T was a place

IT

Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed All things to Man's delightful use.

The roof
Of thickest covert was inwoven shade,
Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew
Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side
Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub,

Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower,
Iris all hues, roses, and jessamine,

Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and wrought

Mosaic; under-foot the violet,

Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay

Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with stone
Of costliest emblem. Other creature here,

Beast, bird, insect, or worm, durst enter none;
Such was their awe of Man. In shadier bower
More sacred and sequester'd, though but feign'd,
Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph

Nor Faunus haunted. Here in close recess,
With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs
Espoused Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed,
And heavenly choirs the hymenæan sung.

Paradise Lost, Book IV.

THE

HEN was not guilty shame, dishonest shame Of Nature's works, honour dishonourable, Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind With shews instead, mere shews of seeming pure, And banish'd from man's life his happiest life, Simplicity and spotless innocence !

SHE

PARADISE LOST, Book IV.

HE fair, divinely fair, fit love for Gods, Not terrible, though terror be in love And beauty, not approach'd by stronger hate.

PARADISE LOST, Book IX.

ABASH'D the Devil stood,

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw

Virtue in her shape how lovely.

PARADISE LOST, Book IV.

So hand in hand they pass'd, the loveliest pair

That ever since in love's embraces met: Adam the goodliest man of men since born His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. Under a tuft of shade that on a green Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side, They sat them down; and after no more toil Of their sweet gardening labour than sufficed To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell, Nectarine fruits, which the compliant boughs Yielded them, sidelong as they sat recline On the soft downy bank damask'd with flowers.

PARADISE LOST, Book IV.

TWO

WO of far nobler shape, erect and tall,
God-like erect, with native honour clad,
In naked majesty seem'd lords of all,

And worthy seem'd; for in their looks divine
The image of their glorious Maker shone,
Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure,
Severe, but in true filial freedom placed;
Whence true authority in men; though both
Not equal, as their sex not equal seem'd :
For contemplation he and valour form'd,
For softness she and sweet attractive grace;
He for God only, she for God in him.
His fair large front and eye sublime declared
Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad:
She, as a veil down to the slender waist,
Her unadorned golden tresses wore
Dishevell'd, but in wanton ringlets waved,
As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied
Subjection, but required with gentle sway,
And by her yielded, by him best received,
Yielded with coy submission, modest pride,
And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay.

PARADISE LOST, Book IV.

ABOUT them frisking play'd

All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase

In wood or wilderness, forest or den.

Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw

Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards,
Gamboll'd before them; the unwieldly elephant,
To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed
His lithe proboscis; close the serpent sly,
Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine

His braided train, and of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheeded. Others on the grass
Couch'd, and now fill'd with pasture gazing sat,
Or bedward ruminating; for the sun,
Declined, was hasting now with prone career
To the Ocean Isles, and in the ascending scale
Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose.

Paradise Lost, Book IV.