The thunderbolts of Zeus Alone can move him; but the tender heart Of Epimetheus, burning at white heat, Hammers and flames like all his brother's forges! Now as an arrow from Hyperion's bow, My errand done, I fly, I float, I soar Into the air, returning to Olympus.
O joy of motion! O delight to cleave The infinite realms of space, the liquid ether, Through the warm sunshine and the cooling cloud, Myself as light as sunbeam or as cloud! With one touch of my swift and winged feet, I spurn the solid earth, and leave it rocking As rocks the bough from which a bird takes wing.
V THE HOUSE OF EPIMETHEUS EPIMETHEUS.
Beautiful apparition! go not hence! Surely thou art a Goddess, for thy voice Is a celestial melody, and thy form Self-poised as if it floated on the air! PANDORA.
No Goddess am I, nor of heavenly birth, But a mere woman fashioned out of clay And mortal as the rest.
EPIMETHEUS.
Thy face is fair; There is a wonder in thine azure eyes That fascinates me.

Thy whole presence seems A soft desire, a breathing thought of love.
Say, would thy star like Merope's grow dim If thou shouldst wed beneath thee?
PANDORA.
Ask me not; I cannot answer thee.

I only know The Gods have sent me hither.
EPIMETHEUS.
I believe, And thus believing am most fortunate.
It was not Hermes led thee here, but Eros, And swifter than his arrows were thine eyes In wounding me.

There was no moment's space Between my seeing thee and loving thee.
O, what a telltale face thou hast! Again I see the wonder in thy tender eyes.
PANDORA.
They do but answer to the love in thine, Yet secretly I wonder thou shouldst love me.
Thou knowest me not.
EPIMETHEUS.
Perhaps I know thee better Than had I known thee longer.

Yet it seems That I have always known thee, and but now Have found thee.