Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/132

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102

102 AESCHYLUS

That thou shouldst move him. He may not he moved ; 390 And thou, beware of sorrow on this road.

Oceanus. Ay ! ever wiser for another's use Than thine. The event, and not the prophecy, Attests it to me. Yet, where now I rush. Thy wisdom hath no power to drag me back, 395

Because I glory, glory, to go hence. And win for thee deliverance from thy pangs, As a free gift from Zeus.

Prometheus. Why there, again,

I give thee gratulation and applause. Thou lackest no good will. But, as for deeds, 400

Do nought ! 't were all done vainly, helping nought, Whatever thou wouldst do. Eather take rest, And keep thyself from evil. If I grieve, I do not therefore wish to multiply The griefs of others. Verily, not so ! 405

For still my brother's doom doth vex my soul, — My brother Atlas, standing in the west. Shouldering the column of the heaven and earth, A difficult burden ! I have also seen. And pitied as I saw, the earth-born one, 410

The inhabitant of old Cilician caves,^ The great war-monster of the hundred heads (All taken and bowed beneath the violent Hand), Typhon the fierce, who did resist the gods. And, hissing slaughter from his dreadful jaws, 415

Flash out ferocious glory from his eyes As if to storm the throne of Zeus. Whereat, The sleepless arrow of Zeus flew straight at him, The headlong bolt of thunder breathing flame, And struck him downward from his eminence 420

Of exultation ; through the very soul

1 Compare Pindar's First Pythian Ode, page 75.