On all who in the worship persevere
Of spi'rit and truth; the rest, far greater part,
Will deem in outward rites and specious forms
Religion satisfied; truth shall retire

535
Bestuck with Nand'rous darts, and works of faith
Rarely be found: fo fhall the world go on,
To good malignant, to bad men benign,
Under her own weight groaning, till the day
Appear of respiration to the just,

54 And vengeance to the wicked, at return Of him so lately promis'd to thy aid The Woman's Seed, obscurely then foretold, Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord, Last in the clouds from Heav'n to be reveal'd

545 In glory of the Father, to disolve Satan with his perverted world, then raise From the conflagrant mass, purg'd and refin'd, New Heav'ns, new Earth, ages of endless date Founded in righteousness and peace and love, To bring forth fruits, joy and eternal bliss.

He ended; and thus Adam last reply'd. How soon hath thy prediction, Seer bleft, Measur'd this transient world, the race of time, Till time stand fix’d? beyond is all abyss, 555 Eternity, whose end no eye can reach. Greatly instructed I shall hence depart, Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain; Beyond which was my folly to aspire.

560 Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best,

And

556

And love with fear the only God, to walk
As in his presence, ever to observe
His providence, and on him fole depend,
Merciful over all his works, with good

565
Still overcoming evil, and by small
Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak
Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wife
By simply meek; that suffering for truth's fake
Is fortitude to highest victory,

570 And to the faithful death the gate of life; Taught this by his example whom I now Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest.

To whom thus also th’ Angel last reply'd. This having learn’d, thou hast attaind the sum 575 Of wisdom; hope no high’er, though all the stars Thou hew'st by name, and all th' ethereal pow'rs, All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works, Or works of God in Heav'n, air, earth, or sea, And all the riches of this world enjoy’dít, 580 And all the rule, one empire; only add Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add faith, Add virtue, patience, teniperance, add love, By name to come callid charity, the soul Of all the rest : then wilt thou not be loath 585 To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess A Paradise within thee, happier far. Let us descend now therefore from this top Of speculation; for the hour precise Exacts our parting hence; and see the guards, 590 By me incamp'd on yonder hill, expect

605

Their motion, at whose front a flaming sword,
In signal of remove, waves fiercely round;
We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve;
Her also I with gentle dreams have calm'u

595
Portending good, and all her spi'rits compos'd
To meek fubmission : thou at season fit
Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard,
Chiefly what may concern her faith to know,
The great deliverance by her seed to come 600
(For by the Woman's seed) on all mankind:
That ye may live, which will be many days,
Both in one faith unanimous, though sad
With cause for evils paít, yet much more chear'd
With meditation on the happy end.

He ended, and they both descend the hill;
Defcended, Adam to the bow'r where Eve
Lay lieeping ran before, but found her wak'd;
And thus with words not sad she him receiv'd.

Whence thou return'st, and whither went'st, I know;
For God is also' in sleep, and dreams advise,
Which he hath sent propitious, some great good
Presaging, fince with forrow' and heart's distress
Wearied I fell asleep: but now lead on,
Iņ me is no delay; with thee to go,
Is to stay here; without thee here to stay,
Is to go hence unwilling; thou to me
Art all things under Heav'n, all places thou,
Who for my wilful crime art banish'd hence.
This further consolation yet secure

620 I carry hence; though all by me is lost,

Such

615

Such favor I unworthy am vouchsaf’d,
By me the promis'd Seed shall all restore.

So spake our mother Eve, and Adam heard
Well pleas’d, but answer'd not; for now too nigh 625
Th’ Arch-Angel stood, and from the other hill
To their fix'd station, all in bright array
The Cherubim descended ; on the ground
Gliding meteorous, as evening mist
Ris'n from a river o'er the marish glides, 630
And gathers ground fast at the lab’rer's heel
Homeward returning. High in front advanc’d
The brandith'd sword of God before them blaz'd
Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat,
And vapor as the Libyan air adust,

635 Began to parch that temp'rate clime; whereat In either hand the haft'ning Angel caught Our ling’ring parents, and to the eastern gate Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast To the subjected plain; then disappear'd. They looking back, all th’ eastern fide beheld Of Paradise, fo late their happy feat, Wav'd over by that flaming brand, the

gate With dreadful faces throng’d and fiery arms : Some natural tears they dropt, but wip'd them foon ; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide: They hand in hand, with wand'ring steps and flow, Through Eden took their folitary way.

640

THE END OF PARADISE LOST.

T H E

FIRST BOOK

OF

PARADISE REGAIN’D.