Paradise Lost
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A50919.0001.001
Project Note
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The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
Paradise lost.
A POEM Written in TEN BOOKS By JOHN MILTON.
Licensed and Entred according to Order.
LONDON Printed, and are to be sold by Peter Parker under Creed Church near Aldgate; And by Robert Boulter at the Turks Head in Bishopsgate-street; And Matthias Walker, under St. Dunstons Church in Fleet-street, 1667.
PARADISE LOST.
BOOK I.
O
F Mans First Disobedience, and the Fruit
Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste
Brought Death into the World, and all our woe,
With loss of
Eden,
till one greater Man
Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat,
Sing Heav'nly Muse, that on the secret top
Of
Oreb,
or of
Sinai,
didst inspire
That Shepherd, who first taught the chosen Seed,
In the Beginning how the Heavens and Earth
Rose out of
Chaos:
Or if
Zion
Hill
10
Delight thee more, and
Siloa's
Brook that flowed
Fast by the Oracle of God; I thence
Invoke thy aid to my adventrous Song,
That with no middle flight intends to soar
Above th'
Aonian
Mount, while it pursues
Things
〈◊〉
yet in Pros
•…
〈◊〉
Rhime.
And chiefly Thou O Spirit, that dost prefer
Before all Temples th' up
•…
ght
•…
eart and pure,
Instruct me, for Thou knowest; Thou from the first
Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread
20
Dove like
〈◊◊◊〉
the
〈◊〉
Abyss
And madest it pregnant: What in me is dark
Illumine, what is low
〈◊〉
and support;
That to the highth of this great Argument
I may assert th' Eternal Providence,
And justify the ways of God to men.
Say first, for Heaven
〈◊〉
nothing from thy view
Nor the deep Tract of Hell, say first what cause
Mov'd our Grand Parents in that happy State,
Favor'd of
〈◊〉
so highly▪ to fall off
30
From their Creator, and transgress his Will
For one restraint, Lord's of the World besides?
Who first seduced them to that fowl revolt?
〈1 line〉
Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceived
The Mother of Mankind, what time his Pride
Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his Host
Of Rebel Angels, by whose aid aspiring
To set himself in Glory above his Peers,
He trusted to have equaled the most High,
40
If he opposed; and with ambitious aim
Against the Throne and Monarchy of God
Rais'd impious War in Heaven and Battle proud
With vain attempt.
〈◊◊◊〉
Power
Hurld headlong
〈◊〉
•…
om th'
〈◊〉
Sky
With
〈◊〉
ruin and combustion down
〈1 page〉
One next himself in power, and next in crime,
Long after known in
Palestine,
and named
80
Eëëlzebub.
To whom th' Arch-Enemy,
And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words
Breaking the horrid silence thus began.
If though
•…
beest he; But O how fallen! how changed
From him, who in the happy Re
•…
lms of Light
Cloth'd with
〈◊〉
brightness didst outshine
Myriads though bright▪ If he whom mutual league,
United thoughts and counsels, equal hope,
And hazard in the
〈◊◊〉
,
Joynd w
•…
th me once, now misery hath joined
90
In equal ruin: into what Pit thou seest
From what
〈◊◊〉
, so much the stronger provd
He with his Thunder: and till then who knew
The force of those dire Arms? yet not for those
Nor what the Potent Victor in his rage
Can else inflict do I repent or change,
Though changed in outward luster; that fixed mind
And high
〈◊〉
, from sense of injured merit,
That with the
〈◊〉
raised me to contend,
And to the fierce contention brought along
100
Innumerable force of Spirits armed
That durst dislike his reign, and me preferring,
His utmost power with adverse power opposed
In dubious Battle on the Plains of Heaven,
And shook his throne. What
〈◊◊〉
field belost?
All is not lost; the unconquerable Will,
And study of revenge, immortal hate,
And courage never to submit or yield:
And what is else not to be overcome?
That Glory never shall his wrath
〈◊〉
might
110
Extort from me. To bow and fue for grace
With suppliant knee, and defy his power
Who from the terror of this Arm so l
•…
te
Doubted his Empire, that were low indeed,
That were an ignominy and
•…
hame beneath
This downfall; since by Fate the strength of God's
And this Empyreal substance cannot fail,
Since through experience of this great event
In Arms not worse, in foresight much advancit,
We may
•…
ith more successful hope resolve
120
To wage by force or guile eternal Warr
Irreconcileable, to our grand Foe,
Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy
Sole reigning holds the Tyranny of Heaven.
So spake th' Apostate Angel, though in pain,
Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despare:
And him thus answered soon his bold Compeer.
O Prince, O Chief of many Throned Powers,
That led th' imbattelld Seraphim to Warr
Under thy conduct, and in dreadful deeds
130
Fearless, endangered Heavens perpetual King;
And put to proof his high Supremacy,
Whether upheld by strength, or Chance, or Fate,
Too well I see and rue the dire event,
That with sad overthrow and foul defeat
Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty Host
In horrible destruction laid thus low,
As far as God's and Heav'nly Essences
Can Perish: for the mind and spirit remains
Invincible, and vigor soon returns,
140
Though all our Glory extinct, and happy
〈◊〉
Here swallowed up in endless misery.
But what if he our Conqueror, (whom I now
Of force believe Almighty, since no less
Then such could hav orepow'rd such force as ours)
Have left us this our spirit and strength entire
Strongly to suffer and support our pains,
That we may
〈◊◊〉
his vengeful ire,
Or do h
•…
〈◊〉
service as
〈◊〉
thralls
By right of Wa
•…
, what e're his business be
150
Here in the heart of Hell to work in Fire,
Or do his Errands in the gloomy Deep;
What can it then avail though yet we feel
Strength undiminisht, or eternal being
To undergo eternal punishment?
Whereto with speedy words th'Arch-fiend replied.
Fall'n Cherube, to be weak is miserable
Doing or Suffering: but of this be sure,
To do ought good never will be our task,
But ever to do ill our sole delight,
160
As being the contrary to his high will
Whom we resist. If then his Providence
Out of our evil seek to bring forth good,
Our labor must be
•…
o pe
•…
vert that end,
And out of good still to find means of evil;
Which oft times may▪ succeed, so as perhaps
Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb
His i
•…
st counsels from their destind pursuit.
But see the
〈◊〉
Victor hath recalled
His Ministers of vengeance and pursuit
170
Back to the Ga
•…
of Heaven: The Sulphurous Hail
Shot after us in storm, oreblown
•…
h laid
The fiery Su
•…
▪ that from the Precipice▪
Of Heaven received us falling, and the Thunder,
Wing'd with red Lightning and impetuous rage,
Perhaps hath spent his shasts, and ceases now
To bellow through the vast and boundless Deep.
Let us not slip th' occasion, whether scorn,
Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe.
Seest thou yon dreary Plain, forlorn and wild,
180
The seat of desolation, void of light,
Save what the glimmering of these livid fl
•…
s
Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend
From off the tossing of these fiery waves,
There rest, if any rest can harbor there,
And reassembling our asflicted Powers,
Consult how we may henceforth most offend
Our Enemy, our own loss how repair,
How overcome this dire Calamity,
What reinforcement we may gain from Hope,
190
If not what resolution from despare.
Thus Satan talking to his nearest Mate
With Head up-lift above the wave, and Eyes
That sparkling blaz'd, his other Parts besides
Prone on the Flood, extended long and large
Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge
As whom the Fables name of monstrous size,
Titanian,
or
Earth-born,
that war'd on
Jove,
Briarios
or
Typhon,
whom the Den
By ancient
T
•…
sus
held, or that Sea-beast
200
Leviathan,
which God of all his works
Created hugest that swim th' Ocean stream:
Him haply slumbering on the
Norway
foam
The Pilot of some small night founder'd Skiff,
Deeming some Island, oft, as Sea men tell,
With fixed Anchor in his skaly rind
Moors by his side under the Lee, while Night
Invests the Sea, and wished Morn delays:
So stretched out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay
Chain'd on the burning Lake, nor ever thence
210
Had ris'n or heav'd his head, but that the will
And high permission of all-ruling Heaven
Left him at large to his own dark designs,
That with reiterated crimes he might
Heap on himself damnation, while he sought
Evil to others, and enraged might see
How all his malice served but to bring forth
Infinite goodness, grace and mercy shewn
On Man by him seducit, but on himself
Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance poured.
220
Forthwith upright he rears from off the Pool
His mighty Stature; on each hand the flames
Drivn backward slope their pointing spires, & rowld
In billows, leave in the' midst a horrid Vale.
Then with expanded wings he stears his flight
Aloft, incumbent on the dusky Air
That felt unusual weight, till on dry Land
He lights, if it were Land that ever burned
With solid, as the Lake with liquid fire;
And such appeared in hue, as when the force
230
Of subterranean wind transports a Hill
Torn from
Pelorus,
or the shattered side
Of thundering
Aetna,
whose combustible
And fuel'd entrails thence conceiving Fire,
Sublim'd with Mineral fury, aid the Winds,
And leave a singed bottom all involved
With stench and smoke: Such resting found the sole
Of unblest feet. Him followed his next Mate,
Both glorying to have scapit the
Stygian
flood
As God's, and by their own recovered strength,
240
Not by the sufferance of supernal Power.
Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime,
Said then the lost Arch Angel, this the seat
That we must change for Heaven, this mournful gloom
For that celestial light? Be it so, since he
Who now is Sovran can dispose and bid
What shall be right: fardest from him is best
Whom reason hath equald, force hath made supreme
Above his equals. Farewell happy Fields
Where Joy forever dwells: Hail horrors, hail
250
Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell
Receive thy new Possessor: One who brings
A mind not to be changed by Place or Time.
The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.
What matter where, if I be still the same,
And what I should be, all but less then he
Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at least
We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:
260
Here we may reign secure, and in my choice
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heaven▪
But wherefore let we then our faithful friends,
Th' associates and copartners of our loss
Lye thus astonished on th' oblivious Pool,
And call them not to share with us their part
In this unhappy Mansion, or once more
With rallied Arms to try what may be yet
Regaind in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell?
270
So
Satan
spake, and him
Bëëlzebub
Thus answered. Leader of those Armies bright,
Which but th' Omnipotent none could have foyld,
If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge
Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft
In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge
Of battle when it rag'd, in all assaults
Their surest signal, they will soon resume
New courage and revive, though now they lie
Groveling and prostrate on yon Lake of Fire,
280
As we erewhile, astounded and amazed,
No wonder, fallen such a pernicious highth.
He scarce had ceasit when the superior Fiend
Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield
Ethereal temper, massy, large and round,
Behind him cast; the broad circumference
Hung on his shoulders like the Moon, whose Orb
Through Optic Glass the
Tuscan
Artist views
At Ev'ning from the top of
Fesole,
Or in
Valdarno,
to desc
•…
y new Lands,
290
Rivers or Mountains in her spotty Globe.
His Spear, to equal which the tallest Pine
Hewn on
Norwegian
hills, to be the Mast
Of some great A
•…
miral, were but a wand,
He walked with to support uneasy steps
Over the burning Marle, not like those steps
On Heavens Azure, and the torrid Clime
Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with Fire;
Nathless he so endured, till on the Beach
Of that inflamed Sea, he stood and called
300
His Legions, Angel Forms, who lay intransit
Thick as Autumnal Leaves that strow the Brooks
In
Vallombrasa,
where th'
Etrurian
shades
High overarchit imbowr; or scatterd sedge
Afloat, when with fierce Winds
Orion
armed
Hath vext the Red-Sea Coast, whose waves orethrew
Busiris
and his
Memphian
Chivalrie,
While with perfidious hatred they pursued
The Sojourners of
Goshen,
who beheld
From the safe shore their floating Carkases
310
And broken Chariot Wheels, so thick bestrown
Abject and lost lay these, covering the Flood,
Under amazement of their hideous change.
He called so loud, that all the hollow Deep
Of Hell resounded. Princes, Potentates,
Warriers, the Flowr of Heaven, once yours, now lost,
If such astonishment as this can sieze
Eternal spirits; or have ye chos'n this place
After the toil of Battle to repose
Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find
320
To slumber here, as in the Vales of Heaven?
Or in this abject posture have ye sworn
To adore the Conqueror? who now beholds
Cherube and Seraph rolling in the Flood
With scattered Arms and Ensigns, till anon
His swift pursuers from Heaven Gates discern
Th' advantage, and descending tread us down
Thus drooping, or with linked Thunderbolts
Transfix us to the bottom of this Gulf.
Awake, arise, or be forever fallen.
330
They heard, and were abashed, and up they sprung
Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch
On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread,
Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake.
Nor did they not perceive the evil plight
In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel;
Yet to their Generals Voice they soon obeyd
Innumerable. As when the potent
•…
od
Of
Amrams
Son in
Egypt's
evil day
Wav'd round the Coast, up called a pitchy cloud
340
Of
Locusts,
warping on the Eastern Wind,
That ore the Realm of impious
Pharaoh
hung
Like Night, and darkened all the Land of
Nile:
So numberless were those bad Angels seen
Hovering on wing under the Cope of Hell
'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding Fires;
Till, as a signal given, th' uplifted Spear
Of their great Sultan waving to direct
Thir course, in even balance down they light
On the firm brimstone, and fill all the Plain;
350
A multitude, like which the populous North
Pour'd never from her frozen loins, to pass
Rhene
or the
Danaw,
when her barbarous Sons
Came like a Deluge on the South, and spread
Beneath
Gibraltar
to the
Lybian
sands.
Forthwith from every Squadron and each Band
The Heads and Leaders thither hast where stood
Their great Commander; Godlike shapes and forms
Excelling human, Princely Dignities,
And Powers that erst in Heaven sat on Thrones;
360
Though of their Names in heavenly Records now
Be no memorial, blotted out and ras'd
By thir Rebellion, from the Books of Life.
Nor had they yet among the Sons of
Eve
Got them new Names, till wandering ore the Earth,
Through God's high sufferance for the trial of man,
By falsities and lies the greatest part
Of Mankind they corrupted to forsake
God their Creator, and th' invisible
Glory of him, that made them, to transform
370
Oft to the Image of a Brute, adorned
With gay Religions full of Pomp and Gold,
And Devils to adore for Deities:
Then were they known to men by various Names,
And various Idols through the Heathen World.
Say, Muse, their Names then known, who first, who last,
Rous'd from the slumber, on that fiery Couch,
At thir great Emperors call, as next in worth
Came singly where he stood on the bare strand,
While the promiscuous crowd stood yet aloof?
380
The chief were those who from the Pit of Hell
Roaming to seek their prey on earth, durst fix
Their Seats long after next the Seat of God,
Their Altars by his Altar, God's adored
Among the Nations round, and durst abide
Jehovah
thundering out of
Zion,
thron'd
Between the Cherubim; yea, often placed
Within his Sanctuary itself their Shrines,
Abominations; and with cursed things
His holy Rites, and solemn Feasts profaned,
390
And with their darkness durst affront his light.
First
Moloch,
horrid King besmear'd with blood
Of human sacrifice, and parents tears,
Though for the noise of Drums and Timbrels loud
Their children's cries unheard, that past through fire
To his grim Idol. Him the
Ammonite
Worshipt in
Rabba
and her watery Plain,
In
Argob
and in
Basan,
to the stream
Of utmost
Arnon.
Nor content with such
Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart
400
Of
Solomon
he led by fraud to build
His Temple right against the Temple of God
On that opprobrious Hill, and made his Grove
The pleasant Vally of
Hinnom, Tophet
thence
And black
Gehenna
called, the Type of Hell.
Next
Chemos,
th' obscene dread of
Moab's
Sons,
From
Aroer
to
Nebo,
and the wild
Of Southmost
Abarim;
in
Hesebon
And
Heronaim, Seons
Realm, beyond
The flowery Dale of
Sibma
clad with Vines,
410
And
Eleale
to th'
Asphaltick
Pool.
Peor
his other Name, when he entic'd
Israel
in
Sittim
on their march from
Nile
To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe.
Yet thence his lustful Orgies he enlarged
Even to that Hill of scandal, by the Grove
Of
Moloch
homicide, lust hard by hate;
Till good
Josiah
drove them thence to Hell.
With these came they, who from the bordring slood
Of old
Euphrates
to the Brook that parts
420
Egypt
from
Syrian
ground, had general Names
Of
Baalim
and
Ashtaroth,
those male,
These Feminine. For Spirits when they please
Can either Sex assume, or both; so soft
And uncompounded is their Essence pure,
Not ti'd or manacl'd with joint or limb,
Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones,
Like cumbrous flesh; but in what shape they choose
Dilated or condensit, bright or obscure,
Can execute their aerie purposes,
430
And works of love or enmity fulfill.
