Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd,
More lovely than Pandora, whom the Gods
Endow'd with all their gifts, and O too like
In fad event, when to th' unwifer fon
Of Japhet brought by Hermes, fhe infnar'd
Mankind with her fair looks, to be aveng'd
On him who had ftole Jove's authentic fire.
Thus at their fhady lodge arriv'd, both stood,
Both turn'd, and under open sky ador'd
The God that made both fky, air, earth, and heaven,
Which they beheld, the moon's refplendent globe,
And starry pole: Thou also mad'st the night,
Maker omnipotent, and thou the day,
Which we in our appointed work employ'd
Have finish'd, happy in our mutual help
-And mutual love, the crown of all our blifs
́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.
This faid unanimous, and other rites
Obferving none, but adoration pure
Which God likes beft, into their inmost bower
Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off
Thefe troublesome difguifes which we wear,
Strait fide by fide were laid; nor turn'd I ween
Adam from his fair fpoufe, nor Eve the rites
Mysterious of connubial love refus’d:
Whatever hypocrites aufterely talk
Of purity and place and innocence,
Defaming as impure what God declares
Pure, and commands to fome, leaves free to all.
Our Maker bids increase; who bids abstain
Eut our Destroyer, foe to God and Man ?
Hail wedded Love, myfterious law, true fource
Of human offspring, fole propriety
In Paradife of all things common else.
By thee adult'rous lust was driv'n from men
Among the bestial herds to range; by thee
Founded in reafon, loyal, just, and pure,
Relations dear, and all the charities
Of father, fon, and brother, first were known.
Far be' it, that I should write thee fin or blame,
Or think thee unbefitting holieft place,
Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets
Whofe bed is undefil'd and chafte pronounc'd,
Present, or past, as faints and patriarchs us'd.
Here love his golden fhafts employs, here lights
His conftant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigns here and revels; not in the bought fmile 765.
Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unindear'd,
Cafual fruition; nor in court amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
Or ferenate, which the starv'd lover fings
To his proud fair, beft quitted with disdain.
Thefe lull'd by nightingales embracing flept,
And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof.
Show'rd rofes, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on,
Bleft pair; and O yet happieft, if ye feek
No. happier state, and know to know no more.
Now had night measur'd with her shadowy cone
Half way up hill this vaft fublunar vault,
And from their ivory port the Cherubim
Forth iffuing at th' accuftom'd hour stood arm'd
To their night watches in warlike parade,
When Gabriel to his next in pow'r thus fpake.
Uzziel, half these 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 spear. From these, two strong and fubtle Spirits he call'd That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge. Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed
Search through this garden, leave unsearch'd no nook;
But chiefly where thofe two fair creatures lodge, 790
Now laid perhaps afleep fecure of harm.
This evening from the fun's decline arriv'd
Who tells of fome infernal Spirit seen
Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escap'd
The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:
Such where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring.
So faying, on he led his radiant files,
Dazling the moon; these 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
The organs of her fancy', and with them forge
Illufions as he lift, phantasms and dreams,
Or if, infpiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal spirits that from pure blood arise
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise
At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate defires,
Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride.
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touch'd lightly; for no falfhood can indure
Touch of celestial temper, but returns
of force to its own likeness: up he starts
Discover'd and furpris'd. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun some magazine to store
Against a rumor'd war, the smutty grain
With fudden blaze diffus'd inflames the air:
So started up in his own shape the Fiend.
Back stept those two fair Angels half amaz'd
So fudden to behold the grifly king;
Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accoft him foon.
Which of those rebel Spi'rits adjudg'd to Hell
Com'ft thou, efcap'd thy prison? and transform'd,
Why fatft thou like an enemy in wait,
Here watching at the head of these that sleep?
Know ye not then, faid Satan fill'd with fcorn,
Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
For you, there fitting where ye durft not foar:
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,
The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,
Why ask ye, and fuperfluous begin
Your meffage, like to end as much in vain?
To whom thus Zephon, anfw'ring scorn with scorn. Think not, revolted Spi'rit, thy fhape the fame, 835 Or undiminish'd brightness to be known,
As when thou stood'st in Heav'n upright and pure;
That glory then, when thou no more waft good,
Departed from thee'; and thou resemblest now'
Thy fin and place of doom obfcure and foul.
But come, for thou, be fure, fhalt give account
To him who fent us, whose charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and these from harm.
So fpake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke,
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
Invincible: abash'd the Devil stood,
And felt how awful goodnefs is, and faw
Virtue' in her fhape how lovely; faw, and pin'd
His lofs; but chiefly to find here observ'd
His luftre visibly impair'd; yet feem'd
Undaunted. If I must contend, faid he,
Beft with the beft, the fender not the fent,
Or all at once; more glory will be won,
Or lefs be loft. Thy fear, faid Zephon bold,
Will fave us trial what the leaft can do
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.
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
His heart, not else dismay'd. Now drew they nigh
The western point, where thofe half-rounding guards
VOL. I.
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