SCENE. STRENGTH and FORCE, HEPHASTUS and PROMETHEUS, at the Rocks. Strength. We reach the utmost limit of the earth, The Scythian track, the desert without man, And now, Hephaestus, thou must needs fulfil The mandate of our Father, and with links Indissoluble of adamantine chains, Fasten against this beetling precipice This guilty god. Because he filched away Thine own bright flower, the glory of plastic fire, And gifted mortals with it,-such a sin It doth behove he expiate to the gods, Learning to accept the empery of Zeus And leave off his old trick of loving man. Hephastus. O Strength and Force,—for you, our Zeus's will Presents a deed for doing, no more!—but I, I lack your daring, up this storm-rent chasm That I must dare it--and our Zeus commands With a most inevitable word. High-thoughted son of Themis who is sage! Strength. Be it so. Why, loiter in vain pity? Why not hate A god the gods hate ?-one too who betrayed Is disobedience to the Father's word A possible thing? Dost quail not more for that? Hephaestus. Thou, at least, art a stern one! ever bold. Strength. Why, if I wept, it were no remedy. And do not thou spend labour on the air To bootless uses. Hephaestus, Cursed handicraft! I curse and hate thee, O my craft! Strength. Thy craft most plainly innocent of all Hephaestus. Were here to work it! Strength. Why hate I would some other hand All work hath its pain, Except to rule the gods. There is none free Make haste and lock the fetters over HIM, Lest Zeus behold thee lagging? Wedge him in deeper,-leave no inch to stir! He's terrible for finding a way out. From the irremediable. Hephastus. Here's an arm, at least, Grappled past freeing. Strength. Now, then, buckle me The other securely. Let this wise one learn He's duller than our Zeus. Hephaestus. Accuse me justly! Strength. Oh, none but he Now, straight through the chest, Take him and bite him with the clenching tooth Hephaestus. Alas, Prometheus, what thou sufferest here I sorrow over. Strength. Dost thou flinch again, And breathe groans for the enemies of Zeus? Hephaestus. Thou dost behold a spectacle that turns The sight o' the eyes to pity. Strength. I behold A sinner suffer his sin's penalty. But lash the thongs about his sides. So much, I must do. Urge no farther than I must. Strength. Ay, but I will urge!—and, with shout on shout, Will hound thee at this quarry. Get thee down Hephaestus. That work was not long doing. Heavily now Let fall the strokes upon the perforant gyves. Gentle and tender! but revile not me Be thou For the firm will and the untruckling hate. Hephaestus. Let us go. He is netted round with chains. Strength. Here, now, taunt on! and having spoiled the gods Of honours, crown withal thy mortal men Who live a whole day out. Why how could they And River-wells, and laughter innumerous I wrestle down the myriad years of time! The new King of the happy ones sublime Has flung the chain he forged, has shamed and bound me! Woe, woe! to-day's woe and the coming mor row's, I cover with one groan. And where is found me A limit to these sorrows? And yet what word do I say? I have foreknown With an invincible gesture. Yet this curse |