Seite 38 von 274

There was a time in the youth of the world when Goods and Ills

entered equally into the concerns of men, so that the Goods did

not prevail to make them altogether blessed, nor the Ills to make

them wholly miserable. But owing to the foolishness of mankind

the Ills multiplied greatly in number and increased in strength,

until it seemed as though they would deprive the Goods of all

share in human affairs, and banish them from the earth. The

latter, therefore, betook themselves to heaven and complained to

Jupiter of the treatment they had received, at the same time

praying him to grant them protection from the Ills, and to advise

them concerning the manner of their intercourse with men. Jupiter

granted their request for protection, and decreed that for the

future they should not go among men openly in a body, and so be

liable to attack from the hostile Ills, but singly and

unobserved, and at infrequent and unexpected intervals.