One day and night; in all their vast survey More plenty than the Sun that barren shines ;
Useless besides; reasoning I oft admire,

Whose virtue on itself works no effect,
How Nature wise and frugal could commit But in the fruitful Earth ; there first receiv'd,
Such disproportions, with superfluous hand His beams, unactive else, their vigor find.
So many nobler bodies to create,

Yet not to Earth are those bright luminaries
Greater so manifold, to this one use,

Officious; but to thee, Earth's habitant.
For aught appears, and on their orbs impose And for the Heaven's wide circuit, let it speak
Such restless revolution day by day

The Maker's high magnificence, who built
Repeated; while the sedentary Earth,

So spacious, and his line stretch'd out so far,
That better might with far less compass move, That man may know he dwells not in his own;
Serv'd by more noble than herself, attains

An edifice too large for him to fill,
Her end without least motion, and receives, Lodg'd in a small partition; and the rest
As tribute, such a sumless journey brought Ordain'd for uses to his Lord best known
Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light; The swiftness of those circles attribute,
Speed, to describe whose swiftness number fails." Though numberless, to his omnipotence

So spake our sire, and by his countenance seem'd That to corporeal substances could add
Entering on studious thoughts abstruse ; which Eve Speed almost spiritual : me thou think ́st not slow,
Perceiving, where she sat retir'd in sight,

Who since the morning-hour set out froin Heaven
With lowliness majestic from her seat,

Where God resides, and ere mid-day arriv'd
And grace that won who saw to wish her stay, In Eden; distance inexpressible
Rose, and went forth among her fruits and flowers, By numbers that have name.

But this I urge,
To visit how they prosper'd, bud and bloom, Admitting motion in the Heavens, to show
Her nursery; they at her coming sprung,

Invalid that which thee to doubt it mov'd;
And, touch'd by her fair tendance, gladlier grew. Not that I so affirm, though so it seem
Yet went she not, as not with such discourse To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth.
Delighied, or not capable her ear

God, to remove his ways from human sense,
Of what was high: such pleasure she reserv'd, Plac'd Heaven from Earth so far, that earthly sight,
Adam relating, she sole auditress :

it presume, might err in things too high, Her husband the relater she preferr'd

And no advantage gain. What if the Sun Before the angel, and of him to ask

Be centre to the world ; and other stars,
Chose rather; he, she knew, would intermix By his attractive virtue and their own
Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute Incited, dance about him various rounds ?
With conjugal caresses; from his lip

Their wandering course now high, now low, then hid,
Not words alone pleas'd her. 0! when meet now Progressive, retrograde, or standing still,
Such pairs, in love and mutual honor join'd? In six thou seest; and what if seventh to these
With goddess-like demeanor forth she went, The planet Earth, so stedfast though she seem,
Not unattended; for on her, as queen,

Insensibly three different motions move ?
A pomp of winning graces waited still,

Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe,
And from about her shot darts of desire
Into all eyes, to wish her still in sight.

Mov’d contrary with thwart obliquities;
j

Or save the Sun his labor, and that swift And Raphael now, to Adam's doubt propos'd, Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb suppos'd, Benevolent and facile thus replied.

Invisible else above all stars, the wheel “To ask or search, I blame thee not; for Heaven of day and night; which needs not thy belief,

i Is as the book of God before thee set,

If Earth, industrious of herself, fetch day
Wherein to read his wondrous works, and learn Travelling east, and with her part averse
His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years: From the Sun's beam meet night, her other part
This to attain, whether Heaven move or Earth, Still luminous by his ray. What if that light,
Imports not, if thou reckon right; the rest Sent from her through the wide transpicuous air,
From man or angel the great Architect

To the terrestrial Moon be as a star,
Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge

Enlightening her by day as she by night His secrets to be scann'd by them who ought This Earth? reciprocal if land be there, Rather admire; or, if they list to try

Fields and inhabitants : her spots thou seest Conjecture, he his fabric of the Heavens

As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produco Hath left to their disputes, perhaps to move

