For while I fit with thee, I feem in Heav'n, 210 And sweeter thy difcourfe is to my ear
Than Fruits of Palm-tree pleasantest to thirst And hunger both, from labour, at the hour Of sweet repaft; they fatiate, and foon fill, Tho' pleasant, 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 alfo 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 (such command we had) To fee that none thence iffi'd forth a spy, Or enemy, while God was in his work, Left he incenft at fuch eruption boid, Deftruction with Creation might have mixt. Not that they durft without his leave attempt, Put us he fends upon his high hehefts
fate, as Sov'reign King, and to enure.
Our prompt obedience. Faft we found, fast shut
The dismal Gates, and barricado'd strong;
But long e'er our approaching heard within
Noife, 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 converfe
Induc'd me. As new wak'd from foundest fleep
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 inftinctive motion up I sprung,
As thitherward endeavouring, and upright
Stood on my feet; about me round I faw
Hill, Dale, and fhady Woods, and funny Plains,
And liquid Lapfe of murmuring Streams; by these
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.
My felf I then perus'd, and Limb by Limb
Survey'd, and fometimes went, and fometimes par
With fupple 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 faw. 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 itray'd I knew not whither,
From where I firft drew Aire, and firft beheld
This happy Light, when answer none return'd, 285
On a green fhady Bank profuse of Flours
Penfive I fate me down; there gentle fleep
First found me, and with soft oppreffion feis'd
My droused fenfe, untroubl'd, though I thought
I then was paffing to my former state
Infenfible, and forthwith to diffolve:
When fuddenly ftood 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 step, last 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 seem'd. Each Tree
Load'n with faireft 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 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:
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 thun the bitter confequence, for know,
The day thou eat'ft thereof, my fole command
Tranfgreft, inevitably thou fhalt 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 these fair bounds, but all the Earth
To thee and to thy Race I give; as Lords
Poffefs it, and all things that there in live,
Or live in Sea, or Aire, Beaft, 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 Beaft behold
Approaching two and two, Thefe cowring low 350
With blandifhment, each Bird ftoop'd on his wing.
I nam'd them, as they pafs'd, and understood
Their Nature, with fuch knowledge God endu'd
My fudden apprehenfion: but in these
I 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 thefe, Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher, Surpaffeft far my naming, how may I
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