BOOK ELEVENTH
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��Therefore to his great bidding I submit. This most afflicts me that, departing
hence,
As from his face I shall be hid, deprived His blessed countenance. Here I could
frequent, With worship, place by place where he
voutsafed
Presence Divine, and to my sons relate, 'On this mount He appeared; under this tree 320
Stood visible; among these pines his voice I heard; here with him at this fountain
talked.'
So many grateful altars I would rear Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone Of lustre from the brook, in memory Or monument to ages, and thereon Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and
flowers.
In yonder nether world where shall I seek His bright appearances, or footstep trace ? For, though I fled him angry, yet, recalled To life prolonged and promised race, I now 331
Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts Of glory, and far off his steps adore." To whom thus Michael, with regard be- nign: " Adam, thou know'st Heaven his, and all
the Earth,
Xot this rock only; his omnipresence fills Land, sea, and air, and every kind that
lives,
Fomented by his virtual power and warmed. All the Earth he gave thee to possess and
rule,
No despicable gift; surmise not, then, 340 His presence to these narrow bounds con- fined
Of Paradise or Eden. This had been Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had
spread
Ul generations, and had hither come, From all the ends of the Earth, to cele- brate
And reverence thee their great progenitor. But this pre - eminence thou hast lost,
brought down
To dwell on even ground now with thy sons: Yet doubt not but in valley and in plain God is, as here, and will be found alike 350 Present, and of his presence many a sign Still following thee, still compassing thee round
��With goodness and paternal love, his face Express, and of his steps the track divine. Which that thou may'st believe, and be
confirmed Ere thou from hence depart, know I am
sent To shew thee what shall come in future
days To thee and to thy offspring. Good with
bad
Expect to hear, supernal grace contending With siufuluess of men thereby to learn True patience, and to temper joy with fear And pious sorrow, equally inured 362
By moderation either state to bear, Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead Safest thy life, and best prepared endure Thy mortal passage when it comes. As- cend This hill ; let Eve (for I have drenched her
eyes) Here sleep below while thou to foresight
wak'st, As once thou slept' st while she to life was
formed."
To whom thus Adam gratefully re- plied : 370 " Ascend; I follow thee, safe Guide, the
path
Thou lead'st me, and to the hand of Hea- ven submit,
However chastening to the evil turn My obvious breast, arming to overcome By suffering, and earn rest from labour
won,
If so I may attain." So both ascend In the Visions of God. It was a hill, Of Paradise the highest, from whose top The hemisphere of Earth in clearest ken Stretched out to the amplest reach of pro- spect lay. 380 Not higher that hill, nor wider looking
round, Whereon for different cause the Tempter
set
Our second Adam, in the wilderness, To shew him all Earth's kingdoms and
their glory. His eye might there command wherever
stood
City of old or modern fame, the seat Of mightiest empire, from the destined
walls
Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can, And Sainarchand by Oxus, Teuiir's throne,
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