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whom

      And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh,

      And without whom am to no end, my guide

      And head! what thou hast said is just and right.

      For we to him indeed all praises owe,

      And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy

      So far the happier lot, enjoying thee

      Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou

      Like consort to thyself canst no where find.

      That day I oft remember, when from sleep

      I first awaked, and found myself reposed

      Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where

      And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.

      Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound

      Of waters issued from a cave, and spread

      Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved

      Pure as the expanse of Heaven; I thither went

      With unexperienced thought, and laid me down

      On the green bank, to look into the clear

      Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky.

      As I bent down to look, just opposite

      A shape within the watery gleam appeared,

      Bending to look on me: I started back,

      It started back; but pleased I soon returned,

      Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks

      Of sympathy and love: There I had fixed

      Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire,

      Had not a voice thus warned me; ‘What thou seest,

      What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself;

      With thee it came and goes: but follow me,

      And I will bring thee where no shadow stays

      Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he

      Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy

      Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear

      Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called

      Mother of human race.’ What could I do,

      But follow straight, invisibly thus led?

      Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall,

      Under a platane; yet methought less fair,

      Less winning soft, less amiably mild,

      Than that smooth watery image: Back I turned;

      Thou following cryedst aloud, ‘Return, fair Eve;

      Whom flyest thou? whom thou flyest, of him thou art,

      His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent

      Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart,

      Substantial life, to have thee by my side

      Henceforth an individual solace dear;

      Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim

      My other half:’ With that thy gentle hand

      Seized mine: I yielded; and from that time see

      How beauty is excelled by manly grace,

      And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.”

      So spake our general mother, and with eyes

      Of conjugal attraction unreproved,

      And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned

      On our first father; half her swelling breast

      Naked met his, under the flowing gold

      Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight

      Both of her beauty, and submissive charms,

      Smiled with superior love, as Jupiter

      On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds

      That shed Mayflowers; and pressed her matron lip

      With kisses pure: Aside the Devil turned

      For envy; yet with jealous leer malign

      Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained.

      “Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two,

      Imparadised in one another’s arms,

      The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill

      Of bliss on bliss; while I to Hell am thrust,

      Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire,

      Among our other torments not the least,

      Still unfulfilled with pain of longing pines.

      Yet let me not forget what I have gained

      From their own mouths: All is not theirs, it seems;

      One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge called,

      Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidden

      Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord

      Envy them that? Can it be sin to know?

      Can it be death? And do they only stand

      By ignorance? Is that their happy state,

      The proof of their obedience and their faith?

      O fair foundation laid whereon to build

      Their ruin! hence I will excite their minds

      With more desire to know, and to reject

      Envious commands, invented with design

      To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt

      Equal with Gods: aspiring to be such,

      They taste and die: What likelier can ensue

      But first with narrow search I must walk round

      This garden, and no corner leave unspied;

      A chance but chance may lead where I may meet

      Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain side,

      Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw

      What further would be learned. Live while ye may,

      Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,

      Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed!”

      So saying, his proud step he scornful turned,

      But with sly circumspection, and began

      Through wood, through waste, o’er hill, o’er dale, his roam

      Meanwhile in utmost longitude, where Heaven

      With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun

      Slowly descended, and with right aspect

      Against the eastern gate of Paradise

      Levelled his evening rays: It was a rock

      Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds,

      Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent

      Accessible from earth, one entrance high;

      The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung

      Still as it rose, impossible to climb.

      Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat,

      Chief of the angelic guards, awaiting night;

      About

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