ADAM here finish'd his recital. A nymph, united by the soft bands of HYMEN to her favourite swain, wanders with him in the early dawn: they hear the sweet notes of the nightingale, while all is silence around: her voice seems the echo of their own fond thoughts, and through their souls is diffus'd a tender transport. The bird ceases her melody; but they still listen, with the ear of expectation turn'd towards the branches from whence she chanted her nocturnal song. Thus, though our general father ceas'd to speak, his children remain'd fix'd in mute attention. The different scenes he had represented gave them various emotions: sometimes the gushing tear dropp'd from their eyes, at others a lively joy spread itself over their features. They all return'd their thanks to the father of men: CAIN rendered his as well as the others; but he alone had neither smil'd nor wept. Stothard del Frieno, take these plants, & these flowers, they London Published Feb 23-1797 by T.Heptinstall Fleet Street Book III Blackberd f THE DEATH OF ABEL. BOOK III. ADAM having finish'd his relation, ABEL again tenderly embraced his brother, and they all left the bower, each pair taking their way to their separate dwellings, while the moon's mild rays enlighten'd their steps. O, my THIRZA! cry'd ABEL to his beloved, pressing her hand, what exquisite joy diffuses itself through my soul! My brother is no longer estrang'd from me: he loves me: his moisten'd cheek spoke his tenderness, while he gave me the fraternal embrace. How did my heart rejoice in the sweet effusion of his return'd affection! Less delightful, less refreshing, is the evening dew that falls on the parch'd earth, after it has been scorch'd by the sun's burning rays. The furious tempest of his soul is calm'd: peace and love are return'd: they will again take up their abode in our humble cottages, and give new sweets to every enjoyment. O thou BENEFICENT! who hast with infinite goodness watch'd over our parents, when they were the sole inhabitants of this spacious earth, keep far from the heart of my belov'd brother every baleful and tormenting passion! May the storm never return: but may tranquillity, gratitude, and joy, render every day delightful, like the past! THIRZA, with delight in her countenance, said -Our parents, my love, felt not more joy at the return of spring, after the rigours of the first winter, than they experienc'd when they saw the tears of reconciliation drop from the soften'd eyes of our brother. Our affectionate father, our fond mother, seem'd, in their transport, to have recover'd all the gaiety of youth, and every thing around us smil'd with new joy. Thus did this amiable and virtuous pair express the sweet sensations that fill'd their hearts. MAHALA, CAIN's spouse, observing that his brow still wore the gloom of discontent, press'd his hand to her lips, and, in a soft and tender accent, said— Why, my love, dost thou seem so cold, so insensible, in the midst of such happiness? Is the calm that is restor'd to thy soul incapable of enlivening thine eye with tender joy? Cannot thy heart-felt satisfaction render thy countenance serene? I should fear the cloud of grief, that has so long darken'd thy days, had rendered thee unable to taste of joy, had I not beheld-beheld with ecstatic delight, content and transport animate thine eyes, when thou gavest our brother the fraternal embrace. O, my belov'd! the ETERNAL, from his throne on high, and the benevolent angels who surround us, saw, with approbation, the soft sensations that then fill'd thine |