The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (55 page)

175

As one continued brake,
²⁸⁵³
the undergrowth

176

Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed
²⁸⁵⁴

177

All path of man or beast that passed that way.

178

One gate there only was, and that looked east

179

On th’ other side. Which when the arch-felon saw,

180

Due entrance he disdained and, in contempt,

181

At one slight
²⁸⁵⁵
bound high over-leaped all bound

182

Of hill or highest wall, and sheer
²⁸⁵⁶
within

183

Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf,

184

Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,

185

Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve

186

In hurdled
²⁸⁵⁷
cotes
²⁸⁵⁸
amid the field secure,

187

Leaps o’er the fence with ease into the fold—

188

Or as a thief, bent to unhoard
²⁸⁵⁹
the cash

189

Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors,

190

Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault,

191

In at the window climbs, or o’er the tiles,
²⁸⁶⁰

192

So clomb
²⁸⁶¹
this first grand thief into God’s fold.

193

So since into His church lewd hirelings climb.

194

Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life,

195

The middle tree and highest there that grew,

196

Sat like a cormorant, yet not true life

197

Thereby regained, but sat devising death

198

To them who lived, nor on the virtue thought

199

Of that life-giving plant, but only used

200

For prospect,
²⁸⁶²
what well-used had been
²⁸⁶³
the pledge
²⁸⁶⁴

201

Of immortality. So little knows

202

Any, but God alone, to value right

203

The good before him, but perverts best things

204

To worst abuse, or to their meanest
²⁸⁶⁵
use.

205

   
Beneath him with new wonder now he views,

206

To all delight of human sense exposed

207

In narrow room,
²⁸⁶⁶
Nature’s whole wealth, yea more,

208

A Heav’n on earth. For blissful Paradise

209

Of God the garden was, by Him in th’ east

210

Of Eden planted. Eden stretched her line
²⁸⁶⁷

211

From Auran
²⁸⁶⁸
eastward to the royal tow’rs

212

Of great Seleucia,
²⁸⁶⁹
built by Grecian kings,

213

Or where the sons of Eden long before

214

Dwelt in Telassar.
²⁸⁷⁰
In this pleasant soil

215

His far more pleasant garden God ordained.

216

Out of the fertile ground He caused to grow

217

All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste,

218

And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,

219

High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit

220

Of vegetable
²⁸⁷¹
gold. And next to life

221

Our death, the Tree of Knowledge, grew fast by,

222

Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill.

223

Southward through Eden went a river large,

224

Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy
²⁸⁷²
hill

225

Passed underneath engulfed,
²⁸⁷³
for God had thrown
²⁸⁷⁴

226

That mountain as His garden-mold
²⁸⁷⁵
high raised

227

Upon the rapid current, which through veins

228

Of porous earth with kindly
²⁸⁷⁶
thirst up-drawn,

229

Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill
²⁸⁷⁷

230

Watered the garden, thence united fell

231

Down the steep glade, and met the nether
²⁸⁷⁸
flood,
²⁸⁷⁹

232

Which from his darksome passage now appears,

233

And now, divided into four main streams,

234

Runs diverse,
²⁸⁸⁰
wand’ring many a famous realm

235

And country, whereof here needs no account,

236

But rather to tell how, if art
²⁸⁸¹
could tell,

237

How from that sapphire fount the crispèd
²⁸⁸²
brooks,

238

Rolling on orient
²⁸⁸³
pearl and sands of gold,

239

With mazy
²⁸⁸⁴
error
²⁸⁸⁵
under pendant shades

240

Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed

241

Flow’rs worthy of Paradise, which not nice
²⁸⁸⁶
art

242

In beds and curious
²⁸⁸⁷
knots, but Nature boon
²⁸⁸⁸

243

Poured forth profuse on hill and dale and plain,

244

Both where the morning sun first warmly smote

245

The open field, and where the unpierced shade

246

Imbrowned
²⁸⁸⁹
the noontide bow’rs. Thus was this place

247

A happy rural seat of various view,

248

Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm,

249

Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind,

250

Hung amiable,
²⁸⁹⁰
Hesperian
²⁸⁹¹
fables true,

251

If true, here onl, and of delicious taste.

252

Betwixt them lawns, or level downs,
²⁸⁹²
and flocks

253

Grazing the tender herb,
²⁸⁹³
were interposed,

254

Or palmy
²⁸⁹⁴
hillock, or the flowery lap
²⁸⁹⁵

255

Of some irriguous
²⁸⁹⁶
valley spread her store,

256

Flow’rs of all hue, and without thorn the rose.

257

Another side, umbrageous
²⁸⁹⁷
grots and caves

258

Of cool recess, o’er which the mantling
²⁸⁹⁸
vine

259

Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps

260

Luxuriant. Meanwhile murmuring waters fall

261

Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake,

262

That to the fringèd bank with myrtle crowned