Two birds of gayest plume before him drove; As in a glist'ring zodiac, hung the sword, Down from a hill the beast that reigns in woods, Satan's dire dread, and in his hand the spear. First hunter then, pursu'd a gentle brace,

Adam bow'd low; he kingly from his state Goodliest of all the forest, hart and hind;

Inclin'd not; but his coming thus declar'd: Direct to th' eastern gate was bent their flight. Adam, Heav'n's high behest no preface needs: Adam observ'd, and with his eyes the chace

Sufficient that thy pray’rs are heard, and Death, Pursuing, not unmov’d, to Eve thus spake:

Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress, O Eve, some further change awaits us nigh, Defeated of his seizure many days Which Heav'n by these mute signs in Nature shews, Giv'n thee of grace, wherein thou may'st repent, Forerunners of his purpose, or to warn

And one bad act with many deeds well done Us haply too secure of our discharge

May'st cover; well may then thy Lord appeas'd From penalty because from death releas'd

Redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious claim; Some days; how long, and what till then our life, But longer in this paradise to dwell Who knows, or more than this, that we are dust, Permits not; to remove thee I am come, And thither must return, and be no more?

And send thee from the garden forth to till Why else this double object in our sight

The ground whence thou wast taken, fitter soil. Of flight pursu'd in th' air, and o'er the ground, He added not, for Adam at the news One way the self-same hour? why in the east Heart-struck with chilling gripe of sorrow stood, Darkness ere day's mid-course, and morning-light That all his senses bound; Eve, who unseen More orient in yon western cloud that draws Yet all had heard, with audible lament O'er the blue firmament a radiant white,

Discover'd soon the place of her retire. And slow descends with something heav'nlyfraught? O unexpected stroke, worse than of death!

He err'd not; for by this the heav'nly bands Must I thus leave thee, Paradise ? thus leave Down from a sky of jasper lighted now

Thee, native soil, these happy walks and shades, In paradise, and on a hill made halt,

Fit haunt of Gods ? where I had hope to spend, A glorious apparition, had not doubt

Quiet though sad, the respite of that day And carnal fear that day dimm'd Adam's eye.

That must be mortal to us both. O flowers, Not that more glorious, when the angels met

That never will in other climate grow,
Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw

My early visitation, and my last
The field pavilion'd with his guardians bright; At even, which I bred up with tender hand
Nor that which on the flaming mount appear'd

From the first opening bud, and give ye names, In Dothan, cover'd with a camp of fire,

Who now shall rear ye to the sun, or rank Against the Syrian king, who, to surprise

Your tribes, and water from th' ambrosial fount? One man, assassin-like had levied war,

Thee lastly, nuptial bow'r, by me adorn'd War unproclaim'd. The princely Hierarch

With what to sight or smell was sweet, from thee In their bright stand there left his pow'rs to seize How shall I part, and whither wander down Possession of the garden; be alone,

Into a lower world, to this obscure To find where Adam shelter'd took his way,

And wild? how shall we breathe in other air Not unperceir'd of Adam, who to Eve,

Less pure, accustom'd to immortal fruits ?
While the great visitant approach'd, thus spake:

Whom thus the angel interrupted mild:
Eve, now expect great tidings, which perhaps Lament not, Eve, but patiently resign
Of us will soon determine, or impose

What justly thou hast lost: nor set thy heart, New laws to be observ'd; for I descry

Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine; From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill, Thy going is not lonely; with thee goes One of the heav'nly host, and by his gait

Thy husband; him to follow thou art bound; None of the meanest, some great potentate,

Where he abides, think there thy native soil. Or of the thrones above, such majesty

Adam by this from the cold sudden damp Invests him coming ; yet not terrible,

Recovering, and his scatter'd spirits return'd, That I should fear, nor sociably mild,

To Michael thus his humble words address'd. As Raphael, that I should much confide,

