The description of the _First_ or _Golden Age_ given in the _Works and Days_, extends from v. 108 to v. 126,[61] and as Dr. Hales justly remarks, bears no relation at all to Grecian history. It refers to the time when “The immortal gods and mortal men were as members of the same family, and (μερόπων) partook of the same likeness; when Saturn (Κρόνος, quasi χρονος, Time) reigned in Heaven, and men lived as gods, with minds free from care, without labour and sorrow, or the feebleness of old age; and always the same (πόδας καὶ χεῖρας) in strength and activity, they enjoyed continual feasting, free from all evils, rolling in wealth, and beloved by the blessed gods; they died as overcome by sleep; to them, all things were good; and the fertile field spontaneously brought forth varied and abundant fruit; seeking only their own ease, they mingled their operations with innumerable pleasures; and when (γαῖα) the green sod covered their bodies, they became good angels, by the will of mighty Jove, and were confined to the earth, as the guardians of mortal men; they became observers of good and bad actions, and inhabiting the aerial regions, they everywhere roamed through the earth, the dispensers of riches; such indeed was the royal honour which they obtained.” This description is a curious admixture of the traditions concerning the _Antediluvian age_ to be found in the early history of all ancient nations, and of the lofty but extravagant imaginings of the Poet derived from the absurd mythology of ancient Greece. It evidently alludes to the creation of man in the likeness of God, and to the Sacred communion which Adam held with his Creator in the garden of Eden; to the wonderful length of human life, amounting in the case of the Patriarchs, in general, to _nearly a thousand years_, when indeed _Time_ might be said to reign, and _Death_ for ages to be disappointed of his prey; to the generation of sons and daughters to a late period of the lives of mankind; and to the piety of the righteous generations of the line of Seth, who were called the “Sons of God,” some of whom had communion with God, and received peculiar marks of his favour. The description of the “royal honour” of the happy dead, seems to have had its origin also in the Scripture record of the frequent appearance of angels in the likeness of men in the _Postdiluvian_ and _Patriarchal ages_, and of the promises which God gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, regarding the number, the wealth and the glory of their seed; and of the appearance of Samuel to Saul, when he predicted his speedy fall and admittance to Hades: of the divine appearance to Solomon, when he was promised riches and honour, so that no king was like to him: and of the divine vision of the young man in Samaria, who saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha: with many others of the very singular and preternatural phenomena which were divinely vouchsafed to