Of Araby the blest; with such delay (league Which from his darksome passage now appears,
Well pleas'd they slack their course, and many a And now, divided into four main streams,
Cheer'd with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles : Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm
So entertain'd those odorous sweets the fiend, And country, whereof here needs no account ;
Who came their bane: though with them better But rather to tell how, if Art could tell,
pleas'd

How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks, Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume

Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, That drove him, though enamor'd, from the spouse With mazy error under pendent shades Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound. Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art

Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon Satan had journey'd on, pensive and slow; Pour'd forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain, But further way found none, so thick entwin’d, Both where the morning Sun first warmly smote As one continued brake, the undergrowth The open field, and where the unpierc'd shade Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplex'd Imbrown’d the noontide bowers: thus was this place All path of man or beast that pass'd that way. A happy rural seat of various view; Que gate there only was, and that look'd east Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and On the other side: which when the arch-felon saw,

balm, Due entrance he disdain'd; and, in contempt, Others whose fruit burnish'd with golden rind, At one slight bound high over-leap'd all bound Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true, Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within

If true, here only, and of delicious taste : Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf, Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, Grazing the tender herb, were interpos’d, Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve Or palmy hillock; or the flowery lap In hurdled cotes amid the field secure,

Of some irriguous valley spread her store, Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold : Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose : Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash

Another side, umbrageous grots and caves Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors, Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine Cross-barr'd and bolted fast, fear no assault, Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles : Luxuriant; meanwhile murmuring waters fall So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold; Down the slope hills, dispers'd, or in a lake, So since into his church lewd hirelings climb. That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life, Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams. The middle tree and highest there that grew, The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs, Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life

Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune Thereby regain'd, but sat devising death

The trembling leaves, whilo universal Pan, To them who liv'd; nor on the virtue thought Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance, Of that life-giving plant, but only us'd

Led on the eternal Spring. Not that fair field For prospect, what well us'd had been the pledge Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers, Of immortality. So little knows

Herself a fairer flower, by gloomy Dis Any, but God alone, to value right

Was gather’d, which cost Ceres all that pain The good before him, but perverts best things To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove To worst abuse, or to their meanest use.

Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspir'd Beneath him with new wonder now he views, Castalian spring, might with this Paradise To all delight of human sense expos'd,

Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth, yea more, Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, A Heaven on Earth: for blissful Paradise Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Lybian Jove, Of God the garden was, by him in the east Hid Amalthea, and her forid son, Of Eden planted : Eden stretch'd her line Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye ; From Auran eastward to the royal towers

Nor where A bassin kings their issue guard, Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings, Mount Amara, though this by some suppos'd Or where the sons of Eden long before

True Paradise under the Ethiop line Dwelt in Telassar: in this pleasant soil

By Nilus' head, inclos'd with shining rock, His far more pleasant garden God ordain'd; A whole day's journey high, but wide remote Out of the fertile ground he caus'd to grow From this Assyrian garden, where the fiend All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste; Saw, undelighted, all delight, all kind And all amid them stood the tree of life,

Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange. High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, Of vegetable gold ; and next to life,

Godlike erect, with native honor clad Our death, the tree of knowledge, grew fast by, In naked majesty, seem'd lords of all : Knowledge of good, bought dear by knowing ill. And worthy seem'd; for in their looks divine Southward through Eden went a river large, The image of their glorious Maker shone, Nor chang'd his course, but through the shaggy hill Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure, Pass'd underneath ingulf'd; for God had thrown (Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd,) That mountain as his garden-mould high rais'd Whence true authority in men; though both Upon the rapid current, which through veins Not equal, as their sex not equal seem'd; of porous earth with kindly thirst up-drawn, For contemplation he and valor form’d; Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill

For softness she and sweet attractive grace
Water'd the garden; thence united fell

He for God only, she for God in him :
Down the steep glade, and met the neiher food, His fair large front and eye sublime declar'd

Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks

More woe, the more your taste is now of joy ;
Round from his parted forelock manly hung Happy, but for so happy ill secur'd
Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad; Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven,
She, as a veil, down to the slender waist

Il fenc'd for Heaven to keep out such a foe
Her unadorned golden tresses wore

As now is enter'd; yet no purpos'd foe
Dishevell’d, but in wanton ringlets wav'd, To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn
As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied Though I unpitied : league with you I seek,
Subjection, but requir’d with gentle sway, And mutual amity, so strait, so close,
And by her yielded, by him best receiv'd, That I with you must dwell, or you with me
Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please,
And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay.

