When prostrate upon earth lay human life Visibly trampled down and foully crushed Beneath religion’s cruelty, who meanwhile Forth from the regions of the heavens above Showed forth her face, lowering down on men With horrible aspect, first did a man of Greece[B] Dare to lift up his mortal eyes against her; The first was he to stand up and defy her. Him neither stories of the gods, nor lightnings, Nor heaven with muttering menaces could quell, But all the more did they arouse his soul’s Keen valour, till he longed to be the first To break through the fast-bolted doors of nature. Therefore his fervent energy of mind Prevailed, and he passed onward, voyaging far Beyond the flaming ramparts of the world, Ranging in mind and spirit far and wide Throughout the unmeasured universe; and thence A conqueror he returns to us, bringing back Knowledge both of what can and what cannot Rise into being, teaching us in fine Upon what principle each thing has its powers Limited, and its deep-set boundary stone. Therefore now has religion been cast down Beneath men’s feet, and trampled on in turn: Ourselves heaven-high his victory exalts. Herein this fear assails me, lest perchance You should suppose I would initiate you Into a school of reasoning unholy, And set your feet upon a path of sin: Whereas in truth often has this religion Given birth to sinful and unholy deeds. So once at Aulis did those chosen chiefs Of Hellas, those most eminent among heros, Foully defile the Trivian Virgin’s altar With Iphianassa’s lifeblood. For so soon As the fillet wreathed around her maiden locks Streamed down in equal lengths from either cheek, And soon as she was aware of her father standing Sorrowful by the altar, and at his side The priestly ministers hiding the knife, And the folk shedding tears at sight of her, Speechless in terror, dropping on her knees To the earth she sank down. Nor in that hour Of anguish might it avail her that she first Had given the name of father to the king; For by the hands of men lifted on high Shuddering to the altar she was borne, Not that, when the due ceremonial rites Had been accomplished, she might be escorted By the clear-sounding hymenaeal song, But that a stainless maiden foully stained, In the very season of marriage she might fall A sorrowful victim by a father’s stroke, That so there might be granted to the fleet A happy and hallowed sailing. Such the crimes Whereto religion has had power to prompt.