Their tendence or plantation for delight: By fountain or by fhady rivulet

420

He fought them both, but wifa'd his lap might find
Eve feparate, he wish'd, but not with hope
Of what fo feldom chanc'd, when to his wifh,
Beyond his hope, Eve feparate he fpics,
Veil'd in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood,
Half fpy'd, fo thick the rofes blufhing round 426
About her glow'd, oft ftooping to fupport
Each flow'r of flender ftalk, whofe head though
gay

Carnation, purple', azure, or fpeck'd with gold,
Hung drooping unfuftain'd; them the upflays 430
Gently with myrtle band, mindlefs the while
Herself, though faireft unfupported flower,
From her best prop fo far, and form fo nigh.
Nearer he drew, and many a walk travers'd
Of ftatelieft covert, cedar, pine, or palm,
Then voluble and bold, now hid, now feen
Among thick-woven arborets and flowers
Imborder'd on each bank, the hand of Eve:
Sput more delicious than thofe gardens feign'd
Or of reviv'd Adonis, or renown'd
Alcinous, hoft of old Laertes' fon,

435

440

445

Or that, not myftic, where the fapient king Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian fpcufe. Mach he the place admir'd, the perfon more. As one who long in populous city pent, Where houfes thick and fewers annoy the air, Forth iluing on a funimer's morn to breathe Among the pleafant villages and farms Adjoin'd, from each thing met conceives delight, The fmell of grain, or tedded grafs, or kine, 450 Or dairy', each rural fight, each rural found; If chance with nymphlike ftep fair virgin pafs, What pleafing feem'd, for her now pleafes more, She molt, and in her look fums all delight: Sach pleasure took the Serpent to behold This flow'ry plat, the fweet recefs of Eve Thus early, thus alone; her heav'nly form Angelic, but more foft, and feminine, Her graceful innocence, her every air

455

Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh,
Whofe higher intellectual more I fhun,
And ftrength, of courage haughty, and of limb
Heroic built, though of terreftrial mold, 485
Foe not informidable, exempt from wound,
I not; fo much hath Hell debas'd, and pain
Infeebled me, to what I was in Heaven.
She fair, divinely fair, fit love for Gods,
Not terrible, though terror be in love
And beauty, not approach'd by stronger hate,
Hate ftronger, under fhow of love well feign'd,
The way which to her ruin now I tend.

490

495

500

505

So fpake the enemy' of mankind, inclos'd In ferpent, inmate bad, and toward Eve Addrefs'd his way, not with indented wave, Prone on the ground, as fince, but on his rear, Circular bafe of rifing folds, that tower'd Fold above fold a furging maze, his head Crefted aloft, and carbuncle his eyes; With burnish'd neck of verdant gold, erect Amidit his circling fpires, that on the grafs Floted redundant: pleafing was his fhape And lovely; never fince of ferpent kind Lovelier, not thofe that in Illyria chang'd Hermione and Cadmus, or the GodIn Epidaurus; nor to which transform'd Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline was feen, He with Olympias, this with her who bore Scipio the highth of Rome. With tract oblique At first, as one who fought accefs, but fear'd 511 To interrupt, fide-long he works his way. As when a fhip by fkilful steerfian wrought Nigh river's mouth or foreland, where the wind Veers oft, as oft fo fteers, and fhifts her fail: 515 So varied he, and of his tortuous train Curl'd many a wanton wreath in fight of Eve, To lure her eye; the bufied heard the found Of ruiling leaves, but minded not, as us'd. To fuch difport before her through the field, 520 From every beaft, more duteous at her call, Than at Circean call the herd difguis'd. He bolder now, uncall'd before her stood, But as in gaze admiring: oft he bow'd His turret crest, and fleck enamel'd neck, Fawning, and lick'd the ground whereon the trod. His gentle dumb expreffion turn'd at length The eye of Eve to mark his play; he glad Of her attention gain'd, with ferpent tongue Organic, or impulfe of vocal air, His fraudulent temptation thus began.

