TH E P RO METH EU S BO UND

O F A E SC H YLU S

TH E

P R O M E T H E US B O U N D

A E S C HY L U S

Rendered into E ng/M:

by

EDWYN RO BE RT BEVAN

’ ‘ LONDON : PUBLISHED BY DAVID NUT I AT THE SIG N OF TH E PHOENIX LONG AC RE 1 9 0 2

To ou this word is ou whose ives are lit y , y l

B n othin air to wh om each da break brin s y gf , y g

One ove ess abour o the hands where c in s l l l f , l g

To soul an d bod smoke and rim e and rit y g g .

A so to th em this word an sit l , if y ’ Ease d secure t ll d with all ood thin s fi , , fi lfi g g ,

And sa o ar-o a i en travailirs s y ff fi l g , ’ Where a re the ? and o hun er What is it ? y f g , B ehold how in an ancien t hea rt rose up ’ This vision o the wise hind od who view d f , g ,

Naked and oor in bonda e o b ind a in p , g f l p , ’ M an s trem u ous brood nor on er wou d retain l , l g l

H is bliss dseat but drank a bitter cu fi , p,

H in com assion on the m u titude av g p l .

E . R . B .

P R E F A C E

To put forth a translatio n o f something which has already un dergone translation at man y han ds is to i provoke censure . For the u n dertaking ( f not an i n eptitude) is itself a cen sure of previous perform f o . an n n anc s It implies Opi io that they all short , an d an ambition to better them . M any perhaps will concur with the present tran slator in his opin ion that English literature does n o t hitherto i n clude an y worthy ren deri n g o f the P rometh eus o f — " Aeschylus the most sublime poem in the world ,

M - n — in r . Watts Du ton has called it will concur

n an d n this opinio , at the same time add his tra s

n to t f . latio the lis of ailures There are , however,

n n If co sideratio s which encourage a new attempt .

n n f the former tra slatio s were unsatis actory, it is (in appearance) largely due to the tran slators

n o o f ff having clear view the e ect to be produced .

n They would seem to have thought it e ough , if ”

n c c o aed Br n n c art. o e r . E y l p ia ita i a , P t y vii PREFACE

t n as n they ra slated the Greek , it came , i to any form which gave the logical sen se with a certai n

n eupho y o f syllables . It is as if o n e should attempt to scale a mountai n by maki n g a rush at

n fo r n it , without looki g the path . By observi g f the path , a less power ul climber may perhaps arrive higher . The effect o f a foreign origin al c an only be given by a style which suggests that which most

n i r nearly correspo ds to it n o u o wn literature .

in n as in Now we have E glish literature , well as

o f o f Greek , a great age poetic drama , the time

an d O f Elizabeth and the early Stuarts , the best this drama is by theory part o f the furn iture o f ’ n n every educated E glishma s mind . Its vocab

n o f n ulary , characteristic phrases , tur s expressio , come to him charged with the associations o f

n poetic drama . Here , the , we have a model to

n in n n guide us , a la guage to draw upon , tra slati g f the plays o the Greeks . But we must also take

o f f n account the act that , with all their a alogies , Greek an d Elizabethan tragedy do n o t absolutely

n an d correspond in spirit . The Greek tragedia s ,

in especially Aeschylus , stood to their people some

VI11 PREFACE

ways as the Hebrew prophets stood to theirs .

an d n in n We Again agai , readi g Aeschylus , do seem to hear the voice o f Jo b o r Isaiah ; again an d again does the gn omic wisdom o f the Bible suggest the gn omic wisdom of the Greek poets ;

an d n an But there is a style la guage which , to

n n fo r n E glishma , is ever bou d up with these — association s the style an d lan guage o f the En glish

in n n o t Bible , its origi indeed largely Hebraic ,

n n n n n E glish , but e teri g the la guage , whe it was

l a o f stil fluid , till it has become as much a p rt

n n l n n E glish as its most origi al e eme ts . Here, the ,

n us . we have a seco d model to guide But thirdly,

n an d n h ad the bla k verse the style of dictio , which

n n was bee developed by the Elizabetha drama , taken up by Milton an d subjected to modification s an d refin emen ts u n der the very i n fluence o f classical

: types , and the Bible it became something less

n in adapted for dramatic uses , but it gai ed rich i n and in n . ness , elaborate pomp , orga ic structure

o ur Here , then , is third model , the more obvious in the case o f this particular play in th at the i n fluen ce o f the Aeschylean Prometheus is very

n n o f pro ounced in the Sata Milton .

1X PREFACE

n v It is to be observed that , take by themsel es ,

o f n none these models c a be altogether followed . In the Elizabethan drama there is much that is ‘ n in n rufiled deficie t u iversality , that calls up

n - n e h e collars and poi ted beards verbal co ceits , p

n n n o f meral ma erisms . The Hebraic la guage the

n n Of Bible is too primitive, to say othi g its dearth

Of n an d adjectives , to re der the more complex

a n o f v rious la guage Greek poetry . The classical construction s o f Milton have n ever become part o f an d n n English , would be i tolerable at seco d han d : they would give exactly that cast o f cold and conventional unreality, which vitiates what o n e C o f may call the Eighteenth entury ~ view an d n Greek antiquity , which it is one of the mai

- f pro occupation s o a translator to avoid . It follows that the style which best reproduces

ff n the e ect of the Greek drama in E glish , would be o n e whose basis was that o f the Elizabethan

h o f dramatists , but whic was purged Elizabethan

o f an d eccentricities , with more elemental breadth simplicity by approximation to the language of the

l n Bible , and in the special y so orous and elaborate f f passages soundi n g o Milton . Sometimes one o PREFACE

n n these eleme ts would predomi ate , sometimes an other ; the Hebraic an d Milton ic would be

m n n ore pronou ced in Aeschylus tha in Euripides , an d in the same poet they would assert themselves

n nl n in varyi g degrees . It is o y by fusi g these differen t elemen ts that the effect O f the Greek

c an n n drama be give . The fusio is made possible

f n by the act that the dramatists , the E glish Bible , and Milton have a great deal to start with in

n n f commo . A si gle li etime would cover the

o n e o f period , which saw at extreme the activity Shakespeare and at the other the productio n o f

o n l o f Paradise L st . The E g ish that period is the

r common source f om which all three draw .

n n n These pri ciples will , I thi k , comma d the assen t of an y o n e who takes the trouble to thi n k

if n n . o about them And , they are asse ted to , exception c an be taken to words and phrases in

n o n o f any tra slation simply the score archaism . A style which might justly be blamed as a po se in

n o wn a modern poet , speaki g in his person , may be th e very style required to represe n t the voice f f o another age . For us the spirit o Aeschylus can be expressed on ly in language of an archaic xi PREFACE

n n s o complexio . And , that bei g , surely a translator should be allowed to use the speech of the Bible

and S n If n hakespeare in all its rich ess . moder isms

n an d invi o be forbidden him , how is he to e rich g rate his language except by open i n g freely its

n n an d n n n origi al spri gs , letti g i to it eve words

an d o f n forms speech , which have bee dropped by the curre nt poetical tradition

n But perhaps the objectio will rather be that,

o f n o f with all this talk archaism , the la guage the presen t tran slation differs little from the ordin ary

n o f n n m la guage poetry . Certai ly the la guage ost .

in n n used moder poetry is itself archaic . Ten y s o n especially restored to curren cy a great deal o f

n n Elizabetha E glish , and Swinburne has shown What power lies in the forms o f speech an d man n er

o f the Bible . Naturally, such examples have made an archaistic lan guage o f a kin d an ordin ary dialect f i o serious verse . And it must be admitted that t

f n o f a n is O te watery enough qu lity . We all k ow — the sort o f thing it would be invidious to single o u t n a examples amo g the crowd of ephemer ls . Whether an y one who aims at writing th e E nglish of the Elizabethan an d Miltonic age succeeds in

I ll PREFACE

getting beyo n d this feeble repro duction and in

n n n o f really catchi g the ma er his models, only those acquain ted with the models themselves c an

n n judge . A word , a phrase , a cade ce will bri g to o ne m an an echo o f the Older literature : to

n m an n n a other , whose acquai ta ce with that litera

n n o ture is more dista t , it will have association ,

o r perhaps strike him as a solecism . Whatever verdict may be pron oun ced upon l f this attempt, it is to be hoped that we shal be ore lon g s ee the final an d satisfyi n g tran slation o f the

n n Greek poets i to E glish . The hope seems warran ted by the characteristics o f our presen t

literary activity . Whether it be great in creation

n o t n o f or , it certai ly displays a variety imitative

n c an man n er greater tha any other age show . Arisin g mai n ly perhaps from that widen in g an d

n o f n n suppli g the historic imagi atio , which makes it more possible for us to live in thought u nder all sorts o f differen t con dition s than it h as been to

o f an n n the people other times, u precede ted power o f eclectic reproductio n belongs to modern

in n o f literature . Skill the compositio verse , dis

n n s o ff criminatio in taste , were perhaps ever di used . xiii PREFACE

” n o f They make me fa cy, Symonds says some

n o f n m li es Te nyson , that we mode s , with tamer f an d f o f ancy eebler thought , have a better trick

n n M n o r versifyi g tha ilto Shelley . Such an age may n o t be a great age for n ew dis c o ve ries in poetry it ought to be a great age fo r

n n n o f n tra slation . It might ha d dow a body tra s lation which should never be superseded . For if

M n in former translations , as r . Andrew La g says

o f o u t-o f- the case Homer , became date , it was exactly because each age required and gave the

n o f . peculiar colouri g its own thought But we , whose thoughts have been so multiplied an d who

s o n in as speak with many to gues , are a position , o u r f n in athers were not , to realise to what eleme ts o u r o wn o f o u r o wn speech , to what stage past , the lan guage an d thoughts o f each epoch o f an tiquity

n an d correspo d , , realising this, to give the great

o f n t a re n derin if works a tiqui y g which , sometimes

ff n o f su eri g from the defects a compromise , is absolutely the best possible . It is inconceivable,

n o f for i stance , that there will ever be an age En glish literature to correspon d more n early with that o f the Attic drama than the Elizabethan .

XI V PREFACE

To han d down tran slation s may seem too poor

f A n a mark fo r the ambition o the age . d yet the

o h as n in B ok , which bee the most powerful force

n n n . In Of E glish literature , is a tra slatio the case

o f o u r n the Greek poets , how much i tellectual

f n heritage comes rom them , eve though all the while a strange ton gue has had to be mastered in order

n o o n e n . to know them , eeds to be reminded Such

fe w an d mastery was possible to the , literature was

n n o f fe mainly the co cer the w. But this is so less

an d n d and less , if democracy is desti ed to lay hol

o f o f n n literature , as everythi g else , that ge eration

n o n n n will have made mea co tributio , which de livers to the people a stan dard ren deri n g O f the great works upo n which o ur o wn literature has

n n e w n bee nourished . If a creative age superve es , it would in such a ren dering possess i n estimable

material . f The Bible has just been re erred to , as the great

o f n n o f n n example the literary i flue ce a tra slatio .

n n But that tra slation was the work of no i dividual ,

n e A n d it came stamped with no perso al p culiarity . if our age is to brin g forth a translation o f the

o f n an d i t Greek poets permane t universal author y ,

XV PREFACE it would probably have to be by the c o - operatio n o f n in n O f ma y minds, which the idiosy crasies each

fin n would d correctio . With so much ability at

o f n large , directed to the production excelle t verse an d n n n n o ge ui e poetry , which yet represe ts new

in force literature , would it be impossible to concen trate some Of it o n such a work as I have named Should this suggestion fin d lodgmen t in an f n y quarter , where it may bear ruit , the prese t

n f translatio , whether it succeeds or ails , will have accomplished all that I could desire . It remai n s to ackn owledge my Obligation s to

Mr . W . Headlam , who was good enough to read

in an d the tran slatio n MS . allow me to profit by his exceptio n al knowledge both o f Aeschylus an d

n Of English verse also to M r . Campbell Dodgso

an d . n Mr Gerard Beva , who read through the

n n proofs and poi ted out various improveme ts .

INTRODUCTION

as they already existed in the min d of an Athenian

n citizen, whe he took his seat in the theatre

n - twe ty three centuries ago . The ideas o f the Greeks as to what happened in th e marvellous childhood o f the world were derived

O n e from two sources . [ was the mythology which

n n l had take form , had become cano ica as it were ,

in s the poets from Homer and He iod onwards . The other source was the local myths attached to

n f o f the various shri es . It was rom this chaos local legen d that the poets had in the first instan ce

n n n o f n n draw , combini g eleme ts diverse origi i to

n more or less harmo ious systems . These systems,

" ’ i t n n in lo c al m th s o \ L is true , i flue ced their turn the y , u

s o that an action and re - action between the two U sorts o f mythological tradition was continually

n going on . But there remai ed many local myths

n o t n which had been taken up into literature , ma y which were in consisten t with the systems o f Homer o r Hesiod or an y other o f the recognised literary a uthorities . Aeschylus in the Prometheus has regard

o f n to both lines traditio .

Fo r n n the first beginni gs Of thi gs , the time in xviii INTRODUCTION

n o f o f which the actio the play is laid , Hesiod was

tan ar A n d o f course the i d d authority . the story

t f n th e an d n ew the S ri e betwee Old the gods, as it

A s n n is told by eschylus , corre po ds in the mai with

A n the it is given by Hesiod . d this is

n n o w how it ru s The gods who rule the world , : h i an d an d n Zeus, s brothers sisters childre , have

3 f an n n o t alw bee n . Be ore them Older ge era

o f an d tion , os, the father Zeus , the brothers

s n . and of Kro os , bore rule These elder gods were children o f U ran os (Heave n ) an d Gaia

n n (Earth an d were called Tita s . But eve the f Titan s n o t rom the begi n n i ng . Before them

f n U ra himsel had bee lord of the world . But Kro rose up agai n st U ran os his father and cast

f f in him rom the citadel o heaven . And

s o n O f n of time , Zeus, the Kro os , rose up agai n st him in his turn an d overpowered him by the pre m ine n ce o f his wisdom an d his peculiar

n . n n an d arm , thu der The Kro os the other gods the Titan gen eratio n were imprison ed in

n the n Tartar far u der earth , in thick dark ess all but few fo r Prome theus escaped the fate o f xix INTRODUCTION

n O k ean o s was his brethre , and ; Atlas , moreover ,

n n not put i to Tartaros, but compelled to sta d in

“ s k h is the utmost West, holding up the y with ” T an d n . h eo . head tireless ha ds (Hesiod , g

n o f So the new generatio gods were established , an d Zeus divided to them their several honours .

Th eo 8 . Prom . . 8 : (Hesiod , g 5 Aesch But thereafter Prometheus was brought i n to a quarrel

o f and with Zeus by his favouring the race of men, when at last he stole fire from heaven in a hollow f - to ennel stalk and gave it men , Zeus for punish

n ment chained him up, and set an eagle upo him

to devour his liver . In this evil case Prometheus

n d s o n o f co tinue , till Herakles , the Zeus by a

n and s e t . mortal woma , killed the eagle him free

Th eo 20 (Hesiod, g . 5 In these outlines o f the story Hesiod an d

Aeschylus agree . But in other respects they show

. n th e divergence For Aeschylus, in taki g over

Old myth , modified it freely to suit his central

an d n thought, omitting here addi g there , till the v ague legendary figures acquire a n ew actuality o f

n n being , are raised to transce dent characters , wherei XX INTRODUCTION

M an may see projected on an ideal scale the forces an d n o f motives at work in the grou d his heart . Some co n stituen ts o f the Hesiodic story are ab s o lu tel fo r n n in y discarded . While , i sta ce , Aeschylus Zeus is simply said to have taken n o accoun t

n o n n o an d of ma kind his accessio to p wer , to have regarded them rather as rubbish than with an y

in n active hostility , Hesiod a set quarrel betwee

an d M m e n Zeus an is traced to the fraud which ,

h o n as instructed by Promet eus , had perpetrated up

in th e ‘ m atter the gods of sacrifice . The somewhat

n n n in low cu i g , which Prometheus displays that

n episode , could o ly have misrepresented that subtlety o f wit which Aeschylus mean t his Pro

f P an m eth eu s to embody . So too the episode ; o

- o f dora and Epimetheus , the slow witted brother

n o o f in o u r Prometheus , is taken notice play , where it would o n ly have clogged th e rulin g

t a n o f motive , al hough it is true that the fr gme t another play (which may have belon ged to the f Promethean trilogy) re ers to Pandora , the mortal woman begotte n o f moulded clay (m i? ' - a Xo a k do'ro v m re aro (tu ? u pu c m ) Frag . xxi INTRODUCTION

n o f The three leadi g characteristics Prometheus ,

in lr n as he appears Aeschylus , were a eady i dicated in a slight way by Hesiod : Aeschylus threw them into stro nger relief an d developed them

f n o f more largely . The most u damental idea,

n ractical course , con ected with him was that of p

wisdom : m n o f n n he was the e bodime t i tellige ce ,

n n which grasps the mea s to all e ds , which can

n an d f in plan and arra ge advise , ertile what the ' ” o vk a c i n e c o Greeks called B , counsels , or w , n

ri in S in t v g wit . O Hesiod his epithets are

' ’ w ua h o a i k d n w cnck d o vk a k vh f o g, o y n g, o fi o g, y o mi ng,

zro k firS t trail/ “ra w 77 6 st a s idds A n d p g, p p a g . this was the ultimate cause O f his coming i n to collision

f o f n with Zeus . For this ertility cou sel , this capacity for far- reachin g design was exactly o n e

of the attributes , by which Zeus was distin — r u is h e d. t t n uffl e E r . g His epi hets also are [ (Hesiod , g

t is m o Theo . 6 The . E 1 u r . 1 0 5 ; g a ( g 4 ; g 5 ,

’’ cz z m Sea 5 2866 T o M q p fi 9 ( h e g . 54 etis per

“ fi T eo is s o n i e d is his first wife ( h g . It impossible to cheat o r overreach the min d o f ” n d T o . 61 1 Zeus . ( he g 3 ) This correspo s closely

XX II INTRODUCTION

o f o ur n o f with the language play, whe it speaks

“ the harmon y o f Zeus (l . that is the

- c an . ordered world plan , which no man evade

“ ” an o n I see not y way , the Chorus sings later ,

by which I c an escape th e metis o f Zeus (l .

is f Here already matter o rivalry . Accordingly we find Hesio d actually saying that Prometheus con ten ded in counsels with the mighty s o n o f ”

n Th eo . A nd Kro os . ( g Aeschylus makes Krato s desire that Prometheus m ay learn a o ¢wflic

(in! A tb c vwfléa 're o c p , that he is a nimble wit , but that

n Zeus is a imbler (l . In Hesiod , however , it is not further explai n ed in what way Pro m e th eus disclos ed h is shrewdn ess beyon d his

to n attempt cheat Zeus in the sacrifice , his war ing to Epimetheus n o t to receive the gifts o f the f f an d o . In gods , his successful the t the fire

o n n Aeschylus the other hand all human i vention , all O f n to a to ways fitting mea s ends , go b ck

m en Prometheus . All arts have from the Pro ” I h as a a vider come ( . He become lmost

o f a n o f n personification hum n intellige ce , huma

in n . craft , vai war with the greater powers xxiii INTRODUCTION

‘ In Aeschylus also a wisdom o f an altogether

W r differen t . kind is added , the power W

o f f n But this Prometheus has less himsel , tha as

informed by his mother, the oracular goddess ,

t n Earth . And it is o be oticed that here is a point where Aeschylus and the Hesiodic tradition

s o n diverge . In Hesiod , Prometheus is the of

Ia eto s o f n o f n p , one the twelve Tita s , and Klyme e ,

f O k e an o s a daughter O . Aeschylus drops all men tion o f any father and makes Prometheus

o f o f simply a son Earth , Gaia, who is also

In n an d Themis . identifyi g Gaia Themis (who in Hesiod are distinct) Aeschylus was drawi n g from t the o her mythological source , local tradition

- Athens worshipped Ge Themis as o ne deity .

n . 2 2 Cor . Inser Attic . . . (Pausa ias , i p . iii Nos

1 8 3 , Perhaps he was also following the

n n Athe ian tradition in making Prometheus her s o .

n At any rate , his poetical purpose was adva ced by

Ia e to s n removing the colourless p and Klyme e , and allowing no parent to appear fo r the person who

o f n embodies the idea Wisdom , but the a cient ,

M r wise , universal othe herself. xxiv

INTRODUCTION

Eu b‘ o ule u s . called ‘Gaia’ as the giver of good w m se dv1c e a in H es 1o d. 1t was , plays a great part She who prompted Kron os in the deed whereby he over

f an d threw his ather U ran os . She U ranos fore

o wn an d a told to Kronos his doom , showed Rhe

f n as how the in a t Zeus was to be preserved . It w ” Gaia by whose sage instructions Kronos was

n was compelled to disgorge his childre . It by her adm o n ishin gs that Zeus won his ultimate vic

“ tory : for s h e told the gods everythin g from ”

T eo . 6 c . n n e n d. h 2 begin i g to ( g 7 , f It was n s h e U n f , fi ally , and ra os who saved Zeus rom doi n g that which would brin g about his o wn

r overthrow (l . In Pinda , by whom also

n fl th e Aeschylus was largely i uenced , Themis plays

to n part assign ed in Hesiod Gaia . Accordi g to this

n n l versio , Zeus is restrained from doi g the fata

wh o n thing by Themis , is give the epithet

“ . 6 o Is thm . euhoul s ( . viii (vii ) 7 ) as the ex ' - Oeo mra poun der o f oracles ( o ) . This passage

’ was n o i , doubt , in Aeschylus m nd, when he calls

“ ” “ orth ohoulos 1 Themis in this play (l . 8 ) right areadi n g But the part played by Gaia-Themis

XXVI INTRODUCTION

in the P rometh eus is somewhat altered . It is still s h e alon e wh o k n ows directly the decrees o f fate an d n n thi gs to come , but she speaks o ly by the

o f s o n t 1 m mouth her Prome heus , Fro

houlai was him Zeus got the , to which his victory

1 n o o n e c an due ( . but Prometheus tell him

n an d what the peril is which ha gs over his head, how it may be removed (1.

r11 mm o n e o f His , is the three character m g -“ 5 is tic s h as of Prometheus , which Aeschylus taken

an n A n d from the old myth d expa ded . this he h as

n love o men an d d iance A also do e with the other two , f ef ; in o th e new ods . is f g Already Hesiod , Prometheus ' é xdx m ” o fila l n . Th eo n n c . a ki dly god ( p u g . He schemes to secure the good part o f

fo r al . the sacrifice men . He ste s fire for men

n n f o n e But he is not yet the u iversal be e actor , the i

n n moved always with a divi e compassio , who because o f h is great love for m e n drew witti ngly

n s f n in upo him el the wrath of God . Agai , Hesiod

in n Prometheus already acts oppositio to Zeus, he

on n th e t bel gs to the Titan brood, whom o ly utmos

n o t strength of Zeus could overthrow, but he is xxvii INTRODUCTION

o f s lendid n yet , as in Aeschylus , the type scor

in the f o f n o maintained ace overmasteri g p wer , of

Th e u n c o n uer b e q a l will ,

An d ud o f re e n e m m o r a h a e st y v g , i t l t ,

An d c o ur e n eve r to ub m o r e d ag s it yi l , ” n e e n o t o b e o erc o m e A d wh at is ls t v .

Aeschylus takes over the o ld myth an d makes it

the vesture o f a higher spirit . He has also woven i nto the story o f Prometheus an other m yth o

logical idea with which his hearers were familiar , but which Aeschylus was perhaps the first to c o n — n eet with Prometheus the idea that n o t o nly had the reign o f the present Supreme Bein g a

n n n defi ite begi ning , but that its terminatio was

n o t n inco ceivable . The idea is already in Hesiod .

M f o f is Here it is etis , the first wi e Zeus , who destined to bear the future ki n g : fortun ately for

n n an d himself, Zeus , bei g war ed in time by Gaia

U n s h e n n ra os , swallows her while is preg a t

I . s t m . . (Theog . 8 8 6 In Pindar ( h viii (vii )

f i n to 5 1 . ) it is Thetis the Nere d who is desti ed ” f n bear a royal s o n better than his ather . Whe

an d n n n Zeus Poseido co tend for her, not knowi g xxviii INTRODUCTION

n how the matter sta ds, Themis declares the peril , ( and Thetis is married to Peleus . It was this passage o f Pindar which Aeschylus had in his mind , as the echo of its phrases proves . But the s 1tu at10n 1s complicated by making Themis her self dumb : Prometheus alone is privy to her

an d o f in secret , thus holds the fate Zeus his

n ha ds . It remains to s ay as much o f the minor characters o f the play as may give some idea o f the association s presupposed in the mind of an

n n Athe ia spectator . was closely associated with Prome l/ ! . n r the Attic cult Both , i deed , we e originally perhaps only differen t forms o f the

- . an same Fire god They were , at y rate , wor

an d n n shipped together , had ma y thi gs in com

o n o n e n fo r m . This is reaso the strong sympathy with Prometheus shown by Hephaistos in this

l is o ld n play . An al usion made to their frie dship (1

Pre er Gri ch sche t f M holo . . e i ie 1 ll y g p 9 . xxix INTRODUCTION

n o f Kruzas an d , fi g, The companio s Hephaistos fi

f n o f are taken rom Hesiod , where they are childre

e o f n the riv r Styx , come to the aid Zeus agai st the f an d n o r f . Titans , remai beside him ever a ter

T o 8 to n h e f. as ( g . 3 5 ) They are be co ceived

’ an d Flaxm an s brother sister , not two brothers , as f amiliar illustration s would make us thi nk . Okeanas is brought into the play fo r two main

a In re sons apparently . the first place , he marks — the scene o f th e actio n at the extreme verge o f

n the earth , rou d which revolves the circular all

n n n A n d e compassi g river , whose ame he bears .

Ch oru the same purpose is served by making .the s consist o f his daughters . Their visible presence ‘ in itself bri n gs home to the spectator h o w very

far . n O k ean o s away this place is But seco dly , is

n morally the foil to Prometheus . Both belo g to

f A n d the o ld race o gods . just because they

n n belo g to the same order , the perso al contrast of l f the two is exhibited in sharper re ie . There were two main elemen ts in the tradition al idea o f n O k eano s O n e h is immeus e a e . n . was g Accordi g

n to Homer, he was the beginni g of all things .

XXX INTRODUCTION

n o (Iliad xiv . In Hesiod he does t hold

s o n n f s quite primal a positio , bei g himsel the o n

e o f U ran os an d Gaia (Th og . 1 33) but the idea of

n o n o great age , doubt , clu g to h p pular

n thought . The other eleme t was

n n o f not only local , but i volvi g the moral quality i n f. n holdi g aloo The great war , which Zeus

n n n o t a va quished the Tita s, did re ch to his

- Iliad dwellin g place . ( xiv . It left him u m

c n f . n n s athed , whe his brethren ell This co ceptio of Ok e an o s gives to much in the play o f Aeschylus a point which the con temporary Athen ians would

1 readily se ze . His first words are to complain o f

len th o f n n th at l the g his jour ey , although we k ow

the scene is laid close to his River . The journ ey was lon g in regard to the effort it cost him to

f o f n i n move . He was ull se le apprehensio even

’ an d at his daughters going to visit Prometheus , was only with difficu lty persuaded to consen t

n (1. Had comme tators appreciated these l things , they wou d not have been mystified by the

o f c o n obvious sarcasm Prometheus , when he

ul Ok eano s n o f grat ates upon bei g clear the doom , xxxi INTRODUCTION

although he had h ad a p art in all th e enterprise

a n n Ok e no s t he ever had a part in a ything .

“ an d theus counsels him , keep

thy safe remove (l .

Hermes o f , the herald Zeus, appears at the end o f the play as a sort o f foil to Hephaistos at the

In o f n beginning . his tone i solent triumph the

n w spirit of the e rule finds voice . Where f Hephaistos is sympathetic and sorrow ul , Hermes

In o n e preaches and exults . way this scene would appeal to an a n cient spectator as it does no lon ger

to a modern reader . Hermes was the patron and typical rgpgesentative of a class with which he was

— An familiar the class o f heralds . d the qualities shown by Hermes o n this occasion are just those

fo r which heralds were unpopular : they h ad the i n solence of flunkeys ; their office was considered

e h h jn ss o n unworthy of a free man , while the aug t g

nd l a bruta ity , with which they exercised it , made

r in them detested . (Compare the Egyptian he ald

’ Troa e Su lices a s 2 f. the pp , and Euripides , , 4 3 ;

erahleidai 2 f. H , 93 ) xxxii

INTRODUCTION

n 95 60 0 07 09 that the transformatio was , wrought

n o an by earthly power . It is at y rate Hera who

n adfl se ds the g y, which now drives Io over the

11 2 60 1 world ( . 59 , , What part Zeus

o r if n plays in this is not clear , why , he recog ises

n ew n o t n n Io in her shape , he does i terfere , si ce

n n his passion has o t yet bee gratified . He is

’ f s spoken o f as the author o 10 miseries (l .

n 1 and reproached with causi g them ( . but it must rather be by being selfishly i n different to

s o n them , long as his own object is attai ed , that he

o f is responsible for them . It was also , course , Hera (though the play does n o t s ay s o ) who set ‘ Argos to watch Io in her cow shape . Argos was

o n e o f the monstrous creatures which , like f n o . Typhoeus , spra g from the womb Gaia Aeschylus at any rate follows the V iew that makes

s o n o f 6 6 c Su lices him a Earth (ll. 5 7 , 7 7 , f. pp , His mon strosity consisted in his having

hi n eyes all over s body . The charge laid upo

s o him was to watch Io straitly , that Zeus might

n have no commu ication with her . Zeus accord

i n l n g y sent Hermes to kill him . Si ce the abnormal xxxiv INTRODUCTION

n umber o f eyes o f Argos allowed him to have

always some open and vigilant , it was necessary for Hermes first to lull him to sleep by mean s o f

’ s rinx - o f the y , the shepherds mouth organ reeds

1 o M e . . t. . 68 joined with wax ( 57 4, f Ovid . i 7 ;

Flac c u s A r . . an d l Valerius , g iv then fal

n n upo him sudde ly and unawares (l . Traces o f the wan derings o f Io were detected

i e ntifi by the Greeks all over the earth . The d ca

n o f t tio her with Isis brought her to Egypt here,

as is Prometheus made to describe it , Zeus at last

n s h e comes ear to her, and conceives miraculously

o f h is so n E a g s is a by the touch hand . Her p ph ‘

n n Greek tra sformatio of the Apis bull , taking

n k shape originally , no doubt , amo g the Gree traders an d mercen aries who frequented Egypt f he appears here simply as a king o Egypt . His descendant Dan aos returns with his fifty daughters

l o an d to Argos , and thus renews the link between her native land . All this was legend which the tragedians found

as n already current . But if Io w to be brought o

n e to the stage o modification was necessary . A

XXXV INTRODUCTION

n cow could not be a dramatis p ers ona. Her cha ge o fshape was therefore reduced to her merely havin g

sh e P rometheus horns . It is thus that appears in the , and thus also in the numerous works of art , which were i n fluenced by the dramatic Why Io comes at all into the Prometh eus is n o t

a easy to s y . Her connections with the main story

o f . s h e are the slightest They are simply that ,

n o f n o f like Prometheus , is a mo ument the tyra ny

s h e o f Zeus , and that is the ancestress Herakles ,

'

n . the desti ed deliverer It is obvious, however, that in order to bri n g these poin ts of contact into

n promi ence , it was not necessary for Prometheus

n n f to narrate her wa deri gs , past and uture , at

o ne elaborate length . No can fail to s ee that these geographical descriptions are an object in them selves and the main purpose for which the poet

introduced Io . The geographical parts o f the play were perhaps considerably lon ger even than they

. now appear , in the original text The motives , which led Aeschylus to amplify his drama in this

See n e m n n . De o n e diss ertatio arch aeo lo ica E g l a I g .

Hallc INTRODUCTION

n c n - manner are perh aps beyo d our as ertai ing to day .

n n There may have bee at that mome t , with the

n n expa sion of Athenian commerce , a great i terest

- n in remote half fabulous cou tries , the same sort of

in appetite , which we fed our younger days with

’

M . r . Rider Haggard s stories It is to be noted that similar geographical descriptions came again in o f P rometh eus the next play the trilogy, the

Unbound s o n n o t , that an Athenian audie ce was

o f expected to grow quickly tired them . Whether they add anythin g to the drama from the poetic

n o f poi t view may be a matter of disagreemen t . I think we may s ay that they give the figure o f Prometheus a certain universal importance by extending o ur field of vision over the whole world : all the lands i nhabited by men are seen at a sweep stretchi n g from the feet o f him who is the great

o f Friend man. Th e Prometheus B ound was o ne play o f a trilogy o f which the other two lost ones were the Prometh eus

Unbound Prometheus the F i re-bearer and . It is now the general opinion that o u r play was the

d - an F ire bearer . In first , the the last of the series xxxvii the other two the deliverance of Prometheus by

d n tion to ignity and worship , with especial refere ce

fire- his probably to the Attic ceremonies in honour ,

s e were duly t forth .

xxxviii ry e Té ‘ RS ONS

PROMETHEUS .

K R ATOS Stren th and B IA Vi olence ( g ) ( ) .

HEPHAISTOS .

O K EA NO S .

the ‘ dau hter o INA C H o s K N G o A R o o s Io , g f , I f .

HE R ME S .

e is o t e dau hters o O K E Th CHORUS f h g f A NO S .

The S C E N E is among the mountains at the extreme

R iver Okea end o the earth near the nas . f ,

It is to b e un dersto o d th at h e do es n o t m ake P RO METHEU S to b e bo un d in th e Caucasus th e c o m m o n s o r h as b u t , as t y it, o n th e er e o f Okeanos in u ro e m a be h ered fro m v g , E p , as y gat ” hi n d o . d ncient S c ol ast th e t gs s ai t Io h i .!

PROMETHEUS BOUND

HEP HAISTOS

S Z s O trength and Force, for you the hest of eu

’ Is clen c h d done, is , beyond impediment ;

ut erfo rc e a g d B I lack heart to bind p g , ‘

- My kin, against some winter beaten gorge .

Even so necessity must find me heart : F‘ ’ h s . Ill comes of dallying with the / at er word l s o n - n 1 O of right areadi g Them s, deep .

' ‘ In n counsel, no less u to me than thee

n r l ed Comes a guish, when with b ass not lightly oos

I pin thee to this hill, remote from men,

c Where thou no voi e, no human lineament

’ s ee c Shalt , but broiling in the sun s fier e bright ness S halt change thy favour, hailing still the hour,

- s When spangle ve tured Night shall veil the light,

And that, when Day dispels the early rime . l Yea, every hour , being present, sha l be pain — To wear thee the deliverer is not yet .

