Chapter 1 No.1

Blest Age! when ev'ry Purling Stream

Ran undisturb'd and clear,

When no scorn'd Shepherds on your Banks were seen,

Tortur'd by Love, by Jealousie, or Fear;

When an Eternal Spring drest ev'ry Bough,

And Blossoms fell, by new ones dispossest;

These their kind Shade affording all below,

And those a Bed where all below might rest.

The Groves appear'd all drest with Wreaths of Flowers,

And from their Leaves dropt Aromatick Showers,

Whose fragrant Heads in Mystick Twines above,

Exchang'd their Sweets, and mix'd with thousand Kisses,

As if the willing Branches strove

To beautifie and shade the Grove

Where the young wanton Gods of Love

Offer their Noblest Sacrifice of Blisses.