POETRY
PRIMITIVE MAN (LUCRETIUS -V., 925-94k) THE men that lived unhouleil Iii'those far dayS
Were hardier, as beseemed an earth-born race.
Their bones were big and solid, and their thews.
Knit in a sturdy frame. Nor heat nor cold- = Could quicklY weaken them, nor rOugheit fare, Nor bodily disease ; but like the beasts They lived and roamed at large, and many suns ;Poised over them. They had no skill, though,sirong, To guide the plough, no use of iron tools - . .To_ work.the land saplings they Planted none, , Nor used the hook to lop the antlered boughs From lofty trees. What sun and rain might give, 'And what the earth brought forth untilVd, were .gifts To satisfy their hearts. And thus they lived, • _
On acorns maybe, or on wilding fruits : ,Those red-ripe berries of the winter time Were more abundant then and larger too ; Their .world was young and fertile,. rind brOught .forth
Enough hard fare to rear a suffering race. • '
DENIS TURNER.
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