Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/131

101 PROMETHEUS BOUND 101

Exhort thee, though already subtle enough,

To a better wisdom. Titan, know thyself.

And take new softness to thy manners, since

A new king rules the gods. If words like these,

Harsh words and trenchant, thou wult fling abroad, 365

Zeus haply, though he sit so far and high.

May hear thee do it, and so this wrath of his,

Which now affects thee fiercely, shall appear ^

A mere child's sport at vengeance. Wretched god,

Rather dismiss the passion which thou hast, 370

And seek a change from grief. Perhaps I seem

To address thee with old saws and outworn sense ;

Yet such a curse, Prometheus, surely waits

On lips that speak too proudly : thou, meantime,

Art none the meeker, nor dost yield a jot 375

To evil circumstance, preparing still

To swell the account of grief wdth other griefs

Than what are borne. Beseech thee, use me, then,

For counsel : ^ do not spurn against the pricks.

Seeing that who reigns, reigns by cruelty 38o

Instead of right. And now I go from hence,

And will endeavor if a power of mine

Can break thy fetters through. For thee — be calm,

And smooth thy words from passion. Knowest thou

not Of perfect knowledge, thou who knowest too much, 335 That, where the tongue wags, ruin never lags ?

Prometheus. I gratulate thee who hast shared and

dared All things with me, except their penalty. Enough so I leave these thoughts. It cannot be

1 This prepares for the catastrophe of the play. - Literally, "' If you take me as a counsellor," — '' If you take my advice, you will not kick against the pricks."