His arts of various wisdom: vain to ’scape Necessity, or loose the mighty chain. When Heaven their sire ’gainst Cottus, Briareus, And Gyges, felt his moody anger chafe Within him, sore amazed with that their strength Immeasurable, their aspect fierce, and bulk Gigantic, with a chain of iron force He bound them down; and fix’d their dwelling-place Beneath the spacious ground: beneath the ground They dwelt in pain and durance: in th’ abyss There sitting, where earth’s utmost bound’ries end. Full long oppress’d with mighty grief of heart They brooded o’er their woes: but them did Jove Saturnian, and those other deathless gods Whom fair-hair’d Rhea bare to Saturn’s love, By policy of Earth, lead forth again To light. For she successive all things told: How with the giant brethren they should win Conquest and splendid glory. Long they fought With toil soul-harrowing: they the deities Titanic and Saturnian: each to each Opposed, in valour of promiscuous war. From Othrys’ lofty summit warr’d [205]the host Of glorious Titans: from Olympus they, The band of gift-dispensing deities Whom fair-hair’d Rhea bore to Saturn’s love. So waged they war soul-harrowing: each with each Ten years and more the furious battle join’d, Unintermitted: nor to either host Was issue of stern strife or end: alike Did either stretch the limit of the war. But now when Jove had set before his powers All things befitting; the repast of gods; The nectar and ambrosia, in each breast Th’ heroic spirit kindled: and now all With nectar and with sweet ambrosia fill’d, Thus spake the father of the gods and men: “Hear me! illustrious race of Earth and Heaven! That what the spirit in my bosom prompts I now may utter. Long, and day by day, Confronting each the other, we have fought For conquest and dominion: Titan gods, And we the seed of Saturn. Still do ye, Fronting the Titans in funereal war, Show mighty strength: invulnerable hands: Remembering that mild friendship, and those pangs Remembering, when ye trod the upward way Back to the light: and by our counsels broke “The burthening chain, and left the murky gloom.” He spake: and Cottus brave of soul replied: “Oh Jove august! not darkly hast thou said: Nor know we not how excellent thou art In counsel and in knowledge: thou hast been Deliverer of immortals from a curse Of horror: by thy wisdom have we risen, Oh kingly son of Saturn! from dark gloom And bitter bonds, unhoping of relief. Then with persisting spirit and device Of prudent warfare, shall we still assert Thy empire midst the fearful fray, and still In hardy conflict brave the Titan foe.” He said: the gods, the givers of all good, Heard with acclaim: nor ever till that hour So burn’d each breast with ardour to destroy.