Who came their bane, though with them better
Than Afmodeus with the fifhy fume [pleas'd
That drove him, tho' enamour'd, from the fpoule
Of Tobit's fon, and with a vengeance fent
From Media poft to Egypt, there faft bound.
Now to th' afcent of that fteep favage hill
Satan had journey'd on, penfive and flow;
But further way found none, fo thick intwin'd,
As one continued brake, the undergrowth
Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplex'd
All path of man or beat that pafs'd that way:
One gate there only was, and that look'd caft,
On th' other fide: which, when th' arch-felon
faw,

Due entrance he difdain'd, and in contempt,
At one flight bound high over-leap'd all bound
Of hill or highest wall, and fheer within
Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf,
Whom hunger drives to feek new haunt for prey,
Watching where fhepherds per their flocks at eve
In hurdled cots amid the fields fecure,
Leaps o'er the fence with cafe into the fold:
Or as a thief, bent to unhord the cafh
Of fome rich burgher, whofe fubitantial doors,
Crofs-barr'd and bolted faft, fear no affault,
In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles:1
So clomb this firft grand thief into God's fold;
So fince into his church lewd hirelings climb.
Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life,
The middle tree, and highest there that grew,
Sat like a cormorant; yet not truc life
Thereby regain'd, but fat devifiing death
To them who liv'd; nor on the virtue thought
Of that life-giving plant, but only us'd
For profpect, what, well as'd, had been the pledge
Of immortality. So little knows
Any, but God alone, to value right

The good before him, but perverts best things
To worst abufe, or to their meaneft ufe.
Beneath him with new wonder now he views,
To all delight of human fenfe expos'd

In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth, yea more,
A Heav'n on Earth: for blifsful Paradife
Of God the garden was, by him in th' eaft
Of Eden planted; Eden ftretch'd her line
From Auran eastward to the royal towers
Of Great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings,
Or where the fons of Eden long before
Dwelt in Telaffar: in this pleafant foil
His far more pleafant garden God ordain'd;
Out of the fertile ground he caus'd to grow
All trees of nobleft kind, for fight, smell, tafle;
And all anid them ftood the tree of life, .
High eminent, blooming ambrofial fruit
Of vegetable gold; and next to life,
Our death, the tree of knowledge grew fast by,
Knowledge of good, bought dear by knowing ill.
Southward through Eden went a river large,
Nor chang'd his courfe, but through the fhaggy

hill

Pafs'd underneath ingulf'd; for God had thrown
That mountain as his garden mould high rais'd
Upon the rapid current, which through veins
Of porous earth with kindly thirft up drawn,
Rofe a fresh fountain, and with many a rill-

Water'd the garden; thence united fell
Down the fteep glade, and met the nether flood,
Which from his darkfome paffage now appears,
And now divided into four main ftreams,
Runs diverfe, wand'ring many a famous real.n
And country, whereof here needs no account;
But rather to tell how, if Art could tell,
How from that faphir fount the crifped brooks,
Rolling on orient pearl and fands of gold
With mazy error under pendent fhades,
Ran nectar, vifiting each plant, and fed
Flow'rs worthy' of Paradife, which not nice Art
In beds and curiona knots, but Nature boon
Pour'd forth profufe on hill, and dale, and plain,
Both where the morning fun first warmly imote
The open field, and where the unpierc'd shade
Inbrown'd the noon-tide bow'rs: Thus was this
A happy rural feat of various view; (place
Groves whofe rich trees wept odorous gums and
balm;

Others, whofe fruit burnished with golden rind
Hung amiable, Hefperian 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 hilloc, or the flow'ry lap
Of fome irriguous valley fpread her store:
Flow rs of all hue, and without thorn the rofe.
Another fide, tmbrageous grots, and caves
Of cool recefs, o'er which the mantling vine
Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps
Luxuriant: mean while murm'ring waters fall
Down the flope hills, difperf'd or in a lake,

That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd
Her cryftal mirror helds) unite their fireams.
The birds their choir apply: airs, vernal airs,
Breathing the fmell of field and grove, attune
The treinbling leaves, while univerfal Pan,
Knit with the Graces, and the Hours, in dance
Led on th' eternal fpring. Not that fair field
Of Enua, where Proferpine gathering flow'rs,
Herfelf a fairer flow'r, by gloomy Dis
Was gather'd; which coft Ceres all that pain
To feek her through the world: nor that fweet

grove

Of Daphne by Orontes, and th' infpir'd
Caftalian fpring, might with this Paradife
Of Eden ftrive: nor thar Nyfian ille
Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham,
(Whom Gentiles Ammon call, and Libyan Jove)
Hid Amalthea, and her florid fon

Young Bacchus, from his ftepdame Rhea's eye :
Nor where Abaflin Kings their issue guard,
Mount Amara (though this by fome fuppof'd
True Paradife) under the Æthiop Line
By Nilus head, inclof'd with fhining rock,
A whole day's journey high; but wide remote
From this Affyrian garden: where the fiend
Saw undelighted all delight, all kind
Of living creatures, new to fight, and strange.
Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall,
Godlike erect! with native honour clad
In naked majefty, feem'd lords of all :
And worthy feem'd; for in their looks divine
The image of their glorious Maker fhon,

Truth, wisdom, fanctitude fevere and pure;
Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd,
Whence true authority in men: though both
Not equal, as their fex not equal feem'd :
For contemplation he, and valour form'd;
For fofticis the, and fweet attractive grace;
He, for God only; the for God in him.
His fair large front, and eye fublime, declar'd
Abfolate rule; and hyacinthin locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Cluftring, but not beneath his fhoulders broad:
She as a veil, down to the flender wailt
Her unadorned golden treffes wore,
Disfhevel'd; but in wanton ringlets wav'd,
As the vine curls her tendrils, which imply'd
Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway;
And by her yielded, by him beit receiv'd:
Yielded with coy fubmiflion, modest pride,
And fweet reluctant amorous delay.

Nor thofe mylterious parts were then conceal'd;
Then was not guilty fhame, difhoneft thame
Of nature's works: honour dishonourable!
Sin-bred! how have ye troubl'd all mankind
With fhews instead, mere fhews of feeming pure,
And banith'd from man's life his happiest life,
Simplicity, and fpotlefs innocence?

So pafs'd they naked on, nor fhun'd the fight
Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill.
So hand in hand they pafs'd, the loveliest pair
That ever fince in love's embraces met;
Adam the goodliest man of men fince born
His fons; the fairest of her daughters Eve.
Under a tuft of fhade, that on a green
Stood whifp'ring foft, by a fresh fountain fide
They fat them down; and after no more toil
Of their fweet gard'ning labour then fuffic'd
To recommend cool zephyr, and made cafe
More cary, wholefome thirst and appetite
More grateful, to their fupport fruits they fell,
Nectarine fruits, which the compliant boughs
Yielded them, fide-long as they fat recline
On the foft downy bank damaik'd with flowers:
The favoury pulp they chew, and in the rind
Still as they thirited fcoop the brimming stream;
Nor gentle purpofe, nor endearing fmiles
Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as befeems
Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league,
Alone as they. About tbem frifking play'd
All beafts of th' earth, fince wild, and of all chafe
In wood or wildernefs, foreft 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 probefcis; close the ferpent fly
Infinuating, wove with Gordian twine
His breaded train, and of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheeded; others on the grafs
Couch d, and now fill'd with pafture, gazing fat,
Or bedward ruminating; for the sun
Declin'd was hafting now with prone carreer
To th' ocean ifles, and in th' afcending scale
Of Heavn the ftars that ufher evening rofe:
When Satan, ftill 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 blifs thus high advanc'd
Creatures of other mould; earth-born perhaps,
Not fpirits; yet to heav'nly spirits bright
Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue
With wonder, and could love, fo lively fhines
In them divine refemblance, and fuch grace
The band that form'd 'em on their shape hath
pour'd.

Ah gentle pair! ye little think how nigh
Your change approaches; when all thefe delights
Will vanith, and deliver ye to woe;

More woe, the more your taste is now of joy :
Happy! but for fo happy ill fecur'd

Long to continue; and this high feat 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 feek,
And mutual amity, fo ftrait, so close,

That I with you must dwell, or you with me
Henceforth: my dwelling haply may not please,
Like this fair paradife, your fenfe; yet fuch
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 fend forth all her kings: there will be room,
(Not like thefe 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 reafon juft,
Honour, and empire, with revenge inlarg'd,
By conqu'ring this new world, compels me now
To do, what elle (though damn'd) I fhould abhor.
So ipake the fiend; and with neceffity,
(The tyrant's plea) excuf'd his devilish deeds:
Then from his lofty ftand on that high trec,
Down he alights among the sportful herd
Of thofe four footed kinds; himself how one,
Now other, as their fhape ferv'd beft his end
Nearer to view his prey, and un-efpy'd,
To mark what of their ftate 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 clofe, then rifing changes oft
His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground,
Whence rufhing, he might fureft feize them both,
Grip'd in each paw: when Adam, first of men,
To firft of women, Eve, thus moving speech,
Turn'd him, all ear, to hear new utterance flow,

