Yea, by the Infernal Streams that glide through Stygian groves beneath the world, I swear it. Now must I utterly destroy this mortal race wherever Nereus roars around the world. Although it was a savage enemy, yet warred we with a single source derived of one. § 1.177 When the Gods were seated, therefore, in its marble halls the King of all above the throng sat high, and leaning on his ivory scepter, thrice, and once again he shook his awful locks, wherewith he moved the earth, and seas and stars, - and thus indignantly began to speak: 'The time when serpent footed giants strove to fix their hundred arms on captive Heaven, not more than this event could cause alarm for my dominion of the universe. Piety was slain: and last of all the virgin deity, Astraea vanished from the blood-stained earth. The husband threatened to destroy his wife, and she her husband: horrid step dames mixed the deadly henbane: eager sons inquired their fathers, ages. Rapacity broke forth - the guest was not protected from his host, the father in law from his own son in law even brothers seldom could abide in peace. Surveyors anxious marked with metes and bounds the lands, created free as light and air: nor need the rich ground furnish only crops, and give due nourishment by right required, - they penetrated to the bowels of earth and dug up wealth, bad cause of all our ills, - rich ores which long ago the earth had hid and deep removed to gloomy Stygian caves: and soon destructive iron and harmful gold were brought to light and War, which uses both, came forth and shook with sanguinary grip his clashing arms. Then the sailor spread his sails to winds unknown, and keels that long had stood on lofty mountains pierced uncharted waves. And last of all the ruthless and hard Age of Iron prevailed, from which malignant vein great evil sprung and modesty and faith and truth took flight, and in their stead deceits and snares and frauds and violence and wicked love of gain, succeeded. § 1.125 The third Age followed, called The Age of Bronze, when cruel people were inclined to arms but not to impious crimes. The valleys though unplowed gave many fruits the fields though not renewed white glistened with the heavy bearded wheat: rivers flowed milk and nectar, and the trees, the very oak trees, then gave honey of themselves. Eternal Spring! Soft breathing zephyrs soothed and warmly cherished buds and blooms, produced without a seed. And man content with given food, and none compelling, gathered arbute fruits and wild strawberries on the mountain sides, and ripe blackberries clinging to the bush, and corners and sweet acorns on the ground, down fallen from the spreading tree of Jove. The harrow touched her not, nor did the plowshare wound her fields. Then of her own accord the earth produced a store of every fruit. There was no thought of martial pomp - secure a happy multitude enjoyed repose. The towns were not entrenched for time of war they had no brazen trumpets, straight, nor horns of curving brass, nor helmets, shields nor swords. Descended not the steeps, shorn from its height, the lofty pine, cleaving the trackless waves of alien shores, nor distant realms were known to wandering men. No suppliant multitude the countenance of Justice feared, averting, for they dwelt without a judge in peace. No harsh decrees were fixed on brazen plates. Punishment and fear of penalties existed not. Avengers were not seen, for laws unframed were all unknown and needless. Then rectitude spontaneous in the heart prevailed, and faith. Such heat consumes the middle zone that none may dwell therein and two extremes are covered with deep snow and two are placed betwixt the hot and cold, which mixed together give a temperate clime and over all the atmosphere suspends with weight proportioned to the fiery sky, exactly as the weight of earth compares with weight of water. And as the heavens are intersected on the right by two broad zones, by two that cut the left, and by a fifth consumed with ardent heat, with such a number did the careful God mark off the compassed weight, and thus the earth received as many climes. At His command the boundless plains extend, the valleys are depressed, the woods are clothed in green, the stony mountains rise. Thus received amid the wide expanse of uncontrolled waves, they beat the shores instead of crooked banks. he also added fountains, pools and lakes, and bound with shelving banks the slanting streams, which partly are absorbed and partly join the boundless ocean. Then poured He forth the deeps and gave command that they should billow in the rapid winds, that they should compass every shore of earth. § 1.32 And when this God - which one is yet unknown - had carved asunder that discordant mass, had thus reduced it to its elements, that every part should equally combine, when time began He rounded out the earth and moulded it to form a mighty globe.
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