Read The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems Online
Authors: John Milton,Burton Raffel
Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Literary Collections, #Poetry, #Classics, #English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, #English poetry
176 | | |
177 | | Contented that thus far hath been revealed |
178 | | Not of earth only, but of highest Heav’n. |
179 | | To whom thus Adam, cleared of doubt, replied: |
180 | | |
181 | | Intelligence of Heav’n, Angel serene! |
182 | | And, freed from intricacies, |
183 | | The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts |
184 | | To interrupt the sweet of life, from which |
185 | | God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares, |
186 | | And not molest |
187 | | Seek them with wand’ring thoughts, and notions vain. |
188 | | But apt the mind or fancy is to rove |
189 | | Unchecked, and of her roving is no end, |
190 | | Till warned, or by experience taught, she learn |
191 | | That not to know at large |
192 | | From use, obscure and subtle, |
193 | | That which before us lies in daily life, |
194 | | Is the prime wisdom. What is more, is fume |
195 | | |
196 | | And renders us, in things that most concern |
197 | | Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek. |
198 | | |
199 | | A lower flight, and speak of things at hand |
200 | | Useful, whence haply, |
201 | | Of something not unseasonable to ask, |
202 | | |
203 | | |
204 | | Ere my remembrance. Now, hear me relate |
205 | | My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard. |
206 | | And day is not yet spent—till then thou see’st |
207 | | How subtly to detain thee I devise, |
208 | | Inviting thee to hear while I relate. |
209 | | Fond! |
210 | | For while I sit with thee, I seem in Heav’n, |
211 | | And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear |
212 | | Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst |
213 | | And hunger both, from |
214 | | |
215 | | Though pleasant, but thy words, with grace divine |
216 | | |
217 | | To whom thus Raphael answered, Heav’nly meek: |
218 | | |
219 | | Nor tongue ineloquent. For God on thee |
220 | | Abundantly His gifts hath also poured |
221 | | Inward and outward both, His image fair. |
222 | | Speaking or mute, |
223 | | |
224 | | Nor less think we in Heav’n of thee on earth |
225 | | Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire |
226 | | Gladly into the ways of God with man, |
227 | | For God, we see, hath honored thee, and set |
228 | | On man His equal love. Say therefore on, |
229 | | For I that day was absent, as befell, |
230 | | |
231 | | Far on excursion |
232 | | |
233 | | To see that none thence issued forth a spy |
234 | | Or enemy, while God was in His work, |
235 | | Lest He, incensed at such eruption |
236 | | Destruction with creation might have mixed. |
237 | | Not that they durst without His leave attempt— |
238 | | But us He sends upon His high behests |
239 | | For state, as Sov’reign King, and to inure |
240 | | Our prompt obedience. |
241 | | The dismal gates, and barricado’d |
242 | | But long ere our approaching heard within |
243 | | Noise, other than the sound of dance or song, |
244 | | Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. |
245 | | Glad we returned up to the coasts of light |
246 | | Ere sabbath-ev’ning: so we had in charge. |
247 | | |
248 | | Pleased with thy words no less than thou with mine. |
249 | | So spoke the godlike Power, and thus our sire: |
250 | | |
251 | | Is hard, for who himself beginning knew? |
252 | | Desire with thee still longer to converse |
253 | | Induced |
254 | | Soft on the flow’ry herb |
255 | | In balmy |
256 | | Soon dried, and on the reeking |
257 | | Straight toward Heav’n my wond’ring eyes I turned, |
258 | | And gazed a while the ample sky, till raised |
259 | | By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung, |
260 | | As thitherward endeavoring, and upright |
261 | | Stood on my feet. About me round I saw |
262 | | Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, |
263 | | |
264 | | Creatures that lived and moved, and walked, or flew, |