Prometheus Bound (Browning Translation)-Aeschylus

0:00Hort 1 of Prometheus Bound This is a Librivox recording. All Librivox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librivox.org. Recording by ex-patriot in Bangor, Maine. Prometheus Bound by Iskolas, translated by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1806-1861. SCENE, Strength and Force, Hephaestus and Prometheus at the Rocks. Strength, we reach the utmost limit of the earth, the sithian track, the desert without men, and now Hephaestus, thou must needs fulfill the mandate of our Father, and with links indesoluble of Adam and Tyne chains, fastened against this beatling precipice, this guilty God. Because he filched away thine own bright flower, the glory of plastic fire, and gifted

1:04mortals with it. Such a sin it doth be who he expiate to the gods, learning to accept the emperee of Zeus, and leave off his old trick of loving men. Hephaestus, O Strength and Force, for you our Zeus' will presents a deed for doing no more, but I, I lack your daring, up this storm-rent chasm, to fix with violent hands a kindred God. Habiet necessity compels me so that I must derit, and our Zeus commands with the most inevitable word. Oh thou, high-thawed son of famous who is sage! The loath I loath must rivet fast in chains against this rocky height, unclomb by men, or never human voice nor face shall find out thee who loves them, and thy beauty's flower. Scorched in the sun's clear heat shall fade away. Night shall come up with garniture of stars to comfort thee, with shadow and the sun disperse

2:07with retricked beams the morning frost. But through all changes, sense of present woe shall vex thee sore, because with none of them there comes a hand to free. Each fruit is plucked from love of men, and in that thou, a God, did spray the wrath of gods and give away undue respect to mortals, for that crime thou art adjudged to guard this joyless rock, erect unslumbering, bending not the knee, and many a cry an unavailing moan to utter on the air. Zeus's stern and new-made kings are cruel. Strength, be it so, why loiter in vain pity, why not hate a God the gods hate, one too who betrayed thy glory unto men? Ephesius, an awful thing is kinship joined to friendship. Strength, grant it be, is disobedience to the father's word a possible thing?

3:10Most quail not more for that? Ephesius, thou at least art a stern one ever bold. Strength, why if I wept at were no remedy, and do not thou spend labor on the air to bootless uses? Ephesius, cursed hand to craft, I curse and hate thee, oh my craft. Strength, why hate thy craft most plainly innocent of all these pending ills? Ephesius, I would some other hand were here to work it. Strength, all work hath its pain, except to rule the gods, there is none free except King Zeus. Ephesius, I know it very well, I argue not against it. Strength, why not then may cased and lock the fetters over him, less Zeus behold thee lagging? Ephesius, here be chains, Zeus may behold thee. Strength, seize him, strike a mane, strike with the hammer on each side his hands, rivet

4:15him to the rock. Ephesius, the work is done and thoroughly done. Strength, still faster grapple him, wedge him in deeper, leave no inch to stir, he's terrible for finding a way out from the irremediable. Ephesius, here's an arm at least, grappled past freeing. Strength, now then buckle me the other securely, let this wise one learn he's duller than our Zeus. Ephesius, oh none but he accused me justly. Strength, now straight through the chest, take him and bite him with the clenching tooth of the adamantine wedge and rivet him. Ephesius, a less prometheus, what thou sufferst here I sorrow over? Strength, does thou flinch again and breathe groans for the enemies of Zeus? Beware, less thy known pity find thee out. Ephesius, thou dost behold a spectacle that turns the sight of the eyes to pity.

5:21Strength, I behold a sinner, suffer his sins penalty, but lash the thongs about his sides. Ephesius, so much I must do, urge no farther than I must. Strength, I but I will urge and with shout on shout will hound thee at this quarry, get thee down and ring a main the iron round his legs. Ephesius, that work was not long doing? Strength, heavily now, let full the strokes upon the perforant jobs for he who rates the work as a heavy hand. Ephesius, thy speech is savage as thy shape. Strength, be thou gentle and tender, but revile not me for the firm will and the untruckling hate. Ephesius, let us go, he is netted round with chains. Strength, here now taunt on in having spoiled the gods of honors crowned with all thy mortal men who live a whole day out.

6:23By how could they draw off from thee one single of thy griefs? May thinks the demons gave thee a wrong name, Prometheus which means providence, because thou dost thy self-need providence to see thy role and ruin from the top of doom. Prometheus alone. Oh, holy ether, and swift winged winds, and river wells and laughter enumerous of yon sea waves. Earth, mother of us all, and all viewing sicklic sun I cry on you. Behold me, a god, what I endure from gods. Behold with throw, unthrow, how wasted by this woe, I wrestle down the myriad years of time. Behold how fast around me the new king of the happy ones sublime as flung the chain he forged, as shamed and bound me. Whoa, whoa, today's woe in the coming morrows I cover with one groan, and where is found

7:26me a limit to these sorrows? And yet what word do I say? I have foreknown clearly all things that should be. Nothing done comes sudden to my soul, and I must bear what is ordained with patience, being aware necessity doth front the universe with an invincible gesture. With this curse which strikes me now, I find it hard to brave in silence or in speech. Because I gave honor to mortals, I have yoked my soul to this compelling fate. Because I stole the secret fount of fire, whose bubbles went over the fair rules brim, and manward sent arts mighty means and perfect rudiment. That sin I expiate in this agony, hung here in fetters beneath the blanching sky. Ah, ah, me what a sound, what a fragrant sweeps up from opinion unseen of a god or a mortal or nature between.

