665

Miniftring light prepar'd, they set and rife;
Left total dark nefs fhould by night regain
Her old poffeffion, and extinguish life
In nature and all things, which these feft fires
Not only inlighten, but with kindly heat
Of various influence foment and warm,
Temper er nourish, or in part fhed down
Their ftellar virtue on all kinds that grow
On earth, made hereby apter to receive
Perfectior from the fun's mere potent ray.
Thefe then, though unbeheld in deep of night,
Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were
675
That Hearn would want fpectators, God want
praise:

none,

725

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 730
670 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
This faid unanimous, and other rites
Obferving none, but adoration pure
Which God likes beft, into their inmoft bower
Handed they went; and, eas'd the putting off
Thefe trouble fome difguifes which we wear, 740
Strait fide by fide were laid; nor turn'd I ween
Adam from his fair fpoufe, nor Eve the rites
Myfterions 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 increafe; who bids abstain
But 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 elfe.
By thee adult'rous luft was driv'n from men
Among the beftial herds to range; by thee
Founded in reafon, loyal, just, and pure,
Relations dear, and all the charities

Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth
Unfeen, both when we wake, and when we fleep:
All these with ceafelefs praise his works behold
Both day and night: how often from the ftecp 680
Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard
Celestial voices to the midnight air,
Sole, or responsive each to others note,
Singing their great Creator? oft in bands
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk
With heav'nly touch of inftrumental founds 686
In full harmonic number join'd, their fongs
Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven.
Thus talking, hand in hand along they pais'd
On to their blifsful bow'r; it was a place
Chos'n by the fovran Planter, when he fram'd
All things to Man's delightful ufe; the roof
Of thickest covert was inwoven fhade
Laure! and myrtle, and what higher grew
Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either fide
Acanthus, and each odorous bushy fhrub
Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower,
Iris all hues, rofes, and jeffamin,

690

695

Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and wrought

Mofaie; underfoot the violet,

700

Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay
Broider'd the ground, more color'd than with flone
Of coftlicht emblem: other creature here,
Beaft, bird, infe&t, or worm, durft enter none,
Such was their awe of Man. In fhadier bower 705
More facred and fequefter'd, though but feign'd,
Pan or Sylvanus never flept, nor Nymph,
Nor Faunus haunted. Here in clofe recefs
With flowers, garlands, and fweet smelling herbs
Efpouted Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed,
And heav'nly quires the hymenaan fung,
What day the genial Angel to our fire
Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd,
Mor: lovely than Fandora, 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, the infnar'd
Mankind with her fair looks, to be aveng'd
On him who had fele Jove's authentic fire.

710

715

721

Thus at their fhady lodge arriv'd, both flood,
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,
Aud Larry pole: Thou alfo mad it the night,

745

751

755

760

Of father, fon, and brother, firft were known.
Far be' it, that I fhould write thee fin or blame,
Or think thee unbefitting holieft place,
Perpetual fountain of domeftic fweets,
Whofe bed is undefil'd and chafte pronounc'd,
Prefent, or paft, 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
Of harlots, lovelefs, joylefs unindear'd,
Cafual fruition; nor in court amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mafk, or midnight ball,
Or ferenate, which the flarv'd lover fings
To his proud fair, heft quitted with cifdain. 770
Thefe lull'd by nightingales embracing flept,
And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof
Show'r'd rofes, which the morn repair'd. Sleep

of,

766

Bleft pair; and O yet happiest, if ye feek
No happier state, and know to know no more. 775
Now had night meafur'd with her fhadowy core
Half way up hill this vaft fublunar vault,
And from their ivory port the Cherubim
Forth ifluing 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 thefe draw off, and coaft the fouth
With ftri&teft watch; thefe other wheel the north;
Our circuit meets full weft As flame they part,
Half wheeling to the fhield, half to the fpear. 78
From thefe, two firong and fubtle Spi'rits he call'd
That near him flood, and gave them thus in

charge.

MILTON'S WORKS.

The bars of Hell, on errand had no doubt:
Such where ye find, feise faft, and hither bring.
So faying, on he led his radiant files,
Dazzling the moon; these to the bow'r direct

In fearch of whom they fought; him there they
found

800

810

815

Squat, like a toad, clofe at the ear of Eve,
Affaying by his devilish art to reach
ErThe organs of her fancy', and with them forge
lufions as he lift, phantafms and dreams,
Or if, infpiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal fpirits that from pure blood arife 805
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise
At least diftemper'd, difcontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate defires,
Blown up with high conceits ingend'ring pride,
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his fpear
Touch'd lightly; for no falfhood can indure
Touch of celeftial temper, but returns
Of forge to its own likeness: up he starts
Discover'd and furpris'd. As when a fpark
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun fome magazine to store
Against a rumor'd war, the smutty grain
With fudden blaze diffus'd inflames the air:
So ftarted up in his own fhape the Fiend.
Back ftept thofe two fair Angels half amaz'd 820
So fudden to behold the grifly king;
Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accolt him foon.
Which of thofe rebel Spi'rits adjudg'd to Hell
Com't thou, efcap'd thy prifon? and transform'd,
Why fatst 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, 830
The loweft of your throng; or if ye know,
Why afk ye, and fuperfluous begin

825

Your meffage, like to end as much in vain?
To whom thus Zephon, anfw'ring fcorn with

fcorn.

