Comes this way moving; feems another morn Ris'n on mid-noon; fome great beheft from Hea

ven

To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchfafe
This day to be our guest. But go with speed,
And what thy ftores contain, bring forth, and
Abundance, fit to honour and receive [pour
Our heav'nly stranger: well we may afford
Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow
From large beftow'd, where Nature multiplies
Her fertile growth, and by disburd'ning grows
More fruitful, which inftructs us not to fpare.

To whom thus Eve. Adam, earth's hallow'd
mould,

Of God infpir'd, fmall store will ferve, where ftore,
All feasons, ripe for ufe, hangs on the staik;
Save what by frugal ftoring firmness gains
To nourish, fuperfluous moist confumes :
But I will hafte, and from each bough and brake,
Each plant and jucieft gourd, will pluck fuch choice
To entertain our Angel gueft, as he
Beholding fhall confefs, that here on earth
God hath difpens'd his bounties as in Heaven.

So faying, with dispatchful looks in haste
She turns, on hofpitable thoughts intent,
What choice to choose for delicacy beft,
What order, fo contriv'd as not to mix
Taftes, not well join'd, inelegant, but bring
Tafte after tafte upheld with kindlieft change;
Beftirs her then, and from each tender ftalk
Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields
In India East or Weft, or middle shore
In Pontus or the Punic coaft, or where
Alcinous reign'd, fruit of all kinds, in coat
Rough or smooth rin'd, or bearded husk, or fhell,
She gathers, tribute large, and on the board
Heaps with unfparing hand; for drink the grape
She crushes, inoffenfive muft, and meaths
From many a berry', and from fweet kernels prefs'd
She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold
Wants her fit veffels pure; then ftrows the ground
With rofe and odours from the fhrub unfum'd.

Meanwhile our primitive great fire, to meet His god-like gueft, walks forth, without more

train

Whom thus th' angelic Virtue answer'd mild. Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou fuch Created, or fuch place haft here to dwell, As may not oft invite, tho' Sp'rits of Heaven, To vifit thee; lead on then where thy bower O'erfhades; for thefe mid-hours, till ev'ning rife, I have at will. So to the fylvan lodge They came, that like Pomona's arbour fmil'd With flow'rets deck'd and fragrant fmells; but

Eve

Undeck'd, fave with herfelf, more lovely fair
Than Wood-Nymph,or the fairest Goddess feign'd
Of three that in mount Ida naked ftrove,
Stood to' entertain her guest from heav'n; no veil
She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm
Alter'd her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail
Bestow'd, the holy falutation us'd

Long after to bleft Mary, fecond Eve.

Hail Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb
Shall fill the world more numerous with thy fons,
Than with thefe various fruits the trees of God
Have heap'd this table. Rais'd of graffy turf
Their table was, and mofly feats had round,
And on her ample square from fide to fide
All autumn pil'd, tho' spring and autumn here
Danc'd hand in hand. A while difcourfe they
hold:

No fear left dinner cool; when thus began
Our author. Heav'nly ftranger, please to tafte
These bounties, which our Nourifher, from whom
All perfect good, unmeafur'd out, defcends,
To us for food and for delight hath caus'd
The earth to yield; unfavoury food perhaps
To fpiritual natures; only this I know,
That one celeftial Father gives to all.

To whom the angel. Therefore what he gives
(Whofe praife be ever fung) to Man in part
Spiritual, may of pureft Sp'rits be found
No' ingrateful food and food alike those pure
Intelligential fubftances require,

[tafte,

As doth your rational; and both contain
Within them every lower faculty
Of fenfe, whereby they hear, fee, fmell, touch,
Tafting concoct, digest, affimilate,
And corporeal to incorporeal turn.

