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 miscreant

1

upon 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,

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so that he may learn to bear with the sovereignty of Zeus and cease his man-loving ways.

10

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 myself

to 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 bonds

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no 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 and

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when 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, but

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you 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,

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and everyone is harsh whose power is new.

35

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?

Hephaestus

A strangely potent tie is kinship, and companionship as well.

Power

I agree; yet to refuse to obey the commands of the Father; is this possible? Do you not fear that more?

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Hephaestus

Yes, you are ever pitiless and steeped in insolence.

Power

Yes, for it does not good to bemoan this fellow. Stop wasting your labor at an unprofitable task.

Hephaestus

Oh handicraft that I hate so much!

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Power

Why hate it? Since in truth your craft is in no way to blame for these present troubles.

Hephaestus

Nevertheless, i wish it had fallen to another’s lot!

Power

Every job is troublesome except to be the commander of gods;

no one is free except Zeus.

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Hephaestus

I know it by this task; I cannot deny it.

Power

Hurry then to cast the fetters about him, so that the Father does not see you loitering.

Hephaestus

Well, there then! The bands are ready, as you may see.

Power

Cast them about his wrists and with might strike with your hammer; rivet him to the rocks.

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Hephaestus

There! The work is getting done and not improperly.

Power

Strike harder, clamp him tight, leave nothing loose; for he is wondrously clever at finding a way even out of desperate straits.

Hephaestus

This arm, at least, is fixed permanently.

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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.

Hephaestus

None but he could justly blame my work.

Power

Now drive the adamantine wedge’s stubborn edge straight

through his chest with your full force.

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Hephaestus

Alas, Prometheus, I groan for your sufferings.

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.

Hephaestus

You see a spectacle grievous for eyes to behold.

Power

I see this man getting his deserts. Come, cast the girths about his sides.

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Hephaestus

I must do this; spare me your needless ordering.

Power

Indeed, I’ll order you, yes and more—I’ll hound you on. Get down below, and ring his legs by force.

Hephaestus

There now! The work’s done and without much labor.

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Power

Now hammer the piercing fetters with your full force; for the appraiser of our work is severe.

Hephaestus

The utterance of your tongue matches your looks.

Power

Be softhearted then,

but do not attack my stubborn will and my harsh mood.

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Hephaestus

Let us be gone, since he has got the fetters on his limbs. Exit

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?

Falsely the gods call you Prometheus, ¹ for you yourself need forethought to free yourself from this handiwork. Exeunt Power and Force

85

Prometheus

O you bright sky of heaven, you swift-winged breezes, you river-waters, and

infinite 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.

90

93
 

Look, with what shameful torture I am racked and must wrestle

throughout 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 where

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it is fated that deliverance from these sorrows shall arise.

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101
 

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 that

the 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 stolen

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source 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.

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114
 

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,

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the foe of Zeus,

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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 hear

again nearby? The air whirs with the light rush of wings. Whatever approaches causes me alarm. The Daughters of Oceanus enter on a winged car

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VULCAN

Save this [sufferer], no one could with reason find fault with me—

STRENGTH

Now by main force rivet the ruthless fang of an adamantine wedge right through his breast

.

VULCAN

Alas! alas! Prometheus, I sigh over thy sufferings.

STRENGTH

Again art thou hanging back, and sighest thou over the enemies of Jupiter? Look to it, that thou hast not at some time to mourn for thyself.

VULCAN

Thou beholdest a spectacle ill-sighted to the eye.

STRENGTH

I behold this wretch receiving his deserts. But fling thou these girths round his sides.

VULCAN

I must needs do this; urge me not very much.

STRENGTH

Aye, but I will urge thee, and set thee on too. Move downwards, and strongly link his legs.

VULCAN

And in truth the task is done with no long toil.

STRENGTH

With main force now smite the galling fetters, since stern indeed is the inspector of this work.

VULCAN

Thy tongue sounds in accordance with thy form.

STRENGTH

Yield thou to softness, but taunt not me with ruthlessness and harshness of temper.

VULCAN

Let us go; since he hath the shackles about his limbs.

STRENGTH

There now be insolent; and after pillaging the prerogatives of the gods, confer them on creatures of a day. In what will mortals be able to alleviate these agonies of thine? By no true title do the divinities call thee Prometheus; for thou thyself hast need of a Prometheus, by means of which you will slip out of this fate

.

PROMETHEUS

HÉPHAISTOS

Voilà un bras fixé, qu'il ne déliera pas.

POUVOIR

A celui-là ! Agrafe-le de solide façon : qu'il sache bien que sa malice est moins prompte que celle de Zeus.

HÉPHAISTOS

Seul, il serait en droit de blâmer mon ouvrage.

