The passages describe the earliest age of mankind, and most set it far above the present. Hesiod and Ovid tell of a golden race or age followed by worse ones; Virgil places the golden times in Latium under Saturn; Boethius looks back to them with regret. Lucretius disagrees: his first men lived like wild beasts, though on the same acorns and arbute berries. Dante’s Virgil describes a weeping statue of the metals in Crete, and Matelda suggests the poets’ golden age was a dream of the Earthly Paradise.
Chosen by hand, not counted: a passage is here when it is plainly about the topic, and the list is not every mention. Each is shown in the order the books were written, and each links to the section it is in.
The gods make a golden race who live like gods, free from toil, grief and old age.
First of all the deathless gods who dwell on Olympus made a golden race of mortal men who lived in the time of Cronos when he was reigning in heaven. And they lived like gods without sorrow of heart, remote and free from toil and grief: miserable age rested not on them; but with legs and arms never failing they made merry with feasting beyond the reach of all evils. … Poem 1 →The first men are hardy and live like wild beasts, without ploughs, fire or clothing.
… But mortal man Was then far hardier in the old champaign, As well he should be, since a hardier earth Had him begotten; builded too was he Of bigger and more solid bones within, And knit with stalwart sinews through the flesh, Nor easily seized by either heat or cold, Or alien food or any ail or irk. … Book 5 →Evander tells how Saturn, fleeing Jove, gave laws to Latium and brought the golden times.
… Then Saturn came, who fled the pow’r of Jove, Robb’d of his realms, and banish’d from above. The men, dispers’d on hills, to towns he brought, And laws ordain’d, and civil customs taught, And Latium call’d the land where safe he lay From his unduteous son, and his usurping sway. With his mild empire, peace and plenty came; And hence the golden times deriv’d their name. … Book 8 →The golden age keeps faith without laws or punishment; the earth bears unploughed and spring is eternal.
The Golden Age was first founded, which, without any avenger, of its own accord, without laws, practised both faith and rectitude. Punishment, and the fear of it, did not exist, and threatening decrees were not read upon the brazen tables, fixed up to view, nor yet did the suppliant multitude dread the countenance of its judge; but all were in safety without any avenger. … Book 1 →A poem praises the former age, content with acorns and streams, before trade, war and gold.
Too blest the former age, their life Who in the fields contented led, And still, by luxury unspoiled, On frugal acorns sparely fed. No skill was theirs the luscious grape With honey's sweetness to confuse; Nor China's soft and sheeny silks T' empurple with brave Tyrian hues. The grass their wholesome couch, their drink The stream, their roof the pine's tall shade; … Book 2 →Virgil describes the old man of Crete, made of gold, silver, brass, iron and clay, and weeping.
… In the mid-sea there sits a wasted land,” Said he thereafterward, “whose name is Crete, Under whose king the world of old was chaste. There is a mountain there, that once was glad With waters and with leaves, which was called Ida; Now ’tis deserted, as a thing worn out. Rhea once chose it for the faithful cradle Of her own son; and to conceal him better, Whene’er he cried, she there had clamours made. … Inferno 14 →Matelda suggests that poets who sang of the golden age perhaps dreamed of the Earthly Paradise.
… Those who in ancient times have feigned in song The Age of Gold and its felicity, Dreamed of this place perhaps upon Parnassus. Here was the human race in innocence; Here evermore was Spring, and every fruit; This is the nectar of which each one speaks.” Then backward did I turn me wholly round Unto my Poets, and saw that with a smile They had been listening to these closing words; … Purgatorio 28 →