Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

"Had in remembrance always with delight! 705" But what created mind can comprehend "Their number; or the wisdom infinite

"That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? "I saw when, at his word, the formless mass, "The world's material mould, came to a heap: 710"Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar "Stood rul'd; stood vast infinitude confin'd: "Till at his second bidding darkness fled, "Light shone, and order from disorder sprang! "Swift to their several quarters hasted then 715 The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire; "And this ethereal quintessence of heaven "Flew upward, spirited with various forms, "That roll'd orbicular, and turn'd to stars "Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; 720"Each had his place appointed, each his course : "The rest in circuit walls this universe.

"Look downward on that globe, whose hither side "With light from hence, though but reflected, shines: "That place is earth, the seat of man; that light 725" His day, which else, as the other hemisphere, "Night would invade; but there the neighbouring moon "(So call that opposite fair star) her aid

[ocr errors]

Timely interposes; and her monthly round

"Still ending, still renewing, through mid heaven 730"With borrow'd light her countenance triform "Hence fills, and empties, to enlighten the earth; "And in her pale dominion checks the night. "That spot to which I point is Paradise, "Adam's abode; those lofty shades, his bower. 735"Thy way thou canst not miss-me mine requires." Thus said, he turn'd; and Satan, bowing low, (As to superior spirits is wont in heaven, Where honour due, and reverence, none neglects,) Took leave, and toward the coast of earth beneath, 740 Down from the ecliptic, sped with hop'd success, Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel, Nor staid, till on Niphates' top he lights.

BOOK IV.

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

bower, jest the evil spirt stead be here bring some harm to Adam of Eve sleeping: there they ind him at the est of Eve tempting her in a dream, and bring him. Duugi nelling, to Gabriel; by whom questioned, be seurally answers: prepares resistance; but, hindered by a sign from heaven, fies out of Paradise.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK IV.

O, FOR that warning voice! which he who saw
The Apocalypse heard cry in heaven aloud,
Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,
Came furious down to be reveng'd on men;
5 "Woe to th' inhabitants on earth!"-that now,
While time was, our first parents had been warn'd
The coming of their secret foe, and 'scap'd-
Haply so 'scap'd, his mortal snare! for now
Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down,
10 The tempter, ere the accuser, of mankind,
To wreak on innocent frail man his loss
Of that first battle, and his flight to hell:
Yet not rejoicing in his speed, though bold
Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,
15 Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth
Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast,
And like a devilish engine back recoils
Upon himself: horror and doubt distract
His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir
20 The hell within him; for within him hell

He brings, and round about him; nor from hell
One step, no more than from himself, can fly,

G

[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]

* The mark demense, mi ry LM DES
*How me! Te ill is good few iän m

And wir ben males: bed in so
“IKE?sbjernia and da

me step higher “Would set me best and a moment quit “The debt immense cf endes mamla "So burdensome, st paying, still to owe; "Forgetful what from him I still receiv'd': 55" And understood not that a grateful mind "By owing owes not, but still pays, at once "Indebted and discharg'd; what burden then? "O had his powerful destiny ordain'd "Me some inferior angel, I had stood

66

60" Then happy! no unbounded hope had rais'd

« PredošláPokračovať »