Her old poffeffion, and extinguish life
In nature and all things; which these foft fires Not only' enlighten, but with kindly heat Of various influence foment and warm, Temper or nourish, or in part shed down Their ftellar virtue on all kinds that s
On earth, made hereby apter to receive Perfection from the fun's more potent ray.
These then, tho' unbeheld in deep of night,
Shine not in vain; nor think, tho' men were none,
That heav'n would want fpectators, God want praise: Millions of fpiritual creatures walk the earth Unfeen, both when we wake and when we sleep: All these with ceaseless praise his works behōld Both day and night: how often, from the steep 680 Of echoing hill or thicket, have we heard
Celestial voices to the midnight-air,
Sole, or refponfive to each others note,
Singing their great Creator? oft in bands
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, 685 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 alone they pass'd On to their blissful bower: it was a place Chos'n by the fov'reign Planter, when he fram'd All things to man's delightful ufe; the roof Of thickeft covert was inwoven fhade Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either fide Acanthus, and each odorous bufhy fhrub, Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower Iris all hues, rofes and jeffamine,
Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and wrought Mofaic; underfoot the violet,
Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay
Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with ftone
Of costlieft emblem: other creature here,
Beast, bird, insect, or worm, durft enter none; Such was their awe of man, In fhadier bower More facred and fequefter'd, tho' but feign'd, Pan or Sylvanus never flept, nor nymph, Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in clofe recefs, With flowers, garlands, and fweet-fmelling herbs Efpoufed Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed, And heav'nly quires the hymenæan 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, fhe 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, 720 Both turn'd, and under open fky ador'd
The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heav'n, Which they beheld, the moon's refplendent globe, And ftarry pole: Thou alfo mad'ft the night, Maker Omnipotent, and thou the day, Which we in our appointed work employ'd Have finifh'd, happy in our mutual help, And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss Ordain'd by thee; and this delicious place, For us too large, where thy abundance wants Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. But thou haft promis'd from us two a race To fill the earth, who fhall with us extol Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep.
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 disguises 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 impure what God declares
Pure, and commands to fome, leaves free to all. Our Maker bids increase; 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 luft was driv'n from men, Among the bestial herds to range; by thee Founded in reafon, loyal, juft, and pure, Relations dear, and all the charities
Of father, fon, and brother, firft 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, Reigns here and revels; not in the bought fmile 765 Of harlots, lovelefs, joylefs, unendear'd,
Cafual fruition; nor in court-amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mafque, or midnight-ball, Or fercnate, which the ftarv'd lover fings
To his proud fair, beft quitted with difdain. 770
Thefe, lull'd by nightingales embracing flept; And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof
Shower'd rofes, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on, Blefs'd pair; and O yet happieft, 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 from their ivory port the Cherubim Forth iffuing at th' accustom'd hour, stood arm'd To their night-watches in warlike parade ; When Gabriel to his next in power thus fpake.
Uzziel, half these draw off, and coaft the fouth With strictest watch; these other wheel, the north; Our circuit meets full weft. As flame they part, Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. 785 From thefe, two strong and fubtle spi'rits he call'd That near him ftood, and gave them thus in charge. Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed Search thro' this garden, leave unfearch'd no nook; But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, 790 Now laid perhaps afleep, fecure of harm.
This evening from the fun's decline arriv'd, Who tells of fome infernal spirit seen
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 bower direct,
In fearch of whom they fought: him there they found Squat like a toad, clofe at the ear of Eve,
Affaying by his devilifh art to reach
The organs of her fancy', and with them forge Illufions as he lift, phantafms and dreams;
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal fpirits, that from pure blood arife
Like gentle breathes from rivers pure, thence raise At least diftemper'd, discontented thoughts, Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate defires, Blown up with high conceits ingend'ring pride.. Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touch'd lightly; for no falsehood can endure Touch of celeftial temper, but returns Of force to its own likeness: up he starts Discover'd and furpris'd. As when a spark Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid Fit for the tun fome magazine to store Against a rumour'd war, the smutty grain With fudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the air; So ftarted up, in his own fhape, the fiend. Back ftept thofe two fair angels, half amaz'd So fudden to behold the grifly king; Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accoft him foon.
Which of thofe rebel fpi'rits adjudg'd to hell Com't thou, escap'd thy prison? and transform'd, Why fatt'st thou like an enemy in wait, Here watching at the head of these that sleep? Know ye not then, faid Satan, fill'd with fcorn, Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate For you, there fitting where ye durft not foar : Not to know me argues yourselves 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 fpi'rit, thy fhape the fame,, 835 Or undiminish'd brightness to be known,
As when thou ftood'ft in heav'n upright and pure: That glory then, when thou no more waft good, Departed from thee'; and thou resemblest now Thy fin and place of doom obfcure and foul.
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