COVER thy spacious heavens, Zeus, <br />With clouds of mist, <br />And, like the boy who lops <br />The thistles' heads, <br />Disport with oaks and mountain-peaks, <br />Yet thou must leave <br />My earth still standing; <br />My cottage too, which was not raised by thee; <br />Leave me my hearth, <br />Whose kindly glow <br />By thee is envied. <br /> <br />I know nought poorer <br />Under the sun, than ye gods! <br />Ye nourish painfully, <br />With sacrifices <br />And votive prayers, <br />Your majesty: <br />Ye would e'en starve, <br />If children and beggars <br />Were not trusting fools. <br /> <br />While yet a child <br />And ignorant of life, <br />I turned my wandering gaze <br />Up tow'rd the sun, as if with him <br />There were an ear to hear my wailings, <br />A heart, like mine, <br />To feel compassion for distress. <br /> <br />Who help'd me <br />Against the Titans' insolence? <br />Who rescued me from certain death, <br />From slavery? <br />Didst thou not do all this thyself, <br />My sacred glowing heart? <br />And glowedst, young and good, <br />Deceived with grateful thanks <br />To yonder slumbering one? <br /> <br />I honour thee! and why? <br />Hast thou e'er lighten'd the sorrows <br />Of the heavy laden? <br />Hast thou e'er dried up the tears <br />Of the anguish-stricken? <br />Was I not fashion'd to be a man <br />By omnipotent Time, <br />And by eternal Fate, <br />Masters of me and thee? <br /> <br />Didst thou e'er fancy <br />That life I should learn to hate, <br />And fly to deserts, <br />Because not all <br />My blossoming dreams grew ripe? <br /> <br />Here sit I, forming mortals <br />After my image; <br />A race resembling me, <br />To suffer, to weep, <br />To enjoy, to be glad, <br />And thee to scorn, <br />As I!<br /><br />Johann Wolfgang von Goethe<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/prometheus-2/
