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1. The green border of
Paradise
2. The fragrance of
Paradise
3. A steep, savage hill
4. A Heaven on earth
5. Imitations of Paradise
6. Mount Amara in
Abyssinia
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John
Milton
4. A Heaven on earthHere Eden is described as fertile ground, like that in Kubla Khan.
From
Paradise, a large river runs under a shaggy hill, then rises up in a
fountain, with many a rill, splitting into four rivers out of Paradise,
which wander in mazy error (errare being Latin for wander),
going down a valley, full of shady grottos and caves.
The general picture echoes the scene in Kubla Khan, and some of the
language is the same, despite the tangled overgrowth of Milton's syntax. The
melodies are not at all similar, but the visions are.
Lowes quotes the heart of the passage (lines 216-244), but I include the
surroundings (lines 208-268).
Text
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.
The Birds thir quire apply; aires, vernal aires,
Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune
The trembling leaves, while Universal Pan
Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance
Led on th' Eternal Spring.
--Paradise Lost, Book IV, lines 208-68.
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Other sources
William Bartram
William
Beckford
F. Bernier
James Bruce
Thomas
Burnet
William
Collins
Herodotus
Athanasius
Kircher
Jerome Lobo
Thomas
Maurice
Pausanias
Samuel
Purchas
Major
James Rennell
Seneca
Strabo
Virgil
Mary
Wollstonecraft
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