8:26Sweeping up to this rock where the earth has her bound, to have sight of my pangs or some gird and obtain. Low a god in the anguish, a god in the chain, the god Zeus hadeth soar in his gods hate again. As many as tread on his glorified floor, because I loved mortals too much evermore, alas me, what a murmur in motion I hear as of birds flying near, and the air under sings the light stroke of their wings, and all life that approaches I wait for in fear. Corus of sea-nymphs first strophy. Fear nothing, our troop floats lovingly up with a quick oring stroke of wings steered to the rock. Having softened the soul of our father below, for the gales of swift bearing have sent me a sound, and the clank of the iron the malated blow, smote down the profound of my caverns of old, and struck the red light in a blush from my brow, till I sprang up unsandled and

9:30haste to behold, and rush forth on my chariot of wings manifold. From metheus alas me alas me ye offspring of tethis who bore at her breast many children and eek of oceanus, ye coiling still around earth with perpetual unrest, behold me and see how transfixed with the fang of a feather I hang on the high-jutting rocks of this fissure, and keep an uncovided watch or the world in the deep. Corus, first anti-strophy. I behold thee, from metheus, yet now, yet now, a terrible cloud whose rain is tears, sweeps over mine eyes that witness how thy body appears hung a waste on the rocks by infrangeable chains, for new is the hand, new the rudder that steers the ship of Olympus through surge and wind, and of all the things passed no track is behind. From metheus, under earth, under hathes where the home of the shade is, all into the deep,

10:36deep tardorus, I would he had hurled me a down, I would he had plunge me fastened thus in the nodded chain with a savage clang, all into the dark where there should be none, neither God nor another to laugh and see. But now the winds sing through and shake, the hurtling chains wherein I hang, and I in my naked sorrows make much mirth for my enemy. Corus, second strophy, nay, who of the gods hath a heart so stern as to use thy woe for a mock in mirth, who would not turn more mild to learn thy sorrows, who of the heaven and earth save Zeus, but he right raffly bears on his sceptral soul unbent and rules thereby the heavenly seed, nor will he pause till he content his thirsty heart in a finished deed, or till another shall appear to win by fraud to seize by fear the hard to be captured government.

11:36From metheus, yet even of me he shall have need, that monarch of the blessed seed, of me, of me who now incurs by his fetters dire, to ring my secret out with all, and learn by whom his sceptre shall be filth from him, as was at first his heavenly fire. But he never shall enchant me with his honey-lipped persuasion. Never, never shall he don't me with the oath and thread of passion into speaking as they want me till he loose this savage chain and accept the expiation of my sorrow in his pain. Chorus, second antistrophy. Thou art sooth a brave God, and for all thou hast borne from the stroke of the rod, not relax us from scorn, but thou speakest unto me too free and unwarn, and a terror strikes through me and festers my soul, and I fear in the role of the storm for thy fate in the ship far from shore, since the son of Saternis is hard in his haith and unmoved in his

12:41heart evermore. I know that Zeus is stern, I know he meets his justice by his will, and yet his soul shall learn more softness when once broken by this ill, and curbing his unconquerable vaunt he shall rush on and fear to meet with me who rush to meet with him in agony to issues of harmonious covenant. Chorus, remove the veil from all things, and relate the story to us of what crime accused Zeus smites thee with dishonorable pangs, speak, if to teach us do not grieve thyself. Prometheus, the utterance of these things is torture to me, but so too is their silence, each way lies woe strong as fate. When gods began with wrath, and war rose up between their stary brows, some choosing to cast cronos from his throne, that Zeus might king it there, and some in haste with opposite

13:42oaths, that they would have no Zeus to rule the gods forever. I, who brought the counsel I thought metast, could not move the titans, children of the heaven and earth, what time disdaining in their rugged souls, my subtle machinations, they assumed it was an easy thing for force to take the mastery of fate. My mother then, who is called not only famous, but earth too, or single beauty joys in many names, did teach me with re-iterent prophecy what future should be, and how conquering gods should not prevail by strength and violence, but by guile only. When I told them so, they would not dain't contemplate the truth on all sides round, where at I deemed it best to lead my willing mother upwardly and set my themus face to face with Zeus as willing to receive her. I was curious, with its abysmal cloister of the dark, because I gave that counsel covers up the antique cronos and his siding hosts, and by that counsel helped the king of

14:46gods hath recompense me with these bitter pangs, for kingship wears a cancer at the heart, distrust and friendship. Do ye also ask what crime it is for which he tortures me? That shall be clear before you. Even at first he filled his father's throne, he instantly made various gifts of glory to the gods and delt the empire out. Alone of men, of miserable men, he took no count, but yearned to sweep their track off from the world and plant a newer race there. Not a god-resisted such desire except myself. I dared it. I drew mortals back to light, from meditated ruin deep as hell, for which wrong I am bent down in these pangs dreadful to suffer, mournful to behold, and I who pitted men and thought myself unworthy of pity, while I render out deep rhythms of anguish beneath the harping hand that strikes me thus, a sight to shame your Zeus.

15:48Corus, hard as thy chains and cold as all these rocks, is he prometheus who withholds his heart from joining in thy woe. I yearned before to fly this sight, and now I gaze on it, I sicken inwards, prometheus, to my friends indeed, I must be a sad sight. Corus, and didst thou sin no more than so? Prometheus, I did restrain besides my mortals from premeditating death. Corus, how didst thou medicine the plague fear of death? Prometheus, I set blind hopes to inhabit in their house. Corus, by that gift thou disthalped thy mortals well. Prometheus, I gave them also fire. Corus, and have they now those creatures of a day the red-eyed fire? Prometheus, they have, and shall learn by it many arts. Corus, and truly for such sin Zeus tortures thee, and will remit no anguish, is there set

16:53no limit before thee to thine agony? Prometheus, no other, only what seems good to him. Corus, and how will it seem good, what hope remains, see us thou not that thou hast sin, but that thou hast sin that glads me not to speak of, and grieves thee, then let it pass from both and seek thyself some outlet from distress. Prometheus, it is in truth an easy thing to stand a loof from pain and lavish exhortation and advice on one vex sorely by it. I have known all in prevision, by my choice, my choice, I freely sinned, I will confess my sin, and helping mortals found my own despair. I did not think indeed that I should pine beneath such pangs against such skyy rocks, doomed to this drear hill, and no neighboring of any life, but more not ye, for griefs I bear today, here rather dropping down to the plain how other woes creep on to me and learn the

