1 pride and worfe ambition threw me down, Warring in Heav'n against Heav'n's matchless King;

Ah wherefore! he deferv'd no fuch return
From me, whom he created what I was
In that bright eminence, and with his good
Istraided none; nor was his fervice hard.
What could be less than to afford him praife,
The cafieft recompence, and pay him thanks,
How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me,
Aed wrought but malice; lifted up fo high

I deign'd fubje&tior, and thought one ftep higher
Would fet me high'st, and in a moment quit
The debt immenfe of endless gratitude,
So burdenfome ftill paying, ftill to owe,
Forgetful what from him I ftill receiv'd,
And understood not that a grateful mind
Eyowing owes not, but fill pays, at once
Juted and difcharg'd; what burden then?
O had his pow'rful destiny ordain'd
Me fome infer for Angel, I had flood
Then happy; no unbounded hope had rais’d
Ambition. Yet, why not? fome other Power
As great might have afpir'd, and me, tho' mean,
Drawn to his part; but other Pow'rs as great
Fel not, but ftand unfhaken, from within
Or from without, to all temptations arm'd.
Hadft thou the fame free will and pow'r to ftand?
Thou hadft; whom haft thou then, or what, t' ac-
cufe,

But Heav'n's free love dealt equally to all?
Be then his love accurs'd, fince love or hate,
To me alike, it deals eternal woe.

Nay curs'd be thou; fince against his thy will
Chofe freely what it now fo juftly rues.
Me miferable! which way fhall I fly
Infinite wrath, and infinite defpair?
Which way I fly is Hell; myfelf am Hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep
Still threat'ning to devour me opens wide,
To which the Hell I fuffer feems a Heaven.
O then at laft relent: is there no place
Left for repentance, none for pardon left?
Note left but by fubmiffion; and that word
Diftain forbids me, and my dread of shame
Among the Sp'rits beneath, whom I feduc’d
With other promifes and other vaunts
Than to fubmit, boafting I could fubdue
Th' Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know
How dearly I abide that boast so vain,
Under what torments inwardly I groan,
While they adore me on the throne of Hell.
With diadem and fceptre high advanc'd,
The lower ftill I fall, only fupreme
la milery; fuch joy ambition finds.
But fay I could repent, and could obtain
By act of grace my former ftate; how foon
Would height recall high thoughts, how foon unfay
What feign'd fubmiffion fwore? cafe would recant
Vows made in pain, as violent and void.
For never can true reconcilement grow,
Where wounds of deadly hate have pierc'd fo deep;
Which would but lead me to a worse relapfe
And heavier fall: fo fhould I purchase dear
Short intermiffion bought with double smart.

This knows my punifher; therefore as far
From granting he, as I from begging peace:
All hope excluded thus, behold instead
Of us out-caft, exil'd, his new delight,
Mankind created, and for him this world.
So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear,'
Farewell remorse: all good to me is loft;
Evil be thou my good; by thee at least
Divided empire with Heav'n's king I hold,
By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign;'
As Man e'er long, and this new world, fhall know.
Thus while he fpake, each paffion dimm'd his

face

Thrice chang'd with pale ire, envy, and despair;"
Which marr'd his borrow'd vifage, and betray'd
Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld.

For heav'nly minds from fuch distempers foul
Are ever clear. Whereof he foon aware,
Each perturbation, fmcoth'd with outward calm,
Artificer of fraud, and was the first

