Page:Prometheus Bound (Webster 1866).djvu/29



Prometheus, not on unwilling ears

Dost thou urge thy wish.

And we leave with light foot our swift-rushing cars

And the pure ether, highway of lone flying birds,

And will set ourselves close to this rugged spot.

For eagerly we desire to be taught

These sorrows of thine to the full.

I arrive at the goal of the long long way

I have traversed to come, Prometheus, to thee,

Guiding my winged steed rapid in flight,

With never a bit, by my will alone.

And know I sorrow with thee for thy fate,

Constrained thus methinks by our kinsmanship.

But, apart from that tie, there is no one to whom

I give place before thee.

And thou shalt perceive the truth of my words,

For 'tis not in me to befriend with vain talk.

Yea, do thou but show me in what I can help—

Thou shalt never say that a trustier friend

Thou hast than Oceanus is.