175 “Her rosy progress smiling: let us forth ; “I never from thy side henceforth to stray, “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 185 The bird of Jove, stoop'd from his aery tour, Two birds of gayest plume before him drove ; Goodliest of all the forest-hart and hind; Adam observ'd, and with his eye the chase “O Eve! some further change awaits us nigh, “ Which Heaven, by these mute signs in nature, shows 195 “ Forerunners of his purpose; or to warn “Us, haply too secure of our discharge And thither must return, and be no more? “ Darkness ere day's mid-course, and morning-light 205 “More orient in yon western cloud, that draws “O'er the blue firmament a radiant white, He err'd not; for by this the heavenly bands Down from a sky of jasper lighted now 210 In Paradise, and on a hill made halt; A glorious apparition! had not doubt, 200 Not that more glorious, when the angels met Jacob in Mahanaïm, where he saw Nor that, which on the flaming mount appear'd One man, assassin like, had levied war220 War unproclaim'd. The princely hierarch In their bright stand there left his powers, to seize Not unperceiv'd of Adam, who, to Eve, 225 While the great visitant approach'd, thus spake : “Eve! now expect great tidings, which perhaps “Of us will soon determine, or impose “ New laws to be observ'd; for I descry, “ From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill, 230 “ One of the heavenly host, and, by his gait, “ None of the meanest—some great Potentate, “ That I should fear; nor sociably mild, 235 “ As Raphaël, that I should much confide; “ 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, In time of truce; Iris had dipt the woof: In manhood where youth ended: by his side, Adam bow'd low: he, kingly, from his state 250 Inclin'd not, but his coming thus declar'd: “ 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 255 “ 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, Redeem thee quite from death's rapacious claim; “ But longer in this Paradise to dwell " And send thee from the garden forth, to till He added not; for Adam at the news Heart-struck with chilling gripe of sorrow stood, 265 That all his senses bound: Eve, who unseen Yet all had heard, with audible lament “O unexpected stroke, worse than of death! “Must I thus leave thee, Paradise ? thus leave 270 “ Thee, native soil! these happy walks and shades, “ That never will in other climate grow; 275 “ My early visitation, and my last “ 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 “ With what to sight or smell was sweet! from thee “ And wild! How shall we breathe in other air 285 “Less pure, accustom'd to immortal fruits ?" Whom thus the angel interrupted mild: 66 290 “ What justly thou hast lost; nor set thy heart, Thy going is not lonely ; with thee goes 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, “Recess, and only consolation left “ Inhospitable appear, and desolate ; “ Therefore to his great bidding I submit. “ As from his face I shall be hid, depriv'd “ Presence Divine; and to my sons relate, I heard-here with him at this fountain talk’d:' many grateful altars I would rear 310 6 So 325 330 66 “ Or monument to ages; and thereon To whom thus Michael with regard benign: 335 “Adam! thou knowest heaven his, and all the earth, “ Not this rock only; his omnipresence fills “ All the earth he gave thee to possess, and rule, 340 “No despicable gift! surmise not then His presence to these narrow bounds confin'd “Of Paradise, or Eden : this had been Perhaps thy capital seat; from whence had spread “ All generations, and had hither come “ And reverence thee, their great progenitor. “ 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 “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 Expect to hear; supernal grace contending 360 “ With sinfulness of men; thereby to learn “True patience, and to temper joy with fear |