Chor. Wise, very wise was he

      Who first in thought conceived this maxim sage,

      And spread it with his speech,200—

      That the best wedlock is with equals found,

      And that a craftsman, born to work with hands,

      Should not desire to wed

      Or with the soft luxurious heirs of wealth,

      Or with the race that boast their lineage high.

      Oh ne'er, oh ne'er, dread Fates,

      May ye behold me as the bride of Zeus,

      The partner of his couch,

      Nor may I wed with any heaven-born spouse!

      For I shrink back, beholding Io's lot

      Of loveless maidenhood,

      Consumed and smitten low exceedingly

      By the wild wanderings from great Hera sent!

      To me, when wedlock is on equal terms,

      It gives no cause to fear:

      Ne'er may the love of any of the Gods,

      The strong Gods, look on me

      With glance I cannot 'scape!

      That fate is war that none can war against,

      Source of resourceless ill;

      Nor know I what might then become of me:

      I see not how to 'scape

      The counsel deep of Zeus.

      Prom. Yea, of a truth shall Zeus, though stiff of will,

      Be brought full low. Such bed of wedlock now

      Is he preparing, one to cast him forth

      In darkness from his sovereignty and throne.

      And then the curse his father Cronos spake

      Shall have its dread completion, even that

      He uttered when he left his ancient throne;

      And from these troubles no one of the Gods

      But me can clearly show the way to 'scape.

      I know the time and manner: therefore now

      Let him sit fearless, in his peals on high

      Putting his trust, and shaking in his hands

      His darts fire-breathing. Nought shall they avail

      To hinder him from falling shamefully

      A fall intolerable. Such a combatant

      He arms against himself, a marvel dread,

      Who shall a fire discover mightier far

      Than the red levin, and a sound more dread

      Than roaring of the thunder, and shall shiver

      That plague sea-born that causeth earth to quake,

      The trident, weapon of Poseidon's strength:

      And stumbling on this evil, he shall learn

      How far apart a king's lot from a slave's.

      Chor. What thou dost wish thou mutterest against Zeus.

      Prom. Things that shall be, and things I wish, I speak.

      Chor. And must we look for one to master Zeus?

      Prom. Yea, troubles harder far than these are his.

      Chor. Art not afraid to vent such words as these?

      Prom. What can I fear whose fate is not to die?

      Chor. But He may send on thee worse pain than this.

      Prom. So let Him do: nought finds me unprepared.

      Chor. Wisdom is theirs who Adrasteia worship.201

      Prom. Worship then, praise and flatter him that rules;

      My care for Zeus is nought, and less than nought:

      Let Him act, let Him rule this little while,

      E'en as He will; for long He shall not rule

      Over the Gods. But lo! I see at hand

      The courier of the Gods, the minister

      Of our new sovereign. Doubtless he has come

      To bring me tidings of some new device.

      Herm. Thee do I speak to, – thee, the teacher wise,