Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds, Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights At joust and tournament; then marshall'd feast Serv'd up in hall with sewers and seneshals; The skill of artifice or office mean, Not that which justly gives heroic name To person or to poem. Me, of these Nor skill'd nor studious, higher argument Remains; sufficient of itself to raise That name, unless an age too late, or cold Climate, or years, damp my intended wing Depress'd; and much they may, if all be mine, Not hers, who brings it nightly to my ear.
The Sun was sunk, and after him the star Of Hesperus, whose office is to bring Twilight upon the Earth, short arbiter "Twixt day and night, and now from end to end Night's hemisphere had veil'd the horizon round:
When Satan, who late fled before the threats Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improv'd In meditated fraud and malice, bent On Man's destruction, maugre what might hap Of heavier on himself, fearless return'd. By night he fled, and at midnight return'd From compassing the Earth; cautious of day, Since Uriel, regent of the Sun, descried His entrance, and forewarn'd the cherubim That kept their watch; thence full of anguish driven,
The space of seven continued nights he rode With darkness thrice the equinoctial line He circled; four times cross'd the car of night From pole to pole traversing each colure; On the eighth return'd; and on the coast averse From entrance or cherubic watch, by stealth Found unsuspected way. There was a place, Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change,
Where Tigris at the foot of Paradise, Into a gulf shot under ground, till part Rose up a fountain by the tree of life: In with the river sunk, and with it rose Satan, involv'd in rising mist; then sought Where to lie hid; sea he had search'd, and land, From Eden over Pontus and the pool Mæotis, up beyond the river Ob; Downward as far antarctic; and in length, West from Orontes to the ocean barr'd At Darien; thence to the land where flows Ganges and Indus: thus the orb he roam'd With narrow search; and with inspection deep Consider'd every creature, which of all Most opportune might serve his wiles; and found The serpent subtlest beast of all the field, Him after long debate, irresolute
Of thoughts revolv'd, his final sentence chose Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom To enter, and his dark suggestions hide From sharpest sight: for, in the wily snake Whatever sleights, none would suspicious mark, As from his wit and native subtlety Proceeding; which, in other beasts observ'd, Doubt might beget of diabolic power Active within, beyond the sense of brute. Thus he resolv'd, but first from inward grief His bursting passion into plaints thus pour'd. "O Earth, how like to Heaven, if not preferr'd More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built
With second thoughts, reforming what was
For what god, after better, worse would build ? Terrestrial Heaven, danc'd round by other Hea
That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps, Light above light, for thee alone as seems, In thee concentring all their precious beams Of sacred influence! As God in Heaven. Is centre, yet extends to all; so thou, Centring, receiv'st from all those orbs: in thee, Not in themselves, all their known virtue ap-
Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth Of creatures animate with gradual life Of growth, sense, reason, all summ'd up in Man. With what delight could I have walk'd thee round,
If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange Of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains, Now land, now sea, and shores with forest crown'd,
Rocks, dens, and caves! But I in none of these Find place or refuge; and the more I see Pleasures about me, so much more I feel Torment within me, as from the hateful siege Of contraries: all good to me becomes Bane, and in Heaven much worse would be my state.
