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Rh From Jove's head with impetuous start,

With long-continued warlike clang:

While heaven's high dome and mother earth

Shuddering beheld the wondrous birth.

Then too the god whose splendour bright

Glads mortals with his radiant light,

Bade his loved sons the high behest obey.

Them first he urged to rear the splendid shrine,

And to the goddess every rite divine

With prompt submissive reverence pay.

This their immortal sire with joy would cheer,

And please the maid who wields her sounding spear.

Yet oft oblivion's shadowy veil

O'erclouds the well-intending mind;

Then wise Prometheus' counsels fail,

And reason's path is left behind.

So they, obedient to their heavenly sire,

Bade in th' acropolis an altar rise,

But carried to the shrine no spark of fire

To waft from earth the pious sacrifice.

On them the supplicated power

Rain'd from his yellow cloud a golden shower.