Prove chaff. Ou th’ other side Satan alarm’d, laitleg85
Collecting all his might, dilated stood, ole
Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd: nebsare ,AB
His stature reach'd the sky, and on his crest
Sat horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grasp IMA!?)
What seem'd both spear and shield. Now dreadful deeds 990
Might lave ensued, nor only Paradise
In this commotion, but the starry cope Calotte
Of Heav'n perhaps, or all the elements,
At least, had gone to wrack, disturb'd and torn alleen
With violence of this conflict, had not soon

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Th' Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, quelle
Hung forth in Heav'n his golden scales, yet seen .
Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign,
Wherein all things created first he weigh’d,
The pendulous round earth with balanc'd air 1000
In counterpoise, now ponders all events,
Battles and realms: in these he put two weights,, ;
The sequel each of parting and of fight; 1730
The latter quick up flew, and kick'd the beam ; !
Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. įR 1005

“Satan, I know thy strength and thou know'st miné, Neither our own but given; what folly then To boast what arms can do? since thine no more

Than Heav'n permits, nor mine, though doubled now * To trample thee as mire : for proof look up, 1010

And read thy lot in yon celestial sign,
Where thou art weigh’d, and shewn how light, how weak,
Jf thou resist.” The Fiend look'd up, and knew
His mounted scale aloft: nor more ; but fled
Murm'ring, and with him fled the shades of night. 1015

1000

END OF THE FOURTH BOOK.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK V.

ARGUMENT.

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 inexcusable, sends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience; of his free estate; of his enemy néar 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; his coming discerned by Adam afar off sitting at the door of his hower : he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with choicest fruits of Paradise got together by Eve; their discourse at table. Raphael performs his message, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy; &relates, at Adam's request, who that enemy 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 them to rebel with him, persuading all but only Abdiel, a Seraph, who in argument dissuades and opposes him, then forsakes him.

BOOK V.

NOW morn her rosy steps in theastern clime
Advancing, sow'd the earth with orient pearl,
When Adam wak’d, so custom’d, for his sleep
Was airy light from pure digestion bred,
And temp’rale vapours bland, which th' only sound
Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan,
Lightly dispers’d, and the shrill matin song
Of birds on ev'ry hough ; so much the more
His wonder was to find unwaken'd Eve
With tresses discompos’d, and glowing cheek, '
As through unquiet rest : be on his side
Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial love,
Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld
Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep,
Shot forth peculiar graces; then, with voice
Mild as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes,
Her hand soft touching, whisper'd thus. “Awake,
My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found,
Heav'n's last best gift, my ever new delight,
Awake; the morning shines, and the fresh field
Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring
Our tender 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.”

Such whisp'ring wak’d her, but with startled eye
On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spake.
“O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose,

My glory, my perfection, glad I see
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 design,
But of offence and trouble, which my mind
Knew never till this irksome night. Methought
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 silent, save where silence yields
To the night-warbling bird, that now awake
Tunes sweetest his love-labour'd song; now reigns
Full orh'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 ?
In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment
Attracted by thy 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 pass'd thro’ ways
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 shap'd and wing'd like one of those from Heaven
By us oft seen; his dewy locks distillid
Ambrosia; on that tree he also gaz'd;
And 0 fair plant,' said he, 'with fruit surcharg'd,
Deigns nonę to ease thy load and taste thy sweet,
Nor God, nor Man? is knowledge so despis’d?
Or envy', or what reserve, forbids to taste?
Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold
Longer thy offer'd good, why else set here?
This said, he paus'd not, but with vent'rous arm
lle pluck’d, he tasted; me damp horror chill'd

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