Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life,

The middle Tree and highest there that grew, [ 195 ]

Sat like a Cormorant; yet not true Life

Thereby regaind, but sat devising Death

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 alone, to value right

The good before him, but perverts best things

To worst abuse, or to thir meanest use.

Beneath 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 on Earth, for blissful Paradise

Of God the Garden was, by him in the East

Of Eden planted; Eden stretchd her Line [ 210 ]

From Auran Eastward to the Royal Towrs

Of Great Seleucia, built by Grecian 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 noblest kind for sight, smell, taste;

And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,

High eminent, blooming Ambrosial Fruit

Of vegetable Gold; and next to Life [ 220 ]

Our Death the Tree of Knowledge grew fast by,

Knowledge of Good bought dear by knowing ill.

Southward through Eden went a River large,

Nor changd his course, but through the shaggie hill

Passd underneath ingulft, for God 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; thence united fell [ 230 ]

Down the steep glade, and met the neather Flood,

Which from his darksom passage now appeers,

And now divided into four main Streams,

Runs divers, wandring many a famous Realme

And Country whereof here needs no account, [ 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

Ran Nectar, visiting each plant, and fed [ 240 ]

Flours worthy of Paradise which not nice Art

In Beds and curious Knots, but Nature boon

Powrd forth profuse on Hill and Dale and Plaine,

Both where the morning Sun first warmly smote

The open field, and where the unpierct 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 som irriguous 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, and gently creeps

Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall [ 260 ]

Down the slope hills, disperst, or in a Lake,

That to the fringed Bank with Myrtle crownd,

Her chrystal mirror holds, unite thir streams.