525

530

Wonder not, fovran Mitrefs, if perhaps Thou canft, who art fole wonder; much less

arm

Thy looks, the Heav'n of mildness, with disdain,
Difpleas'd that I approach thee thus, and gaze 535
Infatiate, I thus fingle, nor have fear'd
Thy awful brow, more awful thus retir'd.
Fairest refemblance of thy Maker fair,
Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine
By gift, and thy celeftial beauty' adore
With ravishment beheld, there beft beheld
Where univerfally admir'd; but here
In this inclosure wild, thefe beafts among,
Beholders rude, and fhallow to difcern
Half what in thee is fair, one man except,
2 [K]

540

545

Who fees thee? (and what is one?) who shouldst

be seen

A Goddess among Gods, ador'd and ferv'd By Angels numberlefs, thy daily train.

555

So gloz'd the Tempter, and his proem tun'd; Into the heart of Eve his words made way, 550 Though at the voice much marvelling; at length Not unamaz'd the thus in anfwer fpake. What may this mean? language of man pronounc'd By tongue of brute, and human fenfe exprefs'd? The firft at least of thefe I thought deny'd To beafts, whom God on their creation-day Created mute to all articulate found; The latter I demur, for in their looks Much reas'on, and in their actions oft appears. Thee, Serpent, fubtleft beast of all the field 560 I knew, but not with human voice indued; Redouble then this miracle, and fay, How cam'ft thou fpeakable of mute, and how To me fo friendly grown above the ret Of brutal kind, that daily are in fight: Say, for fuch wonder clames attention due.

565

To whom the guileful Tempter thus reply'd. Emprefs of this fair world, refplendent Eve, Eafy to me it is to tell thee all

What thou command'ft, and right thou shouldft be' obey'd:

570

575

I was at firit as other beafls that graze
The trodden herb, of abje& thoughts and low,
As was my food; nor ought but food difcern'd
Or fex, and apprehended nothing high:
Till on a day roving the field, chanc'd
A goodly tree far diftant to behold
Loaden with fruit of faireft colors mix'd,
Ruddy and gold: I nearer drew to gaze;
When from the boughs a favory odor blown,
Grateful to appetite, more pleas'd my fenfe 580
Than fmell of fweeteft fenel, or the teats
Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even,
Unfuck'd of lamb or kid, that tend their play.
To fatisfy the fharp defire I had
Of tafting thofe fair apples, I refolv'd

585

595

Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once
Pow'rful perfuaders, quicken'd at the fcent
Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me to keen.
About the mofy trunk I wound me foon,
For high from ground the branches would require
Thy utmoft reach or Adam's: Round the tree 591
All other beafts that faw, with like defire
Longing and envying food, but could not reach.
Amid the tree now get, where plenty hung
Tempting fo nigh, to pluck and eat my fill
I fpar'd not, for fuch pleafure till that hour
At feed or fountain never had I found.
Sated at length, ere long I might perceive
Strange alteration in me, to degree
Of reafon in my inward pow'rs, and fpeech 600
Wanted not long, though to this fhape retain'd.
Thenceforth to fpeculations high or deep
I turn'd my thoughts, and with capacious mind
Confider'd all things visible in Heaven,
In Earth, or Middle, all things fair and good;
But all that fair and good in thy divine
Semblance, and in thy beauty's heav'nly ray
United I beheld; no fair to thine

606

| Equivalent or fecond, which compell'd
Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come 610
And gaze, and worship thee of right declar'd
Sovran of creatures, univerfal Dame.

615

So talk'd the fpirited fly fnake; and Eve
Yet more amaz'd unwary thus reply'd.
Serpent, thy overpraifing leaves in doubt
The virtue of that fruit, in thee first prov'd:
But fay, where grows the tree, from hence how
far?

For many are the trees of God that grow
In Paradife, and various, yet unknown
To us, in fuch abundance lies our choice,
As leaves a greater store of fruit untouch'd,
Still hanging incorruptible, till men
Grow up to their provifion, and more hands
Help to difburden Nature of her birth.