For those the Race of
Israel
oft forsook
Their living strength, and unfrequented left
His righteous Altar, bowing lowly down
To bestial God's; for which their heads as low
Bow'd down in Battle, sunk before the Spear
Of despicable foes. With these in troop
Came
Astoreth,
whom the
Phoenicians
called
Astarte,
Queen of Heaven, with crescent Horns;
To whose bright Image nightly by the Moon
440
Sidonian
Virgins paid their Vows and Songs,
In
Zion
also not unsung, where stood
Her Temple on th' offensive Mountain, built
By that uxorious King, whose heart though large,
Beguil'd by fair Idolatresses, fell
To Idols foul.
Thammuz
came next behind,
Whose annual wound in
Lebanon
allured
The
Syrian
Damsels to lament his fate
In amorous dittyes all a Summers day,
While smooth
Adonis
from his native Rock
450
Ran purple to the Sea, supposed with blood
Of
Thammuz
yearly wounded: the Love-tale
Infected
Zion's
daughters with like heat,
Whose wanton passions in the sacred Porch
Ezekiel
saw, when by the Vision led
His eye survey'd the dark Idolatries
Of alienated
Judah.
Next came one
Who mourned in earnest, when the Captive Ark
Maim'd his brute Image, head and hands lopped off
In his own Temple, on the grunsel edge,
460
Where he fell flat, and shamed his Worshipers:
Dagon
his Name, Sea Monster, upward Man
And downward Fish: yet had his Temple high
Rear'd in
Azotus,
dreaded through the Coast
Of
Palestine,
in
Gath
and
Askelon,
And
Accaron
and
Gaza
's frontier bounds.
Him followed
Rimmon,
whose delightful Seat
Was fair
Damascus,
on the fertil Banks
Of
Abbana
and
Pharphar,
lucid streams.
He also against the house of God was bold:
470
A Leper once he lost and gained a King,
Ahaz
his sottish Conqueror, whom he drew
God's Altar to disparage and displace
For one of
Syrian
mode, whereon to burn
His odious offerings, and adore the God's
Whom he had vanquished. After these appeared
A crew who under Names of old Renown,
Osiris, Isis, Orus
and their Train
With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused
Fanatic
Egypt
and her Priests, to seek
480
Thir wandering God's disguised in brutish forms
Rather then human. Nor did
Israel
scape
Th' infection when their borrowed Gold composed
The Calf in
Orcb:
and the Rebel King
Doubl'd that sin in
Bethel
and in
Dan,
Lik'ning his Maker to the Grazed Ox,
Jehovah,
who in one Night when he passed
From
Egypt
marching, equaled with one stroke
Both her first born and all her bleating God's.
Belial
came last, then whom a Spirit more lewd
490
Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love
Vice for itself: To him no Temple stood
Or Altar smoke'd; yet who more oft then he
In Temples and at Altars, when the Priest
Turns Atheist, as did
Eli
's Sons, who filled
With lust and violence the house of God.
In Courts and Palaces he also Reigns
And in luxurious Cities, where the noise
Of riot ascends above thir loftiest Towrs,
And injury and outrage: And when Night
Darkens the Streets, then wander forth the Sons
500
Of
Belial,
flown with insolence and wine.
Witness the Streets of
Sodom,
and that night
In
Gibeah,
when hospitable Dores
Yielded thir Matrons to prevent worse rape.
These were the prime in order and in might;
The rest were long to tell, though far renowned,
Th'
Ionian
God's, of
Javans
Issue held
God's, yet confessed later then Heaven and Earth
Thir boasted Parents;
Titan
Heavens first born
510
With his enormous brood, and birthright seis'd
By younger
Saturn,
he from mightier
Jove
His own and
Rhea
's Son like measure found;
So
Jove
usurping reigned: these first in
Crete
And
Ida
known, thence on the Snowy top
Of cold
Olympus
ruled the middle
〈◊〉
Thir highest Heaven; or on the
Delphian
Cliff,
Or in
Dodona,
and through all the bounds
Of
Doric
Land; or who with
Saturn
old
Fled over
Adria
to th'
Hesperian
Fields,
520
And ore the
Celtic
roam'd the utmost Isles.
All these and more came flocking; but with looks
Down cast and damp, yet such wherein appeared
Obscure some glimpse of joy, to have found thir chief
Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost
In loss itself; which on his count'nance cast
Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride
Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore
Semblance of worth not substance, gently raised
Their fainted courage, and dispelled their fears.
530
Then strait commands that at the warlike sound
Of Trumpets loud and Clarions be upreard
His mighty Standard; that proud honor claimed
Azazel▪
as his right, a Cherube tall:
Who forth with from the glittering Staff unfurld
Th' Imperial Ensign, which full high advancit
Shon like a Meteor streaming to the Wind
With Gemms and Golden luster rich imblaz'd,
Seraphic arms and Trophies: all the while
Sonorous metal blowing Martial sounds:
540
At which the universal Host upsent
A shout that tore Hells Concave, and beyond
Frighted the Reign of
Chaos
and old Night.
All in a moment through the gloom were seen
Ten thousand Banners rise into the Air
With Orient Colours waving: with them rose
A Forest huge of Spears: and thronging Helms
Appear'd, and serried Shields in thick array
Of depth immeasurable: Anon they move
In perfect
Phalanx
to the
Dorian
mood
550
Of Flutes and soft Recorders; sueh as raised
To highth of noblest temper Hero's old
Arming to Battle, and instead of rage
Deliberate valor breathed, firm and unmov'd
With dread of death to flight or foul retreat,
Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage
With solemn touches, troubled thoughts, and chase
Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain
From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they
Breathing united force with fixed thought
560
Mov'd on in silence to soft Pipes that charmed
Thir painful steps over the burnt soil; and now
Advancit in view they stand, a horrid Front
Of dreadful length and dazzling Arms, in guise
Of Warriers old with ordered Spear and Shield,
Awaiting what command thir mighty Chief
Had to impose: He through the armed Files
Darts his experiencit eye, and soon traverse
The whole Battalion views, thir order due,
Thir visages and stature as of God's,
570
Thir number last he sums. And now his heart
Distends with pride, and hardening in his strength
Glories: For never since created man,
Met such imbodied force, as named with these
Could merit more then that small infantry
Warr'd on by Cranes: though all the Giant brood
Of
Phlegra
with th' Heroic Race were join'd
That fought at
Theb's
and
Ilium,
on each side
Mixt with auxiliar God's; and what resounds
In Fable or
Romance
of
Uthers
Son
580
Begirt with
British
and
Armoric
Knights;
And all who since, Baptiz'd or Infidel
Jousted in
Aspramont
or
Montalban,
〈◊〉
,
or
Marocco,
or
Trebisond,
Or whom
Biserta
sent from
Afric
shore
When
Charlemain
with all his Peerage fell
By
Fontarabbia.
Thus far these beyond
Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed
Thir dread Commander: he above the rest
In shape and gesture proudly eminent
590
Stood like a Towr; his form had yet not lost
All her Original brightness, nor appeared
Less then Arch Angel ruind, and th' excess
Of Glory obscured: As when the Sun new ris'n
Looks through the Horizontal misty Air
Shorn of his Beams, or from behind the Moon
In dim Eclipse disastrous twilight sheds
On half the Nations, and with fear of change
Perplexes Monarchs. Dark'n'd so, yet shon
Above them all th' Arch Angel: but his face
600
Deep scars of Thunder had intrencht, and care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under Brows
Of dauntless courage, and considerate Pride
Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast
Signs of remorse and passion to behold
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather
(Far other once beheld in bliss) condemned
For ever now to have their lot in pain,
Millions of Spirits for his fault amercit
Of Heaven, and from Eternal Splendors flung
610
For his revolt, yet faithful how they stood,
Thir Glory witherd. As when Heavens Fire
Hath scath'd the Forest Oaks, or Mountain Pines,
With singed top their stately growth though bare
Stands on the blasted Heath. He now prepared
To speak; whereat their doubl'd Ranks they bend
From Wing to Wing, and half enclose him round
With all his Peers: attention held them mute.
Thrice he assayd, and thrice in spite of scorn,
Tears such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last
620
Words interwove with sighs found out their way.
O Myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers
Matchless, but with th' Almighty, and that strife
Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire,
As this place testifies, and this dire change
Hateful to utter: but what power of mind
Foreseeing or presaging, from the Depth
Of knowledge past or present, could have feared,
How such united force of God's, how such
As stood like these, could ever know repulse?
630
For who can yet believe, though after loss,
That all these puissant Legions, whose exile
Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend
Self-raised, and repossess their native seat.
For me, be witness all the Host of Heaven,
If counsels different, or danger shunned
By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns
Monarch in Heaven, till then as one secure
Sat on his Throne, upheld by old repute,
Consent or custom, and his Regal State
640
Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed,
Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall.
Henceforth his might we know, and know our own
So as not either to provoke, or dread
New war, provokit; our better part remains
To work in close design, by fraud or guile
What force effected not: that he no less
At length from us may find, who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his foe.
Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife
650
There went a fame in Heay'n that he ere long
Intended to create, and therein plant
A generation, whom his choice regard
Should favor equal to the Sons of Heaven:
Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps
Our first eruption, thither or elsewhere:
For this Infernal Pit shall never hold
Caelestial Spirits in Bondage, nor th' Abyss
Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts
Full Counsel must mature: Peace is despaird,
660
For who can think Submission? Warr then, Warr
Open or understood must be resolved.
He spake: and to confirm his words, out-flew
Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze
Far round illumin'd hell: highly they rag'd
Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arm's
Clash'd on their sounding shields the din of war,
Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven.
There stood a Hill not far whose griesly top
670
Belch'd fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire
Shon with a glossie scurff, undoubted sign
That in his womb was hid metallic Ore,
The work of Sulphur. Thither wing'd with speed
A numerous Brigad hasten'd As when bands
Of Pioners with Spade and Pickaxe armed
Forerun the Royal Camp, to trench a Field,
Or cast a Rampart.
Mammon
led them on,
Mammon,
the least erected Spirit that fell
From heaven, for even in heaven his looks & thoughts
680
Were always downward bent, admiring more
The riches of Heavens pavement, trod'n Gold,
Then aught divine or holy else enjoyed
In vision beatific: by him first
Men also, and by his suggestion taught,
Ransack'd the Center, and with impious hands
Rifl'd the bowels of thir mother Earth
For Treasures better hid. Soon had his crew
Op'nd into the Hill a spacious wound
And digged out ribs of Gold. Let none admire
690
That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best
Deserve the precious bane. And here let those
Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell
Of
Babel,
and the works of
Memphian
Kings,
Learn how thir greatest Monuments of Fame,
And Strength and Art are easily outdone
By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour
What in an age they with incessant toil
And hands innumerable scarce perform.
Nigh on the Plain in many cells prepared,
700
That underneath had veins of liquid fire
Sluc'd from the Lake, a second multitude
With wondrous Art founded the massy Ore,
Severing each kind, and scum'd the Bullion dross:
A third as soon had formed within the ground
A various mould, and from the boiling cells
By strange conveyance filled each hollow nook,
As in an Organ from one blast of wind
To many a row of Pipes the sound-board breaths.
A non out of the earth a Fabric huge
710
Rose like an Exhalation, with the sound
Of Dulcet Symphonies and voices sweet,
Built like a Temple, where
Pilasters
round
Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid
With Golden Architrave; nor did there want
Cornice or Freeze; with bossy Sculptures grav'n,
The Roof was fretted Gold. Not
Babylon,
Nor great
Alcairo
such magnificence
Equal'd in all thir glories, to inshrine
Belus
or
Serapis
thir God's, or seat
720
Thir Kings, when
Egypt
with
Assyria
strove
In wealth and luxury. Th' ascending pile
Stood fixed her stately highth, and strait the doors
Op'ning thir brazen foulds discover wide
Within, her ample spaces, over the smooth
And level pavement: from the arched roof
Pendant by suttle Magic many a row
Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed
With
Naphtha
and
Asphaltus
yielded light
As from a sky. The hasty multitude
730
Admiring entered, and the work some praise
And some the Architect: his hand was known
In Heaven by many a Towred structure high,
Where Scepter'd Angels held thir residence,
And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King
Exalted to such power, and gave to rule,
Each in his Herarchie, the Orders bright.
Nor was his name unheard or unador'd
In ancient
Greece;
and in
Ausonian
land
Men called him
Mulciber;
and how he fell
740
From Heaven, they fabl'd, thrown by angry
Jove
Sheer over the Crystal Battlements: from Morn
To Noon he fell, from Noon to dewy Eve,
A Summers day; and with the setting Sun
Dropt from the Zenith like a falling Star,
On
Lomnos
th'
Aegaean
I will: thus they relate,
Erring; for he with this rebellious rout
Fell long before; nor aught avail'd him now
To have built in Heaven high Towrs; nor did he scape
By all his Engines, but was headlong sent
750
With his industrious
〈◊〉
to build in
〈◊〉
.
Mean while the
〈◊◊〉
by command
Of Sovran power, with awful Ceremony
And Trumpets sound throughout the Host proclaim
A solemn Council forthwith to be held
At
〈◊〉
,
the high Capital
Of Satan and his Peers: thir summons
〈◊〉
From every and Band squared Regiment
By place or choice the worthiest; they anon
With hundreds and with thousands trooping came
760
Attended: all access was thronged, the Gates
And Porches wide▪ but chief the spacious Hall
(Though like a covered field, where Champions bold
Wont ride in armed, and at the
〈◊〉
chair
Defi'd the best of
〈◊〉
chivalry
To mortal
〈◊〉
or
〈◊〉
▪ with Lance)
Thick swarm'd, both on the ground and in the air,
Brusht with the hiss of
〈◊◊〉
. As Bees
In spring time, when the Sun with Taurus rides,
Pour forth thir populous youth about the Hive
770
In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers
Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed Plank,
The suburb of thir Straw-built Cittadel,
New rubbed with Baume, expatiate and confer
T
•…
ir
〈◊◊〉
. So thick the aerie crowd
〈◊〉
and were straitn'd; till the Signal given,
Behold a wonder! they but now who seemed
In bigness to surpass Earths Giant Sons
Now less then smallest Dwarfs, in narrow room
Throng numberless, like that Pigmean Race
780
Beyond the
Indian
Mount, or Faerie Elves,
Whose midnight Revels, by a Forest side
Or Fountain some belated Peasant sees,
Or dreams be sees, while over head the Moon
Sits Arbitress, and nearer to the Earth
Wheels her pale course, they on thir mirth & dance
Intent, with jocond Music charm his ear;
At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.
Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms
Reduc'd thir shapes immense, and were at large,
790
Though without number still amidst the Hall
Of that infernal Court. But far within
And in thir own dimensions like themselves
The great Seraphic Lord's and Cherubim
In close recess and secret conclave
•…
at
A thousand Demy-God's on golden seat's,
Frequent and full. After short silence then
And summons read, the great consult began.
The End of the First Book.
PARADISE LOST.
BOOK II.
H
Igh on a Throne of Royal State, which far
Outshon the wealth of
Or
•…
and of
Ind,
Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand
Showrs on her Kings
Barbaric
Pearl & Gold,
Satan exalted sat, by merit raised
To that bad eminence; and from despair
Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires
Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue
Vain Warr with Heaven, and by success untaught
His proud imaginations thus displayed.
10
Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven,
For since no deep within her gulf can hold
Immortal vigor, though oppressed and fallen,
I give not Heaven for lost. From this de
•…
nt
Celestial virtues rising, will appear
More glorious and more dread then from no fall,
A
•…
trust themselves to fear no second fate:
Mee though just right, and the fixed Laws of Heaven
Did first create your Leader, next, free choice,
With what be
•…
ides in Counsel or in Fight,
20
H
•…
th been
〈◊〉
, of
〈◊〉
, yet this loss
Thus far at least recovered, hath much more
Establisht in a safe
•…
nenvied T
•…
one
Yeilded with full con
•…
ent. The
〈◊〉
state
In Heaven, which follows dignity, might draw
Envy from each inferior; but who here
Will envy whom the highest place exposes
Formost to stand against the Thunderers aim
Your bulwark, and
〈◊〉
to greatest share
Of endless pain? where there is then no good
30
For which to strive, no strife can grow up there
From Faction; for none sure will claim in hell
〈◊〉
, none, whose portion is so small
Of present pain, that with ambitio
•…
s mind
Will cove
•…
more. With this advantage then
To union, and
•…
rm Faith, and firm accord,
More then can be in
〈◊〉
, we now return
To claim our just
〈◊〉
of old,
Surer to prosper then prosperity
Could have assured us; and by what best way,
40
Whether of open Warr or cov
•…
t guile,
We now
〈◊〉
; who can advise, may speak.