Fruits in her soften'd soil, for some to eat
His laughter at their quaint opinions wide

Allotted there : and other suns perhaps,
Hereafter; when they come to model Heaven With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry
And calculate the stars, how they will wield Communicating male and female light;
The mighty frame; how build, unbuild, contrive Which two great sexes animate the world,
To save appearances; how gird the sphere Stord in each orb perhaps with some that live.
With centric and eccentric scribbled o'er,

For such vast room in Nature un possess'd
Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb:

By living soul, desert, and desolate,
Already by thy reasoning this I guess,

Only to shine, yet scarce to cóntribute
Who art to lead thy offspring, and supposest Each orb a glimpse of light, convey'd so far
That bodies bright and greater should not serve Down to this habitable, which returns
The less not bright, nor Heaven such journeys run, Light back to them, is obvious to dispute.
Earth sitting still, when she alone receives But whether thus these things, or whether not;
The benefit: consider first, that great

Whether the Sun, predominant in Heaven,
Or bright infers not excellence: the Earth,

Rise on the Earth ; or Earth rise on the Sun;
Though, in comparison of Heaven, so small, He from the east his flaming road begin;
Nor glistering, may of solid good contain

Or she from west her silent course advance,

With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps Or enemy, while God was in his work ;
On her soft axle, while she paces even,

Lest he, incens'd at such eruption bold,
And bears thee soft with the smooth air along; Destruction with creatiou might have mix'd.
Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid; Not that they durst without his leave attempt ;
Leave them to God above ; him serve, and fear! But us he sends upon his high behests
Of other creatures, as him pleases best,

For state, as Sovran King; and to inure Wherever plac'd, let him dispose ; joy thou Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut, In what he gives to thee, this Paradise

The dismal gates, and barricado'd strong; And thy fair Eve; Heaven is for thee too high But long ere our approaching heard within To know what passes there ; be lowly wise : Noise, other than the sound of dance or song, Think only what concerns thee, and thy being; Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there Glad we return’d up to the coasts of light Live, in what state, condition, or degree ;

Ere sabbath-evening: so we had in charge. Contented that thus far hath been revealed But thy relation now; for I attend, Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven." Pleas'd with thy words no less than thou with mine.

To whom thus Adam, cleard of doubt, replied. So spake the godlike power, and thus our sire. “ How fully hast thou satistied me, pure

“ For Man to tell how human life began Intelligence of Heaven, angel serene!

Is hard ; for who himself beginning knew? And freed from intricacies, taught to live

Desire with thee still longer to converse The easiest way; nor with perplexing thoughts Induc'd me. As new-wak'd from soundest sleep, To interrupt the sweet of life, from which

Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid, God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares, In balmy sweat ; which with his beams the Sun And not molest us; unless we ourselves

Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions vain. Straight toward Heaven my wondering eyes I But apt the mind or fancy is to rove

turn'd, Uncheck'd, and of her roving is no end;

And gaz'd awhile the ample sky; till, rais'd Till warn’d, or by experience taught, she learn, By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung, That not to know at large of things remote As thitherwird endeavoring, and upright From use, obscure and subtle ; but to know Stood on my feet: about me round I saw That which before us lies in daily life,

Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, Is the prime wisdom: what is more, is fume, And liquid lapse of murmuring streams ; by these, Or emptiness, or fond impertinence :

Creatures that liv'd and mov'd, and walk'd, or flew; And renders us, in things that most concern, Birds on the branches warbling; all things smil'd; Unpractis'd, unprepar'd, and still to seek.

