Empedocles’ Complete Fragments, Volume I

Simplic. in Cael., p. 529,1 sqq.

not at once, but joining willingly, some from one quarter, some from another.

And as they mingled, countless tribes of mortal things poured forth;

but many stood unmixed, alternating with those being blended,

all that Strife still held back aloft. For not blamelessly had it

withdrawn from them wholly to the outermost limits of the circle, 10

but part of it remained within the limbs, and part had gone out.

And by as much as it ever ran out ahead, by so much there ever came on

the kindly-hearted immortal onrush of blameless Love.

And at once those things grew mortal that before had learned to be immortal,

and things before unmixed grew mixed, exchanging their paths. 15

And as they mingled, countless tribes of mortal things poured forth,

fitted out with shapes of every kind, a wonder to behold.

Simplic. in Phys., p. 32,6 sq.

And Earth met with these in near-equal measure —

with Hephaestus and with rain and with all-shining aither —

anchored in the perfect harbours of Cypris,

whether a little more, or less among more;

and out of these came blood and the forms of other flesh. 5