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Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites
Mysterious of connubial love refus'd:
Whatever hypocrites austerely talk
Of purity and place and innocence,
Defaming as impure what God declares

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Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.
Our Maker bids increase; who bids abstain
But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man?
Hail, wedded Love! mysterious law! true source
Of human offspring! sole propriety
In Paradise of all things common else.
By thee adult'rous Lust was driv'n from men
Among the bestial herds to range; by thee
Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,
Relations dear, and all the charities

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Of father, son, and brother, first were known. Far be' it, that I should write thee sin or blame, Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,

Ferpetual fountain of domestic sweets,

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Whose bed is undefil'd and chaste pronounc'd,
Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs us'd.
Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights
His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile
Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unindear'd, 766
Casual fruition; nor in court amours,

Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
Or serenate, which the starv'd lover sings
To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. 770
These lull'd by nightingales embracing slept,

And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof
Show'r'd roses, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on,
Blest Pair! and O yet happiest! if ye seek
No happier state, and know to know no more. 775
Now had Night measur'd with her shadowy cone
Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault,
And from their ivory port the cherubim
Forth issuing at th' accustom'd hour stood arm'd
To their night watches in warlike parade,
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When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake.

Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the South With strictest watch; these other wheel the North; Our circuit meets full West. As flame they part, Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. 785 From these, two strong and subtle spi'rits he call'd That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge. Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed

Search through this Garden, leave unsearch'd no nook ;

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But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge,
Now laid perhaps asleep secure of harm.
This evening from the sun's decline arriv'd
Who tells of some infernal spirit seen

Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escap'd
The bars of Hell, on errand bąd no doubt: 795
Such where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring.
So saying, on he led his radiant files,
Dazzling the moon; these to the bow'r direct
In search of whom they sought: him there they found
Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve,

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Assaying by his devilish art to reach

The organs of her fancy', and with them forge
Illusions as he list, phantasms and dreams,
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint

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Th' animal spirits that from pure blood arise 805
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise
At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,
Blown up with high conceits engend'ring pride.
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touch'd lightly; for no falsehood can endure
Touch of celestial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likeness: up he starts
Discover'd and surpris'd. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun some magazine to store
Against a rumor'd war, the smutty grain
With sudden blaze diffus'd inflames the air:
So started up in his own shape the Fiend.
Back stept those two fair angels half amaz'd 820
So sudden to behold the grisly King;
Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accost him soon:
Which of those rebel spi'rits adjudg'd to Hell
Com'st thou, escap'd thy prison? and transform'd,
Why satst thou like an enemy in wait
Here watching at the head of these that sleep?
Know ye not then, said Satan fill'd with scorn,
Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar :
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown, 830

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scorn.

The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,
Why ask ye, and superfluous begin
Your message, like to end as much in vain?
To whom thus Zephon, answ'ring scorn with
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Think not, revolted Spi'rit, thy shape the same,
Or undiminish'd brightness to be known,
As when thou stood'st in Heav'n upright and pure;
That glory then, when thou no more wast good,
Departed from thee'; and thou resemblest now
Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul. 840
But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account
To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and these from harm.

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So spake the cherub; and his grave rebuke, Severe in youthful beauty, added grace Invincible: abash'd the devil stood, And felt how awful Goodness is, and saw Virtue' in her shape how lovely; saw, and pin'd His loss; but chiefly to find here observ'd His lustre visibly impair'd; yet seem'd Undaunted. If I must contend, said he, Best with the best, the sender not the sent, Or all at once; more glory will be won, Thy fear, said Zephon bold, Will save us trial what the least can do Single against thee wicked, and thence weak. The Fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage; But like a proud steed rein'd, went haughty on, Champing his iron curb: to strive or fly

Or less be lost.

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He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd 860
His heart, not else dismay'd. Now drew they nigh
The western point, where those half-rounding guards
Just met, and closing stood in squadron join'd,
Awaiting next command. To whom their chief,
Gabriël, from the front thus call'd aloud. 865
O Friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet
Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern
Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,
And with them comes a third of regal port,
But faded splendor wan; who by his gait,
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And fierce demeanor seems the Prince of Hell,
Not likely to part hence without contest;
Stand firm, for in his look Defiance lours.

He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How busied, in what form and posture couch'd. 876

To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake. Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd To thy transgressions, and disturb'd the charge Of others, who approve not to transgress 880 By thy example, but have power and right To question thy bold entrance on this place; Employ'd it seems to violate sleep, and those Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?

To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow: Gabriel, thou hadst in Heav'n th' esteem of wise,886 And such I held thee; but this question ask'd Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain? Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,

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