Such harvest dost thou reap from love of men . PROMETHEUS BOUND

Thou thoughtes t n o t a thing redoubtable

n n The wrath of thine own ki d , but u to man

In creas eds t honour inordinate : whereof

Behold the guerdon to stand sen ti n el

n ot an n Of this grim scar, where is y stoopi g

o f Or sleep or slacking the knees , but long

m o n n , La ent redoubled lame t , and groans

- o f Z Wind wasted . Who shall turn the heart eus ?

That one is ever harsh, whose rule is new .

K R A TOS

Good now ! what use to linger and make ruth ?

The god , whom gods abhor, dost thou not hate ,

’ Seeing he b etray d thy precious thing to men

HEPHAISTOS

A thrill in kinship liz es and ancient convers e .

K RATOS

’ ath er s Aye , aye , but to ignore the F word , May that be ? doth not that fear thrill thee more ? PROMETHEUS BOUND

H EPHAISTOS

S - teel hard thou ever wast and stout of heart .

K RATO S

! Why , him our plainings physic not and thou ,

s th o . Lo e not y lab ur on what helps , nowise

H EPHAISTOS

Woe worth the curs éd cunni ng of these hands l

K RATO S

? Why curse thy craft that , surely, to plain thinking

Is al innocent together of this coil .

H EPHAISTOS

Well , would some other had gotten it , not I

K RATO S

s o f ave the upreme arbitrament heaven ,

50 All things bear trouble none but Zeus is free . PROMETHEUS BOUND

H EP H A ISTO S

is I gran t it there no gainsaying here .

K RA TO S

n arel l s et To it the , and y y the chains about him ,

h fin d For fear the Fat er look , and thee slack .

HEPHAISTOS

are see ? Nay , here armlets ready , you not

K RATO S

an Take him by main force round about the h ds ,

t a . Smite wi h the hammer, cl mp him to the rocks

H EP HA ISTO S — The work goes forward , done in earnest now .

K RA TO S

Strike ! s trike ! make fierce the grapple : no relaxing !

is s r n f s He h ewd at slippi g rom impo s ible straits . H EPH AISTOS

60 This arm at least it were a task to free .

K RATOS

Now pin thou this as surely . Let him learn ,

is here is O ne o f w t. , e Wise as he , _ t_ nimbl i

H EP HA ISTO S — s the . Such binding none could censure, ave bound

K RATOS

Right through his bosom now drive li sti ”

The fierce tooth of an adamantine wedge.

H EPHAISTOS

s h Ala , Promet eus for thy pains I groan .

K RA 'I‘ O S

Yes an d o f , thou art soft, for the foes Zeus

’ es t th e Gro an thou yet may st need: y pity at hom . PROMETHEUS B OUND

H E PHAISTOS

’ no t to o o Thou s ee st a s ight good l k upon .

K R ATOS

se i ff n his s rts I e a ca ti reapi g de e .

But as en et th e r s a u hi s s s . h t , g gi th bo t ide

H EP HAISTOS

s u so. What I mu t do , I must rge me not

K RATO S

u e Nay but I will bot h rge and tarr the on .

s o - h is e s Come down and tr ngly ring about l g .

H E P HA I S TO S

’ Th is s finish d As s e s a o . at oon . I p ak , d ne

K RA TOS

No w through his ankles drive the pins am ain

The t a s s One h t judgeth of the work i tern . PRO METH EU S BOUND

H E P HAIS TO S

S as is . uch thy shape , such I find thy tongue

K RATO S

: e Thou, be thou tender only blam not me ,

8 0 Because I am hard of heart and harsh of mood .

H E P HAI STO S

i fa . u s . s Let go The web woven . He is st

K RA TOS

R There , do thy pleasure there avish and give

To children of a day the things of gods .

Look now, what lightest parcel of thy pain

Can men abate for thee A name ill- sorting

’ b ear s t h eu s Thou in Heaven, Prgmet for thyself

Thou hast much need , Provider to provide, , “ M M

Some way to get thee from this cunning toil .

E P HAI S T K R A 'ro s and B IA de art [H OS , p ,

leavin T chained o t the rocks alone. g PROME HEUS , !

9

PROMETHEUS BOUND

n n n l K owi g that Fate is strong and no e sha l stay . — Ah ! but I can n ot neither to contain 0 w Nor to give tongue I find the way . retched ,

’ E n tram m ell d in this web of agony,

‘ For that I gave good things to men I track

its n o f Home to hidden spri g the flowing fire,

al n By ste th infri ge it, drawing what doth charge

’ : th e t reveal d is A reed hing , to man, mighty,

o f Teacher every art , the main of life,

’ 10 s inn d - s o And , I have and pay the forfeit ,

- ’ A gazing stoc k beneath u n tem per d heaven . Ah What sound did smite my sense ? Invisible redolence ! Whence came the wafture ? whence ?

Was n it gods , or men, or mi gled fellowship, ? Come to the hill , that is limit of the world

Wherefore to s ee the pageant of my pain

’ s ee ill- s tarr d Ah a god then , manacled , ,

u n To the Highest hatef l, reapi g hate

n From every deity, de izen

I O PROMETHEUS B OUND

l Of the heaven y hall , because that men

n He loved with a love exceedi g great .

n ! is Ha, there there agai What it I hear

As the whirring of birds The shrill air sings

- n To the beat of nimble driven wi gs . f All s ound o f approach is ear .

Th e a ear in th e air borne in a [ CHORUS pp ,

winged ves sel ! C HORUS

f n Fear nought rom us, but k ow

s bad is ri n Thi n f e d, not foe , f We that on swi test pinions hither sail ,

n Nay, but with pai we bent

O ur sire to give assent ,

n Borne to this hill along the streami g gale .

To deepest caverns rang

Of stricken iron clang ,

And straight am azement cast out maiden fear :

a I flew with speed am in ,

U n e pon a wi g d wain ,

and I flew, my sandals left , burning to see hear .

I I PROMETHEUS BOUND

PROMETHEUS Ah is it you ?

Maidens , daughters of Te whose brood

i ‘ Is iind o o dl iiiiiltitu de that great g y ,

o f o f And him that, unholden sleep, with a girth f w ters o , Of _ ; engirdles the body earth Ok ean o s ah, behold, regard How here to the rugged gorge ’ s head In such imprisonment riveted

u r I keep nenvied wa d .

CHOR U S

’ s ee th rill d I , Prometheus, ' an d -fill d With awe, sudden

Mine eyes are troubled with a mist of tears,

h - When t us , even thus , rock hung ,

at chin Perishing , p g, wrung

ar In adamantine chains thy form appe s .

Fo r in the heavenly place

New hands of a n ew race

1 2 PROMETHEUS BO UND

’ Are th e un c o ntro ll d on helm, and , master

t Laws lawless make h Zeus ,

n u se Trampling the ancie t ,

An d clean blots out the great and mighty things

o f old . PROMETHEUS

u t r w Ah, wo ld hat under the ea th , do n deeper

’ o f Than the Dungeon Souls, the dead man s Keeper ,

to 1nfin 1te - es He had flung me Tartaros y ,

’ ’ And had made me acquaint in h is wrath s excess

s a o f With in oluble chains, th t joy at the sight me

No god might get no r any beside

am s k o f I lift to the y, and the winds make light

And they that hate me deride [me ,

C HORUS

a s o d s o Be r any g brute a breast,

A s here to find him matter o fjest

is a a Who , but in thy pain h th p rt,

Save only Zeus and he hath set his Stubborn in uttermost

I 3 PROMETHEUS BOUND

and Despite, quells the host

his w Of Heaven to ill,

a t Nor sh ll forbear, un il

He glut his mood; or till he feel a hand

h is fen c éd ll That even seat Sha not withstand .

PROMETHE US

o f b e -o f Yea, me shall yet have need , one

n On whom stro g chains at his will are done,

The President of the gods most high ,

I 7 O To n Show him his late inte t, whereby

’ ’ is s o il d is s o il d He p of his honour, p of his throne

n And neither with ho ey of tongue prevailing,

S n o r hall he find him a spell to charm me, ,

quailin g

For his rigorous threats , shall I ever vent

n n The thi g that he would , till the pu ishment

an d n Of my bonds be undone , he give co sent

For the wrong he hath wrought to atone .

1 4 PROMETHEUS BOUND

C HORUS

- Stout hearted thou, not giving way

For any sharpness o f assay ’ S u nc urb d But to o much is tt P ’lgH .

’ n is dis turb d My soul is pierced withi me, ,

Scannin g what yet in store

For such Fate hath , what Shore Beyond this wreckful pain

Thy keel at last shall gai n .

He art of the Son o f Kronos orison

n n o t n r . Fi ds , nor hath persuasio power the eon

PROMETH EUS

I know it , that Zeus is harsh , restrains

To his own selfj astice ; yet this remain s

M —at la ost sure , the st ,

In the battering day, he shall be right meek

H is is wrath shall Sink , as a storm that past ;

n I open mi e arms , and he cometh fast, ff To pro er me hand and cheek .

8 6 Do h o Lin e 1 . st t u res trai n wisdo m to th yse lf ?

I S PROMETHEUS BOUND

C HORUS

Discover all to us , declare at large

’ fix d What manner of quarrel Zeus hath upon thee , That in such infamous and bitter sort

s h . He handle t ee Resolve us, if no harm .

PROMET H E U S

a is n Of a truth, the spe king of these things pai ,

S is ilence pain , all ways are miserable .

When at the first anger arose in Heaven ,

2 o nte ntio us 00 And between gods and god heat,

Some seeking to drive-K ronos from his throne

u a With cry that Zeus sho ld reign , some contr ry

’ Reso lv d that Zeus should never rule the gods ,

’ wa c o un sell d I then, the best showing , well

s My brethren , Titans , ons of Heaven and Earth ,

’ c n ll d But o u s e bootless . Cozening stratagem

’ s co rn d an d r They , thought in ove weening mood

To hold by force their easeful mastery .

1 6

PROMETHEUS BOUND

He dealt their several hpgg igg p arcelling

The shares o fempire ; but of wretched m an ff He made no count , nay , purposed to e ace

an d s o an h hew His breed, create ot er .

’ n e b t Then none stood up me s advocat u I .

' dared it n o t I ; yea , I saved them , that they Should ,

o u t n Blasted, go i to the place of dreams .

Wherefore I am broken with these agonies ,

Bitter to feel an d pitiful to see .

’ s o tender d I, that with great pity man,

Pity myself found none ; but mercilessly

’ s traiten d wa lim b Am this way, that y , by limb,

A spectacle not glorious to Zeus .

CHORUS

0 - o f he were iron hearted , made rock,

o f Who should not bear his part grief, Prometheus,

ul In thy distress for me, wo d I had never

’

n m r . Beheld it for, beholdi g , y hea t aches

PROMETH EUS

m Truly my posture well might move y friends .

1 8 PROMETHEUS BOUND

C HORUS

Didst thou do more beyond what thou hast

PROMETHEUS

Of tho s e death-destined I askanced the eyes

C HORUS What cure For such distemper did thy wisdom find ?

PROMETHEUS

I caused to inhabit in the hearts of them

CHORUS

That truly was a mighty boon Men had of thee PROMETH EUS

Als h m fire . M o I gave t “ e W W W 1 9 PROMETHEUS BOUND

CHORUS

Hath mortal flesh even now the flam ing thing ?

PROMETH EUS Yea and therefrom in time to come shall learn

A thousand arts . CHORUS

Zeus then for this , thou sayest

PROMETHEUS

Torments me ever, grinds and ceases not.

