Prometheus (4)

Hermes, you seem to be “blaming a man who is blameless,” to speak with the poet,[*] for you reproach me with things for which I should have sentenced myself to maintenance in the Prytaneum if justice were being done.[*] At any rate, if you have time, I should be glad to stand trial on the charges, so that I might prove that Zeus has passed an unjust sentence on me. As you are ready-tongued and litigious, suppose you plead in his behalf that he was just in his decision that I be crucified near the Caspian gates here in the Caucasus, a most piteous spectacle for all the Scythians.

Your appeal, Prometheus, will be tardy and of no avail, but say your say just the same; for in any case we must remain here until the eagle flies down to attend to your liver. This interval of leisure may as well be employed in listening to a sophistic speech, as you are a very clever scoundrel at speech-making.