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AESCHYLUS
PROMETHEUS BOUND
Translated by
Ian Johnston
Vancouver Island University
Nanaimo, BC
Canada
TRANSLATOR’S NOTE
In the following text, the numbers without brackets refer to the English text, and those in square
brackets refer to the Greek text. Indented partial lines are included with the line above in the
reckoning. All endnotes (indicated by asterisks in the text) have been provided by the translator
(often with the help of F. A. Paley’s commentary on the play).
BACKGROUND NOTE
Aeschylus (c.525 BC to c.456 BC) was one of the three great Greek tragic dramatists whose
works have survived. Of his many plays, seven still remain. Aeschylus may have fought against
the Persians at Marathon (490 BC), and he did so again at Salamis (480 BC). According to
tradition, he died from being hit with a tortoise dropped by an eagle. After his death, the
Athenians, as a mark of respect, permitted his works to be restaged in their annual competitions.
Prometheus Bound was apparently the first play in a trilogy (the other two plays, now lost except
for some fragments, were Prometheus Unbound and Prometheus the Fire-Bringer ). Although a
number of modern scholars have questioned whether Aeschylus was truly the author of the play,
it has always been included among his works.
In Greek mythology, Prometheus was a Titan, a descendant of the original gods, Gaia and
Ouranos (Earth and Heaven). The Titans were defeated in a battle with Zeus, who fought against
his own father, Cronos, imprisoned him deep in the earth, and became the new ruling power in
heaven. Although he was a Titan, Prometheus assisted Zeus in this conflict, but later offended
him by stealing fire from heaven and giving it to human beings, for whom he had a special
affection. Aeschylus’ play begins after Zeus has assumed control of heaven and learned about
the theft.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
POWER: divine agent of Zeus. FORCE: divine agent of Zeus. HEPHAESTUS: divine son of Zeus, the artisan god. PROMETHEUS: a Titan. CHORUS: daughters of Oceanus. ***** OCEANUS: a god of the sea. IO: daughter of Inachus. HERMES: divine son of Zeus.
[In a remote mountainous region of Scythia. HEPHAESTUS enters with POWER and FORCE dragging PROMETHEUS with them in chains.]
POWER We have just reached the land of Scythia, at the most distant limits of the world, remote and inaccessible. Hephaestus, now it is your duty to carry out those orders you received from Father Zeus— to nail this troublemaker firmly down
against these high, steep cliffs, shackling him in adamantine chains that will not break. ***** For he in secret stole your pride and joy and handed it to men—the sacred fire 10 which fosters all the arts. For such a crime, he must pay retribution to the gods, so he will learn to bear the rule of Zeus [10] and end that love he has for humankind.
HEPHAESTUS Power and Force, where you two are concerned, what Zeus commanded us has now been done. There are no further obstacles to face. I am not bold enough to use sheer force against a kindred god and nail him down here on this freezing rock. But nonetheless, 20 I must steel myself to finish off our work, for it is dangerous to disregard the words of Father Zeus.
[HEPHAESTUS addresses PROMETHEUS]
High-minded son of our wise counsellor, goddess Themis, against my will and yours, I must bind you [20] with chains of brass which no one can remove on this cliff face, far from all mortal men, where you will never hear a human voice or glimpse a human shape and sun’s hot rays will scorch and age your youthful flesh. ***** For you, 30
POWER
Well, every task is burdensome, except to rule the gods. No one is truly free except for Zeus. [50]
HEPHAESTUS I know. This work is proof enough of that. 70 I cannot deny it.
POWER Then hurry up and get these chains around him, just in case Zeus sees you stalling.
HEPHAESTUS All right. These shackles here are ready. Take a look.
[Hephaestus starts chaining Prometheus’ arm to the cliff]
POWER Bind his hands. Use some heavy hammer blows and rivet him against the rock.
HEPHAESTUS There! This part is finished. It looks all right.
POWER Strike harder. Make sure he is securely fixed, with nothing slack. He is an expert at devising ways to wriggle out of hopeless situations. 80
HEPHAESTUS Well, this arm, at least, is firmly nailed here. [60] No one will get this out.