Sole partner, and fole part all thefe joys!
Dearer thyfelf than all! needs must 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 ralf'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 eafy charge, of all the trees
In Paradise, that bear delicious fruit
So various, not to tafte that only tree
Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life;
So near grows death to life, whate'er death is,
Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou
know'it,

God hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree,
The only fign of our obedience left
Among fo many figns of pow'r and rule
Conferr'd upon us, and dominion given
Over all other creatures that poffefs

Earth, air, and fea. Then let us not think hard
One eafy prohibition, who enjoy

Free leave fo large to all things elfe, and choice
Unlimited of manifold delights:

But let us ever praife him, and extol

His bounty, following our delightful task, To prune thefe growing plants, and tend thefe flowers,

Which were it toilfome, yet with thee were fwect.

To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou for whom And from whom I was form'd, flesh of thy flesh, And without whom am to no end, my guide And head, what thou haft faid 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 Pre-eminent by fo much odds, while thou Like confort to thyfelf canft no where find. That day I oft remember, when from fleep I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd Under a fhade on flow'rs, much wond'ring where And what I was; whence thither brought, and how: Not diftant far from thence a murm'ring found Of waters iffued from a cave, and fpread Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov'd Pure as th' expanfe of Heav'n; I thither went With unexperienc'd thought, and laid me down On the green bank, to look into the clear Smooth lake, that to me feem'd another fky. As I bent down to look, juft oppofite A fhape within the watry gleam appear'd, Bending to look on me: I ftarted back, It started back; but pleas'd I foon return'd; Pleas'd it return'd as foon, with anfw'ring looks Of fympathy and love: there I had fix'd Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain defire, Had not a voice thus warn'd me; What thou feeft, What there thou feeft, fair Creature, is thyfelf; With thee it came and goes: but follow me, And I will bring thee where no fhadow ftays Thy coming, and thy foft embraces, he Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy Infeparably thine, to him fhalt bear Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call'd Mother of human race. What could I do, But follow ftrait, invifibly thus led? Till I efpy'd thee, fair indeed and tall, Under a platane; yet methought less fair,' Lefs winning foft, lefs amiably mild, Than that smooth watry image: back I turn'd; Thou following cry'dst aloud, Return, fair Eve; Whom fly'st thou? whom thou fly'st, 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
Seif'd mine; I yielded, and from that time fee
How beauty is excell'd by mauly grace
And wifdom, 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 fwelling breaft
Naked met his under the flowing gold
Of her loofe treffes hid: he in delight
Both of her beauty and fubmiffive charms
Smil'd with fuperior love, as Jupiter

On Juno fmiles, when he impregns the clouds
That fhed May flow'rs; and prefs'd her matrots
With kiffes pure: afide the Devil turn'd
For envy; yet with jealous leer malign
Ey'd them afkance, and to himself thus plain'd.
Sight hateful, fight tormenting! thus these two
Imparadif'd 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 forbidden?
Sufpicious, reafonlefs. Why fhould their Lord
Envy them that? can it be fin to know?
Can it be death? and do they only ftand
By ignorance? is that their happy ftate,
The proof of their obedience and their faith?
O fair foundation led whereon to build
Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds
With mere 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 must walk round
This garden, and no corner leave unfpy'd;

A chance, but chance may lead where I may meet
Some wand'ring Spirit of Heav'n by fountain fide,
Or in thick fhade retir'd, from him to draw
What further would be learn'd. Live while you
may,

Yet happy 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
Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale,
his roam.

Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heav'n
With earth and ocean meets, the fetting fun
Slowly defcended, and with right aspect
Against the eastern gate of Paradife
Levell'd his evening rays: 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 craggy cliff, that overhung
Still as it rofe, impoffible to climb.
Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel fat,
Chief of th' angelic guards, awaiting night;
About him exercif'd heroic games

Th' unarm'd youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand
Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears,
Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold.
Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even
On a fun beam, fwift as a fhooting itar
In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd
Imprefs the air, and fhews the mariner
From what point of his compafs to beware
Impetuous winds: he thus began in hafte.

