Io:What land is this? What people? By what name am I to call the one I see exposed to the tempest in bonds of rock? What offence have you committed that as punishment you are doomed to destruction?
Ἰώ:τίς γῆ; τί γένος; τίνα φῶ λεύσσειντόνδε χαλινοῖς ἐν πετρίνοισινχειμαζόμενον;τίνος ἀμπλακίας ποινὰς ὀλέκῃ;
Tell me to what region of the earth I have wandered in my wretchedness?
σήμηνον ὅποι γῆς ἡ μογερὰ πεπλάνημαι.
Oh, oh! Aah! Aah! A gad-fly, phantom of earth-born Argus is stinging me again! Keep him away, O Earth! I am fearful when I behold that myriad-eyed herdsman. He travels onward with his crafty gaze upon me;
Ἰώ:ἆ ἆ, ἒ ἔ,χρίει τις αὖ με τὰν τάλαιναν οἶστρος,εἴδωλον Ἄργου γηγενοῦς, ἄλευʼ ἆ δᾶ· φοβοῦμαιτὸν μυριωπὸν εἰσορῶσα βούταν.
not even in death does the earth conceal him, but passing from the shades he hounds me, the forlorn one, and drives me famished along the sands of the seashore.Io:The waxen pipe drones forth in accompaniment a clear-sounding slumberous strain. Alas, alas! Where is my far-roaming wandering course taking me? In what, O son of Cronus, in what have you found offence so that you have bound meto this yoke of misery—aah! are you harassing a wretched maiden to frenzy by this terror of the pursuing gadfly? Consume me with fire, or hide me in the earth, or give me to the monsters of the deep to devour; but do not grudge, O Lord, the favor that I pray for.My far-roaming wanderings have taught me enough, and I cannot discern how to escape my sufferings. Do you hear the voice of the horned virgin?
ὁ δὲ πορεύεται δόλιον ὄμμʼ ἔχων,ὃν οὐδὲ κατθανόντα γαῖα κεύθει.ἀλλʼ, ἐμὲ τὰν τάλαινανἐξ ἐνέρων περῶν κυναγετεῖ, πλανᾷτε νῆστιν ἀνὰ τὰν παραλίαν ψάμμαν.Ἰώ:ὑπὸ δὲ κηρόπλαστος ὀτοβεῖ δόναξἀχέτας ὑπνοδόταν νόμον·ἰὼ ἰὼ πόποι, ποῖ μʼ ἄγουσι τη-λέπλαγκτοι πλάναι;τί ποτέ μʼ, ὦ Κρόνιε παῖ, τί ποτε ταῖσδʼἐνέζευξας εὑρὼν ἁμαρτοῦσαν ἐνπημοναῖσιν; ἓ ἕ,οἰστρηλάτῳ δὲ δείματιδειλαίαν παράκοπον ὧδε τείρεις;πυρί ⟨με ⟩ φλέξον, ἢ χθονὶ κάλυψον, ἤποντίοις δάκεσι δὸς βοράν,μηδέ μοι φθονήσῃςεὐγμάτων, ἄναξ.ἄδην με πολύπλανοι πλάναιγεγυμνάκασιν, οὐδʼ ἔχω μαθεῖν ὅπαπημονὰς ἀλύξω.κλύεις φθέγμα τᾶς βούκερω παρθένου;
Prometheus:How can I fail to hear the maiden frenzied by the gadfly, thedaughter of Inachus? It is she who fires the heart of Zeus with passion, and now, through Hera’s hate, is disciplined by force with interminable wandering.
Προμηθεύς:πῶς δʼ οὐ κλύω τῆς οἰστροδινήτου κόρης,τῆς Ἰναχείας; ἣ Διὸς θάλπει κέαρἔρωτι, καὶ νῦν τοὺς ὑπερμήκεις δρόμουςἭρᾳ στυγητὸς πρὸς βίαν γυμνάζεται.
Io:Why do you call my father’s name? Tell me, the unfortunate maid, who you are,unhappy wretch, that you thus correctly address the miserable maiden, and have named the heaven-sent plague that wastes and stings me with its maddening goad. Ah me! In frenzied bounds I come,driven by torturing hunger, victim of Hera’s vengeful purpose. Who of the company of the unfortunate endures—aah! aah!—sufferings such as mine? Oh make it clear to mewhat misery I am fated to suffer, what remedy is there, what cure, for my affliction. Reveal it, if you have the knowledge. Oh speak, declare it to the unfortunate, wandering virgin.
Ἰώ:πόθεν ἐμοῦ σὺ πατρὸς ὄνομʼ ἀπύεις;εἰπέ μοι τᾷ μογερᾷ τίς ὤν;τίς ἄρα μʼ, ὦ τάλας, τὰν τάλαιναν ὧδʼἔτυμα προσθροεῖς;θεόσυτόν τε νόσον ὠνόμασας, ἃμαραίνει με χρίουσα κέντροις, ⟨ἰώ⟩,φοιταλέοισιν ἓ ἕ·σκιρτημάτων δὲ νήστισιναἰκείαις λαβρόσυτος ἦλθον, ⟨Ἥρας ⟩ἐπικότοισι μήδεσι δαμεῖσα. δυσ-δαιμόνων δὲ τίνες οἵ, ἓ ἕ,οἷʼ ἐγὼ μογοῦσιν;ἀλλά μοι τορῶςτέκμηρον ὅ τι μʼ ἐπαμμένειπαθεῖν, τί μῆχαρ, ἢ τί φάρμακον νόσου,δεῖξον, εἴπερ οἶσθα·θρόει, φράζε τᾷ δυσπλάνῳ παρθένῳ.
Prometheus:I will tell you plainly all that you would like to know,not weaving riddles, but in simple language, since it is right to speak openly to friends. Look, I whom you see am Prometheus, who gave fire to mankind.
Προμηθεύς:λέξω τορῶς σοι πᾶν ὅπερ χρῄζεις μαθεῖν,οὐκ ἐμπλέκων αἰνίγματʼ, ἀλλʼ ἁπλῷ λόγῳ,ὥσπερ δίκαιον πρὸς φίλους οἴγειν στόμα.πυρὸς βροτοῖς δοτῆρʼ ὁρᾷς Προμηθέα.
Io:O you who have shown yourself a common benefactor of mankind, wretched Prometheus, why do you suffer so?
Ἰώ:ὦ κοινὸν ὠφέλημα θνητοῖσιν φανείς,τλῆμον Προμηθεῦ, τοῦ δίκην πάσχεις τάδε;
Prometheus:I have only just now finished lamenting my own calamities.
Προμηθεύς:ἁρμοῖ πέπαυμαι τοὺς ἐμοὺς θρηνῶν πόνους.
Io:You will not then do this favor for me?
Ἰώ:οὔκουν πόροις ἂν τήνδε δωρεὰν ἐμοί;
Prometheus:Say what it is you wish; for you can learn all from me.
Προμηθεύς:λέγʼ ἥντινʼ αἰτῇ· πᾶν γὰρ ἂν πύθοιό μου.
Io:Tell me who has bound you fast in this ravine.
Ἰώ:σήμηνον ὅστις ἐν φάραγγί σʼ ὤχμασεν.
Prometheus:Zeus by his will, Hephaestus by his hand.
Προμηθεύς:βούλευμα μὲν τὸ Δῖον, Ἡφαίστου δὲ χείρ.
Io:And for what offence do you pay the penalty?
Ἰώ:ποινὰς δὲ ποίων ἀμπλακημάτων τίνεις;
Prometheus:It suffices that I have made clear to you this much and no more.
Προμηθεύς:τοσοῦτον ἀρκῶ σοι σαφηνίσας μόνον.
Io:No, also tell me the end of my wandering—what time is set for wretched me.
Ἰώ:καὶ πρός γε τούτοις τέρμα τῆς ἐμῆς πλάνηςδεῖξον, τίς ἔσται τῇ ταλαιπώρῳ χρόνος.
Prometheus:It would be better not to know than to know, in your case.
Προμηθεύς:τὸ μὴ μαθεῖν σοι κρεῖσσον ἢ μαθεῖν τάδε.
Io:I beg you, do not hide from me what I am doomed to suffer.
Ἰώ:μήτοι με κρύψῃς τοῦθʼ ὅπερ μέλλω παθεῖν.
Prometheus:No, it is not that I do not want to grant your request.
Προμηθεύς:ἀλλʼ οὐ μεγαίρω τοῦδέ σοι δωρήματος.
Io:Why then your reluctance to tell me everything?
Ἰώ:τί δῆτα μέλλεις μὴ οὐ γεγωνίσκειν τὸ πᾶν;
Prometheus:I am not unwilling; but I hesitate to crush your spirit.
Προμηθεύς:φθόνος μὲν οὐδείς, σὰς δʼ ὀκνῶ θράξαι φρένας.
