13

These then, though unbeheld in deep of night,

Shine not in vain, nor think, though men were none, [ 675 ]

That heavn would want spectators, God want praise;

Millions of spiritual Creatures walk the Earth

Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep:

All these with ceasless praise his works behold

Both day and night: how often from the steep [ 680 ]

Of echoing Hill or Thicket have we heard

Celestial voices to the midnight air,

Sole, or responsive each to others note

Singing thir great Creator: oft in bands

While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, [ 685 ]

With Heavnly touch of instrumental sounds

In full harmonic number joind, thir songs

Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven.

Thus talking hand in hand alone they passd

On to thir blissful Bower; it was a place [ 690 ]

Chosn by the sovran Planter, when he framd

All things to mans delightful use; the roofe

Of thickest covert was inwoven shade

Laurel and Mirtle, and what higher grew

Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side [ 695 ]

Acanthus, and each odorous bushie shrub

Fencd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flour,

Iris all hues, Roses, and Gessamin

Reard high thir flourisht heads between, and wrought

Mosaic; underfoot the Violet, [ 700 ]

Crocus, and Hyacinth with rich inlay

Broiderd the ground, more colourd then with stone

Of costliest Emblem: other Creature here

Beast, Bird, Insect, or Worm durst enter none;

Such was thir awe of Man. In shadie Bower [ 705 ]

More sacred and sequesterd, though but feignd,

Pan or Silvanus never slept, nor Nymph,

Nor Faunus haunted. Here in close recess

With Flowers, Garlands, and sweet-smelling Herbs

Espoused Eve deckt first her Nuptial Bed, [ 710 ]

And heavnlyly Quires the Hymenæan sung,

What day the genial Angel to our Sire

Brought her in naked beauty more adornd

More lovely then Pandora, whom the Gods

Endowd with all thir gifts, and O too like [ 715 ]

In sad event, when to the unwiser Son

Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnard

Mankind with her faire looks, to be avengd

On him who had stole Joves authentic fire.