Ran Nectar, visiting each plant, and fed
Flow'rs worthy of Paradife, which not nice art
In beds, and curious knots, but nature boon
Pour'd forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain,
Both where the morning fun first warmly fmote
The open field, and where the un-pierc'd fhade 245
Imbrown'd the noon-tide bow'rs. Thus was this
A happy rural feat of various view : [place,
Groves whofe rich trees wept od'rous gums,and balm;
Others whose fruit, burnish'd with golden rind,
Hung amiable: Hefperian fables true,
If true, here only, and of delicious taste.
Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks Grazing the tender herb, were interpos'd:
Or palmy hilloc, or the flow'ry lap
Of fome irriguous valley fpread her store;
Flow'rs of all hue, and without thorn the rose.
Another fide, umbrageous grots, and caves
Of cool recefs, o'er which the mantling vine
Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps
Luxuriant: mean-while murm'ring waters fall 260
Down the flope hills, difpers'd, or in a lake,
(That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd
Her chrystal mirror holds,) unite their streams.
The birds their choire apply: airs, vernal airs,
Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune
The trembling leaves, while univerfal Pan,
Knit with the Graces, and the Hours, in dance,
Led on th' eternal spring. Not that fair field
Of Enna, where Proferpine gathering flow`rs,
Her felf a fairer flow'r, by gloomy Dis
Was gather'd; which coft Ceres all that pain
To feek her thro' the world: nor that fweet grove
Of Daphne by Orontes, and th' inspir'd
Caftalian spring, might with this Paradife
Of Eden strive: nor that Nyfeian isle
Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham,
(Whom Gentiles Ammon call, and Libyan Jove)
Hid Amalthea, and her florid fon
Young Bacchus, from his ftepdame Rhea's eye:
Nor where Abaffin Kings their iffue guard,
Mount Amara (though this by fome fuppos'd
True Paradife) under the Ethiop Line
By Nilus' head, inclos'd with fhining rock,
A whole day's journey high; but wide remote
From this Affyrian garden: where the fiend
Saw un-delighted all delight, all kind
Of living creatures, new to fight, and strange.
Two of far nobler fhape, erect and tall,
Godlike erect! with native honor clad
In naked majesty, feem'd Lords of all:
And worthy feem'd: for in their looks divine
The image of their glorious Maker shon,
Truth, wisdom, fanctitude fevere, and pure;
Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd,
Whence true authority in men: though both 295
Not equal, as their fex not equal feem'd:
For contemplation he, and valor form'd;
For foftness fhe, and fweet attractive grace;
He, for God only; fhe, 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 waist
Her un-adorned golden treffes wore,
Disfhevel'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 sweet 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 fhews instead, mere fhews, of feeming pure;
And banish'd from man's life his happiest life,
Simplicity, and spotless innocence?
So pass'd they naked on, nor fhun'd the fight
Of God, or Angel, for they thought no ill,
So hand in hand they pass'd, the loveliest pair
That ever fince in love's embraces met;
Adam the goodlieft 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 soft, 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,
Nectarine fruits! which the compliant boughs
Yielded them, fide-long as they fat recline
On the foft downy bank damask'd with flow'rs,
The favoury pulp they chew, and in the rind, 335
Still as they thirfted, fcoop the brimming ftream:
Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles
Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as befeems
Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league,
Alone as they. About them frisking plaid
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, 345
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 braided train, and of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheeded: others on the grafs
Couch'd, and now fill'd with pasture gazing fat,
Or bed-ward ruminating: for the fun,
Declin'd, was hasting now with prone career
To th' ocean ifles, and in th'ascending scale
Of heav'n the ftars, that usher evening, rofe: 355
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 blifs thus high advanc'd
Creatures of other mold; earth-born perhaps, 360
Not spirits; yet to heav'nly spirits bright
Little inferior; whom my thoughts purfue
With wonder, and could love, fo lively shines
In them divine resemblance, and such grace
The hand that form'd them on their shape hath pour'd.
Ah gentle pair! ye little think how nigh 366
Your change approaches; when all thefe delights
Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe;
More woe, the more your taste is now of joy:
Happy! but for so happy ill fecur'd
370 Long to continue; and this high feat your heav'n, 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 ftrait, so close, That I with you must dwell, or you with me Henceforth: my dwelling haply may not please, Like this fair Paradife, your fenfe; yet fuch 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 these narrow limits,) to receive Your numerous offspring: if no better place, 385 Thank Him who puts me leth 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 reason just,
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