Io:Do not be more kind to me than I myself desire.
Ἰώ:μή μου προκήδου μᾶσσον ὡς ἐμοὶ γλυκύ.
Prometheus:Since you insist, I must speak. Listen, then.
Προμηθεύς:ἐπεὶ προθυμῇ, χρὴ λέγειν. ἄκουε δή.
Chorus:No, not yet. Grant us too a portion of the pleasure. Let us first inquire the story of her affliction and let her with her own lips relate the events that brought horrid calamity upon her. Then let her be instructed by you as to the toils still to come.
Χορός:μήπω γε· μοῖραν δʼ ἡδονῆς κἀμοὶ πόρε.τὴν τῆσδε πρῶτον ἱστορήσωμεν νόσον,αὐτῆς λεγούσης τὰς πολυφθόρους τύχας·τὰ λοιπὰ δʼ ἄθλων σοῦ διδαχθήτω πάρα.
Prometheus:It is for you, Io, to grant them this favor, especially since they are your father’s sisters. For it is worthwhile to indulge in weeping and in wailing over evil fortunes when one is likely to win the tribute of a tear from the listener.
Προμηθεύς:σὸν ἔργον, Ἰοῖ, ταῖσδʼ ὑπουργῆσαι χάριν,ἄλλως τε πάντως καὶ κασιγνήταις πατρός.ὡς τἀποκλαῦσαι κἀποδύρασθαι τύχαςἐνταῦθʼ, ὅπου μέλλοι τις οἴσεσθαι δάκρυπρὸς τῶν κλυόντων, ἀξίαν τριβὴν ἔχει.
Io:I do not know how to refuse you. You shall learn in truthful speech all that you would like to know. Yet I am ashamed to tell about the storm of calamity sent by Heaven, of the marring of my form, and of the source from which it swooped upon me, wretched that I am.
Ἰώ:οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως ὑμῖν ἀπιστῆσαί με χρή,σαφεῖ δὲ μύθῳ πᾶν ὅπερ προσχρῄζετεπεύσεσθε· καίτοι καὶ λέγουσʼ αἰσχύνομαιθεόσσυτον χειμῶνα καὶ διαφθορὰνμορφῆς, ὅθεν μοι σχετλίᾳ προσέπτατο.
For visions of the night, always haunting my maiden chamber, sought to beguile me with seductive words, saying: “O damsel greatly blessed of fortune, why linger in your maidenhood so long when it is within your power to win a union of the highest? Zeus is inflamed by passion’s dart”“for you and is eager to unite with you in love. Do not, my child, spurn the bed of Zeus, but go forth to Lerna’s meadow land of pastures deep and to your father’s flocks and where his cattle feed, so that the eye of Zeus may find respite from its longing.”
αἰεὶ γὰρ ὄψεις ἔννυχοι πωλεύμεναιἐς παρθενῶνας τοὺς ἐμοὺς παρηγόρουνλείοισι μύθοις ὦ μέγʼ εὔδαιμον κόρη,τί παρθενεύει δαρόν, ἐξόν σοι γάμουτυχεῖν μεγίστου; Ζεὺς γὰρ ἱμέρου βέλειπρὸς σοῦ τέθαλπται καὶ συναίρεσθαι Κύπρινθέλει· σὺ δʼ, ὦ παῖ, μὴ ʼπολακτίσῃς λέχοςτὸ Ζηνός, ἀλλʼ ἔξελθε πρὸς Λέρνης βαθὺνλειμῶνα, ποίμνας βουστάσεις τε πρὸς πατρός,ὡς ἂν τὸ Δῖον ὄμμα λωφήσῃ πόθου.
By such dreams was I, to my distress, beset night after night, until at last I gained courage to tell my father of the dreams that haunted me. And he sent many a messenger to Pytho and Dodona so that he might discoverwhat deed or word of his would find favor with the gods. But they returned with report of oracles, riddling, obscure, and darkly worded. Then at last there came an unmistakable utterance to Inachus, charging and commanding him clearly thathe must thrust me forth from home and native land to roam at large to the remotest confines of the earth; and, if he would not, a fiery thunderbolt would come from Zeus that would utterly destroy his whole race. Yielding obedience to such prophetic utterances of Loxias,he drove me away and barred me from his house, against his will and mine; but the constraint of Zeus forced him to act by necessity. Immediately my form and mind were distorted, and with horns, as you see, upon my forehead,stung by a sharp-fanged gadfly I rushed with frantic bounds to Cerchnea’s sweet stream and Lerna’s spring. But Argus, the earth-born herdsman, untempered in his rage, pursued me, peering with his many eyes upon my steps.
τοιοῖσδε πάσας εὐφρόνας ὀνείρασισυνειχόμην δύστηνος, ἔστε δὴ πατρὶἔτλην γεγωνεῖν νυκτίφοιτʼ ὀνείρατα.ὁ δʼ ἔς τε Πυθὼ κἀπὶ Δωδώνης πυκνοὺςθεοπρόπους ἴαλλεν, ὡς μάθοι τί χρὴδρῶντʼ ἢ λέγοντα δαίμοσιν πράσσειν φίλα.ἧκον δʼ ἀναγγέλλοντες αἰολοστόμουςχρησμοὺς ἀσήμους δυσκρίτως τʼ εἰρημένους.τέλος δʼ ἐναργὴς βάξις ἦλθεν Ἰνάχῳσαφῶς ἐπισκήπτουσα καὶ μυθουμένηἔξω δόμων τε καὶ πάτρας ὠθεῖν ἐμέ,ἄφετον ἀλᾶσθαι γῆς ἐπʼ ἐσχάτοις ὅροις·κεἰ μὴ θέλοι, πυρωπὸν ἐκ Διὸς μολεῖνκεραυνόν, ὃς πᾶν ἐξαϊστώσοι γένος.τοιοῖσδε πεισθεὶς Λοξίου μαντεύμασινἐξήλασέν με κἀπέκλῃσε δωμάτωνἄκουσαν ἄκων· ἀλλʼ ἐπηνάγκαζέ νινΔιὸς χαλινὸς πρὸς βίαν πράσσειν τάδε.εὐθὺς δὲ μορφὴ καὶ φρένες διάστροφοιἦσαν, κεραστὶς δʼ, ὡς ὁρᾶτʼ, ὀξυστόμῳμύωπι χρισθεῖσʼ ἐμμανεῖ σκιρτήματιᾖσσον πρὸς εὔποτόν τε Κερχνείας ῥέοςΛέρνης τε κρήνην· βουκόλος δὲ γηγενὴςἄκρατος ὀργὴν Ἄργος ὡμάρτει, πυκνοῖςὄσσοις δεδορκὼς τοὺς ἐμοὺς κατὰ στίβους.
A sudden death robbed him of life unexpectedly; while I, still tormented by the gadfly, am driven on from land to land before the heaven-sent plague. That is what happened; and if you can declare what toils still remain, reveal them. Do not, from pity, seekto soothe me with untrue words; for I consider false words to be the foulest sickness.
ἀπροσδόκητος δʼ αὐτὸν ἀφνίδιος μόροςτοῦ ζῆν ἀπεστέρησεν. οἰστροπλὴξ δʼ ἐγὼμάστιγι θείᾳ γῆν πρὸ γῆς ἐλαύνομαι.κλύεις τὰ πραχθέντʼ· εἰ δʼ ἔχεις εἰπεῖν ὅ τιλοιπὸν πόνων, σήμαινε· μηδέ μʼ οἰκτίσαςξύνθαλπε μύθοις ψευδέσιν· νόσημα γὰραἴσχιστον εἶναί φημι συνθέτους λόγους.
Chorus:Oh, ah, go away, alas! Never, oh never, did I dream that words so strange would greet my ears;or that sufferings so grievous to look upon, yes, and so grievous to endure, a tale of outrage, would strike my soul as if with double-pronged goad. Alas, O Fate, O Fate,I shudder to behold the plight that has befallen Io.
Χορός:ἔα ἔα, ἄπεχε, φεῦ·οὔποτʼ οὔποτʼ ηὔχουν ⟨ὧδε ⟩ ξένουςμολεῖσθαι λόγους εἰς ἀκοὰν ἐμάν,οὐδʼ ὧδε δυσθέατα καὶ δύσοισταπήματα, λύματα, [δείματα] ἀμ-φάκει κέντρῳ τύψειν ψυχὰν ἐμάν.ἰὼ [ἰὼ] μοῖρα μοῖρα,πέφρικʼ εἰσιδοῦσα πρᾶξιν Ἰοῦς.
Prometheus:You lament and are full of fear all too soon. Wait until you have learned the rest as well.
Προμηθεύς:πρῴ γε στενάζεις καὶ φόβου πλέα τις εἶ·ἐπίσχες ἔστʼ ἂν καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ προσμάθῃς.
Chorus:Proceed, tell all. It is comforting for the sick to know clearly beforehand what pain still awaits them.
