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disappeared. I found myself sitting on the declivity of a mountain, and perceived at my right hand an angel, whom I knew to be Azoran, the Minister of Reproof. When I saw him I was afraid. I cast my eyes on the ground, and was about to deprecate his anger. when he commanded me to be silent.
'Almet,' said he, 'thou hast devoted thy life to meditation, that thy counsel might deliver ignorance from the mazes of error, and deter presumption from the precipice of gilt: but the Book of Nature thou hast read without understanding: it is again open before thee; look up, consider it, and be wise,'
"I looked up, and beheld an inclosure, beautiful as the Garden of Paradise, but of a small extent. Through the middle, there was a green walk; at the end a wild desert: and beyond, impenetrable darkness. The walk was shaded with trees of every kind, that were covered at once with blossoms and fruit; innumerable birds were singing in the branches; the grass was intermingled which flowers, which impregnated the breeze with fragrance, and painted the
