Imbrowned the noon-tide bowers. Thus was this place Groves, whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm; If true, here only), and of delicious taste. Of some irriguous3 valley spread her store;- Was gathered, which cost Čeres all that pain Castalian spring, might with this Paradise Of Eden strive. (1) Groves, &c.-"In the description of Paradise, the poet has observed Aristotle's rule of lavishing all the ornaments of diction on the weak, inactive parts of the fable, which are not supported by the beauty of sentiment and character."-Addison. (2) Hesperian fables, &c.-i. e. "What is said of the Hesperian gardens is true here only; if all is not pure invention, this garden was meant."-Richardson. (3) Irriguous-well-watered, full of springs and rills. (4) Mantling-covering as with a mantle, spreading luxuriantly. (5) While universal Pan, &c.—“The ancients personified everything. Pan is Nature, the Graces are the beautiful Seasons, and the Hours are the time for the production and perfection of things."-Richardson. (6) Dis-Pluto. (7) Daphne-"A grove near Antioch, in Syria, on the banks of the river Orontes; there also was the Castalian spring, of the same name with that in Greece, and extolled for its prophetic qualities."-Newton. ADAM AND EVE IN PARADISE.' Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, 5 Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair (1) "Paradise Lost," book iv. "The description of Adam and Eve, as they first appeared to Satan, is exquisitely drawn, and sufficient to make the fallen angel gaze upon them with all that astonishment and those emotions of envy, in which he is represented."-Addison. (2) Severe, &c.-i. e. strict, but yet consistent with the freedom of children; "denoting," says Dr. Pearce, "a reverence rather than fear of the Deity." (3) Whence, &c.-i. e. from the truth, wisdom, and holiness just mentioned, which, Dr. Pearce remarks, "are qualities that give to magistrates 'true authority,' that proper authority which they may want who yet have legal authority." (4) Hyacinthine-a classical epithet, denoting black or dark brown chestnut. (5) Which implied subjection-in reference to 1 Cor. xi. 10: "the woman ought to have power on her head," where the word ovoíav is interpreted in the margin, "a covering," a sign that she is under the power of her husband. (6) Yielded, &c.-i. e. when yielded by her, &c. Adam the goodliest1 of men since born His sons; the fairest of her daughters Eve. Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain-side All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chace Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw To make them mirth used all his might, and wreathed grass Couched, and now filled with pasture gazing sat, (1) Adam the goodliest, &c.—The superlative is here used for the comparative, as sometimes in Greek. The meaning of course is that Adam was a handsomer man than any of his sons, and Eve fairer than any of her daughters. (2) Nectarine-as sweet as nectar. (3) Recline-reclining. (4) Ramped-" Stood on his two hinder legs in the posture of climbing; from the French ramper, to climb. In heraldry, a lion in this attitude is said to be rampant."-Richardson. (5) Wove with Gordian, &c.-Wove his twisted tail into a complicated braid, like the famous Gordian knot. (6) Bedward ruminating—“ Chewing the cud before they go to rest."-Hume. (7) Ocean isles-the islands in the western ocean. (8) The ascending scale, &c.—A metaphor for the changes of day and night, as if, like a balance, the one ascended as the other sank. EVENING IN PARADISE. Now came still evening on, and twilight grey Apparent queen, unveiled her peerless light, More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth: (1) Now came, &c.-" Words cannot furnish out a more lovely description. The greatest poets in all ages have, as it were, vied with one another in their descriptions of evening and night; but for the variety of numbers and pleasing images, I know of nothing parallel or comparable to this to be found among all the treasures of ancient or modern poetry."-Newton. (2) Descant-a song with various modulations. (3) The timely dew of sleep-" Did not the beauty of the poetry keep the mind awake, the words would lull the reader insensibly."-Richardson. (4) Manuring-from the French manœuvrer, to work with the hands-manual labour;-a very unusual sense of the word. Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, God is thy law, thou mine: to know no more THE MORNING HYMN IN PARADISE.6 "THESE are 7 Thy glorious works, Parent of good, (1) Author-because Eve was made out of Adam. (2) Seasons-the different periods and changes of the day, not of the year; this sense is determined by the lines that follow. (3) Sweet is the breath, &c.-Addison remarks that "the variety of images in this passage is infinitely pleasing," and that "the recapitulation of each image, with a little varying of the expression, makes one of the finest turns of words" he had ever See "Tatler," No. 114. seen. (4) Charm-i. e. song, from carmen, a song. (5) Solemn bird-Milton calls the nightingale "most melancholy" in "Il Penseroso;" in both passages, referring rather to the circumstances under which the bird sings than to the tone of its music. (6) "Paradise Lost," book v. (7) These are, &c." The morning hymn is written in imitation of one of those psalms [the 148th for instance] where, in the overflowings of gratitude and praise, |