my choice

a woody mountain; whose high top was plain, Their language and their ways? They also know, i circuit wide, inclos'd, with goodliest trees And reason not contemptibly: with these Planted, with walks, and bowers; that what I saw Find pastime, and bear rule: thy realm is large.': Of Earth before scarce pleasant seem'd. Each tree, So spake the Universal Lord, and seem'd Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye So ordering: I, with leave of speech implor'd, Tempting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite

And humble deprecation, thus replied.
To pluck and eat; whereat I wak’d, and found " Let not my words offend thee, Heavenly Power.
Before mine eyes all real, as the dream

My Maker, be propitious while I speak.
Had lively shadow'd: here had new begun Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,
My wandering, had not he, who was my guide And these inferior far beneath me set?
L'p hither, from among the trees appear'd,

Among unequals what society
Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe, Can sort, what harmony, or true delight ?
In adoration at his feet I fell

[I am,” Which must be mutual, in proportion due
Submiss : he reard me, and Whom thou sought'st Given and receiv’d; but in disparity
Said mildly, “Author of all this thou seest The one intense, the other still remiss
Above, or round about thee, or beneath.

Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove
This Paradise I give thee, count it thine

Tedious alike: of fellowship I speak To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat:

Such as I seek, fit to participate Of every tree that in the garden grows

All rational delight: wherein the brute Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth : Cannot be human consort: they rejoice But of the tree whose operation brings

Each with their kind, lion with lioness; Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set So fitly them in pairs thou hast combin'd: The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl Amid the garden by the tree of life,

So well converse, nor with the ox the ape; Remember what I warn thee, shun to taste, Worse then can man with beast, and least of all.' And shun the bitter consequence: for know, " Whereto the Almighty answerd, not displeas d. The day thou eat'st thereof, my sole command · A nice and subtle happiness, I see, Transgress’d, inevitably thou shalt die,

Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice From that day mortal; and this happy state Of thy associates, Adam; and wilt taste Shalt lose, expelld from hence into a world No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary. Of woe and sorrow.' Sternly he pronounced What think'st thou then of me, and this my state? The rigid interdiction, which resounds

Seem I to thee sufficiently possess'd Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in

Of happiness, or not? who am alone Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect

From all eternity; for none I know Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renewid. Second to me or like, equal much less. • Not only these fair bounds, but all the Earth How have I then with whom to hold convérse, To thee and to thy race I give; as lords

Save with the creatures which I made, and those Possess it, and all things that therein live,

To me inferior, infinite descents Or live in sea, or air; beast, fish, and fowl. Beneath what other creatures are to thee!! In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold He ceas'd ; I lowly answer'd. To attain After their kinds; I bring them to receive The height and depth of thy eternal ways From thee their names, and pay thee feälty All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things! With low subjection; understand the same Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee Of fish within their watery residence,

Is no deficience found : not so is Man, Not hither summon'd, since they cannot change But in degree; the cause of his desire Their element, to draw the thinner air.'

By conversation with his like to help, As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold Or solace his defects. No need that thou Approaching two and two; these cowering low Shouldst propagate, already infinite; With blandishment; each bird stoop'd on his wing. And through all numbers absolute, though one : I nam'd them as they pass'd, and understood But Man by number is to manifest Their nature, with such knowledge God endued His single imperfection, and beget My sudden apprehension : but in these

Like of his like, his image multiplied, I found not what methought I wanted still ; In unity defective; which requires And to the heavenly vision thus presum'd. Collateral love, and dearest amity.

"O, by what name, for thou above all these, Thou in thy secrecy although alone, Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher, Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not Surpassest far my naming; how may I

Social communication; yet, so pleas'd,
Adore thee, Author of this universe,
And all this good to Man? for whose well-being

Canst raise thy creature to what height thou wilt

of union or communion, deified: So amply, and with hands so liberal,

I, by conversing, cannot these erect
Thou hast provided all things : but with me
I see not who partakes. In solitude

From prone ; nor in their ways complacence find.'

