Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/189

 BOOK FOURTH

��When first on this delightful land he

spreads His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and

flower, Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertil

Earth After soft showers; and sweet the coming-

on Of grateful Evening mild; then silent

Night, With this her solemn bird, and this fair

Moon, And these the gems of Heaven, her starry

train :

But neither breath of Morn, when she as- cends 650 With charm of earliest birds; nor rising

Sun On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit,

flower, Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after

showers ; Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent

Night, With this her solemn bird; nor walk by

moon, Or glittering star-light, without thee is

sweet. But wherefore all night long shine these ?

for whom This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut

all eyes ? "

To whom our general ancestor replied:
 * l Daughter of God and Man, accomplished

Eve, 660

Those have their course to finish round the

Earth

By morrow evening, and from land to land In order, though to nations yet unborn, Ministering light prepared, they set and

rise ;

Lest total Darkness should by night regain Her old possession, and extinguish life In nature and all things; which these soft

fires

Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat Of various influence foment and warm, 669 Temper or nourish, or in part shed down Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow On Earth, made hereby apter to receive Perfection from the Sun's more potent ray. These, then, though unbeheld in deep of

night, Shine not in vain. Nor think, though men

were none,

��That Heaven would want spectators, God

want praise. Millions of spiritual creatures walk the

Earth Unseen, both when we wake, and when we

sleep: All these with ceaseless praise his works

behold

Both day and night. How often, from the steep 680

Of echoing hill or thicket, have we heard Celestial voices to the midnight air, Sole, or responsive each to other's note, Singing their great Creator ! Oft in bauds While they keep watch, or nightly round- ing walk,

With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds In full harmonic number joined, their songs Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to

Heaven."

Thus talking, hand in hand alone they

passed 689

On to their blissful bower. It was a place

Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he

framed All things to Man's delightful use. The

roof

Of thickest covert was inwoven shade, Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub, Fenced up the verdant wall; each beaute- ous flower,

Iris all hues, roses, and gessamin, Reared high their flourished heads be- tween, and wrought

Mosaic ; under foot the violet, 700

Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay Broidered the ground, more coloured than

with stone

Of costliest emblem. Other creature here, Beast, bird, insect, or worm, durst enter

none; Such was their awe of Man. In shadier

bower More sacred and sequestered, though but

feigned,

Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close re- cess, With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling

hearbs,

Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed, 710

And heavenly choirs the hymenaeau sung,

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