They spent not then so much precious time as afterwards they did, gorging themselves with Flesh and Fish, so as hardly able to rise, without reeking and reeling from Table.

[122]——­Vides ut pallidus omnis Coena desurgat dubia? quin corpus onustum Hesternis vitiis, animum quoque praegravat una, Atque affigit humo divinae particulam aurae.

  See but how pale they look, how wretchedly,
  With Yesterday’s Surcharge disturb’d they be! 
  Nor Body only suff’ring, but the Mind,
  That nobler Part, dull’d and depress’d we find. 
  Drowsie and unapt for Business, and other nobler Parts of Life.

Time was before Men in those golden Days:  Their Spirits were brisk and lively.

  ——­Ubi dicto citius curata sopori
  Membra dedit, Vegetus praescripta ad munera surgit.

  With shorter, but much sweeter Sleep content,
  Vigorous and fresh, about their Business went.

And Men had their Wits about them; their Appetites were natural, their Sleep molli sub arbore, sound, sweet, and kindly:  That excellent Emperour Tacitus being us’d to say of Lettuce, that he did somnum se mercari when he eat of them, and call’d it a sumptuous Feast, with a Sallet and a single Pullet, which was usually all the Flesh-Meat that sober Prince eat of; whilst Maximinus (a profess’d Enemy to Sallet) is reported to have scarce been satisfied, with sixty Pounds of Flesh, and Drink proportionable.

There was then also less expensive Grandure, but far more true State; when Consuls, great Statesmen (and such as atchiev’d the most renown’d Actions) sup’d in their Gardens; not under costly, gilded, and inlaid Roofs, but the spreading Platan; and drank of the Chrystal Brook, and by Temperance, and healthy Frugality, maintain’d the Glory of Sallets, Ah, quanta innocentiore victu! with what Content and Satisfaction!  Nor, as we said, wanted there Variety; for so in the most blissful Place, and innocent State of Nature, See how the first Empress of the World Regal’s her Celestial Guest: 

[123]_With sav’ry Fruit of Taste to please_ True Appetite, ——­ and brings Whatever Earth’s all-bearing Mother yields _——­Fruit of all kinds, in Coat_ Rough, or smooth-Rind, or bearded Husk, or Shell. Heaps with unsparing Hand:  For Drink the Grape She crushes, inoffensive Moust, and Meaches From many a Berry, and from sweet Kernel prest, She temper’d dulcid Creams.——­

Then for the Board.

——­Rais’d of a grassy Turf The Table was, and Mossy Seats had round; And on the ample Meaths from Side to Side, All Autumn pil’d:  Ah Innocence, Deserving Paradise!

Thus, the Hortulan Provision of the [124]_Golden Age_ fitted all Places, Times and Persons; and when Man is restor’d to that State again, it will be as it was in the Beginning.