Creatures so formed by Nature cruel shown, Nature corrupted from its pristine state, That bounded once in innocence long flown, Ferocious seen in couching posture wait, Malignant, that no kindness can abate, By man’s transgression branded by the fall, Once playful, docile, gentle in their gait, ’Mid happy Eden herded one and all, Scenes of soft love, and peace, what bliss do they recall. LXXXV. “And yet I see, by ancient seer foretold” (So spake the poet, kindling at the thought), “I see that glorious prophecy, of old, The dawn of that millennium peaceful taught, When earth shall smile with loveliness o’erfraught; Lion and tiger roam in concord meet; The wolf and lamb then harmlessly consort; While with the crested snake, in dalliance sweet, The little child shall play, nor fear the pard’s retreat. LXXXVI. “And man his fellow-man shall hurt no more, By war and rapine to destroy his kind; But gentle peace shall charity restore, And all the virtues in one union bind In chords of love, where hatred filled the mind; The glittering spear a ploughshare shall become, And the sharp sword a pruning-hook consigned; Bellona dread no longer heard to roam, But quietude doth reign in man’s disturbless home.” LXXXVII. “’Tis time we now depart this shaggy wild, To lead your steps to more inviting scene-- To yonder grove, where all the air is mild, And trees o’erhung with ever-during green-- Through opening where the blue sky shines between.” To which fair spot they speedy bend their way, Each marvelling what sight might there be seen; Yet nothing loath such windings loved to stray, And listen to their guide, and all he had to say. LXXXVIII. For he discoursed as eke a poet might, To while away the time in pleasant talk; And not a brook that bubbled in their sight, Or stream that cross’d their wild entangled walk, Or hedge flower seen to stray, or lowly stalk, But yielded subject for the thoughtful mind, Which worldly scenes may try in vain to balk, For these are Nature’s teachings--books to find Sibylline leaves, that leave no rankling thorn behind. LXXXIX. They now had entered that delicious grove, Which they whilome in distance loved to view, Through shady brake, with careless boughs enwove, Inviting entrance where the hawthorn grew; That now enticed their footsteps hither drew, When on a sudden opened wide a scene That Oberon might envy, with his crew, To gambol there upon the smooth-shorn green, And round about it dance with his swift-footed queen. XC.