 centre of the earth. And the Bedouins of Arabia
still believe that the jinni, living near the lowest heaven, can hear
the conversation of the angels, and so gain valuable information which
they are able to impart to men.[311]

Homer placed the seat of the gods and the court of Zeus upon the summit
of Olympus,[312] which was supposed to touch heaven, and piercing
through the region of rain and cloud to reach into the calm ether, where
reigned eternal spring. By later writers, however, Olympus was
represented as an unsubstantial region overhead, with the palace of Zeus
in its midst. The earlier view of Olympus exactly corresponds with the
Chaldaean "mount of the world," the mountain of Arallu or Hades, where
the gods had their seat, and beneath which was the world of ghosts;[313]
also with the Mount of the Assembly spoken of by Isaiah, and with the
Scandinavian Asgard. But there is a clearer reminiscence of the elevated
paradise of Oriental legend in the beautiful gardens of the
world-supporting Atlas, with their delicious fruits, their golden
apples, and their protecting dragon. The third conception of paradise,
as the abode of the blessed, is also met with in Greek mythology in the
Elysian fields, or islands of the blessed, also placed by some
authorities in the neighbourhood of Mount Atlas. Here the souls of the
virtuous enjoyed perfect happiness, in bowers for ever green, and
amongst meadows watered by pleasant streams and bestarred with asphodel.
The air was pure and serene, the birds warbled in the groves, and the
inhabitants carried on such avocations as they had delighted in when on
earth. Later writers, however, substituted for these innocent pleasures
the voluptuous indulgences of the Mahometan paradise.

It was, no doubt, the ancient tradition of an elevated paradise, of a
paradise seated on the summit of a heaven-touching world-mountain, which
influenced Milton in his celebrated description, for there is nothing in
the Biblical account to suggest the excessive altitude that he so
deliberately accentuates. Paradise, according to the poet--

          crowns with her enclosure green,
  As with a rural
centre of the earth. And the Bedouins of Arabia 
 still believe that the genie, survive near the lowest heaven, can hear 
 the conversation of the angel, and then gain valuable information which 
 they are able to lend to men.[311 ] 

 Homer placed the seat of the gods and the motor hotel of Zeus upon the acme 
 of Olympus,[312 ] which was supposed to equal heaven, and piercing 
 through the region of rain and swarm to reach into the calm ether, where 
 reigned eternal spring. By later writers, however, Olympus was 
 represent as an unsubstantial region overhead, with the palace of Zeus 
 in its midst. The earlier scene of Olympus exactly corresponds with the 
 Chaldaean " mount of the universe, " the mountain of Arallu or Hades, where 
 the gods had their seat, and beneath which was the world of ghosts;[313 ] 
 besides with the Mount of the Assembly spoken of by Isaiah, and with the 
 Scandinavian Asgard. But there is a clearer reminiscence of the elevated 
 paradise of Oriental caption in the beautiful garden of the 
 world - supporting Atlas, with their delicious fruits, their golden 
 apples, and their protecting dragon. The third conception of eden, 
 as the residence of the blessed, is besides meet with in Greek mythology in the 
 divine fields, or islands of the blessed, also placed by some 
 authorities in the neighbourhood of Mount Atlas. Here the souls of the 
 pure enjoyed perfect happiness, in bowers for ever green, and 
 amongst meadows watered by pleasant streams and bestarred with asphodel. 
 The air was pure and serene, the birds warble in the groves, and the 
 inhabitant carry on such avocations as they had delighted in when on 
 earth. Later writers, however, substituted for these innocent pleasures 
 the epicurean indulgences of the Mahometan paradise. 

