4

And higher then that Wall a circling row

Of goodliest Trees loaden with fairest Fruit,

Blossoms and Fruits at once of golden hue

Appeerd, with gay enameld colours mixt:

On which the Sun more glad impressd his beams [ 150 ]

Then in fair Evening Cloud, or humid Bow,

When God hath showrd the earth; so lovely seemd

That Lantskip: And of pure now purer aire

Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires

Vernal delight and joy, able to drive [ 155 ]

All sadness but despair: now gentle gales

Fanning thir odoriferous wings dispense

Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole

Those balmie spoiles. As when to them who saile

Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past [ 160 ]

Mozambic, off at Sea North-East windes blow

Sabean Odours from the spicie shoare

Of Arabie the blest, with such delay

Well pleasd they slack thir course, and many a League

Cheard with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles. [ 165 ]

So entertaind those odorous sweets the Fiend

Who came thir bane, though with them better pleasd

Then Asmodeus with the fishie fume,

That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spouse

Of Tobits Son, and with a vengeance sent [ 170 ]

From Media post to Ægypt, there fast bound.

Now to th ascent of that steep savage Hill

Satan had journied on, pensive and slow;

But further way found none, so thick entwind,

As one continud brake, the undergrowth [ 175 ]

Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplext

All path of Man or Beast that past that way:

One Gate there only was, and that lookd East

On th other side: which when th arch-fellon saw

Due entrance he disdaind, and in contempt, [ 180 ]

At one slight bound high over leapd all bound

Of Hill or highest Wall, and sheer within

Lights on his feet. As when a prowling Wolfe,

Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,

Watching where Shepherds pen thir Flocks at eeve [ 185 ]

In hurdld Cotes amid the field secure,

Leaps ore the fence with ease into the Fould:

Or as a Thief bent to unhoord the cash

Of some rich Burgher, whose substantial dores,

Cross-barrd and bolted fast, fear no assault, [ 190 ]

In at the window climbs, or ore the tiles;

So clomb this first grand Thief into Gods Fould:

So since into his Church lewd Hirelings climbe.