Why should I fear since I am fated not to die?
 Chorus But he might inflict on you an ordeal even more bitter than this.
 Prometheus Let him, for all I care! I am prepared for anything.
 Chorus Wise are they who do homage to Necessity. Adrasteia, the inescapable, another name of Nemesis, punished presumptuous words and excessive happiness. 
 
 Prometheus Worship, adore, and fawn upon whoever is your lord. But for Zeus I care less than nothing. Let him do his will, let him hold his power for his little day— since he will not bear sway over the gods for long. But wait, for over there I see his messenger, the servant of our new lord and master. Certainly he has come to announce some news.
 Enter Hermes Hermes To you, the clever and crafty, bitter beyond all bitterness, who has sinned against the gods in bestowing honors upon creatures of a day—to you, thief of fire, I speak. The Father commands that you tell what marriage you boast of, whereby he is to be hurled from power—and this, mark well, set forth in no riddling fashion, but point by point, as the case exactly stands; and do not impose upon me a double journey, Prometheus—you see Zeus is not appeased by dealings such as yours.
 Prometheus Bravely spoken, in truth, and swollen with pride is your speech, as befits a minion of the gods. Young you are, as young your power, and you think indeed that you inhabit heights beyond the reach of grief. Have I not seen two sovereigns cast out from these heights? A third, the present lord, I shall live to see cast out in ruin most shameful and most swift. Do you think I quail, perhaps, and cower before these upstart gods? Far from it—no, not at all. But scurry back the way you came; for you shall learn nothing about which you question me.
 Hermes Yet it was by such proud wilfulness before, too, that you brought yourself to this harbor of distress.
 Prometheus For your servitude, rest assured, I’d not barter my hard lot, not I.
 Hermes Better, no doubt, to serve this rock than be the trusted messenger of Father Zeus!
 Prometheus Such is the proper style for the insolent to offer insult.
 Hermes I think you revel in your present plight.
 Prometheus I revel? Oh, I wish that I might see my enemies revelling in this way! And you, too, I count among them.
 Hermes What! You blame me in some way for your calamities?
 Prometheus In one word, I hate all the gods that received good at my hands and with ill requite me wrongfully.
 Hermes Your words declare you stricken with no slight madness.
 Prometheus Mad I may be—if it is madness to loathe one’s enemies.
 Hermes You would be unbearable if you were prosperous.
 Prometheus Alas!
 Hermes Alas ? That is a word unknown to Zeus.
 Prometheus But ever-ageing Time teaches all things.
 Hermes Yes, but you at least have not yet learned to keep a sober mind.
 Prometheus Or else I would not have addressed you, an underling.
 Hermes It seems you will answer nothing that the Father demands.