Enter Power and Force, bringing with them the captive Prometheus; also Hephaestus.Power:To earth’s remotest limit we come, to the Scythian land, an untrodden solitude. And now, Hephaestus, yours is the charge to observe the mandates laid upon you by the Father—to clamp this miscreantupon the high craggy rocks in shackles of binding adamant that cannot be broken. For your own flower, flashing fire, source of all arts, he has purloined and bestowed upon mortal creatures. Such is his offence; for this he is bound to make requital to the gods,so that he may learn to bear with the sovereignty of Zeus and cease his man-loving ways.
Κράτος:Χθονὸς μὲν ἐς τηλουρὸν ἥκομεν πέδον,Σκύθην ἐς οἷμον, ἄβατον εἰς ἐρημίαν.Ἥφαιστε, σοὶ δὲ χρὴ μέλειν ἐπιστολὰςἅς σοι πατὴρ ἐφεῖτο, τόνδε πρὸς πέτραιςὑψηλοκρήμνοις τὸν λεωργὸν ὀχμάσαιἀδαμαντίνων δεσμῶν ἐν ἀρρήκτοις πέδαις.τὸ σὸν γὰρ ἄνθος, παντέχνου πυρὸς σέλας,θνητοῖσι κλέψας ὤπασεν. τοιᾶσδέ τοιἁμαρτίας σφε δεῖ θεοῖς δοῦναι δίκην,ὡς ἂν διδαχθῇ τὴν Διὸς τυραννίδαστέργειν, φιλανθρώπου δὲ παύεσθαι τρόπου.
Hephaestus:Power and Force, for you indeed the behest of Zeus is now fulfilled, and nothing remains to stop you. But for me—I do not have the nerve myselfto bind with force a kindred god upon this rocky cleft assailed by cruel winter. Yet, come what may, I am constrained to summon courage to this deed; for it is perilous to disregard the commandments of the Father. Lofty-minded son of Themis who counsels straight, against my will, no less than yours, I must rivet you with brazen bondsno hand can loose to this desolate crag, where neither voice nor form of mortal man shall you perceive; but, scorched by the sun’s bright beams, you shall lose the fair bloom of your flesh. And glad you shall be when spangled-robed night shall veil his brightness andwhen the sun shall scatter again the frost of morning. Evermore the burden of your present ill shall wear you out; for your deliverer is not yet born. Such is the prize you have gained for your championship of man. For, god though you are, you did not fear the wrath of the gods, butyou bestowed honors upon mortal creatures beyond their due. Therefore on this joyless rock you must stand sentinel, erect, sleepless, your knee unbent. And many a groan and unavailing lament you shall utter; for the heart of Zeus is hard,and everyone is harsh whose power is new.
Ἥφαιστος:Κράτος Βία τε, σφῷν μὲν ἐντολὴ Διὸςἔχει τέλος δὴ κοὐδὲν ἐμποδὼν ἔτι·ἐγὼ δʼ ἄτολμός εἰμι συγγενῆ θεὸνδῆσαι βίᾳ φάραγγι πρὸς δυσχειμέρῳ.πάντως δʼ ἀνάγκη τῶνδέ μοι τόλμαν σχεθεῖν·ἐξωριάζειν γὰρ πατρὸς λόγους βαρύ.τῆς ὀρθοβούλου Θέμιδος αἰπυμῆτα παῖ,ἄκοντά σʼ ἄκων δυσλύτοις χαλκεύμασιπροσπασσαλεύσω τῷδʼ ἀπανθρώπῳ πάγῳἵνʼ οὔτε φωνὴν οὔτε του μορφὴν βροτῶνὄψει, σταθευτὸς δʼ ἡλίου φοίβῃ φλογὶχροιᾶς ἀμείψεις ἄνθος. ἀσμένῳ δέ σοιἡ ποικιλείμων νὺξ ἀποκρύψει φάος,πάχνην θʼ ἑῴαν ἥλιος σκεδᾷ πάλιν·ἀεὶ δὲ τοῦ παρόντος ἀχθηδὼν κακοῦτρύσει σʼ· ὁ λωφήσων γὰρ οὐ πέφυκέ πω.τοιαῦτʼ ἐπηύρω τοῦ φιλανθρώπου τρόπου.θεὸς θεῶν γὰρ οὐχ ὑποπτήσσων χόλονβροτοῖσι τιμὰς ὤπασας πέρα δίκης.ἀνθʼ ὧν ἀτερπῆ τήνδε φρουρήσεις πέτρανὀρθοστάδην, ἄυπνος, οὐ κάμπτων γόνυ·πολλοὺς δʼ ὀδυρμοὺς καὶ γόους ἀνωφελεῖςφθέγξῃ· Διὸς γὰρ δυσπαραίτητοι φρένες.ἅπας δὲ τραχὺς ὅστις ἂν νέον κρατῇ.
Power:Well, why delay and excite pity in vain? Why do you not detest a god most hateful to the gods, since he has betrayed your prerogative to mortals?
Κράτος:εἶεν, τί μέλλεις καὶ κατοικτίζῃ μάτην;τί τὸν θεοῖς ἔχθιστον οὐ στυγεῖς θεόν,ὅστις τὸ σὸν θνητοῖσι προὔδωκεν γέρας;
Hephaestus:A strangely potent tie is kinship, and companionship as well.
Ἥφαιστος:τὸ συγγενές τοι δεινὸν ἥ θʼ ὁμιλία.
Power:I agree; yet to refuse to obey the commands of the Father; is this possible? Do you not fear that more?
Κράτος:σύμφημʼ· ἀνηκουστεῖν δὲ τῶν πατρὸς λόγωνοἷόν τε πῶς; οὐ τοῦτο δειμαίνεις πλέον;
Hephaestus:Yes, you are ever pitiless and steeped in insolence.
Ἥφαιστος:αἰεί γε δὴ νηλὴς σὺ καὶ θράσους πλέως.
Power:Yes, for it does not good to bemoan this fellow. Stop wasting your labor at an unprofitable task.
Κράτος:ἄκος γὰρ οὐδὲν τόνδε θρηνεῖσθαι. σὺ δὲτὰ μηδὲν ὠφελοῦντα μὴ πόνει μάτην.
Hephaestus:Oh handicraft that I hate so much!
Ἥφαιστος:ὦ πολλὰ μισηθεῖσα χειρωναξία.
Power:Why hate it? Since in truth your craft is in no way to blame for these present troubles.
Κράτος:τί νιν στυγεῖς; πόνων γὰρ ὡς ἁπλῷ λόγῳτῶν νῦν παρόντων οὐδὲν αἰτία τέχνη.
Hephaestus:Nevertheless, i wish it had fallen to another’s lot!
Ἥφαιστος:ἔμπας τις αὐτὴν ἄλλος ὤφελεν λαχεῖν.
Power:Every job is troublesome except to be the commander of gods;
Κράτος:ἅπαντʼ ἐπαχθῆ πλὴν θεοῖσι κοιρανεῖν·
no one is free except Zeus.
ἐλεύθερος γὰρ οὔτις ἐστὶ πλὴν Διός.
Hephaestus:I know it by this task; I cannot deny it.
Ἥφαιστος:ἔγνωκα τοῖσδε κοὐδὲν ἀντειπεῖν ἔχω.
Power:Hurry then to cast the fetters about him, so that the Father does not see you loitering.
Κράτος:οὔκουν ἐπείξῃ τῷδε δεσμὰ περιβαλεῖν,ὡς μή σʼ ἐλινύοντα προσδερχθῇ πατήρ;
Hephaestus:Well, there then! The bands are ready, as you may see.
Ἥφαιστος:καὶ δὴ πρόχειρα ψάλια δέρκεσθαι πάρα.
Power:Cast them about his wrists and with might strike with your hammer; rivet him to the rocks.
Κράτος:βαλών νιν ἀμφὶ χερσὶν ἐγκρατεῖ σθένειῥαιστῆρι θεῖνε, πασσάλευε πρὸς πέτραις.
Hephaestus:There! The work is getting done and not improperly.
Ἥφαιστος:περαίνεται δὴ κοὐ ματᾷ τοὔργον τόδε.
Power:Strike harder, clamp him tight, leave nothing loose; for he is wondrously clever at finding a way even out of desperate straits.
Κράτος:ἄρασσε μᾶλλον, σφίγγε, μηδαμῇ χάλα.δεινὸς γὰρ εὑρεῖν κἀξ ἀμηχάνων πόρον.
Hephaestus:This arm, at least, is fixed permanently.
Ἥφαιστος:ἄραρεν ἥδε γʼ ὠλένη δυσεκλύτως.
Power:Now rivet this one too and securely, so that he may learn, for all his cleverness, that he is a fool compared to Zeus.
