A Flew through the midst of Heaven. The descrip- angelic quires, tion of On each hand parting, to his speed gave way Raphael Through all the empyreal road, till, at the gate, Of Heaven arrived, the gate self-opened wide, On golden hinges turning, as by work Divine the sovran Architect had framed. From hence-no cloud or, to obstruct his sight, Star interposed, however small-he sees, Not unconform to other shining globes, Earth, and the Garden of God, with cedars crowned
Above all hills; as when by night the glass Of Galileo, less assured, observes Imagined lands and regions in the Moon; Or pilot from amidst the Cyclades Delos or Samos first appearing kens,
A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady wing
Now on the polar winds; then with quick fan Winnows the buxom air, till, within soar Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems A phoenix, gazed by all, as that sole bird, When, to enshrine his relics in the Sun's Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies. At once on the eastern cliff of Paradise He lights, and to his proper shape returns, A Seraph winged. Six wings he wore, to shade His lineaments divine: the pair that clad Each shoulder broad came mantling o'er his
With regal ornament; the middle pair
Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold And colours dipt in heaven; the third his feet Shadowed from either heel with feathered mail, Sky-tinctured grain. Like Maia's son he stood, And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance filled
The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands
Of Angels under watch, and to his state And to his message high in honour rise; For on some message high they guessed him bound. Their glittering tents he passed, and now is come Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh, And flowering odours, cassia, nard, and balm, A wilderness of sweets; for Nature here Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet, Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. Him, through the spicy forest onward come, Adam discerned, as in the door he sat
Of his cool bower, while now the mounted Sun Shot down direct his fervid rays, to warm Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam
And Eve, within, due at her hour, prepared For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please True appetite, and not disrelish thirst
Of nectarous draughts between, from milky
Berry or grape: to whom thus Adam called :— Haste hither, Eve, and, worth thy sight, behold
Eve on Eastward among those trees what glorious Shape hospitable Comes this way moving; seems another morn 310 thoughts Risen on mid-noon. Some great behest from
To us perhaps he brings, and will voutsafe This day to be our guest. But go with speed,
And what thy stores contain bring forth, and
pour Abundance fit to honour and receive Our heavenly stranger; well we may afford Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow From large bestowed, where Nature multiplies Her fertile growth, and by disburdening grows More fruitful; which instructs us not to spare.' To whom thus Eve ::-'Adam, Earth's hallowed mould,
Of God inspired, small store will serve where
All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk; Save what, by frugal storing, firmness gains To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes. But I will haste, and from each bough and brake, Each plant and juiciest gourd, will pluck such choice
To entertain our Angel-guest, as he
Beholding, shall confess that here on Earth God hath dispensed his bounties as in Heaven.' So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste 331 She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent What choice to choose for delicacy best, What order so contrived as not to mix Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change: Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk
Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields In India East or West, or middle shore In Pontus or the Punic coast, or where Alcinöus reigned, fruit of all kinds, in coat Rough or smooth rined, or bearded husk, or shell, She gathers, tribute large, and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand. For drink the grape She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths From many a berry, and from sweet kernels pressed
She tempers dulcet creams-nor these to hold Wants her fit vessels pure; then strews the ground
With rose and odours from the shrub unfumed. Meanwhile our primitive great Sire, to meet His godlike guest, walks forth, without more
train Accompanied than with his own complete Perfections; in himself was all his state, More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits On princes, when their rich retínue long Of horses led and grooms besmeared with gold Dazzles the crowd and sets them all agape. Nearer his presence, Adam, though not awed, Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek, As to a superior nature, bowing low, 360 Thus said: "Native of Heaven (for other place None can than Heaven such glorious Shape contain),
Since, by descending from the Thrones above, Those happy places thou hast deigned a while To want, and honour these, voutsafe with us, Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower
Adam goes forth to meet
his guest
Eve To rest, and what the Garden choicest bears in her To sit and taste, till this meridian heat sylvan Be over, and the sun more cool decline.' lodge
Whom thus the angelic Virtue answered mild:-
•Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou such Created, or such place hast here to dwell, As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heaven, To visit thee. Lead on then, where thy bower O'ershades; for these mid-hours, till evening rise, I have at will.' So to the sylvan lodge They came, that like Pomona's arbour smiled, With flowerets decked and fragrant smells. But Eve, Undecked, save with herself, more lovely fair Than wood-nymph, or the fairest goddess feigned Of three that in Mount Ida naked strove, Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil
She needed, virtue proof; no thought infirm Altered her cheek. On whom the Angel 'Hail!' Bestowed-the holy salutation used
Long after to blest Mary, second Eve:
'Hail! Mother of mankind, whose fruitful womb
Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons Than with these various fruits the trees of God 390 Have heaped this table!' Raised of grassy turf Their table was, and mossy seats had round, And on her ample square, from side to side, All Autumn piled, though Spring and Autumn
Danced hand-in-hand. A while discourse they hold
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