With fragrance and with joy my heart o’erflow'd. Therefore from this high pitch let us descend Myself I then perus'd, and limb by limb A lower flight, and speak of things at hand Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran Useful; whence, haply, mention may arise With supple joints, as lively vigor led : Of something not unseasonable to ask,

But who I was, or where, or from what cause, By sufferance, and thy wonted favor deign'd. Knew not; to speak I tried, and forth with spake; Thee I have heard relating what was done My tongue obey'd, and readily could name Ere my remembrance : now, hear me relate Whate'er I saw. • Thou Sun,' said I, • fair light, My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard ; And thou enlighten'd Earth, so fresh and gay, And day is not yet spent: till then thou seest Ye hills, and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plains, How subtly to detain thee I devise ;

And ye thai live and move, fair creatures, tell, Inviting thee to hear while I relate;

Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here? Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply:

Not of myself;— by some great Maker then,
For, while I sit with thee, I seem in Heaven; In goodness and in power pre-eminent:
And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear

Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst From whom I have that thus I move and live, And hunger both, from labor at the hour

And feel that I am happier than I know.'of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill, While thus I call'd, and stray'd I knew not whither, Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine From where I first drew air, and first beheld Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety.” This happy light; when answer none return'd,

To whom thus Raphael answer'd heavenly meek. On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, “Nor are thy lips ungraceful, sire of men, Pensive I sat me down; there gentle sleep Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee

First found me, and with soft oppression seiz'd Abundantly his gifts hath also pour'd

My drowsed sense, untroubled, though I thought Inward and outward both, his image fair:

I then was passing to my former state Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve: Attends thee; and each word, each motion, forms; When suddenly stood at my head a dream, Nor loss think we in Heaven of thee on Earth Whose inward apparition gently mov'd Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire

My fancy to believe I yet had being, Gladly into the ways of God with Man:

And liv'd: one came, methought, of shape divine, For God, we see, hath honor'd thee, and set And said, “Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise, On Man his equal love : say therefore on; First man, of men innumerable ordain'd For I that day was absent, as befell,

First father! call'd by thee, I come thy guide
Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure,

To the Garden of Bliss, thy seat prepar'd.'
Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell; So saying, by the hand he took me, rais'd,
Squar'd in full legion (such command we had) And over fields and waters, as in air
To see that none thence issued forth a spy, Smooth-sliding without step, last led me up

H

A woody mountain; whose high top was plain, Their language and their ways? They also know,
a circuit wide, inclosd, with goodliest trees And reason not contemptibly: with these
Planted, with walks, and bowers; that what I saw Find pastime, and bear rule: thy realm is large.'
Of Earth before scarce pleasant seem’d. Each tree, So spake the Universal Lord, and seem'd
Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye So ordering: I, with leave of speech implor'd,
Tempting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite

And humble deprecation, thus replied.
To pluck and eat; whereat I wak’d, and found “Let not my words offend thee, Heavenly Power.
Before mine eyes all real, as the dream

My Maker, be propitious while I speak.
Had lively shadow'd : here had new begun Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,
My wandering, had not he, who was my guide And these inferior far beneath me set ?
Up hither, from among the trees appear'd,

Among unequals what society
Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe, Can sort, what harmony, or true delight?
In adoration at his feet I fell

[I am,' Which must be mutual, in proportion due
Submiss: he rear'd me, and · Whom thou sought'st Given and receiv’d; but in disparity
Said mildly, `Author of all this thou seest The one intense, the other still remiss
Above, or round about thee, or beneath.

Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove
This Paradise I give thee, count it thine

Tedious alike: of sellowship I speak To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat:

Such as I seek, fit to participate Of every tree that in the garden grows

All rational delight: wherein the brute Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth : Cannot be human consort: they rejoice But of the tree whose operation brings

Each with their kind, lion with lioness; Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set So fitly them in pairs thou hast combin'd: The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl Amid the garden by the tree of life,

So well converse, nor with the ox the ape; Remember what I warn thee, shun to taste, Worse then can man with beast, and least of all.' And shun the bitter consequence: for know, “ Whereto the Almighty answer'd, not displeas'd. The day thou eat’st thereof, my sole command "A nice and subtle happiness, I see, Transgress’d, inevitably thou shalt die,

Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice From that day mortal; and this happy state Of thy associates, Adam; and wilt taste Shalt lose, expelld from hence into a world No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary. Of woe and sorrow.' Sternly he pronounced What think'st thou then of me, and this my state ? The rigid interdiction, which resounds

