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115 PROMETHEUS BOUND 115

Ιο. I cannot choose

But trust you, nymphs, and tell you all ye ask, In clear words, though I sob amid ray speech In speaking of the storm-curse sent from Zeus, 759

And of my beauty, from which height it took Its swoop on me, poor wretch I left thus deformed And monstrous to your eyes. For evermore Around my virgin-chamber, wandering went The nightly visions which entreated me 755

With syllabled 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 fain would touch thy beauty? — Maiden, thou Despise not Zeus ! depart to Lerne's mead τβι

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 ^ 765 To tell my father how they trod the dark With visionary steps. Whereat he sent His frequent heralds to the Pythian fane,^ And also to Dodona,^ and inquired How best, by act or speech, to please the gods. 770

The same returning brought back oracles Of doubtful sense, indefinite response, Dark to interpret ; but at last there came To Inachus an answer that was clear. Thrown straight as any bolt, and spoken out, — 775

^ Rather, " took heart." She did not wish to tell her father such dreams. Compare verses 35, 351. 2 Of Pythian Apollo, at Delphi. ^ In Epinis ; the oldest Hellenic shrine.