_ But
suffering
more grievous still than this he may inflict.
Thoreau - Excursions and Poems
Now, therefore,
Being bold, let him sit trusting to lofty
Sounds, and brandishing with both hands his fire-breathing weapon,
For naught will these avail him, not
To fall disgracefully intolerable falls;
Such wrestler does he now prepare,
Himself against himself, a prodigy most hard to be withstood;
Who, indeed, will invent a better flame than lightning,
And a loud sound surpassing thunder;
And shiver the trident, Neptune's weapon,
The marine earth-shaking ail.
Stumbling upon this ill he'll learn
How different to govern and to serve.
_Ch. _ Ay, as you hope you vent this against Zeus.
_Pr. _ What will be done, and also what I hope, I say.
_Ch. _ And are we to expect that any will rule Zeus?
_Pr. _ Even than these more grievous ills he'll have.
_Ch. _ How fear'st thou not, hurling such words?
_Pr. _ What should I fear, to whom to die has not been fated?
_Ch.
_ But suffering more grievous still than this he may inflict.
_Pr. _ Then let him do it; all is expected by me.
_Ch. _ Those reverencing Adrastia are wise.
_Pr. _ Revere, pray, flatter each successive ruler.
Me less than nothing Zeus concerns.
Let him do, let him prevail this short time
As he will, for long he will not rule the gods,--
But I see here, indeed, Zeus' runner,
The new tryant's drudge;
Doubtless he brings some new message.
PROMETHEUS, CHORUS, _and_ HERMES.
_Her. _ To thee, the sophist, the bitterly bitter,
The sinner against gods, the giver of honors
To ephemerals, the thief of fire, I speak;
The Father commands thee to tell the marriage
Which you boast, by which he falls from power;
And that, too, not enigmatically,
But each particular declare; nor cause me
Double journeys, Prometheus; for thou see'st that
Zeus is not appeased by such.
_Pr. _ Solemn-mouthed and full of wisdom
Is thy speech, as of the servant of the gods.
Ye newly rule, and think forsooth
To dwell in griefless citadels; have I not seen
Two tyrants fallen from these?
And third I shall behold him ruling now,
Basest and speediest.
Being bold, let him sit trusting to lofty
Sounds, and brandishing with both hands his fire-breathing weapon,
For naught will these avail him, not
To fall disgracefully intolerable falls;
Such wrestler does he now prepare,
Himself against himself, a prodigy most hard to be withstood;
Who, indeed, will invent a better flame than lightning,
And a loud sound surpassing thunder;
And shiver the trident, Neptune's weapon,
The marine earth-shaking ail.
Stumbling upon this ill he'll learn
How different to govern and to serve.
_Ch. _ Ay, as you hope you vent this against Zeus.
_Pr. _ What will be done, and also what I hope, I say.
_Ch. _ And are we to expect that any will rule Zeus?
_Pr. _ Even than these more grievous ills he'll have.
_Ch. _ How fear'st thou not, hurling such words?
_Pr. _ What should I fear, to whom to die has not been fated?
_Ch.
_ But suffering more grievous still than this he may inflict.
_Pr. _ Then let him do it; all is expected by me.
_Ch. _ Those reverencing Adrastia are wise.
_Pr. _ Revere, pray, flatter each successive ruler.
Me less than nothing Zeus concerns.
Let him do, let him prevail this short time
As he will, for long he will not rule the gods,--
But I see here, indeed, Zeus' runner,
The new tryant's drudge;
Doubtless he brings some new message.
PROMETHEUS, CHORUS, _and_ HERMES.
_Her. _ To thee, the sophist, the bitterly bitter,
The sinner against gods, the giver of honors
To ephemerals, the thief of fire, I speak;
The Father commands thee to tell the marriage
Which you boast, by which he falls from power;
And that, too, not enigmatically,
But each particular declare; nor cause me
Double journeys, Prometheus; for thou see'st that
Zeus is not appeased by such.
_Pr. _ Solemn-mouthed and full of wisdom
Is thy speech, as of the servant of the gods.
Ye newly rule, and think forsooth
To dwell in griefless citadels; have I not seen
Two tyrants fallen from these?
And third I shall behold him ruling now,
Basest and speediest.
