But trust the glory of thy might."
So when his words wore o'er
He gave the enfolding that she would, and shed upon her breast
He lay, and over all his limbs he drew the sleepy rest.
But when the midmost night was worn, and slumber, past its prime,
Had faded out, in sooth it was that woman's rising-time,
Who needs must prop her life with rock and slender mastery 409
That Pallas gives: she wakes the ash and flames that smouldering lie,
And, adding night unto her toil, driveth her maids to win
Long task before its kindled light, that she may keep from sin
Her bride-bed; that her little ones well waxen-up may be.
Not otherwise that Might of Fire, no sluggard more than she,
To win his art and handicraft from that soft bed arose.
Upon the flank of Sicily there hangs an island close
To Lipari of AEolus, with shear-hewn smoky steep;
Beneath it thunder caves and dens AEtnaean, eaten deep
With forges of the Cyclops: thence men hear the anvils cry
'Neath mighty strokes, and through the cave the hissing sparkles fly 420
From iron of the Chalybes, and pants the forge with flame.
The house is Vulcan's, and the land Vulcania hath to name.

Thither the Master of the Fire went down from upper air,
Where Cyclop folk in mighty den were forging iron gear;
Pyracmon of the naked limbs, Brontes and Steropes.
A thunderbolt half-fashioned yet was in the hands of these,
Part-wrought, suchwise as many an one the Father casts on earth
From all the heaven, but otherwhere unfinished from the birth,
Three rays they wrought of writhen storm, three of the watery wrack;
Nor do the three of ruddy flame nor windy winging lack: 430
And now the work of fearful flash, and roar, and dread they won,
And blent amid their craftsmanship the flame that followeth on.
But otherwhere they dight the wain and winged wheels of Mars,
Wherewith the men and walls of men he waketh up to wars.
There angry Pallas's arms they wrought and AEgis full of fear,
And set the gold and serpent scales, and did with mighty care
The knitted adders, and for breast of very God did deck
The Gorgon rolling eyen still above her severed neck.
"Do all away," he said, "lay by the labour so far done;
Cyclops of AEtna, turn your minds to this one thing alone: 440
Arms for