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Battles and realms: in these he put two weights,

The sequel each of parting and of fight:

The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam;

Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend:

Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'st mine;

Neither our own, but given; what folly then

To boast what arms can do! since thine no more

Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now

To trample thee as mire: for proof look up,

And read thy lot in you celestial sign,

Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak

If thou resist. The Fiend looked up, and knew

His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled

Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.

1 Scale aloft: nor more. - Nor said ought more.

BOOK V.

Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her; they come forth to their day-labors; their morning hymn at the door of their bower. God, to render man inexcusable, sends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his free estate, of his enemy near at hand, who he is, sends Raphael comes down to Paradise; his appearance described; his coming discerned by Adam afar off, sitting at the door of his bower; he goes out to meet ance described; his to his lodge, entertains him with the choicest fruits of Paradise, got together by Eve; their him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choicest fruits of Paradise, got together by Eve; their discourse at table; Rapahel performs his message, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy; relates, at Adam's request, who that enemy is, and how he came to be so, beginning from the first revolt in heaven, and the occasion thereof; how he drew his legions after him to the parts of the north, and there incited them to rebel with him, persuading all but only Abdiel, a seraph, who in argument dissuades and opposes him, then forsakes him.

NOW morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl, When Adam waked, so customed: for his sleep Was aery-light, from pure digestion bred, And temperate vapours bland, which the only sound Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan,1 Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song Of birds on every bough; so much the more His wonder was to find unawakened Eve With tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek As through unquiet rest. He, on his side Leaning, half raised, with looks of cordial love Hung over her enamoured, and beheld Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep, Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice Mild as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, Her hand soft touching, whisper'd thus:—Awake, My fairest, my espoused, my latest found, Heaven's last, best gift, my ever-new delight! Awake: the morning shines, and the fresh field Calls us; we lose the prime to mark how spring Our tender plants, how blows the citron grove, What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed,

1 Aurora's fan.—We often speak of fanning winds, and in the morning they may be described as Aurora's fan.