Nor chang'd his course, but through the shaggy hill Pass'd underneath ingulf'd; for God had thrown 225 That mountain as his garden mould high rais'd Upon the rapid current, which, through veins. Of porous earth, with kindly thirst up drawn, Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill Water'd the garden; thence united fell Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood, Which from his darksome passage now appears, And now, divided into four main streams,
Runs diverse, wand'ring many a famous realm And country, whereof here needs no account; But rather to tell how, if Art could tell,
How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks, Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, 'With mazy error under pendent shades Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed 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 unpiere'd shade Embrown'd the noon-tide bow'rs: thus was this place A happy rural seat of various view;
Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm, Others whose fruit, burnish'd with golden rind, Hung amiable, Hesperian 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 hillock; or the flow'ry lap
Of some irriguous valley spread her store, 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; meanwhile murm'ring waters fall Down the slope hills, dispers'd, or in a lake, That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd
Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams. The birds their quire apply; airs. vernal airs, Breathing the smell of field and grove. attune The trembling leaves, while universal Pan, Knit with the Graces and the Hours, in dance Led on th' eternal spring. Not that fair field Of Enna, where Prosérpine gathering flowers, Herself a fairer flow'r, by gloomy Dis
Was gather'd, which cost Ceres all that pain
To seek her through 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,
Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Lybian Jove, Hid Amalthea, and her florid son,
Young Bacchus, from his step-dame Rhea's eye; Nor when Abassin kings their issue guard, Mount Amara, though this by some suppos'd True Paradise, under the Ethiop line By Nilus' head, enclos'd with shining rock, A whole day's journey high, but wide remote From this Assyrian garden, where the fiend Saw und-lighted all delight, all kind
Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange. Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, Godlike erect, with native honour elad, In naked majesty seem'd lords of all: And worthy seem'd; for in their looks divine The image of their glorious Maker shone, Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure (Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd), Whence true authority in men; though both Not equal, as their sex not equal seem'd; For contemplation he and valour form'd, For softness she and sweet attractive grace; He for God only, she for God in him: His fair large front and eye sublime declar'd Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad: She, as a veil, down to the slender waist Her unadorned golden tresses wore
Dishevell'd, but in wanton ringlets way'd As the vine curls her tendrils, which imply'd Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway, And by her yielded, by him best receiv'd, Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay.
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd; Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame Of nature's works, honour dishonourable, Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure, And banish'd from man's life his happiest life, Simplicity and spotless innocence!
So pass'd they naked on, nor shunn'd the sight Of God or angel, for they thought no ill: 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 ol' shade, that on a green Stood whisp'ring soft, by a fresh fountain side, They sat thein down; and, after no more toil Of their sweet gard'ning labour than suffic'd To recommend cool zephyr, and made ease More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite More grateful, to their supper fruits they fell, Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs Yielded them, side-long as they sat recline On the soft downy bank damask'd with flowers: The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream; Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems. Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league,
Alone as they. About them frisking play'd
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,
To make them mirth, us'd all his might, and wreath'd His lithe proboscis; close the serpent sly, Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine His braided train, and of his fatal guile Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass Couch'd, and, now fill'd with pasture, gazing sat, Or bedward ruminating; for the sun, Deelin'd, was basting now with prone career To th' ocean isles, and in the ascending scale Of Heav'n the stars that usher evening rose: When Satan, still in gaze, as first he stood, Scarce thus at length fail'd speech recover'd sad. "O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief' behold! Into our room of bliss thus high advane'd Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, Not spirits, yet to heav'nly spirits bright Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue With wonder, and could love, so 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
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
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, And mutual amity, so 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 sense; yet such
Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, Which I as freely give: Hell shall unfold, To entertain you two, her widest 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, Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge On you who wrong me not, for him who wrong'd. And should I at your harmless innocence Melt, as I do, yet public reason just, Honour and empire with revenge enlarg'd, By conqu'ring this new world, compels me now To do what else, though damn'd, I should abhor." So spake the fiend, and with necessity, The tyrant's plea, exeus'd his devilish deeds. Then from his lofty stand on that high tree Down he alights among the sportful herd Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, Now other, as their shape serv'd best his end Nearer to view his prey, and unespy'd
To mark what of their state he more might learn, 400 By word or action mark'd: about them round
A lion now he stalks with fiery glare;
Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spy'd
In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play,
Straight couches close, then, rising, changes oft 405 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 sole part, of all these joys, Dearer thyself than all; needs must the Power 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 dust, and plac'd us here
In all this happiness, who at his hand
Have nothing merited, nor can perform Ought wher of he hath need; he who requires E
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