CHORUS

And to thy conflict is no term proposed

PROMETHEUS

l None save his p easure , as he wills to end it.

CHORUS

H is pleasure ! O what hope that way ? knowledge

20 PROMETHEUS BOUND

’ err d n o t n to Thou hast I am fai argue how ,

’ n O f To thee twere daggers heari g. all that

No more seek now some issue from thy trial .

PROMETHEUS

’ Tis a light thin g fo r whoso hath his foot

Clear o f the meshes to be large in cou n sel

To o ne n as o u unfortu ate . I am wise y .

’ e d n o t 9 rr . I I seek £ , 9a it But

’ ’ s o Even to err I will d . I will d it. Succour

s o To men , to me travail the terms were .

Though sooth I had n o t thought that he would engine

n o n Such torme ts me , shrivelling me to shards

o r Here on the dizzy crags , find a hill

S -f as o desolate and foot orsook this .

No w e n o t fo r n th refore wail my prese t ills ,

an d But come to earth , hearken the strange matter

o n That draweth . How all shall end be

n o u ff Consent to me , co sent , I pray y su er

2 1 PROMETHEUS BOUND

t o f Wi h him that now hath anguish. Quick wing

, Pain now alights, on this one now

CHORUS

’ Thou hast u tter d a word That o ur ears have heard

n n No wise u willi g .

And this my wind- precipitate Chair

With light foot leaving , I quit the air,

’ The birds pure path , and draw anear

’ n To Earth s rough places , inte t to hear

to Thy pains the last fulfilling .

While th e descend O K EA NOS comes [ CHORUS , riding up on a winged beas t !

O K EA N OS

My long way, lo it is overpast,

And I win to thee thus , Prometheus , at last,

n This flyi g creature , whereon I Sit,

n Guidi g by thought , without bridle or bit,

And in these thy troubles , I do thee to know,

2 2 PROMETHEUS BOUND

I also am : blood- fellowship s o “ ‘ - gM ruiev«u ed n in n aiid n f Co stra s me , I thi k , ki ship orgot,

n f No e is I had lie er serve , well wot,

Or in larger measure .

Thou shalt know this is verity n o t my way

- v o f s a Is it worship to la ish lips, for y, How best should I stead thee ? truer lover

n O k e an o s h O e n o t Tha p at all to discover ,

More prompt to atten d thy pleasure .

- PROM ETHEUS .

Ah n o w what thi n g is this art thou too come

s n To py my pains how fou dest heart , for

saking

o f arc héd Thy namesake flood , thy caves rock ,

U n n n hew of ha d , to visit earth , the world

Whose womb is great with iron IS it to view

My passion ? to bear part in my distresses

— n o f Behold a Sight indeed the frie d Zeus ,

n o f Auxiliar in the frami g his power,

Broken with s o great agon ies at his hand

2 3 PROMETHEUS BOUND

O K EA N O S

n I see , Prometheus , and am fai to teach thee , f Though mani old in wit , the better way .

‘ know thyself get thee an other fashion

n in b oughts another Ki g bears rule Heaven .

if n - h thou fli g such grievous girding speec ,

n s it s o Edged iro , Zeus , for all he high ,

o f May haply hear and make the measure wrath ,

W n o w . herewith thou art exercised as , a jest

frie n d let Nay , poor my , not these heats possess thee ;

n n Rail not agai st thy lot but seek to me d it .

A threadbare wisdom mi n e may chance b e rated

n So be it o ly see , Prometheus, what are

o f The wages a tongue that speaks great thin gs .

’ Ch as ten d ff 320 But thou not yet art , sti as ever,

n e w o ld And goest about to add woes to .

n a Nay , y, if I may be thy teacher, never

i elj ain s u h n d c s fo r Shalt thggl fgh g g p k ; , look ,

O n e wh o n o t rules , spares , lord without compeer,

n s a And no e can y to him , What doest thou

24

PROMETHEUS BOUND

s a I dare to vouch , I dare , I y, to vouch

That Zeus will not deny O k eano s

Such grace as this, to loose thee from thy

PROM E T H EU S

’ Of l n n this I ne er wi l scant ack owledgeme t,

- f n That in good will thou art per ect . Hast thou i deed

A care to labour in my behalf? Forego 1t

n o r It were lost labour, would help at all .

Rather sit still and keep thy safe remove .

Fo r n s u ffer thi k not that because I , therefore

I would behold all others suffer too .

n a Far be it y it pricks me home, I tell thee ,

fo r o n e t f n The doom that he , my brother, ha h ou d ,

o f Atlas , who toward the regions the West

S n tands for a pillar between earth and heave ,

’ ’ His f -s u m m d — no shoulders might ull , load to dandle !

Al s aw so it moved my pity , when I

’ s awn d That creature , p of Earth , that housed erewhile

2 6 PROMETHEUS BOUND

In the Cilician caves, a grisly fiend

’ five - was uell d n With heads score , how he q amai ,

Tempestuous Typhon . All the banded gods

t f He dared to ba tle , rom prodigious jowls

’ dis la d Hissing terrific , while his eyes p y

o f n as h e Glare great lightni gs , so would storm

’ By force Heaven s high supremacy , but soon

o f n o t n o u t The bolt Zeus that sleeps fou d him ,

- n n The downward rui ing thu der , quick with flame,

A n d reft him at a clap from all his vaunts

A n d n . Swelli g bravery Full amidst it took him ,

’ A n d Ch arr d , and blasted all his strength to nothing .

An d n o w n u n , a useless body u str g , he lies

o f Hard by a narrow passage the seas ,

’ ’ U n o f t c ru s h d c ram m d der the roots E na and ,

o n While over him , high the peak , Hephaistos

- n n e Sits at his forge work . The ce o day shall burst

o f Rivers fire , with fierce jaws ravening up

- The golden fruited sweet Sicilian sward .

Such overflow o ffury Typhon still S hall cast up boiling , in discharges hot

2 7 PROMETHEUS BOUND

Of fiery ferment unapproachable ,

Al n f beit by the thu der o Zeus calcined .

’ u ns c h o o l d Thou art not all , nor needest me f To learn thee . Save thysel : thou knowest how .

F o r me ,

f U ntil the soul o Zeus be eased o f wrath .

O K EA N OS

’ But k n o w s t thou not , Prometheus, this for sure

’ Choler distem per d finds in words a cure ?

PROMETH EUS

in Yea, if they work upon the soul season ,

On passion in full pulse not forcing reason .

O K EA NO S

n But for the will , for making the adve ture

’

If . Were one the worse thou see st loss , declare it

PROMETH E US

Su erfluo u s n p pains and fo d simplicity .

2 8 PROMETHEUS BOUND

O K EA N OS

’ Suffer th at ill to cleave to me : tis gain

- n n . To be simple seemi g , bei g simply good

PROMETH EUS

The folly be written down to me .

O K EA N O S

n u n . Roundly, thy word enjoi s me brief ret r

PROMETHEUS

I fear thy voice uplift in my complaint

n May bring thee into varia ce .

O K EA N OS

Thou would ’ st speak

Of him late-s et o n the all- sovereign throne ?

PROMETHEUS

. 0 Of him Beware him , lest his wrath be kindled . 39

2 9 PROMETHEUS BOUND

O K EA NO S

Th y fortunes , O Prometheus , lesson me .

PROMETHEUS

: f Good then , depart God speed thee , hold thou ast

Thy present mind .

O K EA NOS

Or ever that thy word

’ u tter d set f Was , I had my ace to go For this my four- foot bird begins to winnow

his : The air, buxom path full fain , I wot ,

his In own steading will he double knee .

O K EA O S de arts [ N p .

CHORUS

w Woe fo r th u n I ail , Prometheus, y plag e appalli g ;

And mine eyes are fountains of tears , that incessant falling

m chec k Make wet y with their springs .

30 PROMETHEUS BOUND

For by laws of his o wn pleasure

Zeus rules , and bitter measure

In his pride o f heart he dealeth

To them that o f o ld were kings .

A nd heaven with a cry from the utmost land is

ren ded

For the worship that erst was thine and thy

’ b reth re n s n , sple did

o f n In the glory ancie t time .

fo r n Yea , these thy tribulatio s

All n n n manki d mourns, the atio s

That have got their homes in Asia ,

That are s et in a holy clime

They that dwell in Kolchis , daughters

n Dreadless, whe the red spear slaughters,

And the folk , that by the waters

Meo tic won extreme of men , the Scythian stock ,

‘ ’ L ne 1 . W o n to d e . i 4 9 , w ll

Th e d b e s h ere h n wil a t, w e wo s ’ In o res d —M1LT0N P ar f t wil . , . L . vii . 457 .

31 PROMETHEUS BOUND

’ Arab s y flower in arms unyielded ,

is - Whose that eyry rock builded,

s Hard by Cauca us , a shielded Vociferous host with spears sharp- fronted

Shock .

Him only had I yet beheld

’ m u ell d In ada antine durance q ,

o f n Him the Tita progeny alone ,

o n Atlas , whom doth ever weigh

The wheelin g sphere o f night and

h is Wherewith shoulders groan .

The seas lift up their voice and keep

n Pla gent accord , deep groans to deep ,

o f The black profound Hades booms below ,

The urns o f all pure rivers pour

Their floods with lamentation sore , f With ruth and rumour o woe .

PROM ETH EUS

Not in disdain and not in obduracy

32

PROMETHEUS BOUND

n s Neither of spri g, the flowery time, nor ummer,

o f n The time gatheri g. Foot and hand they plied

’ n Without discernme t , till the day I show d them

o f an d h o w s ell The rising the stars, to p

h . The vanishing t ereof, hard lore Moreover

o f 1— , the chiefest artifice all 7 Number 460 3 And subtlest, I devised for them, and joinings

Of letters, whereby the remembrance lives

n o f Of all thi gs, and the craft lovely words .

And my hand first yoked with a yoke great beasts,

n - n o r h That, tho g bou d bestridden , t ey might do

o f Vile service, and the seed men to these

’ h eel Transfer their travail s wors t . To w éd frames

’ o f I fasten d horses, patient the rein,

f n e The glory o afllue c that flowers in pride .

A n d n one save I it was con trived those hulls l o f n - With wings li en , wherein sea farers - i m l Gg m an frOin o f d the great field the waves.

these devices I devised for men ,

’ fo r o f myself am beggar d conceit,

is To escape the pain that now come upon me.

34 PROMETHEUS BOUND

CHORUS

is a ! A strange thing bef llen thee where are they,

’ th o u rt an d o Thy wits lost, like a s rry leech

’ Fall n s ta eres t n sick, thou gg , impote t to hit ll The medicine that sha meet thine own disease .

PROMETH EUS

n an d Hearke the rest, thou wilt wonder more ,

’ each d Such arts and waysM unto . f ll A n d this in chief : did any man a sick,

Was in n n no deliverance, either thi gs eate ,

o r and Plaster potion , but their sap substance

n o f m edic e Dwi dled for lack in , till I taught them ‘

o f b en eficen t The sage commixtures balms ,

e For all disorders sover ign . I defined

Ways m any e u figiyinatio n ala drs am i

’ n n fo res h ado w d I first did spell , discer i g which

o f m en n Matter truth . I made understa d

I n apprehen sible voices ominous

n Co junctions by the way , the curious flight

35 PROMETHEUS BOUND

- Of those crook footed tribes of the air , all this

I bodied forth exactly, which be birds

0 49 Of nature favourable , which malign ,

n f ' How each is wo t to are , and mutually

What hates they have, what leagues and fellowship . Further of slain beasts ’ inward parts I taught

The perfect feature , and what hue presenting l They gain propitious gods , and how the ga l

Must show a lobe diverse for fair aspect .