That practis'd falfehood under faintly fhew
Deep malice to conceal, couch'd with revenge:
Yet not enough had practis'd to deceive
Uriel once warn'd; whofe eye purfued him down
The way he went, and on th' Affyrian mount
Saw him disfigur'd, more than could befal
Spirit of happy fort: his geftures fierce
He mark'd, and mad demeanour, then alone,
As he fuppos'd, all unobserv'd, unfeen.
So on he fares, and to the border comes
Of Eden, where delicious Paradife,
Now nearer, crowns with her inclosure green,'
As with a rural mound, the champion head
Of a steep wildernefs, whofe hairy fides
With thicket overgrown, grottefque and wild,'
Access deny'd; and over head up grew
Infuperable height of loftieft fhade,
Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm,
A fylvan scene; and as the ranks afcend
Shade above fhade, a woody theatre
Of ftatelieft view. Yet higher than their tops
The verd'rous wall of Paradife up fprung:
Which to our general fire gave profpect large
Into his nether empire neighb'ring round.
And higher than that wall a circling row
Of goodlieft trees, loaden with fairest fruit,
Bloffoms and fruits at once of golden hue,
Appear'd, with gay enamel'd colours mix'd:
On which the fun more glad impress'd his beams
Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow,
When God hath fhow'rd the earth; fo lovely feem'd
That landfkip: And of pure, now purer air
Meets his approach, and to the heart infpires
Vernal delight and joy, able to drive
All fadness but defpair: now gentle gales,
Fanning their odoriferous wings, difpenfe
Native perfumes, and whifper whence they ftole
Thofe balmy fpoils. As when to them who fail
Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are paft
Mozambic, off at fea north-east winds blow
Sabean odours from the fpicy fhore
Of Araby the bleft; with fuch delay [league;
Well pleas'd they lack their courfe, and many a
Cheer'd with the grateful fmell, old Ocean fmiles:
Sq entertain'd thofe odorous fweets the Fiend

bo came their bane, though with them better an Almodeus with the fifhz fume [pleas'd at drove him, tho' enamour'd, from the fpoufe T'obit's fon, and with a vengeance sent on Media poft to Egypt, there fat bound. Now to th' afcent of that fteep favage hill tan had journey'd on, penfive and flow; Lat further way found none, fo thick intwin'd, As one continued brake, the undergrowth

ffhrubs and tangling bushes had perplex'd All path of man or beast that pafs'd that way: One gate there only was, and that look'd caft, On th' other fide: which, when th' arch-felon faw,

Due entrance he difdain'd, and in contempt,
At one flight 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 feek new haunt for prey,
Watching where thepherds pen their flocks at eve
In hurdled cots amid the fields fecure,
Leaps o'er the fence with eafe into the fold:
Or as a thief, bent to unhord the cafh
Of fonie rich burgher, whofe fubítantial doors,
Cross-barr'd and bolted faft, fear no affault,
In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles:
So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold;
So fince into his church lewd hirelings climb.
Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life,
The middle tree, and higheft there that grew,
Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life
Thereby regain'd, but fat devifiing death
To them who liv'd; nor on the virtue thought
Of that life-giving plant, but only us'd
For profpect, what, well ua'd, had been the pledge
Of immortality. So little knows
Any, but God alone, to value right

The good before him, but perverts beft things
To worst abufe, or to their meaneft ufe.
Beneath him with new wonder now he views,
To all delight of human fenfe expos'd
In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth, yea more,
A Heav'n on Earth: for blifsful Paradife
Of God the garden was, by him in th' caft
Of Eden planted; Eden ftretch'd her line
From Auran eastward to the royal towers
Of Great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings,
Or where the fons of Eden long before
Dwelt in Telaffar: in this pleafant foil
His far more pleafant garden God ordain'd;
Out of the fertile ground he caus'd to grow
All trees of nobleft kind, for fight, fmell, tafte;
And all amid them ftood the tree of life,
High eminent, blooming ambrofial fruit
Of vegetable gold; and next to life,
Our death, the tree of knowledge grew faft by,
Knowledge of good, bought dear by knowing ill.
Southward through Eden went a river large,
Nor chang'd his courfe, but through the shaggy

hill

Pafs'd underneath ingulf'd; for God had thrown
That mountain as his garden mould high rais'd
Upon the rapid current, which through veins
Of porous earth with kindly thirst up drawn,
Rofe a fresh fountain, and with many a rill

Water'd the garden; thence united fell
Down the fteep glade, and met the nether flood,
Which from his darkfome paffage now appears,
And now divided into four main ftreams,
Runs diverfe, wand'ring many a famous realm
And country, whereof here needs no account;
But rather to tell how, if Art could tell,
How from that faphir fount the crifped brooks,
Rolling on orient pearl and fands of gold
With mazy error under pendent firades,
Raa nectar, vifiting each plant, and fed
Flow'rs worthy' of Paradife, which not nice Art
In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon
Pour'd forth profufe on hill, and dale, and plain,
Both where the morning fun firft warmly fmote
The open field, and where the unpierc'd fhade
Inbrown'd the noon-tide bow'rs: Thus was this
A happy rural feat of various view; [place
Groves whofe rich trees wept odorous gums and
balm ;

