PARADISE LOST 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-labours: 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; he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choicest fruits of paradise got together by Eve; their discourse at table: 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. Now morn, her rosy steps in th' eastern clime 1 rosy steps] Quintus Smyrnæus applies the eithet, podóaφυρος to Aurora. v. Lib. i. 137. A. Dyce. 2 sow'd] 'Ambo de comis calorem, et ambo radios conserunt.' See Anthol. Lat. vol. i. p. 8, ed. Burm. Avieni, Orb. Desc. ver. 580, and Fragm. in Aristot. Poet. · Σπείρων θεοκτίσταν φλόγα. Upton. 6 10 When Adam wak'd, so custom'd, for his sleep 5 only] For alone.' Spens. F. Q. v. xi. 30. 'As if the only sound thereof she fear'd.' 6 fuming] v. Lucretii. lib. vi. Virg. Geo. ii. 217. 6 fan] Sylvester's Du Bartas, p. 116. 15 'Calls forth the winds. Oh Heaven's fresh fans, quoth he;' and p. 161; now began Aurora's usher with his windy fan Gently to shake the woods on every side.' 7 matin] Virg. Æn. viii. 456. 'Et matutini volucrum sub culmine cantus.' Newton. 17 awake] See Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, ver. 10012. (Marchant's Tale.) 'Rise up, my wif, my love, my lady free, The turtle's vois is heard, myn owen swete! My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found, 25 Such whisp'ring wak'd her, but with startled eye On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spake. O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, My glory, my perfection, glad I see Thy face, and morn return'd; for I this night, 30 Such night till this I never pass'd, have dream'd, If dream'd, not, as I oft am wont, of thee, Works of day pass'd, or morrow's next design, But of offence and trouble, which my mind Knew never till this irksome night: methought 35 Close at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk With gentle voice; I thought it thine: it said, Why sleep'st thou Eve? now is the pleasant time, The cool, the silent, save where silence yields To the night-warbling bird, that now awake Tunes sweetest his love-labour'd song; now reigns Full orb'd the moon, and with more pleasing light 40 23 balmy reed] εὐοδμοῦ καλαμοῖο. v. Dionysii Geog. ver. 937. 41 his] In the other passages, where the song of the nightingale is described, the bird is of the feminine gender; v. iii. 40. iv. 602. vii. 436. Newton. Shadowy sets off the face of things; in vain, 45 56 I rose as at thy call, but found thee not 44 wakes] G. Fletcher's Christ's Victorie, p. 1. st. 78. 'Heaven awakened all his eyes.' Todd. 57 Ambrosia Virg. Æn. i. 403. 'Ambrosiæque comæ divinum vertice odorem Hume. |