Prometheus (Goethe)

In early editions of the Collected Works of Goethe, it appeared in Volume II of his poems in a section of Vermischte Gedichte (assorted poems), shortly following the "Gesang der Geister über den Wassern", and the Harzreise im Winter.

As the humanist poet, Goethe presents both identities as aspects or forms of the human condition.

Unlike Paul, Goethe's Prometheus grew up to reject belief in the divine heart moved to pity for the afflicted.

Ich kenne nichts Ärmeres Unter der Sonn' als euch, Götter!

Wähntest du etwa, Ich sollte das Leben hassen, In Wüsten fliehen, Weil nicht alle Blütenträume reiften?

[1] Cover thy spacious heavens, Zeus, With clouds of mist, And like the boy who lops The thistles' heads, Disport with oaks and mountain-peaks; Yet thou must leave My earth still standing; My cottage, too, which was not raised by thee; Leave me my hearth, Whose kindly glow By thee is envied.

While yet a child, And ignorant of life, I turned my wandering gaze Up toward the sun, as if with him There were an ear to hear my wailings, A heart, like mine, To feel compassion for distress.

Didst thou e'er fancy That life I should learn to hate, And fly to deserts, Because not all My blossoming dreams grew ripe?

Here sit I, forming mortals After my image; A race resembling me, To suffer, to weep, To enjoy, to be glad, And thee to scorn, As I!