Prometheus

So much for men; and now, if you wish, I shall pass to fire and that reprehensible theft! In the name of the gods answer me this question without any hesitation; have we lost any fire since men have had it too? You can’t say that we have. The nature of that possession is such, I suppose, that it is not diminished if anyone else takes some

of it, for it does not go out when a light is procured from it. But surely it is downright stinginess to prevent things from being shared with those who need them when it does you no harm to share them. Inasmuch as you are gods, you ought to be kindly and

1. bestowers of blessings

Od, 8, 325. and to stand aloof from all stinginess. In this case even if I had filched all your fire and taken it down to earth without leaving a bit of it behind, I should not be guilty of any great wrong-doing against you, for you yourselves have no need of it, as you do not get cold and do not cook your ambrosia and do not require artificial light.