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Prometheus and Zeus

PROMETHEUS

Free me, Zeus. I’ve suffered terribly already.

ZEUS

I’m to free you, am I? You ought to have had heavier chains, and all of Caucasus on your head, and a whole sixteen vultures to tear at your liver, and dig your eyes out too, for making such creatures as humans to plague us, and stealing fire and producing women. ¹ For need I mention how you tricked me in serving out the meat, by serving me with hones wrapped in fat, and keeping the better portion for yourself? ²

PROMETHEUS

Well, haven’t I already been punished enough for that, nailed all this time to Caucasus, with that accursed eagle feeding on my liver?

ZEUS

That’s not the tiniest fraction of what you deserve.

PROMETHEUS

But you shall have your reward for my freedom. I’ll give you some very vital information, Zeus.

ZEUS

You’re trying to trick me, Prometheus.

PROMETHEUS

What good will that do me? You’ll still know where Caucasus is, and still have plenty of chains left, if I’m caught up to any tricks.

ZEUS

Tell me first what is this vital reward I’ll have from you?

PROMETHEUS

Suppose I tell you what you’re after in your present expedition, will you trust the rest of my prophecies?

ZEUS

Yes, indeed.

PROMETHEUS

You’re off to Thetis, to make love to her.

ZEUS

So far you’re right, but what’s to follow? For I think what you say will prove true.

PROMETHEUS

Have nothing to do with that daughter of Nereus, for if she brings you a child, ³ it will treat you just as you treated—

ZEUS

Do you mean that I’ll be cast out of my kingdom? ⁴

PROMETHEUS

I hope not, Zeus, but something of the sort threatens if you tamper with her.

ZEUS

Goodbye, then, to Thetis; and you, Prometheus, must be released by Hephaestus for this.

Dialogi deorum. Lucian of Samosata. Matthew Donald Macleod (Translator). Medford, MA. Perseus 5.0.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Dialogues of the Gods (English) (Lucian, Vol. 7. Macleod, Matthew Donald, translator. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1961 (unrenewed copyright).)

Editions (2)

Θεῶν Διάλογοι Perseus (Lucian. Luciani Samosatensis Opera, Vol. 1. Jacobitz, Karl, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1909.) — 5 focus

Ἥρας καὶ Διός

213

Ἥρα

ἐξ οὗ τὸ μειράκιον τοῦτο, ὦ Ζεῦ, τὸ Φρύγιον ἀπὸ τῆς Ἴδης ἁρπάσας δεῦρο ἀνήγαγες, ἔλαττόν μοι τὸν νοῦν προσέχεις.

Ζεύς

καὶ τοῦτο γάρ, ὦ Ἥρα, ζηλοτυπεῖς ἤδη ἀφελὲς οὕτω καὶ ἀλυπότατον; ἐγὼ δὲ ᾤμην ταῖς γυναιξὶ μόναις χαλεπήν σε εἶναι, ὁπόσαι ἂν ὁμιλήσωσί μοι.