He
〈◊〉
, and next him
〈◊〉
,
〈◊〉
King
Stood up, the strongest and the fi
•…
rcest Spirit
That fought in Heaven; now fiercer by despair:
His true
•…
was with
〈◊〉
Eternal to be deemed
Equal in strength, and rather then be less
Ca
•…
'd not to be at all; with that car
•…
lost
Went all his
•…
ear: of God or Hell, or worse
He reckd not,
•…
nd these words thereafter
•…
ache.
50
My sentence is for open Warr: Of Wiles,
More unexpert, I boast not: them let those
Contrive who need, or when they need, not now.
For while they sit co
•…
iving, shall the rest,
Millions that stand in Arms, and longing wait
The Signal to ascend, s
•…
t
〈◊〉
•…
re.
Heavens fugitives, and for thir dwelling place
Accept this dark opprobrious Den of shame,
The Prison of his
〈◊〉
who Reig
•…
s
By our delay
〈◊〉
no, let us rather choo
•…
e
60
Arm'd with He
•…
•…
ames and fury all at once
O're Heavens high Towrs to force re
•…
less way,
Turni
•…
g our To
•…
ures into horrid Arms
Against the To
•…
urer; when to meet the noise
Of his Almighty
〈◊〉
•…
e
〈◊〉
•…
ear
Infernal Th
•…
der, and
•…
or Lightning
•…
ee
Black fire and horror shot with equal rage
Among his Angels; and his Throne itself
Mixt with
Tartarea
•…
〈◊〉
; and
•…
range
•…
re,
His own invented
〈◊〉
. But perhaps
70
The way seems difficult and steep to seal
With upright wing against a higher
•…
oe.
Let such bethink them if the sleepy drench
Of that
〈◊〉
Lake
〈◊〉
not still,
That in our proper motion we a
•…
cend
Up to our native seat: descent and fall
To us is adverse, Who
•…
ut felt of late
When the
〈◊〉
Foe
〈◊〉
on our
〈◊〉
Rear
Insulting, and
〈◊〉
us
〈◊〉
the Deep,
〈1 line〉
80
We sunk thus low?
〈◊〉
a
•…
cent is ea
•…
e then;
Th' event is feared; should we again provoke
Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find
To our destruction: if there be in Hell
Fear to be worse destroyed: what can be worse
Then to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned
In this abhorred deep to utter woe;
Where pain of unextinguishable fire
Must exercise us without hope of end
The Vassals of his anger, when the Scourge
90
Inexorably, and the torturing hour
Calls us to Penance? More destroyed then thus
We should be quite abolished and expire.
What fear we then? what doubt we to incense
His utmost ire? which to the highth enraged,
Will either quite consume us, and reduce
To nothing this essential, happier far
Then miserable to have eternal being:
Or if our substance be indeed Divine,
And cannot cease to be, we are at worst
100
On this side nothing; and by proof we feel
Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven,
And with perpetual inroads to Allarme,
Though inaccessible, his fatal Throne:
Which if not Victory is yet Revenge.
He ended frowning, and his look denounced
Desperate revenge, and Battle dangerous
To less then God's. On th' other side up rose
Belial,
in act more graceful and human;
A fairer person lost not Heaven; he seemed
110
For dignity composed and high exploit:
But all was false and hollow; though his Tongue
Dropt Manna, and could make the worse appear
The better reason, to perplex and dash
Maturest Counsels: for his thoughts were low;
To vice industrious, but to Nobler deeds
Timorous and slothful: yet he pleased the ear,
And with persuasive accent thus began.
I should be much for open Warr, O Peers,
As not behind in hate; if what was urged
120
Main reason to persuade immediate Warr,
Did not dissuade me most, and seem to cast
Ominous conjecture on the whole success:
When he who most excels in fact of Arms,
In what he counsels and in what excels
Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair
And utter dissolution, as the scope
Of all his aim, after some dire revenge.
First, what R
•…
ge? the Towrs of Heaven are filled
With Armed watch, that render all access
130
Impregnable; oft on the bordering Deep
Encamp thi
•…
Legions, or with obscure wing
Sco
•…
far and wide into the Realm of night,
Scorning surprise. Or could we break our way
By force, and at our heels all Hell should ri
•…
e
With blackest Insurrection, to confound
Heavens purest Light, yet our great Enemy
All incorruptible would on his
〈◊〉
Sit unpolluted, and th'
〈◊〉
mould
Incapable of stain would soon expel
140
Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire
Victorious. Thus repuls'd, our final hope
Is flat despair: we must exas
•…
e
Th' Almighty Victor to spend all his
〈◊〉
,
And that must end us, that must be our cure,
To be no more;
〈◊〉
cure▪ for who would loose,
Though full of pain, this intelle
•…
being,
Those thoughts that wander through Eternity,
To perish rather, swallowd up and lost
In the wide w
•…
mb of uncreated night,
150
Devoid of
〈◊〉
and motion? and who knows,
Let this be good, whether our an
•…
y Foe
Can give it, or will ever? how he can
Is doubtful; that he never will is sure.
Will he, so wise, let loo
•…
e at once his
〈◊〉
,
Belike through impo
•…
, or
〈◊〉
,
To give his Enemies
〈◊〉
wish, and
〈◊〉
Them in his anger, whom his anger
〈◊〉
To punish endle
•…
▪ wherefore
〈◊〉
we then?
〈1 line〉
160
〈1 line〉
〈1 line〉
What can we
〈◊〉
worse? is
〈◊◊◊〉
,
Thus
〈◊〉
, th
•…
consulting, th
•…
〈◊◊〉
▪
〈1 line〉
〈1 line〉
〈1 line〉
〈1 line〉
〈1 line〉
〈1 line〉
170
〈1 line〉
〈1 line〉
Should intermitted vengeance A
•…
me aga
•…
n
His red right hand to plagu
•…
? w
•…
at i
•…
•…
ll
〈1 line〉
〈1 line〉
Impendent horrors,
〈◊◊◊〉
One day upon our heads; while we perhaps
Designing or exhorting glorious Warr,
Caught in a fiery Tempest shall be hurled
180
Each on his rock transfixt, the sport and prey
Of racking whirlwinds, or forever sunk
Under yon boiling Ocean, wrapped in Chains;
There to converse with everlasting groans,
Unrespited, unpitied, unrepreevd,
Ages of hopeless end; this would be worse.
Warr therefore, open or concealed, alike
My voice dissuades; for what can force or guile
With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye
Views all things at one view? he from heavens highth
190
All these our motions vain, sees and derides;
Not more Almighty to resist our might
Then wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles.
Shall we then live thus vile, the race of Heaven
Thus trampl'd, thus expel'd to suffer here
Chains & these Tor
•…
ents? better these then worse
By my advice; since fate inevitable
Subdues us, and Omnipotent Decree,
The Victors will. To suffer, as to do,
Our strength is equal, nor the Law unjust
200
That so ordains: this was at first resolved,
If we were wise, against so great a foe
Contending, and so doubtful what might fall.
I laugh, when those who at the Spear are bold
And
〈◊◊〉
, if that fail them, shrink and fear
What yet they know must follow, to endure
Exile, or ignominy, or bonds, or pain,
The sentence of thir
〈◊〉
: This is now
Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear,
Our Supreme Foe in time may much remit
210
His anger, and perhaps thus far removed
Not mind us not offending, satisfied
With what is punishit; whence these raging fires
Will slack'n, if his breath stir not thir flames.
Our purer essenee then will overcome
Thir noxious vapor, or enur'd not feel,
Or changed at length, and to the place conformd
In temper and in nature, will receive
Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain;
This horror will grow mild, this darkness light,
220
Besides what hope the never ending flight
Of future days maybring, what chance, what change
Worth waiting, since our present lot appears
For happy though but ill, for ill not worst,
If we procure not to our
•…
lves more woe.
Thus
Belial
with words clothed in reasons garb
Counsel'd ignoble ease, and peaceful sloth,
Not peace: and after him thus
Mammon
spake.
Either to disinthrone the King of Heaven
We war, if war
•…
be best, or to regain
230
Our own right lost: him to unthrone we then
May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield
To fickle Chance, and
Chaos
judge the strife:
The former vain to hope argues as vain
The latter: for what place can be for us
Within Heavens bound, unless Heavens Lord supreme
We overpower? Suppose he should relent
And publish Grace to all, on promise made
Of new Subjection; with what eyes could we
Stand in his presence humble, and receive
240
Strict Laws imposed, to celebrate his Throne▪
With warbl'd Hymns, and to his Godhead sing
Forcit Halleluiah's; while he Lordly sits
Our envied Sovran, and his Altar breathes
Ambrosial Odours and Ambrosial Flowers,
Our servile offerings. This must be our task
In Heaven, this our delight; how wearisome
Eternity so spent in worship paid
To whom we hate. Let us not then pursue
By force impossible, by leave obtained
250
Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state
Of splendid vassalage, but rather seek
Our own good from ourselves, and from our own
Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess,
Free, and to none accountable, preferring
Hard liberty before the easy yoke
Of servile Pomp. Our greatness will appear
Then most conspicuous, when great things of small,
Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse
We can create, and in what place so e're
260
Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain
Through labor and endurance. This deep world
Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst
Thick clouds and dark doth Heavens all-ruling Sire
Choose to reside, his Glory unobscur'd,
And with the Majesty of darkness round
Covers his Throne; from whence deep thunders roar
Must'ring thir rage, and Heaven resembles Hell?
As he our Darkness, cannot we his Light
Imitate when we please? This Desert soil
270
Wants not her hidden luster, Gemms and Gold;
Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise
Magnificence; and what can Heaven show more?
Our torments also may in length of time
Become our Elements, these piercing Fires
As soft as now severe, our temper changed
Into their temper; which must needs remove
The sensible of pain. All things invite
To peaceful Counsels, and the settl'd State
Of order, how in safety best we may
280
Compose our present evils, with regard
Of what we are and where, dismissing quite
All thoughts of Warr: ye have what I advise.
He scarce had finished, when such murmur filld
Th' Assembly, as when hollow Rocks retain
The sound of blustering winds, which all night long
Had rous'd the Sea, now with hoarse cadence lull
Sea-faring men orewatcht, whose Bark by chance
Or Pinnace anchors in a craggy Bay
After the Tempest: Such applause was heard
290
As
Mammon
ended, and his Sentence pleased,
Advising peace: for fuch another Field
They dreaded worse then Hell: so much the fear
Of Thunder and the Sword of
Michael
Wrought still within them; and no less desire
To found this nether Empire, which might rise
By policy, and long process of time,
In emulation opposite to Heaven.
Which when
Bëëlzebub
perceived, then whom,
Satan
except, none higher sat, with grave
300
Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed
A Pillar of State; deep on his Front engraven
Deliberation sat and public care;
And Princely counsel in his face yet shon,
Majestick though in ruin: sage he stood
With
Atlantean
shoulders fit to bear
The weight of mightiest Monarchies; his look
Drew audience and attention still as Night
Or Summers Noon-tide air, while thus he spake.
Thrones and imperial Powers, offspring of heaven,
310
Ethereal Virtues; or these Titles now
Must we renounce, and changing style be called
Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote
Inclines, here to continue, and build up here
A growing Empire; doubtless; while we dream,
And know not that the King of Heaven hath doomed
This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat
Beyond his Potent arm, to live exempt
From Heavens high jurisdiction, in new League
Banded against his Throne, but to remain
320
In strictest bondage, though thus far removed,
Under th' inevitable curb, reserved
His captive multitude: For he, be sure,
In highth or depth, still first and last will Reign
Sole King, and of his Kingdom loose no part
By our revolt, but over Hell extend
His Empire, and with Iron Scepter rule
Us here, as with his Golden those in Heaven.
What sit we then projecting Peace and Warr?
Warr hath determined us, and foild with loss
330
Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Voutsafit or sought; for what peace will be given
To us enslav'd, but custody severe,
And stripes, and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted? and what peace can we return,
But to our power hostility and hate,
Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though slow,
Yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least
May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice
In doing what we most in suffering feel?
340
Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need
With dangerous expedition to invade
Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or Siege,
Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find
Some easier enterprize? There is a place
(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven
Err not) another World, the happy seat
Of some new Race called
Man,
about this time
To be created like to us, though less
In power and excellence, but favor'd more
350
Of him who rules above; so was his will
Pronounc'd among the God's, and by an Oath,
That shook Heavens whole circumference, confirmed.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould,
Or substance, how endu'd, and what thir Power,
And where thir weakness, how attempted best,
By force or suttlety: Though Heaven be shut,
And Heavens high Arbitrator sit secure
In his own strength, this place may lie exposed
366
The utmost border of his Kingdom, left
To their defense who hold it: here perhaps
Som advantageous act may be achiev'd
By sudden onset, either with Hell sire
To waste his whole Creation, or possess
All as our own, and drive as we were driven,
The punie habitants, or if not drive,
Seduce them to our Party, that thir God
May prove thir foe, and with repenting hand
Abolish his own works. This would surpass
370
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our Confusion, and our Joy upraise
In his disturbance; when his dar
•…
ing Sons
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse
Thir frail Originals, and faded bliss,
Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth
Attempting, or to sit in darkness here
Hatching vain Empires. Thus
Beelzebub
Pleaded his devilish Counsel, first devised
By
S
•…
tan,
and in part proposed: for whence,
380
But from the Author of all ill could Spring
So deep a malice, to confound the race
Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell
To mingle and involve, done all to spite
The great Creator? But thir spite still serves
His glory to augment. The bold design
Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkl'd in all thir eyes; with full assent
They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews.
Well have ye judged, well ended long debate,
390
Synod of God's, and like to what ye are,
Great things resolved; which from the lowest deep
Will once more lift us up, in spite of Fate,
Nearer our ancient Seat; perhaps in view
Of those bright confines, whence with neighb
•…
uring Arms
And opportune excursion we may chance
Re-enter Heaven; or else in some mild Zone
Dwell not unvisited of Heavens fair Light
Secure, and at the brightning O
•…
ient beam
Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious Air,
400
To heal the
•…
earr of these corrosive Fires
Shall breath her balm. But first whom shall we send
In search of this new world, whom shall we find
Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet
The dark unbottom'd infinite Abyss
And through the palpable obscure find out
His uncouth way, or spread his aerie flight
Upborn with indefatigable wings
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy I will; what strength, what art can then
410
Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe
Through the strict Senteries and Stations thick
Of Angels watching round? Here he had need
All circumspection, and we now no less
Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send,
The weight of all and our last hope relies,
This said, he sat; and expectation held
His look suspense, awaiting who appear'd
To second, or oppose, or undertake
The perilous attempt: but all sat mute,
420
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; & each
In others count'nance red his own dismay
Astonisht: none among the choice and prime
Of those Heaven-warring Champions could be found
So hardie as to proffer or accept
Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last
Satan,
whom now
〈◊〉
glory
〈◊〉
Above his fellows, with Monarchal pride
Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus spake.
O Progeny of Heaven, Empyreal Thrones,
430
With reason hath deep silence and demur
•…
Seis'd us, though undismaid: long is the way
And hard, that out of Hell leads up to Light;
Our prison strong, this huge convex of Fire,
Outrageous to devour, immures us round
Ninefold, and gates of burning Adamant
Barr'd over us prohibit all egress.
These past, if any pass, the void profound
Of unessential Night receives him next
Wide gaping, and with utter lo
•…
s of being
440
Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf.
If thence he scape into what ever world,
Or unknown Region, what remains him less
Then unknown dangers and as hard escape.
But I should ill become this Throne, O Peers,
And this Imperial Sov'ranty, adorned
With splendor, armed with power, if aught proposed
And judged of public moment, in the shape
Of difficulty or danger could deter
Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume
450
These Royalties, and not refuse to Reign,
Refusing to accept as great a share
Of hazard as of honor, due alike
To him who Reigns, and so much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above the rest
High honourd sits? Go therefore mighty powers,
Terror of Heaven, though fallen; intend at home,
While here shall be our home, what best may ease
The present misery, and render Hell
460
More toller
•…
ble; if there be cure or charm
To respite or deceive, or slack the pain
Of this ill Mansion: intermit no watch
Against a wakeful Foe, while I abroad
Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek
Deliverance for us all: this enterprize
None shall partake with me. Thus saying rose
The Monarch, and prevented all reply,
Prudent, least from his resolution raised
Others among the chief might offer now
(Certain to be refused) what erst they feared;
470
And so refused might in opinion stand
His rivals, winning cheap the high repute
Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they
Dreaded not more th' adventure then his voice
Forbidding; and at once with him they rose;
Thir rising all at once was as the sound
Of Thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend
With awful reverence prone; and as a God
Extoll him equal to the highest in Heaven:
Nor failed they to express how much they praised,
480
That for the general safety he despised
His own: for neither do the Spirits damned
Loose all thir virtue; least bad men should boast
Thir specious deeds on earth, which glory excites,
Or close ambition varnisht over with zeal.
