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. Hence
it is that the earth is full of Ills, for they come
and go as they please and are never far away; while
Goods, alas! come one by one only, and have to travel
all the way from heaven, so that they are very seldom
seen.