So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, 425
Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou know'st
God hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree,
The only fign of our obedience left
Among so many signs of power and rule
Conferr'd upon us, and dominion given
Over all other creatures that poffefs
Earth, air, and fea. Then let us not think hard
One eafy prohibition, who enjoy
Free leave fo large to all things elfe, and choice
Unlimited of manifold delights:
But let us ever praise him, and extol
His bounty, following our delightful task
To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers, Which were it toilfome, yet with thee were sweet.
To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou for whom 440 And from whom I was form'd flesh of thy flesh, And without whom am to no end, my guide And head, what thou hast said is just and right. For we to him indeed all praises owe, And daily thanks; I chiefly who enjoy So far the happier lot, enjoying thee Præeminent by fo much odds, while thou Like confort to thyself canft no where find. That day I oft remember, when from sleep I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd
Under a fhade on flow'rs, much wond'ring where And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.
Not distant far from thence a murm'ring found
Of waters iffued from a cave, and spread
Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov'd
Pure as th' expanse of Heav'n; I thither went
With unexperienc'd thought, and laid me down
On the green bank, to look into the clear
Smooth lake, that to me seem'd another sky.
As I bent down to look, juft oppofit
A fhape within the watry gleam appear'd,
Bending to look on me: I started back,
It started back; but pleas'd I foon return'd,
Pleas'd it return'd as foon with anfw'ring looks
Of fympathy and love: there I had fix'd
Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire,
Had not a voice thus warn'd me, What thou seest,
What there thou feeft, fair creature, is thyself;
With thee it came and goes: but follow me,
And I will bring thee where no shadow stays
Thy coming, and thy foft embraces, he
Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy
Infeparably thine, to him shalt bear
Multitudes like thyfelf, and thence be call'd
Mother of Human Race. What could I do,
But follow ftrait, invisibly thus led?
Till I efpy'd thee, fair indeed and tall,
Under a platan; yet methought less fair,
Lefs winning foft, less amiably mild,
Than that smooth watry image: back I turn'd; 480
Thou following cryd'st aloud, Return fair Eve,
Whom fly'st thou? whom thou fly'st, of him thou art,
His flesh, his bone; to give thee be'ing I lent
Out of my fide to thee, nearest my heart,
Subftantial life, to have thee by my fide
Henceforth an individual folace dear;
Part of my foul I seek thee, and thee clame
My other half; with that thy gentle hand
Seis'd mine; I yielded, and from that time fee
How beauty is excell'd by manly grace
And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.
So fpake our general Mother, and with eyes
Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,
And meek furrender, half embracing lean'd
On our first Father; half her swelling breast
Naked met his under the flowing gold
Of her loofe treffes hid: he in delight
Both of her beauty and fubmiffive charms
Smil'd with fuperior love, as Jupiter
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds
That shed May flow'rs; and prefs'd her matron lip
With kiffes pure: afide the Devil turn'd
For envy, yet with jealous leer malign
Ey'd them afkance, and to himself thus plain'd.
Imparadis'd in one another's arms,
Sight hateful, fight tormenting! thus these two
The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill
Of blifs on blifs; while I to Hell am thrut,
Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire,
Among our other torments not the least
Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines.
Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd
From their own mouths: all is not theirs it seems;
One fatal tree there stands of Knowledge call'd
Forbidden them to taste: knowledge forbidden? 515
Sufpicious, reafonlefs. Why should their Lord
Envy them that? can it be fin to know?
Can it be death? and do they only stand
By ignorance? is that their happy state,
The proof of their obedience and their faith?
O fair foundation laid whereon to build
Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds
With more desire to know, and to reject
Envious commands, invented with design
To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt 525 Equal with gods: aspiring to be fuch,
They taste and die : what likelier can enfue?
But first with narrow search I must walk round
This garden, and no corner leave unspy'd;
A chance but Chance may lead where I may meet
Some wand'ring fpi'rit of Heav'n by fountain fide,
Or in thick shade retir'd, from him to draw
What further would be learn'd. Live while ye may,
Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,
Short pleasures, for long woes are to fucceed.
So faying, his proud step he scornful turn'd,
But with fly circumspection, and began
Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his Mean while in utmost longitude, where heav'n [roam.
With earth and ocean meets, the setting fun
Slowly descended, and with right aspéct
Against the eastern gate of Paradise
Levell❜d his evening rays: it was a rock
Of alabafter, pil'd up to the clouds,
Confpicuous far, winding with one afcent
Acceffible from earth, one entrance high;
The reft was craggy cliff, that overhung
Still as it rofe, impoffible to climb.
Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel fat,
Chief of th' angelic guards, awaiting night;
About him exercis'd heroic games
Th' unarm'd youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand
Celestial armoury, fhields, helms, and fpears,
Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold.
Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even
On a fun beam, fwift as a shooting star
In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd
Imprefs the air, and shows the mariner
From what point of his compass to beware
Impetuous winds: he thus began in haste.
Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given
Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place
No evil thing approach or enter in.
This day at highth of noon came to my sphere
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