Which I enjoy, and muft confefs to find, I mean of tafte, fight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, Velper adeft, juvenes confurgite &c. On bis bill top, fays our author Jamque jugis fummæ furgebat Lu- Virg. Æn. II. 801. when it appear'd weftward in the evening, it was faid to be feen on mount Oeta. Virg. Ecl. VIII. 30. Sparge marite nuces, tibi deferit Hefperus Oetam. Our author therefore writes in claffical language. He does not mention any mountain by name, but fays only the evening ftar on his hill top, as appearing above the hills. And fo Spenfer fays of the fun, Fairy Queen, B. 1. Cant. 2. St. 1. 530 Com Commotion frange, in all enjoyments elfe 535 For well I understand in the prime end 540 Of nature her th' inferior, in the mind And inward faculties, which moft excel, In outward alio her refembling less His image who made both, and lefs expreffing 545 Her The character of that dominion given O'er other creatures; yet when I approach —at leak en ber befow'd In choice, but ofteft to affect the Šie much of ornament, in outward Elaborate, of invord lef's exalt.] The poet has inlarg'd upon the fame fentiment in his Samfon Agonites. Is it for that fuch outward ornament Was lavish'd on their fex, that in ward gifts Were left for hafte unfinish'd,judgment fcant, Capacity not rais'd to apprehend, Or value what is best wrong? 543 refembling less His image &c.] Mikon here feems to adopt the opinion, that the image of God in man was the dominion given to him over the creatures, contrary to the fenfe he follows at ver. 440. but this is not the only inflance, where in different places he goes upon different hypothefes, as may beft fuit with his fubject. See his different conftruction of the fons of God Her lovelinefs, fo abfolute fhe feems As one intended firft, not after made Greatness of mind and nobleness their feat Build in her lovelieft, and create an awe 550 555 To whom the Angel with contracted brow. 560 Accuse not nature, she hath done her part; Do thou but thine, and be not diffident going in to the daughters of men in Paradife Loft, and Paradife Regain'd. Thyer. 547. fo abfolute] So finish'd, fo abfolute] So finish'd, fo perfect, fo complete, as it is faid in the next line, and as the word is explain'd in the note upon ver. 421. And fo abfolu'd is ufed VII. 94. 560. To whom the Angel with contracted brow.] Thefe fenti ments of love in our firit parent gave the Angel fuch an infight into hu Of man nature, that he feems appre- Of wisdom, fhe deferts thee not, if thou Dismiss not her, when most thou needst her nigh, By attributing overmuch to things Less excellent, as thou thyself perceiv’ft. 565 570 For what admir'ft thou, what tranfports thee so, And to realities yield all her shows: Made fo adorn for thy delight the more, 68. and aortby well Thy cherishing, thy honoring, and thy love,] He maketh use of thefe three words agreeably to Scripture. So ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: be that loveth his wife, loveth himself: For no man ever yet bated bis own fieb, but nourisheth and cherisheth it. Eph. V. 28, 29. Giving honor unto the wife. Pet. III. 7. 576. Made fo adorn &c.] Thefe verfes contain a beautiful and inAtructive account of the end for which God beflowed on Eve fo much of ornament and awfulness. But two 575 So awful, that with honor thou may'st love 580 Thy mate, who fees when thou art feen leaft wife. 585 The foul of man, or paffion in him move. love refines 589. The thoughts, and heart inlarges, &c.] So Spenfer to whom our author feems to allude by his manher of expreffion. Such is the pow'r of that fweet paffion, That it all fordid bafenefs doth expel, And the refined mind doth newly fashion Spenfer's Hymn of Love. Ne fuffereth it thought of ungen- Ever to creep into his noble break; |