17:58consummation of my doom. Be seat you nymphs, be seat you grieve for me who now am grieving, for grief walks the earth and sits down at the foot of each by turns. Corus, we hear the deep clash of thy words, Prometheus, and obey, and I spring with a rapid foot away from the rushing car and the holy air, the track of birds, and I drop to the rugged ground and there await the tale of thy despair. O'ciannis enters. O'ciannis, I reach the boon of my weary road, where I may see an answer thee, Prometheus in thine agony, on the back of the quick-wing bird I glowed, and I bridled him in with the will of a god. The whole thy sorrow aches in me constrained by the force of kin, nay, though that thy were all undone, for the life of none beneath the sun would I seek a larger benison than I seek for thine, and thou shalt learn my words are truth, the no fair parlance of the

19:03mouth grows falsely out of mine. Now give me a deed to prove my faith, for no faster friend is named in breath than I, O'ciannis and thine. Prometheus, ha, what has brought thee, has thou also come to look upon my woe, how has thou dared to leave the depths called after thee, the cave's self-hune and self-root with spontaneous rock to visit earth the mother of my chain, has come indeed to view my doom and mourn that I should sorrow thus, gaze on, and see how I the fast friend of your Zeus, how I the erector of the empire in his hand, and bent beneath that hand in this despair. O'ciannis, Prometheus, I behold, and I would feign exhort thee, though already subtle enough to a better wisdom, tighten, know thy self, and take new softness to thy manners since a new king rules the gods. If words like these harsh words and trenchant, thou wilt fling abroad, Zeus happily, though

20:08he sits so far and high, may hear thee do it, and so this wrath of his which now affects thee fiercely shall appear a mere child's sport at vengeance. Wretched God, rather dismiss the passion which thou hast, and seek a change from grief. Perhaps I seem to address thee with old saws and outworn scents, yet such a curse from Matthew surely waits on lips that speak too proudly. Thou, mean time, art none the meeker, nor does yield a jot to evil circumstance, preparing still to swell the account of grief with other griefs than what are born. Be siege thee, use me then for counsel, do not spurn against the pricks, seeing that who reigns reigns by cruelty instead of right, and now I go from hence, and will endeavour if a power of mine can break thy fetters through for thee become and smooth thy words from passion.

21:08Knowest thou not of perfect knowledge, thou who knowest too much, that where the tongue waggs ruin never lags? From metheists, I congratulate thee who has shared and dared all things with me, except their penalty, enough so, leave these thoughts, it cannot be that thou shoulds move him, he may not be moved, and thou beware of sorrow on this road. O sheanness, I, ever wiser for another's use than thine, the event and not the prophecy, a test sit to me, yet where now I rush thy wisdom have no power to drag me back, because I glory, glory to go hence, and win for thee deliverance from thy pangs, as a free gift from Zeus. Why, there again, I give thee graduation and applause, thou lackest no good will, but as for deeds do not, to are all done vainly, helping not, whatever thou woulds do, rather take

22:10rest and keep thyself from evil. If I grieve, I do not therefore wish to multiply the griefs of others, verily not so, for still my brothers doomed, doth vex my soul, my brother Atlas standing in the west, shouldering the column of the heaven and earth, a difficult burden. I have also seen and pitted, as I saw, the earth-born one, the inhabitant of old Celician caves, the great war-monster of the hundred heads, all taken and bowed beneath the violent hand. Typhon the fierce, who did resist the gods, and hissing slaughter from his dreadful jaws, flash out for Rosh's glory from his eyes, as if to storm the throne of Zeus. There at the sleepless arrow of Zeus flew straight at him, the headlong bolt of thunder breathing flame, and struck him downward from his eminence of exaltation. Through the very soul it struck him, and his strength was withered up to ashes, thunder

23:11blasted. Now he lies a helpless trunk supinely, at full length beside the straight of ocean, spurred into by roots of Etna, high upon whose tops have festus sits, and strikes a flashing oar. From thence the rivers of fire shall burst away hereafter, and devour with savage jaws the equal planes of fruitful Sicily. Such passion he shall boil back, in hot darts of an insatiate fury, and suff of flame, and Typhon, how so ever struck and charred by Zeus's bolted thunder. But for thee thou art not so unlearned as to need my teaching, let thy knowledge save myself, I quaff the full cup of a present doom, and wait till Zeus hath quenched his will in wrath. Oceanus, Prometheus, art thou ignorant of this, that words do medicine anger? From Mithius, if the word with seasonable softness touch the soul, and where the parts

24:16are ulcerous seer them not by any rudeness. Oceanus, with a noble aim to dare as nobly, is there harm in that? Does thou discern it teach me? From Mithius, I discern vain aspiration, unresultive work. Oceanus, then suffer me to bear the brunt of this, since it is profitable that one who is wise should seem not wise at all. From Mithius, in such would seem my very crime. Oceanus, in truth thine argument sends me back home. From Mithius, lest any lament for me should cast thee down to hate. Oceanus, the hate of him who sits in new king on the absolute throne? From Mithius, beware of him, lest thine heart grieve by him. Oceanus, thy doom from Mithius be my teacher. From Mithius, go, depart, beware, and keep the mind thou hast.

