In naked majesty, seem'd lords of all: And worthy seem'd; for in their looks divine The image of their glorious Maker shone, 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 valor 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, honor dishonorable, 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 shunned 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 labor than sufficed To recommend cool zephyr, and made 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 recline On the soft downy bank damask'd with flowers The savory 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 wreath'd 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 poured 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 you 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 entered; yet no purposed foe To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, Though I unpitied: League with you I seek, And mutual amity, so straight 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 conceive 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 wronged, And should I at your harmless innocence
Melt, as I do, yet public reason just,
Honor and empire with revenge enlarged,
By conquering this new World, compel 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, un-espied,
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
As liberal and free as infinite;
That raised us from the dust, and placed 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 service than to keep
This one, this easy charge, of all the trees
In Paradise 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,
Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou know'st
God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree,
The only sign of our obedience left,
Among so many signs of power and rule
Confered upon us, and dominion given,
Over all other creatures that possess
Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard
One easy prohibition, who enjoy,
Free leave so large to all things else, and choice Unlimited of manifold delights:
But let us ever praise him, and extol
His bounty following our delightful task,
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