’ ’ u ro ll d fat u es tio n d The shanks , p in , by fire I q ,

With the long chine , and led the mind of man To thrid the labyrinthine mysteries

Of a dim art the oracu lar face of fire

’ Lo o k d with clear eyes , that heretofore were scaled

500 Such my lore was but what the earth con

tained

s e ret Of g things , helpful to man , brass , iron , 11 any stand and s ay

' H ddid‘ t fiVé h t ? p me , finding them Nay, none ,

I am sure , unless he loose his tongue in folly .

36 PROMETHEUS BOUND

s um Let one brief word conclude the whole in , “ W W W CHORUS

n o t o f Yet be prodigal care to men,

n Cold to thi e own distresses . O, my hope

Bears well that thou Shalt presen tly behold

These chains unbolted and thyself in power

No whit inferior to Zeus . PROMETHEUS Not yet Lies in the scope o f all-dispensi n g doom

—a l I That consummation first with ih o u san d throes

e re And aches must I be plied , loosing come .

C HORUS

And of stron g Fate who has the helm and steers ? ‘ w - m “ I PROMETHEUS

ICCHS n The Three Weird Q , the Ave gers who for

get not .

37 PROMETHEUS BOUND

CHORUS

’ i And Zeus , thou say st, is less in m ght than these

PROMETHEUS

n s Whatso stands written Zeus can ot e cape .

C HORUS

o n o n . Stands aught for him , but to reign and

PROMETH EUS

20 LO . 5 , there thy quest must end

farther . CHORUS

Some wonderful burden sure thy heart enfolds

PROMETH EUS

Fi n d thee another argumen t this thin g

n The time is owise come to utter nay,

s o It must be hid full deep ; for, I hold it,

s n Myb o nd a d shame and anguish are no more .

38 PROMETHEUS BOUND

C HORUS

O n ever may my weakn es s prove

o f n The might Zeus agai st it bent, The will that masters all that move Nor may I weary to frequent

Th e n gods with holi ess,

f an d o f High east blood bulls , beside

’ M an d n d y father s ford wells u drie , Nor may my lips transgress ! May this within me sure Be rooted and endure !

f

’ Sweet were t in hopes that k n ow n o t fear

To i l ve my length of days, and fill

My heart with mirth an d feas tfii l cheer !

But thee I look upon and thrill ,

’ By thousand torments m arr d !

n o t in Because holding Zeus awe,

n n o wn ll fo r But taki g thi e wi law,

39 PROMETHEUS BOUND Thou renderest regard

To children of the dust,

Prometheus , more than just .

Nay look , O friend , and declare, is there grace that thy grace hath found ?

? Is anywhere power to save is there help in perishing men ? m ’ Thou hast seen an s dark estate, wherein he is

an d tied bound,

’ s a s tufl A little strength without p , the of a dream for when

Shall wit o f man prevent

’ God s well- kn it regiment ?

t in Such hought my heart, Prometheus, doth sight of thy ruin move And it leaps to my mind how far is this from the

strain I san g

o f In the day thy marriage feast , by the lavers and

o f bed love ,

40

PROMETHEUS BOUND A thousand peering balls !

h is an d He comes way, his guileful eyes peruse me

0 57 He died , but is not held of darkling bands

his as He wins path from the pit a hound,

pursues me ,

n And drives me far distraught, where still expa ds

’ fam is h d s ea n Before my face the , the infi ite

sands .

o n There is sound the while of music , reed reed

’ fulfill d o f — Set with wax , slumber whither lead, Whither lead me my long wanderings decreed

Tell me, thou Son

Of Kronos, O Lord, Why hast thou bound me

With pain as a cord

sin fin d What didst thou , Ah me ! undone l

8 0 o n - fl 5 That thou settest thy poison y to hound me, That thou weares t me with madness of the mind ?

Give me to burning fire ,

S s o d ink me quick in the , PROMETH EU S BOUND Make me meat to be For the dragons o f th e s e a

Yea, this my great desire , ! Vouchsafe to grant , O God

far an d is For I have gone , farther to go, Though my flesh cries

For respite : but to rid me of my woe

I find no wise .

The voice that fills thi n e ears

is Hers , whose forehead wears ,

an d n Set for a wonder sig ,

Horns as the horns o f ki n e .

PROMETHEUS

Surely the voice I hear non e other is

Than hers , the maiden driven

The child 0

The o f n o w , heart Zeus with love , and ,

se en

O , wa . f Hera fares perforce her infinite A y i f ‘ 1 5 m 4-3 PROMETHEUS BOUND

’ Whence , whence hast thou my father s name

who ,

0 art -afflic te d who thou , that art sore too , ffl And to me a icted givest greeting true , Naming aright The sharp god- sent

Torment unsleeping ,

n That goads me , spe t, To the uttermost land

’ In wilder d flight ? f Yea, I come made mad with amine and

lea 1n p g,

As s a tempest, unavailing to with tand

Wiles of a goddess wroth , — Even Hera . There again

The sting 0 wh o o f all That men ill-fated call Do tread such troublous path

A S n I But tell me plai ,

44 PROMETHEUS BOUND

u o f n is What b rden comi g days yet to endure, Show me some sign

’ Or if thou k no w s t bindi n g or balm to cure

Such wound as mine . Unlock thy lips and use

Free speech to her that sues ,

o f The maid evil star,

The maid that wan ders far.

PROMETH EUS

t n I will resolve hee all thy heart would k ow,

Not with dark circumstance , but words full

n plai ,

As n right would , frie d should open mouth to friend .

’ Thou see st Prometheus , him that gave men fire .

all n o f O thou on men rise a light help ,

Prometheus, what thing hast thou done , unhappy To suffer this

45 PROMETH EUS

That tale o f lamentation

to lips even now brought an end .

Io

One grace afford me .

PROMETHEUS

S peak thou shalt not m iss .

Io

’ was fix d ? Declare, who it thee in the gorge

PROM ETH EU S

fo r Zeus, for the willing the hand , Hephaistos .

lo

620 And of what manner of crime is this the forfeit ?

PROMETHEUS

u fli c Let that I have said s e thee .

46 PROMETHEUS BOUND

Now discourse Of mine own woes showme the date shall round

This pilgrimage of pain .

PROM ET H B U S

There not to know

Were happier than to know .

IO

0 hide not from me What I must suffer

PROMETHEUS

Nay, but such a boo n

- Ill will would not deny .

Io

Then what withholds thee From giving all full utterance

47 PROMETHEUS BOUND

PROMETHEUS

No unkindness .

‘ d Woman , I woul thy soul to frenzy .

Push not th y care for me beyond my liking .

PROME TH EUS

6 0 3 For thou art instant, I am bound to speak .

Hear then . C HORUS

O stay a little I too claim

o f My part satisfaction . Let us first

n n o f Be certified the ma er her affliction . From her own mouth we fain would have the tale

’

marr d . Of all the adventures , which have her days

PROMETHEUS

It falls to thee , Io , to minister

as k The grace these for and it well behoves thee ,

48

PROMETHEUS BOUND

o f Wedlock the highest He , the Lord Heaven ,

Is h o t o f waxen , pierced with desire thee,

Yea and with thee would tread the pas sages

’ n o t Of love s delight . Now therefore foot from

thee ,

0 c i h ld , the bed of the Highest but do this , f Go orth to where the meadow is deep, the field — Of Lerna , stations of the household flock ,

’ o f — o Home thy father s herds, g even thither ” That s o the eye of Zeus may ease desire .

With such-like dreams the kindly dark fo r me

Was ever fraught , me miserable till , ridden ,

I gat me heart to open to my father

n o f The visio s and the dreams night . And he

To n n Pytho , yea and eve to Dodo a ,

o n n Sent embassage embassage , inquiri g

n o r What thing he had eed to do , what word speak ,

A n d To pleasure them that rule us . they came ,

n n o f i Bri gi g still back burden wavering l ps ,

n n l Se tences bli d , dark sy lables . At last

wo r en -vis a l m e Inac h o s A d g gggfii to , “ G M : 50 PROMETHEUS BOUND

. th n Fog of the house , forth of the la d , to wander

n At large , a separate thing , eve to the last

Co n fin es o f : if earth and he would not hearken ,

n - Then should a thu der stroke from Zeus, with flicker e f Of flam , consume his house rom under heaven .

o f Such were the prophecies Loxias ,

An d . such prevailed He drave me forth , he shut

o n h is The do rs behind me , groani g in heart ,

: was o n As I in mine that day but force him ,

o f do The bridle Zeus , to make him this thing .

n a The , in that inst nt , lo my bodily form

’ Ande ho rnéd as th rill d f 1 2393, by the sharp

’ M o f outh the pest , I rush d, with furious leaping ,

n - o f Kerc h neian To drinki g pools the stream ,

o f An The fount Lerna . d there clave to me

’ n u ntem er d A bitter herdsma , gall p , Argos ,

’ o f fill d f Prodigious growth the ground , ull of eyes ,

’ do d And gg my goings . But him a sudden hand ,

S I PROMETH EU S BOUND

’ lo o k d fo r o ff - He not , cut ; and me , sting fretted ,

Drives yet from land to land the scourge o f God .

Thou hast th e tale o f things thus far : the travail

Remaining , if thou canst, declare nor shed ,

n Bei g pitiful , about my heart the warmth

Of insubstantial comfort : no affliction

I count so foul as fabricated words .

CHORUS

’ Out upon t forbear f Tale of wonder and ear ,

Full of strangest woe,

u I had never tho ght ,

s o Never said, would

To mine ears be brought ,

Or my livin g heart S o be stricken chill , Stricken as with a dart Sharp to thrust and thrill Grievous things to see ! Grievous things to dree

52 PROMETHEUS BOUND

n o f an d o f ill o f ill Pai pain , fear fear, and ! O Fate O Fate I shudder. Spare

h s o sh o uld are W at means it, Io , , f

PROMETHEUS

n o w s h o wes t Lo , how soon thou breakest out , and

’ AS fulfill d one of fear hold , till the rest

Be also shown thee . CHORUS Speak be all delivered

afllic ted 1 1s o To them th s j y, to know

Beforehand all the process of their pain .

PROMETHEUS

Thy former suit it cost thee little labour

n To win from me . First thy will was to hearke ,

While she that stands here s et forth all the conflict

n s h e . Wherei is taken Now attend the rest,

’ What things at Hera s han d this damsel yet

M 0 o fIn ac h o s ust bear and thou , seed ,

’ in th o u m a s t n Hide thy heart my words, that y lear

53 PROMETHEUS BOUND

o f The issues thy way . From this rock first

f an d Set thou thy ace toward the East, tread

’ lo u h d Fields no man ever p g , until thou reach

n h The rovi g Scyt ians , them that have their homes

1 0 f o n 7 Woven, uplift rom earth , running wheels ,

Men that bear bows and fin d far quarry these

Approach not near, but ever keep thy steps

the s ea Hard by the reefs that break thundering ,

O n a And so pass that land through . the left h nd / H abit - a y the iron workers, Ch lybes , Of whom beware , for they are barbarous ,

And give their guests ill greeting . And thou Shalt come

To n o t a river Violent , named amiss,

— to Which pass not over, hard it is pass ,

Till to the Mou n t itself o f Caucasus

’ rt i o n Thou come, the h ll highest earth , whereon The river spuming vents to the air his might

’ Even from the mountain s forehead . There ascend

th e f Those brows that jut against stars , and ollow

54 PROMETHEUS BOUND

. -‘h M U ’ h

’ wo m an o le arrn d the n , n — n , ‘ The e Amazo s p L L W A f p J W p “ E s W , ”

That lo M -M W th o s e that o n e day

Th em is k ra Shall overspread y , about

Th erm o do n Salm dess o s , where is y , thrust

S r n eaward, a ugged jaw, to mari ers

A wicked host , to ships a stepmother

f l o n These o good wi l Shall bear thee thy way .

And journeyin g thou shalt fin d the n eck m en call

Kim m erian t o f , at the en ry the Pool ,

The n arrow gates : there then make stout th y reins

Even to take leave o f land an d pass clean over

o f h The strait M eo tic . Know that t y passage

Shall b e great speech amo ng all people s o f m e n

d t e an s ll . For ever ; h place ha get. a

M g o - a ri Ba r s . t u emo al , sp So shalt ho tre d

o e no mo re n Eur p , , but thence the co tinent

Look now, and tell me whether to you

n o f n He seems , this tyra t the gods, a ature

55 PROMETHEUS BOUND

? Violent or no or in a sole respect ,

in ? : And not all Consider a god is he ,

An d purposing to enjoy in way o f love

o f m en o n This daughter , hath laid her such tale

Of wayfarings . Bitter indeed , O maiden , h Thy suitor is , that woos t ee ; for be sure

The thi n gs thou hast heard are scarce the prelude

yet .

i a [Io breaks nto lament ble cries . !

Lo there thou criest again ; thy breath comes hard

With travail of thy soul . What wilt thou do , Being taught the further ills ?

CHORUS

fo r Nay, hast thou her

o f Aught left anguish , that thou hast not told ?

PROM ET H E U S

o f s ea o f Sore weathering a wreckful woe .

56

PROMETHEUS BOUND

Io

? Nay , what else is it not Zeus That makes me suffer ?

PROMETH EUS

Wherefore un derstan d

60 7 The law is even s o . Io

What han d shall ravish

The sceptre of his kin gdom ?

PROMETHEUS

h is o wn frivolous coun sels shall he fall . M V Ne w ” 4

Io

? n How with the circumsta ce, if nothing hinders ,

Acquaint me . PROMETHEUS

s h all wed a we ddin He , g, such

A s fo r one day he shall grieve .

58 PROMETHEUS BOUND

o f Come gods ,

a o f hi n Or t ken men Say, if it be a t g

Lawful to utter . PROMETHEUS

n o t o f Ask me that,

S n s n o t . eei g it is ecret, and may be told

Io

’ Shall he i n deed be pluc k d up from throne

’ By his wife s han d ?

PROMETH EUS

B h e r t yk womb ra her bearin u g Lag-« m

as s h is A s o n surp ing begetter .

Tell me,

Is there fo r him no conjuring of such peril

59 PROMETHEUS BOUND

PROMET HEUS

o I only might , if one should lo se my hands ;

0 7 7 None else . Io

Nay, who is he shall loose thee , maugre

The will o f Zeus ?

PROMETH EUS One of thy body sprung

Must be the looser . 10

Ah ! what word is this

PROMETH EUS

Let gen erations ten go by : thereto

Add other three .

The rede oracular

Grows darker , hard to construe .

60

PROMETHEUS BOUND

CHORUS

s n Of the e twain thi gs make one a grace to her ,

To me the other , and put not these my words

To f shame , but unto her do thou un old

The remnant of her pilgrimage , to me

- is Him that shall loose thee this my desire .

PROME THEUS

S n o t ince ye are instant , I will contend,

But utter all that ye require . And first,

o f n That labour much goi g many ways ,

Io , it falls to unfold thee , which do thou

f o f Grave in the mind ul tables thy heart .

So soon as thou shalt pass that stream , the bourne

Of n an d n conti ent contine t , toward

/ flam e -flo o ded tro dden o f s u n The East , the ,

ih

[Press forthright . First to the winds that way

shall bring thee , PROMETHEUS BOUND

o f The daughters the North , where shun the

n Precipitous roarer , lest it s atch thee away ,

o f Rapt suddenly in gusty wings storm .!

n n Crossi g the noiseful flood, u til thou touch

n o f Kis then e The plains Gorgo ian , where

o f Ph o rk s h Do dwell the seed y , virgins t ree

n o f s wiih - Siniili tude A cient days , in ,

To wh o m o ne s n , eye doe commo ministry ,

' th o 256 o nly tOO . Them the sun visits n t n f his ea o . With b ms , nor ever fi ds the lamp night

t And to hese three are neighbour other three ,

’ ’ h th e T eir Sisters , feather d horribly, gorgons, o f n fo r abhOrr o f With mat s akes ha__ir , d men ,

Whom no n e o f mortal flesh Shall look upon

And still draw breath . Such guard I Show thee

s et .

a s ee Hear lso another sight , they faint who

a - o f Bew re the warder dogs Zeus , whose mouths

’ n e Are sharp exceedi g , even as eagles b aks ,

63 PROMETHEUS BOUND

o f - the host one eyed men ,

as ian s p ,

Who dwell; beside the stream , the wave whereof

I ffl o f s a uent of gold , the ford Pluton . ’ These then avoid and thou Shalt come to a land

o ff Very far , a people of dark faces ,

- n Whose seats are by the Well spri gs of the Sun ,

Where rolls the river Ethiop . Trail thy feet

Along the banks th ereofifi til thou reach

- The Stair way of the Cataract , the hills

Of Byblos : the c e i s Ndé wh ereo f who drin k g b o f Do worship for the virtue the draught.

A n d he shall be to thee a way to bri n g thee

o he 13 h wn h e le t , ignn fl i Int land that ‘ fi ’ - Three corner d , where that far plantation , Io , w—W ” fl a M 18 Fate that thou shalt fo und, thou and thy sons .

Now if aught here be inarticulate ,

Aught hard to hit, turn and retrace it time

More than I wish , is given me at dispose .

64

PROMETHEUS BOUND

To be , if to thine ear such name come kindly,

’ Thence thy tormentor pric k d thee o n to fly

u f o f The way of the sea to that great G l Rhea ,

Wherefrom again thou art beaten back , storm driven

’ u n o vern d In course g . Know in time to come

’ 8 0 s ea Ioni n c all d 4 That salt firth shall be a , “ h fl — u—M f Eternal record of thy transient eet .

’ o f These signs I give thee my heart s discernment ,

n s e That further it pierces tha the eye can e .

an d And for the rest, to you her alike

ll n Wi I take up my rede , eve where it left f l The footprints o my o d discourse .

’ C c all d Kan o b o s There is a ity, , last

’ On that land s border, by the very mouth

And b an k éd silt o f Nile there Zeus disburdens

’ n o f e his h an d n Thy mi d madn ss , laying upo thee,

e c h eth That qu n fear : he shall W .

s o n an d b ” a , And thou sha“lt a call his n me “ all earm .

n o f wondrous genderi g Zeus,

’ d - favo ur d usky , who Shall hold 66 PROMETHEUS BOUND

n fee - r All la d in , that with broad sp eading flood

Lo f Nile waters . , from him the fi th descent ,

o f f t n A brood fi ty, shall re ur again ,

o f Not free will , to Argos, seed of daughters,

i m ' i i n - un n le St e wéd Fleei g close blooded io , th y

n Their cousins these , their hearts bei g passion

’ wm no w d,

o n o f n o r far n Kites the track doves behi d,

o f a Shall come in chase wedlock, which to ch se

N ‘ -n~ n ’ IS Sin : but Go d 5 m isl 1k in g eye shall reave

Those lusty bodies , and Pelasgic earth S — hall cover them , bodies of men brought down

’ o f n In war wome s hands, by desperate mood

That in the night keeps watch for every woman

o f Shall spoil the life her particular lord,

In n n - his soft throat dre chi g a two edged brand .

’ — t f f ! Such bridal commerce , may be all my oes

One only maiden some soft pai n shall hold ‘

From slayi n g him beside her her resolve

Shall turn back blunted : o f two evil names

67 PROMETHEUS BOUND

“ “ Coward sh e less will loathe than murderess .

A n d s h e shall be the mother of that house i be n - n Which shall ki gs in Argos, one had eed

I 8 O Of 7 much discourse to utter all that matter ,

ll in f sh a a s r But this receive rnmfi eedn fih ers p g

wh o o f his One very bold , bow shall get ’ Great y fame ; and he it is , that from this durance Shall s et me free . am f Such a mother did un old me,

n ld She that hath bee time , of the race

h ow where Of the Titans , but the and ’ - i w ’ wbFds inan s e t Twould need y to forth , and thou

’

n fin d . By lear ing all that tale , would st no good

Welaway ! Welaway !

n The old fit mounts in me, re ding , the passion

O f mad n ess : a prick n o fire did fashion

an d Stabs me urges .

My heart is torme n ted o f terror to bound

AS a wild thing withi n me ; mi n e eyes wheel round ;

68

PROMETHEUS BOUND

n an d Lo, I have see it I dread , \ This maidenhood un comforted

o f n an d By love husba d, to fro

n o f . Of Hera drive , and wasted in a maze woe

For me be equal the marriage plight ,

n n I ble ch o t . Never upon me light

Eye o f some Mightier One With passion hard to Shun l

Bad battle to brunt , with dearth of all But utter dearth What end should fall ?

I s ee n o t any road

To f elude the wiles o God .

PROMETHEUS

This holds unshaken be the heart o f Zeus

s o da n . Never hard, a y shall bri g him low

Such marriage hath he toward , that from his height

a a Most high shall h le him down, his throne sh ll know him

7 0 PROMETHEUS BOUND

0 th fsé vh erewith N more for ever, and fi jj w j f in th e da f His father cursed him y he ell , " n o fl Kro os, from his secular seat, shall find

To the utterance then fulfilment . Of 8 1153141 “

Th avertin n o l n n g g that might be god heave ,

: , S , Not one can how him certainly Mbut I

So f it . now

Let him s it with heart uplift an d put his trus t

In rummage of the upper air , and shake

n An e gine in his hands , whose blast is fire

n f All this shall help him nothi g , nor de end l That fall he shou d not falls irreparable,

l an d n A aughter hissing . Such antago ist f He now makes ready against himsel , a fear

o n e Embodied , ill to match , that shall find

n n A flame more shrewd than light i g , and a noise Mightier than mighty thunders ; yea the spear

That palsy-shakes the earth with stren gth o f the

seas ,

o f n l The trident Poseido , he shal make

As t though it were not . In hat day shall Zeus ,

7 1 PROMETHEU S BOUND

Whenas his foot hath struck such evil ,

How different to rule is at o serve .

C HORUS Arm ’ d of inveterate desire thy tongue

o n Makes battery Zeus .

PROMETH EUS

I speak the thing

sh all n That be , and no less thereby the thi g

That I desire . CHORUS

And must we look indeed ? 9 30 For Zeus to fin d his better

PROMETHEUS

an d That more ,

difli cult to A yoke more for the neck bear.

CHORUS

n How art thou not afraid , slingi g such words

7 2

PROMETHEUS BOUND

V f i o a . s The drudge the young mon rchy He come ,

o n n . Of that no doubt , some new thing his to gue

[HERMES enters .! HERMES

h m - This word to t e wit , to thee

More bitter than all bitter things , the prime

ff n n O e der agai st the gods , purveying honours

o f To perishable flesh , the thief fire

Thus saith the Fath eg T om s halt s u cely npgak i i h m m

’ A nfl fl h fi f rr ne fihis a b i fit fiflW s w m vau ntes t o f Thou , and who they are, whereby

The One that rules shall fall ; and that nowise

l u With ridd ing lips, but each partic lar

After its proper truth : nor make me tread

: The same path twice , Prometheus such , thou

’ see st,

n o t r Were the way to appease the hea t of Zeus .

