RECITATIVE.
On the soft downy bank, damaskt with flow'rs,
Reclin'd they sate, when Adam first of men
To first of women Eve thus smiling spake.
ADAM.
Sole partner, and sole part of all these joys,
Dearer thyself than all! needs must the Pow'r,
That made us, and, for us, this ample world,
Be infinitely good, and, of his good
As liberal, and free as infinite;
Who rais'd us from the dust, and plac'd us here,
In all this happiness; who yet requires
From us no other service, than to keep
This one, this easy charge—Of all the Trees
In Paradise, that bear delicious fruit
So various, not to taste that only Tree
Of Knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life.
SONG.
“Then let us ever praise Him, and extol
“His bounty, following our delightful task,
“To prune these growing plants, and tend these flow'rs,
“Which, were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.”