For know, whatever was created, needs
To be fuftain'd and fed; of elements
The groffer feeds the purer, earth the fea,
Earth and the fea feed air, the air those fires
Ethereal, and as lowest first the moon;
Whence in her vifage round thofe fpots unpurg'd
Vapours not yet into her fubftance turn'd.
Nor doth the moon no nourishments exhale
From her moist continent to higher orbs.
The fun, that light imparts to all, receives
From all his alimental recompenfe

In humid exhalations, and at even

Sups with the ocean. Though in Heav'n the trees
Of life ambrofial fruitage bear, and vines
Yield nectar; through from off the boughs each

morn

We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground
Cover'd with pearly grain: yet God hath here
Varied his bounty fo with new delights,
As may compare with Heaven; and to tafte

Ye mifts and exhalations that now rife
From hill or fleaming lake, dufky or grey,
Till the fun paint your fleecy skirts with gold,
In bonour to the world's great Author rife,
Whether to deck with clouds th' uncolour'd fky,
Or wet the thirty earth with falling showers,
Rifing or falling, ftill advance his praife.

His praife, ye winds, that from four quarters blow,
Breathe foft or loud; and wave your tops, ye |
Pines,

With every plant, in fign of worship wave.
Fountains, and ye that warble, as ye flow,
Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praife.
Join voices, all ye living fouls: ye Birds,
That, finging, up to Heaven gate afcend,
Bear on your wings, and in your notes his praife.
Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk
The earth, and ftately tread, or lowly creep;
Witness if I be filent, morn, or even,
To hill or valley, fountain or fresh shade,
Made vocal by my fong, and taught his praise.
Hail! univerfal Lord, be bounteous ftill
To give us only good; and if the night
Have gather'd ought of evil, or conceal'd,
Diperie it, as now light difpels the dark.

So pray'd they innocent, and to their thoughts
Firm peace recover'd foon, and wonted calm.
On to their morning's rural work they hafte
Among sweet dews and flow'rs; where any row
Of fruit-trees over-woody reach'd too far
Their pamper'd boughs, and needed hands to check
Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine

To wed her elm: fhe fpous'd about him twines
Her marriageable arms, and with her brings
Her dow'r th' adopted clusters, to adorn
His barren leaves. Them thus employ'd beheld
With pity Heav'n's high King, and to him call'd
Raphael, the fociable Sp'rit, that deign'd
To travel with Tobias, and fecur'd

His marriage with the fev'n times wedded maid.

Raphael, faid he, thou hear'ft what ftir on Earth
Satan from Hell 'fcap'd through the darksome gulf
Hath rais'd in Paradife, and how disturb'd
This night the human pair, how he designs
In them at once to ruin all mankind.

Go therefore, half this day, as friend with friend,
Converse with Adam in what bow'r or shade
Thou findst him, from the heat of noon retir'd,
To refpite his day-labour with repast,
Or with repofe; and fuch difcourfe bring on
As may advise him of his happy state,
Happiness in his pow'r left free to will,
Left to his own free will, his will tho' free,
Yet mutable; whence warn him to beware
He fwerve not too fecure: tell him withal
His danger, and from whom; what enemy,
Late fall'n himfelf from Heav'n, is plotting now
The fall of others from like ftate of blifs;
By violence? no; for that fhall be withstood;
But by deceit and lies; this let him know,
Left, wilfully tranfgreffing, he pretend
Surprifal, unadmonish'd, unforewarn'd.

So fpake th' eternal Father, and fulfill'd
All juftice: nor delay'd the winged Saint
After Lis charge receiv'd; but from among

Thousand celeftial Ardors, where he flood [lights
Veil'd with his gorgeous wings, up fpringing
Flew through the midft of Heav'n; th' angelic
quires,

On each hand parting, to his fpeed gave way
Through all th' empyreal road; till at the gate
Of Heav'n arriv'd, the gate felf-open'd wide,
On golden hinges turning, as by work
Divine, the Sovereign architect had fram'd.
From hence no cloud, or, to obstruct his fight,
Star interpos'd, however fmall he fees,
Not unconform to other fhining globes,
Earth, and the gard'n of God, with cedars
crown'd

Above all hills. As when by night the glass
Of Galileo, lefs affur'd, obferves
Imagin'd lands and regions in the moon;
Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades,
Delos or Samos, first appearing, kens

A cloudy fpot. Down thither prone in flight
He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky
Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady
wing.

Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan
Winnows the buxom air; till within foar
Of tow'ring eagles, to' all the fowls he seems
A Phoenix, gaz'd by all, as that sole bird,
When to infhrine his reliques in the fun's
Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies.
At once on th'eaftern cliff of Paradife
He lights, and to his proper fhape returns
A Seraph wing'd; fix wings he wore, to shade
His lineaments divine; the pair that clad
Each fhoulder broad, came mantling o'er his
With regal ornament; the middle pair
Girt like a ftarry zone his wafte, and round
Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold
And colours dipt in Heav'n; the third his feet
Shadow'd from either heel with feather'd mail,
Sky-tinctur'd grain. Like Maia's fon he stood,
And fhook his plumes, that heav'nly fragrance
fill'd

[breaft

The circuit wide. Strait knew him all the bands
Of Angels under watch; and to his state,
And to his meffage high in honour rife;
For on fome meffage high they guefs'd him bound.
Their glittering tents he pafs'd, and now is come
Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh,
And flow'ring odours, caffia, nard, and balm
A wilderness of fweets; for Nature here
Wanton'd as in her prime, and play'd at will
Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet,
Wild above rule or art; enormous blifs.
Him through the fpicy foreft onward come
Adam difcern'd, as in the door he fat

Of his cool bow'r, while now the mounted fun
Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm [needs:
Earth's inmoft womb, more warmth than Adam
And Eve within, due at her hour prepar'd
For dinner favoury fruits, of taste to please
True appetite, and not difrelish thirst [ftream,
Of nect'rous draughts between, from milky
Berry or grape: to whom thus Adam call'd.

Hafte hither, Eve, and worth thy fight behold Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape

Comes this way moving; feems another morn Ris'n on mid-noon; fome great beheft from Hea

ven

To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe
This day to be our guest. But go with speed,
And what thy ftores contain, bring forth, and
Abundance, fit to honour and receive [pour
Our heav'nly stranger: well we may afford
Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow
From large beftow'd, where Nature multiplies
Her fertile growth, and by disburd'ning grows
More fruitful, which inftructs us not to spare.

To whom thus Eve. Adam, earth's hallow'd
mould,

Of God infpir'd, small store will serve, where store,
All feafons, ripe for ufe, hangs on the stalk;
Save what by frugal ftoring firmness gains
To nourish, fuperfluous moift confumes :

But I will hafte, and from each bough and brake,
Each plant and jucieft gourd, will pluck fuch choice
To entertain our Angel gueft, as he
Beholding fhall confefs, that here on earth
God hath difpens'd his bounties as in Heaven.

So faying, with dispatchful looks in hafte
She turns, on hofpitable thoughts intent,
What choice to choose for delicacy beft,
What order, fo contriv'd as not to mix
Taftes, not well join'd, inelegant, but bring
Tate after tafte upheld with kindlieft change;
Beftirs her then, and from each tender stalk
Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields
In India Eaft or Weft, or middle shore
In Pontus or the Punic coast, or where
Alcinous reign'd, fruit of all kinds, in coat
Rough or fmooth rin'd, or bearded hufk, or fhell,
She gathers, tribute large, and on the board
Heaps with unfparing hand; for drink the grape
She crushes, inoffenfive muft, and meaths
From many a berry', and from fweet kernels prefs'd
She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold
Wants her fit veffels pure; then strows the ground
With rofe and odours from the fhrub unfum'd.

Meanwhile our primitive great fire, to meet His god-like guest, walks forth, without more

train

Accompanied than with his own complete
Perfections; in himself was all his ftate,
More folemn than the tedious pomp that waits
On princes, when their rich retinue long
Of horfes led, and grooms befmear'd with gold,
Dazzles the crowd, and fets then all agape.
Nearer his prefence Adam, tho' not aw'd,
Yet with fubmifs approach and reverence meek,
As to' a fuperior nature, bowing low,
Thus faid. Native of Heav'n, for other place
None can than Heav'n fuch glorious fhape con-
tain;

Since by defcending from the thrones above,
Those happy places thou haft deign'd a while
To want, and honour these, vouchsafe with us
Two' only, who yet by fov'reign gift poffefs
This fpacious ground, in yonder fhady bower
To reft, and what the garden choiceft bears
To fit and tafte, till this meridian heat
Be over, and the fun more cool decline.

