Such heavenly condescension should

Inspire a mortal's gratitude:

In Ixion's base and blacken'd breast

Some thankfulness should even rest.

His heart, though steep'd in every deed

Of darkness, in the devil's creed—

[Pg 5]

In every sin that stains the earth,

Or blackens hell, which gave it birth,

Should now have felt a kindly glow

For what great Jupiter did do.

But Ixion did only feel

A base desire at once to steal

The heart of Juno, and to tread

On Jupiter's celestial bed!

He had an intrigue with the cloud

Of Juno, which the gods allow'd;

And thus the monstrous Centaur came

From Ixion's and Juno's shame.

But Jupiter with thunder hurl'd

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