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 neceffity, (The tyrant's plea,) excus'd his devilish deeds. Then from his lofty stand on that high tree, Down he alights among the fportful herd Of thofe four-footed kinds; himself now one, Now other, as their shape best serv'd his end Nearer to view his prey, and un-espy'd
To mark what of their state he more might learn,
By word, or action mark'd: about them round, A lion now he ftalks with fiery glare;
Then, as a tiger, who by chance hath spy'd, In fome purlieu, two gentle fawns at play, Strait couches close, then rifing changes oft
His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground, Whence rushing he might surest seize them both, Grip'd in each paw: when Adam, first of men, To first of women, Eve, thus moving speech, Turn'd him, all ear, to hear new utterance flow.、 410 Sole partner, and fole part of all these joys! Dearer thy felf than all! needs muft the Pow'r 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 service than to keep
This one, this eafie charge, of all the trees In Paradise, 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: 425 Some dreadful thing, no doubt: for well thou know'ft God hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree, The only fign of our obedience left,
Among so many signs of pow'r, and rule, Confer'd upon us; and dominion giv'n
Over all other creatures that poffefs
Earth, air, and fea. Then, let us not think hard
One eafie prohibition, who enjoy
Free leave fo large to all things elfe, and choice Unlimited of manifold delights:
But let us ever praise Him, and extol
His bounty, following our delightful task,
To prune these growing plants,and tend these flow'rs; Which were it toilfome, yet with thee were sweet.
To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou! for whom, And from whom I was form'd; flesh of thy flesh; 441 And without whom am to no end; my guide, And head! what thou haft said is just, and right. For, we to Him indeed all praises owe, And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy So far the happier lot, enjoying thee Præ-eminent by fo much odds; while thou Like confort to thy felf canft no where find. That day I oft remember, when from fleep
I first awak'd, and found my felf repos'd Under a fhade of flow'rs; much wond'ring where, And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. Not diftant far from thence, a murmuring found Of waters iffu'd from a cave, and spread Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov'd, Pure as th' expanse of heav'n: I thither went, With in-experienc'd thought, and laid me down On the green bank, to look into the clear Smooth lake, that to me seem'd another sky. As I bent down to look, just oppofite A fhape within the watry gleam appear'd, Bending to look on me: I started back; It started back: but pleas'd I foon return'd; Pleas'd it return'd as foon; with answering looks Of sympathy, and love: there I had fix'd 465 Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain defire, Had not a voice thus warn'd me, "What thou seeft, "What there thou feeft, fair Creature, is thy felf; "With thee it came, and goes: but, follow me, "And I will bring thee where no shadow stays 470 "Thy coming, and thy foft embraces; he "Whose image thou art: him thou shalt enjoy "Infeparably thine, to him fhalt bear
"Multitudes like thy felf, and thence be call'd "Mother of human race." What could I do 475 But follow ftrait, invifibly thus led,
Till I efpy'd thee? fair indeed, and tall,
Under a plantan; yet, methought, less fair,
Lefs winning soft, lefs amiably mild,
Than that smooth watry image: back Iturn'd; 480 Thou following cryd'ft aloud, return fair Eve, Whom fly'ft thou? whom thou fly'ft, of him thou art, His flesh, his bone; to give thee Being I lent Out of my fide to thee, nearest my heart, Subftantial life, to have thee by my fide Henceforth an individual folace dear:
Part of my foul, I feek thee; and thee claim, My other half!
With that, thy gentle hand Seis'd mine; I yielded; and from that time fee How beauty is excell'd by manly grace, And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.
So fpake our general mother; and with eyes Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd, And meek furrender, half embracing lean'd On our first father: half her swelling breaft Naked met his, under the flowing gold Of her loose treffes hid: he (in delight Both of her beauty, and submissive charms,) Smil'd with fuperior love; as Jupiter
On Juno fmiles, when he impregns the clouds,
That shed May-flow'rs; and press'd her matron-lip
With kiffes pure: afide the devil turn'd
For envy, yet with jealous leer malign
Ey'd them askance; and to himself thus plain'd. Sight hateful, fight tormenting! thus thefe two, Imparadis'd in one another's arms,
(The happier Eden!) fhall enjoy their fill Of blifs on blifs: while I to hell am thrust, Where neither joy, nor love, but fierce defire,
(Among our other torments not the leaft) Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing, pines. Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd From their own mouths: all is not theirs, it feems: One fatal Tree there ftands, of Knowledge call'd, Forbidden them to tafte. Knowledge forbidden? 515 Sufpicious, reafonlefs. Why fhould their Lord Envy them that? can it be fin to know? Can it be death? and do they only stand By ignorance? is that their happy state,
The proof of their obedience, and their faith? 520 O fair foundation laid whereon to build
Their ruin! hence I will excite their minds With more defire to know, and to reject Envious commands, invented with design To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt Equal with Gods: afpiring to be such,
They taste, and die: what likelier can enfue? But first, with narrow fearch I must walk round This garden, and no corner leave un-fpy'd; A chance but chance may lead where I may meet Some wandring fpirit of heav'n, by fountain-fide 531 Or in thick shade retir'd, from him to draw What further would be learn'd. Live while ye may, Yet happy pair! enjoy, till I return, Short pleasures; for, long woes are to fucceed! 535
So faying, his proud ftep he fcornful turn'd, But with fly circumfpection; and began [roam. Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale his Mean-while in utmost longitude, where heav'n
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