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So fpake our general mother, and with eyes
Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,

And meek furrender, half imbracing lean'd
On our first father, half her fwelling breaft
Naked met his under the flowing gold
Of her loose treffes hid: he in delight
Both of her beauty and fubmiffive charms
Smil'd with fuperior love, as Jupiter

On Juno fimiles, when he impregns the clouds
That fhed May flouers; and prefs'd her matron lip. ›
With kiffes pure: afide the devil turn'd

For envie, yet with jealous leer maligne
Ey'd them afkance, and to himself thus plain'd.

Sight hateful, fight tormenting! thus these two Imparadis't in one another's arms

The happier Eden, fhall enjoy their fill
Of blifs on blifs, while I to hell am thruft,
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 forbidd`n ?
Sufpicious, reafonlefs. Why fhould their lord
Envie them that? can it be fin to know,
Can it be death? and do they only stand
By ignorance, is that their happie ftate,
The proof of their obedience and their faith?
O fair foundation laid whereon to build
Their ruine.! hence I will excite their minds

With more defire to know, and to reject
Envious commands, invented with defign
To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt
Equal with Gods; afpiring to be fuch,
They taste and die: what likelier can enfue?
But firft with narrow fearch I muft walk round
This garden, and no corner leave unfpi'd';

A chance but chance may lead where I may meet
Some wandring fpirit of heav'n, by fountain fide,
Or in thick fhade retir'd, from him to draw
What further would be learnt. Live while ye may,
Yet happie pair; enjoy, till I return,

Short pleasures, for long woes are to fucceed.
So faying, his proud ftep he fcornful turn'd,
But with fly circumfpection, and began

(roam.

Through wood, through wafte, o're hill, o're dale his

Mean while in utmost longitude, where heav'n

With earth and ocean meets, the setting fun
Slowly defcended, and with right aspect
Against the eastern gate of Paradife
Level'd his ev'ning rayes: it was a rock
Of alabafter, pil'd' up to the clouds,
Confpicuous far, winding with one afcent
Acceffible from earth, one entrance high;
The reft was craggie cliff, that overhung
Still as it rofe, impoffible to climb.
Betwixt thefe rockie pillars Gabriel fat
Chief of the angelic guards, awaiting night;
About him exercis'd heroic games
Th'unarmed youth of heav'n, but nigh at hand
Celestial armourie, fhields, helmes, and speares

Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold.
Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even
On a fun beam, swift as a shooting star

In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fir'd
Impress the air, and fhews the mariner
From what point of his compass to beware
Impetuous winds: he thus began in hafte.
Gabriel, to thee thy courfe by lot hath giv'n
Charge and strict watch that to this happie place
No evil thing approach or enter in ;

This day at highth of noon came to my sphere
A fpirit, zealous, as he seem'd, to know
More of th'Almighty's works and chiefly man
God's latest image: I defcrib'd his way
Bent all on speed, and markt his aerie gate;
But in the mount that lies from Eden north,
Where he first lighted, foon difcern'd his looks
Alien from heav'n, with paffions foul obfcur'd:
Mine eye purfu'd him ftill, but under shade -
Loft fight of him; one of the banisht crew
I fear, hath ventur'd from the deep, to raise
New troubles; him thy care must be to find.
To whom the winged warriour thus return'd ::
Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect fight,

Amid the fun's bright circle where thou fitft,
See far and wide: in at this gate none pass
The vigilance here plac't, but fuch as come.
Well known from heav'n; and fince meridian hour
No creature thence; if spirit of other fort,
So minded, have oreleapt these earthie bounds
On purpose, hard thou knowft it to exclude

Spiritual fubftance with corporeal bar.

But if within the circuit of thefe walks

In whatsoever fhape he lurk, of whom
Thou tell'ft, by morrow dawning I shall know.
So promis'd he, and Uriel to his charge

Return'd on that bright beam, whose point now rais'd:

Bore him flope downward to the fun now fall'n
Beneath th'Azores; whither the prime orb,
Incredible how swift, had thither rowl'd

Diurnal, or this lefs volubil earth

By fhorter flight to th'east, had left him there
Arraying with reflected purple and gold

The clouds that on his western throne attend :
Now came ftill ev'ning on, and twilight gray
Had in her sober liverie all things clad;
Silence accompanied, for beaft and bird,
They to their graffie couch, these to their nes
Were flunk, all but the wakeful nightingale ;
She all night long her am'rous defcant fung;
Silence was pleas'd: now glow'd the firmament
With living fapphires: Hefperus that led
The starrie hoft, rode brightest, till the moon
Rifing in clouded majestie, at length
Apparent queen unvail'd her peerless light,
And o're the dark her filver mantle threw.
When Adam thus to Eve: Fair confort, th'hour
Of night, and all things now retir'd to rest
Mind us of like repofe, fince God hath fet
Labour and reft, as day and night to men
Succeffive, and the timely dew of fleep
Now falling with foft_flumbrous weight inclines

Our eye-lids: other creatures all day long
Rove idle unimploy'd, and less need rest;
Man hath his daily work of body or mind
Appointed, which declares his dignitie,
And the regard of heav'n on all his waies;
While other animals unactive range,

And of their doings God takes no account.
To-morrow ere fresh morning streak the east
With first approach of light, we must be ris'n,
And at our pleasant labour, to reform
Yon flourie arbors, yonder allies green,
Our walks at noon, with branches overgrown,
That mock our fcant manuring, and require
More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth:
Those bloffoms alfo, and thofe dropping gumms,
That lie bestrowne unfightly and unsmooth,
Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease;
Mean while, as nature wills, night bids us rest.
To whom thus Eve with perfect beauty adorn'd.
My author and difpofer, what thou bidft
Unargu'd I obey; fo God ordains,

God is thy law, thou mine: to know no more
Is woman's happiest knowledge and her praise.
With thee converfing I forget all time,
All feasons and their change, all please alike.
Sweet is the breath of morn, her rifing sweet,
With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the fun
When first on this delightful land he spreads
His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flouer,
Gliftring with dew; fragrant the fertil earth
After foft showers; and fweet the coming on

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