Sweet of thyfelf, but much more sweet thus cropt, Forbidden here, it feems, as only fit
For gods, yet able to make gods of men ;
And why not gods of men, fince good, the more
Communicated more abundant grows,
The Author not impair'd, but honor'd more?
Here, happy creature, fair angelic Eve,
Partake thou alfo; happy though thon art,
Happier thou may'ft be, worthier canst not be :
Taste this, and be henceforth among the gods
Thyfelf a goddefs, not to earth confin'd,
But fometimes in the air, as we, fometimes
Afcend to Heav'n, by merit thine, and fee
What life the gods live there, and fuch live thou.
So faying, he drew nigh, and to me held,
Ev'n to my mouth of that fame fruit held part
Which he had pluck'd; the pleasant favory smell
So quicken'd appetite, that I, methought,
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Could not but tafte. Forthwith up to the clouds
With him I flew, and underneath beheld
The earth outftretch'd immense, a prospect wide
And various wond'ring at my fight and change
To this high exaltation; fuddenly
My guide was gone, and I, methought, funk down,
And fell asleep; but O how glad I wak’d
To find this but a dream! Thus Eye her night
Related, and thus Adam anfwer'd fad.
Beft image of myfelf and dearer half,
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep
Affects me equally; nor can I like
This uncouth dream, of evil fprung I fear;
Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none,
Created pure. But know that in the foul
Are many leffer faculties, that ferve
Reason as chief; among these Fancy next
Her office holds; of all external things,
Which the five watchful fenfes represent,
She forms imaginations, aery shapes,
Which Reafon joining or disjoining, frames
All what we' affirm or what deny, and call
Our knowledge or opinion; then retires
Into her private cell when Nature rests.
Oft in her abfence mimic Fancy wakes
To imitate her; but misjoining shapes,
Wild works produces oft, and most in dreams,
Il matching words and deeds long past or late.
Some fuch resemblances methinks I find
Of our last evening's talk, in this thy dream, IIS
But with addition strange; yet be not fad.
Evil into the mind of God or man
May come and go, fo unapprov'd, and leave
No fpot or blame behind: which gives me hope
That what in fleep thou didst abhor to dream,
Waking thou never wilt confent to do.
Be not dishearten'd then, nor cloud those looks,
That wont to be more cheerful and ferene,
Than when fair Morning first fmiles on the world; And let us to our fresh employments rife
Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers That open now their choiceft bofom'd fmells, Referv'd from night, and kept for thee in store.
So cheer'd he his fair spouse, and she was cheer'd, But filently a gentle tear let fall
From either eye, and wip'd them with her hair;
Two other precious drops that ready flood,
Each in their crystal fluce, he ere they fell.
Kifs'd, as the gracious figns of fweet remorfe
And pious awe, that fear'd to have offended.
So all was clear'd, and to the field they hafte.
But first, from under shady arbo'rous roof
Soon as they forth were come to open fight
Of day-fpring, and the fun, who scarce up rifen,
With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean brim, 140
Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray,
Discovering in wide landskip all the east
Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains,
Lowly they bow'd adoring, and began
Their orifons, each morning duly paid
In various ftile; for neither various ftile
Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise
Their Maker, in fit ftrains pronounc'd or fung
Unmeditated, fuch prompt eloquence
Flow'd from their lips, in profe or numerous verfe, More tuneable than needed lute or harp
To add more fweetness; and they thus began.
These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,
Almighty, thine this universal frame,
Thus wondrous fair; thyfelf how wondrous then!
Unspeakable, who sitst above these heav'ns
To us invisible, or dimly seen
In these thy lowest works; yet these declare
Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine.
Speak ye who beft can tell, ye fons of Light,
Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs
And choral fymphonies, day without night,
Circle his throne rejoicing; ye in Heav'n,
On Earth join all ye creatures to extol
Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. 165 Fairest of Stars, last in the train of Night,
If better thou belong not to the dawn,
Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smiling Morn
With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere,
While day arifes, that sweet hour of prime. 170
Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and foul,
Acknowledge him thy greater, found his praise
In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st,
And when high noon hast gain'd,and when thou fall'st.
Moon, that now meet'st the orient fun, now fly'st
With the fix'd stars, fix'd in their orb that flies, 176
And ye five other wand'ring Fires that move
In mystic dance not without fong, refound
Hispraife, who out of darkness call'd up light.
Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth
Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run
Perpetual circle, multiform, and mix
And nourish all things; let your ceaseless change
Vary to our great Maker still new praise.
Ye Mifts and Exhalations that now rife
From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray,
Till the fun paint your fleecy skirts with gold,
In honor to the world's great Author rise,
Whether to deck with clouds th' uncolor'd sky,
Or wet the thirsty earth with falling fhowers,
Rifing or falling still advance his praise.
His praise ye Winds, that from four quarters blow,
Breathe foft or loud; and wave your tops, ye Pines,
With every plant, in sign of worship wave.
Fountains, and ye that warble as ye flow
Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
Join voices all ye living Souls: ye Birds,
That finging up to Heaven gate afcend,
Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise.
Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk
The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep;
Witnefs if I be filent, morn or even,
To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade
Made vocal by my fong, and taught his praise.
Hail univerfal Lord, be bounteous still
To give us only good; and if the night
Have gather'd ought of evil or conceal'd,
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