JT-33-ODE ON THE PRIMEVAL AGES.

ODE ON THE PRIMEVAL AGES.

My flut’ring fancy flies along
O’er all the wide creation,
The ard’ous flight she would prolong,
See each and every nation,
View golden days by poets sung,
When harmony abounded,
And man and Eden were but young,
And vocal praise resounded.

She there would pause and look around,
To see the plains extended,
And hark to hear the song profound,
Of ev’ry creature blended.
Along the margin of the glade,
Were copious rivers gliding,
Promiscuous flocks beneath the shade,
In mutual bliss abiding.

The elements of nature slept,
Nor heard were storms and thunder,
No man had ever sigh’d or wept,
Nor caus’d to quake and wonder.
Young zyphyrs gently fann’d the rose,
And played along the bow’rs,
Transporting joys, unmixed with woes,
Refreshed the cheerful hours.

She there beholds all men unite,
No rumors heard among them,
The law of love was law of right,
Nor conscious guilt had stung them.
Propitious nature gave them bread,
She gave them milk and honey,
With liberal hand each one was fed,
Without the aid of money.

No blood had stain’d their harmless hands,
Unknown were wars and plunder,
No foe had found their peaceful lands,
To cut their cords asunder;
Shepherds and swains in concert meet,
To tune the Edenian lyre,
Matrons and maids each other greet,
And join the gleeful choir.

Their festivals were crowned with joy,
All had an equal portion,
A thousand tongues the song employ,
Far distant from commotion;
No changing clime had yet been seen,
Nor elevated mountains,
The vocal plains were ever green,
Refresh’d by cooling fountains.

Long lived those sons in Eden born,
No foul disease annoyed them,
No hapless child was found forlorn,
No pestilence destroyed them;
A thousand years were as a day--
A day of purest pleasure,
The sky serene--it rolled away,
And crowned their earthly treasure.