Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams.
The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs,
Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune
The trembling leaves, while univerfal Pan
Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance
Led on th' eternal fpring. Not that fair field
Of Enna, where Proferpin gathering flowers,
Herself a fairer flow'r, by gloomy Dis
Was gather'd, which coft Ceres all that pain
To feek her through the world; nor that sweet grove
Of Daphne by Orontes, and th' infpir'd
Caftalian fpring, might with this Paradife
Of Eden ftrive; nor that Nyfeian ile
Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham,
Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove,
Hid Amalthea and her florid fon
Young Bacchus from his stepdame Rhea's eye;
Nor where Abaffin kings their iffue guard,
Mount Amara, though this by some suppos'd
True Paradise, under the Ethiop line
By Nilus head, inclos'd with fhining rock,
A whole day's journey high, but wide remote
From this Affyrian garden, where the Fiend
Saw undelighted all delight, all kind
Of living creatures new to fight and strange,
Two of far nobler shape erect and tall,
Godlike erect, with native honor clad,
In naked majesty seem'd lords of all,
And worthy feem'd; for in their looks divine,
The image of their glorious Maker fhone,
Truth, wisdom, fanctitude fevere and pure,
(Severe but in true filial freedom plac'd)
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 fweet attractive grace,
He for God only, the for God in him :
His fair large front and eye fublime declar'd
Abfolute rule; and hyacinthin locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Cluftring, but not beneath his shoulders broad:
She as a veil down to the flender waste
Her unadorned golden treffes wore
Dishevel'd, but in wanton ringlets wav'd
As the vine curls her tendrils, which imply'd
Subjection, but requir'd with gentle fway,
And by her yielded, by him beft receiv'd,
Yielded with coy fubmiffion, modeft 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 pafs'd they naked on, nor shunn'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 whifp'ring foft, by a fresh fountain fide
They fat them down; and after no more toil
Of their sweet gard'ning labor than fuffic'd
To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease
More easy, wholsome thirst and appetite
More grateful, to their supper fruits they fell,
Nectarin fruits which the compliant boughs
Yielded them, fide-long as they fat recline
On the foft downy bank damask'd with flowers:
The favory 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 beseems
Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league,
Alone as they. About them frisking play'd
All beafts of th' earth, fince wild, and of all chase
In wood or wilderness, foreft or den;
Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw
Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, 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 breaded 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 hafting now with prone carreer
To th' ocean iles, and in th' ascending scale
Of Heav'n the ftars that usher evening rose:
When Satan ftill in gaze, as firft he stood,
Scarce thus at length fail'd speech recover'd fad.
O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold!
Into our room of blifs thus high advanc'd
Creatures of other mold, earth-born perhaps,
Not Spirits, yet to heav'nly spirits bright
Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue
With wonder, and could love, fo lively shines
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 these delights
Will vanish and deliver ye to woe,
More woe, the more your tafte is now of joy;
Happy, but for fo happy ill secur'd
Long to continue, and this high feat your Heaven
Ill fenc'd for Heav'n to keep out such a foe
As now is enter'd; yet no purpos'd foe
you, whom I could pity thus forlorn,
Though I unpitied: League with you I seek,
And mutual amity so strait, so close,
That I with you must dwell, or you with me
Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please,
Like this fair Paradife, your fenfe, 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,
VOL. X.
And fend forth all her kings; there will be room,
Not like these narrow limits, to receive
Your numerous offspring; if no better place, 385
Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge
you who wrong me not for him who wrong'd. And should I at your harmless innocence
Melt, as I do, yet public reason just,
Honor and empire with revenge inlarg'd,
By conqu'ring this new world, compels me now
To do what else 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 shape serv'd best his end
Nearer to view his prey, and unefpy'd
To mark what of their ftate he more might learn 400
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 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 rufhing he might furest seise 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.
Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys,
Dearer thyfelf than all; needs must the Power
|