Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/152

122 122 AESCHYLUS

With twisted snakes for ringlets, man-abhorred :

There is no mortal gazes in their face, 935

And gazing can breathe on, I speak of such

To guard thee from their horror. Ay, and list

Another tale of a dreadful sight : beware

The Griffins, those unbarking dogs of Zeus,

Those sharp-mouthed dogs ! — and the Arimaspian

host 940

Of one-eyed horsemen, habiting beside

The river of Pluto that runs bright with gold :

Approach them not, beseech thee. Presently

Thou 'It come to a distant land, a dusky tribe

Of dwellers at the fountain of the Sun, 945

Whence flows the River Aethiops ; wind along

Its banks, and turn off at the cataracts,^

Just as the Nile pours from the Bybline hills

His holy and sweet wave : his course shall guide

Thine own to that triangular Nile-ground ^ 950

Where, lo, is ordained for thee and thine

A lengthened exile. Have I said in this

Aught darkly or incompletely? — now repeat

The question, make the knowledge fuller ! Lo,

I have more leisure than I covet here. 955

Chorus. If thou canst tell us aught that 's left un- told, Or loosely told, of her most dreary flight. Declare it straight ; but, if thou hast uttered all. Grant us that latter grace for which we prayed, Remembering how we prayed it.

Prometheus. She has heard 96o

The uttermost of her wandering. There it ends. But, that she may be certain not to have heard

1 Literally, " Until thou shalt come to the cataracts, where."

2 The Delta of the NUe.