BOOK FIFTH
��'55
��Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run Perpetual circle, multiform, and mix And nourish all things, let your ceaseless
change
Vary to our great Maker still new praise. Ye Mists and Exhalations, that now rise From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray, Till the sun paint your fleecy skirts with
gold, In honour to the World's great Author
rise; Whether to deck with clouds the uncoloured
sky, Or wet the thirsty earth with falling
showers, 190
Rising or falling, still advance his praise. His praise, ye Winds, that from four quar- ters blow, Breathe soft or loud; and wave your tops,
ye Pines,
With every Plant, in sign of worship wave. Fountains, and ye, that warble, as ye flow, Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his
praise.
Join voices, all ye living Souls. Ye Birds, That, singing, up to Heaven-gate ascend, Bear on your wings and in your notes his
praise.
Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk The earth, and stately tread, or lowly
creep, 201
Witness if / be silent, morn or even, To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, Made vocal by my song, and taught his
praise.
Hail, universal Lord ! Be bounteous still 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, where any
row
Of fruit-trees, over-woody, reached too far Their pampered boughs, and needed hands
to check
Fruitless imbraces: 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 imployed
beheld
With pity Heaven's high King, and to him called 220
Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deigned To travel with Tobias, and secured His marriage with the seven-times-wedded
maid. " Raphael," said he, " thou hear'st what
stir on Earth
Satan, from Hell scaped through the dark- some 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 shade 230
Thou find'st him from the heat of noon re- tired
To respite his day-labour with repast Or with repose; and such discourse bring on As may advise him of his happy state Happiness in his power left free to will, Left to his own free will, his will though
free
Yet mutable. Whence warn him to be- ware
He swerve not, too secure: tell him withal His danger, and from whom; what enemy, Late fallen himself from Heaven, is plot- ting now 240 The fall of others from like state of bliss. By violence ? no, for that shall be with- stood ;
But by deceit and lies. This let him know, Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend Surprisal, unadmonished, unf ore warned." So spake the Eternal Father, and ful- filled
All justice. Nor delayed the winged Saint After his charge received; but from among Thousand celestial Ardours, where he stood Veiled with his gorgeous wings, upspring- ing light, 250
Flew through the midst of Heaven. The
angelic quires, On each hand parting, to his speed gave
way Through all the empyreal road, till, at the
gate
Of Heaven arrived, the gate self-opened wide,
�� �
