A lovely mischief to the soul of man!
Within her hand the nymph a casket bears,
Full of diseases and corroding cares:
Which opened, they to taint the world begin
And Hope alone remained entire within!
Such was the fatal present from above,
And such the will of cloud compelling Jove:
And now unnumbered woes o'er mortals reign
Alike infected is the land and main;
O'er human race distempers silent stray,