Thus they thir doubtful consultations dark
Ended rejoicing in thir matchless Chief:
As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds
Ascending, while the North wind sleeps, o'respread
Heavens cheerful face, the lowering Element
490
Scowls ore the dark'nd lantskip Snow, or shower;
If chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet
Extend his ev'ning beam, the fields revive,
The birds thir notes renew, and bleating herds
Attest thir joy, that hill and valley rings.
O shame to men! Devil with Devil damned
Firm concord holds, men only disagree
Of Creatures rational, though under hope
Of heavenly Grace: and God
〈◊〉
peace,
Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife
500
Among themselves, and levy cruel wars,
Wasting the Earth, each other to destroy:
As if (which might induce us to accord)
Man had not hellish foes anow besides,
That day and night for his destruction wait.
The
Stygian
Council thus dissolved; and forth
In order came the grand
〈◊〉
Peers,
Midst came thir mighty Paramount, and seemed
Alone th' Antagonist of Heaven, nor less
Then Hells dread Emperor with pomp Supreme,
510
And God-like imitated State; him round
A Globe of fiery Seraphim enclosed
With bright imblazonrie, and horrent Arms.
Then of thir Session ended they bid cry
With Trumpets regal sound the great result:
Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim
Put to thir mouths the sounding
〈◊〉
By Haralds voice explained: the
〈◊〉
Abyss
Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell
With deafning shout, returned them loud acclaim.
520
Thence more at ease thir minds and somewhat raised
By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers
Disband, and wandering, each his several way
Pursues, as inclination or sad choice
Leads him perplexed, where he may likeliest
〈◊〉
Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain
The irksome hours, till his great Chief return.
Part on the Plain, or in the Air sublime
Upon the wing, or in swift race contend,
As at th' Olympian Games or
Pythian
fields;
530
Part curb thir fiery Steeds, or shun the Goal
With rapid wheels, or fronted Brigads form.
As when to warn proud Cities war appears
Wag'd in the troubled Sky, and Armies rush
To Battle in the Clouds, before each Van
Pri
•…
forth the Aerie Knights, and couch thir spears
Till thickest Legions close; with feats of Arms
From either end of Heaven the welkin burns.
Others with vast
〈◊〉
rage more fell
Rend up both Rocks and Hills, and ride the Air
540
In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar.
As when
Alcides
from
Oealia
Crown'd
With conquest, felt th' envenom'd robe, and tore
Through pain up by the roots
Thessalian
Pines,
And
〈◊〉
,
from the top of
〈◊〉
threw
Into th'
Euboic
Sea. Others more mild,
Retreated in a silent valley, sing
With notes Angelical to many a Harp
Thir own Heroic deeds and hapless fall
By doom of Battle; and complain that Fate
550
Free Virtue should enthrall to Force or Chance.
Thir song was partial, but the harmony
(What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?)
Suspended H
•…
ll, and took with ravishment
The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet
(For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense,)
Others apart sat on a Hill retired,
In thoughts more elevate, and reason'd high
Of
〈◊〉
, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate,
Fixt Fate,
〈◊〉
will, fore knowledge absolute,
560
And found
•…
o end, in wandering mazes lost.
Of good and evil much they argu'd then,
Of happiness and final misery,
Passion and Apathy, and glory and shame,
Vain wisdom all, and false Philosophy:
Yet with a pleasing sorcery could charm
Pain for a while or anguish, and excite
Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured breast
With stubborn patience as with triple steel.
Another part in Squadrons and gross Bands,
570
On bold adventure to discover wide
That dismal world, if any Clime perhaps▪
Might yield them easier habitation, bend
Four ways thir flying March, along the Banks
Of four infernal Rivers that disgorge
Into the burning Lake thir baleful streams;
Abhorred
Styx
the flood of deadly hate,
Sad
Acheron
of sorrow, black and deep;
Cocytus,
named of lamentation loud
Heard on the ruful stream; fierce
Phlegeton
580
Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage.
Far off from these a slow and silent stream,
Lethe
the River of Oblivion roules
Her watery Labyrinth, whereof who drinks,
Forthwith his former state and being forgets,
Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain.
Beyond this flood a frozen Continent
Lies dark and wild, beat with perpetnal storms
Of Whirlwind and dire Hail, which on firm land
Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems
590
Of ancient pile; all else deep snow and ice,
A gulf profound as that
Serbonian
Bog
Betwixt
Damiata
and mount
Casius
old,
Where Armies whole have sunk: the parching Air
Burns frore, and cold performs th' effect of Fire.
Thither by harpy-footed Furies hail'd,
At certain revolutions all the damned
Are brought: and feel by turns the bitter change
Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more fierce,
From Beds of raging Fire to starve in Ice
600
Thir soft Ethereal warmth, and there to pine
Immovable, infixt, and frozen round,
Periods of time, thence hurried back to fire.
They ferry over this
Lethean
Sound
Both to and fro, thir sorrow to augment,
And wish and struggle, as they pass▪ to reach
The tempting stream▪ with one small drop to loose
In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe,
All in one moment, and so near the brink;
But fate withstands, and to oppose th▪ attempt
610
Medusa
with
Gorgonian
terror guards
The Ford, and of itself the water flies
All taste of living wight, as once it fled
The lip of
Tantalus.
Thus roving on
In confused march forlorn, th' adventrous Bands
With shuddring horror pale, and eyes agast
View'd first thir lamentable lot, and found
No rest: through many a dark and drearie Vail
They passed, and many a Region dolorous,
O're many a Frozen, many a Fierie Alpe▪
620
Rocks, Caves, Lakes, Fens, Bogs, Dens, and shades of death,
A Universe of death, which God by curse
Created evil, for evil only good,
Where all life dies, death
〈◊〉
, and nature breeds,
Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things,
Abominable, inutterable, and worse
Then Fables yet have feigned, or fear conceived,
Gorgons
and
Hydra's,
and
Chimera's
dire.
Mean while the Adversary of God and Man,
Satan
with thoughts inflamed of highest design,
630
Puts on swift wings, and toward
〈◊〉
Gates of Hell
Explores his solitary flight; sometimes
He scours the right hand coast, from times the left,
Now shaves with level wing the Deep, then soars
Up to the fiery concave
〈◊〉
high▪
As when far off at Sea a Fleet
〈◊〉
Hangs in the Clouds, by
〈◊〉
Winds
Close sailing from
Be
•…
gala,
or the Isles
Of
Ternate
and
Tidore,
whence Merchants bring
Thir sp
•…
cie Drugs: they on the trading Flood
640
Through the wide
Ethiopian
to the Cape
Ply stemming nightly toward the Po
•…
e. So seemed
Far off the flying Fiend: at last appear
Hell bounds high reaching to the horrid Roof,
And thrice threefold the Gates; three folds were Brass
Three Iron, three of Adamantine Rock,
Impenitrable, impal'd with circling fire,
Yet unconsum'd. Before the Gates there sat
On either side a formidable shape;
The one seemed Woman to the waste, and fair,
650
But ended foul in many a
〈◊〉
fold
〈◊〉
and vast, a Serpent armed
With mortal sting: about her middle round
A cry of Hell Hounds never ceasing barked
With wide
Cerberean
mouths full
•…
oud, and rung
A
〈◊〉
Peal: yet, when they list, would creep,
If aught disturbed thir noise, into her woomb,
And kennel there, yet there still barked and howl'd
Within unseen. Far less abhorrd then these
Vex'd
S
•…
ylla
bathing in the Sea that parts
660
Calabria
from the hoarce
Trinacrian
shore:
Nor uglier follow the Night-Hag, when called
In secret, riding through the
〈◊〉
she comes
Lur'd with the smell of infant blood, to dance
With
Lapland
Witches, while the laboring Moon
Eclipses at thir charms. The other shape,
If shape it might be called that shape had none
Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb,
Or substance might be called that shadow seemed,
For each seemed either; black it stood as Night,
670
Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell,
And shook a dreadful Dart; what seemed his head
The likeness of a Kingly Crown had on.
Satan
was now at hand, and from his seat
The Monster moving onward came as fas
•…
,
With horrid strides, Hell trembled as he strode.
Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admired,
Admir'd, not feared; God and his Son except,
Created thing naught vallu'd he nor shunned;
And with disdainful look thus first began.
680
Whence and what art thou, execrable shape,
That darest, though grim and terrible▪ advance
Thy miscreated Front
〈◊〉
my way
To yonder Gates? through them I mean to pass,
That be assured, without leave asked of thee:
Retire, or taste thy folly, and learn by proof,
Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of
〈◊〉
To whom the Goblin full of wrath replied,
Art thou that Traitor Angel, art thou he▪
Who first broke peace in Heaven and Faith, till then
690
Unbrok'n, and in proud rebellious Arms
Drew after him the third part of Heavens Sons
Conjur'd against the highest, for which both Thou
And they outcast from God, are here condemned
To waste Eternal days in woe and pain?
And reck'n'st thou thyself with Spirits of Heaven,
Hell-doomd, and breath'st defiance here and scorn,
Where I reign King, and to enrage thee more,
Thy King and Lord? Back to thy punishment,
False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings,
700
Least with a whip of Scorpions I pursue
Thy lingering, or with one stroke of this Dart
Strange horror seise thee, and pangs unfelt before.
So spake the grieslie terror, and in shape,
So speaking and so threatening, grew ten fold
More dreadful and deform: on th' other side
Incencit with indignation
Satan
stood
U
•…
terrifi'd, and like a Comet burned,
That fires the length of
〈◊〉
huge
In th' Artick Sky, and from his horrid hair
710
Shakes Pestilence and Warr. Each at the Head
Level'd his deadly aim; thir fatal hands
No second stroke intend, and such a frown
Each cast at th' other, as when two black Clouds
With Heavens Artillery fraught, come rattling on
Over the
Caspian,
then stand front to front
Hov'ring a space, till Winds the signal blow
To join thir dark Encounter in mid air:
So frownd the mighty Combatants, that Hell
Grew darker at thir frown, so ma
•…
cht they stood;
For never but once more was either like
720
To meet so great a foe: and now great deeds
Had been achiev'd, whereof all Hell had
•…
ung,
Had not the Snakie Sorceress that
〈◊〉
•…
ast by Hell Gate, and kept the fatal Key,
Ris'n, and with hideous outcry rush'd between.
O Father, what intends thy hand, she cried,
Against thy only Son? What fury O Son,
Possesses thee to bend that mortal Dart
Against thy Fathers head? and knowest
〈◊〉
whom▪
730
For him who sits above and laughs the while
At thee ordained his d
•…
dge, to execute
What e're his wrath, which he calls Justice, bids,
His wrath which one day will destroy ye both.
She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest
Forbore▪ then these to her
Satan
returned▪
So
•…
range thy ou
•…
cry and thy words so strange
Thou interposest, that my
〈◊〉
hand
Prevented spares to tell thee yet by deeds▪
What it intends; till first I know of thee,
740
What thing thou art▪ thus double-formed, and why
In this in
•…
all
〈◊◊〉
met thou call'st
Me Father, and th
•…
〈◊〉
call'st
〈◊〉
Son?
I know thee not, nor ever saw till now▪
Sight more detestable then him and thee.
T' whom thus the Portress of Hell Gate replied;
Hast thou forgot me the
•…
and do I
•…
eem
Now in thine eye so
•…
oul▪ once deemd so
•…
air
In Heaven, when at
〈◊〉
Ass
•…
bly, and in sight▪
Of all the Se
•…
him with thee combined
750
In bold conspiracy against Heavens King,
All on a sudden miserable
〈◊〉
Surpris'd thee dim thine e
•…
es, and dizzie
•…
wumm
In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast
Threw forth, till on the left side-
•…
ning wide,
Likest to thee in shape and count'nance bright,
Then shining heavenly fair, a Goddess armed
Out of thy h
•…
d I sprung: amazement seis'd
All th' Host of Heaven; back they
•…
ecoild afraid
At first, and called me
Sin,
and for a Sign
760
Portentous held me; but familiar grown,
I pleased, and with attractive graces won
The most averse, thee chiefly, who full oft
Thy self in me thy
〈◊〉
image viewing
Becam'st enamored, and such joy thou tookest
With me in secret, that my womb conceived
A growing burden. Mean while Warr arose,
And fields were fought in Heaven; wherein remaind
(For what could else) to our Almighty Foe
Cleer Victory; to our pa
•…
loss and rout
770
Through all the Empyrean: down they fell
Driv'n headlong from the Pitch of Heaven, down
Into this Deep, and in the general fall
I also; at which time this powerful Key
Into my hand was given, with charge to keep
These Gates forever shut, which none can pass
Without my op'ning. Pensive here I sat
Alone, but long I
〈◊〉
not,
•…
ill my womb -
Pregnant by
•…
ee, and now ex
•…
ive grown
Prodigious motion
〈◊〉
and rueful th
•…
oes.
780
At last this odious offspring whom thou seest
Thine own begotten, breaking violent way
Tore through
〈◊◊〉
, that with fear and pain
〈◊〉
, all my
〈◊〉
shape thus grew
〈◊〉
: but he my
〈◊〉
enemy
Forth issu'd, brandishing his fatal Dart
Made to destroy: I fled, and cried out
Death;
He
•…
l trembl'd at the hideous Name, and sigh'd
From all her Caves, and back resounded
Death.
I fled, but he pursued (though more, it seems,
790
Inflam'd with lust then rage) and swifter far,
Me overtook his mother all dismayed,
And in embraces forcible and foul
Ingendring with me, of that rape begot
These yel
•…
ing Monsters that with ceasless cry
Surround me, as thou sawst, hourly conceived
And hourly born, with sorrow infinite
To me, for wh
•…
n they list into the womb
That bred them they return, and howl and gnaw
My Bowels, their repast; then bursting forth
800
A fresh with conscious terrors vex me round,
That rest or intermission none I find.
Before mine eyes in opposition sits
Grim
Death
my Son and foe, who sets them on,
And me his Parent would▪ full soon devour
For want of other prey, but that he knows
His end with mine involvd; and knows that I
Should prove a bitter Morsel, and his bane,
When ever that shall be; so Fate pronounced.
But thou O Father, I forewarn thee, shun
810
His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope
To be invulnerable in those bright Arms,
Though tempered heavenly, for that mortal dint,
Save he who reigns above, none can resist.
She finished, and the suttle Fiend his lore
Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered smooth.
Dear Daughter, since thou claim'st me for thy Sire▪
And my fair Son here showst me, the dear pledge
Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys
Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change
820
Befalln us unforeseen, unthought of, know
I come no enemy, but to set free
From out this dark and dismal house of pain,
Both him and thee, and all the heavenly Host
Of Spirits that in our just pretenses armed
Fell with us from on high: from them I go
This uncouth errand sole, and one for all
My self expose, with lonely steps to tread
Th' unfounded deep, & through the void immense
To search with wandering quest a place foretold
830
Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now
Created vast and round, a place of bliss
In the Pourlieues of Heaven, and therein placit
A race-of upstart Creatures, to supply
Perhaps our vacant room, though more removed,
Least Heaven surcharg'd with potent multitude
Might hap to move new broils: Be this or aught
Then this more secret now designed, I haste
To know, and this once known, shall soon return,
And bring ye to the place where Thou and Death
840
Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen
Wing silently the buxom Air, imbalm'd
With odors; there ye shall be fed and filled
Immeasurably, all things shall be your prey.
He ceased, for both seemed highly pleasd, and Death
Grinnd horrible a gastly smile, to hear
His famine should be filled, and blest his mawe
Destin'd to that good hour: no less rejoiced
His mother bad, and thus bespake her Sire.
The key of this infernal Pit by due,
850
And by command of Heavens all-powerful King
I keep, by him forbidden to unlock
These Adamantine Gates; against all force
Death ready stands to interpose his dart,
Fearless to be o'rematcht by living might.
