Flowers worthy' of Paradise, which not nice Art In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon Pour'd forth profuse on hill and dale and plain, Both where the morning sun first warmly smote The open field, and where the unpierc'd shade Imbrown'd the noontide bowers: thus was this place A happy rural seat of various view;
Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm, Others whose fruit burnish'd with golden rind Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true,
If true, here only', and of delicious taste: Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks Grazing the tender herb, were interpos'd,
Or palmy hillock; or the flowery lap
Of some irriguous valley spread her store, Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose: Another side, umbrageous grots and caves Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall Down the slope hills, dispers'd, or in a lake, That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd, Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams.
The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs, Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune The trembling leaves, while universal Pan Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance Led on the eternal spring. Not that fair field Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers, Herself a fairer flower by gloomy Dis
Was gather'd, which cost Ceres all that pain
To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove
Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspir'd Castalian spring might with this Paradise
Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian ile
Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, Whom gentiles Ammon call and Lybian Jove, Hid Amalthea and her florid son
Young Bacchus from his step-dame Rhea's eye; Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard, Mount Amara, though this by some suppos'd True Paradise under the Ethiop line
By Nilus head, inclos'd with shining rock, A whole day's journey high, but wide remote From this Assyrian garden, where the Fiend Saw undelighted all delight, all kind
Of living creatures new to sight and strange : Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, Godlike erect, with native honour clad In naked majesty seem'd lords of all, And worthy seem'd, for in their looks divine The image of their glorious Maker shone, Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure, (Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd); Whence true authority in men; though both Not equal, as their sex not equal seem'd; For contemplation he and valor form'd, For softness she and sweet attractive grace ; He for God only, she for God in him: His fair large front and eye sublime declar'd Absolute rule; and hyacinthin locks Round from his parted forelock manly hung Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad: She as a vail down to the slender waist Her unadorned golden tresses wore Dishevel'd, but in wanton ringlets wav'd As the vine curls her tendrils, which imply'd Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway, And by her yielded, by him best receiv'd,
Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, And sweet reluctant amorous delay.
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd, Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame Of nature's works, honour dishonourable, Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind With shews instead, mere shews of seeming pure, And banish'd from man's life his happiest life, Simplicity and spotless innocence !
So pass'd they naked on, nor shunn'd the sight Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill: So hand in hand they pass'd, the loveliest pair That ever since in love's embraces met; Adam the goodliest man of men since born His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. Under a tuft of shade that on a green Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side They sať them down; and after no more toil Of their sweet gardening labor than suffic'd To recommend cool zephyr, and made ease. More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite More grateful, to their supper fruits they fell, Nectarin fruits which the compliant boughs
Yielded them, side-long as they sat reclin'd On the soft downy bank damask'd with flowers: The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream; Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as beseems Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league, Alone as they. About them frisking play'd
All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase In wood or wilderness, forest or den;
Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw
Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, Gambol'd before them; the unwieldy elephant
To make them mirth us'd all his might, and wreath'd His lithe proboscis; close the serpent sly
Insinuating, wove with gordian twine
His breaded train, and of his fatal guile Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass
Couch'd, and now fill'd with pasture, gazing sat, Or bedward ruminating for the sun
Declin'd was hasting now with prone career To the ocean iles, and in the ascending scale Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose:
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