6

The Birds thir quire apply; aires, vernal aires,

Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune [ 265 ]

The trembling leaves, while Universal Pan

Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance

Led on th Eternal Spring. Not that faire field

Of Enna, where Proserpin gathering flours

Her self a fairer Floure by gloomie Dis [ 270 ]

Was gatherd, which cost Ceres all that pain

To seek her through the world; nor that sweet Grove

Of Daphne by Orontes, and th inspird

Castalian Spring, might with this Paradise

Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian Ile [ 275 ]

Girt with the River Triton, where old Cham,

Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Lybian Jove,

Hid Amalthea and her Florid Son

Young Bacchus from his Stepdame Rheas eye;

Nor where Abassin Kings thir issue Guard, [ 280 ]

Mount Amara, though this by som supposd

True Paradise under the Ethiop Line

By Nilus head, enclosd with shining Rock,

A whole days journy high, but wide remote

From this Assyrian Garden, where the Fiend [ 285 ]

Saw undelighted all delight, all kind

Of living Creatures new to sight and strange:

Two of far nobler shape erect and tall,

Godlike erect, with native Honour clad

In naked Majestie seemd Lords of all, [ 290 ]

And worthie seemd, for in thir looks Divine

The image of thir glorious Maker shon,

Truth, wisdome, Sanctitude severe and pure,

Severe but in true filial freedom plact;

Whence true autority in men; though both [ 295 ]

Not equal, as thir sex not equal seemd;

For contemplation hee and valour formd,

For softness shee and sweet attractive Grace,

Hee for God only, shee for God in him:

His fair large Front and Eye sublime declard [ 300 ]

Absolute rule; and Hyacinthin Locks

Round from his parted forelock manly hung

Clustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad:

Shee as a vail down to the slender waste

Her unadorned golden tresses wore [ 305 ]

Disheveld, but in wanton ringlets wavd

As the Vine curles her tendrils, which implid

Subjection, but requird with gentle sway,

And by her yielded, by him best receivd,

Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, [ 310 ]

And sweet reluctant amorous delay.