Page images
PDF
EPUB

Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles
Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as befeems
Fair couple, linkt in happie nuptial league,
Alone as they. About them frifking play'd
All beats of the earth, fince wilde, and of all chafe
In wood or wilderness, forreft or den;

Sporting, the lion ramp'd, and in his paw
Dandl'd the kid; bears, tygers, ounces, pards
Gambol'd before them, th'unwieldy elephant
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 breaded train, and of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheaded; others on the grafs
Coucht, and now fill'd with pasture gazing sat,
Or bedward ruminating: for the fun
Declin'd was hafting now with prone career
To th'ocean ifles, and in the afcending scale
Of heav'n the ftarrs that usher evening rofe:
When Satan ftill 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 blifs thus high advanc't
Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps,
Not fpirits, yet to heav'nly spirits bright
Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue
With wonder, and could love, fo lively fhines
In them divine refemblance, and fuch 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 ; Happie, but for fo happie ill fecur'd

Long to continue, and this high feat your heav'n Ill fenc't for heav'n to keep out fuch a foe As now is enter'd; yet no purpos'd foe To you whom I could pitie thus forlorn Though I unpitied': league with you I feek, And mutual amitie fo ftreight, fo clofe, That I with you muft dwell, or you with me Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please Like this fair Paradife, your fenfe, yet fuch Accept your maker's work; he gave it me, Which I as freely give; hell fhall unfold, To entertain you two, her wideft gates, And fend forth all her kings; there will be room, Not like thefe narrow limits, to receive Your numerous offspring; if no better place, 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 doe, yet public reason just,

Honour and empire with revenge enlarg'd,

By conquering this new world, compells me now
To do what else though damn'd I fhould abhorr.
So fpake the fiend, and with neceffitie,

The tyrants plea, excus'd his devilish deeds.
Then from his loftie ftand on that high tree
Down he alights among the sportful herd
Of those fourfooted kindes, himself now one,
Now other, as their shape serv'd best his end

Nearer to view his prey, and unespi'd

To mark what of their state he more might learn
By word or action markt: about them round
A lion now he stalkes with fierie glare,
Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spi'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 rushing he might surest seise them both
Grip't in each paw: when Adam first of men
To firft of women Eve thus moving speech,
Turn'd him all ear to hear new utterance flow.

Sole partner and sole part of all these joyes,
Dearer thyfelf then 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 duft and plac't us here
In all this happiness, who at his hand
Have nothing merited, nor can perform
Aught whereof he hath need, he who requires
From us no other service then to keep
This one, this eafy charge, of all the trees
In Paradife that bear delicious fruit
So various, not to taste that onely tree
Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life,

So neer grows death to life, whatere death is,
Some 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

[ocr errors]

Conferr'd upon us, and dominion giv'n
Over all other creatures that poffefs

Earth, air, and fea. 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, and tend these flours,
Which were it toilfome, yet with thee were sweet.
To whom thus Eve repli'd. O thou for whom
And from whom I was form'd flesh of thy flesh,
And without whom am to no end, my guide
And head, what thou haft faid is just and right..
For we to him indeed all praises owe,
And daily thanks, I chiefly who enjoy
So far the happier lot, enjoying thee
Preeminent by fo much odds, while thou
Like confort to thyself canft no where find.
That day I oft remember, when from sleep
I first awak't, and found myself repos'd

Under a fade 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 expanfe of heav'n; I thither went.
With unexperienc't thought, and laid me down-
On the green bank, to look into the cleer
Smooth lake, that to me feem'd another skie.
As I bent down to look, just oppofite,

[ocr errors]

A fhape within the watry glearn appeer'd
Bending to lock on me, I started back,
It started back, but pleas'd I foon return'd.
Pleas'd it return'd as foon with anfwering looks
Of fympathie and love, there I had fixt

Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain defire,
Had not a voice thus warn'd me, what thou feest,
What there thou feeft, fair creature, is thyfelf,
With thee it came and goes: but follow me,
And I will bring thee where no fhadow flaics
Thy coming, and thy foft embraces, he
Whofe image thou art, him thou shalt enjoy
Infeparably thine to him fhall beare
Multitudes like thyfelf, 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 fair,

Lefs winning foft, lefs amiablie milde,

Then that smooth watry image; back I turn'd,
Thou following cry'dit aloud, Return fair Eve,
Whom fi'ft thou? whom thou fli'ft, of him thou art,
His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent
Cut of my fide to thee, neerest my heart
Subftantial life, to have thee by my fide
Henceforth an individual folace dear;
Part of my foul I feek thee, and thee claim
My other half with that thy gentle hand
Seiz'd mine, I yielded, and from that time fee.
How beauty is excell'd by manly grace
And wisdom, which alone is truly fair

« PreviousContinue »