Fair golden Age! when milk was th' onely food,
And cradle of the infant-world the wood
(Rock'd by the windes); and th' untoucht flocks did bear
Their deer young for themselves! None yet did fear
The sword or poyson: no black thoughts begun
T' eclipse the light of the eternall Sun:
Nor wandring Pines unto a forreign shore
Or War, or Riches, (a worse mischief) bore.
That pompous sound, Idoll of vanity,
Made up of Title, Pride, and Flattery,
Which they call Honour whom Ambition blindes,
Was not as yet the Tyrant of our mindes,
But to buy reall goods with honest toil
Amongst the woods and flocks, to use no guile,
Was honour to those sober souls that knew
No happinesse but what from vertue grew.
Then sports and carols amongst Brooks and Plains
Kindled a lawfull flame in Nymphs and Swains.
Their hearts and Tongues concurr'd, the kisse and joy
Which were most sweet, and yet which least did cloy
Hymen bestow'd on them. To one alone
The lively Roses of delight were blown;
The theevish Lover found them shut on triall,
And fenc'd with prickles of a sharp denyall.
Were it in Cave or Wood, or purling Spring,
Husband and Lover signifi'd one thing.
Base present age, which dost with thy impure
Delights the beauty of the soul obscure:
Teaching to nurse a Dropsie in the veins:
Bridling the look, but giv'st desire the reins.
Thus, like a net that spread and cover'd lies
With leaves and tempting flowrs, thou dost disguise
With coy and holy arts a wanton heart;
Mak'st life a Stage-play, vertue but a part:
Nor thinkst it any fault Love's sweets to steal,
So from the world thou canst the theft conceal.
But thou that art the King of Kings, create
In us true honour: Vertue's all the state
Great souls should keep. Unto these cels return
Which were thy Court, but now thy absence mourn:
From their dead sleep with thy sharp goad awake
Them who, to follow their base wils, forsake
Thee, and the glory of the ancient world.
Let's hope: our ills have truce till we are hurld
From that: Let's hope; the sun that's set may rise,
And with new light salute our longing eyes.