_Chor._ What! are there troubles still to come for her? _Prom._ Yea, stormy sea of woe most lamentable. _Io._ What gain is it to live? Why cast I not Myself at once from this high precipice, And, dashed to earth, be free from all my woes? Far better were it once for all to die Than all one's days to suffer pain and grief. 770 _Prom._ My struggles then full hardly thou would'st bear, For whom there is no destiny of death; For that might bring a respite from my woes: But now there is no limit to my pangs Till Zeus be hurled out from his sovereignty. _Io._ What! shall Zeus e'er be hurled from his high state? _Prom._ Thou would'st rejoice, I trow, to see that fall. _Io._ How should I not, when Zeus so foully wrongs me? _Prom._ That this is so thou now may'st hear from me. _Io._ Who then shall rob him of his sceptred sway? 780 _Prom._ Himself shall do it by his own rash plans. _Io._ But how? Tell this, unless it bringeth harm. _Prom._ He shall wed one for whom one day he'll grieve. _Io._ Heaven-born or mortal? Tell, if tell thou may'st. _Prom._ Why ask'st thou who? I may not tell thee that. _Io._ Shall his bride hurl him from his throne of might? _Prom._ Yea; she shall bear child mightier than his sire. _Io._ Has he no way to turn aside that doom? _Prom._ No, none; unless I from my bonds be loosed.[184] _Io._ Who then shall loose thee 'gainst the will of Zeus? 790 _Prom._ It must be one of thy posterity. _Io._ What, shall a child of mine free thee from ills? _Prom._ Yea, the third generation after ten.[185] _Io._ No more thine oracles are clear to me. *_Prom._ Nay, seek not thou thine own drear fate to know. _Io._ Do not, a boon presenting, then withdraw it. _Prom._ Of two alternatives, I'll give thee choice. _Io._ Tell me of what, then give me leave to choose. _Prom._ I give it then. Choose, or that I should tell Thy woes to come, or who shall set me free. 800 _Chor._ Of these be willing one request to grant To her, and one to me; nor scorn my words: Tell her what yet of wanderings she must bear, And me who shall release thee. This I crave.