Poems, moral and descriptive By the late Richard Jago ... (Prepared for the press, and improved by the author, before his death.) To which is added, some account of the life and writings of Mr. Jago |
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| RECITATIVE. |
 | Poems, moral and descriptive |  |
RECITATIVE.
EVE.What tidings bring'st thou, Adam! from this new guest
Angelical, so late arriv'd? Alas!
My trembling heart forebodes some further ill;
For far less mild methought his aspect seem'd,
Than Raphael's, social spirit! who wont so oft
To sit indulgent with us, and partake
Rural repast, permitting us the while
Venial discourse unblam'd. What tidings? say.
ADAM.
Our pray'rs are heard in Heav'n, and Death our due
By sentence then, when first we did transgress,
Is of his prey defeated many days
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So God appeas'd, from his rapacious claim
Will quite redeem us, and to life restore.
But longer in this Paradise to dwell,
As not befitting creatures stain'd with sin,
He suffers not, but sends us forth to till
The ground from whence he took us, fitter soil!
EVE.
AIR. AFFETUOSO.
“O! unexpected stroke, worse than of death!“Must I then leave thee, Paradise, thus leave
“Thee, native soil! These happy walks, and shades,
“Fit haunt of Gods! where I had hope to spend
“Quiet, tho' sad the respite of that day,
“That must be mortal to us both. O flow'rs!
“That never will in other climate grow,
“My early visitation, and my last
“At ev'n, which I bred up with tender hand,
“From the first op'ning bud, and gave you names,
“Who now shall rear you to the sun, and rank
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“Thee lastly, nuptial bow'r! by me adorn'd
“With what to sight, or smell was sweet; from thee
“How shall I part, and whither wander down
“Into a lower world, to this obscure,
“And wild; how shall we breathe in other air
“Less pure, accustom'd to immortal fruits?”
ADAM.
Lament not, Eve! but patiently resign
What justly we have lost, nor set thine heart
Thus overfond on that which is not ours.
Thy going is not lonely—I will guard
Thy steps from harm, and all thy wants supply.
EVE.
Adam! I feel within new life, new hopes
By Heav'n, and thee inspir'd. Then now lead on,
In me is no delay. “With thee to go,
“Is to stay here. Without thee here to stay,
“Is to go hence unwilling. Thou to me
“Art all things under Heav'n, all places thou!
“Who for my wilful crime art banish'd hence.”
This further consolation yet secure
I carry hence—tho' all by me is lost,
Such favour I unworthy am vouchsaf'd,
By me the promis'd Seed shall all restore.
By Heav'n, and thee inspir'd. Then now lead on,
In me is no delay. “With thee to go,
“Is to stay here. Without thee here to stay,
“Is to go hence unwilling. Thou to me
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“Who for my wilful crime art banish'd hence.”
This further consolation yet secure
I carry hence—tho' all by me is lost,
Such favour I unworthy am vouchsaf'd,
By me the promis'd Seed shall all restore.
So spake our mother Eve. And Adam heard
Well pleas'd, but answer'd not. For now too nigh
The Cherubim advanc'd; and, in their front,
The brandish'd sword of God before them blaz'd,
Fierce as a comet, which, with torrid-heat,
Smote on that clime, so late their blest abode!
Some nat'ral tears they drop'd, but wip'd them soon:
The world was all before them, where to chuse
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide.
Well pleas'd, but answer'd not. For now too nigh
The Cherubim advanc'd; and, in their front,
The brandish'd sword of God before them blaz'd,
Fierce as a comet, which, with torrid-heat,
Smote on that clime, so late their blest abode!
Some nat'ral tears they drop'd, but wip'd them soon:
The world was all before them, where to chuse
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide.
CHORUS. ALLEGRO.
“The world was all before them, where to chuse“Their place of rest, and Providence their guide.”
| Poems, moral and descriptive | |