POWER Now drive a spike in here as well—make sure it won’t come loose. No matter how intelligent he is, he has to learn he is nothing but a fool compared to Zeus.
HEPHAESTUS No one could justly fault this work I do, except for him.
POWER Now smash the blunt tip of this adamantine wedge straight through his chest—use all your force.
HEPHAESTUS Alas!
O Prometheus, this suffering of yours— 90 how it makes me weep! *****
POWER Why are you so slow and sighing over Zeus’ enemy? Be careful, or soon you may be groaning for yourself.
HEPHAESTUS This sight is difficult to watch, as you can see.
POWER I see this criminal [70] is getting just what he deserves. Come on, wrap these chains around his ribs.
HEPHAESTUS Look, I know I have to carry out this work, so stop ordering me about so much.
POWER Hold on— I’ll give you orders as often as I please 100 and keep on badgering you. Move down, and use your strength to fix his legs in place.
HEPHAESTUS Our work is done. That did not take too long.
POWER Hit the fetters really hard—those ones there, around his feet. The one who’s watching us, inspecting what we do, can be vicious.
HEPHAESTUS The words you speak well match the way you look.
POWER Well, your soft heart can sympathize with him, but do not criticize my stubborn will [80] and my harsh temper.
HEPHAESTUS We should be going. 110 His limbs are all securely fixed in place.
[Exit Hephaestus]
POWER [to Prometheus] Now you can flaunt your arrogance up here, by stealing honours given to the gods and offering them to creatures of a day. Are mortal beings strong enough to ease the burden of your pain? The gods were wrong
What is that sound I hear? The whirling noise of birds nearby—the air is rustling with their lightly beating wings! Whatever comes too close alarms me.
[Enter the Chorus of nymphs, daughters of Oceanus, in a winged chariot, which hovers beside Prometheus] *****
CHORUS You need not fear us. We are your friends. The rapid beating of these eager wings has borne our company to this sheer cliff. [130] We worked to get our father to agree, and he did so, although that was not easy. 170 The swiftly moving breezes bore me on, for the echoing clang of hammer blows pierced right into the corners of our cave and beat away my bashful modesty. And so, without tying any sandals on, I rushed here in this chariot with wings.
PROMETHEUS Aaaiii! Alas! O you daughters born from fertile Tethys, children of your father Oceanus, whose current circles the entire world and never rests, 180 [140] look at me! See how I am chained here, nailed on this cliff above a deep ravine, where I maintain my dreary watch. *****
CHORUS I see that, Prometheus, and a cloud of tears and terror moves across my eyes to observe your body being worn away in these outrageous adamantine chains. New gods now rule on Mount Olympus, and, like a tyrant, Zeus is governing [150] with new-fangled laws, overpowering 190 those gods who were so strong before.
PROMETHEUS If only he had thrown me underground, down there in Hades, which receives the dead, in Tartarus, through which no one can pass, and cruelly bound me there in fetters no one could break, so that none of the gods or anyone else could gloat at my distress. But now the blowing winds toy with me here, and the pain I feel delights my enemies.
CHORUS What god is so hard hearted he would find 200 [160] this scene enjoyable? Who would not feel compassion for these sufferings of yours,
apart from Zeus, who, in his angry mood, has set his rigid mind inflexibly on conquering the race of Ouranos. And he will never stop until his heart is fully satisfied or someone else overthrows his power by trickery, hard as that may be, and rules instead.
PROMETHEUS Yes, and even though I am being tortured, 210 bound in these strong chains, the day is coming when that ruler of those sacred beings [170] will truly need me to reveal to him a new intrigue by which he will be stripped of all his honours and his sceptre, too. ***** He will not charm that secret out of me with sweet honeyed phrases of persuasion, nor, for all his savage threats, will I ever cringe down in front of him and let him know the answer—no!—not until he frees me 220 from these cruel shackles and is willing to pay me compensation for his crime!
CHORUS With that audacious confidence of yours, [180] you do not cower before these bitter pains, but you allow your tongue to speak too freely. A piercing fear knifes through my heart, my dread about your fate, how you must steer your ship to find safe haven and see an end to all your troubles. For the son of Cronos has a heart 230 that is inflexible—his character will not be moved by prayer.
PROMETHEUS Yes, I know. Zeus is a harsh god and holds the reins [190] of justice in his hands. But nonetheless, I can see the day approaching when his mind will soften, once that secret I described has led to his collapse. Then he will abate his stubborn rage and enter eagerly into a bond of friendship with me. By then I will be eager for that, too. 240
CHORUS Tell us the whole story of what happened. How did Zeus have you seized and on what charge? Why does he so shamefully abuse you in this painful way? Give us the details, unless you would be harmed by telling us.
I have been shackled here and have to bear such agonizing pain, so pitiful to see. [240] I set compassion for the human race above the way I felt about myself, so now I am unworthy of compassion. This is how he seeks to discipline me, without a shred of mercy—the spectacle 300 disgraces Zeus’ name.
CHORUS But anyone who shows no pity for your agonies, Prometheus, has a heart of iron and is made out of rock. As for myself, I had no wish to see them, and now I have, my heart is full of grief.
PROMETHEUS Yes, to my friends I make a most distressing sight.
CHORUS Was there more? Or were you guilty of just one offence?
PROMETHEUS I stopped men thinking of their future deaths. [250]
CHORUS What cure for this disease did you discover? 310
PROMETHEUS Inside their hearts I put blind hope.
CHORUS With that you gave great benefits to humankind.
PROMETHEUS And in addition to hope, I gave them fire.
CHORUS You did that for those creatures of a day? Do they have fire now?
PROMETHEUS They do. And with it they will soon master many arts.
CHORUS So Zeus charged you with this...
PROMETHEUS [interrupting]
... and he torments me and gives me no relief from suffering!
CHORUS
And has no time been set when your ordeal comes to an end?
PROMETHEUS No. None at all, 320 except when it seems suitable to Zeus. [260]
CHORUS How will he ever think it suitable? What hope is there in that? Do you not see where you went wrong? But I do not enjoy discussing those mistakes you made, and you must find it painful. Let us leave that point, so in this anguish you find some release.
PROMETHEUS It is easy for someone whose foot remains unsnared by suffering to give advice and criticize another in distress. 330 I was well aware of all these matters, and those mistakes I made quite willingly— I freely chose to do the things I did. I will not deny that. By offering help to mortal beings I brought on myself this suffering. But still, I did not think [270] I would receive this kind of punishment, wasting away on these high rocky cliffs, fixed on this remote and desolate crag. But do not mourn the troubles I now face. 340 Step down from your chariot and listen to those misfortunes I must still confront, so you will learn the details of my story from start to finish. Accept my offer. Agree to hear me out, and share with me the pain I feel right now. For misery, shifting around from place to place, settles on different people at different times.
CHORUS [leaving the chariot] Your request does not fall on deaf ears, Prometheus. My lightly stepping foot 350 [280] has moved down from the swift-winged chariot and sacred air, the pathway of the birds, to walk along this rugged rock towards you. I want to hear your tale, a full account of all your suffering.
[Enter OCEANUS on a flying monster]
OCEANUS I have now reached the end of my long journey, travelling to visit you, Prometheus, on the wings
he must answer to, is harsh. I will go and, if I can, attempt to ease your pain. You must stay quiet—do not keep shouting such intemperate things. Do you not know, [330] with all that shrewd intelligence of yours, your thoughtless tongue can get you punished? 410
PROMETHEUS I am happy things turned out so well for you. You had the courage to support my cause, but you escaped all blame. ***** Now let me be, and do not make my suffering your concern. Whatever you may say will be in vain— persuading Zeus is not an easy task. You should take care this journey you have made does not get you in trouble.
OCEANUS Your nature makes you far better at giving good advice to neighbours rather than yourself. I judge 420 by looking at the facts, not by listening to what others say. You should not deter [340] a person who is eager to help out. For I am sure—yes, I am confident— there is one gift which Zeus will offer me, and he will free you from this suffering.
PROMETHEUS You have my thanks—and I will not forget. There is in you no lack of willingness to offer aid. But spare yourself the trouble, which will be useless and no help to me, 430 if, in fact, you want to make the effort. Just keep quiet, and do not interfere. I may be miserable, but my distress does not make me desire to see such pain imposed on everyone—no, not at all. What my brother Atlas has to suffer [350] hurts my heart. In some region to the west he has to stand, bearing on his shoulders the pillar of earth and heaven, a load even his arms find difficult to carry. ***** 440 And I feel pity when I contemplate the creature living in Cilician caves, that fearful monster with a hundred heads, born from the earth, impetuous Typhon, curbed by Zeus’ force. ***** He held out against the might of all the gods. His hideous jaws produced a terrifying hiss, and his eyes flashed a ferocious stare, as if his strength could utterly destroy the rule of Zeus.
But Zeus’ thunderbolt, which never sleeps, 450 [360] that swooping, fire-breathing lightning stroke, came down and drove the arrogant boasting right out of him. Struck to his very heart, he was reduced to ash, and all his might was blasted away by rolls of thunder. Now his helpless and immobile body lies close beside a narrow ocean strait, pinned down beneath the roots of Aetna, while on that mountain, at the very top, Hephaestus sits and forges red-hot iron. 460 But one day that mountain peak will blow out rivers of fire, whose savage jaws devour [370] the level fruitful fields of Sicily. Though Typhon may have been burned down to ash by Zeus’ lightning bolt, his seething rage will then erupt and shoot out molten arrows, belching horrifying streams of liquid fire. But you are not without experience and have no need of me to teach you this. So save yourself the way you think is best, 470 and I will bear whatever I must face, until the rage in Zeus’ heart subsides.
OCEANUS Surely you realize, Prometheus, that in the case of a disordered mood [380] words act as healers.
PROMETHEUS Yes, but only if one uses them at the appropriate time to soften up the heart and does not try to calm its swollen rage too forcefully.
OCEANUS What dangers do you see if someone blends his courage and his eagerness to act? 480 Tell me that.
PROMETHEUS Simple stupidity and wasted effort.
OCEANUS Well, let me fall ill from this disease, for someone truly wise profits most when he is thought a fool.
PROMETHEUS But they will think that I made the mistake.
... and in Arabian lands the warlike tribes [420] from those high rocky fortress towns 520 in regions near the Caucasus, a horde of warriors who scream to heft their lethal sharpened spears.* Only once before have I beheld another Titan god in such distress bound up in adamantine chains— great Atlas, whose enormous strength was unsurpassed and who now groans to bear the vault of heaven on his back. [430] The sea waves, as they fall, cry out, 530 the ocean depths lament, while down below the deep black pits of Hades growl, and limpid flowing rivers moan, to see the dreadful pain you undergo.
PROMETHEUS You must not think it is my stubbornness that keeps me quiet, or a sense of pride, for bitter thoughts keep gnawing at my heart to see how foully I am being abused. And yet who else but I assigned clear rights [440] and privileges to these new deities? ***** 540 But I make no complaint about such things, for if I spoke, I would be telling you what you already know. So listen now to all the miseries of mortal men— how they were simple fools in earlier days, until I gave them sense and intellect. I will not speak of them to criticize, but in a spirit of goodwill to show I did them many favours. First of all, they noticed things, but did not really see 550 and listened, too, but did not really hear. They spent their lives confusing everything, [450] like random shapes in dreams. They knew nothing of brick-built houses turned towards the sun or making things with wood. Instead, they dug their dwelling places underneath the earth, like airy ants in cracks of sunless caves. They had no signs on which they could rely to show when winter came or flowery spring or fruitful summer. Everything they did 560 betrayed their total lack of understanding, until I taught them all about the stars and pointed out the way they rise and set, which is not something easy to discern.
Then I invented arithmetic for them, the most ingenious acquired skill, [460] and joining letters to write down words, so they could store all things in Memory, the working mother of the Muses’ arts. ***** I was the first to set wild animals 570 beneath the yoke, and I made them submit to collars and to packs, so mortal men would find relief from bearing heavy loads. I took horses trained to obey the reins and harnessed them to chariots, a sign of luxurious wealth and opulence. And I was the one who designed their ships, those mariners’ vessels which sail on wings across the open sea. Yes, those are the things which I produced for mortal men, and yet, 580 [470] as I now suffer here, I cannot find a way to free myself from this distress.
CHORUS You have had to bear appalling pain. You lost your wits and now are at a loss. Like some bad doctor who has fallen ill, you are now desperate and cannot find the medicine to cure your own disease.
PROMETHEUS Just listen to what else I have to say, and you will be astonished even more by the ideas and skills I came up with. 590 The greatest one was this: if anyone was sick, they had no remedies at all, no healing potions, food, or liniments. [480] Without such things, they simply withered up. But then I showed them how to mix mild cures, which they now use to fight off all disease. I set up many forms of prophecy and was the first to organize their dreams, to say which ones were fated to come true. I taught them about omens—vocal sounds 600 hard to understand, as well as random signs encountered on the road. The flights of birds with crooked talons I classified for them— both those which by their nature are auspicious and those whose prophecies are ominous— [490] observing each bird’s different way of life, its enemies, its friends, and its companions, as well as the smooth texture of its entrails, what colour the gall bladder ought to have to please the gods, and the best symmetry 610
PROMETHEUS
Think of something else. It is not yet time to talk of this. The matter must remain completely hidden, for if I can keep the secret safe, then I shall be released from torment and lose these shameful fetters.
CHORUS May Zeus, who governs everything, 650 never direct his power at me and fight against my purposes. And may I never ease my efforts [530] to approach the gods with offerings of oxen slain in sacrifice beside my father’s restless stream, the ceaseless flow of Oceanus. May I not speak a profane word. Instead let this resolve remain and never melt away from me. 660 It is sweet to spend a lengthy life with hope about what lies in store, feeding one’s heart with happy thoughts. But when I look at you, Prometheus, tormented by these countless pains, I shiver in fear—with your self-will [540] you show no reverence for Zeus and honour mortal beings too much. Come, my friend, those gifts you gave— what gifts did you get in return? 670 Tell me how they could offer help? What can such creatures of a day provide? Do you not see how weak they are, the impotent and dream-like state, in which the sightless human race is bound, with chains around their feet? [550] Whatever mortal beings decide to do, they cannot overstep what Zeus has planned. I learned these things, Prometheus, by watching your destructive fate. 680 The song which now steals over me is different from that nuptial chant I sang around your couch and bath to celebrate your wedding day, when with your dowry gifts you won Hesione, my sister, as your wife, [560] and led her to your bridal bed.
[Enter I O ] *****
IO What land is this? What race of living beings?
Who shall I say I see here bound in chains, exposed and suffering on these cold rocks? 690 What crime has led to such a punishment and your destruction? Tell me where I am. Where has my wretched wandering brought me? To what part of the world?
[Io is suddenly in great pain]
Aaaaiiii! The pain!!! That gadfly stings me once again, the ghost of earth-born Argus! Get him away from me, O Earth, that herdsman with a thousand eyes— the very sight of him fills me with terror! Those crafty eyes of his keep following me. Though dead, he is not hidden underground, 700 [570] but moves out from the shades beneath the earth and hunts me down and, in my wretched state, drives me to wander without nourishment along the sandy shore beside the sea. A pipe made out of reeds and wax sings out a clear relaxing strain. ***** Alas for me! Where is this path of roaming far and wide now leading me. What did I ever do, O son of Cronos, how did I go wrong, that you should yoke me to such agonies... 710 [580]
[Io reacts to another attack]
Aaaaiii!!... and by oppressing me like this, setting a fearful stinging fly to chase a helpless girl, drive me to this madness? Burn me with fire, or bury me in earth, or feed me to the monsters of the sea. Do not refuse these prayers of mine, my lord! I have had my fill of all this wandering, this roaming far and wide—and all this pain! I do not know how to escape the pain! Do you not hear the ox-horned maiden call? 720
PROMETHEUS How could I not hear that young girl’s voice, the child of Inachus, in a frantic state from the gadfly’s sting? She fires Zeus’ heart [590] with sexual lust, and now, worn down by Hera’s hate, is forced to roam around on paths that never end.
IO Why do you shout my father’s name? Tell this unhappy girl just who you are, you wretched sufferer, and how, in my distress, you call to me, knowing who I am and naming my disease, 730
