55

By us oft feen; his dewy loeks diftill'd
Ambrofia; on that tree he alfo gaz'd;
And O fair plant, faid he, with fruit furcharg'd,
Deigns none to eafe thy load and taste thy fweet,
Nor God, nor Man? is knowledge fo defpis'd? 60
Or envy' or what referve forbids to tafte?
Forbid who will, none fhall from me withhold
Longer thy offer'd good, why elfe fet here?
This faid, he paus'd not, but with ventrous arm
He pluck'd, he tasted; me damp horror chill'd 65
At fuch bold words vouch'd with a deed fo bold:
But he thus overjoy'd, O fruit divine,
Sweet of thyself, but much more fweet thus cropt,
Forbidden here, it feems, as only fit

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80

For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men:
And why not Gods of Men, fince good, the more
Communicated, more abundant grows;
The author not impair'd, but honor'd more?
Here, happy creature, fair angelic Eve,
Partake thou alfo: happy though thou art,
Happier thou may'ft be, worthier canft not be:
Tafte this, and be henceforth among the Gods
Thyfelf a Goddefs, not to earth confia'd,
But fometimes in the air, as we, fometimes
Afcend to Heav'n, by merit thine, and fee
What life the Gods live there, and fuch live thou.
So faying, he drew nigh, and to me held,
Ev'n to my mouth of that fame fruit held part
Which he had pluck'd; the pleasant favory fmell
So quicken'd appetite, that I, methought,
Could not but tafte. Forthwith up to the clouds
With him I flew, and underneath beheld
The earth outstretch'd immenfe, a profpe& wide
And various wond'ring at my flight and change
To this high exaltation; fuddenly

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95

My guide was gone, and I, methought, funk down,
And fell afleep; but O how glad I wak'd
To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her night
Related, and thus Adam anfwer'd fad.

Beft image of myfelf and dearer half,
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in fleep
Affects me equally; nor can I like
This uncouth dream, of evil fprung I fear;
Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none,
Created pure. But know that in the foul
Are many leffer faculties, that ferve
Reafon as chief; among these fancy next
Her office holds; of all external things,
Which the five watchful fenfes reprefent,
She form imtinations, aery fhapes,
Which reafon joining or di-joining, frames
All what we' affirm or what deny, and call
Our knowledge or opinion; then retires
Into her private cell when nature refts.
Git in her abfence mimic fancy wakes
To iritate her: but misjoining fhapes,
Wild works produces oft, and moft in dreams,
1. matching words and deeds long raft or late.

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ICO

105

ΙΙΟ

Some fuch resemblances methinks I find
Of our last evening's talk, in this thy dream, 115
But with addition ftrange, yet be not fad.
Evil into the Mind of God or Man

May come and go, fo unapprov'd, and leave
No fpot or blame behind: Which gives me hope
That what in fleep thou didst abhor to dream, 120
Waking thou never wilt confent to do.

Be not dishearten'd then, nor cloud thefe looks,
That wont to be more chearful and ferene,
Than when fair morning first fmiles on the world;
And let us to our fresh employments rife 125
Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers
That open now their choiceft bofom'd fmells,
Referv'd from night, and kept for thee in store.
So cheard he his fair fpoufe, and she was
chear'd,

But filently a gentle tear let fall
130
From either eye, and wip'd them with her hair;
Two other precious drops that ready flood,
Each in their cryftal fluce, he ere they fell
Kifs'd, as the gracious figns of sweet remorse
And pious awe, that fear'd to have offended. 135
So all was clear'd, and to the field they hafte.
But first, from under fhady arbo'rous roof
Soon as they forth were come to open fight
Of day-fpring, and the fun, who scarce up rifen,
With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean brim, 140
Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray,
Difcovering in wide landfkip all the east
Of Paradife and Eden's happy plains,
Lowly they bow'd adoring, and began
Their orifons, each morning duly paid
In various ftite; for neither various stile
Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise
Their Maker, in fit ftrains pronounc'd or fung
Unmeditated, fuch prompt eloquence
Flow'd from their lips, in profe or numerous verse,
More tuneable than needed lute or harp 151
To add more fweetnefs; and they thus began.
Thefe are thy glorious works, Parent of good,
Almighty, thine this univerfal frame,
Thus wondrous fair; thyfelf how wond'rous then!
Unspeakable, who fitft above thefe heavens 156
To us invisible, or dimly feen

