335 340 So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent What choice to choose for delicacy best, What order, so contriv'd as not to mix Tastes, not well join'd, inelegant, but bring Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change; Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk Whatever earth, all-bearing mother, yields In India east or west, or middle shore, In Pontus, or the Punic coast, or where Alcinous reign'd, fruit of all kinds, in coat, Rough, or smooth rin'd, or bearded husk, or shell, She gathers, tribute large, and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand: for drink the grape She crushes, inoffensive must, and meathes From many aberry, and from sweet kernels press'd She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold Wants her fit vessels pure; then strews the ground With rose and odours from the shrub unfum'd. Mean while our primitive great sire, to meet 350 His god-like guest, walks forth, without more train Accompany'd than with his own complete Perfections; in himself was all his state, More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits On princes, when their rich retinue long เ 345 355 888 choice to choose] So P. L. viii. 130. 'move motion.' ix. 289. thoughts misthought,' xi. 427. 'sinned sin.' Newton. 848 vessels] The shell of the fruits. See Book iv. ver. 335. and in the rind, Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream.' Of horses led and grooms besmear'd with gold Thus said. 360 365 Native of heaven, for other place None can than heaven such glorious shape contain, Since by descending from the thrones above, Those happy places thou hast deign'd a while To want, and honour these, vouchsafe with us Two only, who yet by sov'reign gift possess This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower To rest, and what the garden choicest bears To sit and taste, till this meridian heat Be over, and the sun more cool decline. 370 Whom thus the angelic Virtue answer'd mild. Adam, I therefore came, nor art thou such Created, or such place hast here to dwell, As may not oft invite, though spirits of heaven, To visit thee: lead on then where thy bower 375 O'ershades; for these mid-hours, till ev'ning rise, I have at will. So to the sylvan lodge They came, that like Pomona's arbour smil'd With flow'rets deck'd and fragrant smells: but Eve Undeck'd, save with her self, more lovely fair 380 Than wood-nymph, or the fairest goddess feign'd Of three that in Mount Ida naked strove, 856 besmear'd] Hor. Od. iv. 9. 14. 'Aurum vestibus illitum.' Hume. 357 agape] agaze. Bentl. MS. Stood to entertain her guest from heaven; no veil She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm Alter'd her cheek. On whom the angel Hail 385 Bestow'd, the holy salutation us'd Long after to blest Mary, second Eve. Hail, mother of mankind, whose fruitful womb Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons, Than with these various fruits the trees of GOD 390 Have heap'd this table. Rais'd of grassy turf 400 To whom the angel. Therefore what he gives, Whose praise be ever sung, to man in part Spiritual, may of purest spirits be found No ingrateful food: and food alike those pure As doth your rational; and both contain Within them every lower faculty 405 410 Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate, 415 And corporeal to incorporeal turn. 420 425 Sups with the ocean. Though in heaven the trees 422 moist] Marino's Sl. of the Innocents, lib. ii. st. xcv. 426 Sups] Lovelace's Post. Poems, p. 15. 'The sun sups with the deep.' Todd. 426 trees] See Merrick's Triphiodorus, ver. 252. Todd. 435 Of theologians, but with keen dispatch Of real hunger, and concoctive heat To transubstantiate: what redounds, transpires Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, As from the mine. Mean while at table Eve Then had the sons of GOD excuse to have been Thus when with meats and drinks they had Not burden'd nature, sudden mind arose 440 445 450 Giyen him by this great conference, to know 448 mine] Mint.' Bentl. MS. 455 his] Tickell, Fenton. Bently, read 'this' corruptly. 460 |