Robert Bridges, ed. (1844–1930). The Spirit of Man: An Anthology. 1916. | | | | Prometheus, i. 618 |
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) |
| | | In each human heart terror survives | |
| The ravin it has gorged: the loftiest fear | |
| All that they would disdain to think were true: | |
| Hypocrisy and custom make their minds | |
| The fanes of many a worship, now outworn. | 5 |
| They dare not devise good for man’s estate, | |
| And yet they know not that they do not dare. | |
| The good want power, but to weep barren tears. | |
| The powerful goodness want: worse need for them. | |
| The wise want love; and those who love want wisdom; | 10 |
| And all best things are thus confused to ill. | |
| Many are strong and rich, and would be just, | |
| But live among their suffering fellow-men | |
| As if none felt: they know not what they do. | |
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PROMETHEUS Thy words are like a cloud of wingèd snakes; | 15 |
| And yet I pity those they torture not. | |
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