Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Iron Age
1:163 Hard steel succeeded then:
1:164 And stubborn as the metal, were
the men.
1:165 Truth, modesty, and shame, the
world forsook:
1:166 Fraud, avarice, and force, their
places took.
1:167 Then sails were spread, to every
wind that blew.
1:168 Raw were the sailors, and the
depths were new:
1:169 Trees, rudely hollow'd, did the
waves sustain;
1:170 E're ships in triumph plough'd
the watry plain.
1:171 Then land-marks limited to each his right:
1:172 For all before was common as
the light.
1:173 Nor was the ground alone requir'd
to bear
1:174 Her annual income to the crooked
share,
1:175 But greedy mortals, rummaging
her store,
1:176 Digg'd from her entrails first
the precious oar;
1:177 Which next to Hell, the prudent
Gods had laid;
1:178 And that alluring ill, to sight
display'd.
1:179 Thus cursed steel, and more accursed
gold,
1:180 Gave mischief birth, and made
that mischief bold:
1:181 And double death did wretched
Man invade,
1:182 By steel assaulted, and by gold
betray'd,
1:183 Now (brandish'd weapons glittering
in their hands)
1:184 Mankind is broken loose from
moral bands;
1:185 No rights of hospitality remain:
1:186 The guest, by him who harbour'd
him, is slain,
1:187 The son-in-law pursues the father's
life;
1:188 The wife her husband murders,
he the wife.
1:189 The step-dame poyson for the
son prepares;
1:190 The son inquires into his father's
years.
1:191 Faith flies, and piety in exile
mourns;
1:192 And justice, here opprest, to
Heav'n returns.
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Iron Age
1:163 Hard steel succeeded then:
1:164 And stubborn as the metal, were
the men.
1:165 Truth, modesty, and shame, the
world forsook:
1:166 Fraud, avarice, and force, their
places took.
1:167 Then sails were spread, to every
wind that blew.
1:168 Raw were the sailors, and the
depths were new:
1:169 Trees, rudely hollow'd, did the
waves sustain;
1:170 E're ships in triumph plough'd
the watry plain.
1:171 Then land-marks limited to each his right:
1:172 For all before was common as
the light.
1:173 Nor was the ground alone requir'd
to bear
1:174 Her annual income to the crooked
share,
1:175 But greedy mortals, rummaging
her store,
1:176 Digg'd from her entrails first
the precious oar;
1:177 Which next to Hell, the prudent
Gods had laid;
1:178 And that alluring ill, to sight
display'd.
1:179 Thus cursed steel, and more accursed
gold,
1:180 Gave mischief birth, and made
that mischief bold:
1:181 And double death did wretched
Man invade,
1:182 By steel assaulted, and by gold
betray'd,
1:183 Now (brandish'd weapons glittering
in their hands)
1:184 Mankind is broken loose from
moral bands;
1:185 No rights of hospitality remain:
1:186 The guest, by him who harbour'd
him, is slain,
1:187 The son-in-law pursues the father's
life;
1:188 The wife her husband murders,
he the wife.
1:189 The step-dame poyson for the
son prepares;
1:190 The son inquires into his father's
years.
1:191 Faith flies, and piety in exile
mourns;
1:192 And justice, here opprest, to
Heav'n returns.