ARGUMENT. Invocation to the Eternal Spirit.-The subject of the Poem announced.-A period long after the Last Judgment described.— Two youthful sons of Paradise, waiting on the battlements of Heaven, observant of the return of holy messengers, or the arrival from distant worlds of spirits made perfect-Discover one directing his flight towards Heaven.-The hills of Paradise-The Mount of God.-Welcome of the faithful servant.-The hill of the throne of God pointed out to him.-The Sons of Paradise offer to guide him into the presence of the Most High.—The Newarrived, bewildered by the strange sights beheld in his flight, begs for knowledge, and the solution of the mysteries he has seen :Describes his flight through Chaos, and arrival at the place of Everlasting Punishment:-Wall of fiery adamant:-The Worm that never dies:-Eternal Death:-Hell:-The dreadful sights beheld there. The youthful Sons of Heaven refer the new-arrived to an ancient Bard of Adam's race.-' -They fly towards his dwelling. Flight through the fields of Heaven.-The Bard of Earth described:-His bower in Paradise. He is entreated to clear up the wondering doubt of the new-arrived, who tells what he has seen and conjectured.—The Bard informs him the gracious form he beheld in hell is Virtue :-Agrees to relate the history of the human race. THE COURSE OF TIME. BOOK I. ETERNAL Spirit! God of truth! to whom Burdens which made the pagan mountains shake, The muse that soft and sickly wooes the ear Of love, or, chanting loud, in windy rhyme, Of fabled hero, raves through gaudy tale, Me thought and phrase severely sifting out Hold my right hand, Almighty! and me teach That fools may hear and tremble, and the wise, Long was the day, so long expected, past The sun, earth's sun, and moon, and stars, had ceased To number seasons, days, and months, and years To mortal man; hope was forgotten, and fear; And Time, with all its chance, and change, and smiles, And frequent tears, and deeds of villany Or righteousness, once talked of much as things Seen far remote, as country, which has left From morn till even: and long, Eternity Thus far the years had rolled, which none but God Doth number, when two sons, two youthful sons Of Paradise, in conversation sweet— For thus the heavenly muse instructs me, wooed Of all the heart, poured out in holy prayer— Whence goodliest prospect looks beyond the walls The pure serene, observant if returned From errand duly finished any came; From other worlds arrived, confirmed in good. + Thus viewing, one they saw, on hasty wing And lofty hills on which they walked, approached. That nought but angel's foot, or saint's, elect External space, or listen the harmonies Or sun, gives light: for God's own countenance, |