Κράτος:καὶ τήνδε νῦν πόρπασον ἀσφαλῶς, ἵναμάθῃ σοφιστὴς ὢν Διὸς νωθέστερος.
Hephaestus:None but he could justly blame my work.
Ἥφαιστος:πλὴν τοῦδʼ ἂν οὐδεὶς ἐνδίκως μέμψαιτό μοι.
Power:Now drive the adamantine wedge’s stubborn edge straightthrough his chest with your full force.
Κράτος:ἀδαμαντίνου νῦν σφηνὸς αὐθάδη γνάθονστέρνων διαμπὰξ πασσάλευʼ ἐρρωμένως.
Hephaestus:Alas, Prometheus, I groan for your sufferings.
Ἥφαιστος:αἰαῖ, Προμηθεῦ, σῶν ὑπερστένω πόνων.
Power:What! Shrinking again and groaning over the enemies of Zeus? Take care, so that the day does not come when you shall grieve for yourself.
Κράτος:σὺ δʼ αὖ κατοκνεῖς τῶν Διός τʼ ἐχθρῶν ὕπερστένεις; ὅπως μὴ σαυτὸν οἰκτιεῖς ποτε.
Hephaestus:You see a spectacle grievous for eyes to behold.
Ἥφαιστος:ὁρᾷς θέαμα δυσθέατον ὄμμασιν.
Power:I see this man getting his deserts. Come, cast the girths about his sides.
Κράτος:ὁρῶ κυροῦντα τόνδε τῶν ἐπαξίων.ἀλλʼ ἀμφὶ πλευραῖς μασχαλιστῆρας βάλε.
Hephaestus:I must do this; spare me your needless ordering.
Ἥφαιστος:δρᾶν ταῦτʼ ἀνάγκη, μηδὲν ἐγκέλευʼ ἄγαν.
Power:Indeed, I’ll order you, yes and more—I’ll hound you on. Get down below, and ring his legs by force.
Κράτος:ἦ μὴν κελεύσω κἀπιθωύξω γε πρός.χώρει κάτω, σκέλη δὲ κίρκωσον βίᾳ.
Hephaestus:There now! The work’s done and without much labor.
Ἥφαιστος:καὶ δὴ πέπρακται τοὔργον οὐ μακρῷ πόνῳ.
Power:Now hammer the piercing fetters with your full force; for the appraiser of our work is severe.
Κράτος:ἐρρωμένως νῦν θεῖνε διατόρους πέδας·ὡς οὑπιτιμητής γε τῶν ἔργων βαρύς.
Hephaestus:The utterance of your tongue matches your looks.
Ἥφαιστος:ὅμοια μορφῇ γλῶσσά σου γηρύεται.
Power:Be softhearted then,but do not attack my stubborn will and my harsh mood.
Κράτος:σὺ μαλθακίζου, τὴν δʼ ἐμὴν αὐθαδίανὀργῆς τε τραχύτητα μὴ ʼπίπλησσέ μοι.
Hephaestus:Let us be gone, since he has got the fetters on his limbs. Exit
Ἥφαιστος:στείχωμεν, ὡς κώλοισιν ἀμφίβληστρʼ ἔχει.
Power:There now, indulge your insolence, keep on wresting from the gods their honors to give them to creatures of a day. Are mortals able to lighten your load of sorrow?
Κράτος:ἐνταῦθα νῦν ὕβριζε καὶ θεῶν γέρασυλῶν ἐφημέροισι προστίθει. τί σοιοἷοί τε θνητοὶ τῶνδʼ ἀπαντλῆσαι πόνων;
Falsely the gods call you Prometheus, for you yourself need forethought to free yourself from this handiwork. Exeunt Power and ForcePrometheus:O you bright sky of heaven, you swift-winged breezes, you river-waters, andinfinite laughter of the waves of ocean, O universal mother Earth, and you, all-seeing orb of the sun, to you I call! See what I, a god, endure from the gods.
ψευδωνύμως σε δαίμονες Προμηθέακαλοῦσιν· αὐτὸν γάρ σε δεῖ προμηθέως,ὅτῳ τρόπῳ τῆσδʼ ἐκκυλισθήσῃ τέχνης.Προμηθεύς:ὦ δῖος αἰθὴρ καὶ ταχύπτεροι πνοαί,ποταμῶν τε πηγαί, ποντίων τε κυμάτωνἀνήριθμον γέλασμα, παμμῆτόρ τε γῆ,καὶ τὸν πανόπτην κύκλον ἡλίου καλῶ.ἴδεσθέ μʼ οἷα πρὸς θεῶν πάσχω θεός.
Look, with what shameful torture I am racked and must wrestlethroughout the countless years of time apportioned me. Such is the ignominious bondage the new commander of the blessed has devised against me. Woe! Woe! For present misery and misery to come I groan, not knowing whereit is fated that deliverance from these sorrows shall arise.
δέρχθηθʼ οἵαις αἰκείαισινδιακναιόμενος τὸν μυριετῆΠρομηθεύς:χρόνον ἀθλεύσω.τοιόνδʼ ὁ νέος ταγὸς μακάρωνἐξηῦρʼ ἐπʼ ἐμοὶ δεσμὸν ἀεικῆ.φεῦ φεῦ, τὸ παρὸν τό τʼ ἐπερχόμενονπῆμα στενάχω, πῇ ποτε μόχθωνχρὴ τέρματα τῶνδʼ ἐπιτεῖλαι.
And yet, what am I saying? All that is to be I know full well and in advance, nor shall any affliction come upon me unforeseen. I must bear my allotted doom as lightly as I can, knowing thatthe might of Necessity permits no resistance. Yet I am not able to speak nor be silent about my fate. For it is because I bestowed good gifts on mortals that this miserable yoke of constraint has been bound upon me. I hunted out and stored in fennel stalk the stolensource of fire that has proved a teacher to mortals in every art and a means to mighty ends. Such is the offence for which I pay the penalty, riveted in fetters beneath the open sky.
Προμηθεύς:καίτοι τί φημι; πάντα προυξεπίσταμαισκεθρῶς τὰ μέλλοντʼ, οὐδέ μοι ποταίνιονπῆμʼ οὐδὲν ἥξει. τὴν πεπρωμένην δὲ χρὴαἶσαν φέρειν ὡς ῥᾷστα, γιγνώσκονθʼ ὅτιτὸ τῆς ἀνάγκης ἔστʼ ἀδήριτον σθένος.ἀλλʼ οὔτε σιγᾶν οὔτε μὴ σιγᾶν τύχαςοἷόν τέ μοι τάσδʼ ἐστί. θνητοῖς γὰρ γέραπορὼν ἀνάγκαις ταῖσδʼ ἐνέζευγμαι τάλας.ναρθηκοπλήρωτον δὲ θηρῶμαι πυρὸςπηγὴν κλοπαίαν, ἣ διδάσκαλος τέχνηςπάσης βροτοῖς πέφηνε καὶ μέγας πόρος.τοιῶνδε ποινὰς ἀμπλακημάτων τίνωὑπαιθρίοις δεσμοῖς πεπασσαλευμένος.
Ha! Behold!What murmur, what scent wings to me, its source invisible, heavenly or human, or both? Has someone come to this crag at the edge of the world to stare at my sufferings—or with what motive? Behold me, an ill-fated god, chained,the foe of Zeus,hated of all who enter the court of Zeus, because of my very great love for mankind. Ha! What’s this? What may be this rustling stir of birds I hearagain nearby? The air whirs with the light rush of wings. Whatever approaches causes me alarm. The Daughters of Oceanus enter on a winged carChorus:Do not fear! For our group has come in swift rivalry of wings to this cragas friend to you, having won our father’s consent as best we might. The swift-coursing breezes bore me on; for the reverberation of the clang of iron pierced the depths of our caves and drove my grave modesty away in fright;
Προμηθεύς:ἆ ἆ ἔα ἔα.τίς ἀχώ, τίς ὀδμὰ προσέπτα μʼ ἀφεγγής,θεόσυτος, ἢ βρότειος, ἢ κεκραμένη;ἵκετο τερμόνιον ἐπὶ πάγονπόνων ἐμῶν θεωρός, ἢ τί δὴ θέλων;ὁρᾶτε δεσμώτην με δύσποτμον θεόντὸν Διὸς ἐχθρόν, τὸν πᾶσι θεοῖςΠρομηθεύς:διʼ ἀπεχθείας ἐλθόνθʼ ὁπόσοιτὴν Διὸς αὐλὴν εἰσοιχνεῦσιν,διὰ τὴν λίαν φιλότητα βροτῶν.φεῦ φεῦ, τί ποτʼ αὖ κινάθισμα κλύωπέλας οἰωνῶν; αἰθὴρ δʼ ἐλαφραῖςπτερύγων ῥιπαῖς ὑποσυρίζει.πᾶν μοι φοβερὸν τὸ προσέρπον.Χορός:μηδὲν φοβηθῇς· φιλίαγὰρ ἅδε τάξις πτερύγωνθοαῖς ἁμίλλαις προσέβατόνδε πάγον, πατρῴαςμόγις παρειποῦσα φρένας.κραιπνοφόροι δέ μʼ ἔπεμψαν αὖραι·κτύπου γὰρ ἀχὼ χάλυβοςδιῇξεν ἄντρων μυχόν, ἐκδʼ ἔπληξέ μου τὰν θεμερῶπιν αἰδῶ·
unsandalled I have hastened in a winged car.