Think not, revolted Spi'rit, thy fhape the fame, 835
Or undiminish'd brightnefs to be known,
As when thou food'st in Heav'n upright and pure;
That glory then, when thou no more waft good,
Departed from thee'; and thou refembleft now
Thy fin and place of doom obfcure and foul. 840
Bat 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.

845

So fpake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke,
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
Invincible: abash'd the Devil stood,
And felt how awful goodness is, and faw
Virtue' in her fhape how lovely; faw, and pin'd

850

8551

His lofs; but chiefly to find here obferv'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 teed rein'd, went haughty on,
Champing his iron curb: to ftrive or fly
He held it vain: awe from above had quell'd 860
His heart, not elfe difmay'd. Now drew they nigh
The western point, where thofe half-rounding
guards

Juft met, and closing stood in squadron join'd,
Awaiting next command. To whom their chief
865
Gabriel from the front thus call'd aloud.

O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet
Hafting this way, and now by glimpfe difcern
Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,
And with them comes a third of regal port,
But faded fplendor wan; who by his gait
And fierce demeanour feems the prince of Hell,
Not likely to part hence without contest;
Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.

870

He fearce had ended, when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought where 875 found,

880

How bufied, in what form and pofture couch'd.
To whom with ftern regard thus Gabriel fpake. -
Why hait thou, Satan, broke the bounds prefcrib'd
To thy tranfgreffions, and disturb'd the charge
Of others, who approve not to tranfgrefs
By thy example, but have pow'r and right
To queftion thy bold entrance on this place;
Employ'd it feems to violate fleep, and thofe
Whofe dwelling God hath planted here in blifs?

To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow.
Gabriel, thou hadft in Heav'n th' efteem of wife,
And fuch I held thee; but this question afk'd
Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain?
Who would not, finding way, break loose from
Hell,

Though thither doom'd? Thou wouldst thyself, no
890.
doubt,

And boldly venture to whatever place
Fartheft from pain, where thousmight'ft hope to

change

Torment with ease, and fooneft recompenfe
Dole with delight, which in this place I fought;
To thee no reafon, who know'ft only good, 895
But evil haft not try'd: and wilt object
His will who bound us? let him furer bar
His iron gates, if he intends our stay

In that dark durance; thus much what was afk'd.
The rest is true, they found me where they say;
Eut that implies not violence or harm.

gor

Thus he in fcorn. The warlike Angel mov'd,
Difdainfully half fmiling thus reply'd.
O lofs of one in Heav'n to judge of wife,
Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew,
And now returns him from his prifon fcap'd,
Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wife
Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither

905

Morning approach'd, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her: They come forth to their day labors: Their morning hymn at the door of their bower. God to render Man inexcufable fends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his free eftate, of his enemy near at hand, who he is, and why bis enemy, and whatever elfe may avail Adam to know. Raphael comes down to Paradife, his appearance defcrib'd, his coming difcern'd by Adam afar off fitting at the door of his bower; he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choiceft fruits of Paradife got together by Eve; their difcourfe at table: Raphael performs his meffage, minds Adam of his ftate and of his enemy; relates at Adam's requeft who that enemy is, and how he came to be fo, beginning from his firft revolt in Heaven, and the occafion thereof; how he drew his legions after him to of the north, and there incited them to rebel with him, perfuading all but only Abdiel a Seraph, who in argument diffuades and oppofes him, then forfakes him.

the

parts

OW morn her rofy fleps in th' eastern clime
Advancing, fow'd the earth with orient pearl,
When Adam wak'd, so custom'd, for his fleep
Was aery light from pure digeflion bred,
And temp'rate vapors bland, which th' only

found

5

Of leaves and fuming tills, Aurora's fan,
Lightly dipers'd, and the fhrill matin fong
i birds on every bough; fo much the more
Ha wonder was to find unwaken'd Eve
With treffes difcompos'd, and glowing check, 10
Asthrough unquiet reft; he on his fide
Leaning half rais'd, with looks of cordial love
Hang over her enamour'd, and beheld
Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep,
Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice
Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes,
Her hand foft touching, whifper'd thus. Awake
My faireft, my efpous'd, my latest found,
Heav'n's laft beft gift, my ever new delight,
Awake; the morning fhines, and the fresh field 20

Calls us;

we lofe the prime, to mark how spring artended plants, how blows the citron grove, What drops the myrth, and what the balmy reed, How nature paints her colors, how the bee

VOL. II.

2.5

Sits on the bloom extracting liquid fweet.
Such whifp'ring wak'd her, but with startled eye
On Adam, whom embracing thus fhe pake.

O fole in whom my thoughts find all repose,
My glory, my perfection, glad I fee
Thy face, and morn return'd; for I this night 30
(Such night till this I never pass'd) have dream'd,
If dream'd, not as I oft am wont, of thee,
Works of day pait, or morrow's next defign,
But of offenfe and trouble, which my mind
Knew never till this irkfome night: methought 35
Clofe at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk
With gentle voice, I thought it thine; it faid,
Why fleep't thou Eve? now is the pleasant time,
The cool, the filent, fave where filence yields
To the night-warbling bird, that now awake 40
Tunes sweetest his love-labor'd fong; now reigns
Full orb'd the moon, and with more pleafing light
Shadowy fets off the face of things; in vain,
If none regard; Heav'n wakes with all his eyes,
Whom to behold but thee, Nature's defire?
In whofe fight all things joy, with ravishment-
Attracted by thy beauty ftill to gaze.

I rofe as at thy call, but found thee not;
To find thee I directed then my walk;

2 [F]

45