With fupple joints, as lively vigor led.
But who I was, or where, or from what caufe, 270 Knew not to speak I try'd, and forthwith fpake; My tongue obey'd, and readily could name Whate'er I faw. Thou Sun, faid I, fair light! And thou inlighten'd earth, fo, fresh and gay! Ye hills and dales, ye rivers, woods and plains! 275 And ye that live and move, fair creatures! tell, Tell (if ye faw) how came I thus, how here. Not of my self By fome great Maker then,
In goodness and in pow'r præeminent.
Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, 280, From whom I have that thus I move, and live, And feel that I am happier than I know.
While thus I call'd, and ftray'd I knew not whither, From where I'first drew air, and first beheld
This happy light; when anfwer none return'd, 285- On a green fhady bank profufe of flow'rs Penfive I fat me down. There gentle fleep First found me, and with foft oppreffion feis'd My droufed fenfe, untroubl'd (though I thought I then was paffing to my former ftate Infenfible, and forthwith to diffolve) When fuddenly flood at my head a dream, Whofe inward apparition gently mov'd My fancy, to believe I yet had being,
And liv'd. One came, methought, of shape divine, 295 And faid,,, Thy manfion wants thee, Adam, rife Firft man, of men innumerable ordain'd
27% Firft father! call'd by thee, I come thy guide
To the garden of blifs, thy feat prepar'd.,, So faying, by the hand he took me rais'd; And over fields and waters, as in air, Smooth-fliding without ftep, laft led me up A woody mountain; whofe high top was plain: A circuit wide-inclos'd, with goodlieft trees Planted, with walks, & bow'rs; that what I faw 305 Of earth before fcarce pleasant feem'd. Each tree
Loaden with faireft fruit, that hung to th' eye, Tempting, ftir'd in me fudden appetite
To pluck and eat; whereat I wak'd, and found Before mine eyes all reall, as the dream Had lively fhadow'd. Here had new begun My wandring, had not he, who was my guide Up hither, from among the trees appear'd, Prefence Divine! rejoicing, but with awe, In adoration at his feet I fell
Submifs: He rear'd me, &,, whom thou fought'ft I am, Said mildly,,, Author of all this thou feeft Above, or round about thee, or beneath. "' This Paradife I give thee, count it thine To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat: Of every tree that in the garden grows Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth: But of the tree whofe operation brings
Knowledge of Good and Ill, which I have fet The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, 325 Amid the garden by the Tree of Life,
,, (Remember what I warn thee!) fhun to taste, And fhun the bitter confequence; for know The day thou eat'ft thereof, my fole command Tranfgreft, inevitably thou shalt dye;
From that day mortal: and this happy ftate Shalt lofe, expell'd from hence into a world
Of woe and forrow.,, - Sternly he pronounc'd The rigid interdiction, which refounds
Yet dreadful in mine car, though in my choice 335 Not to incur: but foon his clear afpect Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renew'd. Not only these fair bounds, but all the earth 29 To thee and to thy race I give: as Lords Poffefs it, and all things that therein live, Or live in fea, or air, beaft, fish, and fowl; In fign whereof, each bird, and beast, behold After their kinds: I bring them to receive From thee their names, and pay thee fealty
With low fubjection: understand the fame Of fish within their watry refidence,
Not hither fummon'd, fince they cannot change Their element to draw the thinner air.,,
As thus he fpake, each bird and beast behold Approaching, two and two; thefe, cow'ring low 350 With blandithment; each bird ftoop'd on his wing. I nam'd them, as they pafs'd, and understood Their nature (with fuch knowledge GoD indu'd My fudden apprehenfion!) but in these
I found not what me-thought I wanted ftill; 354 And to the heav'nly Vifion thus prefum'd.
O by what name (for thou above all these, Above mankind, or ought than mankind higher, Surpaffeft far my naming) how may I Adore thee, Author of this univerfe,
And all this good to man? For whofe well-being So amply, and with hand fo liberal
Thou haft provided all things. But with me I fee not who partakes in folitude What happiness, who can enjoy alone? Or all enjoying, what contentment find?
Thus I prefumptuous; and the Vifion bright, As with a mile more brighten'd, thus reply'd.
What call'st thou folitude? Is not the earth With various living creatures, and the air Replenish'd, and all thefe at thy command. To come and play before thee? Know'st thou not Their language and their ways? They alfo know, And reafon not contemptibly: with these
Find paftime, and bear rule? thy realm is large. 375.
So fpake the Univerfal Lord, and feem'd So ordering: I, with leave of fpeech implor'd; And humble deprecation, thus reply'd. M 4
« ZurückWeiter » |