CHOR. A name-- IN. Ay true-- There is the name. How like a child was I, That I must wait till these dumb letters gave The shape and soul to knowledge: when the god Stood here so self-revealed to ears and eyes That, 'tis a god I said, yet wavering still, 1380 Doubting what god,--and now, who else but he? I knew him, yet not well; I knew him not: Prometheus--ay, Prometheus. Know ye, my children, This name we see was writ by him we seek. 'Tis his own name, his own heart-stirring name, Feared and revered among the immortal gods; Divine Prometheus: see how here the large Cadmeian characters run, scoring out The hated title of his ancient foe,-- To Zeus 'twas made,--and now 'tis to Prometheus-- 1390 Writ with the charrèd reed--theft upon theft. He hath stolen from Zeus his altar, and with his fire Hath lit our sacrifice unto himself. Ió Prometheus, friend and firegiver, For good or ill thy thefts and gifts are ours. We worshipped thee unknowing. CHOR. But now where is he? IN. No need to search--we shall not see him more. We look in vain. The high gods when they choose Put on and off the solid visible shape Which more deceives our hasty sense, than when 1400 Seeing them not we judge they stand aloof. And he, he now is gone; his work is done: 'Tis ours to see it be not done in vain. CHOR. What is to do? speak, bid, command, we fly. In. Go some and fetch more wood to feed the fire; And some into the city to proclaim That fire is ours: and send out messengers To Corinth, Sicyon, Megara and Athens And to Mycenæ, telling we have fire: And bid that in the temples they prepare 1410 Their altars, and send hither careful men To learn of me what things the time requires. [_Exit part of_ CHORUS. The rest remain to end our feast; and now Seeing this altar is no more to Zeus, But shall for ever be with smouldering heat Fed for the god who first set fire thereon, Change ye your hymns, which in the praise of Zeus Ye came to sing, and change the prayer for fire Which ye were wont to raise, to high thanksgiving, Praising aloud the giver and his gift. 1420 _Part of_ CHORUS. Now our happy feast hath ending, While the sun in heaven descending Sees us gathered round a light Born to cheer his vacant night. Praising him to-day who came Bearing far his heavenly flame: Came to crown our king's desire With his gift of golden fire.