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.

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 for

200

the 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 strength

205

thought 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,

210

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,

215

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 gods

220

and 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.

225

 

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 bring

230

the 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,

235

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.

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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.

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Prometheus

Yes, to my friends indeed I am a spectacle of pity.

Chorus

Did you perhaps transgress even somewhat beyond this offence?

Prometheus

Yes, I caused mortals to cease foreseeing their doom. ¹

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Chorus

Of what sort was the cure that you found for this affliction?

Prometheus

I caused blind hopes to dwell within their breasts.

Chorus

A great benefit was this you gave to mortals.

Prometheus

In addition, I gave them fire.

Chorus

What! Do creatures of a day now have flame-eyed fire?

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Prometheus

Yes, and from it they shall learn many arts.

Chorus

Then it was on a charge like this that Zeus—

Prometheus

Torments me and in no way gives me respite from pain.

Chorus

And is there no end assigned to your ordeal?

Prometheus

No, none except when it seems good to him.

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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.

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;

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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 my

270

oncoming 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.

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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 hear

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the whole story of your sorrows.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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 come

300

to 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!

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Oceanus

I see, Prometheus; and I want to give you

the 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,

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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;

315

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 teacher

320

and 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.

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Or, can it be that for all your exceeding wisdom, you do not know that chastisement is inflicted on a wagging tongue?

330

Prometheus

I envy you because you have escaped blame for having dared to share with me in my troubles. ² So now leave me alone and let it not concern you.

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.

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Oceanus

In truth, you are far better able to admonish others than yourself. It is by fact, not by hearsay, that I judge.

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.

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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 and

not 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 fate

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of 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 monster

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of 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.

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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.

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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 forth

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rivers of fire, ³ 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.

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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.

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Oceanus

Do you not know then, Prometheus, that

words are the physicians of a disordered temper?

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Prometheus

If one softens the soul in season, and does not hasten to reduce its swelling rage by violence.

Oceanus

What lurking mischief do you see when daring joins to zeal? Teach me this.

Prometheus

Lost labor and thoughtless simplicity.

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Oceanus

Leave me to be affected by this, since it is most advantageous, when truly wise, to be deemed a fool.

Prometheus

This fault will be seen to be my own.

Oceanus

Clearly the manner of your speech orders me back home.

Prometheus

So that you won’t win enmity for yourself by lamenting for me.

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Oceanus

In the eyes of the one who is newly seated on his omnipotent throne?

Prometheus

Beware lest the time come when his heart is angered with you.

Oceanus

Your plight, Prometheus, is my instructor.

Prometheus

Go away, depart, keep your present purpose.

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

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PROMETHEUS

Painful indeed are these things for me to tell, and painful too for me to hold my peace, and in every way grievous. As soon as the divinities began discord, and a feud was stirred up among them with one another,—one party

wishing to eject Saturn from his throne, in order forsooth that Jupiter might be king, and others expediting the reverse, that Jupiter might at no time rule over the gods:—then I, when I gave the best advice, was not able to prevail upon the Titans, children of Uranus and Terra; but they, contemning in their stout spirits wily schemes, fancied that without any trouble, and by dint of main force, they were to win the sovereignty. But it was not once only that my mother Themis, and Terra, a single person with many titles, had forewarned me of the way in which the future would be accomplished; how it was destined, that, not by main force, nor by the strong hand, but by craft the victors should prevail. When, however, I explained such points in discourse, they deigned not to pay me any regard at all. Of the plans which then presented themselves to me, the best appeared, that I should take my mother and promptly side with Jupiter, who was right willing [to receive us]. And 'tis by means of my counsels that the murky abyss of Tartarus overwhelms the antique Saturn, allies and all. After thus being assisted by me, the tyrant of the gods hath recompensed me with this foul recompense. For somehow this malady attaches to tyranny, not to put confidence in its friends. But for your inquiries upon what charge is it that he outrages me, this I will make clear. As soon as he had established himself on his father's throne, he assigns forthwith to the different divinities each his honours, and he was marshalling in order his empire: but of woe-begone mortals he made no account, but wished, after having annihilated the entire race, to plant another new one. And these schemes no one opposed except myself. But I dared: I ransomed mortals from being utterly destroyed, and going down to Hades. 'Tis for this, in truth, that I am bent by sufferings such as these, agonising to endure, and piteous to look upon. I that had compassion for mortals, have myself been deemed unworthy to obtain this, but mercilessly am thus coerced to order, a spectacle inglorious to Jupiter.

