Bending to look on me: I started back: It started back: but pleas'd I foon return'd; Pleas'd it return'd as foon; with anfwering looks Of fympathy, and love: there I had fix'd 465 Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain defire, Had not a voice thus warn'd me, "What thou fecft, "What there thou feeft, fair Creature, is thy felf; "With thee it came, and goes: but, follow me, "And I will bring thee where no fhadow ftays 470 Thy coming, and thy foft embraces; he "Whofe image thou art: him thou shalt enjoy Infeparably thine, to him thalt bear 66 " "Multitudes like thy felf, and thence be call'd "Mother of human race. What could I do, 475 But follow ftrait, invifibly thus led, 'Till I efpy'd thee? fair indeed, and tall, Than that fimooth watry image: back I turn'd; 480 And wisdom, which alone is truly fair. So fpake our general mother; and with eyes 485 490 495 Naked Naked met his, under the flowing gold On JUNO fmiles, when he impregns the clouds, 500 For envy, yet with jealous leer malign Ey'd them afkance; and to himself thus plain'd. SIGHT hateful, fight tormenting! thus these two, Imparadis'd in one another's arms, 506 510 (The happier EDEN!) fhall enjoy their fill The proof of their obedience, and their faith? 520 526 A chance, A chance, but chance may lead where I may meet 530 What further would be learn'd. Live while ye may, Short pleasures; for, long woes are to fucceed! 535 So faying, his proud ftep he fcornful turn'd, But with fly circumfpection; and began Thro' wood, thro' waste, o'er hill, o'er dale his roam. Mean-while in utmost longitude, where heav'n With earth and ocean meets, the fetting fun 540 Slowly defcended; and with right afpect 545 550 Th' unarmed youth of heav'n; but nigh at hand In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd 560 GABRIEL! to thee thy courfe by lot hath giv'n Charge, and strict watch, that to this happy place No No evil thing approach, or enter in : 565 This day, at height of noon, came to my sphere 575 To whom the winged warrior thus return'd: URIEL! no wonder if thy perfect fight, Amid the fun's bright circle, where thou fit'ft, See far, and wide: in at this gate none pafs The vigilance here plac'd, but fuch as come 580 Well-known from heav'n; and fince meridian hour No creature thence. If fpirit of other fort, So minded, have o'er-leap'd thefe earthly bounds On purpose, hard thou know'ft it to exclude Spiritual fubftance with corporeal bar. But, if within the circuit of these walks, In whatsoever shape, he lurk, of whom Thou tell'ft, by morrow dawning I fhall know. 585 So promis'd he; and URIEL to his charge 590 Return'd, on that bright beam, whofe point now rais'd Bore him flope downward to the fun, now fall'n Beneath th' AzeRAS: whether the prime orb, Incredible how fwift, had thither rowl'd Diurnal; or this lefs voluble earth, By fhorter flight to th' eaft, had left him there, 595 Arraying Arraying with reflected purple, and gold, The clouds that on his weftern throne attend. 600 605 Now came ftill evening on, and twilight gray Had in her fober livery all things clad : Silence accompany'd; for beaft, and bird, They to their graffy couch, thefe to their nefts, Were flunk; all but the wakeful nightingale; She all night long her amorous defcant fung; Silence was pleas'd: now glow'd the firmament With living faphirs; HESPERUS, that led The ftarry hoft, rod brighteft; till the moon, Rifing in clouded majefty at length, Apparent Queen, unveil'd her peerlefs light, And o'er the dark her filver mantle threw; When ADAM thus to EVE: Fair confort th' hour Of night, and all things now retir'd to rest, Mind us of like repofe; fince GOD hath fet Labour and rest, as day and night to men Succeffive; and the timely dew of fleep, 611 620 Now falling with foft flumbrous weight, inclines 615 625 Thofe |