Chapter 15 14
Let us descend now therefore from this top
Of Speculation; for the hour precise
Exacts our parting henceforth; 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 calm [ 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 days,
Both in one Faith unanimous though sad,
With cause for evils past, yet much more cheered
With meditation on the happy 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 receaved.
Whence thou returnst, and whither wenttst, 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 henceforth.
This further consolation yet secure [ 620 ]
I carry hence; though all by mee is lost,
Such favor I unworthie am voutsaft,
By mee the Promisd Seed shall all restore.
So spake our Mother Eve, and Adam heard
Well pleasant, but answer not; for now too night [ 625 ]
Th Archangel stood, and from the other Hill
To thir fixt Station, all in bright array
The Cherubim descended;
Gliding meteorous, as Evning Mist
Risn from a River ore the marish glides, [ 630 ]
And gathers ground fast at the Laborers heel
Homeward returning. High in Front advanct,
The brandisht Sword of God before them blazd
Fierce as a Comet; which with torrid heat,
And vapor as the Libyan Air adust, [ 635 ]
Began to parch that temperate Clime;
In either hand the hastning Angel caught
Our lingring Parents, and to the Eastern Gate
Led them direct, and down the Cliff as fast
To the subjected Plaine; then disappeard. [ 640 ]
They looking back, all th Eastern side beheld
Of Paradise, so late thir happy seat,
Wavd over by that flaming Brand, the Gate
With dreadful Faces thronged 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.