1076 
%* The Apostte Paul mentions the third ashen but how the Syrians disco-— 
ered a fourth the author is not 1nfermed, 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806- 
ON THE ORIGIN OF EVIL. 
From the Same. 
i EAR Seward! ever since this earth 
And all its strange contents had birth, 
Philosophers have tried their skill 
To trace the origin of ill, 
And tell why Vice and Woe prevail, 
Till trite their subject is, and stale. 
For this, the learn’d of diffrent nations 
Surprize us with such odd narrations, 
For this, the Grecian sage unlocks , 
The mischicfs of Pandora’s box, 
While Typhon fills th’ Egyptian strain, 
And Runic bards of Lok complain. 
But J, whate’er may be their boast, 
Applaud the Syrian system most, 
By which the first man—and his wife, 
In the fourth heav’n* began their life, 
And there amid those blissful plains, 
No vices knew, and felt no pains.” 
In these sad times a modern sinner, — - \ 
Without some trouble gets no dinner. 
He first, alas! must buy his meat, 
Nor then, without a cook, can eat. 
But cares like these ne’er broke their quict, 
Ambrosia was their constant diet, 
Pure food, which needs no human aid, 
Nor e’er unscemly ordure made, 
But through the skin, as sages say, 
In od’rous dews exhales away ! 
So pass’d their days, in fulldelight, 
"Lill some gross viand met their sight, 
As Jews and Christians both believe 
An apple first corrupted Eve: 
Too curious, then, and gluttons grown, 
Sudden they siez’d—and gulp’d it down. 
Scarce had they gratified their-sense © 
Ere came the dreadful consequence : 
Sharp pangs, unfelt before, they tell ye, 
Usurp’d the region of the belly, 
While the strange food, in durance pent, 
Roar’d loud and struggled for a vent. 
. fais ,  Ver'd} 