But neither here seek I, no nor in Heaven To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven's Supreme; Nor hope to be myself less miserable By what I seek, but others to make such As I, though thereby worse to me redound: For only in destroying I find ease To my relentless thoughts; and, him destroyed, Or wou to what may work his utter loss, For whom all this was made, all this will soon Follow, as to him link'd in weal or woe; In woe then; that destruction wide may range: To me shall be the glory sole among
The infernal powers, in one day to have marr'd What he, Almighty styl'd, six nights and days Continued making; and who knows how long Before had been contriving? though perhaps Not longer than since I, in one night, freed From servitude inglorious well nigh half The angelic name, and thinner left the throng Of his adorers: he, to be aveng'd, And to repair his numbers thus impair'd, Whether such virtue spent of old now fail'd More angels to create, if they at least Are his created, or, to spite us more, Determin'd to advance into our room A creature form'd of earth, and him endow, Exalted from so base original, [creed, With heavenly spoils, our spoils: what he de- He effected; Man he made, and for him built Magnificent this world, and Earth his seat, Him lord pronounc'd; and, O indignity! Subjected to his service angel-wings, And flaming ministers to watch and tend Their earthy charge of these the vigilance I dread; and, to elude, thus wrapt in mist Of midnight vapour glide obscure, and pry In every bush and brake, where hap may find The serpent sleeping; in whose mazy folds To hide me, and the dark intent I bring. O foul descent! that I, who erst contended
With Gods to sit the highest, am now strain'd
Into a beast; and, mix'd with bestial slime, This essence to incarnate and imbrute, That to the height of deity aspir'd! But what will not ambition and revenge Descend to? Who aspires, must down as low As high he soar'd; obnoxious, first or last, To basest things. Revenge, at first though
sweet, Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils: Let it; I reck not, so it light well aim'd, Since higher I fall short, on him who next] Provokes my envy, this new favourite Of Heaven, this man of clay, son of despite, Whom, us the more to spite, his Maker rais'd From dust: spite then with spite is best repaid." So saying, through each thicket dank or dry, Like a black mist low-creeping, he held on His midnight-search, where soonest he might find
The serpent: him fast sleeping soon he found In labyrinth of many a round self-roll'd, His head the midst, well stor'd with subtle wiles: Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den, Nor nocent yet; but, on the grassy herb,. Fearless unfear'd he slept in at his mouth The Devil enter'd; and his brutal sense, In heart or head, possessing, soon inspir'd With act intelligential; but his sleep Disturb'd not, waiting close the approach of morn. Now, when as sacred light began to dawn In Eden on the humid flowers, that breath'd Their morning incense, when all things, that breathe,
From the Earth's great altar send up silent praise To the Creator, and his nostrils fill With grateful smell, forth came the human pair, And join'd their vocal worship to the quire Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs: Then commune, how that day they best may ply Their growing work: for much their work out- grew
The hands' despatch of two gardening so wide, And Eve first to her husband thus began.
"Adam, well may we labour still to dress This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower, Our pleasant task enjoin'd; but till more bands Aid us, the work under our labour grows, Luxurious by restraint; what we by day Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, One night or two with wanton growth derides Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise, Or bear what to my mind first thoughts present: Let us divide our labours; thou, where choice Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind
The woodbine round this arbour, or direct The clasping ivy where to climb; while I, In yonder spring of roses intermix'd With myrtle, find what to redress till noon: For, while so near each other thus all day Our task we choose, what wonder if so near Looks intervene and smiles, or object new Casual discourse draw on; which intermits Our day's work, brought to little, though begun Early, and the hour of supper comes unearn'd ?" To whom mild answer Adam thus return'd.
"Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond Compare above all living creatures dear! Well hast thou motion'd, well thy thoughts em ploy'd,
How we might best fulfil the work which here God hath assign'd us; nor of me shalt pass Unprais'd: for nothing lovelier can be found In woman, than to study household good, And good works in her husband to promote. Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd Labour, as to debar us when we need Refreshment, whether food, or talk between, Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow, To brute denied, and are of love the food; Love, not the lowest end of human life. For not to irksome toil, but to delight, He made us, and delight to reason join'd. These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands
Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide As we need walk, till younger hands ere long Assist us: but, if much converse perhaps Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield: For solitude sometimes is best society, And short retirement urges sweet return. But other doubt possesses me, lest harm Befall thee sever'd from me; for thou know'st What hath been warn'd us, what malicious foe Envying our happiness, and of his own Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame By sly assault; and somewhere nigh at hand Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find His wish and best advantage, us asunder; Hopeless to circumvent us join'd, where each To other speedy aid might lend at need: Whether his first design be to withdraw Our feälty from God, or to disturb Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss Enjoy'd by us excites his envy more; Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side That gave thee being, still shades thee, and protects.
The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, Safest and seemliest by her husband stays, Who guards her, or with her the worst endures." To whom the virgin majesty of Eve, As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, With sweet austere composure thus replied. "Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth's Lord!
That such an enemy we have, who seeks Our ruin, both by thee inform'd I learn, And from the parting angel over-heard, As in a shady nook I stood behind, Just then return'd at shut of evening flowers. But that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt
To God or thee, because we have a foe May tempt it, I expected not to hear. His violence thou fear'st not, being such As we, not capable of death or pain, Can either not receive, or can repel. His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love Can by his fraud be shaken or seduc'd; Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy breast,
Adam, mis-thought of her to thee so dear?"
To whom with healing words Adam replied. "Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve! For such thou art; from sin and blame entire : Not diffident of thee do I dissuade Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid The attempt itself, intended by our foe.