Ἥρα

οὐδʼ ἐκεῖνα μὲν εὖ ποιεῖς οὐδὲ πρέποντα σεαυτῷ, ὃς ἁπάντων θεῶν δεσπότης ὢν ἀπολιπὼν ἐμὲ τὴν νόμῳ γαμετὴν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν κάτει μοιχεύσων χρυσίον ἢ σάτυρος ἢ ταῦρος γενόμενος. πλὴν ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖναι μέν σοι κἂν ἐν γῇ μένουσι, τὸ δὲ Ἰδαῖον τουτὶ παιδίον ἁρπάσας ἀνέπτης, ὦ γενναιότατε θεῶν, καὶ συνοικεῖ ἡμῖν ἐπὶ κεφαλήν μοι ἐπαχθέν, οἰνοχοοῦν δὴ τῷ λόγῳ. οὕτως ἠπόρεις οἰνοχόων, καὶ ἀπηγορεύκασιν ἄρα ἥ τε Ἥβη καὶ ὁ 214 Ἥφαιστος διακονούμενοι; σὺ δὲ καὶ τὴν κύλικα οὐκ ἂν ἄλλως λάβοις παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἢ φιλήσας πρότερον αὐτὸν ἁπάντων ὁρώντων, καὶ τὸ φίλημά σοι ἥδιον τοῦ νέκταρος, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐδὲ διψῶν πολλάκις αἰτεῖς πιεῖν· ὁτὲ δὲ και ἀπογευσάμενος μόνον ἔδωκας ἐκείνῳ, καὶ πιόντος ἀπολαβων τὴν κύλικα ὅσον ὑπόλοιπον ἐν αὐτῇ πίνεις, ὅθεν καὶ ὁ παῖς ἔπιε καὶ ἔνθα προσήρμοσε τὰ χείλη, ἵνα καὶ πίνῃς ἅμα καὶ φιλῇς· πρῴην δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ἁπάντων πατὴρ ἀποθέμενος τὴν αἰγίδα καὶ τὸν κεραυνὸν ἐκάθησο ἀστραγαλίζων μετʼ αὐτοῦ ὁ πώγωνα τηλικοῦτον καθειμένος. ἅπαντα οὖν ὁρῶ ταῦτα, ὥστε μὴ οἴου λανθάνειν.

Ζεύς

καὶ τί δεινόν, ὦ Ἥρα, μειράκιον οὕτω καλὸν μεταξὺ πίνοντα καταφιλεῖν καὶ ἥδεσθαι ἀμφοῖν καὶ τῷ φιλήματι καὶ τῷ νέκταρι; ἢν γοῦν ἐπιτρέψω αὐτῷ κἂν ἅπαξ φιλῆσαί σε, οὐκέτι μέμψῃ μοι προτιμότερον τοῦ νέκταρος οἰομένῳ τὸ φίλημα εἶναι.

Ἥρα

Παιδεραστῶν οὗτοι λόγοι. ἐγὼ δὲ μὴ οὕτω μανείην, ὡς τὰ χείλη προσενεγκεῖν τῷ μαλθακῷ τούτῳ Φρυγὶ οὕτως ἐκτεθηλυμένῳ.

Ζεύς

μή μοι λοιδοροῦ, ὦ γενναιοτάτη, τοῖς παιδικοῖς· οὑτοσὶ γὰρ ὁ θηλυδρίας, ὁ βάρβαρος, ὁ μαλθακός 215 ἡδίων ἐμοὶ καὶ ποθεινότερος — οὐ βούλομαι δὲ εἰπεῖν, μή σε παροξύνω ἐπὶ πλέον.

Ἥρα

εἴθε καὶ γαμήσειας αὐτὸν ἐμοῦ γε οὕνεκα· μέμνησο γοῦν οἷά μοι διὰ τὸν οἰνοχόον τοῦτον ἐμπαροινεῖς.

Ζεύς

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ τὸν Ἥφαιστον ἔδει τὸν σὸν υἱὸν οἰνοχοεῖν ἡμῖν χωλεύοντα, ἐκ τῆς καμίνου ἥκοντα, ἔτι τῶν σπινθήρων ἀνάπλεων, ἄρτι τὴν πυράγραν ἀποτεθειμένον, καὶ ἀπʼ ἐκείνων αὐτοῦ τῶν δακτύλων λαμβάνειν ἡμᾶς τὴν κύλικα καὶ ἐπισπασαμένους γε φιλῆσαι μεταξύ, ὃν οὐδʼ ἂν ἡ μήτηρ σὺ ἡδέως φιλήσειας ὑπὸ τῆς ἀσβόλου κατῃθαλωμένον τὸ πρόσωπον. ἡδίω ταῦτα· οὐ γάρ; καὶ παρὰ πολὺ ὁ οἰνοχόος ἐκεῖνος ἐμπρέπει τῷ συμποσίῳ τῶν θεῶν, ὁ Γανυμήδης δὲ καταπεμπτέος αὖθις ἐς τὴν Ἴδην· καθάριος γὰρ καὶ ῥοδοδάκτυλος καὶ ἐπισταμένως ὀρέγει τὸ ἔκπωμα, καὶ ὅ σε λυπεῖ μάλιστα, καὶ φιλεῖ ἥδιον τοῦ νέκταρος.

