The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (125 page)

180

Here let us live, though in fall’n state, content.”

181

   
So spoke, so wished much humbled Eve, but Fate

182

Subscribed
⁵⁸³⁵
not. Nature first gave signs, impressed
⁵⁸³⁶

183

On bird, beast, air—air suddenly eclipsed,
⁵⁸³⁷

184

After short blush
⁵⁸³⁸
of morn. Nigh in her sight

185

The bird of Jove,
⁵⁸³⁹
stooped
⁵⁸⁴⁰
from his airy tour,
⁵⁸⁴¹

186

Two birds of gayest plume before him drove.

187

Down from a hill the beast that reigns in woods,
⁵⁸⁴²

188

First hunter then, pursued a gentle brace,
⁵⁸⁴³

189

Goodliest of all the forest, hart and hind.
⁵⁸⁴⁴

190

Direct to the eastern gate was bent their flight.

191

Adam observed, and with his eye the chase

192

Pursuing, not unmoved, to Eve thus spoke:

193

   
“O Eve, some further change awaits us nigh,

194

Which Heav’n, by these mute signs in Nature, shows

195

Forerunners of His purpose, or to warn

196

Us, haply
⁵⁸⁴⁵
too secure
⁵⁸⁴⁶
of
⁵⁸⁴⁷
our discharge
⁵⁸⁴⁸

197

From penalty, because from death released

198

Some days. How long, and what till then our life,

199

Who knows? Or more than this, that we are dust,

200

And thither must return, and be no more?

201

Why else this double object in our sight

202

Of flight pursued in th’ air, and o’er the ground,

203

One way the self-same hour? Why in the east

204

Darkness ere day’s mid-course, and morning-light

205

More orient
⁵⁸⁴⁹
in yon western cloud, that draws

206

O’er the blue firmament a radiant white,

207

And slow descends with something Heavenly fraught?”
⁵⁸⁵⁰

208

   
He erred not, for by this
⁵⁸⁵¹
the Heav’nly bands

209

Down from a sky of jasper
⁵⁸⁵²
lighted now

210

In Paradise, and on a hill made halt—

211

A glorious apparition,
⁵⁸⁵³
had not doubt

212

And carnal
⁵⁸⁵⁴
fear that day dimmed Adam’s eye.

213

Not that more glorious
⁵⁸⁵⁵
when the Angels met

214

Jacob in Mahanaim,
⁵⁸⁵⁶
where he saw

215

The field pavilioned
⁵⁸⁵⁷
with His
⁵⁸⁵⁸
guardians bright,

216

Nor that, which on the flaming mount appeared

217

In Dothan,
⁵⁸⁵⁹
covered with a camp of fire,

218

Against the Syrian king, who to surprise

219

One man,
⁵⁸⁶⁰
assassin-like,
⁵⁸⁶¹
had levied
⁵⁸⁶²
war,

220

War unproclaimed. The princely Hierarch
⁵⁸⁶³

221

In their bright stand
⁵⁸⁶⁴
there left his Powers, to seize

222

Possession of the Garden. He alone,

223

To find where Adam sheltered, took his way,

224

Not unperceived of Adam, who to Eve,

225

While the great visitant approached, thus spoke:

226

   
“Eve, now expect great tidings, which perhaps

227

Of us will soon determine,
⁵⁸⁶⁵
or impose

228

New laws to be observed, for I descry,

229

From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill,

230

One of the Heav’nly host and, by his gait,

231

None of the meanest,
⁵⁸⁶⁶
some great Potentate

232

Or of the Thrones above, such majesty

233

Invests
⁵⁸⁶⁷
him coming, yet not terrible

234

(That I should fear) nor sociably
⁵⁸⁶⁸
mild

235

As Raphael (that I should much confide)
⁵⁸⁶⁹

236

But solemn and sublime,
⁵⁸⁷⁰
whom not t’ offend

237

With reverence I must meet, and thou retire.”

238

   
He ended, and the Arch-Angel soon drew nigh,

239

Not in his shape celestial, but as man

240

Clad to meet man. Over his lucid
⁵⁸⁷¹
arms
⁵⁸⁷²

241

A military vest
⁵⁸⁷³
of purple flowed,

242

Livelier
⁵⁸⁷⁴
than Meliboean
⁵⁸⁷⁵
or the grain
⁵⁸⁷⁶

243

Of Sarra,
⁵⁸⁷⁷
worn by kings and heroes old

244

In time of truce. Iris
⁵⁸⁷⁸
had dipped the woof.
⁵⁸⁷⁹

245

His starry helm,
⁵⁸⁸⁰
unbuckled, showed him prime

246

In manhood where youth ended; by his side,

247

As in a glistering zodiac,
⁵⁸⁸¹
hung the sword,

248

Satan’s dire dread,
⁵⁸⁸²
and in his hand the spear.

249

Adam bowed low; he,
⁵⁸⁸³
kingly, from his state
⁵⁸⁸⁴

250

Inclined not, but his coming thus declared:

251

   
“Adam, Heav’n’s high beh’est
⁵⁸⁸⁵
no preface needs.

252

Sufficient that thy prayers are heard, and Death,

253

Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress,

254

Defeated of his seizure many days

255

Giv’n thee of grace, wherein thou may’st repent,

256

And one bad act with many deeds well done

257

May’st cover.
⁵⁸⁸⁶
Well may then thy Lord, appeased,

258

Redeem thee quite
⁵⁸⁸⁷
from Death’s rapacious
⁵⁸⁸⁸
claim.

259

But longer in this Paradise to dwell

260

Permits not: to remove thee I am come,

261

And send thee from the garden forth to till
⁵⁸⁸⁹

262

The ground whence thou wast taken, fitter soil.”

263

   
He added not, for Adam at the news

264

Heart-struck with chilling grip of sorrow stood,

265

That all his senses bound.
⁵⁸⁹⁰
Eve, who unseen