Chapter VIII: Applause broke out here and there. Prometheus, abashed, excused himself

--Gentlemen, I was lying: pardon me: it did not happen quite so quickly: No, I have not always loved eagles: For a long time I preferred men; their injured happiness was dear to me, because once having interfered I believed myself responsible, and in the evening every time I thought of it, my eagle, sad as remorse, came to eat.

He was at this time gaunt and grey, careworn and morose, and he was as ugly as a vulture.--Gentlemen, look at him now and understand why I tell you this; why I asked you to come here; why I entreat you to listen to me. It is because I have discovered this: the eagle can become very beautiful. Now, every one of us has an eagle; as I have just most earnestly asserted. An eagle?--Alas, a vulture perhaps! no, no, not a vulture, gentlemen!--Gentlemen, you must have an eagle....

* * * * *

And now I touch the most serious question:--Why an eagle?... Ah! Why?--let him say why. Here is mine, gentlemen; I bring him to you.... Eagle! Will you reply now? Anxiously Prometheus turned towards his eagle. The eagle was motionless and remained silent.... Prometheus continued in a distressed voice:

--Gentlemen, gentlemen, I have vainly questioned my eagle.... Eagle! speak now: every one listens to you.... Who sends you? Why have you chosen me? Where do you come from? Where do you go to? Speak: What is your nature? (The eagle remained silent.) No, nothing! Not a word! Not a cry!--I hoped he would speak to you at any rate; that is why I brought him with me.... Must I speak alone here?--All is silence!--All is silence!

What does it mean?... I have questioned in vain. Then turning towards the audience:

Oh! I hoped, gentlemen, that you would love my eagle, that your love would affirm his beauty.--That is why I gave myself up to him, that is why I filled him with the blood of my soul.... But I see I am alone in admiring him. Is it not enough for you that he is beautiful? Or do you not admit his beauty? Look at him at least. I have lived only for him--and now I bring him to you: There he is! As for me I live for him--but he ... but he, why does he live?

Eagle that I have nourished with the blood of my soul, whom with all my love I have caressed ... (here Prometheus was interrupted by sobs)--must I then leave the earth without knowing why I loved you, nor what you will do, nor what you will be, after me on the earth ... on the earth? I have ... asked in vain ... in vain....

The words choked in his throat--his voice could not be heard through his tears.--Pardon me, gentlemen,--he continued a little calmer; pardon me for saying such serious things, but if I knew more serious ones I would say them....

Perspiring, Prometheus wiped his face, drank some water, and added:

THE END OF PROMETHEUS’ LECTURE

--I have only prepared my lecture up to this point....

... At these words there was a rustling among the audience; several, feeling bored, wished to go out.

--Gentlemen, cried Prometheus, I beseech you to stay, it will not be very long now; but the most important thing of all remains to be said, if I have not already persuaded you.... Gentlemen!--for goodness’ sake.... Here! quickly: a few fireworks; I will keep the best for the end.... Gentlemen!--sit down again, I pray you; look: do not think I want to economize: I light six at a time.--But first, waiter, shut the doors.

The fireworks were more or less effective. Nearly every one sat down again.

--But where was I? cried Prometheus. I counted upon getting under weigh; disturbance has checked me.

--So much the better, cried some one.

--Ah! I know ... continued Prometheus. I wished to tell you again....

--Enough! enough!! cried voices from all parts of the hall.

... That you must love your eagle.

Several cried “Why?” ironically.

--I hear, gentlemen, some one asks me “Why?” I reply: Because then he will become beautiful.

--But if we become ugly?

--Gentlemen, I do not speak here words of self-interest....

--One can see that.

--They are words of self-devotion. Gentlemen, one must devote oneself to one’s eagle.... (Agitation--many get up.) Gentlemen, do not move: I will be personal. It is not necessary to remind you of the history of Cocles and Damocles.--All here know it. Well--Well! I will tell them to their faces: the secret of their lives is in their self-devotion to their debt: You, Cocles, to your blow; you, Damocles, to your bank-note. Cocles, your duty was to make your scar deeper and your empty orbit emptier, oh! Cocles! yours, Damocles, to keep your bank-note, to continue owing it, owing it without shame, owing even more, owing it with joy. There is your eagle; there are other and more glorious ones. But I tell you this: the eagle will devour us anyway--vice or virtue--duty or passion,--cease to be commonplace and you cannot escape it. But....

(Here the voice of Prometheus was barely heard in the tumult)--but if you do not feed your eagle lovingly he will remain grey and miserable, invisible to all and sly; then you will call him conscience, not worthy of the torments he causes; without beauty.--Gentlemen, you must love your eagle, love him to make him beautiful; for it is for his future beauty that you must love your eagle....

Now I have finished, gentlemen, my eagle will make the collection. Gentlemen, you must love my eagle.--In the meantime I will let off some fireworks....

* * * * *

Thanks to the pyrotechnic diversion, the assembly dispersed without too much trouble; but Damocles took cold on coming out of the hall.

THE ILLNESS OF DAMOCLES