Like this fair Paradise, your sense : yet such
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd; Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me,
Then was not guilty shame: dishonest shame Which I as freely give: Hell shall unfold,
Of Nature's works, honor dishonorable,

To entertain you two, her widest gates,
Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind And send forth all her kings; there will be room,
With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure, Not like these narrow limits, to receive
And banish'd from man's life his happiest life, Your numerous offspring; if no better place,
Simplicity and spotless innocence !

Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge
So pass'd they naked on, nor shunn’d the sight On you, who wrong me not, for him who wrong'd.
Of God or angel; for they thought no ill: And should I at your harmless innocence
So hand in hand they pass’d, the loveliest pair, Melt, as I do, yet public reason just,
That ever since in love's embraces met:

Honor and empire with revenge enlarg'd,
Adam the goodliest man of men since born By conquering this new world, compels me now
His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. To do what else, though damn'd, I should abhor.'
Under a tust of shade that on a green

So spake the fiend, and with necessity,
Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side The tyrant's plea, excus'd his devilish deeds
They sat them down: and, after no more toil Then from his lofty stand on that high tree
of their sweet gardening labor than suffic'd Down he alights among the sportful herd
To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one,
More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite Now other, as their shape serv'd best his end
More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell, Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied,
Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs To mark what of their state he more might learn,
Yielded them, sidelong as they sat recline By word or action mark’d: about them round
On the soft downy bank damask'd with flowers : A lion now he stalks with fiery glare;
The savory pulp they chew, and in the rind, Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied
Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream; In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play,
Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles

Straight couches close, then rising, changes oft
Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground,
Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league, Whence rushing he might surest seize them both,
Alone as they. About them frisking play'd Grip'd in each paw: when Adam first of men
All beasts of the Earth, since wild, and of all chase To first of women Eve thus moving speech,
In wood or wilderness, forest or den;

Turn'd him all ear to hear new utterance flow.
Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw

“Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys,
Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, Dearer thyself than all; needs must the Power
Gamboll'd before them; the unwieldy elephant, That made us, and for us this ample world,
To make them mirth, usd all his might, and Be infinitely good, and of his good
wreath'd

As liberal and free as infinite;
His lithe proboscis; close the serpent sly, That rais'd us from the dust, and plac'd us here
Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine

In all this happiness, who at his hand
His braided train, and of his fatal guile

Have nothing merited, nor can perform
Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires
Couch'd, and now fill’d with pasture gazing sat, From us no other service than to keep
Or bedward ruminating ; for the Sun,

This one,

this easy charge, of all the trees Declin'd, was hastening now with prone career

In Paradise that bear delicious fruit
To the ocean isles, and in the ascending scale So various, not to taste that only tree
Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose : of knowledge, planted by the tree of life;
When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood, So near grows death to life, whate'er death is,
Scarce thus at length faild speech recover'd sad. Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou
“O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold!

know'st
Into our room of bliss thus high advanc'd

God hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree,
Creatures of other mould, Earth-born perhaps, The only sign of our obedience left,
Not spirits, yet to heavenly spirits bright

Among so many signs of power and rule
Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue Conferr'd upon us, and dominion given
With wonder, and could love, so lively shines

Over all other creatures that possess
In them divine resemblance, and such grace Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard
The hand that form’d them on their shape hath One easy prohibition, who enjoy
pour'd.

Free leave so large to all things else, and choice
Ah! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh

Unlimited of manifold delights :
Your change approaches, when all these delights But let us ever praise him and extol
Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe;

His bounty, following our delightful task.

