And on, methought, alone I pass'd through ways 50
That brought me on a fudden to the tree
Of interdicted knowledge: fair it seem'd,
Much fairer to my fancy than by day:
And as I wond'ring look'd, befide it flood
Onefhap'dandwing'd like one ofthofe from Heaven 55
By us oft feen; his dewy locks diftill'd
Ambrofia; on that tree he also gaz'd;
And O fair plant, said he, with fruit furcharg'd,
Deigns none to eafe thy load,and taste thy sweet,
Nor God, nor Man? is knowledge so despis'd?
Or envy, or what reserve forbids to tafte?
Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold
Longer thy offer'd good, why else set here?
This said, he paus'd not, but with ventrous arm
He pluck'd, he tasted; me damp horror chill'd
At fuch bold words, vouch'd with a deed fo bold:
But he thus, overjoy'd, O fruit divine,
Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt; Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit
For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men:
And why not Gods of Men, since good, the more
Communicated, more abundant grows,
The author not impair'd, but honor'd more?
Here, happy creature, fair angelic Eve,
Partake thou also; happy though thou art,
Happier thou may'ft be, worthier canft not be:
Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods
Thyfelf a Goddess; 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 savory smell
So quicken'd appetite, that I, methought, 85
Could not but tafte. Forthwith up to the clouds
With him I flew, and underneath beheld
The earth outflretch'd immenfe, a profpect wide
And various: wond'ring at my flight 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 Eve her night
Related, and thus Adam answer'd fad.
Best image of myself, and dearer half,
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep
Affects me equally; nor can I like
This uncouth dream, of evil sprung 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 thefe fancy next
Her office holds; of all external things,
Which the five watchful fenfes reprefent,
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 work produces oft, and most in dreams;
Ill matching words and deeds,long past,or late.
Some fuch resemblances methinks I find
Of our laft evening's talk, in this thy dream, 115 But with addition ftrange; yet be not fad.
Evil into the mind of God or Man
May come, and go, so unapprov'd, and leave
No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope
That what in fleep thou didst abhor to dream,
Waking thou never wilt consent to do.
Be not dishearten'd then, nor cloud those looks,
That wont to be more chearful and ferene,
Than when fair morning first smiles on the world;
And let us to our fresh employments rise, 125
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 chear'd he his fair spouse, and she was chear'd;
But filently a gentle tear let fall
130
From either eye, and wip'd them with her hair;
Two other precious drops, that ready flood,
Each in their cryftal fluce, he,ere they fell,
Kifs'd, as the gracious signs of fsweet remorse
And pious awe, that fear'd to have offended.
So all was clear'd, and to the field they haste. But first, from under fhady arborous roof Soon as they forth were come to open fight Of day-spring, and the fun, who scarce up risen, 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 Paradife 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 strains pronounc'd,or fung, Unmeditated; fuch prompt eloquence
Flow'd from their lips, in profe or numerous verfe, 150
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 univerfal frame,
Thus wondrous fair; thy felf how wondrous then! 155
Unfpeakable, who fitft above these Heavens,
To us invifible, or dimly seen
In these thy lowest works; yet these declare
Thy goodness beyond thought, and pow'r divine.
Speak ye,who beft can tell, ye fons of light, 160
Angels, for
ye behold him, and with songs
And choral symphonies, day without night,
Circle his throne, rejoicing; ye in Heaven,
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 arises, that sweet hour of prime.
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 haft gain'd, and when thou fall'ft.
Moon, that now meet'ft the orient fun, now fly'st, 175
With the fix'd ftars, fix'd in their orb that flies;
And ye five other wand'ring fires, that move
In myftic dance, not without song, refound
His praise, who out of darkness call'd
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 ceafelefs change
Vary to our great Maker ftill new praise.
Ye Mifts and Exhalations, that now rise
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 rife;
Whether to deck with clouds th'uncolor'd sky,
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