With fight of animals enjoying life, Nor feels their happiness augment his own. The bounding fawn, that darts across the glade When none pursues, through mere delight of heart, And spirits buoyant with excess of glee; The horse as wanton, and almost as fleet, That skims the spacious meadow at full speed, Then ftops and fnorts, and, throwing high his heels, Starts to the voluntary race again; The very kine that gambol at high noon, The total herd receiving firft from one That leads the dance a fummons to be gay, Their efforts, yet refolv'd with one confent To give such act and utt'rance as they may These, and a thousand images of bliss, Impart to the benevolent, who wish All All that are capable of pleasure, pleas'd, A far fuperior happiness to theirs, The comfort of a reasonable joy. grave, Man scarce had ris'n, obedient to his call And angel choirs attended. Wond'ring stood The creatures, fummon'd from their various haunts Or bounded only by a law whose force And own, the law of univerfal love. He rul'd with meeknefs, they obey'd with joy; No cruel purpose lurk'd within his heart, And no diftruft of his intent in theirs. So So Eden was a scene of harmless sport, Where kindness on his part who rul'd the whole And fear as yet was not, nor cause for fear. But fin marr'd all; and the revolt of man, That fource of evils, not exhausted yet, Thy groves and lawns then witnefs'd! ev'ry heart, A jealoufy and an instinctive fear, And, confcious of fome danger, either fled Or growl'd defiance in fuch angry fort, As taught him too to tremble in his turn. Were driv'n from Paradife; and in that hour Hence Hence date the perfecution and the pain That man inflicts on all inferior kinds, Regardless of their plaints. To make him sport, Or his base gluttony, are caufes good And juft, in his account, why bird and beast Adds tenfold bitterness to death, by pangs And And howl and roar as likes them, uncontroul'd, Nor afk his leave to flumber or to play. Woe to the tyrant, if he dare intrude Within the confines of their wild domain : Dependent upon man; thofe in his fields, Upon |