By sufferance, and thy wonted favour, deigned. Thee I have heard relating what was done Ere my remembrance; now hear me relate My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard. And day is yet not 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 Raphael answered, Heavenly meek: “Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of Men, Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee Abundantly his gifts hath also poured, 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 honoured thee, and set On Man his equal love. Say therefore on; For I that day was absent, as befell, Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell, Squared 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, incensed at such eruption bold, Destruction with Creation might have mixed: Not that they durst without his leave attempt; But us he sends upon his high behests For state, as sovereign 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 returned up to the coasts of light Ere Sabbath-evening; so we had in charge. But thy relation now; for I attend, Pleased 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