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ADAM AND EVE IN PARADISE. 



(Paraphrase from Milton.} 

 BY P. GASKELL, ESQ. 



HALF-SITTING, half-reclined, with love-born smiles, 



Upon a verdant bank, damask'd with flowers, 

 The graceful pair repose ; and amorous wiles 



And youthful dalliance wing the fleeting hours; 



"While round and over-head each song-bird pours 

 Its own love-ditty to its nestling mate : 



Cloudless the deep blue sky no tempest lowers ; 

 Peace brooding o'er the earth in gladness sate ; 

 And innocence was there, and love with looks elate. 



In sportive play creatures since then all wild 

 Came frisking round the Lion and the Bear 



Dandled the kid ; and as the kid were mild. 

 Tigers and Leopards with the Lamb made lair : 

 And the huge Elephant wreath'd high in air 



His lithe proboscis ; and the Serpent sly 

 Glided with easy curves, in beauty rare 



Or coil'd his braided train, with glittering eye, 



Giving unheeded proofs of guile and subtlety. 



Thus pass'd the day ; and in the glowing west 



Slowly the Sun declined, and evening came : 

 Then spoke our Sire " Fair Eve ! my own, my best ! 



How poor these joys without thee ! and how tame ! 



How cold, how passionless, and without aim ! 

 Gracious must be the power, and great his might 



That framed this happy world ! Bless'd be his name ! 

 He form'd thee, Eve ! sole crown of my delight : 

 Without thee all were dead and day the darkest night ! 



" He placed us here, with this one easy charge 

 To shun the Tree of Knowledge, and its fruit : 



All else is ours dominion high and large. 

 Easy obedience ! how can we pollute 

 Our happy world, or bring life's substitute, 



Dread Death some fearful thing by Him foretold- 

 By Him our gracious God should we dispute 



His sacred will, or sin its snares unfold ! 



How can we fail, sweet Eve, our simple faith to hold ! 



