Eternity, whose end no eye can reach.
Greatly instructed I sball 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.
Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best,
And love with fear the only God, to walk
As in his presence, ever to observe
His providence, and on him sole depend,
Merciful over all his works, with good
Still overcoming evil, and by small
Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak
Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise
By simply meek; that suffering for truth's sake
Is fortitude to highest victory,
And to the faithful death the gate of life;
Taugbt this by his example, whom I now
Acknowledge my Redeemer ever bless'd.”
To whom thus also th' angel last replied :
" This having learn'd, thou hast attain'd the sum
Of wisdom ; hope no higher, though all the stars
Thou knew'st by name, and all th'ethereal powers,
All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works,
Or works of God in heaven, air, earth, or sea,
And all the riches of this world enjoy'dst,
And all the rule, one empire; only add
Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add faith,
Add virtue, patience, temperance, add love,
By name to come call'd charity, the sout
Of all the rest : then wilt thou not be loath
To leave this Paradise, bụt shalt possess.
A Paradise within thee, happier far.
Let us deseend now therefore from this top
Of speculation ; for the hour precise
Exacts our parting hence; and see the guards
By me encamp'd on yonder hill, expect
Their motion; at whose front a faming sword,
In signal of remove, waves fiercely round:
We may no longer stay. Go, waken Eve ;
Her also I with gentle dreams have calm'd,
Portending, good, and all laer spirits.composiu
To mcek submission : 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
(For by the Woman's Seed) on all mankind;
That ye may live, wbich will be many days,
Both in one faith unanimous though sad,
With cause, for evils past, yet much more cheer'd
With meditation on the happy end."
He ended and they both descend the hill;
Descended, Adam to the bower where Eve
Lay sleeping ran before, but found her wak’d;
And thus with words not sad she him receiv'd :
“Whence thou return'st, and whether went'st I
For God is also' in sleep, and dreams advise,
Which he hath sent propitious, some great good
Presaging, since with sorrow and heart's distress
Wearied I fell asleep: but now lead on;
In 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 heaven, all places thou,
Who for my wilful crime art banish'd hence..
This further consolation yet secure
I carry hence; though all by me is lost,
Such favour 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
Th' archangel 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
Risen from a river o'er the marish glides,
And gathers ground fast at the lab'rer's heel
Homeward returning. High in front advanced,
The brandish'd sword of God before them blaz'd
Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat,
And vapour as the Libyan air adust,
Began to parch that temp'rate clime; whereat
In either hand the bast’ning angel caught
Our ling'ring parents, and to th' eastern gate
Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast
To the subjected plain; then disappear'd.
They looking back, all th' eastern side bebeld
Of Paradise, so late their happy seat,
Wav'd over by that flaming brand; the gate
With dreadful faces throng'd, and fiery arms.
Some natural tears they dropp?d, but wip'd them soon;
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 slow
Through Eden took their solitary way.
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