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
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,
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.
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
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.
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,
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
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;
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
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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