And Eve within, due at her hour prepared

For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please
True appetite, and not disrelish thirst

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Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream,
Berry or grape: To whom thus Adam called.

Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold
Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape
Comes this way moving; seems another morn

Risen on mid-noon; some great behest from Heaven 311 To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe

This day to be our guest. But go

with speed,

And, what thy stores contain, bring forth, and pour
Abundance, fit to honour and receive

Our heavenly stranger: Well we may afford
Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow
From large bestowed, where Nature multiplies
Her fertile growth, and by disburthening grows
More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare.

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To whom thus Eve. Adam, earth's hallowed mould,

Of God inspired! small store will serve, where store,
All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk;

Save what by frugal storing firmness gains
To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes:

But I will haste, and from each bough and brake,
Each plant and juciest gourd, will pluck such choice
To entertain our Angel-guest, as he

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Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth
God hath dispensed his bounties as in Heaven.
So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste
She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent
What choice to choose for delicacy best,
What order, so contrived as not to mix
Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring
Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change;
Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk
Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields
In India East or West, or middle shore
In Pontus or the Punick coast, or where
Alcinous reigned, fruit of all kinds, in coat
Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell,
She gathers, tribute large, and on the board
Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the grape
She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths
From many a berry, and from sweet kernels pressed
She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold
Wants her fit vessels pure; then strows the ground
With rose and odours from the shrub unfumed.

Mean while our primitive great sire, to meet
His God-like guest, walks forth, without more train
Accompanied than with his own complete

Perfections; in himself was all his state,

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More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits

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