No More Learning

Do not wrap thy speech
In riddles, but speak clearly! Never cast
Ambiguous paths, Prometheus, for my feet,
Since Zeus, thou mayst perceive, is scarcely won
To mercy by such means.

_Prometheus. _ A speech well-mouthed
In the utterance, and full-minded in the sense,
As doth befit a servant of the gods!
New gods, ye newly reign, and think forsooth
Ye dwell in towers too high for any dart
To carry a wound there! --have I not stood by
While two kings fell from thence? and shall I not
Behold the third, the same who rules you now,
Fall, shamed to sudden ruin? --Do I seem
To tremble and quail before your modern gods?
Far be it from me! --For thyself, depart,
Re-tread thy steps in haste. To all thou hast asked
I answer nothing.

_Hermes. _ Such a wind of pride
Impelled thee of yore full-sail upon these rocks.

_Prometheus. _ I would not barter---learn thou soothly that!
--
My suffering for thy service. I maintain
It is a nobler thing to serve these rocks
Than live a faithful slave to father Zeus.
Thus upon scorners I retort their scorn.

_Hermes. _ It seems that thou dost glory in thy despair.

_Prometheus. _ I glory? would my foes did glory so,
And I stood by to see them! --naming whom,
Thou art not unremembered.

_Hermes. _ Dost thou charge
Me also with the blame of thy mischance?

_Prometheus. _ I tell thee I loathe the universal gods,
Who for the good I gave them rendered back
The ill of their injustice.

_Hermes. _ Thou art mad--
Thou art raving, Titan, at the fever-height.

_Prometheus.