returning to the track of my former tale.

845

846
 

There is a city, Canobus , on the extremity of the land at the very mouth and silt-bar of the Nile . There at last Zeus restores you to your senses by the mere stroke and touch of his unterrifying hand.

And you shall bring forth dark Epaphus, ⁴ thus named from the manner of Zeus’ engendering; and he shall gather the fruit of all the land watered by the broad-flowing Nile . Fifth in descent from him, fifty maidens shall return to Argos , not of their own

850

free choice, but fleeing marriage with their cousin kin; while these, their hearts ablaze with passion, like falcons eagerly pursuing doves, shall come in pursuit of wedlock unlawful to pursue; but God shall grudge them enjoyment of their brides.

855

Pelasgian soil shall offer the maids a home, when, in the watches of the night, their husbands have been slain by a deed of daring wrought by the women’s murderous blows. For each bride shall take the life of her lord, dyeing a two-edged sword in his blood—in such ways may Love come upon my enemies!

860

However, love’s desire shall charm one of the maidens not to slay her mate; rather, her resolve will lose its edge; for she will make her choice between two evil names to be called coward rather than murderess. She it is who shall give birth in Argos to a royal line—

865

a long story is necessary to explain this clearly; of her seed, however, shall be born a man of daring, renowned with the bow, who shall deliver me from these toils. ⁵ Such is the oracle recounted to me by my mother, Titan Themis, born long ago.

870

The manner and the means—these need lengthy speech to tell, and to learn them all would not be of any benefit.

875

CHORUS

Say on; inform me fully: to the sick indeed it is sweet to get a clear knowledge beforehand of the sequel of their sorrows.

PROMETHEUS

Your former desire at any rate ye gained from me easily; for first of all ye desired to be informed by her recital of the affliction

that attaches to herself. Now give ear to the rest, what sort of sufferings it is the fate of this young damsel before you to undergo at the hand of Juno: thou too, seed of Inachus, lay to heart my words, that thou mayest be fully informed of the termination of thy journey. In the first place, after turning thyself from this spot towards the rising of the sun, traverse unploughed fields; and thou wilt reach the wandering Scythians. who, raised from off the ground, inhabit wicker dwellings on well-wheeled ears, equipped with distant-shooting bows; to whom thou must not draw near, but pass on out of then land, bringing thy feet to approach the rugged roaring shores. And on thy left band dwell the Chalybes, workers of iron, of whom thou must needs beware, for they are barbarous, and not accesi­ble to strangers. And thou wilt come to the river Hybristes

, not falsely so called, which do not thou cross, for it is not easy to ford, until thou shalt have come to Caucasus itself, loftiest of mountains, where from its very brow the river spouts forth its might. And surmounting its peaks that neighbour on the stars, thou must go into a southward track, where thou wilt come to the man-detesting host of Amazons, who hereafter shall make a settlement, Themiscyra, on the banks of Thermodon, where lies the rugged Salmydessian sea-gorge, a host by mariners hated, a step-dame to ships; and they will conduct thee on thy way, and that right willingly. Thou shalt come too to the Cimmerian ithsmus, hard by the very portals of a lake, with narrow passage, which thou undauntedly must leave, and cross the Maeotie frith; and there shall exist for evermore among mortals a famous legend concerning thy passage, and after thy name it shall be called the Bosphorus; and after having quitted European ground, thou shalt come to the Asiatic continent. Does not then the sovereign of the gods seem to you to be violent alike towards all things? for he a god lusting to enjoy the charms of this mortal fair one, bath cast upon her these wanderings. And a bitter wooer, maiden, hast thou found for thy hand; for think that the words which thou hast now heard are not even for a prelude.

IO

PROMÉTHÉE

Ce que vous requériez d'abord, vous l'avez obtenu de moi sans peine ; vous désiriez avant tout

PROMÉTHÉE

l'entendre conter ses épreuves elle-même : écoutez maintenant le reste, et quelles souffrances devra, par ordre
d'Héra, endurer cette jeune mortelle. Et toi, sang d'Inachos, fixe bien mes mots dans ton âme, si tu veux connaître le terme de ta route. En partant d'ici, tourne-toi d'abord vers le soleil levant et va par les plaines sans labour, jusqu'au moment où tu atteindras les Scythes nomades, qui habitent
des demeures d'osier tressé juchées sur des chars à bonnes roues et suspendent à leurs épaules l'arc à longue portée. Évite-les et rapproche tes pas des falaises où gémit la mer, pour traverser tout ce pays. A main gauche sont
les Chalybes ¹ qui travaillent le fer : tu dois t'en garer. Ce sont des êtres féroces, inabordables pour l'étranger. Tu arriveras de la sorte à un fleuve dont le nom ne ment pas, l'Hybristès ² ; ne le franchis pas — il n'est point aisé à franchir ! — mais marche droit au Caucase, le plus haut
des monts : c'est de son front que ce fleuve exhale la fureur de ses eaux. Tu en franchiras les sommets voisins des astres pour prendre la route du Midi. Là, tu trouveras l'armée des Amazones rebelles à l'homme ³ , qui iront un
jour fonder Thémiskyre, sur le Thermodon, aux bords où Salmydesse ouvre sur la mer sa rude mâchoire, hôtesse cruelle aux marins, marâtre des vaisseaux. Celles-là te guideront, et de grand cœur. Ainsi tu atteindras, aux
portes étroites de son lac, l'isthme cimmérien : d'un cœur intrépide, tu dois, pour le quitter, franchir le détroit méotique ; et, parmi les mortels, à jamais vivra le glorieux récit de ton passage : le détroit te devra le nom de Bosphore. Et, dès lors, laissant le sol d'Europe ⁴ , tu prendras

PROMÉTHÉE

pied sur le continent d'Asie. Eh bien ! le souverain des dieux ne vous semble-t-il pas montrer partout une violence égale ? Il a, lui, dieu, sur cette mortelle dont il désirait le lit, fait tomber ce destin vagabond. Ah ! tu as rencontré
là, jeune fille, un cruel prétendant ; car ce que tu viens d'entendre, songes-y, n'est pas même encore un prélude.

IO

CHORUS.

Speak, ſhow us to the ſick ſome gleam of comfort

Flows from the knowledge of their pains to come.

PROMETHEUS.

Your firſt requeſt with eaſe has been obtain'd;

For from her lips you wiſh'd to hear the tale

Of her afflictions.

705

Hear the reſt; what woes

From Juno's rage await this ſuff'ring virgin.

And thou with deep attention mark my words,

Daughter of Inachus; and learn from them

The traces of thy way.

710

First then, from hence

Turn to the orient ſun, and paſs the height

Of these uncultur'd mountains; thence deſcend

To where the wandering Scythians, train'd to bear

The diſtantwounding bow, on wheels aloft

715

Roll on their wattled cottages; to these

Approach not nigh, but turn thy devious ſteps

Along the rough verge of the murm'ring main,

And paſs the barb'rous country: on the left

The Chalybes inhabit, whoſe rude hands

720

Temper the glowing ſteel; beware of these,

A ſavage and inhoſpitable race. b

Thence ſhalt thou reach the banks of that proud ,

Which from its roaring torrentſtream c

takes its name;

But paſs it not, tempt not its dangerous depths

725

Unfordable, till now thy weary ſteps

Shall reach the diſtant bound of Caucaſus,

Monarch of mountains; from whoſe extreme height

The burſting flood rolls down his pow'r of waters.

Paſſing those ſtaraſpiring heights, deſcend

730

Where to the ſouth the Amazonian tents,

Hoſtile to men, ſtretch o'er the plain; whoſe troops

In after times ſhall near Thermodon's banks

Fix in Themiſcyra's tow'rs their martial rule,

Where Salmydeſia points her cruel rocks,

735

And glories in her wrecks: this female train

With courteous zeal ſhall guide thee in thy way.

Arriving where the dark Cimmerian lake

Spreads from its narrow mouth its vaſt expanſe,

Leave it, and boldly plunge thy vent'rous foot

740

In the Mæotic ſtraits; the voice of fame

Shall eternize thy paſſage, and from thee

Call it the Boſphorus d

: there ſhalt thou quit

The ſhores of Europe, and intrepid reach

The continent of Afia.

745

- Seems he now,

This tyrant of the ſkies, ſeems he in all e

Of fierce and headlong violence, when his love

Plunges a mortal in ſuch deep diſtreſſes?

A rugged woer, virgin, have thy charms

750

Won thee; for be aſſur'd what I have told thee

Is but a prelude to the woes untold.

IO.

CORIFEA

Dimmelo, parla: ch'è sollievo agli egri

il venturo dolor sapere innanzi.

PROMETEO

Agevolmente, mercè mia, fu paga

la vostra prima brama: i suoi travagli

dalle sue labbra udiste. Adesso il resto

815

udite: che tormenti ancor, per l'odio

d'Era, deve patir questa fanciulla.

E i miei detti, nel cuor tu imprimi, o d'Inaco

figlia, e saprai del tuo cammino il termine.

