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The softness of the Oceanides；
The yielding nature that cannot resist。
PROMETHEUS。
Because thou wilt not。
EPIMETHEUS。
Nay； because I cannot。
PROMETHEUS。
Assert thyself； rise up to thy full height；
Shake from thy soul these dreams effeminate；
These passions born of indolence and ease。
Resolve； and thou art free。 But breathe the air
Of mountains； and their unapproachable summits
Will lift thee to the level of themselves。
EPIMETHEUS。
The roar of forests and of waterfalls；
The rushing of a mighty wind； with loud
And undistinguishable voices calling；
Are in my ear！
PROMETHEUS。
O； listen and obey。
EPIMETHEUS。
Thou leadest me as a child； I follow thee。
（They go out。）
CHORUS OF OREADES。
Centuries old are the monntains；
Their foreheads wrinkled and rifted
Helios crowns by day；
Pallid Selene by night；
From their bosoms uptossed
The snows are driven and drifted；
Like Tithonus' beard
Streaming dishevelled and white。
Thunder and tempest of wind
Their trumpets blow in the vastness；
Phantoms of mist and rain；
Cloud and the shadow of cloud；
Pass and repass by the gates
Of their inaccessible fastness；
Ever unmoved they stand；
Solemn； eternal； and proud；
VOICES OF THE WATERS。
Flooded by rain and snow
In their inexhaustible sources；
Swollen by affluent streams
Hurrying onward and hurled
Headlong over the crags；
The impetuous water…courses；
Rush and roar and plunge
Down to the nethermost world。
Say； have the solid rocks
Into streams of silver been melted；
Flowing over the plains；
Spreading to lakes in the fields？
Or have the mountains； the giants；
The ice…helmed； the forest…belted；
Scattered their arms abroad；
Flung in the meadows their shields？
VOICES OF THE WINDS。
High on their turreted cliffs
That bolts of thunder have shattered；
Storm…winds muster and blow
Trumpets of terrible breath；
Then from the gateways rush；
And before them routed and scattered
Sullen the cloud…rack flies；
Pale with the pallor of death。
Onward the hurricane rides；
And flee for shelter the shepherds；
White are the frightened leaves；
Harvests with terror are white；
Panic seizes the herds；
And even the lions and leopards；
Prowling no longer for prey；
Crouch in their caverns with fright。
VOICES OF THE FOREST。
Guarding the mountains around
Majestic the forests are standing；
Bright are their crested helms；
Dark is their armor of leaves；
Filled with the breath of freedom
Each bosom subsiding； expanding；
Now like the ocean sinks；
Now like the ocean upheaves。
Planted firm on the rock；
With foreheads stern and defiant；
Loud they shout to the winds；
Loud to the tempest they call；
Naught but Olympian thunders；
That blasted Titan and Giant；
Them can uproot and o'erthrow；
Shaking the earth with their fall。
CHORUS OF OREADES。
These are the Voices Three
Of winds and forests and fountains；
Voices of earth and of air；
Murmur and rushing of streams；
Making together one sound；
The mysterious voice of the mountains；
Waking the sluggard that sleeps；
Waking the dreamer of dreams。
These are the Voices Three；
That speak of endless endeavor；
Speak of endurance and strength；
Triumph and fulness of fame；
Sounding about the world；
An inspiration forever；
Stirring the hearts of men；
Shaping their end and their aim。
VII
THE HOUSE OF EPIMETHEUS
PANDORA。
Left to myself I wander as I will；
And as my fancy leads me； through this house；
Nor could I ask a dwelling more complete
Were I indeed the Goddess that he deems me。
No mansion of Olympus； framed to be
The habitation of the Immortal Gods；
Can be more beautiful。 And this is mine
And more than this； the love wherewith he crowns me。
As if impelled by powers invisible
And irresistible； my steps return
Unto this spacious hall。 All corridors
And passages lead hither； and all doors
But open into it。 Yon mysterious chest
Attracts and fascinates me。 Would I knew
What there lies hidden！ But the oracle
Forbids。 Ah me！ The secret then is safe。
So would it be if it were in my keeping。
A crowd of shadowy faces from the mirrors
That line these walls are watching me。 I dare not
Lift up the lid。 A hundred times the act
Would be repeated； and the secret seen
By twice a hundred incorporeal eyes。
（She walks to the other side of the hall。）
My feet are weary； wandering to and fro；
My eyes with seeing and my heart with waiting。
I will lie here and rest till he returns；
Who is my dawn； my day； my Helios。
（Throws herself upon a couch； and falls asleep。）
ZEPHYRUS。
Come from thy caverns dark and deep。
O son of Erebus and Night；
All sense of hearing and of sight
Enfold in the serene delight
And quietude of sleep！
Set all the silent sentinels
To bar and guard the Ivory Gate；
And keep the evil dreams of fate
And falsehood and infernal hate
Imprisoned in their cells。
But open wide the Gate of Horn；
Whence； beautiful as planets； rise
The dreams of truth； with starry eyes；
And all the wondrous prophecies
And visions of the morn。
CHORUS OF DREAMS FROM THE IVORY GATE。
Ye sentinels of sleep；
It is in vain ye keep
Your drowsy watch before the Ivory Gate；
Though closed the portal seems；
The airy feet of dreams
Ye cannot thus in walls incarcerate。
We phantoms are and dreams
Born by Tartarean streams；
As ministers of the infernal powers；
O son of Erebus
And Night； behold！ we thus
Elude your watchful warders on the towers！
From gloomy Tartarus
The Fates have summoned us
To whisper in her ear； who lies asleep；
A tale to fan the fire
Of her insane desire
To know a secret that the Gods would keep。
This passion； in their ire；
The Gods themselves inspire；
To vex mankind with evils manifold；
So that disease and pain
O'er the whole earth may reign；
And nevermore return the Age of Gold。
PANDORA （waking）。
A voice said in my sleep： 〃Do not delay：
Do not delay； the golden moments fly！
The oracle hath forbidden； yet not thee
Doth it forbid； but Epimetheus only！〃
I am alone。 These faces in the mirrors
Are but the shadows and phantoms of myself；
They cannot help nor hinder。 No one sees me；
Save the all…seeing Gods； who； knowing good
And knowing evil； have created me
Such as I am； and filled me with desire
Of knowing good and evil like themselves。
（She approaches the chest。）
I hesitate no longer。 Weal or woe；
Or life or death； the moment shall decide。
（She lifts the lid。 A dense mist rises from
the chest； and fills the room。 PANDORA
falls senseless on the floor。 Storm without。）
CHORUS OF DREAMS FROM THE GATE OF HORN。
Yes； the moment shall decide！
It already hath decided；
And the secret once confided
To the keepi