Seem I to thee sufficiently possess'd Yet dreadful in mino ear, though in my choice Of happiness, or not? who am alone Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect

From all eternity; for none I know Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renewid. Second to me or like, equal much less. * Not only these fair bounds, but all the Earth How have I then with whom to hold convérse, To thee and to thy race I give; as lords

Save with the creatures which I made, and those Possess it, and all things that therein live,

To me inferior, infinite descents Or live in sea, or air; beast, fish, and fowl. Beneath what other creatures are to thee? In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold He ceas'd ; I lowly answer'd. •To attain After their kinds; I bring them to receive The height and depth of thy eternal ways From thee their names, and pay thee feälty All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things! With low subjection; understand the same Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee Of fish within their watery residence,

Is no deficience found : not so is Man, Not hither summond, since they cannot change But in degree; the cause of his desire Their element, to draw the thinner air.'

By conversation with his like to help, As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold Or solace his defects. No need that thou Approaching two and two; these cowering low Shouldst propagate, already infinite ; With blandishment; each bird stoop'd on his wing. And through all numbers absolute, though one: I nam'd them as they pass’d, and understood But Man by number is to manisest Their nature, with such knowledge God endued His single imperfection, and beget My sudden apprehension : but in these

Like of his like, his image multiplied, I found not what methought I wanted still; In unity defective; which requires And to the heavenly vision thus presum'd. Collateral love, and dearest amity.

"*0, by what name, for thou above all these, Thou in thy secrecy although alone, Above mankind, or aught than mankind higber, Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not Surpassest far my naming; how may I

Social communication ; yet, so pleas'd, Adore thee, Author of this universe,

Canst raise thy creature to what height thou wilt And all this good to Man? for whose well-being Of union or communion, deified : So amply, and with hands so liberal,

I, by conversing, cannot these erect Thou hast provided all things : but with me From prone; nor in their ways complacence find.' I see not who partakes. In solitude

Thus I embolden'd spake, and freedom us'd What happiness, who can enjoy alone,

Permissive, and acceptance found ; which gain'd Or, all enjoying, what contentment find ?

This answer from the gracious voice divine. Thus I presumptuous; and the vision bright, “ • Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleas'd. As with a smile more brightend, thus replied. And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone,

" What call'st thou solitude ? Is not the Earth Which thou hast rightly nam'd, but of thyself; With various living creatures, and the air Expressing well the spirit within thee free, Replenish d, and all these at thy command My image, not imparted to the brute: To come and play before thee? Know'st thou not Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for theo

Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike; And happy constellations, on that hour
And be so minded still: I, ere thou spak'st, Shed their selectest influence; the Earth
Knew it not good for Man to be alone;

Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill;
And no such company as then thou saw'st

Joyous the birds ; fresh gales and gentle airs Intended thee; for trial only brought,

Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings To see how thou couldst judge of fit and meet: Flung rose, flung odors from the spicy shrub, What next I bring shall please thee, be assur'd, Disporting, till the amorous bird of niglit Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,

Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening-star Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire.'

On his hill-top, to light the bridal lamp. “He ended, or I heard no more; for now Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought My earthly by his heavenly overpower'd, My story to the sum of earthly bliss, Which it had long stood under, strain'd to the height/Which I enjoy ; and must confess to find In that celestial colloquy sublime,

In all things else delight indeed, but such As with an object that excels the sense,

As, us'd or not, works in the mind no change Dazzled and spent, sunk down, and sought repair Nor vehement desire : these delicacies Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, call'd I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, By Nature as in aid, and clos'd mine eyes. Walks, and the melody of birds: but here Mine eyes he clos'd, but open left the cell Far otherwise, transported I behold, Of fancy, my internal sight; by which,

