BOOK THE SEVENTH.
243
Pour'd one upbraiding—but to stoop to him!
A harlot!—an adulteress!"
In his eye
Red anger flash'd; anon of what she was
Ere yet the foul pollution of the Court
Stain'd her fair fame, he thought. "Oh happy age!" 440
He cried, "when all the family of man
Freely enjoyed the goodly earth he gave,
And only bow'd the knee in prayer to God!
Calm flow'd the unruffled stream of years along,
Till o'er the peaceful rustic's head, grew grey 445
The hairs in full of time. Then he would sit
Beneath the coetaneous oak, whilst round,
Sons, grandsons, and their offspring join'd to form
The blameless merriment; and learnt of him
What time to yoke the oxen to the plough, 450
What hollow moanings of the western wind
Foretel the storm, and in what lurid clouds
The embryo lightning lies. Well-pleas'd, he taught,
The heart-smile glowing on his aged cheek,
A harlot!—an adulteress!"
In his eye
Red anger flash'd; anon of what she was
Ere yet the foul pollution of the Court
Stain'd her fair fame, he thought. "Oh happy age!" 440
He cried, "when all the family of man
Freely enjoyed the goodly earth he gave,
And only bow'd the knee in prayer to God!
Calm flow'd the unruffled stream of years along,
Till o'er the peaceful rustic's head, grew grey 445
The hairs in full of time. Then he would sit
Beneath the coetaneous oak, whilst round,
Sons, grandsons, and their offspring join'd to form
The blameless merriment; and learnt of him
What time to yoke the oxen to the plough, 450
What hollow moanings of the western wind
Foretel the storm, and in what lurid clouds
The embryo lightning lies. Well-pleas'd, he taught,
The heart-smile glowing on his aged cheek,
"Mild
