FELIX NIMIUM PRIOR ETAS. — Metrum 5
"Blisful was the firste age of men. They heelden hem
apayed with the metes that the trewe feeldes broughten forth.
They ne destroyeden ne desseyvede nat hemself with outrage. They
weren wont lyghtly to slaken hir hungir at even with accornes of
ookes. They ne coude nat medle the yift of Bachus to the cleer
hony (that is to seyn, they coude make no
pyement
or clarree), ne they coude nat medle the bryghte fleezes of
the contre of Seryens with the venym of Tyrie (this
to seyn, thei coude nat deyen white fleezes of Syrien
contre with the blood of a maner schellefyssche that men fynden
in Tirie, with whiche blood men deyen purpre). They slepen
holsome slepes uppon the gras, and dronken of the rennynge
watres, and layen undir the schadwes of the heye pyn-trees. Ne
no gest ne straunger ne karf yit the heye see with oores or with
schipes; ne thei ne hadden seyn yit none newe stroondes to leden
marchandise into diverse contrees. Tho weren the cruele claryouns
ful hust and ful stille. Ne blood ischad by egre hate ne hadde
nat deyed yit armures. For wherto or which woodnesse of enemys
wolde first moeven armes whan thei seyen cruele wowndes, ne none
medes be of blood ischad? I wolde that our tymes sholde torne
ayen to the oolde maneris! But the anguysschous love of havynge
brenneth in folk more cruely than the fyer of the mountaigne of
Ethna that ay brenneth. Allas! What was he that first dalf up the
gobbettes or the weyghtes of gold covered undir erthe and the
precyous stones that wolden han he hydd? He dalf up precious
periles. (That is to seyn, that he that
hem firsst
up dalf he dalf up a precious peril; for-why, for the
preciousnesse of swich thyng hath many man ben in
peril.)