Celestial, whether among the thrones, or nam'd But solemn and sublime, whom not t' offend, of them the highest, for such of shape may seem With reverence I must meet, and thou retire. Prince above princes, gently hast thou told

He ended; and th’ Archangel soon drew nigh, Thy message, which might else in telling wound, Not in his shape celestial, but as man

And in performing end us; what besides Clad to meet man; over his lucid arms

Of sorrow and dejection and despair A military vest of purple flow'd

Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring, Livelier than Melibaan, or the grain

Departure from this happy place, our sweet Of Sarra, worn by kings and heroes old

Recess, and only consolation left In time of truce; Iris had dipt the woof,

Familiar to our eyes, all places else His starry helm unbuckled shew'd him prime Inhospitable appear, and desolate, In manhood, where youth ended; by his side, Nor knowing us nor known; and if by pray'r

Incessant I could hope to change the will

ADAM AND EVE DRIVEN OUT OF Of him who all things can, I would not cease

PARADISE. To weary him with my assiduous cries:

He ended, and thus Adam last reply'd : But pray’r against his absolute decree

How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest, No more avails than breath against the wind, Measur'd this transient world, the race of time, Blown stilling back on him that breathes it forth: Till time stand fix'd ? beyond is all abyss, Therefore to his great bidding I submit.

Eternity, whose end no eye can reach. This most afflicts me, that departing hence, Greatly instructed I shall hence depart, As from his face I shall be hid, depriv'd

Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill His blessed countnance; here I could frequent Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain; With worship place by place where he vouchsaf'd

Beyond which was my folly to aspire. Presence divine, and to my sons relate,

Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best, On this mount he appear’d, under this tree

And love with fear the only God, to walk Stood visible, among these pines his voice

As in his presence, ever to observe I heard, here with him at this fountain talkod:

His providence, and on him sole depend, So many grateful altars I would rear

Merciful over all his works, with good Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone

Still overcoming evil, and by small Of lustre from the brook, in memory,

Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak Or monument to ages, and thereon

Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and flowers: By simply meek: that suffering for truth's sake In yonder nether world where shall I seek

Is fortitude to highest victory, His bright appearances, or footsteps trace?

And to the faithful death the gate of life; For though I fled him angry, yet recall'd

Taught this by his example whom I now To life prolong’d and promis'd race, I now

Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest. Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts

To whom thus also th' angel last reply'd : Of glory, and far off his steps adore.

Thus having learn'd, thou hast attain'd the sum To whom thus Michael, with regard benign: Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars Adam, thou know'st Heav'n his, and all the earth, Thou knew'st by name, and all th'ethereal powers, Not this rock only; his omnipresence fills

All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works, Land, sea, and air, and every kind that lives, Or works of God in Heav'n, air, earth, or sea, Fomented by his virtual pow'r, and warm’d: And all the riches of this world enjoy’dst, All th' earth he gave thee to possess and rule, And all the rule, one empire; only add No despicable gift; surmise not then

Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add faith, His presence to these narrow bounds confin'd Add virtue, patience, temperance, add love, Of Paradise or Eden: this had been

By name to come call's Charity, the soul Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had spread Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loth All generations, and had hither come

To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess From all the ends of th' earth, to celebrate

A paradise within thee, happier far. And reverence thee, their great progenitor.

Let us descend now therefore from this top But this pre-eminence thou hast lost, brought down Of speculation; for the hour precise To dwell on even ground now with thy sons: Exacts our parting hence; and see the guards, Yet doubt not but in valley and in plain

By me incamp'd on yonder hill, expect God is as here, and will be found alike

Their motion, at whose front a flaming sword, Present, and of his presence many a sign

In signal of remove, waves fiercely round; Still following thee, still compassing thee round

We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve; With goodness and paternal love, his face

Her also I with gentle dreams have calm'd Express, and of bis steps the track divine.

