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《the prometheus unbound of _schylus（解放了的普罗米修斯）》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在学术论文-天天文库。
1、PrefaceTheGreektragicwriters,inselectingastheirsubjectanyportionoftheirnationalhistoryormythology,employedintheirtreatmentofitacertainarbitrarydiscretion.Theybynomeansconceivedthemselvesboundtoadheretothecommoninterpretationortoimitateinstoryasintitletheirrivalsandpredecessors.Suchasystem
2、wouldhaveamountedtoaresignationofthoseclaimstopreferenceovertheircompetitorswhichincitedthecomposition.TheAgamemnonianstorywasexhibitedontheAtheniantheatrewithasmanyvariationsasdramas.Ihavepresumedtoemployasimilarlicense.ThePrometheusUnboundofÆschylussupposedthereconciliationofJupiterwith
3、hisvictimasthepriceofthedisclosureofthedangerthreatenedtohisempirebytheconsummationofhismarriagewithThetis.Thetis,accordingtothisviewofthesubject,wasgiveninmarriagetoPeleus,andPrometheus,bythepermissionofJupiter,deliveredfromhiscaptivitybyHercules.HadIframedmystoryonthismodel,Ishouldhaved
4、onenomorethanhaveattemptedtorestorethelostdramaofÆschylus;anambitionwhich,ifmypreferencetothismodeoftreatingthesubjecthadincitedmetocherish,therecollectionofthehighcomparisonsuchanattemptwouldchallengemightwellabate.But,intruth,IwasaversefromacatastrophesofeebleasthatofreconcilingtheChamp
5、ionwiththeOppressorofmankind.Themoralinterestofthefable,whichissopowerfullysustainedbythesufferingsandenduranceofPrometheus,wouldbeannihilatedifwecouldconceiveofhimasunsayinghishighlanguageandquailingbeforehissuccessfulandperfidiousadversary.Theonlyimaginarybeing,resemblinginanydegreeProm
6、etheus,isSatan;andPrometheusis,inmyjudgment,amorepoeticalcharacterthanSatan,because,inadditiontocourage,andmajesty,andfirmandpatientoppositiontoomnipotentforce,heissusceptibleofbeingdescribedasexemptfromthetaintsofambition,envy,revenge,andadesireforpersonalaggrandizement,which,intheheroof
7、ParadiseLost,interferewiththeinterest.ThecharacterofSatanengendersinthemindaperniciouscasuistrywhichleadsustoweighhisfaultswithhiswrongs,andtoexcusetheformerbecausethelatterexceedallmeasure.Inthemindsofthosewhoconsiderthatmagnificentfictionwithareligiousfeelingiteng
