No More Learning

_Prometheus. _ To my friends, indeed,
I must be a sad sight.

_Chorus. _ And didst thou sin
No more than so?

_Prometheus. _ I did restrain besides
My mortals from premeditating death.

_Chorus. _ How didst thou medicine the plague-fear of death?

_Prometheus. _ I set blind Hopes to inhabit in their house.

_Chorus. _ By that gift thou didst help thy mortals well.

_Prometheus. _ I gave them also fire.

_Chorus.
_ And have they now,
Those creatures of a day, the red-eyed fire?

_Prometheus. _ They have: and shall learn by it many arts.

_Chorus. _ And truly for such sins Zeus tortures thee
And will remit no anguish? Is there set
No limit before thee to thine agony?

_Prometheus. _ No other: only what seems good to HIM.

_Chorus. _ And how will it seem good? what hope remains?
Seest thou not that thou hast sinned? But that thou hast sinned
It glads me not to speak of, and grieves thee:
Then let it pass from both, and seek thyself
Some outlet from distress.

_Prometheus. _ It is in truth
An easy thing to stand aloof from pain
And lavish exhortation and advice
On one vexed sorely by it. I have known
All in prevision.