25:20Oceanus, thy words drive after, as I rush before, low my four-footed bird sweep smooth, and wide the flats of air with balanced opinions, glad to bend his knee at home in the ocean stall. Oceanus, departs. Oceanus, first strophy. I mone thy fate, I mone for thee, Prometheus, from my eyes to tender, drop after drop in cessantly, the tears of my heart's pity render my cheeks wet from their fountains free, because that Zeus, the stern and cold, whose law is taken from his breast, uplifts his scepter manifest over the gods of old. First anti-strophy. All the land is moaning with a murmured plant today, all the mortal nations having habitations in the holy Asia are a dirge in toning for thine honor and thy brothers, once majestic beyond others in the old belief, now are groaning in the groaning of thy deep

26:22voiced grief. Second strophy. Morn the maids inhabitant of the Colchian land, who with white combusum stand in the battle's shore, morn the sithian tribes that haunt the verge of earth, meotus shore. Second anti-strophy. Yay, Arabia's battle-crown and dwellers in the beetling town mount caucuses sublimely nears, and iron squadron thundering down with the sharp proud spears. But one other before have I seen to remain by invincible pain bound in vanquished, one titan, who was atlas, who bears in a curse from the gods by that strength of his own which he ever more wears, the weight of the heaven on his shoulder alone, while he sies up the stars, and the tides of the ocean whale bursting their bars, murmurs still the profound, and black haides roars up for the chasm of the ground, and the fountains of pure running

27:24rivers morn low in a pathos of woe. Ametheus, besiege you. Think not I am silent thus through pride or scorn. I only know my heart with meditation, seeing myself so wronged. For see, there honors to these new-made gods, what other gave but I and dealt them out with distribution. I, but here I am dumb, for here I should repeat your knowledge to you if I spake ought. Just rather to the deeds I did for mortals, how being fools before I made them wise and true in aim of soul. And let me tell you not as taunting men, but teaching you the intention of my gifts, how first beholding they beheld in vain, and hearing heard not, but like shapes and dreams mixed all things wildly down the tedious time, nor new to build a house against the sun with the wicked sides nor any woodcraft knew, but lived like silly ants beneath the ground

28:26in hollow caves unsung. There came to them no steadfast sign of winter, nor of spring flower perfumed, nor of summer full of fruit. But blindly and lawlessly they did all things, until I taught them how the stars do rise and set in mystery, and devise for them number the inducer of philosophies, the synthesis of letters, and beside the artificer of all things, memory, that sweet muse-mother. I was first to yoke the servile beasts in couples, carrying an heirdom of man's burdens on their backs. I joined to chariot steeds that love the bit they champ at, the chief pomp of golden ease. And none but I originated ships, the sea man's chariots wandering on the brine with linen wings, and I, oh miserable, who did devise for mortals all these arts, have no device left now to save myself from the woe I suffer.

29:26Corus, most unscindly woe thou sufferest, and thus stagger from the sense be wildered, like a bad leech-falling sick thou art faint at soul, and cance not find the drugs required to save thyself. Amethias, harkened the rest, and marvel further what more arts and means I did invent, this greatest, if a man fell sick there was no cure, nor eskylent, nor chrysum, nor liquid, but for lack of drugs men pined and wasted, till I showed them all those mixtures of emolient remedies whereby they might be rescued from disease. I fixed the various rules of mantich art, discerned the vision from the common dream, instructed them in vocal auguries hard to interpret, and defined as plain the wayside omens, flights of crook-clawed birds, showed which are by their nature fortunate in which not so, and what the food of each, and what the hate's affections, social needs of all to one another,

30:29taught what sign of visceral lightness, colored to a shade, may charm the genial gods in what fair spots, commend the lung and liver, burning so the limbs encased in fat and the long chine, I led my mortals on to an art abstruse, and cleared their eyes to the image in the fire, airst filmed in dark. Enough said now of this, where the other helps of men hid underground, the iron in the brass silver and gold, can any dare affirm he found them out before me? None, I know, unless he choose to lie in his vaunt, in one word learn the whole, that all art came to mortals from Prometheus. Corus, give mortals now no inexperient help, neglecting thine own sorrow, I have hoped still to see the breaking from the fetter here stand up as strong as Zeus. Prometheus, this ends not thus, the oracular fate ordains, I must be bowed by infinite

31:31woes and pangs to escape this chain necessity as stronger than mine art. Corus, who holds the helm of that necessity? Prometheus, the threefold fates in the unforgetting furies. Corus, is Zeus less absolute than these are? Prometheus, yay, and therefore cannot fly what is ordained. Corus, what is ordained for Zeus except to be a king forever? Prometheus, tis too early yet for thee to learn it, ask no more. Corus, perhaps thy secret may be something holy. Prometheus, turn to another matter, this it is not time to speak abroad but utterly to veil in silence, whereby that same secret kept, I scape this chain's dishonor and its woe. Corus, first strofy, never o' never may Zeus the all-giver, wrestle down from his throne in that might of his own to antagonize mine, nor let me delay as I bend on my way toward

32:35the gods of the shrine, where the altar is full of the blood of the bull, near the tossing brine of ocean my father. May no sin be sped in the word that is said, but my vow be rather consummated, nor ever more fail, nor ever more pine. First anti-strophy, tis sweet to have life lengthened out, with hopes proved brave by the very doubt, till the spirit and fold those manifest joys which were foretold. But I thrilled to behold thee victim doomed, by the countless cares and the drear dispares for ever consumed, and all because thou who art fearless now of Zeus above, dint overflow for mankind below, with a free soul reverent low. Ah, friend, behold and see, what's all the beauty of humanity, can it be fair? What's all the strength, is it strong? And what hope can they bear these dying livers, living one day long? Ah, see us thou not my friend, how feeble and slow and like a dream doth go, this

33:40poor blind manhood drifted from its end, and how no mortal wranglings can confuse the harmony of Zeus? From atheists I have learnt these things from the sorrow in thy face, another song did fold its wings upon my lips and other days, when round the bath and round the bed the hymenial chant instead I sang for thee, and smiled, and thou didst lead with gifts and vows, he's the only my father's child to be thy wedded spouse. Eo enters. End of Part 1, Recording by Expatriot in Bangor, Maine. Part 2 of Prometheus bound by Iskilus, translated by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1806-1861. This Librivox recording is in the public domain, recording by Expatriot in Bangor, Maine.

