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54 Meanwhile the maid with azure eye

Her favour'd Rhodians deign'd to grace

Above all else of mortal race,

With arts of manual industry.

Hence framed by the laborious hand,

The animated figures stand,

Adorning every public street,

And seem to breathe in stone, or move their marble feet.

Wisdom true glory can impart

Without the aid of magic art.

As ancient fame reports, when Jove

And all th' immortal powers above

Held upon earth divided sway;

Not yet had Rhodes in glittering pride

On Ocean's breast appeared to ride,

But hid beneath his briny caverns lay.

Then while the absent god of light

Delay'd to claim his equal share,

No friendly voice maintain'd his right

Of all the bless'd assembly there.

Jove, to repair the wrong, in vain

Wish'd to adjudge the lots again.

Since in his course the sun had found

Retired within the hoary deep

A fertile land with heroes crown'd,

Prolific nurse of fleecy sheep.

Then straight he gave the high command

To Lachesis, whose locks of jet