630 66 "Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, "That lie bestrewn, unsightly and unsmooth, "Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease. Meanwhile, as nature wills, night bids us rest.” To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorn'd. 635 "My author, and disposer! what thou bidd'st "Unargued I obey: so God ordains. "God is thy law, thou mine: to know no more 640 "All seasons, and their change-all please alike. 650 "His orient beams on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, 645 "Glistering with dew: fragrant the fertile earth "After soft showers; and sweet the coming on "Of grateful evening mild; then silent night, "With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon, "And these the gems of heaven, her starry train: "But neither breath of morn, when she ascends "With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun "On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower, "Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers; "Nor grateful evening mild; nor silent night, "With this her solemn bird; nor walk by moon, "Or glittering star-light; without thee is sweet." 655 "But wherefore all night long shine these? For whom "This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?" To whom our general ancestor replied: 660 "Daughter of God and man, accomplish'd Eve! By morrow evening; and from land to land "In order, though to nations yet unborn, "Ministering light prepar'd, they set and rise; 665"Lest total darkness should by night regain "Her old possession, and extinguish life "In nature, and all things; which these soft fires "Not only enlighten, but, with kindly heat "Of various influence, foment and warm670" Temper or nourish; or in part shed down "Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow "On earth, made hereby apter to receive "Perfection from the sun's more potent ray. "These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, "Shine not in vain. Nor think, though men were none, "That heaven would want spectators-God want praise : "Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth "Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep: "All these, with ceaseless praise, his works behold 680" Both day and night. How often, from the steep "Of echoing hill or thicket, have we heard "Celestial voices, to the midnight air 675 "(Sole, or responsive each to other's note) 66 Singing their great Creator! Oft in bands 685"While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, 690 On to their blissful bower: it was a place Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower, Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and 700 Mosaic: under foot the violet, Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with stone, Or costliest emblem: other creature here, Bird, beast, insect, or worm, durst enter none : 705 Such was their awe of man. In shadier bower Brought her, in naked beauty more adorn'd, 720 Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnar'd The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven, Which they beheld; the moon's resplendent globe, And starry pole: "Thou also mad'st the night, 725 "Maker Omnipotent! and thou the day, "Which we, in our appointed work employ'd, "Have finish'd, happy in our mutual help, "And mutual love-the crown of all our bliss "Ordain'd by thee; and this delicious place 730"For us too large, where thy abundance wants Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. "But thou hast promis'd from us two a race "To fill the earth, who shall with us extol "Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, 735" And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep." This said unanimous, and other rites 66 Observing none, but adoration pure Which God likes best, into their inmost bower Handed they went; and, eas'd the putting off 740 These troublesome disguises which we wear, Straight side by side were laid; nor turn'd, I ween, Mysterious of connubial love refus'd: Whatever hypocrites austerely talk 745 Of purity, and place, and innocence, Defaming as impure what God declares Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all. In Paradise, of all things common else! Of father, son, and brother, first were known. Whose bed is undefil'd and chaste pronounc'd, Casual fruition! nor in court-amours, Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, Or serenate, which the starved lover sings 770 To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. These, lull'd by nightingales, embracing slept; And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof Shower'd roses, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on, Blest pair! and O, yet happiest, if ye seek 775 No happier state, and know to know no more. Now had night measur'd with her shadowy cone 780 To their night-watches in warlike parade; When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake : "Uzziel! half these draw off, and coast the south "With strictest watch; these other wheel the north: "Our circuit meets full west." As flame they part, 785 Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. 790 From these, two strong and subtle spirits he call'd, That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge: "Ithuriel and Zephon! with wing'd speed "Search through this garden, leave unsearch'd no "But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, "This evening from the sun's decline arriv'd, "Hitherward bent, (who could have thought?) escap'd 795"The bars of hell-on errand bad, no doubt: 66 Such, where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring." Dazzling the moon: these to the bower direct, In search of whom they sought; him there they found, 800 Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, Assaying, by his devilish art, to reach The organs of her fancy, and with them forge 805 The animal spirits, that from pure blood arise |