Seite 213 von 239

280

PARADISE LOST.

[BOOK XI.—412-445

Michael from Adam's eyes the film removed,

Which that false fruit, that promised clearer sight,

Had bred; then purged with euphrasy and rue¹

The visual nerve, for he had much to see,

And from the well of life three drops instilled.

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 entranced;

But him the gentle angel by the hand

Soon raised, and his attention thus recalled:

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 derive

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;

In the midst an altar, as the landmark stood,

Rustic, of grassy sward. 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, with incense strewed,

On the cleft wood, and all due rites performed.

His offering soon propitious fire from heaven

Consumed with nimble glance, and grateful 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

¹ Euphrasy and rue.—Fomentations from the plants so named were supposed to be good for the sight.

BOOK XI.—446-477] PARADISE LOST. 281

That beat out life.² 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

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, approved,

Lose no reward, though here thou see him die,

Rolling in dust and gore. To which our sire:

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!

To whom thus Michael: Death thou hast seen

In his first shape on Man; but many shapes

Of Death, and many are the ways that lead

To his grim cave; all dismal, yet to sense

More terrible at the entrance than within.

Some, as thou sawest, by violent stroke shall die;

By fire, flood, famine; by intemperance more

In meats and drinks, which on earth shall bring

Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew

Before thee shall appear, that thou mayst know

What misery the inabstinence of Eve

Shall bring on men. Immediately a place

² "And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. . . . And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." (Gen. iv. 2-8.)