8

This Paradise I give thee, count it thine

To Till and keep, and of the Fruit to eate: [ 320 ]

Of every Tree that in the Garden growes

Eate freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth:

But of the Tree whose operation brings

Knowledg of good and ill, which I have set

The Pledge of thy Obedience and thy Faith, [ 325 ]

Amid the Garden by the Tree of Life,

Remember what I warne thee, shun to taste,

And shun the bitter consequence: for know,

The day thou eatst thereof, my sole command

Transgrest, inevitably thou shalt dye; [ 330 ]

From that day mortal, and this happie State

Shalt loose, expelld from hence into a World

Of woe and sorrow. Sternly he pronouncd

The rigid interdiction, which resounds

Yet dreadful in mine eare, though in my choice [ 335 ]

Not to incur; but soon his cleer aspect

Returnd and gracious purpose thus renewd.

Not onely these fair bounds, but all the Earth

To thee and to thy Race I give; as Lords

Possess it, and all things that therein live, [ 340 ]

Or live in Sea, or Aire, Beast, Fish, and Fowle.

In signe whereof each Bird and Beast behold

After thir kindes; I bring them to receave

From thee thir Names, and pay thee fealtie

With low subjection; understand the same [ 345 ]

Of Fish within thir watry residence,

Not hither summond, since they cannot change

Thir Element to draw the thinner Aire.

As thus he spake, each Bird and Beast behold

Approaching two and two, These cowring low [ 350 ]

With blandishment, each Bird stoopd on his wing.

I namd them, as they passd, and understood

Thir Nature, with such knowledg God endud

My sudden apprehension: but in these

I found not what me thought I wanted still; [ 355 ]

And to the Heavnly vision thus presumd.