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EVE'S ADDRESS TO ADAM. 1 



( Paraphrase from Milton . ) 



THUS answered Eve in that soft dreamy light 



" My author and disposer, I obey 

 Whate'er thou bidst this is ray chief delight ; 



God is thy law, my faith to thee I pay : 



This is my happiest knowledge to display 

 Unbounded trust in thee, Lord of my heart ! 



With thee conversing, time flies fast away ; 

 Seasons may change, night come, and day depart; 

 From all created things I worship thee apart. 



" Glorious is all the world, sweet is the morn, 



Sweet is her odorous breath and rosy light ; 

 Pleasant the sun, when his first beams adorn 



Herb, tree, and flower, sparkling with dew-drops bright: 



Fragrant the earth, that smiles with glad delight 

 After soft showers ; and sweet is evening mild 



With this the silver moon, and sweet is night 

 With these her gems, and the lone bird, sweet child 

 Of music, warbling to its mate its love-notes wild. 



" But neither is the morn, nor rising sun, 



Nor this bright land, nor herbs, nor fruits, nor flowers, 

 Nor charm of earliest birds, whose songs forerun 



The herald of the day, nor fragrance after showers, 



Nor grateful evening, mild, with silent hours,' 

 Nor walk by moon or trembling star-light sweet, 



Nor yet the solemn bird, who lonely pours 



Her thrilling lays, nor night with downy feet ; 



Without thee these were death, but with thee bliss complete." 



* It is our intention to give occasional paraphrases of some of the unnumbered 

 beauties of Milton, in order to attract attention to their " divine " originals. It is 

 indeed a gratifying sign of the times to observe that the public taste seems to be 

 veering towards the healthy and vigorous productions of our earlier poets. Many 

 thanks are due to " Blackwood " on this score. ED. M. 



M.M. No. 4. 3 F 



