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with a skilful hand Prometheus made A statue that the human form displayed, Pandora, his own work, to wed he chose, And from those two the human race arose. When first to know herself the fair began, She played her smile's enchantment upon man; By softness and alluring speech she gained The ascendant, and her master soon enchained; Her beauty on Prometheus' sense ne'er palled, And the first husband was the first enthralled. The god of war soon saw the new-formed fair; His manly beauty and his martial air, His golden casque and all his glittering arms Pandora pleased, and he enjoyed her charms. When the sea's ruler in his humid court Had heard of this intrigue from fame's report, The fair he sought, a like reception found, Could Neptune fail where Mars a triumph found? Day's light-haired god from his resplendent height Their pleasures saw, and hoped the same delight; She could not to refuse him have the heart, Who o'er the day presides and every art. Mercury with eloquence declared his flame, And in his turn he triumphed o'er the dame. Squalid and sooty from his forge, at first Vulcan was ill-received, and gave disgust;