Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian Spouse.

Oft he to her his charge of quick returne

And all things in best order to invite

Each Flour of slender stalk, whose head though gay

Among thick-wovn Arborets and Flours

For now, and since first break of dawne the Fiend,

Thou never from that houre in Paradise

To intercept thy way, or send th藏书网ee back [ 410 ]

Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen

The onely two of Mankinde, but in them [ 415 ]

Her self, though fairest unsupported Flour,

Waited with hellish rancour imminent

Noontide repast, or Afternoons repose.

Imborderd on each Bank, the hand of Eve:

Foundst either sweet repast, or sound repose;

Such ambush hid 九九藏书among sweet Flours and Shades

Hung drooping unsustaind, them she upstaies [ 430 ]

Half spid, so thick the Roses bushing round

And on his Quest, where likeliest he might finde

Carnation, Purple, Azure, or spect with Gold,

Alcinous, host of old Laertes Son,

Thir tendance or Plantation for delight,

Repeated, shee to him as oft engag99lib•netd [ 400 ]

Veild in a Cloud of Fragrance, where she stood, [ 425 ]

From her best prop so farr, and storm so nigh.

Or that, not Mystic, where the Sapient King

Or of revivd Adonis, or renownd [ 440 ]

To be returnd by Noon amid the Bowre,

About her glowd, oft stooping to support

Meer Serpent in appearance, forth was come,

Beyond his hope,htｔｐ://ｗww.9９ｌｉｂ•nｅt Eve separate he spies,

By Fountain or by shadie Rivulet [ 420 ]

Neerer he drew, and many a walk traversd

Of thy presumd return! event perverse! [ 405 ]

Much hee the Place admird, the Person more.

Of what so seldom chancd, when to his wish,

Of stateliest Covert, Cedar, Pine, or Palme, [ 435 ]

In Bowre and Field he sought, where any tuft

Sp

99lib.net

ot more delicious then those Gardens feignd

Eve separate, he wishd, but not with hope

O much deceavd, much failing, hapless Eve,

The whole included Race, his purposd prey.

Despoild of Innocence, of Faith, of Bliss.

Gently with Mirtle band, mindless the while,

He sought them both, but wishd his hap might find

Of Grove or Garden-Plot more pleasant lay,