University of Virginia Library

The Primitive LOVES.

BEING AN IMITATION Of the 4th. BOOK, of MILTONS Paradise LOST.

Designing Satan, now in Eden, Sees
Tall Spreading Groves, and Ranks of Lofty Trees.
Around the walls of Praradise they Grew,
And Seem'd delightfull at a distant view,
But all within, more Goodly plants appear,
Blossoms and Fruits at once their Branches bear,
And leafs with Blooming Colours, all the Year.
Or'e the high walls, with a Disdainful bound,
The Tempter leaps on the yet Happy ground.
Thence to the Tree of Life he boldly Flew,
Plac'd in the Midst, the Tallest there that grew.
Where Proudly Seated he surveys the Fields,
And all the Pleasures which the prospect Yields.
To him God's Garden no delight can give,
He thought it Hell in Paradise to Live.
With Scornfull eyes He did from thence behold,
The branches Bending with their growing Gold.
Beneath him far he View'd the fragrant Bow'rs,
Fair, odor'ous Plants, and various Smilling flow'rs.
He saw the banks Wash'd by the Chrystall streams,
And silent Rivers Silver'd or'e with Beams.
He saw the Meads, the Vales, and charming Groves,
Saw Eve and Adam, and Observ'd their Loves.
For now the Happy pair to Shades retreat,
Their Labours past, to Shun the Schorching Heat.
Hand Joyn'd in Hand, their eyes dart am'rous Flame
Naked they Stood, yet Stood secure from Shame,
From purest thoughts their ardent wishes move,
They knew no passion, but Excess of Love.
Thus past they on, in Close Embraces still,
Nor God, nor Angels shun'd, for they conceiv'd no ill.
His Curling Hair was or'e his Shoulders Spread,
He of a Strong, and Vig'rous Structure made.
Her Golden Tresses his in Length Surpast,
In Easy waves they Flow'd, behind her Cast,
And fell, like a Fair viel, adown Her Slender waste,
She, to Whate'er, he Offer'd by Her side,
Yeilded with coy Submission, and with Modest Pride.
And now arriv'd at Their Appointed Seat,
With gratefull thanks their Supper Fruits they eat.
The Loaded branches with their Burthens bow,
The Fruits, by their unweildy weight complying now,
Bend or'e their Heads, and Court them as they Grow.
On Flow'ry banks in their Fair Bow'rs they sit,
Bow'rs for such Loves, and for such Lovers fit.
Around them far and near their Creatures Play,
In Mutual fondness Happy too as they.
All Beasts before them mild, and Gentle be,
And the proud Lyon, Humbly Wooes his Shee.
And now fond Adam to his Beauteous Eve,
Mixt with his Speech, do's some dear Kisses give.
Thus with endearing Words his silence Breaks,
And his fair Bride leans Melting while he Speaks,
Thy wellfare Chiefly all my thoughts Employs,
Sole cause, and Partner of my greatest Joys.
'Tis thou, thou only Giv'st these Sweets I see;
My Pleasures and Delights are Centred all in thee,
I grow Transported when your charms you Shew,
Your Love and Fondness, makes them allways new,
This place had not been Paradise, had I wanted you,
But now, Dear fair, above Expression Dear,
Think who created us, and plac'd us Here,
Obey his will, and mind his Fixt decree,
Nor dare to Tast of the Forbidden Tree.
The tree of Knowledge Still forbear to Know,
The Tree of Knowledge is the tree of Woe.
Tast not it's Fruits, nor pluck them with thy Hand,
This is the Lord's, and this is my command.
To us God dayly do's new Joys afford,
Then let us thank our God, then let us praise the Lord.
For all the Mercies he is Pleas'd to Shew,
To prune these Plants is all he bids us do,
Which, were it Toylsome, yet were Sweet with you.
Thus Eve reply'd; Dear shall thy precepts be,
I'll pay Obedience both to God and thee,
Thou art my Guide, thou art my whole Delight.
My dayly comfort, and my Joy by Night.
