# Among these trees that wept odorous gums; among these flowers Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved ་་ So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair They sat them down by a fountain side, reclining on the downy bank damasked with flowers; and while partaking of the supperfruits, all the beasts of the earth frisked around them-lions, bears, leopards, kids, and lambs, the unwieldy elephant, and the sly serpent; Satan, meanwhile, standing at gaze, half-pitying the destined victims of his vengeance against another. When Adam addressed his fair partner, the wondering fiend turned to listen with strange curiosity. It was of the All-Good the first man spoke, and of that wondrous beneficence which had raised them from the dust, and placed them in a state of such unbounded happiness, on no other condition than that they should abstain from tasting of the fruit of a single tree. Eve answered in a similar strain, calling to mind the circumstances attending her first consciousness of life : That day I oft remember, when from sleep I first awaked, and found myself reposed Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. It started back; but pleased, I soon returned; Of sympathy and love. A voice warned her that it was but a shadow she beheld, and that one was not far off in whom she would find the substance of her love. She followed, and, seeing Adam, would have fled, till reassured by his entreaties. So spake our general mother; and with eyes And meek surrender, half-embracing, leaned On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds That shed May-flowers); and pressed her matron lip With kisses pure. Aside the devil turned, eyeing them askance; but, though consumed with jealous envy, he had learned, from their discourse, that they held their happiness upon a condition! Now came still evening on, and twilight gray Apparent queen, unveiled her peerless light, The first pair conversed for awhile before closing their eyes in sleep, Eve giving forth this burst of tenderness for her lord and love: Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the sun, consweis. Of grateful evening mild; then silent night,d bognslian 2 On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower, But wherefore, she demanded, shine these heavenly lights, when Of voices, midnight air, Sole, or responsive each to other's note, Singing their great Creator? Oft in bands, While they keep watch, or In of instruounds, Full hanumber joined, t ᎤᏚ Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. 21 101 So discoursing, they sought the shady lodge; and, after pausing at the entrance, and adoring, under open sky, the God that made sky, air, earth, and heaven, they betook themselves to rest. In the meantime, the heavenly watchers, who had become uneasy at so ambiguous a presence seen near the walls of Paradise, bestirred themselves in the middle of the night. Of these, Ithuriel and Zephon had command from Gabriel to search the garden, but chiefly the bower of the first pair; and on reaching the spot, of factor to doom there they found, him Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, "H The organs of her fancy, and with them forge, Of force to its own likeness-up he starts • in his own shape the fiend. Back stepped those two fair angels, half amazed Challenged by these watchers of the night, Satan answered proudly; and even when confronted by Gabriel and his compeers, abated no jot of his haughtiness, till nog eit seit bur ebussas sile nant the angelic squadron bright horns Turned fiery red, sharpening in round Their phalanx, and began to hem With ported spears.cu un avob ikiw gimosi)) Like Teneriffe or Atlas unremoved puttomily 10 His stature reached the sky, and on his crest oraz tud But at this crisis the Eternal hung forth from heaven his golden scales (still shed. Called upon by Gabriel to behold created things in the celestial sign the result of his vain combat blodad en lower fiend looked up, and knew His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled 936m sudio of loso vizuoqzor no plo? abond ui 310 JADET) 1891 tbdi pribud zliav quibanor vludgi .[ Now morn, her rosy step in the eastern h with orient pear "When Adam a waked, so customed; for his sleep Was airy-light, from pure digestion bred, un **,། bitAnd temperate vapours bland; which the only sound Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, oood Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin songsat si i Sabre Of birds on every bough; so much the more biurdy] „His wonder was to find unwakened Eve,p-mruit byrpt dashWith tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek, 19X tor As through unquiet rest. He, on his side, 70 Leaning, half-ra namoured, and beheld with looks of cordial love Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep, Her hand 691 T } Eve was awakened by his love-whispers, and embracing Adam, tells him of a dream that had disturbed her of a voice like his, that, close to her ear, had likewise invited her, in her troubled slumbers, to walk forth, saying: Why sleep'st thou, Eve? now is the pleasant time, In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment, She rose at the soft call, and wandered lonely through many paths that at length brought her to the Forbidden Tree; and there she found seraph who tasted of the fruit, and who, even when damp horror chilled her at the sight, invited her likewise to eat, and become immortal like himself. She yielded; and forthwith flew up with him into the clouds; but suddenly missing her conductor, down she fell to the earth, and sank into sleep. Adam, on hearing this dream, administered consolation, not unmingled with reproof. So cheered he his fair spouse, and she was cheered; From either eye, and wiped them with her hair; They then purposed to begin their morning task; but first paid duly their orisons in such terms as these: These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Thus wondrous fair; thyself how wondrous then! In these thy lowest works; yet these declare |