Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/122

92 92 AESCHYLUS

{^Second Scene of Prologue.~ Prometheus (alone).

Ο holy Aether, and swift-winged Winds, And River-wells, and Laughter innumerous loo

Of yon sea-waves ! Earth, mother of us all. And all-viewing cyclic Sun, I cry on you, — Behold me a god, what I endure from gods ! Behold, with throe on throe. How, wasted by this woe, los

I wrestle down the myriad years of time !

Behold how, fast around me, 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 uo 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 Clearly all things that should be ; nothing done Comes sudden to my soul : and I must bear us

What is ordained with patience, being aware Necessity doth front the universe With an invincible gesture. Yet this curse Which strikes me now I find it hard to brave In silence or in speech. Because I gave 120

Honor to mortals, I have yoked my soul To this compelling fate. Because I stole The secret fount of fire, whose bubbles went Over the ferule's brim, and manward sent Art's mighty means and perfect rudiment, 125

That sin I expiate in this agony. Hung here in fetters, 'neath the blanching sky.