Riddle #962

Dipping, glinting, gliding by, Rainbow-fretted, wrought of breath. I live only while I fly – Earth’s rough kiss my sudden death.

Alive without breath, As cold as death; Never thirsty, ever drinking, All in mail never clinking.

It caused the destruction of Troy, The worst of tragedies, And numerous maladies, Yet it is chased, desired and fought for. What is it?

I drift forever with the current down these long canals they've made. Tame, yet wild, I run elusive, multitasking to your aid. Before I came, the world was darker. Colder, sometimes, rougher, true. But though I might make living easy, I'm good at killing people too.

Large as a mountain, small as a pea, Endlessly swimming in a waterless sea.

Alive as you but without breath, As cold in my life as in my death; Never a thirst though I always drink, Dressed in a mail but never a clink.

Four jolly men sat down to play, and played all night till break of day. They played for gold and not for fun, with separate scores for every one. Yet when they came to square accounts, they all had made quite fair amounts! Can you the paradox explain? If no one lost, how could all gain?

I have just one, but with eight to spare, I am usually friendly, but I sometimes act like I don't care. What am I?

A slender body, a tiny eye, no matter what happens, I never cry. What am I?

Until I am measured I am not known. Yet how you miss me when I have flown.

I am a white box having no key or any lid. Yet there is a golden treasure inside it. What Am I ?