Sways them; the careful plowman doubting Itands,
Left on the threshing-foor his hopeful fheaves
Prove chaff. On t'other fide, Satan alarm’d, 985
Collecting all his might, dilated stood,
Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd :
His ftature reach'd the sky, and on his crest
Sat horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grasp
What feem'd both spear and thield. Now dreadful deeds
Might have enfu'd, nor only Paradise

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In this commotion, but the ftarry cope
Of heav'n perhaps, or all the elements
At least had gone to wreck, disturb’d and torn
With violence of this conflict, had not foon

995 Th’ Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, Hung forth in heav'n his golden scales, yet feen Betwixt Aftrea and the scorpion fign, Wherein all things created first he weigh'd, The pendulous round earth with balanc'd air la counterpoise, now ponders all events, Battles and realms: in these he put two weights, The sequel each of parting and of fight; The latter quick up-flew and kick'd the beam; Which Gabriel spying thus bespake the fiund. 1005

Satan, I know thy ftrength, and thou know'lt mine, Neither our own but giv'n; what folly then To boast what arms can do? since thine no more Than heav'n permits, nor mine, tho' doubled now To trample thee as mire : for proof look up, IOIO And read thy lot in yon celestial fign, (weak, Where thou art weigh'd, and show'n how light, how If thou resist. The find look'd up, and knew His mounted scale aloft; nor-more, but ited Murm'ring, and with him fied the shades of night. 1015

END of the FOURTH Book.

ARGUARGUMENT 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 estate, 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 Paradise, his appearance described, lis coming difcerned by Adam afar of Atting at the door of his bouer; be goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choiceft fruits of Paradise got together by Eve; their discourse at table : Raphael pere forms his melage, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy; relates, at Adam's request, who that enenry is, and how he came to be so, beginning from his first revolt in heaven, and the occasion thereof; how he drew his legions after him to the parts of the north, and there incited shem to rebel with him, persuading all but only Abdiel a seraph, whoin argument disuades and opposes him, then for fakes him.

"PARADISE

PARADISE LOS T.

в о о к

V.

NO

10

OW Morn, her rosy steps in th'eastern clime

Advancing, fow'd the earth with orient pearl, When Adam wak’d; so custom’d, for his sleep Was aery light from pure digestion bred, And temp'rate vapours bland, which th'only found 5 Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, Lightly difpers’d, and the shrill matin song Of birds on ev'ry bough; fo much the more His wonder was to find unwaken'd Eve With treffes discompos'd and glowing cheek, As through unquiet rest: he, on his side 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

15 Mild as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, Her hand soft touching, whisper'd thus. Awake, My fairelt, my espous'd, my latest found, Heav'n's last best gift, my ever-new delight, Awake; the morning shines, and the fresh field 20 Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring 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

Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet. 25

Such whisp'ring wak'd her, but with startled eye On Adam, whom embracing, thus the fpake.

O fole in whom my thoughts find all repose, My glory, my perfection, glad I see Thy face, and morn return'd; for I this night 30 (Such night till this I never pais’d) have dream'd, If dream'd, not, as I oft am wont, of thee Works of day past, or morrow's next design ; -But of offence and trouble, which my mind Knew never till this irksome night: methought 35 Close at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk With gentle voice, I thought it thine; it said, Why sleep'st thou Eve? now is the pleasant time, The cool, the filent, fave where filence yields To the night-warbling bird, that now awake 40 Tunes sweetest his love-labour'd song; now reigns Full-orb’d the moon, and with more pleasing light Shadowy sets off the face of things; in vain, If none regard: heav'n wakes with all his eyes; Whom to behold but thee, Nature's desire? 45 In whose fight all things joy, with ravishment Attracted by the beauty still to gaze. I rose as at thy call, but found thee not; To find thee I directed then my walk; And on, methought, alone I pafs'd, thro' ways 50 That brought me on a sudden to the tree Of interdicted knowledge : fair it seem'd, Much fairer to my fancy than by day: And as I wond'ring look'd, beside it stood One Chap'd and wing'd like one of those from heav'n By us oft feen; his dewy locks diftilld. Ambrofia; on that tree he also gaz’d; And, O fair plant, said he, with fruit surcharg’d, Deigns none to ease thy load and taste thy sweet,

56

Nor

Nor God, nor man? Is knowledge so despis'd ? 60
Or envy', or what reserve forbids to taste ?
Forbid who will, none shall from me with told
Longer thy offer'd good; why else set here?
This said, he paus'ü not, but with vent'rous arm
He pluck'd, he tasted: me damp horror chill'd 65
At such bold words vouch'd with a deed fo bold :
But he thus overjoy'd, O fruit divine,
Sweet of thyself, but much more fweet thus cropt,
Forbidden here, it seems, 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 also; happy though thou art,

75 Happier thou may'lt be, worthier canst not be: Taste this, and be henceforth among the gods Thyself a goddefs, not to earth confin'd, But fometimes in the air, as we; fometimes Afcend to heaven, by merit-thine, and see What life the gods live there, and such live thou., So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held, Ev'n to my mouth of that fame fruit held part Which he had pluck'd; the pleafant favoury smell So quicken'd appetite, that I, methought,

85 Could not but talte. Furthwith up to the clouds With him I few, and underneath beheld The earth out-stretch'd immense, a prospect wide And various : wond'ring at my flight and change To this high exaltation ; suddenly

90 My guide was gone, and I, méthought, 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 answer'd fad.

80