σύθην δʼ ἀπέδιλος ὄχῳ πτερωτῷ.
Prometheus:Alas! Alas! Offspring of fruitful Tethys and of him who with his sleepless current encircles the whole earth, children of yourfather Oceanus, behold, see with what fetters, upon the summit crag of this ravine, I am to hold my unenviable watch.
Προμηθεύς:αἰαῖ αἰαῖ,τῆς πολυτέκνου Τηθύος ἔκγονα,τοῦ περὶ πᾶσάν θʼ εἱλισσομένουχθόνʼ ἀκοιμήτῳ ῥεύματι παῖδεςπατρὸς, Ὠκεανοῦ,δέρχθητʼ, ἐσίδεσθʼ οἵῳ δεσμῷ,προσπορπατὸς τῆσδε φάραγγοςσκοπέλοις ἐν ἄκροιςφρουρὰν ἄζηλον ὀχήσω.
Chorus:I see, Prometheus;and over my eyes a mist of tears and fear spread as I saw your body withering ignominiously upon this rock in these bonds of adamant. For there are new rulers in heaven, and Zeus governs withlawless customs; that which was mighty before he now brings to nothing.
Χορός:λεύσσω, Προμηθεῦ· φοβερὰδʼ ἐμοῖσιν ὄσσοις ὀμίχλαπροσῇξε πλήρης δακρύωνσὸν δέμας εἰσιδούσᾳπέτραις προσαυαινόμενονταῖσδʼ ἀδαμαντοδέτοισι λύμαις.νέοι γὰρ οἰακονόμοικρατοῦσʼ, Ὀλύμπου· νεοχμοῖςδὲ δὴ νόμοις Ζεὺς ἀθέτως κρατύνει.τὰ πρὶν δὲ πελώρια νῦν ἀιστοῖ.
Prometheus:Oh if only he had hurled me below the earth, yes beneath Hades, the entertainer of the dead, into impassable Tartarus,and had ruthlessly fastened me in fetters no hand can loose, so that neither god nor any other might have gloated over this agony I feel! But, now, a miserable plaything of the winds, I suffer pains to delight my enemies.
Προμηθεύς:εἰ γάρ μʼ ὑπὸ γῆν νέρθεν θʼ Ἅιδουτοῦ νεκροδέγμονος εἰς ἀπέρατονΤάρταρον ἧκεν,δεσμοῖς ἀλύτοις ἀγρίως πελάσας,ὡς μήτε θεὸς μήτε τις ἄλλοςτοῖσδʼ ἐπεγήθει.νῦν δʼ αἰθέριον κίνυγμʼ ὁ τάλαςἐχθροῖς ἐπίχαρτα πέπονθα.
Chorus:Who of the gods is so hard of heart as to exult in this? Who does not sympathize with your woes—save only Zeus? But he in malice, has set his soul inflexiblyand keeps in subjection the race sprung from Uranus; nor will he stop, until he has satiated his soul or another seizes his impregnable empire by some device of guile.
Χορός:τίς ὧδε τλησικάρδιοςθεῶν, ὅτῳ τάδʼ ἐπιχαρῆ;τίς οὐ ξυνασχαλᾷ κακοῖςτεοῖσι, δίχα γε Διός; ὁ δʼ ἐπικότως ἀεὶθέμενος ἄγναμπτον νόονδάμναται Οὐρανίανγένναν, οὐδὲ λήξει, πρὶν ἂν ἢ κορέσῃ κέαρ ἢ παλάμᾳ τινὶτὰν δυσάλωτον ἕλῃ τις ἀρχάν.
Prometheus:Truly the day shall come when, although I am tortured in stubborn fetters,the prince of the blessed will need me to reveal the new design whereby he shall be stripped of his sceptre and his dignities. Not by persuasion’s honeyed enchantments will he charm me;and I will never, cowering before his dire threats, divulge this secret, until he releases me from my cruel bonds and provides compensation for this outrage.
Προμηθεύς:ἦ μὴν ἔτʼ ἐμοῦ, καίπερ κρατεραῖςἐν γυιοπέδαις αἰκιζομένου,χρείαν ἕξει μακάρων πρύτανις,δεῖξαι τὸ νέον βούλευμʼ ὑφʼ ὅτουσκῆπτρον τιμάς τʼ ἀποσυλᾶται.καί μʼ οὔτι μελιγλώσσοις πειθοῦςἐπαοιδαῖσιν θέλξει, στερεάς τʼοὔποτʼ ἀπειλὰς πτήξας τόδʼ ἐγὼκαταμηνύσω,πρὶν ἂν ἐξ ἀγρίων δεσμῶν χαλάσῃποινάς τε τίνειντῆσδʼ αἰκείας ἐθελήσῃ.
Chorus:You are bold, and do not yield to your bitter pangs; you give too much license to your tongue. But my soul is agitated by piercing fear, and I am in dread about your fate,wondering to what haven you must steer your ship to see an end of your voyage of sorrow. For the heart of Cronus’ son is hardened against entreaty and his ways are inexorable.
Χορός:σὺ μὲν θρασύς τε καὶ πικραῖςδύαισιν οὐδὲν ἐπιχαλᾷς,ἄγαν δʼ ἐλευθεροστομεῖς.ἐμὰς δὲ φρένας ἐρέθισε διάτορος φόβος·δέδια δʼ ἀμφὶ σαῖς τύχαις,πᾷ ποτε τῶνδε πόνωνχρή σε τέρμα κέλ-σαντʼ ἐσιδεῖν· ἀκίχητα γὰρ ἤθεα καὶ κέαρἀπαράμυθον ἔχει Κρόνου παῖς.
Prometheus:I know that Zeus is harsh andkeeps justice in his own hands; but nevertheless one day his judgement will soften, when he has been crushed in the way that I know. Then, calming down his stubborn wrath, he shall at last bond with me in union and friendship,as eager as I am to welcome him.
Προμηθεύς:οἶδʼ ὅτι τραχὺς καὶ παρʼ ἑαυτῷτὸ δίκαιον ἔχων Ζεύς. ἀλλʼ ἔμπας [ὀίω]μαλακογνώμωνἔσται ποθʼ, ὅταν ταύτῃ ῥαισθῇ·τὴν δʼ ἀτέραμνον στορέσας ὀργὴνεἰς ἀρθμὸν ἐμοὶ καὶ φιλότητασπεύδων σπεύδοντί ποθʼ ἥξει.
Chorus:Unfold the whole story and tell us upon what charge Zeus has caught you and painfully punishes you with such dishonor. Instruct us, unless, indeed, there is some harm in telling.
Χορός:πάντʼ ἐκκάλυψον καὶ γέγωνʼ ἡμῖν λόγον,ποίῳ λαβών σε Ζεὺς ἐπʼ αἰτιάματι,οὕτως ἀτίμως καὶ πικρῶς αἰκίζεται·δίδαξον ἡμᾶς, εἴ τι μὴ βλάπτει λόγῳ.
Prometheus:It is painful to me to tell the tale,painful to keep it silent. My case is unfortunate every way. When first the heavenly powers were moved to wrath, and mutual dissension was stirred up among them—some bent on casting Cronus from his seat so Zeus, in truth, might reign; others, eager forthe contrary end, that Zeus might never win mastery over the gods—it was then that I, although advising them for the best, was unable to persuade the Titans, children of Heaven and Earth; but they, disdaining counsels of craft, in the pride of their strengththought to gain the mastery without a struggle and by force. Often my mother Themis, or Earth (though one form, she had many names), had foretold to me the way in which the future was fated to come to pass. That it was not by brute strength nor through violence,but by guile that those who should gain the upper hand were destined to prevail. And though I argued all this to them, they did not pay any attention to my words. With all that before me, it seemed best that, joining with my mother, I should place myself,a welcome volunteer, on the side of Zeus; and it is by reason of my counsel that the cavernous gloom of Tartarus now hides ancient Cronus and his allies within it. Thus I helped the tyrant of the godsand with this foul payment he has responded; for it is a disease that is somehow inherent in tyranny to have no faith in friends. However, you ask why he torments me, and this I will now make clear.
