Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

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

325

330

335

340

345

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

350

'Couch'd, and now fill'd with pafture gazing fat,

Or bedward ruminating; for the fun

Declin'd

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

355

360

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

370

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.

I

375

380

And

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;

325

330

335

340

Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw

Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards,
Gambol'd before them; th' unwieldy elephant

345

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

350

Couch'd, and now fill'd with pafture gazing fat,

Or bedward ruminating; for the fun

Declin'd

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

355

360

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,

[ocr errors]

More woe, the more your taste is now of joy;

Happy, but for fo happy ill fecur'd

370

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,

[blocks in formation]

375

38d

And

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,

385

Honor and empire with revenge inlarg'd,

399

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

395

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

405

410.

That

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »