Flew through the midst of heaven: the angelic quires, On each hand parting, to his speed gave way Through all the empyreal road: till, at the gate Of heaven arriv'd, the gate self-open'd wide 255 On golden hinges turning, as, by work Divine, the Sov'ran Architect had fram'd. From hence (no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight, Star interpos'd,) however small, he sees Not unconform to other shining globes 260 Earth, and the garden of God, with cedars crown'd 265 Delos, or Samos, first appearing, kens A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight He lights, and to his proper shape returns, Each shoulder broad, came mantling o'er his breast 280 With regal ornament; the middle pair Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round 290 For on some message high they guess'd him bound. 300 of his cool bower; while now the mounted sun Earth's inmost womb;-more warmth than Adam needs: For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please 305 True appetite, and not disrelish thirst Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream, "Haste hither, Eve! and, worth thy sight, behold, "Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape 310 "Comes this way moving; (seems another morn "Ris'n on mid-noon :) some great behest from heaven "To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe "This day to be our guest. But go with speed; "And, what thy stores contain, bring forth, and pour 315 "Abundance-fit to honour and receive "Our heavenly stranger: well we may afford "Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow "From large bestow'd, where nature multiplies "Her fertile growth, and by disburd'ning grows 320"More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare." 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 325" To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes: "But I will haste, and from each bough and brake, "Each plant and juiciest gourd, will pluck such choice To entertain our angel-guest, as he, "Beholding, shall confess that here on earth Taste after taste, upheld with kindliest change: 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 unsparing hand: for drink the grape 345 She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths 350 From many a berry; and, from sweet kernels press'd, Meanwhile our primitive great sire, to meet More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits 355 On princes, when their rich retinue long Of horses led, and grooms besmear'd with gold, 360 As to a superior nature, bowing low, Thus said: "Native of heaven! for other place "None can, than heaven, such glorious shape contain: "Since by descending from the thrones above, "Those happy places thou hast deign'd a while 365"To want, and honour these; vouchsafe with us "Two only, who yet by sov'ran gift possess "This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower 66 370 Be over, and the sun more cool decline." Whom thus the angelic Virtue answer'd mild: "Adam! I therefore came; nor art thou such "Created, nor such place hast here to dwell, "As may not oft invite, though spirits of heaven, 375"To visit thee: lead on then where thy bower "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, 380 Undeck'd save with herself, more lovely fair Than wood-nymph, or the fairest goddess feign'd Stood to entertain her guest from heaven: no veil Long after to blest Mary, second Eve. "Hail, mother of mankind! whose fruitful womb "Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons, 390 Than with these various fruits the trees of God "Have heap'd this table." Rais'd of grassy turf Their table was, and mossy seats had round; And on her ample square from side to side All autumn pil'd, though spring and autumn here 395 Danc'd hand in hand. A while discourse they hold; No fear lest dinner cool; when thus began Our author: "Heavenly stranger! please to taste "These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom "All perfect good, unmeasur'd out, descends,400 "To us for food and for delight hath caus'd "The earth to yield; unsavoury food, perhaps, "To spiritual natures: only this I know, "That one celestial Father gives to all." To whom the angel: "Therefore what he gives 405"(Whose praise be ever sung!) to man, in part 66 Spiritual, may of purest spirits be found "No ingrateful food: and food alike those pure "As doth your rational; and both contain 410"Within them every lower faculty 415 "Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste; "For know, whatever was created needs 66 The grosser feeds the purer; earth the sea; "Whence, in her visage round, those spots, unpurg'd 420 Vapours, not yet into her substance turn'd. "Nor doth the moon no nourishment exhale "From her moist continent to higher orbs. 425"In humid exhalations, and at even Sups with the ocean. Though in heaven the trees "Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines. "Yield nectar-though from off the boughs each morn "We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground 430 "Cover'd with pearly grain; yet God hath here "Varied his bounty so with new delights, 66 As may compare with heaven: and to taste 435 The angel, nor in mist,-the common gloss To transubstantiate: what redounds transpires 440 Of sooty coal the empiric alchymist Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, |