[1329] "Union" is put for voluntary union, the union of social affection, in contrast to the bonds of fear, coercion, and the necessities of life, which are large elements in the present condition of mankind. The beasts were included in the common league, and animals of prey unknown in Pope's state of nature. But he did not keep steady to his first account.
[1330] So Hall, Satires, Book iii. Sat. 1:
Then crept in pride, and peevish covetise,
And man grew greedy, discordous, and nice.
Now man that erst hail-fellow was with beast,
Woxe on to ween himself a god at least.—Wakefield.
[1331] Dryden, Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book xv.:
The woolly fleece that clothed her murderer.
[1332] Virgil, Ecl. x. 58: "lucos sonantes;" Dryden, "sounding woods."—Wakefield.
[1333] MS.:
He called on heav'n for blessing, they for food.
[1334] MS.:
Unstained with gore the grassy altar grew,
Priests yet were temperate, yet no passions knew;
Nor yet would glutton zeal devoutly eat,
Nor faithful av'rice hugged his god in plate.