quote · Legacy record

Now came still evening on, and twilight grey Had in her sober livery all things clad; Silence accompanied; for beast and bird— They to their grassy couch, these to their nests— Were shrunk, all but the wakeful nightingale: She all night long her beauteous descant sung: Silence was pleased. Now glow’d the firmament With living sapphires. Hesperus, that led The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon, Rising in clouded majesty, at length, Apparent queen, unveil’d her peerless light, And o’er the dark her silver mantle threw: When Adam thus to Eve, “Fair consort, the hour Of night, and all things now retired to rest, Mind us of long repose, since God has set Labour and rest, as day and night to men Successive, and the timely dew of sleep, Now falling with soft cumbrous weight, inclines Our eyelids. Other creatures all day long Rove idle unemployed, and less need rest: Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed, which declares his dignity, And the regard of heaven on all his ways, While other animals inactive range, And of their doings God takes no account.”

Now came still evening on, and twilight grey Had in her sober livery all things clad; Silence accompanied; for beast and bird— They to their grassy couch, these to their nests— Were shrunk, all but the wakeful nightingale: She all night long her beauteous descant sung: Silence was pleased. Now glow’d the firmament With living sapphires. Hesperus, that led The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon, Rising in clouded majesty, at length, Apparent queen, unveil’d her peerless light, And o’er the dark her silver mantle threw: When Adam thus to Eve, “Fair consort, the hour Of night, and all things now retired to rest, Mind us of long repose, since God has set Labour and rest, as day and night to men Successive, and the timely dew of sleep, Now falling with soft cumbrous weight, inclines Our eyelids. Other creatures all day long Rove idle unemployed, and less need rest: Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed, which declares his dignity, And the regard of heaven on all his ways, While other animals inactive range, And of their doings God takes no account.”

Approximate author period: c. 1641 AD · renaissance