No More Learning

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. Do I seem to thee
To fear and shrink from the new gods?
Nay, much and wholly I fall short of this.
The way thou cam'st go through the dust again;
For thou wilt learn naught which thou ask'st of me.

_Her. _ Ay, by such insolence before
You brought yourself into these woes.

_Pr. _ Plainly know, I would not change
My ill fortune for thy servitude,
For better, I think, to serve this rock
Than be the faithful messenger of Father Zeus.
Thus to insult the insulting it is fit.

_Her. _ Thou seem'st to enjoy thy present state.

_Pr. _ I enjoy? Enjoying thus my enemies
Would I see; and thee 'mong them I count.

_Her. _ Dost thou blame me for aught of thy misfortunes?

_Pr. _ In plain words, all gods I hate,
As many as well treated wrong me unjustly.

_Her. _ I hear thee raving, no slight ail.

_Pr. _ Ay, I should ail, if ail one's foes to hate.

_Her. _ If prosperous, thou couldst not be borne.