Now the solitudes are teeming
With mankind and man’s inventions;
Then the wolf, and bear, and panther,
Held their orgies in the caverns;
Now the silent grottoes foster
Only Nature’s radiant jewels;
Then the rattle-snake’s quick poison
Nerved its fangs to fierce encounter;
Now the bruiséd head lies harmless
’Neath the heel of the seed of woman;