Gabriel, to thee thy courfe by lot hath given
Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place
No evil thing approach or enter in.
This day at height of noon came to my sphere
A fpirit, zealous, as he feem'd, to know,
More of th' Almighty's works, and chiefly Man,
God's lateft image: I defcrib'd his way
Bent all on speed, and mark'd his airy 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 pursued him ftill, but under shade
Loft fight of him: one of the banish'd crew,
I fear, hath ventur'd from the deep, to raise
New troubles; him thy care must be to find.
To whom the winged warrior 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 pafs
The vigilance here plac'd, but fuch as come
Well known from Heav'n; and fince meredian hour
No creature thence: if Spirit of other fort,
So minded, have o'er-leap'd this earthy bounds
On purpose, hard thou knoweft it to exclude
Spiritual fubftance with corporeal bar.
But if within the circuit of thefe walks,
In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom
Thou tell'ft, by morrow dawning I fhall know.
So promis'd he; and Uriel to his charge-
Beturn'd on that bright beam, whole point now
rais'd

Bore him flope downward to the fun now fall'n
Beneath th' Azores; whether the prime orb,
Incredible how fwift, had thither roll'd
Diurnal, or this lefs volubil earth,

By fhorter flight to th' eaft, had left him there
Arraying with reflected purple and gold
The clouds that on his western throne attend.
Now came ftill evening on, and twilight gray
Had in her sober livery all things clad;
Silence accompanied; for beast and bird,
They to their graffy couch, these to their nefts
Were flunk, all but the wakeful nightingale;
She all night long her amorous defcant fung;
Silence was pleaf'd: now glow'd the firmament
With living faphirs; Hesperus, that led
The starry hoft, rode brightest, till the moon
Rifing in clouded majesty, at length
Apparent queen unveil'd her peerless light,
And o'er the dark her filver mantle threw.

When Adam thus to Eve. Fair Confort, the 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 unemploy'd, and less need reft;
Man hath his daily work of body or mind
Appointed, which declares his dignity,
And the regard of Heav'n on all his ways,
While other animals unactive range,

And of their doings God takes no account.
To-morrow e'er fresh morning ftreak the east
With fresh approach of light, we must be risen,
And at our pleasant labour to reform
Yon flow'ry arbors, yonder alleys green,
Our walk 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 those dropping gums,
That lie beftrown unfightly and unimooth,
Afk riddance, if we mean to tread with eafe;
Mean while, as Nature wills, night bids us reft.

To whom thus Eve with perfect beauty adorn'd.
My Author and Difpofer, what thou bidft
Unargued I obey; fo God ordains;
God is thy law, thou mine: to know no more
Is woman's happiest knowledge and her praife.
With thee converfing, I forget all time;
All feafons and their change, all please alike.
Sweat is the breath of morn, her rifing sweet,
With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the fun,
When firft on this delightful land he spreads
His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit and flower,
Glift'ring with dew; fragrant the fertile earth
After foft fhow'rs; and fweet the coming on
Of grateful evening mild; then filent night
With this her folemn bird, and this fair moon,
And these the gems of Heav'n, her ftarry train :
But neither breath of morn, when fhe afcends
With charm of carlieft birds; nor rifing fun
On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower,'
Glift'ring with dew; nor fragrance after fhowers;
Nor grateful evening mild; nor filent night
With this her folemn bird; nor walk by moon,
Or glittering ftar-light, without thee is fweet.
But wherefore all night long fhine these? for

whom

This glorious fight, when fleep hath shut all eyes?
To whom our general ancestor reply'd.
Daughter of God and Man, accomplish'd Eve,
Thefe have their courfe to finifh round the earth,
By morrow evening, and from land to land
In order, though to nations yet unborn,
Miniftring light prepar'd, they fet and rife;
Left total darkness should by night regain
Her old poffeffion, and extinguish life
In nature and all things, which these soft fires
Not only inlighten, but with kindly heat
Of various influence foment and warm,
Temper or nourish, or in part shed down
Their ftellar virtue on all kinds that grow
On earth, made hereby apter to receive

