And in this age, not even heaven’s heights
are safer than the earth. They say the Giants,
striving to gain the kingdom of the sky,
heaped mountain peak on mountain mass, star-high.
Then Jove, almighty Father, hurled his bolts
of lightning, smashed Olympus, and dashed down
Mount Pelion from Mount Ossa. Overwhelmed
by their own bulk, these awesome bodies sprawled;
and Earth soaked up the blood of her dread sons;
and with their blood still warm, she gave their gore
new life: so that the Giants’ race might not
be lost without a trace, she gave their shape
to humans whom she fashioned from that blood.
But even this new race despised the gods;
and they were keen for slaughter, bent on force:
it’s clear to see that they were born of blood.