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setting sun, harboring upon his shoulders the shaft of sky
and earth, a burden difficult and cumbersome. The sight of
Typhon agitated too, my pity; that hundred-headed mon-
ster mothered by the earth was fast and forcibly constrained
by a flashing thunderbolt. Typhon, the rash and terrifying
dweller of Cilician caves once withstood the full array of gods,
hissing forth terror from his grim and grisly jaws, while his
eye rocketed fierce flame as though to raze Zeus’ tyranny.
Then there fell Zeus® watchful dart, that swooping fire-breath-
ing thunderbolt, which blasted him from arrogance; for,
stricken to the heart, his strength was ignited and he burnt
away to ash. Now he lies a useless sprawling bulk beside the
narrowing sea, pressed beneath the roots of Aetna, whose
topmost peak Hephaistus straddles, hammering hard the mol-
ten ore. Here one day shall gush forth rivers, flame-tongued,
devouring field and tree; and Aetna’s fang will rend and rav-
age beautiful blossoming Sicily. Thus Typhon will erupt
his rage in a boiling throbbing breath of fire, charred though
he be by thunder’s blaze. But you are not naive and need
no lessoning from me. Be safe and keep yourseif as best you
may, whilse I endure my present fate, tortured until Zeus’
wrath abate.

Oceanus: Do you not know, Prometheus, that words may
heal all passion’s plagues?

Prometheus: If one in season salve the heart, repressing tu-
mults forcelessly.

Oceanus: When boldness links with zeal, say, what inwound
damage do you see?

Prometheus: Luckless toil and vain simplicity.

Oceanus: May I be distressed by this distemper, since the
wise gain most by seeming foolish.

UNIVERSITY OF
ILLINOIS LIBRARY