Ἥρα

νῦν καὶ χωλός, ὦ Ζεῦ, ὁ Ἥφαιστος καὶ οἱ δάκτυλοι αὐτοῦ ἀνάξιοι τῆς σῆς κύλικος καὶ ἀσβόλου μεστός ἐστι, καὶ ναυτιᾷς ὁρῶν αὐτόν, ἐξ ὅτου τὸν καλὸν κομήτην τοῦτον ἡ Ἴδη ἀνέθρεψε· πάλαι δὲ οὐχ ἑώρας ταῦτα, οὐδʼ οἱ σπινθῆρες οὐδὲ ἡ κάμινος ἀπέτρεπόν σε 216 μὴ οὐχὶ πίνειν παρʼ αὐτοῦ.

Ζεύς

λυπεῖς, ὦ Ἥρα, σεαυτήν, οὐδὲν ἄλλο, κἀμοὶ ἐπιτείνεις τὸν ἔρωτα ζηλοτυποῦσα· εἰ δὲ ἄχθῃ παρὰ παιδὸς ὡραίου δεχομένη τὸ ἔκπωμα, σοὶ μὲν ὁ υἱὸς οἰνοχοείτω, σὺ δέ, ὦ Γανύμηδες, ἐμοὶ μόνῳ ἀναδίδου τὴν κύλικα καὶ ἐφʼ ἑκάστῃ δὶς φίλει με καὶ ὅτε πλήρη ὀρέγοις κᾆτα αὖθις ὁπότε παρʼ ἐμοῦ ἀπολαμβάνοις. τί τοῦτο; δακρύεις; μὴ δέδιθι· οἰμώξεται γάρ, ἤν τίς σε λυπεῖν θέλῃ.

Θεῶν διάλογοι Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 7. Macleod, Matthew Donald, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1961 (unrenewed copyright).) — 5 focus

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΩΣ ΚΑΙ ΔΙΟΣ

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Λῦσόν με, ὦ Ζεῦ· δεινὰ γὰρ ἤδη πέπονθα.

ΖΕΥΣ

Λύσω σε, φῄς, ὃν ἐχρῆν βαρυτέρας πέδας ἔχοντα καὶ τὸν Καύκασον ὅλον ὑπέρ κεφαλῆς ἐπικείμενον ὑπὸ ἑκκαίδεκα γυπῶν μὴ μόνον κείρεσθαι τὸ ἧπαρ, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐξορύττεσθαι, ἀνθ' ὧν τοιαῦθ' ἡμῖν ζῷα τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ἔπλασας καὶ τὸ πῦρ ἔκλεψας καὶ γυναῖκας ἐδημιούργησας; ἃ μὲν γὰρ ἐμὲ ἐξηπάτησας ἐν τῇ νομῇ τῶν κρεῶν ὀστᾶ πιμελῇ κεκαλυμμένα παραθεὶς καὶ τὴν ἀμείνω τῶν μοιρῶν σεαυτῷ φυλάττων, τί χρὴ λέγειν;

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Οὔκουν ἱκανὴν ἤδη τὴν δίκην ἐκτέτικα τοσοῦτον 205 χρόνον τῷ Καυκάσῳ προσηλωμένος τὸν κάκιστα ὀρνέων ἀπολούμενον ἀετὸν τρέφων τῷ ἥπατι;

ΖΕΥΣ

Οὐδὲ πολλοστημόριον τοῦτο ὧν σε δεῖ παθεῖν.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Καὶ μὴν οὐκ ἀμισθί με λύσεις, ἀλλά σοι μηνύσω τι, ὦ Ζεῦ, πάνυ ἀναγκαῖον.

