Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can, on the sea coast, Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind, all near the line in Zanguebar, a great region of the lower Ethiopia, on the eastern or Indian sea, and subject to the Portuguese, and Sofala thought Ophir, another kingdom and city on the same sea, mistaken by Purchas and others for Ophir, whence Solomon brought gold, to the realm of Congo, a kingdom in the lower Ethiopia on the western shore, as the others were on the eastern, and Angola farthest south, another kingdom south of Congo; Or thence from Niger flood, the river Niger that divides Negroland into two parts, to Atlas mount, in the most western parts of Africa, the kingdoms of Almansor, the countries over which Almansor was king, namely, Fez, and Sus, Morocco, and Algiers, and Tremisen, all kingdoms in Barbary. After Africa he comes to Europe, On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway the world the less is said of Europe as it is so well known. In spirit perhaps he also saw, he could not see it otherwise, as America was on the opposite $90 395 side of the globe, rich Mexico in North America the seat of Montezume, who was subdued by the Spanish general Cortes, and Cusco in Peru in South America, the richer seat of Atabalipa, the last emperor, subdued by the Spanish general Pizarro, and yet unspoiled Guiana, another country of South America not then invaded and spoiled, whose great city, namely, Manhoa, Geryon's sons, the Spaniards from Geryon, an ancient king of Spain, call El Dorado or the golden city, on account of its richness and extent. And thus he surveys the four different parts of the world, but it must be confessed, more with an ostentation of learning, than with any additional beauty to the poem. But Mr. Thyer is of opinion, that such little sallies of the muse agreeably enough diversify the scene, and observes that Tasso, whose Godfrey is no very imperfect model of a regular epic poem, has in his fifteenth Canto employed thirty or forty stanzas together in a description of this sort, which had no necessary connection with his general plan. Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken 400 On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway 405 The world in spi'rit perhaps he also saw Rich Mexico the seat of Montezume, And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat 409. —and yet unspoil'd Guiana.] I suppose Milton alluded to the many frustrated voyages, which had been made in search of this golden country. This was the famous place that Sir Walter Raleigh was to have brought such treasures from. Thyer. 411. but to nobler sights Michael from Adam's eyes the film remov'd,] These which follow are nobler sights, being not only of cities and kingdoms, but of the principal actions of men to the final consummation of things. And to prepare Adam for these sights the angel removed the film from his eyes, as Pallas removed the mists from Diomedes' eyes, Iliad. v. 127. 4 410 And as Venus did likewise from those of Æneas, Æn. ii. 604. Aspice, namque omnem, quæ nunc Now cast your eyes around; while The mists and films that mortal eyes Purge from your sight the dross, and make you see The shape of each avenging deity. Dryden. Michael from Adam's eyes the film remov❜d, 415 Sunk down, and all his spirits become intranc'd; 420 But him the gentle Angel by the hand Soon rais'd, and his attention thus recall'd. Adam, now ope thine eyes, and first behold These passages the poet has imitated and improved;` as in what follows of Adam's sinking down overpowered, and then being raised again by the hand gently by the angel, he has copied from Daniel, x. 8, &c. I saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me-I was in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. And behold a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees: or from Rev. i. 17. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead; and he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not. 414. purg'd with euphrasy and rue] Cleared the organs of his sight with rue and euphrasy or eye-bright, so named of its clearing virtue. Hume. Rue was used in exorcisms, and is therefore called herb of grace. Shakespeare, Richard II. act iii. sc. 7. See too Hamlet, act iv. sc. 7. Th' effects which thy original crime hath wrought Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves New reap'd, the other part sheep-walks and folds; 427. Nor sinn'd thy sin,] So in Exod. xxxii. 30. Ye have sinned a great sin. 1 John v. 16. If any man see his brother sin a sin. And the same manner of speaking has prevailed among the best classic authors as well as in Scripture. Yet from that sin derive. The word sin is by mistake omitted in Milton's second edition, by which the verse becomes lame and defective. 429. His eyes he open'd, and beheld a field, &c.] In this great review which Adam takes of all his sons and daughters, the first objects he is presented with exhibit to him the story of Cain and Abel, which is drawn together with much closeness and propriety of expression. That curiosity and natural horror, which arises in Adam at the sight of the first dying man, is touched with great beauty. Addison. 433. of grassy sord;] That is, of turf. The proper word seems to be swerd, but to be corrupted into sword or sord as it is 425 430 commonly pronounced in greensord and sord of bacon, which may justify Milton in spelling it sord. Some think it is misprinted for sod, turf, of the Belgic sode, Italian terra soda of solidum or solum: and Mr. Fenton has caused it to be printed sod, as Dr. Bentley has very affectedly swerd. 434. A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought &c.] It may be proper to compare this account with the sacred history, to which it alludes, Gen. iv. 2, &c. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof. The poet adds, that Cain took the fruits unculled, as came to hand, whereas Abel selected the choicest and best of his flock; and in this some interpreters have conceived the guilt of Cain to consist. The poet too makes them First fruits, the green ear, and the yellow sheaf, offer both upon the same altar, 435 440 445 talked with Abel his brother: and Groan'd out his soul with gushing arma cruore. Virg. Æn. x. 908. This is very properly made the first vision, and is so much enlarged upon, as it is of Adam's immediate descendants. |