Thou find'it him, from the heat of noon retir'd,
To respit his day-labour with repaft,
Or with repose: and such discourse bring on,
As
may

advise him of his happy Itate, Happiness in his pow'r left free to will,

235
Left to his own free will ; his will, though free,
Yet mutable: whence warn him to beware
He swerve not too secure. Tell him withal
His danger, and from whom; what enemy,
Late fall’n himself from heav'n, is plotting now 240
The fall of others from like state of bliss :
By violence? no; for that shall be withstood :
But by deceit and lies: chis let him know,
Left wilfully transgressing, he pretend
Surprisalun-admonish'd, un-forewarn'd.

245

So spake th' Eternal Father, and fulfill'd
Al justice: nor delay'd the winged faint,
After his charge receiv'd; but from among
Thousand cælestial Ardours, where he stood

249
Veild with his gorgeous wings, up-springing light,
Flew thro' the midīt of heav'n: th' Angelic Choirs,
On each hand parting, to his speed gave way.
Through all th' empyreal road; till at the gate
Of heav'n arriv'd, the gate self-open'd wide,
On golden hinges turning; as by work

255
Divine, the sov'reign architect had fram'd.
From hence (no cloud, or, to obstruct his fight,
Star interpos'd) however small, he sees
(Not unconform to other shining globes)
Earth, and the gard'n of God, with cedars crown'd
Above all hills. As when by night the glass 261
Of GALILEO, less assur'd, observes
Imagin'd lands and regions in the moon :
Or pilot from amidst the CYCLADES,
DELOs, or SAMOs, first appearing kens
A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight
He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky
Sails between worlds and worlds: with fteddy wing
Now on the polar winds; then with quick fan

Winnows

265

Winnows the buxom air: till within foar

270
Of towring eagles, t'all the fowls he seems
A phoenix, gaz'd by all, as that fole bird,
When to inshrine his reliques in the sun's
Bright temple, to ÆGYPTIAN Thebes he flies.
At once on th' eastern cliff of Paradise

275
He lights, and to his proper shape returns,
A Seraph wing'd : fix wings he wore, to shade
His lineaments divine ; the pair that clad
Each shoulder broad, came mantling o'er his breast
With regal ornament: the middle pair

280
Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round
Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold,
And colours dip'd in heav'n: the third, his feet
Shadow'd from either heel with feather'd mail,
Sky-tinctur'd grain! Like Mala's son he stood, 285
And shook his

plumes, that heav'nly fragrance filld
The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands
Of Angels under watch ; and to his itate,
And to his message high, in honour rise ;

289
For on some message high they guess'd him bound.
Their glittring tents he pass'd, and now is come
Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh,
And flow’ring odors, cassia, nard, and balm ;
A wilderness of sweets! for Nature here
Wanton'd, as in her prime, and plaid at will

295
Her virgin-fancies, pouring forth more sweet,
Wild above rule, or art, enormous bliss !
Him through the spicy forett onward come
ADAM discern'd, as in the door he fat
Of his cool bow'r ; while now the mounted sun

300
Shot down direct his fervid rays, to warm
Earth's inmost womb, (more warmth than ADAM needs :)
And Eve within, due at her hour, prepar'd
For dinner savoury fruits, of tafte to please
True appetite, and not disrelish thirit

305 Of nectarous draughts between, from milky ftream, Berry, or grape; to whom thus Adam call'd.

Hafte hither Eve! and worth thy fight behold

M

Ealt.

Eastward among these trees, what glorious shape
Comes this way moving ; seems another morn 310
Ris’n on mid-noon: some great behest from heav'n
To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchfafe
"This day to be our guest. But go with speed,
And what thy stores contain, bring forth, and pour
Abundance, fit to honour and receive

315
Our heav'n'y stranger: well we may afford
Our givers their own gifts, and large beltow
From large bestow'd, where nature multiplies
Her fertil growth, and by disburd’ning grows
More fruitful, which instructs us not to fpare. 320

To whom thus Eve. Adam! earth's hallow'd mould, Of God inspir'd! small store will serve, where store (All seasons) ripe for use hangs on the stalk; Save what by frugal storing firmness gains *To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes.

