9
To whom thus Adam gratefully replid. [ 370 ]
Ascend, I follow thee, safe Guide, the path
Thou leadst me, and to the hand of Heavn submit,
However chastning, to the evil turne
My obvious breast, arming to overcom
By suffering, and earne rest from labour won, [ 375 ]
If so I may attain. So both ascend
In the Visions of God: It was a Hill
Of Paradise the highest, from whose top
The Hemisphere of Earth in cleerest Ken
Stretcht out to amplest reach of prospect lay. [ 380 ]
Not higher that Hill nor wider looking round,
Whereon for different cause the Tempter set
Our second Adam in the Wilderness,
To shew him all Earths Kingdomes and thir Glory.
His Eye might there command wherever stood [ 385 ]
City of old or modern Fame, the Seat
Of mightiest Empire, from the destind Walls
Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can
And Samarchand by Oxus, Temirs Throne,
To Paquin of Sinæan Kings, and thence [ 390 ]
To Agra and Lahor of great Mogul
Down to the golden Chersonese, or where
The Persian in Ecbatan sate, or since
In Hispahan, or where the Russian Ksar
In Mosco, or the Sultan in Bizance, [ 395 ]
Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken
Th Empire of Negus to his utmost Port
Ercoco and the less Maritim Kings
Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind,
And Sofala thought Ophir, to the Realme [ 400 ]
Of Congo, and Angola fardest South;
Or thence from Niger Flood to Atlas Mount
The Kingdoms of Almansor, Fez and Sus,
Marocco and Algiers, and Tremisen;
On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway [ 405 ]
The World: in Spirit perhaps he also saw
Rich Mexico the seat of Motezume,
And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat
Of Atabalipa, and yet unspoild
Guiana, whose great Citie Geryons Sons [ 410 ]
Call El Dorado: but to nobler sights
Michael from Adams eyes the Filme removd
Which that false Fruit that promisd clearer sight
Had bred; then purgd with Euphrasie and Rue
The visual Nerve, for he had much to see; [ 415 ]
And from the Well of Life three drops instilld.
So deep the power of these Ingredients piercd,
Eevn to the inmost seat of mental sight,
That Adam now enforct to close his eyes,
Sunk down and all his Spirits became intranst: [ 420 ]
But him the gentle Angel by the hand
Soon raisd, and his attention thus recalld.