In ancient days Athens of glorious name Was first to spread abroad corn-bearing crops Among unhappy mortals, and to frame Their lives in a new mould and give them laws. She also first bestowed a kindly solace For life, when she gave birth to one endowed With so great intellect, that man who once Poured forth all wisdom from truth-telling lips; Whose glory, even when his light was quenched, Because of his divine discoveries Undimmed by time was noised abroad, and now Is lifted high as heaven. For when he saw That well nigh all those things which need demands For man’s subsistence had been now provided, And that so far as it seemed possible Life was established in security, That men through wealth and honours and renown Had attained power and affluence, and grown proud In their children’s good name, yet that not one At home possessed a heart the less care-stricken, But ceaselessly despite his wiser mind Tormenting all his days, could not refrain From petulant rage and wearisome complaint; Then did he understand it was the vessel Itself that was the cause of imperfection, And by its imperfection all those things That came within it, gathered from outside, Though ne’er so excellent, were spoiled therein; In part because he saw that there were holes Through which it leaked, so that by no means ever Might it be filled full; partly that he perceived How as with a foul savour it defiled All things within it which had entered there. And so with truthful words he purged men’s hearts, And fixed a limit to desire and fear; Then setting forth what was the highest good Which we all strive to attain, he pointed out The path along which by a slender track We might in a straight course arrive at it; Likewise he showed what evils there must be In mortal affairs on every side, arising And flying this way and that, whether it were By natural chance or force, since it was Nature Which has ordained it so; and by what gates To meet each evil men must sally forth: Also he proved how mostly without cause Mankind set darkly tossing in their hearts The sad billows of care. For just as children In the blind darkness tremble and are afraid Of all things, so we sometimes in the light Fear things that are no whit more to be dreaded Than those which children shudder at in the dark, Imagining that they will come to pass. This terror then and darkness of the mind Must needs be scattered not by the sun’s beams And day’s bright arrows, but by contemplation Of Nature’s aspect and her inward laws.