Page:Prometheus Bound (Webster 1866).djvu/32

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

30

Prometheus.

For this I thank thee, nor will ever cease, 366 (348)
For in goodwill thou failest not; but yet
Charge not thyself, for vainly, with no gain
To me, thou wilt have toiled, if thou persist.
Rather be still and keep thyself apart: 370 (352)
For I, though suffering, would not therefore long
For ill to light on the most heads possible.
No verily, I weary at the fate
Of my brother Atlas, standing in the west,
The pillar of Heaven and of earth upborne 375 (357)
By his shoulders—load that arms can hardly grasp.
The earthborn dweller in Cilician caves,
An angry monster with a hundred heads,
I pitying saw when overpowered by force—
The raging Typhon who braved all the gods, 380 (362)
Hissing destruction from his horrible jaws,
While from his eyes there lightened fearful flame
As though he'd storm the royalty of Zeus.
But Zeus's sleepless weapon came on him,
The downward thunderbolt outbreathing fire, 385 (367)
And dashed his arrogant vaunts. For, smitten through
To the very vitals, he was shrivelled up