In darkness deep and whelmèd tempest lay, 60 Drowned 'neath the waters. Yet on the mountain-tops Some few escaped, and some, thus warned by me, Made shift to live in vessels which outrode The season and the fury of the flood. And when his rain was spent and from clear skies Zeus looking down upon the watery world, Beheld these few, the remnant of mankind, Who yet stood up and breathed; he next withdrew The seeds of fire, that else had still lain hid In withered branch and the blue flakes of flint 70 For man to exact and use, but these withdrawn, Man with the brutes degraded would be man No more; and so the tyrant was content. But I, despised again, again upheld The weak, and pitying them sent sweet Hope, Bearer of dreams, enchantress fond and kind, From heaven descending on the unhindered rays Of every star, to cheer with visions fair Their unamending pains. And now this day Behold I come bearing the seal of all 80 Which Hope had promised: for within this reed A prisoner I bring them stolen from heaven, The flash of mastering fire, and it have borne So swift to earth, that when yon noontide sun Rose from the sea at morning I was by, And unperceived of Hêlios plunged the point I' the burning axle, and withdrew a tongue Of breathing flame, which lives to leap on earth For man the father of all fire to come. And hither have I brought it even to Argos 90 Unto king Inachus, him having chosen Above all mortals to receive my gift: For he is hopeful, careful, wise, and brave. He first, when first the floods left bare the land, Grew warm with enterprise, and gathered men Together, and disposed their various tasks For common weal combined; for soon were seen The long straight channels dwindling on the plain, Which slow from stagnant pool and wide morass The pestilent waters to the rivers bore: 100 Then in the ruined dwellings and old tombs He dug, unbedding from the wormèd ooze Vessels and tools of trade and husbandry; Wherewith, all seasonable works restored, Oil made he and wine anew, and taught mankind To live not brutally though without fire, Tending their flocks and herds and weaving wool, Living on fruit and milk and shepherds' fare, Till time should bring back flame to smithy and hearth, Or Zeus relent. Now at these gates I stand, 110 At this mid hour, when Inachus comes forth To offer sacrifice unto his foe. For never hath his faithful zeal forborne To pay the power, though hard, that rules the world The smokeless sacrifice; which first to-day Shall smoke, and rise at heaven in flame to brave The baffled god. See here a servant bears