ARGUMENT of Book V.

Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her; they come forth to their day-labours: their morning-hymn at the door of their bower. God, to render man inexcufable, fends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his free eftate, of his enemy near at hand, who he is, and why his enemy, and whatever else may avail Adam to know. Raphael comes down to Paradife, his appearance defcribed, his coming difcerned by Adam afar off fitting at the door of his bower; he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choiceft fruits of Paradife got together by Eve; their difcourfe at table: Raphael performs his message, minds Adam of his flate and of his enemy; relates, at Adam's requeft, who that enemy is, and how he came to be fo, beginning from his firft revolt in heaven, and the occafion thereof; how he drew his legions after him to the parts of the north, and there incited them to rebel with him, perfuading all but only Abdiel a Seraph, who in argument diffuades and opposes him, then forfakes bim.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK V.

NOW

OW Morn, her rofy fteps in th' eastern clime Advancing, fow'd the earth with orient pearl, When Adam wak'd: fo cuftom'd; for his fleep Was airy light from pure digeftion bred,

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And temp'rate vapours bland, which th' only found 5
Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan,
Lightly difpers'd, and the fhirll matin fong
Of birds on every bough; so much the more
His wonder was to find unwaken'd Eve
With treffes difcompos'd, and glowing cheek,
As through unquiet rest: he, on his fide
Leaning half rais'd, with looks of cordial love
Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld
Beauty, which, whether waking or afleep,
Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice
Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes,
Her hand foft touching, whisper'd thus. Awake,
My faireft, my efpous'd, my latest found,
Heav'n's last best gift, my ever-new delight,
Awake: the morning fhines, and the fresh field
Calls us; we lofe the prime, to mark how fpring
Our tended plants, how blows the citron grove,
What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed,
How nature paints her colours, how the bee

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Sits on the bloom extracting liquid fweet.
Such whifp'ring wak'd her, but with startled eye
On Adam; whom embracing, thus fhe spake.

O fole in whom my thoughts find all repefe,
My glory, my perfection, glad I fee
Thy face, and morn return'd; for I this night
(Such night till this I never pass'd) have dream'd,
If dream'd, not, as I oft am wont, of thee,
Works of day past, or morrow's next defign;
But of offence and trouble, which my mind
Knew never till this irkfome night: methought
Clofe at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk
With gentle voice; I thought it thine: it faid,
Why fleepest thou Eve? now is the pleasant time,
The cool, the filent, fave where filence yields
To the night-warbling bird, that now awake
Tunes fweetest his love-labour'd fong; now reigns
Full orb'd the moon, and with more pleafing light
Shadowy fets off the face of things; in vain,
If none regard: heaven wakes with all his eyes;
Whom to behold but thee, Nature's defire?
In whofe fight all things joy, with ravishment
Attracted by thy beauty ftill to gaze.

I rofe as at thy call, but found thee not;
To find thee I directed then my walk;

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And on, methought, alone I pafs'd, through ways 50
That brought me on a fudden to the tree
Of interdicted knowledge: fair it feem'd,
Much fairer to my fancy than by day :
And as I wond'ring look'd, beside it stood
One fhap'd and wing'd like one of those from heav'n
By us oft feen; his dewy locks distill'd

Ambrofia; on that tree he also gaz'd;

And O fair plant, faid he, with fruit furcharg'd,
Deigns none to eafe thy load, and tafle thy fweet,

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Nor God, nor man? Is knowledge fo defpis'd?
Or envy', or what reserve forbids to taste?
Forbid who will, none fhall from me withhold
Longer thy offer'd good; why elfe fet here?
This faid, he paus'd not, but with vent'rous arm
He pluck'd, he tafted: me damp horrour chill'd 65
At fuch bold words vouch'd with a deed fo bold.
But he thus overjoy'd, O fruit divine,

Sweet of thyfelf, but much more sweet thus cropt,
Forbidden here, it feems, as only fit

For gods, yet able to make gods of men:

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And why not gods of men, fince good, the more
Communicated, more abundant grows,
The author not impair'd, but honour'd more ?
Here, happy creature, fair angelic Eve,
Partake thou alfo; happy though thou art,
Happier thou mayft be, worthier canst not be:
Taste this, and be henceforth among the gods
Thyfelf a goddefs, not to earth confin'd,
But fometimes in the air, as we; fometimes
Afcend to heaven, by merit thine, and fee
What life the gods live there, and fuch live thou.
So faying, he drew nigh, and to me held,
Ev'n to my mouth, of that fame fruit held part
Which he had pluck'd; the pleasant favoury smell
So quicken'd appetite, that I, methought, 85
Could not but tafte. Forthwith up to the clouds
With him I flew, and underneath beheld
The earth outstretch'd immenfe, a profpect wide
And various wond'ring at my flight and change
To this high exaltation; fuddenly

My guide was gone, and I, methought, funk down,
And fell asleep: but O how glad I wak'd,

To find this but a dream: Thus Eve her night
Related, and thus Adam anfwer'd fad.

R

Beft image of myfelf, and dearer half,
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in fleep
Affects me equally; nor can I like
This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear:
Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none,
Created pure. But know, that in the foul
Are many leffer faculties, that ferve
Reason as chief: among these Fancy next
Her office holds; of all external things,
Which the five watchful fenfes reprefent,
She forms imaginations, airy fhapes,
Which reafon joining or disjoining frames
All what we' affirm, or what deny, and call
Our knowledge or opinion; then retires
Into her private cell, when nature rests.
Oft in her abfence mimic Fancy wakes
To imitate her; but misjoining shapes,
Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams,
Ill matching words and deeds long paft or late.
Some fuch refemblances, methinks, I find
Of our laft evening's talk, in this thy dream,
But with addition strange; yet be not fad.
Evil into the mind of God or man

May come and go, fo unapprov'd, and leave
No fpot or blame behind: which gives me hope
That what in fleep thou didst abhor to dream,
Waking thou never wilt consent to do.

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Be not dishearten'd then, nor cloud those looks,
That wont to be more cheerful and serene,
Than when fair morning first smiles on the world;
And let us to our fresh employments rise,
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Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers
That open now their choicest bosom'd smells,
Referv'd from night, and kept for thee in ftore.