Χορός:λέγʼ, ἐκδίδασκε· τοῖς νοσοῦσί τοι γλυκὺτὸ λοιπὸν ἄλγος προυξεπίστασθαι τορῶς.
Prometheus:You gained your former request easily from me; for you first desired the story of her ordeal from her own lips. Hear now the sequel, the sufferings this maid is fated to endure at Hera’s hand.
Προμηθεύς:τὴν πρίν γε χρείαν ἠνύσασθʼ ἐμοῦ πάρακούφως· μαθεῖν γὰρ τῆσδε πρῶτʼ ἐχρῄζετετὸν ἀμφʼ ἑαυτῆς ἆθλον ἐξηγουμένης·τὰ λοιπὰ νῦν ἀκούσαθʼ, οἷα χρὴ πάθητλῆναι πρὸς Ἥρας τήνδε τὴν νεάνιδα.
And may you, daughter of Inachus, lay to heart my words so that you may learn the end of your wanderings. First, from this spot, turn yourself toward the rising sun and make your way over untilled plains; and you shall reach the Scythian nomads, who dwellin thatched houses, perched aloft on strong-wheeled wagons and are equipped with far-darting bows. Do not approach them, but keeping your feet near the rugged shore, where the sea breaks with a roar, pass on beyond their land. On the left hand dwell the workers in iron,the Chalybes, and you must beware of them, since they are savage and are not to be approached by strangers. Then you shall reach the river Hybristes, which does not belie its name. Do not cross this, for it is hard to cross, until you come to Caucasus itself,loftiest of mountains, where from its very brows the river pours out its might in fury. You must pass over its crests, which neighbor the stars, and enter upon a southward course, where you shall reach the host of the Amazons, who loathe all men. They shall in time to comeinhabit Themiscyra on the Thermodon, where, fronting the sea, is Salmydessus’ rugged jaw, evil host of mariners, step-mother of ships. The Amazons will gladly guide you on your way. Next, just at the narrow portals of the harbor, you shall reachthe Cimmerian isthmus. This you must leave with stout heart and pass through the channel of Maeotis; and ever after among mankind there shall be great mention of your passing, and it shall be called after you the Bosporus. Then, leaving the soil of Europe,you shall come to the Asian continent. Does it not seem to you that the tyrant of the gods is violent in all his ways? For this god, desirous of union with this mortal maid, has imposed upon her these wanderings. Maiden, you have gained a cruel suitorfor your hand. As to the tale you now have heard— understand that it has not even passed the introduction.
σύ τʼ Ἰνάχειον σπέρμα, τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγουςθυμῷ βάλʼ, ὡς ἂν τέρματʼ ἐκμάθῃς ὁδοῦ.πρῶτον μὲν ἐνθένδʼ ἡλίου πρὸς ἀντολὰςστρέψασα σαυτὴν στεῖχʼ ἀνηρότους γύας·Σκύθας δʼ ἀφίξῃ νομάδας, οἳ πλεκτὰς στέγαςπεδάρσιοι ναίουσʼ ἐπʼ εὐκύκλοις ὄχοιςἑκηβόλοις τόξοισιν ἐξηρτυμένοι·οἷς μὴ πελάζειν, ἀλλʼ ἁλιστόνοις πόδαςχρίμπτουσα ῥαχίαισιν ἐκπερᾶν χθόνα.λαιᾶς δὲ χειρὸς οἱ σιδηροτέκτονεςοἰκοῦσι Χάλυβες, οὓς φυλάξασθαί σε χρή.ἀνήμεροι γὰρ οὐδὲ πρόσπλατοι ξένοις.ἥξεις δʼ Ὑβριστὴν ποταμὸν οὐ ψευδώνυμον,ὃν μὴ περάσῃς, οὐ γὰρ εὔβατος περᾶν,πρὶν ἂν πρὸς αὐτὸν Καύκασον μόλῃς, ὀρῶνὕψιστον, ἔνθα ποταμὸς ἐκφυσᾷ μένοςκροτάφων ἀπʼ αὐτῶν. ἀστρογείτονας δὲ χρὴκορυφὰς ὑπερβάλλουσαν ἐς μεσημβρινὴνβῆναι κέλευθον, ἔνθʼ, Ἀμαζόνων στρατὸνἥξεις στυγάνορʼ, αἳ Θεμίσκυράν ποτεκατοικιοῦσιν ἀμφὶ Θερμώδονθʼ, ἵνατραχεῖα πόντου Σαλμυδησσία γνάθοςἐχθρόξενος ναύταισι, μητρυιὰ νεῶν·αὗταί σʼ ὁδηγήσουσι καὶ μάλʼ ἀσμένως.ἰσθμὸν δʼ ἐπʼ αὐταῖς στενοπόροις λίμνης πύλαιςΚιμμερικὸν ἥξεις, ὃν θρασυσπλάγχνως σε χρὴλιποῦσαν αὐλῶνʼ ἐκπερᾶν Μαιωτικόν·ἔσται δὲ θνητοῖς εἰσαεὶ λόγος μέγαςτῆς σῆς πορείας, Βόσπορος δʼ ἐπώνυμοςκεκλήσεται. λιποῦσα δʼ Εὐρώπης πέδονἤπειρον ἥξεις Ἀσιάδʼ·. ἆρʼ, ὑμῖν δοκεῖὁ τῶν θεῶν τύραννος ἐς τὰ πάνθʼ ὁμῶςβίαιος εἶναι; τῇδε γὰρ θνητῇ θεὸςχρῄζων μιγῆναι τάσδʼ ἐπέρριψεν πλάνας.πικροῦ δʼ ἔκυρσας, ὦ κόρη, τῶν σῶν γάμωνμνηστῆρος. οὓς γὰρ νῦν ἀκήκοας λόγους,εἶναι δόκει σοι μηδέπω ʼν προοιμίοις.
Io:Ah me, ah me, alas!
Ἰώ:ἰώ μοί μοι, ἒ ἔ.
Prometheus:What! You are crying and groaning again? What will you do, I wonder, when you have learned the sufferings still in store for you?
Προμηθεύς:σὺ δʼ αὖ κέκραγας κἀναμυχθίζῃ; τί πουδράσεις, ὅταν τὰ λοιπὰ πυνθάνῃ κακά;
Chorus:What! Can it be that you have sufferings still left to recount to her?
Χορός:ἦ γάρ τι λοιπὸν τῇδε πημάτων ἐρεῖς;
Prometheus:Yes, a tempestuous sea of calamitous distress.
Προμηθεύς:δυσχείμερόν γε πέλαγος ἀτηρᾶς δύης.
Io:What gain have I then in life? Why did I not hurl myself straightaway from this rugged rock, so that I was dashed to earth and freed fromall my sufferings? It is better to die once and for all than linger out all my days in misery.
Ἰώ:τί δῆτʼ ἐμοὶ ζῆν κέρδος, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐν τάχειἔρριψʼ ἐμαυτὴν τῆσδʼ ἀπὸ στύφλου πέτρας,ὅπως πέδοι σκήψασα τῶν πάντων πόνωνἀπηλλάγην; κρεῖσσον γὰρ εἰσάπαξ θανεῖνἢ τὰς ἁπάσας ἡμέρας πάσχειν κακῶς.
Prometheus:Ah, you would hardly bear my agonies to whom it is not foredoomed to die; for death would have freed me from my sufferings.
Προμηθεύς:ἦ δυσπετῶς ἂν τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἄθλους φέροις,ὅτῳ θανεῖν μέν ἐστιν οὐ πεπρωμένον·αὕτη γὰρ ἦν ἂν πημάτων ἀπαλλαγή·
But now no limit to my tribulations has been appointed until Zeus is hurled from his sovereignty.
νῦν δʼ οὐδέν ἐστι τέρμα μοι προκείμενονμόχθων, πρὶν ἂν Ζεὺς ἐκπέσῃ τυραννίδος.
Io:What! Shall Zeus one day be hurled from his dominion?
Ἰώ:ἦ γάρ ποτʼ ἔστιν ἐκπεσεῖν ἀρχῆς Δία;
Prometheus:You would rejoice, I think, to see that happen.
Προμηθεύς:ἥδοιʼ ἄν, οἶμαι, τήνδʼ ἰδοῦσα συμφοράν.
Io:Why not, since it is at the hand of Zeus that I suffer?
Ἰώ:πῶς δʼ οὐκ ἄν, ἥτις ἐκ Διὸς πάσχω κακῶς;
Prometheus:Then you may assure yourself that these things are true.
Προμηθεύς:ὡς τοίνυν ὄντων τῶνδέ σοι μαθεῖν πάρα.
Io:By whom shall he be despoiled of the sceptre of his sovereignty?
Ἰώ:πρὸς τοῦ τύραννα σκῆπτρα συληθήσεται;
Prometheus:By himself and his own empty-headed purposes.
