All that has passed—the yielding of Vulcan, the caution of Oceanus, the misery of Io—has contributed to increase in our minds the estimate of the irresistible power of Zeus, and so prepare us to admire the more the heroic resistance of Prometheus. A stronger trial of his determination is still to come. In tremendous words he foretells the certain fall of Zeus; he defies his thunders, and thinks rather how a stronger weapon than the thunder will some day be found; more violently still he asserts his certain ruin, and even now exults in its anticipation. His words have been heard in heaven. Mercury, the messenger of the gods, approaches, and bears a solemn message to the haughty Titan. The father of heaven commands that Prometheus should disclose all the details of the danger which his words have threatened. At once, and without hesitation, the answer must be given. And the answer is this:—
"Stately of utterance, full of haughtiness
Thy speech, as fits a messenger of gods.
Ye yet are young in your new rule, and think
To dwell in painless towers. Have I not
Seen those two rulers driven forth from thence?
And now the third, who reigneth, shall I see
In basest quickest fall. Seem I to thee
To shrink and quail before these new-made gods?
Far, very far from that am I. But thou,
Track once again the path by which thou camest;
Thou shalt learn nought of what thou askest me."
Mercury threatens the extremest fury of heaven's wrath, and would persuade Prometheus not, by his
