THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO

FABULA III.
AUREA jETAS.
Four ages .luocessively arise, of which, the Golden is the fust. In. this age
innocence and happiness reign, and men subsist upon the bounty of the
earth. Saturn, at this time, holds the empire of the world.
EXPLICATIO.
The deterioration of manners, from primitive innocence to extreme
wickedness, is represented under the names of metals, that lessen re
spectively in purity and value. In the prophecy of Daniel, the four
principal monarchies are. prefigured ijnder the images of gold, silver,
brass, and iron. A similar designation of the four ages, by our poet,
might seem derived from this source, were it not that Hesiod, whom he
follows, and who wrote anterior to Daniel, represented different ages by
the name of metals. The only difference between Hesiod and Ovid, is,
that the former has an additional age, called the Heroic. The Golden
age of the poet is a tradition of the period of man's innocence, and resi
dence in Paradise, when the elements were pure and genial, the produc
tions of the earth plentiful and spontaneous, and the different animals
peaceful and submissive. All heathen nations have some tradition of this
period.
In the comment of Hierocles upon the Golden Verses of Pythagoras,
we meet with the following explanation of the Golden Age: " We say
the Golden Age was the best among the generations of men, by reason
that we make a comparison of manners from the difference of metals; for,
gold is a matter wholly pure, and not at all allied unto earth, as other
things are of the same kind, as silver, brass, and iron. Among all which,
nature has ordained the principality unto gold, which alone does not con
tract rust, but every one of the rest does, in proportion as it partakes of
the earth. Now the rust of the earth, being compared with the cor
ruption contracted from the body, that holy and pure age, wholly purged
from all infection of wickedness, was very rightly called Golden."
The Sabbatic year of the Jews, in which there was no tillage of the
ground, nor propriety in the spontaneous productions of the earth, nor
continuance of servitude, was a memorial of the rest in Paradise, when
God himself dwelt with men. It was, no doubt, in commemoration of
the same events, preserved by tradition, that labor was suspended, and
servants released from ordinary toil, during the Saturnalia, which were
instituted to recall the felicity of the Golden Age, when the god Saturn
leigned upon earth.
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UREA prima sata est eetas, qua;, vindice nullo, 1 * Aurea
a . • i cj . i i. i ffitnsestpri-
Sponle sua sine lege fidem rectumque colebat. masata,qua!
Poena metusque aberant; nee verba minacia fixo "ofeLatP "f*
JEre legebantur; nee supplex turba timebant dcmquerec-
Judicis ora sui: sed erant sine vindjce tuti. 51"^', nuiio""
Nondum csesa suis, peregrinutn ut viseret orbem, e. Pmui,
NOTJE.
1. A urea. The epithet of golden is given to any thing pure and eg
tunable. Among the northern and middle nations of Europe, it is in
very common use.
O thou, my golden, golden dove. BOHEMIAN SOKO.
My golden faiher ! give me not IDEM.
O no! my golden mother. SNAIDR.
2. Sponle tua: practised faith and justice from principle, without
the compulsory force of the law.
In the state of the first heaven, man wag united inwardly to the supreme rea-
lon, and outwardly practised all the works of justice. The heart rejoiced in
truth, and there was 110 mixture of falsehood. TCIIONANQSE.
The ancients, who were nearest to the gods, were of an excellent dispositio
and led so good lives, that they were calfed a golden race. DIC.HABCHUS.
3. Pcena metuitjite. As the nge was one
of innocence, peace, and brotherly love,
there was no punishment, nor the fear of
punishment.
For love casteth out all fear. Si. JOHN.
Why I should fear, I know not,
Since guiltiness I know not. KHAKsrEARE.
3. Verba minacia : threatening words,
setting forth the penalties of violated laws,
were not read.
4. Fi.ro are: on the brass set up to view.
It was customary to have the laws en
graved on tablets, and hung up in the
forum, or other conspicuous place for the
information of the people. The Roman
decemvirs, A. U. C. 303, digested the laws
brought from Greece, which were set up
and known as the Laws of the Twelve
Tables.
Fixit leges pretio.nlque refixit. .ffiNElD vi. 6SS
4. Supplex turba : the suppliant crowd
did not fear the face of she judge; for,
conscious of no crime, they dreaded no
punishment.
5. Sine viitdicc: without an avenger.
The prosecutor, the judge, and the lictor
with his rod and axe, were unknown.
The first men, before appetile and pauioti
waved them, lived without bribes, amluitlloul
iniquity ; and needed not to be restrained fi om
evil by punishment.—TACITUS'! ANNALS lii.
6. yimdum. No one had yet built a tliip
for sailing: every one was content with his
own place of residence.
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