PROMETHEUS AND TRUTH
Prometheus, that potter who gave shape to our new generation,
decided one day to sculpt a statue of Truth, using all his skill
so that she would be able to regulate people's behaviour. As
he was working, an unexpected summons from mighty Jupiter called
him away. Prometheus left cunning Trickery in charge of his workshop
(Trickery had recently become one of the god's apprentices).
Fired by ambition, Trickery used the time at his disposal to
fashion with his sly fingers a figure of the same size and appearance
as Truth with identical features. When he had almost completed
the piece, which was truly remarkable, he ran out of clay to
use for her feet. The master returned, so Trickery quickly sat
down in his seat, quaking with fear. Prometheus was amazed at
the similarity of the two statues and wanted it to seem as if
all the credit were due to his own skill. Therefore, he put both
statues in the kiln and when they had been thoroughly baked,
he infused them both with life: sacred Truth walked with measured
steps, while her unfinished twin stood stuck in her tracks. That
forgery, that product of subterfuge, thus acquired the name of
Falsehood, and I readily agree with people who say that she has
no feet: every once in a while something that is false can start
off successfully, but with time the Truth is sure to prevail. |