ACTUS SECUNDUS
95
ARGUS.
The fabled ass, O Zeus-descended one ?
HERACLES.
What ass?
ARGUS.
The one that wore the lion’s skin !
THESEUS.
This fellow were beneath a man’s contempt.
‘?ow should a God-born heed him ?
JASON,
We are here,
ven, to invoke Athena, immolate
1e sacred cock upon her altar-stone,
‘hat She, who sprang in armour from the
brain
‘4f the All-Father, may descend to bless
‘ar labours, since delay grows dangerous,
‘ iaply by Her power and subtlety
Se please to aid the work, and to perform
A prodigy to save us! Mighty Queen,
That art the balance and the sword alike
In cunning Argus’ brain
HERACLES.
Ay! Mighty Wisdom,
Who thus can overshadow such a fool,
And make him capable to build a ship.
ARGUS,
‘°O Thou! Athena, whose bright wisdom
shone
In this beef-witted fellow, making him
Competent even to sweep a stable out !
Glorious task !—I shall return anon.
JASON.
Nay, follow not! The Goddess were dis-
pleased,
Coming, to find our greatest hero gone.
THESEUS.
This is the midmost hour of day.
JASON.
Arise,
All heroes, circling round the sacred stone
In beautiful order and procession grave,
While our chief priest, our mightiest in song,
The dowered of Phoebus, great Oecager’s
heir,
Invokes that glory on the sacrifice
That kindles all its slumber into life
And vivid flame descending on the wheel
And chariot of lightning, licking up
| ‘The water of the loud-resounding sea
Lustral, poured seven times upon the earth,
And in one flash consuming wood and stone
And the sweet savour of the sacrifice.
ORPHEUS.
But when the flame hath darted from the
eye
Of my divine existence, and hath left
Nothing, where was the altar and the earth,
The water and the incense and the victim—
Nothing of all remains! Then look to it
That ye invoke not Wisdom by the Name
Of bright Athena !
JASON.
We are here to call
Upon that Wisdom by that mighty Name!
ORPHEUS.
Who calleth upon Wisdom is not wise.
Is it not written in the Sibyl’s book !
That Wisdom crieth in the streets aloud
And none regardeth her? Obey my. voice.
JASON.
O master of Apollo’s lyre and light !
We are not wise—and for that very cause
We meet to-day to call on Wisdom.
ORPHEUS,
Well !
The altar stands, shadowing the Universe
That with my fire of Knowledge I destroy—
And there is Wisdom—but invoke Her not,
Friends, Who is only when none other is,
1 Actually Proverbs i. 20.