Perfection from the fun's more potent ray.
Thefe then, though unbeheld in deep of night,
Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were
none,
[praife:
That ricav'n would want fpe&tators, God want
Millions of fpiritual creatures walk the earth
Unfeen, both when we wake, and when we fleep:
All these with ceafelefs praife his works behoid
Both day and night: how often from the steep
Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard
Celestial voices to the midnight air,
Sole, or refponfive each to others note,
Singing their great Creator? oft in bands
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk,
With heav'nly touch of inftrumental founds
In full harmonic number join'd, their fongs
Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven.
Thus talking hand in hand alone they pass'd
On to their blitsful bow'r; it was a place
Chos'n by the fovran Planter, when he fram'd
All things to Man's delightful ufe; the roof
Of thickest covert was inwoven shade
Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew
Of firm and fragrant leaf on either fide
Acanthus, and each odorous bufhy fhrub
Tenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower,
Iris all hues, rofes, and jeffamin,
Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and
Mofaic; underfoot the violet,
[wrought

Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay
Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with
Of costlieft emblem: other creature here, [ftone
Beast, bird, infect, or worm, durft enter none;
Such was their awe of Man. In fhadier bower
More facred and fequefter'd, though but feign'd,
Pan or Sylvanus never flept, nor Nymph,
Nor Faunus haunted. Here in clofe recefs
With flowers, garlands, and fweet-fmelling herbs
Efpoufed Eve deck'd firft her nuptial bed,
And heav'nly quires the hymenæan fung,
What day the genial Angel to our fire
Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd,
More lovely than Pandora, whom the Gods
Endow'd with all their gifts, and O too like
In fad event, when to th' unwifer fon

Of Japhet brought by Hermes, the infnar'd
Mankind with her fair looks, to be aveng'd
On him who had ftole Jove's authentic fire.

Thus at their fhady lodge arriv'd, both stood,
Both turn'd, and under open fky ador'd
The God that made both fky, air, earth, and
heaven,

Which they beheld, the moon's refplendent globe,
And ftarry pole: Thou alfo mad'ft the night,
Maker omnipotent, and thou the day,
Which we in our appointed work employ'd
Have fiuifh'd, happy in our mutual help
And mutual love, the crown of all our blifs
Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place,
For us too large, where thy abundance wants
Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground.
But thou haft promis'd from us two a race
To fill the earth, who fhall with us extol
Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,
As when we leek, as now, thy gift of deep.

This faid unanimous, and other rites
Obferving none, but adoration pure,
Which God likes beft, into their inmost bower
Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off
These troublesome difguifes which we wear,
Strait fide by fide were laid; nor turn'd I ween
Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites
Myfterious of connubial love refus'd:
Whatever hypocrites aufterely talk
Of purity, and place, and innocence,
Detaming as impure what God declares
Pure, and commands to fome, leaves free to all.
Our maker bids increafe; who bids abftain
But our deftroyer, foe to God and Man?
Hail wedded love, myfterious law, true fource
Of human offspring, fole propriety
In paradife of all things common elfe.
By thee adult'rous luft was driv'n from men
Among the beftial herds to range; by thee,
Founded in reafon, loyal, juft and pure
Relations dear, and all the charities

Of father, fon, and brother, first were known.
Far be it, that I fhould write thee fin or blame,
Or think thee unbefitting holieft place,
Perpetual fountain of domeftic fweets,
Whofe bed is undefil'd and chafte pronounc'd,
Prefent, or paft, as faints and patriarchs us'd.
Here love his goiden fhafts employs, here lights
His conftant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigns here and revels; not in the bought fmile
Of harlots, lovelefs, joylefs, unindear'd,
Cafual fruition; nor in court amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
Or fercnate, which the ftarved lover fings
To his proud fair, beft quitted with difdain.
Thefe lull'd by nightingales embracing flept,
And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof
Show'rd rofcs which the morn repair'd. Sleep on,
Bleft pair; and O yet happieft, if ye feek
No happier ftate, and know to know no more.
Now had pight meafur'd with her shadowy cone
Half way up hill this vaft fublunar vault,
And for their ivory port the Cherubime
Forth iffuing at th' accuftom'd hour stood arm'd
To their night watches in warlike parade,
When Gabriel to his next in pow'r thus fpake:

Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south With strictest watch; thefe other wheel the north; Our circuit meets full weit. As flame they part, Half wheeling to the fhield, half to the fpear. From thefe, two ftrong and fubtile Sp'rits he charge: That near him ftood, and gave them thus in Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed Search through this garden, leave unfearch'd no nook ;

call'd

But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge,
Now laid perhaps afleep, fecure of harm.
This evening from the fun's decline arriv'd,
Who tells of fome infernal Spirit seen
Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) efcap'd
The bars of Hell, on errand bad, no doubt;
Such where ye find, feize faft, and hither bring.
So faying, on he led his radiant files,
Dazzling the moon; these to the bow'r direct