--What dost thou want to make thee fly faster?
The next day the eagle had eight more feathers and a few days after he arrived before the dawn. Prometheus himself became very thin.
--Tell me of the world, he said to the eagle. What has happened to all the others?
--Oh! now I fly very high, replied the eagle; I see nothing but the sky and thee.
--Lovely bird, what hast thou to tell me this morning?
--I have carried my hunger through the air.
Prometheus, enamoured of the future beauty of his eagle, gave him each day more to eat.
He fascinated the prisoner by his gnawings; and, the prisoner, who fascinated him by his caresses, languished and pined away for love, all day caressing his feathers, sleeping at night beneath his wings, and feeding him as he desired.--The eagle did not stir night or day.
--Sweet eagle, who would have believed it?
--Tell me, my sweet bird! Why am I shut up here?
--What does that matter to thee? Am I not with thee?
--Yes; it matters little! but art thou pleased with me, beautiful eagle?
It was spring-time; around the bars of the tower the fragrant wisteria was in flower.
--One day we will go away, said the eagle.
--Because I am now very strong and thou art thinner. I can carry thee.
That evening Cocles and Damocles met each other. They chatted together; but with a certain embarrassment.
--What can you expect? said Cocles, our points of view are so opposed.
--Do you think so? replied Damocles. My only desire is that we understand each other.
--You say that, but you only understand yourself.
--And you, you do not even listen to what I say.
--You pretend to know it better than I do.
--Alas! Cocles, you get cross;--but for the love of God tell me what ought I to do?
--Ah! nothing more for me, I beg you; you have already given me a glass eye....
--It was more or less; and in any case you can pay for the eye--thanks to my blow.
--But what do you mean to say then? Go on, speak!
--Because I know all that you would say!...
The discussion, for want of something new began to take a dangerous turn, when both men were suddenly arrested by an advertisement which ran as follows:
THIS EVENING AT 8 O’CLOCK IN THE HALL OF THE NEW MOONS PROMETHEUS DELIVERED WILL SPEAK OF HIS EAGLE
_At 8.30 the Eagle will be presented and will perform some tricks. At 9 o’clock a collection will be made by the waiter on behalf of Cocles’ hospital._