Page:Prometheus Bound, and other poems.djvu/18

12 Hephæstus. Oh, none but

Accuse me justly!

Strength. Now, straight through the chest,

Take him and bite him with the clenching tooth

Of the adamantine wedge, and rivet him.

Hephæstus. Alas, Prometheus! what thou sufferest here,

I sorrow over.

Strength. Dost thou shrink again,

And breathe groans for the enemies of Zeus?

Beware, lest thine own pity find thee out.

Hephæstus. Thou dost behold a spectacle that turns

The sight o' the eyes to pity.

Strength. I behold

A sinner suffer his sin's penalty.

But lash the thongs about his sides.

Hephæstus. So much,

I must do. Urge no farther than I must.

Strength. Ay, but I will urge!—and, with shout on shout,

Will hound thee at this quarry! Get thee down

And ring amain the iron round his legs!

Hephæstus. That work was not long doing.

Strength. Heavily now

Let fall the strokes upon the perforant gyves!

For He who rates the work has a heavy hand.

Hephæstus. Thy speech is savage as thy shape.

Strength. Be thou

Gentle and tender! but revile not me

For the firm will and the untruckling hate.

Hephæstus. Let us go! He is netted round with chains.

Strength. Here, now, taunt on! and having spoiled the gods