Nor he recall’d within his heedless thought
The warning lesson by Prometheus taught:
That he disclaim each present from the skies,
And straight restore, lest ill to man arise:
But he received; and conscious knew too late
Th’ insidious gift, and felt the curse of fate.
On earth of yore the sons of men abode,
From evil free and labour’s galling load:
Free from diseases that with racking rage
Precipitate the pale decline of age.