8

And should I at your harmless innocence

Melt, as I doe, yet public reason just,

Honour and Empire with revenge enlargd, [ 390 ]

By conquering this new World, compels me now

To do what else though damnd I should abhorre.

So spake the Fiend, and with necessitie,

The Tyrants plea, excusd his devilish deeds.

Then from his loftie stand on that high Tree [ 395 ]

Down he alights among the sportful Herd

Of those fourfooted kindes, himself now one,

Now other, as thir shape servd best his end

Neerer to view his prey, and unespid

To mark what of thir state he more might learn [ 400 ]

By word or action markt: about them round

A Lion now he stalkes with fierie glare,

Then as a Tyger, who by chance hath spid

In some Purlieu two gentle Fawnes at play,

Strait couches close, then rising changes oft [ 405 ]

His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground

Whence rushing he might surest seize them both

Gript in each paw: when Adam first of men

To first of women Eve thus moving speech,

Turnd him all eare to hear new utterance flow. [ 410 ]

Sole partner and sole part of all these joyes,

Dearer thy self then all; needs must the Power

That made us, and for us this ample World

Be infinitly good, and of his good

As liberal and free as infinite, [ 415 ]

That raisd us from the dust and plact us here

In all this happiness, who at his hand

Have nothing merited, nor can performe

Aught whereof hee hath need, hee who requires

From us no other service then to keep [ 420 ]

This one, this easie charge, of all the Trees

In Paradise that bear delicious fruit

So various, not to taste that onely Tree

Of knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life,

So neer grows Death to Life, what ere Death is, [ 425 ]

Som dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowst

God hath pronounct it death to taste that Tree,

The only sign of our obedience left

Among so many signes of power and rule

Conferrd upon us, and Dominion givn [ 430 ]

Over all other Creatures that possess

Earth, Aire, and Sea. Then let us not think hard

One easie prohibition, who enjoy

Free leave so large to all things else, and choice

Unlimited of manifold delights: [ 435 ]

But let us ever praise him, and extoll

His bountie, following our delightful task

To prune these growing Plants, and tend these Flours,

Which were it toilsom, yet with thee were sweet.