To prune these growing plants, and tend these “Sight hateful, sight tormenting; thus these two, flowers,

Imparadis'd in one another's arms,
Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet." The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill

To whom thus Eve replied. “O thou for whom of bliss on bliss; while I to Hell am thrust,
And from whom I was form'd, flesh of thy flesh, Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire
And without whom am to no end, my guide Among our other torments not the least
And head! what thou hast said is just and right. Still unfulfillid, with pain of longing pines.
For we to Him indeed all praises owe,

Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd
And daily thanks ; I chiefly, who enjoy

From their own mouths: all is not theirs, it seems , So far the happier lot, enjoying thee

One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge callid,
Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou Forbidden them to taste : Knowledge forbidden ?
Like consort to thyself canst nowhere find. Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord
That day I oft remember, when from sleep Envy them that? Can it be sin to know?
I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd

Can it be death? And do they only stand
Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where By ignorance? Is that their happy state,
And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. The proof of their obedience and iheir faith?
Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound O fair foundation laid whereon to build
Of waters issued from a cave, and spread

Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds
Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov'd

With more desire to know, and to reject Pure as the expanse of Heaven; I thither went Envious commands, invented with design With unexperienced thought, and laid me down To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt On the green bank, to look into the clear

Equal with gods : aspiring to be such, Smooth lake, that to me seem'd another sky. They taste and die: what likelier can ensue? As I bent down to look, just opposite

But first with narrow search I must walk round A shape within the watery gleam appear'd, This garden, and no corner leave unspied ; Bending to look on me: I started back,

A chance but chance may lead where I may meet It started back ; but pleas'd I soon return'd, Some wandering spirit of Heaven by fountain side, Pleas'd it return'd as soon with answering looks Or in thick shade retir'd, from him to draw Of sympathy and love: there I had fix'd

What further would be learn'd. Live while ye may, Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire, Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return, Had not a voice thus warn’d me; 'What thou seest, Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed.” What there thou seest, fair creature, is thyself; So saying, his proud step he scornful turn'd, With thee it came and goes: but follow me, But with sly circumspection, and began And I will bring thee where no shadow stays Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he

his roam. Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy Meanwhile in utmost longitude, where Heaven Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear

With earth and ocean meets, the setting Sun Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call’d Slowly descended, and with right aspéct Mother of human race.' What could I do, Against the eastern gate of Paradise But follow straight, invisibly tbus led ?

Levellid his evening rays : it was a rock
Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall,

Of alabaster, pil'd up to the clouds,
Under a platane ; yet methought less fair, Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent
Less winning soft, less amiably mild,

Accessible from Earth, one entrance high;
Than that smooth watery image: back I turn'd; The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung
Thou following cry'dst aloud, Return, fair Eve, Still as it rose, impossible to climb.
Whom fly'st thou? whom thou fly’st, of him thou Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat,
art,

Chief of the angelic guards, awaiting night;
His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent About him exercis'd heroic games
Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart, The unarm’d youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand
Substantial life, to have thee by my side Celestial armory, shields, helms, and spears,
Henceforth an individual solace dear;

Hung high, with diamond flaming and with gold. Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even My other half.' With that thy gentle hand On a sun-beam, swift as a shooting star Seiz'd mine : I yielded ; and from that time see In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd How beauty is excell'd by manly grace,

Impress the air, and shows the mariner And wisdom, which alone is truly fair."

From what point of his compass to beware So spake our general mother, and with eyes Impetuous winds: he thus began in haste. Of conjugal attraction unreprov’d,

“Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given And meek surrender, half-embracing lean'd Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place On our first father; half her swelling breast No evil thing approach or enter in. Naked met his, under the flowing gold

This day at height of noon came to my sphere Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight

A spirit, zealous, as he seem'd, to know Both of her beauty, and submissive charms, More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly Man, Smild with superior love, as Jupiter

God's latest image: I describ'd his way On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds Bent all on speed, and mark'd his aery gait; That shed May flowers; and press'd her matron lip But in the mount that lies from Eden north, With kisses pure : aside the Devil turn'd

Where he first lighted, soon discern'd his looks For envy; yet with jealous leer malign

Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscurd : Ey'd them askance, and to himself thus 'plain’d. Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade

F

:

:

Lost sight of him: one of the banish'd crew, When first on this delightful land he spreads
I fear, hath ventur'd from the deep to raise His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,
New troubles ; him thy care must be to find.” Glistering with dew: fragrant the fertile Earth

To whom the winged warrior thus return'd. After soft showers; and sweet the coming on “Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight,

Of grateful Evening mild ; then silent Night,
Amid the Sun's bright circle where thou sit'st, With this her solemn bird, and this fair Moon,
See far and wide : in at this gate none pass And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train :
The vigilance here plac'd, but such as come But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends
Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour With charm of earliest birds ; nor rising Sun
No creature thence : if spirit of other sort, On this delightful land ; nor herb, fruit, flower,
So minded, have o'erleap'd these earthy bounds Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers;
On purpose, hard thou know'st it to exclude Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night,
Spiritual substance with corporeal bar.