145

In these thy lowest works; yet these declare
Thy goodnefs beyond thought, and pow'r divine.
Speak ye who beft can tell, ye fons of light, 160
Angels; for ye behold him, and with fongs
And choral symphonies, day without night,
Circle his throne rejoicing; ye in Heaven,
On Earth join all ye Creatures to extol

166

Hini firit, him luft, him midft, and without end.
Faireft of ftars, laft in the train of night,
If better thou belong not to the dawn,
Sure pledge of day, that crown'ft the smiling morn
With thy bright circlet, praife him in thy sphere,"
While day arifes, that fweet hour of prime. 170
Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and foul,
Acknowledge him thy greater, found his praise
In thy eternal courfe, both when thou climb'st,
And when high noon haft gain'd, and when thou
fall'ft.

Moon, that now meet'ft the orient fun, now fly'ft,
With the fix'd stars, fix'd in their orb that flies,

185

195

And nourish all things; let your ccafelefs change
Vary to our great Maker ftill new praise.
Ye Mifts and Exhalations that now rife
From hill or teaming lake, dufky or gray,
Till the fun paint your fleecy fkirts with gold,
In honor to the world's great Author rife,
Whether to deck with clouds the uncolor'd fky,
Or wet the thirfty earth with falling fhowers, 190
Rifing or falling ftill advance his praife.
His praife, ye Winds, that from four quarters blow,
Breathe foft or loud; and wave your tops, ye Pines,
With every plant, in fign of worship wave.
Fountains and ye, that warble, as ye flow,
Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praife.
Join voices, all ye living Souls: ye Birds,
That finging up to Heaven gate afcend,
Bear on your wings and in your notes his praife.
Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk
The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep;
Witnefs if I be filent, morn or even,
To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade
Made vocal by my fong, and taught his praise.
Hail univerfal Lord, be bounteous ftill
To give us only good; and if the night
Have gather'd ought of evil, or conceal'd,
Difperfe it, as now light difpels the dark.

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215

So pray'd they innocent, and to their thoughts Firm peace recover'd foon and wonted calm. 210 On to their morning's rural work they hafte Among fweet dews and flow'rs; where any row Of fruit-trees over-woody reach'd too far Their pamper'd boughs, and needed hands to check Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine To wed her elm; fhe fpous'd about him twines Her marriageable arms, and with her brings Her dow'r th' adopted clusters, to adorn His barren leaves. Them thus employ'd beheld With pity Heav'n's high king, and to him call'da Raphael, the fociable Spi'rit, that deign'd To travel with Tobias, and fecur'd His marriage with the fev'ntimes-wedded maid. Raphael, faid he, thou hear'it what ftir on Earth Satan from Hell scap'd through the darkfome guif Hath rais'd in Paradife, and how disturb'd This night the human pair, how he designs In them at once to ruin all mankind.

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226

Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend
Converse with Adam, in what bow'r or fhade 230
Thou find'ft him from the heat of noon retir'd,
To refpit his day-labor with repaft,
Or with repofa; and fuch difcourfe bring on,
As may advife him of his happy ftate,
Happiness in his pow'r left free to will,
Left to his own free will, his will though free,
Yet mutable; whence warn hine to beware
He fwerve not too fecure: tell him withal
His danger, and from whom; what enemy,
Late fall'n himself from Heav'n, is plotting now
The fall of others from like state of blifs;

