Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (1908) Morshead.djvu/218

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Nay, aid not mortal men beyond their due,

Holding too light a reckoning of thyself

And of thine own distress: good hope have I

To see thee once again from fetters free

And matched with Zeus in parity of power.

Not yet nor thus hath Fate ordained the end—

Not until age-long pains and countless woes

Have bent and bowed me, shall my shackles fall;

Art strives too feebly against destiny.

But what hand rules the helm of destiny?

The triform Fates, and Furies unforgiving.

Then is the power of Zeus more weak than theirs?

He may not shun the fate ordained for him.

What is ordained for him, save endless rule?

Seek not for answer: this thou may'st not learn.