John Milton

“ Angels; for ye behold him, and 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 crownest the smiling Morn
With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere,
While day arises, that sweet hour of prime.⁠170
Thou Sun, of this great World both eye and soul,
Acknowledge him thy greater ”

“ 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 dream⁠120
Waking thou never wilt consent to do.
Be not disheartened then, nor cloud those looks,
That wont be more cheerful and serene,
Than when fair Morning first smiles on the world;
And let us to our fresh employments 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. ”

“ Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh,⁠292
And flowering odors, cassia, nard, and balm,
A wilderness of sweets; For Nature here
Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will
Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet,
Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss.
Him, through the spicy forest onward come,
Adam discerned, as in the door he sat
Of his cool bower, while now the mounted sun⁠300
Shot down direct his fervid rays, to warm
Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam needs ”

“ Know none before us, self-begot, self-raised⁠860
By our own quickening power, when fatal course
Had circled his full orb, the birth mature
Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons.
Our puissance is our own; our own right-hand
Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try
Who is our equal. ”

“ Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deigned⁠221
To travel with Tobias, and secured
His marriage with the seven-times wedded maid.
"Raphael," said he, "thou hearest what stir on Earth
Satan, from Hell scaped through the darksome 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 shade⁠230
Thou findest him from the heat of noon retired,
To respite his day-labor with repast,
Or with repose ”

“ To make us less, bent rather to exalt
Our happy state, under one head more near⁠830
United. But, to grant it thee unjust
That equal over equals monarch reign—
Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count,
Or all angelic nature joined in one,
Equal to him, begotten Son? by whom
As by his Word the mighty Father made
All things, even thee; and all the Spirits of Heaven
By him created in their bright degrees,
Crowned them with glory and to their glory named
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers.
Essential Powers ”

“ Raphael performs his message, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy; relates at Adam's request who that enemy is, and how he came to be so, beginning from his first revolt in Heaven, and the occasion thereof; how he drew his legions after him to the parts of the North, and there incited them to rebel with him, persuading all but only Abdiel a Seraph, who in argument dissuades and opposes him, then forsakes him. ”

“ BOOK V.
THE ARGUMENT.
Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her: they come forth to their day-labors; their morning hymn at the door of their bower. ”

“ God to render Man inexcusable sends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his free estate, of his enemy near at hand, who he is, and why his enemy, and whatever else may avail Adam to know. Raphael comes down to Paradise, his appearance described, his coming discerned by Adam afar off, sitting at the door of his bower ”

“ 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 ”

“ None can than Heaven such glorious shape contain—
Since, by descending from the Thrones above,
Those happy places thou hast deigned awhile
To want, and honor these, vouchsafe with us,
Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess
This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower
To rest, and what the garden choicest bears
To sit and taste, till this meridian heat
Be over, and the sun more cool decline."⁠370
Whom thus the angelic Virtue answered mild:
"Adam, I therefore came ”

“ So saying, with despatchful looks in haste
She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent,
What choice to choose for delicacy best,
What order, so contrived as not to mix
Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring
Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change; ”

“ Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt,
Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit
For Gods, yet able to make Gods of men.⁠70
And why not Gods of men, since good, the more
Communicated, more abundant grows,
The author not impaired, but honored more? ”

“ Of dayspring, and the sun—who scarce uprisen,
With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean brim,⁠140
Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray,
Discovering in wide landscape 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 ”

“ When Adam waked, so customed, for his sleep
Was aery light, from pure digestion bred
And temperate vapors bland, which the only sound ”