_Chor._ And is it then on charges such as these That Zeus maltreats thee, and no respite gives Of many woes? And has thy pain no end? _Prom._ End there is none, except as pleases Him. _Chor._ How shall it please? What hope hast thou? See'st not That thou hast sinned? Yet to say how thou sinned'st Gives me no pleasure, and is pain to thee. Well! let us leave these things, and, if we may, Seek out some means to 'scape from this thy woe. 270 _Prom._ 'Tis a light thing for one who has his foot Beyond the reach of evil to exhort And counsel him who suffers. This to me Was all well known. Yea, willing, willingly I sinned, nor will deny it. Helping men, I for myself found trouble: yet I thought not That I with such dread penalties as these Should wither here on these high-towering crags, Lighting on this lone hill and neighbourless. Wherefore wail not for these my present woes, But, drawing nigh, my coming fortunes hear, 280 That ye may learn the whole tale to the end. Nay, hearken, hearken; show your sympathy With him who suffers now. 'Tis thus that woe, Wandering, now falls on this one, now on that. _Chor._ Not to unwilling hearers hast thou uttered, Prometheus, thy request, And now with nimble foot abounding My swiftly rushing car, And the pure æther, path of birds of heaven, 290 I will draw near this rough and rocky land, For much do I desire To hear this tale, full measure, of thy woes. _Enter_ OKEANOS, _on a car drawn by a winged gryphon_ _Okean._ Lo, I come to thee, Prometheus, Reaching goal of distant journey,[152] Guiding this my winged courser By my will, without a bridle; And thy sorrows move my pity. Force, in part, I deem, of kindred Leads me on, nor know I any, Whom, apart from kin, I honour 300 More than thee, in fuller measure. This thou shall own true and earnest: I deal not in glozing speeches. Come then, tell me how to help thee; Ne'er shalt thou say that one more friendly Is found than unto thee is Okean. _Prom._ Let be. What boots it? Thou then too art come To gaze upon my sufferings. How did'st dare Leaving the stream that bears thy name, and caves Hewn in the living rock, this land to visit, Mother of iron? What then, art thou come To gaze upon my fall and offer pity? 310 Behold this sight: see here the friend of Zeus, Who helped to seat him in his sovereignty, With what foul outrage I am crushed by him!