With this her solemn bird ; nor walk by Moon,
But if within the circuit of these walks,

Or glittering star-light, without thee is sweet.
In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom

But wherefore all night long shine these? for whom
Thou tell'st, by morrow dawning I shall know." This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes ?"
So promis'd he; and Uriel to his charge

To whom our general ancestor replied.
Return'd on that bright beam, whose point now rais'd Daughter of God and Man, accomplish'd Eve,
Bore him slope downward to the Sun now fall’n These have their course to finish round the Earth,
Beneath the Azores; whether the prime orb, By morrow evening, and from land to land
Incredible how swift, had thither rollid

In order, though to nations yet unborn,
Diurnal, or this less volúbil Earth,

Minist’ring light prepar'd, they set and rise ;
By shorter flight to the east, had left him there Lest total Darkness should by night regain
Arraying with reflected purple and gold

Her old possession, and extinguish life,
The clouds that on his western throne attend. In Nature, and all things; which these soft fires
Now came still Evening on, and Twilight grey Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat
Had in her sober livery all things clad ;

of various influence foment and warm,
Silence accompanied; for beast and bird,

Temper or nourish, or in part shed down
They to their grassy couch, these to their nests Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow
Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale; On Earth, made hereby apter to receive
She all night long her amorous descant sung ;

Perfection from the Sun's more potent ray.
Silence was pleas'd : now glow'd the firmament These then, though unbeheld in deep of night,
With living sapphires: Hesperus, that led Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none,
The starry host, rode brightest, till the Moon, That Heaven would want spectators, God want,
Rising in clouded majesty, at length

praise :
Apparent queen unveild her peerless light, Millions of spiritual creatures walk the Earth
And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw. Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep:

When Adam thus to Eve. “Fair consort, the hour All these with ceaseless praise his works behold
Of night, and all things now retir'd to rest, Both day and night: how often from the steep
Mind us of like repose ; since God hath set Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard
Labor and rest, as day and night, to men

Celestial voices to the midnight air,
Successive; and the timely dew of sleep,

Sole, or responsive each to other's note,
Now falling with soft slumb'rous weight, inclines Singing their great Creator? Of in bands
Our eye-lids: other creatures all day long While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk,
Rove idle, unemploy'd, and less need rest; With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds
Man hath his daily work of body or mind In full harmonic number join'd, their songs
Appointed, which declares his dignity,

Divide the night, and list our thoughts to Heaven.”
And the regard of Ileaven on all his ways;

Thus talking hand in hand alone they pass'd
While other animals unactive range,

On to their blissful bower: it was a place
And of their doings God takes no account. Chos'n by the sovran Planter, when he fram'd
To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east All things to Man's delightful use; the roof
With first approach of light, we must be risen. of thickest covert was inwoven shade
And at our pleasant labor to rcform

Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew
Yon flowery arbors, yonder alleys green,

Of firm and fragrant leaf: on either side
Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub,
That mock our scant manuring, and require Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower,
More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth : Iris all hues, roses, and jessamin, [wrought
Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and
That lie bestrown, unsightly and unsmooth, Mosaic; underfoot the violet,
Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease; Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay
Meanwhile, as Nature wills, night bids us rest." Broider'd the ground, more color'd than with stone

To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adornd. Of costliest emblem: other creature here,
“My author and disposer, what thou bidst Bird, beast, insect, or worin, durst enter none,
Unargued I obey: so God ordains;

Such was their awe of Man. In shadier bower
God is thy law, thou mine: to know no more More sacred and sequester'd, though but feign'd,
Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise. Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor nymph
With thee conversing I forget all time;

Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess,
All seasons, and their change, all please alike. With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs,
Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet, Espous'd Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed;
With charm of earliest birds ; pleasant the Sun, And heavenly quires the hymenean sung,

What day the genial angel to our sire

To their night watches in warlike parade ; Brought her, in naked beauty more adorn'd, When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake. More lovely, than Pandora, whom the gods

“Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south Endow'd with all their gifts, and O too like With strictest watch; these other wheel the north; In sad event, when to the unwiser son

Our circuit nieets full west." As flame they pari Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnar'd Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. Mankind with her fair looks, to be aveng'd From these two strong and subtle spirits he call'd On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire. That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge.

