No More Learning

_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. 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.