Others, whofe fruit burnished with golden rind
Hung amiable, Hefperian 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 flow'ry lap-
Of fome irriguous valley fpread her frore:
Flow'rs of all hue, and without thorn the rofe.
Another fide, umbrageous grots, and caves
Of cool recefs, o'er which the mantling vine
Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps
Luxuriant mean while murm`ring waters fall
Down the flope hills, difperf'd or in a lake,
(That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd
Her crystal mirror holds) unite their streams.
The birds their choir apply: airs, vernal airs,
Breathing the fmell of field and grove, attune
The trembling leaves, while univerfal Pan,
Knit with the Graces, and the Hours, in dance
Led on th' eternal spring. Not that fair field
Of Enna, where Proferpine gathering flow`rs,
Hertelf a fairer flow'r, by gloomy Dis

Was gather'd; which coft Ceres all that pain
To feck her through the world: nor that fweet

grove

Of Daphne by Orontes, and th' infpir'd
Caftalian fpring, might with this Paradife
Of Eden ftrive: nor thar Nyfian 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 ftepdame Rhea's eye
Nor where Abaflin Kings their iffue guard,
Mount Amara (though this by fome fuppof'd
True Paradife) under the thiop Line
By Nilus head, inclot'd with fhining 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 ftrange.
Two of far nobler fhape, erect and tall,
Godlike erect! with native honour clad
in naked majefty, feem'd lords of all:
And worthy feem'd; for in their looks divine
The image of their glorious Maker hon,

Truth, wifdom, fanctitude fevere and pure;
Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd,
Whence true authority in men: though both
Not equal, as their fex not equal feem'd :
For contemplation he, and valour form'd;
For foitnefs the, and fweet attractive grace;
He, for God only; fhe for God in him.
Hs fair large front, and eye fublime, declar'd
Abfolute rule; and hyacinthin locks
Round from his parted forclock manly hung
Chufiring, but not beneath his fhoulders broad:
She as a veil, down to the flender wait
Her unadorned golden treffes wore,
Dishevel'd; but in wanton ringlets way'd,
As the vine curls her tendrils, which imply'd
Subjection, but requir'd with gentle fway;
And by her yielded, by him beft receiv'd:
Yelded with coy fubmiflion, modeft pride,
And fweet reluctant amorous delay.

Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd;
Then was not guilty fhame, dishoneft fhame
Of nature's works: honour dishonourable!
Şin-bred! how have ye troubl'd all mankind
With thews instead, mere fhews of feeming pure,
And banish'd from man's life his happiest life,
Simplicity, and spotlefs innocence?

Se pais'd they naked on, nor fhun'd the fight
Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill.
So hand in hand they pafs'd, the loveliest pair
That ever fince in love's embraces met;
Adam the good lieft man of men fince born
His ions; the fairest of her daughters Eve.
Under a tuft of fhade, that on a green
Stood whip'ring foft, by a fresh fountain fide
They fat them down; and after no more toil
Of their fweet gard'ning labour then fuffie'd
To recommend cool zephyr, and made cafe
More cafy, wholefome thirst and appetite.
More grateful, to their fupport fruits they fell,
Nectarme fruits, which the compliant boughs
Yielded them, fide-long as they fat recline
On the foft downy bank damaik'd with flowers:
The favoury pulp they chew, and in the rind
Still as they thirited fcoop the brimming stream;
Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing fmiles
Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as befeems
Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league,
Alone as they. About tbem frifking play'd
All beats of th' earth, fince wild, and of all chafe
In wood or wilderness, forest or den;
Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw
Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards,
Gambol'd before them; th' unwieldy elephant
To make them mirth, us'd all his might, and
wreath'd

His lithe probefcis; close the serpent fly
Latineating, wove with Gordian twine
His breaded train, and of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheeded; others on the grafs
Couch d, and now fill'd with pafture, gazing fat,
Or bedward ruminating; for the fun
Declin'd was hafting now with prone carreer
To th' ocean ifles, and in th' afcending scale
Of Heavn the ftars that ufher evening rofe:
When Satan, ftill in gaze, as first he stood,

Scarce thus at length fail'd fpeech recover'd fad.
O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold
Into our room of blifs thus high advanc'd
Creatures of other mould; earth-born perhaps,
Not fpirits; yet to heav'nly fpirits bright
Little inferior; whom my thoughts purfue
With wonder, and could love, fo lively thines
In them divine refemblance, and fuch grace
The hand that form'd 'em on their shape hath
pour'd.

