For foftnefs fhe and fweet attractive grace;
He for God only, fhe for God in him.
His fair large front and eye sublime declar'd 300
Abfolute 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 waist, {
Her unadorned golden treffes wore, 305
Disfhevel'd, but in wanton ringlets wav'd,
As the vine curls her tendrils, which imply'd
Subjection, but requir'd with gentle fway,
And by her yielded, by him beft receiv'd,
Yielded with coy fubmiffion, modeft pride, 310
And fweet reluctant amorous delay.

Nor those myfterious parts were then conceal'd;
Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame
Of nature's works; honor difhonorable,
Sin-bred! how have ye troubled all man-

kind

315 With fhows instead, mere fhows of feeming

pure

And banifh'd from man's life his happieft life, Simplicity and fpotlefs innocence?

So pass'd they naked on, nor shunn'd the fight
Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill: 320
So hand in hand they pass'd, the lovelieft pair
That ever fince in love's embraces met;

Adam the goodliest man of men fince born
His fons the faireft of her daughters Eve.

325

Under a ruft of fhade, that on a green
Stood whisp'ring soft, by a fresh fountain fide
They fat them down: and after no more toil
Of their fweet gard'ning labor than fuffic'd
To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease
More eafy, wholfome thirft and appetite 350
More grateful, to their fupper fruits they fell,
Nectarine fruits, which the compliant boughs
Yielded them, fide-long as they fat recline
On the foft downy banck damafk'd with
flowers.

The favoury pulp they chew, and in the rind 335
Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream;
Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles
Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as befeems.
Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league,
Alone as they. About them frifking play'd 340
All beasts of th'earth, fince wild, and of all chafe
In wood or wilderness, 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 ele-

To make them mirth us'd all his might, and

wreath'd

His lithe probofcis; clofe the ferpent fly
Infinuating, wove with gordian twine
His braided train, and of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass 350

Couch'd, and now fill'd with pasture gazing sat, Or bedward ruminating: for the fun

Declin'd was hafting now with prone career To th'ocean ifles, and in th'ascending scale Of Heav'n the stars that usher evening rose: 355 When Satan ftill in gaze, as first he stood, Scarce thus at length fail'd fpeech recover'd fad. O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold!

Into our room of blifs thus high advanc'd Creatures of other mold; earth-born per

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 resemblance, and fuch grace The hand that form'd them on their shape hath pour'd.

365 Ah gentle pair, ye little thinck how nigh Your change approaches, when all these delights Will vanifh, and deliver you to woe,

370

More woe, the more your taste is now of joy;
Happy, but for fo happy ill fecur'd
Long to continue; and this high seat your
Heav'n

Ill fenc'd for Heav'n, to keep out fuch 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 Ifeek, 375

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 sense, yet fuch
Accept your maker's work; he gave it me, 380
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 these narrow limits, to receive
Your numerous offspring: if no better place, 385
Thank him who puts me loath 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 reason just,
Honor and empire with revenge enlarg'd, 390
By conqu❜ring this new world compels me now
To do, what elfe, though damn'd, I fhould
abhor.

So fpake the Fiend, and with neceffity,
The tyrant's plea, excus'd his devilish deeds.
Then from his lofty ftand on that high tree 395
Down he alights among the sportful herd
Of those our-footed kinds, himself now one,
Now other, as their fhape ferv'd beft his end.
Nearer to view his prey, and unespy'd

To mark, what of their state he more might'

A lion now he ftalks with fiery glare;

1

Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spy'd In fome purlieu, two gentle fawns at play, Straight couches close, then rifing changes

oft

405 His couchant watch, as one who chose his

Grip'd in each paw: when Adam first of men To first of women Eve thus moving speech, Turn'd him, all ear, to hear new utterance

1

Sole partner and fole Dearer thy felf than all!

flow.

410

part of all these joys,

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;

415

That rais'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 Paradife that bear delicious fruit

420

So various, not to taste that only tree cut
Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life;
So near grows death to life, whate'er death