Προμηθεύς:ἀλγεινὰ μέν μοι καὶ λέγειν ἐστὶν τάδε,ἄλγος δὲ σιγᾶν, πανταχῇ δὲ δύσποτμα.ἐπεὶ τάχιστʼ ἤρξαντο δαίμονες χόλουστάσις τʼ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν ὠροθύνετο,οἱ μὲν θέλοντες ἐκβαλεῖν ἕδρας Κρόνον,ὡς Ζεὺς ἀνάσσοι δῆθεν, οἱ δὲ τοὔμπαλινσπεύδοντες, ὡς Ζεὺς μήποτʼ ἄρξειεν θεῶν,ἐνταῦθʼ ἐγὼ τὰ λῷστα βουλεύων πιθεῖνΤιτᾶνας, Οὐρανοῦ τε καὶ Χθονὸς τέκνα,οὐκ ἠδυνήθην. αἱμύλας δὲ μηχανὰςἀτιμάσαντες καρτεροῖς φρονήμασινᾤοντʼ ἀμοχθεὶ πρὸς βίαν τε δεσπόσειν·ἐμοὶ δὲ μήτηρ οὐχ ἅπαξ μόνον Θέμις,καὶ Γαῖα, πολλῶν ὀνομάτων μορφὴ μία,τὸ μέλλον ᾗ κραίνοιτο προυτεθεσπίκει,ὡς οὐ κατʼ ἰσχὺν οὐδὲ πρὸς τὸ καρτερόνχρείη, δόλῳ δὲ τοὺς ὑπερσχόντας κρατεῖν.τοιαῦτʼ ἐμοῦ λόγοισιν ἐξηγουμένουοὐκ ἠξίωσαν οὐδὲ προσβλέψαι τὸ πᾶν.κράτιστα δή μοι τῶν παρεστώτων τότεἐφαίνετʼ εἶναι προσλαβόντα μητέραἑκόνθʼ ἑκόντι Ζηνὶ συμπαραστατεῖν.ἐμαῖς δὲ βουλαῖς Ταρτάρου μελαμβαθὴςκευθμὼν καλύπτει τὸν παλαιγενῆ Κρόνοναὐτοῖσι συμμάχοισι. τοιάδʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦὁ τῶν θεῶν τύραννος ὠφελημένοςκακαῖσι ποιναῖς ταῖσδὲ μʼ ἐξημείψατο.ἔνεστι γάρ πως τοῦτο τῇ τυραννίδινόσημα, τοῖς φίλοισι μὴ πεποιθέναι.ὃ δʼ οὖν ἐρωτᾶτʼ, αἰτίαν καθʼ ἥντινααἰκίζεταί με, τοῦτο δὴ σαφηνιῶ.
As soon as he had seated himself upon his father’s throne, he immediately assigned to the deities their several privileges and apportioned to them their proper powers. But of wretched mortals he took no notice, desiring to bringthe whole race to an end and create a new one in its place. Against this purpose none dared make stand except me— I only had the courage; I saved mortals so that they did not descend, blasted utterly, to the house of Hades. This is why I am bent by such grievous tortures,painful to suffer, piteous to behold. I who gave mortals first place in my pity, I am deemed unworthy to win this pity for myself, but am in this way mercilessly disciplined, a spectacle that shames the glory of Zeus.
ὅπως τάχιστα τὸν πατρῷον ἐς θρόνονκαθέζετʼ, εὐθὺς δαίμοσιν νέμει γέραἄλλοισιν ἄλλα καὶ διεστοιχίζετοἀρχήν· βροτῶν δὲ τῶν ταλαιπώρων λόγονοὐκ ἔσχεν οὐδένʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀιστώσας γένοςτὸ πᾶν ἔχρῃζεν ἄλλο φιτῦσαι νέον.καὶ τοῖσιν οὐδεὶς ἀντέβαινε πλὴν ἐμοῦ.ἐγὼ δʼ ἐτόλμησʼ· ἐξελυσάμην βροτοὺςτὸ μὴ διαρραισθέντας εἰς Ἅιδου μολεῖν.τῷ τοι τοιαῖσδε πημοναῖσι κάμπτομαι,πάσχειν μὲν ἀλγειναῖσιν, οἰκτραῖσιν δʼ ἰδεῖν·θνητοὺς δʼ ἐν οἴκτῳ προθέμενος, τούτου τυχεῖνοὐκ ἠξιώθην αὐτός, ἀλλὰ νηλεῶςὧδʼ ἐρρύθμισμαι, Ζηνὶ δυσκλεὴς θέα.
Chorus:Iron-hearted and made of stone, Prometheus,is he who feels no compassion at your miseries. For myself, I would not have desired to see them; and now that I see them, I am pained in my heart.
Χορός:σιδηρόφρων τε κἀκ πέτρας εἰργασμένοςὅστις, Προμηθεῦ, σοῖσιν οὐ συνασχαλᾷμόχθοις· ἐγὼ γὰρ οὔτʼ ἂν εἰσιδεῖν τάδεἔχρῃζον εἰσιδοῦσά τʼ ἠλγύνθην κέαρ.
Prometheus:Yes, to my friends indeed I am a spectacle of pity.
Προμηθεύς:καὶ μὴν φίλοις ⟨γʼ ⟩ ἐλεινὸς εἰσορᾶν ἐγώ.
Chorus:Did you perhaps transgress even somewhat beyond this offence?
Χορός:μή πού τι προύβης τῶνδε καὶ περαιτέρω;
Prometheus:Yes, I caused mortals to cease foreseeing their doom.
Προμηθεύς:θνητούς γʼ ἔπαυσα μὴ προδέρκεσθαι μόρον.
Chorus:Of what sort was the cure that you found for this affliction?
Χορός:τὸ ποῖον εὑρὼν τῆσδε φάρμακον νόσου;
Prometheus:I caused blind hopes to dwell within their breasts.
Προμηθεύς:τυφλὰς ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐλπίδας κατῴκισα.
Chorus:A great benefit was this you gave to mortals.
Χορός:μέγʼ ὠφέλημα τοῦτʼ ἐδωρήσω βροτοῖς.
Prometheus:In addition, I gave them fire.
Προμηθεύς:πρὸς τοῖσδε μέντοι πῦρ ἐγώ σφιν ὤπασα.
Chorus:What! Do creatures of a day now have flame-eyed fire?
Χορός:καὶ νῦν φλογωπὸν πῦρ ἔχουσʼ ἐφήμεροι;
Prometheus:Yes, and from it they shall learn many arts.
Προμηθεύς:ἀφʼ οὗ γε πολλὰς ἐκμαθήσονται τέχνας.
Chorus:Then it was on a charge like this that Zeus—
Χορός:τοιοῖσδε δή σε Ζεὺς ἐπʼ αἰτιάμασιν—
Prometheus:Torments me and in no way gives me respite from pain.
Προμηθεύς:αἰκίζεταί τε κοὐδαμῇ χαλᾷ κακῶν.
Chorus:And is there no end assigned to your ordeal?
Χορός:οὐδʼ ἔστιν ἄθλου τέρμα σοι προκείμενον;
Prometheus:No, none except when it seems good to him.
Προμηθεύς:οὐκ ἄλλο γʼ οὐδέν, πλὴν ὅταν κείνῳ δοκῇ.
Chorus:But how will it seem good to him? What hope is there? Do you not see that you have wronged? And yet it is not pleasant for me to talk about how you have wronged, and for you it is pain. So, let us quit this theme; and may you seek some release from your ordeal.
Χορός:δόξει δὲ πῶς; τίς ἐλπίς; οὐχ ὁρᾷς ὅτιἥμαρτες; ὡς δʼ ἥμαρτες οὔτʼ ἐμοὶ λέγεινκαθʼ ἡδονὴν σοί τʼ ἄλγος. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲνμεθῶμεν, ἄθλου δʼ ἔκλυσιν ζήτει τινά.
Prometheus:It is easy for him who keeps his foot free from harm to counsel and admonish him who is in misery. I have known this all the while. Of my own will, yes, of my own will I erred—I will not deny it. By helping mortals I found suffering for myself;
Προμηθεύς:ἐλαφρὸν ὅστις πημάτων ἔξω πόδαἔχει παραινεῖν νουθετεῖν τε τὸν κακῶςπράσσοντʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ ταῦθʼ ἅπαντʼ ἠπιστάμην.ἑκὼν ἑκὼν ἥμαρτον, οὐκ ἀρνήσομαι·θνητοῖς ἀρήγων αὐτὸς ηὑρόμην πόνους.
nevertheless I did not think I would be punished in this way—wasting away upon cliffs in mid-air, my portion this desolate and dreary crag. And now, bewail no more my present woes; alight on the ground and listen to myoncoming fortunes so that you may be told them from end to end. Consent, I beg you, oh consent. Take part in the trouble of him who is now in sore distress. In truth, affliction wanders impartially abroad and alights upon all in turn.
