A lumpe, which Chaos men did call: wherein no order was.
The Coulde, and Heate, did striue: the Heauie thinges, and Lighte.
The Harde, and Softe, the Wette, and Drye, for none had shape arighte.
But when they weare dispos’d, eache one into his roome:
The Fire, had Heate: the Aire, had Lighte: the Earthe, with fruites did bloome.
The Sea, had his increase: which thinges, to passe thus broughte:
Behoulde, of this vnperfecte masse, the goodly worlde was wroughte.”
Whitney then celebrates “The goulden worlde that Poëttes praised moste;” next, “the siluer age;” and afterwards, “the age of brasse.”
“The Iron age was laste, a fearefull cursed tyme:
Then, armies came of mischiefes in: and fil’d the worlde with cryme.