665

Those have their course to finish, round the earth, By morrow ev'ning, and from land to land In order, though to nations yet unborn, Minist'ring light prepar'd, they set and rise; Lest total darkness should by night regain Her old possession, and extinguish life In nature and all things, which these soft fires Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat Of various influence foment and warm, Temper or nourish, or in part shed down Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow On earth, made hereby apter to receive Perfection from the sun's more potent ray. These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, 674 Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none, That heav'n would want spectators, God want praise:

Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep. All these with ceaseless praise his works behold Both day and night: how often from the steep 600 Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard Celestial voices to the midnight air, Sole, or responsive each to other's note, Singing their great Creator? oft in bands

661 Those "These" is Tonson's and Newton's alteration. Milton's reading is 'Those.'

vii. 477.

677 walk the earth] The same expression occurs in P. J. 'Creep the ground.' Cicero de Finibus, ii. c. 34. Maria ambulavisset.' See Wakef. Lucret. ii. v. 206.

686

690

While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk,
With heav'nly touch of instrumental sounds
In full harmonic number join'd, their songs
Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to heaven.
Thus talking hand in hand alone they pass'd
On to their blissful bower; it was a place
Chosen by the sov'reign planter, when he fram’d
All things to man's delightful use: the roof
Of thickest covert was inwoven shade,
Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew
Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side
Acanthus and each odorous bushy shrub
Fenc'd up
Iris all hues, roses, and jessamin

695

the verdant wall, each beauteous flow'r,

Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and

wrought

Mosaic; under foot the violet,

Crocus, and hyacinth with rich inlay

700

Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with stone
Of costliest emblem: other creature here,
Beast, bird, insect, or worm, durst enter none;
Such was their awe of man. In shadier bower 705
More sacred and sequester'd, though but feign'd,
Pan or Sylvanus never slept; nor nymph,

703 emblem] Inlay. Arte pavimenti, atque emblemati vermiculato.' Bentley.

705 shadier] shadie, 2nd ed.

Nor Faunus haunted. Here in close recess With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs, Espoused Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed, 710 And heav'nly choirs the Hymenæan sung, What day the genial angel to our sire Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd, More lovely than Pandora, whom the Gods Endow'd with all their gifts, and O too like 715 In sad event, when to the unwiser son Of Japhet brought by Hermes she ensnar'd Mankind with her fair looks, to be aveng'd On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire.

725

Thus at their shady lodge arriv'd, both stood, Both turn'd, and under open sky ador'd The GOD that made both sky, air, earth, and heav'n Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe, And starry pole. Thou also mad'st the night, Maker Omnipotent, and thou the day, Which we in our appointed work employ'd Have finish'd, happy in our mutual help And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place For us too large, where thy abundance wants 730 Partakers, and uncrop'd falls to the ground. But thou hast promis'd from us two a race To fill the earth, who shall with us extol

719 authentic fire]

Or him who stole from Jove narthecal fire.' Bentl. MS. 723 moon] Virg. Æn. vi. 725. Lucentemque globum lunæ.

Hume.

Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,
And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep. 735
This said unanimous, and other rites
Observing none, but adoration pure

740

Which God likes best, into their inmost bower
Handed they went; and, eas'd the putting off
These troublesome disguises which we wear,
Straight side by side were laid; nor turn'd, I ween,
Adam from his fair spouse; nor Eve the rites
Mysterious of connubial love refus'd:
Whatever hypocrites austerely talk
Of purity, and place, and innocence,
Defaming as impure what God declares

745

Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.
Our Maker bids increase, who bids abstain
But our destroyer, foe to GoD and man?

Hail wedded love, mysterious law, true source 750
Of human offspring, sole propriety

In paradise of all things common else.

By thee adulterous lust was driv'n from men
Among the bestial herds to range; by thee

750 Hail wedded love] Mr. Dyce compares Middleton. 'Reverend and honourable matrimony,

Mother of lawfull sweetes, unshamed mornings,
Dangerlesse pleasures; thou that mak'st the bed
Both pleasant, and legitimately fruitful. without thee,
All the whole world were soyled bastardy:
Thou art the onely and the greatest forme,
That put'st a difference betwcene our desires
And the disordered appetites of beastes.'

The Phoenix, 1607. Sig. 1) 4.

755

760

Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,
Relations dear, and all the charities
Of father, son, and brother, first were known.
Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame,
Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,
Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets,
Whose bed is undefil'd and chaste pronounc'd,
Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs us'd.
Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights
His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigns here, and revels; not in the bought smile 165
Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendear'd,
Casual fruition; nor in court amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
Or serenate, which the starv'd lover sings
To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. 770
These, lull'd by nightingales, embracing slept,
And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof
Shower'd roses, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on,
Blest pair, and O! yet happiest if ye seek
No happier state, and know to know no more. 775
Now had night measur'd with her shadowy cone
Half
way up hill this vast sublunar vault,

And from their ivory port the Cherubim
Forth issuing at th' accustom'd hour stood arm'd
To their night watches in warlike parade,
When Gabriel to his next in

power

thus spake.

780

Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south

778 ivory] Ov. Met. iv. 185.

· Lemnius extemplo valvas patefecit eburnas.' Newton.