οὐ μήν τι ποιναῖς γʼ ᾠόμην τοίαισί μεκατισχνανεῖσθαι πρὸς πέτραις πεδαρσίοις,τυχόντʼ ἐρήμου τοῦδʼ ἀγείτονος πάγου.καί μοι τὰ μὲν παρόντα μὴ δύρεσθʼ ἄχη,πέδοι δὲ βᾶσαι τὰς προσερπούσας τύχαςἀκούσαθʼ, ὡς μάθητε διὰ τέλους τὸ πᾶν.πίθεσθέ μοι πίθεσθε, συμπονήσατετῷ νῦν μογοῦντι. ταὐτά τοι πλανωμένηπρὸς ἄλλοτʼ ἄλλον πημονὴ προσιζάνει.
Chorus:Not to unwilling ears have you made this appeal,Prometheus. And so now with light foot I will quit my swift-speeding seat and the pure air, the pathway of birds and draw near to this rugged ground; for I want to hearthe whole story of your sorrows.Enter Oceanus on a winged steed
Χορός:οὐκ ἀκούσαις ἐπεθώυξαςτοῦτο, Προμηθεῦ.καὶ νῦν ἐλαφρῷ ποδὶ κραιπνόσυτονθᾶκον προλιποῦσʼ, αἰθέρα θʼ ἁγνὸνπόρον οἰωνῶν, ὀκριοέσσῃχθονὶ τῇδε πελῶ, τοὺς σοὺς δὲ πόνουςχρῄζω διὰ παντὸς ἀκοῦσαι.
Oceanus:I have come to the end of a long journey in my passage to you, Prometheus, guiding by my own will, without a bridle, this swift-winged bird.
Ὠκεανός:ἥκω δολιχῆς τέρμα κελεύθουδιαμειψάμενος πρὸς σέ, Προμηθεῦ,τὸν πτερυγωκῆ τόνδʼ οἰωνὸνγνώμῃ στομίων ἄτερ εὐθύνων·
For your fate, you may be sure, I feel compassion. Kinship, I think, constrains me to this; and, apart from blood ties, there is none to whom I should pay greater respect than to you.
ταῖς σαῖς δὲ τύχαις, ἴσθι, συναλγῶ.τὸ τε γάρ με, δοκῶ, συγγενὲς οὕτωςἐσαναγκάζει,χωρίς τε γένους οὐκ ἔστιν ὅτῳμείζονα μοῖραν νείμαιμʼ ἢ σοί.
You shall know this for simple truth and that it is not in me to utter vain and empty words; come, tell me; what aid can I render you? For you shall never say that you have a friend more loyal than Oceanus.
γνώσῃ δὲ τάδʼ ὡς ἔτυμʼ, οὐδὲ μάτηνχαριτογλωσσεῖν ἔνι μοι· φέρε γὰρσήμαινʼ ὅ τι χρή σοι συμπράσσειν·οὐ γάρ ποτʼ ἐρεῖς ὡς Ὠκεανοῦφίλος ἐστὶ βεβαιότερός σοι.
Prometheus:Ha! What have we here? So then you too have come to stare upon my sufferings? How did you summon courage to quit the stream that bears your name and the rock-roofed caves you yourself have made and come to this land, the mother of iron? Is it that you have cometo gaze upon my state and join your grief to my distress? Look upon me here—a spectacle, the friend of Zeus, who helped him to establish his sovereign power, by what anguish I am bent by him!
Προμηθεύς:ἔα· τί χρῆμα λεύσσω; καὶ σὺ δὴ πόνων ἐμῶνἥκεις ἐπόπτης; πῶς ἐτόλμησας, λιπὼνἐπώνυμόν τε ῥεῦμα καὶ πετρηρεφῆαὐτόκτιτʼ ἄντρα, τὴν σιδηρομήτοραἐλθεῖν ἐς αἶαν; ἦ θεωρήσων τύχαςἐμὰς ἀφῖξαι καὶ συνασχαλῶν κακοῖς;δέρκου θέαμα, τόνδε τὸν Διὸς φίλον,τὸν συγκαταστήσαντα τὴν τυραννίδα,οἵαις ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ πημοναῖσι κάμπτομαι.
Oceanus:I see, Prometheus; and I want to give youthe best advice, although you yourself are wily. Learn to know yourself and adapt yourself to new ways; for new also is the ruler among the gods. If you hurl forth words so harsh and of such whetted edge, perhaps Zeus may hear you,though throned far off, high in the heavens, and then your present multitude of sorrows shall seem but childish sport. Oh wretched sufferer! Put away your wrathful mood and try to find release from these miseries. Perhaps this advice may seem to you old and dull;
Ὠκεανός:ὁρῶ, Προμηθεῦ, καὶ παραινέσαι γέ σοιθέλω τὰ λῷστα, καίπερ ὄντι ποικίλῳ.γίγνωσκε σαυτὸν καὶ μεθάρμοσαι τρόπουςνέους· νέος γὰρ καὶ τύραννος ἐν θεοῖς.εἰ δʼ ὧδε τραχεῖς καὶ τεθηγμένους λόγουςῥίψεις, τάχʼ ἄν σου καὶ μακρὰν ἀνωτέρωθακῶν κλύοι Ζεύς, ὥστε σοι τὸν νῦν ὄχλονπαρόντα μόχθων παιδιὰν εἶναι δοκεῖν.ἀλλʼ, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ, ἃς ἔχεις ὀργὰς ἄφες,ζήτει δὲ τῶνδε πημάτων ἀπαλλαγάς.ἀρχαῖʼ ἴσως σοι φαίνομαι λέγειν τάδε·
but your plight, Prometheus, is only the wages of too boastful speech. You still have not learned humility, nor do you bend before misfortune, but would rather add even more miseries to those you have. Therefore take me as your teacherand do not add insult to injury, seeing that a harsh monarch now rules who is accountable to no one. So now I will depart and see whether I can release you from these sufferings. And may you hold your peace and be not too blustering of speech.
τοιαῦτα μέντοι τῆς ἄγαν ὑψηγόρουγλώσσης, Προμηθεῦ, τἀπίχειρα γίγνεται.σὺ δʼ οὐδέπω ταπεινὸς οὐδʼ εἴκεις κακοῖς,πρὸς τοῖς παροῦσι δʼ ἄλλα προσλαβεῖν θέλεις.οὔκουν ἔμοιγε χρώμενος διδασκάλῳπρὸς κέντρα κῶλον ἐκτενεῖς, ὁρῶν ὅτιτραχὺς μόναρχος οὐδʼ ὑπεύθυνος κρατεῖ.καὶ νῦν ἐγὼ μὲν εἶμι καὶ πειράσομαιἐὰν δύνωμαι τῶνδέ σʼ ἐκλῦσαι πόνων.σὺ δʼ ἡσύχαζε μηδʼ ἄγαν λαβροστόμει.
Or, can it be that for all your exceeding wisdom, you do not know that chastisement is inflicted on a wagging tongue?
ἢ οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἀκριβῶς ὢν περισσόφρων ὅτιγλώσσῃ ματαίᾳ ζημία προστρίβεται;
Prometheus:I envy you because you have escaped blame for having dared to share with me in my troubles. So now leave me alone and let it not concern you.
Προμηθεύς:ζηλῶ σʼ ὁθούνεκʼ ἐκτὸς αἰτίας κυρεῖςτούτων μετασχεῖν καὶ τετολμηκὼς ἐμοί.καὶ νῦν ἔασον μηδέ σοι μελησάτω.
Do what you want, you cannot persuade him; for he is not easy to persuade. Beware that you do not do yourself harm by the mission you take.
πάντως γὰρ οὐ πείσεις νιν· οὐ γὰρ εὐπιθής.πάπταινε δʼ αὐτὸς μή τι πημανθῇς ὁδῷ.
Oceanus:In truth, you are far better able to admonish others than yourself. It is by fact, not by hearsay, that I judge.
Ὠκεανός:πολλῷ γʼ ἀμείνων τοὺς πέλας φρενοῦν ἔφυςἢ σαυτόν· ἔργῳ κοὐ λόγῳ τεκμαίρομαι.
So do not hold back one who is eager to go. For I am confident, yes, confident, that Zeus will grant me this favor, to free you from your sufferings.
ὁρμώμενον δὲ μηδαμῶς ἀντισπάσῃς.αὐχῶ γὰρ αὐχῶ τήνδε δωρεὰν ἐμοὶδώσειν Δίʼ, ὥστε τῶνδέ σʼ ἐκλῦσαι πόνων.