Thus I embolden'd spake, and freedom us'd What happiness, who can enjoy alone,

Permissive, and acceptance found; which gain'd Or, all enjoying, what contentment find !

This answer from the gracious voice divine.
Thus I presumptuous; and the vision bright,
As with a smile more brighten'd, thus replied.

« « Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleas'd. “• What call'st thou solitude? Is not the Earth

And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone,

Which thou hast rightly nam'd, but of thyself; With various living creatures, and the air Replenish'd, and all these at thy command

Expressing well the spirit within thee free,

My image, not imparted to the brute:
To come and play before thee? Know'st thou not Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for them

Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike; And happy constellations, on that hour
And be so minded still: I, ere thou spak'st, Shed their selectest influence; the Earth
Knew it not good for Man to be alone;

Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill;
And no such company as then thou saw'st Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs
Intended thee; for trial only brought,

Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings To see how thou couldst judge of fit and meet : Flung rose, flung odors from the spicy shrub, What next I bring shall please thee, be assur’d, Disporting, till the amorous bird of night Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,

Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening-star Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire.'

On his hill-top, to light the bridal lamp. “ He ended, or I heard no more; for now Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought My earthly by his heavenly overpowerd, My story to the sum of earthly bliss, Which it had long stood under, straind to the height Which I enjoy; and must confess to find In that celestial colloquy sublime,

In all things eise delight indeed, but such As with an object that excels the sense,

As, us’d or not, works in the mind no change Dazzled and spent, sunk down, and sought repair Nor vehement desire: these delicacies Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, callid I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, By Nature as in aid, and clos'd mine eyes. Walks, and the melody of birds : but here Mine eyes he clos'd, but open left the cell Far otherwise, transported I behold, Of fancy, my internal sight; by which,

Transported touch; here passion first I felt,
Abstract as in a trance, methought I saw, Commotion strange! in all enjoyments else
Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape Superior and unmov'd; here only weak
Sull glorious before whom awake I stood : Against the charm of beauty's powerful glance.
Who stooping open'd my left side, and took Or nature faild in me, and left some part
From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm, Not proof enough such object to sustain ;
And life-blood streaming fresh: wide was the wound, Or, from my side subducting, took perhaps
But suddenly with flesh fill'd up and heald: More than enough; at least on her bestow'd
The rib he form'd and fashion'd with his hands : Too much of ornament, in outward show
Under his forming hands a creature grew,

Elaborate, of inward less exact.
Man-like, but different sex; so lovely fair, For well I understand in the prime end
That what seem'd fair in all the world, seem'd now of Nature her the inferior, in the mind
Mean, or in her summ'd up, in her contain'd, And inward faculties, which most excel;
And in her looks; which from that time infus d In outward also her resembling less
Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before,

His image who made both, and less expressing And into all things from her air inspir'd

The character of that dominion given
The spirit of love and amorous delight.

O'er other creatures: yet when I approach
She disappear'd, and left me dark; I wak'd Her loveliness, so absolute she seems
To find her, or for ever to deplore

And in herself complete, so well to know
Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure :

Her own, that what she wills to do or say When out of hope, behold her, not far off,

Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best : Such as I saw her in my dream, adorn'd

All higher knowledge in her presence falls
With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow Degraded ; Wisdom in discourse with her
To make her amiable: on she came,

Loses discountenanc'd, and like Folly shows;
Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen, Authority and Reason on her wait,
And guided by his voice; nor uninform'd

As one intended first, not after made
Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites :

Occasionally; and, to consummate all,
Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, Greatness of mind, and Nobleness, their seat
In every gesture dignity and love.

Build in her loveliest, and create an awe
I, overjoy'd, could not forbear aloud.