Ah gentle pair! ye little think how nigh
Your change approaches; when all thefe delights
Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe;

me,

More woe, the more your taste is now of joy :
Happy! but for fo happy ill fecur'd
Long to continue; and this high feat your heav'n,
Ill-fenc'd for heav'n, to keep out fuch 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 feek,
And mutual amity, fo ftrait, so close,
That I with you must 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
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 loth to this revenge,
On you, who wrong me not, for him who wrong'd,
And fhould I at your harmlefs innocence
Melt, (as I do) yet public reafon just,
Honour, and empire, with revenge inlarg'd,
By conqu'ring this new world, compels me now
To do, what elfe (though damn'd) I should abhor.
So fpake the fiend; and with neceffity,
(The tyrant's plea) excuf'd his devilish deeds:
Then from his lofty ftand on that high tree,
Down he alights among the fportful herd
Of thofe four footed kinds; himfelf now one,
Now other, as their fhape ferv'd beft his end
Nearer to view his prey, and un-espy'd,
To mark what of their ftate he more might learn,
By word, or action mark'd: about them round,
A lion now he ftalks with fiery glare;.
Then, as a tiger, who by chance hath fpy'd,
In fome purlieu, two gentle fawns at play,
Strait couches clofe, then rifing changes oft
His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground,
Whence rufhing, he might fureft feize them both,
Grip'd in each paw: when Adam, first of men,
To firft of women, Eve, thus moving fpeech,
Turn'd him, all ear, to hear new utterance flow,
Sole partner, and fole part all thefe joys!
Dearer thyself than all! needs must the pow'r
That made us, and for us this ample world,
Be infinitely good, and of His good
As liberal and free, as infinite,

That raif'd us from the duft, and plac'd us here
In all this happinefs, who at His hand
Have nothing merited, nor can perform
Ought whereof he hath need: He! who requires
From us no other fervice than to keep

This one, this eafy charge, of all the trees
In Paradife, that bear delicious fruit
So various, not to tafte that only tree
Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life;
So near grows death to life, whate'er death is,
Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou
know'it,

God hath pronoune'd it death to taste that tree,
The only fign of cur obedience left
Among fo many fgns of pow'r 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 cafy prohibition, who enjoy

Free leave fo large to all things elfe, and choice
Unlimited of manifold delights:
But let us ever praife him, and extol
His bounty, following our delightful task,

To prune thefe growing plants, and tend thefe flowers,

Which were it toiifome, yet with thee were fweet.
To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou for whom
And from whom I was form'd, ficfh of thy fiefl,
And without whom am to no end, my guide
And head, what thou haft faid is juft and right:
For we to him indeed all praifes owe,
And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy
So far the happier lot, enjoying thee
Pre-eminent by fo much odds, while thou
Like confort to thyfelf canft no where find.
That day I oft remember, when from fleep
I firft awak'd, and found myself repos'd
Under a fhade on flow'rs, much wond'ring where
And what I was; whence thither brought, and how:
Not diftant far from thence a murm'ring found
Of waters iffued from a cave, and spread
Into a liquid plain, then ftoed unmov'd
Pure as th' expanfe of Heav'n; I thither went
With unexperienc'd thought, and laid me down
On the green bank, to look into the clear
Smooth lake, that to me feem'd another fky.
As I bent down to look, juft oppofite
A fhape within the watry gleam appear'd,
Bending to look on me: Iftarted back,
It started back; but pleas'd I foon return'd;
Pleas'd it return'd as foon, with anfw'ring looks
Of fympathy and love: there I had fix'd
Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain defire,
Had not a voice thus warn'd me; What thou feeft,
What there thon feeft, fair Creature, is thyfelf;
With thee it came and goes: but follow me,
And I will bring thee where no fhadow stays
Thy coming, and thy foft embraces, he
Whole image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy
Infeparably thine, to him fhalt bear
Multitudes like thyfelf, and thence be call'd
Mother of human race. What could I do,
But follow ftrait, invifibly thus led?
Till I efpy'd thee, fair indeed and tall,
Under a platane; yet methonght lefs fair,"
Lefs winning foft, lefs amiably mild,
Than that smooth watry image: back I turn'd;
Thou following cry'dft aloud, Return, fair Eve;
Whom fly't thou? whom thou fly'ft, of him thou

