And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst And hunger both, from labour, at the hour Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill, Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety."
To whom thus Raphael answer'd, heavenly meek: "Nor are thy lips ungraceful, sire of men, Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee Abundantly his gifts hath also pour'd, Inward and outward both, his image fair : Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace Attends thee; and each word, each motion, forms: Nor less think we in heaven of thee on earth Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire Gladly into the ways of God with man; For God, we see, hath honour'd thee, and set On man his equal love: say therefore on; For I that day was absent, as befell, Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, Far on excursion toward the gates of hell; Squared in full legion (such command we had), To see that none thence issued forth a spy, Or enemy, while God was in his work; Lest he, incensed at such eruption bold, Destruction with creation might have mix'd. Not that they durst without his leave attempt: But us he sends upon his high behests For state, as sovereign King, and to inure Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut, The dismal gates, and barricadoed strong; But, long ere our approaching, heard within Noise, other than the sound of dance or song; Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage.
Glad we return'd up to the coasts of light Ere sabbath evening: so we had in charge. But thy relation now; for I attend,
Pleased with thy words no less than thou with mine." So spake the godlike power, and thus our sire: "For man to tell how human life began
Is hard; for who himself beginning knew? Desire with thee still longer to converse Induced me. As new waked from soundest sleep, Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid, In balmy sweat; which with his beams the sun Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. Straight toward heaven my wondering eyes I turn'd, And gazed awhile the ample sky; till, raised By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung, As thitherward endeavouring, and upright Stood on my feet about me round I saw Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these, Creatures that lived and moved, and walk'd or flew ; Birds on the branches warbling; all things smiled; With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflow'd. Myself I then perused, and limb by limb Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran With supple joints, as lively vigour led: But who I was, or where, or from what cause, Knew not. To speak I tried, and forthwith spake ; My tongue obey'd, and readily could name Whate'er I saw. 'Thou sun,' said I, 'fair light, And thou enlighten'd earth, so fresh and gay, Ye hills, and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plains, And ye that live and move, fair creatures, tell, Tell, if ye saw, how came I thus, how here? Not of myself; by some great Maker then,
In goodness and in power pre-eminent :
Tell me how may I know him, how adore, From whom I have that thus I move and live, And feel that I am happier than I know?'
While thus I call'd, and stray'd I knew not whither, From where I first drew air, and first beheld This happy light; when answer none return'd, On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, Pensive I sat me down there gentle sleep First found me, and with soft oppression seized My drowsed sense; untroubled, though I thought I then was passing to my former state Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve:
When suddenly stood at my head a dream, Whose inward apparition gently moved My fancy to believe I yet had being,
And lived one came, methought, of shape divine, And said, 'Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise, First man, of men innumerable ordain'd First father! call'd by thee, I come thy guide To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.' So saying, by the hand he took me, raised, And over fields and waters, as in air Smooth sliding without step, last led me up A woody mountain; whose high top was plain, A circuit wide enclosed, with goodliest trees Planted, with walks and bowers; that what I saw Of earth before scarce pleasant seem'd. Each tree, Loaden with fairest fruit, that hung to the eye Tempting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite To pluck and eat; whereat I waked, and found Before mine eyes all real, as the dream Had lively shadow'd. Here had new begun My wandering, had not he, who was my guide
Up hither, from among the trees appear'd,
Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe, In adoration at his feet I fell
Submiss he rear'd me, and 'Whom thou sought'st I am,'
Said mildly, Author of all this thou seest Above, or round about thee, or beneath. This Paradise I give thee; count it thine To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat : Of every tree that in the garden grows Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth: But of the tree, whose operation brings Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, Amid the garden, by the tree of life- Remember what I warn thee-shun to taste, And shun the bitter consequence: for know, The day thou eat'st thereof, my sole command Transgress'd, inevitably thou shalt die, From that day mortal; and this happy state Shalt lose, expell'd from hence into a world Of woe and sorrow.' Sternly he pronounced The rigid interdiction, which resounds Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice Not to incur; but soon his clear aspéct Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renew'd : 'Not only these fair bounds, but all the earth To thee and to thy race I give; as lords Possess it, and all things that therein live, Or live in sea, or air; beast, fish, and fowl. In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold After their kinds; I bring them to receive From thee their names, and pay thee fealty With low subjection; understand the same Of fish within their watery residence,
Not hither summon'd, since they cannot change Their element to draw the thinner air.' As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold, Approaching two and two; these cowering low With blandishment; each bird stoop'd on his wing. I named them as they pass'd, and understood Their nature; with such knowledge God endued My sudden apprehension: but in these
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