Gliding meteorous, am evening mist 635 They, looking back, all the eastern side behold Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that Aaming brand ; the gate With dreadful faces throng'd, and fiery arms : Some natural tears they dropp'd, but wiped them soon ; The world was all before them, where to choose 646 Their place of rest, and Providence their guide : They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, Through Edon took their solitary way TAK END IN TWELVE PARTS. BY JOHN MILTON. NIGHT THOUGHTS ON LIFE, DEATH AND IMMORTALITY TO WHICH IS ADDED, THE FORCE OF RELIGION. BY EDWARD YOUNG, D. D. A NEW EDITION. BOSTON: PHILLIPS, SAMPSON, & CO., 110 Washington Street, PREFACE. As the occasion of this Poem was real, not fictitious; so the method pursued in it was rather imposed by what spontaneously arose in the Author's mind on that occasion, than meditated or designed. Which will appear very probable from the nature of it. For it differs from the cominon mode of poetry ; which is, from long narrations to draw short morals. Here, on the contrary, the narrative is short, and the morality arising from it makes the bulk of the Poem. The reason of it is, that the facts mentioned did naturally pour these moral reflections on the thought of the Writer. |