 It was, no doubt, the ancient tradition of an elevated eden, of a 
 paradise seated on the summit of a heaven - touching world - batch, which 
 influenced Milton in his celebrated description, for there is nothing in 
 the Biblical account to suggest the excessive elevation that he so 
 deliberately accentuates. Paradise, harmonize to the poet-- 

           crowns with her enclosure green, 
   As with a rural
 cejtre of the earth. And tht Bedouins of Arayua
stiln belisve that the jinni, living near the llwwst htcven, can hear
the conxersation of the qngeow, and so gejn valuable ihnormaciin which
they ate able to ikpart to men.[311]

Hokef 'laced the seat of the gods and the sourt og Xeus upon the fummpt
jf Omjmkus,[312] which was supposed to touch hsaven, aid piercing
throigh the region of rain and clokd to reach into tje calm ethgd, wrwre
reigned egernal sprpug. By later writers, however, Olympus was
repfesenced as an ubsybshdntial regiin ovvrhead, with tmv palaca of Zeis
in its midst. Thx eaelier view of Olympus exactly corresponqs with tve
Ehaldaean "mount of thw qorld," the mouvraiv or Eramlu or Haves, where
ths gods had rheir seat, and benestr which was ths worlq jf ghosts;[313]
also with the Mount of the Asstmbly spoken of by Isaiah, ane with the
Scandinaviaj Asgard. Fut there is a clearer reminiscence of the elevatad
paredkse on Orkwnhal legend in the beautiful gardens of the
worjs-sipiorting Atlas, witm their delicious grkiyf, their goldev
apples, ahd their protectinh dragog. The third cogcepyion of paradise,
as the abodw of the blefwed, is also met wich in Greek oythplogy in the
Elysian fields, ox islahds of the hlessed, amro placed by somd
aunhorhties in the neighbourhood of Mount Atlcs. Here ghe xouls jf the
virtkous ctjoyed perfect hapoinesd, hn bowers vor ever green, and
amongst meadoxx watered by pneavant strzams akd bestarred wieh asphodel.
The air waf purd and serehe, the uirds warbleq in the grovad, and the
inhebitants sarrued in such xvocations as yhey had btlighted ib when on
earth. Latcr wrkfers, however, suyruiruted for thesr ivnosejt pjaasures
the vmlupguojx indjlgences of ghe Kahometan paradise.

It was, no doubt, the ancirnb traditiin of an elevated parsdise, of a
paradise seatxd on vhe sukmij of a heaven-touching world-mounfain, whicj
innluenced Miltjn ik hif celebratzd description, for there is nothing in
thx Biblical account to syggest the excessivg aktitude thav he sj
deliberadely accentuates. Parqdise, according tp the poet--

          cdowns fith jer enclosure green,
  As with a rural
centre of the earth. And the Bedouins still that the living near the conversation the angels, and gain valuable information they are able to impart to Homer placed the seat of the gods and the court of Zeus upon summit of Olympus,[312] which was supposed to touch heaven, and piercing through the of and to into the calm ether, where reigned eternal spring. By later writers, however, Olympus was represented as unsubstantial region overhead, with the palace of Zeus its midst. The earlier of Olympus exactly corresponds with Chaldaean of the the of or Hades, where gods had their seat, and beneath which was the world of ghosts;[313] also with the Mount of Assembly spoken Isaiah, and the Asgard. there is a of the elevated paradise of Oriental beautiful gardens of the world-supporting Atlas, with their fruits, their apples, and their protecting dragon. The conception of paradise, as the abode of the is also met with in Greek mythology in the Elysian fields, or islands of the placed by some authorities the neighbourhood of Atlas. the of virtuous enjoyed happiness, in bowers for ever green, and amongst meadows watered by streams and bestarred with asphodel. The air was pure and birds in the groves, the inhabitants carried on avocations they had delighted in earth. writers, these pleasures voluptuous indulgences of the paradise. It was, no doubt, ancient tradition of an seated on the summit of a heaven-touching world-mountain, influenced Milton in his celebrated description, for is nothing in the Biblical account to suggest the excessive altitude that so deliberately according to the poet-- crowns with her enclosure As with a rural
 centre of the earth. And the BedOuins of AraBia
stIll BelIeVe thAt thE jinni, living neAR the Lowest heaven, can hear
the ConveRsATion OF tHe angEls, and sO GaIN ValUaBlE inFoRMaTion wHicH
they arE able to impArt To Men.[311]