610

To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad. 625 Emprefs, the way is ready, and not long, Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat,

Fait by a fountain, one fmall thicket paft
Of blowing myrrh and balm; if thou accept
My conduct, I can bring thee thither foon.
Lead then, said Eve. He leading swiftly roll'd

636

639

In tangles, and made intricate seem strait,
To mifchief fwift. Hope elevates, and joy
Brightens his creft; as when a wand'ring fire,
Compact of unctuous vapor, which the night 635
Condenfes, and the cold environs round,
Kindled through agitation to a flame,
Which oft, they fay, fome evil Spi'rit attends,
Hovering and blazing with delufive light,
Misleads th' amaz'd night-wand'rer from his way
To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool,
There fwallow'd up and loft, from fuccour far.
So glifter'd the dire Snake, and into fraud
Led Eve our credulous mother, to the tree
Of prohibition, root of all our woe;
Which when the faw, thus to her guide she spake.
Serpent, we might have spar'd our coming

hither,

645

650

Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to' excess;
The credit of whofe virtue reft with thee,
Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects.
But of this tree we may not tafte nor touch;
God fo commanded, and left that command
Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live
Law to ourselves, our reafon is our law.

To whom the Tempter guilefully reply'd. 655
Indeed! hath God then faid that of the fruit
Of all these garden trees ye fhall not eat,
Yet Lords declar'd of all in carth or air?
To whom thus Eve yet finless. Of the fruit
Of each tree in the garden we may eat,
But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst
The garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat
Thereof, nor fhall ye touch it, left ye die.

In Athens, or free Rome, where eloquence Florish'd, fince mute, to fome great cause addrefs'd

part,

675

Stood in himself collected, while each Motion, each act won audience ere the tongue, Sometimes in highth began, as no delay Of preface brooking through his zeal of right; So ftanding, moving, or to highth up grown, The Tempter all impaffion'd thus began.

680

O facred, wife, and wifdom-giving Plant, Mother of fcience, now I feel thy power Within me clear, not only to difcern Things in their caufes, but to trace the ways Of higheft agents, deem'd however wife. Queen of this universe, do not believe Thofe rigid threats of death; ye fhall not die : How fhould you? by the fruit? it gives you life To knowledge; by the threatner? look on me, Me who have touch'd and tasted, yet both live, And life more perfect have attain'd than fate Meant me, by vent'ring higher than my lot. 690 Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast Is open? or will God incenfe his ire For fuch a petty trefpafs, and not praise Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain Of death denounc'd, whatever thing death be, 695 Deterr'd not from achieving what might lead To happier life, knowledge of good and evil; Of good, how juft? of evil, if what is evil Be real, why not known, fince cafier fhunn'd? God therefore cannot hurt you, and be just; 700 Not juft, not God; not fear'd then, nor obey'd; Your fear itfelf of death removes the fear. Why then was this forbid? Why but to awe, Why but to keep you low and ignorant, His worshippers; he knows that in the day Ye eat thereof, your eyes that seem so clear, Yet are but dim, fhall perfectly be then Open'd and clear'd, and ye fhall be as Gods, Atowing both good and evil as they know. That ye thall be as Gods, fince I as Man, Internal Man, is but proportion meet; 1 brute human, ye of human Gods. Sye hail die perhaps, by putting off Human, to put on Gods; death to be wish'd, ugh threaten'd, which no worse than this can bring.

705

710

775

And what are Gods that Man may not become As they, participating God-like food? The Gods are firit, and that advantage use On our belief, that all from them proceeds; 1 queftion it, for this fair earth I fee, War'd by the fun, producing every kind, m nothing: if they all things, who inclos'd 4wledge of good and evil in this tree,

at whole eats thereof, forthwith attains

720

om without their leave? and wherein lies 725 1.`cĘenfe, that Man fhould thus attain to know? What can your knowledge hurt him, of this tree ort again his will it all be his?

ittavy, and can envy dwell

Into her heart too cafy entrance won:
Fix'd on the fruit fhe gaz'd, which to behold 735
Might tempt alone, and in her ears the found
Yet rung of his perfuafive words, impregn'd
With reafon, to her feeming, and with truth;
Mean while the hour of noon drew on, and
wak'd

An eager appetite, rais'd by the smell
So favory of that fruit, which with defire,
Inclinable now grown to touch or tafte,
Solicited her longing eyes; yet first

Paufing a while, thus to herfelf fhe mus'd.

740

Great are thy virtues, doubtlefs, beft of fruits, Though kept from man, and worthy to be'

admir'd,

746

Whofe tafle, too long forborn, at first affay
Gave elocution to the mute, and taught
The tongue not made for fpeech to speak thy
praise :

750

755

Thy praise he also who forbids thy use,
Conceals not from us, naming thee the tree
Of knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil;
Forbids us then to tafte, but his forbidding
Commends thee more, while it infers the good
By thee communicated, and our want:
For good unknown, fure is not had, or had
And yet unknown, is as not had at all.
In plain then, what forbids he but to know,
Forbids us good, forbids us to be wife?
Such prohibitions bind not. But if death
Binds us with after-bands, what profits then
Our inward freedom? In the day we eat
Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we fhall die.
How dies the Serpent? he hath eat'n and lives,
And knows, and fpeaks, and reafons, and difcerns,
Irrational till then. For us alone

For beafts it feems: yet that one beaft which first
Hath talled, envics not, but brings with joy 770
The good befall'n him, author unfufpe&,
Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile.
What fear I then, rather what know to fear
Under this ignorance of good and evil,
Of God or death, of law or penalty?
Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine,
Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste,
Qf virtue to make wife; what hinders then
To reach, and feed at once both body and mind?
So faying, her rafh hand in evil hour
Forth reaching to the fruit, fhe pluck'd, fhe eat:
Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her feat
Sighing through all her works gave figns of woe,
That all was loft. Back to the thicket flunk
The guilty Serpent, and well might, for Eve 785
Intent now wholly on her taße, nought elfe
Regarded, fuch delight till then, as feem'd
In fruit fhe never tafted, whether true
Or fancy'd fo, through expectation high
Of knowledge, nor was God-head from he
thought.

790

Greedily the ingorg'd without restraint,
And knew not eating death: Satiate at length,
And highten'd as with wine, jocund and boon,
Thus to herself fhe pleasingly began.

2 [K] 2

O fovran, virtuous, precious of all trees 795 In Paradife, of operation bleft

To fapience, hitherto obfcur'd, infam'd,
And thy fair fruit let hang, as to no end
Created; but henceforth my early care,

801

Not without fong, each morning, and due praise,
Shall tend thee, and the fertil burden cafe
Of thy full branches offer'd free to all;
Till dieted by thee I grow mature

810

In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know;
Though others envy what they cannot give; 805
For had the gift been theirs, it had not here
Thus grown. Experience, next to thee I owe,
Beft guide; not following thee, I had remain'd
In ignorance; thou open't wifdom's way,
And giv'ft accefs, though fecret fhe retire.
And I perhaps am fecret; Heav'n is high,
High, and remote to fee from thence diftinct
Fach thing on earth; and other care perhaps
May have diverted from continual watch
Our great forbidder, fafe with all his fpies
About him. But to Adam in what fort
Shall I appear? fhall I to him make known
As yet my change, and give him to partake
Full happiness with me, or rather not,

815

But keep the odds of knowledge in my power 820
Without copartner? fo to add what wants
In female fex, the more to draw his love,
And render me more equal, and perhaps,
A thing not undefirable, fometime
Superior; for inferior who is free?

825

This may be well: but what if God hath feen,
And death enfuc? then I fhall be no more,
And Adam wedded to another Eve,
Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct;

A death to think. Confirm'd then i refolve, 830
Adam fhall share with me in blifs or woe:
So dear I love him, that with him all deaths
I could indure, without him live no life.

