Herself the same, foretell me the event,
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 mē not e'en a look.
What then could wisdom dictate, but to take
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
Repays me with there 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
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[1]
Had no regard, and all the present race
Will'd to extirpate, and to form anew.
None, save myself, oppos'd his will; I dar'd;
And boldly pleading sav'd them from destruction,
Sav'd them from sinking to the realms of night.
For this offence I bend beneath these pains,
Dreadful to suffer, piteous to behold:
- ↑ We are not informed for what cause Jupiter was so offended with the unhappy race of mortals; but by way of punishment he withdrew from them πατεΧΧTerTÉxva Tugos réras, the fiery flame, that lends its aid to every art: this Prometheus stole from heaven, and reconveyed to them in an hollew cane: hine illæ lacrynæ.
suum cuique: Themis therefore, as the goddess of Justice, might well have the appellation of Rhea. This is only to show that we understand the mythology of the ancients much better than they did themselves.
