His lithe probofcis: clofe the ferpent fly
Infinuating, wove with gordian twine
His braided train, and of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheeded: others on the grafs
Couch'd, and now fill'd with pafture gazing fat,
Or bedward ruminating: for the Sun
Declin'd was hafting now with prone career
To th' ocean ifles, and in th' afcending scale
Of heav'n the ftars that usher evening rofe:
When SATAN ftill in gaze, as first he ftood,
Scarce thus at length fail'd speech recover'd fad.
O Hell, what do mine eyes with grief behold!
Into our room of blifs thus high advanc'd
Creatures of other mold; earth-born perhaps,
Not fpirits, yet to heav'nly fpirits bright
Little inferior; whom my thoughts perfue
With wonder, and could love, fo lively fhines
In them divine refemblance, and fuch grace
The hand that form'd'em on their fhape hath pour'd.
Ah gentle pair, ye little think how nigh
Your change approaches, when all these delights
Will vanish, and deliver you to woe,
More woe, the more your taste is now of joy:
Happy, but for fo happy ill fecur'd
Long to continue; and this high feat your Heav'n
Ill fenc'd for Heav'n, to keep out fuch a foe
As now is enter'd: yet no purpos'd foe
To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn,
Though I unpitied. League with you I feek,
And mutual amity fo ftrait, fo clofe,
That I with you must dwell, or you with me
Henceforth my dwelling haply may not please,
Like this fair Paradife, your fenfe; yet fuch
Accept your maker's work; he gave it me,
Which I as freely give: Hell thall unfold,
To entertain you two, her wideft gates,
And fend forth all her Kings: there will be room,
Not like these narrow limits, to receive
Your numerous offspring: if no better place,
Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge
On you who wrong me not, for him who wrong'd.
And thould I at your harmless innocence
Melt, (as I do) yet publick reason juft,
Honor and empire with revenge enlarg'd,
By conqu❜ring this new world, compels me now
To do, what else (though damn'd) I should abhor.
So fpake the Fiend, and with neceffity,
The tyrant's plea, excus'd his devilish deeds.
Then from his lofty fland on that high tree,
Down he alights among the fportful herd
Of thofe four-footed kinds; himself now one,
Now other, as their fhape ferv'd beft his end
Nearer to view his prey, and unefpy'd
To mark what of their ftate he more might learn, 40q By word or action mark'd: about them round
A lion now he ftalks with fiery glare,
Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spy'd
In fome purlieu two gentle fawns at play,
Straight couches clofe, then rifing changes oft
His couchant watch, as one who chote his ground,
Whence rushing he might furelt feize them both
Grip'd in each paw: when ADAM firt of men
To firft of women EvE thus moving speech,
Turn'd him, all ear, to hear new utterance flow.
Sole partner and fole part of all these joys,
Dearer thy felf than all needs mult the Pow'r
That made us, and for us this ample world,
Be infinitely good, and of his good
As liberal and free as infinite,
That rais'd us from the duft, and plac'd us here
In all this happinefs, who at his hand
Have nothing merited, nor can perform
Qught whereof he hath need, he who requires
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