Time,
On wings outstretch'd, o'er Chaos hung sublime;
Warm'd into life the bursting egg of Night,
And gave young Nature to admiring Light!--
YOU! whose wide arms, in soft embraces hurl'd
Round the vast frame, connect the whirling world! 20
Whether immers'd in day, the Sun your throne,
You gird the planets in your silver zone;
Or warm, descending on ethereal wing,
The Earth's cold bosom with the beams of spring;
Press drop to drop, to atom atom bind,
Link sex to sex, or rivet mind to mind;
Attend my song!--With rosy lips rehearse,
And with your polish'd arrows write my verse!--
So shall my lines soft-rolling eyes engage,
And snow-white fingers turn the volant page; 30
The smiles of Beauty all my toils repay,
And youths and virgins chant the living lay.

II. WHERE EDEN'S sacred bowers triumphant sprung,
By angels guarded, and by prophets sung,
Wav'd o'er the east in purple pride unfurl'd,
And rock'd the golden cradle of the World;
Four sparkling currents lav'd with wandering tides
Their velvet avenues, and flowery sides;
On sun-bright lawns unclad the Graces stray'd,
And guiltless Cupids haunted every glade; 40
Till the fair Bride, forbidden shades among,
Heard unalarm'd the Tempter's serpent-tongue;
Eyed the sweet fruit, the mandate disobey'd,
And her fond Lord with sweeter smiles betray'd.
Conscious awhile with throbbing heart he strove,
Spread his wide arms, and barter'd life for love!--
Now rocks on rocks, in savage grandeur roll'd,
Steep above steep, the blasted plains infold;
The incumbent crags eternal tempest shrouds,
And livid light'nings cleave the lambent clouds; 50
Round the firm base loud-howling whirlwinds blow,
And sands in burning eddies dance below.

[Footnote: _Cradle of the world_, l. 36. The nations, which
possess Europe and a part of Asia and of Africa, appear to
have descended from one family; and to have had their origin
near the banks of the Mediterranean, as probably in Syria,
the site of Paradise, according to the Mosaic history. This
seems highly probable from the similarity of the structure of
the languages of these nations, and from their early
possession of similar religions, customs, and arts, as well
as from the most ancient histories extant. The t