Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades 265 275 He lights, and to his proper shape returns A seraph wing’d; six wings he wore, to shade His lineaments divine; the pair that clad Each shoulder broad came mantling o'er his breast With regal ornament; the middle pair 280 Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold And colors dipt in Heav'n; the third his feet Shadow'd from either heel with feather'd mail, Sky-tin&tur'd grain, Like Maia's fon he stood, 285 And shook his plumes, that heav'nly fragrance fillid The circuit wide. Strait knew him all the bands Of angels under watch; and to his state, And to his message high in honor rise; For on some message high they guess'd him bound 290 Their glittering tents he pass’d, and now is come Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh, 305 Of necta'rous draughts between, from milky stream, "Berry or grape : to whom thus Adam callid. Haste hither Eve, and worth thy sight behold Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape Comes this way moving; seems another morn 310 Ris'n on mid-noon; some great behest from Heav'n 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 Abundance, fit to honor and receive 315 Our heav'nly stranger : well we may afford Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow From large bestow'd, where Nature multiplies Her fertil growth, and by disburd’ning grows More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare. 320 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 To nourish, and fuperfluous moist consumes : 325 But I will haste, and from each bough and brake, Each plant and juiciest gourd, will pluck fuch choice To entertain our angel guest, as he Beholding Mall confess, that here on earth God hath difpens'd his bounties as in heav'n. 330 So saying, with dispatchful looks in hafte She turns, on hospitable thoughts intént What choice to chuse for delicacy best, What order, so contriv'd as not to mix Tastes, not well join'd, inelegant, but bring 335 Taste after tafte upheld with kindliest change; Bestirs her then, and from cach tender stalk Whatever Earth all-bearing mother yields In India East or West, or middle shore In Pontus or the Punic coast, or where 340 Alcinous reign'd, fruit of all kinds, in coat Rough or smooth rin'd, or bearded hulk, or shell, She gathers, tribute large, and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the grape She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths 345 From many a berry', and from sweet kernels press'd She tempers dulcet creams, nor these to hold Wants her fit vessels pure, then strows the ground Mean while our primitive great Sire, to meet 350 360 Thus faid. Native of Heav'n, for other place None can than Heav'n such glorious shape contain; Since by descending from the thrones above, Those happy places thou hast deign'd a while To want, and honor thefe, vouchsafe with us 365 Two' only, who yet by sovran gift possess This spacious ground, in yonder lady bower To rest, and what the garden choicest bears To sit and taste, till this meridian heat Be over, and the sun more cool decline. 370 Whom thus th' angelic Virtue answer'd mild. Adam, I therefore came, nor art thou such Created, or such place hast here to dwell, As may not oft invite, though spi'rits of Heav'n To visit thee; lead on then where thy bower 375 O’ershades; for these mid-hours, till evening rise, Hail Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb |