14

Let us descend now therefore from this top

Of Speculation; for the hour precise

Exacts our parting hence; and see the Guards, [ 590 ]

By mee encampt on yonder Hill, expect

Thir motion, at whose Front a flaming Sword,

In signal of remove, waves fiercely round;

We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve;

Her also I with gentle Dreams have calmd [ 595 ]

Portending good, and all her spirits composd

To meek submission: thou at season fit

Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard,

Chiefly what may concern her Faith to know,

The great deliverance by her Seed to come [ 600 ]

(For by the Womans Seed) on all Mankind.

That ye may live, which will be many dayes,

Both in one Faith unanimous though sad,

With cause for evils past, yet much more cheerd

With meditation on the happie end. [ 605 ]

He ended, and they both descend the Hill;

Descended, Adam to the Bowre where Eve

Lay sleeping ran before, but found her wakt;

And thus with words not sad she him receavd.

Whence thou returnst, and whither wentst, I know; [ 610 ]

For God is also in sleep, and Dreams advise,

Which he hath sent propitious, some great good

Presaging, since with sorrow and hearts distress

Wearied I fell asleep: but now lead on;

In mee is no delay; with thee to goe, [ 615 ]

Is to stay here; without thee here to stay,

Is to go hence unwilling; thou to mee

Art all things under Heavn, all places thou,

Who for my wilful crime art banisht hence.

This further consolation yet secure [ 620 ]

I carry hence; though all by mee is lost,

Such favour I unworthie am voutsaft,

By mee the Promisd Seed shall all restore.

So spake our Mother Eve, and Adam heard

Well pleasd, but answerd not; for now too nigh [ 625 ]

Th Archangel stood, and from the other Hill

To thir fixt Station, all in bright array

The Cherubim descended; on the ground

Gliding meteorous, as Evning Mist

Risn from a River ore the marish glides, [ 630 ]

And gathers ground fast at the Labourers heel

Homeward returning. High in Front advanct,

The brandisht Sword of God before them blazd

Fierce as a Comet; which with torrid heat,

And vapour as the Libyan Air adust, [ 635 ]

Began to parch that temperate Clime; whereat

In either hand the hastning Angel caught

Our lingring Parents, and to th Eastern Gate

Led them direct, and down the Cliff as fast

To the subjected Plaine; then disappeerd. [ 640 ]

They looking back, all th Eastern side beheld

Of Paradise, so late thir happie seat,

Wavd over by that flaming Brand, the Gate

With dreadful Faces throngd and fierie Armes:

Som natural tears they dropd, but wipd them soon; [ 645 ]

The World was all before them, where to choose

Thir place of rest, and Providence thir guide:

They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow,

Through Eden took thir solitarie way.

THE END