Then they shall seek to avail themselves of names, Places, and titles, and with these to join 516 Secular power; though feigning still to act The Spirit of God, promised alike and given 520 525 530 Whence heavy persecution shall arise Of spirit and truth; the rest, far greater part, Will deem in outward rites and specious forms Religion satisfied; truth shall retire 535 Bestuck with slanderous darts, and works of faith Rarely be found: so shall the world go on, To good malignant, to bad men benign; Under her own weight groaning; till the day 540 And vengeance to the wicked, at return Of him so lately promised to thy aid, The Woman's Seed; obscurely then foretold, Now ampler known thy Saviour and thy Lord; Last, in the clouds, from Heaven to be reveal'd 545 Satan with his perverted world; then raise 550 How soon hath thy prediction, Seer bless'd, His providence; and on him sole depend, 555 560 565 Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak By simply meek: that suffering for truth's sake And, to the faithful, death the gate of life; 570 To whom thus also the Angel last replied. This having learn'd, thou hast attain'd the sum Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars Thou knew'st by name, and all the ethereal powers, All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works, Or works of God in Heaven, air, earth, or sea, And all the riches of this world enjoy'dst, And all the rule, one empire; only add Deeds to thy knowledge answerable; add faith, Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love, By name to come call'd charity, the soul 575 580 Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath 585 To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess A Paradise within thee, happier far. Let us descend now therefore from this top Of speculation; for the hour precise Exacts our parting hence; and see! the guards, 599 By me encamp'd on yonder hill, expect That ye may live, which will be many days, 595 600 605 He ended, and they both descend the hill; Descended, Adam to the bower, where Eve Lay sleeping, ran before; but found her waked; And thus with words not sad she him received: Whence thou return'st, and whither went'st, I know, For God is also in sleep; and dreams advise, Which he hath sent propitious, some great good 611 Presaging, since with sorrow and heart's distress In me is no delay; with thee to go, 615 Is to stay here; without thee here to stay Art all things under Heaven, all places thou, 620 I carry hence; though all by me is lost, Such favour I unworthy am vouchsafed, By me the Promised Seed shall all restore. So spake our mother Eve; and Adam heard : Well pleased, but answer'd not for now too nig 625 The Archangel stood; and, from the other hill To their fix'd station, all in bright array The Cherubim descended on the ground Gliding meteorous, as evening mist Risen from a river o'er the marish glides, They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, 630 635 640 Some natural tears they dropp'd, but wiped them soon; THE END |