Collected Works (Vol. II)

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.