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our poet's style and genius. In this act, Apollyon having been sent by 

 Lucifer to the earth, in order to furnish a strict account of Adam and 

 of his happiness, returns, and, after a few introductory sentences, he is 

 asked by — 



Beelzebub — Tell us wliat thou beheld'st — we listen keenly. 

 AroLLYON — How I descended rapidly and sank, 



Sank through the ninefold spliery Universe, 



Whose orbs Ulimitably sprinkled whirl 



Amid their glowing centres — will I not 



DUate on, but your curious appetites 



Appease. The wheel of thought revolves less fast 



Than I beneath the moon and cope 



Terrestrial, like meteor did glide — 



There hung suspended on my ruffled feathers 



Gazing th' orient climate to discern. 



O favoured portion of a gorgeous whole ! 



Round it salt oceans flow, in whose turmoil 



Huge scaly monsters flounder ! From afar 



Is \isible a lofty mountain, whence 



A waterfall, the mother of four streams, 



Eushes towards the vale 1 I steepUy, 



With head inclined and pinions cowering, 



Drooped down and settled on the mountain's brow, 



From which I noted man's delightful home — 



The world below and all its loveliness. 

 Beelzebub — Describe to us that region and its form. 

 Apollyon — Bound, Uke the globe it forms the garden of, 



r th' midst the mountain rises. Bursting thence 



In mighty torrents the pure ciystal stream, 



Quadruply flowing, waters all the land — 



Meandeiing in a thousand foodful brooks 



As clear as light, their tiny beds thick sown 



With peails and grains of gold and ruddy shells. 



Trees, plants, and flowers ambrosial deck the banks 



By river and by rill. The Onjrxstone 



There sparkles, and the precious Bdellium glows 



In rich profusion. Little pebbly shores 



Breed stai-ry gems in clusters and with foam. 



And e'en the veiy meadows seem to burn 



With veins of gold. 

 Belial — What kind of atmosphere 



Floats where this new- wrought creature Man sustains 



The weight of empire ? 

 Apollyon — Not a chei-ub fair 



Of our celestial host has sweeter breath 



Than the fresh spirit of health that revels there. 



Blessing and sweetening all. The pastures teem 



AVith muny-coloured herblets, odorous buds, 



