Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/97

 thee, and wert to fall among a company of robbers, why, thou wouldst despair of thy life; whereas, if thou hadst nothing about thee, thou wouldst need to fear naught, but couldst go thy way singing the old verse that was sung of yore, that the naked wayfarer hath naught to dread.'  Being then free of care, and the robbers departed, thou couldst mock at wealth, saying, "Verily a fine and pleasant thing is it to have great riches when he that hath them hath no peace."'

When Philosophy had spoken this speech, she began to sing, and said, 'Ah, how blessed was the former age of the world, when each man was content with what the earth yielded! No splendid mansions were there then; no varied dainties nor drinks;  nor did men covet costly apparel, for as yet these things were not;  neither were they seen nor heard of. Men cared not for any wicked pleasure, but followed the path of nature in strict measure. They ate but once in the day, and that was towards the evening. The fruits of the tree they ate, and roots; they drank no wine unmixed, nor knew to mingle honey with their drink, nor desired silken raiment of various hues. Always they slept out of doors in the shade of the trees; pure spring water was their drink. No merchant had gazed on strand nor island, and no man had heard the tale of the pirate host,