Racine: Phaedra

PROMETHEUS BOUND »3
By the wrath of an enemy strong and deep
Are any of those who have tasted pain,
Alas, as wretched as I?
Now tell me plain, doth aught remain
For my soul to endure beneath the sky?
Is there any help to be holpen by?
If knowledge be in thee, let it be said!
Cry aloud—cry
To the wandering, woful maid
Prometheus.—Whatever thou wouldst learn I will declare,—
No riddle upon my lips, but such straight words
As friends should use to each other when they talk.
Thou seest Prometheus, who gave mortals fire, j:
lo.— O common Help of all men, known of all,
O miserable Prometheus,—for what cause
Dost thou endure thus?
Prometheus.— I have done with wail
For my own griefs, but lately.
lo. Wilt thou not
Vouchsafe the boon to me ?
Prometheus.— Say what thou wilt.
For I vouchsafe all.
lo. Speak then, and reveal
Who shut thee in this chasm.
Prometheus.—
The hand of his Hephaestus,
The will of Zeus, c^—
lo.
Dost expiate so ?
Prometheus.—Enough for thee I have told
In so much only.
And what crime
lo. Nay, but show besides
The limit of my wandering, and the time
Which yet is lacking to fulfil my grief.
Prometheus.—Why, not to know were better than to know
For such as thou.
lo. Beseech thee, blind me not
To that which I must suffer.
Prometheus.— If I do,
The reason is not that I grudge a boon.