Portending,good, and all her spirits compos'd Which that thou may'st believe, and be confirm’d To meek submission : thou at season fit Ere thou from hence depart, know I am sent

Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard, To shew thee what shall come in future days

Chiefly what may concern her faith to know, To thee and to thy offspring; good with bad The great deliverance by her seed to come Expect to hear, supernal grace contending

(For by the woman's seed) on all mankind: With sinfulness of man; thereby to learn

That ye may live, which will be many days, True patience, and to temper joy with fear

Both in one faith unanimous though sad, And pious sorrow, equally inur'd

With cause, for evils past, yet much more cheer'd By moderation either state to bear,

With meditation on the happy end. Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead

He ended; and they both descend the hill: Safest thy life, and best prepar'd endure

Descended, Adam to the bower where Eve Thy mortal passage when it comes. Ascend

Lay sleeping ran before, but found her wak’d; This hill; let Eve (for I have drench'd her eyes) And thus with words not sad she him receiv'd. Here sleep below, while thou to foresight wak'st; Whence thou return'st, and whither went'st I As once thou slept'st, while she to life was form’d. For God is also in sleep, and dreams advise, [know ;

Which he hath sent propitious, some great good Belial, in much uneven scale thou weigh'st
Presaging, since with sorrow and heart's distress All others by thyself; because of old
Wearied I fell asleep: but now lead on,

Thou thyself doat'st on womankind, admiring In me is no delay; with thee to go,

Their shape, their colour, and attractive grace, Is to stay here; without thee here to stay,

None are, thou think'st, but taken with such toys. Is to go hence unwilling; thou to me

Before the flood, thou with thy lusty crew, Art all things under Heav'n, all places thou, False titled sons of God, roaming the earth, Who for my wilful crime art banish'd hence, Cast wanton eyes on the daughters of men, This further consolation yet secure

And coupled with them, and begot a race. I carry hence; though all by me is lost,

Have we not seen, or by relation heard, Such favour I unworthy am vouchsaf'd,

In courts and regal chambers how thou lurk'st, By me the promis'd seed shall all restore.

In wood or grove, by mossy fountain side,
So spake our mother Eve, and Adam heard In valley or green meadow, to way-lay
Well pleas'd, but answer'd not; for now too nigh Some beauty rare, Calisto, Clymene,
Th' Archangel stood, and from the other hill Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa,
To their fix'd station, all in bright array

Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more,
The cherubim descended; on the ground

Too long; then lay'st thy scapes on names ador'd, Gliding meteorous, as evening mist

Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter, or Pan, Ris'n from a river o'er the marish glides,

Satyr, or Faun, or Sylvan? But these haunts And gathers ground fast at the lab'rer's heel Delight not all; among the sons of men, Homeward returning. High in front advanc'd, How many have with a smile made small account The brandish'd sword of God before them blaz'd Of beauty and her lures, easily scorn'd Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat, All her assaults, on worthier things intent? And vapour as the Lybian air adust,

Remember that Pellean conqueror, Began to parch that temp’rate clime; whereat A youth, how all the beauties of the East In either hand the hast’ning angel caught

He slightly view'd, and slightly overpass’d; Our ling’ring parents, and to the eastern gate

How he surnam'd of Africa dismiss'd Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast

In his prime youth the fair Iberian maid; To the subjected plain; then disappear’d.

For Solomon, he liv'd at ease, and full They looking back, all th' eastern side beheld Of honour, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond Of Paradise, so late their happy seat,

Higher design than to enjoy his state; Wav'd over by that flaming brand, the gate

Thence to the bait of women lay expos'd:
With dreadful faces throng'd and fiery arms: But he whom we attempt is wiser far
Some natural tears they dropt, but wip'd them soon; Than Solomon, of more exalted mind,
The world was all before them, where to choose Made and set wholly on th' accomplishment
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide: Of greatest things; what woman will you find,
They hand in hand, with wand'ring steps and slow, Tho' of this age the wonder and the fame,
Through Eden took their solitary way.

On whom his leisure will vouchsafe an eye
Of foul desire ? Or should she confident,

As sitting queen ador'd on Beauty's throne, FROM PARADISE REGAINED.-THE Descend with all her winning charms begirt POWER OF BEAUTY.

T enamour, as the zone of Venus once Set women in his eye, and in his walk,

Wrought that effect on Jove, so fables tell; Among the daughters of men the fairest found; How would one look from his majestic brow, Many are in each region passing fair

Seated as on the top of Virtue's hill, As the noon sky; more like to goddesses

Discount'nance her despis'd, and put to rout Than mortal creatures, graceful and discreet, All her array; her female pride deject, Expert in amorous arts, enchanting tongues Or turn to reverent awe; for Beauty stands Persuasive, virgin majesty with mild

In th' admiration only of weak minds And sweet allay'd, yet terrible t’ approach, Led captive; cease t admire, and all her plumes Skill'd to retire, and in retiring draw

Fall flat and shrink into a trivial toy, Hearts after them, tangled in amorous nets. At every sudden slighting quite abash’d: Such object hath the power to soft'n and tame Therefore with manlier objects we must try Severest temper, smooth the rugged'st brow, His constancy, with such as have more shew Enerve, and with voluptuous hope dissolve, Of worth, of honour, glory, and popular praise ; Draw out with credulous desire, and lead

Rocks whereon greatest men have oftest wreck'd. At will the manliest, resolutest breast, As the magnetic hardest iron draws. Women, when nothing else, beguild the heart

DESCRIPTION OF GREECE. Of wisest Solomon, and made him build,

To whom the Fiend with fear abash'd reply'd: And made him bow to the gods of his wives. Be not so sore offended, Son of God,

To whom quick answer Satan thus return'd: Though sons of God both angels are and men,

May sit i' th' centre, and enjoy bright day : Hence had the huntress Dian her dread bow, But he that bides a dark soul, and foul thoughts, Fair silver-shafted queen, for ever chaste, Benighted walks under the mid-day sun :

Wherewith she tam'd the brinded lioness Ilimself is his own dungeon.

And spotted mountain pard, but set at nought Y. Bro. 'Tis most true,

The frivolous bolt of Cupid; Gods and men That musing meditation most affects

Fear'd her stern frown, and she was Queen o'th' The pensive secresy of desert cell,

Whatwas that snaky-headed Gorgon shield (Woods. Far from the cheerful haunt of men and herds, That wise Minerva wore, unconquer'd virgin, And sits as safe as in a senate-house;

Wherewith she freez'd her foes to congeal'd stone, For who would rob a hermit of his weeds,

But rigid looks of chaste austerity, His few books, or his beads, or maple dish,

And noble grace that dash'd brute violence Or do his grey hairs any violence ?

With sudden adoration, and blank awe? But beauty, like the fair Hesperian tree

So dear to Heav'n is saintly chastity, Laden with blooming gold, had need the guard

That when a soul is found sincerely so, Of dragon-watch, with uninchanted eye,

A thousand liveried angels lackey her, To save her blossoms, and defend her fruit

Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt,
From the rash hand of bold incontinence.

And in clear dream, and solemn vision,
You may as well spread out the unsunn'd heaps Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear,
Of misers' treasure by an outlaw's den,

Till oft converse with heav'nly habitants
And tell me it is safe, as bid me hope

Begin to cast a beam on th' outward shape, Danger will wink on opportunity,

The unpolluted temple of the mind, And let a single helpless maiden pass

And turns it by degrees to the soul's essence, Uninjur’d in this wild surrounding waste.

Till all be made immortal : but when lust, Of night or loneliness it recks me not ;

By unchaste looks, loose gestures, and foul talk, I fear the dread events that dog them both,

But most by lewd and lavish act of sin, Lest some ill-greeting touch attempt the person Lets in defilement to the inward parts, Of our unowned sister.

