_Io._ Eleleu! Oh, Eleleu![199] The throbbing pain inflames me, and the mood Of frenzy-smitten rage; The gadfly's pointed sting, Not forged with fire, attacks, And my heart beats against my breast with fear. 900 Mine eyes whirl round and round: Out of my course I'm borne By the wild spirit of fierce agony, And cannot curb my lips, And turbid speech at random dashes on Upon the waves of dread calamity. STROPHE I _Chor._ Wise, very wise was he Who first in thought conceived this maxim sage, And spread it with his speech,[200]— That the best wedlock is with equals found, And that a craftsman, born to work with hands, Should not desire to wed Or with the soft luxurious heirs of wealth, 910 Or with the race that boast their lineage high. ANTISTROPHE I Oh ne'er, oh ne'er, dread Fates, May ye behold me as the bride of Zeus, The partner of his couch, Nor may I wed with any heaven-born spouse! For I shrink back, beholding Io's lot Of loveless maidenhood, Consumed and smitten low exceedingly By the wild wanderings from great Hera sent! STROPHE II To me, when wedlock is on equal terms, 920 It gives no cause to fear: Ne'er may the love of any of the Gods, The strong Gods, look on me With glance I cannot 'scape! ANTISTROPHE II That fate is war that none can war against, Source of resourceless ill; Nor know I what might then become of me: I see not how to 'scape The counsel deep of Zeus. _Prom._ Yea, of a truth shall Zeus, though stiff of will, Be brought full low. Such bed of wedlock now Is he preparing, one to cast him forth 930 In darkness from his sovereignty and throne. And then the curse his father Cronos spake Shall have its dread completion, even that He uttered when he left his ancient throne; And from these troubles no one of the Gods But me can clearly show the way to 'scape. I know the time and manner: therefore now Let him sit fearless, in his peals on high Putting his trust, and shaking in his hands His darts fire-breathing. Nought shall they avail To hinder him from falling shamefully 940 A fall intolerable. Such a combatant He arms against himself, a marvel dread, Who shall a fire discover mightier far Than the red levin, and a sound more dread Than roaring of the thunder, and shall shiver That plague sea-born that causeth earth to quake, The trident, weapon of Poseidon's strength: And stumbling on this evil, he shall learn How far apart a king's lot from a slave's. _Chor._ What thou dost wish thou mutterest against Zeus.