CCXVII: Metamorphoses 1:3

Metamorphoses Bk I:76-88

“Then Man was formed. Whether it was that the Artificer of all things, the original of the world in its improved state, framed him from divine elements; or whether, the Earth, being newly made, and but lately divided from the lofty æther, still retained some atoms of its kindred heaven, which, tempered with the waters of the stream, the son of Iapetus fashioned after the image of the Gods, who rule over all things. And, whereas other animals bend their looks downwards upon the Earth, to Man he gave a countenance to look on high and to behold the heavens, and to raise his face erect to the stars. Thus, that which had been lately rude earth, and without any regular shape, being changed, assumed the form of Man, till then unknown.”

Divine-ly-looking Man:

And part of all that earth was still divine,

they say so was the clay that made up man.

Some streams of rain and ‘godly’ clay combine

to make us, by a careful titan’s hand.

But made to stare outside our mortal ken.

On purpose were our necks constrained this way.

To look beyond our soul-assuaging den

to stars and to good things that never stay.

To gods. To heaven we were made to look.

And in the river e’en we looked like them.

New man enjoyed earth’s bounties, and partook

of all the things the gods did not condemn.

A golden age. But what was that to us?

Who had no thought but what was given us?