These and the like wonderful Incidents in this Part of the Work, have in them all the Beauties of Novelty, at the same time that they have all the Graces of Nature.  They are such as none but a great Genius could have thought of, tho, upon the perusal of them, they seem to rise of themselves from the Subject of which he treats.  In a word, tho they are natural, they are not obvious, which is the true Character of all fine Writing.

The Impression which the Interdiction of the Tree of Life left in the Mind of our first Parent, is describ’d with great Strength and Judgment; as the Image of the several Beasts and Birds passing in review before him is very beautiful and lively.

 —­Each Bird and Beast behold
  Approaching two and two, these cowring low
  With Blandishment; each Bird stoop’d on his Wing: 
  I nam’d them as they pass’d—­

Adam, in the next place, describes a Conference which he held with his Maker upon the Subject of Solitude.  The Poet here represents the supreme Being, as making an Essay of his own Work, and putting to the tryal that reasoning Faculty, with which he had endued his Creature.  Adam urges, in this Divine Colloquy, the Impossibility of his being happy, tho he was the Inhabitant of Paradise, and Lord of the whole Creation, without the Conversation and Society of some rational Creature, who should partake those Blessings with him.  This Dialogue, which is supported chiefly by the Beauty of the Thoughts, without other poetical Ornaments, is as fine a Part as any in the whole Poem:  The more the Reader examines the Justness and Delicacy of its Sentiments, the more he will find himself pleased with it.  The Poet has wonderfully preserved the Character of Majesty and Condescension in the Creator, and at the same time that of Humility and Adoration in the Creature, as particularly in the following Lines: 

  Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright,
  As with a Smile more bright-tied, thus reply’d, &c.

 —­I, with leave of Speech implor’d
  And humble Deprecation, thus reply d: 
  Let not my Words offend thee, Heavnly Power,
  My Maker, be propitious while I speak, &c.

Adam then proceeds to give an account of his second Sleep, and of the Dream in which he beheld the Formation of Eve.  The new Passion that was awaken’d in him at the sight of her, is touch’d very finely.

  Under his forming Hands a Creature grew,
  Manlike, but different Sex:  so lovely fair,
  That what seem’d fair in all the World, seemed now
  Mean, or in her summ’d up, in her contained,
  And in her Looks; which from that time infused
  Sweetness info my Heart, unfelt before: 
  And into all things from her Air inspired
  The Spirit of Love and amorous Delight.

Adams Distress upon losing sight of this beautiful Phantom, with his Exclamations of Joy and Gratitude at the discovery of a real Creature, who resembled the Apparition which had been presented to him in his Dream; the Approaches he makes to her, and his Manner of Courtship; are all laid together in a most exquisite Propriety of Sentiments.