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241

quires,

251

255

On each hand parting, to his fpeed gave way
Through all th' empyreal road; till at the gate
Of Heav'n arriv'd, the gate felf-open'd wide
On golden hinges turning, as by work
Divine the fovran Architect had fram'd.
From hence no cloud, or, to obstruct his fight,
Star interpos'd, however fmall, he fees,
Not unconform to other fhining globes,
Earth and the gard'n of God, with cedars crown'd
Above all hills. As when by night the glass 201
Of Galileo, lefs aflur'd, obferves

Imagin'd lands and regions in the moon :
Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades
Delos or Samos first appearing, kens

265

270

275

A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight
He fpeeds, and through the vatt ethereal sky
Sails between worlds and worlds, with fteddy wing
Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan
Winnows the buxom air; till within foar
Of tow'ring eagles, to' all the fowls he feems
A Phoenix, gaz'd by all, as that fole bird,
When to infhrine his reliqucs in the fun's
Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies.
At once on th' eaftern cliff of Paradife
He lights, and to his proper fhape returns
A Seraph wing'd; fix wings he wore, to fhade
His lineaments divine; the pair that clad
Each fhoulder broad, came mantling o'er his breast
With regal ornament; the middle pair
Girt like a ftarry zone his wafte, and round
Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold
And colors dipt in Heav'n; the third his feet
Shadow'd from either heel with feather'd mail,
Sky-tinctur'd grain. Like Maia's fon he stood,
And thook his plumes, that heav'nly fragrance

fill'd

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286
The circuit wide. Strait knew him all the bands
Of Angels under watch; and to his flate,
And to his meffage high in honor rife;
For on fome meffage high they guefs'd him bound.
Their glittering tents he pais'd, and now is come
Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh,
And flow'ring odors, cafia, nard, and balm;
A wilderness of fweets; for Nature here
Wanton'd as in her prime, and play'd at will 295
Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more fweet,
Wild above rule or art; enormous blifs.
Him through the spicy foreft onward come
Adam difcern'd, as in the door he fat

Of his cool bow'r, while now the mounted fun 300
Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm
Earth's inmoft wonib, more warmth than Adain

315

To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe
This day to be our gueft. But go with speed,
And what thy ftores contain, bring forth, and pour
Abundance, fit to honor and receive
Our heav'nly ftranger: well we may afford
Our givers their own gifts, and large betow
From large beftow'd, where Nature multiplies
Her fertil growth, and by difburd'ning grows
More fruitful, which inftructs us not to fpare. 320
To whom thus Eve. Adam, earth's hallow'd
mold,

Of God infpir'd, fmall ftore will ferve, where store,
All feafons, ripe for ufe hangs on the stalk;
Save what by frugal ftoring firmness gains

To nourish, and fuperfluous moift confumes: 325
But I will hafte, and from each bough and brake,
Each plant and jucieft gourd, will pluck fuch
choice

340

345

To entertain our Angel gucft, as he
Beholding fhall confefs, that here on Earth
God hath difpens'd his bounties as in Heaven. 330
So faying, with difpatchful looks in hafte
She turns, on hofpitable thoughts intent
What choice to choofe for delicacy beft,
What order, fo contriv'd as not to mix
Taftes, not well join'd, inelegant, but bring 335
Tafte after tafte upheld with kindlieft change;
Beftirs her then, and from each tender ftalk
Whatever Earth all-bearing mother yields
In India Eaft or Weft, or middle shore
In Pontus or the Punic conft, or where
Alcinous reign'd, fruit of all kinds, in coat
Rough or fmooth rin'd, or bearded hufk, or fhell,
She gathers, tribute large, and on the board
Heaps with unfparing hand; for drink the grape
She crushes, inofienfive muft, and meaths
From many a berry', and from sweet kernels prefs'd
She tempers dulcet creams, nor thefe to hold
Wants her fit veffels pure, then strows the ground
With rofe and odors from the fhrub unfum'd. 347
Mean while our primitive great fire, to nicet
His God-like gueft,walks forth, without more train
Accompanied than with his own complete
Perfections; in himfelf was all his state,
More folemn than the tedious pomp that waits
On princes, when their rich retinue long,
Of horfes led, and grooms befmear'd with gold,
Dazzles the croud, and fets them all agape.
Nearer his prefence Adam though not aw`d,
Yet with fubmifs approach and reverence mock,
As to' a fuperior nature, bowing low,
360
Thus faid. Native of Heav'n, for other place
None can than Heav'n fuch glorious fhape contain;
Since by defcending from the thrones above,
Thofe happy places thou haft deign'd a while

