And hunger both, from labour, at the hour Of sweet repaft; they fatiate, and foon fill, Though pleasant, but thy words with grace divine Imbu'd, bring to their sweetness no fatietie.
To whom thus Raphael anfwer'd heav'nly meek. Nor are thy lips ungraceful, fire of men, Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee Abundantly his gifts hath also pour'd Inward and outward both, his image fair: Speaking or mute all comliness and grace
Attends thee, and each word, each motion forms. Nor lefs think we in heav'n of thee on earth · Than of our fellow fervant, and inquire Gladly into the wayes of God with man : For God we fee hath honour'd thee, and fee On man his equal love: fay therefore on ; For I that day was abfent, as befell, Bound on a voyage uncouth and jobscure, Far on excursion toward the gates; of hell; Squar'd in full legion (fuch command we had) To fee that none thence iffu'd forth a fpie, Or enemie, while God was in his work, Left he incenft at fuch eruption bold; Deftruction with creation might have mixt. Not that they dart without his leave attempt;: But us he fends upon his high behests.
For ftate, as fovran king, and to enure Our prompt obedience. Falt we found; faft shut The dismal gates, and barricado'd strong; But long ere our approaching heard within : Noife, other than the found of dance or song,
Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. Glad we return'd up to the coafts of light Ere fabbath eer'ning: fo we had in, charge. But thy relation now; for I attend,
Pleas'd with thy words no lefs than thou with mine. So fpake the godlike power, and thus our fire. For man to tell how human life began Is hard; for who himself beginning knew ? Defire with thee ftill longer to converse Induc'd me. As new wak't from foundest feop Soft on the flourie herb I found me laid In balmie fweat, which with his beames the fun Soon dri'd, and on the reaking moisture fed. Strait toward heav'n my wondring eyes I turn'd, And gaz'd a while the ample skie, till rais'd By quick instinctive motion, up. Ifprung, As thitherward endeavouring, and upright Stood on my feet; about me round I faw Hill, dale, and fhadie woods, and funnie plains, And liquid lapse of murmuring ftreams; by thefe, Creatures that liv'd, and mov'd, and walk'd, or flew, Birds on the branches warbling all things fmil'd, With fragrance and with joy my heart oreflow'd. Myfelf I then perus'd, and limb by limb Survey'd, and sometimes went, and fometimes ran With fupple joints, and lively vigour led: But who I was, or where, or from what caufe, Knew not; to fpeak I tri'd, and forthwith spake, My tongue obey'd, and readily could name What e're I faw. Thou fun, faid I, fair light, And thou enlight'nd earth, fo fresh and gay,
Ye hills and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plaines And ye that live and move, fair creatures, tell, Tell, if ye faw, how came I thus, how here? Not of myfelf; by some great maker then, In goodness and in power praeeminen: ; Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, From whom I have that thus I move and live, And feel that I am happier than I know.
While thus I call'd, and ftray'd I knew not whither, From where I first drew air, and first beheld This happie light, when answer none return'd, - On a green shadie bank profuse of flours Penfive I fat me down; there gentle fleep First found me, and with foft oppreffion feiz'd My drouféd fenfe, untroubl'd, though I thought I then was paffing to my former state. Infenfible, and forthwith to diffolve :. When fuddenly stood at my head a dream, Whofe inward apparition gently mov'd My fancy to believe I yet had being,
And liv'd: one came, methought, of shape divine, And faid, thy manfion wants thee, Adam, rife, Firft man, of men innumerable ordain'd Firft father, call'd by thee I come thy guide To the garden of blifs, thy feat prepar'd. So faying, by the hand he took me rais'd, And over fields and waters, as in air Smooth fliding without step, last led me up A woodie mountain; whose high top was plain,” A circuit wide, enclos'd, with goodliest trees Planted, with walks, and bowers, that what I faw
arth before scarce pleasant seem'd. Each tree In with faireft fruit, that hung to the eye pting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite luck and eat; whereat I wak'd, and found re mine eyes all real, as the dream lively fhadow'd: here had new begun wandring, had not he who was my guide hither, from among the trees appeer'd, er.ce divine. Rejoycing, but with awe doration at his feet I fell
mifs: he rear'd me, and whom thou foughtst I am mildly, author of all this thou feeft ove, or round about thee or beneath. is Paradise I give thee, count it thine till and keep, and of the fruit to eat: every tree that in the garden grows
t freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth: it of the tree whose operation brings nowledge of good and ill, which I have fet he pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, mid the garden by the tree of life,
emember what I warn thee, fhun to tafte, nd fhun the bitter confequence: for know, he day thou eat'ft thereof, my fole command. "ranfgreft, inevitably thou shalt die; rom that day mortal, and this happie state halt lofe, expell'd from hence into a world f woe and forrow. Sternly he pronounc'd The rigid interdiction, which resounds Fet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice Not to incur; but foon his cleer aspect
Return'd and gracious purpose thus renew d Not only these fair bounds, but all the earth To thee and to thy race I give; as lords Poffefs it, and all things that therein live, Or live in fea, or air, beaft, fish, and fowle. In fign whereof each bird and beast behold After their kinds; I bring them to receave From thee their names, and pay thee fealtie With low fubjection; understand the fame Of fish within their watry refidence,
Not hither fummon'd, fince they cannot change Their element to draw the thinner air.
As thus he fpake, each bird and beast behold Approaching two and two, these cowring low With blandishment, each bird ftoep'd on his wing. I nam'd them, as they pass'd, and understood Their nature, with fuch knowledge God endu'd My fudden apprehenfion: but in these,
I found not what methought I wanted still; And to the heav'nly vifion thus prefum❜ds
O by what name, for thou above all these, Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher, Surpaffeft far my naming, how may I
Adore thee, author of this universe,
And all this good to man, for whose well being So amply, and with hands fo liberal Thou haft provided all things: but with me I fee not who partakes. In folitude What happiness, who can enjoy alone, Or all enjoying, what contentment.find,? Thus I prefumptuous; and the vifion,bright,
« PreviousContinue » |