Προμηθεύς:πρὸς αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ κενοφρόνων βουλευμάτων.
Io:In what way? Oh tell me, if there be no harm in telling.
Ἰώ:ποίῳ τρόπῳ; σήμηνον, εἰ μή τις βλάβη.
Prometheus:He shall make a marriage that shall one day cause him distress.
Προμηθεύς:γαμεῖ γάμον τοιοῦτον ᾧ ποτʼ ἀσχαλᾷ.
Io:With a divinity or with a mortal? If it may be told, speak out.
Ἰώ:θέορτον, ἢ βρότειον; εἰ ῥητόν, φράσον.
Prometheus:Why ask with whom? I may not speak of this.
Προμηθεύς:τί δʼ ὅντινʼ·; οὐ γὰρ ῥητὸν αὐδᾶσθαι τόδε.
Io:Is it by his consort that he shall be dethroned?
Ἰώ:ἦ πρὸς δάμαρτος ἐξανίσταται θρόνων;
Prometheus:Yes, since she shall bear a son mightier than his father.
Προμηθεύς:ἣ τέξεταί γε παῖδα φέρτερον πατρός.
Io:And has he no means to avert this doom?
Ἰώ:οὐδʼ ἔστιν αὐτῷ τῆσδʼ ἀποστροφὴ τύχης;
Prometheus:No, none—except me, if I were released from bondage.
Προμηθεύς:οὐ δῆτα, πλὴν ἔγωγʼ ἂν ἐκ δεσμῶν λυθείς.
Io:Who then is to release you against the will of Zeus?
Ἰώ:τίς οὖν ὁ λύσων ἐστὶν ἄκοντος Διός;
Prometheus:It is to be one of your own grandchildren.
Προμηθεύς:τῶν σῶν τινʼ αὐτὸν ἐγγόνων εἶναι χρεών.
Io:What did you say? A child of mine will release you from your misery?
Ἰώ:πῶς εἶπας; ἦ ʼμὸς παῖς σʼ ἀπαλλάξει κακῶν;
Prometheus:The third in descent after ten generations.
Προμηθεύς:τρίτος γε γένναν πρὸς δέκʼ ἄλλαισιν γοναῖς.
Io:Your prophecy is not easy to understand.
Ἰώ:ἥδʼ οὐκέτʼ εὐξύμβλητος ἡ χρησμῳδία.
Prometheus:Yes, so do not seek to learn the full extent of your own sufferings.
Προμηθεύς:καὶ μηδὲ σαυτῆς ἐκμαθεῖν ζήτει πόνους.
Io:Do not offer me a favor and then withdraw it.
Ἰώ:μή μοι προτείνων κέρδος εἶτʼ ἀποστέρει.
Prometheus:I will present you with one or other of two tales.
Προμηθεύς:δυοῖν λόγοιν σε θατέρῳ δωρήσομαι.
Io:Which two? Set them forth and offer me the choice.
Ἰώ:ποίοιν; πρόδειξον, αἵρεσίν τʼ ἐμοὶ δίδου.
Prometheus:I am making the offer: choose whether I shall reveal the sufferings still in store for you or the one who will be my deliverer.
Προμηθεύς:δίδωμʼ· ἑλοῦ γάρ, ἢ πόνων τὰ λοιπά σοιφράσω σαφηνῶς, ἢ τὸν ἐκλύσοντʼ ἐμέ.
Chorus:Consent to bestow on her one of these favors, and on me the other; do not deny me the tale. Tell her about her further wanderings;tell me who will deliver you—for I would like to know this.
Χορός:τούτων σὺ τὴν μὲν τῇδε, τὴν δʼ ἐμοὶ χάρινθέσθαι θέλησον, μηδʼ ἀτιμάσῃς λόγου·καὶ τῇδε μὲν γέγωνε τὴν λοιπὴν πλάνην,ἐμοὶ δὲ τὸν λύσοντα· τοῦτο γὰρ ποθῶ.
Prometheus:Well, since you are bent on this, I will not refuse to proclaim all that you still crave to know. First, to you, Io, will I declare your much-vexed wandering, and may you engrave it on the recording tablets of your mind.
Προμηθεύς:ἐπεὶ προθυμεῖσθʼ, οὐκ ἐναντιώσομαιτὸ μὴ οὐ γεγωνεῖν πᾶν ὅσον προσχρῄζετε.σοὶ πρῶτον, Ἰοῖ, πολύδονον πλάνην φράσω,ἣν ἐγγράφου σὺ μνήμοσιν δέλτοις φρενῶν.
When you have crossed the stream that bounds the two continents, toward the flaming east, where the sun walks,...... crossing the surging sea until you reach the Gorgonean plains of Cisthene, where the daughters of Phorcys dwell, ancient maids,three in number, shaped like swans, possessing one eye amongst them and a single tooth; neither does the sun with his beams look down upon them, nor ever the nightly moon. And near them are their three winged sisters, the snake-haired Gorgons, loathed of mankind,whom no one of mortal kind shall look upon and still draw breath. Such is the peril that I bid you to guard against. But now listen to another and a fearsome spectacle. Beware of the sharp-beaked hounds of Zeus that do not bark, the gryphons,and the one-eyed Arimaspian folk, mounted on horses, who dwell about the flood of Pluto’s stream that flows with gold. Do not approach them. Then you shall come to a far-off country of a dark race that dwells by the waters of the sun, where the river Aethiop is.
ὅταν περάσῃς ῥεῖθρον ἠπείροιν ὅρον,πρὸς ἀντολὰς φλογῶπας ἡλιοστιβεῖς…πόντου περῶσα φλοῖσβον, ἔστʼ ἂν ἐξίκῃπρὸς Γοργόνεια πεδία Κισθήνης, ἵνααἱ Φορκίδες ναίουσι δηναιαὶ κόραιτρεῖς κυκνόμορφοι, κοινὸν ὄμμʼ ἐκτημέναι,μονόδοντες, ἃς οὔθʼ ἥλιος προσδέρκεταιἀκτῖσιν οὔθʼ ἡ νύκτερος μήνη ποτέ.πέλας δʼ ἀδελφαὶ τῶνδε τρεῖς κατάπτεροι,δρακοντόμαλλοι Γοργόνες βροτοστυγεῖς,ἃς θνητὸς οὐδεὶς εἰσιδὼν ἕξει πνοάς.τοιοῦτο μέν σοι τοῦτο φρούριον λέγω·ἄλλην δʼ ἄκουσον δυσχερῆ θεωρίαν·ὀξυστόμους γὰρ Ζηνὸς ἀκραγεῖς κύναςγρῦπας φύλαξαι, τόν τε μουνῶπα στρατὸνἈριμασπὸν ἱπποβάμονʼ, οἳ χρυσόρρυτονοἰκοῦσιν ἀμφὶ νᾶμα Πλούτωνος πόρου·τούτοις σὺ μὴ πέλαζε. τηλουρὸν δὲ γῆνἥξεις, κελαινὸν φῦλον, οἳ πρὸς ἡλίουναίουσι πηγαῖς, ἔνθα ποταμὸς Αἰθίοψ.
Follow along its banks until you reach the cataract, where, from the Bybline mountains, Nile sends forth his hallowed and sweet stream. He will conduct you on your way to the three-angled land of Nilotis, where, at last, it is ordained for you,O Io, and for your children to found your far-off colony. If anything of this is confusing to you and hard to understand, may you question me yet again, and gain a clear account; for I have more leisure than I crave.
τούτου παρʼ ὄχθας ἕρφʼ, ἕως ἂν ἐξίκῃκαταβασμόν, ἔνθα Βιβλίνων ὀρῶν ἄποἵησι σεπτὸν Νεῖλος εὔποτον ῥέος.οὗτός σʼ ὁδώσει τὴν τρίγωνον ἐς χθόναΝειλῶτιν, οὗ δὴ τὴν μακρὰν ἀποικίαν,Ἰοῖ, πέπρωται σοί τε καὶ τέκνοις κτίσαι.τῶν δʼ εἴ τί σοι ψελλόν τε καὶ δυσεύρετον,ἐπανδίπλαζε καὶ σαφῶς ἐκμάνθανε·σχολὴ δὲ πλείων ἢ θέλω πάρεστί μοι.
Chorus:If there is anything still remaining or passed overof her direful wandering that you have to tell, oh speak. But if you have told all, grant us in turn the favor we request—you probably have it still in memory.
Χορός:εἰ μέν τι τῇδε λοιπὸν ἢ παρειμένονἔχεις γεγωνεῖν τῆς πολυφθόρου πλάνης,λέγʼ· εἰ δὲ πάντʼ εἴρηκας, ἡμῖν αὖ χάρινδὸς ἥνπερ αἰτούμεσθα, μέμνησαι δέ που.
