Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/197

 BOOK FIFTH

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��Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run Perpetual circle, multiform, and mix And nourish all things, let your ceaseless

change

Vary to our great Maker still new praise. Ye Mists and Exhalations, that now rise From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray, Till the sun paint your fleecy skirts with

gold, In honour to the World's great Author

rise; Whether to deck with clouds the uncoloured

sky, Or wet the thirsty earth with falling

showers, 190

Rising or falling, still advance his praise. His praise, ye Winds, that from four quar- ters blow, Breathe soft or loud; and wave your tops,

ye Pines,

With every Plant, in sign of worship wave. Fountains, and ye, that warble, as ye flow, Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his

praise.

Join voices, all ye living Souls. Ye Birds, That, singing, up to Heaven-gate ascend, Bear on your wings and in your notes his

praise.

Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk The earth, and stately tread, or lowly

creep, 201

Witness if / be silent, morn or even, To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, Made vocal by my song, and taught his

praise.

Hail, universal Lord ! Be bounteous still To give us only good; and, if the night Have gathered aught of evil, or concealed, Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark." So prayed they innocent, and to their

thoughts Firm peace recovered soon, and wonted

calm. 210

On to their morning's rural work they

haste, Among sweet dews and flowers, where any

row

Of fruit-trees, over-woody, reached too far Their pampered boughs, and needed hands

to check

Fruitless imbraces: or they led the vine To wed her elm; she, spoused, about him

twines Her marriageable arms, and with her

brings

��Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn His barren leaves. Them thus imployed

beheld

With pity Heaven's high King, and to him called 220

Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deigned To travel with Tobias, and secured His marriage with the seven-times-wedded

maid. " Raphael," said he, " thou hear'st what

stir on Earth

Satan, from Hell scaped through the dark- some Gulf,

Hath raised in Paradise, and how disturbed This night the human pair; how he designs In them at once to ruin all mankind. Go, therefore; half this day, as friend with

friend,

Converse with Adam, in what bower or shade 230

Thou find'st him from the heat of noon re- tired

To respite his day-labour with repast Or with repose; and such discourse bring on As may advise him of his happy state Happiness in his power left free to will, Left to his own free will, his will though

free

Yet mutable. Whence warn him to be- ware

He swerve not, too secure: tell him withal His danger, and from whom; what enemy, Late fallen himself from Heaven, is plot- ting now 240 The fall of others from like state of bliss. By violence ? no, for that shall be with- stood ;

But by deceit and lies. This let him know, Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend Surprisal, unadmonished, unf ore warned." So spake the Eternal Father, and ful- filled

All justice. Nor delayed the winged Saint After his charge received; but from among Thousand celestial Ardours, where he stood Veiled with his gorgeous wings, upspring- ing light, 250

Flew through the midst of Heaven. The

angelic quires, On each hand parting, to his speed gave

way Through all the empyreal road, till, at the

gate

Of Heaven arrived, the gate self-opened wide,

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