none,

Perfection from the fun's more potent ray. Thefe then, though unbeheld in deep of night, Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were [praife: That Heav'n would want fpectators, God want Millions of fpiritual creatures walk the earth Unfeen, both when we wake, and when we fleep: All these with ceafelefs praife his works behold Both day and night: how often from the fteep Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard Celestial voices to the midnight air, Sole, or refponfive each to others note, Singing their great Creator? oft in bands While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, With heav'nly touch of inftrumental founds In full harmonic number join'd, their fongs Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. Thus talking hand in hand alene they pafs'd On to their blifsful bow'r; it was a place Chos'n by the fovran Planter, when he fram'd All things to Man's delightful use; the roof Of thickest covert was inwoven fhade Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew Of firm and fragrant leaf on either fide Acanthus, and each odorous buihy fhrub Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower, Iris all hues, rofes, and jeffamin,

Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and
Mofaic; underfoot the violet,
[wrought

Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay
Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with
Of coftlieft emblem: other creature here, [ftone
Beast, bird, infect, or worm, durft enter none;
Such was their awe of Man. In fhadier bower
More facred and fequefter'd, though but feign'd,
Pan or Sylvanus never flept, nor Nymph,
Nor Faunus haunted. Here in clofe recefs
With flowers, garlands, and sweet-finelling herbs
Efpoufed Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed,
And heav'nly quires the hymenaan fung,
What day the genial Angel to our fire
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 fad event, when to th' unwifer fon
Of Japhet brought by Hermes, the infnar'd
Mankind with her fair looks, to be aveng'd
On him who had ftole Jove's authentic fire.

Thus at their fhady lodge arriv'd, both stood,
Eoth turn'd, and under open fky ador'd
The God that made both sky, air, earth, and
heaven,

Which they beheld, the moon's refplendent globe,
And ftarry pole: Thou alfo mad'it 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 blifs
Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place,
For us too large, where thy abundance wants
Partakers, and uncropt fulls to the ground.
But thou hast promis'd from us two a race
To fill the earth, who fhall with us extol
Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,
As when we feek, as now, thy gift of deep..

This faid unanimous, and other rites
Obferving none, but adoration pure,
Which God likes beft, into their inmoft bower
Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off
Thefe troublesome difguifes which we wear,
Strait fide by fide were laid; nor turn'd I ween
Adam from his fair fpoufe, nor Eve the rites
Myfterious of connubial love refus'd:
Whatever hypocrites aufterely talk
Of purity, and place, and innocence,
Defaming as inpure what God declares
Pure, and commands to fome, leaves free to all.
Our maker bids increafe; who bids abstain
But our destroyer, foe to God and Man?
Hail wedded love, myfterious law, true fource
Of human offspring, fole propriety
In paradife of all things common else.
By thee adult'rous luit was driv'n from men
Among the beftial herds to range; by thee,
Founded in reafon, loyal, just and pure
Relations dear, and all the charities

Of father, fon, and brother, first were known.
Far be it, that I fhould write thee fin or blame
Or think thee unbefitting holieft place,
Perpetual fountain of domeftic fweets,
Whofe bed is undefil'd and chafte pronounc'd,
Prefent, or paft, as faints and patriarchs us'd.
Here love his golden fhafts employs, here lights
His conftant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigus here and revels; not in the bought imile
Of harlots, lovelefs, joylefs, unindear'd,
Cafual fruition; nor in court amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
Or ferenate, which the starved lover fings
To his proud fair, beft quitted with difdain.
These lull'd by nightingales embracing flept,
And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof
Show'rd rofes which the morn repair'd. Sleep on,
Bleft pair; and O yet happiest, if ye feek
No happier ftate, and know to know no more.
Now had night meafur'd with her fhadowy cone
Half way up hill this vaft fublunar vault,
And for their ivory port the Cherubime
Forth iffuing at th' accuftom'd hour stood armi'd
To their night watches in warlike parade,
When Gabriel to his next in pow'r thus fpake:

Uzziel, half these draw off, and coaft the fouth With strictest watch; thefe other wheel the north; Our circuit meets full weft. As flame they part, Half wheeling to the fhield, half to the spear. From thefe, two ftrong and fubtile Sp'rits he call'd charge: That near him flood, and gave them thus in Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed

Search through this garden, leave unfearch'd no nook;

But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge,
Now laid perhaps aileep, fecure of harm.
This evening from the fun's decline arriv'd,
Who tells of fome infernal Spirit feen
Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) efcap'd
The bars of Hell, on errand bad, no doubt;
Such where ye find, feize faft, and hither bring.
So faying, on he led his radiant files,
Dazzling the moon; thefe to the bow'r direc

found

Squat like a toad, clofe at the ear of Eve,
Aflaying by his devilish art to reach

The organs of her fancy', and with them forge
Wabens as he lift, phantafms and dreams,
Or if, infpiring venom, he might taint
Th'animal fpirits that from pure blood arife
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise
At least diftemper'd, difcontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate defires,
Blown up with high conceits ingend'ring pride.
Him thus intent Ithuriel, with his fpear,
Touch'd lightly; for no falfehood can endure
Touch of celeftial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likencfs; up he starts,
Difcover'd and furpris'd. As when a fpark
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun fome magazine to store,
Against a rumour'd war, the fmutty grain,
With sudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the air:
So ftarted up, in his own fhape, the Fiend.
Back ftept those two fair Angels, half amaz'd,
So fudden to behold the grifly king;
Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accoft him foon.
Which of those rebel Sp'rits adjudg'd to Hell
Com'ft thou, efcap'd thy prifon? and transform'd,
Why fatit thou like an enemy in wait,
Here watching at the head of these that sleep?

Know ye not then, faid Satan, fill'd with scorn, Know ye not me? ye knew me once, no mate For you, there fitting where ye durft not foar : Not to know me argues yourfclves unknown, The lowest of your throng; or if ye know, Why afk ye, and fuperfluous begin Your meffage, like to end as much in vain?

To whom thus Zephon, anfw'ring fcorn with fcorn.

Think not, revolted Sp'rit, thy shape the fame,
Or undiminish'd brightness to be known,
As when thou stood'st in heav'n, upright and pure;
That glory then, when thou no more waft good,
Departed from thee'; and thou refemblest now
Thy En and place of doom, obfcure and foul.
But come; for thou, be sure, fhall give account
To him who fent us, whofe charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and thefe from harm.

So fpake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke,
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
Invincible: abah'd the Devil ftood,
And felt how awful goodness is, and faw
Virtue' in her shape how lovely; faw and pin'd
His lofs; but chiefly to find here obferv'd
His luftre visibly impair'd; yet feem'd
Undaunted. If I must contend, faid he,
Beft with the beft, the fender, not the fent,
Or all at once, more glory will be won,
Or leis be loft. Thy fear, faid Zephon bold,
Will fave us trial what the leaft can do
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.

The Fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage; But like a proud fteed rein'd, went haughty on, Champing his iron curb: to ftrive or fiy He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd His heart, not elfe difmay'd. Now drew they nigh

guards

Juft met, and clofing ftood in fquadron join'd, Awaiting next command. To whom their chief Gabriël from the front thus call'd aloud:

O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet Hafting this way, and now, by glimpse, difcern Ithuriel and Zephon through the fhade, And with them comes a third of regal port, But faded fplendor wan; who, by his gate And fierce demeanour, feens the prince of Hell, Not likely to part hence without conteft; Stand firm; for in his look defiance lours.

He fearce had ended, when thofe two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found

How bufied, in what form and posture couch'd.
To whom, with ftern regard, thus Gabriel
spake:
[fcrib'd
Why haft thou, Satan, broke the bounds pre-
To thy tranfgreflions, and disturb'd the charge
Of others, who approve not to transgrefs
By thy example, but have pow'r and right
To queftion thy bold entrance on this place;
Employ'd, it feems, to violate fleep, and thofe
Whofe dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?

To whom thus Satan, with contemptuous brow: Gabriel, thou hadít in Heav'n th' eftecm of wife, And fuch I held thee; but this question afk'd, Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain? Who would not, finding way, break loose from hell, Tho' thither doom'd? Thou wouldst thyfelf, no And boldly venture to whatever place [doubt, Fartheft from pain, where thou might'ft hope to

change

Torment with eafe, and fooneft recompenfe
Dole with delight, which in this place I fought;
To thee no reason, who know'ft only good,
But evil haft not try'd: and wilt object

His will who bound us? let him furer bar
His iron gates, if he intends our flay

In that dark durance: thus much what was afk'd.
The reft is true; they found me where they say;
But that implies not violence or harm.

Thus he in fcorn. The warlike Angel mov'd,
Difdainfully, half fmiling, thus reply'd.
O lofs of one in Heav'n, to judge of wife,
Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew,
And now returns him, from his prifon 'fcap'd,
Gravely in doubt, whether to hold them wife
Or not who ask what boldnefs brought him
hither,

Unlicenc'd, from his bounds in Hell prefcrib'd;
So wife he judges it to fly from pain,
However, and to 'fcape his punishment.

So judge thou ftill, prefumptuous, till the wrath,
Which thou incurr'ft by flying, meet thy flight
Sev'nfold, and fcourge that wisdom back to Hell,
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain
Can equal anger infinite provok'd.