But what ow I to his commands above
Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down
Into this gloom of
Tartarus
profound,
To sit in hateful Office here confined,
Inhabitant of Heaven, and heav'nlie-born,
860
Here in perpetual agony and pain,
With terrors and with clamors compasst round
Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed:
Thou art my Father, thou my Author, thou
My being gavest me; whom should I obey
But thee, whom follow? thou wilt bring me soon
To that new world of light and bliss, among
The God's who live at ease, where I shall Reign
At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems
Thy daughter and thy darling, without end.
870
Thus saying, from her side the fatal Key,
Sad instrument of all our woe, she took;
And towards the Gate rolling her bestial train,
Forthwith the huge Porcullis high up drew,
Which but herself not all the
〈◊〉
powers
Could once have moved; th
•…
in the key-hole turns
Th' intricate wards, and every Bolt and Bar
Of massy Iron or solid Rock with ease
Unfast'ns▪ on a
〈◊◊◊〉
With
〈◊◊〉
and
〈◊◊〉
880
Th'
〈◊◊〉
▪ and on
〈◊〉
great
Harsh Thunder, that the lowest bottom shook
Of
Erebus.
She op'nd, but to shut
Excel'd her power; the Gates wide op'n stood,
That with extended wings a Bannerd Host
Under spread Ensigns marching might pass through
With Horse and Chariots rankt in loose array;
So wide they stood, and like a Furnace mouth
Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame.
Before thir eyes in sudden view appear
890
The secrets of the hoary deep, a dark
Illimitable Ocean without bound,
Without dimension, where length, breadth, and highth,
And time and place are lost; where eldest Night
And
Chaos,
Ancestors of Nature, hold
Eternal
Anarchy,
amidst the noise
Of endless wars, and by confusion stand.
For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four Champions sierce
Strive here for Maistrie, and to Battle
〈◊〉
Thir embryon Atoms; they around the flag
900
Of each his faction, in thir several Clan
•…
s,
Light-armed or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift or slow,
Swarm populous, unnumber'd as the Sands
Of
Barca
or
Cyrene's
torrid soil,
Levied to side with warring Winds, and poise
Thir lighter wings. To whom these most adhere,
He rules a moment;
Chaos
Umpire sits,
And by decision more imbroiles the fray
By which he Reigns: next him high Arbiter
Chance
governs all. Into this wild Abyss,
910
The Womb of nature and perhaps her Grave,
Of neither Sea, nor Shore, nor Air, nor Fire,
But all these in thir pregnant causes mixed
Confus'dly, and which thus must ever sight,
Unless th' Almighty Maker them ordain
His dark materials to create more Worlds,
Into this wild Abyss the wary fiend
Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while,
Pondering his Voyage; for no narrow frith
He had to cross. Nor was his eareless peal'd
920
With noises loud and ruinous (to compare
Great things with small) then when
Bellona
storms,
With all her battering Engines bent to rase
Som Capital City, or less then if this frame
Of Heaven were falling, and these Elements
In mutiny had from her Axle torn
The steadfast Earth. At last his Sail-broad Vannes
He spreads for flight, and in the surging smoke
Uplisted spurns the ground, thence many a League
As in a cloudy Chair ascending rides
930
Audacious, but that seat soon failing, meets
A vast vacuity: all unawares
Fluttring his pennons vain plumb down he drops
Ten thousand fadom deep, and to this hour
Down had been falling, had not by ill chance
The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud
Instinct with Fire and Nitre hurried him
As many miles aloft: that fury stayed,
Quencht in a Boggie
Syrtis,
neither Sea,
Nor good dry Land: nigh founderd on he fares,
940
Treading the crude consistence, half on foot,
Half flying; behooves him now both Oare and Saile.
As when a Gryfon through the Wilderness
With winged course ore Hill or moarie Dale,
Pursues the
Arimaspian,
who by stelth
Had from his wakeful custody purloind
The guarded Gold: So eagerly the fiend
Ore bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare,
With head, hands, wings, or feet pursues his way,
And swims or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies:
950
At length a
〈◊◊〉
wild
Of stunning sounds and voices all confused
Born through the hollow dark assaults his ear
With loudest vehemence: thither he plies,
Undaunted to meet there what ever power
Or Spirit of the
〈◊◊〉
Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask
Which way the nearest coast of darkness lies
Bordering on light; when strait behold the Throne
Of
Chaos,
and his
〈◊〉
Pavilion
•…
pread
960
Wide on the wasteful Deep; with him Enthron'd
Sat Sable-vested Night, eldest of things,
The consort of his Reign; and by them stood
Orcus
and
Ades,
and the dreaded name
Of
Demogorgon
〈◊〉
Rumor next and Chance,
And Tumult and Confusion all
〈◊〉
,
And Discord with a thousand various mouths.
T' whom
Satan
turning boldly, thus. Ye Powers
And Spirits of this nethermost Abyss,
Chaos
and
ancient Night,
I comeno Spie,
970
With purpose to explore or to disturb
The secrets of your Realm, but by constraint
Wandering this darksome desert, as my way
Lies through your spacious Empire up to light,
Alone, and without guide, half lost, I seek
What readiest path leads where your gloomie bounds
Confine with Heaven; or if
•…
om other place
From your Dominion won, th'Ethereal King
Possesses lately, thither to arrive
I travel this profound, direct my course;
980
Directed, no mean recompense it brings
To your behoof, if I that Region lost,
All usurpation thence expel'd, reduce
To her original darkness and your sway
(Which is my present journey) and once more
Erect the Standerd there of
ancient Night;
Yours be th'advantage all, mine the revenge.
Thus
Satan;
and him thus the Anarch old
With faultring speech and visage incompos'd
Answer'd. I know thee, stranger, who thou art,
990
That mighty leading Angel, who of late
Made head against Heavens King, though overthrown.
I saw and heard, for such a numerous host
Fled not in silence through the frighted deep
With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout,
Confusion worse confounded; and Heaven Gates
Pourd out by millions her victorious Bands
Pursuing. I upon my Frontieres herd
Keep residence; if all I can will serve,
That little which is left so to defend
1000
Encroacht on still through our intestine broils
Weakning the Scepter of old Night: first Hell
Your dungeon stretching far and wide beneath;
Now lately Heaven and Earth, another World
Hung ore my Realm, linked in a golden Chain
To that side Heaven from whence your Legions fell:
If that way be your walk, you have not far;
So much the nearer danger; go and speed;
Havock and spoil and ruin are my gain.
He ceased; and
Satan
staid not to reply,
1010
But glad that now his Sea should find a shore,
With fresh alacrity and force renewed
Springs upward like a Pyramid of fire
Into the wild expanse, and through the shock
Of fighting Elements, on all sides round
Environ'd wins his way; harder beset
And more endangered, then when
Argo
passed
Through
Bosporus
betwixt the
〈◊〉
Rocks:
Or when
〈◊〉
on the Larbord
〈◊〉
Charybdis,
and by th' other
〈◊◊〉
.
1020
So he with difficulty and labor hard
Mov'd on, with difficulty and labor he;
But he once past, soon after when man fell,
Strange alteration! Sin and Death amain
Following his track, such was the will of Heaven,
Pav'd after him a broad and beat'n way
Over the dark
〈◊〉
, whose boiling Gulf
Ta
•…
ely endured a Bridge of wondrous length
From Hell continued reaching th' utmost Orbe
Of this frail World; by which the Spirits perverse
1030
With easy intercourse pass to and
•…
ro
To tempt or punish mortals, except whom
God and good Angels guard by special grace.
But now at last the sacred influence
Of light appears, and from the walls of Heaven
Shoots far into the bosom of dim Night
A glimmering dawn; here Nature first begins
Her fardest verge, and
Chaos
to retire
As from her outmost works a broken foe
With tumult less and with less hostile din,
1040
That
Satan
with less toil, and now with ease
Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light
And like a weather-beaten Vessel holds
Gladly the Port, though Shrouds and Tackle torn;
Or in the emptier waste, resembling Air,
Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to be hold
Far off th' Empyreal Heaven, extended wide
In circuit, undetermind square or round,
With Opal Towrs and Battlements adorned
Of living Sapphire, once his native Seat;
1050
And fast by hanging in a golden Chain
This pendant world, in bigness as a Starr
Of smallest Magnitude close by the Moon.
Thither full fraught with mischievous revenge,
Accurst, and in a cursed hour he hies.
The End of the Second Book.
PARADISE LOST.
BOOK III.
H
Ail holy light, offspring of Heaven first-born,
Or of th' Eternal Coeternal beam
May I express thee unblam'd? since God is light,
And never but in unapproached light
Dwelt from Eternity, dwelt then in thee▪
Bright esfluence of bright essence increate.
Or hear'st thou rather pure Ethereal stream,
Whose Fountain who shall tell? before the Sun,
Before the Heavens thou wert, and at the voice
Of God, as with a Mantle didst invest
10
The rising world of waters dark and deep,
Won from the void and formless infinite.
Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing,
Escapit the
Stygian
Pool, though long detained
In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight
Through utter and through middle darkness borne
With other notes then to th'
Orphean
Lyre
I sung of
Chaos
and
Eternal Night,
Taught by the heavenly Muse to venture down
The dark descent, and up to reascend,
20
Though hard and rare: thee I revisit safe,
And
•…
eel thy sovran vital Lamp; but thou
Revisit'st not these eyes, that roll in vain
To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn;
So thick a drop serene hath quenched thir Orbs,
Or dim suffusion veild. Yet not the more
Cease I to wander where the Muses haunt
Cleer Spring, or shady Grove, or Sunnie Hill,
Smit with the love of sacred song; but chief
Thee
Zion
and the flowrie Brooks beneath
30
That wash thy hallowd feet, and warbling flow,
Nightly I visit: nor sometimes forget
Those other two equaled with me in Fate,
So were I equaled with them in renown,
Blind
Thamyris
and blind
Maeonides,
And
Tiresias
and
Phineus
Prophets old.
Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move
Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful Bird
Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid
Tunes her nocturnal Note. Thus with the Year
40
Seasons return, but not to me returns
Day, or the sweet approach of Even or Morn,
Or sight of vernal bloom, or Summers Rose,
Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine;
But cloud instead, and ever▪ during dark
Surrounds me, from the cheerful ways of men
Cut off, and for the Book of knowledge fair
Presented with a Universal blanc
Of Natures works to me expung'd and ras'd,
And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out.
50
So much the rather thou Celestial light
Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers
Irradiate, there plant eyes, all mist from thence
Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell
Of things invisible to mortal fight.
Now had the Almighty Father from above,
From the pure Empyrean where he sits
High Throne'd above all highth, bent down his eye,
His own works and their works at once to view:
About him all the Sanctities of Heaven
60
Stood thick as Starrs, and from his sight received
Beatitude past utterance; on his right
The radiant image of his Glory sat,
His only Son; On Earth he first beheld
Our two first Parents, yet the only two
Of mankind, in the happy Garden placit,
Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love,
Uninterrupted joy, unrivald love
In
〈◊◊〉
; he then survey'd
Hell and the Gulf between, and
Satan
there
70
Coasting the wall of Heaven on this side Night
In the dun Air sublime, and ready now
To stoop with
〈◊〉
wings, and willing feet
On the bare outside of this World, that seemed
Firm land imbosom'd without Firmament,
Uncertain which, in Ocean or in Air.
Him God beholding from his prospect high,
Wherein past, present▪ future he beholds,
Thus to his only Son foreseeing spake.
Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage
80
•…
ransports our adversary, whom no bounds
Prescrib'd, no bars of Hell, nor all the chains
Heapt on him there, nor yet the main Abyss
Wide interrupt can hold; so bent he seems
On desperate revenge, that shall redound
Upon his own rebellious head. And now
Through all restraint broke loose he wings his way
Not far off Heaven, in the Precincts of light,
Directly towards the new created World,
And Man there placit, with purpose to assay
90
If him by force he can destroy, or worse,
By some false guile pervert; and shall pervert;
For man will hark'n to his glozing lies,
And easily transgress the sole Command,
Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall
He and his faithless Progenie: whose fault?
Whose but his own? ingrate, he had of me
All he could have; I made him just and right,
Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall.
Such I created all th' Ethereal Powers
100
And Spirits, both them who stood & them who faild;
Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell.
Not free, what proof could they have givn sincere
Of true allegiance, constant Faith or Love,
Where only what they needs must do, appeared,
Not what they would? what praise could they receive?
What pleasure I from such obedience paid,
When Will and Reason (Reason also is choice)
Useless and vain, of freedom both despoild,
Made passive both, had servd necessity,
110
Not me. They therefore as to right belongd,
So were created, nor can justly accuse
Thir maker, or thir making, or thir Fate;
As if Predestination over-ruled
Thir will, disposed by absolute Decree
Or high foreknowledge; they themselves decreed
Thir own revolt, not I: if I foreknew,
Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,
Which had no less proved certain unforeknown.
So without least impulse or shadow of Fate,
120
Or aught by me immutablie foreseen,
They trespass, Authors to themselves in all
Both what they judge and what they choose; for so
I formd them free, and free they must remain,
Till they enthrall themselves: I else must change
Thir nature, and revoke the high Decree
Unchangeable, Eternal, which ordained
Thir freedom, they themselves ordained thir fall.
The first sort by thir own suggestion fell,
Self-tempted, self-depraved: Man falls deceived
130
By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace,
The other none: in Mercy and Justice both,
Through Heaven and Earth, so shall my glory excel,
But Mercy first and last shall brightest shine.
Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance filled
All Heaven, and in the blessed Spirits elect
Sense of new joy ineffable diffused:
Beyond compare the Son of God was seen
Most glorious, in him all his Father shon
Substantially expressed, and in his face
140
Divine compassion visibly appeerd,
Love without end, and without measure Grace,
Which uttering thus he to his Father spake.
O Father, gracious was that word which closed
Thy sov
•…
sentence, that Man should find grace;
For which both Heaven and Earth shall high extol
Thy praises, with th' innumerable sound
Of Hymns and sacred Songs, wherewith thy Throne
Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest.
For should Man finally be lost, should Man
150
Thy creature late so lov
•…
d, thy youngest Son
Fall circum
•…
ented thus by fraud, though joined
With his own folly? that be from thee far,
That
•…
rr be fro
•…
thee, Father, who art Judge
Of all things made, and judgest only right.
Or shall the Adversarie thus obtain
His end, and frustrate thine, shall he fulfill
His malice, and thy goodness bring to naught,
Or proud return though to his heavier doom,
Yet with revenge accomplishit and to Hell
160
Draw after him the whole Race of mankind,
By him corrupted? or wilt thou thyself
Abolish thy Creation, and unmake,
For him, what for thy glory thou hast made?
So should thy goodness and thy greatness both
Be questiond and blasphemed without defense.
To whom the great Creator thus replied.
O Son, in whom my Soul hath chief delight,
Son of my bosom, Son who art alone
My word, my wisdom, and effectual might,
170
All hast thou spok'n as my thoughts are, all
As my Eternal purpose hath decreed:
Man shall not quite be lost, but saved who will,
Yet not of will in him, but grace in me
Freely voutsaft; once more▪ I will renew
His lapsed powers, though forfeit and enthrall'd
By sin to foul exorbitant desires;
Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand
On even ground against his mortal foe,
By me upheld, that he may know how frail
180
His fallen condition is, and to me ow
All his deliv'rance, and to none but me.
Some I have chosen of peculiar grace
Elect above the rest; so is my will:
The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warnd
Thir sinful state, and to appease betimes
Th'incensed Deity, while offered grace
Invites; for I will clear thir senses dark,
What may suffice, and soft'n stony hearts
To pray, repent, and bring obedience due.
190
To prayer, repentance, and obedience due,
Though but endevord with sincere intent,
Mine ear shall not be slow, mine eye not shut.
And I will place within them as a guide
My Umpire
Conscience,
whom if they will hear,
Light after light well used they shall attain,
And to the end persisting, safe arrive.
This my long sufferance and my day of grace
They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste;
But hard be hard'nd, blind be blinded more,
200
That they may stumble on, and deeper fall;
And none but such from mercy I exclude.
But yet all is not don; Man disobeying,
Disloyal breaks his fealty, and sins
Against the high Supremacy of Heaven,
Affecting God-head, and so loosing all,
To expiate his Treason hath naught left,
But to destruction sacred and devote,
He with his whole posterity must die,
Die he or Justice must; unless for him
210
Som other able, and as willing, pay
The rigid satisfaction, death for death.
Say Heav'nly Powers, where shall we find such love,
Which of ye will be mortal to redeem
Mans mortal crime, and just th' unjust to save,
Dwels in all Heaven charity so dear?
He asked, but all the Heav'nly Choir stood mute,
And silence was in Heaven: on man's behalf
Patron or Intercessor none appeerd,
Much less that durst upon his own head draw
220
The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set.
And now without redemption all mankind
Must have been lost, adjudged to Death and Hell
By doom severe, had not the Son of God,
In whom the fullness dwells of love divine,
His dearest mediation thus renewd.
Father, thy word is past, man shall find grace;
And shall grace not find means, that finds her way,
The speediest of thy winged messengers,
To visit all thy creatures, and to all
230
Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought,
Happy for man, so coming; he her aide
Can never seek, once dead in sins and lost;
Atonement for himself or offering meet,
Indebted and undon, hath none to bring:
Behold me then, me for him, life for life
I offer, on me let thine anger fall;
Account me man; I for his sake will leave
Thy bosom, and this glory next to thee
Freely put off, and for him lastly die
240
Well pleased, on me let Death wreck all his rage;
Under his gloomie power I shall not long
Lie vanquished; thou hast givn me to possess
Life in myself forever, by thee I live,
Though now to Death I yield, and am his due
All that of me can die, yet that debt paid,
Thou wilt not leave me in the loathsome grave
His prey, nor suffer my unspotted Soul
For ever with corruption there to dwell;
But I shall rise Victorious, and subdue
250
My Vanqui
•…
r, spoild of his vanted spoil;
Death his deaths wound shall then receive, & stoop
Inglorious, of his mortal sting disarmed.
I through the ample Air in Triumph high
Shall lead Hell Captive maugre Hell, and show
The powers of darkness bound. Thou at the sight
Pleas'd, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile,
While by thee raised I ruin all my Foes,
Death last, and with his Carcass glut the Grave:
Then with the multitude of my redeemd
260
Shall enter Heaven long absent, and return,
Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud
Of anger shall remain, but peace assured,
And reconcilement; wrath shall be no more
Thenceforth, but in thy presence Joy entire.
His words here ended, but his meek aspect
Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love
To mortal men, above which only shon
Filial obedience: as a sacrifice
Glad to be offered, he attends the will
270
Of his great Father. Admiration seis'd
All Heaven, what this might mean, & whither tend
Wondring; but so
•…
th'
〈◊〉
thus replied:
O thou in Heaven and▪ Ea
•…
h the only peace
Found out for mankind under wrath, O thou
My sole complacence! well thou knowest how dear,
To me are all my works, nor M
•…
the least
Though last created, that for him I spare
Thee from my bosom and right hand, to save,
By loosing thee a while, the whole Race lost.
280
Thou therefore whom thou only canst redeem,
Thir Nature also to thy Nature join;
And be thyself Man among men on Earth,
Made flesh, when time shall be, of Virgin seed,
By wondrous birth: Be thou in
Adams
room
The Head of all mankind, though
Adams
Son.
As in him perish all men, so in thee
As from a second root shall be restored,
As many as are restored, without thee none.
His crime makes guilty all his Sons, thy merit
290
Imputed shall absolve them who renounce
Thir own both righteous and u
•…
righteous deeds,
And live in thee transplanted, and f
•…
om thee
Receive new life. So Man, as i
•…
•…
ost
•…
st,
Shall satisfy for Man, be judged and die,
And dying rise, and rising with him raise
His Brethren, ransomd with his own dear life.
So Heav'nly love shall
〈◊◊〉
Hellis
•…
hate,
Giving to death, and dying to red
•…
,
So dearly to redeem what Hellish hate
300
So easily destroyed, and still destroys
In those who, when they may, accept not grace.
Nor shalt thou by descending to ass
•…
me
Mans Nature, less'n or degrade thine own▪
Because thou hast, though Throne'd in highest bliss
Equal to God, and equally enjoying
God-like fruition, quitted all to save
A World from utter loss, and hast been found
By Merit more then Birthright Son of God,
Found worthiest to be so by being Good,
310
Far more then Great or High; because in thee
Love hath abounded more then Glory abounds,
Therefore thy Humiliation shall exalt
With thee thy Manhood also to this Throne;
Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt Reign
Both God and Man, Son both of God and Man,
Anointed universal King; all Power
I give thee, reign forever, and assume
Thy Merits; under thee as Head Supreme
Thrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions I reduce:
320
All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide
In Heaven, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell;
When thou attended gloriously from Heaven
Shalt in the Sky appear, and from thee send
The summoning Arch-Angels to proclaim
Thy dread Tribunal: forthwith from all Winds
The living, and forthwith the cited dead
Of all past Ages to the general Doom
Shall hast'n, such a peal shall rouse thir sleep.
Then all thy Saints assembl'd, thou shalt judge
330
Bad men and Angels, they arraignd shall sink
Beneath thy Sentence; Hell, her numbers full,
Thenceforth shall be forever shut. Mean while
The World shall burn, and from her ashes spring
New Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell
And after all thir tribulations long
See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds,
With Joy and Love triumphing, and fair Truth.
Then thou thy regal Scepter shalt lay by,
For regal Scepter then no more shall need,
340
God shall be All in All. But all ye God's,
Adore him, who to compass all this dies,
Adore the Son, and honor him as me.
No sooner had th' Almighty ceasit, but all
The multitude of Angels with a shout
Loud as from numbers without number, sweet
As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heaven rung
With Jubilee, and loud-Hosanna's filled
Th' eternal Regions: lowly reverent
Towards either Throne they bow, & to the ground
350
With solemn adoration down they cast
Thir Crowns inwove with Amarant and Gold,
Immortal Amarant, a Flour which once
In Paradise, fast by the Tree of Life
Began to bloom, but soon for man's offense
To Heaven removed where first it grew, there grows,
And flours aloft shading the Fount of Life,
And where the river of Bliss through midst of Heavn
Rowls over
Elisian
Flours her Amber stream;
With these that never fade the Spirits Elect
360
Bind thir resplendent locks inwreath'd with beams,
Now in loose Garlands thick thrown off, the bright
Pavement that like a Sea of Jasper shon
Impurpl'd with Celestial Roses smiled.
Then Crown'd again thir gold'n Harps they took,
Harps ever tuned, that glittering by their side
Like Quivers hung, and with Praeamble sweet
Of charming symphonie they introduce
Thir sacred Song, and waken raptures high;
No voice exempt, no voice but well could join
370
Melodious▪ part, such concord is in Heaven.
Thee Father first they sung Omnipotent,
Immutable, Immortal, Infinite,
Eternal King; thee Author of all being,
Fountain of Light, thyself invisible
Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st
Throne'd inaccessible, but when thou shad'st
The full blaze of thy beams, and through a cloud
Drawn round about thee like a radiant Shrine,
Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear,
380
Yet dazzle Heaven, that brightest Seraphim
Approach not, but with both wings veil thir eyes.
Thee next they sang of all Creation first,
Begotten Son, Divine Similitude,
In whose conspicuous count'nance, without cloud
Made visible, th' Almighty Father shines,
Whom else no Creature can behold; on thee
Impresst the effulgence of his Glory abides,
Transfus'd on thee his ample Spirit rests.
He Heaven of Heavens and all the Powers therein
390
By thee created, and by thee threw down
Th' aspiring Dominations: thou that day
Thy Fathers dreadful Thunder didst not spare,
Nor stop thy fl
•…
ming Chariot wheels, that shook
Heavens ever lasting Frame, while over the necks
Thou drov'st of warring Angels disarraid.
Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaime
Thee only ex
•…
old, Son of thy Fathers might,
To execute fierce vengeance on his foes,
Not so on Man; him through their malice fallen,
400
Father of Mercy and Grace, thou didst not doom
So strictly, but much more to pity incline:
No sooner did thy dear and only Son
Perceive thee purposed not to doom frail Man
So strictly, but much more to pity
•…
clin'd,
He to appease thy wrath, and end the strife
Of Mercy and Justice in thy face discerned,
Regardless of the Bliss wherein he fat
Second to thee, offered himself to die
For man's offense. O unexampl'd love,
410
Love nowhere to be found less then Divine!
Hail Son of God, Savior of Men, thy Name
Shall be the copious matter of my Song
Henceforth, and never shall my Harp thy praise
Forget, nor from thy Fathers praise disjoine.
Thus they in Heaven; above the starry Sp
•…
ear,
Thir happy hours in joy and
〈◊〉
spent.
Mean while upon the
•…
irm opacous Globe
Of this round World, whose first convex divides
The luminous inferior Orbs, enclosed
420
From
Chaos
and th' inroad of Darkness old,
Satan
alighted walks: a Globe far
•…
〈◊〉
It seemed, now seems a boundless Continent
Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night
Starless exposed, and ever-threatening storms
Of
Chaos
blustering round, inclement sky;
Save on that fide which from the wall of Heaven
Though distant far some small reflection gains
Of glimmering air less vext with tempest loud:
Here walked the Fiend at large in spacious field.
430
As when a Vultur on
Imaus
bred,
Whose snowie ridge the roving
Tartar
bounds,
Dislodging from a Region scarce of prey
To gorge the
•…
he of Lambs or yeanling Kids
On Hills where Flocks are fed, flies toward the Springs
Of
Ganges
or
Hydaspes, Indian
streams;
But in his way lights on the barren plains
Of
Sericana,
where
C
•…
ineses
drive
With Sails and Wind thir canie Waggons light:
So on this windy Sea of Land, the Fiend
440
Walk'd up and down alone bent on his prey,
Alone, for other Creature in this place
Living or lifeless to be found was none,
None yet, but store hereafter from the earth
Up hither like Aereal vapors flew
Of all things transitory and vain, when Sin
With vanity had filld the works of men:
Both all things vain, and all who in vain thi
•…
s
Built thir fond hopes of Glory or lasting fame,
Or happiness in this or th' other life;
450
All who have thir reward on Earth, the fruits
Of painful Superstition and blind Zeal,
Naught seeking but the praise of men, here find
Fit retribution, empty as thir deeds;
All th' unaccomplisht works of Natures hand,
Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixed,
Dissolvd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain,
Till final dissolution, wander here,
Not in the neighbouring Moon, as some have dreamd;
Those argent Fields more likely habitants,
460
Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold
Betwixt th' Angelical and Human kind:
Hither of ill-joined Sons and Daughters born
First from the ancient World those Giants came
With many a vain exploit, though then renownd:
The builders next of
Babel
on the Plain
Of
Sennaar,
and still with vain design
New
Babels,
had they wherewithal, would build:
Others came single; he who to be deemd
A God, leap'd fondly into
Aetna
flames,
470
Empedocles,
and he who to enjoy
Plato
's
Elysium,
leap'd into the Sea,
Cleombrotus,
and many more too long,
Embryo's and Idiots, Eremits and Friers
White, Black and Grey, with all thir trumpery.
Here Pilgrims roam, that stray'd so far to seek
In
Golgotha
him dead, who lives in Heaven;
And they who to be sure of Paradise
Dying put on the weeds of
Do
•…
nic,
Or in
•…
anciscan
think to pass disguised;
480
They pass the Planets seven, and pass the fixed,
And that Crystalline Sphere whose balance weighs
The Trepidation talked, and that first moved;
And now Saint
Reter
at Heavens Wicket seems
To wait them with his Keys, and now at foot
Of Heavens ascent they lift thir Feet, when loe
A violent cross wind from either Coast
Blows them transverse ten thousand Leagues awry
Into the devious Air; then might ye see
Cowles, Hoods and Habits with thir wearers tost
490
And flutterd into Raggs, then Relics, Beads,
Indulgences, Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls,
The sport of Winds: all these upwhirld aloft
Fly over the backside of the World far off
Into a
Limbo
large and broad, since called
The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown
Long after, now unpeopl'd, and untrod;
All this dark Globe the Fiend found as he passed,
And long he wanderd, till at last a gleame
Of dawning light turned thither-ward in haste
500
His travel'd steps; far distant he descries
Ascending by degrees magnificent
Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high,
At top whereof, but far more rich appeerd
The work as of a Kingly Palace Gate
With Frontispiece of Diamond and Gold
Imbellisht, thick with sparkling orient Gemmes
The Portal shon, inimitable on Earth
By Model, or by shading Pencil drawn.
The Stairs were such as whereon
Jacob
saw
510
Angels ascending and descending, band
•…
Of Guardians bright, when he from
Esau
•…
d
To
Padan-Aram
in the field of
Luz,
Dreaming by night under the open Sky,
And waking cried, This is the Gate of Heaven.
Each Stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood
There always, but drawn up to Heaven sometimes
Viewless, and underneath a bright Sea flowed
Of Jasper, or of liquid Pearl, whereon
Who after came from Earth, sailing arrived,
520
Wafted by Angels, or flew over the Lake
Rapt in a Chariot drawn by fiery Steeds.
The Stairs were then let down, whether to dare
The Fiend by easy ascent, or aggravate
His sad exclusion from the doors of Bliss.
Direct against which op'nd from beneath,
Just over the blissful seat of Paradise,
A passage down to th' Earth, a passage wide,
Wider by far then that of after-times
Over Mount
Zion,
and, though that were large,
Over the
Promis'd Land
to God so dear,
By which, to visit oft those happy Tribes,
On high behests his Angels to and f
•…
o
Pass'd frequent, and his eye with choice regard
From
Paneus
the sount of
Jordans
flood
To
Bëersaba,
where the
Holy Land
Borders on
Egypt
and the
Arabian
shore;
So wide the op'ning seemed, where bounds were set
To darkness, such as bound the Ocean wave.
Satan
from hence now on the lower stair
540
That scaled by steps of Gold to Heaven Gate
Looks down with wonder at the sudden view
Of all this World at once. As when a Scout
Through dark and desert ways with peril gone
All night; at last by break of cheerful dawn
Obtains the brow of some high climbing Hill,
Which to his eye discovers unaware
The goodly prospect of some foreign land
First▪seen, or some renownd Metropolis
With glistering Spires and Pinnacles adornd,
550
Which now the Rising Sun guilds with his beams.
Such wonder seis'd, though after Heaven seen,
The Spirit malign, but much more envy seis'd
At sight of all this World beheld so fair.
Round he surveys, and well might, where he stood
So high above the circling Canopy
Of Nights extended shade; from Eastern Point
Of
Libra
to the fleecie Starr that bears
Andromeda
far off
Atlantic
Seas
Beyond th'
Horizon;
then from Pole to Pole
560
He views in breadth, and without longer pause
Down right into the Worlds first Region throws
His flight precipitant, and winds with ease
Through the pure marble Air his oblique way
Amongst innumerable Starrs, that shon
Stars distant, but nigh hand seemed other Worlds,
Or other Worlds they seemed, or happy Isles,
Like those
Hesperian
Gardens famed of old,
Fortunate Fields, and Groves and flourie Vales,
Thrice happy Isles, but who dwelt happy there
570
He stayed not to inquire: above them all
The golden Sun in splendor likest Heaven
Allur'd his eye: Thither his course he bends
Through the calm Firmament; but up or down
By center, or eccentric, hard to tell,
Or Longitude, where the great Luminarie
Alooff the vulgar Constellations thick,
That from his Lordly eye keep distance due,
Dispenses Light from far; they as they move
Thir Sarry dance in numbers that compute
580
Days, months, and years, towards his all-cheering Lamp
Turn swift their various motions, or are turned
By his Magnetic beam, that gently warms
The Univers, and to each inward part
With gentle penetration, though unseen,
Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep:
So wondrously was set his Station bright.
There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps
Aftronomer in the Sun's lucent Orbe
Through his glaz'd Optic Tube yet never saw.
590
The place he found beyond expression bright,
Compar'd with aught on Earth, Medal or Stone;
Not all parts like, but all alike informed
Which radiant light, as glowing Iron with fire;
If metal, part seemed Gold, part Silver clear;
If stone, Carbuncle most or Chrysolite,
Rubie or Topaz, to the Twelve that shon
In
Aaron's
Brest-plate, and a stone besides
Imagind rather oft then elsewhere seen,
That stone, or like to that which here below
610
Philosophers in vain so long have sought,
In vain, though by thir powerful Art they bind
Volatil
Hermes,
and call up unbound
In various shapes old
Proteus
from the Sea,
Draind through a Limbec to his Native form.
What wonder then if fields and regions here
Breathe forth
Elixir
pure, and Rivers run
Potable Gold, when with one virtuous touch
Th' Arch-chimic Sun so far from us remote
Produces with Terrestrial Humor mixed
620
Here in the dark so many precious things
Of color glorious and effect so rare?