The soul grows clotted by contagion, E. Bro. I do not, brother,

Imbodies and imbrutes, till she quite lose Infer, as if I thought my sister's state

The divine property of her first being. Secure without all doubt, or controversy.

Such are those thick and gloomy shadows damp, Yet where an equal poise of hope and fear

Oft seen in charnel vaults and sepulchres, Does arbitrate th' event, my nature is

Ling’ring and sitting by a new-made grave, That I incline to hope rather than fear,

As loth to leave the body that it lov’d, And gladly banish squint suspicion.

And link'd itself by carnal sensuality My sister is not so defenceless left

To a degenerate and degraded state. As you imagine; she has a hidden strength

Y. Bro. How charming is divine philosophy! Which you remember not.

Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose,
Y. Bro. What hidden strength,

But musical as is Apollo's lute.
Unless the strength of Heav'n, if you mean that? And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets,
E. Bro. I mean that too, but yet a hidden strength,

Where no crude surfeit reigns.
Which if Heav'n gave it, may be term’d her own;

E. Bro. List, list, I hear 'Tis chastity, my brother, chastity:

Some far off halloo break the silent air. She that has that, is clad in complete steel,

Y. Bro. Methought so too; what should it be? And like a quiver'd nymph with arrows keen

E. Bro. For certain, May trace hugh forests, and unharbour'd heaths, Either some one like us night-founder'd here, Infamous hills and sandy perilous wilds,

Or else some neighbour woodman, or at worst Where, through the sacred rays of chastity,

Some roving robber calling to his fellows. No savage fierce, bandit, or mountaineer

Y. Bro. Heav'n keep my sister. Again, again, and Will dare to soil her virgin purity:

Best draw, and stand upon our guard. [near; Yea there, where very desolation dwells,

E. Bro. I'll halloo;
By grots, and caverns shagg'd with horrid shades, If he be friendly, he comes well ;
She may pass on with unblench'd majesty,

Defence is a good cause, and Heav'n be for us.
Be it not done in pride, or in presumption.
Some say no evil thing that walks by night,

The attendant Spirit, habited like a Shepherd. In fog or fire, by lake or moorish fen,

That halloo I should know ; what are you? speak; Blue meagre hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost,

Come not too near, you fall on iron stakes else. That breaks his magic chains at curfeu time,

Spi. What voice is that? My young lord ? Speak No goblin, or swart fairy of the mine

again. Hath hurtful power o'er true virginity.

Y. Bro. O brother, 'tis my father's shepherd, sure, Do ye believe me yet, or shall I call

E. Bro. Thyrsis? whose artful strains have oft Antiquity from the old schools of Greece

The huddling brook to hear his madrigal, [delay'd To testify the arms of chastity?

And sweeten'd every muskrose of the dale.

if not,

How cam'st thou here, good swain ? hath any ram Was took ere she was ware, and wish'd she might
Slipt from the fold, or young kid lost his dam, Deny her nature, and be never more
Or straggling wether the pent flock forsook ? Still to be so displac'd. I was all ear,
How couldst thou find this dark sequester'd nook ? And took in strains that might create a soul

Spi. O my lov'd master's heir, and his next joy, Under the ribs of death: but O ere long
I came not here on such a trivial toy

Too well I did perceive it was the voice As a stray'd ewe, or to pursue the stealth

Of my most honour'd lady, your dear sister. Of pilfering wolf; not all the fleecy wealth Amaz'd I stood, harrow'd with grief and fear, That doth enrich these downs, is worth a thought And O poor hapless nightingale thought I, To this my errand, and the care it brought. How sweet thou sing’st, how near the deadly snare ! But, O my virgin lady, where is she?

Then down the lawns I ran with headlong haste, How chance she is not in your company?