So faying, from the tree her step she turn'd, But first low reverence done, as to the Power 835 That dwelt within, whofe prefence had infus'd Into the plant fciential fap, deriv'd

840

845

From nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while,
Waiting defirous her return, had wove
Of choiceft flow'rs a garland to adorn
Her treffes, and her rural labors crown,
As reapers oft are wont their harveit queen.
Great joy he promis'd to his thoughts, and new
Solace in her return, fo long delay'd;
Yet oft his heart, divine of fomething ill,
Mifgave him; he the faltring measure felt,
And forth to meet her went, the way fhe took
That morn when first they parted; by the tree
Of knowledge he muft pafs, there he her mct,
Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand 850
A bough of faireft fruit, that downy fmil'd,
New gather'd, and ambrofial fmeil difus'd.
To him he hafted; in her face excufe
Came prologue, and apology too prompt,
Which with bland words at will the thus addrefs'd.
Haft thou not wonder'd, Adam, at my flay? 856
Thee I have mifs'd, and thought it long, depriv'd
Thy prefence, agony of love till now
Not felt, nor fhall be twice, for never more

865

Mean I to try, what rafh untry'd I fought, 860
The pain of abfence from thy fight. But frange
Hath been the caufe, and wonderful to hear:
This tree is not as we are told, a tree
Of danger tafted, nor to' evil unknown
Opening the way, but of divine effect
To open eyes, and make them Gode who tafte;
And hath been tafted fuch; the ferpent wife,
Or not reftrain'd as we, or not obeying,
Hath eaten of the fruit, and is become,
Not dead, as we are threaten'd, but thenceforth
Indued with human voice and human fenfe, 8;1
Reasoning to admiration, and with me
Perfusively hath fo prevail'd, that I
Have alfo tafted, and have also found
Th' effects to correfpond: opener mine eyes, 8:5
Uim erft, dilated fpirits, ampler heart,
And growing up to Godhead; which for thee
Chiefly I fought, without thee can defpife.
For blifs, as thou haft part, to me is blis,
Tedious, unfhar'd with thee, and odious foon.
Thou therefore afo tafte, that equal lot
May join us, equal joy, as equal love;
Left, thou not tafting, different degree
Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce
Deity for thee, when fate will not permit.
Thus Eve with count'nance blithe her story told;
But in her cheek diftemper flushing glow'd.
On th' other fide, Adam, foon as he heard
The fatal trefpafs done by Eve, amaz'd,
Aftonied food and blank, while horror chill &
Ran through his veins, and all his joints relx'd.
From his flack hand the garland wreath'd for I
Down dropt, and all the faded roíes thed;
Speechless he food and pale, till thus at length
First to himself he inward filence broke.

O faireft of creation, laft and best

80:

9

Of all God's works, Creature in whom excel'd
Whatever can to fight or thought be forni'd,
Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!
How art thou loft, how on a fudden loft,
Defac'd, deflower'd, and now to death devote
Rather how haft thou yielded to tranfgrefs
The ftrict forbiddance, how to violate
The facred fruit forbidd'n? fome curd fraud
Of enemy hath beguil'd thee, yet unknown, 3.
And me with thee hath ruin'd, for with thee
Certain my refolution is to die :

How can I live without thee, how forgo
Thy fweet converfe and love fo dearly win'd,
To live again in thefe wild woods forlorn? gia)
Should God create another Eve, and 1
Another rib afford, yet lofs of thee

Would never from my heart; no, no, I feel
The link of nature draw me: Auth et teh,
Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy ftate 915
Mine never fhall be parted, blifs or wee.

So having faid, as one from fad difmay
Recomforted, and after thoughts disturb73
Submitting to what feem'd remedilefs,
Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turn'd.

Bold deed thou haft prefum'd, adventrous Ext. And peril great provok'd, who thus haft dar'd, Had it been only coveting to eye

That facred fruit, facred to abftinence,

925

930

Much more to tafte it under ban to touch.
But paft who can recall, or done undo?
Not God omnipotent, nor Fate; yet fo
Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact
Is not fo hainous now, foretafted fruit,
Profan'd firft by the ferpent, by him first
Made common and unhallow'd ere our taste;
Nor yet on him found deadly, he yet lives,
Lives, as thou faidft, and gains to live as Man
Higher degree of life, inducement ftrong
To us, as likely tafting to attain
Proportional afcent, which cannot be

But to be Gods, or Angels Demi-Gods.

