Yielded with coy fubmiffion, modeft pride, And fweet reluctant amorous delay.
Nor thofe myfterious parts were then conceal'd; Then was not guilty fhame, dishonest shame Of nature's works, honour difhonourable, Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind With fhows instead, mere fhows of feeming pure, And banish'd from man's life his happiest life, Simplicity, and spotlefs innocence !
So pass'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 goodliest man of men fince born His fons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. Under a tuft of fhade that on a green Stood whisp'ring foft, by a fresh fountain-fide They fat them down; and after no more toil Of their fweet gard'ning labour than fuffice'd To recommend cool zephyr, and made ease More eafy, wholefome thirft and appetite More grateful, to their fupper-fraits they fell, Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs Yielded them, fide-long as they fat recline On the foft downy bank damafk'd with flowers: The favoury pulp they chew, and in the rind, Still as they thirfted, 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 them frifking play'd All 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, tygers, ounces, pards,
Gambol'd before them; th' unwieldy elephant, 345- 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 braided 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 hating now with prone career To th' ocean-ifles, and in th' afcending fcale Of heav'n the stars that usher evening rofe: When Satan ftillin 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 bliss thus high advanc'd Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, Not fpirits, yet to heav'nly fpirits bright Little inferiour; whom my thoughts pursue With wonder, and could love, fo lively fhines. In them divine resemblance, and fuch 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 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 feat your heaven
Ill fenc'd for heaven 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 seek 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 Paradise, your sense; yet fuch
Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, 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 loath 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 reafon just,
Honour and empire with revenge enlarg`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, excus'd his devilish deeds. Then from his lofty stand on that high tree Down he alights among the fportful herd Of thofe four-footed kinds, himself now one, Now other, as their fhape ferv'd beft his end Nearer to view his prey, and unefpy'd
To mark what of their state be more might learn, By word or action mark'd: about them round A lion now he stalks with fiery glare; Then as a tyger, who by chance hath spy'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 rushing he might furest seize them both, Grip'd 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. 410 Sole partner, and fole part, of all these joys, Dearer thyfelf than all; needs must the Power That made us, and for us this ample world, Be infinitely good, and of his good
As liberal and free as infinite;
That rais'd us from the duft, and plac'd us here
In all this happiness, who at his hand
Have nothing merited, nor can perform
Aught 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 taste that only tree
Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life;
So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, 4259 Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou know'st God hath pronounc'd it death to tafte that tree, The only fign of our obedience left,
Among fo many figns of power 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 eafy prohibition, who enjoy
Free leave fo large to all things elfe, and choice' Unlimited of manifold delights:
But let us ever praise him, and extol
His bounty, following our delightful task,
To prune thefe growing plants, and tend thefe flowers; Which were it toilfome, yet with thee were fweet.
To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou for whom 440And from whom I was form'd, flesh of thy flesh, And without whom am to no end, my guide And head, what thou haft fáid is juft and right. For we to him indeed all praises owe, And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy So far the happier lot, enjoying thee Preeminent by fo much odds, while thou Like. confort to thyfelf can't no where find. That day I oft remember, when from sleep I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd
Under a fhade on flowers, much wond'ring where And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. Not diftant far from thence a murm'ring found Of waters iffu'd from a cave, and spread Into a liquid plain, then stood 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 sky. As I bent down to look, juft oppofite A fhape within the wat'ry gleam appear'd, Bending to look on me: I started back, It started back; but pleas'd I foon return'd, Pleas'd it return'd as foon with answ’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 seeft, What there thou feeft, fair creature, is thyself; 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 Whose image thou art; him thou fhalt 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 platan; yet methought less fair, Les winning foft, less amiably mild,
Than that smooth wat'ry image: back I turn'd; 480 Thou following cry'dft, aloud, Return fair Eve, Whom fly'ft thou? whom thou fly'ft, of him thou art, His flesh, his bone; to give thee be'ing I lent
Out of my fide to thee, nearest my heart, Substantial life, to have thee by my fide Henceforth an individual folace dear
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