Here matter new to gaze the Devil met
Undazl'd, far and wide his eye commands,
For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade,
But all Sun-shine, as when his Beams at Noon
Culminate from th'
Equator,
as they now
Shot upward still direct, whence no way round
Shadow from body opaque can fall, and the Air,
No where so clear, sharp'nd his visual ray
630
To objects distant far, whereby he soon
Saw within kenn a glorious Angel stand,
The same whom
John
saw also in the Sun:
His back was turned, but not his brightness hid;
Of beaming sunnie Raies, a golden tiar
Circl'd his Head, nor less his Locks behind
Illustrious on his Shoulders fledge with wings
Lay waving round; on some great charge employ'd
He seemed, or fixed in cogitation deep.
Glad was the Spirit impure▪ as now in hope
640
To find who might direct his wandering flight
To Paradise the happy seat of Man,
His journeys end and our beginning woe.
But first he casts to change his proper shape,
Which else might work him danger or delay:
And now a stripling Cherube he appears,
Not of the prime, yet such as in his face
Youth smiled Celestial, and to every Limb
Suitable grace diffused, so well he feignd;
Under a Coronet his flowing hair
650
In curles on either cheek plaid, wings he wore
Of many a colourd plume sprinkl'd with Gold,
His habit fit for speed succinct, and held
Before his decent steps a Silver wand.
He drew not nigh unheard, the Angel bright,
Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned,
Admonisht by his ear, and strait was known
Th' Arch Angel
Uriel,
one of the seav'n
Who in God's presence, nearest to his Throne
Stand ready at command, and are his Eyes
660
That run through all the Heavens, or down to th' Earth
Bear his swift errands over moist and dry,
O're Sea and Land: him
Satan
thus accostes.
Uriel,
for thou of those seav'n Spirits that stand
In sight of God's high Throne, gloriously bright,
The first art wont his great authentic will
Interpreter through highest Heaven to bring,
Where all his Sons thy Embassy attend;
And here art likeliest by supreme decree
Like honor to obtain, and as his Eye
670
To visit oft this new Creation round;
Unspeakable desire to see, and know
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man,
His chief delight and favor, him for whom
All these his works so wondrous he ordained,
Hath brought me from the Quires of Cherubim
Alone thus wandering. Brightest Seraph tell
In which of all these shining Orbes hath Man
His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none,
But all these shining Orbes his choice to dwell;
680
That I may find him, and with secret gaze,
Or open admiration him behold
On whom the great Creator hath bestowd
Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces powrd;
That both in him and all things, as is meet,
The Universal Maker we may praise;
Who justly hath drivn out his Rebell Foes
•…
o
•…
eepest Hell, and to repair that loss
Created this new happy Race of Men
To serve him better: wise are all his ways.
690
So spake the false dissembler unperceivd;
For neither Man nor Angel can discern
Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks
Invisible, except to God alone,
By his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth:
And oft though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps
At wisdoms Gate, and to simplicity
Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill
Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguile'd
Uriel,
though Regent of the Sun, and held
700
The sharpest sighted Spirit of all in Heaven;
Who to the fraudulent Impostor foul
In his uprightness answer thus returned.
Faire Angel, thy desire which tends to know
The works of God, thereby to glorify
The great Work-Master, leads to no excess
That reaches blame, but rather merits praise
The more it seems excess, that led thee hither
From thy Empyreal Mansion thus alone,
To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps
710
Contented with report hear only in heaven:
For wonderful indeed are all his works,
Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all
Had in remembrance always with delight;
But what created mind can comprehend
Thir number, or the wisdom infinite
That brought them forth, but hid thir causes deep.
I saw when at his Word the formless Mass,
This worlds material mould, came to a heap:
Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar
720
Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined;
Till at his second bidding darkness fled,
Light shon, and order from disorder sprung:
Swift to thir several Quarters hasted then
The cumbrous Elements, Earth, Flood, Air, Fire,
And this Ethereal quintessence of Heaven
Flew upward, spirited with various forms,
That rowld
〈◊〉
, and turned to Starrs
Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move;
Each had his place appointed, each his course,
730
The rest in circuit walls this Universe.
740
Look downward on that Globe whose hither side
With light from hence, though but reflected, shines;
That place is Earth the seat of Man, that light
His day, which else as th' other Hemisphere
Night would invade, but there the neighbouring Moon
(So call that opposite fair Starr) her aide
Timely interposes, and her monthly round
Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven;
With borrowed light her countenance triform
Hence fills and empties to enlighten th'Earth,
750
And in her pale dominion checks the night.
That spot to which I point is
Paradise,
Adams
abode, those lofty shades his Bowre.
Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires.
Thus said, he turned, and
Satan
bowing low,
As to superior Spirits is wont in Heaven,
Where honor due and reverence none neglects,
Took leave, and toward the coast of Earth beneath,
Down from th' Ecliptic, sped with hoped success,
Throws his steep flight with many an Aerie wheel,
760
Nor staid, till on
Niphates
top he lights.
The End of the Third Book.
PARADISE LOST.
BOOK IV.
O
For that warning voice, which he who saw
Th'
Apocalypse,
heard cry in Heaven aloud,
Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,
Came furious down to be revenged on men,
Woe to the inhabitants on Earth!
that now,
While time was, our first Parents had been warnd
The coming of thir secret foe, and scaped
Haply so scaped his mortal snare; for now
Satan,
now first inflamed with rage, came down,
The Tempter ere th' Accuser of man-kind,
10
To wreck on innocent frail man his loss
Of that first Battle, and his flight to Hell:
Yet not rejoicing in his speed, though bold,
Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,
Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth
Now rolling, boils in his tumultuous breast,
And like a devilish Engine back recoiles
Upon himself; horror and doubt distract
His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir
The Hell within him, for within him Hell
20
He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell
One step no more then from himself can fly
By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair
That slumberd, wakes the bitter memory
Of what he was, what is, and what must be
Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue.
Sometimes towards
Eden
which now in his view
Lay pleasant, his grievd look he fixes sad,
Sometimes towards Heaven and the full blazing Sun,
Which now sat high in his Meridian Tower:
30
Then much revolving, thus in sighs began.
O thou that with surpassing Glory crowned,
Look'st from thy sole Dominion like the God
Of this new World; at whose sight all the Starrs
Hide thir diminished heads; to thee I call,
But with no friendly voice, and add thy name
O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams
That bring to my remembrance from what state
I fell, how glorious once above thy Sphere;
Till Pride and worse Ambition threw me down
40
Warring in Heaven against Heavens matchless King:
Ah wherefore! he deservd no such return
From me, whom he created what I was
In that bright eminence, and with his good
Upbraided none; nor was his service hard.
What could be less then to afford him praise,
The easiest recompense, and pay him thanks,
How due! yet all his good proved ill in me,
And wrought but malice; lifted up so high
I sdeind subjection, and thought one step higher
50
Would set me highest, and in a moment quit
The debt immense of endless gratitude,
So burthensome, still paying, still to ow;
Forgetful what from him I still received,
And understood not that a grateful mind
By owing owes not, but still pays, at once
Indebted and dischargd; what burden then?
O had his powerful Destiny ordained
Me some inferior Angel, I had stood
Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised
60
Ambition. Yet why not? some other Power
As great might have aspir'd, and me though mean
Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great
Fell not, but stand unshak'n, from within
Or from without, to all temptations armed.
Hadst thou the same free Will and Power to stand?
Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse,
But Heavens free Love dealt equally to all?
Be then his Love accurst, since love or hate,
To me alike, it deals eternal woe.
70
Nay cursed be thou; since against his thy will
Chose freely what it now so justly rues.
Me miserable! which way shall I fly
Infinite wrath, and infinite despair?
Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep
Still threatening to devour me opens wide,
To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven.
O then at last relent: is there no place
Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left?
80
None left but by submission; and that word
Disdain
forbids me, and my dread of shame
Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced
With other promises and other vaunts
Then to submit, boasting I could subdue
Th' Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know
How dearly I abide that boast so vain,
Under what torments inwardly I groan:
While they adore me on the Throne of Hell,
With Diadem and Scepter high advancit
90
The lower still I fall, only supreme
In misery; such joy Ambition finds.
But say I could repent and could obtain
By Act of Grace my former state; how soon
Would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay
What feigned submission swore: ease would recant
Vows made in pain, as violent and void.
For never can true reconcilement grow
Where wounds of deadly hate have peirc'd so deep:
Which would but lead me to a worse relapse,
100
And heavier fall: so should I purchase dear
Short intermission bought with double smart.
This knows my punisher; therefore as far
From granting he, as I from begging peace:
All hope excluded thus, behold instead
Of us outcast, exiled, his new delight,
Mankind created, and for him this World.
So farwel Hope, and with Hope farwel Fear,
Farwel Remorse: all Good to me is lost;
Evil be thou my Good; by thee at least
110
Divided Empire with Heavens King I hold
By thee, and more then half perhaps will reign;
As Man ere long, and this new World shall know.
Thus while he spake, each passion dim'd his face
Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy and despair,
Which marrd his borrowed visage, and betrayed
Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld.
For heavenly minds from such distempers foul
Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware,
Each perturbation smooth'd with outward calm,
120
Artificer of fraud; and was the first
That practisd falsehood under saintly show,
Deep malice to conceal, couchit with revenge:
Yet not enough had practisd to deceive
Uriel
once warnd; whose eye pursued him down
The way he went, and on th'
Assyrian
mount
Saw him disfigur'd, more then could befall
Spirit of happy sort: his gestures fierce
He markd and mad demeanour, then alone,
As he supposed, all unobserv'd, unseen.
130
So on he fares, and to the border comes
Of
Eden,
where delicious Paradise,
Now nearer, Crowns with her enclosure green,
As with a rural mound the champain head
Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides
With thicket overgrown, grottesque and wild,
Access denied; and over head up grew
Insuperable highth of loftiest shade,
Cedar, and Pine, and Firr, and branching Palm,
A Silvan Scene, and as the ranks ascend
140
Shade above shade, a woodie Theatre▪
Of stateliest view. Yet higher then thir tops
The verdurous wall of Paradise up sprung:
Which to our general Sire gave prospect large
Into his nether Empire neighbouring round.
And higher then that Wall a circling row
Of goodliest Trees loaden with fairest Fruit,
Blossoms and Fruits at once of golden hue
Appeerd, with gay enameld colors mixed:
On which the Sun more glad impressed his beams
150
Then in fair▪ Evening Cloud, or humid Bow,
When God hath showrd the earth; so lovely seemed
That Lantskip: And of pure now purer air
Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires
Vernal delight and joy, able to drive
All sadness but despair: now gentle gales
Fanning thir odoriferous wings dispense
Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole
Those balmie spoils. As when to them who sails
Beyond the
Cape of Hope,
and now are past
160
Mozambic,
off at Sea North-East winds blow
Sabean
Odours from the spicie shore
Of
Arabie
the blest, with such delay
Well pleased they slack thir course, and many a League
Cheard with the grateful smell old Ocean fmiles.
So entertaind those odorous sweets the Fiend
Who came thir bane, though with them better pleased
Then
〈◊〉
with the fishie fume,
That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spouse
O
•…
Tobits
Son, and with a vengeance sent
From
Media
post to
Egypt,
there fast bound.
Now to th' ascent of that steep savage Hill
Satan
had journeyed on, pensive and slow;
But further way found none, so thick entwin'd,
As one continued brake, the undergrowth
Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed
All path of Man or Beast that past that way:
One Gate there only was, and that looked East
Onth' other side: which when th' arch-fellon saw
Due entrance he disdaind, and in contempt,
180
At one slight bound high overleap'd all bound
Of Hill or highest Wall, and sheer within
Lights on his feet. As when a prowling Wolf,
Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,
Watching where Shepherds pen thir Flocks at eeve
In hurdl'd Cotes amid the field secure,
Leaps over the fence with ease into the Fould:
Or as a Thief bent to unhoord the cash
Of some rich Burgher, whose substantial doors,
Cross-barrd and bolted fast, fear no assault,
190
In at the window climbs, or over the tiles;
So clomb this first grand Thief into God's
〈◊〉
:
So since into his Church lewd Hirelings climb.
Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life,
The middle Tree and highest there that grew,
Sat like a Cormorant; yet not true Life
Thereby regaind, but sat devising Death
To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought
Of that life-giving Plant, but only used
For prospect, what well used had been the pledge
200
Of immortality. So little knows
Any, but God alone, to value right
The good before him, but perverts best things
To worst abuse, or to thir meanest use.
Beneath him with new wonder now he views
To all delight of human sense exposed
In narrow room Natures whole wealth, yea more,
A Heaven on Earth: for blissful Paradise
Of God the Garden was, by him in the East
Of
Eden
planted;
Eden
stretchd her Line
210
From
Auran
Eastward to the Royal Towrs
Of great
Seleucia,
built by
Grecian
Kings,
Or where the Sons of
Eden
long before
Dwelt in
Telassar:
in this pleasant soil
His far more pleasant Garden God ordained;
Out of the fertil ground he caused to grow
All Trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste;
And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,
High eminent, blooming Ambrosial Fruit
Of vegetable Gold; and next to Life
220
Our Death the Tree of Knowledge grew fast by,
Knowledge of Good bought dear by knowing ill.
Southward through
Eden
went a River large,
Nor changed his course, but through the shaggie hill
Pass'd underneath ingulft, for God had thrown
That Mountain as his Garden mould high raised
Upon the rapid current, which through veins
Of porous Earth with kindly thirst up drawn,
Rose a fresh Fountain, and with many a rill
Waterd the Garden; thence united fell
230
Down the steep glade, and met the nether Flood,
Which from his darksom passage now appears,
And now divided into four main Streams,
Runs divers, wandering many a famous Realm
And Country whereof here needs no account,
But rather to tell how, if Art could tell,
How from that Sapphire Fount the crisped Brooks,
Rowling on Orient Pearl and sands of Gold,
With mazie error under pendant shades
Ran Nectar, visiting each plant, and fed
240
Flours worthy of Paradise which not nice Art
In Beds and curious Knots, but Nature boon
Powrd forth profuse on Hill and Dale and Plain,
Both where the morning Sun first warmly smote
The open field, and where the unpiercit shade
Imbround the noontide Bowrs: Thus was this place, Balm,
A happy rural seat of various view;
Groves whose rich Trees wept odorous Gumms and
Others whose fruit burnisht with Golden Rinde
Hung amiable,
Hesperian
Fables true,
250
If true, here only, and of delicious taste:
Bet wixt them Lawns, or level Downs, and Flocks
Grasing the tender herb, were interposed,
Or palmie hilloc, or the flourie lap
Of some irriguous Valley spread her store,
Flours of all hue, and without Thorn the Rose:
Another side, umbrageous G
•…
ots and Caves
Of cool recess, over which the mantling Vine
Lays forth her purple Grape, and gently creeps
Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall
260
Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a Lake,
That to the fringed Bank with Myrtle crowned,
Her crystal mirror holds, unite thir streams.
The Birds thir quire apply; airs, vernal airs,
Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune
The trembling leaves, while Universal
Pan
Knit with the
Graces
and the
Hours
in dance
Led on th' Eternal Spring. Not that fair field
Of
Enna,
where
Proserpin
gathring flours
Her self a fairer Floure by gloomie
Dis
270
Was gatherd, which cost
Ceres
all that pain
To seek her through the world; nor that sweet Grove
Of
Daphne
by
Orontes,
and th' inspired
Castalian
Spring might with this Paradise
Of
Eden
strive; nor that
Nyseian
I will
Girt with the River
Triton,
where old
Cham,
Whom Gentiles
Ammon
call and
Libyan Jove,
Hid
Amalthea
and her Florid Son
Young
Bacchus
from his Stepdame
Rhea's
eye;
Nor where
Abassin
Kings thir issue Guard,
280
Mount
Amara,
though this by some supposed
True Paradise under the
Ethiop
Line
By
Nile
head, enclosed with shining Rock,
A whole days journey high, but wide remote
From this
Assyrian
Garden, where the Fiend
Saw undelighted all delight, all kind
Of living Creatures new to sight and strange:
Two of far nobler shape erect and tall,
Godlike erect, with native Honor clad
In naked Majesty seemed Lord's of all,
290
And worthy seemed, for in thir looks Divine
The image of thir glorious Maker shon,
Truth, Wisdom, Sanctitude severe and pure,
Severe, but in true filial freedom placit;
Whence true authority in men; though both
Not equal, as thir sex not equal seemed;
For contemplation he and valor formd,
For softness she and sweet attractive Grace,
He for God only, she for God in him:
His fair large Front and Eye sublime declared
300
Absolute rule; and Hyacinthin Locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Clustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad:
She as a veil down to the slender waste
Her unadorned golden tresses wore
Dissheveld, but in wanton ringlets wav'd
As the Vine curles her tendrils, which impli'd
Subjection, but required with gentle sway,
And by her yielded, by him best received,
Yeilded with coy submission, modest pride,
310
And sweet reluctant amorous delay.