ΖΕΥΣ

Κατασοφίζῃ με, ὦ Προμηθεῦ.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Καὶ τί ¹ πλέον ἕξω; οὐ γὰρ ἀγνοήσεις αὖθις ἔνθα ὁ Καύκασός ἐστιν, οὐδὲ ἀπορήσεις δεσμῶν, ἤν τι τεχνάζων ἁλίσκωμαι.

ΖΕΥΣ

Εἰπὲ πρότερον ὅντινα μισθὸν ἀποτίσεις ἀναγκαῖον ἡμῖν ὄντα.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Ἢν εἴπω ἐφ' ὅ τι βαδίζεις νῦν, ἀξιόπιστος ἔσομαί σοι καὶ περὶ τῶν ὑπολοίπων μαντευόμενος;

ΖΕΥΣ

Πῶς γὰρ οὔ;

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Παρὰ τὴν Θέτιν, συνεσόμενος αὐτῇ.

ΖΕΥΣ

Τουτὶ μὲν ἔγνως· τί δ’ οὖν τὸ ἐπὶ τούτῳ; δοκεῖς γὰρ ἀληθές τι ἐρεῖν.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Μηδέν, ὦ Ζεῦ, κοινωνήσῃς τῇ Νηρεΐδι· ἢν γὰρ αὕτη κυοφορήσῃ ἐκ σοῦ, τὸ τεχθὲν ἴσα ἐργάσεταί σε οἷα καὶ σὺ ἔδρασας ² —

ΖΕΥΣ

Τοῦτο φῄς, ἐκπεσεῖσθαί με τῆς ἀρχῆς;

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Μὴ γένοιτο, ὦ Ζεῦ. πλὴν τοιοῦτό γε ἡ μῖξις αὐτῆς ἀπειλεῖ.

ΖΕΥΣ

Χαιρέτω τοιγαροῦν ἡ Θέτις· σὲ δὲ ὁ Ἥφαιστος ἐπὶ τούτοις λυσάτω.

Translations (1)

Dialogues of the Gods Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 1. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 6 focus

VI

Hera

Zeus

Hera

Zeus! What is your opinion of this man Ixion?

Zeus

Why, my dear, I think he is a very good sort of man; and the best of company. Indeed, if he were unworthy of our company, he would not be here.

Hera

He is unworthy! He is a villain! Discard him!

Zeus

Eh? What has he been after? I must know about this.

Hera

Certainly you must; though I scarce know how to tell you. The wretch!

Zeus

Oh, oh; if he is a ‘wretch,’ you must certainly tell me all about it. I know what ‘wretch’ means, on your discreet tongue. What, he has been making love?

Hera

And to me! to me of all people! It has been going on for a long time. At first, when he would keep looking at me, I had no idea—. And then he would sigh and groan; and when I handed my cup to Ganymede after drinking, he would insist on having it, and would stop drinking to kiss it, and lift it up to his eyes; and then he would look at me again. And then of course I knew. For a long time I didn’t like to say anything to you; I thought his mad fit would pass. But when he actually dared to speak to me, I left him weeping and grovelling about, and stopped my ears, so that I might not hear his impertinences, and came to tell you. It is for you to consider what steps you will take.

Zeus

Whew! I have a rival, I find; and with my own lawful wife. Here is a rascal who has tippled nectar to some purpose. Well, we have no one but ourselves to blame for it: we make too much of these mortals, admitting them -to our table like this. When they drink of our nectar, and behold the beauties of Heaven (so different from those of Earth!), ’tis no wonder if they fall in love, and form ambitious schemes! Yes, Love is all-powerful; and not with mortals only: we Gods have sometimes fallen beneath his sway.

Hera

He has made himself master of you; no doubt of that. He does what he likes with you;—leads you by the nose. You follow him whither he chooses, and assume every shape at his command; you are his chattel, his toy. I know how it will be: you are going to let Ixion off, because you have had relations with his wife; she is the mother of Pirithous.

Zeus

Why, what a memory you have for these little outings of mine!—Now, my idea about Ixion is this. It would never do to punish him, or to exclude him from our table; that would not look well. No; as he is so fond of you, so hard hit—even to weeping point, you tell me,—

Hera

Zeus! What are you going to say?

