Ah, gentle pair, ye little think how nigh Your change approaches, when all these delights Will vanish and deliver ye to woe, More woe, the more your taste is now of joy! Happy, but for so happy ill secur'd 370 Long to continue, and this high seat 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 Το you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, Though I unpity'd: League with you I seek, 375 And mutual amity so strait, so close, That I with you must dwell, or you with me And should I at your harmless innocence Honour and empire with revenge enlarg'd, 390 Then from his lofty stand on that high tree 395 To mark what of their state he more might learn Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spy'd Sole partner, and sole part of all these joys, 411 As liberal and free as infinite; 415 That rais'd us from the dust, and plac'd us here In all this happiness, who at his hand Have nothing merited, nor can perform Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires In Paradise that bear delicious fruit 420 So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, 425 Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou know'st God hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree, Among so many signs of pow'r and rule Earth, air, and sea. 430 Then let us not think hard One easy prohibition, who enjoy Free leave so large to all things else, and choice Unlimited of manifold delights: But let us ever praise him, and extol His bounty, following our delightful task 435 To prune these growing plants, and tend these flow'rs; Which, were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet. 445 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 442 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 Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou Like consort to thyself canst 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. 450 |