Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her troubjesome 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 near 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 bower: he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the 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.
Now morn her rosy steps in th' eastern 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❜rate 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 bough; so much the more His wonder was to find unwaken'd Eve With tresses discompos'd, and glowing cheek, As through unquiet rest: he on his side Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial love, Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep, Sint forth peculiar graces; then, with voice Mild as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, Her haud soft touching, whisper'd thus. My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found, Heav'n's last best gift, my ever new delight, A wake; the morning shines, and the fresh field Calls us; we lose the arime, to mark how spring Our tender plants, how lows 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 orb'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 distill'd
Ambrosia; on that tree he also gaz'd ;
And O fair plant,' said he, with fruit surcharg'd, Deigns none 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
He pluck'd, he tasted; me damp horror chill'd At such bold words, vouch'd with a deed so bold : But he thus overjoy'd. O fruit divine,
Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt, Forbidden here, it seems as only fit
For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men:
And why not Gods of Men, since good, the more Communicated, more abundant grows,
The Author not impair'd, but honour'd more?
Here happy creature, fair Angelic Eve,
Partake thou also; happy though thou art,
Happier thou may'st be, worthier canst not be :
Take this, and be henceforth among the Gods, Thyself a goddess, not to earth confin'd, But sometimes in the air, as we, sometimes Ascend to Heav'n, by merit thine, and see
What life the God's live there, and such live thou.' So saving, he drew nigh, and to me held, Ev'n to my mouth of that same fruit held part Which he had pluck'd; the pleasant savoury smell So quicken'd appetite, that I, methought, Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds With him I flew, and underneath beheld
The earth outstretch'd immense, a prospect wide And various wond'ring at my flight and change To this high exaltation; suddenly
My guide was gone, and I, methought, sunk 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 answer'd sad.
"Best image of myself and dearer half, The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep Affects me equally; nor can I like This uncouth dream, of evil sprung I fear; Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none, Created pure. But know that in the soul Are many lesser faculties, that serve Reason as chief; among these fancy next Her office holds; of all external things,
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