Into a lower world, to this obscure And wild! How shall we breathe in other air, 285 Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild: 290 295 Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or named Of them the high'st, for such of shape may seem Prince above princes, gently hast thou told Thy message, which might else in telling wound, And in performing end us. What besides Of sorrow, and dejection, and despair, 300 Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring, Familiar to our eyes, all places else 305 Nor knowing us nor known: and if by prayer Of Him who all things can, I would not cease To weary him with my assiduous cries. 310 No more avails than breath against the wind, Blown stifling back on him that breathes it forth: 315 His blessed count'nance. Here I could frequent With worship place by place where he vouchsafed Presence divine, and to my sons relate, On this mount he appear'd; under this tree 320 So many grateful altars I would rear Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone Of lustre from the brook, in' memory 325 Or monument to ages, and thereon 330 Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and flow'rs. 336 To whom thus Michael, with regard benign: Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had spread God is as here, and will be found alike 340 345 350 Which, that thou may'st believe, and be confirm'd Ero thou from hence depart, know I am sent 356 300 By moderation either state to bear, Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead Safest thy life, and, best prepared, endure 36 Thy mortal passage when it comes. Ascend This hill. Let Eve (for I have drench'd her eyes) 332. Exod. xxxiii. 22, 23. N 370 Here sleep below, while thou to foresight wak'st; However chast'ning, to the evil turn My obvious breast, arming to overcome By suff'ring, and earn rest from labour won, 375 If so I may attain. So both ascend In the visions of God. It was a hill Of Paradise the highest, from whose top Stretch'd out to th' amplest reach of prospect lay. 381 To shew him all earth's kingdoms and their glory. His eye might there command wherever stood 385 City of old or modern fame, the seat Of mightiest empire, from the destined walls Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can, And Samarcand by Oxus, Temir's throne, To Paquin of Sinæan kings, and thence In Hispahan, or where the Russian Czar 381. Matt. iv. 8. 390 395 387. There is here another instance of Milton's supposed affectation of learning. I do not conceive either this, or any of the other passages mentioned, to be so. To a mere cursory or idle reader it may seem a dry geographical catalogue, but it should be observed, that the countries mentioned recall by their names some of the most brilliant passages of history, and thus fill the page with the gorgeousness and magnificence of olden tradition. An observation hence occurs, which must at once strike the reader, that fully to enjoy Miltou in all his excellences, much various knowledge is necessary. The simplest account we could here give of the several countries mentioned in these lines would occupy too large a space for the size of the work, and would certainly not aid the reader in understanding better than at first the various allusions the passage presents. And Sofala, thought Ophir, to the realm 401 On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway Which that false fruit, that promised clearer sight, Had bred; then purged with euphrasy and rue 415 E'en to the inmost seat of mental sight, Sunk down, and all his spirits became entranced; But him the gentle Angel by the hand 421 Soon raised, and his attention thus recall'd: Th' effects which thy original crime hath wrought In some to spring from thee, who never touch'd 425 Th' excepted tree, nor with the snake conspired, Nor sinn'd thy sin; yet from that sin derive Corruption, to bring forth more violent deeds. 430 His eyes he open'd, and beheld a field, Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves New reap'd, the other part sheep-walks and folds; I' th' midst an altar as the land-mark stood, Rustic, of grassy sord. Thither anon A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought First fruits; the green ear and the yellow sheaf, 435 414. Euphrasy, the herb called in English eye-bright.-Rue is still regarded as possessing some remarkable virtues. 420. Dan. x. 8. the idea in which seems to be copied here. 433. Sord or sward. Milton agrees with the best commenta tors in the filling up of this passage, which is principally taken frou. Scripture. Choicest and best; then sacrificing, laid 415 The inwards and their fat, with incense strow'd, Is piety thus and pure devotion paid? T'whom Michael thus (he also moved) reply'd: These two are brethren, Adam, and to come 460 Out of thy loins. Th' unjust the just hath slain, 455 46! To whom thus Michael: Death thou hast seen In his first shape on Man: but many shapes 476 In meats and drinks, which on the earth shall bring 47€ Shall bring on men. Immediately a place 458. Heb. xi. 4. 477. The invention of the poet is finely exercised in the circumstances of this vision. |