_Prom._ Painful are these things to me e'en to speak: Painful is silence; everywhere is woe. For when the high Gods fell on mood of wrath, And hot debate of mutual strife was stirred, Some wishing to hurl Cronos from his throne, That Zeus, forsooth, might reign; while others strove, Eager that Zeus might never rule the Gods: 210 Then I, full strongly seeking to persuade The Titans, yea, the sons of Heaven and Earth, Failed of my purpose. Scorning subtle arts, With counsels violent, they thought that they By force would gain full easy mastery. But then not once or twice my mother Themis And Earth, one form though bearing many names,[149] Had prophesied the future, how 'twould run, That not by strength nor yet by violence, 220 But guile, should those who prospered gain the day. And when in my words I this counsel gave, They deigned not e'en to glance at it at all. And then of all that offered, it seemed best To join my mother, and of mine own will, Not against his will, take my side with Zeus, And by my counsels, mine, the dark deep pit Of Tartaros the ancient Cronos holds, Himself and his allies. Thus profiting By me, the mighty ruler of the Gods 230 Repays me with these evil penalties: For somehow this disease in sovereignty Inheres, of never trusting to one's friends.[150] And since ye ask me under what pretence He thus maltreats me, I will show it you: For soon as He upon his father's throne Had sat secure, forthwith to divers Gods He divers gifts distributed, and his realm Began to order. But of mortal men He took no heed, but purposed utterly 240 To crush their race and plant another new; And, I excepted, none dared cross his will; But I did dare, and mortal men I freed From passing on to Hades thunder-stricken; And therefore am I bound beneath these woes, Dreadful to suffer, pitiable to see: And I, who in my pity thought of men More than myself, have not been worthy deemed To gain like favour, but all ruthlessly I thus am chained, foul shame this sight to Zeus. _Chor._ Iron-hearted must he be and made of rock 250 Who is not moved, Prometheus, by thy woes: Fain could I wish I ne'er had seen such things, And, seeing them, am wounded to the heart. _Prom._ Yea, I am piteous for my friends to see. _Chor._ Did'st thou not go to farther lengths than this? _Prom._ I made men cease from contemplating death.[151] _Chor._ What medicine did'st thou find for that disease? _Prom._ Blind hopes I gave to live and dwell with them. _Chor._ Great service that thou did'st for mortal men! _Prom._ And more than that, I gave them fire, yes I. 260 _Chor._ Do short-lived men the flaming fire possess? _Prom._ Yea, and full many an art they'll learn from it.