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Might have ensued, nor only Paradise
In this commotion, but the starry cope
Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements

At least had gone to wreck, disturbed and torn
With violence in this conflict, had not soon
The eternal, to prevent such horrid fray,

Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen
Betwixt Astrea and the scorpion sign,
Wherein all things created first he weigh'd,
The pendulous round Earth with balanced air
In counterpoise, now ponders all events,
Battles and realms; in these he put two weights,
The sequel each of parting and of fight:
The latter quick up flew and kick'd the beam;
Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend:

Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowest mine ; Neither our own, but given: what folly then

To boast what arms can do? since thine no more

Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now To trample thee as mine: for proof look up,

And read thy lot in yon celestial sign;

Where thou art weigh'd and shown how light, how weak,
If thou resist. The fiend look'd up and knew
His mounted scale aloft: no more; but fled

Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK V.

er.

THE ARGUMENT.

Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her: They come forth to their day labours; Their morning hymn at the door of their bowGod, 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 choices, 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 it 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 Abediel, a Seraph, who in argument dissuades and opposes him, then forsakes him.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK V.

Now morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime Advancing, sow'd the Earth with orient pearl, When Adam waked, so custom'd; for his sleep Was aery light, from pure digestion bred; And temperate vapours bland, which the only sound Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, Nightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song Of birds on every bough; so much the more His wonder was to find unwaken'd Eve With tresses discomposed, 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, Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice Mild as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, Her hand soft touching, whisper'd thus: Awake, My fairest, my espoused, my latest found, Heaven's last best gift, my ever new delight! Awake: the morning shines, and the fresh field Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring Our tender 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 whispering waked 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 oft I am wont, of thee, Works of day past, or morrow's next design, But of offence and trouble, which my mind Know 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-labor'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; Heaven 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 through 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 wondering look'd, beside it stood

One shaped and wing'd like one of those from Heaven
By us oft seen; his dewy locks distill'd
Ambrosia; on that tree he also gazed;

And, "Ofair plant," said he, "with fruit surcharged
Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet,
Nor God nor Man? Is knowledge so despised?
Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste?
Forbid who will, none shall from me withold
Longer thy offer'd good; why else set here?"
This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm

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