§18Προμηθεύς
ἤδη δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ πῦρ, εἰ δοκεῖ, μέτειμι καὶ τὴν ἐπονείδιστον ταύτην κλοπήν.
Prometheus And now, if it seems good, I will proceed to the fire and to this shameful theft.
καὶ πρὸς θεῶν τοῦτό μοι ἀπόκριναι μηδὲν ὀκνήσας· ἔσθʼ ὅ τι ἡμεῖς τοῦ πυρὸς ἀπολωλέκαμεν, ἐξ οὗ καὶ παρʼ ἀνθρώποις ἐστίν;
And by the gods, answer me this without any hesitation: is there anything we have lost of the fire, since it has also been among men?
οὐκ ἂν εἴποις.
You would not say so.
αὕτη γάρ, οἶμαι, φύσις τουτουὶ τοῦ κτήματος, οὐδέν τι ἔλαττον γίγνεται, εἰ καί τις ἄλλος αὐτοῦ μεταλάβοι· οὐ γὰρ ἀποσβέννυται ἐναυσαμένου τινός·
For this, I think, is the nature of this possession, that it becomes not a whit less, even if someone else should partake of it; for it is not extinguished when someone lights a fire from it.
φθόνος δὲ δὴ ἄντικρυς τὸ τοιοῦτο, ἀφʼ ὧν μηδὲν ὑμεῖς ἠδίκησθε, τούτων κωλύειν μεταδιδόναι τοῖς δεομένοις.
And indeed, it is downright envy to prevent sharing with those in need those things by which you have been in no way wronged.
καίτοι θεούς γε ὄντας ἀγαθοὺς εἶναι χρὴ καὶ
δωτῆρας ἑάων
καὶ ἔξω φθόνου παντὸς ἑστάναι· ὅπου γε καὶ εἰ τὸ πᾶν τοῦτο πῦρ ὑφελόμενος κατεκόμισα ἐς τὴν γῆν μηδʼ ὅλως τι αὐτοῦ καταλιπών, οὐ μεγάλα ὑμᾶς ἠδίκουν· οὐδὲν γὰρ ὑμεῖς δεῖσθε αὐτοῦ μήτε ῥιγοῦντες μήτε ἕψοντες τὴν ἀμβροσίαν μήτε φωτὸς ἐπιτεχνητοῦ δεόμενοι.
Yet, being gods, it is necessary to be good and "givers of good things" and to stand outside of all envy; since even if I had stolen all this fire and carried it down to the earth, leaving not a bit of it at all, I would not have wronged you greatly; for you have no need of it, neither shivering with cold nor cooking your ambrosia nor needing artificial light.
§19Προμηθεύς
οἱ δὲ ἄνθρωποι καὶ εἰς τὰ ἄλλα μὲν ἀναγκαίῳ χρῶνται τῷ πυρί, μάλιστα δὲ ἐς τὰς θυσίας, ὅπως ἔχοιεν κνισᾶν τὰς ἀγυιὰς καὶ τοῦ λιβανωτοῦ θυμιᾶν καὶ τὰ μηρία καίειν ἐπὶ τῶν βωμῶν.
Prometheus And humans use fire as a necessity for other things indeed, but especially for sacrifices, so that they may fill the streets with the savor of burnt offerings, burn incense, and burn the thigh-pieces upon the altars.
ὁρῶ δέ γε ὑμᾶς μάλιστα χαίροντας τῷ καπνῷ καὶ τὴν εὐωχίαν ταύτην ἡδίστην οἰομένους, ὁπόταν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἡ κνῖσα παραγένηται
ἑλισσομένη περὶ καπνῷ. ἐναντιωτάτη τοίνυν ἡ μέμψις αὕτη ἂν γένοιτο τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ ἐπιθυμίᾳ.
And I see that you rejoice especially in the smoke, and think this banquet sweetest whenever the savor arrives at heaven, "rolling around in smoke." This blame, then, would be most contrary to your own desire.
θαυμάζω δὲ ὅπως οὐχὶ καὶ τὸν ἥλιον κεκωλύκατε καταλάμπειν αὐτούς· καίτοι πῦρ καὶ οὗτός ἐστι πολὺ θειότερόν τε καὶ πυρωδέστερον.
And I wonder how you have not also prevented the sun from shining upon them; yet this too is a fire far more divine and fiery.
ἢ κἀκεῖνον αἰτιᾶσθε ὡς σπαθῶντα ὑμῶν τὸ κτῆμα;
Or do you accuse him also of wasting your property?
εἴρηκα.
