96. The Iron Age.
1
When
Saturn dwelt in Italy,
The Golden Age begun:
But (Ah!) ere my nativity,
The Golden Age was done.
2
I've read how he sometimes would go
And drink a pint of Wine
With old Japetus, where they two
Would tell a tale divine.
3
They had their feasts of Love and Peace,
Knitting their hearts in Uno:
But now in stead of these, we be
Like Hercules and Iuno.
4
'Twas after that Iove had bereaven
His Father of his Crown,
And had assum'd the power of Heaven
To be his only own.
5
This revolution did produce
An happy Scene of powers;
And pleasure then was grown profuse:
I wish the case were ours.
6
But look where Pride doth sway the Stage,
And Folly rules the Pagin,
Th' event will be the Iron Age,
As well you may imagine.