Chapter 17. Being natural
In the first Age of mankind people acknowledged their rulers.
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In the second Age they worshipped them and flattered them.
In the third Age they feared them.
In the fourth Age they despised them.¹
Where there is lack of faith no trust is awoken.
How careful they were in their statements!
After doing a good deed they said: “How very natural we are!”²
- Mr. Ervast: “All traditions of the ancient times speak of four eras: gold, silver, brass and iron.”
- “The tree last verses are probably a sarcastic depiction of the people of the fourth age, the Iron Age.”
Own translation from 1925 Finnish translation by Pekka Ervast (ISBN 951-8995-01-X) with kind permission of Ruusu-Ristin Kirjallisuusseura ry.