Here let us live, though in fall'n ftate, con So fpake, so wifh'd much-humbl'd Eve; Subfcrib'd not: but fate Nature firft gave figns, im prefs'd On bird, beaft, air: air fuddenly eclips'd Two birds of gayeft plume before drove. Down from a hill the beaft, that reigns in woods, First hunter then, purfu'd a gentle brace, Adam obferv'd, and with his eye the chase 190 1 O Eve! fome further change awaits us nigh, Which Heav'n by these mute figns in nature shows, Forerunners of his purpose: or to warn 195 Who knows, or more than this, that we are duft, And thither muft return and be no more? 200 Why elfe this double object in our fight, Of flight purfu'd in th' air, and o'er the ground, One way the felf-fame hour? Why in the east Darkness e're day's mid course, and morning light More orient in yon western cloud, that O'er the blue firmament a radiant white; fraught? He err'd not; for by this the heav'nly bands 210 Down from a fky of jafper lighted now The field pavilion'd with his guardians Nor that, which on the flaming mount appear'd In Dothan, cov'd with a camp of fire, Poffeffion of the garden: alone, To find, where Adam shelter'd, took his way; 225 Eve, now expect great tidings, which perhaps Of us will foon determine; or impofe From yonder blazing cloud, that veils the hill As Raphael, that I should much confide. 235 Not in his shape celeftial, but as man 240 A military veft of purple flow'd, In manhood, where youth ended: by his fide As in a glift'ring Zodiac hung the sword, Satan's dire dread; and in his hand the spear. Adam bow'd low: he kingly from his state Inclin'd not, but his coming thus declar'd. 250 Adam! Heav'n's high-beheft no preface needs: Sufficient that thy pray'rs are heard, and Death, Then due by sentence when thou didst tranf grefs, Defeated of his seisure may day's Giv'n thee of grace, wherein thou may'ft repent, £55 And one bad act with many deeds well done May'ft cover: well may then thy Lord, ap peas'd, Redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious claim. But longer in this Paradise to dwell Permits not: to remove thee I am come, 260 And fend thee from the garden forth, to till The ground, whence thou waft taken, fitter foil. He added not; fr Adam at the news Heart-ftruck with chilling gripe of forrow stood, That all his fenfes bound! Eve, who un seen 265 Yet all had heard, with audible lament O unexpected stroke, worfe than of Death! Muft I thus leave thee, Paradife? thus leave Thee, native foil, these happy walks and` fhades, 270 Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to fpend, Quiet though fad, the refpit of that day, That must be mortal to us both! O flow'rs, £75 At ev'n, which I bred up with tender hand From the firft op'ning bud, and gave you names, Who now fhall rear you to the Sun, or rank Your tribes, and water from th' ambrofial fount? Thee lastly, nuptial bow'r, by me adorn'd 280 With what to fight or smell was fweet, from thee Hów fhall I part, and whither wander down Into a lower world; to this obscure And wild? How fhall we breathe in other air Lefs pure, accuftom'd to immortal fruits? 285 |