Sways them; the careful plowman doubting ftands, Left on the threfhing-floor his hopeful theaves

Prove chaff.

On t'other fide, Satan alarm'd, 985

Collecting all his might, dilated flood,

Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd:

His ftature reach'd the fky, and on his crest

Sat horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grasp

What feem'd both spear and shield. Now dreadful deeds Might have enfu'd, nor only Paradife

991

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 fuch horrid fray,

Hung forth in heav'n his golden fcales, yet feen
Betwixt Aftrea and the fcorpion fign,

Wherein all things created first he weigh'd,

The pendulous round earth with balanc'd air 100
In counterpoife, now ponders all events,
Battles and realms: in thefe he put two weights,
The fequel each of parting and of fight;

The latter quick up flew and kick'd the beam;
Which Gabriel fpying thus befpake the find. 1005
Satan, I know thy ftrength, and thou know'ft mine,
Neither our own but giv'n; what folly then
To boast what arms can do? fince thine no more
Than heav'n permits, nor mine, tho' doubled now
To trample thee as mire: for proof look up,
And read thy lot in yon celeftial fign,

1010

[ weak,

Where thou art weigh'd, and fhow'n how light, how If thou refift. The find look'd up, and knew

His mounted fcale aloft; nor more, but fled Murm'ring, and with him fled the fhades of night. 1015

END of the FOURTH BOOK.

ARGU

ARGUMENT of Book V.

Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublefame 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; be 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 peri forms his meage, minds Adam of his ftate and of his enemy; relates, at Adam's request, who that enemy is, and how he came to be fo, beginning from his first 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 feraph, who in argument diffuades and oppofes him, then forfakes him.

PARADISE

PARADISE LOS T.

BOOK

V.

NOW

WOW Morn, her rofy fteps in th' eaftern clime Advancing, fow'd the earth with orient pearl, When Adam wak'd; fo custom'd, for his fleep Was aery light from pure digeftion bred,

10

And temp'rate vapours bland, which th' only found s
Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan,
Lightly difpers'd, and the fhrill matin fong
Of birds on ev'ry bough; fo much the more
His wonder was to find unwaken'd Eve
With treffes difcompos'd and glowing cheek,
As through unquiet reft: 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 laft beft gift, my ever-new delight,
Awake; the morning fhines, and the fresh field
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

15

20

25

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

30

O fole in whom my thoughts find all repofe,
My glory, my perfection, glad I fee
Thy face, and morn return'd; for I this night
(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 paft, or morrow's next defign;
-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 faid,
Why fleep'st thou Eve? now is the pleasant time,
The cool, the filent, fave where filence yields
To the night-warbling hird, that now awake
Tunes sweetest his love-labour'd fong; now reigns
Full-orb'd the moon, and with more pleasing light
Shadowy fets off the face of things; in vain,
If none regard: heav'n 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;

40

45

And on, methought, alone I pafs'd, thro' 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, befide it flood

One fhap'd and wing'd like one of those from heav'n
By us oft feen; his dewy locks diftill'd.

Ambrofia; on that tree he also gaz'd;

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

56.

Nor

Nor God, nor man? Is knowledge fo defpis'd? 60
Or envy', or what referve forbids to taste ?
Forbid who will, none fhall from me with hold
Longer thy offer'd good; why else set here?
This faid, he paus'd not, but with vent'rous arm
He pluck'd, he tafted: me damp horror chill'd 65
At fuch 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 feems, as only fit

For gods, yet able to make gods of men :

70

75

80

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 may't be, worthier canst not be:
Tafte this, and be henceforth among the gods
Thyself a goddess, 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 finell
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 out-ftretch'd immenfe, a profpect wide
And various: wond'ring at my flight and change
To this high exaltation; fuddenly

90

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.