Source: Prometheus Bound, lines 510–524, as translated by R. Potter (1860)
Quotes from work
Prometheus Bound
Aeschylus
Original title
Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης
Prometheus Bound is an Ancient Greek tragedy. In antiquity, it was attributed to Aeschylus, but now is considered by some scholars to be the work of another hand, and perhaps one as late as c. 430 BC. Despite these doubts about its authorship, the play's designation as Aeschylean has remained conventional. The tragedy is based on the myth of Prometheus, a Titan who defies the gods and gives fire to mankind, acts for which he is subjected to perpetual punishment.
“Words are the physicians of a mind diseased.”
Source: Prometheus Bound, line 378; compare: "Apt words have power to suage / The tumours of a troubl'd mind", John Milton, Samson Agonistes.
“Know'st thou not well, with thy superior wisdom, that
On a vain tongue punishment is inflicted?”
Source: Prometheus Bound, lines 328–329 (tr. Henry David Thoreau)
“Therefore, while thou hast me for schoolmaster,
Thou shalt not kick against the pricks.”
Source: Prometheus Bound, lines 322–323 (tr. G. M. Cookson)
“The will of Zeus,
The hand of his Hephæstus.”
Source: Prometheus Bound, line 619 (tr. Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
Source: Prometheus Bound, lines 309–310 (tr. G. M. Cookson)
Source: Prometheus Bound, line 50 (tr. Henry David Thoreau)
Source: Prometheus Bound, line 35 (tr. Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
Source: Prometheus Bound, lines 953–954 (tr. Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
“Time waxing old can many a lesson teach.”
Variant translations:
Time brings all things to pass.
Time as he grows old teaches all things.
Source: Prometheus Bound, line 981 (tr. E. H. Plumptre).
Source: Prometheus Bound, lines 637–639 (tr. Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
“On me the tempest falls. It does not make me tremble.”
Source: Prometheus Bound, line 1089
Context: On me the tempest falls. It does not make me tremble. O holy Mother Earth, O air and sun, behold me. I am wronged.
“For it would be better to die once and for all than to suffer pain for all one's life.”
κρεῖσσον γὰρ εἰσάπαξ θανεῖν
ἢ τὰς ἁπάσας ἡμέρας πάσχειν κακῶς.
Variant translation by John Stuart Blackie (1850):
"Life and life's sorrows? Once to die is better
Than thus to drag sick life."
Source: Prometheus Bound, lines 750–751
“For somehow this is tyranny's disease, to trust no friends.”
Variant translation: In every tyrant's heart there springs in the end
This poison, that he cannot trust a friend.
Source: Prometheus Bound, lines 224–225
“God's mouth knows not how to speak falsehood, but he brings to pass every word.”
Source: Prometheus Bound, lines 1032–1033
“Memory, Muse-mother, doer of all things.”
Source: Prometheus Bound, line 461 (tr. Henry David Thoreau)
“Thou are a better counsellor to others
Than to thyself: I judge by deeds not words.”
Source: Prometheus Bound, lines 335–336 (tr. G. M. Cookson)
“What's determined
Bear, as I can, I must, knowing the might
Of strong Necessity is unconquerable.”
Source: Prometheus Bound, lines 103–105 (tr. G. M. Cookson)
Source: Prometheus Bound, lines 1009–1010 (tr. Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