CHORUS

PROMÉTHÉE

d'avoir pour moi ma mère en m'allant placer aux côtés de Zeus, qui volontiers accueillit le volontaire ² . Et c'est grâce
à mes plans qu'aujourd'hui le profond et noir repaire du Tartare cache l'antique Cronos avec ses alliés. Voilà les services qu'a obtenus de moi le roi des dieux et qu'il a payés de cette cruelle récompense. C'est un mal inhérent,
sans doute, au pouvoir suprême que la défiance à l'égard des amis ! — Quant à l'objet de votre question : pour quel grief m'outrage-t-il ainsi ? je vais vous l'éclaircir. Aussitôt assis sur le trône paternel, sans retard, il répartit les
divers privilèges entre les divers dieux, et commence à fixer les rangs dans son empire ³ . Mais, aux malheureux mortels, pas un moment il ne songea. Il en voulait au contraire anéantir la race, afin d'en créer une toute nouvelle ⁴ . A ce projet nul ne s'opposait — que moi. Seul, j'ai eu
cette audace ; j'ai libéré les hommes et fait qu'ils ne sont pas descendus, écrasés, dans l'Hadès. Et c'est là pourquoi aujourd'hui je ploie sous de telles douleurs, cruelles à subir, pitoyables à voir. Pour avoir pris les mortels en pitié, je me
suis vu refuser la pitié, et voilà comme implacablement je suis ici traité, spectacle funeste au renom de Zeus.

LE CORYPHÉE

Il aurait un cœur fait de roc ou de fer, Prométhée, celui qui ne s'indignerait avec toi de tes peines. Je n'eusse pas, pour moi, souhaité voir tel spectacle, et à
le voir, mon cœur douloureusement s'émeut.

PROMÉTHÉE

Oui, j'offre à des amis une vue pitoyable.

LE CORYPHÉE

Tu as, sans doute, été plus loin encore ?

PROMÉTHÉE

Oui, j'ai délivré les hommes de l'obsession de la mort.

LE CORYPHÉE

Quel remède as-tu donc découvert à ce mal ?

PROMÉTHÉE

J'ai installé en eux les aveugles espoirs.

LE CORYPHÉE

Le puissant réconfort que tu as ce jour-là apporté aux mortels !

PROMÉTHÉE

J'ai fait plus

PROMETHEUS.

'Tis painful to relate it, to be ſilent

Is pain: each circumſtance is full of woe.

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When

ſtern debate amongſt the gods appear'd,

And diſcord in the courts of heav'n was rous'd;

Whilſt againſt Saturn ſome conſpiring will'd

To pluck him from the throne, that Jove might reign;

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And ſome, averſe, with ardent zeal oppos'd

Jove's riſing pow'r and empire o'er the gods;

My counſels, tho' diſcreeteſt, wiſeſt, beſt,

Mov'd not the Titans, thoſe impetuous ſons

Of Ouranus and Terra, whoſe high ſpirits,

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Diſdaining milder meaſures, proudly ween'd

To ſeize by force the ſceptre of the ſky.

Oft did my goddeſſs mother, Themis now,

Now Gaia, under various names deſign'd i

,

Herſelf the ſame, foretell me the event,

220

That not by violence, that not by pow'r,

But gentler arts, the royalty of heav'n

Muſt be obtain'd. Whilſt thus my voice advis'd,

Their headlong rage deign'd me not e'en a look.

What then could wiſdom dictate, but to take

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My mother, and with voluntary aid

Abet the cauſe of Jove? Thus by my counſels

In the dark deep Tartarean gulph enclos'd

Old Saturn lies, and his confederate pow'rs.

For theſe good deeds the tyrant of the ſkies

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Repays me with theſe dreadful puniſhments.

For foul miſtruſt of thoſe that ſerve them beſt

Breathes its black poiſon in each tyrant's heart.

Aſk you the cauſe for which he tortures me?

I will declare it. On his father's throne

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Scarce was he ſeated, on the chiefs of heav'n

He ſhow'r'd his various honours; thus confirming

His royalty; but for unhappy mortals k

Had no regard, and all the preſent race

Will'd to extirpate, and to form a new.

