And friendly gatherings; the entrails’ smoothness,

The hue best liked by the gods, the gall, the liver

With all its just proportions. I first wrapped

In the smooth fat the thighs; first burnt the loins,

And from the flickering flame taught men to spell

No easy lore, and cleared the fire-faced signs[n33]

Obscure before. Yet more: I probed the Earth,

To yield its hidden wealth to help man’s weakness—

Iron, copper, silver, gold. None but a fool,

A prating fool, will stint me of this praise.