Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/199

 BOOK FIFTH

��Each plant aiid juiciest gourd, will pluck

such choice

To entertain our Angel-guest as he, Beholding, shall confess that here on Earth God hath dispensed his bounties as in

Heaven. 330

So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent What choice to choose for delicacy best, What order so contrived as not to mix Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring Taste after taste upheld with kindliest

change: Bestirs her then, and from each tender

stalk

Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields In India East or West, or middle shore In Pontus or the Punic coast, or where 340 Alciub'us reigned, fruit of all kinds, in

coat Rough or smooth rined, or bearded husk,

or shell,

She gathers, tribute large, and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand. For drink

the grape

She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths From many a berry, and from sweet ker- nels pressed She tempers dulcet creams nor these to

hold Wants her fit vessels pure ; then strews

the ground

With rose and odours from the shrub un- turned. Meanwhile our primitive great Sire, to

meet 350

His godlike guest, walks forth, without

more train

Accompanied than with his own complete Perfections ; in himself was all his state, More solemn than the tedious pomp that

waits

On princes, when their rich retin'ue long Of horses led and grooms besmeared with

gold

Dazzles the crowd and sets them all agape. Nearer his presence, Adam, though not

awed, Yet with submiss approach and reverence

meek,

As to a superior nature, bowing low, 360 Thus said: "Native of Heaven (for

other place None can than Heaven such glorious Shape

contain),

��Since, by descending from the Thrones

above, Those happy places thou hast deigned a

while To want, and honour these, voutsafe with

us,

Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess This spacious ground, in yonder shady

bower

To rest, and what the Garden choicest bears To sit and taste, till this meridian heat Be over, and the sun more cool decline." 370 Whom thus the angelic Virtue answered

mild: "Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou

such

Created, or such place hast here to dwell, As may not oft invite, though Spirits of

Heaven, To visit thee. Lead on, then, where thy

bower

O'ershades; for these mid-hours, till even- ing rise,

I have at will." So to the sylvan lodge They came, that like Pomona's arbour

smiled, With flowerets decked and fragrant smells.

But Eve, Undecked, save with herself, more lovely

fair 380

Than wood-nymph, or the fairest goddess

feigned

Of three that in Mount Ida naked strove, Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven;

no veil

She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm Altered her cheek. On whom the Angel

" Hail ! "

Bestowed the holy salutation used Long after to blest Mary, second Eve: " Hail ! Mother of mankind, whose fruit- ful womb Shall fill the world more numerous with

thy sons Than with these various fruits the trees of

God 390

Have heaped this table ! " Raised of grassy

turf

Their table was, and mossy seats had round, And on her ample square, from side to side, All Autumn piled, though Spring and Au- tumn here Danced hand-in-hand. A while discourse

they hold No fear lest dinner cool when thus began

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