Of grateful evening mild; then silent night, With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon, And these the gems of heaven, her starry train: But neither breath of morn, when she ascends With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower, Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers; Nor grateful evening mild; nor silent night, With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon, Or glittering star-light, without thee is sweet. But wherefore all night long shine these? for whom This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?" To whom our general ancestor replied:
Daughter of God and man, accomplish'd Eve! These have their course to finish round the earth, By morrow-evening, and from land to land In order, though to nations yet unborn, Ministering light prepared, they set and rise; Lest total darkness should by night regain Her old possession, and extinguish life
In Nature and all things; which these soft fires Not only' enlighten, but with kindly heat Of various influence foment and warm, Temper or nourish; or in part shed down Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow On earth, made hereby apter to receive Perfection from the sun's more potent ray. These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were
[praise. That heaven would want spectators, God want Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep. All these with ceaseless praise his works behold
Both day and night. How often from the steep Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard Celestial voices to the midnight air, Sole, or responsive each to others note, Singing their great Creator! Oft in bands, While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds In full harmonic number join'd, their songs Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven." Thus talking, hand in hand alone they pass'd On to their blissful bower: it was a place Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed All things to man's delightful use: the roof Of thickest covert was inwoven shade Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew of firm and fragrant leaf: on either side Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub, Fenced up the verdant wall: each beauteous flower, Iris all hues, roses, and jessamine,
Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and Mosaic: underfoot the violet,
Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay,
Broider'd the ground, more color'd than with stone Of costliest emblem: other creature here,
Bird, beast, insect, or worm, durst enter none, Such was their awe of man. In shadier bower More sacred and sequester'd, though but feign'd, Pan or Sylvanus never slept; nor Nymph Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess, With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs, Espoused Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed; And heavenly quires the hymenean sung: What day the genial angel to our sire Brought her, in naked beauty more adorn'd,
More lovely than Pandora, whom the Gods Endow'd with all their gifts; and O too like In sad event! when, to the' unwiser son Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnared Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged On him who had stolen Jove's authentic fire. Thus at their shady lodge arrived, both stood, Both turn'd; and under open sky adored The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven, Which they beheld; the moon's resplendent globe, And starry pole: "Thou also madest the night, Maker Omnipotent! and Thou the day; Which we, in our appointed work employ'd, Have finish'd, happy in our mutual help And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss Ordain'd by Thee; and this delicious place, For us too large; where thy abundance wants Partakers, and uncropp'd falls to the ground. But thou hast promised from us two a race To fill the earth; who shall with us extol Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep." This said unanimous, and other rites Observing none, but adoration pure
Which God likes best, into their inmost bower Handed they went; and, eased the putting-off These troublesome disguises which we wear, Straight side by side were laid: nor turn'd, Iween, Adam from his fair spouse; nor Eve the rites Mysterious of connubial love refused: Whatever hypocrites austerely talk
Of purity, and place, and innocence; Defaming as impure what God declares
Pure; and commands to some, leaves free to all. Our Maker bids increase: who bids abstain
But our Destroyer, foe to God and man? Hail, wedded Love! mysterious law, true source Of human offspring, sole propriety
In Paradise of all things common else.
By thee adulterous Lust was driven from men Among the bestial herds to range: by thee Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure, Relations dear, and all the charities
Of father, son, and brother, first were known. Far be' it, that I should write thee sin or blame; Or think thee unbefitting holiest place, Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets:
Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced, Present or past, as saints and patriarchs used. Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings: Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendear'd, Casual fruition: nor in court-amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, Or serenate, which the starved lover sings To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. These, lull'd by nightingales, embracing slept; And on their naked limbs the flowery roof Shower'd roses, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on, Bless'd pair! and O yet happiest, if ye seek No happier state, and know to know no more! Now had night measured with her shadowy cone Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault; And from their ivory port the Cherubim, Forth issuing at the' accustom'd hour, stood arm'd To their night-watches in warlike parade; When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake: "Uzziel! half these draw off, and coast the south With strictest watch: these other wheel the north:
Our circuit meets full west." As flame they part, Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he call'd That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge: "Ithuriel and Zephon! with wing'd speed
Search through this garden; leave unsearch'd no nook:
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm. This evening from the sun's decline arrived, Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen [caped Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) es- The bars of hell, on errand bad no doubt: Such, where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring." So saying, on he led his radiant files,
Dazzling the moon: these to the bower direct In search of whom they sought. Him there they Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, [found Essaying by his devilish art to reach
The organs of her fancy; and with them forge Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams: Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
The' animal spirits, that from pure blood arise Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts, Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride. Him, thus intent, Ithuriel with his spear Touch'd lightly; for no falsehood can indure Touch of celestial temper, but returns Of force to its own likeness: up he starts Discover'd and surprised. As when a spark Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid Fit for the tun some magazine to store Against a rumor'd war: the smutty grain,
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