Page:Prometheus Bound, and other poems.djvu/25

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Of miserable men, he took no count,

But yearned to sweep their track off from the world,

And plant a newer race there! And was none

Resisted that desire except myself!

I dared it! I drew mortals back to light,

From meditated ruin deep as hell,—

And, for that wrong, I bow down in these pangs,

Dreadful to suffer, mournful to behold,—

And I, who pitied man, am thought myself

Unworthy pity,—while I render out

Deep rhythms of anguish 'neath the harping hand

That strikes me thus!—a sight that shames your Zeus!

Chorus. Hard as thy chains, and cold as all these rocks,

Is he, Prometheus, who withholds his heart

From joining in thy woe. I yearned before

To fly this sight—and, now I gaze on it,

I sicken inwards.

Prometheus. To my friends, indeed,

I must be a sad sight.

Chorus. And didst thou sin

No more than so?

Prometheus. I did restrain, besides,

My mortals from premeditating death.

Chorus. How didst thou medicine the plague-fear of death?

Prometheus. I set blind Hopes to inhabit in their house.

Chorus. By that gift, thou didst help thy mortals well.

Prometheus. I gave them also,—fire.

Chorus. And have they now,

Those creatures of a day, the red-eyed fire?