Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams. 205 270 Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspired Castalian spring, might with this Paradise Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle 275 Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, (Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove), Hid Amalthea, and her florid son, Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye; His fair large front and eye sublime declared Round from his parted forelock manly hung Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed; 280 235 290 295 300 305 310 315 So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight 320 325 330 335 Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league, Alone as they. About them frisking played 340 All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase In wood or wilderness, forest or den: Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw Dandled the kid: bears, tigers, ounces, pards, Gambolled before them; the unwieldy elephant, 345 To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed His lithe proboscis: close the serpent sly, Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine His braided train, and of his fatal guile Gave proof unheeded: others on the grass 350 Couched, and, now filled with pasture, gazing sat, Or bedward ruminating; for the Sun, Declined, was hasting now with prone career 355 360 "With wonder, and could love; so lively shines "In them divine resemblance, and such grace 66 The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured! 365 "More woe, the more your taste is now of joy! Happy, but for so happy ill secured 370 "Long to continue; and this high seat, your Heaven, "Ill fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe "Though I unpitied. League with you I seek, 66 "And send forth all her kings: there will be room, "Not like these narrow limits, to receive "Your numerous offspring; if no better place, 'Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge 355 66 "On you, who wrong me not, for him who wronged. And should I at your harmless innocence 66 Melt, as I do, yet public reason just, Honour and empire, with revenge, enlarged, 390 "By conquering this new world, compels me now "To do what else, though damned, I should abhor." So spake the fiend, and with necessity, The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds. £95 Of those four-footed kinds-himself now one, Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied, To mark what of their state he more might learn, 400 By word or action marked: about them round, A lion now, he stalks with fiery glare; Then, as a tiger, who by chance hath spied Straight couches close; then, rising, changes oft 405 410 "As liberal and free as infinite; 415 "That raised us from the dust, and placed us here "Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires "From us no other service than to keep 420 "This one-this easy charge: of all the trees "In Paradise that bear delicious fruit "So various, not to taste that only Tree "Of Knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life: So near grows death to life! whate'er death is; 425 "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 "Among so many signs of power and rule "Conferred upon us, and dominion given 430 "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 To 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 formed, flesh of thy flesh; "And without whom am to no end; my guide "And head! what thou hast said is just and right. "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 nowhere find. "That day I oft remember, when from sleep 66 I first awaked, and found myself reposed, 435 410 445 450 "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, 455 "Pure as the expanse of Heaven: I thither went "With unexperienced thought, and laid me down 66 66 A shape within the watery gleam appeared, 460 "It started back; but pleased I soon returned: "Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks "Of sympathy and love: there I had fixed 465 "Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire, "Had not a voice thus warned me: 'What thou seest, "What there thou seest, fair creature, is thyself; "With thee it came and goes: but follow me, 470 66 "And I will bring thee where no shadow stays 475 "Less winning soft, less amiably mild, "Than that smooth watery image. Back I turned: 480 "Thou following criedst 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: 455 66 "Part of my soul, I seek thee, and thee claim, So spake our general mother; and, with eyes 490 495 On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds 500 That shed May flowers; and pressed her matron lip With kisses pure. Aside the devil turned For envy; yet with jealous leer malign Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained: '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, 66 "Still unfulfilled, with pain of longing pines. "Yet let me not forget what I have gained "From their own mouths: all is not theirs, it seems: 66 66 One fatal tree there stands, of Knowledge called, 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 66 By ignorance? Is that their happy state, "The proof of their obedience and their faith? "O fair foundation laid whereon to build 510 515 520 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, 525 66 They taste, and die! what likelier can ensue? 530 "Some wandering spirit of Heaven, by fountain side, "Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw "What farther would be learned. 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 turned, 535 But with sly circumspection, and began Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam. Meanwhile, in utmost longitude, where Heaven 540 Slowly descended, and, with right aspect |