Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/151

121 PROMETHEUS BOUND 121

Prometheus. I am prepared 905

To grant thee one of two things.

lo. But which two ?

Set them before me ; grant me power to choose.

Projnetheus. I grant it ; choose now ! Shall I name aloud What griefs remain to wound thee, or what hand Shall save me out of mine ?

Chorus. Vouchsafe, Ο god, 910

The one grace of the twain to her who prays. The next to me, and turn back neither prayer Dishonored by denial. To herself Recount the future wandering of her feet ; Then point me to the looser of thy chain, 915

Because I yearn to know him.

Prometheus. Since ye will,

Of absolute will, this knowledge, I will set No contrary against it, nor keep back A word of all ye ask for. lo, first To thee I must relate thy wandering course 920

Far winding. As I tell it, write it down In thy soul's book of memories. When thou hast past The refluent bound that parts two continents,^ Track on the footsteps of the orient sun In his own fire across the roar of seas, — 925

Fly till thou hast reached the Gorgonaean flats Beside Cisthene. There the Phorcides, Three ancient maidens, live, with shape of swan, One tooth between them, and one common eye, On whom the sun doth never look at all 930

With all his rays, nor evermore the moon When she looks through the night. Anear to whom Are the Gorgon sisters three, enclothed with wings, ^ Return to the tale interrupted at verse 854.