Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/173

And to their viands fell; nor seemingly
The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss
Of theologians; but with keen despatch
Of real hunger, the concoctive heat
To transubstantiate; what redounds transpires
Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder: if by fire
Of sooty coal the empiric alchemist440
Can turn, or holds it possible to turn,
Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold
As from the mine. Meanwhile at table Eve
Ministered naked, and their flowing cups
With pleasant liquors crowned. O innocence
Deserving Paradise! if ever, then,
Then had the sons of God excuse to have been
Enamored at that sight; but in those hearts
Love unlibidinous reigned, nor jealousy
Was understood, the injured lover's hell.450
Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficed,
Not burdened nature, sudden mind arose
In Adam not to let the occasion pass,
Given him by this great conference, to know
Of things above his world, and of there being
Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw
Transcend his own so far, whose radiant forms,
Divine effulgence, whose high power so far
Exceeded human, and his wary speech
Thus to the empyreal minister he framed:460