1

A learned and a Happy Ignorance

Divided me,

From all the Vanitie,

From all the Sloth Care Pain and Sorrow that advance

The madness and the Miserie

Of Men. No Error, no Distraction I

Saw soil the Earth, or overcloud the Skie.

2

I knew not that there was a Serpents 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 Weights to me,

Yea Pure, and full of Immortalitie.

3

Joy, Pleasure, Beauty, Kindness, Glory, Lov,

Sleep, Day, Life, Light,

Peace, Melody, my Sight,

My 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.

4

Unwelcom Penitence was then unknown

Vain Costly Toys,

Swearing and Roaring Boys,

Shops, Markets, Taverns, Coaches were unshewn:

So all things were that Drownd my Joys.

No Thorns choakt up my Path, nor hid the face

Of Bliss and Beauty, nor Ecclypst the Place.

5

Only what Adam in his first Estate,

Did I behold;

Hard Silver and Drie Gold

As yet lay under Ground; my Blessed Fate

Was more acquainted with the Old

And Innocent Delights, which he did see

In his Original Simplicitie.

6

Those Things which first his Eden did adorn,

My Infancy

Did Crown. Simplicitie

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;

7

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

So fair and Sweet,

So True; when I did meet

Them here at first, they did my Soul allure,

And drew away my Infant feet

Quite from the Works of Men; that I might see

The Glorious Wonders of the DEITIE.