Runs divers, wandring many a famous realm
And country, whereof here needs no account; 235
But rather to tell how, (if art could tell
How) from that saphire fount the crisped brooks,
Rowling on orient pearl and sands of gold,
With mazy error under pendent shades
Ran Nectar, visiting each plant, and fed
Flow'rs worthy of Paradise, which not nice art
In beds and curious knots, but nature boon
Pour'd forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain,
Both where the morning Sun first warmly smote
The open field, and where the unpierced shade 245
Imbrown'd the noon-tide bow'rs. Thus was this place,
A happy rural feat of various view :
Groves whofe rich trees wept od'rous gums, & balm;
Others whose fruit burnish'd with golden rind
Hung amiable, HESPERIAN fables true,
If true, here only, and of delicious taste.
Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks
Grazing the tender herb, were interpos'd,
Or palmy hilloc, or the flow'ry lap
Of fome irriguous valley spred her store;
Flow'rs of all hue, and without thorn the rofe.
Another fide, umbrageous grots and caves
Of cool recefs, o'er which the mantling vine
Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps
Luxuriant: mean-while murm'ring waters fall 260
Down the flope hills, dispers'd, or in a lake,
That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd
Her chrystal mirror holds, unite their streams.
The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs,
Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune
The trembling leaves, while univerfal PAN,
Knit with the GRACES and the HOURS in dance,
Led on th'eternal spring. Not that fair field
Of ENNA, where PROSERPINE gathering flow'rs,
Her felf a fairer flow'r by gloomy DIS
Was gather'd, which cost CERES all that pain.
To seek her thro' the world: nor that sweet grove
Of DAPHNE by ORONTES, and th' inspir'd
CASTALIAN spring, might with this Paradife
Of EDEN strive: nor that NYSEIAN ifle
Girt with the river TRITON, where old CHAM,
(Whom Gentiles AMMON call and LIBYAN JOVE)
Hid AMALTHEA, and her florid fon
Young BACCHUS, from his stepdame RHEA's eye:
Nor where ABASSIN Kings their issue guard, 280
Mount AMARA (though this by fome fuppos'd
True Paradise) under the, ÆTHIOP Line
By NILUS' head, inclos'd with thining rock,
A whole day's journey high, but wide remote
From this ASSYRIAN garden; where the Fiend 285
Saw undelighted all delight, all kind
Of living creatures new to fight and strange.
Two of far nobler shape erect and tall, Godlike erect! with native honor clad In naked majefty, feem'd Lords of all; And worthy feem'd: for in their looks divine The image of their glorious maker shone, Truth, wisdom, fanctitude fevere and pure; Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd, Whence true authority in men: though both Not equal, as their fex not equal feem'd; For contemplation he, and valor form'd, For foftness the, and sweet attractive grace; He for GOD Only, the for Gon in him. His fair large front, and eye fublime, declar'd 300
Absolute rule; and hyacinthin locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Clustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad.
She, as a veil, down to the flender waist
Her unadorned golden tresses wore,
Disshevel'd, but in wanton ringlets wav'd,
As the vine curls her tendrils, which imply'd
Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway,
And by her yielded, by him best receiv'd,
Yielded with coy fubmiffion, modeft pride,
And sweet reluctant amorous delay.
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd;
Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame
Of nature's works; honor dishonorable;
Sin-bred! how have ye troubled all mankind
With thews instead, mere thews, of feeming pure,
And banish'd from man's life his happiest life,
Simplicity, and spotless innocence?
So pafs'd they naked on, nor thun'd the fight
Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill:
So hand in hand they pass'd, the lovlieft pair
That ever fince in loves embraces met;
ADAM the goodliest man of men fince born
His fons; the fairest of her daughters Eve.
Under a tuft of shade, that on a green
Stood whifp'ring foft, by a fresh fountain side
They fat them down; and after no more toil
Of their sweet gard'ning labor than fuffic'd
To recommend cool ZEPHYR, and made ease
More eafie, wholsom thirst and appetite
More grateful, to their fupper-fruits they fell,
Nectarine fruits! which the compliant boughs
Yielded them, fide-long as they fat recline
On the foft downy bank damask'd with flow'rs.
The favoury pulp they chew, and in the rind
Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream;
Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing fmiles
Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as befeems
Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league,
Alone as they. About them frisking plaid
All beasts of th' earth, fince wild, and of all chase
In wood or wilderness, forest or den;
Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw
Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards,
Gambol'd before them, th' unwieldy elephant
To make them mirth us'd all his might, and wreath'd
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