Nor can I think that God, Creator wife,

Though threatning, will in earneft fo destroy
Us his prime creatures, dignified fo high,

Set over all his works, which in our fall,
For us created, needs with us muft fail,
Dependent made; fo God fhall uncreate,
Be fruftrate, do, undo, and labor lofe,

935

940

946

Not well conceiv'd of God, who though his power
Creation could repeat, yet would be loath
s to abolish, left the Adverfary
Tmph and fay; Fickle their state whom God
Moft favors; who can pleafe him long? Me first
He ruin'd, now mankind; whom will he next?
Matter of fcorn not to be given the Foe.
However I with thee have fix'd my lot,
Certain to undergo like doom; if death
Confort with thee, death is to me as life;

So forcible within my heart I feel

The bond of nature draw me to my own,

My own in thee, for what thou art is mine;

Our ftate cannot be fever'd, we are one,

One fich; to lose thee were to lofe myself.

951

955

So Adam, and thus Eve to him reply'd. 960 O glorious trial of exceeding love, Illuftrious evidence, example high! Engaging me to emulate, but fhort

Of thy perfection, how fhall I attain,

966

Adam? from whofe dear fide I boast me fprung,
And gladly of our union hear thee fpeak,
One heart, one foul in both; whereof good proof
This day affords, declaring thee refolv'd,
Rather than death or ought than death more dread
Shall feparate us, link'd in love fo dear,
To undergo with me one guilt, one crime,
If any be, of tafting this fair fruit,
Whofe virtue (for of good ftill good proceeds,
Direct, or by occafion) hath prefented
This happy trial of thy love, which elfe

So eminently never had been known.
Were it I thought death menac'd would enfue

So faying, the embrac'd him, and for joy 990 Tenderly wept, much won that he his love Had fo ennobled, as of choice to' incur Divine difpleafure for her fake, or death. In recompenfe (for fuch compliance bad Such recompenfe beft merits) from the bough 995 She gave him of that fair enticing fruit With liberal hand: he fcrupled not to eat Against his better knowledge, not deceiv'd, But fondly overcome with female charm. Earth trembled from her entrails, as again 1000 In pangs, and Nature gave a fecond groan, Sky lour'd, and muttering thunder, fome fad drops Wept at completing of the mortal fin Original; while Adam took no thought, Eating his fill, nor Eve to iterate

As with new wine intoxicated both
They fwim in mirth, and fancy that they feel
Divinity within them breeding wings,
Wherewith to fcorn the earth: but that falfe fruit
Far other operation firft difplay'd,
Carnal defire inflaming; he on Eve
Began to caft lafcivious eyes, fhe him
As wantonly repaid; in luft they burn:
Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move.
Eve, now I fee thou art exact of taste,
And elegant, of fapience no fmall part,
Since to each meaning favor we apply,
And palate call judicious; I the praise
Yield thee, fo well this day thou hast purvey'd.
Much pleasure we have loft, while we abftain'd
From this delightful fruit, nor known till now
True relish, tafting; if fuch pleafure be

1020

1030

In things to us forbidd'n, it might be wifh'd, 1025
For this one tree had been forbidden ten.
But come, fo well refrefl'd, now let us play,
As meet is, after fuch delicious fare;
For never did thy beauty since the day
I faw thee first and wedded thee, adorn'd
With all perfections, fo inflame my fenfe
With ardor to enjoy thee, fairer now
Than ever, bounty of this virtuous tree.
So faid he, and forbore not glance or toy
Of amorous intent, well understood
Of Eve, whofe eye darted contagious fire.
He hand he feiz'd, and to a fhady bank,
Thick overhead with verdant roof imbower'd,
He led her nothing loath; flow'rs were the couch,
Panfics and violets, and afphodel,

There they their fill of love and love's difport
Took largely, of their mutual guilt the féal,
The folace of their fin, till dewy fleep
Opprefs'd them, wearied with their amorous play.

Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit, 1046 That with exhilarating vapor bland

About their spi'rits had play'd, and inmoft powers
Made err, was now exhal'd; and groffer fleep
Bred of unkindly fumes, with confcious dreams
Incumber'd, now had left them; up they rofe
As from unreft, and each the other viewing,
Soon found their eyes how open'd, and their minds
How darken'd; innocence, that as a veil