art,

His flesh, his bone; to give the being, I lent
Out of my fide to thee, neareft my heart,
Subftantial life, to have thee by my fide
Henceforth an individual folace dear;
Part of my foui I feek thee, and thee claim
My other half; with that thy gentle hand
Seif'd mine; I yielded, and from that time fee
How beauty is excell'd by manly grace
And wifdom, which alone is truly fair,

So fpake our general mother, and with eyes
Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,
And meek furrender, half embracing lean'd
On our first father; half her fwelling breaft
Naked met his under the flowing geld
Of her loofe treffes hid: he in delight
Eoth of her beauty and fubmiffive charms
Smil'd with fuperior love, as Jupiter
On Juno fmiles, when he impregns the clouds
That fhed May flow'rs; and prefs'd her matro
With kiffes pure: afide the Devil turn'd
For envy; yet with jealous leer malign
Ey'd them afkance, and to himself thus plain'd.
Sight hateful, fight tormenting! thus these two
Imparadif'd in one another's arms,

The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill
Of blifs on blifs; while I to Hell am thruft,
Where neither joy nor love, but fierce defire,
Among our other torments not the leaft,
Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines.
Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd
From their own mouths: all is not theirs it feems;
One fatal tree there ftands, of knowledge call'd,
Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidden?
Sufpicious, reaferlefs. Why should their Lord
Envy them that? can it be fin to know?
Can it be death? and do they only stand
By ignorance? is that their happy state,
The proof of their obedience and their faith?
O fair foundation led whereon to build
Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds
With mere defire to know, and to reje&
Envious commands, invented with defign
To keep them low, whom knowledge might exakt
Equal with Gods: afpiring to be fuch,
They tafle and die: what likelier can enfue?
But first with narrow fearch I muft walk round
This garden, and no corner leave unfpy'd;
A chance, but chance may lead where I may meet
Seme wand'ring Spirit of Heav'n by fountain fide,
Or in thick fhade retir'd, from him to draw
What further would be learn'd. Live while you
may,

Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,
Short pleafures, for long woes are to fucceed.

So faying, his proud fep he fcornful turn'd,
But with fiy circumfpeétion, and began
Through wood, through wafte, o'er hill, o'er dale,

is roam.

Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heav'n
With carth and ocean meets, the fetting fun
Slowly defcended, and with right afpect
Against the caftern gate of Paradife
Levell'd his evening rays: it was a rock
Of alabafter, pil'd up to the clouds,
Confpicuous far, winding with one afcent

Accefible from earth, one entrance high;
The ruft was craggy cliff, that overhung
Sell as it rofe, in poffible to climb.
Betwist thule rocky pillars Gabriel fat,
Chief of th' angelic guards, awaiting night;
About him exercif'd heroic games

Th' unarm'd youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand
Cleftial armoury, fhields, helms, and ípears,
Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold.
Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even
On a fun beam, fwift as a fhooting far
In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd
Imprefs the air, and fhews the mariner
From what point of his compass to beware
Impetuous winds: he thus began in hafte.

Gabriel, to thee thy courie by lot hath given
Charge and frict watch, that to this happy place
No evil thing approach or enter in.
This day at height of noon came to my fphere
A ípirit, zealous, as he feem'd, to know,
More of th' Almighty's works, and chiefly Man,
Cod's latest image: I defcrib'd his way
Bent al on speed, and mark'd his airy gate;
But in the mount that lies from Eden north,
Wacre he first lighted, foon difcern'd his looks
Alta from Heav'n, with paffions foul obfcur'd:
Mac eye purfaed him ftill, but under hade
Led fight of him: one of the banifi'd crew,
!fear, hath ventur'd from the deep, to raise
New troubles; him thy care must be to find.

