THE ARGUMENT.

MORNING approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not yet conforts her: they come forth to their day-labours: their morning hymn at the door of their bover. God, to render man inexcusable, sends Raphaël 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 his 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.

ARGUMENT.

Le matin approchait ; Ève raconte à Adam son rêve fâcheux. Il n'aime pas ce rêve, cependant il la console. Ils sortent (pour leurs travaux du jour : leur hymne du matin à la porte de leur berceau. Dieu, afin de rendre l'homme inexcusable, envoie Raphaël pour l'exhorter à l'obéissance, lui rappeler son état libre, le mettre en garde contre son ennemi qui est proche, lui apprendre quel est cet ennemi; pourquoi il est son ennemi, et tout ce qu'il est utile en outre à Adam de connaître. Raphaël descend au Paradis; sa figure décrite; sa venue découverte au loin par Adam, assis à la porte de son berceau. Adam va à la rencontre de l'ange, l'amène à sa demeure et lui offre les fruits les plus choisis cueillis par Eve; leurs discours à table. Raphaël accomplit son message, fait souvenir Adam de son état et de son ennemi ; à la demande d'Adam il raconte quel est cet ennemi, comment il l'est devenu, en commençant à la première révolte de Satan dans le ciel ; il dit la cause de cette révolte; comment l'esprit rebelle entraîna ses légions après lui dans les parties du Nord, comment il les incita à se révolter avec lui, les persuada tous, excepté Abdiel, le séraphin, qui combat ses raisons, s'oppose à lui et l'abandonne.

BOOK V.

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

And temperate vapours bland, which the only sound

Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan,

Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song
Of birds on every bough: so much the more
His wonder was to find unwaken'd Eve
With tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek,
As through unquiet rest: he, on his side
Leaning half-raised, with looks of cordial love
Hung over her enamour'd and beheld
Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep,
Shot forth peculiar graces; when with voice
Mild, as when Zephirus on Flora breathes,
Aer hand soft touching, whisper'd thus: -

LIVRE V.

'éjà le matin avançant ses pas de rose dans es régions de l'Est, semait la terre de perle orientale, lorsqu'ADAM s'éveilla, telle était sa coutume; car son sommeil

léger comme l'air, entretenu par une digestion pure et des vapeurs douces et tempérées, était légèrement dispersé par le seul bruit des ruisseaux fumans, des feuilles agitées (éventail de l'aurore), et par le chant matinal et animé des oiseaux sur toutes les branches: il est d'autant plus étonné de trouver ÈVE non éveillée la chevelure en désordre et les joues rouges comme dans un repos inquiet. Il se soulève à demi, appuyé sur le coude; penché amoureusement sur elle, il contemple avec des regards d'un cordial amour la beauté qui, éveillée ou endormie, brille de graces particulières. Alors d'une voix douce, comme quand Zéphir souffle sur Flore, touchant doucement la main d'ÈVE, il murmure ces mots :

"Awake,

My fairest, my espoused, my latest found,
Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight!
Awake; the morning shines, and the fresh field
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 colours, how the bee
Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet."

Such whispering waked 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 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 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, Why sleep'st thou, Eve? now is the pleasant time,