Thus, at their shady lodge arriv’d, both stood, “Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed Both turn'd, and under open sky ador'd Search through this garden, leave unsearch'd no The God that made both sky, air, Earth, and

nook ; Heaven,

But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, Which they beheld, the Moon's resplendent globe, Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm. And starry pole: "Thou also mad'st the night, This evening from the Sun's decline arriv'd, Maker Omnipotent, and thou the day,

Who tells of some infernal spirit seen Which we, in our appointed work employ'd, Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escap'd Have finishid, happy in our mutual help

The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt : And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss Such, where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring." Ordain’d by thee; and this delicious place

So saying, on he led his radiant files, For us too large, where thy abundance wants Dazzling the Moon; these to the bower direct Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. In search of whom they sought: him there they But thou hast promis'd from us two a race

found To fill the Earth, who shall with us extol

Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, Assaying by his devilish art to reach And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep." The organs of her fancy, and with them forge This said unanimous, and other rites

Ilusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams; Observing none, but adoration pure

Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint Which God likes best, into their inmost bower The animal spirits, that from pure blood arise Handed they went; and, eas'd the putting off Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise These troublesome disguises which we wear, At least distemper’d, discontented thoughts, Straight side by side were laid ; nor turnd, I ween, Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites Blown up with high conceits engendering pride, Mysterious of connubial love refus'd :

Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Whatever hypocrites austerely talk

Touch'd lightly; for no falsehood can endure or purity, and place, and innocence,

Touch of celestial tempor, but relurns Defaming as impure what God declares

Of force to its own likeness : up he starts Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all. Discover'd and surpris'd. As when a spark Our Maker bids increase ; who bids abstain Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid But our destroyer, foe to God and Man?

Fit for the tun some magazine to store Hail, wedded love, mysterious law, true source Against a rumor’d war, the smutty grain, Of human offspring, sole propriety

With sudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the air: In Paradise of all things common else.

So started up in his own shape the fiend.
By thee adulterous Lust was driven from men Back stept those two fair angels, half amaz'd
Among the bestial herds to range ; by thee So sudden to behold the grisly king;
Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,

Yet thus, unmoy'd with fear, accost him soon. Relations dear, and all the charities

“Which of those rebel spirits adjudg’d to Hell Of father, son, and brother, first were known. Com'st thou, escap'd thy prison ? and, transform'd, Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame, Why sat’st thou like an enemy in wait, Or think thee unbefiuting holiest place,

Here watching at the head of these that sleep?" Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets,

“Know ye not then," said Satan, fill'd with scorn, Whose bed is undefil'd and chaste pronounc'd, “Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs us'd. For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar: Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights Not to know me argues yourselves unknown, His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, The lowest of your throng; or if ye know, Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile Why ask ye, and superfluous begin Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendear'd,

Your message, like to end as much in vain." Casual fruition ; nor in court-amours,

To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, Or serenade, which the starv'd lover sings “Think not, revolted spirit, thy shape the same, To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. Or undiminish'd brightness to be known, These, lull'd by nightingales, embracing slept, As when thou stood'st in Heaven upright and pure. And on their naked limbs the flowery roof That glory then, when thou no more wast good, Shower'd roses, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on, Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now Blest pair; and O yet happiest, if ye seek Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul. No happier stale, and know to know no more. But come, for thou, be sure, shall give account

Now had Night measur'd with her shadowy cone To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault, This place inviolable, and these from harm." And from their ivory port the cherubim,

So spake the cherub; and his grave rebuke Forth issuing at the accustom'd hour, stood arm's Severe in youthful beauty, added grace

scorn.