Through paths and turnings often trod by day, E. Bro. To tell thee sadly, shepherd, without Till guided by mine ear I found the place Or our neglect, we lost her as we came. (blame,

Where that damn’d wizard hid in sly disguise Spi. Ay me unhappy! then my fears are true. (For so by certain signs I knew) had met E. Bro. What fears, good Thyrsis : Prythee Already, ere my best speed could prevent, briefly shew.

The aidless innocent lady, his wish'd prey, Spi. I'll tell you ; 'tis not vain or fabulous ; Who gently ask'd if he had seen such two, (Though so esteem'd by shallow ignorance) Supposing him some neighbour villager. What the sage poets, taught by th' heav'nly Muse, Longer I durst not stay, but soon I guess’d Story'd of old in high immortal verse,

Ye were the two she meant: with that I sprung Of dire chimeras and inchanted isles,

Into swift flight, till I had found you here,
And rifted rocks whose entrance leads to Hell; But further know I not.
For such there be, but unbelief is blind.

Y. Bro. O night and shades,
Within the navel of this hideous wood,

How are ye join'd with Hell in triple knot, Immur'd in cypress shades a sorcerer dwells, Against th' unarmed weakness of one virgin Of Bacchus and of Circe born, great Comus, Alone, and helpless ! is this the confidence Deep skill'd in all his mother's witcheries,

You gave me, brother! And here to every thirsty wanderer

E. Bro. Yes, and keep it still ;
By sly enticement gives his baneful cup,

Lean on it safely; not a period
With many murmurs mix'd, whose pleasing poison Shall be unsaid for me: against the threats
The visage quite transforms of him that drinks, Of malice or of sorcery, or that power
And the inglorious likeness of a beast

Which erring men call chance; this I hold firm, Fixes instead, unmoulding reason's mintage

Virtue may be assail'd, but never hurt; Character'd in the face; this have I learnt

Surpris’d by unjust force, but not inthrall’d; Tending my flocks hard by i'th' hilly crofts Yea even that which mischief meant most harm, That brow this bottom glade, whence night by night Shall in the happy trial prove most glory; He and his monstrous rout are heard to howl But evil on itself shall back recoil, Like stabled wolves, or tigers at their prey, And mix no more with goodness, when at last Doing abhorred rites to Hecate

Gather'd like scum, and settled to itself, In their obscured haunts of inmost bowers.

It shall be in eternal restless change, Yet have they many baits, and guileful spells, Self-fed, and self-consum'd: if this fail, To inveigle and invite th’unwary sense

The pillar'd firmament is rottenness, Of them that pass unweeting by the way.

And earth's base builton stubble. Butcome, let'son; This evening late, by then the chewing flocks Against th' opposing will and arm of Heav'n Had ta'en their supper on the savory herb

May never this just sword be lifted up; Of knot-grass dew-besprent, and were in fold, But for that damn'd magician, let him be girt I sat me down to watch upon a bank

With all the grisly legions that troop With ivy canopied, and interwove

Under the sooty flag of Acheron, With slanting honeysuckle, and began,

Harpies and hydras, or all the monstrous forms Wrapt in a pleasing fit of melancholy,

'Twixt Africa and Ind, I'll find him out, To meditate my rural minstrelsy,

And force him to restore his purchase back, Till fancy had her fill, but ere a close

Or drag him by the curls to a foul death, The wonted roar was up amidst the woods,

Curs'd as his life.
And fill'd the air with barbarous dissonance;

Spi. Alas! good vent'rous youth,
At which I ceas'd, and listen’d them a while, I love thy courage yet, and bold emprise ;
Till an unusual stop of sudden silence

But here thy sword can do thee little stead;
Gave respite to the drowsy flighted steeds, .

Far other arms, and other weapons must That draw the litter of close curtain'd sleep: Be those that quell the might of hellish charms: At last a soft and solemn breathing sound

He with his bare wand can unthread thy joints, Rose like a steam of rich distill'd perfumes,

And crumble all thy sinews. And stole upon the air, that even silence

E. Bro. Why, prythee, shepherd,