To whom the winged warrior thus return'd. Unel, no wonder if thy perfect fight, Amid the fun's bright circle where thou fift, See far and wide: in at this gate nore país The vigilance here plac'd, but fuch as come Wed known from Heav n; and fince meredian hour No creature thence: if Spirit of other fort, So minded, have o'er-leap'd this earthy bounds O.: purpose, hard thou knoweft it to exclude Spiritual fubftance with corporeal bar. But if within the circuit of thefe walks,

whatever shape he lurk, of whom Tou tell, by morrow dawning I fhall kw. So promis'd he; and Uriel to his charge Etura'd on that bright beam, whofe point now

rab'd

Bere him flope downward to the fun now fall'n
Beneath th' Azores; whether the prime orb,
la redible how fwift, had thither roll'd
Diernal, or this lefs volubil earth,

By Borter flight to th' caft, had left him there
Arraying with reflected purple and gold
The clouds that on his weltern throue attend.
Now came fill evening on, and twilight gray
Had in her fober livery all things clad;
Silence accompanied; for beaft and bird,
They to their graffy couch, thefe to their nefts
Were flunk, all but the wakeful nightingale;
She all night long her amorous defcant fung;
Silence was pleaf'd: now glow'd the firmament
With living faphirs; Hefperus, that led
The ftarry hoft, rode brighteft, till the moon]
Riding in clouded majefty, at length
Apparent queen unveil'd her peerless light,
And o'er the dark her filver mantle threw.

When Adam thus to Eve. Fair Confort, the
hour

Of night, and all things now retir'd to reft,
Mind us of like repofe, fince God hath fet
Labour and reft, as day and night to men
Succeffive; and the timely dew of fleep
Now falling with foft flumibrous weight inclines i
Our eye-lids: other creatures all day long
Rove idle unemploy'd, and lefs need reft;
Man hath his daily work of body or mind
Appointed, which declares his dignity,
And the regard of Heav'n on all his ways,
While other animals unactive range,

And of their deings God takes no account.
To-morrow e'er fresh morning ftreak the eaft
With fresh approach of light, we must be rifen,
And at our pleafant labour to reform
Yon flow'ry arbors, yonder alleys green,
Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown,
That mock our feant manuring, and require
More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth:
Those bloffonis alfo, and thofe dropping gums,
That lie befrown unfightly and unimooth,
Afk riddance, if we mean to tread with cafe;
Mean while, as Nature wills, night bids us reft.

To whom thus Eve with perfect beauty adorn'd.
My Author and Difpofer, what thou bidft
Unargued I obey; to God ordains;
God is thy law, thou mine: to know no more
Is woman's happi:ft knowledge and her praife.
With thee converfing, I forget all time;
All feafons and their change, all pleafe alike.
Sweat is the breath of mern, her rifing fweet,
With charm of earlicft Lirds; pleafant the fun,
When firit on this delightful land he fpreads
His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit and flower,
Glit ring with dew; fragrant the fertile earth
After foft fhow'rs; and feet the coming on
Of grateful evening mild; then filent night
With this her folemn bird, and this fair moon,
And thefe the gems of Heav'n, her itarry train:
But neither breath of morn, when the afcends
With charm of earlicft birds; nor riling fun
On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower,
Glift'ring with dew; nor fragrance after showers;
Nor grateful evening mild; nor filent night
With this her folemn bird; nor walk by moon,
Or glittering ftar-light, without thee is fweet.
But wherefore all night long fine thele? for

whom

This glorious fight, when fleep hath shut all eyes?
To whom our general anceitor reply'd.
Daughter of God and Man, accomplith'd Eve,
Theie have their courfe to finish round the earth,
By morrow evening, and from land to land
In order, though to nations yet unborn,
Miniftring light prepar'd, they fet and rise;
Left total darkness fhould by night regain
Her old poffeflion, and extinguish life
In nature and all things, which thefe foft fires
Not only inlighten, but with kindly heat
Of various influence foment and warm,
Temper or nourish, or in part fhed down
Their ftellar virtue on all kinds that grow
On earth, made hereby apter to receive