Ovyde Hys Booke of Methamorphose
The Golden Age (i. 6)

Thus the erthe that somtyme was rude and withoute culture was clothed of strange vestures and receyved ymages humaines. Tho began the eage and worlde of golde. Peple assewred with fayth and trouth; thenne withoute constraynt ne establysshement of lawes they lyved withoute payne, without drede, and withoute covetyse. Yet that tyme was not founden shippes forto sayle by the see; men went not forto serche other ryvage ne vysyte other landes. Tho was not knowen feat of warre ne for to bere armures; tho were not fortresses ne engyns. The erthe withoute culture of eerynge or sowynge gaf to every man that hym neded; and that they had suffysed to them. ...

Prologue to The Boke of Eneydos

Insomuche that in my dayes happened that certayn marchauntes were in a shippe in Tamyse, forto have sayled over the see into Zelande, and for lacke of wynde, thei taryed atte forlond, and wente to lande to refreshe them. And one of theym named Sheffelde, a mercer, cam into an hows and axed for mete; and specyally he axyd after eggys. And the goode wyf answerde that she coude speke no Frenshe. And the marchaunt was angry, for he also coude speke no Frenshe, but wolde have hadde egges, and she understode hym not. And thanne at laste another sayd that he wolde haveeyren. Then the good wyfe sayd she understood hym wel. Loo, what sholde a man in thyse dayes now wryte - egges or eyren?

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