Sole, or refponfive each to others note,
Singing their great Creator oft in bands
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk 685 With heav'nly touch of inftrumental founds In full harmonic number join'd, their fongs Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. Thus talking, hand in hand along they pafs'd
On to their blissful bow'r; it was a place Chos'n by the fovran Planter, when he fram'd All things to Man's delightful use; the roof Of thickest covert was inwoven shade Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either fide
Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub
Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower, Iris all hues, roses, and jeffamin,
Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and wrought Mofaic; underfoot the violet,
Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay
Broider'd the ground, more color'd than with stone Of costlieft emblem: other creature here,
Beast, bird, infect, or worm, durft enter none,
Such was their awe of Man. In fhadier bower 705 More facred and fequefter'd, though but feign'd, Pan or Sylvanus never flept, nor Nymph, Nor Faunus haunted. Here in clofe recefs With flowers, garlands, and sweet-fmelling herbs Efpoused Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed, And heav'nly quires the hymenaan fung, What day the genial Angel to our fire
Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd, More lovely than Pandora, whom the Gods Endow'd with all their gifts, and O too like In fad event, when to th' unwiser fon Of Japhet brought by Hermes, fhe infnar'd Mankind with her fair looks, to be aveng'd On him who had ftole Jove's authentic fire.
Thus at their fhady lodge arriv'd, both stood, 720 Both turn'd, and under open sky ador'd
The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven, Which they beheld, the moon's refplendent globe, And ftarry pole: Thou alfo mad'ft the night, 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 blifs Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place For us too large, where thy abundance wants Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. But thou haft promis'd from us two a race To fill the earth, who fhall with us extol Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,
And when we feek, as now, thy gift of sleep. This faid unanimous, and other rites
Obferving none, but adoration pure
Which God likes beft, into their inmost bower Handed they went; and, eas'd the putting off These troublesome disguises which we wear, Strait fide by fide were laid; nor turn'd I ween Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites
Mysterious of connubial love refus'd: Whatever hypocrites aufterely talk
Of purity and place and innocence,
Defaming as impure what God declares
Pure, and commands to fome, leaves free to all..
Our Maker bids increafe; who bids abstain
But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man?
Hail wedded Love, myfterious law, true fource Of human offspring, fole propriety
In Paradife of all things common elfe.
By thee adult'rous luft was driv'n from men Among the bestial herds to range; by thee Founded in reason, loyal, juft, and pure, Relations dear, and all the charities
Of father, fon, and brother, first were known.
Far be' it, that I fhould write thee fin or blame, Or think thee unbefitting holiest place, Perpetual fountain of domeftic fweets
Whofe bed is undefil'd and chafte pronounc'd, Prefent, or past, as faints and patriarchs us'd. Here love his golden fhafts employs, here lights His conftant lamp, and waves his purple wings, Reigns here and revels; not in the bought fmile 765 Of harlots, lovelefs, joyless, unindear'd,
Cafual fruition; nor in court amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, Or ferenate, which the ftarv'd lover fings To his proud fair, beft quitted with disdain. These lull'd by nightingales embracing flept, And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof
Show'rd rofes, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on, Bleft pair; and O yet happieft, if ye seek No happier ftate, and know to know no more.
Now had night measur'd with her fhadowy cone Half way up hill this vaft fublunar vault, And from their ivory port the Cherubim Forth iffuing at th' accustom❜d hour flood arm'd To their night watches in warlike parade, When Gabriel to his next in pow'r thus fpake.
Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south With strictest watch; these other wheel the north; Our circuit meets full weft. As flame they part, Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. 785 From these, two strong and fubtle Spi'rits 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 unfearch'd no nook; But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, 790 Now laid perhaps afleep fecure of harm.
This evening from the fun's decline arriv'd Who tells of fome infernal Spirit feen
Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) efcap'd The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt: Such where'ye find, feife faft, and hither bring. So faying, on he led his radiant files,
Dazling the moon; these to the bow'r direct
In fearch of whom they fought: him there they found Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve,
Affaying by his devilish art to reach
organs of her fancy', and with them forge
Illufions as he lift, phantafms and dreams, Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal spirits that from pure blood arise Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate defires, Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride. Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touch'd lightly; for no falfhood can indure Touch of celestial temper, but returns of force to its own likeness: up he starts Discover'd and furpris'd. As when a spark Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid Fit for the tun fome magazine to store Against a rumor'd war, the smutty grain With fudden blaze diffus'd inflames the air: So ftarted up in his own shape the Fiend. Back ftept those two fair Angels half amaz'd So fudden to behold the grisly king; Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accost him foon. Which of those rebel Spi'rits adjudg'd to Hell Com'ft thou, escap'd thy prison? and transform'd, Why fatft thou like an enemy in wait, Here watching at the head of these that fleep? Know ye not then, faid Satan fill'd with fcorn, Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate For you, there fitting where ye durft not foar: Not to know me argues yourselves unknown, The lowest of your throng; or if ye know, Why afk ye, and fuperfluous begin
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