About her, as a guard angelic plac'd.” ** This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfill'd To whom the angel with contracted brow. Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign,

Accuse not Naiure, she hath done her part; Giver of all things fair! but fairest this

Do thou but thine; and be not diffident Of all thy gifts! nor enviest. I now see

Of Wisdom; she deserts thee not, if thou Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself Dismiss not her, when most thou need'st her nigh, Before me: woman is her name; of man

By attributing over

much to things Extracted : for this cause he shall forego

Less excellent, as thou thyself perceiv'st. Father and mother, and to his wife adhere; For, what admir'st thou, what transports thee so, And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul.' An outside ? fair, no doubt, and worthy well

“She heard me thus; and though divinely brought, Thy cherishing, thy honoring, and thy love; Yet innocence, and virgin modesty,

Not thy subjection; weigh with her thyself; Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth, Then value: oft-times noihing profits more That would be woo'd, and not unsought be won, Than self-esteem, grounde on just and right Not obvious, not obtrusive, but, retir'd,

Well-manag'd; of that skill the more thou know'st, The more desirable; or, to say all

The more she will acknowledge thee her head, Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought, And to realities yield all her shows : Wrought in her so, that, seeing me, she turn'd: Made so adorn for thy delight the more, I followed her; she what was honor knew, So awful, that with honor thou may'st love And with obsequious majesty approv'd

Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind I led her blushing like the morn: all Heaven, Is propagated, seem such dear delight

Beyond all other; think the same vouchsaf'd With grateful memory: thou to mankind
To cattle and each beast; which would not be Be good and friendly still, and oft return!"
To them made common and divulg'd, if aught So parted they ; the angel up to Heaven
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue

From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower.
The soul of man, or passion in him move.
What higher in her society thou find'st

BOOK IX
Attractive, human, rational, love still ;
In loving thou dost well, in passion not,

THE ARGUMENT.
Wherein true love consists not: Love refines
The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his seat Satan, having compassed the Earth, with meditated
In reason, and is judicious; is the scale

guile returns, as a mist, by night into Paradise ;
By which to heavenly love thou may'st ascend, enters into the serpent sleeping. Adam and Eve
Not sunk in carnal pleasure; for which cause, in the morning go forth to their labors, which
Among the beasts no mate for thee was found." Eve proposes to divide in several places, each

To whom thus, half abash'd, Adam replied. laboring apart: Adam consents not, alleging the “ Neither her outside form'd so fair, nor aught danger, lest that enemy, of whom they were In procreation common to all kinds,

forewarned, should attempt her found alone : (Though higher of the genial bed by far,

Eve, loth to be thought not circumspect or firm And with mysterious reverence I deem)

enough, urges her going apart, the rather desirous So much delights me, as those graceful acts, to make trial of her strength ; Adam at last Those thousand decencies, that daily flow

yields : the serpent finds her alone ; his subile From all her words and actions mix'd with love approach, first gazing, then speaking ; with much And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd flattery extolling Eve above all other creatures. Union of mind, or in us both one soul;

Eve, wondering to hear the serpent speak, asks Harmony to behold in wedded pair

how he attained to human speech, and such unMore grateful than harmonious sound to the ear. derstanding, not till now; the serpent answers, Yet these subject not: I to thee disclose

that by tasting of a certain tree in the garden he What inward thence I feel, not therefore foil'd attained both to speech and reason, till then void Who meet with various objects, from the sense of both : Eve requires him to bring her to ihat Variously representing : yet, still free,

tree, and finds it to be the tree of knowledge Approve the best, and follow what I approve. forbidden: the serpent, now grown bolder, with To love, thou blam'st me not; for Love, thou say'st, many wiles and arguments, induces her at length Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide; to eat; she, pleased with the taste, deliberates a Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask:

while whether to impart thereof to Adam or not ; Love not the heavenly spirits, and how their love at last brings him of the fruit; relates what perExpress they? by looks only? or do they mix suaded her to eat thereof: Adam, at first amazed, Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch ?"

