Thus at their shadie Lodge arriv'd, both stood, 720 Both turn'd, and under open Sky ador'd
The God that made both Sky, Air, Earth and Heav'n,
Which they beheld, the Moon's refplendent Globe
And ftarry Pole: Thou also mad'ft the Night,
Maker Omnipotent, and thou the Day.
Which we in our appointed work imploy'd
Have finisht happy in our mutual help
And mutual love, the Crown of all our blifs
Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place
For us too large, where thy abundance wants 730
Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground.
But thou haft promis'd from us two a Race
To fill the Earth, who fhall with us extol
Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,
And when we feek, as now, thy gift of fleep. 735
This faid unanimous, and other Rites
Observing none, but adoration pure
Which God likes beft, into their inmoft Bower
Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off
These troublesome difguifes which we wear, 740
Streight fide by fide were laid, nor turn'd I weene
Adam from his fair Spouse, nor Eve the Rites
Mysterious of connubial Love refus'd:
Whatever Hypocrites aufterely talk
Of purity and place and innocence,
Defaming as impure what God declares
Pure, and commands to fome, leaves free to all,
Our Maker bids increafe, who bids abftain
But our destroyer, foe to God and Man?
Hail wedded Love, myfterious Law, true fource 75
Of human offspring, fole propriety,
In Paradife of all things common else.
By thee adulterous luft was driv'n from men
Among the beftial herds to range, by thee
Founded in Reafon, Loyal, Juft, and Pure,
Relations dear, and all the Charities
Of Father, Son, and Brother firft were known.
Far be it, that I fhould write thee fin or blame,
Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,
Perpetual Fountain of Domeftick fweets,
Whose bed is undefil'd and chafte pronounc'd,
Prefent, or paft, as Saints or Patriarchs us'd.
Here Love his golden fhafts employs, here lights
His conftant Lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigns here and revels; not in the 'bought smile
Of Harlots, loveless, joyless, unindear'd,
Cafual fruition, nor in Court Amours
Mixt Dance, or wanton Mask, or midnight Ball,
Or Serenate, which the ftarv'd Lover fings
To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.
Thefe lull'd by Nightingales imbracing flept,
And on their naked limbs the floury roof
Showr'd Rofes, which the Morn repair'd. Sleep on
Eleft pair; and O yet happiest if ye seek
No happier ftate, and know to know no more. 775
Now had night measur'd with her fhaddowy
Half way up Hill this vaft fublunar Vault,
And from their Ivory, Port the Cherubim
Forth iffuing at th'accustom'd hour food am'd
To their night watches in warlike Parade,
When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake.
Uzziel, half these draw off, and coaft the South With ftri&teft watch; thefe other wheel the North, Our circuit meets full Weft. As flame they part Half wheeling to the Shield, half to the Spear. 785 From these, two ftrong and futtle Spirits he call'd That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge. Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed
Search through this Garden, leave unfearcht no nook,
But chiefly where thofe two fair Creatures lodge,
Now laid perhaps afleep fecure of harm.
This Eevning from the Sun's decline arriv'd,
Who tells of fome infernal Spirit seen
Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) efcap'd
The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:
Such where ye find, feize faft, and hither bring.
So faying, on he led his radiant Files,
Dazling the Moon; these to the Bower direct
In fearch of whom they fought him there they found
Squat like a Toad, clofe at the ear of Eve; εoc
Affaying by his devilish Art to reach
The Organs of her Fancy, and with them forge
Illufions as he lift, Phantafms and Dreams,
Or if, infpiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal Spirits that from pure blood arife
Like gentle breaths from Rivers pure, thence raise
At laft diftemper'd, difcontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aimes, inordinate defires
Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride. ̧
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his Spear
Touch'd lightly; for no falfhood can endure
Touch of Celestial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likeness: up he starts
Discover'd and furpriz'd. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder, laid
Fit for the Tun fome Magazine to store
Against a rumor❜d War, the smutty grain
With fudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the Air:
So ftarted up in his own shape the Fiend.
Back ftept those two fair Angels half amaz'd 820
So fudden to behold the griefly King;
Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accoft him foon.
Which of thofe rebel Spirits adjudg'd to Hell Com'ft thou, efcap'd thy prison, and transform'd, Why fat'ft thou like an enemy in wait
Here watching at the head of these that fleep?
Know ye not then, faid Satan, fill'd with fcorn,
Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
For you, there fitting where you durft not foare;
Not to know me argues your felves unknown, 830
The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,
Why ask ye, and fuperfluous begin
Your meffage, like to end as much in vain?
To whom thus Zephon, answering fcorn with fcorn.
Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the fame, 835
Or undiminisht brightness to be known
As when thou stood'ft in Heav'n upright and pure;
That Glory then, when thou no more waft good,
Departed from thee, and thou refembl'ft now
Thy fin and place of doom obfcure and foule. 840
But come, for thou, befure, fhalt give account
To him who fent us, whofe charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and these from harm.
So fpake the Cherube, and his grave rebuke
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
Invincible: abasht the Devil ftood,
And felt how awful goodness is, and faw
Virtue in her shape how lovely, faw, and pin'd
His lofs; but chiefly to find here obferv'd
His luftre visibly impair'd; yet feem'd
Undaunted. If I must contend, said he,
Beft with the best, the Sender not the fent,
Or all at once; more glory will be won,
Or lefs be loft. Thy fear, faid Zephon bold,
Will fave us trial what the leaft can do
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.
The Fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage;
But like a proud Steed rein'd, went haughty on,
Chaumping his iron curb: to ftrive or flie
He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd 860
His heart, not elfe difmay'd. Now drew they nigh
The western Point, where those half-rounding guards
Juft met, and closing stood in fquadron join'd
Awaiting next command. To whom their Chief
Gabriel from the Front thus call'd aloud. 865
O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet
Hafting this way, and now by glimps difcern
Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,
And with them comes a third of Kegal port,
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