A Lion now he stalkes with fierie glare, Then as a Tiger, who by chance hath spi'd In fome Purlieu two gentle Fawnes at play, Strait couches close, then rifing changes oft His couchant watch, as one who chofe his ground Whence rushing he might surest seise them both Grip't in each paw: when Adam first of men To first of women Eve thus moving fpeech, 410 Turnd him all eare to heare new utterance flow. Sole partner and sole part of all these joyes, Dearer thy felf then all; needs muft the Power That made us, and for us this ample World Be infinitly good, and of his good
As liberal and free as infinite,
That rais'd us from the duft and plac't us here In all this happiness, who at his hand Have nothing merited, nor can performe Aught whereof hee hath need, hee who requires 420 From us no other service then to keep This one, this eafie charge, of all the Trees In Paradife that beare delicious fruit So various, not to taste that onely Tree Of knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life, So neer grows Death to Life, what ere Death is, Som dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowst God hath pronounc't it death to taste that Tree, The only fign of our obedience left
Among fo many fignes of power and rule
430 Conferrd upon us, and Dominion giv'n
Over all other Creatures that poffeffe
Earth, Aire, and Sea. Then let us not think hard
One eafie prohibition, who enjoy
Free leave fo large to all things elfe, and choice
Unlimited of manifold delights:
But let us ever praise him, and extoll
His bountie, following our delightful task
To prune these growing Plants, & tend these Flours,
Which were it toilfom, yet with thee were sweet. anticipation
To whom thus Eve repli'd. O thou for whom
And from whom I was formd flesh of thy flesh,
And without whom am to no end, my Guide
And Head, what thou haft said is just and right.
For wee to him indeed all praises owe,
And daily thanks, I chiefly who enjoy
So farr the happier Lot, enjoying thee
Preeminent by fo much odds, while thou
Like confort to thy self canst no where find.
That day I oft remember, when from fleep
I first awak't, and found my self repos'd
Under a fhade on flours, much wondring where
And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.
Not distant far from thence a murmuring found
Of waters iffu'd from a Cave and spread
Into a liquid Plain, then stood unmov'd
Pure as th' expanse of Heav'n; I thither went
With unexperienc't thought, and laid me downe
On the green bank, to look into the cleer
Smooth Lake, that to me seemd another Skie.
As I bent down to look, juft oppofite,
A Shape within the watry gleam appeerd
Bending to look on me, I started back,
It started back, but pleasd I foon returnd,
Pleas'd it returnd as foon with anfwering looks
Of sympathie and love, there I had fixt
Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain defire,
Had not a voice thus warnd me, What thou seest,
What there thou feeft fair Creature is thy felf,
With thee it came and goes: but follow me,
470 And I will bring thee where no fhadow ftaies
Thy coming, and thy soft imbraces, hee
Whose image thou art, him thou shall enjoy
Infeparablie thine, to him shalt beare
Multitudes like thy felf, and thence be call'd
Mother of human Race: what could I doe,
But follow ftrait, invifibly thus led?
Till I efpi'd thee, fair indeed and tall,
Under a Platan, yet methought lefs faire,
Lefs winning foft, less amiablie milde,
480 Then that smooth watry image; back I turnd,
Thou following cryd'ft aloud, Return fair Eve,
Whom fli'ft thou? whom thou fli'ft, of him thou art,
His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent
Out of my fide to thee, neerest my heart
Subftantial Life, to have thee by my fide
Henceforth an individual folace dear;
Part of my Soul I feek thee, and thee claim
My other half: with that thy gentle hand
Seifd mine, I yeilded, and from that time fee
490 How beauty is excelld by manly grace
And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.
So fpake our general Mother, and with eyes
Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,
And meek furrender, half imbracing leand
On our first Father, half her fwelling Breast
Naked met his under the flowing Gold
Of her loose treffes hid: he in delight
Both of her Beauty and fubmiffive Charms
Smil'd with fuperior Love, as Jupiter
On Juno fmiles, when he impregns the Clouds
That shed May Flowers; and prefs'd her Matron lip
With kiffes pure: afide the Devil turnd
For envie, yet with jealous leer maligne
Ey'd them askance, and to himself thus plaind.
Sight hateful, fight tormenting! thus these two
Imparadis't in one anothers arms
The happier Eden, shall enjoy thir fill
Of blifs on bliss, while I to Hell am thrust,
Where neither joy nor love, but fierce defire,
Among our other torments not the least,
Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines;
Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd
From thir own mouths; all is not theirs it seems:
One fatal Tree there ftands of Knowledge call'd,
Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidd'n?
Sufpicious, reafonlefs. Why fhould thir Lord
Envie them that? can it be fin to know,>5's way of thanking: distrustfull.
Can it be death? and do they onely stand
By Ignorance, is that thir happie state,
The proof of thir obedience and thir faith?
O fair foundation laid whereon to build
Thir ruine! Hence I will excite thir minds
With more defire to know, and to reject
Envious commands, invented with designe
To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt
Equal with Gods; afpiring to be fuch,
They taste and die: what likelier can enfue?
But firft with narrow fearch I muft walk round
This Garden, and no corner leave unfpi'd;
530 A chance but chance may lead where I may meet
Some wandring Spirit of Heav'n, by Fountain fide,
Or in thick fhade retir'd, from him to draw
What further would be learnt. Live while ye may,
Yet happie pair; enjoy, till I return,
Short pleasures, for long woes are to fucceed.
So faying, his proud step he scornful turn'd,
But with fly circumfpection, and began (roam.
Through wood, through waste, o're hil, o're dale his
Mean while in utmost Longitude, where Heav'n
540 With Earth and Ocean meets, the setting Sun
Slowly defcended, and with right aspect
Against the eastern Gate of Paradife
Leveld his eevning Rayes: it was a Rock
Of Alablafter, pil'd up to the Clouds,
Confpicuous farr, winding with one afcent
Acceffible from Earth, one entrance high;
The reft was craggie cliff, that overhung
Still as it rofe, impoffible to climbe.
Betwixt these rockie Pillars Gabriel fat
550 Chief of th' Angelic Guards, awaiting night; About him exercis'd Heroic Games
Th' unarmed Youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand Celestial Armourie, Shields, Helmes, and Speares Hung high with Diamond flaming, and with Gold. Thither came Uriel, gliding through the Eeven On a Sun beam, fwift as a shooting Starr In Autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd Imprefs the Air, and fhews the Mariner From what point of his Compass to beware 560 Impetuous winds: he thus began in hafte.
Gabriel, to thee thy courf by Lot hath giv'n
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