Boecius de consolacione philosophie

Felix nimium prior etas Contenta fidelibus aruis Nec inerci perdita luxu ¶Felici que sera solebat Leuina soluere gaude Non bachica munera norat Liquido confundere melle ¶Nec lucida vellera serū &c

BLysfull was the firste eage of men / they helden hem payd with the metes that the triew feldes broughten forth. They ne destroyed ne deceyued hem self with oul∣trage / They weren wonte lightly to slaken her honger at euen with acornes of okes / They ne couthe not medle the yefte of bachus to the clere hony / that is to seye. they couth make no pyment or clarrey. They ne couthe not medle the brighte flyees of the coūtrey of siriens with the venym of tyrie / that is to seyne they couthe not dyen whyte flieses of sirien contrey with the blode of a maner shelfish that men finden in Tyrie. with whiche blood men dyen purpure. They slepten holsom̄e slepes on the gras & dronken of the rennyng waters. and leyen vnder shadowes of the high pyne trees / ne no geste or straūger ne carf yet the high see with oores or with shippes / Ne they ne had seyn yet noo newe strondes to leden marchandyse into diuerce coūtrees

tho were the cruel clarions ful huyst and ful still / ne blode shad by egre hate ne had not dyed yet armures. for wher to or whiche wedenes of enemyes wold firste meouen ar∣mes whan they sawe cruel woūdes. ne no medes ben of blode shad / I wolde that oure tymes shold tornen ayen to the olde maners / but thanguisshous loue of hauyng bren̄eth in folke more cruelly than the fire of the montayne of Ethna that aye bren̄eth. allas what was he that first dalf vp the gobettes or the weightes of gold couerd vnder the erthe / & the precious stones that wolden han be hid / he dalf vp pre∣cious parils / that is to seyn̄ that he that hem first vp dalf. he dalf vp precious perile. for why. for the preciousnes of suche thing hath many a man ben in peryle