Prometheus:I thank you for all this and shall never cease to thank you; in zeal you lack nothing, but do not trouble yourself; for your trouble will be vain andnot helpful to me—if indeed you want to take the pain. No, keep quiet and keep yourself clear of harm. For even if I am in sore plight, I would not wish affliction on everyone else. No, certainly, no! since, besides, I am distressed by the fateof my brother Atlas, who, towards the west, stands bearing on his shoulders the pillar of heaven and earth, a burden not easy for his arms to grasp. Pity moved me, too, at the sight of the earth-born dweller of the Cilician caves curbed by violence, that destructive monsterof a hundred heads, impetuous Typhon. He withstood all the gods, hissing out terror with horrid jaws, while from his eyes lightened a hideous glare, as though he would storm by force the sovereignty of Zeus.
Προμηθεύς:τὰ μὲν σʼ ἐπαινῶ κοὐδαμῇ λήξω ποτέ·προθυμίας γὰρ οὐδὲν ἐλλείπεις. ἀτὰρμηδὲν πόνει. μάτην γὰρ οὐδὲν ὠφελῶνἐμοὶ πονήσεις, εἴ τι καὶ πονεῖν θέλεις.ἀλλʼ ἡσύχαζε σαυτὸν ἐκποδὼν ἔχων·ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐκ, εἰ δυστυχῶ, τοῦδʼ εἵνεκαθέλοιμʼ ἂν ὡς πλείστοισι πημονὰς τυχεῖν.οὐ δῆτʼ ἐπεί με καὶ κασιγνήτου τύχαιτείρουσʼ Ἄτλαντος, ὃς πρὸς ἑσπέρους τόπουςἕστηκε κίονʼ οὐρανοῦ τε καὶ χθονὸςὤμοις ἐρείδων, ἄχθος οὐκ εὐάγκαλον.τὸν γηγενῆ τε Κιλικίων οἰκήτοραἄντρων ἰδὼν ᾤκτιρα, δάιον τέραςἑκατογκάρανον πρὸς βίαν χειρούμενονΤυφῶνα θοῦρον· πᾶσιν [ὅς] ἀντέστη θεοῖς,σμερδναῖσι γαμφηλαῖσι συρίζων φόβον·ἐξ ὀμμάτων δʼ ἤστραπτε γοργωπὸν σέλας,ὡς τὴν Διὸς τυραννίδʼ ἐκπέρσων βίᾳ·
But the unsleeping bolt of Zeus came upon him, the swooping lightning brand with breath of flame, which struck him, frightened, from his loud-mouthed boasts; then, stricken to the very heart, he was burnt to ashes and his strength blasted from him by the lightning bolt.
ἀλλʼ ἦλθεν αὐτῷ Ζηνὸς ἄγρυπνον βέλος,καταιβάτης κεραυνὸς ἐκπνέων φλόγα,ὃς αὐτὸν ἐξέπληξε τῶν ὑψηγόρωνκομπασμάτων. φρένας γὰρ εἰς αὐτὰς τυπεὶςἐφεψαλώθη κἀξεβροντήθη σθένος.
And now, a helpless and a sprawling bulk, he lies hard by the narrows of the sea, pressed down beneath the roots of Aetna; while on the topmost summit Hephaestus sits and hammers the molten ore. There, one day, shall burst forthrivers of fire, with savage jaws devouring the level fields of Sicily, land of fair fruit—such boiling rage shall Typho, although charred by the blazing lightning of Zeus, send spouting forth with hot jets of appalling, fire-breathing surge.
καὶ νῦν ἀχρεῖον καὶ παράορον δέμαςκεῖται στενωποῦ πλησίον θαλασσίουἰπούμενος ῥίζαισιν Αἰτναίαις ὕπο·κορυφαῖς δʼ ἐν ἄκραις ἥμενος μυδροκτυπεῖἭφαιστος· ἔνθεν ἐκραγήσονταί ποτεποταμοὶ πυρὸς δάπτοντες ἀγρίαις γνάθοιςτῆς καλλικάρπου Σικελίας λευροὺς γύας·τοιόνδε Τυφὼς ἐξαναζέσει χόλονθερμοῖς ἀπλάτου βέλεσι πυρπνόου ζάλης,καίπερ κεραυνῷ Ζηνὸς ἠνθρακωμένος.
But you are not inexperienced, and do not need me to teach you. Save yourself, as you know best; while I exhaust my present lot until the time comes when the mind of Zeus shall abandon its wrath.
σὺ δʼ οὐκ ἄπειρος, οὐδʼ ἐμοῦ διδασκάλουχρῄζεις· σεαυτὸν σῷζʼ ὅπως ἐπίστασαι·ἐγὼ δὲ τὴν παροῦσαν ἀντλήσω τύχην,ἔστʼ ἂν Διὸς φρόνημα λωφήσῃ χόλου.
Oceanus:Do you not know then, Prometheus, thatwords are the physicians of a disordered temper?
Ὠκεανός:οὔκουν, Προμηθεῦ, τοῦτο γιγνώσκεις, ὅτιὀργῆς νοσούσης εἰσὶν ἰατροὶ λόγοι;
Prometheus:If one softens the soul in season, and does not hasten to reduce its swelling rage by violence.
Προμηθεύς:ἐάν τις ἐν καιρῷ γε μαλθάσσῃ κέαρκαὶ μὴ σφριγῶντα θυμὸν ἰσχναίνῃ βίᾳ.
Oceanus:What lurking mischief do you see when daring joins to zeal? Teach me this.
Ὠκεανός:ἐν τῷ προθυμεῖσθαι δὲ καὶ τολμᾶν τίναὁρᾷς ἐνοῦσαν ζημίαν; δίδασκέ με.
Prometheus:Lost labor and thoughtless simplicity.
Προμηθεύς:μόχθον περισσὸν κουφόνουν τʼ εὐηθίαν.
Oceanus:Leave me to be affected by this, since it is most advantageous, when truly wise, to be deemed a fool.
Ὠκεανός:ἔα με τῇδε τῇ νόσῳ νοσεῖν, ἐπεὶκέρδιστον εὖ φρονοῦντα μὴ φρονεῖν δοκεῖν.
Prometheus:This fault will be seen to be my own.
Προμηθεύς:ἐμὸν δοκήσει τἀμπλάκημʼ εἶναι τόδε.
Oceanus:Clearly the manner of your speech orders me back home.
Ὠκεανός:σαφῶς μʼ ἐς οἶκον σὸς λόγος στέλλει πάλιν.
Prometheus:So that you won’t win enmity for yourself by lamenting for me.
Προμηθεύς:μὴ γάρ σε θρῆνος οὑμὸς εἰς ἔχθραν βάλῃ.
Oceanus:In the eyes of the one who is newly seated on his omnipotent throne?
Ὠκεανός:ἦ τῷ νέον θακοῦντι παγκρατεῖς ἕδρας;
Prometheus:Beware lest the time come when his heart is angered with you.
Προμηθεύς:τούτου φυλάσσου μή ποτʼ ἀχθεσθῇ κέαρ.
Oceanus:Your plight, Prometheus, is my instructor.
Ὠκεανός:ἡ σή, Προμηθεῦ, συμφορὰ διδάσκαλος.
Prometheus:Go away, depart, keep your present purpose.
Προμηθεύς:στέλλου, κομίζου, σῷζε τὸν παρόντα νοῦν.
Oceanus:Your urging meets my eagerness; for my four-footed winged beast fans with his wings the smooth pathway of the air; and truly he will be glad to rest his knees in his stall at home. Exit
Ὠκεανός:ὁρμωμένῳ μοι τόνδʼ ἐθώυξας λόγον.λευρὸν γὰρ οἷμον αἰθέρος ψαίρει πτεροῖςτετρασκελὴς οἰωνός· ἄσμενος δέ τἂνσταθμοῖς ἐν οἰκείοισι κάμψειεν γόνυ.
Chorus:I mourn your unfortunate fate, Prometheus.
Χορός:στένω σε τᾶς οὐλομένας τύχας, Προμηθεῦ·
Shedding from my eyes a coursing flood of tears I wet my tender cheeks with their moist streams. For Zeus, holding this unenviable power by self-appointed laws,displays towards the gods of old an overweening spirit.
δακρυσίστακτα δʼ ἀπʼ ὄσσωνῥαδινὰν λειβομένα ῥέος παρειὰννοτίοις ἔτεγξα παγαῖς·ἀμέγαρτα γὰρ τάδε Ζεὺςἰδίοις νόμοις κρατύνωνὑπερήφανον θεοῖς τοῖςπάρος ἐνδείκνυσιν αἰχμάν.
