349

Beftirs her then, and from each tender stalk
Whatever Earth all-bearing mother yields
In India East or Weft, or middle shore
In Pontus or the Punic coaft, or where
Alcinous reign'd, fruit of all kinds, in coat
Rough or fmooth rin'd, or bearded husk, or shell,
She gathers, tribute large, and on the board
Heaps with unfparing hand; for drink the grape
She crushes, inoffenfive muft, and meaths 345
From many a berry', and from sweet kernels prefs'd
She tempers dulcet creams, nor these to hold

and in Virgil, Æn. XII. 680. -hunc, oro, fine me furere ante furorem:

Wants

cian iland in the Ionian fea (now the gulf of Venice) anciently call'd Phæacia, then Corcyra, now Corfu, under the dominion of the Ve

and many more inftances might be netians. The foil is fruitful in oil, given.

wine, and moft excellent fruits, and its owner is made famous for

his gardens celebrated by Homer.

Hume.

Wants her fit veffels pure, then ftrows the ground With rofe and odors from the shrub unfum'd.

Mean while our primitive great fire, to meet 350 His God-like gueft, walks forth, without more train Accompanied than with his own complete

Perfections; in himself was all his state,

More folemn than the tedious pomp that waits
On princes, when their rich retinue long

Of horses led, and grooms besmear'd with gold,
Dazles the croud, and fets them all agape.
Nearer his prefence Adam though not aw'd,
Yet with fubmifs approach and reverence meek,

355

As to' a fuperior nature, bowing low,

360

Thus faid. Native of Heav'n, for other place

None can than Heav'n such glorious shape contain;
Since by defcending from the thrones above,

Those happy places thou haft deign'd a while
To want, and honor these, vouchsafe with us 365
Two' only, who yet by sovran gift poffefs
This fpacious ground, in yonder fhady bower
To reft, and what the garden choicest bears
To fit and taste, till this meridian heat

Be over, and the fun more cool decline,
Whom thus th' angelic Virtue answer'd mild.

370

Adam,

Turbaque miratur matrum, et as he is fitting: See my note on

profpectat euntem,

Attonitis inhians animis.

II. 917.

Pearce.

371. th' angelic Virtue] The Angel: thus Homer ufes Пeaμolo Bin the frength of Priam for Priam himself, Iliad. III. 105. and Exopμer for Hector, Iliad. XIV.

418.

Adam, I therefore came, nor art thou fuch
Created, or fuch place haft here to dwell,

As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heaven
To visit thee; lead on then where thy bower 375
O'ershades; for thefe mid-hours, till evening rise,
I have at will. So to the fylvan lodge

They came, that like Pomona's arbor fmil'd
With flow'rets deck'd and fragrant fmells; but Eve
Undeck'd fave with herself, more lovely fair 380
Than Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feign'd
Of three that in mount Ida naked ftrove,

Stood to' entertain her gueft from Heav'n; no veil
She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm
Alter'd her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail 385

378. Pomona's arbor] The Goddess of fruit-trees might well be fuppofed to have a delightful arbor, but that could not be more delightful in imagination, than this was in reality. See Ovid. Met. XIV. 623. &c.

380. Undeck'd fave with herself] This is fimplex munditiis indeed, beyond Horace's, and makes an excellent contraft to Ovid's defcription of the fine lady full drefs'd,

-

Bestow'd,

faying, Induitur, formofa eft; exuitur, ipfa forma eft. Drefs'd, the is beautiful; undrefs'd, the is beauty itself. With the fame elegance of expreffion, defcribing Adam, he has faid,

-in himself was all his ftate.

382. Of three that in mount Ida

naked ftrove,] The judgment of Paris is very well known in preferring Venus to Juno and Minerva, that is beauty to power and wisdom: a different choice pars minima eft ipfa puella fui. defir'd wifdom rather than riches from that of young Solomon, who

It calls to mind that memorable and honor.

384.- virtue

Beftow'd, the holy falutation us'd

Long after to bleft Mary, fecond Eve.

Hail Mother of Mankind, whofe fruitful womb Shall fill the world more numerous with thy fons, Than with these various fruits the trees of God 390 Have heap'd this table. Rais'd of graffy turf Their table was, and moffy feats had round, And on her ample fquare from fide to fide All autumn pil'd, though spring and autumn here Danc'd hand in hand. A while discourse they hold; No fear left dinner cool; when thus began 396 Our author. Heav'nly ftranger, please to tafte These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom All perfect good, unmeasur'd out, descends,