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.