Truth, wisdom, fan&titude 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 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 fhoulders 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 sway, And by her yielded, by him beft receiv'd, Yielded with coy fubmiffion, modest pride, And fweet reluctant amorous delay.
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd, Then was not guilty fhame, 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 happiest 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 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 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 purpofe, 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 beasts of th' earth, since wild, and of all chafe 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 ferpent 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 stars that usher evening rofe: When Satan ftill 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 bliss 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 fhines 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 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 fuch 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 feek, And mutual amity fo 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 fense, yet such Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, Which I as freely give; Hell fhall unfold, To entertain you two, her widest gates, VOL. I.
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 harmlefs innocence
Melt, as I do, yet public reafon 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 neceility, The tyrant's plea, excus'd his devilish deeds.. Then from his lofty stand on that high tree Down he alights among the sportful herd Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, Now other, as their fhape ferv'd beft his end,
Nearer to view his prey, and unespy'd
To mark what of their ftate he more might learn
By word or action mark'd: about them round A lion now he talks 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 chofe his ground,
Whence rushing he might surest seise them both
Grip'd in each paw when Adam first of men To firft of women Eve thus moving speech, Tura'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 duft 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 sign 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
Earth, air, and fea.
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 praife 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 fweet.
To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou for whom 440* And from whom I was form'd flesh of thy fleth,
And without whom am to no end, my guide
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