Harmonious whole, made up, hopes and cares, Mind’s, Body’s work, in not unequal shares; With grateful pauses, as when whirlwinds cease To riot in a wood, and there is peace. Thus Eve; Man’s truce, nor his alone, for play; But Nature’s universal holiday. Stall-wards, devious steps, the cattle pass, Their udders richly furnished; on the grass With harmless horns kids wrestle; while a band, Children and Wife, contend to clasp his hand, And kiss his lips; he happy in the pride Of love which chastity has sanctified. And days as well there are, when the farm feasts, The host reclining amid friends, his guests; High flame the hissing logs, wine-cups are crowned, And vows and healths to Gods and men go round; On equal terms master with shepherds vies, As archer, or as wrestler, for a prize. Thus sprang a race, the wonder of the earth, Suckled by Sabine mothers—as, at birth, Their king by wild werewolf—twin strains with those, Blending of Tuscan lords, high Lucumos; Till from Seven Hills, in one wall, see come, Mistress of a world, Imperial Rome! Noblest of Monsters! beautiful as brave, And strong at once to conquer, and to save. Yet sometimes dream I legends strange and sweet, Ere Nymphs nursed Jove upon a hill of Crete, Of days when Earth, a garden bright and fair, Gave Man fruits as easily as the air He breathed; when all that trod or flew had part In a large brotherhood of sense and heart, And it could scarce have seemed to human mind More hideous to batten on its kind, Than with as unnatural zest to heap Impious boards with flesh of steer and sheep; When no war-bugle blew its summons shrill, Or forge had fitted hands with swords to kill; When Saturn planted here below his throne— The Age of Gold, when Heaven and Earth were one! A Tarentine Garden Georgicon, Bk. IV. vv. 116-148