Prometheus:She has now heard the full end of her travels; yet so she may know that she has heard no vain tale from me,I will describe the toils she has endured before she came here, giving this as a sure proof of my account. Most of the weary tale I shall leave out and come to the very close of your wanderings. For when you reached the Molossian plainsand the sheer ridge that encircles Dodona, where lies the prophetic seat of Thesprotian Zeus and that marvel, passing all belief, the talking oaks, by which you clearly, and in no riddling terms, were saluted as the renownedbride-to-be of Zeus (is any of this pleasing to you?), then, stung by the gadfly, you rushed along the pathway by the shore to the great gulf of Rhea, from where you are tossed in backward-wandering course; and for all time to come a recess of the sea,be well assured, shall bear the name Ionian, as a memorial of your crossing for all mankind. These, then, are the tokens to you of my understanding, to show that it discerns more than has been made manifest. The rest I shall declare both to you and her,returning to the track of my former tale.
Προμηθεύς:τὸ πᾶν πορείας ἥδε τέρμʼ ἀκήκοεν.ὅπως δʼ ἂν εἰδῇ μὴ μάτην κλύουσά μου,ἃ πρὶν μολεῖν δεῦρʼ ἐκμεμόχθηκεν φράσω,τεκμήριον τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ δοὺς μύθων ἐμῶν.ὄχλον μὲν οὖν τὸν πλεῖστον ἐκλείψω λόγων,πρὸς αὐτὸ δʼ εἶμι τέρμα σῶν πλανημάτων.ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἦλθες πρὸς Μολοσσὰ γάπεδα,τὴν αἰπύνωτόν τʼ ἀμφὶ Δωδώνην, ἵναμαντεῖα θᾶκός τʼ ἐστὶ Θεσπρωτοῦ Διός,τέρας τʼ ἄπιστον, αἱ προσήγοροι δρύες,ὑφʼ ὧν σὺ λαμπρῶς κοὐδὲν αἰνικτηρίωςπροσηγορεύθης ἡ Διὸς κλεινὴ δάμαρμέλλουσʼ ἔσεσθαι. τῶνδε προσσαίνει σέ τι;ἐντεῦθεν οἰστρήσασα τὴν παρακτίανκέλευθον ᾖξας πρὸς μέγαν κόλπον Ῥέας,ἀφʼ οὗ παλιμπλάγκτοισι χειμάζῃ δρόμοις·χρόνον δὲ τὸν μέλλοντα πόντιος μυχός,σαφῶς ἐπίστασʼ, Ἰόνιος κεκλήσεται,.τῆς σῆς πορείας μνῆμα τοῖς πᾶσιν βροτοῖς.σημεῖά σοι τάδʼ ἐστὶ τῆς ἐμῆς φρενός,ὡς δέρκεται πλέον τι τοῦ πεφασμένου.τὰ λοιπὰ δʼ ὑμῖν τῇδέ τʼ ἐς κοινὸν φράσω,ἐς ταὐτὸν ἐλθὼν τῶν πάλαι λόγων ἴχνος.
There is a city, Canobus, on the extremity of the land at the very mouth and silt-bar of the Nile. There at last Zeus restores you to your senses by the mere stroke and touch of his unterrifying hand.
Προμηθεύς:ἔστιν πόλις Κάνωβος ἐσχάτη χθονός,Νείλου πρὸς αὐτῷ στόματι καὶ προσχώματι·ἐνταῦθα δή σε Ζεὺς τίθησιν ἔμφροναἐπαφῶν ἀταρβεῖ χειρὶ καὶ θιγὼν μόνον.
And you shall bring forth dark Epaphus, thus named from the manner of Zeus’ engendering; and he shall gather the fruit of all the land watered by the broad-flowing Nile. Fifth in descent from him, fifty maidens shall return to Argos, not of their ownfree choice, but fleeing marriage with their cousin kin; while these, their hearts ablaze with passion, like falcons eagerly pursuing doves, shall come in pursuit of wedlock unlawful to pursue; but God shall grudge them enjoyment of their brides.
ἐπώνυμον δὲ τῶν Διὸς γεννημάτωντέξεις κελαινὸν Ἔπαφον, ὃς καρπώσεταιὅσην πλατύρρους Νεῖλος ἀρδεύει χθόνα·πέμπτη δʼ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ γέννα πεντηκοντάπαιςπάλιν πρὸς Ἄργος οὐχ ἑκοῦσʼ ἐλεύσεταιθηλύσπορος, φεύγουσα συγγενῆ γάμονἀνεψιῶν· οἱ δʼ ἐπτοημένοι φρένας,κίρκοι πελειῶν οὐ μακρὰν λελειμμένοι,ἥξουσι θηρεύοντες οὐ θηρασίμουςγάμους, φθόνον δὲ σωμάτων ἕξει θεός·
Pelasgian soil shall offer the maids a home, when, in the watches of the night, their husbands have been slain by a deed of daring wrought by the women’s murderous blows. For each bride shall take the life of her lord, dyeing a two-edged sword in his blood—in such ways may Love come upon my enemies!
Πελασγία δὲ δέξεται θηλυκτόνῳἌρει, δαμέντων νυκτιφρουρήτῳ θράσει.γυνὴ γὰρ ἄνδρʼ ἕκαστον αἰῶνος στερεῖ,δίθηκτον ἐν σφαγαῖσι βάψασα ξίφος·τοιάδʼ ἐπʼ ἐχθροὺς τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἔλθοι Κύπρις.
However, love’s desire shall charm one of the maidens not to slay her mate; rather, her resolve will lose its edge; for she will make her choice between two evil names to be called coward rather than murderess. She it is who shall give birth in Argos to a royal line—a long story is necessary to explain this clearly; of her seed, however, shall be born a man of daring, renowned with the bow, who shall deliver me from these toils. Such is the oracle recounted to me by my mother, Titan Themis, born long ago.
μίαν δὲ παίδων ἵμερος θέλξει τὸ μὴκτεῖναι σύνευνον, ἀλλʼ ἀπαμβλυνθήσεταιγνώμην· δυοῖν δὲ θάτερον βουλήσεται,κλύειν ἄναλκις μᾶλλον ἢ μιαιφόνος·αὕτη κατʼ Ἄργος βασιλικὸν τέξει γένος.μακροῦ λόγου δεῖ ταῦτʼ ἐπεξελθεῖν τορῶς.σπορᾶς γε μὴν ἐκ τῆσδε φύσεται θρασὺςτόξοισι κλεινός, ὃς πόνων ἐκ τῶνδʼ ἐμὲλύσει. τοιόνδε χρησμὸν ἡ παλαιγενὴςμήτηρ ἐμοὶ διῆλθε Τιτανὶς Θέμις·
The manner and the means—these need lengthy speech to tell, and to learn them all would not be of any benefit.
ὅπως δὲ χὤπη, ταῦτα δεῖ μακροῦ λόγουεἰπεῖν, σύ τʼ οὐδὲν ἐκμαθοῦσα κερδανεῖς.
Io:Oh! Oh! Alas! Once again convulsive pain and frenzy, striking my brain, inflame me. I am stung by the gadfly’s barb,unforged by fire. My heart knocks at my ribs in terror; my eyeballs roll wildly round and round. I am carried out of my course by a fierce blast of madness; I’ve lost all mastery over my tongue,and a stream of turbid words beats recklessly against the billows of dark destruction. Exit
Ἰώ:ἐλελεῦ ἐλελεῦ,ὑπό μʼ αὖ σφάκελος καὶ φρενοπληγεῖςμανίαι θάλπουσʼ, οἴστρου δʼ ἄρδιςχρίει μʼ ἄπυρος·κραδία δὲ φόβῳ φρένα λακτίζει.τροχοδινεῖται δʼ ὄμμαθʼ ἑλίγδην,ἔξω δὲ δρόμου φέρομαι λύσσηςπνεύματι μάργῳ, γλώσσης ἀκρατής·θολεροὶ δὲ λόγοι παίουσʼ εἰκῆστυγνῆς πρὸς κύμασιν ἄτης.
Chorus:Ah, sage, sage indeed, was he who first pondered this truth in his mind and with his tongue gave it utterance—that to marry in one’s own class is far the best—a poor man should not desire to marry among those who are pampered by riches, or who are mighty in pride of birth.
Χορός:ἦ σοφὸς ἦ σοφὸς [ἦν] ὃςπρῶτος ἐν γνώμᾳ τόδʼ ἐβάστασε καὶ γλώσ-σᾳ διεμυθολόγησεν,ὡς τὸ κηδεῦσαι καθʼ ἑαυτὸν ἀριστεύει μακρῷ,καὶ μήτε τῶν πλούτῳ διαθρυπτομένωνμήτε τῶν γέννᾳ μεγαλυνομένωνὄντα χερνήταν ἐραστεῦσαι γάμων.
