The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (61 page)

708

      

Nor Faunus
³¹⁰²
haunted. Here, in close
³¹⁰³
recess,
³¹⁰⁴

709

      

With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs,

710

      

Espousèd
³¹⁰⁵
Eve decked first her nuptial bed,

711

      

And Heav’nly choirs the hymenaean
³¹⁰⁶
sung,

712

      

What day
³¹⁰⁷
the genial
³¹⁰⁸
Angel to our sire

713

      

Brought her in naked beauty more adorned,

714

      

More lovely, than Pandora,
³¹⁰⁹
whom the gods

715

      

Endowed with all their gifts, and O! too like

716

      

In sad event, when to the unwiser son
³¹¹⁰

717

      

Of Japhet
³¹¹¹
brought by Hermes,
³¹¹²
she ensnared

718

      

Mankind with her fair looks, to be
³¹¹³
avenged

719

      

On him
³¹¹⁴
who had stole Jove’s authentic
³¹¹⁵
fire.

720

      

   
Thus at their shady lodge
³¹¹⁶
arrived, both stood,

721

      

Both turned, and under open sky adored
³¹¹⁷

722

      

The God that made both sky, air, earth, and Heav’n,

723

      

Which they beheld, the moon’s resplendent globe

724

      

And starry pole: “Thou also mad’st the night,

725

      

Maker Omnipotent, and Thou the day,

726

      

Which we, in our appointed work employed,

727

      

Have finished, happy in our mutual help

728

      

And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss

729

      

Ordained by Thee. And this delicious
³¹¹⁸
place

730

      

For us too large, where thy abundance wants
³¹¹⁹

731

      

Partakers, and uncropped
³¹²⁰
falls to the ground.

732

      

But thou hast promised from us two a race

733

      

To fill the earth, who shall with us extol

734

      

Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,

735

      

And when we seek, as now, Thy gift of sleep.

736

      

   
This said unanimous, and other rites

737

      

Observing none, but adoration pure

738

      

(Which God likes best), into their inmost bow’r

739

      

Handed
³¹²¹
they went and, eased
³¹²²
the putting off

740

      

These troublesome disguises which we wear,

741

      

Straight side by side were laid, nor turned, I ween,
³¹²³

742

      

Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites

743

      

Mysterious of connubial love refused,

744

      

Whatever hypocrites austerely talk

745

      

Of purity, and place, and innocence,

746

      

Defaming as impure what God declares

747

      

Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.

748

      

Our Maker bids increase: who bids abstain

749

      

But our destroyer, foe to God and man?

750

      

Hail, wedded love, mysterious law, true source

751

      

Of human offspring, sole propriety
³¹²⁴

752

      

In Paradise of all things common
³¹²⁵
else!

753

      

By thee adulterous lust was driv’n from men

754

      

Among the bestial herds to range.
³¹²⁶
By thee

755

      

Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,

756

      

Relations
³¹²⁷
dear, and all the charities
³¹²⁸

757

      

Of father, son, and brother, first were known.

758

      

Far be it, that I should write
³¹²⁹
thee sin or blame,

759

      

Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,

760

      

Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets,

761

      

Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced,

762

      

Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used.

763

      

Here love his golden shafts
³¹³⁰
employs, here lights

764

      

His constant
³¹³¹
lamp, and waves his purple wings,

765

      

Reigns here and revels, not in the bought smile

766

      

Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared,

767

      

Casual fruition,
³¹³²
nor in court-amours,

768

      

Mixed dance, or wanton
³¹³³
masque, or midnight ball,

769

      

Or serenade, which the starved lover sings

770

      

To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.

771

      

   
These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept,

772

      

And on their naked limbs the flow’ry roof

773

      

Show’red roses, which the morn repaired.
³¹³⁴
Sleep on,

774

      

Blest pair! and O! yet happiest, if ye seek

775

      

No happier state, and know to know no more!

776

      

   
Now had night measured with her shadowy cone
³¹³⁵

777

      

Halfway up hill this vast sublunar vault,
³¹³⁶

778

      

And from their ivory port
³¹³⁷
the Cherubim,

779

      

Forth issuing at the accustomed hour, stood armed

780

      

To their night watches in warlike parade,

781

      

When Gabriel to his next in power thus spoke:

782

      

   
“Uzziel,
³¹³⁸
half these draw off, and coast the south

783

      

With strictest watch. These other wheel
³¹³⁹
the north;

784

      

Our circuit meets full west.” As
³¹⁴⁰
flame they part,

785

      

Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear.
³¹⁴¹

786

      

From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he called

787

      

That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge:

788

      

   
“Ithuriel
³¹⁴²
and Zephon,
³¹⁴³
with wingèd speed

789

      

Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook,

790

      

But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge,

791

      

Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of
³¹⁴⁴
harm.

792

      

This ev’ning from
³¹⁴⁵
the sun’s decline arrived

793

      

Who tells
³¹⁴⁶
of some infernal Spirit seen

794

      

Hitherward bent
³¹⁴⁷
(who could have thought?), escaped