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 fex not equal feem'd;
For contemplation he and valor form'd,
For foftnefs fhe and sweet 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 wafte
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 fhows inftead, mere fhows of feeming pure,
And banish'd from man's life his happieft life,
Simplicity and fpotlefs innocence !
So pafs'd they naked on, nor fhunn'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 since born
His fons, the fairest of her daughters Eve.
Under a tuft of shade 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 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 thirsted scoop the brimming stream;
Nor gentle purpose, 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 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
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 grass
Couch'd, and now fill'd with pasture 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 still 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 pursue
With wonder, and could love, so 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
Will vanish and deliver ye to woe,
Your change approaches, when all these delights
More woe, the more your taste 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 such 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 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 sense, yet such
Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me,
Which I as freely give; Hell fhall 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 fhould I at your harmless innocence
Melt, as I do, yet public reafon juft,
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 neceflity,
'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 ferv'd best his end
Nearer to view his prey, and unespy'd
To mark what of their state he more might learn
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 close, then rifing changes oft
His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground,
Whence rufhing he might fureft seise 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
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 service 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 obedience left.
Among fo many figns 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 else, and choice..
Unlimited of manifold delights:
But let us ever praise him, and extol
His bounty, following our delightful task
To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers, Which were it toilfome, yet with thee were fweet.
To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou for whom 440 And from whom I was form'd flesh of thy flesh,
And without whom am to no end, my guide
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