353

370

To want, and honor thefe, vouchsafe with us 365
Two' only, who yet by fovran gift poffefs
This fpacious ground, in yonder fhady bower
To reft, and what the garden choiceft bears
To fit and tafte, till this meridian heat
Be over, and the fun more cool decline.
Whom thus th' angelic Virtue anfwer'd mild.
Adam, I therefore came, nor art thou fuch
Created, or fuch place haft here to dwell,
As may not oft invite, though Spi'rits of Heaven,
To vifit thee; lead on then where thy bower 375
O'erfhades; for thefe mid-hours, till evening rife,
I have at will. So to the fylvan lodge

They came, that like Pomona's arbor fmil'd
With flow'rets deck'd, and fragrant fmells; but

Eve

Undeck'd fave with herfelf, more lovely fair 380 Than Wood Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feign'd

Of three that in mount Ida naked strove,
Stood to entertain her guest from Heav'n; no veil
She needed; virtue proof, no thought infirm
Alter'd her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail
Beftow'd, the holy falutation us'd
Long after to bleft Mary, fecond Eve.

386

Hail Mother of Mankind, whofe fruitful womb Shall fill the world more numerous with thy fons, Than with thefe various fruits the trees of God Have heap'd this table. Rais'd of graffy turf Their table was, and moffy feats had round, And on her ample fquare from fide to fide 393 All autumn pil'd, though fpring and autumn here Danc'd hand in hand. A while difcourfe they hold; No fear left dinner cool; when thus began Our author. Heav'nly stranger, please to taste Thefe bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom All perfect good, unmeafur'd out, defcends, To us for food and for delight hath caus'd The earth to yield; unfavory food perhaps To fpiritual natures; only this I know, That one celeftial Father gives to all.

400

To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives (Whofe praife be ever fung) to Man in part 405 Spiritual, may of pureft Spirits be found

No' ingrateful food: and food alike those pure
Intelligential fubftances require,

As doth your rational; and both contain
Within them every lower faculty

410

Of fenfe, whereby they hear, fee, fmell, touch,

495

To proper fubftance: time may come, when Men
With Angels may participate, and find
No inconvenient di'et, nor too light fare;
And from thefe corporal nutriments perhaps
Your bodies may at laft turn all to fpirit,
Improv'd by tract of time, and wing'd afcend
Ethereal, as we, or may at choice
Here or in heav'nly Paradifes dwell;
If ye be found obedient, and retain
Unalterably firm his love entire,

Whofe progeny you are. Mean while enjoy
Your fill what happiness this happy state
Can comprehend, incapable of more.

To whom the patriarch of mankind reply'd.

O favourable Spi'rit, propitious guest,

500

505

510

Well haft thou taught the way that might direct
Our knowledge, and the scale of nature fet
From center to circumference, whereon
In contemplation of created things
By iteps we may afcend to God. But fay,
What meant that caution join'd, If ye be found
Obedient? can we want obedience then
To him, or poffibly his love defert,
Who form'd us from the duft, and plac'd us here
Full to the utmost measure of what blifs
Human defires can feek or apprehend?

515

460

To whom the Angel. Son of Heav'n and Earth, Attend That thou art happy, owe to God; 520 That thou continueft fuch, owe to thyself, That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. This was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd. God made thee perfect, not immutable; And good he made thee, but to perfevere

525

Of things above his world, and of their being 455
Who dwell in Heav'n, whofe excellence he faw
Tranfcend his own fo far, whofe radiant forms
Divine effulgence, whofe high pow'r fo far
Exceeded human; and his wary speech
Thus to th' empyreal minifter he fram'd.
Inhabitant with God, now know I well
Thy favor, in this honor done to Man,
Under whofe lowly roof thou haft vouchfaf'd
To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,
Food not of Angels, yet accepted fo,

465

As that more willingly thou couldst not seem At Heav'n's high feafts to' have fed: yet what compare?

