THE GOLDEN AGE
Chronically , ‘The
Golden Age’ is known as the best period in the history of a civilization or a particular
country. In the poem that follows, we have an impressively concise and poetically
very beautiful picture of the Golden Age of Greek mythology spanning the
period circa 70 BC to AD 18.
According to literary historians the
term Golden Age in literature relates to the Works and Days of Hesiod, and is
part of the description of temporal decline of the state of peoples through
five Ages, the Golden Age being the
first and the one that belonged to the Golden Race of humanity which reflected primordial peace, harmony, stability and
prosperity.
The text quoted in this write up is John Dryden’s English
translation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses 1, Dryden’s translation dated 1693
was entitled Third Miscellany.
For us, the charm of the poem lies in the
amazing contrast of the society of the Golden Age and the one in which we are
living today.
The poem reads as follows:
The Golden age was first; when man, yet new,
No rule but uncorrupted reason knew;
And, with a native bent; did good pursue.
Unforced by punishment, unawed by fear
His words were simple, and his soul sincere.
Needless was written law, where none opprest ;
The law of man was written in his breast.
No suppliant crowds before
the judge appeared;
No court erected yet, nor cause was heard;
But all was safe, for conscience was their guard.
The mountain trees in distant prospect please,
Ere yet the pine descended to the seas;
Ere sails were spread, new oceans to explore;
And happy mortals, unconcerned for more,
Confined their wishes to their native shore.
No walls were yet, no fence, not moat, nor mound:
Nor drum was heard, nor trumpet’s angry sound;
Nor swords were forged; but, void of care and crime,
The soft creation slept away their time…
To this next came in course the Brazen Age:
A warlike offspring prompt to bloody rage,
Not impious yet…
Hard Steel succeeded then;
And stubborn as the metal were the men…
The landmarks limited to each his right;
For all before was common as the light…
And double death did wretched man invade
By steel assaulted, and by gold betrayed.
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11th May 2021 G.R.Kanwal
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