325 But I will haste, and from each bough, and brake, Each plant, and juiciest gourd, will pluck such choice To entertain our Angel-gueft, as he, Beholding fall confess, that here on earth God hath dispens'd his bounties, as in heav'n. 330

So saying, with dispatchful looks in hafte Sae turns, or hospitable thoughts intent What choice to chuse for delicacy best ; What order, fo contriv'd as not to mix Taites, not well join'd, inelegant; but bring 335 Taite after tafte, upheld with kindliest change: Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk Whatever earth, all-bearing mother, yields In India east or weft; or middle shoar In Pontus, or the Punic coast; or where

340 ALCINOUS reign'd; fruit of all kinds, in coat Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell, She gathers; tribute large! and on the board Heaps with un-sparing hand : for drink, the grape She crushes, (inoffensive Must!) and meathes 345 From many a berry; and, from sweet kernels press'd,

She

She tempers dulcet creams, nor these to hold
Wants her fit vessels pure ;. then itrews the ground.
With rose, and odours from the shrub, unfum'd.
Mean-while our primitive great fiře, to meet

350
His god-like guest, walks forth ; without more train
Accompany'd than with his own complete
Perfections ; in himfelf was all his state:
More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits
On Princes, when their rich retinue long

355
Of horses led, and grooms besmear'd with gold,
Dazzles the crowd, and sets them all agape.
Nearer his presence, ADAM, though not aw'd,
Yet with submiss approach, and rev'rence meek,
As to superior nature, bowing low,
Thus faid. Native of heaven! (for other place,
None can than heav'n such glorious shape contain),
Since by descending from the Thrones above,
Those happy places thou haft deign'd a while
To want, and honor these, vouchsafe with us. 365:
Two only, who yet by fov'rcign gift possess
This spacious ground, in yonder shady bow'r
To reit; and what the garden choicest bears
To fit and taste, till this meridian heat
Be over, and the sun more.cool decline.

3707

360

3753

Whom thus th’ Angelic Virtue answer'd mild.
ADAM! I therefore came; nor art thou such
Created, or such place haft here to dwell,
Aš may not oft invite, (though Spirits of heav'n,)
To visit thee ; lead on then where thy bow'r
O'ershades; for these mid-hours, 'till ev'ning rise,
I have at will.- -So to the sylvan Lodge
They came, that like Pomona's arbour smil'd,
With flow'rets deck'd, and fragrant smells: but Eve
Undeck'd, save with her self, (more lovely fair
Than Wood-nymph, or the faireft Goddess feign'd
Of three, that in mount Ida naked strove !)
Stood t' entertain her gụest from heav'n: nơ veil .
She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm
Alter'd her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail

386

3853

Bestow'd, the holy falutation usd
Long after to blest Mary, second Eve.

Hail, Mother of Mankind! whose fruitful womb Shall fill the world more numerous with thy fons, Than with these various fruits the trees of God

390 Have heap'd this table.Rais'd of graffy turf Their table was, and moffy seats had round: And on her ample square, from side to side, All autumn pild; tho' spring and autumn here Danc'd hand in hand. À while discourse they hold ; (No fear left dinner cool). when thus began

396 Our author. Heav'nly stranger! please to taste These bounties, which our Nourisher, (from Whom All perfect good, unmeasur'd out, descends To us for food, and for delight,) hath caus'd 400 The earth to yield: unfavoury food, perhaps, To fpiritual natures ; only this I know, That one cælestial Father gives to all.

To whom the Angel. Therefore what He gives (Whose praise be ever fung!) to man, in part 405. Spiritual, may of purest spirits be found No ingrateful food and food alike those pure Intelligential substances require, As doth your rational : And both contain Within them ev'ry lower faculty

410 Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste :) Tafting concoct, digest, assimilate, And corporeal to incorporeal turn. For know, whatever was created, needs To be sustain'd and fed : of elements,

415 The grosser feeds the purper ; earth the sea; Earth, and the sea, feed air; those fires Echereal, and as lowest, first the moon ; Whence, in her visage round, those spots, unpurg'd Vapors, not yet into her substance turn'd.

420 Nor doth the moon no nourishment exhale From her moist continent, to higher orbs. The sun, that light imparts to all,, receives

From