The Golden Age was when the world was young, Nature so rich, as earth did need no sowing, Malice not known, the serpents had not stung, Wit was but sweet affections overflowing; Desire was free, and beauty's first-begotten; Beauty then neither net, nor made by art, Words out of thoughts brought forth, and not forgotten; The laws were inward that did rule the heart. The Brazen Age is now when earth is worn, Beauty grown sick, Nature corrupt and nought, Pleasure untimely dead as soon as born, Both words and kindness strangers to our thought: If now this changing world do change her head, Caelica, what have her new lords for to boast? The old lord knows desire is poorly fed, And sorrows not a wavering province lost, Since in the gilt age Saturn ruled alone, And in this painted, planets every one. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ROME. AT THE PYRAMID OF CESTIUS NEAR THE GRAVES OF SHELLEY by THOMAS HARDY MAN, THE MAN-HUNTER by CARL SANDBURG CALIBAN IN THE COAL MINES by LOUIS UNTERMEYER BAYARD TAYLOR by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH PORTRAIT SONNETS: 4 by HENRY BELLAMANN VALUES by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN DEDICATIONS AND INSCRIPTIONS: 2. EPILOGUE: 5TH OCTOBER 1896 by GORDON BOTTOMLEY |