But others’ woes were useless to appease + 

Egeria’s grief, or set her mind at ease: + 

Beneath the hill fill comfortless she laid; + 

The dropping tears her eyes incessant shed, + 

Till pitying Phoebus eased her pious wo, + 

Thaw’d to a spring, whose streams for ever flow. + 

The nymphs and Virbius like amazement fill’d, + 

As seized the swains who Tyrrhene furrows till’d, + 

When heaving up, a clod was seen to roll, + 

Untouch’d, self-moved, and big with human soul. + 

The spreading mass, in former shape deposed, + 

Began to shoot, and arms and legs disclosed, + 

Till, form’d a perfect man, the living mould + 

Oped its new mouth, and future truths foretold; + 

And, Tages named by natives of the place, + 

Taught arts prophetic to the Tuscan race. + 

Or such as once by Romulus was shown, + 

Who saw his lance with sprouting leaves o’ergrown, + 

When fix’d in earth the point began to shoot, + 

And, growing downward, turn’d a fibrous root; + 

While spread aloft, the branching arms display’d, + 

O’er wondering crowds, an unexpected shade. + 