VI
—Gentlemen, as I have already said, my eagle was not always with me. Before his time I was unconscious and beautiful, happy and naked and unaware. Oh! Charming days! On the many-fountained sides of the Caucasus, lascivious Asia, naked too and unaware, held me in her arms.
Together we sported, tumbling in the valleys; the air sang, the water laughed, the simplest flowers were fragrant for our delight. And often we lay beneath spreading branches, among flowers which were the haunt of murmuring bees.
Asia wedded me, all laughter and then the murmuring swarms and the rustling leaves, with which was mingled the music of the streams, gently lulled us to the sweetest of slumbers. Around us all consented—all protected our inhuman solitude.—Suddenly one day Asia said to me: You should interest yourself in men.
I first had to find them.
I was willing enough to interest myself in them—but it was to pity them.
They lived in such darkness; I invented for them certain kinds of fire, and from that moment my eagle began. And it is since that day that I have become aware that I am naked.
At these words, applause arose from various parts of the hall. All of a sudden Prometheus broke into sobs.
The eagle flapped his wings and cooed.
With an agonizing gesture Prometheus opened his waistcoat and offered his tortured liver to the bird.
The applause redoubled.
Then the eagle pirouetted three times round Prometheus, who drank a few drops of water, and continued his lecture in these words: