To those indulgent Pow'rs Mankind below
All gainful Arts, and useful Science owe.
The Gods, distinguisht hence by awful Names,
Declare their Office, and assert their Claims.
And thus deriv'd each sacred Title shows
What Gifts on Man each bounteous God bestows.
describ'd the Farmer's annual Toil,
What artful Rules improve the barren Soil.
She taught to yoke th' unwilling Ox, to sow
The harrow'd Ridge, to hold the bending Plough;
To guide the brighten'd Share with steady Hands,
Force up the Turf, and break the fallow'd Lands.
Hence rising Fields their yellow Harvest bear,
And wavy Autumn crowns the ripen'd Year.
To shape the Beam, the Joyces firmly joyn,
Stretch the wide Roof, and the slop'd Arch incline,
To carve the Pillar, and the Dome to raise
first taught, and  claims the Praise.
She too the gainful Secret did reveal,
To draw the Woof, and twirl the murm'ring Wheel.
Men curious try'd, by her Assistance led,
To fix the Loom, and weave the thwarting Thread.
The pointed Spear, the Breast-plate's polisht Brass,
The glitt'ring Sword, and Helmet's plumed Grace,
With all the dreadful Engin'ry of War,
Are  his Choice, and fierce  Care.
, and the sacred  inspire
Strains worthy them, and fan the Poet's Fire.
But subtle  smooths the oily Tongue
To move the Passions of the ravish'd Throng.
He taught Athletic Slights, and dusty Toil,
To ward the Blow, and give th' inglorious Foil.
first taught to mould the stubborn Mass,
To form the sparkling Steel, and flowing Brass.