The City

Summary

What Structures here among God's Works appear!

Such Wonders Adam ne'r did see

In Paradise among the Trees,

No Works of Art like these,

Nor Walls, nor Pinnacles, nor Houses were.

All these for me,

For me these Streets and Towers,

These stately Temples, and these solid Bowers,

My Father rear'd:

For me I thought they thus appear'd.

The City, fill'd with Peeple, near me stood;

A Fabrick like a Court divine,

Of many Mansions bright and fair;

Wherin I could repair

To Blessings that were Common, Great, and Good:

Yet all did shine

As burnisht and as new

As if before none ever did them view:

They seem'd to me

Environ'd with Eternity.

As if from Everlasting they had there

Been built, more gallant than if gilt

With Gold, they shew'd: Nor did I know

That they to Hands did ow

Themselvs. Immortal they did all appear

Till I knew Guilt.