PR. The waters first she brought, that in their streams And pools and seas innumerable things 611 Brought forth, from whence she drew the fertile seeds Of trees and plants, and last of footed life, That wandered forth, and roaming to and fro, The rejoicing earth peopled with living sound. Reason advised, and Reason praised her toil; Which when she had done she gave him thanks, and said, 'Fair comrade, since thou praisest what is done, Grant me this favour ere thou part from me: Make thou one fair thing for me, which shall suit 620 With what is made, and be the best of all.' 'Twas evening, and that night Reason made man. SEM. (_maidens_). Children of Air are we, and live by fire. SEM. (_youths_). The sons of Reason dwelling on the earth. SEM. (_maidens_). Folk of a pleasant kingdom held between Fire's reign of terror and the latter day When dying, soon in turn his child must die. SEM. (_youths_). Having a wise creator, above time Or youth or change, from whom our kind inherit The grace and pleasure of the eternal gods. 630 IN. But how came gods to rule this earth of Air? PR. They also were her children who first ruled, Cronos, Iapetus, Hypérion, Theia and Rhea, and other mighty names That are but names--whom Zeus drave out from heaven, And with his tribe sits on their injured thrones. IN. There is no greater god in heaven than he. PR. Nor none more cruel nor more tyrannous. IN. But what can man against the power of god? PR. Doth not man strive with him? thyself dost pray. IN. That he may pardon our contrarious deeds. 641 PR. Alas! Alas! what more contrarious deed, What greater miracle of wrong than this, That man should know his good and take it not? To what god wilt thou pray to pardon this? In vain was reason given, if man therewith Shame truth, and name it wisdom to cry down The unschooled promptings of his best desire. The beasts that have no speech nor argument Confute him, and the wild hog in the wood 650 That feels his longing, hurries straight thereto, And will not turn his head. IN. How mean'st thou this? PR. Thou hast desired the good, and now canst feel How hard it is to kill the heart's desire. IN. Shall Inachus rise against Zeus, as he Rose against Cronos and made war in heaven? PR. I say not so, yet, if thou didst rebel, The tongue that counselled Zeus should counsel thee. SEM. (_maidens_). This is strange counsel. SEM. (_youths_). He is not A counsellor for gods or men. 660