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ARGUMENT.

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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 ; 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.

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PARADISE LOST.

BOOK V.

NOW morn her rosy steps in th' eastern clime
Advancing, sow'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 vapours bland, which th' only sound
Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan,
Lightly dispers'd, and the shrill matin song
Of birds on every bough; so much the more
His wonder was to find unwaken'd Eve
With tresses discompos'd, and glowing cheek,
As through unquiet rest: he, on his side
Leaning half rais'd, with looks of cordial love
Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld

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Beauty which, whether waking or asleep,

Shot forth peculiar graces; then, with voice

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Mild as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes,

Her hand soft touching, whisper'd thus. "Awake,

My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found,

Heav'n's last best gift, my ever new delight!

Awake; the morning shines, and the fresh field

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Calls us; we loose the prime, to mark how spring

Our tender plants, how blows the citron grove,
What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed,
How nature paints ber colours, how the bee

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Such whisp'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 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,

6 Why sleep'st thou, Eve? now is the pleasant time,
The cool, the silent, save where silence yields
To the night-warbling bird, that now awake
Tunes sweetest his love-labour'd song; now reigns
Full orb'd the moon, and with more pleasing light
Shadowy sets off the face of things; in vain,
If none regard; Heav'n wakes with all his eyes,
Whom to behold but thee, Nature's desire
In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment
Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.'

I rose as at thy call, but found thee not:

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To find thee I directed then my walk;"

And on, methought, alone I pass'd through ways

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That brought me on a sudden to the tree
Of interdicted knowledge: fair it seem'd,
Much fairer to my fancy than by day;

And, as I wond'ring look'd, beside it stood

One shap'd and wing'd like one of those from Heaven
By us oft seen; his dewy locks distill'd

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Ambrosia; on that tree he also gaz'd;

And, “O fair plant, said he," with fruit surcharg’d,

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