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Wherein all things created first he weigh'd,
The pendulous round earth, with ballanc'd air 1000
In counterpoise; now ponders all events,
Battels 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. 1005

SATAN, I know thy strength, & thou know'st 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, though doubled now
To trample thee as mire: for proof look up,
And read thy lot in yon cæleftial fign,
Where thou art weigh'd, & shown how light, how weak,
If thou refift. The Fiend look'd up, and knew
His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled

ΙΟΙΟ

Murm'ring, & with him fled the shades of night. 1015

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK V.

THE ARGUMENT.

Morning approach'd, Eve relates to Adam her troubleSome dream; be likes it not, yet comforts her: they come forth to their day labors: 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 estate, of his enemy near at hand, who he is, and why his enemy, and whatever else may avail Adam

A

to know.. Raphael comes down to Paradise; his appearance describ'd, his coming difcern'd by Adam afar off fitting at the door of his bower; he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choicest 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 he came to be so, beginning from his first revolt in Heaven, 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, persuading all but only Abdiel a Seraph, who in argument diffuades and opposes him, then forSakes him.

OW morn her rosy steps in th'eaftern clime

Advancing, sow'd the earth with orient pearl,

When ADAM wak'd: so custom'd; for

his fleep

Was aery-light, from pure digeftion bred,
And temperate vapors bland, which the only found *
Of leaves and fuming rills (AURORA'S fan)
Lightly difpers'd, and the shrill matin fong
Of birds on every bough. So much the more
His wonder was, to find unwaken'd EVE
With treffes difscompos'd, and glowing cheek,
As through unquiet rest: he on his fide
Leaning half rais'd, with looks of cordial love

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10

Hung over her enamor'd, and beheld
Beauty, which whether waking or afleep,
Shot forth peculiar graces: then, with voice

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Mild as when ZEPHYRUS on FLORA breathes,

Her

* Perhaps these two Verses were originally dictated by the Author thus :

And temperate vapors bland from fuming rills,
Which the only found of leaves (AURORA's fan)
Lightly difpers'd, o

Her hand foft touching, whisper'd thus: Awake
My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found,
Heav'n's last best gift, my ever new delight!
Awake: the morning thines, and the fresh field
Calls us, we lose the prime, to mark how spring
Our tended plants, how blows the citron grove,
What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed,

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How nature paints her colors, how the bee

Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet.

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Such whispering wak'd her, but with startl'd eye On ADAM, whom embracing, thus she spake.

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, 30 Such night till this I never pass'd, have dream'd, (If dream'd) not, as I oft am wont, of thee, Works of day pass'd, or morrow's next design; But of offence and trouble, which my mind Knew never till this irksome night. Methought, 35 Close at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk With gentle voice, I thought it thine; it faid, Why fleep'st thou EVE? now is the pleasant time, The cool, the filent, save where filence yields To the night-warbling bird, that now awake Tunes sweetest his love-labor'd fong; now reigns Full-orb'd the moon, and with more pleasant light Shadowy fets off the face of things; in vain, If none regard: heav'n wakes with all his eyes, Whom to behold but thee, nature's defire ?

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In whose fight 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 thro' ways 50

That brought me on a sudden to the Tree
Of interdicted Knowledge: fair it feem'd,

GS

Much

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