登陆注册
5386800000022

第22章 Book 4(2)

So on he fares, and to the border comes Of EDEN, where delicious Paradise, Now nearer, Crowns with her enclosure green, As with a rural mound the champain head Of a steep wilderness, whose hairie sides With thicket overgrown, grottesque and wilde, Access deni'd; and over head up grew Insuperable highth of loftiest shade, Cedar, and Pine, and Firr, and branching Palm, A Silvan Scene, and as the ranks ascend Shade above shade, a woodie Theatre Of stateliest view. Yet higher then thir tops The verdurous wall of Paradise up sprung:

Which to our general Sire gave prospect large Into his neather Empire neighbouring round.

And higher then that Wall a circling row Of goodliest Trees loaden with fairest Fruit, Blossoms and Fruits at once of golden hue Appeerd, with gay enameld colours mixt:

On which the Sun more glad impress'd his beams Then in fair Evening Cloud, or humid Bow, When God hath showrd the earth; so lovely seemd That Lantskip: And of pure now purer aire Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires Vernal delight and joy, able to drive All sadness but despair: now gentle gales Fanning thir odoriferous wings dispense Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole Those balmie spoiles. As when to them who saile Beyond the CAPE OF HOPE, and now are past MOZAMBIC, off at Sea North-East windes blow SABEAN Odours from the spicie shoare Of ARABIE the blest, with such delay Well pleas'd they slack thir course, and many a League Cheard with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles.

So entertaind those odorous sweets the Fiend Who came thir bane, though with them better pleas'd Then ASMODEUS with the fishie fume, That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spouse Of TOBITS Son, and with a vengeance sent From MEDIA post to AEGYPT, there 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 entwin'd, As one continu'd brake, the undergrowth Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplext All path of Man or Beast that past that way:

One Gate there onely was, and that look'd East On th' other side: which when th' arch-fellon saw Due entrance he disdaind, and in contempt, At one slight bound high overleap'd 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 In hurdl'd Cotes amid the field secure, Leaps o're 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, In at the window climbes, or o're the tiles;

So clomb this first grand Thief into Gods Fould:

So since into his Church lewd Hirelings climbe.

Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life, The middle Tree and highest there that grew, Sat like a Cormorant; yet not true Life Thereby regaind, but sat devising Death To them who liv'd; nor on the vertue thought Of that life-giving Plant, but only us'd For prospect, what well us'd had bin the pledge Of immortalitie. 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 To all delight of human sense expos'd 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 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;

Out of the fertil ground he caus'd 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 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 chang'd his course, but through the shaggie hill Pass'd underneath ingulft, for God had thrown That Mountain as his Garden mould high rais'd 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 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, 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 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 unpierc't shade 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, If true, here onely, and of delicious taste:

Betwixt them Lawns, or level Downs, and Flocks Grasing the tender herb, were interpos'd, Or palmie hilloc, or the flourie lap Of som irriguous Valley spread her store, Flours of all hue, and without Thorn the Rose:

Another side, umbrageous Grots and Caves Of coole recess, o're which the mantling Vine Layes forth her purple Grape, and gently creeps Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall Down the slope hills, disperst, or in a Lake, That to the fringed Bank with Myrtle crownd, Her chrystall mirror holds, unite thir streams.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 褒碧斋诗话

    褒碧斋诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 理家发家卷(千万个怎样)

    理家发家卷(千万个怎样)

    《理家发家卷(千万个怎样)》本书介绍怎样当家理财,怎样买卖,怎样进行家政管理等。
  • 机甲时代之美食革命

    机甲时代之美食革命

    【本文一对一,美食+机甲,欢迎跳坑~!】她,是大兴王朝名震京城的第一御厨,倒霉的卷入宫廷内斗,身死魂穿,却是到了一个机甲遍地的星际时代!原来人类早已经冲出地球开拓宇宙了吗?作为一名连京城都没有出过的‘乡巴佬’来说,千白芷呵呵一笑:你们城里人真会玩。原来现在的业余活动已经变成了看机甲战斗了吗?作为一个连打架都没有看过几场的‘土鳖’来说,对着一群‘铁疙瘩’打来蹦去,千御厨表示:我实在是欣赏无能。不过,在这个机甲横行的时代,对机甲接受不能如何能够生存下去?是随波逐流?还是另辟蹊径?作为一名精神力达到s级的厨子告诉你们:左手右手两把抓!锻炼实力成为一名优秀的机甲战士保家卫国,发扬厨艺担负起改善人类饮食的重任!所以说……千白芷最后到底是成为了最会做饭的机甲战士呢?还是成为了最会开机甲的厨子?嗯……不好猜呀~
  • 江变纪略

    江变纪略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天龙霸朝

    天龙霸朝

    【2018火爆玄幻精品爽文】渡劫,我只当吃大餐,我视劫主犹如土鸡瓦狗!什么王者,什么大神,什么宇宙神,遇见我,照样被我追着打。我是九神殿的传人,我醉卧美人膝,醒掌天下权,我不吹,就有那么牛逼!请加草粉群:483056371
  • 小女孩受益一生的公主故事

    小女孩受益一生的公主故事

    每个女孩的心中都有一个美丽的公主梦,梦想自己成为一位人见人爱、魅力非凡的小公主。如何才能成为一个可爱的小公主呢?本书精选了数十个经典的公主故事,让女孩在精彩的故事情节中感悟公主们的独特魅力,从感悟中发现美、认识美、拥有美。每个故事后的“小公主手记”栏目总结了女孩从故事中要学习的优秀品质,使女孩在阅读中感受到品德和美的熏陶。故事还加注了汉语拼音,穿插了精美的插图,增强了阅读的趣味性。亲爱的女孩,这是一本专属于你的公主故事书,在这里你可以与公主们谈心、交朋友,像她们一样成长为一个可爱的小公主!现在就打开这本书,开始一段奇妙的故事旅行吧!
  • 王俊凯之故人归兮

    王俊凯之故人归兮

    【新书《TFBOYS之时代》已发,求支持】 明知这是一场意外,你要不要来?明知这是一场重伤害,你会不会来?总之我会,不管是哪一个我,都会不顾一切的来爱你如果我们的相拥只能隔着荆棘,那么我愿意用力、更用力一点地抱紧他!即使荆棘刺穿我的肌肤,刺进我的心脏,只要能距离他近一点、更近一点!
  • 打回原形

    打回原形

    新文人画代表朱新建随笔集,王朔、陈丹青、姜文、陈村、叶兆言、苏童、杨葵联袂推荐。朱新建刻过一枚闲章,“打回原形”,这次拿来用作书名,因相对于他的画而言,这些文字应该算是某种形式上的原形,或深或浅地折射出一些画里未尽的意思。近三十万字,收录了朱新建这辈子散落在各处的话语,有关千年画史,文人往事,古今中外,世事纷呈;有精妙通透的阐释,亦有零零落落的碎语,却都是掏心窝子的实话。或深或浅,或隐或白,都是他的性情与风流。
  • 全金元词

    全金元词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阳宅三要

    阳宅三要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。