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.

Herm. It was by such self-will as this before

That thou did'st bring these sufferings on thyself.

Prom. I for my part, be sure, would never change

My evil state for that thy bondslave's lot.

Herm. To be the bondslave of this rock, I trow,

Is better than to be Zeus' trusty herald!

990