Pria di qui verso l'Orïente volgiti,

820

a solchi inseminati; e fra gli Sciti

nomadi giungerai, ch'entro capanne

di giunchi, alti dal suolo, in carri vivono,

di pronte ruote, ed archi hanno a difesa,

che saettan lontani. A queste genti

825

non appressarti, ma coi pie' rasenta

le rupestri del mar sonore spiagge,

e la terra attraversa. A manca, i Càlibi

foggiatori del ferro hanno dimora;

ma guardati da lor: selvaggi sono,

830

né può straniero avvicinarli. Al fiume

Ibristo quindi giungerai, che degno

è del suo nome: e tu non traversarlo

- né traversarlo è facile se prima

su la vetta non sei giunta del Caucaso,

835

dell'eccelso fra i monti: indi quel fiume

soffia la furia, dalle tempie alpestri.

Quindi, poi ch'abbia superati i vertici

finitimi a le stelle, a mezzogiorno

il tuo cammino volgi; e delle Amazzoni

840

giungerai fra lo stuol, che l'uomo aborrono,

che Temiscíra abiteranno un giorno,

del Termodonte su le ripe, ov'è

Salmidesso, mascella aspra del ponto,

matrigna delle navi, ai nauti infesta.

845

Guida al cammino ti saranno queste.

E allo stretto Cimmerio, e su le anguste

porte della palude arriverai.

Ma tu devi lasciarlo, e pel Meòtico

solco, salda in tuo cuore, aprirti il varco.

850

E gran fama sarà sempre fra gli uomini

del tuo tragitto; e quello stretto, Bosforo

avrà nome da te. Ora, lasciato

il pian d'Europa, al continente d'Asia

eccoti giunta. Or non vi par che il re

855

dei Numi, in tutto ugual soperchiatore

si dimostri? Egli, Dio, questa mortale

possedere bramava, e l'avventò

a tali errori. Un ben amaro, o vergine,

pretendente alle tue nozze trovasti!

860

Ché quante hai tu sin qui parole udite,

non sono ancora, immagina, il preludio.

IO

Cho.

Dic, doce: ægrotis aliquid suave,

695

Reliquum præscire dolorem erit manifestè

Pro.

Hoc negotium perfici à me,

PROMETHEVS.

Leve est: intelligere hanc primò voluistis,

Ipsa suas ærumnas narrante.

Reliqua nunc audite, quas molestias oportet

700

Ferre hanc à Iunone iuvenem.

Tu verò Inacheum Inacheum semen, meos sermones

In animo pone, ut finem huius mali discas.

Primò quidem hinc ad solis ortum

Conuersa, ingredere inaratos campos.

705

Ad Scythas vagos venies, qui plicatas domos

Sublimes inhabitant, in rotundis vehiculis

Longè iaculantibus arcubus suspensi.

Ad quos ne ito, sed marinis pedes

Occultans cautibus transibis regionem.

710

A' sinistra habitant manu ferrarij

Fabri Chalybes, quos vitare te oportet,

Nam sunt feri, & non affabiles hospitibus,

Venies ad flumen violentum non falso nominatum:

Quod non traijcies, nam facile traiectu non est:

715

Priusquam ad Caucasum veneris, montium

Altissimum, unde fluvius efflat robur,

Ab ipsis radicibus. acrios verò oportet

Te vertices superando, meridianam

Adire viam: inde Amazonum ad exercitum

720

Venies, viris detestatum, quæ Themiscyram

Habitant, circa Thermodonta (ubi

Aspera maris Salmydesia maxilla est,

Inhospitalis nautibus, nouerca nauium.)

Ipsæ te deducent libentissimè.

725

Isthmum verò in ipsis angustiis paludis portis

Cimmericum venies: quem oportet te fortiter reli

quendo,

Transire Mæotidem paludem,

Erit semper mortalibus multus sermo

730

De tuo transitu: Bosporus eiudem nominis

Vocabitur. relinquens verò Europæ solum,

In continentem venies Asiam: num vobis videtur

Deorum tyrannus in omnibus simul

Violentus esse? huic mortali ipse

735

Volens misceri, hos intulit errores,

Acerbum nacta es, ô puella, tuarum nuptiarum

Procum. quæ nunc audiuisti verba

Tibi visa sint neq; sermonum procœmia.

Io.

Ah ah, heu heu,

740

Pro.

Chorus

Say on, reveal it! suffering souls are fain

To know aright what yet remains to bear.

760

Prometheus

Lightly, with help of mine, did ye achieve

That which ye first desired: from Io's mouth

Ye craved to hear, recounted by herself,

The story of her strivings. Listen now

To what shall follow, to what woefulness

765

The wrath of Hera must compel this maid.

( To Io)

And thou, O child of Inachus, within

Thine inmost heart store up these words of mine,

That thou may'st learn thy wanderings and their goal.

First, from this spot toward the sunrise turn,

770

And cross the steppe that knoweth not the plough:

Thus to the nomad Scythians shalt thou come,

Who dwell in wattled homes, not built on earth

But borne along on wains of sturdy wheel—

Equipped, themselves, with bows of mighty reach.

