And now divided into four main streams, Runs diverse, 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 saphir fount the crisped brooks, Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, With mazy error under pendent fhades Ran 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 first warmly fmote The open field, and where the unpierc'd fhade. Inbrown'd the noontide bow'rs: Thus was this place A happy rural feat of various view;
Groves whofe rich trees wept odorous gums and balm, Others whose fruit burnish'd 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 spread her store, 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, difpers'd, or in a lake, That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd
Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams. The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs, Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune The trembling leaves, while universal Pan Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance Led on th' eternal fpring. Not that fair field Of Enna, where Proferpin gathering flowers, Herself a fairer flow'r by gloomy Dis
Was gather'd, which cost Ceres all that pain To seek her through the world; nor that sweet gr Of Daphne by Orontes, and th' inspir'd Caftalian spring, might with this Paradise Of Eden strive; nor that Nyfeian ile 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 stepdame Rhea's eye; Nor where Abaffin kings their issue guard, Mount Amara, though this by some suppos'd True Paradise under the Ethiop line
By Nilus head, inclos'd with shining 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 strange. Two of far nobler shape erect and tall, Godlike erect, with native honor clad In naked majefty feem'd lords of all, And worthy feem'd; for in their looks divine, The image of their glorious Maker fhone,
Truth, wisdom, fanctitude fevere and pure, (Severe but in true filial freedom plac'd) Whence true authority in men; though both Not equal, as their sex not equal feem'd; For contemplation he and valor form'd, For foftness she and sweet attractive grace, He for God only, the for God in him : His fair large front and eye fublime declar'd Abfolute rule; and hyacinthin locks Round from his parted forelock manly hung Cluftring, but not beneath his shoulders broad : She as a veil down to the slender waste
Her unadorned golden tresses wore
Dishevel'd, but in wanton ringlets wav'd As the vine curls her tendrils, which imply'd
Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway, And by her yielded, by him beft receiv'd, Yielded with coy fubmiffion, modest pride, And fweet reluctant amorous delay.
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd, Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame Of nature's works, honor dishonorable, Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind With shows instead, mere fhows of feeming pure, And banish'd from man's life his happiest life,
Simplicity and spotlefs innocence !
So pafs'd they naked on, nor fhunn'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 goodlieft man of men fince born His fons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. Under a tuft of shade that on a green Stood whifp'ring soft, by a fresh fountain side They fat them down; and after no more toil Of their sweet gard'ning labor than suffic'd To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease More eafy, wholfsome thirst and appetite More grateful, to their supper fruits they fell, Nectarin fruits which the compliant boughs Yielded them, fide-long as they fat recline
On the foft downy bank damask'd with flowers: The favory pulp they chew, and in the rind Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream; Nor gentle purpofe, nor endearing fmiles Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as beseems Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league, Alone as they. About them frisking play'd Ali beafts of th' earth, fince wild, and of all chafe In wood or wilderness, foreft 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 probofcis; close the serpent fly Infinuating, 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 pasture gazing fat,
Or bedward ruminating; for the fun
Declin'd was hasting now with prone carreer To th' ocean iles, and in th' ascending scale Of Heav'n the ftars 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'd Creatures of other mold, earth-born perhaps, Not Spirits, yet to heav'nly Spirits bright Little inferior; whom my thoughts purfue With wonder, and could love, fo lively fhines In them diviné réfemblance, and fuch grace
The hand that form'd them on their fhape 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,
More woe, the more your taste is now of joy;
Happy, but for fo happy ill fecur'd
Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven Ill fenc'd for Heav'n to keep out such 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 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 Paradife, your fenfe, yet such Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, Which I as freely give; Hell fhall unfold, To entertain you two, her wideft gates,
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