To whom our general ancestor replied. Daughter of GOD and man, accomplish'd Eve, Those have their course to finish, round the earth, By morrow ev'ning, and from land to land In order, though to nations yet unborn, Minist'ring light prepared, they set and rise; Lest total darkness should by night regain Her old possession, and extinguish life
In nature and all things, which these soft fires Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat Of various influence foment and warm, Temper or nourish, or in part shed down Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow On earth, made hereby apter to receive Perfection from the sun's more potent ray. These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none That heav'n would want spectators, GoD want praise: Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep. All these with ceaseless praise his works behold Both day and night: how often from the steep Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard Celestial voices to the midnight air,
Sole, or responsive each to other's note, Singing their great Creator? oft in bands
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, With heav'nly touch of instrumental sounds In full harmonic number join'd, their songs Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to heaven. Thus talking hand in hand alone they pass'd On to their blissful bower; it was a place Chosen by the sov'reign planter, when he framed All things to man's delightful use: the roof Of thickest covert was inwoven shade, Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side Acanthus and each odorous bushy shrub Fenced up the verdant wall, each beauteous flower, Iris all hues, roses, and jessamin
Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and wrought Mosaic; under foot the violet,
Crocus, and hyacinth with rich inlay
Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with stone
Of costliest emblem: other creature here,
Beast, bird, insect, or worm, durst enter none; Such was their awe of man. In shadier bower More sacred and sequester'd, though but feign'd, Pan or Sylvanus never slept; nor nymph, Nor Faunus haunted. Here in close recess With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs, Espoused Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed, And heav'nly choirs the Hymenæan sung, What day the genial angel to our sire 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 sad event, when to the unwiser son Of Japhet brought by Hermes she ensnared Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire.
Thus at their shady lodge arrived, both stood, Both turn'd, and under open sky adored
The GOD that made both sky, air, earth, and heav'n Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe, And starry pole. Thou also mad'st 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 bliss Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place For us too large, where thy abundance wants
1 Pandora was a most beautiful woman, on whom the gods bestowed all their gifts. Jupiter, enraged with Prometheus, the son of Japhet, for having stolen fire from heaven, sent Pandora, with a box of supposed treasures, to Lim, to punish him; but he refused to receive her. Hermes (or Mercury) then led her to Prometheus's "unwiser"
brother Epimetheus, who received her, and was persuaded by her to open the box she brought as her dowry. contained all the ills which have since afflicted humanity, but Hope remained at the bottom. It is very probable that this fable originated in the true story of Eve's disobedience, and her enticing Adam to share her sin.
Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. But thou hast promised from us two a race To fill the earth, who shall with us extol Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep. This said unanimous, and other rites Observing none, but adoration pure
Which God likes best, into their inmost bower Handed they went; and, eased the putting off These troublesome disguises which we wear, Straight side by side were laid; nor turn'd, I ween, Adam from his fair spouse; nor Eve the rites Mysterious of connubial love refused: Whatever hypocrites austerely talk Of purity, and place, and innocence, Defaming as impure what GOD declares
Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all. Our Maker bids increase, who bids abstain But our destroyer, foe to GoD and man? Hail wedded love, mysterious law, true source Of human offspring, sole propriety In paradise of all things common else. By thee adulterous lust was driv'n from men Among the bestial herds to range; by thee Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure, Relations dear, and all the charities 1
Of father, son, and brother, first were known. Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame, Or think thee unbefitting holiest place, Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets, Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced, Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used. Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendear'd, Casual fruition; nor in court amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball Or serenate, which the starved lover sings To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. These, lull'd by nightingales, embracing slept, And on their naked limbs the flowery roof Shower'd roses, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on, Blest pair, and O! yet happiest if ye seek No happier state, and know to know no more. Now had night measured with her shadowy cone Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault, And from their ivory port the Cherubim Forth issuing at th' accustom'd hour stood arm'd To their night watches in warlike parade, When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake.
Uzziel,' half these draw off, and coast the south With strictest watch; these other wheel the north; Our circuit meets full west. As flame they part, Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. From these, two strong and subtle spirits he call'd That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge. Ithuriel and Zephon,2 with wing'd speed
Search through this garden, leave unsearch'd no nook; But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, Now laid perhaps asleep secure of harm.
This evening from the sun's decline arrived, Who tells of some infernal spirit seen
Hitherward bent, who could have thought? escaped
The bars of hell, on errand bad no doubt: Such where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring. So saying, on he led his radiant files, Dazzling the moon; these to the bower direct In search of whom they sought: him there they found, Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve; Assaying by his devilish art to reach
The organs of her fancy, and with them forge Illusions as he list, phantasms, and dreams;
1 This angel's name signifies the
The name of Ithuriel signifies the
discovery of God; of Zephon, a secret, or searcher of secrets.-Prom IIUME
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal spirits that from pure blood arise
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts, Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires Blown up with high conceits ingend'ring pride. Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touch'd lightly; for no falsehood can endure Touch of celestial temper, but returns Of force to its own likeness: up he starts Discover'd and surprized. As when a spark Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid Fit for the tun, some magazine to store Against a rumour'd war, the smutty grain With sudden blaze diffused inflames the air: So started up in his own shape the fiend. Back stepp'd those two fair angels, half amazed So sudden to behold the grisly king;
Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon. Which of those rebel spirits adjudged to hell Com'st thou, escaped thy prison? and transformed, Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait, Here watching at the head of these that sleep? Know ye not then, said Satan fill'd with scorn, Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar Not to know me argues yourselves unknown, The lowest of your throng; or if ye know, Why ask ye, and superfluous begin Your message, like to end as much in vain ?
To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn. Think not, revolted spirit, thy shape the same Or undiminish'd brightness, to be known As when thou stood'st in heav'n upright and pure; That glory then, when thou no more wast good, Departed from thee, and thou resemblest now Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul. But come, for thou, besure, shalt give account To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep This place inviolable, and these from harm.
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