第2章 1

NOw Morn her rosie steps in th Eastern Clime Advancing, sowd the earth with Orient Pearle, When Adam wakt, so customd, for his sleep Was Aerie light, from pure digestion bred, And temperat vapors bland, which th only sound [ 5 ] Of leaves and fuming rills, Auroras fan, Lightly dispersd, and the shrill Matin Song

Of Birds on every bough; so much the more His wonder was to find unwaknd Eve With Tresses discomposd, and glowing Cheek, [ 10 ] As through unquiet rest: he on his side Leaning half-raisd, with looks of cordial Love Hung over her enamourd, and beheld Beautie, which whether waking or asleep,

Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice [ 15 ] Milde, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, Her hand soft touching, whisperd thus. Awake My fairest, my espousd, my latest found, Heavns last best gift, my ever new delight, Awake, the morning shines, and the fresh field [ 20 ] Calls us, we lose the prime, to mark how spring

Our tended Plants, how blows the Citron Grove, What drops the Myrrhe, and what the balmie Reed, How Nature paints her colours, how the Bee Sits on the Bloom extracting liquid sweet. [ 25 ] Such whispering wakd her, but with startld eye On Adam, whom imbracing, thus she spake. O Sole in whom my thoughts find all repose,

My Glorie, my Perfection, glad I see Thy face, and Morn returnd, for I this Night, [ 30 ] Such night till this I never passd, have dreamd, If dreamd, not as I oft am wont, of thee, Works of day passt, or morrows next designe, But of offense and trouble, which my mind Knew never till this irksom night; methought [ 35 ]

Close at mine ear one calld me forth to walk With gentle voice, I thought it thine; it said, Why sleepst thou Eve? now is the pleasant time, The cool, the silent, save where silence yields To the night-warbling Bird, that now awake [ 40 ] Tunes sweetest his love-labord song; now reignes

Full Orbd the Moon, and with more pleasing light Shadowie sets off the face of things; in vain, If none regard; Heavn wakes with all his eyes, Whom to behold but thee, Natures desire, [ 45 ] In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.