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Hail wedded Love, myfterious law, true fource 750

Of human ofspring, fole propriety

In Paradise of all things common else.

By thee adult'rous luft was driv'n from men
Among the bestial herds to range; by thee
Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,
Relations dear, and all the charities

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Of father, son, and brother first were known.
Far be it, that I fhould write thee fin or blame,
Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,
Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets,
Whose bed is undefil'd and chafte pronounc'd,
Prefent, or past, as faints and patriarchs us'd.
Here love his golden fhafts employs, here lights
His conftant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile 765
Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unindear'd,
Cafual fruition; nor in court amours,

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Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
Or ferenate, which the ftarv'd lover fings
To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.
Thefe, lull'd by nightingales, embracing flept,
And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof
Show'rd roses, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on,
Bleft pair; and O yet happiest, if ye seek

No happier state, and know to know no more. 775
Now had night measur'd,with her shadowy cone,
Half way up hill this vaft fublunar vault,

And

And from their ivory port the Cherubim,
Forth issuing at th'accuftom'd hour, stood arm'd
To their night watches in warlike parade;
When Gabriel to his next in pow'r thus spake.

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Uzziel, half these draw off, and coaft the south With ftricteft watch; these other wheel the north; Our circuit meets full weft. As flame they part,

Half wheeling to the fhield, half to the fpear. 785
From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he call'd
That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge.
Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed
Search through this garden, leave unsearch'd no nook;
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge; 790
Now laid perhaps afleep fecure of harm.
This evening from the fun's decline arriv'd
Who tells of fome infernal Spirit seen

Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escap'd
The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:

Such where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring.

So faying, on he led his radiant files,

Dazling the moon; thefe to the bow'r direct

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In search of whom they fought: him there they found Squat like a toad, clofe at the ear of Eve,

Assaying,by his devilish art, to reach

The organs of her fancy, and with them forge
Illusions as he lift, phantasms and dreams;
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
Th'animal fpirits, that from pure blood arife

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Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise
At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,

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Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride.
Him,thus intent, Ithuriel with his spear
Touch'd lightly; for no falfhood can indure
Touch of celeftial temper, but returns,
Of force, to its own likeness: up he starts
Discover'd and furpris'd. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun, fome magazine to store
Against a rumor'd war, the smutty grain,
With fudden blaze diffus'd,inflames the air:
So ftarted up in his own shape the Fiend.
Back ftept those two fair Angels, half amaz'd
So fudden to behold the grifly king;
Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accoft him foon.
Which of those rebel Spi rits adjudg'd to Hell
Com'ft thou, escap'd thy prison? and transform'd,
Why fatft thou like an enemy in wait,
Here watching at the head of these that fleep?
Know

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ye not then, faid Satan,fill'd with fcorn, Know ye not me? ye knew me once,no mate

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For you, there fitting where ye durft not foar:
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown, 830
The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,

Why afk ye, and fuperfluous begin

Your message, like to end as much in vain?

To

To whom thus Zephon, anfw'ring fcorn with fcorn. Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the fame, 835 Or undiminish'd brightness to be known, As when thou stood'st in Heav'n upright and pure; That glory then, when thou no more wast good, Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now Thy fin and place of doom,obfcure and foul. 840 But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account To him who fent us; whose charge is to keep This place inviolable, and these from harm.

So fpake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke, Severe in youthful beauty, added grace Invincible: abash'd the Devil stood,

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw

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Virtue in her shape how lovely; faw, and pin'd
His lofs; but chiefly to find here observ'd
His luftre visibly impair'd; yet seem'd
Undaunted. If I must contend, faid he,

Beft with the beft, the fender not the fent,
Or all at once; more glory will be won,
Or lefs be loft. Thy fear, faid Zephon bold,
Will fave us trial what the leaft can do
Single against thee, wicked, and thence weak.

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The Fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage; But, like a proud fteed rein'd, went haughty on, Champing his iron curb: to strive or fly

He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd 860 His heart, not elfe difmay'd. Now drew they nigh

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The western point, where those half-rounding guards Juft met, and,clofing, ftood, in fquadron join'd, Awaiting next command. To whom their chief Gabriël from the front thus call'd aloud. 865

O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet Hafting this way, and now by glimpse discern Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade, And with them comes a third,of regal port, But faded fplendor wan; who, by his gate 870 And fierce demeanour, seems the prince of Hell, Not likely to part hence without conteft; Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.

He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How bufied, in what form and pofture couch'd. 876 To whom,with ftern regard, thus Gabriel spake. Why haft thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd To thy tranfgreffions, and disturb'd the charge Of others, who approve not to transgress By thy example, but have pow'r and right To queftion thy bold entrance on this place; Employ'd it seems to violate fleep, and those Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?

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To whom thus Satan,with contemptuous brow. 885 Gabriel, thou hadft in Heav'n th'esteem of wise, And fuch I held thee; but this question ask'd Puts me in doubt. Lives there,who loves his pain? Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, Though

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