Prometheus

Lucian of Samosata

Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, A. M., editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.

PROMETHEUS Speak first, then, Hermes, and see that you accuse me as eloquently as you can and that you don’t neglect any of your father’s claims. Hephaestus, I make you judge.

HEPHAESTUS No, by Heaven; you will find me an accuser

v.2.p.249

instead of a judge, I promise you, for you abstracted my fire and left my forge cold.

PROMETHEUS Well, then, divide the accusation ; you can accuse me of the theft now, and then Hermes will criticize the serving of the meat and the making of men. You both belong to trades-unions and are likely to be good at speaking.

HEPHAESTUS Hermes shall speak for me too, for I am no hand at court specches but stick by my forge for the most part, while he is an orator and has taken uncommon interest in such matters.

PROMETHEUS I should never have thought that Hermes would care to speak about the theft or to reproach me with anything like that, when I follow his own trade ! However, if you agree to this, son of Maea, it is high time you were getting on with your accusation.