Zeus

Don’t be alarmed. Let us make a cloud-phantom in your likeness, and after dinner, as he lies awake (which of course he will do, being in love), let us take it and lay it by his side. Twill put him out of his pain: he will fancy he has attained his desire.

Hera

Never! The presumptuous villain!

Zeus

Yes, I know. But what harm can it do to you, if Ixion makes a conquest of a cloud?

Hera

But he will think that I am the cloud; he will be working his wicked will upon me for all he can tell.

Zeus

Now you are talking nonsense. The cloud is not Hera, and Hera is not the cloud. Ixion will be deceived; that is all.

Hera

Yes, but these men are all alike—they have no delicacy. I suppose, when he goes home, he will boast to every one of how he has enjoyed the embraces of Hera, the wife of Zeus! Why, he may tell them that I am in love with him! And they will believe it; they will know nothing about the cloud.

Zeus

If he says anything of the kind he shall soon find himself in Hades, spinning round on a wheel for all eternity. That will keep him busy! And serve him right; not for falling in love—I see no great harm in that—but for letting his tongue wag.

Francis George Fowler

Notes on the current edition

Dialogues of the Gods

1. Cf. Hesiod, Theogony, 560 ff.

2. Cf. ibid. 637 ff.

3. Cf. Pindar, Isthmians, 7.27 and Aeschylus, P.V. 907 ff.

4. A reference to Zeus’ dethronement of his father Cronos. Cf. On Sacrifices 5 and Zeus Catechized 8.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Prometheus and Zeus

PROMETHEUS Free me, Zeus. I’ve suffered terribly already.

PROMETHEUS Well, haven’t I already been punished enough for that, nailed all this time to Caucasus, with that accursed eagle feeding on my liver?

ZEUS That’s not the tiniest fraction of what you deserve.

PROMETHEUS But you shall have your reward for my freedom. I’ll give you some very vital information, Zeus.

ZEUS You’re trying to trick me, Prometheus.

PROMETHEUS What good will that do me? You’ll still know where Caucasus is, and still have plenty of chains left, if I’m caught up to any tricks.

ZEUS Tell me first what is this vital reward I’ll have from you?

PROMETHEUS Suppose I tell you what you’re after in your present expedition, will you trust the rest of my prophecies?

ZEUS Yes, indeed.

PROMETHEUS You’re off to Thetis, to make love to her.

ZEUS So far you’re right, but what’s to follow? For I think what you say will prove true.

PROMETHEUS Have nothing to do with that daughter of Nereus, for if she brings you a child, 3 it will treat you just as you treated—

ZEUS Do you mean that I’ll be cast out of my kingdom? 4

PROMETHEUS I hope not, Zeus, but something of the sort threatens if you tamper with her.

ZEUS Goodbye, then, to Thetis; and you, Prometheus, must be released by Hephaestus for this.

Current edition Perseus

Ἥρας καὶ Διός

Ἥρα ἐξ οὗ τὸ μειράκιον τοῦτο, ὦ Ζεῦ, τὸ Φρύγιον ἀπὸ τῆς Ἴδης ἁρπάσας δεῦρο ἀνήγαγες, ἔλαττόν μοι τὸν νοῦν προσέχεις.

Ζεύς καὶ τοῦτο γάρ, ὦ Ἥρα, ζηλοτυπεῖς ἤδη ἀφελὲς οὕτω καὶ ἀλυπότατον; ἐγὼ δὲ ᾤμην ταῖς γυναιξὶ μόναις χαλεπήν σε εἶναι, ὁπόσαι ἂν ὁμιλήσωσί μοι.

Ἥρα Παιδεραστῶν οὗτοι λόγοι. ἐγὼ δὲ μὴ οὕτω μανείην, ὡς τὰ χείλη προσενεγκεῖν τῷ μαλθακῷ τούτῳ Φρυγὶ οὕτως ἐκτεθηλυμένῳ.