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None, ſave myſelf, oppos'd his will; I dar'd;

And boldly pleading ſaved them from deſtruction,

Saved them from ſinking to the realms of night.

For this offence I bend beneath theſe pains,

Dreadful to ſuffer, piteous to behold:

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For mercy to mankind I am not deem'd

Worthy of mercy; but with ruthless hate

In this uncouth appointment am fix'd here

A ſpectacle diſhonorable to Jove,

CHORUS.

CORO

Ben ardito sei tu: ché non ti prostra

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il tuo supplizio amaro; e troppo libera

la tua lingua disciogli.

Ma noi temiam per la tua sorte; e penetra

terror l'anima nostra.

Dove sarà che approdi

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il termine a veder dei tuoi cordogli ?

Ché cuore inesorabile

il figliuolo di Giove serba ed impervî modi.

PROMETEO

Bene so ch'egli è acerbo, ed in pugno

tien giustizia. Ma pure, mi credo,

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diverrà l'umor suo ben piú mite,

quando queste sventure lo fiacchino;

e appianata la furia implacabile,

dovrà chiedermi un giorno amicizia

e concordia; né io m' opporrò.

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CORO

Svelaci, tutta esponici l'istoria:

in quale fallo te cogliendo, Giove

di cosí dure obbrobrïose pene

ti oltraggia: dove non ti noccia, narralo.

PROMETEO

M'è pur doglia narrar simili eventi,

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doglia tacerli: una miseria è tutto!

Come prima scoppiò l'odio fra i Numi,

e in due parti li scisse una contesa,

questi, volendo abbattere dal soglio

Crono, perché regnasse appunto Giove,

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gli altri, tutto al contrario, adoperandosi

perché mai Giove non avesse il regno,

Pro.

Molestum quidem mihi est haec dicere,

Vicissim tædiosum tacere: ubiq; infortunium.

Vbi statim cœperunt dij irasci,

Seditio inter ipsos orta est.

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Hi quidem volentes Saturnum folio eijcere,

Vt Iupiter regnaret videlicet: alij contrarium

Studebant, ne unquam Iupiter Dijs imperaret.

Inde ego optima quæq; consulens, persuadere

Titanas Cæli Terræ filios

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Non potui, meas blandas astutias

Parvipendentes, firmioribus consilijs

Putabant sine labore vi dominari.

Mihi verò mater non tantum semel Themis,

Et Terra, multorum nominum forma una,

215

Quod aliquando adimpleretur prædixerat:

Quod neq; ob vim & robur

Oporteret, sed dolo Deos imperare.

Haec verò me narrante verbis

Non dignum putarunt, neq; omnino respicere.

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Optimum mihi præsentium rerum tunc

Videbatur esse, adiungenti matrem

Volentem volenti Ioui fauere.

Meo consilio tartari profunda

Latebra occulta senem Saturnum,

225

Cum illius socijs.

hoc modo ex me

Deorum tyrannus adiutus,

Has malas pœnas mihi rependit.

Inest hoc aliquo modo tyrannidi

230

Malum, amicis non fiduciam habere.

Quod verò interrogatis, causam ob quam

Iniuria afficit me: hoc vobis perspicuum reddam.

Vbi paternum solium statim

Occupauit, repente Dijs distribuit præmia

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Alijs alia, & disposuit

Principatum: mortalium verò miserorum rationem

Nullam habuit, sed illorum genere destructo

Omni, voluit aliud condere novum.

Istis consilijs nullus me excepto restitit:

240

Ego verò audax liberaui mortales,

Ne dilacerati ad inferos migrarent.

Hac de causa talibus calamitatibus plector,

Molestis ad perpetiendum, & visu miserabilibus.

Erga mortales misericordia affectus, talia

245

PROMETHEVS.

Assequi

Non dignus eram ipse: tamen crudeliter

Hic dispositus sum, Ioui infamis aspectus.

Cho.

Prometheus

Grievous alike are these things for my tongue,

Grievous for silence—rueful everyway.

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Know that, when first the gods began their strife,

And heaven was all astir with mutual feud—

Some willing to fling Cronos from his throne,

And set, forsooth, their Zeus on high as king,

And other some in contrariety

230

Striving to bar him from heaven's throne for aye—

Thereon I sought to counsel for the best

The Titan brood of Ouranos and Earth;

Yet I prevailed not, for they held in scorn

My glozing wiles, and, in their hardy pride,

235

Deemed that sans effort they could grasp the sway.

