On the Nature of Things

While human kind Throughout the lands lay miserably crushed Before all eyes beneath Religion--who Would show her head along the region skies, Glowering on mortals with her hideous face- A Greek (Epicurus) it was who first opposing dared Raise mortal eyes that terror to withstand, Whom nor the fame of Gods nor lightning's stroke Nor threatening thunder of the ominous sky Abashed; but rather chafed to angry zest His dauntless heart to be the first to rend The crossbars at the gates of Nature old. And thus his will and hardy wisdom won; And forward thus he fared afar, beyond The flaming ramparts of the world, until He wandered the unmeasurable All, Whence he to us, a conqueror, reports What things can rise to being, what cannot, And by what law to each its scope prescribed, Its boundary stone that clings so deep in Time. Wherefore Religion now its under foot, And us his victory now exalts to heaven. -Lucretius