34:46Part 2. Eo, what land is this, what people is here, and who is he that rives, I see, in the rock hong chain? Now, what is the crime that have brought thee to pain, and what is the land make answer free, which I wander through in my wrong in fear? Ah, ah, me, the gadfly strength the agony, O earth keep off that phantasm pale of earth-born argus, ah, I quail when my soul describes that herdsman with the myriad eyes, which he seen as he comes, one crafty eye, graves hide him not though he should die, but he dogged me in my misery from the roots of death, on high, on high, and along the sands of the siding deep, all famine-worn he follows me, and his waxen reed doth under sound the waters round, and giveeth a measure that giveeth sleep. Whoa, whoa, whoa, where shall my weary course be done, what woods thou with me, Saturn,

35:47and in what have I sinned that I should go, thus yoke to grief by thine hand forever? Ah, ah, dust vex me so, that I madden in shiver, stung through with dread, flash the fire down to burn me, heath the earth up to cover me, plunge me in the deep with the salt waves over me, that the sea-beast may be fed, oh, king do not spurn me in my prayer, for this wandering ever longer, ever more have overwarn me, and I know not on what shore I may rest from my despair. Corus, hear us thou with the oxhorn maiden saith, from Ethiopia's, how could I choose but hark in what she saith, the frenzied maiden, Inakus's child, who loved warm Zeus's heart and now is lashed by Harry's hate along the unending ways? Eo, who taught thee to articulate that name, my fathers, speak to his child by grief and shame defiled, who art thou victim, thou who dust acclaim my anguish in true words on the

36:53wide air, and call us to by name the curse that came from Harry unaware, to waste and pierce me with his maddening goad? Ah, ah, I leap with the pang of the hungry, I bound on the road I am driven by my doom, I am overcome by the wrath of an enemy strong and deep. Are any of those who have tasted pain alas, as wretched as I? Now tell me plain, doth ought remain from my soul to endure beneath the sky? Is there any help to be hope in by? If knowledge be in thee, let it be said, cry aloud, cry to the wandering woeful maid. Prometheus, whatever thou would slurn, I will declare, no riddle upon my lips but such straight words, as friends should use to each other when they talk, thou see us Prometheus who gave mortals fire? Eo, O come and help of all men known of all, O miserable Prometheus, for what caused

37:57us thou endure thus, Prometheus, I have done with wail from my own griefs but lately, Eo, will thou not vouch safe the boon to me? Prometheus, say what thou wilt, for I vouch safe all? Eo, speak then and reveal who shut thee in this chasm, Prometheus, the will of Zeus, the hand of his Hephaestus, Eo, and what crime dust expiate so, Prometheus, enough for thee I have told in so much only, Eo, nay, but show besides the limit of my wandering and the time which yet is lacking to fulfill my grief, Prometheus, why not to know we're better than to know for such as thou? Eo, besiege thee, blind me not to that which I must suffer, Prometheus, if I do, the reason is not that I grudge a boon, Eo, what reason then prevents thy speaking out?

39:01Prometheus, no grudging but a fear to break thine heart? Eo, less care for me, I pray thee, certainty I count for advantage, Prometheus, that will have it so, and therefore I must speak, now here, chorus, not yet, give half the gird in my way, let us learn first what the curse is that befell the maid, her own voice telling her own wasting woes, the sequence of that anguish shall await the teaching of thy lips. Prometheus, it doth behoove that thou made Eo, shouldst vouch safe to thee's the grace they pray, the more because they are called thy father's sisters, since to open out and mourn out grief word as possible to draw a tear from the audience is a work that pays its own price well. Eo, I cannot choose but trust you, nymphs, and tell you all ye ask in clear words, though I sob amid my speech, and speaking of the storm curse sent from Zeus, and of my beauty

40:04from what height it took its swoop on me, poor wretch, left thus deformed in monstrous to your eyes. For evermore around my virgin chamber, wandering went the nightly visions which entreated me, with syllableed smooth sweetness, blessed maid, why lengthen out thy maiden hours when fate permits the noblest spousal in the world, when Zeus burns with the arrow of thy love, and fame would touch thy beauty, maiden, thou despise not Zeus, depart to learn ye's mead that's green around thy father's flocks and stalls, until the passion of the heavenly eye be quenched in sight. Such dreams did all night long constrain me, me unhappy, till I dared to tell my father how they trod the dark with visionary steps, where at he sent his frequent heralds to the pithy in fame, and also to Dodona, and inquired how best by act or speech to please the gods,

41:05the same returning brought back oracles of doubtful sense, indefinite response, dark to interpret, but at last there came to Enicus an answer that was clear, thrown straight as any bolt and spoken out, this, he should drive me from my home and land, and bid me wander to the extreme verge of all the earth, or if he willed it not, should have a thunder with a fiery eye leap straight from Zeus to burn up all his race to the last root of it. By which loxian word subdued, he drove me forth and shut me out, he loath me loath, the Zeus's violent bit compelled him to the deed, when instantly my body and soul were changed and destroyed, and horned as ye see, and spurred along by the fanged insect with a maniac leap by rushed on to San Cria's limpid stream, and learnings fountain water, there the earth-borne, the herdsman argus, most imitable of wrath, did find me out, and track me out with countless

42:09eyes set staring at my steps, and though an unexpected sudden doom drew him from life, I curse tormented still, and driven from land to land before the scourge, the gods hold or me, so thou hast heard the past, and if a bitter future thou canst tell, speak on, I charge thee do not flatter me, through pity with false words, for in my mind deceiving works more shame than torturing death. Corus, ah, silence here, never more, never more, would I languish for the stranger's word to thrill in my ear, never more for the wrong in the woe and the fear so hard to be hold, so cruel to bear, piercing my soul with a double-edged sword of a sliding cold, ah fate, ah me, I shudder to see this wandering maid in her agony. Prometheus, grief is too quick in thee and fear too full, be patient till thou hast learnt

43:11the rest. Corus, speak, teach to those who are sad already, it seems sweet, by clear foreknowledge to make perfect pain. Prometheus, the boon ye asked me first was lightly one, for first ye asked the story of this maid's grief, as her own lips might tell it, now remains to list what others sorrow she's so young must bear from heri. Inicus's child, O thou, drop down thy soul my wady words, and measure out the landmarks which are set to end thy wandering. Toward the orient sun, first turn thy face from mine and journey on, along the desert flats till thou shalt come, where sithia's shepherd peoples dwell aloft, perched in wheeled wagons under woven roofs, and twang the rapid arrow past the bow, approach them not, but siding in thy course the rugged shore-rocks resonant to the sea, depart that country. On the left hand dwell the iron workers, called the calibis, of whom beware for certas

