_Prom._ The whole course of her journeying she hath heard, And that she know she hath not heard in vain I will tell out what troubles she hath borne Before she came here, giving her sure proof Of these my words. The greater bulk of things I will pass o'er, and to the very goal Of all thy wanderings go. For when thou cam'st To the Molossian plains, and by the grove[192] Of lofty-ridged Dodona, and the shrine Oracular of Zeus Thesprotian, 850 And the strange portent of the talking oaks, By which full clearly, not in riddle dark, Thou wast addressed as noble spouse of Zeus,— If aught of pleasure such things give to thee,— Thence strung to frenzy, thou did'st rush along The sea-coast's path to Rhea's mighty gulf,[193] In backward way from whence thou now art vexed, And for all time to come that reach of sea, Know well, from thee Ionian shall be called, To all men record of thy journeyings. 860 These then are tokens to thee that my mind Sees somewhat more than that is manifest. What follows (_to the Chorus_) I will speak to you and her In common, on the track of former words Returning once again. A city stands, Canôbos, at its country's furthest bound, Hard by the mouth and silt-bank of the Nile; There Zeus shall give thee back thy mind again,[194] With hand that works no terror touching thee,— Touch only—and thou then shalt bear a child Of Zeus begotten, Epaphos, “Touch-born,” 870 Swarthy of hue, whose lot shall be to reap The whole plain watered by the broad-streamed Neilos: And in the generation fifth from him A household numbering fifty shall return Against their will to Argos, in their flight From wedlock with their cousins.[195] And they too, (Kites but a little space behind the doves) With eager hopes pursuing marriage rites Beyond pursuit shall come; and God shall grudge To give up their sweet bodies. And the land Pelasgian[196] shall receive them, when by stroke Of woman's murderous hand these men shall lie Smitten to death by daring deed of night: 880 For every bride shall take her husband's life, And dip in blood the sharp two-edgèd sword (So to my foes may Kypris show herself!)[197] Yet one of that fair band shall love persuade Her husband not to slaughter, and her will Shall lose its edge; and she shall make her choice Rather as weak than murderous to be known. And she at Argos shall a royal seed Bring forth (long speech 'twould take to tell this clear) 890 Famed for his arrows, who shall set me free[198] From these my woes. Such was the oracle Mine ancient mother Themis, Titan-born, Gave to me; but the manner and the means,— That needs a lengthy tale to tell the whole, And thou can'st nothing gain by learning it.