Chorus:Never, oh never,immortal Fates, may you see me the partner of the bed of Zeus, and may I be wedded to no bridegroom who descends to me from heaven. For I shudder when I behold the loveless maidenhood of Io, cruelly crushed like thisby her toilsome wanderings sent by Hera.
Χορός:μήποτε μήποτέ μʼ, ὦ⟨πότνιαι⟩ Μοῖραι, λεχέων Διὸς εὐνά-τειραν ἴδοισθε πέλουσαν·μηδὲ πλαθείην γαμέτᾳ τινὶ τῶν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ.ταρβῶ γὰρ ἀστεργάνορα παρθενίανεἰσορῶσʼ Ἰοῦς ἀμαλαπτομένανδυσπλάνοις Ἥρας ἀλατείαις πόνων.
Chorus:When marriage is on equal terms, in my opinion it is no cause for dread; so never may the love of the mightier gods cast on me its irresistible glance. That would indeed be a war that cannot be fought, a source of resourceless misery; andI do not know what would be my fate, for I do not see how I could escape the designs of Zeus.
Χορός:ἐμοὶ δʼ ὅτε μὲν ὁμαλὸς ὁ γάμος,ἄφοβος· [οὐ δέδια·] μηδὲ κρεισσόνων θεῶνἔρως ἄφυκτον ὄμμα προσδράκοι με.ἀπόλεμος ὅδε γʼ ὁ πόλεμος, ἄπορα πόριμος·οὐδʼ ἔχω τίς ἂν γενοίμαν.τὰν Διὸς γὰρ οὐχ ὁρῶμῆτιν ὅπα φύγοιμʼ ἄν.
Prometheus:Yes, truly, the day will come when Zeus, although stubborn of soul, shall be humbled, seeing that he plans a marriage that shallhurl him into oblivion from his sovereignty and throne; and then immediately the curse his father Cronus invoked as he fell from his ancient throne, shall be fulfilled to the uttermost. Deliverance from such ruin no one of the gods can show him clearly except me.
Προμηθεύς:ἦ μὴν ἔτι Ζεύς, καίπερ αὐθάδης φρενῶν,ἔσται ταπεινός, οἷον ἐξαρτύεταιγάμον γαμεῖν, ὃς αὐτὸν ἐκ τυραννίδοςθρόνων τʼ ἄιστον ἐκβαλεῖ· πατρὸς δʼ ἀρὰΚρόνου τότʼ ἤδη παντελῶς κρανθήσεται,ἣν ἐκπίτνων ἠρᾶτο δηναιῶν θρόνων.τοιῶνδε μόχθων ἐκτροπὴν οὐδεὶς θεῶνδύναιτʼ ἂν αὐτῷ πλὴν ἐμοῦ δεῖξαι σαφῶς.
I know the fact and the means. So let him sit there in his assurance, putting his trust in the crash reverberating on high and brandishing his fire-breathing bolt in his hands. For these shall not protect him from falling in ignominious and unendurable ruin.
ἐγὼ τάδʼ οἶδα χᾦ τρόπῳ. πρὸς ταῦτά νυνθαρσῶν καθήσθω τοῖς πεδαρσίοις κτύποιςπιστός, τινάσσων τʼ ἐν χεροῖν πύρπνουν βέλος.οὐδὲν γὰρ αὐτῷ ταῦτʼ ἐπαρκέσει τὸ μὴ οὐπεσεῖν ἀτίμως πτώματʼ οὐκ ἀνασχετά·
Such an adversary is he now preparing despite himself, a prodigy irresistible, even one who shall discover a flame mightier than the lightning and a deafening crash to outroar the thunder; a prodigy who shall shiver the trident,Poseidon’s spear, that scourge of the sea and shaker of the land. Then, wrecked upon this evil, Zeus shall learn how different it is to be a sovereign and a slave.
τοῖον παλαιστὴν νῦν παρασκευάζεταιἐπʼ αὐτὸς αὑτῷ, δυσμαχώτατον τέρας·ὃς δὴ κεραυνοῦ κρείσσονʼ εὑρήσει φλόγα,βροντῆς θʼ ὑπερβάλλοντα καρτερὸν κτύπον·θαλασσίαν τε γῆς τινάκτειραν νόσοντρίαιναν, αἰχμὴν τὴν Ποσειδῶνος, σκεδᾷ.πταίσας δὲ τῷδε πρὸς κακῷ μαθήσεταιὅσον τό τʼ ἄρχειν καὶ τὸ δουλεύειν δίχα.
Chorus:Surely, it is only your own desire that you utter as a curse against Zeus.
Χορός:σύ θην ἃ χρῄζεις, ταῦτʼ ἐπιγλωσσᾷ Διός.
Prometheus:I speak what shall be brought to pass and, moreover, my own desire.
Προμηθεύς:ἅπερ τελεῖται, πρὸς δʼ ἃ βούλομαι λέγω.
Chorus:Must we really look for one to gain mastery over Zeus?
Χορός:καὶ προσδοκᾶν χρὴ δεσπόσειν Ζηνός τινα;
Prometheus:Yes, and he shall bear upon his neck pangs more galling than these of mine.
Προμηθεύς:καὶ τῶνδέ γʼ, ἕξει δυσλοφωτέρους πόνους.
Chorus:How is it that you are not afraid to utter such taunts?
Χορός:πῶς δʼ οὐχὶ ταρβεῖς τοιάδʼ ἐκρίπτων ἔπη;
Prometheus:Why should I fear since I am fated not to die?
Προμηθεύς:τί δʼ ἂν φοβοίμην ᾧ θανεῖν οὐ μόρσιμον;
Chorus:But he might inflict on you an ordeal even more bitter than this.
Χορός:ἀλλʼ ἆθλον ἄν σοι τοῦδʼ ἔτʼ ἀλγίω πόροι.
Prometheus:Let him, for all I care! I am prepared for anything.
Προμηθεύς:ὁ δʼ οὖν ποιείτω· πάντα προσδοκητά μοι.
Chorus:Wise are they who do homage to Necessity.
Χορός:οἱ προσκυνοῦντες τὴν Ἀδράστειαν σοφοί.
Prometheus:Worship, adore, and fawn upon whoever is your lord. But for Zeus I care less than nothing. Let him do his will, let him hold his powerfor his little day— since he will not bear sway over the gods for long. But wait, for over there I see his messenger, the servant of our new lord and master. Certainly he has come to announce some news.Enter Hermes
Προμηθεύς:σέβου, προσεύχου, θῶπτε τὸν κρατοῦντʼ ἀεί.ἐμοὶ δʼ ἔλασσον Ζηνὸς ἢ μηδὲν μέλει.δράτω, κρατείτω τόνδε τὸν βραχὺν χρόνον,ὅπως θέλει· δαρὸν γὰρ οὐκ ἄρξει θεοῖς.ἀλλʼ εἰσορῶ γὰρ τόνδε τὸν Διὸς τρόχιν,τὸν τοῦ τυράννου τοῦ νέου διάκονον·πάντως τι καινὸν ἀγγελῶν ἐλήλυθεν.
Hermes:To you, the clever and crafty, bitter beyond all bitterness,who has sinned against the gods in bestowing honors upon creatures of a day—to you, thief of fire, I speak. The Father commands that you tell what marriage you boast of, whereby he is to be hurled from power—and this, mark well, set forth in no riddling fashion,but point by point, as the case exactly stands; and do not impose upon me a double journey, Prometheus—you see Zeus is not appeased by dealings such as yours.
Ἑρμῆς:σὲ τὸν σοφιστήν, τὸν πικρῶς ὑπέρπικρον,τὸν ἐξαμαρτόντʼ εἰς θεοὺς ἐφημέροιςπορόντα τιμάς, τὸν πυρὸς κλέπτην λέγω·πατὴρ ἄνωγέ σʼ οὕστινας κομπεῖς γάμουςαὐδᾶν, πρὸς ὧν ἐκεῖνος ἐκπίπτει κράτους.καὶ ταῦτα μέντοι μηδὲν αἰνικτηρίως,ἀλλʼ αὔθʼ ἕκαστα φράζε· μηδέ μοι διπλᾶςὁδούς, Προμηθεῦ, προσβάλῃς· ὁρᾷς δʼ ὅτιΖεὺς τοῖς τοιούτοις οὐχὶ μαλθακίζεται.
Prometheus:Bravely spoken, in truth, and swollen with pride is your speech, as befits a minion of the gods.
Προμηθεύς:σεμνόστομός γε καὶ φρονήματος πλέωςὁ μῦθός ἐστιν, ὡς θεῶν ὑπηρέτου.
Young you are, as young your power, and you think indeed that you inhabit heights beyond the reach of grief. Have I not seen two sovereigns cast out from these heights? A third, the present lord, I shall live to see cast out in ruin most shameful and most swift. Do you thinkI quail, perhaps, and cower before these upstart gods? Far from it—no, not at all. But scurry back the way you came; for you shall learn nothing about which you question me.
