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"Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'st mine; Neither our own, but given: what folly then

To boast what arms can do! since thine no more

Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now

To trample thee as mire: for proof look up,

And read thy lot in yon celestial sign,

Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how weack, If thou resist."

The fiend look'd up, and knew

His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled
Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.

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« SATAN, je connais ta force et tu connais la >> mienne; ni l'une ni l'autre ne nous est propre,

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mais elles nous ont été données. Quelle folie

» donc de vanter ce que les armes peuvent faire, puisque ni ta force ni la mienne ne sont que » ce que permet le Ciel, quoique la mienne soit » à présent doublée, afin que je te foule aux pieds » comme la fange. Pour preuve regarde en haut; >> lis ton destin dans ce signe céleste où tu es pesé, » et vois combien tu es léger, combien faible, si >> tu résistes. >>

L'Ennemi leva les yeux, et reconnut que son bassin était monté en haut. C'en est fait; il fuit en murmurant, et avec lui fuirent les ombres de la nuit.

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THE ARGUMENT.

MORNING approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her: they come forth to their day-labours: their morning hymn at the door of their bower. God, to render man inexcusable, sends Raphael 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 illa console. Ils sortent pour leurs travaux du jour : eur 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. Raphael 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 Ève; leurs discours à table. Raphael 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 'abandonne.

BOOK V.

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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; then with voice
Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes,
Her hand soft touching, whisper'd thus:-

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