Of Eden strive; nor that Nyfeian ifle Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, Whom Gentiles Ammon call, and Libyan Jove, Hid Amalthea, and her florid fon Young Bacchus, from his step-dame Rhea's eye; Nor where Abaffin kings their issue guard, Mount Amara, though this by fome suppos'd True Paradife under the Ethiop line By Nilus head, inclos'd with shining rock, A whole day's journey high, but wide remote From this Affyrian garden; where the fiend Saw undelighted all delight, all kind Of living creatures, new to fight, 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 feem'd; for in their looks divine The image of their glorious Maker shone, Truth, wifdom, 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 foftness she, and sweet attractive grace; He for God only, the for God in him: His fair large front and eye fublime declar'd Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks Round from his parted forelock manly hung Clust'ring, but not beneath his shoulders broad: She, as a veil, down to the slender waste Her unadorned golden tresses wore Dishevel'd, but in wanton ringlets wav'd As the vine curls her tendrils, which imply'd Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway, And by her yielded, by him best receiv'd,
Yielded with coy fubmiffion, modest pride, And fweet 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 banith'd from man's life his happiest life,
Simplicity, and spotless innocence!
So pass'd they naked on, nor shunn'd the fight Of God or angel; for they thought no ill: So hand in hand they pass'd, the loveliest pair
That ever fince in love's embraces met; Adam the goodliest man of men fince born His fons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. Under a tuft of shade that on a green Stood whisp'ring soft, by a fresh fountain fide- They fat them down; and after no more toil
-Of their sweet gard'ning labour than fuffic'd To recommend cool zephyr, and made eafe More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite More grateful, to their fupper-fruits they fell, Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs Yielded them, fide-long as they fat recline On the foft downy bank damask'd with flowers: The favoury pulp they chew, and in the rind, 335 Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream;
Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league, Alone as they. About them frisking play'd All beasts of th' earth, since wild, and of all chase
In wood or wilderness, forest or den ;
Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw
Dandled the kid; bears, tygers, ounces, pards,
Gambol'd before them; th' unwieldy elephant, 345 To make them mirth, us'd all his might, and wreath'd His lithe probofcis; close the ferpent fly
Infinuating, wove with Gordian twine His braided train, and of his fatal guile Gave proof unheeded; others on the grafs Couch'd, and now fill'd with pasture gazing sat, Or bedward ruminating; for the fun
Declin'd was hasting now with prone career To th' ocean-ifles, and in th' ascending fcale Of heav'n the stars that usher evening rose: When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood, Scarce thus at length fail'd speech recover'd fad. O hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold! Into our room of bliss thus high advanc'd Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, 360 Not spirits, yet to heav'nly spirits bright Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue With wonder, and could love, so lively shines In them divine resemblance, and such grace The hand that form'd them on their shape hath pour'd. Ah gentle pair, ye little think how nigh Your change approaches, when all these delights Will vanish and deliver ye to woe;
More woe, the more your taste is now of joy; Happy, but for so happy ill secur'd
Long to continue, and this high feat your heaven Ill fenc'd for heaven to keep out such a foe As now is enter'd; yet no purpos'd foe To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, Though I unpitied. League with you I seek And mutual amity so strait, so close,
That I with you must dwell, or you with me Henceforth: my dwelling haply may not please, Like this fair Paradise, your sense; yet fuch
Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, Which I as freely give; hell shall unfold, To entertain you two, her widest gates, And fend forth all her kings; there will be room, Not like these narrow limits, to receive
Your numerous offspring; if no better place, 385 Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge On you who wrong me not for him who wrong'd.
And should I at your harmless innocence
Melt, as I do, yet public reafon just,
Honour and empire with revenge enlarg'd, By conqu'ring this new world, compels me now To do what else, though damn'd, I should abhor.
So spake the fiend, and with neceffity, The tyrant's plea, excus'd his devilith deeds. Then from his lofty (tand on that high tree Down he alights among the sportful herd Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, Now other, as their shape serv'd best his end Nearer to view his prey, and unespy'd
To mark what of their state he more might learn 400 By word or action mark'd: about them round A lion now he stalks with fiery glare; Then as a tyger, who by chance hath spy'd In fome purlieu two gentle fawns at play, Strait couches close, then rifing changes oft His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground, Whence ruthing he might surest seize them both Grip'd in each paw: when Adam, first of men, To first of women Eve, thus moving speech, Turn'd him, all ear to hear new utterance flow. 410
Sole partner, and fole part, of all these joys, Dearer thyself than all; needs must the Power That made us, and for us this ample world,
Be infinitely good, and of his good
As liberal and free as infinite; That rais'd us from the dust and plac'd us here
In all this happiness, who at his hand
Have nothing merited, nor can perform
Ought whereof he hath need; he who requires
From us no other service than to keep
This one, this easy charge, of all the trees
In Paradife that bear delicious fruit
So various, not to taste that only tree
Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life; So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, 425 Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou know'it
God hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree,
The only fign of our obedience left, Among fo many figns of power and rule Conferr'd upon us, and dominion given Over all other creatures that poffefs
Earth, air, and fea. Then let us not think hard
One eafy prohibition, who enjoy
Free leave so large to all things elfe, and choice
Unlimited of manifold delights:
But let us ever praise him, and extol
His bounty, following our delightful task, [flowers; To prune these growing plants, and tend these
Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.
To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou for whom 440 And from whom I was form'd flesh of thy flesh, And without whom am to no end, my guide And head, what theu haft faid is just and right. For we to him indeed all praises owe,. And daily thanks; 1 chiefly, who enjoy So far the happier lot, enjoying thee Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou Like confort to thyself can'st no where find. That day I oft remember, when from fleep I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd
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