Of Araby the blest; with such delay
Well pleas'd they slack their course, and many a league
Cheer'd with the grateful smell, old Ocean smiles: So entertain'd those odorous sweets the Fiend,
Who came their bane: though with them better pleas'd Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume,
That drove him, though enamour'd from the spouse Of Tobit's son ; and with a vengeance sent From Medea post to Egypt, there fast bound. Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill Satan had journey'd on, pensive and slow; But further way found none; so thick intwin'd As one continued brake, the undergrowth Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplex'd All path of man or beast that pass'd that way, One gate there only was, and that look'd East On the other side: which when the' arch-felon saw, Due entrance he disdain'd; and, in contempt, At one slight bound high over-leap'd all bound Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf, Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve In hurdled cotes amid the field secure,
Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold: Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors, Cross-barr'd and bolted fast, fear no assault; In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles: So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold; So since into his church lewd hirelings climb. Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life,
The middle tree and highest there that grew, Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life Thereby regain'd, but sat devising death To them who liv'd; nor on the virtue thought Of that life-giving plant, but only us'd
For prospect what well used had been the pledge Of immortality. So little knows
Any, but God alone, to value right
The good before him, but perverts best things To worst abuse, or to their meanest use.
Beneath him with new wonder now he views, To all delight of human sense expos'd,
In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth: yea more, A heaven on earth: for blissful Paradise Of God the garden was, by him in the East Of Eden planted: Eden stretch'd her line From Auran eastward to the royal towers Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings. Or where the sons of Eden long before Dwelt in Telassar: in this pleasant soil His far more pleasant garden God ordain'd; Out of the fertile ground he caus'd to grow All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste; And all amid them stood the tree of life, High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit Of vegetable gold; and next to life,
Our death, the tree of knowledge, grew fast by, Knowledge of good, bought dear by knowing ill.
Southward through Eden went a river large, Nor chang'd his course, but through the shaggy hill Pass'd underneath ingulf'd; for God had thrown That mountain as his garden-mound high rais'd
Upon the rapid current, which, through veins Of porous earth with kindly thirst up-drawn, Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill Water'd the garden; thence united fell Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood; Which from his darksome passage now appears, And now, divided into four main streams, Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm And country, whereof here needs no account; But rather to tell how, if art could tell, How from that saphir fount the crisped brooks, Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, With mazy error under pendant shades Ran nectar, visiting each plant; and fed Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice art In beds and curious knots, but nature boon Pour'd forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain, Bot where the morning sun first warmly smote The open field, and where the unpierc'd shade Imbrown'd the noontide bowers.
A happy rural seat of various view,
Groves whose rich trees wept od'rous gums and balm, Others whose fruit, burnish'd with golden rind, Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true,
If true, here only, and of delicious taste: Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks Grazing the tender herb, were interpos'd; Or palmy hilloc; or the flowery lap Of some irriguous valley spread her store, Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose :
Another side, umbrageous grots and caves
Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps Luxuriant; meanwhile murmuring waters fall Down the slope hills, dispers'd, or in a lake, That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams. The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs, Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune The trembling leaves, while universal Pan, Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance, Led on the eternal spring. Not that fair field Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers, Herself a fairer flower, by gloomy Dis
Was gather'd, which cost Ceres all that pain
To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspir'd Castalian spring, might with this Paradise Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, Whom Gentiles Ammon call, and Lybian Jove, Hid Amalthea and her florid son
Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye; Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard, Mount Amara, though this by some suppos'd True Paradise under the Ethiop line By Nilus head, enclos'd with shining rock, A whole day's journey high, but wide remote From this Assyrian garden, where the fiend Saw, undelighted, all delight, all kind
Of living creatures, new to sight and strange. Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, Godlike erect, with native honour clad
In naked majesty seem'd lords of all: And worthy seem'd; for in their looks divine The image of their glorious maker shone, Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure, (Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd), Whence true authority in men; though both Not equal, as their sex not equal seem'd; For contemplation he and valour form'd: For softness she and sweet attractive grace; He for God only, she for God in him. His fair large front and eye sublime declar'd Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks Round from his parted forelock manly hung Clustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad: She, as a veil, down to the slender waste Her unadorned golden tresses wore Dishevell❜d, but in wanton ringlets wav'd As the vine curls her tendrils, which implyed Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway, And by her yielded, by him best receiv'd; Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay.
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd; Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame Of nature's works, honour dishonourable, Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure, And banish'd from man's life his happiest life, Simplicity and spotless innocence!
So pass'd they naked on, nor shunn'd the sight Of God or angel; for they thought no ill: So hand in hand they pass'd, the loveliest pair
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