"Ambrosia: on that tree he also gazed:

"And, 'O fair plant,' said he, 'with fruit surcharged!

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Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet, "Nor God, nor Man? is knowledge, so despised? "Or envy, or what reserve, forbids to taste?

"Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold

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Longer thy offered good; why else set here?'
"This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm
"He plucked, he tasted; me damp horror chilled
"At such bold words vouched with a deed so bold:
"But he thus, overjoyed: O fruit divine!
"Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt!
"Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit

"For gods, yet able to make gods of men:
"And why not gods of men, since good, the more
"Communicated, more abundant grows,

"The author not impaired, but honoured more?

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Here, happy creature, fair angelic Eve,

"Partake thou also; happy though thou art,
"Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be:
"Taste this, and be henceforth among the gods
"Thyself a goddess; not to earth confined,
"But sometimes in the air, as we, sometimes
"Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see
"What life the gods live there, and such live thou!'
"So saying he drew nigh, and to me held,—
"Even to my mouth,—of that same fruit held part
"Which he had plucked: the pleasant savoury smell
"So quickened appetite, that I, methought,
"Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds
"With him I flew, and underneath beheld
"The earth outstretched immense,- —a prospect wide
"And various,—wondering at my flight and change
"To this high exaltation: suddenly

"My guide was gone; and I, methought, sunk down,
"And fell asleep: but, O, how glad I waked

"To find this but a dream!" Thus Eve her night Related, and thus Adam answered sad:

"Best image of myself, and dearer half!

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"The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep "Affects me equally; nor can I like

"This uncouth dream,—of evil sprung, I fear: "Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none, But know, that in the soul

"Created pure.

"Are many lesser faculties, that serve
"Reason as chief; among these Fancy next
"Her office holds; of all external things,
"Which the five watchful senses represent,
"She forms imaginations, airy shapes,
"Which Reason joining, or disjoining, frames
"All what we affirm, or what deny, and call
"Our knowledge or opinion; then retires
"Into her private cell, when nature rests.
"Oft in her absence mimic Fancy wakes
"To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes,
"Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams,
"Ill matching words and deeds long past or late.
"Some such resemblances, methinks, I find
"Of our last evening's talk in this thy dream,
"But with addition strange; yet be not sad:
"Evil into the mind of God or Man

May come and go, so unapproved; and leave "No spot or blame behind: which gives me hope "That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream, "Waking thou never wilt consent to do. "Be not disheartened then; nor cloud those looks, "That wont to be more cheerful and serene

"Than when fair Morning first smiles on the world: "And let us to our fresh employments rise,

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Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers,
"That open now their choicest bosomed smells,
"Reserved from night, and kept for thee in store."
So cheered he his fair spouse, and she was cheered;
But silently a gentle tear let fall

From either eye, and wiped them with her hair:
Two other precious drops, that ready stood,
Each in their crystal sluice, he, ere they fell,
Kissed, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse,
And pious awe that feared to have offended.

So all was cleared, and to the field they haste.
But first, from under shady arborous roof
Soon as they forth were come to open sight
Of day-spring, and the Sun, who, scarce uprisen,
With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean-brim,
Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray,
Discovering in wide landskip all the east
Of Paradise, and Eden's happy plains,
Lowly they bowed adoring; and began
Their orisons, each morning duly paid
In various style: for neither various style
Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise

Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung,
Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence

Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous verse;—
More tunable than needed lute or harp

To add more sweetness;—and they thus began:
"These are thy glorious works, Parent of good!
"Almighty! Thine this universal frame,
"Thus wondrous fair; thyself how wondrous then!
66 Unspeakable! who sitt'st above these heavens,
"To us invisible, or dimly seen

"In these thy lowest works; yet these declare
"Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine.
"Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light,
"Angels! for ye behold him, and with songs
"And choral symphonies, day without night,
"Circle his throne rejoicing:-ye in Heaven;
"On Earth join all ye creatures to extol
"Him first, him last, him midst, and without end!
"Fairest of stars! last in the train of night,

"If better thou belong not to the dawn,-
"Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smiling Morn
"With thy bright circlet ;—praise him in thy sphere,
"While day arises, that sweet hour of prime.

"Thou Sun! of this great world both eye and soul,
"Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise
"In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st,

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"And when high noon hast gained, and when thou fall'st. "Moon! that now meet'st the orient Sun, now fiiest,

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