1–2
Hermagoras
Wherefore thus brooding, Zeus? wherefore apart, And palely pacing, as Earth’s sages use? Let me thy counsel know, thy cares partake; And find thy comfort in a faithful fool.
Athene
Cronides, lord of lords, and all our sire, I clasp thy knees; grant thou what I require; A boon the lightning-eyed Tritonia asks: Speak, rend the veil thy secret thought that masks; Reveal what care thy mind within thee gnaws, Blanches thy cheek, and this deep moaning draws,
Zeus
Speech hath no utterance of surpassing fear, Tragedy holds no misery or woe, But our divinest essence soon shall taste.
Athene
Alas, how dire a prelude to thy tale!
Zeus
O brood maleficent, teemed from Earth’s dark womb! And thou, Prometheus, how hast thou wrought me woe!
5
Athene
Possess us; are not we thine own familiars?
Zeus
With a whirr and a crash Let the levin-bolt dash—Ah, whither?
Heracles
A truce to your passion, Zeus. We have not these good people’s gift for farce or recitation; we have not swallowed Euripides whole, and cannot play up to you.
Do you suppose we do not know how to account for your annoyance?
Zeus
Thou knowst not; else thy wailings had been loud.
