Chapter 5 4
And higher then that Wall a circular row
Of the best Trees loaded with fairest Fruit,
Blossoms and Fruits at once of golden hue
Appeerd, with gay enameld colors mixt:
On which the Sun more glad impressed his beams [ 150 ]
Then in fair Evening Cloud, or humid Bow,
When God hath showrd the earth; so lovely seemsd
That Lantskip: And of pure now purer aire
Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires
Vernal delight and joy, able to drive [ 155 ]
All sadness but despair: now gentle gales
Fanning thir odoriferous wings dispense
Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole
Those balmie spoils. As when to them who saile
Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past [ 160 ]
Mozambic, off at Sea North-East winds blow
Sabean Odours from the spicie shoare
Of Arabie the blest, with such delay
Well pleasant they slack thir course, and many a League
Cheard with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles. [ 165 ]
So entertained those odorous sweets the Fiend
Who came thir bane, though with them better pleasure
Then Asmodeus with the fishie fume,
That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spouse
Of Tobits Son, and with a vengeance sent [ 170 ]
From Media post to Ægypt, there is fast bound.
Now to th ascent of that steep savage Hill
Satan had journied on, pensive and slow;
But further way found none, so thick entwind,
As one continuous brake, the undergrowth [ 175 ]
Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplext
All path of Man or Beast that past that way:
One Gate there only was, and that looked East
On th other side: which when th arch-fellon saw
Due entrance he disdained, and in contemplation, [ 180 ]
At one slight bound high over leapd all bound
Of Hill or highest Wall, and sheer within
Lights on his feet. As when a prowling Wolfe,
Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,
Watching where Shepherds pen thir Flocks at eeve [ 185 ]
In hurdld Cotes amid the field secure,
Leaps ore the fence with ease into the Fould:
Or as a Thief bent to unhoord the cash
Of some rich Burgher, whose substantial dores,
Cross-barrd and bolted fast, fear no assault, [ 190 ]
In at the window climbs, or ore the tiles;
So clomb this first grand Thief into Gods Fould:
So since into his Church lewd Hirelings climb.