But, for my sake, my mother Themis oft,

And Earth, one symbol of names manifold,

Had held me warned, how in futurity

It stood ordained that not by force or power,

240

But by some wile, the victors must prevail.

In such wise I interpreted; but they

Deigned not to cast their heed thereon at all.

Then, of things possible, I deemed it best,

Joining my mother's wisdom to mine own,

245

To range myself with Zeus, two wills in one.

Thus, by device of mine, the murky depth

Of Tartarus enfoldeth Cronos old

And those who strove beside him. Such the aid

I gave the lord of heaven—my meed for which

250

He paid me thus, a penal recompense!

For 'tis the inward vice of tyranny,

To deem of friends as being secret foes.

Now, to your question—hear me clearly show

On what imputed fault he tortures me.

255

Scarce was he seated on his father's throne,

When he began his doles of privilege

Among the lesser gods, allotting power

In trim division; while of mortal men

Nothing he recked, nor of their misery—

260

Nay, even willed to blast their race entire

To nothingness, and breed another brood;

And none but I was found to cross his will.

I dared it, I alone; I rescued men

From crushing ruin and th' abyss of hell—

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Therefore am I constrained in chastisement

Grievous to bear and piteous to behold,—

Yea, firm to feel compassion for mankind,

Myself was held unworthy of the same—

Ay, beyond pity am I ranged and ruled

270

To sufferance—a sight that shames his sway!

Chorus

Prometheus.

Mir ist es schmerzvoll auch davon zu reden nur,

Schmerzvoll zu schweigen; bittres Leid ist überall.

Als Groll in Götterherzen aufzuglüh'n begann,

Und unter ihnen sich erhob der wilde Zwist,

200

(Für Kronos' Sturz vom Throne rang der eine Theil,

Daß Zeus hinfort gebiete, während Andere

Sich mühten, daß Zeus nimmerdar ihr König sei,)

Da rieth ich wohl das Beste, doch unmöglich war's,

Die Titanen, Gäa's Kinder und des Uranos,

205

Dafür zu stimmen; nein, den freundlichklugen Rath

Verschmäh'n sie stolz in ihres Herzens Uebermuth,

Und hoffen mühelosen Sieg in offnem Kampf.

Doch hatte mehr als Einmal Mutter Themis schon,

Und Gäa, reich an Namen, doch an Wesen eins,

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Wie's künftig kommen werde, mir geoffenbart,

Daß weder Stärke noch Gewalt, daß List allein

Dem Gott die Herrschaft sichre, der durch List gesiegt.

Nachdem ich solches dargelegt in klarem Wort,

Da hielten sie's nicht Eines kurzen Blickes werth.

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Das Beste nun von Allem, was mir offen stand,

Schien mir, mit meiner Mutter im Verein dem Zeus

Als Helfer willig beizusteh'n, dem willigen.

So schließt nach meinem Rathe denn des Tartaros

Schwarztiefer Schlund den altergrauen Kronos ein

220

Sammt seinen Kampfgenossen. Also ward von mir

Der Götter Fürst mit Liebesthaten überhäuft,

So ward mit schnödem Danke mir von ihm gelohnt.

Denn dieß Gebrechen haftet stets dem Herrscher an,

Daß er den eignen Freunden nicht zu trauen wagt.

225

Doch über eure Frage, was den Gott bewog,

Mich so hinauszustoßen, geb' ich nun Bescheid.

Sobald er sich auf seines Vaters Thron gesezt,

Stracks theilt er Ehrenämter an die Götter aus,

Dem dieses, andre jenen, und bestellt des Reichs

230

Gewalten; nur der jammervollen Sterblichen

Vergaß er völlig, ja, beschloß ihr ganz Geschlecht

Zu tilgen und ein andres neues auszuzieh'n.

Da widerstrebte seinem Plan Niemand als ich.

Ich wagt' es muthig, ich errang's den Sterblichen,

235

Daß nicht zerschmettert Hades' Nacht sie niederschlang.

Für diese That denn beugte mich so grause Qual,

Schmerzvoll zu dulden und bejammernswerth zu schau'n.

Mitleid den Menschen bietend, ward ich dessen selbst

Nicht werth geachtet, sondern unbarmherzig hier

240

Am Fels gekettet, Schaugepräng, schmachvoll für Zeus.

Die Chorführerin.