νέον νέοι κρατεῖτε καὶ δοκεῖτε δὴναίειν ἀπενθῆ πέργαμʼ· οὐκ ἐκ τῶνδʼ ἐγὼδισσοὺς τυράννους ἐκπεσόντας ᾐσθόμην;τρίτον δὲ τὸν νῦν κοιρανοῦντʼ ἐπόψομαιαἴσχιστα καὶ τάχιστα. μή τί σοι δοκῶταρβεῖν ὑποπτήσσειν τε τε τοὺς νέους θεούς;πολλοῦ γε καὶ τοῦ παντὸς ἐλλείπω. σὺ δὲκέλευθον ἥνπερ ἦλθες ἐγκόνει πάλιν·πεύσῃ γὰρ οὐδὲν ὧν ἀνιστορεῖς ἐμέ.
Hermes:Yet it was by such proud wilfulness before, too,that you brought yourself to this harbor of distress.
Ἑρμῆς:τοιοῖσδε μέντοι καὶ πρὶν αὐθαδίσμασινἐς τάσδε σαυτὸν πημονὰς καθώρμισας.
Prometheus:For your servitude, rest assured, I’d not barter my hard lot, not I.
Προμηθεύς:τῆς σῆς λατρείας τὴν ἐμὴν δυσπραξίαν,σαφῶς ἐπίστασʼ, οὐκ ἂν ἀλλάξαιμʼ ἐγώ.
Hermes:Better, no doubt, to serve this rock than be the trusted messenger of Father Zeus!
Ἑρμῆς:κρεῖσσον γὰρ οἶμαι τῇδε λατρεύειν πέτρᾳἢ πατρὶ φῦναι Ζηνὶ πιστὸν ἄγγελον.
Prometheus:Such is the proper style for the insolent to offer insult.
Προμηθεύς:οὕτως ὑβρίζειν τοὺς ὑβρίζοντας χρεών.
Hermes:I think you revel in your present plight.
Ἑρμῆς:χλιδᾶν ἔοικας τοῖς παροῦσι πράγμασι.
Prometheus:I revel? Oh, I wish that I might see my enemies revelling in this way! And you, too, I count among them.
Προμηθεύς:χλιδῶ; χλιδῶντας ὧδε τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἐγὼἐχθροὺς ἴδοιμι· καὶ σὲ δʼ ἐν τούτοις λέγω.
Hermes:What! You blame me in some way for your calamities?
Ἑρμῆς:ἦ κἀμὲ γάρ τι συμφοραῖς ἐπαιτιᾷ;
Prometheus:In one word, I hate all the gods that received good at my hands and with ill requite me wrongfully.
Προμηθεύς:ἁπλῷ λόγῳ τοὺς πάντας ἐχθαίρω θεούς,ὅσοι παθόντες εὖ κακοῦσί μʼ ἐκδίκως.
Hermes:Your words declare you stricken with no slight madness.
Ἑρμῆς:κλύω σʼ ἐγὼ μεμηνότʼ οὐ σμικρὰν νόσον.
Prometheus:Mad I may be—if it is madness to loathe one’s enemies.
Προμηθεύς:νοσοῖμʼ ἄν, εἰ νόσημα τοὺς ἐχθροὺς στυγεῖν.
Hermes:You would be unbearable if you were prosperous.
Ἑρμῆς:εἴης φορητὸς οὐκ ἄν, εἰ πράσσοις καλῶς.
Prometheus:Alas!
Προμηθεύς:⟨ὤμοι.⟩
Hermes:“Alas”? That is a word unknown to Zeus.
Ἑρμῆς:ὤμοι; τόδε Ζεὺς τοὔπος οὐκ ἐπίσταται.
Prometheus:But ever-ageing Time teaches all things.
Προμηθεύς:ἀλλʼ ἐκδιδάσκει πάνθʼ ὁ γηράσκων χρόνος.
Hermes:Yes, but you at least have not yet learned to keep a sober mind.
Ἑρμῆς:καὶ μὴν σύ γʼ οὔπω σωφρονεῖν ἐπίστασαι.
Prometheus:Or else I would not have addressed you, an underling.
Προμηθεύς:σὲ γὰρ προσηύδων οὐκ ἂν ὄνθʼ ὑπηρέτην.
Hermes:It seems you will answer nothing that the Father demands.
Ἑρμῆς:ἐρεῖν ἔοικας οὐδὲν ὧν χρῄζει πατήρ.
Prometheus:Yes, truly, I am his debtor and I should repay favor to him.
Προμηθεύς:καὶ μὴν ὀφείλων γʼ ἂν τίνοιμʼ αὐτῷ χάριν.
Hermes:You taunt me as though, indeed, I were a child.
Ἑρμῆς:ἐκερτόμησας δῆθεν ὡς παῖδʼ ὄντα με.
Prometheus:And are you not a child and even more witless than a child if you expect to learn anything from me? There is no torment or device by whichZeus shall induce me to utter this until these injurious fetters are loosed. So then, let his blazing lightning be hurled, and with the white wings of the snow and thunders of earthquake let him confound the reeling world.
Προμηθεύς:οὐ γὰρ σὺ παῖς τε κἄτι τοῦδʼ ἀνούστεροςεἰ προσδοκᾷς ἐμοῦ τι πεύσεσθαι πάρα;οὐκ ἔστιν αἴκισμʼ οὐδὲ μηχάνημʼ ὅτῳπροτρέψεταί με Ζεὺς γεγωνῆσαι τάδε,πρὶν ἂν χαλασθῇ δεσμὰ λυμαντήρια.πρὸς ταῦτα ῥιπτέσθω μὲν αἰθαλοῦσσα φλόξ,λευκοπτέρῳ δὲ νιφάδι καὶ βροντήμασιχθονίοις κυκάτω πάντα καὶ ταρασσέτω.
For nothing of this shall bend my will even to tell at whose hands he is fated to be hurled from his sovereignty.
γνάμψει γὰρ οὐδὲν τῶνδέ μʼ ὥστε καὶ φράσαιπρὸς οὗ χρεών νιν ἐκπεσεῖν τυραννίδος.
Hermes:Look now whether this course seems to profit you.
Ἑρμῆς:ὅρα νυν εἴ σοι ταῦτʼ ἀρωγὰ φαίνεται.
Prometheus:Long ago has this my course been foreseen and resolved.
Προμηθεύς:ὦπται πάλαι δὴ καὶ βεβούλευται τάδε.
Hermes:Bend your will, perverse fool, oh bend your will at lastto wisdom in face of your present sufferings.
Ἑρμῆς:τόλμησον, ὦ μάταιε, τόλμησόν ποτεπρὸς τὰς παρούσας πημονὰς ὀρθῶς φρονεῖν,
Prometheus:In vain you trouble me, as though it were a wave you try to persuade. Never think that, through terror at the will of Zeus, I shall become womanish and, with hands upturned, aping woman’s ways,shall importune my greatly hated enemy to release me from these bonds. I am far, far from that.
Προμηθεύς:ὀχλεῖς μάτην με κῦμʼ ὅπως παρηγορῶν.εἰσελθέτω σε μήποθʼ ὡς ἐγὼ Διὸςγνώμην φοβηθεὶς θηλύνους γενήσομαι,καὶ λιπαρήσω τὸν μέγα στυγούμενονγυναικομίμοις ὑπτιάσμασιν χερῶνλῦσαί με δεσμῶν τῶνδε· τοῦ παντὸς δέω.
Hermes:I think that by speaking much I will only speak in vain; for you are not soothed nor are you softened by my entreaties. You take the bit in your teeth like a new-harnessedcolt and struggle against the reins. Yet it is a paltry device that prompts your vehemence, for in the foolish-minded mere self-will of itself avails less than anything at all. But if you will not be won to belief by my words,think of what a tempest and a towering wave of woe shall break upon you past escape. First, the Father will shatter this jagged cliff with thunder and lightning-flame, and will entomb your frame, while the rock shall still hold you clasped in its embrace.
Ἑρμῆς:λέγων ἔοικα πολλὰ καὶ μάτην ἐρεῖν·τέγγῃ γὰρ οὐδὲν οὐδὲ μαλθάσσῃ λιταῖςἐμαῖς· δακὼν δὲ στόμιον ὡς νεοζυγὴςπῶλος βιάζῃ καὶ πρὸς ἡνίας μάχῃ.ἀτὰρ σφοδρύνῃ γʼ ἀσθενεῖ σοφίσματι·αὐθαδία γὰρ τῷ φρονοῦντι μὴ καλῶςαὐτὴ καθʼ αὑτὴν οὐδενὸς μεῖζον σθένει.σκέψαι δʼ, ἐὰν μὴ τοῖς ἐμοῖς πεισθῇς λόγοις,οἷός σε χειμὼν καὶ κακῶν τρικυμίαἔπεισʼ ἄφυκτος· πρῶτα μὲν γὰρ ὀκρίδαφάραγγα βροντῇ καὶ κεραυνίᾳ φλογὶπατὴρ σπαράξει τήνδε, καὶ κρύψει δέμαςτὸ σόν, πετραία δʼ ἀγκάλη σε βαστάσει.
