Hesiod, creator; Homer, creator; Evelyn-White, Hugh G.
(Hugh Gerard), d. 1924, translator
Thereafter, would that I were not among the men of the fifth generation,
but either had died before or been born afterwards. For now truly is a race of iron, and men never rest from labor and sorrow by day, and from perishing by night; and the gods shall lay sore trouble upon them. But, notwithstanding, even these shall have some good mingled with their evils.
And Zeus will destroy this race of mortal men also when they come to have grey hair on the temples at their birth.[*](I.e.the race will so degenerate that at the last even a new-born child will show the marks of old age.) The father will not agree with his children, nor the children with their father, nor guest with his host, nor comrade with comrade; nor will brother be dear to brother as aforetime.