From us no other fervice than to keep
This one, this eafie charge, of all the trees
In Paradife that bear delicious fruit

420

So various, not to taste that only Tree
Of Knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life,
So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, 425
Some dreadful thing no doubt: for well thou know'It
GOD hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree,
The only fign of our obedience left,
Among fo many figns of pow'r and rule
Confer'd upon us, and dominion giv'n
Over all other creatures that poffels
Earth, air, and fea. Then let us not think hard
One eafie prohibition, who enjoy

Free leave fo large to all things elfe, and choice
Unlimited of manifold delights:

430

435

But let us ever praise him, and extoll
His bounty, following our delightful task
To prune thefe growing plants, & tend thefe flow'rs;
Which were it tailfome, yet with thee were sweet.

To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou for whom 440 And from whom I was form'd, flesh of thy flesh, And without whom am to no end, my guide And head! what thou haft faid is juft and right: For we to him indeed all praises owe, And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy So far the happier lot, enjoying thee Preeminent by fo much odds, while thou Like confort to thy felf canft no where find. That day I oft remember, when from fleep I firft awak'd, and found my felf repos'd 450 Under a fhade of flow'rs, much wond'ring where And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. Not distant far from thence a murmuring found Of waters iffu'd from a cave, and spread Into a liquid plain, then food unmov'd Pure as th' expanse of heav'n: I thither went

F4

445

455

With

With unexperienc'd thought, and laid me down On the green bank, to look into the clear Smooth lake, that to me feem'd another sky. As I bent down to look, juft oppofite A fhape within the watry gleam appear'd, Bending to look on me. I ftarted back, It started back; but pleas'd I foon return'd, Pleas'd it return'd as foon with answering looks Of fympathy and love: there I had fix'd Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain defire, Had not a voice thus warn'd me, "What thou feest, "What there thou feeft, fair Creature, is thy felf, "With thee it came and goes: but follow me, "And I will bring thee where no fhadow ftays 470 "Thy coming, and thy foft embraces, he "Whose image thou art, him thou shalt enjoy "Infeparably thine, to him fhalt bear

465

"Multitudes like thy felf, and thence be call'd ?
"Mother of human race." What could I do, 475
But follow ftraight, invifibly thus led?
Til I efpy'd thee, fair indeed and tall,
Under a plantan, yet methought lefs fair,
Lefs winning foft, lefs amiably mild,
Than that fimooth watry image: back I turn'd, 480
Thou following cry'dft aloud, return fair EvE,
Whom fly ft thou? whom thou fly ft, of him thou art,
His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent
Out of my fide to thee, nearest my heart
Subftantial life, to have thee by my fide
Henceforth an individual folace dear.
Part of my foul, I feek thee, and thee claim
My other felf! with that thy gentle hand
Seis'd mine, I yielded, and from that time fee
How beauty is excell'd by manly grace,
And wisdom, which alone is truly fair,

485

So fpake our general mother, and with eyes Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,

460

490

And