Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Golden Age
1:113 The golden age was first; when Man yet new,
1:114 No rule but uncorrupted reason
knew:
1:115 And, with a native bent, did
good pursue.
1:116 Unforc'd by punishment, un-aw'd
by fear,
1:117 His words were simple, and his
soul sincere;
1:118 Needless was written law, where
none opprest:
1:119 The law of Man was written in
his breast:
1:120 No suppliant crowds before the
judge appear'd,
1:121 No court erected yet, nor cause
was heard:
1:122 But all was safe, for conscience
was their guard.
1:123 The mountain-trees in distant
prospect please,
1:124 E're yet the pine descended to
the seas:
1:125 E're sails were spread, new oceans
to explore:
1:126 And happy mortals, unconcern'd
for more,
1:127 Confin'd their wishes to their
native shore.
1:128 No walls were yet; nor fence,
nor mote, nor mound,
1:129 Nor drum was heard, nor trumpet's
angry sound:
1:130 Nor swords were forg'd; but void
of care and crime,
1:131 The soft creation slept away
their time.
1:132 The teeming Earth, yet guiltless
of the plough,
1:133 And unprovok'd, did fruitful
stores allow:
1:134 Content with food, which Nature
freely bred,
1:135 On wildings and on strawberries
they fed;
1:136 Cornels and bramble-berries gave
the rest,
1:137 And falling acorns furnish'd
out a feast.
1:138 The flow'rs unsown, in fields
and meadows reign'd:
1:139 And Western winds immortal spring
maintain'd.
1:140 In following years, the bearded
corn ensu'd
1:141 From Earth unask'd, nor was that
Earth renew'd.
1:142 From veins of vallies, milk and
nectar broke;
1:143 And honey sweating through the
pores of oak.
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Golden Age
1:113 The golden age was first; when Man yet new,
1:114 No rule but uncorrupted reason
knew:
1:115 And, with a native bent, did
good pursue.
1:116 Unforc'd by punishment, un-aw'd
by fear,
1:117 His words were simple, and his
soul sincere;
1:118 Needless was written law, where
none opprest:
1:119 The law of Man was written in
his breast:
1:120 No suppliant crowds before the
judge appear'd,
1:121 No court erected yet, nor cause
was heard:
1:122 But all was safe, for conscience
was their guard.
1:123 The mountain-trees in distant
prospect please,
1:124 E're yet the pine descended to
the seas:
1:125 E're sails were spread, new oceans
to explore:
1:126 And happy mortals, unconcern'd
for more,
1:127 Confin'd their wishes to their
native shore.
1:128 No walls were yet; nor fence,
nor mote, nor mound,
1:129 Nor drum was heard, nor trumpet's
angry sound:
1:130 Nor swords were forg'd; but void
of care and crime,
1:131 The soft creation slept away
their time.
1:132 The teeming Earth, yet guiltless
of the plough,
1:133 And unprovok'd, did fruitful
stores allow:
1:134 Content with food, which Nature
freely bred,
1:135 On wildings and on strawberries
they fed;
1:136 Cornels and bramble-berries gave
the rest,
1:137 And falling acorns furnish'd
out a feast.
1:138 The flow'rs unsown, in fields
and meadows reign'd:
1:139 And Western winds immortal spring
maintain'd.
1:140 In following years, the bearded
corn ensu'd
1:141 From Earth unask'd, nor was that
Earth renew'd.
1:142 From veins of vallies, milk and
nectar broke;
1:143 And honey sweating through the
pores of oak.