PROMETHEUS BOUND

(Upon arocky of strip of coast on the Scythian Ocean enter Pow-.
er, Force, and Hephaistus, with Prometheus. Power, overween-.
ing and arrogant, leads the way up the cliff, while Force, an
expressionless mute, follows with Prometheus, who is silent and
contemptuous. Hephaistus enters last, his reluctance to partic-
ipate in the proceedir;gs emphasized by his conventional limp. )

Power: We have reached earth’s utmost boundary, bare
Scythian stretches—untrodden tracts. So you, Hephaistus,
come! Attend to the task your father enjoined. Now fasten:
this knave-of-all-trades into fierce and grasping chains,
which you must cut from adamant, then clamp him on these:
hurtling rocks. For he thieved your own bright flower, that
spark of art-kindling fire, and carried it from gods to hu-
mankind. This is the crime he must expiate so that he should
be instructed to fove the reign of Zeus and cease his phiian--
thropic peregrinations.

Hephaistus: Power and Force, your work is done and nothing
further ties you here, but I am foathly bound to stay and
bind a fellow god to this gorge which winter storms have long
deformed. However, I must gather boldness for the deed, as
it is grave to disregard the father’s speech. (to Prometheus)
Son of Themis, sage in counsel, you formed a high and head--
long plan, and so, unwilling, I must hammer you, unwil-
ling, to this crag. I must bind you with unbreakable:
bronze upon this steep sundered from man, where neither
mortal shape nor sound you will discern; but you