MIGHT

Why do you hate it? In plain truth, your art

Is guiltless of the work that’s now to do.

HEPHAESTUS

Yet would that it had fallen to another!

MIGHT

All things are troublesome, save to rule the gods:

Liberty is the privilege of Zeus.

HEPHAESTUS(pointing to chains)

These teach me that, and I can make no answer.

MIGHT

No more delay then —in these chains bind him,

For fear the Father see your faltering.

HEPHAESTUS

Here are the curb-chains, ready to my hand.

MIGHT

Then manacle his hands with all your might,

Uplift the hammer, strike, and nail him down!

HEPHAESTUS

See, ’tis not vain, the work proceeds apace.

MIGHT

Strike harder, pin him, leave no fetter loose.

His wit can circumvent the closest strait.

HEPHAESTUS

That arm is fixed, fastened inextricably.

MIGHT

And now encase the other, that he may learn,

For all his craft, he is no match for Zeus.

HEPHAESTUS

Of none, save him, have I deserved reproach.

MIGHT

Now drive this stubborn adamantine edge

Deep through his breast and nail it firmly down.

HEPHAESTUS

Aiai, Prometheus! — for thy pains I groan.

MIGHT

Once more you falter, weeping for the foes

Of Zeus. Beware lest you should need your pity.

HEPHAESTUS

The spectacle thou seest doth wound the eye.

MIGHT

A knave I see repaid with his deserts.

Come, cast this iron girth about his ribs.

HEPHAESTUS

It must be done, you need not shout me on.

MIGHT

And yet I will shout —ay, I will hound you on.

Step down. Enclose his ankles in these rings.

HEPHAESTUS

See, without length of labour, it is done.

MIGHT

Now thrust these penetrating spancels home,

For hard it is to please our taskmaster.

HEPHAESTUS

How like your looks the utterance of your tongue!

MIGHT

Be soft yourself, so please you, but do not chide

My stubborn spirit and temperament severe.

HEPHAESTUS

His feet are netted. Let us go our ways.

(Exit)

MIGHT

Here now wax proud and plunder powers divine —

Thy gifts to creatures of a day! How can

Mortals relieve thee in thy present state?

Falsely we named thee the Foresighted One,

Prometheus — thine the need of foresight now,

How from this art to extricate thyself!

(Exeunt MIGHT and VIOLENCE)

PROMETHEUS

O divine Sky, and swiftly-winging Breezes,

O River-springs, and multitudinous gleam

Of smiling Ocean — to thee, All-Mother Earth,

And to the Sun’s all-seeing orb I cry:

See what I suffer from the gods, a god!

Witness how with anguish broken

Through ages of time without number

I shall labour in agony. Such are the bonds

That the new-throned Lord of the Blest hath designed

For my shame and dishonour.

Pheu, pheu! for the pain that is now and to come

I groan, and I cry, where is the destined

Term of my trial and my travail?

And yet what say I? All things I foreknow

That are to be: no unforeseen distress

Shall visit me, and I must bear the will

Of Fate as lightly as I may, and learn