580

585

591

So awful, that with honor thou may't love
Thy mate, who fees when thou art feen leaft wife.
But if the fenfe of touch whereby mankind
Is propagated feem fuch dear delight
Beyond all other, think the fame vouchfal'd
To cattel and each beaft; which would not be
To them made common and divulg'd, if ought
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to fubdue
The foul of man, or paffion in him move.
What high'er in her fociety thou find'st
Attractive, human, rational, love ftill;
In loving thou doft well, in paffion not,
Wherein true love confifts not; love refines
The thoughts, and heart inlarges, hath his feat
In rea'fon, and is judicious, is the feale
By which to heav'nly love thou may'st ascend,
Not funk in carnal pleature, for which cause
Among the beafs no mate for thee was found.
To whom thus half abafh'd Adam reply'd. 595
Neither her outfide form'd fo fair, nor ought
In procreation common to all kinds
(Though higher of the genial bed by far,
And with myfterious reverence I deum)
So much delights me, as thofe graceful acts,
Thofe thoufand decencies that daily flow
From all her words and actions nix'd with love
And fweet eompliance, which declare unfeign'd
Union of mind, or in us both one foul;
Harmony to behold in wedded pair

600

605

Bear with me then, if lawful what I afk; Love not the heav'nly Spirits, and how their love Express they, by looks only', or do they mix 616 Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?

To whom the Angel with a fmile that glow'd Celestial rofy red, love's proper hue, Anfwer'd. Let it fuffice thee that thou know' Us happy', and without love no happiness. 621 Whatever pure thou in the body' enjoy't (And pure thou wert created) we enjoy In eminence, and obftacle find none Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars; 625 Eafier than air with air, if Spirits embrace, Total they mix, union of pure with pare Defiring; nor reftrain'd conveyance need As flesh to mix with flesh, or foul with fool But I can now no more; the parting fun 630 Beyond the earth's green Cape and verdant lles Hefperian fets, my fignal to depart. Be ftrong, live happy', and love, but first of all Him whom to love is to obey, and keep 634 His great command; take heed leit passion fway Thy judgment to do ought, which elfe free will Would not admit; thine and of all thy fons, The weal or woc in thee is plac'd; beware. I in thy perfevering fhall rejoice, And all the Bleft: ftand faft; to ftand or fall 640 Free in thy own arbitrement it lies. Perfect within, no outward aid require; And all temptation to tranfgrefs repel.

So faying, he arofe; whom Adam thus Follow'd with benediction. Since to part, Go heav'nly Gueft, ethereal Meffenger, Sent from whofe fovran goodness I adore. Gentle to me and affable hath been Thy condefcenfion, and fhall be' honor'd ever With grateful memory: thou to mankind Be good and friendly itill, and oft return.

So parted they, the Angel up to Heaven From the thick fhade, and Adam to his bower.

THE END OF THE EIGHTH BOOK.

60

On Man's deftruction, maugre what might hap
Of heavier on himself, fearless return'd.
By night he fled, and at midnight return'd
From compaffing the carth, cautious of day,
Since Uriel regent of the fun defery'd
His entrance, and forewarn'd the Cherubim
That kept their watch; thence full of anguifh driven,
The fpace of fev'n continued nights he rode
With darkness, thrice the equinoctial line
He circled, four times crofs'd the car of night 65
From pole to pole, travérfing each colure;
On th' eighth return'd, and on the coaft averfe
From entrance or Cherubic watch, by stealth
Found unfufpected way. There was a place,
Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the
change,

Where Tigris at the foot of Paradife
Into a guli fhot under ground, till part
Rofe up a fountain by the tree of life;

In with the river funk, and with it rofe

70

75

80

Satan involv'd-in rising mist, then fought
Where to lie hid; fea he had fearch'd and land
From Eden over Poutus, and the pool
Mæotis, up beyond the river Ob;
Downward as far antarctic; and in length
Weft from Orontes to the ocean barr'd
At Darien, thence to the land where flows
Ganges and Indus: thus the orb he roam'd
With narrow search, and with inspection deep
Confider'd every creature, which of all
Mot opportune might ferve his wiles, and found
The Serpent fubtieft beaft of all the field.

