Prometheus
As though I owed him aught and should repay!
Hermes
Scornful thy word, as though I were a child—
Prometheus
Child, ay—or whatsoe'er hath less of brain—
Thou, deeming thou canst wring my secret out!
No mangling torture, no, nor sleight of power
There is, by which he shall compel my speech,
Until these shaming bonds be loosed from me.
So, let him fling his blazing levin-bolt!
Let him with white and wingèd flakes of snow,
And rumbling earthquakes, whelm and shake the world!
For nought of this shall bend me to reveal
The power ordained to hurl him from his throne.
Hermes
Bethink thee if such words can mend thy lot.
Prometheus
All have I long foreseen, and all resolved.
Hermes
Perverse of will! constrain, constrain thy soul
To think more wisely in the grasp of doom!
Prometheus
Truce to vain words! as wisely wouldst thou strive
To warn a swelling wave: imagine not
