King Aeacus relates to Cephalus that a pestilence having formerly depopulated his territories, he entreated Jupiter to repeople his kingdom—His request was granted, and, according to his desire, all the ants in an old oak were changed into men, and called by Aeacus Myrmidons, from a Greek word signifying an ant.
“A dreadful plague from angry Juno came, To scourge the land that bore her rival’s name. Before her fatal anger was reveal’d, And teeming malice lay as yet conceal’d, All remedies we try, all med’cines use, Which nature could supply, or art produce; The unconquer’d foe derides the vain design, And art and nature foil’d, declare the cause divine.