Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams. The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs, Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune The trembling leaves, while univerfal Pan Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance Led on th' eternal fpring. Not that fair field Of Enna, where Proferpin gathering flowers, Herself a fairer flow'r, by gloomy Dis
Was gather'd, which coft Ceres all that pain
To feek her through the world; nor that sweet grove Of Daphne by Orontes, and th' infpir'd
Caftalian fpring, might with this Paradife Of Eden ftrive; nor that Nyfeian ile
Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove, Hid Amalthea and her florid fon
Young Bacchus from his stepdame Rhea's eye; Nor where Abaffin kings their iffue guard, Mount Amara, though this by some suppos'd True Paradise, under the Ethiop line
By Nilus head, inclos'd with fhining rock,
A whole day's journey high, but wide remote From this Affyrian garden, where the Fiend Saw undelighted all delight, all kind
Of living creatures new to fight and strange, Two of far nobler shape erect and tall,
Godlike erect, with native honor clad,
In naked majesty seem'd lords of all,
And worthy feem'd; for in their looks divine, The image of their glorious Maker fhone,
Truth, wisdom, fanctitude fevere and pure, (Severe but in true filial freedom plac'd) Whence true authority in men; though both Not equal, as their sex not equal seem'd; For contemplation he and valor form'd, For softness she and fweet attractive grace, He for God only, the for God in him :
His fair large front and eye fublime declar'd
Abfolute rule; and hyacinthin locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Cluftring, but not beneath his shoulders broad: She as a veil down to the flender waste
Her unadorned golden treffes wore
Dishevel'd, but in wanton ringlets wav'd
As the vine curls her tendrils, which imply'd Subjection, but requir'd with gentle fway,
And by her yielded, by him beft receiv'd, Yielded with coy fubmiffion, modeft pride, And sweet reluctant amorous delay.
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd, Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame Of nature's works, honor dishonorable, Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure, And banish'd from man's life his happiest life, Simplicity and spotless innocence!
So pafs'd they naked on, nor shunn'd the fight Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill: So hand in hand they pafs'd, the loveliest pair That ever fince in love's embraces met;
Adam the goodliest 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 sweet gard'ning labor than fuffic'd To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease More easy, wholsome thirst and appetite More grateful, to their supper 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 fmiles 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 chase 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 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
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' ascending scale Of Heav'n the ftars that usher evening rose: 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 pursue With wonder, and could love, fo lively shines In them divine resemblance, 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 tafte is now of joy;
Happy, but for fo happy ill secur'd
Long to continue, and this high feat your Heaven Ill fenc'd for Heav'n to keep out such a foe
As now is enter'd; yet no purpos'd foe
you, whom I could pity thus forlorn,
Though I unpitied: League with you I seek, 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 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. X.
And fend forth all her kings; there will be room, Not like these narrow limits, to receive
Your numerous offspring; if no better place, 385 Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge
you who wrong me not for him who wrong'd. And should I at your harmless innocence
Melt, as I do, yet public reason 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 fportful herd Of thofe four-footed kinds, himself now one, Now other, as their shape serv'd best his end Nearer to view his prey, and unefpy'd
To mark what of their ftate he more might learn 400
By word or action mark'd: about them round
A lion now he stalks 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 furest seise them both Grip'd in each paw: when Adam first of men To first of women Eve thus moving speech, Turn'd him all ear to hear new utterance flow.
Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys, Dearer thyfelf than all; needs must the Power
« ՆախորդըՇարունակել » |