Had'st thou been join'd with us

In worship of the Word,

How had'st thou now been blessed in thy God.
But thou in pride alone, yes thou alone
In thy great wisdom foolish,

Hast scorn'd the Paragon,

And wou'dst not rev'rence the Incarnate God.
Whence by thy folly thou hast fallen as far

As thy proud Soul expected to ascend.

Tenth Angel.

Monster of fierceness dwell

In thy obscure recess !

And for thy weighty crime

Incessant feel, and infinite thy pain;
For infinite has been thy vast offence.
Eleventh Angel.

Reside for ever in the deep abyss.

For well the worlds, eternal Master knows
Again to fill those high celestial seats,

That by your ruin you have vacant left;

Behold man fashion'd from the Earth, who lives,

Like plants that vegetate;

See in a moment's space

How the pure breath of life

Breath'd on this visage by the power divine,
Endows the wonderous creature with a soul,
A pure immortal soul !

That grac'd, and lovely with exalted powers,

Shines the great faithful Image of its God.
Behold it has the gift to merit highly

The option, to deserve or heav'n, or hell,
In free will perfect, as the first of angels.
Twelfth Angel.

Yes, man alone was form'd in just derision,
Of all th' infernal Host,

As Lord of this fair World, and all that lives,

The ornament of all,

The miracle of nature,

The perfect Heir of Heav'n,

Related to the Angels,

Adopted Son of God,

And semblance of the Holy Trinity;

What could'st thou hope for more, what more attain

Creature miraculous,

In whom th' eternal Lord

Has now vouchsaf'd to signalize his pow'r?

Thirteenth Angel.

How singular, and worthy is his form,

Upright in stature, meek in dignity,

Well fashion'd are his limbs, and his complexion

Well temper'd, with a high majestic brow,
A brow, turn'd upward to his native sky;
In language eloquent, in thought sublime,
For contemplation of his maker form'd!
Fourteenth Angel.

Plac'd in a state of innocence is man,

Primoval justice is his blessed gift,

Hence are his senses to his reason subject,
His body to his mind,

Enjoying reason as his prime endowment,
Fifteenth Angel.

Supernal love held him too highly dear,
To let him dwell alone;

And thence of lovely woman

(Fair faithful aid) bestow'd on man the gift.
Adam tis thine alone.

To keep thy duty to thy Lord unstain'd;
In his command of the forbidden fruit,
Thy gift of freedom keep inviolate,

Since he who fashion'd thee, without thy aid,
Think not without thy aid he means to save thee.
But since descending from the heights of Heav'n
We come as kind attendants upon man,
Now let us haste to Edens, flowr'y banks.
All the Angels sing.

Now take we happy flight

To Paradise, adorn'd with fairest flow'rs;

There let us almost worship

The mighty Lord of this transcendant World

And joyous let us sing

This flow'ry Heav'n, and Adam as its God

SCENE THE SECOND.

Adam. O mighty Lord of mighty things sublime! O my supreme Creator!

O bounteous in thy love

To me thy humble servant! such rare blessings
With liberal hand thou givest;
Where'er I turn my eyes,

I see myself rever'd;

Approach ye animals, that range the field,
And ye now close your variegated wings;
Ye pleasing birds in me you look on Adam,
On him ordain'd to name

All things that gracious God has made for man;
And praise, with justice praise

Him who created me, who made you all,
And in his bounteous love with me rejoice.
But what do I behold? blest that I am,

My dear, my sweet companion!

Who comes to hail me, with a gift of flow'rs,
And with these sylvan honours crown my brow.
Go! stately lion go! and thou with scales
Impenetrable arm'd

Rhinoceros, whose pride can strike to earth
The unconquer'd elephant !

Thou fiery courser bound along the fields,

And with thy neighing shake the echoing vale;
Thou camel, and all here, or beast, or bird,
Retire, in homage to approaching Eve!
Eve. O what delight more dear,

Than that, which, Adam in my sight enjoys,

Draws him far off from me?

Ye tender flow'rs,

Where may I find on you

The traces of his step?

Lurcone. See man and woman! hide thyself and

watch!

Adam. No more fatigue my eyes,

Nor with thy animated glances dart

Such radiant lightning round;

Turn the clear Heav'n of thy serener face,

To him who loves its light;

See thy beloved Adam,

O thou, who art alone

Joy of the world, and dear delight of man.
Lurcone. Dread the approach of evil!
Guliar. Dread the deceit of hell!

Eve. By sovereign content

I feel my tongue enchain'd,

But tho' my voice be mute,

My countenance may seem more eloquent,
Expressing, tho' in silence, all my joy.
Adam. O my companion dear!

Lurcone. And soon perchance thy foe!