POUVOIR

Et maintenant, hardi ! enfonce en sa poitrine la dent opiniâtre de ce rivet d'acier.

HÉPHAISTOS

Ah ! Prométhée, tout bas je gémis de ta peine.

POUVOIR

Encore à hésiter, à gémir sur l'ennemi de Zeus ! Crains donc de gémir un jour sur toi-même.

HÉPHAISTOS

Tu vois ce que des yeux n'auraient jamais dû voir !

POUVOIR

Je vois qu'il a le sort qu'il avait mérité ! Allons ! jette autour de ses flancs la ceinture d'airain.

HÉPHAISTOS

J'y suis contraint : tes ordres sont de trop.

POUVOIR

Moi, je t'en veux donner, voire te harceler. Descends et enserre ses pieds.

HÉPHAISTOS

Voilà qui est fait, et sans longs efforts.

POUVOIR

De toute ta force, maintenant, frappe, et que l'entrave enfonce dans la chair. Dur est celui qui doit contrôler la besogne.

HÉPHAISTOS

Ah ! ton langage répond à ta figure.

POUVOIR

Sois faible à ton gré, sans pour cela me
faire de reproches, si ma nature est opiniâtre et dure.

HÉPHAISTOS

Partons : ses membres ont leur ajustement complet !

POUVOIR

Maintenant, fais ici l'insolent à ta guise, et vole aux dieux leurs privilèges pour les livrer aux éphémères. Quel allégement les humains seront-ils donc
capables d'apporter à tes peines ? C'est bien à tort que les dieux t'appellent Prométhée : trouve ailleurs qui te promette de te dégager de ces nœuds savants !

PROMÉTHÉE

Ether

VULCAN.

This work he only can with juſtice blame.

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STRENGTH.

Across his breaſt draw now this ſtubborn bar

Of adamant, fix firm its ſharpen'd point.

VULCAN.

Thy miſeries, Prometheus, I bewail.

STRENGTH.

Still doſt thou linger? Still bewail the foes

Of Jove? Take heed leſt thou bewail thyſelf.

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VULCAN.

Thou ſeeſt an object horrible to ſight.

STRENGTH.

I ſee him honour'd as his deeds deſerve.

But haſte thee, fix this ſtrong habergeon on him.

VULCAN.

Conſtraint lies on me; urge not thou its rigor.

STRENGTH.

Urge thee? I will, and in an higher tone.

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Downwards; with all thy force enring his legs.

VULCAN.

This too is finiſh'd, with no ling'ring ſpeed.

STRENGTH.

Strike hard, drive deep their penetrating points.

Severe his eye, who nicely ſcans theſe works.

VULCAN.

Thy voice is harſh, and rugged as thy form.

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STRENGTH.

Now fair befall thy ſoftneſs; yet upbraid not

My ruder and unpitying ruthleſſness.

VULCAN.

Let us be gone: the rig'rous taſk is done.

STRENGTH.

Now triumph in thy inſolence; now ſteal

The glory of the gods, and bear the gift

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To mortal man: will they relieve thee now?

Falſe is the boaſted prudence of thy name,

Or wanted now to free thee from thy fate.

PROMETHEUS, ALONE.c

POTERE

Gravoso è tutto, tranne aver dei Superi

l'impero; e niuno, tranne Giove, è libero.

EFESTO

Ne ho qui le prove. E nulla ho da ribattere.

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POTERE

Spàcciati, dunque, avvolgilo di ceppi,

ché nell'indugio non ti scorga il padre.

EFESTO

Scorger gli anelli puoi nelle mie mani.

POTERE

Con vigore e con forza ai polsi strettolo,

picchia il martello, ed alla rupe inchiodalo.

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EFESTO

Compiuta è l'opra,

e non caduta in fallo.

POTERE

Batti di piú, non allentare, stringi:

anche d'impervie strade il passo ei trova.

EFESTO

Questo braccio è saldato, e niun lo scioglie.

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POTERE

Saldo configgi l'altro, ora: ed apprenda

quanto egli a Giove di scaltrezza cede.

EFESTO

Niuno, tranne costui, potria riprendermi.

POTERE

Da parte a parte, in sen, di ferreo cuneo

la fiera punta forte ora conficcagli.

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EFESTO

Ahimè! Dei mali tuoi gemo, Promèteo!

POTERE

Indugi ancora? Sui nemici piangi

VULCANUS.

Hoc exceptò, nullus iuſtè me accuſabit.

ROBUR.

Adamantino nunc cuneo contumaces genas

Ad pectus uſque fige fortiter.

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VULCANUS.

Heu heu Prometheu, tuos deploro labores.

ROBUR.

Tu rursus pigreſcis, ac ſuper Iouis inimicos

Plangis, ut ne tui miserearis unquam.

VULCANUS.

Vides ſpectaculum triſte oculis ſpectatu.

ROBUR.

Videó hunc ſe digna aſſecutum:

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Sed lateribus illius misce uincula.

VULCANUS.

Patrare hæc neceſse eſt, nihil iube uehementer.

ROBUR.

Attamen iubebó, & imperabó tibi:

Ito infrà, cruraque conſtringito uì.

VULCANUS.

Iam sanè peractum eſt opus non longo labore.

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ROBUR.

Fortiter nunc fige graues pedicas:

Nam ultor facti grauis eſt.

VULCANUS.

Similia formæ, lingua tua loquitur.

ROBUR.

Tu molli meam contumaciam,

Iráque acerbitatem ne mihi incende.

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VULCANUS.

Eamus: nam in membris uincula habet.

ROBUR.

Indè contumelia affice, & Deorum præmia

Depeculans hominibus præbe talibus:

Qui cum sint mortales, poſsunt ab his te

Laboribus liberare.

90

Falſo te Dij Prometheum

Vocant: te ipſum oportet prouidere,

Quomodo libereris ab hac fortunâ.

PROMETHEUS.

Hephaestus

He, but none other, can accuse mine art!

Strength

Now, strong and sheer, drive thro' from breast to back

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The adamantine wedge's stubborn fang.

Hephaestus

Alas, Prometheus! I lament thy pain.

Strength

Thou, faltering and weeping sore for those

Whom Zeus abhors! 'ware, lest thou rue thy tears!

Hephaestus

Thou gazest on a scene that poisons sight.

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Strength

I gaze on one who suffers his desert.

Now between rib and shoulder shackle him—

Hephaestus

Do it I must—hush thy superfluous charge!

Strength

Urge thee I will—ay, hound thee to the prey.

Step downward now, enring his legs amain!

80

Hephaestus

Lo, it is done—'twas but a moment's toil.

Strength

Now, strongly strike, drive in the piercing gyves—

Stern is the power that oversees thy task!

Hephaestus

Brutish thy form, thy speech brutality!

Strength

Be gentle, an thou wilt, but blame not me

85

For this my stubbornness and anger fell!

Hephaestus

Let us go hence; his legs are firmly chained.

Strength (To Prometheus)

Aha! there play the insolent, and steal,

For creatures of a day, the rights of gods!

O deep delusion of the powers that named thee

90

Prometheus, the Fore-thinker! thou hast need

Of others' forethought and device, whereby

Thou may'st elude this handicraft of ours!

[ Exeunt Hephaestus, Strength, and Force.— A pause.

Prometheus

Hephästos.

Ihn ausgenommen, schälte mich Niemand mit Grund.

Kraft.

Jetzt nimm des Demantkeiles schonungslosen Zahn,

Und treib' ihn mächtig mitten durch die Brust hindurch.

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Hephästos.

Weh, weh, Prometheus! Wie bejammr' ich dein Geschick!

Kraft.

Schon wieder säumst du, jammerst um den Feind des Zeus?

O daß du nur dich selber nicht dereinst beklagst!

Hephästos.

Du siehst ein Schauspiel, dessen Graun kein Aug' erträgt.

Kraft.

Ihn seh' ich dulden seiner That verdienten Lohu.

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Jetzt um die Hüften lege noch den Eisengurt.

Hephästos.

Das muß ich leider. Dränge mich doch nicht so sehr.

Kraft.

Ja, drängen will ich und dazu noch lauter schrei'n.

Nach unten steige, ringe straff die Schenkel ein!

Hephästos.

Und schon gethan ist's, ohne viel Arbeit gethan.

75

Kraft.

Nun hämm're mächtig, nagle fest der Bande Stift;

Denn der die Arbeit richtend schaut, er waltet streng!

Hephästos.

Zu deinem Aeußern stimmend, tönt der Zunge Laut.

Kraft.

Sei du der Weichling; meinen unbeugsamen Troy

Und meines Herzens Härte schilt mir nimmermehr!

80

Hephästos.

Wir geh'n: denn seine Glieder all' umspannt das Nez.

Kraft.

Hier troke nun, entwende Göttereigenthum,

Und gib's den Tagessöhnen hin! Wie können sie,

Die Menschen, dieser Qualen dich erledigen?

Den Vorbedachten nennen dich die Himmlischen :

85

Wie falsch! Des Vorbedachtes ja bedarfst du selbst, ¹

Aus diesem Kunstgewinde dich herauszuzieh'n.

(Kraft, Gewalt und Hephästos ab.)

Prometheus.