775

Pass them avoidingly, and leave their land,

And skirt the beaches where the tides make moan,

Till, lo! upon the left hand thou shalt find

The Chalybes, stout craftsmen of the steel—

Beware of them! no gentleness is theirs,

780

No kindly welcome to a stranger's foot!

Thence to the Stream of Violence shalt thou come—

Like name, like nature; see thou cross it not,

('Tis fatal to the forder!) till thou come

Right to the very Caucasus, the peak

785

That overtops the world, and from its brows

The river pants in spray its wrathful stream.

Thence, o'er the pinnacles that court the stars,

Onward and southward thou must take thy way,

And reach the warlike horde of Amazons,

790

Maidens through hate of man; and gladly they

Will guide thy maiden feet. That host, in days

That are not yet, shall fix their home and dwell

At Themiscyra, on Thermodon's bank,

Nigh whereunto the grim projecting fang

795

Of Salmydessus' cape affronts the main,

The seaman's curse, to ships a stepmother!

Then at the jutting land, Cimmerian styled,

That screens the narrowing portal of the mere,

Thou shalt arrive; pass o'er it, brave at heart,

800

And ferry thee across Maeotis' ford.

So shall there be great rumour evermore,

In ears of mortals, of thy passage strange;

And Bosporos shall be that channel's name,

Because the ox-horned thing did pass thereby.

805

So, from the wilds of Europe wander'd o'er,

To Asia's continent thou com'st at last.

( To the Chorus)

And ye, what think ye? Seems he not, that lord

And tyrant of the gods, as tyrannous

Unto all other lives? A high god's lust

810

Constrained this mortal maid to roam the world!

( To Io)

Poor maid! a brutal wooer sure was thine!

For know that all which I have told thee now

Is scarce the prelude of thy woes to come.

Io

Die Chorführerin.

Sprich, laß mich hören; Kranken ist's ein süßer Troft,

Was übrig noch von Leide, klar vorauszuseh'n.

Prometheus.

Was ihr zuvor euch wünschtet, habt ihr leicht von mir

Erlangt: ihr wolltet aus der Jungfrau Munde selbst

Zuerst vernehmen, welche Noth sie durchgekämpft.

700

Das Weit're hört nun, welche Mühsal künftig noch

Zu dulden Hera's schwerer Zorn ihr auferlegt.

Du präge, was ich sage, Kind des Inachos,

In's Herz, damit du deiner Irren Ziel erkennst.

Zuerst von hier dem Sonnenaufgang zugewandt,

705

Durchwanderst du ein ungepflügtes Ackerland.

Du kommst zu Skythenhorden, die geflochtene

Korbhütten hoch auf runden Wagen sich erbau'n,

Mit Bogen ausgerüstet, weithintreffenden.

Nicht nahe diesen, sondern eil' ihr Land vorbei,

710

Zum meerumrauschten Felsenbord den Schritt gewandt.

Sofort zur Linken wohnen dir die Chalyber,

Die Eisenschmiede; hüte dich vor diesem Volk,

Das ungeschlacht und Fremden unzugänglich ist.

Dann kommt der Strom Hybristes, so mit Recht genannt;

715

Nicht überschreit' ihn, bietet er doch keine Furt,

Bevor du dicht zum höchsten Berge, Kaukasos,

Gelangtest, wo des Stromes Ungestüm herab

Vom Scheitel sprudelt. Wenn du diese Höh'n erklommst,

Der Sterne Nachbarn, mußt du mittagwärts die Bahn

720

Hinunterwandeln, wo der Amazonen Heer

Du triffst, der Männerfeinde, das Thermodons Flut

In Themiskyra's Auen einst umwohnen wird,

Wo Salmydessos' rauhe Bucht vorstarrt in's Meer,

Stiefmütterlich den Schiffen und der Schiffer Graun.

725

Die weisen fortan liebevoll die Pfade dir.

Und hart am engen Meeresthor gelangst du zum

Kimmerischen Isthmos; ihn verlasse kühnes Muths,

Um rasch zu steuern durch Mäotis' schmalen Sund.

Groß wird im Mund der Menschen allezeit der Ruf

730

Von deiner Fahrt sein, und nach ihr der Bosporos

Genannt. Du scheidest von Europa's Erde dann,

Und kommst zum Festland Asia's. Wohlan, erscheint

Euch nicht der Götterkönig aller Orten gleich

Grausam? Er wollte diesem Erdenweib, ein Gott,

735

Sich liebend nah'n, und stürzte solche Qual auf sie.

Fürwahr, ein schlimmer Freier warb um dich, o Kind;

Denn glaube mir, die Kunden, die du jetzt vernahmst,

Sind kaum ein Vorspiel dessen, was du leiden mußt.

Jo.