Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/196

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��PARADISE LOST

��To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes, Wild work produces oft, and most in

dreams, 111 matching words aud 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 unapproved, and

leave 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. Be not disheartened, then, nor cloud those

looks,

That wont to be more cheerful and serene Than when fair Morning first smiles on the

world;

And let us to our fresh imployments rise Among the groves, the fountains, and the

flowers, That open now their choicest bosomed

smells, Reserved from night, and kept for thee in

store." So cheered he his fair spouse; and she

was cheered,

But silently a gentle tear let fall 130

From either eye, and wiped them with her

hair:

Two other precious drops that ready stood, Each in their crystal sluice, he, ere they

fell,

Kissed as the gracious signs of sweet re- morse

And pious awe, that feared to have of- fended. So all was cleared, and to the field they

haste.

But first, from under shady arborous roof Soon as they forth were come to open sight Of day-spring, and the Sun who, scarce

uprisen,

With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean- brim, M o Shot parallel to the Earth his dewy ray, Discovering in wide lantskip all the east Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains Lowly they bowed, adoring, and began Their orisons, each morning duly paid In various style; for neither various style

��Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise

Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung

Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence

Flowed from their lips, in prose or numer- ous verse, 150

More tuneable than needed lute or harp

To add more sweetness. And they thus

began :

" These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,

Almighty ! thine this universal frame,

Thus wondrous fair: Thyself how wondrous then !

Unspeakable ! who sitt'st above these hea- vens

To us invisible, or dimly seen

In these thy lowest works; yet these de- clare

Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine.

Speak, ye who best can tell, ye Sons of Light, 1 60

Angels for ye behold him, aud with songs

And choral symphonies, day without night,

Circle his throne rejoicing ye in Heaven;

On Earth join, all ye creatures, to extol

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 smil- ing morn

With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere

While day arises, that sweet hour of prime.

Thou Sun, of this great World both eye and soul, 171

Acknowledge him thy Greater; sound his praise

In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st,

And when high noon hast gained, and when thou fall'st.

Moon, that now meet'st the orient Sun, now fliest,

With the fixed Stars, fixed in their orb that flies;

Aud ye five other wandering Fires, that move

In mystic dance, not without song, resound

His praise who out of Darkness called up Light.

Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth 180

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