as Dr. Warburton has observed, the notion of an epick poem on the story of Arthur, is evident from his own words in the Mansus, v. 80, &c. and the Epitaphium Damonis, v. 155, &c. But Mr. Hayley, with great acuteness and elegance of language, remarks, that "it seems very probable that Milton, in his collection of Italian books, had brought the Adamo of Andreini to England; and that the perusal of an author, wild indeed, and abounding in grotesque extravagance, yet now and then shining with pure and united rays of fancy and devotion, first gave a new bias to the imagination of the English poet; or, to use the expressive phrase of Voltaire, first revealed to him the hidden majesty of the subject. The apostate angels of Andreini, though sometimes hideously and absurdly disgusting, yet occasionally sparkle with such fire as might awaken the emulation of Milton." The English reader is indebted to Mr. Hayley for the following analysis of the arguments of each act and scene in the Adamo.

"THE CHARACTERS.

"GOD the FATHER.

"CHORUS of SERAPHIM, CHERUBIM, and ANGELS. "The Archangel MICHAEL.

"VOLANO, an infernal messenger.
"CHORUS of PHANTOMS.

"CHORUS of fiery, airy, aquatick, and infernal
"SPIRITS."

ACT I. SCENE. 1. "Chorus of Angels, singing 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 survey with confusion the wonders of his power. He creates Adam and Eve-their delight and gratitude.

"

SCENE 2. Lúcifer, arising from Hell-he expresses his enmity against God, the good Angels, and Man.

SCENE 3. "Lucifer, Satan, and Beelzebub.-Lucifer excites his associates to the destruction of Man, and calls other Demons from the abyss to conspire for that purpose.

SCENE 4, 5, and 6." Lucifer, summoning seven distinct Spirits, commissions them to act under the character of the seven mortal Sins, with the following names:

fifteen, separately sing the grandeur of God, and his munificence to Man.

SCENE 2." Adam and Eve, with Lurcone and Guliar watching unseen.-Adam and Eve express their devotion to God so fervently, that the evil Spirits, though invisible, are put to flight by their prayer.

SCENE 3. The Serpent, Satan, Spirits.-The Serpent, or Lucifer, announces his design of circumventing Woman. SCENE 4. "The Serpent, Spirits, and Volano.-Volano arrives from Hell, and declares that the confederate Powers of the abyss designed to send a goddess 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 discovers himself to Eve, tempts and seduces her. Vain Glory closes the Act with expressions of triumph.

ACT III. SCENE 1. " Adam and Eve.-After a dialogue of tenderness she produces the fruit.-Adam expresses horrour, but at last yields to her temptation.-When both have tasted the fruit, they are overwhelmed with remorse and terrour; 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 ensigns of victory.-Expression of their joy.

"

SCENE 4. "Serpent, Vain Glory, Satan, and Spirits.— The Serpent commands Canoro, a musical Spirit, to sing his triumph, which is celebrated with songs and dances in the 4th and 5th scenes; the latter closes with expressions of horrour from the triumphant Demons, on the approach of God.

SCENE 6. God the Father, Angels, Adam and Eve.

God summons and rebukes the sinners, 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 Paradise with a scourge of fire. Angels close the Act with a chorus, exciting the offenders to hope in repentance.

ACT IV. SCENE 1. "Volano, chorus of fiery, airy, earthly, and aquatick Spirits.-They express their obedience to Lucifer.

SCENE 2. "Lucifer rises, and utters his abhorrence of the light; the Demons console him-He questions them on the meaning of God's words and conduct towards Man-He spurns their conjectures and announces the incarnation, then proceeds to new machinations against Man.

SCENE 3.Infernal Cyclops, summoned by Lucifer, make a new world at his command.-He then commissions 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 sufferings aggravated, in beholding Eve flying in terrour from the hostile animals.

SCENE 5." Adam and Eve.-She excites her companion to suicide.

SCENE 6. "Famine, Thirst, Lassitude, Despair, Adam and Eve.-Famine explains her own nature, and that of her associates.

SCENE 7. "Death, Adam and Eve.-Death reproaches Eve with the horrours she has occasioned-Adam closes the Act by exhorting Eve to take refuge in the mountains.

ACT V. SCENE 1. "The Flesh, in the shape of a woman; and Adam.-He resists her temptation.

SCENE 2."Lucifer, the Flesh, 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 secretly warns Adam against his foes; and at last defends him with manifest power.

SCENE 4. "The World, in the shape of a man, exulting in his own finery.

SCENE 5." Eve and the World.-He calls forth a rich palace from the ground, and tempts Eve with splendour.

SCENE 6. "Chorus of Nymphs, Eve, the World, and Adam. He exhorts Eve to resist these allurements-the World calls the Demons from Hell to enchain his victims— Eve prays for mercy: Adam encourages her.

SCENE 7. " Lucifer, Death, chorus of Demons.-They prepare to seize Adam and Eve.

SCENE 8. "The Archangel Michael, with a chorus of good Angels. After a spirited altercation, Michael subdues and triumphs over Lucifer.

SCENE 9. "Adam, Eve, chorus of Angels.-They rejoice in the victory of Michael: he animates the offenders with a promise of favour from God, and future residence in Heaven: they express their hope and gratitude.-The Angels close the drama, by singing the praise of the Redeemer."

When the reader considers the allegorical characters in this drama, and those in Milton's sketches on similar subjects intended once for tragedies, he will find further reason to admit that the Adamo had made considerable impression, either in representation or by perusal, on the mind of the English poet.

Of Andreini, who has been contemptuously called a stroller, Mr. Hayley has vindicated the fame. "He had some tincture of classical learning, and considerable piety. He occasionally imitates Virgil,