Yielded its copious fruits, unbribed by toil:

They with abundant goods midst quiet lands

All willing shared the gatherings of their hands.

When earth’s dark womb had closed this race around,

[43]High Jove as dæmons raised them from the ground.

Earth-wandering spirits they their charge began,

The ministers of good, and guards of man.

Mantled with mist of darkling air they glide,

And compass earth, and pass on every side:

And mark with earnest vigilance of eyes