And love with fear the only God, to walk
As in his prefence, ever to obferve
His providence, and on him fole depend,
Merciful over all his works, with good
Still overcoming evil, and by fmall

565

Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak

Subverting worldly ftrong, and worldly wife

By fimply meek; that fuffering for truth's fake
Is fortitude to highest victory,

And to the faithful death the gate of life;
Taught this by his example whom I now
Acknowledge my Redeemer ever bleft.

To whom thus also th' Angel last reply'd.
This having learn'd, thou haft attain'd the fum
Of wisdom; hope no high'er, though all the stars
Thou knew'ft by name, and all th' ethereal pow'rs,
All fecrets of the deep, all Nature's works,

570

575

Or works of God in Heav'n, air, earth, or fea,

And all the riches of this world enjoy'dft,

580

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 foul
Of all the reft: then wilt thou not be loath

585

To leave this Paradise, but shalt poffefs

A Paradife within thee, happier far.

Let us defcend now therefore from this top
Of fpeculation; for the hour precife

Exacts our parting hence; and fee the guards,

590

By me incamp'd on yonder hill, expect

Their motion, at whose front a flaming fword,

In fignal of remove, waves fiercely round;
We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve;

Her alfo I with gentle dreams have calm'd
Portending good, and all her fpi'rits compos'd
To meek fubmiffion: thou at season fit

595

Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard,
Chiefly what may concern her faith to know,
The great deliverance by her feed to come
(For by the Woman's feed) on all mankind:
That ye may live, which will be many days,
Both in one faith unanimous, though fad
With caufe for evils paft, yet much more chear'd
With meditation on the happy end.

He ended, and they both descend the hill;
Defcended, Adam to the bow'r where Eve
Lay fleeping ran before, but found her wak'd;
And thus with words not fad fhe him receiv'd.

600

605

615

Whence thou return'st, and whither went'ft, I know; For God is alfo' in fleep, and dreams advise, Which he hath fent propitious, fome great good Prefaging, fince with forrow' 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 Heav'n, all places thou, Who for my wilful crime art banish'd hence. This further confolation yet fecure

I carry hence; though all by me is loft,

620

Such

Such favor I unworthy am vouchsaf'd,

By me the promis'd Seed shall all restore.

So fpake our mother Eve, and Adam heard
Well pleas'd, but answer'd not; for now too nigh 625
Th' Arch-Angel ftood, and from the other hill

To their fix'd station, all in bright array
The Cherubim defcended; on the ground
Gliding meteorous, as evening mist
Ris'n from a river o'er the marish glides,
And gathers ground faft at the lab'rer's heel
Homeward returning. High in front advanc'd
The brandifh'd fword of God before them blaz'd
Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat,
And vapor as the Libyan air aduft,
Began to parch that temp'rate clime; whereat
In either hand the haft'ning Angel caught
Our ling'ring parents, and to the eastern gate
Led them direct, and down the cliff as faft
To the subjected plain; then difappear'd.
They looking back, all th' eastern fide beheld
Of Paradife, fo late their happy feat,
Wav'd over by that flaming brand, the gate
With dreadful faces throng'd and fiery arms:

630

635

640

Some natural tears they dropt, but wip'd them foon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of reft, and Providence their guide: They hand in hand, with wand'ring steps and flow, Through Eden took their folitary way.

THE END OF PARADISE LOST.

THE

FIRST BOOK

O F

PARADISE REGAIN'D.