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, Unpractic'd, unprepar'd, and ftill to seek. Therefore from this high pitch let us descend A lower flight, and speak of things at hand, Useful, whence haply mention may arife Of fomething not unfeasonable to ask, By fufferance, and thy wonted favor deign'd. Thee I have heard relating what was done
my remembrance: now hear me relate My story, which perhaps thou haft not heard; 205 And day is yet not spent; till then thou seest
How fubtly to detain thee I devise,
Inviting thee to hear while I relate,
Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply: For while I fit with thee, I seem in Heaven, And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear, Than fruits of palm-tree, pleasantest to thirst And hunger both, from labor, at the hour Of sweet repaft; they fatiate, and foon fill Though pleasant, but thy words, with grace divine Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety.
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 comeliness and grace Attends thee, and each word, each motion forms; Nor less think we, in Heav'n,of thee on Earth, Than of our fellow fervant; and inquire Gladly into the ways of God with Man: For God we fee hath honor'd thee, and fet On Man his equal love: fay therefore on; For I that day was absent, as befel, Bound on a voyage, uncouth and obfcure, Far on excurfion toward the gates of Hell; Squar'd in full legion, (such command we had) To see that none thence issued forth a spy, Or enemy, while God was in his work, Left he, incens'd at fuch eruption bold, Destruction with creation might have mix'd. Not that they durft without his leave attempt; But us he fends upon his high behefts
For ftate, as Sovran King, and to inure
Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut 240 The dismal gates, and barricado'd strong; But long ere our approaching heard within Noife, other than the found of dance or fong, Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage.
Glad we return'd up to the coafts of light
Ere fabbath evening: so we had in charge. But thy relation now; for I attend,
Pleas'd with thy words no less than thou with mine.
So fpake the Godlike Pow'r, and thus our fire. 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 soundest sleep Soft on the flow'ry herb I found me laid
In balmy sweat, which with his beams the fun 255 Soon dry'd, and on the reaking moisture fed. Strait toward Heav'n my wond'ring eyes I turn'd, And gaz'd a while the ample sky, till rais'd, By quick inftinctive motion,up I sprung, As thitherward endevoring, and upright Stood on my feet; about me round I faw Hill, dale, and fhady woods, and funny plains, And liquid lapse of murm'ring ftreams; by thefe, Creatures that liv'd,and mov'd, and walk'd, or flew, Birds on the branches warbling; all things fmil'd; 265 With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflow'd. Myself I then perus'd, and limb by limb
Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran With fupple joints, as lively vigor led:
But who I was, or where, or from what cause, 270 Knew not; to speak I try'd, and forthwith fpake; My tongue obey'd, and readily could name Whate'er I faw. Thou Sun, faid I, fair light,
And thou inlighten'd Earth, fo 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 faw, how came I thus, how here? Not of myself; by fome great maker then, In goodness and in pow'r 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, 285 On a green shady bank,profuse of flowers, Penfive I fat me down; there gentle fleep First found me, and with foft oppreffion feis'd My droused sense, untroubled, though I thought I then was paffing to my former state Infenfible, and forthwith to diffolve:
When fuddenly stood at my head a dream, Whose inward apparition gently mov'd
My fancy to believe I yet had being,
And liv'd: One came, methought, of shape divine, 295 And faid, Thy mansion wants thee, Adam, rise, First Man, of men innumerable ordain'd Firft 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 air K k
Smooth fliding without flep, last led me up A woody mountain; whose high top was plain, A circuit wide, inclos'd, with goodliest trees Planted, with walks, and bow'rs, that what I faw 305 Of earth before scarce pleasant seem'd. Each tree Loaden with fairest fruit, that hung to th' 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 shadow'd: Here had new begun My wand'ring, had not he who was my guide Up hither, from among the trees appear'd, Prefence divine. Rejoicing, but with awe,
In adoration at his feet I fell
Submifs: he rear'd me, and Whom thou fought'ft I am, Said mildly, Author of all this thou seest
Above, or round about thee, or beneath.
This Paradise I give thee, count it thine
To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat: 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 set 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 fhun the bitter confequence: for know, The day thou eat'st thereof, my fole command
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