Whom thus th' angelic Virtue answer'd mild. Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou fuch Created, or fuch place haft here to dwell, As may not oft invite, tho' Sp'rits of Heaven, To vifit thee; lead on then where thy bower O'erfhades; for thefe mid-hours, till ev'ning rife, I have at will. So to the sylvan lodge They came, that like Pomona's arbour fmil'd With flow'rets deck'd and fragrant fmelis; but Eve

Undeck'd, fave with herfelf, more lovely fair Than Wood-Nymph,or the fairest Goddess feign'd Of three that in mount Ida naked ftrove, Stood to' entertain her guest from heav'n; no veil | She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm Alter'd her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail Bestow'd, the holy falutation us'd

Long after to bleft Mary, fecond Eve.

Hail Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb Shall fill the world more numerous with thy fons, Than with thefe various fruits the trees of God Have heap'd this table. Rais'd of graffy turf Their table was, and mofly feats had round, And on her ample square from fide to fide All autumn pil'd, tho' spring and autumn here Danc'd hand in hand. A while difcourfe they

hold:

No fear left dinner cool; when thus began
Our author. Heav'nly ftranger, please to tafte
These bounties, which our Nourifher, from whom
All perfect good, unmeafur'd out, defcends,
To us for food and for delight hath caus'd
The earth to yield; unfavoury food perhaps
To fpiritual natures; only this I know,
That one celeftial Father gives to all.

To whom the angel. Therefore what he gives
(Whofe praife be ever fung) to Man in part
Spiritual, may of pureft Spirits be found
No' ingrateful food ; and food alike those pure
Intelligential fubftances require,

As doth your rational; and both contain
Within them every lower faculty

[tafte,

Of fenfe, whereby they hear, fee, fmell, touch,
Tafting concoct, digest, affimilate,
And corporeal to incorporeal turn.
For know, whatever was created, needs
To be fuftain'd and fed; of elements
The groffer feeds the purer, earth the fea,
Earth and the fea feed air, the air those fires
Ethereal, and as lowest first the moon;
Whence in her vifage round thofe fpots unpurg'd
Vapours not yet into her fubftance turn'd.
Nor doth the moon no nourishments exhale
From her moift continent to higher orbs.
The fun, that light imparts to all, receives
From all his alimental recompenfe

In humid exhalations, and at even

Sups with the ocean. Though in Heav'n the trees
Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines
Yield nectar; through from off the boughs each

morn

We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground
Cover'd with pearly grain: yet God hath here
Varied his bounty fo with new delights,
As may compare with Heaven; and to tafte

Think not I shall be nice.. So down they fat,
And to their viands fell; nor feemingly
The Angel, nor in mift, the common glofs
The Theologians; but with keen dispatch
Of real hunger, and concoctive heat

To tranfubftantiate: what redounds, tranfpires
Through Spirits with ease ; nor wonder, if by fire
Of footy coal th' empiric alchemist
Can turn, or holds it poffible to turn,
Metals of droffieft ore to perfect gold

As from the mine. Mean while at table Eve
Minister'd naked, and their flowing cups
With pleasant liquors crown'd: O innocence
Deferving Paradise ! if ever, then,

Then had the fons of God excufe to have been
Enamour'd at that fight; but in those hearts
Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor jealousy
Was understood, the injur'd lover's Hell.

Thus when with meats and drinks they had fuffic'd,

Not burden'd nature, sudden mind arofe
In Adam, not to let th' occafion pass
Giv'n him by this great conference, to know
Of things above his world, and of their being
Who dwell in Heav'n, whose excellence he faw
Tranfcend his own so far, whose radiant forms
Divine effulgence, whose high pow'r so far
Exceeded human, and his wary speech
Thus to th' impyreal minister he fram'd.
Inhabitant with God, now know I well
Thy favour, in this honour done to Man,
Under whofe lowly roof thou haft vouchsaf'd
To enter, and thefe earthly fruits to tafte,
Food not of Angels, yet accepted fo,

As that more willingly thou couldst not feem
At Heav'n's high feafts to' have fed: yet; what
compare?