Transported touch ; here passion first I felt,
Abstract as in a trance, methought I saw, Commotion strange! in all enjoyments else
Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape Superior and unmov'd; here only weak
Still glorious before whom awake I stood : Against the charm of beauty's powerful glance.
Who stooping open'd my left side, and took Or nature faild in me, and left some part
From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm, Not proof enough such object to sustain ;
And life-blood streaming fresh : wide was the wound, Or, from my side subducting, took perhaps
But suddenly with flesh fill'd up and heal'd : More than enough ; at least on her bestow'd
The rib he form'd and fashion'd with his hands : Too much of ornament, in outward show
Under his forming hands a creature grew,

Elaborate, of inward less exact.
Man-like, but different sex ; so lovely fair, For well I understand in the prime end
That what seem'd fair in all the world, seem'd now Of Nature her the inferior, in the mind
Mean, or in her summ'd up, in her contain'd, And inward faculties, which most excel;
And in her looks; which from that time infus'd In outward also her resembling less
Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before,

His image who made both, and less expressing And into all things from her air inspir'd

The character of that dominion given
The spirit of love and amorous delight.

O'er other creatures : yel when I approach
She disappeard, and left me dark; I wak'd Her loveliness, so absolute she seems
To find her, or for ever to deplore

And in herself complete, so well to know
Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure :

Her own, that what she wills to do or say When out of hope, behold her, not far off,

Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best : Such as I saw her in my dream, adorn'd

All higher knowledge in her presence falls
With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow Degraded; Wisdom in discourse with her
To make her amiable: on she came,

Loses discountenanc'd, and like Folly shows;
Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen, Authority and Reason on her wait,
And guided by his voice; nor uninform'd

As one intended first, not after made
Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites :

Occasionally; and, to consummate all,
Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, Greatness of mind, and Nobleness, their seat
In every gesture dignity and love.

Build in her loveliest, and create an awe
I, overjoy'd, could not forbear aloud.

About her, as a guard angelic plac'd."
“ This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfill'd To whom the angel with contracted brow.
Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign, “ Accuse not Nature, she hath done her part;
Giver of all things fair! but fairest this

Do thou but thine; and be not diffident
Of all thy gifts ! nor enviest. I now see

Of Wisdom; she deserts thee not, if thou Bone of my bone, Alesh of my flesh, myself Dismiss not her, when most thou need'st her nigh, Before me: woman is her name; of man By attributing over-much to things Extracted : for this cause he shall forego

Less excellent, as thou thyself perceiv'st. Father and mother, and to his wife adhere; For, what admirst thou, what transports thee so, And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul.' An outside? fair, no doubt, and worthy well

“She heard me thus; and though divinely brought, Thy cherishing, thy honoring, and thy love ; Yet innocence, and virgin modesty,

Not thy subjection; weigh with her thyself; Her virtue, and

conscien

her worth, Then value: oft-times nothing profits more That would be woo'd, and not unsought be won, Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right Not obvious, not obtrusive, but, retir'd,

Well-manag'd; of that skill the more thou know'st, The more desirable; or, to say all

The more she will acknowledge thee her head, Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought, And to realities yield all her shows : Wrought in her so, that, seeing me, she turn'd : Made so adorn for thy delight the more, I followed her; she what was honor knew, So awful, that with honor thou may'st love And with obsequious majesty approv'd

Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind I led her blushing like the morn: all Heaven, propagated, seem such dear delight

Y

Beyond all other; think the same vouchsaf'd With grateful memory: thou to mankind
To cattle and each beast; which would not be Be good and friendly still, and oft return!"
To them made common and divulg'd, if aught So parted they ; the angel up to Heaven
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue

From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower.
The soul of man, or passion in him inove.
What higher in her society thou find'st
Attractive, human, rational, love still;

BOOK IX. In loving thou dost well, in passion not,

THE ARGUMENT. Wherein true love consists not: Love refines The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his seat Satan, having compassed the Earth, with meditated In reason, and is judicious; is the scale

guile returns, as a mist, by night into Paradise ; By which to heavenly love thou may'st ascend, enters into the serpent sleeping. Adam and Eve Not sunk in carnal pleasure ; for which cause, in the morning go forth to their labors, which Among the beasts no mate for thee was found.” Eve proposes to divide in several places, each

