"And hunger both, from labour,-at the hour "Of sweet repast: they satiate, and soon fill, 215 "Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine "Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety." To whom thus Raphael answer'd heav'nly meek: "Nor are thy lips ungraceful, sire of men! "Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee 220 "Abundantly his gifts hath also poured; "Inward and outward both, his image fair: Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace "Attends thee, and each word, each motion, forms. "Nor less think we in heaven of thee on earth 225"Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire 66 66 Gladly into the ways of God with man: "For God, we see, hath honour'd thee, and set "On man his equal love. Say therefore on; "For I that day was absent, as befel, 230"Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, "Far on excursion toward the gates of hell; 235 66 Squar'd in full legion (such command we had) "To see that none thence issued forth a spy, "Or enemy, while God was in his work; "Lest he, incensed at such eruption bold, "Destruction with creation might have mix'd. "Not that they durst without his leave attempt: "But us he sends upon his high behests "For state, as Sov'reign King; and to inure 240 "Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut, "The dismal gates, and barricadoed strong; 245 "But, long ere our approaching, heard within 66 Noise, other than the sound of dance or song; "Pleas'd with thy words, no less than thou with mine." So spake the godlike Power; and thus our sire: 250"For man to tell how human life began 255 "Is hard; for who himself beginning knew? "As new wak'd from soundest sleep, "Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid "In balmy sweat; which with his beams the sun "Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. saw Straight toward heaven my wond'ring eyes I turn'd, "And gaz'd awhile the ample sky; till, rais'd "By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung, 260"As thitherward endeav'ring, and upright "Stood on my feet. About me round I "Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, "And liquid lapse of murm'ring streams; by these, "Creatures that liv'd and mov'd, and walk'd, or flew; 265" Birds on the branches warbling: all things smil'd "With fragrance, and with joy my heart o'erflow'd. "Myself I then perus'd, and limb by limb "Survey'd; and sometimes went, and sometimes ran "With supple joints, as lively vigour led: 270 "But who I was, or where, or from what cause, 66 "Whate'er I saw. Thou sun,' said I, 'fair light! "And thou enlighten'd earth, so fresh and gay! 275"Ye hills, and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plains, "And ye that live and move, fair creatures! tell, "Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here? "Not of myself; by some great Maker then, "In goodness and in power pre-eminent: 280"Tell me, how I may know him, how adore, "From whom I have that thus I move and live, "And feel that I am happier than I know.' "While thus I call'd, and stray'd I knew not whither "From where I first drew air, and first beheld 285"This happy light; when, answer none return'd, "On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, "Pensive I sat me down: there gentle sleep "First found me, and with soft oppression seized 290 "I then was passing to my former state, 295 300 305 "Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve: 66 My fancy to believe I yet had being, "And liv'd. One came, methought, of shape divine, 66 "So saying, by the hand he took me, rais'd, And, over fields and waters, as in air, "Smooth sliding without step, last led me up "A woody mountain, whose high top was plain— "A circuit wide, enclos'd with goodliest trees, "Planted with walks and bowers; that what I saw "Of earth before, scarce pleasant seem'd. Each tree, "Loaden with fairest fruit, that hung to th' eye Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite "To pluck and eat; whereat I wak'd, and found 310 "Before mine eyes all real, as the dream "Had lively shadow'd. Here had new begun 66 My wand'ring, had not he, who was my guide Up hither, from among the trees appear'd"Presence Divine! Rejoicing, but with awe, 315" In adoration at his feet I fell "Submiss: he rear'd me, and, 'Whom thou sought'st I am,' "Said mildly; 'Author of all this thou seest "Above, or round about thee, or beneath. "This Paradise I give thee; count it thine 320 "To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat : "Of every tree that in the garden grows "Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth: "But of the tree whose operation brings "Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set 325"The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, "Amid the garden by the tree of life, "(Remember what I warn thee!) shun to taste, "And shun the bitter consequence for know, "The day thou eat'st thereof,-my sole command 330"Transgress'd,-inevitably thou shalt die; "From that day mortal; and this happy state "Shalt lose, expell'd from hence into a world "Of woe and sorrow.' Sternly he pronounc'd "The rigid interdiction, which resounds 335 "Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice "Not to incur: but soon his clear aspect "Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renew'd: "Not only these fair bounds, but all the earth "To thee and to thy race I give; as lords 340"Possess it, and all things that therein live, "Or live in sea, or air-beast, fish, and fowl. "In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold "After their kinds; I bring them to receive "From thee their names, and pay thee feälty 345"With low subjection: understand the same "Of fish within their wat'ry residence ; "Not hither summon'd, since they cannot change "Their element, to draw the thinner air.' "As thus he spake, each bird, and beast, behold 350"Approaching, two and two-these cow'ring low "With blandishment-each bird stoop'd on his wing. "I nam'd them as they pass'd, and understood "Their nature; with such knowledge God endu'd "My sudden apprehension. But in these 355 "I found not what methought I wanted still; "And to the heavenly Vision thus presum'd: "O, by what name,-for thou above all these, "Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher, "Surpassest far my naming!-how may I 360 "Adore thee, Author of this universe, "And all this good to man? for whose well-being "So amply, and with hands so liberal, "Thou hast provided all things. But with me 365 370 375 "I see not who partakes. In solitude "Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright, 380 666 : Know'st thou not. "Let not my words offend thee, Heavenly Power! My Maker, be propitious while I speak! "Hast thou not made me here thy substitute, "And these, inferior far, beneath me set? "Among unequals what society "Can sort, what harmony, or true delight? 385"Which must be mutual, in proportion due "Giv'n and receiv'd; but, in disparity, "The one intense, the other still remiss, "Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove ""Tedious alike. Of fellowship I speak, 390"Such as I seek, fit to participate 395 400 "All rational delight; wherein the brute "Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice |