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cles in dark words couched, sayings riddling and ambiguous;
but finally a message unmistakable came unto Inachus, charg-
ing and commanding that he thrust me forth from home and
fatherland and make me roam at large to earth’s far ends, a
consecrated virgin. If he refused, a thunderbolt with face of
flame would fast descend from Zeus upon his fellow men and
utterly extinguish them. But he obeyed these prophecies of
Loxias and drove me forth reluctantly and locked his door on
me unwilling and forlorn. Fear of Zeus forced him to acts re-
lentless—at once my face and understanding were deformed.
So, with horns, as you see me now, and stung by the gadfly’s
fierce fang, I rushed with frenzied leaps and starts to the fair-
flowing stream of Cerchnea, toward Lerna’s fount, while follow-
ing close was herdsman Argus, sprung from earth, indul-
ging his rage indomitable upon me, pressing at my steps with
his dreadful array of eyes thick-set, until stealthy death crept
unforseen to reft him from all living things. While I, still
plagued by the gadfly’s goad, am driven by a lash divine and
made toroam from land to land. Now you know of my toiling
so far, if you can tell me what remains, O tell me all! If
you pity me g.ld not the facts with stories false. Deceitful
words I deem to be more hateful than my misery.

Chorus: Ah, Ah! Enough, enough! Never never I expected
words so strange to meet my ears; such terror, such terri-
ble woes, such wretchedness, such burdens to bear and bur-
dens to see I never conceived would rend my heart as a two-
pronged goad! O Fate, O august Fate, a thrill of fear seizes
my soul as I behold the doom of lo.

Prometheus: : You are full of fear and mourn too soon,
forbear and the remainder learn.