For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses
The tempted with dishonour foul; suppos'd Not incorruptible of faith, not proof Against temptation: thou thyself with scorn And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong, Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then, If such affront I labour to avert
From thee alone, which on us both at once The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare; Or daring, first on me the assault shall light. Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn; Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce Angels; nor think superfluous others aid. 1, from the influence of thy looks, receive Access in every virtue; in thy sight
More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were Of outward strength; while shame, thou look-
Shame to be overcome or over-reach'd, Would utmost vigour raise, and rais'd unite. Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel
When I am present, and thy trial choose With me, best witness of thy virtue tried ?"
So spake domestic Adam in his care And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought Less attributed to her faith sincere, Thus her reply with accent sweet renew'd.
"If this be our condition, thus to dwell In narrow circuit straiten'd by a foe, Subtle or violent, we not endued Single with like defence, wherever met; How are we happy, still in fear of harm? But harm precedes not sin: only our foe, Tempting, affronts us with his foul esteem Of our integrity: his foul esteem
Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns Foul on himself; then wherefore shunn'd or fear'd
who rather double honour gain From his surmise prov'd false; find peace within, [event. Favour from Heaven, our witness, from the And what is faith, love, virtue, unassay'd Alone, without exterior help sustain'd? Let us not then suspect our happy state Left so imperfect by the Maker wise, As not secure to single or combin'd. Frail is our happiness, if this be so, And Eden were no Eden, thus expos'd."
To whom thus Adam fervently replied. "O Woman, best are all things as the will Of God ordain'd them: his creating hand Nothing imperfect or deficient left
Of all that he created, much less Man, Or aught that might his happy state secure, Secure from outward force; within himself The danger lies, yet lies within his power: Against his will he can receive no harm. But God left free the will; for what obeys Reason, is free; and reason he made right, But bid her well beware, and still erect;
Lest, by some fair-appearing good surpris'd, She dictate false; and mis-inform the will To do what God expressly hath forbid. Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins, That I should mind thee oft; and mind thou me. Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve; Since reason not impossibly may meet Some specious object by the foe suborn'd, And fall into deception unaware,
Not keeping strictest watch, as she was wam'd. Seek not temptation then, which to avoid Were better, and most likely if from me Thou sever not: trial will come unsought. Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve First thy obedience; the other who can know, Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? But, if thou think, trial unsought may find Us both securer than thus warn'd thou seem'st, Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more; Go in thy native innocence, rely
On what thou hast of virtue; summon all ! For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine."
So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied. "With thy permission then, and thus forewarn'd
Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words Touch'd only; that our trial, when least sought, May find us both perhaps far less prepar'd, The willinger I go, nor much expect
A foe so proud will first the weaker seek; So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse." Thus saying, from her husband's hand her hand [light, Soft she withdrew; and, like a wood-nymph Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's train, Betook her to the groves; but Delia's self In gait surpass'd, and goddess-like deport, Though not as she with bow and quiver arm'd, But with such gardening tools as art yet rude, Guiltless of fire, had form'd, or angels brought. To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorn'd, Likest she seem'd, Pomona when she fled Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime, Yet virgin of Proserpina from Jove, Her long with ardent look his eye pursued Delighted, but desiring more her stay. Oft he to her his charge of quick return Repeated; she to him as oft engag'd To be return'd by noon amid the bower, And all things in best order to invite Noontide repast, or afternoon's repose. O much deceiv'd, much failing, hapless Eve, Of thy presum'd return! event perverse ! Thou never from that hour in Paradise Found'st either sweet repast, or sound repose; Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades,
Waited with hellish rancour imminent To intercept thy way, or send thee back Despoil'd of innocence, of faith, of bliss! For now, and since first break of dawn, the fiend,
Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come; And on his quest, where likeliest he might find The only two of mankind, but in them The whole included race, his purpos'd prey, In bower and field he sought where any tuft
Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay, Their tendance, or plantation for delight; By fountain or by shady rivulet [find He sought them both, but wish'd his hap might Eve separate; he wish'd, but not with hope Of what so seldom chanc'd; when to his wish, Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies, Veil'd in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood, Half spied, so thick the roses blushing round About her glow'd, oft stooping to support Each flower of slender stalk, whose head, though
Carnation, purple, azure, or speck'd with gold, Hung drooping unsustain'd; them she upstays Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while Herself, though fairest unsupported flower, From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh. Nearer he drew, and many a walk travers'd Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm; Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen, Among thick-woven arborets, and flowers Imborder'd on each bank, the hand of Eve: Spot more delicious than those gardens feign'd Or of reviv'd Adonis, or renown'd Alcinous, host of old Laertes' son;
Or that, not mystic, where the sapient king Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse. Much he the place admir'd, the person more. As one who long in populous city pent, Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air, Forth issuing on a summer's morn, to breathe Among the pleasant villages and farms Adjoin'd, from each thing met conceives delight; The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine, Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound; If chance, with nymph-like step, fair virgin pass, What pleasing seem'd, for her now pleases more; She most, and in her look sums all delight: Such pleasure took the serpent to behold This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve Thus early, thus alone: her heavenly form Angelic, but more soft, and feminine, Her graceful innocence, her every air Of gesture, or least action, overaw'd His malice, and with rapine sweet bereav'd His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought: That space the evil-one abstracted stood From his own evil, and for the time remain'd Stupidly good; of enmity disarm'd, Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge. But the hot Hell that always in him burns, Though in mid Heaven, soon ended his delight, And tortures hin now more, the more he sees Of pleasure, not for him ordain'd: then soon Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites.
