Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/271

 BOOK ELEVENTH

��229

��Therefore to his great bidding I submit. This most afflicts me that, departing

hence,

As from his face I shall be hid, deprived His blessed countenance. Here I could

frequent, With worship, place by place where he

voutsafed

Presence Divine, and to my sons relate, 'On this mount He appeared; under this tree 320

Stood visible; among these pines his voice I heard; here with him at this fountain

talked.'

So many grateful altars I would rear Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone Of lustre from the brook, in memory Or monument to ages, and thereon Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and

flowers.

In yonder nether world where shall I seek His bright appearances, or footstep trace ? For, though I fled him angry, yet, recalled To life prolonged and promised race, I now 331

Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts Of glory, and far off his steps adore." To whom thus Michael, with regard be- nign: " Adam, thou know'st Heaven his, and all

the Earth,

Xot this rock only; his omnipresence fills Land, sea, and air, and every kind that

lives,

Fomented by his virtual power and warmed. All the Earth he gave thee to possess and

rule,

No despicable gift; surmise not, then, 340 His presence to these narrow bounds con- fined

Of Paradise or Eden. This had been Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had

spread

Ul generations, and had hither come, From all the ends of the Earth, to cele- brate

And reverence thee their great progenitor. But this pre - eminence thou hast lost,

brought down

To dwell on even ground now with thy sons: Yet doubt not but in valley and in plain God is, as here, and will be found alike 350 Present, and of his presence many a sign Still following thee, still compassing thee round

��With goodness and paternal love, his face Express, and of his steps the track divine. Which that thou may'st believe, and be

confirmed Ere thou from hence depart, know I am

sent To shew thee what shall come in future

days To thee and to thy offspring. Good with

bad

Expect to hear, supernal grace contending With siufuluess of men thereby to learn True patience, and to temper joy with fear And pious sorrow, equally inured 362

By moderation either state to bear, Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead Safest thy life, and best prepared endure Thy mortal passage when it comes. As- cend This hill ; let Eve (for I have drenched her

eyes) Here sleep below while thou to foresight

wak'st, As once thou slept' st while she to life was

formed."

To whom thus Adam gratefully re- plied : 370 " Ascend; I follow thee, safe Guide, the

path

Thou lead'st me, and to the hand of Hea- ven submit,

However chastening to the evil turn My obvious breast, arming to overcome By suffering, and earn rest from labour

won,

If so I may attain." So both ascend In the Visions of God. It was a hill, Of Paradise the highest, from whose top The hemisphere of Earth in clearest ken Stretched out to the amplest reach of pro- spect lay. 380 Not higher that hill, nor wider looking

round, Whereon for different cause the Tempter

set

Our second Adam, in the wilderness, To shew him all Earth's kingdoms and

their glory. His eye might there command wherever

stood

City of old or modern fame, the seat Of mightiest empire, from the destined

walls

Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can, And Sainarchand by Oxus, Teuiir's throne,

�� �