Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. Джон Мильтон

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СКАЧАТЬ him, all ear to hear new utterance flow.

      “Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys,

      Dearer thyself than all; needs must the Power

      That made us, and for us this ample world,

      Be infinitely good, and of his good

      As liberal and free as infinite;

      That raised us from the dust, and placed us here

      In all this happiness, who at his hand

      Have nothing merited, nor can perform

      Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires

      From us no other service than to keep

      This one, this easy charge, of all the trees

      In Paradise that bear delicious fruit

      So various, not to taste that only tree

      Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life;

      So near grows death to life, whate’er death is,

      Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowest

      God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree,

      The only sign of our obedience left,

      Among so many signs of power and rule

      Conferred upon us, and dominion given

      Over all other creatures that possess

      Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard

      One easy prohibition, who enjoy

      Free leave so large to all things else, and choice

      Unlimited of manifold delights:

      But let us ever praise him, and extol

      His bounty, following our delightful task,

      To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers,

      Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.”

      To whom thus Eve replied. “O thou for whom

      And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh,

      And without whom am to no end, my guide

      And head! what thou hast said is just and right.

      For we to him indeed all praises owe,

      And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy

      So far the happier lot, enjoying thee

      Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou

      Like consort to thyself canst no where find.

      That day I oft remember, when from sleep

      I first awaked, and found myself reposed

      Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where

      And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.

      Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound

      Of waters issued from a cave, and spread

      Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved

      Pure as the expanse of Heaven; I thither went

      With unexperienced thought, and laid me down

      On the green bank, to look into the clear

      Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky.

      As I bent down to look, just opposite

      A shape within the watery gleam appeared,

      Bending to look on me: I started back,

      It started back; but pleased I soon returned,

      Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks

      Of sympathy and love: There I had fixed

      Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire,

      Had not a voice thus warned me; ‘What thou seest,

      What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself;

      With thee it came and goes: but follow me,

      And I will bring thee where no shadow stays

      Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he

      Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy

      Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear

      Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called

      Mother of human race.’ What could I do,

      But follow straight, invisibly thus led?

      Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall,

      Under a platane; yet methought less fair,

      Less winning soft, less amiably mild,

      Than that smooth watery image: Back I turned;

      Thou following cryedst aloud, ‘Return, fair Eve;

      Whom flyest thou? whom thou flyest, of him thou art,

      His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent

      Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart,

      Substantial life, to have thee by my side

      Henceforth an individual solace dear;

      Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim

      My other half:’ With that thy gentle hand

      Seized mine: I yielded; and from that time see

      How beauty is excelled by manly grace,

      And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.”

      So spake our general mother, and with eyes

      Of conjugal attraction unreproved,

      And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned

      On our first father; half her swelling breast

      Naked met his, under the flowing gold

      Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight

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