Shalt rue the fraud whence mightier ills began:
I will send evil for thy stealthy fire,
[35]An ill which all shall love, and all desire.
The Sire who rules the earth and sways the pole
Had said, and laughter fill’d his secret soul:
He bade famed Vulcan with the speed of thought
Mould plastic clay with tempering waters wrought:
Inform with voice of man the murmuring tongue;
The limbs with man’s elastic vigour strung;
The aspect fair as goddesses above,