Speaking or mute, all comeliness and grace
Attends thee; and, each word, each motion, forms.
Nor lefs think we in heav'n of thee on earth,
Than of our fellow-fervant; and inquire
Gladly into the ways of GOD with man :
For GOD we see hath honour'd thee, and fet
On man his equal love. Say therefore on;
For, I that day was abfent, as befel,
Bound on a voyage uncouth, and obfcure,
Far on excurfion toward the gates of hell,
Squar'd in full legion, fuch command we had
To fee that none thence iffu'd forth a spy,
Or enemy, while GOD was in his work;
Left he, incens'd at fuch eruption bold,
Destruction with creation might have mix'd,
Not that they durft without his leave attempt;
But, us he fends upon his high behefts
For state, as fov'reign king; and to inure
Our prompt obedience. Falt we found, faft shut 240
The difmal gates, and barricado'd strong!
But, long ere our approaching, heard within
Noife, other than the found of dance, or fong!
Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage.
Glad we return'd up to the coafts of light
Ere fabbath-ev'ning: fo we had in charge.
But, thy relation now! for I attend,
Pleas'd with thy words, no less than thou with mine.
So fpake the God-like Pow'r, and thus our fire. For man to tell how human life began
Is hard; for, who himself beginning knew?
Defire with thee ftill longer to converse
Induc'd me. As new wak'd from foundest fleep,
Soft on the flow'ry herb, I found me laid,
In balmy sweat; which with his beams the fun
Soon dry'd, and on the reeking moisture fed.
Strait toward heav'n my wond'ring eyes I turn'd,
And gaz'd a-while the ample sky: 'till rais'd
By quick inftinctive motion, up I fprung,
As thitherward endeavouring; and upright
Stood on my feet. About me round I faw
Hill, dale, and fhady woods, and funny plains,
And liquid lapfe of murm'ring streams: by thefe,
Creatures that liv'd, and mov'd, and walk'd, or flew ;
Birds on the branches warbling: all things fmil'd 265
With fragrance: and with joy my heart o'er-flow'd.
My felf I then perus'd, and limb by limb
Survey'd, and fometimes went, and fometimes ran
With fupple joints, as lively vigour led.
But, who I was, or where, or from what caufe, 270.
Knew not to fpeak I try'd, and forthwith spake;
My tongue obey'd, and readily could name
Whate'er I faw. Thou fun, faid I, fair light!
And thou enlighten'd earth, fo fresh, and gay!
Ye hills, and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plains!
And ye that live, and move, fair creatures! tell,
Tell, if ye faw, how came I thus, how here.
Not of my felf- By fome great Maker then,
In goodness, and in pow'r, pre-eminent.
Tell me, how may I know him, how adore,
From whom I have that thus I move, and live,
And feel that I am happier than I know.
While thus I call'd, and ftray'd I knew not whither,
From where I first drew air, and first beheld
This happy light; when anfwer none return'd.
On a green thady bank, profufe of flow'rs,
Penfive I fat me down. There gentle fleep
First found me, and with foft oppreffion feiz'd
My droufed fenfe, untroubled, though I thought
I then was paffing to my former state
Infenfible, and forthwith to diffolve,
When fuddenly stood at my head a dream,
Whofe inward apparition gently mov'd
My fancy to believe I yet had being,
And liv'd. One came, methought, of shape divine,
And faid, "Thy manfion wants thee, ADAM, rife,
"Firft man, of men innumerable ordain'd
"First father! call'd by thee, I come thy guide
"To the garden of blifs, thy feat prepar'd."
So faying, by the hand he took me rais'd;
And over fields, and waters, as in air,
Smooth-fliding without step, laft led me up
A woody mountain; whofe high top was plain:
A circuit wide-inclos'd, with goodliest trees
Planted, with walks, and bow'rs; that what I faw
Of earth before fcarce pleasant feem'd. Each tree 306
Loaden with faireft fruit, that hung to th' eye
Tempting, ftir'd in me fudden appetite
To pluck, and eat; whereat I wak'd, and found
Before mine eyes all real, as the dream
Had lively fhadow'd. Here had new begún
My wand'ring, had not he, who was my guide
Up hither, from among the trees appear'd,
Prefence divine! rejoicing, but with awe,
In adoration at his feet I fell
Submifs he rear'd me, and " Whom thou fought'st Said mildly, "Author of all this thou feest
"Above, or round about thee, or beneath. "This Paradife I give thee, count it thine
"To till, and keep, and of the fruits to eat : 320 "Of every tree that in the garden grows "Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth: "But, of the Tree whofe operation brings "Knowledge of good and ill, which I have fet The pledge of thy obedience, and thy faith,
"Amid the garden by the Tree of Life,
"Remember what I warn thee! fhun to tafte,
"And fhun the bitter confequence: for know,
"The day thou eat'ft thereof, my fole command
Tranfgreft, inevitably thou shalt die ;
"From that day mortal: and this happy state
"Shalt lofe, expell'd from hence into a world
"Of woe, and forrow."- Sternly he pronounc'd
The rigid interdiction, which refounds
Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice
Not to incur but foon his clear afpect
Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renew'd. "Not only these fair bounds, but all the earth "To thee, and to thy race, I give as lords "Poffefs it, and all things that therein live, "Or live in fea, or air, beast, fish, and fowl: "In fign whereof, each bird, and beast, behold "After their kinds : I bring them to receive "From thee their names, and pay thee fealty "With low fubjection: understand the fame "Of fish within their watʼry refidence ; "Not hither fummon'd, fince they cannot change "Their element, to draw the thinner air." As thus he fpake, each bird, and beast, behold Approaching, two and two; thefe, cow'ring low 350 With blandishment; each bird ftoop'd on his wing. I nam'd them, as they pafs'd, and understood Their nature, with fuch knowledge GOD indu'd My fudden apprehenfion! But, in thefe I found not what methought I wanted still; And to the heav'nly vifion thus prefum'd.
O, BY what name, for thou above all thefe, Above mankind, or ought than mankind higher, Surpaffeft far my naming! how may I
Adore thee, author of this univerfe,
And all this good to man? For whofe well-being
So amply, and with hands fo liberal,
Thou haft provided all things. But, with me
I fee not who partakes in folitude
What happiness, who can enjoy alone!
Or, all enjoying, what contentment find?
THUS I prefumptuous; and the vision bright, As with a fmile more brighten'd, thus reply'd.
WHAT call'ft thou folitude? Is not the earth
With various living creatures, and the air,
Replenish'd, and all thefe at thy command
To come, and play before thee? Know'st thou not
Their language, and their ways! They alfo know,
And reafon not contemptibly with thefe
Find paftime, and bear rule: thy realm is large. 375
So fpake the univerfal Lord, and feem'd
So ord'ring: I, with leave of fpeech implor'd,
And humble deprecation, thus reply'd.
LET not my words offend thee, heav'nly Pow'r !
My Maker, be propitious while I fpeak!
Haft thou not made me here thy fubflitute,
And thefe inferior far beneath me fet?
Among unequals what fociety.
Can fort, what harmony, or true delight?
Which muft be mutual, in proportion due
Giv'n, and receiv'd: but, in difparity
The one intenfe, the other ftill remifs,
Cannot well fuit with either, but foon prove
Tedious alike. Of fellowship I speak
(Such as I feek) fit to participate
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