44:17they are uncouth, and no-wise bland to strangers. Reaching so the stream hibristies, well the scornor called, attempt no passage it is hard to pass, or air thou come to caucuses itself, that highest of mountains, where the river leaps the precipice in his strength. Thou must toil up those mountain tops that neighbor with the stars, and tread the south way and draw near at last the Amazonian hosts that haitheth men. Inhabitants of Thamesira, close upon Thermadon, where the seas rough jaw, doth nash at Salmadesa, and provide a cruel host to sea men, and to ships a step-dame. They with unreluctant hands shall lead thee on and on, till thou arrive, just where the ocean gates show narrowest, on the Samarion isthmus, leaving which behooves thee swim, with fortitude of soul the straight myodis. I, and evermore that traverse shall be famous on men's lips, that straight cold boss

45:20for us, the horned ones rode, so named because of thee, who so wilt pass from Europe's plain to Asia's continent. How think ye nymphs, the king of gods appears impartial in ferocious deeds, behold, the god-desirus of this mortal's love hath cursed her with these wanderings. Ah, fair child, thou hast met a bitter groom for bridal truth, for all thou yet hast heard can only prove the incomplete prelude of thy doom. Eo, ah, ah, Prometheus, is it thy turn now to shriek in moan? How wilt thou, when thou hast harken, what remains? Corus, besides the grief thou hast told, can aunt remain? Prometheus, a sea of foredoomed evil, work to storm. Eo, what boots my life, then? Why not cast myself down headlong from this miserable rock that dashed against the flats

46:21I may redeem my soul from sorrow, better once to die than day by day to suffer? Prometheus, verily, it would be hard for thee to bear my woe for whom it is appointed not to die. Death frees from woe, but I before me see in all my far prevision, not abound to all I suffer, air that Zeus shall fall from being a king. Eo, and can it ever be that Zeus shall fall from empire? Prometheus, thou me thinks, would take some joy to see it. Eo, could I choose, I who endure such pangs now by that God? Prometheus, learn from me therefore that the event shall be. Eo, by whom shall his imperial-septored hand be emptied so? Prometheus, himself shall spoil himself through his idiotic councils. Eo, how declare, unless the word bring evil?

47:24Prometheus, he shall wed, and in the marriage bond be joined to grief. Eo, a heavenly bride or human, speak it out if it be utterable? Prometheus, why should I say which? It ought not to be uttered, verily. Eo, then it is his wife shall tear him from his throne? Prometheus, it is his wife shall bear a son to him, more mighty than the father. Eo, from this doom, hath he no refuge? Prometheus, none, or air that I loose from these fetters? Eo, yeh, but who shall loose while Zeus is at verse? Prometheus, one who is born of thee? It is ordained so. Eo, what is this thou saest? A son of mine shall liberate thee from woe? Prometheus, after ten generations count three more and find him in the third? Eo, the oracle remains obscure.

48:25Prometheus, and search it not to learn thine own Greece from it. Eo, point me not to a good to leave me straight bereaved. Prometheus, I am prepared to grant thee one of two things. Eo, but which, too, set them before me, grant me power to choose? Prometheus, I grant it, choose now. Shall I name aloud what griefs remain to Wondae, or what hand shall save me out of mine? Corus, vouch safe, O God, the one grace of the twain to her who prays, the next to me, and turn back neither prayer dishonored by denial, to herself recount the future wandering of her feet, then point me to the looser of thy chain because I yearn to know him. Prometheus, since ye will, of absolute will, this knowledge, I will set no contrary against it, nor keep back a word of all ye ask for. Eo, first to thee, I must relate thy wandering course far winding.

49:30As I tell it, write it down in thy soul's book of memories. When thou hast passed the refluent bound that parts two continents, track on the footsteps of the Orient Sun in his own fire across the roar of seas. Fly to thou hast reached the Gorgonian flats beside Sistani. There the four cities, three ancient maidens live with shape of swan, one tooth between them and one common eye, and whom the sun death never look at all with all his rays, nor ever more the moon when she looks through the night. A near to whom are the Gorgon's sisters three, enclowed with wings, with twisted snakes for ringlets man aboard, there is no mortal gays on their face and gazing can breathe on. I speak of such to guard thee from their horror. I, enlist another tale of a dreadful sight, beware the Griffins, those unbarking dogs of Zeus, those sharp-mouthed dogs, and the Aramace be in host of one-eyed horsemen, habiting

50:34beside the river of Pluto that runs bright with gold. Approach them not, be siege thee. Presently thou come to a distant land, a dusky tribe of dwellers at the fountain of the sun, once flows the river Ethiops, wind along its banks, and turn off at the cataract just as the Nile pours from the Bibline hills, is holy and sweet wave, his chorus shall guide thine own to that triangular Nile ground, where Eo is ordained for thee and thine a lengthen exile. Have I said in this ought darkly or incompletely? Now repeat the question, make the knowledge fuller, low, I have more leisure than I covet here. Corus, if thou canst tell us ought that's left untold, or loosely told of her most dreary flight, declare it straight, but if thou hast uttered all, grant us that latter grace for which we prayed, remembering how we prayed it. Frometheus, she has heard the uttermost of her wandering, there it ends, but that she

51:39may be certain not to have heard all vainly, I will speak what she endured, air-coming hither, and invoke the past to prove my prescience true. And so, to leave a multitude of words, and pass at once to the subject of thy course, when thou hast gone to those malossian plains which sweep around Dodona, shouldering heaven, whereby the fain of Zeus, Thessaprastian, keepeth oracle, and wonder past belief, where oaks do wave articulate adjurations, I, the same, saluted thee in no perplexed phrase, but clear with glory noble wife of Zeus, that should be. There some sweetness took thy sense. Thou didst rush further onward, stung along the ocean shore, toward Rea's mighty bay, and tossed back from it, was tossed to it again in stormy evolution, and no well in coming time that hollow of the sea shall bear the name Ionian, and present a monument of

