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One fatal tree there stands, of Knowledge called, Forbidden them to taste. Knowledge forbidden! Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know? Can it be death? And do they only stand By ignorance? Is that their happy state, The proof of their obedience and their faith? O fair foundation laid whereon to build Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds With more desire to know, and to reject Envious commands, invented with design To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt Equal with gods. Aspiring to be such, They taste and die; what likelier can ensue? But first with narrow search I must walk round This garden, and no corner leave unspied. A chance but chance may lead where I may meet Some wandering spirit of heaven by fountain side, Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw What further would be learned. Live while ye may, Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,

Short pleasures; for long woes are to succeed.

So saying, his proud step he scornful turned,

But with sly circumspection, and began

Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam.

Meanwhile, in utmost longitude, where heaven

With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun

Slowly descended, and with right aspect

Against the eastern gate of Paradise

Levelled his evening rays. It was a rock

Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds,

Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent

Accessible from earth, one entrance high;

The rest was eraggy cliff, that overhung

Still as it rose, impossible to climb.

Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat,

Chief of the angelic guards, awaiting night.

About him exercised heroic games

The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand

Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears,

Hung high, with diamond flaming, and with gold.

Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even

On a sunbeam, swift as a shooting star

In autumn, 'thwart the night, when vapours fired

Impress the air, and show the mariner

From what point of his compass to beware

Impetuous winds: he thus began in haste:

Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place

No evil thing approach or enter in.

This day at height of noon came to my sphere

A spirit zealous, as he seemed, to know

More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly man,

God's latest image. I described his way

Bent all on speed, and marked his aery gait;

But in the mount that lies from Eden north,

Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks

Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured.

Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade

Lost sight of him. One of the banished crew,

I fear, hath ventured from the deep to raise

New troubles; him thy care must be to find.

To whom the winged warrior thus returned:

Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight,

Amid the sun's bright circle where thou sitt'st,

See far and wide. In at this gate none pass

The vigilance here placed, but such as come

Well known from Heaven, and since meridian hour

No creature thence. If spirit of other sort,

So minded, hath o'erleaped these earthly bounds

On purpose, hard thou knowest it to exclude

Spiritual substance with corporeal bar.