The prostrate people pray; the tyrant grins; And, adding profanation to his sins, I'll try, said he, and if a God appear, To prove his deity shall cost him dear. 'Twas late; the graceless wretch my death prepares, When I should soundly sleep, opprest with cares: This dire experiment he chose, to prove If I were mortal, or undoubted Jove. But first he had resolved to taste my power: Not long before, but in a luckless hour, Some legates, sent from the Molossian state, Were on a peaceful errand come to treat; Of these he murders one, he boils the flesh, And lays the mangled morsels in a dish; Some part he roasts; then serves it up so drest, And bids me welcome to this human feast. Moved with disdain, the table I o'erturned, And with avenging flames the palace burned. The tyrant, in a fright, for shelter gains The neighbouring fields, and scours along the plains. Howling he fled, and fain he would have spoke, But human voice his brutal tongue forsook. About his lips the gathered foam he churns, } And, breathing slaughter, still with rage he burns, } But on the bleating flock his fury turns. } His mantle, now his hide, with rugged hairs Cleaves to his back; a famished face he bears; His arms descend, his shoulders sink away, To multiply his legs for chace of prey. He grows a wolf, his hoariness remains, And the same rage in other members reigns. His eyes still sparkle in a narrower space, His jaws retain the grin, and violence of his face. This was a single ruin, but not one Deserves so just a punishment alone. Mankind's a monster, and the ungodly times, Confederate into guilt, are sworn to crimes. All are alike involved in ill, and all Must by the same relentless fury fall. Thus ended he; the greater gods assent, } By clamours urging his severe intent; } The less fill up the cry for punishment. } Yet still with pity they remember man, And mourn as much as heavenly spirits can. They ask, when those were lost of human birth, What he would do with all his waste of earth? If his dispeopled world he would resign To beasts, a mute, and more ignoble line? Neglected altars must no longer smoke, If none were left to worship and invoke. To whom the Father of the Gods replied: } Lay that unnecessary fear aside; } Mine be the care new people to provide. } I will from wonderous principles ordain A race unlike the first, and try my skill again. Already had he tossed the flaming brand, } And rolled the thunder in his spacious hand, } Preparing to discharge on seas and land; } But stop'd, for fear, thus violently driven,