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"The Golden age was first; when man yet new,
No rule but uncorrupted reason knew,
And with a native bent did good pursue!
Unforced by punishment, unawed by fear,
His words were simple, and his soul sincere.
Needless was written law, when none oppressed,
The law of man was written in his breast;
No suppliant crowds before the judge appeared,
No court erected yet, nor cause was heard;
But all was safe, for conscience was their guard:
The mountain trees in distant prospects please,
Ere yet the pine descended to the seas;
Ere sails were spread new oceans to explore,
And happy mortals unconcerned for more,
Confined their wishes to their native shore:
No walls were yet, nor fence, nor moat, nor mound,
Nor drum was heard, nor trumpets' angry sound;
Nor swords were forged, but void of care or crime,
The soft creation slept away their time;
The teeming earth, yet guiltless of the plough,
And unprovoked did fruitful stores allow;
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Content with food, which nature freely bred,
On wildings and on strawberries they fed:
The flowers unsown in fields and meadows reigned,
And western winds immortal spring maintained;
In following years the bearded corn ensued,
From earth unasked, nor was that earth renewed;
From veins of valleys, milk and nectar broke,
And honey sweating thro' the pores of oak."