By conquering this new world, compels me now To do, what else, though damn'd, I should abhor So spake the fiend, and with necessity, The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds. Then from his lofty stand on that high tree Down he alights among the sportful herd Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, Now other, as their shape served best his end Nearer to view his prey, and unespied To mark what of their state he more might learn By word or action mark'd: about them round A lion now he stalks with fiery glare, Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play, Straight couches close, then rising changes, oft His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground, Whence rushing he might surest seize them both Griped in each paw: when Adam, first of men, To first of women Eve thus moving speech, Turn'd him all ear to hear new utterance flow: Sole partner and sole part of all these joys, Dearer thyself than all, needs must the Power
Be infinitely good, and of his good As liberal and free as infinite,
and for us this ample world,
That raised us from the dust and placed us here In all this happiness, who at his hand
Aught whereof he hath need, he who requires From us no other service than to keep
In Paradise that bear delicious fruit So various, not to taste that only tree Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life;
s one, this easy charge, of all the trees
So near grows death to life; whate'er death is, Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou know'st God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree, The only sign of our obedience left
so many signs of power and rule
Conferr'd upon us, and dominion given Over all other creatures that possess
Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard
One easy prohibition, who enjoy
Free leave so large to all things else, and choice Unlimited of manifold delights:
But let us ever praise him and extol
His bounty, following our delightful task
prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet:
To whom thus Eve replied: O thou, for whom And from whom I was form'd flesh of thy flesh, And without whom am to no end, my guide
On our first father; half her swelling breast ́Naked met his under the flowing gold Of her loose tresses hid: he, in delight Both of her beauty and submissive charms, Smiled with superior love, as Jupiter
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds That shed May flowers, and press'd her matron lip With kisses pure: aside the devil turn'd
For envy, yet with jealous leer malign
Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plain'd: Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two Imparadised in one another's arms,
The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill Of bliss on bliss, while I to hell am thrust, Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire, Among our other torments not the least, Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines. Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd
From their own mouths: all is not theirs, it seems; One fatal tree there stands of knowledge call'd Forbidden them to taste: knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know? Can it be death? And do they only stand By ignorance? Is that their happy state, The proof of their obedience and their faith? O fair foundation laid whereon to build Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds With more desire to know, and to reject Envious commands, invented with design To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt Equal with gods; aspiring to be such,
They taste and die: what likelier can ensue? But first with narrow search I must walk round This garden, and no corner leave unspied;
A chance but chance may lead where I may meet Some wandering spirit of heaven, by fountain side, Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw
What further would be learn'd. Live while ye may, Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,
Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed.
So saying, his proud step he scornful turn'd,
But with sly circumspection, and began
Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam.
Meanwhile, in utmost longitude, where heaven
With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun
Slowly descended, and with right aspect
Against the eastern gate of Paradise Levell❜d his evening rays: it was a rock Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent Accessible from earth, one entrance high;
The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung Still as it rose, impossible to climb. Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, Chief of the angelic guards, awaiting night; About him exercised heroic games
The unarmed youth of heaven; but nigh at hand Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears, Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold. Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even On a sunbeam, swift as a shooting star
In autumn 'thwart the night, when vapours fired Impress the air, and show the mariner From what point of his compass to beware Impetuous winds; he thus began in haste :
Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place No evil thing approach or enter in :
This day at height of noon came to my sphere A spirit, zealous, as he seem'd, to know More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly man, God's latest image: I described his way Bent all on speed, and mark'd his aëry gait; But in the mount that lies from Eden north, Where he first lighted, soon discern'd his looks Alien from heaven, with passions foul obscured: Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade Lost sight of him; one of the banish'd crew, I fear, hath ventured from the deep to raise New troubles; him thy care must be to find.
To whom the winged warrior thus returned: Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight, Amid the sun's bright circle where thou sitt'st, See far and wide: in at this gate none pass The vigilance here placed, but such as come Well known from heaven; and since meridian hour No creature thence. If spirit of other sort,
So minded, have o'erleap'd these earthly bounds On purpose, hard thou know'st it to exclude Spiritual substance with corporeal bar.
But if within the circuit of these walks,
In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom
Thou tell'st, by morrow dawning I shall know.
So promised he, and Uriel to his charge
Return'd on that bright beam, whose point now raised Bore him slope downward to the sun, now fallen Beneath the Azores; whither the prime orb,
Incredible how swift, had thither roll'd Diurnal, or this less voluble earth,
By shorter flight to the east, had left him there, Arraying with reflected purple and gold The clouds that on his western throne attend. Now came still evening on, and twilight gray
Had in her sober livery all things clad; Silence accompanied; for beast and bird, They to their grassy couch, these to their nests, Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale ; She all night long her amorous descant sung; Silence was pleased: now glow'd the firmament With living sapphires; Hesperus that led The starry host rode brightest, till the moon, Rising in clouded majesty, at length
Apparent queen unveil'd her peerless light, And o'er the dark her silver mantle threv:. When Adam thus to Eve: Fair consort, the hour Of night and all things now retired to rest Mind us of like repose, since God hath set Labour and rest, as day and night, to men Successive, and the timely dew of sleep Now falling with soft slumbrous weight inclines Our eyelids: other creatures all day long Rove idle, unemploy'd, and less need rest : Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed, which declares his dignity, And the regard of Heaven on all his ways; While other animals inactive range, And of their doings God takes no account. To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east With first approach of light, we must be risen, And at our pleasant labour, to reform Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green, Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, That mock our scant manuring, and require More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth; Those blossoms also and those dropping gums, That lie bestrown unsightly and unsmooth, Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease: Meanwhile, as nature wills, night bids us rest
To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty 'dorn'd: My author and disposer, what thou bidd'st Unargued I obey, so God ordains;
God is thy law, thou mine; to know no more Is woman's happiest knowledge and her praise. With thee conversing I forget all time,
All seasons and their change, all please alike. Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the sun, When first on this delightful land he spreads His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth After soft showers; and sweet the coming on Of grateful evening mild; then silent night, With this her solemn bird and this fair moon, And these the gems of heaven, her starry train: But neither breath of morn, when she ascends
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