Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropp❜d, Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit 70 75 80 For Gods, yet able to make Gods of men : 85 90 My guide was gone, and I, methought, sunk down, And fell asleep but O how glad I wak'd 71 good] Ista natura est boni, Communicari gaudet, et multis suo Grotii Adamus Exsul. p. 23. To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her night Related, and thus Adam answer'd sad. 95 100 105 Best image of myself and dearer half, The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep Affects me equally; nor can I like This uncouth dream, of evil sprung I fear: Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none, Created pure. But know that in the soul Are many lesser faculties that serve Reason as chief: among these fancy next Her office holds; of all external things, Which the five watchful senses represent, She forms imaginations, aery shapes, Which reason joining, or disjoining, frames All what we affirm, or what deny, and call Our knowledge or opinion; then retires Into her private cell when nature rests. Oft in her absence mimic fancy wakes To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes, Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams, Ill matching words and deeds long past or late. Some such resemblances methinks I find Of our last evening's talk in this thy dream, But with addition strange; yet be not sad: Evil into the mind of GOD or man May come and go, so unapprov'd, and leave 110 115 night] for the "dreams of night." v. S. Ital. iii. 216. 'Promissa evolvit somni, noctemque retractat.' Hume. God] God here signifies angel.' See ver. 59 and 70. Newton. No spot or blame behind; which gives me hope That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream, 120 Waking thou never wilt consent to do. 125 Be not dishearten'd then, nor cloud those looks 130 So cheer'd he his fair spouse, and she was cheer'd ; But silently a gentle tear let fall From either eye, and wip'd them with her hair: Two other precious drops that ready stood, Each in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell Kiss'd as the gracious signs of sweet remorse, And pious awe that fear'd to have offended. 135 So all was clear'd, and to the field they haste. But first, from under shady arborous roof Soon as they forth were come to open sight Of dayspring and the sun, who, scarce uprisen With wheels yet hov'ring o'er the ocean brim, 140 Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray, Discovering in wide landscape all the east Of paradise and Eden's happy plains, Lowly they bow'd adoring, and began 127 bosom❜d] Bosom.' Bentl. MS. 137 roof] In Milton's own edition, a comma stands after roof, which Tickell, Fenton, Bentley followed. Pearce properly corrected it. Their orisons, each morning duly paid 151 Flow'd from their lips, in prose or numerous verse, In these thy lowest works; yet these declare 164 Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, If better thou belong not to the dawn, Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smiling morn With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere While day arises, that sweet hour of prime. 150 numerous] To enter David's numerous fane.' Sandy's Psalms: Ded. 166 Fairest] Hom. Il. xxii. 318. and Ov. Met. ii. 114. 170 Newton. Thou sụn, of this great world both eye and soul, Acknowledge him thy greater, sound his praise In thy eternal course, both when thou clim'st, And when high noon hast gain'd, and when thou fall'st. 174 Moon, that now meet'st the orient sun, now fly'st, Of nature's womb, that in quaternion run 180 185 And nourish all things, let your ceaseless change 177 'five] Verum etiam quinque stellas, quæ vulgo vaga nuncupantur.' v. Apul. de Deo Socratis, ed. Delph. vol. ii. p. 666. 181 quaternion] Heywood's Hier. p. 193. 'What ternions and classes be In the cælestial hierarchie.' |