46

seeing your awful wound, feel no pity for one so ill-fortuned?
So cruel is the heart of Zeus alone. Anger eternal maintains
the force of his mood inflexible against the family sprung from
old Uranus tyrant tongs subdued; but until his implacable
rule be wrung by fraud, or satiety may ease Zeus’ heart, his
wrath will never cease.

Prometheus: The time will come when this prince of im-
mortals has need of me; for me, wasting away, my limbs bound
by bonds; for I alone can reveal the new design for rule
and who will strip him of sceptre and dignities. But never will
Zeus bewitch me or catch me with flattery’s honied charms,
nor, ,rabbit-like, will I ever cower under his heavy threats
and whimper out my knowledge; he shall gain access to my
secret mv):tv.‘,:before he shall slacken my chains and beg to proffer
payment for this outrage!

Chorus: You are bold inborn, Prometheus, and nothing
loosen under bitter woe; your cords will never slacken before
your sorrow. Your tongue’s too free for one so freedomless.
Shrill dread shudders the fabric of my soul and I fear; where
wafts wind to harbor, bringing an end to your voyage of dole?
Grown impassable and hoar are the haunts of Cronus’ son
and his heart is closed to persuasion.

Prometheus: Zeus is intractable I know, holding justice
with iron reins. But wait, someday anxiety will soften him,
and my secret—a sharp whip—will cut him down from his
chair. Then holding his charging rage in check, he will bear
quick step upon step, he will bring a pledge of fnendshlp down
me, no less expectant.

Chorus: Unveil all this mystery, reveal to us the meaning;
why does Zeus visit you with blame? He stings you with
shames bitter to endure; instruct us, unless it harms to tell.