The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (100 page)

173

Let it. I reck
⁴⁷⁸⁵
not, so it light
⁴⁷⁸⁶
well aimed,

174

Since higher I fall short, on him who next

175

Provokes my envy, this new favorite

176

Of Heav’n, this man of clay, son of despite
⁴⁷⁸⁷

177

Whom us the more to spite his Maker raised

178

From dust. Spite then with spite is best repaid.

179

   
So saying, through each thicket dank or dry,

180

Like a black mist low-creeping, he held
⁴⁷⁸⁸
on

181

His midnight-search, where soonest he might find

182

The serpent. Him fast-sleeping soon he found

183

In labyrinth of many a round
⁴⁷⁸⁹
self-rolled,

184

His head the midst, well stored with subtle wiles,

185

Not yet in horrid
⁴⁷⁹⁰
shade or dismal den,
⁴⁷⁹¹

186

Nor nocent
⁴⁷⁹²
yet, but on the grassy herb,

187

Fearless unfeared he slept. In at his mouth

188

The Devil entered and his
⁴⁷⁹³
brutal sense,

189

In heart or head, possessing, soon inspired

190

With act intelligential, but his sleep

191

Disturbed not, waiting close
⁴⁷⁹⁴
the approach of morn.

192

   
Now when as sacred light began to dawn

193

In Eden on the humid flow’rs, that breathed

194

Their morning incense,
⁴⁷⁹⁵
when all things that breathe

195

From th’ earth’s great altar send up silent praise

196

To the Creator, and His nostrils fill

197

With grateful
⁴⁷⁹⁶
smell, forth came the human pair

198

And joined their vocal worship to the choir

199

Of creatures wanting
⁴⁷⁹⁷
voice. That done, partake
⁴⁷⁹⁸

200

The season prime for sweetest scents and airs,

201

Then commune
⁴⁷⁹⁹
how that day they best may ply
⁴⁸⁰⁰

202

Their growing work, for much their work out-grew

203

The hands’ dispatch
⁴⁸⁰¹
of two gard’ning so wide.
⁴⁸⁰²

204

And Eve first to her husband thus began:

205

   
“Adam, well may we labor still
⁴⁸⁰³
to dress
⁴⁸⁰⁴

206

This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flow’r,

207

Our pleasant task enjoined,
⁴⁸⁰⁵
but till more hands

208

Aid us the work under our labor grows

209

Luxurious
⁴⁸⁰⁶
by restraint. What we by day

210

Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind,

211

One night or two with wanton
⁴⁸⁰⁷
growth derides,
⁴⁸⁰⁸

212

Tending
⁴⁸⁰⁹
to wild. Thou therefore now advise,
⁴⁸¹⁰

213

Or hear what to my mind first thoughts present.

214

Let us divide our labors—thou where choice

215

Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind

216

The woodbine round this arbor, or direct

217

The clasping ivy where to climb, while I,

218

In yonder spring
⁴⁸¹¹
of roses intermixed

219

With myrtle, find what to redress
⁴⁸¹²
till noon.

220

For while so near each other thus all day

221

Our task we choose, what wonder if so near

222

Looks intervene and smiles, or object new

223

Casual discourse draw on, which intermits
⁴⁸¹³

224

Our day’s work, brought to little, though begun

225

Early, and th’ hour of supper comes unearned?

226

To whom mild answer Adam thus returned:

227

   
“Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond

228

Compare above all living creatures dear!

229

Well hast thou motioned,
⁴⁸¹⁴
well thy thoughts employed,

230

How we might best fulfil the work which here

231

God hath assigned us, nor of me shalt pass

232

Unpraised, for nothing lovelier can be found

233

In woman, than to study houshold good,

234

And good works in her husband to promote.

235

Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed

236

Labor, as to debar us when we need

237

Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,

238

Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse

239

Of looks and smiles, for smiles from reason flow,

240

To brute denied, and are of love the food—

241

Love, not the lowest end
⁴⁸¹⁵
of human life.

242

For not to irksome
⁴⁸¹⁶
toil, but to delight

243

He made us, and delight to reason joined.

244

These paths and bowers
⁴⁸¹⁷
doubt not but our joint hands

245

Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide

246

As we need walk, till younger hands ere long

247

Assist us. But if much converse perhaps

248

Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield,
⁴⁸¹⁸

249

For solitude sometimes is best society,

250

And short retirement
⁴⁸¹⁹
urges sweet return.

251

   
“But other doubt possesses me, lest harm

252

Befall thee, severed from me, for thou know’st

253

What hath been warned us, what malicious foe

254

Envying our happiness, and of his own

255

Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame

256

By sly assault. And somewhere nigh at hand

257

Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find

258

His wish and best advantage, us asunder.

259

Hopeless to circumvent us joined, where each

260

To other speedy aid might lend at need,

261

Whether his first design be to withdraw

262

Our fealty from God, or to disturb