Happy that first white age when we <br />Lived by the earth's mere charity! <br />No soft luxurious diet then <br />Had effeminated men: <br />No other meat, nor wine, had any <br />Than the coarse mast, or simple honey; <br />And by the parents' care laid up, <br />Cheap berries did the children sup. <br />No pompous wear was in those days, <br />Of gummy silks or scarlet blaize. <br />Their beds were on some flow'ry brink, <br />And clear spring-water was their drink. <br />The shady pine in the sun's heat <br />Was their cool and known retreat, <br />For then 'twas not cut down, but stood <br />The youth and glory of the wood. <br />The daring sailor with his slaves <br />Then had not cut the swelling waves, <br />Nor for desire of foreign store <br />Seen any but his native shore. <br />Nor stirring drum scarred that age, <br />Nor the shrill trumpet's active rage, <br />No wounds by bitter hatred made, <br />With warm blood soiled the shining blade; <br />For how could hostile madness arm <br />An age of love to public harm, <br />When common justice none withstood, <br />Nor sought rewards for spilling blood? <br />Oh that at length our age would raise <br />Into the temper of those days! <br />But - worse than Etna's fires! - debate <br />And avarice inflame our state. <br />Alas! who was it that first found <br />Gold, hid of purpose under ground, <br />That sought out pearls, and dived to find <br />Such precious perils for mankind!<br /><br />Henry Vaughan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/boethius-de-consolatione-philosophiae-liber-2-metrum-5/