To Heav'n indeed I all my Praises owe,
Heav'n made me thine, and Heav'n did thee bestow.
That day I oft remember er'e I rose,
When I first wak'd, as if from Soft repose.
On a fair bed of Flow'rs, Beneath a shade,
I saw my self in a Sweet Grotto lay'd.
First my own form I did with wonder View,
All caus'd my Wonder then, for all was New.
With silent Admiration, as I lay,
I View'd the Light, and saw the Shining day.
Gently I stir'd Pleas'd with the Gratefull show,
Gaz'd at these Locks, which round my Breasts did Flow.
And wonder'd what I was, whence Brought, and How.
Around I look'd, look'd all around to see
If ought else Liv'd, or had a form like me.
My wond'ring Eyes long did I cast around,
Still view'd my Self, and then the Flow'ry ground.
Thoughtfull I rose, and in the Fragrant Blow'rs,
With Childish fondness I admir'd the Flow'rs.
Just at the Entrance of the Pleasing Shade,
I saw mute Creatures which in Pairs were lay'd,
By them I pass'd, and on their forms I Gaz'd,
Near me, all Fawn'd, and all appear'd Amaz'd.
A Murm'ring sound I heard, not far from Thence,
Which stay'd my Progress, and allur'd my Sense.
This gratefull Noise, rough Issuing waters made,
Which pour'd from Caves, and down the Valleys spread.
There Gently pass'd, as Rivers to the main,
And Flow'd themselves into a Liquid plain.
Thither I went, and on it's Banks I stood,
Then Lean'd and Look'd into the Silver Flood;
Soon as I cast my Eyes upon the Stream,
To my Fond view a Beauteous Image came;
Frighted, I Started back, it Started too,
But soon I turn'd to take a Second View.
Calmly I look'd with an Alluring air,
And Saw it Smile, Pleas'd too, and Charming there.
Long on the Lake I held my constant Eye,
The Lake then Seem'd another Painted Sky.
There had I pin'd, and dy'd with vain desire,
(Such power the Waters had to raise a Fire)
But that a Voice in warning accents said,
It is thy self thou See'st there, Beauteous Maid.
With thee it Comes, and goes, but walk these ways,
And I will lead thee where no Shaddow stays.
Where one with Fond, and Earnest wishes Waits,
To meet, and Bless thee in these Happy Seats.
Thoughts of thy Soft embraces fill his Soul,
Thou Shal't enjoy him and possess him. whole
What could I do but follow? Strangely led,
I wishing pass'd along the Flow'ery mead.
At last I saw thee Tall indeed and Fair,
Beneath a shade you Stood, and view'd me there.
Lovely you look'd, and taking Charms you wore,
The watry Image Pleas'd me less before.
Tho' that more Soft, and amiably mild,
Winning and Fair, with Longing Glances Smil'd.
Towards me Strait you mov'd, all Charm'd I burn'd,
And wish'd, and Blush'd, yet with restraint I turn'd.
You following cry'd alou'd, whom Fly'st thou Eve,
My fair, thy Lover, and his Loves receive.
Forward in hast with Lovely awe you came,
And your Eyes Sparkled with a rising flame.
With low, Submissive bows my hands you prest,
And clasp't me fondly to your Swelling Brest,
Thus far your Actions woo'd, and your looks Spoke the rest.
With a kind Glance, such as must needs have Charms,
I pray'd you quit me from your Folded Arms.
Then on the Ground I cast my Bashfull Eyes,
Your fixt on mine, Look'd with a fond Surprise.
Still wanting power to Speak, you Clasp't me fast.
At Lenth, all fir'd, a kinder Glance I cast,
And prest you Close to my own Breast at Last.
You all in Transport, did some Kisses give,
And cry'd my Fair, my best, my Dearest Eve.
With fond Embraces first I look'd at you,
I saw you Sighing, and I strait Sigh'd too.
Then didst thou wish our Blessings to improve,
And led me Thence to know the Rights of Love.
With an unwilling willingness I Went,
And some Dear sigh's as we Past on, I sent.
