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late, he fixed upon Paradife Loft; a design so comprehenfive, that it could be juftified only

fuccefs. He had once defigned to celebrate King Arthur, as he hints in his verses to Manfus; but Arthur was referved, fays Fenton, to another deftiny*.

It appears, by fome sketches of poetical projects left in manufcript, and to be feen in a library at Cambridge, that he had digested his thoughts on this subject into one of those wild dramas which were anciently called Mysteries; and Philips had seen what he terms part of a tragedy, beginning with the first ten lines of Satan's addrefs to the Sun. These myfteries confift of allegorical perfons; fuch as fuftice, Mercy, Faith. Of the tragedy or mystery of Paradise Loft there are two plans:

*Id eft, to be the fubject of an heroic poem, written by Sir Richard Blackmore.

+ Trinity College. R.

H.

The

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Mofes, wgoλovies, recounting how he af fumed his true body; that it corrupts not,

becaufe

because it is with God in the mount; declares the like with Enoch and Elijah; befides the purity of the place, that certain pure winds, dews, and clouds, preferve it from corruption; whence exhorts to the fight of God; tells they cannot fee Adam in the state of innocence, by reafon of their fin.

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Lucifer contriving Adam's ruin.

Chorus fears for Adam, and relates Lucifer's

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Confcience cites them to God's examination.

Chorus bewails, and tells the good Adam has

loft.

ACT V.

Adam and Eve driven out of Paradise.

prefented by an angel with

Labour, Grief, Hatred, Envy, War,

Famine, Peftilence, Sicknefs, Dif- Mutes.

content, Ignorance, Fear, Death,

To whom he gives their names.
Winter, Heat, Tempeft, &c.

Faith,

Likewife

comfort him and inftruct him.

Hope,
Charity,

} c

Chorus briefly concludes.

Such was his first defign, which could have produced only an allegory, or mystery. The following sketch seems to have attained more maturity.

Adam unparadifed :

The angel Gabriel, either defcending or entering; fhewing, fince this globe was created, his frequency as much on earth as in heaven; defcribes Paradife. Next, the Cho

rus

rus, fhewing the reafon of his coming to keep his watch in Paradife, after Lucifer's rebellion, by command from God; and withal expreffing his defire to fee and know more concerning this excellent new creature, man. The angel Gabriel, as by his name fignifying a prince of power, tracing Paradife with a more free office, paffes by the ftation of the Chorus, and, defired by them, relates what he knew of man; as the creation of Eve, with their love and marriage. After this, Lucifer appears; after his overthrow bemoans himself, feeks revenge on man. The Chorus prepare resistance at his first approach. At laft, after difcourfe of enmity on either fide, he departs whereat the Chorus fings of the battle and victory in heaven, against him and his accomplices: as before, after the first act, was fung a hymn of the creation. Here again may appear Lucifer, relating and infulting in what he had done to the destruction of man. Man next, and Eve having by this time been feduced by the Serpent, appears confusedly covered with leaves. Confcience, in a fhape, accuses him; Juftice cites him to the place whither Jehovah called for him. In the mean while, the Chorus entertains

the

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