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      ARGUMENT

      Prometheus coming on earth to give fire to men appears before the palace of Inachus in Argos on a festival of Zeus. He interrupts the ceremony by announcing fire and persuades Inachus to dare the anger of Zeus and accept the gift. Inachus fetching Argeia his wife from the palace has in turn to quiet her fears. He asks a prophecy of Prometheus who foretells the fate of Io their daughter. Prometheus then setting flame to the altar and writing his own name thereon in the place of Zeus disappears.

      The Chorus sing (1) a Hymn to Zeus with the stories of the birth of Zeus and the marriage of Hera with the dances of the Curetes and the Hesperides, (2) their anticipation of fire with an Ode on Wonder, (3) a Tragic Hymn on the lot of man, (4) a Fire-chorus, (5) a final Chorus in praise of Prometheus.

      All the characters are good. Prometheus prologizes. He carries a long reed.

      DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

       The SCENE is in ARGOS before the palace of Inachus. An altar inscribed to Zeus is at the centre of the stage.

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PROMETHEUS THE FIREGIVER

       Table of Contents

      PROMETHEUS.

      From high Olympus and the ætherial courts,

       Where mighty Zeus our angry king confirms

       The Fates' decrees and bends the wills of the gods,

       I come: and on the earth step with glad foot.

       This variegated ocean-floor of the air,

       The changeful circle of fair land, that lies

       Heaven's dial, sisterly mirror of night and day:

       The wide o'er-wandered plain, this nether world

       My truant haunt is, when from jealous eyes

       I steal, for hither 'tis I steal, and here 10

       Unseen repair my joy: yet not unseen

       Methinks, nor seen unguessed of him I seek.

       Rather by swath or furrow, or where the path

       Is walled with corn I am found, by trellised vine

       Or olive set in banks or orchard trim:

       I watch all toil and tilth, farm, field and fold,