Father, and god of gods, almighty, eternal,
Invoked by many names, nature’s one lord;
Hail! for ’tis right that all men call on thee.
For we thine offspring are.—Well said, Cleanthes!
All things and creatures are as God’s possession,
But we his children: and the will we have
To thwart his will, he ruleth to his will,
Owning the ill which he did not create
But by permission; as thou goest to show.
(Reading.) Nor is there any work on earth astir,