What feem'd both fpear and fhield. Now dreadful deeds
Might have enfu'd: not only Paradife

In this commotion, but the ftarry cope
Of heav'n perhaps, or all the elements,
At least had gone to wreck, disturb'd and torn
With violence of this conflict, had not foon
Th' Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray,
Hung forth in heav'n his golden fcales, yet seen
Betwixt ASTRA, and the Scorpion Sign,
(Wherein all things created firft he weigh'd,
The pendulous round earth, with balanc'd air
In counterpoife; now, ponders all events,
Battels, and realms :) in these he put two weights,
The fequel each of parting, and of fight;
The latter quick up flew, and kick'd the beam :
Which GABRIEL fpying, thus befpake the fiend.

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995

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SATAN! I know thy ftrength, and thou know'ft mine : Neither our own, but giv'n: what folly then

To boast what arms can do? fince thine no more

Than heav'n permits; nor mine, tho' double now
To trample thee as mire: for proof look up,
And read thy lot in yon cœleftial Sign:

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Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how weak,
If thou refift.- -The fiend look'd up, and knew
His mounted fcale aloft: nor more; but fled
Murm'ring, and with him fled the shades of night.

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The End of the fourth Book.

THE

FIFTH BOOK

O F

PARADISE LOST.

The ARGUMENT.

Morning approach'd, Eve relates to Adam her trouble fome 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 inexcufable, fends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his free eftare, 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 Paradife; his appearance defcrib'd, his coming dif cern'd by Adam afar-off, fitting at the door of his bower; be goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choiceft fruits of Paradife got together by Eve their difcourfe at table: Raphael performs his meffage, minds Adam of his ftate, and of his enemy; relates, at Adam's request, who that enemy is, and how he came to be fo; beginning from his firft revolt in heav'n, and the occafion thereof; how he drew his legions after him to the parts of the north, and there incited them to rebel with him; perfuading all but only Abdiel, a Seraph, who in argument diffuades and oppofes him, then forfakes Dim, L 3

NOW

N

OW Morn, her rofy steps in th' eastern clime

Advancing, fow'd the earth with orient

pearl,

When ADAM wak'd: fo cuftom'd; for his

fleep

Was aery-light, from pure digeftion bred,
And temperate vapours bland, which th' only found
Of leaves, and fuming rills, (AURORA's fan)
Lightly difpers'd, and the fhrill matin fong
Of birds on every bough. So much the more
His wonder was, to find unwaken'd EVE
With treffes difcompos'd, and glowing cheek,
As through unquiet reft: he, on his fide
Leaning half-rais'd, 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 foft-touching, whifper'd thus: Awake
My faireft, my efpous'd, my lateft found,
Heav'n's laft beft gift, my ever new delight!
Awake the morning fhines, and the fresh field
Calls us; we lofe the prime, to mark how fpring
Our tended 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 whifp'ring wak'd her, but with startled eye
On ADAM; whom embracing thus fhe fpake.

O fole! in whom my thoughts find all repose, My glory, my perfection! glad I fee Thy face, and morn return'd; for I this night, (Such night till this I never pafs'd,) have dream'd, (If dream'd) not, as I oft em wont, of thee, Works of day pafs'd, or morrow's next defign; Bat of offence and trouble, which my mind

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