Heroic built, though of terrestrial mould; Foe not informidable! exempt from wound, I not; so much hath Hell debas'd, and pain Enfeebled me, to what I was in Heaven. She fair, divinely fair, fit love for gods! Not terrible, though terrour be in love And beauty, not approach'd by stronger hate, Hate stronger, under show of love well feign'd; The way which to her ruin now I tend."
So spake the enemy of mankind, enclos'd In serpent, inmate bad! and toward Eve Address'd his way: not with indented wave, Prone on the ground, as since; but on his rear, Circular base of rising folds, that tower'd Fold above fold, a surging maze! his head Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes; With burnish'd neck of verdant gold, erect Amidst his circling spires, that on the grass Floated redundant: pleasing was his shape And lovely; never since of serpent-kind Lovelier, not those that in Illyria chang'd Hermione and Cadmus, or the god
In Epidaurus; nor to which transform'd Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline was seen; He with Olympias; this with her who bore Scipio, the height of Rome. With tract oblique At first, as one who sought access, but fear'd To interrupt, side-long he works his way. As when a ship, by skilful steersman wrought Nigh river's mouth or foreland, where the wind Veers oft, asoft so steers, and shifts her sail : So varied he, and of his tortuous train Curl'd many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve, To lure her eye; she, busied, heard the sound Of rusling leaves, but minded not, as us'd To such disport before her through the field, From every beast; more duteons at her call, Than at Circean call the herd disguis'd. He, bolder now, uncall'd before her stood, But as in gaze admiring: oft he bow'd His turret crest, and sleek enamell'd neck, Fawning; and lick'd the ground whereon she trod.
His gentle dumb expression turn'd at length The eye of Eve, to mark his play; he, glad Of her attention gain'd, with serpent-tongue Organic, or impulse of vocal air, His fraudulent temptation thus began.
"Wonder not, sovran mistress, if perhaps Thou canst who art sole wonder! much less arm Thy looks, the Heaven of mildness, with disdain, Displeas'd that I approach thee thus, and gaze Insatiate; I thus single; nor have fear'd Thy awful brow, more awful thus retir'd. Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair, Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine
Thoughts, whither have ye led me! what By gift, and thy celestial beauty adore
Compulsion thus transported, to forget
With ravishment beheld ! there best beheld, Where universally admir'd; but here
What hither brought us! hate, not love; nor hope In this enclosure wild, these beasts among,
Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste Of pleasure; but all pleasure to destroy, Save what is in destroying; other joy To me is lost. Then, let me not let pass Occasion which now smiles; behold alone The woman, opportune to all attempts, Her husband, for 1 view far round, not nigh, Whose higher intellectual more I shun, And strength, of courage haughty, and of limb
Beholders rude, and shallow to discern Half what in thee is fair, one man except, Who sees thee? (and what is one?) who should be seen
A goddess among gods, ador'd and serv'd By angels numberless, thy daily train."
