154
��PARADISE LOST
��To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes, Wild work produces oft, and most in
dreams, 111 matching words aud deeds long past or
late.
Some such resemblances, methinks, I find Of our last evening's talk in this thy dream, But with addition strange. Yet be not
sad:
Evil into the mind of God or Man May come and go, so unapproved, and
leave No spot or blame behind; which gives me
hope That what in sleep thou didst abhor to
dream 120
Waking thou never wilt consent to do. Be not disheartened, then, nor cloud those
looks,
That wont to be more cheerful and serene Than when fair Morning first smiles on the
world;
And let us to our fresh imployments rise Among the groves, the fountains, and the
flowers, That open now their choicest bosomed
smells, Reserved from night, and kept for thee in
store." So cheered he his fair spouse; and she
was cheered,
But silently a gentle tear let fall 130
From either eye, and wiped them with her
hair:
Two other precious drops that ready stood, Each in their crystal sluice, he, ere they
fell,
Kissed as the gracious signs of sweet re- morse
And pious awe, that feared to have of- fended. So all was cleared, and to the field they
haste.
But first, from under shady arborous roof Soon as they forth were come to open sight Of day-spring, and the Sun who, scarce
uprisen,
With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean- brim, M o Shot parallel to the Earth his dewy ray, Discovering in wide lantskip all the east Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains Lowly they bowed, adoring, and began Their orisons, each morning duly paid In various style; for neither various style
��Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise
Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung
Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence
Flowed from their lips, in prose or numer- ous verse, 150
More tuneable than needed lute or harp
To add more sweetness. And they thus
began :
" These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,
Almighty ! thine this universal frame,
Thus wondrous fair: Thyself how wondrous then !
Unspeakable ! who sitt'st above these hea- vens
To us invisible, or dimly seen
In these thy lowest works; yet these de- clare
Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine.
Speak, ye who best can tell, ye Sons of Light, 1 60
Angels for ye behold him, aud with songs
And choral symphonies, day without night,
Circle his throne rejoicing ye in Heaven;
On Earth join, all ye creatures, to extol
Him first, him last, him midst, and without end.
Fairest of Stars, last in the train of Night,
If better thou belong not to the Dawn,
Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smil- ing morn
With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere
While day arises, that sweet hour of prime.
Thou Sun, of this great World both eye and soul, 171
Acknowledge him thy Greater; sound his praise
In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st,
And when high noon hast gained, and when thou fall'st.
Moon, that now meet'st the orient Sun, now fliest,
With the fixed Stars, fixed in their orb that flies;
Aud ye five other wandering Fires, that move
In mystic dance, not without song, resound
His praise who out of Darkness called up Light.
Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth 180
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