第14章 13
These then, though unbeheld in deep of night,
Shine not in vain, nor think, though men were none, [ 675 ]
That heavn 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 ceasless praise his works behold
Both day and night: how often from the steep [ 680 ]
Of echoing Hill or Thicket have we heard
Celestial voices to the midnight air,
Sole, or responsive each to others note
Singing thir great Creator: oft in bands
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, [ 685 ]
With Heavnly touch of instrumental sounds
In full harmonic number joind, thir songs
Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven.
Thus talking hand in hand alone they passd
On to thir blissful Bower; it was a place [ 690 ]
Chosn by the sovran Planter, when he framd
All things to mans delightful use; the roofe
Of thickest covert was inwoven shade
Laurel and Mirtle, and what higher grew
Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side [ 695 ]
Acanthus, and each odorous bushie shrub
Fencd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flour,
Iris all hues, Roses, and Gessamin
Reard high thir flourisht heads between, and wrought
Mosaic; underfoot the Violet, [ 700 ]
Crocus, and Hyacinth with rich inlay
Broiderd the ground, more colourd then with stone
Of costliest Emblem: other Creature here
Beast, Bird, Insect, or Worm durst enter none;
Such was thir awe of Man. In shadie Bower [ 705 ]
More sacred and sequesterd, though but feignd,
Pan or Silvanus never slept, nor Nymph,
Nor Faunus haunted. Here in close recess
With Flowers, Garlands, and sweet-smelling Herbs
Espoused Eve deckt first her Nuptial Bed, [ 710 ]
And heavnlyly Quires the Hymenaan sung,
What day the genial Angel to our Sire
Brought her in naked beauty more adornd
More lovely then Pandora, whom the Gods
Endowd with all thir gifts, and O too like [ 715 ]
In sad event, when to the unwiser Son
Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnard
Mankind with her faire looks, to be avengd
On him who had stole Joves authentic fire.