but perceiving her lost, resolves, through veTo whom the angel, with a smile that glow'd hemence of love, to perish with her: and, erCelestial rosy red, Love's proper hue,

tenuating the trespass, eats also of the fruit: the Answered: “Let it suffice thee that thou know'st effects thereof in them both; they seek to cover Us happy, and without love no happiness.

their nakedness; then fall to variance and ac. Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy'sı,

cusation of one another. (And pure thou wert created) we enjoy In eminence; and obstacle find none

No more of talk where God or angel guest
Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars ; With Man, as with his friend, familiar usd
Easier than air with air, if spirits embrace, To sit indulgent, and with him partake
Total they mix, union of pure with pure

Rural repast; permitting him the while
Desiring; nor restrain'd conveyance need, Venial discourse unblam'd. I now must change
As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul. Those notes to tragic; foul distrust, and breach
But I can now no more; the parting Sun Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt
Beyond the Earth's green cape and verdant isles And disobedience: on the part of Heaven
Hesperian sets, my signal to depart.

Now alienated, distance and distaste,
Be strong, live happy, and love! but, first of all, Anger and just rebuke, and judgment given,
Him, whom to love is to obey, and keep

That brought into this world a world of woe,
His great command : take heed lest passion sway Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery
Thy judgment to do aught, which else free will Death's harbinger: sad task, yet argument
Would not admit: thine, and of all thy sons, Not less but more heroic than the wrath
The weal or woe in thee is plac'd; beware! of stern Achilles on his foe pursued
I in thy persevering shall rejoice,

Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; or rage
And all the blest : stand fast; to stand or fall Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous'd;
Free in thine own arbitrement it lies.

Or Neptune's ire, or Juno's, that so long
Perfect within, no outward aid require ;

Perplex'd the Greek, and Cytherea's son; And all temptation w transgress repel."

If answerable style I can obtain
So saying, he arose ; whom Adam thus

Of my celestial patroness, who deigns
Follow'd with benediction. “Since to part, Her nightly visitation unimplor'd,
Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger,

And dictates to me slumbering; or inspires
Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore ! Easy my unpremeditated verse :
Gentle to me and affable hath been

Since first this subject for heroic song
Thy condescension, and shall be honor'd ever Pleas'd me long choosing, and beginning late ;

Not sedulous by nature to indite

Active within, beyond the sense of brute. Wars, hitherto the only argument

Thus he resolv'd, but first from inward grief Heroic deem'd; chief mastery to dissect

Ilis bursting passion into plaints thus pour'd. With long and tedious havoc fabled knights

“O Earth, how like to Heaven, if not preferr'd In battles feign'd; the better fortitude

More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built Of patience and heroic martyrdom

With second thoughts, reforming what was old! Unsung; « to describe races and games, For what god, after better, worse would build ? Or tilting furniture, emblazon'd shields,

Terrestrial Heaven, danc'd round by other Heave Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds,

That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps, Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights Light above light, for thee alone as seems, At joust and tournament; then marshall’d feast

In thee concentring all their precious beams Serv'd up in hall with sewers and seneschals; Of sacred influence! as God in Heaven The skill of artifice or office mean,

Is centre, yet extends to all ; so thou, Not that which justly gives heroic name

Centring, receiv'st from all those orbs : in thee, To person or to poem. Me, of these

Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears Nor skill'd nor studious, higher argument Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth Remains; sufficient of itself to raise

of creatures animate with gradual life That name, unless an age too late, or cold Of growth, sense, reason, all summ'd up in Man. Climate, or years, damp my intended wing With what delight could I have walk'd thee round Depress'd ; and much they may, if all be mine, If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange Not hers, who brings it nightly to my ear. of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains,

The Sun was sunk, and after him the star Now land, now sea, and shores with forest crown's Of Hesperus, whose office is to bring

Rocks, dens, and caves! But I in none of these Twilight upon the Earth, short arbiter

Find place or refuge; and the more I see "Twixt day and night, and now from end to end Pleasures about me, so much more I feel Night's hemisphere had veiled the horizon round : Torment within me, as from the hateful siege When Satan, who late fled before the threats Of contraries: all good to me becomes Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improv'd

Bane, and in Heaven much worse would be my state In meditated fraud and malice, bent

But neither here seek I, no nor in Heaven
On Man's destruction, maugre what might hap To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven's Supreme
Of heavier on himself, fearless return'd.

