Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd,
More lovely than Pandora, whom the Gods
Endow'd with all their gifts, and O too like
In fad event, when to th' unwifer fon
Of Japhet brought by Hermes, the infnar'd
Mankind with her fair looks, to be aveng'd
On him who had ftole Jove's authentic fire.
Thus at their fhady lodge arriv'd, both stood,
Both turn'd, and under open fky ador'd
The God that made both fky, air, earth, and heaven,
Which they beheld, the moon's refplendent globe,
And ftarry pole: Thou alfo mad'ft the night,
Maker omnipotent, and thou the day,
Which we in our appointed work employ'd
Have finish'd, happy in our mutual help
And mutual love, the crown of all our blifs
Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place
For us too large, where thy abundance wants
Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground.
But thou haft promis'd from us two a race
To fill the earth, who fhall with us extol
Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,
And when we feek, as now, thy gift of fleep.
This faid unanimous, and other rites
Obferving none, but adoration pure
Which God likes beft, into their inmoft bower
Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off
Thefe troublefome difguifes which we wear,
Strait fide by fide were laid; nor turn'd I ween
Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites
Mysterious of connubial love refus'd :.
Whatever hypocrites aufterely talk
Of purity and place and innocence,
Defaming as impure what God declares-
Pure, and commands to fome, leaves free to all.
Our Maker bids increafe; who bids abstain
But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man?
Hail wedded Love, myfterious law, true fource
Of human offspring, fole propriety.
In Paradife of all things common else.
By thee adult'rous luft was driv'n from men
Among the bestial herds to range; by thee
Founded in reafon, loyal, juft, and pure,
Relations dear, and all the charities
Of father, fon, and brother, firft were known.
Far be' it, that I fhould write thee fin or blame,
Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,
Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets
Whofe bed is undefil'd and chafte pronoune'd,
Prefent, or paft, as faints and patriarchs us'd..
Here love his golden fhafts employs, here lights
His conftant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile 765.
Of harlots, lovelefs, joylefs, unindear'd,
Casual fruition; nor in court amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
Or ferenate, which the starv'd lover fings
To his proud fair, beft quitted with disdain.
Thefe lull'd by nightingales embracing flept,
And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof.
Show'rd roses, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on,.
Bleft pair; and O yet happieft, if ye feek
No happier state, and know to know no more.
Now had night measur'd with her shadowy cone
Half way up hill this vaft fublunar vault,
And from their ivory port the Cherubim
Forth iffuing at th' accuftom'd hour stood arm'd
To their night watches in warlike parade,
When Gabriel to his next in pow'r thus fpake.
Uzziel, half thefe draw off, and coaft the fouth With strictest watch; thefe other wheel the north; Our circuit meets full weft. As flame they part, Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. 785 From these, two strong and fubtle Spirits he call'd That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge. Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed
Search through this garden, leave unfearch'd no nook
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, 790
Now laid perhaps afleep fecure of harm.
This evening from the fun's decline arriv'd
Who tells of fome infernal Spirit seen
Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) efcap'd
The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:
Such where ye find, feise fast, and hither bring.
So faying, on he led his radiant files,
Dazling the moon; thefe to the bow'r direct.
In fearch of whom they fought him there they found
Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve,
Affaying by his devilish art to reach
of her fancy', and with them forge
Illufions as he lift, phantafms and dreams,
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal fpirits that from pure blood arise
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raife
At least diftemper'd, difcontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate defires,
Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride.
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touch'd lightly; for no falfhood can indure
Touch of celeftial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likenefs: up he starts
Discover'd and furpris'd. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun fome magazine to store
Against a rumor'd war, the fmutty grain
With fudden blaze diffus'd inflames the air:
So ftarted up in his own fhape the Fiend.
Back ftept thofe two fair Angels half amaz'd
So fudden to behold the grisly king;
Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accoft him foon.
Which of those rebel Spi'rits adjudg'd to Hell
Com'ft thou, efcap'd thy prifon? and transform'd,
Why fatft thou like an enemy in wait,
Here watching at the head of these that sleep?
Know ye not then, faid Satan fill'd with scorn,
Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
For you, there fitting where ye durft not foar:
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,
The lowe of your throng; or if ye know,
Why afk ye, and fuperfluous begin
Your meffage, like to end as much in vain?
To whom thus Zephon, anfw'ring fcorn with fcorn. Think not, revolted Spi'rit, thy shape the fame,
Or undiminish'd brightness to be known,
As when thou ftood'ft in Heav'n upright and pure ;
That glory then, when thou no more waft good,
Departed from thee'; and thou refembleft now
Thy fin and place of doom obfcure and foul.
But come, for thou, be fure, fhalt give account
To him who fent us, whofe charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and these from harm.
So fpake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke,
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
Invincible: abafh'd the Devil stood,
And felt how awful goodnefs is, and faw
Virtue' in her fhape how lovely; faw, and pin'd
His lofs; but chiefly to find here obferv'd
His luftre visibly impair'd; yet feem'd
Undaunted. If I must contend, faid he,
Beft with the best, the fender not the fent,
Or all at once; more glory will be won,
Or lefs be loft. Thy fear, faid Zephon bold,
Will fave us trial what the least can do
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.
The Fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage;
But, like a proud steed rein'd, went haughty on,
Champing his iron curb: to strive or fly
He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd
His heart, not elfe difmay'd. Now drew they nigh
The western point, where those half-rounding guards
VOL. I.
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