Sine justitia, confusio
When Fire, and Aire, and Earthe, and Water, all weare one:
Before that worke devine was wroughte, which nowe wee
looke uppon.
There was no forme of thinges, but a confused masse:
A lumpe, which CHAOS men did call: wherin no order was.
The Coulde, and Heate, did strive: the Heavie 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 unperfecte masse, the goodly worlde was
wroughte.
Then all thinges did abounde, that serv'd the use of man:
The Rivers greate, with wyne, and oyle, and milke, and honie,
ranne.
The Trees did yeeld their fruite: thoughe planting then
unknowne.
And CERES still was in her pompe, thoughe seede weare never
sowne.
The season, Sommer was: the Groves weare alwayes greene,
And every banke, did beare the badge, of fragrant FLORA
Queene.
This was the goulden worlde, that Poëttes praised moste,
No hate, was harbor'd then at home: nor hatch'd, in forren
coste.
But after, when the earthe, with people did increase:
Ambition, straighte began to springe: and pryde, did banishe
peace.
For, as all tymes doe change: even so, this age did passe.
Then did the silver age insue. and then, 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.
Then rigor, and revenge, did springe in evell hower:
And men of mighte, did manadge all, and poore opprest with
power.
And hee, that mightie was, his worde, did stand for lawe:
And what the poore did ploughe, and sowe: the ritch away did
drawe.
None mighte their wives injoye, their daughters, or their
goodes,
No, not their lives: such tyraunts broode, did seeke to spill
their bloodes.
Then vertues weare defac'd, and dim'd with vices vile,
Then wronge, did maske in cloke of righte: then bad, did good
exile.
Then falshood, shadowed truthe: and hate, laugh'd love to
skorne:
Then pitie, and compassion died: and bloodshed fowle was
borne.
So that no vertues then, their proper shapes did beare:
Nor coulde from vices bee decern'd, so straunge they mixed
weare.
That nowe, into the worlde, an other CHAOS came:
But GOD, that of the former heape: the heaven and earthe did
frame.
And all thinges plac'd therein, his glorye to declare:
Sente JUSTICE downe unto the earthe: such love to man hee
bare.
Who, so survay'd the world, with such an heavenly vewe:
That quickley vertues shee advanc'd: and vices did subdue.
And, of that worlde did make, a paradice, of blisse:
By which wee doo inferre: That where this sacred Goddes is.
That land doth florishe still, and gladnes, their doth growe:
Bicause that all, to God, and Prince, by her their dewties
knowe.
And where her presence wantes, there ruine raignes, and
wracke:
And kingdomes can not longe indure, that doe this ladie
lacke.
Then happie England most, where JUSTICE is embrac'd:
And eeke so many famous men, within her chaire are plac'd.