And lives before the conscious eye of heaven. 525 Such was the life, I think, the ancients lived, Those primal men who mingled with the gods. They were not blinded by the love of gold; No sacred stone divided off the fields And lotted each his own in judgment there. Nor yet did vessels rashly plow the seas; 530 But each his native waters knew alone. Then cities were not girt with massive walls, With frequent towers set; no soldier there To savage arms his hands applied, nor burst The close-barred gates with huge and heavy stones From ponderous engines hurled. As yet the earth 535 Endured no master's rule, nor felt the sway Of laboring oxen yoked in common toil; But all the fields, self-fruitful, fed mankind, Who took and asked no more. The woods gave wealth, And shady grottoes natural homes supplied. Unholy greed first broke these peaceful bonds, 540 And headlong wrath, and lust which sets aflame The hearts of men. Then came the cruel thirst For empire; and the weak became the prey Of strong, and might was counted right. At first Men fought with naked fists, but soon they turned 545 Rough clubs and stones to use of arms. Not yet Were cornel spears with slender points of iron, And long, sharp-pointed swords, and crested helms. Such weapons wrath invented. Warlike Mars Produced new arts of strife, and forms of death 550 In countless numbers made. Thence streams of gore Stained every land, and reddened every sea. Then crime, o'erleaping every bound, ran wild; Invaded every home. No hideous deed Was left undone: but brothers by the hand 555 Of brothers fell, parents by children's hands, Husbands by wives', and impious mothers killed Their helpless babes. Stepmothers need no words; The very beasts are kind compared with them. Of all these evils woman was the cause, The leader she. She with her wicked arts Besets the minds of men; and all for her 560 And her vile, lustful ways, unnumbered towns Lie low in smoking heaps; whole nations rush To arms; and kingdoms, utterly o'erthrown, Drag down their ruined peoples in their fall. Though I should name no other, Aegeus' wife Would prove all womankind a curséd race. _Nurse:_ Why blame all women for the crimes of few? 565 _Hippolytus:_ I hate them all. I dread and shun and curse Them all. Whether from reason, instinct, blind And causeless madness, this I know--I hate. And sooner shall you fire and water wed; Sooner shall dangerous quicksands friendly turn And give safe anchorage; and sooner far 570 Shall Tethys from her utmost western bounds Bring forth the shining day, and savage wolves Smile kindly on the timid does, than I, O'ercome, feel ought but hate to womankind.