Ἥρα εἴθε καὶ γαμήσειας αὐτὸν ἐμοῦ γε οὕνεκα· μέμνησο γοῦν οἷά μοι διὰ τὸν οἰνοχόον τοῦτον ἐμπαροινεῖς.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΩΣ ΚΑΙ ΔΙΟΣ

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ Λῦσόν με, ὦ Ζεῦ· δεινὰ γὰρ ἤδη πέπονθα.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ Οὔκουν ἱκανὴν ἤδη τὴν δίκην ἐκτέτικα τοσοῦτον 205 χρόνον τῷ Καυκάσῳ προσηλωμένος τὸν κάκιστα ὀρνέων ἀπολούμενον ἀετὸν τρέφων τῷ ἥπατι;

ΖΕΥΣ Οὐδὲ πολλοστημόριον τοῦτο ὧν σε δεῖ παθεῖν.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ Καὶ μὴν οὐκ ἀμισθί με λύσεις, ἀλλά σοι μηνύσω τι, ὦ Ζεῦ, πάνυ ἀναγκαῖον.

ΖΕΥΣ Κατασοφίζῃ με, ὦ Προμηθεῦ.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ Καὶ τί 1 πλέον ἕξω; οὐ γὰρ ἀγνοήσεις αὖθις ἔνθα ὁ Καύκασός ἐστιν, οὐδὲ ἀπορήσεις δεσμῶν, ἤν τι τεχνάζων ἁλίσκωμαι.

ΖΕΥΣ Εἰπὲ πρότερον ὅντινα μισθὸν ἀποτίσεις ἀναγκαῖον ἡμῖν ὄντα.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ Ἢν εἴπω ἐφ' ὅ τι βαδίζεις νῦν, ἀξιόπιστος ἔσομαί σοι καὶ περὶ τῶν ὑπολοίπων μαντευόμενος;

ΖΕΥΣ Πῶς γὰρ οὔ;

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ Παρὰ τὴν Θέτιν, συνεσόμενος αὐτῇ.

ΖΕΥΣ Τουτὶ μὲν ἔγνως· τί δ’ οὖν τὸ ἐπὶ τούτῳ; δοκεῖς γὰρ ἀληθές τι ἐρεῖν.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ Μηδέν, ὦ Ζεῦ, κοινωνήσῃς τῇ Νηρεΐδι· ἢν γὰρ αὕτη κυοφορήσῃ ἐκ σοῦ, τὸ τεχθὲν ἴσα ἐργάσεταί σε οἷα καὶ σὺ ἔδρασας 2 —

ΖΕΥΣ Τοῦτο φῄς, ἐκπεσεῖσθαί με τῆς ἀρχῆς;

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ Μὴ γένοιτο, ὦ Ζεῦ. πλὴν τοιοῦτό γε ἡ μῖξις αὐτῆς ἀπειλεῖ.

ΖΕΥΣ Χαιρέτω τοιγαροῦν ἡ Θέτις· σὲ δὲ ὁ Ἥφαιστος ἐπὶ τούτοις λυσάτω.

VI

Hera

Zeus

Hera Zeus! What is your opinion of this man Ixion?

Zeus Why, my dear, I think he is a very good sort of man; and the best of company. Indeed, if he were unworthy of our company, he would not be here.

Hera He is unworthy! He is a villain! Discard him!

Zeus Eh? What has he been after? I must know about this.

Hera Certainly you must; though I scarce know how to tell you. The wretch!

Zeus Oh, oh; if he is a ‘wretch,’ you must certainly tell me all about it. I know what ‘wretch’ means, on your discreet tongue. What, he has been making love?

Zeus Why, what a memory you have for these little outings of mine!—Now, my idea about Ixion is this. It would never do to punish him, or to exclude him from our table; that would not look well. No; as he is so fond of you, so hard hit—even to weeping point, you tell me,—

Hera Zeus! What are you going to say?

Zeus Don’t be alarmed. Let us make a cloud-phantom in your likeness, and after dinner, as he lies awake (which of course he will do, being in love), let us take it and lay it by his side. Twill put him out of his pain: he will fancy he has attained his desire.

Hera Never! The presumptuous villain!

