tate angels of Andreini, though fometimes hideously and abfurdly disgusting, yet occafionally sparkle with fuch fire as might awaken the emulation of Milton.

I fhall not attempt to produce parallel paffages from the two poets, because the chief idea that I mean to inculcate is, not that Milton tamely copied the Adamo of Andreini, but that his fancy caught fire from that spirited, though irregular and fantaftic, compofition-that it proved in his ardent and fertile mind the feed of Paradife Loft ;--this is matter of mere conjecture, whose probability can only be felt in examining the Adamo-to the lovers of Milton it may prove a fource of amufing fpeculation.

And as the original work of Andreini is feldom to be found, it may be pleafing to the reader, both of English and Italian, to fee in these pages a brief analysis of his drama; with a short felection from a few of the most remarkable scenes.

THE CHARACTERS.

GOD the FATHER.

CHORUS OF SERAPHIM, CHERUBIM, and 'ANGELS. The archangel MICHAEL.

ADAM.

Eve.

A CHERUB, the guardian of ADAM.

LUCIFER.

SATAN. 5
BEELZEBUB,

2

The

The SEVEN mortal SINS.

The WORLD.

The FLESH.

FAMINE,

LABOUR.

DESPAIR.

DEATH.

VAIN GLORY.

SERPENT.

VOLANO, an infernal meffenger.

CHORUS of PHANTOMS.

CHORUS of fiery, airy, aquatic, and infernal

SPIRITS.

ACT I. SCENE 1.

Chorus of Angels, finging the glory of God.-After their hymn, which serves as a prologue, God the Father, Angels, Adam and Eve. God calls to Lucifer, and bids him furvey with confufion the wonders of his power.He creates Adam and Eve-their delight and gratitude.

SCENE 2. Lucifer, arising from hell-he expreffes his enmity against God, the good Angels, and Man.

SCENE 3. Lucifer, Satan, and Beelzebub.-Lucifer excites his affociates to the deftruction of Man, and calls other Demons from the abyfs to confpire for that purpose.

SCENE 4, 5, and 6. Lucifer, fummoning seven diftinct Spirits, commiffions them to act under the character of the feven mortal Sins, with the following names:

MELECANO

ACT II. SCENE 1. The Angels, to the number of fifteen, feparately fing the grandeur of God, and his munificence to Man.

SCENE 2. Adam and Eve, with Lurcone and Guliar watching unfeen.-Adam and Eve exprefs their devotion to God fo fervently, that the evil Spirits, though invifible, are put to flight by their prayer.

SCENE 3. The Serpent, Satan, Spirits.-The Serpent, or Lucifer, announces his defign of circumventing Woman.

SCENE 4.

The Serpent, Spirits, and Volano.Volano arrives from hell, and declares that the confederate powers of the abyfs defigned to fend a god. defs from the deep, entitled Vain Glory, to vanquish Man,

SCENE 5. Vain Glory, drawn by a giant, Volano, the Serpent, Satan, and Spirits.-The Serpent welcomes Vain Glory as his confederate, then hides himself in the tree to watch and tempt Eve.

SCENE 6. The Serpent and Vain Glory at first concealed, the Serpent difcovers himfelf to Eve, tempts and feduces her. Vain Glory clofes the act with expreffions of triumph.

ACT

ACT III. SCENE I. Adam and Eve.-After a dialogue of tenderness fhe produces the fruit.— Adam expreffes horror, but at last yields to her temptation.-When both have tasted the fruit, they are overwhelmed with remorse and terror: they fly to conceal themselves.

SCENE 2. Volano proclaims the Fall of Man, and invites the powers of darkness to rejoice, and pay their homage to the prince of hell.

SCENE 3. Volano, Satan, chorus of Spirits, with enfigns of victory.-Expreffion of their joy.

SCENE 4. Serpent, Vain Glory, Satan, and Spirits.-The Serpent commands Canoro, a mufical spirit, to fing his triumph, which is celebrated with fongs and dances in the 4th and 5th fcenes; the latter closes with expreffions of horror from the triumphant demons, on the approach of God.

2

SCENE 6. God the Father, Angels, Adam and Eve.-God fummons and rebukes the finners, then leaves them, after pronouncing his malediction.

SCENE 7. An Angel, Adam and Eve.-The Angel gives them rough skins for clothing, and exhorts them to penitence.

!

SCENE 8. The archangel Michael, Adam and Eve. Michael drives them from Paradife with a fcourge of fire. Angels close the act with a chorus, exciting the offenders to hope in repentance.

ACT IV. SCENE I. Volano, chorus of fiery, airy, earthly, and aquatic Spirits.-They exprefs their obedience to Lucifer.

SCENE

SCENE 2. Lucifer rifes, and utters his abhorrence of the light; the demons confole him-he questions them on the meaning of God's words and conduct towards Man-He fpurns their conjectures, and announces the incarnation, then proceeds to new machinations against Man.

SCENE 3. Infernal Cyclops, fummoned by Lucifer, make a new world at his command.-He then commiffions three demons against Man, under the characters of the World, the Flesh, and Death.

SCENE 4. Adam alone.-He laments his fate, and at last feels his fufferings aggravated, in beholding Eve flying in terror from the hoftile animals.

SCENE 5. Adam and Eve.She excites her companion to fuicide.

SCENE 6. Famine, Thirst, Laffitude, Despair, Adam and Eve.-Famine explains her own nature, and that of her affociates.

SCENE 7. Death, Adam and Eve.-Death reproaches Eye with the horrors fhe has occafionedAdam clofes the act by exhorting Eve to take refuge in the mountains.

ACT V. SCENE I. The Flefh, in the fhape of a woman, and Adam. He refifts her temptation. SCENE 2. Lucifer, the Flefh, and Adam.-Lucifer pretends to be a man, and the elder brother of Adam.

SCENE 3. A Cherub, Adam, the Flesh, and Lucifer. The Cherub fecretly warns Adam against his foes; and at laft defends him with manifest power.

SCENE