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 Ought whereof he hath need, he who requires From us no other service 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, Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou know'it
God hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree, The only fign of our obedience left Among fo many figns of pow'r 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 these growing plants, and tend thefe flowers, Which were it toilfome, yet with thee were sweet.
To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou for whom 440 And from whom I was form'd flesh of thy flesh,
And without whom am to no end, my guide
And head, what thou haft faid 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 Præeminent by fo much odds, while thou Like confort to thyself canft no where find. That day I oft remember, when from sleep I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd Under a shade on flow'rs, much wond'ring where And what I was, whence thither brought and how. Not distant far from thence a murm'ring found Of waters iffued from a cave, and spread Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov'd Pure as th' expanse 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 shape within the watry 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 anfw'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 Whofe image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy
Infeparably thine, to him shalt bear
Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call'd Mother of human race. What could I do,
But follow ftrait, invisibly thus led ? Till I efpy'd thee, fair indeed and tall, Under a platan; yet methought less fair, Lefs winning soft, less amiably mild,
Than that smooth watry image: back I turn'd; 480 Thou following cry'dft aloud, Return fair Eve,
Whom fly'ft thou? whom thou fly'st, 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; Part of my foul I feek thee, and thee clame
My other half. With that thy gentle hand
Seis'd mine; I yielded, and from that time see How beauty is excell'd by manly grace
Of her loose treffes hid: he in delight Both of her beauty and submissive charms
Smil'd with fuperior love, as Jupiter
On Juno fmiles, when he impregns the clouds That shed May flow'rs; and prefs'd her matron lip
With kiffes pure: afide the Devil turn'd I 3
For envy, yet with jealous leer malign
Ey'd them afkance, and to himself thus plain'd. Sight hateful, fight tormenting! thus these two 505 Imparadis'd in one another's arms,
The happier Eden, fhall enjoy their fill Of blifs on blifs; while I to Hell am thruft, Where neither joy nor love, but fierce defire, Among our other torments not the least, Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines. Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd From their own mouths: all is not theirs it seems; One fatal tree there ftands of knowledge call'd, Forbidden them to tafte: Knowledge forbidden? 515 Sufpicious, reafonlefs, Why fhould their Lord
Envy them that? can it be fin to know? Can it be death? and do they only ftand By ignorance is that their happy state, The proof of their obedience and their faith? O fair foundation laid whereon to build Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds With more defire to know, and to reject Envious commands, invented with defign
To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt 525 Equal with Gods: afpiring to be fuch
They taste and die: what likelier can enfue? But firft with narrow fearch I muft walk round This garden, and no corner leave unfpy'd;
A chance but chance may lead where I may meet 530 Some wand'ring Spi'rit of Heav'n by fountain fide, Or in thick fhade retir'd, from him to draw
What further would be learn'd. Live while you may, Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,
Short pleasures, for long woes are to fucceed.
So faying, his proud ftep he fcornful turn'd, But with fly circumfpection, and began
Through wood, through wafte, o'er hill, o'er dale, his
Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heaven
With earth and ocean meets, the fetting fun
Slowly defcended, and with right afpéct
Against the eastern gate of Paradise Levell❜d his evening rays: it was a rock Of alabaster, pil'd up to the clouds, Confpicuous far, winding with one ascent Acceffible from earth, one entrance high; The reft was craggy cliff, that overhung Still as it rofe, impoffible to climb. Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel fat, Chief of th' angelic guards, awaiting night; About him exercis'd heroic games
Th' unarmed youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand Celestial armoury, fhields, helms, and spears, Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold. Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even On a fun-beam, fwift as a fhooting star In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd Impress the air, and fhows the mariner From what point of this compafs to beware. Impetuous winds: he thus began in hafte.
Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given Charge and ftrict watch, that to this happy place
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