Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/164

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 embraces: 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 employed beheld
With pity Heaven's high King, and to him called
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; and such discourse bring-on,
As may advice him of his happy state,
Happiness in his power left free to will,