Zeus Yes, I know. But what harm can it do to you, if Ixion makes a conquest of a cloud?

Hera But he will think that I am the cloud; he will be working his wicked will upon me for all he can tell.

Zeus Now you are talking nonsense. The cloud is not Hera, and Hera is not the cloud. Ixion will be deceived; that is all.

Hera Yes, but these men are all alike—they have no delicacy. I suppose, when he goes home, he will boast to every one of how he has enjoyed the embraces of Hera, the wife of Zeus! Why, he may tell them that I am in love with him! And they will believe it; they will know nothing about the cloud.

Zeus If he says anything of the kind he shall soon find himself in Hades, spinning round on a wheel for all eternity. That will keep him busy! And serve him right; not for falling in love—I see no great harm in that—but for letting his tongue wag.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

PROMETHEUS

Free me, Zeus. I’ve suffered terribly already.

PROMETHEUS

Well, haven’t I already been punished enough for that, nailed all this time to Caucasus, with that accursed eagle feeding on my liver?

ZEUS

That’s not the tiniest fraction of what you deserve.

PROMETHEUS

But you shall have your reward for my freedom. I’ll give you some very vital information, Zeus.

ZEUS

You’re trying to trick me, Prometheus.

PROMETHEUS

What good will that do me? You’ll still know where Caucasus is, and still have plenty of chains left, if I’m caught up to any tricks.

ZEUS

Tell me first what is this vital reward I’ll have from you?

PROMETHEUS

Suppose I tell you what you’re after in your present expedition, will you trust the rest of my prophecies?

ZEUS

Yes, indeed.

PROMETHEUS

You’re off to Thetis, to make love to her.

ZEUS

So far you’re right, but what’s to follow? For I think what you say will prove true.

PROMETHEUS

Have nothing to do with that daughter of Nereus, for if she brings you a child, ³ it will treat you just as you treated—

ZEUS

Do you mean that I’ll be cast out of my kingdom? ⁴

PROMETHEUS

I hope not, Zeus, but something of the sort threatens if you tamper with her.

ZEUS

Goodbye, then, to Thetis; and you, Prometheus, must be released by Hephaestus for this.

Ἥρα

ἐξ οὗ τὸ μειράκιον τοῦτο, ὦ Ζεῦ, τὸ Φρύγιον ἀπὸ τῆς Ἴδης ἁρπάσας δεῦρο ἀνήγαγες, ἔλαττόν μοι τὸν νοῦν προσέχεις.

Ζεύς

καὶ τοῦτο γάρ, ὦ Ἥρα, ζηλοτυπεῖς ἤδη ἀφελὲς οὕτω καὶ ἀλυπότατον; ἐγὼ δὲ ᾤμην ταῖς γυναιξὶ μόναις χαλεπήν σε εἶναι, ὁπόσαι ἂν ὁμιλήσωσί μοι.

Ἥρα

Παιδεραστῶν οὗτοι λόγοι. ἐγὼ δὲ μὴ οὕτω μανείην, ὡς τὰ χείλη προσενεγκεῖν τῷ μαλθακῷ τούτῳ Φρυγὶ οὕτως ἐκτεθηλυμένῳ.

Ἥρα

εἴθε καὶ γαμήσειας αὐτὸν ἐμοῦ γε οὕνεκα· μέμνησο γοῦν οἷά μοι διὰ τὸν οἰνοχόον τοῦτον ἐμπαροινεῖς.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Λῦσόν με, ὦ Ζεῦ· δεινὰ γὰρ ἤδη πέπονθα.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Οὔκουν ἱκανὴν ἤδη τὴν δίκην ἐκτέτικα τοσοῦτον 205 χρόνον τῷ Καυκάσῳ προσηλωμένος τὸν κάκιστα ὀρνέων ἀπολούμενον ἀετὸν τρέφων τῷ ἥπατι;

ΖΕΥΣ

Οὐδὲ πολλοστημόριον τοῦτο ὧν σε δεῖ παθεῖν.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Καὶ μὴν οὐκ ἀμισθί με λύσεις, ἀλλά σοι μηνύσω τι, ὦ Ζεῦ, πάνυ ἀναγκαῖον.

