My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard; And day is not yet spent, till then thou seest How subtly to detain thee I devise; Inviting thee to hear while I relate;
Fond! were it not in hope of thy reply: For, while I sit with thee, I seem in heaven; And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst And hunger both, from labour, at the hour, Of sweet repast: they satiate, and soon fill, Though pleasant; but thy words with grace divine Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety. »
To whom thus Raphaet answer'd, heavenly meek: «Nor are thy lips ungraceful, sire of men! Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee Abundantly his gifts hath also pour'd Inward and outward both, his image fair: Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace Attends thee; and each word, each motion forms; Nor less think we in heaven of thee on earth Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire
Gladly into the ways of God with man: For God, we see, hath honour'd thee, and set On man his equal love: say therefore on; For I that day was absent, as befel, Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, Far on excursion toward the gates of hell; Squar'd in full legion (such command we had) To see that none thence issued forth a spy Or enemy, while God was in his work; Lest he, incens'd at such eruption bold, Destruction with creation might have mix'd.
Mia storia, che non anco forse udisti; Il di ancor vive, e tu ben vedi intanto Come a tenerti io già sottile adopri; Te invitando ad udire i miei racconti, Caldo sperando avere i tuoi responsi;
Che mentre io son con te mi sembro in cielo ; E più cara al mio orecchio è tua favella, Che non di palma i frutti a fame e a sete Vengon giocondi appo fatica, all' ora Di grato pasto sazian elli e presto, Benchè piacenti, ma il tuo dir di' grazia Diva ripien, piacer non tedio arreça.
E a lui Rafael sì con bontà celeste:
« Ned è il tuo labbro indotto, o sire umano ! Ned infacondo il dire; chè suoi doni
Dio pur su te versò con piene mani
E dentro e fuor, come a sua bella imago: O parli o taci, ogni beltade e grazia T'abbella, ogni atto informa ed ogni accente Ne men noi in ciel stimiam di te su terra Che d'un caro conservo nostro, e lieti Coll' uomo interroghiam le vie di Dio. Chè Dio, il vediamo, te sublima e pone Sull' uomo eguale amor: su parla adunque ; Ch' assente io fui, siccome avvien quel die, Destinato a viaggio ed aspro e oscuro Per escursion ver le infernali porte; Serrati in squadra, (tal comando avemmo) A cessar ch' indi esplorator rompesse O nemico, mentre era Dio nell' opra; Che ci non irato a così audace fuga Sterminio e creazion mescesse insieme.
Not that they durst without his leave attempt; But us he sends upon his high behests
For state, as sovran king; and to inure
Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut, The dismal gates; and barricadoed strong; But long ere our approaching, heard within Noise, other than the sound of dance or song, Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. Glad we return'd up to the coasts of light Ere sabbath-evening: so we had in charge. But thy relation now; for I attend,
Pleas'd with thy words no less than thou with mine. » So spake the godlike power, and thus our sire: << For man to tell how human life began Is hard; for who himself beginning knew? Desire with thee still longer to converse Induc'd me. As new wak'd from soundest sleep, Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid,
In balmy sweat; which with his beams the sun Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. Straight toward heaven my wondering eyes I turn'd, And gaz'd awhile the ample sky: till, rais'd By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung, As thitherward endeavouring, and upright Stood on my feet: about me round I saw Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these Creatures that liv'd and walk'd, or flew; Birds on the branches warbling; all things smil'd: With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflow'd, Myself I then perus'd, and limb by limb
Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran
Nè osato già l'avrian senza sua venia; Pur ei ne invia per suoi consigli arcani Di stato, qual celeste Re, e ad usare Il pronto obbedir nostro. Chiuse e salde Eran l'orrende porte e corse a sbarre; Ma da elle lungi ancor, là dentro udimmo Fragore ed altro suon che danze o canti, Ma cruccio ed alti lai, furore ed ira. Lieti tornammo su a region di luce Pria d'imbrunare il sabbato: l' incarco
Fu tale. Orsù comincia; io t'odo, e piacciomi Nel tuo parlar non men che tu nel mio. »> Così l'angelo, e disse il nostro padre: « Arduo è per l'uom narrar com' ebbe inizio L'umana vita; e chi sé nascer vide?
Desio di te goder più a lungo a dire Mi spinse. Qual chi or desto da alto sonno Molle su l'erbe e i fior trovaimi steso Con ambrosio sudor che a' rai del sole Presto esalò e svani in leggier vapore. Tosto al ciel stupefatti gli occhi io volsi E fissi all' ampio azzurro; finchè impulso Da vivo interno istinto su balzai
Qual chi ver là si sforza, e dritto stetti Sopra i miei piè: mi vidi monti intorno E valli e selve ombrose e piani aprichi, E liquido errar di rii sonanti, e ovunque Questi animai fluire o andar diversi ; Cantan gli augei pei rami, tutto ride Con fragranza, e di gioia il cor m' inonda: Me stesso allor rimiro, e membro a membro Visito; or lenti or presti muto i passi
With supple joints, as lively vigour led: But who I was, or where, or from what cause, Knew not; to speak I tried, and forthwith spake; My tongue obey'd, and readily could name Whate'er I saw. Thou sun, (said I) fair light, And thou enlighten'd earth, so fresh and gay, Ye hills, and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plains, And ye that live and move, fair creatures, tell, Tell, if ye saw, how came I thus, how here? Not of myself; by some great Maker then,
In goodness and 'in power pre-eminent;
Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, From whom I have that thus I move and live, And feel that I am happier than I know.
While thus I call'd, and stray'd I knew not whither, From where I first drew air, and first beheld This happy light; when, answer none return'd, On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, Pensive I sat me down: there gentle sleep First found me, and with soft oppression seiz'd My drowsed sense, untroubled: (though I thought I then was passing to my former state Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve :)
When suddenly stood at my head a dream, Whose inward apparition gently mov'd
My fancy to believe I yet had being,
And liv'd; one came, methought, of shape divine, And said: « Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise, First man, of men innumerable ordain'd
First father call'd by thee, I come thy guide To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepar'd. »
So saying, by the hand he took me raised,
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