Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

To interrupt the sweet of life, from which
God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares,
And not molest us, unless we our selves

185

Seek them with wand'ring thoughts, and notions vain. But apt the mind or fancy is to rove

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

195

Till warn'd, or by experience taught, she learn, 190
That not to know at large of things remote
From use, obscure and subtle, but to know
That which before us lies in daily life,
Is the prime wisdom; what is more, is fume,
Or emptiness, or fond impertinence,
And renders us in things that most concern
Unpractis'd, unprepar'd, and still to seek.
Therefore from this high pitch let us descend
A lower flight, and speak of things at hand
Useful, whence haply mention may arise
Of something not unseasonable to ask
By sufferance, and thy wonted favour deign'd.
Thee I have heard relating what was done

Ere
my remembrance: now hear me relate
My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard;
And day is not yet spent; till then thou seest
How subtly to detain thee I devise,

Inviting thee to hear while I relate,

Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply:

200

205

For while I sit with thee, I seem in heaven,
And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear

210

211 sweeter] Stilling fleet refers to Homer's Od. iv. 694, and Newton

to Virg. Ecl. v. 45.

Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst
And hunger both, from labour, at the hour
Of sweet repast: they satiate, and soon fill,
Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine
Imbu'd, bring to their sweetness no satiety.

216

220

225

To whom thus Raphael answer'd heavenly 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 comeliness and grace Attends thee, and each word, each motion forms. Nor less think we in heaven of thee on earth, Than of our fellow servant, and inquire Gladly into the ways of GOD with man: For GOD we see hath honour'd thee, and set On man his equal love. Say therefore on; For I that day was absent, as befell, Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, Far on excursion toward the gates of hell, Squar'd in full legion, (such command we had,) To see that none thence issu'd forth a spy, Or enemy, while GOD was in his work, Lest he, incens'd at such eruption bold, Destruction with creation might have mix'd. Not that they durst without his leave attempt,

216 bring] See Dante Il Purgator. c. xxxi. v. 128. 'L' anima mia gustava di quel cibo,

Che saziando di se di se asseta.'

229 For I] How then could he relate the creation? Bentl. MS.

230

235

But us he sends upon his high behests

For state, as Sov'reign King, and to enure
Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut
The dismal gates, and barricado'd strong;
But long ere our approaching heard within
Noise, other than the sound of dance or song,
Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage.
Glad we return'd up to the coast of light
Ere sabbath evening: so we had in charge.
But thy relation now; for I attend,

241

245

Pleas'd with thy words, no less than thou with mine.
So spake the godlike power, and thus our sire.
For man to tell how human life began

Is hard; for who himself beginning knew?
Desire with thee still longer to converse
Induc'd me. As new wak'd from soundest sleep
Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid,

250

255

In balmy sweat, which with his beams the sun
Soon dry'd, and on the reeking moisture fed.
Straight toward heaven my wond'ring eyes I turn'd,
And gaz'd a while the ample sky, till rais'd
By quick instinctive motion up I sprung,
As thitherward endeavouring, and upright
Stood on my feet about me round I saw
Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains,
And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these
Creatures that liv'd, and mov'd, and walk'd, or flew ;

258 ample] at th' azure. Bentl. MS.

260

263 liquid lapse] 'Prope fontis adlapsum.' v. Apulei Metam. v. p. 141. ed. Delph.

Birds on the branches warbling; all things smil'd, With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflow'd. 266 Myself I then perus'd, and limb by limb

270

Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran
With supple joints, as lively vigour led:
But who I was, or where, or from what cause,
Knew not to speak I try'd, and forthwith spake;
My tongue obey'd, and readily could name
Whate'er I saw. Thou sun, said I, fair light,
And thou enlighten'd earth, so fresh and gay,
Ye hills and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plains, 275
And ye that live and move, fair creatures, tell,
Tell, if ye saw, how came I thus, how here?
Not of my self, by some 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 air, and first beheld
This happy light, when answer none return'd,

265 smil'd] Tonson's ed. 1727, prints the passage thus,
all things smil'd

With fragrance; and with joy my heart o'erflow'd.'

280

285

Bentley's edition and others followed the same punctuation: but Milton's own edition does not support it.

269 as] the second edition reads and lively,' which Newton conceives to be an error of the press.

272 name] Warburton has pointed out a contradiction between this passage and ver. 352. In the first, Adam says he could name what he saw before he got into Paradise; in the latter, that God gave him the ability when the beasts came to him in Paradise.

On a green shady bank profuse of flow'rs
Pensive I sat me down; there gentle sleep
First found me, and with soft oppression seiz'd
My droused sense, untroubled, though I thought
I then was passing to my former state
Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve:
When suddenly stood at my head a dream,
Whose inward apparition gently mov'd

My fancy to believe I yet had being,

290

300

304

And liv'd: one came, methought, of shape divine, 295
And said, Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise,
First man, of men innumerable ordain'd
First father! call'd by thee, I come thy guide
To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepar'd.
So saying, by the hand he took me rais'd,
And over fields and waters, as in air
Smooth sliding without step, last led me up
A woody mountain; whose high top was plain,
A circuit wide, enclos'd, with goodliest trees
Planted, with walks, and bowers, that what I saw
Of earth before scarce pleasant seem'd. Each tree
Loaden with fairest fruit, that hung to the eye
Tempting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite
To pluck and eat; whereat I wak'd, and found
Before mine eyes all real, as the dream
Had lively shadow'd: here had new begun
My wand'ring, had not he, who was my guide.
Up hither, from among the trees appear'd,
Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe,
In adoration at his feet I fell

310

315

« AnteriorContinuar »