6 “Or envy, or what reserve, forbids to taste ? “ This said, he paus d not, but with venturous arm 65 “He pluck'd—he tasted: me damp horror chill'd “At such bold words, vouch'd with a deed so bold: “But he thus, overjoy'd: O fruit divine ! “Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt! “ • Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit 70 “. For gods, yet able to make gods of men : ". And why not gods of men ? since good, the more “« « Communicated, more abundant grows; “« The author not impair’d, but honoured more. “Here, happy creature, fair angelic Eve! 75 “• Partake thou also: happy though thou art, Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be : «• Taste this, and be henceforth among the gods “Thyself a goddess ;not to earth confin'd, “But sometimes in the air, as we;—sometimes " Ascend to heaven by merit thine, and see “What life the gods live there, and such live thou ! “ So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held“Ev'n to my mouth of that same fruit held part “ Which he had pluck’d: the pleasant savoury smell 85 “ So quicken'd appetite, that I, methought, “Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds “ With him I flew, and underneath beheld “ The earth outstretch'd immense—a prospect wide, 22 “ And various; wond'ring at my flight, and change 90 “ To this high exaltation ; suddenly My guide was gone; and I, methought, sunk down, “ And fell asleep : but O, how glad I wak’d, “ To find this but a dream !” Thus Eve her night a “ The trouble of thy thoughts, this night in sleep, 80 " Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none, 100 “ Created pure. But know, that in the soul “ Are many lesser faculties, that serve " Which the five watchful senses represent, 105 “ She forms imaginations, aery shapes, “ Which Reason joining, or disjoining, frames “ Into her private cell, when nature rests. 110 “Oft, in her absence, mimic Fancy wakes “ To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes, Ill-matching words and deeds, long past or late. “Some such resemblances, methinks, I find 115 “ Of our last ev'ning's talk, in this thy dream, “ But with addition strange; yet be not sad. May come and go, so unapprov'd, and leave “No spot or blame behind : which gives me hope 120 “ That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream, Waking thou never wilt consent to do. “ Be not dishearten'd then; nor cloud those looks, “ That wont to be more cheerful and serene, “Than when fair morning first smiles on the world : 125 “ And let us to our fresh employments rise, “ Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers, So cheer'd he his fair spouse, and she was cheer'd; 130 But silently a gentle tear let fall From either eye, and wip'd them with her hair ; Kiss'd, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse, 135 And pious awe that fear'd to have offended. So all was clear'd, and to the field they haste : 66 But first, from under shady arborous roof, Of day-spring, and the sun, who, scarce up-ris'n, 140 With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean-brim, Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray, Lowly they bow'd, adoring; and began 145 Their orisons, each morning duly paid In various style : for neither various style, Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence More tuneable than needed lute or harp “ These are thy glorious works, Parent of good! Almighty! Thine this universal frame, 155 “ Thus wondrous fair ;—Thyself how wondrous then! Unspeakable! who sitt'st above these heavens, Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light, “On earth, join all ye creatures to extol “Fairest of stars! last in the train of night, “ If better thou belong not to the dawn,“Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smiling morn “With thy bright circlet,-praise him in thy sphere, 170 “ While day arises, that sweet hour of prime. “ Thou sun! of this great world both eye and soul, Acknowledge him thy greater ; sound his praise “In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st, “And when high noon hast gain'd, and when thou fall'st. 160 66 175 185 190 “Moon! that now meet'st the orient sun, now fly'st “ With the fix'd stars,-fix'd in their orb that flies; “And ye five other wand'ring fires ! that move “ In mystic dance, not without song, resound “ His praise who out of darkness call’d up light. 180 “Air, and ye elements! the eldest birth “ Of nature's womb, that in quaternion run “ Ye mists and exhalations! that now rise “ His praise, ye winds! that from four quarters blow, “ Breathe soft, or loud; and wave your tops, ye pines ! “ With every plant, in sign of worship, wave. 195 “ Fountains! and ye that warble, as ye flow, “ Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. “ Join voices, all ye living souls! ye birds, “ Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk “Made vocal by my song, and taught his praise. 205 “Hail, Universal Lord! be bounteous still “ To give us only good: and, if the night So pray'd they innocent, and to their thoughts 210 Firm peace recover'd soon, and wonted calm. On to their morning's rural work they haste, 200 66 Of fruit-trees, over-woody, reach'd too far Their pamper'd boughs, and needed hands to check 215 Fruitless embraces : or they led the vine To wed her elm; she, spous'd, about him twines His barren leaves. Them, thus employ'd, beheld 220 With pity heaven's high King, and to him call’d Raphael, the sociable spirit, that deign'd Raphael,” said he, “ thou hear’st what stir on earth 225 “Satan, from hell 'scaped through the darksome gulf, “ Hath rais'd in Paradise ; and how disturb'd “Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend 230 “ Converse with Adam, in what bower or shade “ Thou find'st him, from the heat of noon retir'd “ As may advise him of his happy state235 “ Happiness in his power left free to will, 6 “ His danger, and from whom; what enemy, “ The fall of others from like state of bliss : “Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend 245 “Surprisal, unadmonish'd, unforewarn'd." So spake the Eternal Father, and fulfill’d Thousand celestial ardours, where he stood : |