And let us rise with pleasant cheer,
And with the mounting sun,
Among the groves and fountains clear,
To our employment come."
So chas'd he her sad grief away,
And to the field they haste:
But first, soon as to open day
They come, nor time to waste,
Both bowing low, together prayed
Before the rising sun;

And thus each morning duly paid,
Their orisons begun.

"These are thy works, Parent divine, [blime,
Thy hand stretch'd out these Heav'ns su-
With wond'rous power to men:
The seas, and earth, and fluid air
Are all thy works; thus wond'rous fair,
Thyself how wond'rous then!

Thou crown'st the day with thy great light,
Thy lesser rules the sable night,.

In endless circles hurl'd:

Thou wast in Heav'n forever known,
Where thou art hymn'd around thy throne,
Now in thy lower world,

Speak ye aloud who best can tell,
Ye sons of light, and all that dwell
In Heav'n or earth below;

Ye angels fair, celestial bright,
Let his praise be your chief delight,
And endless honors show.

Fair star, last in the train of night,
Forerunner sure, of coming light,
And rosy dappled morn,

Sound thou his praise at early hour,
And tell his works and wond'rous power
To nations yet unborn..
Thou sun, now rising, king of day,
Amidst thy luminous display,

Sound thou his name sublime,
Who out of darkness call'd up light
And bade thee end the frown of night.
And thy bright beams to shine.
Moon, that now meet'st the orient sun,
And changing in thy circle run,
And shed thy paler rays,

And all ye twinkling gems of Heav'n,
While ye adorn its arch at even,

Join in your Maker's praise.
Ye winds, that from four quarters blow,
Ye swelling tides, that ebb and flow,
Melod'ous murmurs sing:

Ye flocks that graze the mountain's brow,
Ye lofty pines, with verdant bough,
Your mutual tribute bring:
And all ye tribes that soar in air,
With wings unfurl'd and plumage fair,
Bear in your notes his praise:
And ye that in the waters glide,
And all that walk or creep beside,
Join the great hymn to raise.

Hail gen'ral Sire, be bounteous still
To give us good; and if of ill
The night have gathered aught,
Disperse it, now, as light the dark,
And to us e'er thy gifts impart,
Altho' we merit naught."

So pray'd they to the God of light,
And to their thoughts recover'd quite
Firm peace and wonted cheer;
And to their daily labor haste,
While yet fresh morn fair Eden grac❜d,
And glow'd through ether clear.
Them thus employ'd great God beheld,
High 'thron'd in realms of bliss s;
And to him he call'd Raphael

And gave him message this: "Raphael, thou know'st what stir below Satan, from Hell escap'd,

Hath rais'd, and what a dreadful wo
Is plotting now of late:

Go, half this day, as friend with friend,
Converse with Adam there,

In whate'er grove or shade thou find,
Or in his bower fair;

Tell him what en'my lies in wait,
Tell why he means him ill;
Advise him of his happy state,

Left free to his own will;
Lest when accus'd, he should defend

For such by nature form'd,
That he surprisal should pretend,
That he was unforewarn'd,"

So spake th' eternal Prince of light,
As future ill perceiv'd;

Nor long delay'd the seraph bright
After his charge receiv'd;

But, as due honors paid, low bow'd
In full celestial state,

And up light thro' the shining crowd
Made to the heav'nly gate,
Which, of itself, flew open wide,

Being turn'd on hinges gold,

Back to the wall of Heaven inside
Forming a double fold:

From thence through th' ether fields he flew
With swift cherubic flight,
Till earth far off, first faint in view,
And Eden next in sight,
Now on a sicamore he lights,

As feather'd songsters do,

And seem'd to all a phoenix bright,
If e'er a phoenix knew:

Then from the tree, upon the ground
He stood and shook his plumes,
The heav'nly fragrance spread around,
The circuit wide perfumes;
And on his high behest he went
The sloping woodlands through
His way to Adam's bower he bent,
Which soon appear'd in view.
The sun now, with more fervent heat,
Had gain'd his highest noon;

With rays direct on Eden beat
To warm Earth's inmost womb:

The grazing flocks forsook the meads
To shun his potent rays,

More warmth than Eve or Adam needs,
And birds suspend their lays:
And Adam from this parching heat
Retired into his bow'r,

While Eve, within, on mossy seat,
Adam sat in the door,

And looking eastward through the trees,
At first but dim discerns,
Then fair his heavenly shape he sees ;
An angel soon he learns.

Then to his bride: "Haste hither, Eve,
And worth thy sight behold,
Eastward, a stranger, through the trees,
With wings tinged with gold:
One of the Heav'nly host 't must be,
And by his gait I find

None of the meaner sort is he,
But of superior kind:

Some great behest perhaps he brings
From th' heav'nly courts above;
Qr of the band that nightly sings
Our great Creator's love:
Perhaps of doubt our minds he'll clear,
Concerning thy late dream,

And chase away corroding fear,
And make what's dark light seem :
Him not t' offend I'll go and meet,
While thou to dine prepare:
Perhaps he'll deign with us to eat
Of fruits of human fare: