230 His lineaments divine; the pair that clad 295 Of his cool bow'r, while now the mounted Sun 300 Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam needs: For dinner sav'ry fruits, of taste to please 305 Of nect'rous draughts between, from milky stream, Berry or grape. To whom thus Adam call'd: 310 Haste hither, Eve, and, worth thy sight, behold Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape Comes this way moving; seems another morn Risen on mid-noon; some great behest from Heav'n To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe This day to be our guest. But go with speed, And what thy stores contain bring forth, and pour 284. A beautiful comparison-feathers lie over one another like he plaits of a coat of nail. 285. Maia's son, Mercury: see Iliad xxiv. 339. Æn. iv. 238. 299. Gen. xviii. 1 where Abraham is described sitting in the door of the tent. 310. Nothing can be conceived more splendid than the idea conveyed in the short description of Raphael's glory. In Marino's Adonis there is a similar one, C. ii. st. 27. Abundance, fit to honour and receive 315 320 325 330 335 To whom thus Eve: Adam, earth's hallow'd mould, Of God inspired, small store will serve, where store, All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk, Save what by frugal storing firmness gains To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes: But I will haste, and from each bow and brake, Each plant and juciest gourd, will pluck such choice To entertain our Angel guest, as he Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth God hath dispensed his bounties as in Heav'n. So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent What choice to choose for delicacy best, What order, so contrived as not to mix Tastes, not well join'd, inelegant, but bring Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change; Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields In India East or West, or middle shore In Pontus or the Punic coast, or where Alcinous reign'd, fruit of all kinds, in coat Rough or smooth rined, or bearded husk, or shell, She gathers, tribute large, and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand. For drink, the grape She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths From many a berry, and from sweet kernels press'd She tempers dulcet creams, nor these to hold Wants her fit vessels pure, then strews the ground With rose and odours from the shrub unfumed. Mean while our primitive great sire, to meet His god-like guest, walks forth, without more train 340 345 350 333. Choice to choose: an alliteration not uncommon to Milton or the classics. 340. In Pontus, part of Asia; the Punic coast, Africa; the kingdom of Alcinous, Phœacia, an island in the Ionian Sea, near Corfu. 345. Meaths, sweet drinks. Accompany'd than with his own complete 355 360 365 370 Whom thus th' angelic virtue answer'd mild: Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou such Created, or such place hast here to dwell, 375 380 As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heav'n, Long after to blest Mary, second Eve. Hail Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb Shall fill the world more num'rous with thy sons, Than with these various fruits the trees of God 390 352. With should be expunged according to Bentley, as it la superfinous. 378. Pomona, the goddess of fruit-trees. 382. In allusion to the judgment of Paris between Venus, Juno, and Minerva. 387. Luke i. 2. 8. Have heap'd this table. Raised of grassy turf To us for food, and for delight hath caused 396 400 The earth to yield; unsav'ry food perhaps To spiritual natures: only this I know, That one celestial Father gives to all. To whom the Angel: Therefore, what he gives (Whose praise be ever sung) to Man in part 405 Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found No' ingrateful food: and food alike those pure As doth your rational; and both contain Within them ev'ry lower faculty 410 Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate, And corporeal to incorporeal turn. For know, whatever was created, needs To be sustain'd and fed: of elements 415 The grosser feeds the purer; earth the sea, Earth and the sea feed air; the air those fires Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurged 420 From her moist continent to higher orbs. The Sun, that light imparts to all, receives In humid exhalations, and at even 425 Sups with the ocean. Though in Heav'n the trees Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each moru We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground Cover'd with pearly grain, yet God hath here 430 421. A Latinism. 426. See Ps. cv. 40. Exodus xvi. 14. Matt. xxiv. 29. and Rev. xxii. 2 Vary'd his bounty so with new delights, 435 Of real hunger and concoctive heat To transubstantiate: what redounds, transpires Through Spirits with ease: nor wonder, if by fire Of sooty coal th' empyric alchemist 440 Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, As from the mine. Mean while at table Eve Minister'd naked, and their flowing cups With pleasant liquors crown'd. O innocence 445 Then had the sons of God excuse to' have been Enamour'd at thy sight; but in those hearts Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor jealousy Was understood, the injured lover's Hell. 450 Thus, when with meats and drinks they had sufficed, Not burden'd nature, sudden mind arose In Adam, not to let th' occasion pass Giv'n him by this great conference, to know Of things above his world, and of their being 455 460 Thy favour in this honour done to Man, 465 As that more willingly thou couldst not seem 435. It was the opinion of most theologians that the angels did not eat, their opinion being founded on some metaphysical notions, and on a passage in Tobit iii. 19. But Milton seems to be justified by the canonical Scripture. See Gen. xviii. and xix. 438. This is a fine distinction between the processes of diges tion in men and angels. 440. Empyric, making many experiments. 445. To crown the cup, is a classical expression. 447. Gen. vi. 2, K |