Imatges de pàgina
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Prove chaff. On t'other fide Satan alarm'd

Collecting all his might dilated stood,
Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd:

His ftature reach'd the sky, and on his crest

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Of Heav'n perhaps, or all the elements

At least had gone to wrack, disturb'd and torn
With violence of this conflict, had not foon
Th' Eternal to prevent fuch horrid fray

Hung forth in heav'n his golden scales, yet seen
Betwixt Aftrea and the Scorpion sign,

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Wherein all things created first he weigh'd,
The pendulous round earth with balanc'd air
In counterpoife, now ponders all events,
Battels and realms: in these he put two weights
The fequel each of parting and of fight;
The latter quick up flew, and kick'd the beam;
Which Gabriel spying, thus befpake the Fiend. 1005

Satan I know thy strength, and thou know'ft mine,
Neither our own but giv'n; what folly then
To boaft what arms can do? fince thine no more
Than Heav'n permits, nor mine, though doubled now
To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, ΠΟΙΟ
And read thy lot in yon celeftial fign, [weak
Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how

If thou refift. The Fiend look'd up, and knew
His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but filed 1014
Murm'ring, and with him fled the shades of Night.

The End of the Fourth Book.

Sij

BOOK V.

The Argument.

Morning approach'd, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her; they come forth to their day labors: their morning hymn at the door of their bower. God te render Man inexcufable fends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his free eftate, of his enemy near at hand, who he is, and why his enemy, and whatever elfe may avail Adam to know. Raphael comes down to Paradife, his appearance defcrib'd, his coming difcern'd by Adam afar off fitting at the door of his bower; he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choiceft fruits of Paradife got together by Eve; their discourse at table Raphael performs his meffage, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy; relates at Adam's request who that enemy is, and how he came to be fo, beginning from his first revolt in heaven, and the occafion thereof; how he drew his legions after him to the parts of the North, and there incited them to rebel with him, perfuading all but only Abdiel a feraph, who in argument diffuades and opposes him, then forfakes him.

Now Morn her rofy steps in th' eastern clime
Advancing, fow'd the Earth with orient pearl,
When Adam wak'd, so custom'd, for his sleep
Was aery light from pure digestion bred,
And temp'rate vapors bland, which th' only found 5
Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan,
Lightly difpers'd, and the fhrill matin fong
Of birds on every bough; fo much the more
His wonder was to find unwaken'd Eve
With treffes difcompos'd, and glowing cheek,
As through unquiet reft: he on his fide

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Leaning half rais'd, with looks of cordial love
Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld
Beauty, which whether waking or asleep,
Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice
Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes,
Her hand foft touching, whisper'd thus. Awake
My fairest, my efpous'd, my latest found,
Heav'n's last best gift, my ever new delight,
Awake; the morning shines, and the fresh field 20
Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring
Our tended plants, how blows the citron grove,
What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed,
How Nature paints her colors, how the bee
Sits on the bloom extracting liquid fweet.

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Such whifp'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 fee

Thy face, and morn return'd; for I this night (Such night till this I never pafs'd) have dream'd, If dream'd, not as I oft am wont, of thee,

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Works of day pass'd, or morrow's next defign,
But of offenfe and trouble, which my mind
Knew never till this irkfome night: Methought 35
Close at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk
With gentle voice, I thought it thine; it said,
Why fleep'st thou Eve? now is the pleasant time,
The cool, the filent, fave where filence yields

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To the night-warbling bird, that now awake
Tunes sweetest his love-labor'd fong; now reigns
Full orb'd the moon, and with more pleasing light
Shadowy fets off the face of things, in vain,
If none regard; Heav'n wakes with all his eyes,
Whom to behold but thee, Nature's defire?
In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment
Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.

I rofe as at thy call, but found thee not;
To find thee I directed then my walk;

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And on, methought, alone I pafs'd through ways 50
That brought me on a fudden to the tree
Of interdicted Knowledge: fair it feem'd,
Much fairer to my fancy than by day:
And as I wondring look'd, befide it flood

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One fhap'd and wing'd like one of those from Heav'n
By us oft feen; his dewy locks diftill'd
Ambrofia; on that tree be alfo gaz'd;

And O fair plant, faid he, with fruit furcharg'd,
Deigns none to cafe thy load and taste thy sweet,
Nor God, nor Man? is knowledge fo defpis'd?
Or envy, or what referve forbids to tafte?
Forbid who will, none fhall from me with-hold
Longer thy offer'd good, why elfe fet here?
This faid, he paus'd not, but with ventrous arm
He pluck'd, he tasted; me damp horror chill'd
At fuch bold words vouch'd with a deed fo bold:
But he thus overjoy'd, Q fruit divine,

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