Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/289

Rh For not to irksome toil, but to delight, He made us, and delight to reason joined. These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide As we need walk, till younger hands ere long Assist us. But, if much converse perhaps Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield; For solitude sometimes is best society, And short retirement urges sweet return. But other doubt possesses me, lest harm Befall thee severed from me; for thou knowest What hath been warned us, what malicious foe Envying our happiness, and of his own Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame By sly assault; and somewhere near at hand Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find, His wish and best advantage, us asunder; Hopeless to circumvent us joined, where each To other speedy aid might lend at need. Whether his first design be to withdraw Our feälty from God, or to disturb Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss Enjoyed by us excites his envy more;— Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects. The wife, where danger or dishonor lurks,