Ran Nectar, visiting each plant, and fed 240
Flow'rs worthy of Paradise, 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 sun first warmly smote
The open field, and where the un-pierc'd fhade 245
Imbrown'd the noon-tide bow'rs. Thus was this
A happy rural seat of various view :

[place, Groves whose rich trees wept od'rous gums,and balm; Others whose fruit, burnish'd with golden rind, Hung amiable: Hesperian fables true,

250 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 some irriguous valley spread her store; 255 Flow'rs of all hue, and without thorn the rose. Another side, umbrageous grots, and caves Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps Luxuriant: mean-while murm'ring waters fall 266 Down the Nope hills, dispers’d, or in a lake, (That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd Her chryftal mirror holds,) unite their Itreams. 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 Heurs, in dance, Led on th' eternal spring. Not that fair field Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flow'ss,

265

Her self a fairer flow'r, by gloomy Dis 270
Was gather'd; which coft Cores all that pain
To seek her thro’ the world: nor that sweet grove
Of Daphne by Orontes, and th’inspir’d
Castalian spring, might with this Paradise
Of Eden strive: nor that Nyseian isle

275
Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham,
(Whom Gentiles Ammon call, and Libyan Jove)
Hid Amalthea, and her florid son
Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rbea's eye :
Nor where Abassin Kings their issue guard, 280
Mount Amara (though this by some suppos'd
'True Paradise) under the Æthiop Line
By Nilus? head, inclos’d with mining rock,
A whole day's journey high; but wide remote
From this Allyrian garden : where the fiend 285
Saw un-delighted all delight, all kind
Of living creatures, new to fight, and strange.

Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, Godlike erect! with native honor clad In naked majesty, seem'd Lords of all : 290 And worthy seem'd: for in their looks divine The image of their glorious Maker shon, Truth, wisdom, fanctitude severe, and pure; Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd, Whence true authority in men: though both

295 Not equal, as their sex not equal feem'd: For contemplation he, and valor form'd; For Loftness the, and sweet attractive grace; He, for God only; the, for God in him,

2

His fair large front, and eye sublime, declar'd 300
Absolute rule; and hyacinthin locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Clustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad.
She, as a veil, down to the fender waist
Her un-adorned golden tresses wore,

305
Dissheveld; bụt in wanton ringlets wavid,
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 submission, modeft pride, 310
And sweet reluctant amorous delay.
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd;
Then was not guilty shame, dishonest Mame
Of nature's works : honor dishonorable!
Sin-bred ! how have ye troubled all mankind 315
With shews instead, inere shews, of seeming pure;
And banish'd from man's life his happiest life,
Simplicity, and spotless innocence ?
So pass’d they naked on, nor shun’d the fight
Of God, or Angel, for they thought no ill, 320
So hand in hand they pass’d, the loveliest pair
That ever since in love's embraces met ;
Adam the goodliest man of men since born
His sons; the fairest of her daughters Eve.
Under a tuft of shade, that on a green 325
Stood whisp'ring soft, by a fresh fountain-side
They fat them down; and after no more toil
Of their sweet gard’ning labor, than fuffic'd.
To recommend cool 2 epbyr, and made ease

More easy; wholsome thirst, and appetite 330
More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell,
Nectarine fruits ! which the compliant boughs
Yielded them, fide-long as they sat recline
On the soft downy bank damask'd with flow'rs,
The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind, 335
Still as they thirfted, scoop the brimming stream:
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 340
All beasts of th' earth, (since wild,) and of all chase,
In wood, or wilderness, forest, 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 proboscis: close the ferpent Ny
Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine
His braided train, and of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheeded : others on the grass 350
Couch'd, and now fill'd with pasture gazing fat,
Or bed-ward ruminating: for the sun,
Declin'd, was hasting now with prone career
To th'ocean ines, and in th'ascending scale
Of heav'n the stars, that usher evening, rose: 355
When Satan still 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 thas high advanc'd

366

Creatures of other mold; earth-born perhaps, 360
Not spirits; yet to heav'nly fpirits bright
Little inferior ; whom my thoughts pursue
With wonder, and could love, so lively mines
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
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 so happy ill secur'd

370
Long to continue; and this high seat your heav'n,
Ill-fenc'd for heav'n, to keep out such 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 seek, 375
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 Paradise, your fonse; yet such
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 send 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 loth to this revenge

who wrong me not, for Him who wrong'de And should I at your harmless innocence Melt, (as I do) yet public on juft,

380

On you,