BOOK FIFTH
��Each plant aiid juiciest gourd, will pluck
such choice
To entertain our Angel-guest as he, Beholding, shall confess that here on Earth God hath dispensed his bounties as in
Heaven. 330
So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent What choice to choose for delicacy best, What order so contrived as not to mix Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring Taste after taste upheld with kindliest
change: Bestirs her then, and from each tender
stalk
Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields In India East or West, or middle shore In Pontus or the Punic coast, or where 340 Alciub'us reigned, fruit of all kinds, in
coat Rough or smooth rined, or bearded husk,
or shell,
She gathers, tribute large, and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand. For drink
the grape
She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths From many a berry, and from sweet ker- nels pressed She tempers dulcet creams nor these to
hold Wants her fit vessels pure ; then strews
the ground
With rose and odours from the shrub un- turned. Meanwhile our primitive great Sire, to
meet 350
His godlike guest, walks forth, without
more train
Accompanied than with his own complete Perfections ; in himself was all his state, More solemn than the tedious pomp that
waits
On princes, when their rich retin'ue long Of horses led and grooms besmeared with
gold
Dazzles the crowd and sets them all agape. Nearer his presence, Adam, though not
awed, Yet with submiss approach and reverence
meek,
As to a superior nature, bowing low, 360 Thus said: "Native of Heaven (for
other place None can than Heaven such glorious Shape
contain),
��Since, by descending from the Thrones
above, Those happy places thou hast deigned a
while To want, and honour these, voutsafe with
us,
Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess This spacious ground, in yonder shady
bower
To rest, and what the Garden choicest bears To sit and taste, till this meridian heat Be over, and the sun more cool decline." 370 Whom thus the angelic Virtue answered
mild: "Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou
such
Created, or such place hast here to dwell, As may not oft invite, though Spirits of
Heaven, To visit thee. Lead on, then, where thy
bower
O'ershades; for these mid-hours, till even- ing rise,
I have at will." So to the sylvan lodge They came, that like Pomona's arbour
smiled, With flowerets decked and fragrant smells.
But Eve, Undecked, save with herself, more lovely
fair 380
Than wood-nymph, or the fairest goddess
feigned
Of three that in Mount Ida naked strove, Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven;
no veil
She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm Altered her cheek. On whom the Angel
" Hail ! "
Bestowed the holy salutation used Long after to blest Mary, second Eve: " Hail ! Mother of mankind, whose fruit- ful womb Shall fill the world more numerous with
thy sons Than with these various fruits the trees of
God 390
Have heaped this table ! " Raised of grassy
turf
Their table was, and mossy seats had round, And on her ample square, from side to side, All Autumn piled, though Spring and Au- tumn here Danced hand-in-hand. A while discourse
they hold No fear lest dinner cool when thus began
�� �
