That made us, and for us this ample world,..
Be infinitely good, and of his good.
As liberal and free as infinite;.
That rais'd us from the dust and plac'd us here.
In all this happiness, who at his hand
Have nothing merited, nor can perform
Ought whereof he hath need, he who requires
From us no other fervice than to keep
This one, this easy charge, of all the trees
In Paradife that bear delicious fruit
So various, not to taste that only tree
Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life ; ·
So near grows death to life, whate'er death is,
Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou know'st
God hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree,
The only fign of our
r.obedience left
Among so many signs of pow'r and rule.
Conferr'd upon us, and dominion given
Over all other creatures that poffefs
Then let us not think hard
One eafy prohibition, who enjoy
Free leave fo large to all things elfe, and choice
Unlimited of manifold delights:
But let us ever praise him, and extol
His bounty, following our delightful task
To prune thefe growing plants, and tend these flowers, Which were it toilfome, yet with thee were sweet.
To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou for whom 440
And from whom I was form'd fiefh of thy flesh,
And without whom am to no end, my guide
And head, what thou hast said is just and right.
For we to him indeed all praises owe,
And daily thanks; I chiefly who enjoy
So far the happier lot, enjoying thee
Præeminent by fo much odds, while thou
Like confort to thyself canst no where find.
That day I oft remember, when from sleep
I firft awak'd, and found myself repos'd
Under a shade on flow'rs, much wond'ring where
And what I was, whence thither brought and how.
Not distant far from thence a murm'ring found
Of waters iffued from a cave, and spread
Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov'd
Pure as th' expanfe of Heav'n; I thither went
With unexperienc'd thought, and laid me down
On the green bank, to look into the clear
Smooth lake, that to me feem'd another sky.
As I bent down to look, just oppofite
A fhape within the watry gleam appear'd,
Bending to look on me: I started back,
It started back; but pleas'd I foon return'd;
Pleas'd it return'd as foon with anfw'ring looks
Of fympathy and love: there I had fix'd
Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain defire,
Had not a voice thus warn'd me, What thou feest,
What there thou feeft, fair Creature, is thyself;
With thee it came and goes: but follow me,
And I will bring thee where no fhadow stays
Thy coming, and thy foft embraces, he
Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy
Infeparably thine, to him fhalt bear
Multitudes like thyfelf, and thence be call'd
Mother of human race. What could I do,
But follow ftrait, invisibly thus led?
Till I efpy'd thee, fair indeed and tall,
Under a platan; yet methought lefs fair,
Lefs winning foft, lefs amiably mild,
Than that smooth watry image: back I turn'd; 480Thou following cry'dft aloud, Return fair Eve,
Whom fly'ft thou? whom thou fly'ft, of him thou art,
His flesh, his bone; to give thee be'ing I lent
Out of my fide to thee, nearest my heart
Subftantial life, to have thee by my fide
Henceforth an individual folace dear;
Part of my foul I feek thee, and thee clame
My other half; with that thy gentle hand
Seis'd mine; I yielded, and from that time see
How beauty is excell'd by manly grace
And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.
So fpake our general mother, and with eyes
Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,
And meek furrender, half embracing lean'd
Op our first father; half her fwelling breast
Naked met his under the flowing gold
Of her loofe treffes hid: he in delight
Both of her beauty and fubmiffive charms
Smil'd with fuperior love, as Jupiter
On Juno fmiles, when he impregns the clouds
That shed May flow'rs; and prefs'd her matron lip
With kiffes pure: afide the Devil turn'd
For envy, yet with jealous leer malign
Ey'd them afkance, and to himself thus plain'd.
Sight hateful, fight tormenting! thus these two 505
Imparadis'd in one another's arms,
The happier Eden, fhall enjoy their fill
Of blifs on blifs; while I to Hell am thruft, '
Where neither joy nor love, but fierce defire,
Among our other torments not the least,
Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines.
Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd
From their own mouths: all is not theirs it feems;
One fatal tree there ftands of knowledge call'd,
Forbidden them to tafte: Knowledge forbidden? 515
Sufpicious, reafonlefs. Why should their Lord
Envy them that? can it be fin to know?
Can it be death? and do they only stand
By ignorance is that their happy state,
The proof of their obedience and their faith?
O fair foundation laid whereon to build
Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds
With more defire to know, and to reject
Envious commands, invented with defign
To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt 525
Equal with Gods: afpiring to be fuch
They taste and die: what likelier can ensue ?
But firft with narrow fearch I must walk round
This garden, and no corner leave unspy'd ;
A chance but chance may lead where I may meet 530
Some wand'ring Spi'rit of Heav'n by fountain fide,
Or in thick fhade rétir'd, from him to draw
What further would be learn'd. Live while you may,
Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,
Short pleasures, for long woes are to fucceed.
So faying, his proud ftep he fcornful turn'd,
But with fly circumfpection, and began
Through wood, through waste,o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam.
Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heaven
With earth and ocean meets, the setting fun
Slowly defcended, and with right aspect
Against the eastern gate of Paradise
Levell'd his evening rays: it was a rock
Of alabaster, pil'd up to the clouds,
Confpicuous far, winding with one afcent
Acceffible from earth, one entrance high;
The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung
Still as it rofe, impoffible to climb.
Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel fat,
Chief of th' angelic guards, awaiting night;
About him exercis'd heroic games
Th' unarmed youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand
Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears,
Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold.
Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even
On a fun beam, swift as a shooting star
In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd
Imprefs the air, and fhows the mariner
From what point of his compass to beware
Impetuous winds: he thus began in haste.
Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given
Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place
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