productive climes, where the very earth refused to yield its increase without toil and labor. "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." (Gen. iii. 17—19.)
10. I shall not stop to inquire, whether these expressions refer to the change of climate man would experience, in consequence of his expulsion from Eden; or whether they refer to some remarkable change which took place in the general fertility of the earth. It is certain, from numerous geological data, that great alterations have been gradually taking place in the earth's atmosphere; particularly by a diminution of its temperature and carbonic acid; which would greatly affect vegetable productions, and render culture and art much more necessary to bring them to perfection. But there is no evidence, as yet, to show that any material changes have taken place since the creation of man. In whatever way the passage of Scripture may be interpreted, one thing is evident; namely, that man, after his transgression, could no longer enjoy that abundance and variety of delicious fruit with which he was originally favored; except as the result of great labor, industry, and experience; and even then he would frequently have to derive his subsistence from roots, corn, and other farinaceous and succulent vegetables: in fact, he must "eat the herb of the field."
11. To this period, it is probable, Ovid alludes, when he describes the silver age, under the dominion of Jupiter:
"Succeeding times a silver age behold,—
Excelling brass, but more excelled by gold.
Then summer, autumn, winter did appear,
And spring was but a season of the year;
The sun his annual course obliquely made,
Good days contracted, and enlarged the bad.
The air with sultry heats began to glow;
The wings of winds were Clogged with ice and snow;
And shivering mortals, into houses driven,
Sought shelter from the inclemency of heaven.
Those houses, then, were caves, or homely sheds;
With twining osiers fenced, and moss their beds.
Then ploughs, for seed, the fruitful furrows broke,
And oxen labored first beneath the yoke."[1]
21. Up to this period, man seems to have derived his support from the vegetable world alone; and upon this food his life was prolonged to vast
- ↑ Metamorphoses, Book i., L. 146.
2*
