Page:Prometheus Bound, and other poems.djvu/26

20

Prometheus. They have! and shall learn by it, many arts.

Chorus. And, truly, for such sins Zeus tortures thee,

And will relax no anguish? Canst behold

No limit to thy wrestling agony?

Prometheus. No other! only what seems good to.

Chorus. And how will it seem good? what hope remains?

Seest thou not that thou hast sinned? And that thou hast sinned

It glads me not to speak of, and grieves thee—

Then let it pass from both! and seek thyself

Some outlet from despair.

Prometheus. It is in truth

An easy thing to stand aloof from pain

And lavish exhortation and advice

On one vexed sorely by it. I have seen

All in prevision!—By my choice, my choice,

I freely sinned—I will confess my sin—

And helping mortals, found mine own despair!—

I did not think indeed that I should pine

Beneath such pangs against such skiey rocks,—

Doomed to this drear hill and no neighboring

Of any life!—but mourn not ye for griefs

I bear to-day!—drop rather to the plain,

And hear how other woes creep on to me,

And learn the consummation of my doom.

Beseech you, nymphs, beseech you!—grieve for me,

Who now am grieving!—for grief walks the earth,

And sits down at the foot of each by turns.

Chorus. We hear the deep dash of thy words,

Prometheus, and obey!