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. Alas for me, alas! PROMETHEUS. Again thou criest, with a heifer’s low. What wilt thou do, learning thy future woes? CHORUS. What, hast thou further sorrows for her ear? PROMETHEUS. Yea, a vext ocean of predestined pain. IO. What profit then is life to me? Ah, why Did I not cast me from this stubborn crag? So with one spring, one crash upon the ground, I had attained surcease from all my woes. Better it is to die one death outright Than linger out long life in misery. PROMETHEUS. Ill would’st thou bear these agonies of mine— Mine, with whose fate it standeth not to win The goal of death, which were release from pain! Now, there is set no limit to my woe Till Zeus be hurled from his omnipotence. IO. Zeus hurled from pride of place! Can such things be? PROMETHEUS. Thou wert full fain, methinks, to see that sight! IO. Even so—his overthrow who wrought my pain. PROMETHEUS. Then may’st thou know thereof; such fall shall be. IO. And who shall wrench the sceptre from his hand? PROMETHEUS. By his own mindless counsels shall he fall. IO. And how? unless the telling harm, say on! PROMETHEUS. Wooing a bride, his ruin he shall win. IO. Goddess, or mortal? tell me, if thou may’st. PROMETHEUS. No matter which—more must not be revealed. IO. Doth then a consort thrust him from his throne? PROMETHEUS. The child she bears him shall o’ercome his sire. IO. And hath he no avoidance of this doom? PROMETHEUS. None, surely—till that I, released from bonds— IO. Who can release thee, but by will of Zeus? PROMETHEUS. Fate gives this duty to a child of thine! IO. How? Shall a child of mine undo thy woes? PROMETHEUS. Yea, of thy lineage, thirteen times removed. IO. Dark beyond guessing grows thine oracle. PROMETHEUS. Yea—seek not therefore to foreknow thy woes. IO. As thou didst proffer hope, withdraw it not. PROMETHEUS. Two tales I have—choose! for I grant thee one. IO. And which be they? reveal, and leave me choice. PROMETHEUS. I grant it: shall I in all clearness show Thy future woes, or my deliverance? CHORUS. Nay! of the two, vouchsafe her wish to her And mine to me, deigning a truth to each— To her, reveal her future wanderings— To me, thy future saviour, as I crave!