To whom the winged Hierarch reply'd. O Adam, one Almighty is, from whom All things proceed, and up to him return, If not deprav'd from good, created all Such to perfection, one first matter all, Indued with various forms, various degrees Of fubitance, and in things that live, of life; But more refin'd, more fpiritous, and pure, As nearer to him plac d, or nearer tending Each in their feveral active spheres affign'd, Till body up to fpirit work, in bounds Proportion'd to each kind. So from the root Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the

leaves

More airy, last the bright confummate flower
Spirits odorous breathes: flow'rs and their fruit,
Man's nourishment, by gradual scale fublim'd,
To vital fpirits afpire, to animal,

To intellectual; give both life and fenfe,
Fancy and understanding; whence the foul
Reafon receives, and reason is her being,
Difcurfive, or intuitive; difcourfe

Is ofteft yours, the latter most is ours,
Differing but in degree, of kind the fame.
Wonder not then, what God for you saw good
If I refufe not, but convert, as you,

To proper fubftance: time may come, when Men
With Angels may participate, and find

No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare;
And from these corporal nutriments perhaps
Your bodies may at last turn all to fpirit,
Improv'd by tract of time, and wing'd afcend
Ethereal, as we, or may at choice
Here or in heav'nly Paradifes dwell;
If ye be found obedient, and retain
Unalterably firm his love entire,
Whofe progeny you are. Mean while enjoy
Your fill what happiness this happy state
Can comprehend, incapable of more.

To whom the patriarch of mankind reply'd.
O favourable Spirit, propitious guest,
Well haft thou taught the way that might direct
Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set
From centre to circumference, whereon
In contemplation of created things

By fteps we may afccnd to God. But fay,
What meant that caution join'd, If ye be found
Obedient? can we want obedience then
To him, or poffibly his love defert,
Who form'd us from the duft, and plac'd us here
Full to the utmost measure of what blifs
Human defires can feek or apprehend?

To whom the Angel. Son of Heav n and Earth,
Attend: That thou art happy, owe to God;
That thou continueft fuch, owe to thyself,
That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.
This was that caution giv'n thee; be advifd.
God made thee perfect, not immutable;
And good he made thee, but to persevere
He left it in thy pow'r; ordain'd thy will
By nature free, not over-rul'd by fate
Inextricable, or strict neceflity:
Our voluntary service he requires,
Not our neceffitated; fuch with him
Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how
Can hearts, not free, be try'd whether they serve
Willing or no, who will but what they must
By destiny, and can no other choose?
Myfelf and all th' angelic host, that stand
In fight of God enthron'd, our happy state
Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;
On other furety none; freely we ferve,
Because we freely love, as in our will
To love or not; in this we ftand or fall: 1
And fome are fall'n, to difobedience fall'n,
And fo from Heav'n to deepest Hell; O fall
From what high state of blifs into what woe!

To whom our great progenitor. Thy words Attentive, and with more delighted ear, Divine inftructor, I have heard, than when Cherubic fongs by night from neighb'ring hills Aereal mufic fend: nor knew I not To be both will and deed created free; Yet that we never fhall forget to love Our Maker, and obey him whose command Single is yet fo juft, my constant thoughts Aflur'd me, and ftill affure: though what thou tell'at

Hath paff'd in Heav'n, fome doubt within me But more defire to hear, if thou confent, [move, The full relation, which must needs be strange, Worthy of facred filence to be heard;

And we have yet large day, for fcarce the fun

Hath finifh'd half his journey, and fearce begins
His other half in the great zone of Heav'n.

Thus Adam made requeft; and Raphael
After fhort paufe affenting, thus began.