I have spoken.
σφὼ δέ, ὦ Ἑρμῆ καὶ Ἥφαιστε, εἴ τι μὴ καλῶς εἰρῆσθαι δοκεῖ, διευθύνετε καὶ ἐξελέγχετε, κἀγὼ αὖθις ἀπολογήσομαι.
And you two, Hermes and Hephaestus, if anything seems not to have been well said, correct and refute it, and I will defend myself in turn.
§20Ἑρμῆς
οὐ ῥᾴδιον, ὦ Προμηθεῦ, πρὸς οὕτω γενναῖον σοφιστὴν ἁμιλλᾶσθαι·
Hermes It is not easy, Prometheus, to contend with so noble a sophist.
πλὴν ἀλλὰ ὤνησο, διότι μὴ καὶ ὁ Ζεὺς ταῦτα ἐπήκουσέ σου· εὖ γὰρ οἶδα, ἑκκαίδεκα γῦπας ἂν ἐπέστησέ σοι τὰ ἔγκατα ἐξαιρήσοντας· οὕτω δεινῶς αὐτοῦ κατηγόρηκας ἀπολογεῖσθαι δοκῶν.
However, it is a blessing for you that Zeus did not hear these words of yours; for I know well that he would have set sixteen vultures upon you to tear out your entrails; so terribly have you accused him while seeming to defend yourself.
ἐκεῖνο δέ γε θαυμάζω, ὅπως μάντις ὢν οὐ προεγίγνωσκες ἐπὶ τούτοις κολασθησόμενος.
But I wonder at this, how, being a prophet, you did not foresee that you would be punished for these things.
Προμηθεύς
ἠπιστάμην, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, καὶ ταῦτα μὲν καὶ ὅτι ἀπολυθήσομαι αὖθις οἶδα, καὶ ἤδη γέ τις ἐκ Θηβῶν ἀφίξεται σὸς ἀδελφὸς οὐκ εἰς μακρὰν κατατοξεύσων ὃν φὴς ἐπιπτήσεσθαί μοι τὸν ἀετόν.
Prometheus I knew it, Hermes, both these things, and I know that I shall be released again; and indeed soon a brother of yours from Thebes will arrive, who will shoot down with his arrows the eagle which you say will fly upon me.
Ἑρμῆς
εἰ γὰρ γένοιτο, ὦ Προμηθεῦ, ταῦτα καὶ ἐπίδοιμί σε λελυμένον, κοινῇ σὺν ἡμῖν εὐωχούμενον, οὐ μέντοι καὶ κρεανομοῦντά γε.
Hermes Would that this might happen, Prometheus, and that I might see you released, feasting in common with us, but certainly not dividing the meat.
§21Προμηθεύς
θάρρει· καὶ συνευωχήσομαι ὑμῖν καὶ ὁ Ζεὺς λύσει με οὐκ ἀντὶ μικρᾶς εὐεργεσίας.
Prometheus Have courage; I will feast with you, and Zeus will release me not in return for a small benefit.
Ἑρμῆς
τίνος ταύτης;
Hermes What benefit is this?
μὴ γὰρ ὀκνήσῃς εἰπεῖν.
Do not hesitate to tell.
Προμηθεύς
οἶσθα, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, τὴν Θέτιν;
Prometheus Do you know Thetis, Hermes?
ἀλλʼ οὐ χρὴ λέγειν· φυλάττειν γὰρ ἄμεινον τὸ ἀπόρρητον, ὡς μισθὸς εἴη καὶ λύτρα μοι ἀντὶ τῆς καταδίκης.
But I must not speak; for it is better to keep the secret, so that it may be my reward and ransom instead of my condemnation.
Ἑρμῆς
ἀλλὰ φύλαττε, ὦ Τιτάν, εἰ τοῦτʼ ἄμεινον.
Hermes Keep it then, Titan, if this is better.
ἡμεῖς δὲ ἀπίωμεν, ὦ Ἥφαιστε· καὶ γὰρ ἤδη πλησίον οὑτοσὶ ὁ ἀετός.
Let us depart, Hephaestus; for indeed this eagle is already near.
ὑπόμενε οὖν καρτερῶς· εἴη δέ γε ἤδη σοι τὸν Θηβαῖον ὃν φὴς τοξότην ἐπιφανῆναι, ὡς παύσειέ σε ἀνατεμνόμενον ὑπὸ τοῦ ὀρνέου.
Endure therefore firmly; and may the Theban whom you say is a Bowman appear to you now, so that he may stop you from being cut open by the bird.