In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fired Uriel Impress the air, and shows the mariner From what point of his compass to beware of an Impetuous winds. He thus began in haste :-
"Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given Charge and strict watch that to this happy place No evil thing approach or enter in.
This day at highth of noon came to my sphere A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly Man, God's latest image. I described his way Bent all on speed, and marked his aery gait, But in the mount that lies from Eden north, Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks 570 Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured. Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade Lost sight of him. One of the banished crew, I fear, hath ventered from the Deep, to raise New troubles; him thy care must be to find.'
To whom the winged Warrior thus returned :- Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight, Amid the Sun's bright circle where thou sitt❜st, See far and wide. In at this gate none pass The vigilance here placed, but such as come 580 Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour
If Spirit of other sort, So minded, have o'erleaped these earthy bounds On purpose, hard thou know'st it to exclude Spiritual substance with corporeal bar.
But, if within the circuit of these walks, In whatsoever shape, he lurk of whom Thou tell'st, by morrow dawning I shall know.' So promised he; and Uriel to his charge
Satan But first with narrow search I must walk round prowls This garden, and no corner leave unspied; the A chance but chance may lead where I may garden
Some wandering Spirit of Heaven, by fountainside,
Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw What further would be learned. Live while ye may,
Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,
Short pleasures; for long woes are to succeed!' So saying, his proud step he scornful turned, But with sly circumspection, and began Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam.
Meanwhile in utmost longitude, where Heaven With Earth and Ocean meets, the setting Sun Slowly descended, and with right aspect Against the eastern gate of Paradise Levelled his evening rays.
Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent Accessible from Earth, one entrance high; The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung Still as it rose, impossible to climb. Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, Chief of the angelic guards, awaiting night; 550 About him exercised heroic games
The unarmed youth of Heaven; but nigh at
Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears, Hung high, with diamond flaming and with gold. Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even On a sunbeam, swift as a shooting star
In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fired Uriel Impress the air, and shows the mariner From what point of his compass to beware of an Impetuous winds. He thus began in haste :--
"Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given Charge and strict watch that to this happy place No evil thing approach or enter in.
This day at highth of noon came to my sphere A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly Man, God's latest image. I described his way Bent all on speed, and marked his aery gait, But in the mount that lies from Eden north, Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks 570 Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured. Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade Lost sight of him. One of the banished crew, I fear, hath ventered from the Deep, to raise New troubles; him thy care must be to find.'
To whom the winged Warrior thus returned :- Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight,
Amid the Sun's bright circle where thou sitt❜st, See far and wide. In at this gate none pass The vigilance here placed, but such as come 580 Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour
If Spirit of other sort, So minded, have o'erleaped these earthy bounds On purpose, hard thou know'st it to exclude Spiritual substance with corporeal bar. But, if within the circuit of these walks, In whatsoever shape, he lurk of whom Thou tell'st, by morrow dawning I shall know.' So promised he; and Uriel to his charge
Now Returned on that bright beam, whose point now
Bore him slope downward to the Sun, now fallen Beneath the Azores; whether the Prime Orb, Incredible how swift, had thither rolled
Diurnal, or this less volúbil Earth,
By shorter flight to the east, had left him there Arraying with reflected purple and gold
The clouds that on his western throne attend. Now came still Evening on, and Twilight gray Had in her sober livery all things clad; Silence accompanied; for beast and bird, They to their grassy couch, these to their nests Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale. She all night long her amorous descant sung: Silence was pleased. Now glowed the firmament With living sapphires; Hesperus, that led The starry host, rode brightest, till the Moon, Rising in clouded majesty, at length
Apparent queen, unveiled her peerlesss light, And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw ; When Adam thus to Eve:- Fair consort, the
Of night, and all things now retired to rest, Mind us of like repose; since God hath set Labour and rest, as day and night, to men Successive, and the timely dew of sleep, Now falling with soft slumberous weight, inclines Our eye-lids. Other creatures all day long Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest; Man hath his daily work of body or mind. Appointed, which declares his dignity, And the regard of Heaven on all his ways; 620 While other animals unactive range,
And of their doings God takes no account. To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east With first approach of light, we must be risen, And at our pleasant labour, to reform Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green, Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, That mock our scant manuring, and require More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth. Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, 630 That lie bestrewn, unsightly and unsmooth, Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease. Meanwhile, as Nature wills, Night bids us rest.' To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorned :-
'My author and disposer, what thou bidd'st Unargued I obey. So God ordains : God is thy law, thou mine: to know no more Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise. With thee conversing, I forget all time,
All seasons, and their change; all please alike. 640 Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the Sun, When first on this delightful land he spreads His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile Earth After soft showers; and sweet the coming-on Of grateful Evening mild; then silent Night, With this her solemn bird, and this fair Moon, And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train: But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends 650 With charm of earliest birds; nor rising Sun On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower, Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers; Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night,
Eve's sweet
reasonabieness
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