Song + 

V + 

The Former Age + 

Too blest the former age, their life + 

Who in the fields contented led, + 

And still, by luxury unspoiled, + 

On frugal acorns sparely fed. + 

No skill was theirs the luscious grape + 

With honey’s sweetness to confuse; + 

Nor China’s soft and sheeny silks + 

T’ empurple with brave Tyrian hues. + 

The grass their wholesome couch, their drink + 

The stream, their roof the pine’s tall shade; + 

Not theirs to cleave the deep, nor seek + 

In strange far lands the spoils of trade. + 

The trump of war was heard not yet, + 

Nor soiled the fields by bloodshed’s stain; + 

For why should war’s fierce madness arm + 

When strife brought wound, but brought not gain? + 

Ah! would our hearts might still return + 

To following in those ancient ways. + 

Alas! the greed of getting glows + 

More fierce than Etna’s fiery blaze. + 

Woe, woe for him, whoe’er it was, + 

Who first gold’s hidden store revealed, + 

And⁠—perilous treasure trove⁠—dug out + 

The gems that fain would be concealed! + 