"'twas the golden age when every brute

had voice articulate, in speech was skilled,

and the mid-forests with its synods filled.

the tongues of rock and pine-leaf then were free;

to ship and sailor then would speak the sea;

sparrows with farmers would shrewd talk maintain;

earth gave all fruits, nor asked for toil again.

mortals and gods were wont to mix as friends—

to which conclusion all the teaching tends

of sage old aesop."

babrius