Now at the Bow'er arriv'd, Fond are you us'd,
And would enjoy, but Bashfull I refus'd.
Sweetly you Pleaded, urg'd by am'rous Fires,
And show'd your own, and Heightned my desires.
I still deny'd, much Pleas'd to hear you Sue,
Saw all your Longings, all your wishes knew;
And wish'd my Self with Passion more than you.
I mark'd your Loves which Rais'd your Fondness high,
Yet could not Grant, nor could I well deny.
The Joys you Sought, were sure by Heaven design'd,
To be the greatest Blessing Man can find.
Yet if no Courtship, and no Pains it cost,
I'ts Sweets would soon be Pall'd and all i'ts Pleasures lost.
Fondly you Strove, and all your arts you try'd,
You saw me Yield at last, yet Yielding I deny'd.
With gratefull Force which you did well Employ,
You both took from me, and you Gave me Joy.
But a Short while the transient Blessings Stay,
While in each others arms imparadis'd we lay.
So spake our Gen'rall Mother; and with Eyes
Sparkling with Love, to Her Charm'd Husband flys.
Half of her Swelling Breast he might behold,
Free from her Tresses Curls, which Loosely roll'd
Naked, and Joyning, his beneath the Flowing Gold.
Pleas'd with Her Beauty, and Submissive Charms,
He with Superiour Love receives Her in his Arms.
Smiling he says, but first Her Lips he prest,
The nighr, fair consort, Warns us now to Rest.
Sleep's timely dew falls Gently down, and Lyes
With soft, and Slumb'rous weight upon our Eyes.
Come then, my Love, Soon as the Early Morn,
Shall all the Fruits, and Fragrant Flow'rs adorn;
We must arise, and to our work prepare,
The dropping Gums and Blossoms need our care.
Bestrown unseemly, and unsmooth they Lye,
Hindring our walks, and Easy passage by.
To whom thus Eve, in Smiles and Blushes drest.
As you command me, I shall hast to Rest,
I shall not e'er beyond thy Pleasure stay,
Whate'er thou bidst, unargu'd, I obey.
Obedience still thro' all my acts Shall Shine;
So God commands, God is thy Law, thou Mine.
To know no more, nor Towring thoughts to Raise,
Is Woman's Happiest knowledge, and Her praise.
With thee Conversing, I all time forget,
The Sun unmarkt by me, may Rise or set.
Sweet is the Breath of Morn, the Evening sweet,
All seasons please me when with thee I meet.
The Shining day, and the still, Starry Night,
While I have thee, are Gratefull to my Sight,
But all without thee could Yeild no Delight.
Thus talking Hand in Hand, on new fal'n Flow'ers,
They pass, well Pleas'd, towards their Peacefull Bow'ers.
Their inmost Grotts of Odo'rous Trees were made,
And lofty Plants around them cast their Shade.
In statley pride Lawrells, and Myrthes grow,
And grace the Entrance with a Double row.
Rose trees, and Gessamin at the Doors appear,
And high their fragrant, Flourish'd Heads they rear.
Eve when espous'd, here did in Close Recess,
Her nuptiall Bed with Flow'ers and Garlands dress.
Thus at their Grotts arriv'd, they both Ador'd,
And thank'd, and Prais'd their ever Bounteous Lord,
Then side by side they Lay, nor Turning move
But to perform the Sacred Rites of Love.
Let others, as they please, Debarr their Joy,
And talk austerely, but They did Enjoy.
Here Love his best, his Golden shafts Employ'd,
This Happy pair still Lov'd, but nere were Cloy'd.
Whilst a soft Choir of Birds their Nuptialls sings,
Love lights his constant Lamp, and waves his purple wings.
Secure they Lay, their Bow'er by Angels kept,
And, Lull'd by Nightingales, embracing Slept.
The Flow'ry roof their Naked Limbs bestrows,
With Show'rs of Violets, and the Fragrant Rose.
Thus this Blest Pair's refresh'd, and all the while,
Pleas'd do they Sleep, and in their Dreams they Smile.