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Prometheus: One of your own progeny.

Io: What do you say—will my chud save you?
Prometheus: The third one born after ten generations.

Io: You prefigure matters mystic.

Prometheus: Leave your future iikewise shaded.

Io: Proffer not what you wit withdraw.

Prometheus: I shall grant the choice of two stories.

Io: What two? Explain then let me choose.

Prometheus: Choose either to know of your sufferings still
in store or of my deliverer.

Chorus: Bestow upon Io one story; reserve the other tale
for me. Show Io the range of her toil to come; I long to
learn of your ultimate freedom.

Prometheus: Since you insist, I shall not deny the explana-
tions you desire. First, Io, I shall describe the path of your pas-
sing to and fro;engrave in into memory’s tablet. After you cross
the stream that parts the continents, trek toward the East
where the setting sun steps all aglow.Then cross the surging sea
of Pontos to the Gorgonean plains of Cisthene, until you reach
those ancient maidens, Phorcys’ daughters, like swans in
body, possessing a single tooth and eye for their common
use—dreary daughters, on whom the beams of sun never bend
nor the moon of night; and close nearby are their sisters three
with swooping wings and locks of looped-snakes, whom man-
kind most detests and never sees still to draw breath—so take
care. Returning to the hideous panorama, I warn you, beware
the shrieking hounds of Zeus, gryphons with acid fangs, and
the mounted Arimaspians, a one-eyed race settled about Plu-
to’s flood which gushes gold; approach not these. Then you
shall reach a land remote which nourishes a dusky race dwel-
ling at the place the sun springs forth on the Aethiop. Follow