A learned and a happy Ignorance

Divided me

From all the Vanity,

From all the Sloth, Care, Sorrow, that advance

The Madness and the Misery

Of Men. No Error, no Distraction, I

Saw cloud the Earth, or over-cast the Sky.

I knew not that there was a Serpent's Sting,

Whose Poyson shed

On Men, did overspread

The World: Nor did I dream of such a thing

As Sin, in which Mankind lay dead.

They all were brisk and living Things to me,

Yea pure, and full of Immortality.

Joy, Pleasure, Beauty, Kindness, charming Lov,

Sleep, Life, and Light,

Peace, Melody, my Sight

Mine Ears and Heart did fill and freely mov;

All that I saw did me delight:

The Universe was then a World of Treasure

To me an Universal World of Pleasure.

Unwelcom Penitence I then thought not on;

Vain costly Toys,

Swearing and roaring Boys,

Shops, Markets, Taverns, Coaches, were unknown,

So all things were that drown my Joys:

No Thorns choakt-up my Path, nor hid the face

Of Bliss and Glory, nor eclypst my place.

Only what Adam in his first Estate

Did I behold;

Hard Silver and dry Gold

As yet lay under ground: My happy Fate

Was more acquainted with the old

And innocent Delights which he did see

In his Original Simplicity.

Those things which first his Eden did adorn,

My Infancy

Did crown: Simplicity

Was my Protection when I first was born.

Mine Eys those Treasures first did see

Which God first made: The first Effects of Lov

My first Enjoyments upon Earth did prov.

And were so Great, and so Divine, so Pure,

So fair and sweet,

So tru; when I did meet

Them here at first, they did my Soul allure,

And drew away mine Infant-feet

Quite from the Works of Men, that I might see

The glorious Wonders of the Deity.