52:40Eos passage through unto all mortals. Be these words the signs of my soul's power to look beyond the veil of visible things. The rest to you and her I will declare in common audience nymphs, returning thither where my speech break off. There is a town canobus built upon the earth's fair margin at the mouth of Nile, and on the mound washed up by it, eo, there shall Zeus give back to thee thy perfect mind, and only by the pressure and the touch of a hand not terrible. And thou to Zeus shall bear a dusky sun, which shall be called thence, e paphus, touched, that sun shall pluck the fruit of all that land wide-watered by the flow of Nile. But after him, when counting out as far as the fifth full generation, then full fifty maidens, a fair woman raced, shall back to Argos turn reluctantly to fly the proffered nupials of their kin, their fathers' brothers.

53:42These being passions struck, like falcons bearing hard on flying doves, shall follow hunting at a quarry of love they should not hunt. Till Envious Heaven maintained, a curse betwix that beauty in their desire, and Greece received them to be overcome in murderous woman-war by fierce red hands kept savage by the night. For every wife shall slay a husband, dying deep in blood the sword of a double edge, I wish indeed as fair a marriage joy to all my foes. One bride alone shall fail to smite to death the head upon her pillow touched with love, made impotent of purpose and impelled to choose the lesser evil, shame on her cheeks, then blood guilt on her hands, which bride shall bear a royal race in Argos. Tedia's speech were needed to relate particulars of these things, to his enough that from her seed shall spring the strong he, famous with the bow whose arm shall break my fetters off.

54:44Behold my mother-themus, that old tightness, delivered to me such an oracle, but how and when I should be long to speak, and thou in hearing would not gain at all. Eo! Eleleu, Eleleu, how the spasm and the pain and the fire on the brain strike burning me through. How the sting of the curse all the flame as it flew pricks me onward again. How my heart and its terror is spurning my breast, and my eyes like the wheels of a chariot roll round, I am whirled from my course to the east to the west, in the whirlwind of frenzy all madly in-wound, and my mouth is unbridled for anguish and hate, and my words be in vain in wild storms of unrest on the sea of my desolate fate. Eo rushes out. Corus strofy. Oh, wise was he. Who first within his spirit knew, and with his tongue declared it true, that love comes

55:48best that comes unto the equal of degree, and that the poor and that the low should seek no love from those above, whose souls are fluttered with the flow of airs about their golden height, or proud because they see a row in sestral crowns of light. Antistrophy. Oh, never, never may ye fates, behold me with your awful eyes, lift mine too fondly up the skies where Zeus upon the purple waits. Nor let me step too near, too near to any suitor, bright from heaven, because I see, because I fear this loveless maiden vexed in laden by this fell curse of heri driven on wanderings dread and drear. Nay, grant an equal truth instead of nupcial love to bind me by. It will not hurt, I shall not dread to meet it in reply, but let not love from those above revert and fix me, as I said, with that inevitable eye. I have no sword to fight that fight, I have no strength to tread that path.

56:51I know not if my nature hath the power to bear, I cannot see, whether from Zeus's infinite I have the power to flee. Yet Zeus, albeit most absolute of will, shall turn to meekness. Such a marriage-right he holds in preparation, which a non shall thrust him head long from his gerent seat, a down the abysmal void, and so the curse his father, Cronus, muttered in his fall, as he fell from his ancient throne and cursed, shall be accomplished holy. No escape from all that ruin shall the filial Zeus find granted to him from any of his gods, unless I teach him, either refuge no and I the means. Now therefore let him sit and brave the imminent doom, and fix his faith on his supernal noises hurtling on with restless hand the bolt that breathes out fire. For these things shall not help him, none of them, nor hinder his perdition when he falls to shame and lower than patience.

57:52Such a foe he doth himself prepare against himself, a wonder of unconquerable hate, an organizer of sublime or fire than glares and lightnings, and of grander sound than ought the thunder rolls, outthundering it, with power to shatter in Poseidon's fist, the trident spear which, while it plagues the sea, doth shake the shores around it. I and Zeus precipitated thus shall learn at length the difference between its rule and servitude. Corus, thou makeest threats for Zeus of thy desires? From metheus, I tell you, all these things shall be fulfilled, even so as I desire them. Corus, must we then look out for one shall come to master Zeus? From metheus, these chains weigh lighter than his sorrow shall. Corus, how art thou not afraid to utter such words? From metheus, what should I fear who cannot die? Corus, but he can visit thee with dread or woe than deaths?

58:56From metheus, why let him do it? I am here prepared for all things and their pangs. Corus, the wise are they who reverence adraste ye. From metheus, reverence thou, adore thou, flatter thou, whomever reigns, whenever raining, but for me your Zeus is less than nothing. Let him act and reign his brief hour out according to his will. He will not therefore rule the gods too long. Below, I see that courier god of Zeus, that new-made menial of the new crown king, he doubtless comes to announce to us something new. Hermes enters. Hermes. I speak to thee, the sophist, the talker down of scorn by scorn, the sinner against gods, the reverencer of men, the thief of fire. I speak to thee and a jurd thee. Zeus requires thy declaration of what marriage right, thus moves thy vaunt, and shall hereafter cause his foe from empire.

