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[1] AETNA‹the fires that burst from its deep furnaces‹what are those strong forces that roll on its volumes of flame, what it is that chafes at being ruled, what whirls aloft its dinning currents shall be my song. Come thou to favour and support me as I sing, whether Cynthos hold thee, or Hyla be more acceptable than Delos, or Ladon's daughter (Daphne) be more precious in thy sight; and with thee may the Sister Muses hasten from the Pierian spring to countenance my new aspiration; the track which traverses strange ground is safer when Phoebus leads the way.
[9] Who but has heard of the Golden Age of the king that knew not care? when no one ploughed the fields to throw in the grain, or kept noisome weeds from the crops that were to come, but overflowing harvests filled the barns for every year, Bacchus ran into wine by no foot but his own, honies distilled from the clammy leaves, Pallas set flowing her own separate streams of rich olive oll. Then was the true graciousness of the country: never has it been allotted to any to have a happier knowledge of his time. Who has not told of the Colchians' land, that farthest bourne of heroic effort? who has not bemoaned the fate of Pergamos burning on its Argive pyre; of the mother that slew her sons so tragically? or how day turned back its course; how in shedding of seed the dragon's tooth was sown? who but has bemoaned the perjury of the traitor ship and sung the plaint of Minos' daughter forsaken on the empty shore? ay, every variation of mythology thrown into antique song. My spirit essays the hardier labour of an untried theme. What are the motive powers of this great working, how mighty is the force that sets at large close body of perennial flame, and heaves withnoise like thunder masses of rock from the bottom, burning all that is nearest with floods of fire this is the purpose of my song.
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