Much fairer to my fancy than by day:
And as I wondring look'd, beside it stood

One shap'd and wing'd like one of those from Heav'n
By us oft feen: his dewy locks distill'd

56

AMBROSIA; on that tree he also gaz'd;
And O fair plant, faid he, with fruit furcharg'd!
Deigns none to ease thy load and taste thy sweet,
Nor God, nor Man? Is knowledge so despis'd? 60
Or envy, or what referve forbids to taste?

Forbid who will, none shall from me with-hold
Longer thy offer'd good: why else set here?
This faid he paus'd not, but with vent'rous arm
He pluck'd, he tafted me damp horror chill'd
At such bold words, vouch'd with a deed so bold.

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But he thus, overjoy'd, O fruit divine!

Sweet of thy self, but much more sweet thus crop'd! Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit

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For Gods, yet able to make Gods of men:
And why not Gods of men, fince good the more

Communicated, more abundant grows,
The author not impair'd, but honor'd more?
Here, happy creature, fair Angelic EVE!
Partake thou also: happy though thou art,
Happier thou may'st be, worthier canft not be:
Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods
Thy felf a Goddess, not to earth confin'd,
But fometimes in the air, as we, sometimes
Afcend to Heav'n, by merit thine, and fee
What life the Gods live there, and fuch live thou.
So faying, he drew nigh, and to me held,
Ev'n to my mouth, of that fame fruit held part
Which he had pluck'd: the pleasant favoury smell
So quicken'd appetite, that I, methought,
Could not but taste! Forthwith up to the clouds
With him I flew, and underneath beheld
The earth outstretch'd immenfe, a profpect wide
And various: wond'ring at my flight and change
To this high exaltation; fuddenly

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80

85

90

My

My guide was gone, and I, methought, funk down,
And fell afleep: but O, how glad I wak'd
To find this but a dream! Thus EVE her night
Related, and thus ADAM answer'd fad.

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100

Best image of my self, and dearer half! The trouble of thy thoughts this night in fleep Affects me equally; nor can I like This uncouth dream, of evil sprung I fear, Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none, Created pure. But know that in the foul Are many lefsser faculties that serve Reason as chief; among these Fancy next Her office holds: of all external things Which the five watchful senses reprefent, She forms imaginations, aery shapes, Which Reafon joining or disjoining, frames All what we affirm, or what deny, and call Our knowledge or opinion; then retires Into her private cell, when nature rests. Oft in her absence mimic Fancy wakes To imitate her; but misjoining shapes, Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams; Ill matching words and deeds long past or late. Some fuch resemblances methinks I find Of our last evening's talk, in this thy dream, But with addition strange: yet be not fad, Evil into the mind of Gop or Man May come and go, so unapprov'd, and leave No fpot or blame behind: which gives me hope That what in fleep thou didst abhor to dream, Waking thou never wilt consent to do. Be not dishearten'd then, nor cloud those looks, That wont to be more chearful and ferene, Than when fair morning fist smiles on the world: And let us to our fresh employments rife Among the groves, the fountains and the flow'rs, That open now their choiceft bosom'd smells Reserv'd from night, and kept for thee in store.

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120

125

So 130

So chear'd he his fair spouse, and she was chear'd, But filently a gentle tear let fall From either eye, and wip'd them with her hair: Two other precious drops that ready stood, Each in their chrystal fluice, he e're they fell Kifs'd, as the gracious figns of sweet remorse, And pious awe, that fear'd to have offended. 135 So all was clear'd, and to the field they haste: But first from under shady arborous roof, Soon as they forth were come to open fight Of day-spring, and the Sun (who scarce up-ris'n With wheels yet hov'ring o'er the ocean brim, 140

Shot pararel to th' earth his dewy ray,

Difcovering in wide landscape all the east
Of Paradise, and EDEN'S happy plains.)
Lowly they bow'd, adoring, and began
Their orifons, each morning duly paid
In various style; for neither various style
Nor holy rapture wanted they to praife
Their Maker, in fit strains pronounc'd or fung

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Unmediated, fuch prompt eloquence

Flow'd from their lips, in prose or numerous verse: 150

More tunable, than needed lute or harp

To add more sweetness, and they thus began.

Thefe are thy glorious works, Parent of good! Almighty! thine this univerfal frame, Thus wondrous fair; thy felf how wondrous then ! Unspeakable! who fitt'it above these heav'ns,

To us invisible, or dimly feen

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In these thy lowest works: yet these declare
Thy goodness beyond thought, and pow'r divine.
Speak ye who best can tell, ye fons of light, 160
Angels! for ye behold him, and with fongs
And choral symphonies, day without night,
Circle his throne rejoicing, ye in Heav'n,
On earth join all ye creatures to extol

Him first, him last, him midst, and without end! 165
Faireft