I

729

Thus, at their fhady Lodge arriv'd, both stood, 720 Both turn'd, and under open sky ador'd The God that made both fky, air, earth and heav'n, Which hy beheld, the moon's refplendent globe, And ftarry pole: Thou also mad'ft the night, Miker omnipotent, and thou the dayon Which we in our appointed work employ'd Have finish'd, happy in our mutual help And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss 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, And when we feek, as now, thy gift of fleep.

73

735

This faid unanimous, and other rites.
Obferving none, but adoration pure,
Which God likes beft, into their inmost bow'r
Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off
Thefe troublesome difguifes which we wear,.
Straight 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':...

740

Whatever hypocrites aufterely talk.

Of purity and place and innocence,

745

Defaming as impure what God declares

Our maker bids increafe; who bids abftain

Pure, and commands to fome, leaves free to all,

Bur out destroyer, foe to God and man?

Hail wedded love! myfterious law, true fource 750
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

755

Of father, fon, and brother first were known.

Fat

Ear be it, that I fhould write thee fin or blame;
Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,
Perpetual fountain of domeftic tweets!

750

Whofe bed is undeffild and chafte pronounc'd,
Prefent, or paft, as Saints and Patriarchs us'd.
Here Love his golden fhafts employs, here lights
His conftant lanp, and waves his purple wines,
Reigns here and revels: not in the bought fimile 765
Of harlots, lovelefs, joylefs, unendeard, VĚ
Cafual fruition, nor in court amours,

Mix'd dance, or wanton mafk, or midnight ball,
Or ferenate, which the ftarv'd lover fings

775

To his proud fair, beft quitted with diidain. od 770
Thefe, lull'd by nightingales embracing flept,
And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof
Shower'd rofes, 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 night meafur'd with her fhadowy cone
Half way up hill this vaft fublunar vault,
And from their ivory port the Cherubim
Forth iffuing at the accuftom'd hour flood arm'd
To their night watches in warlike parade,
When Gabriel to his next in pow'r thus fpake.
Uzzicl, half thefe draw off, and coaft the fouth
With strictest watch: these other wheel the north,
Our circuit meets full weft. As flame they part
Half wheeling to the fhield, half to the fpear.
From thefe, two ftrong and fubtle fpirits he call'd,
That near him flood, and gave them thus in charge.
Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed

780

785

Search through this garden, leave unfearch'd no nook:
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, 790
Now laid perhaps afleép fecure of harm.

This evening from the Sun'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:**

795 Such

Such where ye find, feife faft, and hither bring." So faying, on he led his radiant files,

Dazling the moong thefe to the bow'r direct,

In fearch of whom they fought: him there they found
Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve;
Affaying by his devilish art to reach -

k

805

The organs of her fancy, and with them forget
Illufions as he lift, phantaims and dreams:
Or it, infpiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal fpirits, that from pure blood arise
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure; thence raife
Arreaft diftemper'd, difcontented thoughts, vož
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate defires, elabani, až
Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride. ha
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his fpear ni ngrë
Touch'd lightly; for no falfehood can indure of all
Touch of coeleftial temper, but returns 212 34
Of force to its own likeness, up he starts tabu"I
Difcover'd and furprind. As when a fparklar, o
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid

815

Fit for the tun, one magazine to store et O

Againft a rumor'd war, the fmutty, grain

With fudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the air: a ste

So farted up in his own fhape the Fiend.
Back fept thofe two fair, angels, half amaz'd
So fudden to behold the grifly King;

Yer thus unmov'd with fear, accoft him foon. Which of those rebel spirits adjudg'd to Hello! MI Com'it thou, efcap'd thy prifon? and transform'd, Why far'ft thou, like an enemy in wait,

825

Here watching at the head of these that fleep?ak
Known ye not then, faid Satan, fill'd with fcorn,
Know ye not Me? ye knew me once no mate
For yours there fitting where you durft not foar; H
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,
The lowest of your throng: or if ye know,
Why afk ye, and superfluous begin

Your metlage, like to end as much in vain?

0836

bus

T.

To whom thus Zephon, anfwering fcorn with fcorn, Think not, revolted fpirit, thy fhape the fame 835 Or undiminish'd brightnefs to be known,.

$40

As when thou ftood'ft in Heav'n upright and pure;
That glory then, when thou no more waft good,
Departed from thee; and thou resembl'st now
Thy fin and place of doom, obscure and foul.
But come, for thou, be fure, fhalt give account
To him who fent us, whofe charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and thefe from harm.com
So ipake the Cherub, and his grave rebuke,
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
Invincible: abafh'd the Devil ftood,
And felt how awful goodness is, 'and faw
Vigtue in her fhape how lovely, faw and pin'd,
His lofs: but chiefly to find here observ'd
His luftre vifibly impair'd; yet feem'd
Undaunted. If I must contend, faid he,
Beft with the best, the fender not the fent,
Or all at once; more glory will be won,

Or lefs be loft. Thy fear, faid Zephon bold, waa
Will fave us trial what the leaft can do

Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.

845

·850

855

The Fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage;
But like a proud fteed rein'd, went haughty on,
Champing his iron curb: to strive or fly
He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd 860
His heart, not else dismay'd." Now drew they nigh
The western point, where thofe half-rounding guards
Juft met, and clofing stood in fquadron join'd,
Awaiting next command; to whom their Chief,
Gabriel, trom the front thus call'd aloud,

O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet
Hafting this way, and now by glimpie difcern
Ithuriel and Zephon trough the fhade,
And with them comes a third of regal port,

865

But faded fplendor wan, who by his gair

87.

And fierce demeanor feems the Prince of Hell;

Not

Not likely to part hence without conteft:
Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.

880

Hencarce had ended when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How bufied, in what form and pofture couch'd. 876 To whom with ftern, regard thus Gabriel (pake. Why haft thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd To thy transgreffions, and difturb'd the charge Of others, who approve not to transgrefs By thy example, but have pow'r and right Tooqueftion thy bold entrance on this blace; Employ'd it feems to violate fleep, and those Whofe dwelling God hath planted here in plifs? To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. 885 Gabriel, thou hadst in Heav'n th' effeem of wife, And fuch I held thee; but this question afk'd Puis me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain? Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, Tho' thither doom'd? thou would'st thyself, no doubt, And boldly venture to whatever place, b Fartheft from pain where thou might ft hope to change Torment with cafe, and tooneft recompenfe Doie with delight, which in this place I fought: To thee no realon, who know'it only good, But evil haft not try’d. And wilt objectˆ His will who bound ust let him furer bar His iron gates, if he intends our stay b

895

In that dark durance! thus much what was afk’d.singh The rest is true: they found me where they fay; 900 But that implies not violence, or harm.

Thus he in fcorn. The warlike Angel mov'd,
Difdainfully half tmiling, thus reply'd,
O lots of one in Heav'n to judge of wife,
Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew!

"

3 oligos And now returns him from his prifon fcap'd, Tagiy Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wife Or not, who afk what boldnets brought him hither Unlicens'd from his bounds in Hell prefcrib'd;