Nor hope to be myself less miserable
By night he fled, and at midnight return'd By what I seek, but others to make such
From compassing the Earth ; cautious of day, As I, though thereby worse to me redound:
Since Uriel, regent of the Sun, descried

For only in destroying I find ease
His entrance, and forewarn'd the cherubim To my relentless thoughts; and, him destroy'd,
That kept their watch; thence full of anguish driv'n, Or won to what may work his utter loss,
The space of seven continued nights he rode For whom all this was made, all this will coon
With darkness, thrice the equinoctial line

Follow, as to him link'd in weal or woe; He circled; four times cross'd the car of night In woe then; that destruction wide may range: From pole to pole traversing each colúre; To me shall be the glory sole among On the eighth return'd; and on the coast averse The infernal powers, in one day to have marr'd From entrance or cherubic watch, by stealth What he, Almighty styl’d, six nights and days Found unsuspected way. There was a place, Continued making; and who knows how long Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change, Before had been contriving? though perhaps Where Tigris at the foot of Paradise,

Not longer than since I, in one night, freed Into a gulf shot under ground, till part

From servitude inglorious well nigh half Rose up a fountain by the tree of life:

The angelic name, and thinner left the throng In with the river sunk, and with it rose

Of his adorers: he, to be aveng'd,
Satan, involvd in rising mist; then sought And to repair his numbers thus impaird,
Where to lie hid ; sea he had search'd, and land, Whether such virtue spent of old now fail'd
From Eden over Pontus and the pool

More angels to create, if they at least
Mæotis, up beyond the river Ob;

Are his created, or, to spite us more, Downward as far antarctic; and in length, Determin'd to advance into our room West from Orontes to the ocean barr'd

A creature formd of earth, and him endow, At Darien ; thence to the land where flows Exalted from so base original, Ganges and Indus: thus the orb he roam'd With heavenly spoils, our spoils: what he decreed, With narrow search ; and with inspection deep He effected; Man he made, and for him built Consider'd every creature, which of all

Magnificent this world, and Earth his seat, Most opportune might serve his wiles ; and found Him lord pronounc'd ; and, O indignity! The serpent subtlest beast of all the field.

Subjected to his service angel-wings,
Him, after long debate, irresolute

And flaming ministers to watch and tend
Of thoughts revolv'd, his final sentence chose Their earthly charge: of these the vigilance
Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom

I dread : and, to elude, thus wrapt in mist
To enter, and his dark suggestions hide

Of midnight vapor glide obscure, and pry
From sharpest sight: for, in the wily snake In every bush and brake, where hap may find
Whatever sleights, none would suspicious mark,
As from his wit and native subtlety

The serpent sleeping ; in whose mazy folds

To hide me, and the dark intent I bring. Proceeding; which, in other beasts observod, O foul descent! that I, who erst contended Doubt might beget of diabolic power

With Gods to sit the highest, am now constrain'd 12

into a beast; and, mix'd with bestial slime, Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd This essence to incarnate and imbrute,

Labor, as to debar us when we need That to the height of deity aspir'd!

