Page images
PDF
EPUB

"Satan! I know thy strength, and thou know'st "mine;

"Neither our own, but given: what folly then

"To boast what arms can do! since thine no more

"Than Heaven permits; nor mine, though doubled now 1010" To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, "And read thy lot in yon celestial sign,

"Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how "weak,

"If thou resist." The fiend look'd up, and knew

His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled

1015 Murm'ring, and with him fled the shades of night.

BOOK V.

THE ARGUMENT.

MORNING approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her: they come forth to their day-labours: their morning hymn at the door of their bower. God, to render man inexcusable, sends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his free estate, of his enemy near at hand, who he is, and why his enemy, and whatever else may avail Adam to know. Raphael comes down to Paradise; his appearance described; his coming discerned by Adam afar off, sitting at the door of his bower; he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choicest fruits of Paradise got together by Eve; their discourse at table: Raphael performs his message, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy; relates, at Adam's request, who that enemy is, and how he came to be so, beginning from the first revolt in heaven, and the occasion thereof; how he drew his legions after him to the parts of the north, and there incited them to rebel with him, persuading all but only Abdiel a seraph, who in argument dissuades and opposes him, then forsakes him.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK V.

Now morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime Advancing, sow'd the earth with orient pearl, When Adam wak'd, so custom'd; for his sleep Was aery-light, from pure digestion bred,

5 And temperate vapours bland, which the only sound Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, Lightly dispers'd, and the shrill matin song Of birds on every bough. So much the more His wonder was to find unwaken'd Eve, 10 With tresses discompos'd, and glowing cheek, As through unquiet rest: he, on his side Leaning, half-rais'd, with looks of cordial love Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep, 15 Shot forth peculiar graces; then, with voice Mild as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, Her hand soft touching, whisper'd thus: "Awake, "My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found, "Heaven's last best gift, my ever-new delight! 20 "Awake: the morning shines, and the fresh field "Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring "Our tender plants,-how blows the citron grove,

"What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed,"How nature paints her colours,-how the bee 25 "Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet."

Such whisp'ring wak'd her, but with startled eye
On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spake :

"O sole! in whom my thoughts find all repose,
My glory, my perfection! glad I see

30"Thy face, and morn return'd; for I this night
"(Such night till this I never pass'd) have dream'd,
"(If dream'd,) not, as I oft am wont, of thee,
"Works of day past, or morrow's next design;
"But of offence and trouble, which my mind.
35" Knew never till this irksome night. Methought,
"Close at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk
"With gentle voice; I thought it thine: it said,

40

45

66 6

Why sleep'st thou, Eve? now is the pleasant time, "The cool, the silent, save where silence yields "To the night-warbling bird, that now awake "Tunes sweetest his love-labour'd song: now reigns "Full orb'd the moon, and with more pleasing light Shadowy sets off the face of things; in vain,

66

"If none regard: heaven wakes with all his eyes;
"Whom to behold but thee, nature's desire?
"In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment,
"Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.'

"I rose, as at thy call, but found thee not:
"To find thee I directed then my walk;
50"And on, methought, alone I pass'd through ways
"That brought me on a sudden to the tree
"Of interdicted knowledge: fair it seem'd,
"Much fairer to my fancy than by day:

"And, as I wond'ring look'd, beside it stood

55 "One, shap'd and wing'd like one of those from heaven

60

[ocr errors]

'By us oft seen: his dewy locks distill'd

"Ambrosia: on that tree he also gaz'd:

"And, O fair plant,' said he,' with fruit surcharg'd!

666

'Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet? "Nor God, nor man? Is knowledge so despis'd?

« PreviousContinue »