175"Her rosy progress smiling: let us forth; "I never from thy side henceforth to stray, "Where'er our day's work lies, though now enjoin'd "Laborious till day droop: while here we dwell, "What can be toilsome in these pleasant walks? 180"Here let us live, though in fall'n state, content!" So spake, so wish'd, much-humbled Eve; but fate After short blush of morn; nigh in her sight 195 200 "O Eve! some further change awaits us nigh, "Which Heaven, by these mute signs in nature, shows "Forerunners of his purpose; or to warn "Us, haply too secure of our discharge "From penalty, because from death releas'd "Some days: how long, and what till then our life, "Of flight pursued in the air, and o'er the ground, "And slow descends with something heavenly fraught?" 210 In Paradise, and on a hill made halt; Not that more glorious, when the angels met 215 The field pavilion'd with his guardians bright; In their bright stand there left his powers, to seize To find where Adam shelter'd, took his way; 225 While the great visitant approach'd, thus spake : "But solemn and sublime; whom, not to offend, "With reverence I must meet, and thou retire." He ended: and the archangel soon drew nigh, Not in his shape celestial, but as man 240 Clad to meet man; over his lucid arms A military vest of purple flow'd, Livelier than Meliboean, or the grain Of Sarra, worn by kings and heroes old In time of truce; Iris had dipt the woof: 245 His starry helm unbuckled show'd him prime In manhood where youth ended: by his side, As in a glistering zodiac, hung the sword, Satan's dire dread; and in his hand the spear. Adam bow'd low: he, kingly, from his state 250 Inclin❜d not, but his coming thus declar'd: 255 260 "Adam! Heaven's high behest no preface needs: "Sufficient that thy prayers are heard; and death, "Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress, "Defeated of his seizure; many days "Given thee of grace, wherein thou mayst repent, "And one bad act with many deeds well done "Mayst cover: well may then thy Lord, appeas'd, "Permits not to remove thee I am come, Heart-struck with chilling gripe of sorrow stood, "O unexpected stroke, worse than of death! "Must I thus leave thee, Paradise? thus leave 270"Thee, native soil! these happy walks and shades, "Fit haunt of gods? where I had hope to spend "Quiet, though sad, the respite of that day "That must be mortal to us both. O flowers, "That never will in other climate grow; "At even; which I bred up with tender hand "Your tribes, and water from the ambrosial fount? 280 "Thee lastly, nuptial bower! by me adorn'd 285 "With what to sight or smell was sweet! from thee "How shall I part, and whither wander down "Into a lower world?-to this, obscure "And wild! How shall we breathe in other air Whom thus the angel interrupted mild: “What justly thou hast lost; nor set thy heart, "Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine: 290"Thy going is not lonely; with thee goes Thy husband; him to follow thou art bound; "Where he abides, think there thy native soil." Adam, by this from the cold sudden damp Recovering, and his scatter'd spirits return'd, 295 To Michael thus his humble words address'd: "Celestial! whether among the Thrones, or nam'd "Of them the highest; for such of shape may seem "Prince above princes! gently hast thou told Thy message, which might else in telling wound, 300 "And in performing end us: what besides "Of sorrow, and dejection, and despair, "Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring, 66 Departure from this happy place, our sweet "Recess, and only consolation left 305"Familiar to our eyes! All places else "Inhospitable appear, and desolate; "Nor knowing us, nor known: and, if by prayer "Incessant I could hope to change the will "Of him who all things can, I would not cease 310To weary him with my assiduous cries: "But prayer against his absolute decree "No more avails than breath against the wind, "Blown stifling back on him that breathes it forth : "Therefore to his great bidding I submit. 315"This most afflicts me, that, departing hence, "As from his face I shall be hid, depriv'd "His blessed countenance: here I could frequent 320 "On this mount he appear'd-under this tree 325 "I heard-here with him at this fountain talk'd:' "Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone "Or monument to ages; and thereon "Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and flowers. "In yonder nether world where shall I seek "His bright appearances, or foot-step trace? 330"For though I fled him angry, yet, recall'd "To life prolong'd and promis'd race, I now "Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts "Of glory; and far off his steps adore." 335 To whom thus Michael with regard benign: "Adam! thou knowest heaven his, and all the earth, "Not this rock only; his omnipresence fills “Land, sea, and air, and ev'ry kind that lives, "Fomented by his virtual power, and warm'd. "All the earth he gave thee to possess, and rule, 340"No despicable gift! surmise not then 345 "His presence to these narrow bounds confin'd 66 Perhaps thy capital seat; from whence had spread "All generations, and had hither come "From all the ends of the earth, to celebrate "But this pre-eminence thou hast lost; brought down "To dwell on even ground now with thy sons. "Yet doubt not but in valley, and in plain, 350 "God is, as here, and will be found alike "Present; and of his presence many a sign "Still following thee, still compassing thee round "With goodness and paternal love, his face "Express, and of his steps the track divine. 355"Which that thou mayst believe, and be confirm'd "Ere thou from hence depart, know, I am sent "To show thee what shall come in future days "To thee, and to thy offspring: good with bad Expect to hear; supernal grace contending 360 "With sinfulness of men; thereby to learn 66 "True patience, and to temper joy with fear |
