ADAM AND EVE IN PARADISE.

Now came still evening on, and twilight grey

Had in her sober livery all things clad.

Silence accompanied: for beast and bird,

They to their grassy couch, these to their nests,

Were slunk—all but the wakeful nightingale:

She, all night long, her am'rous descant sung.

Silence was pleased. Now glow'd the firmament

With living sapphires: Hesperus, that led

The starry host, rode brightest; till the moon,

Rising in clouded majesty, at length,

Apparent queen, unveil'd her peerless light,

And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw—

When Adam thus to Eve: "Fair consort, the hour

Of night, and all things now retired to rest,

'Mind us of like repose: since God hath set

Labour and rest, as day and night, to men

Successive; and the timely dew of sleep,

Now falling with soft slumberous weight,

Inclines our eyelids."—

To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorn'd:

"My author and disposer, what thou bidst

Unargued I obey. So God ordains.

With thee conversing I forget all time,

All seasons and their change: all please alike.

Sweet is the breath of morn—her rising sweet,

With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the sun,

When first on this delightful land he spreads

His orient beams on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,

Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth

After short show'rs; and sweet the coming on

Of grateful evening mild—then silent night,

With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon,

And these the gems of heav'n, her starry train:

But neither breath of morn, when she ascends

With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun

On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower

Glistering with dew, nor fragrance after showers,

Nor grateful evening mild; nor silent night,

With this her solemn bird; nor walk by moon

Or glitt'ring starlight, without thee is sweet."—

Thus talking, hand in hand alone they pass'd

On to their blissful bower.

Thus at their shady lodge arrived, both stood,

Both turn'd, and under open sky adored

The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven,

Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe,

And starry pole. "Thou also madest the night,

Maker Omnipotent! and Thou the day,

Which we, in our appointed work employ'd,

Have finish'd; happy in our mutual help

And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss

Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place,

For us too large, where thy abundance wants

Partakers, and uncropt, falls to the ground.

But Thou hast promised from us two a race

To fill the earth, who shall with us extol

Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,

And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep."

Milton.