And head, what thou hast said 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
Præeminent by fo much odds, while thou
Like confort to thyself canft no where find.
That day I oft remember, when from sleep
I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd
Under a shade on flow'rs, much wond'ring where
And what I was, whence thither brought and how.
Not distant far from thence a murm'ring found
Of waters iffued from a cave, and spread
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 seem'd another sky.
As I bent down to look, juft opposite
A shape within the watry gleam appear'd,
Bending to look on me: I started 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 seest,
What there thou feeft, fair Creature, is thyself;
With thee it came and goes: but follow me,
And I will bring thee where no shadow stays
Thy coming, and thy foft embraces, he
Whofe image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy
Infeparably thine, to him shalt bear
Multitudes like thyfelf, and thence be call'd
Mother of human race. What could I do,
But follow strait, invisibly thus led?
Till I efpy'd thee, fair indeed and tall,
Under a platan; yet methought lefs fair,
Lefs winning foft, lefs amiably mild,
Than that smooth watry image: back I turn'd; 480 Thou following cry'dft aloud, Return fair Eve,
Whom fly'st thou? whom thou fly'st, of him thou art,
His flesh, his bone; to give thee be'ing I lent
Out of my fide to thee, nearest my heart
Substantial life, to have thee by my fide
Henceforth an individual folace dear;
Part of my foul I feek thee, and thee clame
My other half; with that thy gentle hand
Seis'd mine; I yielded, and from that time fee
How beauty is excell'd by manly grace
And wisdom, 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 breast
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 fmiles, when he impregns the clouds
That shed May flow'rs; and prefs'd her matron lip
With kiffes pure: afide the Devil turn'd
For envy, yet with jealous leer malign
Ey'd them askance, and to himself thus plain'd. Sight hateful, fight tormenting! thus these two 595 ` Imparadis’d in one another's arms,
The happier Eden, fhall enjoy their fill
Of blifs on blifs; while I to Hell am thrust,
Where neither joy nor love, but fierce defire,
Among our other torments not the least,
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 seems;
One fatal tree there ftands of knowledge call'd,
Forbidden them to taste.:. Knowledge forbidden? 55
Sufpicious, reafonless. Why should their Lord
Envy them that? can it be in to know?
Can it be death? and do they only stand
By ignorance? is that their happy state,
The proof of their obedience and their faith?
O fair foundation laid whereon to build
Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds
With more defire to know, and to reject.
Envious commands, invented with design
To keep them low whom.knowledge might exalt 525
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 unspy'd ;
A chance but chance may lead where I may meet 530
Some wand'ring Spi'rit 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 step he scornful turn'd,
But with fly circumfpection, and began
Through wood, through wafte,o'er hill,o'er dale, his roam. Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heaven
With earth and ocean meets, the setting fun
Slowly defcended, and with right afpéct
Against the eastern gate of Paradife
Levell'd his evening rays: it was a rock
Of alabaster, 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 exercis'd heroic games
Th' unarmed youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand
Celestial armoury, thields, helms, and spears,
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 vapors fir'd
Imprefs the air, and shows the mariner
From what point of his compaís to beware
Impetuous winds: he thus began in haste.
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 highth of noon came to my sphere
A Spirit, zealous, as he feem'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 mark'd his aery gate;
But in the mount that lies from Eden north,
Where he firft lighted, foon difcern'd his looks
Alien from Heav'n, with paffions foul obfcur'd:
Mine eye pursued him still, 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 pass
The vigilance here plac'd, but fuch as come
Well known from Heav'n; and fince meridian hour
No creature thence: if Spirit of other fort,
So minded, have o'er-leap'd these earthy bounds
On purpose, hard thou know'st 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 shall know.
So promis'd he; and Uriel to his charge
Return'd on that bright beam, whofe point now rais'd Bore him flope downward to the fun now fall'n
Beneath th' Azores; whether the prime orb,
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