Such was their awe of Man. In fhadier bow'r
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
Espoused Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed,
And heav'nly quires the hymenæan fung,
What day the genial angel to our Sire
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, she infnar'd
Mankind with her fair looks, to be aveng'd
On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire.
Thus at their shady lodge arriv'd, both stood, 720 Both turn'd, and under open sky ador'd
The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heav'n, 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 shall with us extol
Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,
And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep.
This faid unanimous, and other rites
Which God likes beft, into their inmost bow'r
Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off
Thefe troublesome disguises which we wear,
Strait 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:
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
But our 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 bestial herds to range; by thee
Founded in reafon, loyal, just, and pure,
Relations dear, and all the charities
Of father, fon, and brother, firft were known.
Far be' it, that I fhould write thee fin or blame,
Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,
Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets,
Whose bed is undefil'd and chafte pronounc'd,
Present, or past, as faints and patriarchs us'd.
Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights
His conftant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile 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, best quitted with disdain.
Thefe lull'd by nightingales embracing flept,
And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof
Show'r'd roses, 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. 775
Now had Night measur'd with her shadowy cone
Half way up hill this vast fublunar vault,
And from their ivory port the cherubim
Forth iffuing at th' accustom'd hour stood arm'd
To their night watches in warlike parade,
When Gabriel to his next in power thus fpake.
Uzziel, half these draw off, and coaft the South With strictest watch; these other wheel the North; Our circuit meets full Weft. As flame they part, Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. 785 From thefe, two strong and subtle spi'rits 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 those two fair creatures lodge, 790
Now laid perhaps asleep secure 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,
Dazzling the moon; these to the bow'r direct
In search of whom they sought : 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, phantafms and dreams,
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal fpirits that from pure blood arise
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise
At leaft diftemper'd, difcontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate defires,
Blown up with high conceits ingend'ring pride.
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touch'd lightly; for no falfhood can endure
Touch of celeftial 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 fome magazine to store
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 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 scorn,
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 afk 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, shalt give account
To him who fent us, whofe charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and these from harm.
So fpake the cherub; and his grave rebuke,
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