Thence up he flew, and oree of Life,
The middle Tree and highest there that grew, [ 195 ]
Sat like a orant; yet not true Life
Thereby regaind, but sat devisih
To them who livd; nor on the vertue thought
Of that life-giving Plant, but only usd
For prospect, what well usd had bin the pledge [ 200 ]
Of immortality. So little knows
Any, but God aloo value right
The good before him, but perverts best things
To worst abuse, or to thir mea use.
Beh him with new wonder now he views [ 205 ]
To all delight of human sense exposd
In narrow room Natures whole wealth, yea more,
A Heaven oh, for blissful Paradise
Of God the Garden was, by him in the East
Of Eden planted; Eden stretchd her Line [ 210 ]
From Auraward to the Royal Towrs
Of Great Seleucia, built by Gre Kings,
Or where the Sons of Eden long before
Dwelt in Telassar: in this pleasant soile
His farr more pleasant Garden God ordaind; [ 215 ]
Out of the fertil ground he causd to grow
All Trees of kind fht, smell, taste;
And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,
High emi, blooming Ambrosial Fruit
Of vegetable Gold; ao Life [ 220 ]
Our Death the Tree of Knowledge grew fast by,
Knowledge of Good bought dear by knowing ill.
Southward through Ede a River large,
Nor gd his course, but through the shaggie hill
Passd underh ingulft, fod had thrown [ 225 ]
That Mountain as his Garden mould high raisd
Upon the rapid current, which through veins
Of porous Earth with kindly thirst up drawn,
Rose a fresh Fountain, and with many a rill
Waterd the Garden; thenited fell [ 230 ]
Doweep glade, ahe her Flood,
Which from his darksom passage noeers,
And now divided into four main Streams,
Runs divers, wandring many a famous Realme
And try whereof here needs no at, [ 235 ]
But rather to tell how, if Art could tell,
How from that Saphire Fount the crisped Brooks,
Rowling on Orient Pearl and sands of Gold,
With mazie error under pendant shades
Raar, visiting each plant, and fed [ 240 ]
Flours worthy of Paradise whiot
In Beds and curious Knots, but Nature boon
Powrd forth profuse on Hill and Dale and Plaine,
Both where the m Sun first warmly smote
The open field, and where the u shade [ 245 ]
Imbround the noontide Bowrs: Thus was this place,
A happy rural seat of various view;
Groves whose rich Trees wept odorous Gumms and Balme,
Others whose fruit burnisht with Golden Rinde
Hung amiable, Hesperian Fables true, [ 250 ]
If true, here only, and of delicious taste:
Betwixt them Lawns, or level Downs, and Flocks
Grasing the tender herb, were interposd,
Or palmie hilloc, or the flourie lap
Of suous Valley spred her store, [ 255 ]
Flours of all hue, and without Thorn the Rose:
Another side, umbrageous Grots and Caves
Of coole recess, ore which the mantling vine
Layes forth her purple Grape, aly creeps
Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall [ 260 ]
Down the slope hills, disperst, or in a Lake,
That to the fringed Bank with Myrtle d,
Her chrystal mirror holds, uhir streams.