He pluck'd, he tasted; me damp horror chill'd At such bold words vouch'd with a deed so bold: But he thus, overjoy'd: "Ofruit divine,

Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus croop'd Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit

For Gods, yet able to make Gods of men:

And why not Gods of men: since good, the more
Communicated, more abundant grows,

The author not impair'd, but honor'd more?
Here happy creature, fair Angelic Eve!
Partake thou also: happy though thou art,
Happier thou mayest be, worthier canst not be:
Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods
Thyself a Goddess, not to Earth confined,
But sometimes in the air, as we sometimes
Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine and see
What life the Gods live there, and such live thou!"
So saying, he drew nigh and to me held,

Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part

Which he had pluck'd; the pleasant savory smell

So quicken'd appetite, that I methought,

Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds
With him I flew, and underneath beheld

The Earth outstretch'd immense, a prospect wide
And various: wondering at my flight and change
To this high exaltation; suddenly

My guide was gone, and I, methought sunk down
And fell asleep; but 0, how glad I waked
To find this but a dream!" Thus Eve her night
Related, and thus Adam answer'd sad:

"Best image of myself, and dearer half,
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep
Affects me equally; nor can I like

This uncooth dream, of evil sprung I fear,
Yet evil whence? in thee can harbor none,
Created pure. But know that in the soul
Are many lesser faculties, that serve
L*

Reason as chief; among these fancy next
Her office holds; of all eternal things,
Which the five watchful senses represent,
She forms imagination, aery shapes,
Which reason joining or disjoining, frames
All what we affirm or what deny, and call
Our knowledge or opinion; then retires
Into her private cell, when nature rests.
Oft in her absence mimic fancy wakes
Toimitate her; but misjoining shades,
Wild work produces oft, and in most dreams;
Ill matching words and deeds long past or late.
Some such resemblance, methinks, I find
Of our last evening's talk, in this thy dream,
But with addition strange; yet be not sad.
Evil into the mind of God or man

May come and go, so unapproved, and leave
No spot or blame behind: which gives me hope
That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream
Waking thou never wilt consent to do.

Be not dishearten'd then, nor cloud those looks,
That wont to be more cheerful and serene
Than when fair morning first smiles on the world
And let us to our fresh employments rise.
Among the groves, the fountains and the flowers
That open now their choicest bosom'd smells,
Reserved from might, and kept for thee in store."

So cheer'd he his fair spouse, and she was cheer'd ; But silently a gentle tear let fall

From either eye, and wiped them with her hair;
Two other precious drops that ready stood,
Each in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell
Kiss'd, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse
And pious awe, that fear'd to have offended.

So all was cleared, and to the field they haste.
But first, from under shady arborous roof
Soon as they forth were come to open sight

Designed & Engaved by J. Martin Esq

Book 5. line 136.

Of dayspring, and the sun, who, scarce uprisen,
With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean-brim,
Shot parallel to the Earth his dewy ray,
Discovering in wide landscape all the east
Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains;
Lowly they bow'd adoring, and began
Their orisons, each morning duly paid
In various style; for neither various style
Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise
Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung
Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence

Flow'd from their lips, in prose or numerous verse,
More tunable than need lute or harp,

To add more sweetness; and they thus began:

These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,
Almighty! Thine this universal frame,

Thus wondrous fair; thyself how wondrous then
Unspeakable, who sitt'st above these Heavens
To us invisible, or dimly seen

In these thy lowest works; yet these declare
Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine
Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light,
Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs
And choral symphonies, day without night,
Circle his throne rejoicing; ye in Heaven.
On Earth join, all ye creatures, to extol

Him first, him last, him midst, and without end.
Fairest of stars, last in the train of night,

If better thou belong not to the dawn,

Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smiling morn
With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere,
While day arises, that sweet hour of prime.
Thou sun, of this great world both eye and soul,
Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise
In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st,
And when high noon hast gain'd, and when thou fall'st.
Moon, that now meet'st the orient sun, now fliest,