Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky.
As I bent down to look, just opposite

A shape within the watery gleam appeared,
Bending to look on me: I started back,
It started back; but pleased I soon returned,
Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks
Of sympathy and love: There I had fixed

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Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire,
Had not a voice thus warned me; "What thou seest, 467
What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself;
With thee it came and goes: but follow me,
And I will bring thee where no shadow stays
Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he
Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy
Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear
Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called
Mother of human race." What could I do,
But follow straight, invisibly thus led?
Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall,

Under a platane; yet methought less fair,
Less winning soft, less amiably mild,

Than that smooth watery image: Back I turned;
Thou following cryd'st aloud, " Return, fair Eve;
Whom fly'st thou ? whom thou fly'st, of him thou art,
His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent

Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart,

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Substantial life, to have thee by my side
Henceforth an individual solace dear;
Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim
My other half:" With that thy gentle hand
Seized mine: I yielded; and from that time see
How beauty is excelled by manly grace,

And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.

So spake our general mother, and with eyes
Of conjugal attraction unreproved,
And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned
On our first father; half her swelling breast
Naked met his, under the flowing gold
Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight
Both of her beauty, and submissive charms,
Smiled with superiour love, as Jupiter

On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds

That shed May flowers; and pressed her matron lip
With kisses pure: Aside the Devil turned

For envy; yet with jealous leer malign

Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained.

Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two, Imparadised in one another's arms,

The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill

Of bliss on bliss; while I to Hell am thrust,
Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire,
Among our other torments not the least,

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