The Pantheon

Both sides had gods to help them, and courage that is worth as much as the gods’ assistance.

Jupiter opened his mouth and said, "even me do the Fates govern".

O Gods, what blind night rules in the hearts of men.

—Ovid, Metamorphoses.

Mammon

Money, thou bane of bliss, and source of woe,
Whence come thou, that thou art so fresh and fine?
    I know thy parentage is base and low:
    Man found thee poor and dirty in a mine.
Surely thou didst so little contribute
To this great kingdom, which thou now hast got,
    That he was fain, when thou wert destitute,
    To dig thee out of thy dark cave and grot.
Then forcing thee, by fire he made thee bright:
Nay, thou hast got the face of man; for we
    Have with our stamp and seal transferr'd our right:
    Thou art the man, and man but dross to thee.
        Man calleth thee his wealth, who made thee rich;
        And while he digs out thee, falls in the ditch.

—George Herbert, Avarice

Hot Air Balloons

By the time we arrived at the balloon launch point, dawn had already broken, and the thrilling image of a half-dozen different hot air balloons in various sizes and bright colors, and various stages of partial inflation, was there to welcome us. Such whooshing flames from the engines! Looking at them, and feeling the blistering heat, I realized that while hot air balloons are placid-looking creatures, they have a core of tongues of fire covered in a skin of fabric—a fearsome and delicate mix!

For many years, I have wanted to take a hot air balloon ride, but the right opportunity never came. I had come to think of it as a wonderful thing to do with close friends, or perhaps a romantic interest, and so you may understand when I say that the actual experience, while amazing, bore a hint of melancholy in it—for while I was in a basket with twenty others, I was alone. It was not how I would have wanted it; and I briefly wondered if I might not have been better to wait—but then, for how long?

—Chris Green