Chorus:Now the whole earth cries aloud in lamentation;... lament the greatness of the glory of your time-hallowed honor,the honor that was yours and your brother’s; and all mortals who make their dwelling place in holy Asia share the anguish of your most lamentable suffering;
Χορός:πρόπασα δʼ ἤδη στονόεν λέλακε χώρα,μεγαλοσχήμονά ἀρχαι-οπρεπῆ ⟨στένουσι τὰν σὰνξυνομαιμόνων τε τιμάν,ὁπόσοι τʼ ἔποικον ἁγνᾶςἈσίας ἕδος νέμονται,μεγαλοστόνοισι σοῖς πή-μασι συγκάμνουσι θνατοί.
Chorus:And those who dwell in the land of Colchis, the maidens fearless in fight; and the Scythian multitude that inhabits the most remote region of the earth bordering the Maeotic lake;
Χορός:Κολχίδος τε γᾶς ἔνοικοιπαρθένοι, μάχας ἄτρεστοι,καὶ Σκύθης ὅμιλος, οἳ γᾶςἔσχατον τόπον ἀμφὶ Μαι-ῶτιν ἔχουσι λίμναν,
Chorus:And the warlike flower of Arabia, which hold the high-cragged citadel near the Caucasus, a hostile host that roars among the sharp-pointed spears.
Χορός:Ἀραβίας τʼ ἄρειον ἄνθος,ὑψίκρημνον οἳ πόλισμαΚαυκάσου πέλας νέμονται,δάιος στρατός, ὀξυπρῴ-ροισι βρέμων ἐν αἰχμαῖς.
Chorus:One other Titan god before this I have seen in distress, enthralled in torment by adamantine bonds—Atlas, pre-eminent in mighty strength, who moans as he supportsthe vault of heaven on his back.
Χορός:μόνον δὴ πρόσθεν ἄλλον ἐν πόνοιςδαμέντʼ ἀδαμαντοδέτοιςΤιτᾶνα λύμαις εἰσιδόμαν, θεόν,Ἄτλαντος [αἰὲν]; ὑπέροχον σθένος κραταιόν,⟨ὃς⟩ οὐράνιόν [τε] πόλοννώτοις ⟨στέγων⟩ ὑποστενάζει.
Chorus:The waves of the sea utter a cry as they fall, the deep laments, the black abyss of Hades rumbles in response, and the streams of pure-flowing riverslament your piteous pain.
Χορός:βοᾷ δὲ πόντιος κλύδωνξυμπίτνων, στένει βυθός,κελαινὸς δʼ Ἄιδος ὑποβρέμει μυχὸς γᾶς,παγαί θʼ ἁγνορύτων ποταμῶνστένουσιν ἄλγος οἰκτρόν.
Prometheus:No, do not think it is from pride or even from wilfulness that I am silent. Painful thoughts devour my heart as I behold myself maltreated in this way. And yet who else but I definitely assignedtheir prerogatives to these upstart gods? But I do not speak of this; for my tale would tell you nothing except what you know. Still, listen to the miseries that beset mankind—how they were witless before and I made them have sense and endowed them with reason.
Προμηθεύς:μή τοι χλιδῇ δοκεῖτε μηδʼ αὐθαδίᾳσιγᾶν με· συννοίᾳ δὲ δάπτομαι κέαρ,ὁρῶν ἐμαυτὸν ὧδε προυσελούμενον.καίτοι θεοῖσι τοῖς νέοις τούτοις γέρατίς ἄλλος ἢ ʼγὼ παντελῶς διώρισεν;ἀλλʼ αὐτὰ σιγῶ· καὶ γὰρ εἰδυίαισιν ἂνὑμῖν λέγοιμι· τἀν βροτοῖς δὲ πήματαἀκούσαθʼ, ὥς σφας νηπίους ὄντας τὸ πρὶνἔννους ἔθηκα καὶ φρενῶν ἐπηβόλους.
I will not speak to upbraid mankind but to set forth the friendly purpose that inspired my blessing. First of all, though they had eyes to see, they saw to no avail; they had ears, but they did not understand; but, just as shapes in dreams, throughout their length of days,without purpose they wrought all things in confusion. They had neither knowledge of houses built of bricks and turned to face the sun nor yet of work in wood; but dwelt beneath the ground like swarming ants, in sunless caves. They had no sign either of winteror of flowery spring or of fruitful summer, on which they could depend but managed everything without judgment, until I taught them to discern the risings of the stars and their settings, which are difficult to distinguish. Yes, and numbers, too, chiefest of sciences,I invented for them, and the combining of letters, creative mother of the Muses’ arts, with which to hold all things in memory. I, too, first brought brute beasts beneath the yoke to be subject to the collar and the pack-saddle, so that they might bear in men’s stead theirheaviest burdens; and to the chariot I harnessed horses and made them obedient to the rein, to be an image of wealth and luxury. It was I and no one else who invented the mariner’s flaxen-winged car that roams the sea. Wretched that I am—such are the arts I devisedfor mankind, yet have myself no cunning means to rid me of my present suffering.
λέξω δέ, μέμψιν οὔτινʼ ἀνθρώποις ἔχων,ἀλλʼ ὧν δέδωκʼ εὔνοιαν ἐξηγούμενος·οἳ πρῶτα μὲν βλέποντες ἔβλεπον μάτην,κλύοντες οὐκ ἤκουον, ἀλλʼ ὀνειράτωνἀλίγκιοι μορφαῖσι τὸν μακρὸν βίονἔφυρον εἰκῇ πάντα, κοὔτε πλινθυφεῖςδόμους προσείλους, ᾖσαν, οὐ ξυλουργίαν·κατώρυχες δʼ ἔναιον ὥστʼ ἀήσυροιμύρμηκες ἄντρων ἐν μυχοῖς ἀνηλίοις.ἦν δʼ οὐδὲν αὐτοῖς οὔτε χείματος τέκμαροὔτʼ ἀνθεμώδους ἦρος οὔτε καρπίμουθέρους βέβαιον, ἀλλʼ ἄτερ γνώμης τὸ πᾶνἔπρασσον, ἔστε δή σφιν ἀντολὰς ἐγὼἄστρων ἔδειξα τάς τε δυσκρίτους δύσεις.καὶ μὴν ἀριθμόν, ἔξοχον σοφισμάτων,ἐξηῦρον αὐτοῖς, γραμμάτων τε συνθέσεις,μνήμην ἁπάντων, μουσομήτορʼ ἐργάνην.κἄζευξα πρῶτος ἐν ζυγοῖσι κνώδαλαζεύγλαισι δουλεύοντα σάγμασὶν θʼ, ὅπωςθνητοῖς μεγίστων διάδοχοι μοχθημάτωνγένοινθʼ, ὑφʼ ἅρμα τʼ ἤγαγον φιληνίουςἵππους, ἄγαλμα τῆς ὑπερπλούτου χλιδῆς.θαλασσόπλαγκτα δʼ οὔτις ἄλλος ἀντʼ ἐμοῦλινόπτερʼ ηὗρε ναυτίλων ὀχήματα.τοιαῦτα μηχανήματʼ ἐξευρὼν τάλαςβροτοῖσιν, αὐτὸς οὐκ ἔχω σόφισμʼ ὅτῳτῆς νῦν παρούσης πημονῆς ἀπαλλαγῶ.
Chorus:You have suffered sorrow and humiliation. You have lost your wits and have gone astray; and, like an unskilled doctor, fallen ill, you lose heart and cannotdiscover by which remedies to cure your own disease.
Χορός:πέπονθας αἰκὲς πῆμʼ· ἀποσφαλεὶς φρενῶνπλανᾷ, κακὸς δʼ ἰατρὸς ὥς τις ἐς νόσονπεσὼν ἀθυμεῖς καὶ σεαυτὸν οὐκ ἔχειςεὑρεῖν ὁποίοις φαρμάκοις ἰάσιμος.
Prometheus:Hear the rest and you shall wonder the more at the arts and resources I devised. This first and foremost: if ever man fell ill, there was no defence—no healing food,no ointment, nor any drink—but for lack of medicine they wasted away, until I showed them how to mix soothing remedies with which they now ward off all their disorders. And I marked out many ways by which they might read the future,and among dreams I first discerned which are destined to come true; and voices baffling interpretation I explained to them, and signs from chance meetings. The flight of crook-taloned birds I distinguished clearly— which by nature are auspicious,which sinister—their various modes of life, their mutual feuds and loves, and their consortings; and the smoothness of their entrails, and what color the gall must have to pleasethe gods, also the speckled symmetry of the liver-lobe; and the thigh-bones, wrapped in fat, and the long chine I burned and initiated mankind into an occult art. Also I cleared their vision to discern signs from flames, which were obscure before this.