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475

To whom the winged Hierarch reply'd. O Adam, one Almighty is, from whom All things proceed, and up to him return, If not deprav'd from good, created all Such to perfection, one first matter all, Indued with various forms, various degrees Of substance, and in things that live, of life; But more refin'd, more fpiritous, and pure, As nearer to him plac'd or nearer tending Each in their feveral active spheres afflign'd, Till body up to fpirit work, in bounds Proportion'd to each kind. So from the root Springs lighter the green ftalk, from thence the leaves 480 More aery, laft the bright confummate flower Spirits odorous breathes: flow'rs and their fruit, Man's nourishment, by gradual fcale fublimi'd, To vital fpirits afpire, to animal, To intellectual; give both life and fenfe, Fancy and understanding; whence the foul Reafon receives, and reafon is her being,

530

He left it in thy pow'r; ordain'd thy will
By nature free, not over-rul'd by fate
Inextricable, or strict neceffity:
Our voluntary fervice he requires,
Not our neceflitated; fuch with him
Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how
Can hearts, not free, be try'd whether they ferve
Willing or no, who will but what they must
By deitiny, and can no other choofe?
Myself and all th' angelic heft, that stand
In fight of God enthron'd, our happy state
Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;
On other furety none; freely we ferve,
Becaufe we freely love, as in our will
To love or not in this we ftand or fall:
And fome are fall'n, to difobedience fall'n,
And fo from Heav'n to deepest Hell; O fall
From what high ftate of blifs into what woe!

535

540

Thus Adam made requeft; and Raphaël After fhort paufe affenting, thus began. High matter thou injoin'ft me', O prime of men, Sad tafk and hard; for how fhall I relate To human fenfe th' invisible exploits Of warring Spirits? how without remorfe The ruin of fo many glorious once

565

570

And perfect while they ftood? how last unfold
The fecrets of another world, perhaps
Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good
This is difpens'd; and what furmounts the reach
Of human fenfe, I fhall delineate fo,
By likening fpiritual to corporal forms,
As may exprefs them best; though what if Earth
Be but the fhadow' of Heav'n, and things therein
Each to other like, more than on earth is thought?
As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild
Reign'd where thefe Heav'ns now roll, where
Earth now reits

Upon her center pois'd; when on a day
(For time, though in eternity, apply'd
To motion, meafures all things durable
By prefent, paft, and future) on fuch day
As Heav'n's great year brings forth, th' empyreal

hoft

631

Liftens delighted. Evening now approach'd
(For we have alfo' our evening and our morn,
We ours for change delectable, not need)
Forthwith from dance to fweet repast they turn
Defirons; all in circles as they stood,
Tables are fet, and on a sudden pil'd
With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows
In pearl, in diamond, and maffy gold,
Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven.
On flow'rs repos'd, and with fresh flow'rets
crown'd,
636

They eat, they drink, and in communion fweet
Quaff immortality and joy, fecure

641

585

Of Angels by imperial fummons call'd,
Innumerable before th' Almighty's throne
Forthwith from all the ends of Heav'n appear'd
Under their Hierarchs in orders bright:
Ten thousand thousand enfigns high advanc'd,
Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear
Stream in the air, and for diftinction ferve
Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees;
Or in their glittering tiffues bear imblaz'd
Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love
Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs
Of circuit inexpreffible they ftood,
Orb within orb, the Father infinite,
By whom in blifs imbofom'd fat the Son,
Amidst as from a flaming mount, whofe top
Brightnefs had made invifible, thus fpake.

2

590

Than all this globous earth in plain outspread,

595

600

Hear all ye Angels, progeny of light, Thrones, Dominations, Princedois, Virtues, Pow