So gloz'd the tempter, and his proem tun'd: Into the heart of Eve his words made way, Though at the voice much marvelling; at length,
Not unamaz'd, she thus in answer spake. "What may this mean? language of man pronounc'd
By tongue of brute, and human sense express'd ? The first, at least, of these I thought denied To beasts, whom God, on their creation-day, Created mute to all articulate sound: The latter I demur; for in their looks Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. Thee, serpent, subtlest beast of all the field I knew, but not with human voice endued; Redouble then this miracle, and say, How cam'st thou speakable of mute, and how To me so friendly grown above the rest Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight? Say, for such wonder claims attention due."
To whom the guileful tempter thus replied. "Empress of this fair world, resplendent Eve! Easy to me it is to tell thee all [be obey'd: What thou command'st; and right thou shouldst I was a first as other beasts that graze The trodden herb, of abject thoughts and low, As was my food; nor aught but food discern'd Or sex, and apprehended nothing high: Till, on a day roving the field, I chanc'd A goodly tree far distant to behold Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mix'd, Ruddy and gold: I nearer drew to gaze; When from the boughs a savoury odour blown, Grateful to appetite, more pleas'd my sense Than smell of sweetest fenel, or the teats Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even, Unsuck'd of lamb or kid, that tend their play. To satisfy the sharp desire I had Of tasting those fair apples, I resolv'd Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once, Powerful persuaders, quicken'd at the scent Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me so keen. About the mossy trunk I wound me soon; For, high from ground, the branches would re- quire
Thy utmost reach or Adam's: round the tree All other beasts that saw, with like desire Longing and envying stood, but could not reach. Amid the tree now got, where plenty hung Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill I spar'd not; for, such pleasure till that hour, At feed or fountain, never had I found. Sated at length, ere long I might perceive Strange alteration in me, to degree Of reason in my inward powers; and speech Wanted not long; though to this shape retain'd. Thenceforth to speculations high or deep I turn'd my thoughts, and with capacious mind Consider'd all things visible in Heaven, Or Earth. or Middle; all things fair and good: But all that fair and good in thy divine Semblance, and in thy beauty's heavenly ray, United I beheld; no fair to thine Equivalent or second! which compell'd Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come And gaze, and worship thee of right declar'd Sovran of creatures, universal dame !"
So talk'd the spirited sly snake; and Eve, Yet more amaz'd, unwary thus replied.
Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt The virtue of that fruit, in thee first prov'd: But say, where grows the tree? from hence how For many are the trees of God that grow In Paradise, and various, yet unknown
To us; in such abundance lies our choice, As leaves a greater store of fruit untouch'd, Still hanging incorruptible, till men Grow up to their provision, and more hands Help to disburden Nature of her birth."
To whom the wily adder, blithe and glad. "Empress, the way is ready, and not long; Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat,
Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past Of blowing myrrh and balm: if thou accept My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon," "Lead then," said Eve. He, leading, swiftly roll'd
In tangles, and made intricate seem straight, To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy Brightens his crest; as when a wandering fire, Compact of unctuous vapour, which the night Condenses, and the cold environs round, Kindled through agitation to a flame, Which oft, they say, some evil spirit attends, Hovering and blazing with delusive light, Misleads the amaz'd night-wanderer from his [pool i
To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or There swallow'd up and lost, from succour far: So glister'd the dire snake, and into fraud Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the tree Of prohibition, root of all our woe;
Which when she saw, thus to her guide she
Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess, The credit of whose virtue rest with thee; Wonderous indeed, if cause of such effects. But of this tree we may not taste nor touch; God so commanded, and left that command Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live Law to ourselves; our reason is our law."
To whom the tempter guilefully replied. "Indeed! hath God then said that of the fruit Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat, Yet lords declar'd of all in Earth or air ?"
To whom thus Eve, yet sinless. "Of the fruit Of each tree in the garden we may eat; But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst The garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die.'"
She scarce had said, though brief, when now more bold
The tempter, but with show of zeal and love | To Man, and indignation at his wrong, New part puts on; and, as to passion mov'd, Fluctuates disturb'd, yet comely and in act Rais'd, as of some great matter to begin. As when of old some orator renown'd, In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence Flourish'd, since mute! to some great cause ad- dress'd,
Stood in himself collected; while each part, Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue; Sometimes in he'ght began, as no delay Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right: So standing, moving, or to height up grown, The tempter, all impassion'd, thus began.
"O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving plant, Mother of science! now I feel thy power Within me clear; not only to discern Things in their causes, but to trace the ways Of highest agents, deem'd however wise.
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