Page:Prometheus Bound (Webster 1866).djvu/42



May he who all doth guide,

Even Zeus, ne'er pit his strength against our will.

May we ne'er fail, with righteous sacrifice

Of slaughtered oxen, to approach the deities

By our father Ocean's never ceasing tide.

And may our words be sinless still.

Be these thoughts firmly fixed in us, for ever to abide.

Sweet is it to pursue

One's long life in glad hopes and feed one's heart

Mid sunny joys, but shuddering we behold

How thou art agonized by tortures manifold

Because, not keeping Zeus's will in view,

But by thine own will taking part

Thou gavest, Prometheus, to mankind an honour not their due.

See now, oh friend, how thankless was the grace.

Say where is aid? How helps the ephemeral race?