230
��PARADISE LOST
��To Paquin, of Sinsean kings, aiid thence 390 To Agra and Labor of Great Mogul, Down to the golden Chersonese, or where The Persian in Ecbatan sat, or since In Hispahan, or where the Russian Ksar In Mosco, or the Sultan in Bizance, Turchestan-born ; nor could his eye not ken The empire of Negus to his utmost port Ercoco, and the less maritime kings, Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind, And Sofala (thought Ophir), to the realm Of Congo, and Angola fardest south, 401 Or thence from Niger flood to Atlas mount, The kingdoms of Almansor, Fez and Sus, Marocco, and Algiers, and Tremisen; On Europe thence, and where Rome was
to sway
The world: in spirit perhaps he also saw Rich Mexico, the seat of Montezume, And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat Of Atabalipa, and yet unspoiled Guiana, whose great city Geryon's sons 410 Call El Dorado. But to nobler sights Michael from Adam's eyes the film re- moved Which that false fruit that promised clearer
sight Had bred; then purged with euphrasy and
rue
The visual nerve, for he had much to see, And from the well of life three drops in- stilled. So deep the power of these ingredients
pierced,
Even to the inmost seat of mental sight, That Adam, now enforced to close his eyes, Sunk down, and all his spirits became in- tranced. 420 But him the gentle Angel by the hand Soon raised, and his attention thus re- called: " Adam, now ope thine eyes, and first
behold The effects which thy original crime hath
wrought In some to spring from thee, who never
touched The excepted Tree, nor with the Snake
conspired,
Nor sinned thy sin, yet from that sin de- rive Corruption to bring forth more violent
deeds."
His eyes he opened, and beheld a field, Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves
��New-reaped, the other part sheep-walks and folds ; 43 r
I' the midst an altar as the landmark stood, Rustic, of grassy sord. Thither anon A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought First-fruits, the green ear and the yellow
sheaf, Unculled, as came to hand. A shepherd
next, More meek, came with the firstlings of his
flock,
Choicest and best; then, sacrificing, laid The inwards and their fat, witL incense
strewed,
On the cleft wood, and all due rites per- formed. 440 His offering soon propitious fire from hea- ven
Consumed, with nimble glance and grate- ful steam;
The other's not, for his was not sincere: Whereat he inly raged, and, as they talked, Smote him into the midriff with a stone That beat out life; he fell, and, deadly pale, Groaned out his soul, with gushing blood
effused.
Much at that sight was Adam in his heart Dismayed, and thus in haste to the Angel
cried:
" O Teacher, some great mischief hath
befallen 450
To that meek man, who well had sacrificed:
Is piety thus and pure devotion paid ? "
To whom Michael thus, he also moved,
replied : " These two are brethren, Adam, and to
come Out of thy loins. The unjust the just hath
slain,
For envy that his brother's offering found From Heaven acceptance; but the bloody
fact
Will be avenged, and the other's faith ap- proved Lose no reward, though here thou see him
die,
Rowling in dust and gore." To which our
Sire : 460
"Alas, both for the deed and for the
cause ! But have I now seen Death ? Is this the
way
I must return to native dust ? O sight Of terror, foul and ugly to behold ! Horrid to think, how horrible to feel ! "
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