Left he, incens'd at fuch eruption bold,
Deftruction with creation might have mix'd.
Not that they durft without his leave attempt ;
But us he fends upon his high behests
For ftate, as fov'reign King, and to inure
Our prompt obedience. Faft we found, fast shut 240
The difmal gates, and barricado'd ftrong;
But, long ere our approaching, heard within
Noife, other than the found of dance or fong,
Torinent, and loud lament, and furious rage.
Glad we return'd up to the coafts of light
Ere Sabbath-ev'ning: fo we had in charge.
But thy relation now; for I attend,
Pleas'd with thy words no less than thou with mine. So fpake the godlike pow'r, and thus our fire:
For man to tell how human life began
Is hard; for who himself beginning knew?
Defire with thee ftill longer to converse
Induc'd me. As new wak'd from foundest fleep,
Soft on the flow'ry herb I found me laid
In balmy fweat, which with his beams the fun 255
Soon dry'd, and on the reeking moisture fed.
Strait toward heav'n my wond'ring eyes I turn'd,
And gaz'd a while the ample sky, till rais'd
By quick inftinctive motion, up I fprung,
As thitherward endeavouring, and upright
Stood on my feet; about me round I faw
Hill, dale, and fhady woods, and funny plains,
And liquid lapfe of murm'ring ftreams; by thefe,
Creatures that liv'd and mov'd, and walk'd, or flew,
Birds on the branches warbling; all things fmil'd, 265
With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflow'd..
My felf I then perus'd, and limb by limb.
Survey'd, and fometimes went, and fometimes ran
With fupple joints, as lively vigour led:
But who I was, or where, or from what cause, 270
Knew not; to speak I try'd, and forthwith fpake;
My tongue obey'd, and readily could name
Whate'er I faw. Thou fun, faid I, fair light,
And thou enlighten'd earth, fo fresh and gay,
Ye hills and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plains, 275;
And ye that live and move, fair creatures, tell,
Fell, if ye faw, how came I thus, how here?
Not of myself; by fome great Maker then,
In goodness and in power pre-eminent;
Tell me, how may I know him, how adore,
From whom I have that thus I move and live,
And feel that I am happier than I know...
While thus I call'd, and ftray'd I knew not whither,
From where 1 firft drew air, and first beheld
This happy light; when answer none return'd, 285
On a green fhady bank, profufe of flowers,
Penfive I fat me down; there gentle fleep
First found me, and with foft oppreffion feiz'd
My droufed fenfe, untroubled, though I thought
I then was paffing to my former state
Infenfible, and forthwith to diffolve:
When fuddenly ftood at my head a dream,.
Whofe inward apparition gently mov'd
My fancy to believe I yet had being,
And liv'd: One came, methought, of shape divine,
And faid, Thy manfion wants thee, Adam, rife, 29,6
First man, of men innumerable ordain'd
Firft father; call'd by thee, I come thy guide
To the garden of blifs, thy feat prepar'd..
So faying, by the hand he took me rais'd,.
And over fields and waters, as in air
Smooth fliding without ftep, laft led me up
A woody mountain; whofe high top was plain,
A circuit wide, inclos'd with goodliest trees
Planted, with walks, and bowers, that what I faw 305
Of earth before fcarce pleasant feem'd. Each tree
Loaden with fairest fruit, that hung to th' eye
Tempting, flirr'd in me fudden appetite
To pluck and eat; whereat I wak'd, and found
Before mine eyes all real, as the dream
Had lively shadow'd. Here had new begun
My wand'ring, had not he, who was my guide
Up hither, from among the trees appear'd,
Prefence divine. Rejoicing, but with awe,
In adoration at his feet I fell
Submifs he rear'd me', and whom thou fought'ft I
Said mildly, Author of all this thou feest
Above, or round about thee, or beneath.
This Paradife I give thee, count it thine
To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat :
Of every tree that in the garden grows
Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth:
But of the tree whofe operation brings
Knowledge of good and ill, which I have fet
The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith,
Amid the garden by the tree of life,
Remember what I warn thee, fhun to taste,
And fun the bitter confequence; for know,
The day thou eat'ft thereof, my fole command
Tranfgrefs'd, inevitably thou shalt die,
From that day mortal, and this happy ftate
Shalt lofe, expell'd from hence into a world
Of woe and forrow. Sternly he pronounc'd
The rigid interdiction, which refounds
Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice 335
Not to incur; but foon his clear afpéct
Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renew'd.
Not only thefe tair bounds, but all the earth
To thee and to thy race I give; as lords'
Poffefs it, and all things that therein live,
Or live in fea, or air, beaft, fish, and fowl.
In fign whereof each bird and beaft behold
After their kinds; I bring them to receive
From thee their names, and pay thee feälty
With low fubjection; understand the fame
Of fish within their watry refidence,
Not hither fummon'd, fince they cannot change
Their element to draw the thinner air.
As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold
Approaching two and two, these cowring low
With blandifhment, each bird ftoop'd on his wing.
I nam'd them, as they pass'd, and understood
Their nature, with fuch knowledge God endu'd
My fudden apprehenfion: but in these
I found not what methought I wanted ftill;
And to the heav'nly vifion thus prefum'd.
O by what name, for thou above all thefe,
Above mankind, or ought than mankind higher,
Surpaffeft far my naming, how may I
Adore thee, Author of this univerfe,
And all this good to man? for whofe well-being
So amply, and with hands fo liberal
Thou haft provided all things: but with me
I fee not who partakes. In folitude
What happiness, who can enjoy alone,
Or all enjoying, what contentment find?
Thus I prefumptuous; and the vision bright,
As with a fimile more brighten'd, thus reply'd.
What call'st thou folitude? Is not the earth
With various living creatures, and the air
Replenish'd, and all thefe at thy command
To come and play before thee? Know'st thou not
Their language and their ways? they also know,
And reafon not contemptibly; with thefe
Find paftime, and bear rule; thy realm is large. 375
So fpake the univerfal Lord, and feem'd
So ord'ring. I, with leave of fpeech implor'd,
And humble deprecation, thus reply'd.
Let not my words offend thee, heav'nly power,
My Maker, be propitious while I fpeak.
Haft thou not made me here thy substitute,
And these inferior far beneath me fet?
Among unequals what fociety
Can fort, what harmony or true delight?
Which must be mutual, in proportion due
Giv❜n and receiv'd; but in disparity
The one intenfe, the other ftill remifs,
Cannot well fuit with either, but foon prove
Tedious alike: Of fellowship I fpeak
Such as I feek, fit to participate
All rational delight, wherein the brute
Cannot be human confort: they rejoice
Each with their kind, lion with lioness;
So fitly them in pairs thou haft combin'd;
Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl 395
So well converfe, nor with the ox the ape;
Worfe then can man with beaft, and least of all.
Whereto th' Almighty anfwer'd, not difpleas'd..
A nice and fubtle happiness I fee
Thou to thyfelf propofeft, in the choice
Of thy affociates, Adam, and wilt taste
No pleasure, though in pleasure, folitary.
What think'st thou then of me, and this my state?
Seem I to thee fufficiently poffefs'd
Of happiness, or not? who am alone:
From all eternity; for none I know
Second to me, or like; equal much lefs.
How have I then with whom to hold converse,
Save with the creatures which I made, and thofe
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