But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee
Came not all Hell broke loofe? is pain to them
Lefs pain, lefs to be fled? or thou than they
Lefs hardy to endure? courageous Chief,
The first in flight from pain, hadft thou alleg'

By us oft feen; his dewy locks diftill'd
Ambrofia; on that tree he also gaz'd;
And, O fair plant! faid he, with fruit furcharg'd,
Deigns none to cafe thy load, and tafte thy fweet,
Nor God, nor Man? is knowledge fo defpis'd?
Or envy', or what referve forbids to taste?
Forbid who will, none fhall from me withhold
Longer thy offer'd good; why eife set here?
Thus faid, he paus'd not, but, with vent'rous arm,
He pluck'd, he tafted; me damp horror chill'd
At fuch bold words, vouch'd with a deed fo bold :
But he thus, overjoy'd; O fruit divine!
Sweet of thyfelf, but much more sweet thus cropt,
Forbidden here, it feems, as only fit

For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men:
And why not Gods of Men, fince good, the more
Communicated, more abundant grows,
The Author not impair'd, but honour'd more?
Here, happy creature, fair angelic Eve,
Partake thou alfo, happy tho' thou art,
Happier thou may'ft be, worthier canft not be:
Faste this, and be henceforth among the Gods,
Thyfelf a Goddess, not to earth confin'd,
But fometimes in the air, as we fometimes
Afcend to Heav'n, by merit thine, and fee
What life the Gods live there, and fuch live thou.
So faying, he drew nigh, and to me held,
Ev'n to my mouth of that fame fruit held part,
Which he had pluck'd; the pleasant favoury fmell
So quicken'd appetite, that I, methought,
Could not but tafte. Forthwith up to the clouds
With him I flew, and underneath beheld

The earth outstretch'd immenfe, a profpect wide
And various : wond'ring at my flight and change
To this high exaltation; fuddenly

My guide was gone, and I, methought, funk down,
And fell asleep; but O how glad I wak'd,
To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her night
Related, and thus Adam anfwer'd fad.

Beft image of myself, and dearer half,
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in fleep
Affects me equally; nor can I like

This uncouth dream, of evil fprung I fear;
Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none,
Created pure. But know that in the foul
Are many leffer faculties, that ferve
Reafon as chief: among these fancy next
Her office holds; of all external things
Which the five watchful fenfes reprefent,
She forms imaginations, airy fhapes,
Which reafon joining or disjoining, frames
All what we' affirm or what deny, and call
Our knowledge or opinion; then retires
Into her private cell when Nature refts.
Oft in her abfence mimic fancy wakes
To imitate her; but misjoining shapes,
Wild works produces oft, and moît in dreams,
Ill matching words and deeds long past or late.
Some fuch refemblances, methinks, I find
Of our laft evening's talk, in this thy dream,
But with addition strange; yet be not fad.
Evil into the mind of God or Man
May come and go, fo unapprov'd, and leave
Nofpot or blame behind: Which gives me
That what in fleep thou didst abhor to dream,

hope

Waking thou never wilt confent to do.
Be not difhearten'd then, nor cloud thofe looks,
That wont to be more cheerful and ferene,
Than when fair morning firft fmiles on the world;
And let us to our fresh employmeuts rife
Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers
That open now their choiceft bofom'd fmells,
Referv'd from night, an kept for thee in store.

So cheer'd he his fair fpoufe, and fhe was cheer'd,
But filently a gentle tear let fall
From either eye, and wip'd them with her hair;
Two other precious drops that ready stood,
Each in their crystal fluce, he, e'er they fell,
Kifs'd, as the gracious figns of fweet remorte
And pious awe, that fear'd to have offended.
So all was clear'd, and to the field they haste.
But first, f.om under fhady arb'rous roof,
Soon as they forth were come to open fight
Of day-fpring, and the fun, who fearce up rifen,
With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean brim,
Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray,
Discovering in wide landskip all the caft
Of Paradife, and Eden's happy plains,
Lowly they bow'd, adoring, and began
Their orifons, cach morning duly paid
In various ftile; for neither various stile
Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise
Their Maker, in fit ftrains pronounc'd or fung
Unmeditated, fuch prompt eloquence
Flow'd from their lips, in profe or numerous verfe,
More tuneable than needed lute or harp
To add more fweetnefs; and they thus began.

Thefe are thy glorious works, Parent of Geod,
Almighty; thine this univerfal frame,
Thus wond'rous fair; thyfelf how wond'rous then!
Unfpeakable, who fitst above these heavens
To us invifible, or dimly feen

In thefe thy loweft works; yet these declare
Thy goodness beyond thought, and pow'r divine.
Speak ye who best can tell, ye fons of light,
Angels; for ye behold him, and with fongs
And choral fymphonies, day without night,
Circle his throne, rejoicing; ye in Heaven,
On earth join all ye creatures to extol
Him first, him laft, him inidst, and without end.
Faireft of ftars, laft in the train of night,
If better thou belong not to the dawn, [morn
Sure pledge of day, that crown'ft the fmiling
With thy bright circlet, praife him in thy fphere,
While day arifes, that fweet hour of prime.
Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and foul,
Acknowledge him thy greater found his praise
In thy eternal courfe, both when thou climb'it,
And when high noon haft gain'd, and when thou
fall'ft.

Moon, that now meet'ft the orient fun, now fly'ft,
With the fix'd ftars, fix'd in their orb that flics,
And ye five other wand'ring fires that move
In myftic dance, not without fong, refound
His praife, who out of darkness call'd up light.
Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth

Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run
Perpetual circle, multiform, and mix

And nourish all things; let your ceafelefs change
Vary to our great Maker itill new praife,