PROMETH EUS

Superb in utterance , blown with lusty pride, His speech is hear the servant of the gods

7 4 PROMETHEUS BOUND

n n o f Ye are you g , ye are you g , rulers yesterday ,

And verily deem ye dwell in citadels

’ h f H ave l n o t n n U n to u c d o tears . k ow from these

an d Two monarchs tumbled the third , who now

n s ee n f Is sovereig , I shall the soo est all

f e An d s h am e u ll s t . do Behold me I tremble ,

n ew ? 0 Do I quail , for these gods far is that

h o f wo i'ld Removed from me , the widt the Thou

then

Trudge , trace again the way thou camest nothing

f n n O all thy in quisitio shalt thou lear .

H ERMES

n Such headstrong motio s were those same , that

Did bear thy vessel on these Shoals .

PROM ETHEUS Wot well I had rather choose these my calamities

n Than dance , where thou , attenda ce . PROMETHEUS BOUND

H ERMES Excellen t

’ ’ tis I ll swear better to attend this rock ,

o n e Than to be such an as Hermes , trusted

Of Zeus to be his messenger .

PROMETHEUS The froward

0 97 Must lo ok to meet with frowardness .

HERMES It seems

’ r Thou t grown magnificent in thy present case .

P R O M ETH EU S

Magn ificent would I might s ee my foes ! In such magnificence, and , among them , thee

H ERMES

Am I too held then taxable fo r aught In thy misfortunes

7 6

PROMETHEUS BOUND

PROMETHEUS

ful Nought is , time shall not teach , that groweth l

of days . H ERMES

fr And yet to this hour thou art oid of sense .

PROMETHEUS

n I am , in communi g with thee , a thrall .

HERMES

Well , I conclude that thou wilt answer nothing

Of what the Father wills .

PROMETHEUS

Nay , but I owe

th at I Much love , should pleasure him in

HERMES

’ u s o Am I a child, that thou sho ld st flout me

7 8 PROMETHEUS BOU ND

PROMETHEUS

n o t ? o r Nay, art thou something yet more

green , If thou hast hope to gather aught from me ?

There is no torment, no device , whereby

Zeus shall enforce my lips to let this go ,

n n U til these chains i jurious be undone . l

I have said : an d now let fly the sooty flame

e o f Let all the world become one wast snow,

o f o ne o f Whirl white feathers , and roar thunders

! o f all Infernal Nothing that shall bend me ,

l n Nothing sha l force from me , what ha d of fate S hall dispossess him from his sovereignty .

HERM ES

n Look if these things are like to bri g thee succour .

PROMETH EUS

’ a o lo o k d Nay , long g I , and well advised me .

7 9 PROMETHEUS BOUND

HERMES

Take heart, O foolish one , take heart at last

1 000 To front thy evil case with soberness .

PROMETHEUS

Thou art tedious to me , as whoso should reason

s ea- e f With a wave . K ep far rom thee all thought

That I shall ever s o much hold in dread

’ o f u n m an n d The will Zeus , that, being in soul , I Should intreat that object of huge hate

With womanish upliftings o f my palms

To loose me from my bondage . Never ! never !

H ERMES

in an By y words , it seems, I but lose breath . Thou art not melted nor thy heart made soft

n o n s natfle- By prayers ; but gnashi g the steel ,

- — Like to a colt new broke , thou are violent

1 0 10 t n n In figh agai st the rei . For all that , know

Thy vehement will stan ds in a weak con ceit

8 0

PROMETHEUS BOUND

To n o the land where light is , the house of death ,

’ u n fath o m d The dark , where is Tartaros .

e n Wh refore advise thee , seei g this I utter

’ fe i n n n d and . Is othi g g , but spoken home surely

’ The high God s mouth kn ows not to speak the

thin g

That false is , but shall stablish all . Thou then

Look narrowly , take thought, and never deem f Advisedness o lesser praise than pride .

C HORUS

To us the words o f Hermes have some Show

Of n n reaso , biddi g thee remit thy pride, f To explore the sage path o advisedness .

u : . Be r led the wise get shame , who go astray

PROMETH EUS

Or ever his lips had let it go ,

I knew his burden that foe o f fo e

Should suffer evil is no new law .

Light o n me now the writhen hair

8 2 PROMETHEUS BOUND

Of a flam e two-e dgéd let all the air

’ las h d n n Be with levi , with passio grieved

Of u - winds exasperate , earth p heaved

’ From her roots by the inly- pris o n d flaw

n n Let him mi gle a welter of bitter bri e ,

o f th e n The froth the seas , with paths divi e Of the heavenly stars down quick let him

flin g me

’ o f b lac k en d Where the face the day is blotted and ,

’ u n slac k e n d By a might that masters , and twirls

n La To Death can he nowise bri g me .

H ERMES

o f Nay , here are heats a mind amiss ,

’ And speeches verily heard sick- b rain d

Is there an y madness more than this

’ Or a temper further in frenzy s train d ?

as n Ye then , do you ma y as grieve

’ s In his sorrow s fellow hip , rise and leave

e h f This place , with the spe d t at ye may orth

n fari g ,

8 3 PROMETHEUS B OUND

Lest ye hear , and your sense it suddenly reave ,

o f The roar the thunder unsparing .

CHORUS

n Find other utterance , such exhorti g

- As I shall heed this word ill sorting ,

’ That hath scaped thy lips , to hearken were shame to me A thin g so base how dost thou name to me

With my frien d I am fix éd to bear the worst

o f o ld Traitors I abominate . No evil accurst Do I spit from me with such hate !

H ERMES

warn éd Yet ye are nowise forget ,

No r f , when ye are taken in Mischie s net,

o u t o n o r Cry n fortu e , loose the thought

That in to calamity undivi n ed

: Zeus cast you nay, but yourselves have wrought

o wn u fo r Your ndoing , well aware ,

8 4

T PROME H EUS ,

e c a th h sm , N O T E S

’ ‘ ' ’ ‘ ’ ine 1 . Re ad E xa rai aha ohhév ci t/ ra h ! e L 5 v y n c xw.

H ADLAM . W. E

’ in 0 Th e c e eb ra e d dvr tfl v h ' refe r h L e 9 . l t jp pw y e a ap a s bo t to th e s ound an d to th e s arklin o f th e sea Sh o n b th e p g , as is w y

‘ u se o f ek ci v fo r th e er n o f rm o ur in H o m er an d o f y glitt i g a ,

r h e o o n o f e o Th e re in th e se q/n ay fo t e xpl si a wav (Plat ) . lay

o rd u e o n o f th e h o e effec o f th e m o in er w s a s gg sti w l t v g wat , h b o th so un d an d lig t .

1 Re d n n va h o v . Line I 3. a i g po e dp e o s

h h k ine 1 . Co m m en o r w o e e n h n e h L 33 tat s, av ta t is li wit

ra e er n e h e r ed to e n b th e f c h g v lit al ss, av t i xplai it y a t t at

Okean o s e h is d u h er in m rr e to ro m e h eu o r h as gav a g t a iag P t s, n o w c o m e to c o n do l e with h im ; b ut s ee I ntroduction page xxix .

Th A himse th e r o f h e e n an d Line 349 . at tlas is lf pilla av e r h h o n 1 b c o m m o n e n e h c h do es n o t o us a t is s w ( ) y s s , w i all w 8 7 NOTES to h k ’ t i n o f an uprigh t pillar b e in g suppo rted by an y o n e s h d s o ul ers ( 2 ) th e represen tatio n s o f earlier and c o n temp o rary art th e o rd o f Ae ch u h m e in n e 2 ; (3) w s s yl s i s lf li s 4 4 f.

h e h er th e n in n f c an W t e xisti g text li es 349 . b e reco n c iled

h h m e n n o r re u res e en d o n h s n o t th e wit t is a i g, q i m ati , t i is

ce d pla to isc uss .

T r T h eus as h e is c a e H ines 1 f. h o n o O d in es o d L 35 yp yp , ll i ,

- o f c o ur e s m th e vo c an o fie n d. Th e m h h ere o re is, s , i ply l yt t f c o n n e c ts h im b o th with th e vo lc an i c c o un try o f C ili c ia an d

o r h ern S r an d h n . In th e c e o f n an N t y ia, wit Et a as Et a — alternatir/ e e xplan ati o n o f th e vo l c an i c ph en o m en a th at it is

H h is o r e- o rk— h ere u er m o e d Th e ephaisto s at f g w is s p i p s .

T h n o o C o se h in H d de cr o n o f o e o Theo . s ipti yp f ll ws l ly t at si , g

8 2 0 f.

Th e eru io n o f n re erred to h o f B ine 6 . C L 3 7 . pt Et a f is t at .

eem n en u m c ed o e en d h Line 42 0 . It s s i g ity ispla t m t is

r n n o c o er c o n fo rm h re eo r h passage to b i g it i t l s ity wit al g g ap y .

Th ere was re o un n c ed C uc u in th e h ere a g at m tai all a as s East, t w ere peo ple c alled Arab s in th e East ; th at was quite en o ugh

A A er o f ac we u rem em b er h h us. fo r esc yl s a matt f t, m st t at th e un c ultivated lan d to th e S o uth o f th e Arm e n ian m o un tain sys te m (wh o s e fo o t-h ills c o n stitute Me so po tam ia) was part o f

h Arab do m n an d h th e erm C uc u h e s t e ai , t at t a as s mig t a ily

n h ave been exten ded o ver Arm e ia . 8 8

NOTES

an and h enc e to th e so urc e o f th e e in th e n d o f th e pi s) , t Nil la

A siatit h o n s Th Red S n d n d n O ce n Et i pia . e ea a I ia a are

n o red : th e e c c o rd n to c urren be e in n u ig Nil , a i g a t li f a tiq ity is tho ugh t to rise in As ia an d th en c e c urve ro un d to th e West an d t urn No rth fro m th e plac e o f th e c atarac t (li n e wh ere 1n deed b e s o b ile Aesc h u n t e c ed N . s co n fu es , , it gi all yl s th e S r Kataoatémot h ch was c e o n th e es ern tai way, , w i a pla W t

bo rder o f o w rd C re n e w h th e Cataract o f th e e . Egypt t a s y , it Nil

h e s re s o f o rse th e S r s f Ke ine 8 . T i c u o r c h L 7 9 t am , , t ait t ,

In h e om us Ufloot md es h h s ee lin e 7 36. t P r ethe A c ylus made t e

’ an f R o n th e ro n er o f uro e and A A de b e P fi ( i ) f ti E p sia . li rate

i m e r is r H i n c o n sisten c y n th e sa t ilo gy imp o bable . e is th e re

’ ‘ fo re ro b b c o n fil s in th e Ph s and th e Tan ats Do n p a ly g asi ( ) ,

h o e m o u h ro c h ed h ro u h th e S r s o f Ker c h w s t was app a t g t ait t . ' Th is wo uld explai n why h e puts th e Straits o f Kertc h s um

o f th e Caucasus .

‘ ‘ i 8 2 Th e m e n n o f ( ix a et 13 ui e un c er n . L ne 8 . a i g p y s q t tai It ” ' c n n m e n n o t barkin n c e x a ew n o t th e di n c ve a o t a g, si p Z is sti ti

“ ” n o e o f do s . h m e n n o t k n an n o e b ut is g It mig t a ma i g y is ,

h n o n in I b e e e c o n n th e re wo uld t e b e n po i t it . li v it tai s so m e re fe ren c e to th e eagle e lem en t in th e Gryph o n s as again st th e

‘ quadruped el em en t den o ted by Kt wa r.

Lirto 1 0 2 . Th e e en d uded to h th e free n o f 7 l g all is t at , at i g

ro m e h eu Z eu de c o n d o n o f h is b er o n h P t s , s ma it a iti li ati t at

o h er o d sh o uld urren der h is m m o r Th Ch e ro n s o me t g s i tality . is i

th e Ce n ur n to do be c ause o f h is o n fro m th e ta was willi g , ag y

ed he o s n ed rr o f Her k es o un d n flc b t o o . w i i t y p i ,a w a l 90