Light above light, for thee alone, as feems, 105
In thee concentring all their precious beams
Of facred influence! As God in Heaven
Is center, yet extends to all, fo thou
Centring receiv'ft from all thofe orbs; in thee,
Not in themselves, all their known virtue' appears
Produ&ive in herb, plant, and nobler birth III
Of creatures animate with gradual life

Of growth, fenfe, reafon, all fumm'd up in Man.
With what delight could I have walk'd thee round,
If I could joy ir ought, fweet interchange
Of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains,
Now land, now fea, and fhores with forest

crown'd,

126

But neither here feek I, no nor in Heaven
To dwell, unless by maft'ring Heav'n's Supreme;
Nor hope to be myfelf lefs miferable
By what I feek, but others to make fuch
As I, though thereby worse to me redound:
For only in deftroying I find cafe

To my relentless thoughts; and him deftroy'd, 130
Or won to what may work his utter lofs,
For whom all this was made, all this will foon
Follow, as to him link'd in weal or woe;
In woe then; that deftruction wide may range:
To me fhall be the glory fole among
135
Th' infernal Pow'rs, in one day to have marr'd
What he Almighty flil'd, fix days and nights
Continued making, and who knows how long
Before had been contriving, though perhaps
Not longer than fince I in one night freed
From fervitude inglorious well nigh half
Th' angelic name, and thinner left the throng
Of his adorers: he to be aveng'd,

140

And to repair his numbers thus impair'd,
Whether fuch virtue spent of old now fail'd 145
More Angels to create, if they at least
Are his created, or to spite us more,
Determin'd to advance into our room

86

Him after long debate, irrefolute

Of thoughts revolv'd, his final fentence chofe

155

With heavily fpois, our fpoils: What he decreed
He' effected; Mau he made, and for him built
Magnificent this world, and earth his feat,
Him lord pronounc'd, and, O indignity!
Subjected to his fervice Angel wings,
And flaming minifters to watch and tend
Their earthly charge: Of thefe the vigilance
I dread, and to elude, thus wrapt in mift
Of midnight vapor glide obfcure, and pry
In every bush and brake, where hap may find 160
The ferpent fleeping, in whofe mazy folds
To hide me, and the dark intent I bring.
O foul defcent! that I who erat contended
With Gous to fit the high'efl, am now constrain'd
Into a beaft, and mix'd with beftial flime,
This effence to incarnate and imbrute,
That to the highth of Deity afpir'd;

163

Nor nocent yet, but on the graffy herb
Fearless unfear'd he flept: in at his mouth
The Devil enter'd, and his brutal fenfe,
In heart or head, poffefling foon infpir'd
With act intelligential; but his fleep
Disturb'd not, waiting close th' approach of morn.

: Now when as facred light began to dawn

190

In Eden on the humid flow'rs, that breath'd
Their morning incenfe, when all things that
breathe,

From th' earth's great altar fend up filent praise
To the Creator, and his noftrils fill
196
With grateful fmell, forth came the human pair,
And join'd their vocal worship to the quire
Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake
The feafon, prime for sweetest scents and airs:
Then commune how that day they belt may ply
Their growing work: for much their work
outgrew

The hands difpatch of two gard'ning fo wide,
And Eve first to her hufband thus began.
Adam, well may we labor still to dress

205

This garden, ftill to tend plant, herb, and flower, Our pleasant task injoin'd, but till more hands Aid us, the work under our labor grows Luxurious by reftraint; what we by day Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, 210 One night or two with wanton growth derides Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advife, Or bear what to my mind first thoughts prefent; Let us divide our labors, thou where choice Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind The woodbine round this arbor, or direct 216 The clafping ivy where to climb, while I In yonder fpring of rofes intermix'd With myrtle, find what to redrefs till noon : For while fo near each other thus all day Our task we choofe, what wonder if fo near Looks intervene and fmiles, or object new Cafuel difcourfe draw on, which intermits Our day's work brought to little, though begun Early, and th' hour of fupper comes unearn'd. 225 To whom mild anfwer Adam thus return'd. Sole Eve, affociate fole, to me beyond Compare above all living creatures dear, Well haft thou motion'd, well thy thoughts employ'd

220

235

How we might best fulfil the work which here 230
God hath allign'd us, nor of me fhalt pafs
Unprais'd for nothing lovelier can be found
In woman, than to study houfhold good,
And good works in her husband to promote.
Yet not fo ftrictly hath our Lord impos'd
Labor, as to debar us when we need
Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,
Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourfe
Of looks and fmiles, for fmiles from reafon flow,
To brute deny'd, and are of love the food, 240
Love not the lowest end of human life.

For not to irksome toil, but to delight
He made us, and delight to reafon join'd.
Thefe paths and bow'rs doubt not but our joint

hands

250

Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide 245
As we need walk, till younger hands ere long
Affift us: but if much converfe perhaps
Thee fatiate, to fhort abfence I could yield:
For folitude fometimes is beft fociety,
And fhort retirement urges fweet return.
But other doubt poffeffes me, left harm
Befall thee fever'd from me; for thou know'ft
What hath been warn'd us, what malicious toe
Envying our happiness, and of his own
Despairing, feeks to work us woe and fhame 255
By fly affault; and fomewhere nigh at hand
Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find
His wifh and beft advantage, us afunder,
Hopeless to circumvent us join'd, where each
To other speedy aid might lend at need;
Whether his firit defign be to withdraw
Our feälty from God, or to disturb
Conjugal love, than which perhaps no blifs
Enjoy'd by us excites his envy more;

260

Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful fide 265 That gave thee be'ing, ftill fhades thee and

protects.

Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve,
For fuch thou art, from fin and blame entire :
Not diffident of thee do I diffuade
Thy abfence from my fight, but to avoid
'Th' attempt itfelf, intended by our foe.

295

For he who tempts, though' in vain, at least alperfes

The tempted with difhonor foul, fuppos'd
Not incorruptible of faith, not proof
Against temptation: thou thyfelf with fearn

And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong, 300
Though ineffectual found: mifdeem not then,
If fuch affront I labor to avert

from thee alone, which on us both at once
The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare,
Or daring, first on me th' affault shall light. 305
Nor thou his malice and falfe guile contemn;
Subtle he needs muft be, who could feduce
Angels; nor think fuperfluous others aid.
1 from the influence of thy looks receive
Accefs in every virtue, in thy fight
More wife, more watchful, ftronger, if need were
Of outward firength; while fhame, thou looking

on,

310

330

335

Sticks no difhonor on our front; but turns
Foul on himfelf; then wherefore fhunn'd or fear d
By us? who rather double honor gain
From his furmise prov'd falfe, find peace within,
Favor from Heav'n, our witness, from th' event.
And what is faith, love, virtue, unaffay'd
Alone, without exterior help fuftain'd?
Let us not then fufpect our happy ftate
Left fo imperfect by the Maker wife,
As not fecure to fingie or combin’d.
Frail is our happinefs, if this be fo,
And Eden were no Eden thus expos'd.

To whom thus Adam fervently reply'd.
O Woman, beft are all things as the will
Of God ordain'd them; his creating hand
Nothing imperfect or deficient left
Of all that he created, much lefs Man,
Or ought that might his happy state secure,
Secure from outward force; within himfelf
The danger lies, yet lies within his power:
Against his will he can receive no harm.
Bet God left free the will, for what obeys
Reafon, is free, and reafon he made right,
But bid her well be ware, and ftill erect,

340

345

350

355

Left by fome fair appearing good furpris'd
She dictate falfe, and mifinform the will
To do what God exprefly hath forbid.
Not then miftruft, but tender love injoins,
That I fhould mind thee oft, and mind thou me.
Firm we fubfift, yet poffible to fwerve,
Since reafon not impoffibly may meet
Some fpecious object by the foe fuborn'd,
And fall into deception unaware,

360

Not keeping strictest watch, as fhe was warn'd.
Seek not temptation then, which to avoid
Were better, and most likely if from me
Thou fever not: trial will come unfought.
Would thou approve thy conftancy, approve
First thy obedience; th' other who can know,
Not feeing thee attempted, who attest?
But if thou think trial unfought may find 370
Us both fecurer than thus warn'd thou feem'û,
Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;
Go in thy native innocence, rely

On what thou haft of virtue, fummon all,
For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine.
So fpake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve
Perfifting, yet fubmifs, though lait, reply'd.

With thy permiflion then, and thus forewarn'd Chiefly by what thy own laft reasoning words Touch'd only, that our trial, when leaft fought, May find us both perhaps far lefs prepar'd, 381 The willinger I go, nor much expect

A foe fo proud will firft the weaker seek;
So bent, the more fhall fhame him his repulfe.

38;

395

400

Thus faying, from her husband's hand her hand Soft fhe withdrew, and like a Wood-Nymph light, Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's train, Betook her to the groves, but Delia's felf In gait furpafs'd, and Goddess-like deport, Though not as the with bow and quiver arm'd, But with fuch gard'ning tools as art yet rude, 391 Guiltlefs of fire, had form'd, or Angels brought. To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorn'd, Likeft the feem'd, Pomona when she fled Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime, Yet virgin of Proferpina from Jove. Her long with ardent look his eye pursued Delighted, but defiring more her stay. Oft he to her his charge of quick return Repeated, the to him as oft engag'd To be return'd by noon amid the bower, And all things in beft order to invite Noontide repaft, or afternoon's repose. O much deceiv'd, much failing, hapless Eve, Of thy prefum'd return. event perverfe! Thou never from that hour in Paradife Found it either fweet repaft, or found repofe; Such ambush hid among fweet flow'rs and fhades Waited with hellish rancor imminent To intercept thy way, or fend thee back Defpoil'd of innocence, of faith, of blifs. For now, and fince first break of dawn the Fiend, Mere ferpent in appearance, forth was come, And on his qucft, where likelieft he might End The only two of mankind, but in them The whole included race, his purpos'd prey. In bow'r and field he fought, where any tuft Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay,

403

413

415