Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure
(Severe, but in true filial freedom placed),
Whence true authority in men; though both
Not equal, as their sex not equal seem'd;
For contemplation he, and valour, form'd;
For softness she, and sweet attractive grace;
He for God only, she for God in him:
His fair large front and eye sublime declared
Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad:
She, as a veil, down to the slender waist,
Her unadorned golden tresses wore
Dishevell❜d, but in wanton ringlets waved,
As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied
Subjection, but required with gentle sway,
And by her yielded, by him best received,
Yielded with coy submission, modest pride,
And sweet, 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 banish'd from man's life, his happiest life-
Simplicity and spotless innocence!

So pass'd they naked on, nor shunn'd the sight
Of God or angel; for they thought no ill:
So, hand in hand they pass'd, the loveliest pair
That ever since in Love's embraces met;
Adam the goodliest man of men since born.

His sons; the fairest of her daughters Eve.
Under a tuft of shade that on a green

Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side
They sat them down; and, after no more toil
Of their sweet gardening labour than sufficed
To recommend cool zephyr, and make ease
More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite
More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell,
Nectarine fruits, which the compliant boughs
Yielded them, sidelong as they sat reclined
On the soft downy bank damask'd with flowers:
The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind,
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 the 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, tigers, ounces, pards,
Gamboll❜d before them; the unwieldy elephant,
To make them mirth, used all his might, and
wreathed

His lithe proboscis; close the serpent sly,
Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine

His braided train, and of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheeded: others on the grass
Couch'd, and, now fill'd with pasture, gazing sat,
Or bedward ruminating; for the sun,

Declined, was hasting now with prone career

To the ocean isles; and, in the ascending scale Of heaven, the stars that usher evening rose; When Satan, still in gaze, as first he stood, Scarce thus at length fail'd speech recover'd sad:

"O hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold? Into our room of bliss thus high advanced Creatures of other mould, earth-born, perhaps, Not spirits, yet to heavenly 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 secured

Long to continue, and this high seat, your heaven,
Ill fenced, for heaven, to keep out such a foe
As now is enter'd; yet no purposed 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 such
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 send forth all her kings; there will be room,

Not like these 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 should I at your harmless innocence

Melt, as I do, yet public reason just,

Honour and empire, with revenge enlarged,
By conquering this new world, compels me now
To do what else, though damn'd, I should abhor."
So spake the fiend, and with necessity,

The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds..
Then from his lofty stand, on that high tree,
Down he alights among the sportful herd
Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one,
Now other, as their shape served best his end,
Nearer to view his prey, and unespied,

To mark what of their state he more might learn,
By word or action mark'd: about them round
A lion now he stalks with fiery glare;
Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied
In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play,
Straight couches close, then rising, changes oft
His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground,
Whence rushing he might surest seize them both,
Griped 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:

"Sole partner, and sole 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