The Happiness of Ignorance

Ere I had known the world, and understood
How many follies Wisdom names its own,
Distinguishing things evil from things good,
The dread of sin and death — ere I had known
Knowledge, the root of evil — had I been
Left in some lone place where the world is wild,
And trace of troubling man was never seen,
Brought up by Nature as her favourite child,
As born for nought but joy where all rejoice,
Emparadised in ignorance of sin,
Where Nature tries with never chiding voice,
Like tender nurse, nought but our smiles to win —
The future, dreamless, beautiful would be;
The present, foretaste of eternity.