Προμηθεύς:τὰ λοιπά μου κλύουσα θαυμάσῃ πλέον,οἵας τέχνας τε καὶ πόρους ἐμησάμην.τὸ μὲν μέγιστον, εἴ τις ἐς νόσον πέσοι,οὐκ ἦν ἀλέξημʼ οὐδέν, οὔτε βρώσιμον,οὐ χριστόν, οὐδὲ πιστόν, ἀλλὰ φαρμάκωνχρείᾳ κατεσκέλλοντο, πρίν γʼ ἐγώ σφισινἔδειξα κράσεις ἠπίων ἀκεσμάτων,αἷς τὰς ἁπάσας ἐξαμύνονται νόσους.τρόπους τε πολλοὺς μαντικῆς ἐστοίχισα,κἄκρινα πρῶτος ἐξ ὀνειράτων ἃ χρὴὕπαρ γενέσθαι, κληδόνας τε δυσκρίτουςἐγνώρισʼ αὐτοῖς ἐνοδίους τε συμβόλους·γαμψωνύχων τε πτῆσιν οἰωνῶν σκεθρῶςδιώρισʼ, οἵτινές τε δεξιοὶ φύσινεὐωνύμους τε, καὶ δίαιταν ἥντιναἔχουσʼ ἕκαστοι, καὶ πρὸς ἀλλήλους τίνεςἔχθραι τε καὶ στέργηθρα καὶ συνεδρίαι·σπλάγχνων τε λειότητα, καὶ χροιὰν τίναἔχουσʼ ἂν εἴη δαίμοσιν πρὸς ἡδονὴνχολή, λοβοῦ τε ποικίλην εὐμορφίαν.κνίσῃ τε κῶλα συγκαλυπτὰ καὶ μακρὰνὀσφῦν πυρώσας δυστέκμαρτον ἐς τέχνηνὥδωσα θνητούς, καὶ φλογωπὰ σήματαἐξωμμάτωσα, πρόσθεν ὄντʼ ἐπάργεμα.
Enough about these arts. Now as to the benefits to men that lay concealed beneath the earth—bronze, iron, silver, and gold—who would claim to have discovered them before me? No one, I know full well, unless he likes to babble idly.
τοιαῦτα μὲν δὴ ταῦτʼ· ἔνερθε δὲ χθονὸςκεκρυμμένʼ, ἀνθρώποισιν ὠφελήματα,χαλκόν, σίδηρον, ἄργυρον, χρυσόν τε τίςφήσειεν ἂν πάροιθεν ἐξευρεῖν ἐμοῦ;οὐδείς, σάφʼ οἶδα, μὴ μάτην φλύσαι θέλων.
Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word—every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.
βραχεῖ δὲ μύθῳ πάντα συλλήβδην μάθε,πᾶσαι τέχναι βροτοῖσιν ἐκ Προμηθέως.
Chorus:Do not benefit mortals beyond reason and disregard your own distress; although, I am confident that you will be freedfrom these bonds and will have power in no way inferior to Zeus.
Χορός:μή νυν βροτοὺς μὲν ὠφέλει καιροῦ πέρα,σαυτοῦ δʼ ἀκήδει δυστυχοῦντος. ὡς ἐγὼεὔελπίς εἰμι τῶνδέ σʼ ἐκ δεσμῶν ἔτιλυθέντα μηδὲν μεῖον ἰσχύσειν Διός.
Prometheus:Not in this way is Fate, who brings all to fulfillment, destined to complete this course. Only when I have been bent by pangs and tortures infinite am I to escape my bondage. Skill is weaker by far than Necessity.
Προμηθεύς:οὐ ταῦτα ταύτῃ Μοῖρά πω τελεσφόροςκρᾶναι πέπρωται, μυρίαις δὲ πημοναῖςδύαις τε καμφθεὶς ὧδε δεσμὰ φυγγάνω·τέχνη δʼ ἀνάγκης ἀσθενεστέρα μακρῷ.
Chorus:Who then is the helmsman of Necessity?
Χορός:τίς οὖν ἀνάγκης ἐστὶν οἰακοστρόφος;
Prometheus:The three-shaped Fates and mindful Furies.
Προμηθεύς:Μοῖραι τρίμορφοι μνήμονές τʼ Ἐρινύες
Chorus:Can it be that Zeus has less power than they do?
Χορός:τούτων ἄρα Ζεύς ἐστιν ἀσθενέστερος;
Prometheus:Yes, in that even he cannot escape what is foretold.
Προμηθεύς:οὔκουν ἂν ἐκφύγοι γε τὴν πεπρωμένην.
Chorus:Why, what is fated for Zeus except to hold eternal sway?
Χορός:τί γὰρ πέπρωται Ζηνὶ πλὴν ἀεὶ κρατεῖν;
Prometheus:This you must not learn yet; do not be over-eager.
Προμηθεύς:τοῦτʼ οὐκέτʼ ἂν πύθοιο μηδὲ λιπάρει.
Chorus:It is some solemn secret, surely, that you enshroud in mystery.
Χορός:ἦ πού τι σεμνόν ἐστιν ὃ ξυναμπέχεις.
Prometheus:Think of some other subject, for it is not the proper time to speak of this. No matter what, this must be kept concealed; for it is by safeguarding it thatI am to escape my dishonorable bonds and outrage.
Προμηθεύς:ἄλλου λόγου μέμνησθε, τόνδε δʼ οὐδαμῶςκαιρὸς γεγωνεῖν, ἀλλὰ συγκαλυπτέοςὅσον μάλιστα· τόνδε γὰρ σῴζων ἐγὼδεσμοὺς ἀεικεῖς καὶ δύας ἐκφυγγάνω.
Chorus:May Zeus, who apportions everything, never set his power in conflict with my will,nor may I be slow to approach the gods, with holy sacrifices of oxen slain, by the side of the ceaseless stream of Oceanus, my father;and may I not offend in speech; but may this rule abide in my heart and never fade away.
Χορός:μηδάμʼ ὁ πάντα νέμωνθεῖτʼ ἐμᾷ γνώμᾳ κράτος ἀντίπαλον Ζεύς,μηδʼ ἐλινύσαιμι θεοὺς ὁσίαις θοίναις ποτινισομέναβουφόνοις παρʼ Ὠκεανοῦ πατρὸς ἄσβεστον πόρον,μηδʼ ἀλίτοιμι λόγοις·ἀλλά μοι τόδʼ ἐμμένοι καὶ μήποτʼ ἐκτακείη·
Chorus:Sweet it is to pass all the length of life amid confident hopes, feeding the heart in glad festivities. But I shudderas I look on you, racked by infinite tortures. You have no fear of Zeus, Prometheus, but in self-will you reverence mortals too much.
Χορός:ἁδύ τι θαρσαλέαιςτὸν μακρὸν τείνειν βίον ἐλπίσι, φαναῖςθυμὸν ἀλδαίνουσαν ἐν εὐφροσύναις. φρίσ-σω δέ σε δερκομέναμυρίοις μόχθοις διακναιόμενον ⟨.Ζῆνα γὰρ οὐ τρομέωνἰδίᾳ γνώμᾳ σέβῃ θνατοὺς ἄγαν, Προμηθεῦ.
Chorus:Come, my friend, how mutual was your reciprocity? Tell me, what kind of help is there in creatures of a day? What aid? Did you not see the helpless infirmity, no better than a dream, in which the blindgeneration of men is shackled? Never shall the counsels of mortal men transgress the ordering of Zeus.
Χορός:φέρʼ, ὅπως ἄχαρις χάρις, ὦ φίλος·εἰπὲ ποῦ τίς ἀλκά;τίς ἐφαμερίων ἄρηξις; οὐδʼ ἐδέρχθηςὀλιγοδρανίαν ἄκικυν,ἰσόνειρον, ᾇ τὸ φωτῶνἀλαὸν γένος ἐμπεποδισμένον; οὔποτε ⟨τὰν Διὸς ἁρμονίαν θνατῶν παρεξίασι βουλαί.
Chorus:I have learned this lesson from observing the luck, Prometheus, that has brought about your ruin. And the difference in the song stole into my thought—this song and that, which, about your bridal bed and bath, I raised to grace your marriage, when you wooed with giftsand won my sister Hesione to be your wedded wife.Enter Io
Χορός:ἔμαθον τάδε σὰς προσιδοῦσʼ ὀλο-ὰς τύχας, Προμηθεῦ.τὸ διαμφίδιον δέ μοι μέλος προσέπτατόδʼ ἐκεῖνό θʼ, ὅ τʼ ἀμφὶ λουτρὰκαὶ λέχος σὸν ὑμεναίουνἰότατι γάμων, ὅτε τὰν ὁμοπάτριον ἕδνοιςἄγαγες Ἡσιόναν πείθὼν δάμαρτα κοινόλεκτρον.