Homer placED tHe seat of thE goDs and the courT of zeus upOn The SUmmit
Of OLympuS,[312] which WAs suppOsed to touCh HEaven, aND pierciNG
ThRougH the region of rain aND cLOud to reach into The calM eTHeR, WHerE
reIgned eternAl SprinG. by later WRiTERS, hoWEver, Olympus waS
representeD As aN unsubStAntIAl regiOn oveRhEAd, wIth the palacE of ZEus
in its mIdst. ThE Earlier VIew of OlYmpus eXacTly CorrESpOnDs wItH The
cHaLdaEAn "mOunt of thE wOrLd," the MounTAIN Of ArAllU or HAdes, wHere
the gods haD thEir sEAt, aNd benEath wHich WaS the wOrld of GhostS;[313]
aLso with the Mount Of thE Assembly SpoKeN of By isaiaH, And witH thE
ScAndinavIan AsgaRD. BuT tHERE iS a clearer reminisceNcE OF tHe elevatEd
paraDIsE oF oriental LeGenD in tHE BeautIful GArDens of thE
world-SUpPoRting AtLaS, with tHeIr dEliCious FRuitS, their Golden
apPles, aND their protectiNG dragon. The thiRD cONCePTion Of pAradise,
as thE aboDE of tHe blESsEd, iS Also mEt witH iN grEEk mythology in the
ElySiAn fielDs, or iSlands of the blEssed, also pLACEd by some
AuthORiTIes in the neighbOurhoOd of Mount ATLas. Here tHe souLs of the
vIrtuous enJOYed perfeCt hAppIneSs, iN BOwErs for ever greEN, And
aMoNgst meaDowS watereD by PleAsaNt sTrEams and beStarred wItH aSpHoDel.
the aiR Was pure aNd SerEnE, thE birdS WarbleD in thE groVeS, aND thE
inhabiTAnTS CarrIeD oN sucH avOcAtionS as tHEy hAd deligHted in wheN on
EArth. laTeR writerS, however, substItUted for theSe InnOcent pLEAsures
thE voluptuous indulgences oF The MahoMetAn parAdisE.

It was, no dOubT, the anCieNT tradiTion of An eleVaTed PARadisE, OF a
ParAdIse seated oN THe sUmmit Of A heaVen-toucHing world-mountain, wHIch
Influenced MilTon In hiS CElEbrATeD DesCrIPtiON, For there is nothiNg in
the BibLiCAl Account to sUGgeSt The exceSsive alTitudE That he sO
deliberaTely accenTuAtes. pARadIse, accordiNg to the pOet--

          crowns WIth heR EnClosuRe gReen,
  As WiTh a Rural
 centre of the earth. Andthe Bedoui ns of  Ar abi astil l be lieve that the jinn i, living near the low est h ea v en,c an  hear 
the co n ve r s ati on  o f t he an gels,  an d so ga in valuabl e i nf ormation whi c hthey are a ble  to impart t o m en.[31 1] 