To whom thus, half abash'd, Adam replied. laboring apart: Adam consents not, alleging the “ Neither her outside form'd so fair, nor aught danger, lest that enemy, of whom they were In procreation common to all kinds,

forewarned, should attempt her found alone : (Though higher of the genial bed by far,

Eve, loth to be thought not circumspect or firm And with mysterious reverence I deem,)

enough, urges her going apart, the rather desirous So much delights me, as those graceful acts,

to make trial of her strength ; Adam at last Those thousand decencies, that daily flow

yields : the serpent finds her alone ; his subtle From all her words and actions mix'd with love approach, first gazing, then speaking ; with much And sweet coinpliance, which declare unseign'd Aattery extolling Eve above all other creatures. Union of mind, or in us both one soul;

Eve, wondering to hear the serpent speak, asks Harmony to behold in wedded pair

how he attained to human speech, and such unMore grateful than harmonious sound to the ear. derstanding, not till now; the serpent answers, Yet these subject not: I to thee disclose

that by tasting of a certain tree in the garden he What inward thence I feel, not therefore foil'd attained both to speech and reason, till then void Who meet with various objects, from the sense of both: Eve requires him to bring her to that Variously representing: yet, still free,

tree, and finds it to be the tree of knowledge Approve the best, and follow what I approve. forbidden: the serpent, now grown bolder, with To love, thou blam'st me not; for Love, thou say'st, many wiles and arguments, induces her at length Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide ; to eat; she, pleased with the taste, deliberates a Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask:

while whether to impart thereof 10 Adam or not; Love not the heavenly spirits, and how their love at last brings him of the fruit; relates what perExpress they ? by looks only? or do they mix suaded her to eat thereof: Adam, at first amazed, Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?”

but perceiving her lost, resolves, through veTo whom the angel, with a smile that glow'd hemence of love, to perish with her: and, ex. Celestial rosy red, Love's proper hue,

tenuating the trespass, eats also of the fruit: the Answered : Let it suffice thee that thou know'st effects thereof in them both ; they seek to cover Us happy, and without love no happiness.

their nakedness ; then fall to variance and acWhatever pure thou in the body enjoy'st,

cusation of one another. (And pure thou wert created) we enjoy In eminence; and obstacle find none

No more of talk where God or angel guest Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars ; With Man, as with his friend, familiar usd Easier than air with air, if spirits embrace, To sit indulgent, and with him partake Total they mix, union of pure with pure

Rural repast; permitting him the while Desiring; nor restrain'd conveyance need,

Venial discourse unblam’d. I now must change As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul. Those notes to tragic; foul distrust, and breach But I can now no more; the parting Sun

Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt
Beyond the Earth's green cape and verdant isles And disobedience : on the part of Heaven
Hesperian sets, my signal to depart.

Now alienated, distance and distaste,
Be strong, live happy, and love! but, first of all, Anger and just rebuke, and judgment given,
Him, whom to love is to obey, and keep

That brought into this world a world of woe,
His great command : take heed lest passion sway Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery
Thy judgment to do aught, which else free will Death's harbinger: sad task, yet argument
Would not admit: thine, and of all thy sons, Not less but more heroic than the wrath
The weal or woe in thee is plac'd; beware! Of stern Achilles on his foe pursued
I in thy persevering shall rejoice,

Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; or rage
And all the blest : stand fast ; to stand or fall Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous'd ;
Free in thine own arbitrement it lies.

Or Neptune's ire, or Juno's, that so long
Perfect within, no outward aid require ;

Perplex'd the Greek, and Cytherea's son ; And all temptation to transgress repel.”

If answerable style I can obtain So saying, he arose ; whom Adam thus

Of my celestial patroness, who deigns
Follow'd with benediction. “Since to part, Her nightly visitation unimplor’d,
Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger,

And dictates to me slumbering; or inspires
Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore ! Easy my unpremeditated verse :
Gentle to me and affable hath been

Since first this subject for heroic song
Thy condescension, and shall be honor'd ever Pleas'd me long choosing, and beginning late ;