Adam the good lieft man of men fince born His fons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. Under a tuft of fhade that on a green
Stood whifp'ring foft, by a fresh fountain fide They fat them down; and after no more toil Of their fweet gard'ning labor than fuffic'd To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease More easy, wholfome thirst and appetite More grateful, to their fupper fruits they fell, Nectarin fruits which the compliant boughs Yielded them, fide-long as they fat recline
On the foft downy bank damask'd with flowers: The favory pulp they chew, and in the rind Still as they thirfted fcoop the brimming stream; Nor gentle purpofe, nor endearing fmiles. Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as befeems Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league, Alone as they. About them frisking play'd All beafts of th' earth, fince wild, and of all chafe In wood or wilderness, forest or den;
Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw
Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, Gambol'd before them; th' unwieldy elephant
To make them mirth us'd all his might, and wreath'd His lithe probofcis; clofe the ferpent fly Infinuating, wove with Gordian twine His breaded train, and of his fatal guile Gave proof unheeded; others on the grafs
'Couch'd, and now fill'd with pafture gazing fat,
Or bedward ruminating; for the fun
Declin'd was hafting now with prone carreer To th' ocean iles, and in th' afcending feale Of Heav'n the stars that ufher evening rofe: When Satan ftill in gaze, as first he stood, Scarce thus at length fail'd speech recover'd fad. O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold! Into our room of blifs thus high advanc'd Creatures of other mold, earth-born perhaps, Not Spirits, yet to heav'nly Spirits bright Little inferior; whom my thoughts purfue With wonder, and could love, fo lively fhines In them divine refemblance, and fuch grace
The hand that form'd them on their fhape hath pour'd. Ah gentle pair, ye little think how nigh
Your change approaches, when all thefe delights Will vanish and deliver ye to woe,
More woe, the more your tafte is now of joy;
Happy, but for fo happy ill fecur'd
Long to continue, and this high feat your Heaven
Ill fenc'd for Heav'n to keep out fuch a foe As now is enter'd; yet no purpos'd foe To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, Though I unpitied: League with you I feek, And mutual amity fo ftrait, fo close,
That I with you must dwell, or you with me Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please, Like this fair Paradife, your fenfe, yet fuch Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, Which I as freely give; Hell fhall unfold, To entertain you two, her wideft gates, - VOL. I.
Adam the goodlieft man of men fince born His fons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. Under a tuft of fhade that on a green Stood whifp'ring soft, by a fresh fountain fide They fat them down; and after no more toil Of their sweet gard'ning labor than suffic'd To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease More eafy, wholsome thirst and appetite More grateful, to their fupper fruits they fell, Nectarin fruits which the compliant boughs Yielded them, fide-long as they fat recline On the foft downy bank damask'd with flowers: The favory pulp they chew, and in the rind Still as they thirfted fcoop the brimming stream; Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as beseems Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league, Alone as they. About them frisking play'd All beafts of th' earth, fince wild, and of all chafe In wood or wilderness, foreft or den;
Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw
Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, Gambol'd before them; th' unwieldy elephant
To make them mirth us'd all his might, and wreath'd His lithe probofcis; close the serpent fly Infinuating, wove with Gordian twine
His breaded train, and of his fatal guile Gave proof unheeded; others on the grafs
Couch'd, and now fill'd with pafture gazing fat,
Or bedward ruminating; for the fun
Declin'd was hafting now with prone carreer To th' ocean iles, and in th' afcending scale Of Heav'n the ftars that usher evening rofe: When Satan ftill in gaze, as firft he stood, Scarce thus at length fail'd speech recover'd fad. O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold! Into our room of blifs thus high advanc'd Creatures of other mold, earth-born perhaps, Not Spirits, yet to heav'nly Spirits bright Little inferior; whom my thoughts purfue With wonder, and could love, so lively shines In them divine refemblance, and fuch grace
The hand that form'd them on their shape hath pour'd. Ah gentle pair, ye little think how nigh
Your change approaches, when all these delights Will vanish and deliver ye to woe,
More woe, the more your taste is now of joy;
Happy, but for fo happy ill fecur'd
Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven
Ill fenc'd for Heav'n to keep out fuch a foe As now is enter'd; yet no purpos'd foe To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, Though I unpitied: League with you I feek, And mutual amity so strait, so close,
That I with you must dwell, or you with me Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please, Like this fair Paradife, your fenfe, yet such Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, Which I as freely give; Hell shall unfold, To entertain you two, her wideft gates,
And fend forth all her kings; there will be room, Not like thefe narrow limits, to receive Your numerous offspring; if no better place, Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge On you who wrong me not for him who wrong'd. And should I at your harmless innocence
Melt, as I do, yet public reafon just,
Honor and empire with revenge inlarg'd,
By conqu❜ring this new world, compels me now. To do what else though damn'd I should abhor. So fpake the Fiend, and with neceffity, The tyrant's plea, excus'd his devilish deeds.. Then from his lofty stand on that high tree Down he alights among the sportful herd Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, Now other, as their fhape ferv'd beft his end Nearer to view his prey, and unefpy'd
To mark what of their state he more might learn 400 By word or action mark'd: about them round
A lion now he talks with fiery glare;
Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spy'd In fome purlieu two gentle fawns at play, Strait couches clofe, then rifing. changes oft His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground, Whence rufhing he might fureft feise them both Grip'd in each paw: when Adam first of men 'To firft of women Eve thus moving speech, Turn'd him all ear to hear new utterance flow. Sole partner, and fole part, of all these joys, Dearer thyfelf than all; needs must the Power
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