ΖΕΥΣ

Κατασοφίζῃ με, ὦ Προμηθεῦ.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Καὶ τί ¹ πλέον ἕξω; οὐ γὰρ ἀγνοήσεις αὖθις ἔνθα ὁ Καύκασός ἐστιν, οὐδὲ ἀπορήσεις δεσμῶν, ἤν τι τεχνάζων ἁλίσκωμαι.

ΖΕΥΣ

Εἰπὲ πρότερον ὅντινα μισθὸν ἀποτίσεις ἀναγκαῖον ἡμῖν ὄντα.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Ἢν εἴπω ἐφ' ὅ τι βαδίζεις νῦν, ἀξιόπιστος ἔσομαί σοι καὶ περὶ τῶν ὑπολοίπων μαντευόμενος;

ΖΕΥΣ

Πῶς γὰρ οὔ;

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Παρὰ τὴν Θέτιν, συνεσόμενος αὐτῇ.

ΖΕΥΣ

Τουτὶ μὲν ἔγνως· τί δ’ οὖν τὸ ἐπὶ τούτῳ; δοκεῖς γὰρ ἀληθές τι ἐρεῖν.

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Μηδέν, ὦ Ζεῦ, κοινωνήσῃς τῇ Νηρεΐδι· ἢν γὰρ αὕτη κυοφορήσῃ ἐκ σοῦ, τὸ τεχθὲν ἴσα ἐργάσεταί σε οἷα καὶ σὺ ἔδρασας ² —

ΖΕΥΣ

Τοῦτο φῄς, ἐκπεσεῖσθαί με τῆς ἀρχῆς;

ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ

Μὴ γένοιτο, ὦ Ζεῦ. πλὴν τοιοῦτό γε ἡ μῖξις αὐτῆς ἀπειλεῖ.

ΖΕΥΣ

Χαιρέτω τοιγαροῦν ἡ Θέτις· σὲ δὲ ὁ Ἥφαιστος ἐπὶ τούτοις λυσάτω.

Hera

Zeus! What is your opinion of this man Ixion?

Zeus

Why, my dear, I think he is a very good sort of man; and the best of company. Indeed, if he were unworthy of our company, he would not be here.

Hera

He is unworthy! He is a villain! Discard him!

Zeus

Eh? What has he been after? I must know about this.

Hera

Certainly you must; though I scarce know how to tell you. The wretch!

Zeus

Oh, oh; if he is a ‘wretch,’ you must certainly tell me all about it. I know what ‘wretch’ means, on your discreet tongue. What, he has been making love?

Zeus

Why, what a memory you have for these little outings of mine!—Now, my idea about Ixion is this. It would never do to punish him, or to exclude him from our table; that would not look well. No; as he is so fond of you, so hard hit—even to weeping point, you tell me,—

Hera

Zeus! What are you going to say?

Zeus

Don’t be alarmed. Let us make a cloud-phantom in your likeness, and after dinner, as he lies awake (which of course he will do, being in love), let us take it and lay it by his side. Twill put him out of his pain: he will fancy he has attained his desire.

Hera

Never! The presumptuous villain!

Zeus

Yes, I know. But what harm can it do to you, if Ixion makes a conquest of a cloud?

Hera

But he will think that I am the cloud; he will be working his wicked will upon me for all he can tell.

Zeus

Now you are talking nonsense. The cloud is not Hera, and Hera is not the cloud. Ixion will be deceived; that is all.

Hera

Yes, but these men are all alike—they have no delicacy. I suppose, when he goes home, he will boast to every one of how he has enjoyed the embraces of Hera, the wife of Zeus! Why, he may tell them that I am in love with him! And they will believe it; they will know nothing about the cloud.

Zeus

If he says anything of the kind he shall soon find himself in Hades, spinning round on a wheel for all eternity. That will keep him busy! And serve him right; not for falling in love—I see no great harm in that—but for letting his tongue wag.