59:57Do not rap thy speech in riddles, but speak clearly. Never cast ambiguous paths from metheus, from my feet since Zeus thou mayest perceive, is scarcely one to mercy by such means. A speech well-move in the utterance and full-minded in the sense, as doth be fit a servant of the gods. New gods ye newly reign, and think forsooth ye dwell in towers too high for any dark to carry a wound there. Have I not stood by while two kings fell from vents, and shall I not behold the third, the same who rules you now, fall, shame to sudden ruin? Do I seem to tremble in quail before your modern gods? Far be it from me, for thyself depart, retread thy steps in haste, to all thou hast asked I answer nothing. Hermes, such a wind of pride impeld thee of your full sail upon these rocks. From metheus, I would not barter, learn thou soothly that, my suffering for thy service,

1:01:03I maintain it is a nobler thing to serve these rocks than live a faithful slave to father Zeus. Thus upon scorners I retort their scorn. Hermes, it seems that thou dost glory, and thy despair. From metheus, I glory, would my foes did glory so, and I stood by to see them, naming whom thou art not unrememberd. Hermes, thus thou charge me also with the blame of thymus chance? From metheus, I tell thee, I loath the universal gods, who for the good I gave them rendered back the ill of their injustice. Hermes, thou art mad, thou art raving titan at the fever height. From metheus, if it be madness to abhor my foes, may I be mad. Hermes, if thou art prosperous, thou wouldst be unendurable. From metheus, alas, Hermes, Zeus knows not that word.

1:02:04From metheus, but maturing time teaches all things. Hermes, how be it thou hast not learnt the wisdom yet thou needest. From metheus, if I had, I should not talk thus with a slave like thee. Hermes, no answer thou vouch safest, I believe, to the great sire's requirement. From metheus, verily I owe him grateful service and should pay it. Hermes, why thou dost mock me titan, as I stood a child before thy face? From metheus, no child forsooth, but yet more foolish than a foolish child, if thou expected I should answer ought thy Zeus can ask. No torture from his hand, nor any machination in the world shall force mine utterance, air he loose himself these cankerest fetters from me. For the rest let him now hurl his blanching lightening's down, and with his white winged snows and muttering's deep, of subterranean thunders mix all things, can found them in

1:03:07disorder. None of this shall bend my sturdy will, and make me speak the name of his dethroner who shall come. Hermes, can this avail thee? Look to it, from metheus, long ago it was looked forward to pre-counseled of. Hermes, vain God, take righteous courage, therefore wants to apprehend in front thine agonies with adjust prudence. From metheus, vainly dust thou chave my soul with exhortation, as yonder see goes beating on the rock. O think no more that I, fear struck by Zeus to a woman's mind, will supplicate him, loathed as he is, with feminine uplifting's of my hands to break these chains. Far from mebe the thought, Hermes. I have indeed, methanks, said much in vain, for still thy heart beneath my showers of prayers lies dry and hard. Nay, leaps like a young horse, who bites against the new bit in his teeth, and tugs and

1:04:12struggles against the new tride rain, still fiercest in the feeblest thing of all, which softism is, since absolute will disjoined from perfect mind is worse than weak. Behold, unless my words persuade thee, what a blast and whirlwind of inevitable woe must sweep persuasion through thee. But first the father will split up this jutt of rock, with the great thunder in the bolted flame, and hide thy body where a hinge of stone shall catch it like an arm, and when thou hast passed a long black time within thou shalt come out to front the sun, while Zeus's winged hound, the strong carnivorous eagle shall wheel down to meet thee, self-cold to a daily feast, and set his fierce beak in thee, and tear off the long rags of thy flesh, and batten deep upon thy dusky liver. Do not look for any end more over to this curse, or air some God appear to accept thy

1:05:13pangs on his own head vicarious, and descend with unreluctant step the darks of hell, and gloomy abyss is around tardarus, then ponder this, this thread is not a growth of vain indention, it is spoken and meant, King Zeus's mouth is impotent to lie, consummating the utterance by the act, so look to it thou, take heed, and never more forget good counsel to indulge self-will. Corus, our Hermes suits his reasons to the times, at least I think so, since he bids the drop self-will for prudent counsel, yield to him, when the wise air their wisdom makes their shame. O, Mithius, unto me the foreknower, this mandate of power he cries to reveal it, what strange in my fate if I suffer from hate at the hour that I feel it, let the locks of the lightning all bristling and whitening flash coiling me round, while the ether goes

1:06:13surging, me thunder and scourging of wild winds unbound, let the blast of the firmament whirl from its place the earth rooted below, and the brine of the ocean in rapid emotion be driven in the face of the stars up in heaven as they walk to and fro, let him hurl me a non-intotardarist on to the blackest degree, with necessities vortices strangling me down, but he cannot join death to a fate meant for me, Hermes. Why the words that he speaks, and the thoughts that he thinks are maniacal, add if the fate who have bound him should loose not the links he were utterly mad, then depart ye who groan with him, leaving to moan with him, go in haste, lest the roar of the thunder and nearing should blast you to idiocy, living and hearing. Corus, change thy speech for another thy thought for a new, if to move me and teach me indeed be thy care, for thy words swerve so far from the loyal and true that the thunder of Zeus

1:07:14seems more easy to bear. How could teach me to venture such vileness behold? I choose with this victim this anguish foretold. I recoil from the traitor in hate and disdain, and I know that the curse of the trees in his worse than the pang of the chain. Hermes, then remember, oh nymphs, what I tell you before, nor when pierced by the arrows that Ate will throw you, cast blame on your fate and declare evermore that Zeus thrust you on anguish he did not foreshow you. May verily nay, for ye perish a nun for ye deed by your choice, by no blindness of doubt, no abruptness of doom, but by madness alone, in the great net of Ate whence none comeeth out, year wound an undone. Prometheus, I, in act now, in word now no more, earth is rocking in space, and the thunder's crash up with a roar upon roar, and the edding lightning's flash fire in my face, and

1:08:18the whirlwinds are whirling the dust round and round, and the blasts of the winds universal leap-free, and blow each upon each with a passion of sound, and ether goes mingling in storm with the sea. Such a curse on my head in a manifest dread, from the hand of your Zeus has been hurtled along, O my mother's fair glory, O ether in ringing, all eyes with the sweet common light of thy bringing, does see how I suffer this wrong? End of Part 2, Recording by Expatriot in Bangor, Maine. End of Prometheus bound by Iskolas, translated by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1806-1861. End of Part 2, Recording by Expatriot in Bangor, Maine.