Page:Writings of Henry David Thoreau (1906) v5.djvu/386

344

For I'm concerned about thy fortunes,

Where at length arriving you may see

An end to these afflictions. For manners

Inaccessible, and a heart hard to be dissuaded has the son of Kronos. Pr. I know, that—Zeus is stern and having

Justice to himself. But after all

Gentle-minded

He will one day be, when thus he's crushed,

And his stubborn wrath allaying,

Into agreement with me and friendliness

Earnest to me earnest he at length will come.

Ch. The whole account disclose and tell us plainly,

In what crime taking you Zeus

Thus disgracefully and bitterly insults;

Inform us, if you are nowise hurt by the recital. Pr. Painful indeed it is to me to tell these things,

And a pain to be silent, and every way unfortunate.

When first the divinities began their strife,

And discord 'mong themselves arose,

Some wishing to cast Kronos from his seat,

That Zeus might reign, forsooth, others the contrary

Striving, that Zeus might never rule the gods;

Then I, the best advising, to persuade

The Titans, sons of Uranus and Chthon,

Unable was; but crafty stratagems

Despising with rude minds,

They thought without trouble to rule by force;

But to me my mother not once only, Themis,

And Gæa, of many names one form,

How the future should be accomplished had foretold,