Wants her fit vessels pure, then ftrows the ground
With rofe and odors from the fhrub unfum'd.
Mean while our primitive great Sire, to meet 350 His god-like guest, walks forth, without more train Accompanied than with his own complete
Perfections; in himself was all his state,
More folemn than the tedious pomp that waits
On princes, when their rich retínue long
Of horses led, and grooms besmear'd with gold,
Dazzles the croud, and sets them all a-gape.
Nearer his prefence Adam though not aw'd,
Yet with fubmifs approach and reverence meek,
As to' a fuperior nature, bowing low,
Thus faid. Native of Heav'n, for other place
None can than Heav'n such glorious shape contain;
Since by defcending from the thrones above,
Those happy places thou hast deign'd a while
To want, and honor thefe, vouchsafe with us
Two' only, who yet by sovran gift poffefs
This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower
To reft, and what the garden choicest bears
To fit and taste, till this meridian heat
over, and the fun more cool decline.
Whom thus th' angelic Virtue answer'd mild.
Adam, I therefore came, nor art thou fuch
Created, or fuch place haft here to dwell,
As may not oft invite, though spi'rits of Heav'n
To vifit thee; lead on then where thy bower
O'erfhades; for these mid-hours, till evening rife,
I have at will. So to the fylvan lodge
They came, that like Pomona's arbor fmil'd
With flow'rets deck'd and fragrant smells; but Eve
Undeck'd fave with herself, more lovely fair 380
Than wood-nymph, or the fairest goddess feign'd
Of three that in Mount Ida naked strove,
Stood to' entertain her guest from Heav'n; no veil
She needed, Virtue-proof; no thought infirm
Alter'd her cheek. On whom the angel Hail
Bestow'd, the holy falutation us'd
Long after to blest Mary, fecond Eye.
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 feats had round, And on her ample fquare from fide to fide
All Autumn pil'd, though Spring and Autumn here
Danc'd hand in hand. A while discourse they hold;
No fear left dinner cool; when thus began
Our Author. Heav'nly ftranger, please to taste
Thefe bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom
All perfect good, unmeasur'd out, defcends,
To us for food and for delight hath caus'd
The earth to yield; unsavory food perhaps
To fpiritual natures; only this I know,
That one celeftial Father gives to all,
To whom the angel. Therefore what he gives
(Whose praise be ever sung) to man in part
Spiritual, may of pureft fpi'rits be found
No' ingrateful food: and food alike those pure
Intelligential substances require,
As doth your rational; and both contain
Within them every lower faculty
Of fenfe, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, Tafting concoct, digest, affimilate,
And corporeal to incorporeal turn.
For know, whatever was created, needs
To be fuftain'd and fed; of elements
The groffer feeds the purer, earth the fea,
Earth and the fea feed air, the air those fires
Ethereal, and as lowest first the moon;
Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurg'd
Vapours not yet into her substance turn'd.
Nor doth the moon no nourishment exhale
From her moist continent to higher orbs.
The fun, that light imparts to all, receives
From all his alimental recompenfe
In humid exhalations, and at even
Sups with the ocean. Though in Heaven the trees Of life ambrofial fruitage bear, and vines
Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each morn We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground Cover'd with pearly grain: yet God hath here 439 Varied his bounty fo with new delights,
As may compare with heaven; and to taste
Think not I shall be nice. So down they fat,
And to their viands fell; nor feemingly
The angel, nor in mist, the common gloss
Of Theologians; but with keen dispatch
Of real hunger, and concoctive heat
To tranfubftantiate: what redounds, tranfpires
Through fpi'rits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire
Of footy coal th' empiric alchemist
Can turn, or holds it poffible to turn,
Metals of droffieft ore to perfect gold
As from the mine. Mean while at table Eve
Minister'd naked, and their flowing cups
With pleasant liquors crown'd: O innocence
Deferving Paradife! if ever, then,
Then had the fons of God excufe to' have been
Enamour'd at that fight; but in those hearts
Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor jealousy
Was understood, the injur'd lover's hell.
Thus when with meats and drinks they had fuffic'd, Not burden'd nature, fudden mind arose
In Adam, not to let th' occasion pass
Giv'n him by this great conference to know
Of things above his world, and of their being 455 Who dwell in heav'n, whofe excellence he faw Tranfcend his own so far, whose radiant forms, Divine effulgence, whofe high power fo far Exceeded human, and his wary speech
Thus to th' empyreal minifter he fram'd.
Inhabitant with God, now know I well
Thy favor, in this honor done to man,
Under whofe lowly roof thou haft vouchsaf'd
To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,
Food not of angels, yet accepted fo,
As that more willingly thou couldst not seem
AtHeav'n's high feasts to' have fed: yet what compare?
To whom the winged hierarch reply'd.
O Adam, one Almighty is, from whom
All things proceed, and up to him return,
If not deprav'd from good, created all
Such to perfection, one first matter all,
Indued with various forms, various degrees
Of substance, and in things that live, of life;
But more refin'd, more fpiritous, and pure,
As nearer to him plac'd or nearer tending
Each in their feveral active spheres affign'd,
Till body up to spirit work, in bounds
Proportion'd to each kind. So from the root
Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves
More aery, last the bright confummate flower 481
Spirits odorous breathes: flowers and their fruit,
Man's nourishment, by gradual scale fublim'd,
To vital fpi'rits aspire, to animal,
To intellectual; give both life and sense,
Fancy and understanding; whence the foul
Reafon receives, and reason is her being,
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