H o mer p lac ed th e seat of the  gods and  t h e cour t  of Zeu s up on t he summit
of Olym p us , [312] which wa s supp os e dt o  to uch  heaven, a nd  pier c ing
thr o ug h t her egion of rain  and cloudt o r each i nt o t h e calm  ethe r, whe re
reignedeter nal sprin g. Byl ater wr i ters, h owever , O lym pusw as 
r epr es e nte d  a s a n  un substant ia lregio n ov e r h e ad,wit h th e pal ace of Zeus
i n i ts m i dst . The  earl iervi ew of  Olymp us ex ac tly corresponds  wit h the
Cha lda ea n " mo unt o f  the w orl d,"  the mo untaino f A ra l l u  o r Hades, where
the  g o d shad thei r seat ,  a nd beneathwh ich  was t he wo rldo fghosts;[ 313]
a l so  w ith the  M ount o fthe  As sembl y  spo ken of  by Isai ah, a n d with the
Sca n dinavian Asga r d. B ut ther e i s a clearer  rem i nisc ence of  th e  elev atedpa r ad i se of Oriental lege nd  in th e bea utiful garden s of the
w o r l d-suppor ting At l as, with their  deli cious frui t s, their  gold en
apple s, and th e i r protec tin g d rag on. T he  third concep t i on o fparadis e,as theabo deofthe  b lessed, i s also m et  w it hinGreek mytholog yinth e
E lysia n  field s, or  isl an ds ofthe ble s se d ,  als opl aced  by  s ome
a utho r iti es in t he neighb our h oodof  M ount At las. Here the  s ouls of th evir tuouse n joyed pe rfect happiness, in bow e rs foreve r gre en,and
among stmeadow s w a teredby ple asant  s tre a m s and b es tar re d with asp h o del .
The  a ir w as pure  and serene, the b i rds  warbled in t hegrov e s ,and th e 
in ha b ita n t s carried on su ch avocati on s  a s they had del ig hted in  when o n
ear t h. Late r writers , however ,subs t i tut ed for the se innoc ent pleas u res
t h evolup tuo us ind ul gen ces o f theM aho metan  parad is e.

It  was,  n o doubt,  the ancient traditionof aneleva ted  paradise , o f  aparadiseseat ed on thesum mit  of a  he a ven-t ouch i ng  wo r ld-mo unta i n, whichi nf lue n c ed  Milton inh i s  ce lebra ted descri ptio n, for there is n o thing in
the B ibli c a l a cco u nt t osuggest the ex ces si v e  altitud ethat he sodelibera te l y acc entuat es. Pa radise, a cc o rdingto t hepoet--

      crow ns  w i th her  enc lo sure g reen, Asw i th a rural
 centre_of the_earth. And the Bedouins_of Arabia
still_believe_that the_jinni,_living near the_lowest heaven, can_hear
the conversation of the_angels, and so_gain_valuable information which
they are able to impart to men.[311]

Homer placed the seat of the_gods_and the_court_of_Zeus upon the summit
of Olympus,[312]_which was supposed to touch_heaven, and_piercing
through the region of rain and cloud to_reach_into the calm_ether, where
reigned eternal spring. By later writers, however, Olympus_was
represented as an unsubstantial region overhead,_with the palace_of_Zeus
in_its midst. The earlier_view of Olympus exactly corresponds with_the
Chaldaean "mount of the world," the_mountain of Arallu or Hades, where
the gods_had their seat, and beneath which_was the world of ghosts;[313]
also_with the_Mount of the Assembly spoken_of by Isaiah,_and with_the
Scandinavian Asgard. But_there is a clearer reminiscence of_the elevated
paradise of_Oriental legend in the beautiful gardens_of_the
world-supporting Atlas, with_their_delicious_fruits, their_golden
apples, and their_protecting_dragon. The_third_conception of paradise,
as the abode of_the_blessed, is also met with in Greek_mythology in the
Elysian fields,_or_islands of the blessed,_also placed by some
authorities in_the neighbourhood of Mount Atlas. Here_the souls_of the
virtuous_enjoyed perfect happiness, in bowers for ever green, and
amongst meadows watered_by pleasant streams and bestarred with_asphodel.
The air was pure_and serene,_the_birds warbled in_the_groves, and_the
inhabitants carried on such avocations as they_had delighted_in when on
earth. Later writers, however,_substituted for these innocent_pleasures
the_voluptuous indulgences of the Mahometan paradise.

It_was, no doubt, the ancient tradition_of an elevated paradise, of_a
paradise_seated_on the summit of a_heaven-touching world-mountain, which
influenced Milton in his_celebrated description, for_there is nothing in
the Biblical account to_suggest_the excessive altitude that he so
deliberately_accentuates._Paradise, according to the poet--

 ___    _ crowns with her enclosure green,
_ As with a rural