very intricate, nor authors very nume

rous.

For the fubject of his epick poem, after much deliberation, long chufing, and beginning late, he fixed upon Paradife Loft; a defign fo comprehensive, that it could be justified only by fuccefs. He had once defigned to celebrate King Arthur, as he hints in his verses to Manfus; but Arthur was reserved, fays Fenton, to another destiny.

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

Mofes, apoλoyil, recounting how he affumed his true body; that it corrupts not, because

M 3

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

Chorus fing the marriage-fong, and defcribe Paradife.

ACT III.

Lucifer, contriving Adam's ruin.

Chorus fears for Adam, and relates Lucifer's

rebellion and fall.

ACT

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.

presented by an angel with

Labour, Grief, Hatred, Envy,

War, Famine, Peftilence, Mutes.
Sickness, Discontent, Igno-

rance, Fear, Death,

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

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

Adam unparadifed:

The angel Gabriel, either defcending or entering; thewing, fince this globe was created, his frequency as much on earth as in heaven; defcribes Paradife. Next, the Chorus, 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 refiftance at his firft 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