High matter thou injoin'ft me, O prime of men,
Sad talk and hard; for how fhall I relate
To human fenfe th' invifible exploits
Of warring Spirits? how without remorfe
The ruin of fo many glorious once

And perfect while they ftood? how last unfold
The fecrets of another world, perhaps
Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good
This is difpens'd; and what furmounts the reach
Of human fenfe, I fhall delineate so,
By likening fpiritual to corporal forms,

As may express them beft; though what if Earth
Be but the fhadow of Heav'n, and things therein
Each to other like, more than on earth is thought?
As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild
Reign d where thefe Heav'ns now roll, where
Earth now refts

Upon her centre pois'd; when on a day
(For time, though in eternity, apply'd
To motion, measures all things durable
By prefent, paft, and future) on such day

As Heav'n's great year brings forth, the empyreal
Of Angels by imperial fummons call'd, [hoft
Innumerable before th' Almighty's throne
Forthwith from all the ends of Heav'n appear'd
Under their Hierarchs in orders bright:
Ten thousand thousand enfigns high advanc'd,
Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear
Stream in the air, and for diftin&tion serve
Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees;
Or in their glittering tiflues bear imblaz'd
Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love
Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs
Of circuit inexpreffible they ftood,
Orb within orb, the Father infinite,
By whom in blifs imbofom'd fat the Son,
Amidft as from a flaming mount, whofe top
Brightnefs had made invifible, thus spake.

Hear all ye Angels, progeny of light,
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues,
Powers,

Hear my decree, which unrevok'd shall stand.
This day I have begot whom I declare
My only Son, and on this holy hill
Him have anointed, whom ye now behold
At my right hand; your head I him appoint;
And by myself have fworn to him shall bow
All knees in Heav'n, and shall confefs him Lord;
Under his great vice-gerent reign abide
United as one individual foul

For ever happy: Him who disobeys,
Me difobeys, breaks union, and that day,
Caft out from God and bleffed vifion, falls
Into utter darkness, deep ingulf'd, his place
Ordain'd without redemption, without end.

So fpake th' Omnipotent, and with his words
All feem'd well pleas'd; all feem'd, but were not
That day, as other folemn days, they spent [all.
In fong and dance about the facred hill;
Myftical dance, which yonder starry sphere
Of planets and of fix'd in all her wheels

Refembles nearest, maze, intricate, Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular

Then moft, when moft irregular they feem;
And in their motions harmony divine

So fmooths, her charming tones, that God's own

ear

Liftens delighted. Evening now approach'd
(For we have alto our evening and our morn,
We ours for change delectable, not need)
Forthwith from dance to fweet repaft they turn
Defirous; all in circles as they stood,
Tables are fet, and on a fudden pil'd

With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows
In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold,
Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven.
On flow'rs repos'd, and with fresh flow rets
crown'd,

They cat, they drink, and in communion sweet
Quaff immortality and joy, fecure

of furfeit where fuil measure only bounds
Excefs, before th' all-bounteous King, who fhowr`d
With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy.
Now when ambrofial night with clouds exhal'd
From that high mount of God, whence light and
fhade

Spring both, the face of brightest Heav'n had chang'd

To grateful twilight (for night comes not there
In darker veil) and rofeat dews difpos'd
All but th' unfleeping eyes of God to reft;
Wide over all the plain, and wider far,
Than all this globous earth in plain outfpread,
(Such are the courts of God) th' angelic throng,
Difpers'd in bands and files, their camp extend
By living ftreams among the trees of life,
Pavilions numberlefs, and fudden rear'd,
Celestial tabernacles, where they flept

Fann'd with cool winds; fave thofe who in their courfe

Melodious hymns about the fovran throne
Alternate all night long: but not so wak'd
Satan; fo call him now, his former name
Is heard no more in Heav'n; he of the first,
If not the first Arch-Angel, great in power,
In favour and præeminence, yet fraught
With envy against the fon of God, that day
Honour'd by his great Father, and proclaim'd
Meffiah King anointed, could not bear
Through pride that fight, and thought himself im-
pair'd.

Deep malice thence conceiving and difdain,
Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour
Friendlieft to fleep and filence, he refolv'd
With all his legions to diflodge, and leave
Unworfhipt, unobey'd, the throne fupreme
Contemptuous, and his next fubordinate
Awak'ning, thus to him in fecret spake.
Sleep'it thou, Companion dear, what fleep can

clofe

Thy eye-lids? and remember's what decree
Of yesterday, fo late hath pafs'd the lips
Of Heav'n's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts
Was wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart ;
Both walking we were one; how then can now
Thy fleep diffent? New laws thou feest impos'd;