For while I fit with thee, I feem in Heav'n, 210
And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear
Than Fruits of Palm-tree pleasantest to thirft
And hunger both, from labour, at the hour
Of sweet repaft; they fatiate, and soon fill,
Tho' pleafant, but thy words with Grace Divine 215
Imbu❜d, bring to their sweetness no fatiety.
To whom thus Raphael answer'd heav'nly meek. Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire 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 comlinefs 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 ways of God and Man: For God we fee hath honour'd thee, and fet On Man his Equal Love: fay therefore on; For I that Day was abfent, as befel, Bound on a voyage uncouth and obfcure, Far on excurfion toward the Gates of Hell; Squar'd in full Legion (fuch command we had) To fee that none thence iffu'd forth a spy,
Or enemy, while God was in his work,
Left he incenft at fuch eruption bold,
Deftruction with Creation might have mixt.
Not that they durft without his leave attempt,
But us he fends upon his high hehefts
For flate, as Sov'reigu King, and to enure
Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut
The difmal Gates, and barricado'd strong;
But long e'er our approaching heard within
Noise, 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
E'er Sabbath Eev'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 Sire.
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'd from foundest sleep
Soft on the floury herb I found me laid
In Balmy Sweat, which with his Beams the Sun 255
Soon dry'd, and on the reaking moisture fed.
Strait toward Heav'n my wondring Eyes I turn'd,
And gaz'd a while the ample Sky, till rais'd
By quick instinctive motion up I fprung,
As thither ward endeavouring, and upright
Stood on my feet; about me round 1 faw
Hill, Dale, and shady Woods, and funny Plains,
And liquid Lapse of murmuring Streams; by these
Creatures that liv'd, and mov'd, and walk'd, or flew,
Birds on the branches warbling; all things smil'd, 265
With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflow'd.
My felf I then perus'd, and Limb by Linib
Survey'd, and fometimes went, and fometimes ran
With supple joints and lively vigour led:
But who I was, or where, or from what cause, 270
Knew not; to speak I try'd, and forthwith spake,
My Tongue obey'd and readily could name
What e'er I saw. Thou Sun, faid I, fair Light,
And thou enlighten'd Earth, fo fresh and gay,
Ye Hills, and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plains,
And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell, 276
Tell, if ye faw, how came I thus, how here?
Not of my felf; by fome great Maker then,
In goodness and in power præeminent ;
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 stray'd I knew not whither,
From where I first drew Aire, and first beheld
This happy Light, when answer none return'd, 285
On a green shady Bank profuse of Flours
Penfive I fate me down; there gentle fleep
First found me, and with foft oppreffion feis'd
My droufed fenfe, untroubl'd, though I thought
I then was paffing to my former ftate
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
First Man, of Men innumerable ordain'd
First 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 Aire
Smooth fliding without ftep, laft led me up
A woody Mountain; whofe high top was plain,
A Circuit wide, enclos'd, with goodlieft Trees 304
Planted, with Walks, and Bowers, that what I faw
Of Earth before scarce pleasant feem'd. Each Tree
Load'n with fairest Fruit that hung to the Eye
Tempting, ftirr'd in me fudden appetite
To pluck and eat; whereat I wak'd and found
Before mine Eyes all real, as the dream
Had lively fhadow'd: Here had new begun.
My wandring, had not he who was my Guide
Up hither, from among the Trees appear'd
Prefence Divine. Rejoycing, but with awe
In adoration at his feet I fell
Submifs: he rear'd me, and whom thou foughtft I am,
Said mildly, Author of all this thou feeft
Above, or round about thee or beneath.
This Paradife I give thee, count it thine
To Till and keep, and of the Fruit to eat : 320 Of every Tree that in the Garden grows
Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth:
But of the Tree whofe operation brings
Knowledge of good and ill, which I have fet
The Pledge of thy Obedience and thy Faith,
Amid the Garden by the Tree of Life,
Remember what I warn thee, fhun to tafte
And shun the bitter confequence, for know,
The day thou eat'ft thereof, my fole command.
Tranfgreft, inevitably thou shalt die;
From that day mortal, and this happy State
Shalt lofe, expell'd from hence into a World
Of woe and forrow. Sternly he pronounc'd
The rigid interdiction, which resounds
Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice 335
Not to incur; but foon his clear afpect
Return'd and gracious purpose thus renew'd.
Not only thefe 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 Sea, or Aire, Beast, Fish, and Fowle.
In fign whereof each Bird and Beaft behold
After their kinds; I bring them to receive
From thee their Names, and pay thee fealty
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 Aire.
As thus he fpake, each Bird and Beast behold
Approaching two and two, Thefe cowring low 350
With blandishment, each Bird ftoop'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
1 found not what me thought I wanted ftill; 355 And to the Heav'nly vision thus presum’d.
O by what Name, for thou above all these, Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher, Surpaffeft far my naming, how may I
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