For we to Him indeed all praises owe,
And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy
So far the happier lot, enjoying thee
Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou
Like consort to thyself canst no where find.
That day I oft remember, when from sleep
I first awaked, and found myself reposed
Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where
And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.
Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound
Of waters issued from a cave, and spread
Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved
Pure as the' expanse of Heaven: I thither went
With unexperienced thought, and laid me down
On the green bank, to look into the clear
Smooth lake, that to me seem'd another sky.
As I bent down to look, just opposite
A shape within the watery gleam appear'd,
Bending to look on me: I started back;
It started back: but pleased I soon return'd;
Pleased it return'd as soon with answering looks
Of sympathy and love: there I had fix'd
Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire,
Had not a voice thus warn'd me; What thou seest,
What there thou seest, fair Creature! is thyself;
With thee it came and goes: but follow me,
And I will bring thee where no shadow stays
Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he
Whose image thou art: him thou shalt enjoy
Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear

Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call'd
Mother of human race.'--What could I do,
But follow straight, invisibly thus led?
Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall,

Under a platane; yet methought less fair,
Less winning soft, less amiably mild,

Than that smooth watery image: back I turn'd;
Thou following cried'st aloud, Return, fair Eve!
Whom fliest thou? whom thou fliest, of him thou art,
His flesh, his bone: to give thee being, I lent
Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart,
Substantial life, to have thee by my side
Henceforth an individual solace dear.
Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim
My other half. With that thy gentle hand
Seized mine: I yielded; and from that time see
How beauty is excell'd by manly grace;
And wisdom, which alone is truly fair."

So spake our general mother, and with eyes
Of conjugal attraction unreproved,
And meek surrender, half-embracing lean'd
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 With kisses pure: aside the Devil turn'd

[lip

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
Yet happy pair! enjoy, till I return,
Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed."

ye may,

So saying, his proud step he scornful turn'd, But with sly circumspection; and began [roam. Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his Meanwhile in utmost longitude, where heaven With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun Slowly descended, and with right aspéct 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' unarm'd youth of heaven; but nigh at hand
Celestial armory, shields, helms, and spears,
Hung high, with diamond flaming, and with gold.
Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even
On a sun-beam; swift, as a shooting star
In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fired
Impress the air; and shows 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 highth 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 aery gait;
But, on 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 return'd:
"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 earthy 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: whether 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 grey
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 threw.

When Adam thus to Eve: "Fair Consort! the' Of night, and all things now retired to rest, [hour Mind us of like repose; since God hath set