Refreshment, whether food, or talk between. But what will not ambition and revenge

Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse Descend to? Who aspires, must down as low Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow, As high he soard ; obnoxious, first or last, To brute denied, and are of love the food ; To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet, Love, not the lowest end of human life Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils :

For not to irksome toil, but to delight, Let it; I reck not, so it light well aim'd,

He made us, and delight to reason join'd. Since higher I fall short, on him who next

These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands Provokes my envy, this new favorite

Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide Of Heaven, this man of clay, son of despite, As we need walk, till younger hands ere long Whom, us the more to spite, his Maker rais'd Assist us: but, if much converse perhaps From dust: spite then with spite is best repaid." Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield:

So saying, through each thicket dank or dry, For solitude sometimes is best society, Like a black mist low-creeping, he held on And short retirement urges sweet return. His midnight-search, where soonest he might find But other doubt possesses me, lest barm The serpent : him fast sleeping soon he found Befall thee sever'd from me ; for thou know'st In labyrinth of many a round self-roll’d,

What hath been warn'd us, what malicious foe, His head the midst, well stor d with subtle wiles: Envying our happiness, and of his own Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den,

Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame Nor nocent yet; but, on the grassy herb, By sly assault; and somewhere nigh at hand Fearless, unfear'd he slept : in at his mouth Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find The Devil enter'd; and his brutal sense,

His wish and best advantage, us asunder; In heart or head, possessing, soon inspir’d

Hopeless to circumvent us join'd, where each With act intelligential; but his sleep

To other speedy aid might lend at need:
Disturb'd not, waiting close the approach of morn. Whether his first design be to withdraw
Now, when as sacred light began to dawn Our feälty from God, or to disturb
In Eden on the humid flowers, that breath'd Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss
Their morning incense, when all things, that breathe, Enjoy'd by us excites his envy more;
From the Earth's great altar send up silent praise Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side
To the Creator, and his nostrils fill

That gave thee being, still shades thee, and protects
With grateful smell, forth came the human pair, The wise, where danger or dishonor lurks,
And join'd their vocal worship to the quire Safest and seemliest by her husband stays,
Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake Who guards her, or with her the worst endures."
The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs : To whom the virgin majesty of Eve,
Then commune, how that day they best may ply As one who loves, and some unkindness meets,
Their growing work : for much their work outgrew With sweet austere composure thus replied.
The hands' dispatch of two gardening so wide, Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth's
And Eve first to her husband thus began.

Lord !
Adam, well may we labor still to dress That such an enemy we have, who seeks
This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower, Our ruin, both by thee inform'd I learn,
Our pleasant task enjoin'd; but till more hands And from the parting angel overheard,
Aid us, the work under our labor grows,

As in a shady nook I stood behind,
Luxurious by restraint; what we by day

Just then return'd at shut of evening flowers. Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, But that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt One night or two with wanton growth derides, To God or thee, because we have a foe Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise, May tempt it, I expected not to hear. Or bear what to my mind first thoughts present: His violence thou fear'st not, being such Let us divide our labors; thou, where choice As we, not capable of death or pain, Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind can either not receive, or can repel. The woodbine round this arbor, or direct

His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers The clasping ivy where to climb; while I, Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love In yonder spring of roses intermix'd

Can by his fraud be shaken or seduc'd ; With myrtle, find what to redress till noon : Thoughts, which how found they harbor in thy breast, For, while so near each other thus all day Adam, mis-thought of her to thee so dear?" Our task we choose, what wonder if so near

To whom with healing words Adam replied. Looks intervene and smiles, or object new

Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve! Casual discourse draw on; which intermits For such thou art; from sin and blame entire : Our day's work, brought to little, though begun Not diffident of thee do I dissuade Early, and the hour of supper comes unearn'a ?” Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid

To whom mild answer Adam thus return'd. The attempt itself, intended by our foe. “ Sole Eve, associate solo, to me beyond

For he who tempts, though in vain, at least aspersos Compare above all living creatures dear! The tempted with dishonor foul ; suppos'd Well hast thou motion’d, well thy thoughts employ'd, Not incorruptible of faith, not proof How we might best fulfil the work which here Against temptation : thou thyself with scorn God hath assign'd us ; nor of me shall pass And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong, l'nprais'd: for nothing lovelier can be found Though ineffectual found : misdeem not then, In woman, than to study household good, If such affront I labor to avert And good works in her husband to promote. From thee alone, which on ns both at once