Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies.
At once on th' eastern cliff of paradise

275

He lights, and to his proper shape returns
A seraph wing'd: six wings he wore, to shade
His lineaments divine; the pair that clad
Each shoulder broad came mantling o'er his breast
With regal ornament; the middle pair

280

Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round
Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold
And colours dipp'd in heaven; the third his feet
Shadow'd from either heel with feather'd mail,
Sky-tinctur'd grain. Like Maia's son he stood, 285

277 shade] Statii Silv. iii. 4. 30.

'Ex humeris nullæ fulgentibus, umbrœ.'

281 starry zone] Compare Marino's Sl. of the Innocents, p. 50, st. xcvi. describing an angel.

'When in celestial colours art contends

With azure gold, and white with purest red.
For skirts girt at the waist, then each depends
Loosely, nor further than the knees are spread.
Which, lest thy waving be too much display'd,
A golden clasp restrains, with gems inlay'd.
Extended on his shining back a pair
Of ample wings their glorious colours show;
Most choice perfumes enrich his curling hair,
And to the air the graceful tresses flow,' &c.
285 son] See Dante, Il. Purg. c. 8.

'E vidi uscir dell' alto, e scender giue
Du' Angeli con due spade affocate,

Verdi, come fogliette pur mo nate,
Erano 'n veste, che da verdi penne
Percosse traén dietro e ventilate.

288

295

And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance fill'd
The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands
Of angels under watch; and to his state,
And to his message high, in honour rise;
For on some message high they guess'd him bound.
Their glittering tents he pass'd, and now is come
Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh,
And flow'ring odors, cassia, nard, and balm;
A wilderness of sweets; for nature here
Wanton'd as in her prime, and play'd at will
Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet,
Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss.
Him through the spicy forest onward come
Adam discern'd, as in the door he sat
Of his cool bower, while now the mounted sun 300
Shot down direct his fervid rays, to warm [needs;
Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam
And Eve within, due at her hour prepar'd
For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please
True appetite, and not disrelish thirst

305

Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream, Berry, or grape; to whom thus Adam call'd. Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold

286 shook] Sannaz. de Partu Virg. i. 107.

'ingentes explicat alas

Ac tectis late insuetum diffundit odorem.'

and Fairfax's Tasso, lib. i. st. 14. Newton. Todd.
806 milky stream] v. Apulei Metam. i. p. 27. ed. Delph.
'En, inquam, explere latice fontes lacteo.'

Beaumont's Psyche, c. iii. st. 56.

And from the milkie shore of the next spring!'

310

Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape
Comes this way moving, seems another morn
Ris'n on mid-noon; some great behest from heaven
To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe
This day to be our guest. But go with speed,
And what thy stores contain bring forth, and pour
Abundance, fit to honour and receive

315

Our heavenly stranger; well we may afford
Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow
From large bestow'd, where nature multiplies
Her fertile growth, and by disburd'ning grows
More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare. 20
To whom thus Eve. Adam, earth's hallow'd

mould,

325

Of GOD inspir'd, small store will serve, where store
All seasons ripe for use hangs on the stalk;
Save what by frugal storing firmness gains
To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes.
But I will haste, and from each bough and brake,
Each plant and juiciest gourd, will pluck such
To entertain our angel guest, as he

[choice

Beholding shall confess, that here on earth
GOD hath dispens'd his bounties as in heaven. 330

809 what] See Dante, Il Purgatorio, c. xii.

'Vedi colà un' Angel, che s' appresta

Per venir verso noi.'

310 morn] See Crashaw's Delights, p. 52.

'Who's this that comes arched in rayes that scorn
Acquaintance with the Sun? What second morn
At midday opes a presence?'

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

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
Dazzles the crowd, and sets them all agape.
Nearer his presence Adam, though not aw'd,
Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek,
As to a superior nature, bowing low,

360

365

Thus said. 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

375

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 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.

857 agape] agaze. Bentl. MS.