But when you have completed a long stretch of time, you shall come back again to the light. Then indeed the winged hound of Zeus, the ravening eagle, coming an unbidden banqueter the whole day long, with savage appetite shall tear your body piecemeal into great rents and feast his fillupon your liver until it is black with gnawing. Look for no term of this your agony until some god shall appear to take upon himself your woes and of his own free will descend into the sunless realm of Death and the dark deeps of Tartarus.
μακρὸν δὲ μῆκος ἐκτελευτήσας χρόνουἄψορρον ἥξεις εἰς φάος· Διὸς δέ τοίπτηνὸς κύων, δαφοινὸς αἰετός, λάβρωςδιαρταμήσει σώματος μέγα ῥάκος,ἄκλητος ἕρπων δαιταλεὺς πανήμερος,κελαινόβρωτον δʼ ἧπαρ ἐκθοινήσεται.τοιοῦδε μόχθου τέρμα μή τι προσδόκα,πρὶν ἂν θεῶν τις διάδοχος τῶν σῶν πόνωνφανῇ, θελήσῃ τʼ εἰς ἀναύγητον μολεῖνἍιδην κνεφαῖά τʼ ἀμφὶ Ταρτάρου βάθη.
Therefore be advised, since this is no counterfeited vaunting but utter truth; for the mouth of Zeus does not know how to utter falsehood, but will bring to pass every word. May you consider warily and reflect, and never deemstubbornness better than wise counsel.
πρὸς ταῦτα βούλευʼ· ὡς ὅδʼ οὐ πεπλασμένοςὁ κόμπος, ἀλλὰ καὶ λίαν εἰρημένος·ψευδηγορεῖν γὰρ οὐκ ἐπίσταται στόματὸ Δῖον, ἀλλὰ πᾶν ἔπος τελεῖ· σὺ δὲπάπταινε καὶ φρόντιζε, μηδʼ αὐθαδίανεὐβουλίας ἀμείνονʼ ἡγήσῃ ποτέ.
Chorus:To us, at least, Hermes seems not to speak untimely; for he bids you to lay aside your stubbornness and seek the good counsel of wisdom. Be advised! It is shameful for the wise to persist in error.
Χορός:ἡμῖν μὲν Ἑρμῆς οὐκ ἄκαιρα φαίνεταιλέγειν. ἄνωγε γάρ σε τὴν αὐθαδίανμεθέντʼ ἐρευνᾶν τὴν σοφὴν εὐβουλίαν.πιθοῦ· σοφῷ γὰρ αἰσχρὸν ἐξαμαρτάνειν.
Prometheus:No news to me, in truth, is the message this fellow has proclaimed so noisily. Yet for enemy to suffer ill from enemy is no disgrace. Therefore let the lightning’s forked curl be cast upon my head and let the skybe convulsed with thunder and the wrack of savage winds; let the hurricane shake the earth from its rooted base, and let the waves of the sea mingle with their savage surge the coursesof the stars in heaven; and let him lift me on high and hurl me down to black Tartarus with the swirling floods of stern Necessity: do what he will, me he shall never bring to death.
Προμηθεύς:εἰδότι τοί μοι τάσδʼ ἀγγελίαςὅδʼ ἐθώυξεν· πάσχειν δὲ κακῶςἐχθρὸν ὑπʼ ἐχθρῶν οὐδὲν ἀεικές.πρὸς ταῦτʼ ἐπʼ ἐμοὶ ῥιπτέσθω μὲνπυρὸς ἀμφήκης βόστρυχος, αἰθὴρ δʼἐρεθιζέσθω βροντῇ σφακέλῳ τʼἀγρίων ἀνέμων· χθόνα δʼ ἐκ πυθμένωναὐταῖς ῥίζαις πνεῦμα κραδαίνοι,κῦμα δὲ πόντου τραχεῖ ῥοθίῳσυγχώσειεν τῶν οὐρανίωνἄστρων διόδους· εἴς τε κελαινὸνΤάρταρον ἄρδην ῥίψειε δέμαςτοὐμὸν ἀνάγκης στερραῖς δίναις·πάντως ἐμέ γʼ οὐ θανατώσει.
Hermes:Such indeed are the thoughts and the wordsone hears from men deranged. Where does his prayer fall short of raving? Where does he abate his frenzy?—But, at all events, may you who sympathize with his anguish,withdraw in haste from this spot so that the relentless roar of the thunder does not stun your senses.
Ἑρμῆς:τοιάδε μέντοι τῶν φρενοπλήκτωνβουλεύματʼ ἔπη τʼ ἔστιν ἀκοῦσαι.τί γὰρ ἐλλείπει μὴ ⟨οὐ⟩ παραπαίεινἡ τοῦδʼ εὐχή; τί χαλᾷ μανιῶν;ἀλλʼ οὖν ὑμεῖς γʼ αἱ πημοσύναιςσυγκάμνουσαι ταῖς τοῦδε τόπωνμετά ποι χωρεῖτʼ ἐκ τῶνδε θοῶς,μὴ φρένας ὑμῶν ἠλιθιώσῃβροντῆς μύκημʼ ἀτέραμνον.
Chorus:Use some other strain and urge me to some other course in which you are likely to convince me. This utterancein your flood of speech is, I think, past all endurance. How do you charge me to practise baseness? With him I am content to suffer any fate; for I have learned to detest traitors, and there is no pestI abhor more than this.
Χορός:ἄλλο τι φώνει καὶ παραμυθοῦ μʼὅ τι καὶ πείσεις· οὐ γὰρ δή πουτοῦτό γε τλητὸν παρέσυρας ἔπος.πῶς με κελεύεις κακότητʼ ἀσκεῖν;μετὰ τοῦδʼ ὅ τι χρὴ πάσχειν ἐθέλω·τοὺς προδότας γὰρ μισεῖν ἔμαθον,κοὐκ ἔστι νόσοςτῆσδʼ ἥντινʼ ἀπέπτυσα μᾶλλον.
Hermes:Well then, bear my warning in memory and do not blame your fortune when you are caught in the toils of calamity; nor ever say that it was Zeus who cast youinto suffering unforeseen. Not so, but blame yourselves. For well forewarned, and not suddenly or secretly shall you be entangled in the inextricable net of calamity by reason of your folly. Exit
Ἑρμῆς:ἀλλʼ οὖν μέμνησθʼ ἁγὼ προλέγωμηδὲ πρὸς ἄτης θηραθεῖσαιμέμψησθε τύχην, μηδέ ποτʼ εἴπηθʼὡς Ζεὺς ὑμᾶς εἰς ἀπρόοπτονπῆμʼ εἰσέβαλεν· μὴ δῆτʼ αὐταὶ δʼὑμᾶς αὐτάς. εἰδυῖαι γὰρκοὐκ ἐξαίφνης οὐδὲ λαθραίωςεἰς ἀπέρατον δίκτυον ἄτηςἐμπλεχθήσεσθʼ ὑπʼ ἀνοίας.
Prometheus:Indeed, now it has passed from word to deed—the earth rocks, the echoing thunder-peal from the depths rolls roaring past me; the fiery wreathed lightning-flashes flare forth, and whirlwinds toss theswirling dust; the blasts of all the winds leap forth and set in hostile array their embattled strife; the sky is confounded with the deep. Behold, this stormy turmoil advances against me visibly,sent by Zeus to frighten me. O holy mother mine, O you firmament that revolves the common light of all, you see the wrongs I suffer! Amid thunder and lightning Prometheus vanishes from sight; and with him disappear the daughters of Oceanus
Προμηθεύς:καὶ μὴν ἔργῳ κοὐκέτι μύθῳχθὼν σεσάλευται·βρυχία δʼ ἠχὼ παραμυκᾶταιβροντῆς, ἕλικες δʼ ἐκλάμπουσιστεροπῆς ζάπυροι, στρόμβοι δὲ κόνινεἱλίσσουσι· σκιρτᾷ δʼ ἀνέμωνπνεύματα πάντων εἰς ἄλληλαστάσιν ἀντίπνουν ἀποδεικνύμενα·ξυντετάρακται δʼ αἰθὴρ πόντῳ.τοιάδʼ ἐπʼ ἐμοὶ ῥιπὴ Διόθεντεύχουσα φόβον στείχει φανερῶς.ὦ μητρὸς ἐμῆς σέβας, ὦ πάντωναἰθὴρ κοινὸν φάος εἱλίσσων,ἐσορᾷς μʼ ὡς ἔκδικα πάσχω.