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;

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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

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435

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

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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

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Infeparably

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,

475

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

485

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

490

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

500

With kiffes pure: afide the Devil turn'd
I 3

For

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,

510

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

520

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

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.

535

So faying, his proud ftep he fcornful turn'd, But with fly circumfpection, and began

[roam.

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

540

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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555

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