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceald,
Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame
Of natures works, honor dishonorable,
Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind
With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure,
And banished from man's life his happiest life,
Simplicitie and spotless innocence.
So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight
Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill:
320
So hand in hand they passed, the lovliest p
•…
ir
That ever since in loves embraces met,
Adam
the goodliest man of men since borne
His Sons, the fairest of her Daughters
Eve.
Under a tuft of shade that on a green
Stood whispering soft, by a fresh Fountain side
They sat them down, and after no more toil
Of thir sweet Gardning labor then suffic'd
To recommend cool
Zephyr,
and made ease
More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite
330
More grateful, to thir Supper Fruits they fell,
Nectarine Fruits which the compliant boughs
Yeilded them, side-long as they sat recline
On the soft downie Bank damaskt with flours:
The savory pulp they chew, and in the rind
Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream;
Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles
Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as beseems
Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial League,
Alone as they. About them frisking played
340
All Beasts of th' Earth, since wild, and of all chase
In Wood or Wilderness, Forest or Den;
Sporting the Lion rampd, and in his paw
Dandl'd the Kid; Bears, Tigers, Ounces, Pards
Gambold before them, th' unwieldy Elephant
To make them mirth used all his might, & wreathd
His Lithe Proboscis; close the Serpent sly
Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine
His breaded train, and of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass
350
Coucht, and now filled with pasture gazing sat,
Or Bedward ruminating: for the Sun
Declin'd was hasting now with prone carreer
To th' Ocean Isles, and in th' ascending Scale
Of Heaven the Starrs that usher Evening rose:
When
Satan
still in gaze, as first he stood,
Scarce thus at length faild speech recoverd sad.
O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold,
Into our room of bliss thus high advancit
Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps,
360
Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright
Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue
With wonder, and could love, so lively shines
In them Divine resemblance, and such grace
The hand that formd them on thir shape hath pourd.
Ah gentle pair, ye little think how nigh
Your change approaches, when all these delights
Will vanish and deliver ye to woe,
More woe, the more your taste is now of joy;
Happy, but for so happy ill secured
370
Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven
Ill fencit for Heaven to keep out such a foe
As now is enterd; yet no purposed foe
To you whom I could pity thus forlorn
Though I unpittied: League with you I seek,
And mutual amity so straight, so close,
That I with you must dwell, or you with me
Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please
Like this fair Paradise, your sense, yet such
Accept your Makers work; he gave it me,
380
Which I as freely give; Hell shall unfould,
To entertain you two, her widest Gates,
And send forth all her Kings; there will be room,
Not like these narrow limits, to receive
Your numerous offspring; if no better place,
Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge
On you who wrong me not for him who wronged.
And should I at your harmless innocence
Melt, as I do, yet public reason just,
Honor and Empire with revenge enlarged,
390
By conquering this new World, compels me now
To do what else though damnd I should abhor.
So spake the Fiend, and with necessity,
The Tyrants plea, excused his devilish deeds.
Then from his lofty stand on that high Tree
Down he alights among the sportful Herd
Of those fourfooted kinds, himself now one,
Now other, as thir shape servd best his end
Nearer to view his prey, and unespi'd
To mark what of thir state he more might learn
400
By word or action marked: about them round
A Lion now he stalkes with
•…
ierie glare,
Then as a Tiger, who by chance hath spi'd
In some Purlieu two gentle Fawnes at play,
Strait couches close, then rising changes oft
His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground
Whence rushing he might
〈◊〉
seise them both
Gripit in each paw▪ when
Adam
first of men
To first of women
Eve
thus moving speech,
Turnd him all ear to hear new utterance flow.
410
Sole partner and sole part of all these joys,
Dearer thyself then 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 placit 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 then to keep
420
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, what ere Death is,
Som dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou▪ knowest
God hath pronouncit it death to taste that Tree,
The only
•…
ign of our obedience left
Among so many signs of power and rule
Conferrd upon us, and Dominion given
430
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, & tend these Flours,
Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.
To whom thus
Eve
replied. O thou for whom
440
And from whom I was formd 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
Preeminent by so much odds, while thou
Like consort to thyself canst nowhere find.
That day I oft remember, when from sleep
I first awakit, and found myself repos'd
450
Under a shade on flours, much wondering where
And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.
Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound
Of waters issu'd from a Cave and spread
Into a liquid Plain, then stood unmov'd
Pure as th' expanse of Heaven; I thither went
With unexperiencit 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,
460
A Shape within the watery gleam appeerd
Bending to look on me, I started back,
It started back, but pleasd I soon returned,
Pleas'd it returned as soon with answering looks
Of sympathy and love, there I had fixed
Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire,
Had not a voice thus warnd 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
470
Thy coming; and thy soft embraces, he
Whose image thou art, him thou shall enjoy
Inseparablie thine, to him shalt bear
Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called
Mother of human Race: what could I do,
But follow strait, invisibly thus led?
Till I espi'd thee, fair indeed and tall,
Under a Platan, yet methought less fair,
Less winning soft, less amiablie mild,
Then that smooth watery image; back I turned,
480
Thou following cryd'st aloud, Return fair
Eve,
Whom
•…
li'st thou? whom▪ thou fli'st, 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
Seisd mine, I yielded, and from that time see
How beauty is excelld by manly grace
490
And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.
So spake our general Mother, and with eyes
Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,
And meek surrender, half embracing leand
On our first Father, half her swelling Breast
Naked met his under the flowing Gold
Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight
Both of her Beauty and submissive Charms
Smil'd with superior Love, as
Jupiter
On
Juno
smiles, when he impregns the Clouds
500
That shed
May
Flowers; and pressed her Matron lip
With kisses pure: aside the Devil turned
For envy, yet with jealous leer malign
Ey'd them askance, and to himself thus plaind.
Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two
Imparadisit in one another's arms
The happier
Eden,
shall enjoy thir fill
Of bliss on bliss, while I to Hell am thrust,
Where neither joy nor love, but
〈◊〉
desire,
Among our other torments not the least,
510
Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines;
Yet let me not forget what I have gained
From thir own mouths; all is not theirs it seems:
One fatal Tree there stands of Knowledge called,
Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbid'n?
Suspicious, reasonless. Why should thir Lord
Envy them that? can it be sin to know,
Can it be death? and do they only stand
By Ignorance, is that thir happy state,
The proof of thir obedience and thir faith?
520
O fair foundation laid whereon to build
Thir ruin! Hence I will excite thir minds
With more desire to know, and to reject
Envious commands, invented with design
To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt
Equal with God's; aspiring to be such,
They taste and die: what likelier can ensue?
But first with narrow search I must walk round
This Garden, and no corner leave unspi'd;
A chance but chance may lead where I may meet
530
Some wandering Spirit of Heaven, by Fountain
〈◊〉
,
Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw
What further would be learnt. Live while ye may,
Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,
Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed.
So saying, his proud step he scornful turned,
But with sly circumspection, and began
Through wood, through waste, over hill, over dale his roam.
Mean while in utmost Longitude, where Heaven
With Earth and Ocean meets, the setting Sun
540
Slowly descended, and with right aspect
Against the eastern Gate of Paradise
Leveld his eevning Rayes: it was a Rock
Of Alablaster, pil'd up to the Clouds,
Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent
Accessible from Earth, one entrance high;
The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung
Still as it rose, impossible to climb.
Betwixt these rocky Pillars
Gabriel
〈◊〉
Chief of th' Angelic Guards, awaiting night;
550
About him exercised Heroic Games
Th' unarmed Youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand
Celestial Armourie, Shields, Helmes, and Speares
Hung high with Diamond flaming, and with Gold.
Thither came
Uriel,
gliding through the Eeven
On a Sun beam, swift as a shooting Starr
In
Autumn
thwarts the night, when vapors fired
Impress the Air, and shows the Mariner
From what point of his Compass to beware
Impetuous winds: he thus began in haste.
560
Gabriel,
to thee thy cours by Lot hath given
Charge and strict watch that to this happy place
No evil thing approach or enter in;
This day at highth of Noon came to my Sphere
A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know
More of th' Almighty's works, and chiefly Man
God's latest Image: I described his way
Bent all on speed, and marked his Aerie Gate;
But in the Mount that lies from
Eden
North,
Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks
570
Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured:
Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade
Lost sight of him; one of the banished crew
I fear, hath ventured from the deep, to raise
New troubles; him thy care must be to find.
To whom the winged Warriour thus returned:
Uriel,
no wonder if thy perfet sight,
Amid the Suns bright circle where thou sitst,
See far and wide: in at this Gate none pass
The vigilance here placit, but such as come
580
Well known from Heaven; and since Meridian hour
No Creature thence: if Spirit of other sort,
So minded, have oreleapt these earthie bounds
On purpose, hard thou knowest it to exclude
Spiritual substance with corporeal bar.
But if within the circuit of these walks
In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom
Thou telst, by morrow dawning I shall know.
So promised he, and
Uriel
to his charge
Returnd on that bright beam, whose point now raisd
590
Bore him slope downward to the Sun now fallen
Beneath th'
Azores;
whither the prime Orb,
Incredible how swift, had thither roll'd
Diurnal, or this less volubil Earth
By shorter flight to th' East, had left him there
Arraying with reflected Purple and Gold
The Clouds that on his Western Throne attend:
Now came still Eevning on, and Twilight gray
Had in her sober Liverie all things clad;
Silence accompanied, for Beast and Bird,
600
They to thir grassie Couch, these to thir Nests
Were slunk, all but the wakeful Nightingale;
She all night long her amorous descant sung;
Silence was pleased: now glow'd the Firmament
With living Sapphires:
Hesperus
that led
The starry Host, rode brightest, till the Moon
Rising in clouded Majesty, at length
Apparent Queen unvaild her peerless light,
And over the dark her Silver Mantle threw.
When
Adam
thus to
Eve:
Fair Consort, th' hour
610
Of night, and all things now retired to rest
Mind us of like repose, since God hath set
Labor and rest, as day and night to men
Successive, and the timely dew of sleep
Now falling with soft slumbrous weight inclines
Our eye-lids; other Creatures all day long
Rove idle unimploid, and less need rest;
Man hath his daily work of body or mind
Appointed, which declares his Dignity,
And the regard of Heaven on all his ways;
620
While other Animals unactive range,
And of thir doings God takes no account.
To morrow ere fresh Morning streak the East
With first approach of light, we must be ris'n,
And at our pleasant labor, to reform
Yon flourie Arbors, yonder Allies green,
Our walks at noon, with branches overgrown,
That mock our scant manuring, and require
More hands then ours to lop thir wanton growth:
Those Blossoms also, and those dropping Gumms,
630
That lie bestrowne unsightly and unsmooth,
Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease;
Mean while, as Nature wills, Night bids us rest.
To whom thus
Eve
with perfet beauty adornd.
My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst
Unargu'd I obey; so God ordains,
God is thy Law, thou mine: to know no more
Is woman's happiest knowledge and her praise.
With thee conversing I forget all time,
All seasons and thir change, all please alike.
640
Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,
With charm of earliest Birds; pleasant the Sun
When first on this delightful Land he spreads
His orient Beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flour,
Glistring with dew; fragrant the fertil earth
After soft showers; and sweet the coming on
Of grateful Eevning mild, then silent Night
With this her solemn Bird and this fair Moon,
And these the Gemms of Heaven, her starry train:
But neither breath of Morn when she ascends
650
With charm of earliest Birds, nor rising Sun
On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flour,
Glistring with dew, nor fragrance after showers,
Nor grateful Evening mild, nor silent Night
With this her solemn Bird, nor walk by Moon,
Or glittering Starr-light without thee is sweet.
But wherefor all night long shine these, for whom
This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?
To whom our general Ancestor replied.
Daughter of God and Man, accomplisht
Eve,
660
Those have thir course to finish, round the Earth,
By morrow Eevning, and from Land to Land
In order, though to Nations yet unborn,
Ministring light prepared, they set and rise;
Least total darkness should by Night regain
Her old possession, and extinguish life
In Nature and all things, which these soft fires
Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat
Of various influence foment and warm,
Temper or nourish, or in part shed down
670
Thir stellar virtue on all kinds that grow
On Earth, made hereby apter to receive
Perfection from the Suns more potent Ray.
These then, though unbeheld in deep of night,
Shine not in vain, nor think, though men were none,
That heaven would want spectators, God want praise;
Millions of spiritual Creatures walk the Earth
Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep:
All these with ceasless praise his works behold
Both day and night: how often from the steep
680
Of echoing Hill or Thicket have we heard
Celestial voices to the midnight air,
Sole, or responsive each to others note
Singing thir great Creator: oft in bands
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk
With Heav'nly touch of instrumental sounds
In full harmonic number joind, thir songs
Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven.
Thus talking hand in hand alone they passed
On to thir blissful Bower; it was a place
690
Chos'n by the sovran Planter, when he framed
All things to man's delightful use; the roof
Of thickest covert was inwoven shade
Laurel and Mirtle, and what higher grew
Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side
Acanthus,
and each odorous bushie shrub
Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flour, wrought
Iris
all hues, Roses, and Gessamin
Rear'd high thir flourished heads between, and
Mosaic; underfoot the Violet,
700
Crocus, and Hyacinth with rich inlay
Broiderd the ground, more color'd then with stone
Of costliest Emblem: other Creature here
Beast, Bird, Insect, or Worm durst enter none;
Such was thir awe of man. In shadier Bower
More sacred and sequesterd, though but feignd,
Pan
or
Silvanus
never slept, nor Nymph,
Nor
Faunus
haunted. Here in close recess
With Flowers, Garlands, and sweet-smelling Herbs
Espoused
Eve
decked first her Nuptial Bed,
710
And heavenly Quires the Hymenaean sung,
What day the genial Angel to our Sire
Brought her in naked beauty more adorned,
More lovely then
Pandora,
whom the God's
Endowd with all thir gifts, and O too like
In sad event, when to the unwiser Son
Of
Japheth
brought by
Hermes,
she ensnar'd
Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged
On him who had stole
Joves
authentic fire.
Thus at thir shady Lodge arrived, b
•…
th stood,
720
Both turned, and under op'n Sky ado
•…
'd
The God that made both Sky, Air, Earth & Heaven
Which they beheld, the Moons resplendent Globe
And starry Pole: Thou also madest the Night,
Maker Omnipotent, and thou the Day,
Which we in our appointed work imployd
Have finis
•…
t happy in our mutual help
And mutual love, the Crown of all our bliss
Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place
For us too large, where thy abundance wants
730
Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground.
But thou hast promised from us two a Race
To fill the Earth, who shall with us extol
Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,
And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep.
This said unanimous, and other Rites
Observing none, but adoration pure
Which God likes best, into thir inmost bower
Handed they went; and eased the putting off
These troublesome disguises which we wear,
740
Strait side by side were
•…
aid, nor turned I ween
Adam
from his fair Spouse, nor
Eve
the Rites
Mysterious of connubial Love refused:
Whatever Hypocrites austerely talk
Of purity and place and innocence,
Defaming as impure what God declares
Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.
Our Maker bids increase, who bids ab
•…
ain
But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man?
Hail wedded Love, mysterious Law, true source
750
Of human offspring, sole propriety,
In Paradise of all things common else.
By thee adulterous lust was driven from men
Among the bestial herds to raunge, by thee
Founded in Reason, Loyal, Just, and Pure,
Relations dear, and all the Charities
Of Father, Son, and Brother first were known.
Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame,
Or think thee unbe
•…
tting holiest place,
760
Perpetual Fountain of Domestic sweets,
Whose Bed is undefiled and chaste pronouncit,
Present, or past, as Saints and Patriarchs used.
Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights
His constant Lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile
Of Harlots, loveless, joyless, unindeard,
Casual fruition, nor in Court Amours
Mixt Dance, or wanton Mask, or Midnight Bal,
Or Serenate, which the starved Lover sings
770
To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.
These lulld by Nightingales imbraceing slept,
And on thir naked limbs the flourie roof
Showrd Roses, which the Morn repaired. Sleep on,
Blest pair; and O yet happiest if ye seek
No happier state, and know to know no more.
Now had night measured with her shaddowieCone
Half way up Hill this vast Sublunar Vault,
And from thir Ivorie Port the Cherubim
Forth issuing at th'accustomd hour stood armed
780
To thir night watches in warlike Parade,
When
Gabriel
to his next in power thus spake.
Uzziel,
half these draw off, and coast the South
With strictest watch; these other wheel the North,
Our circuit meets full West. As flame they part
Half wheeling to the Shield, half to the Spear.
From these, two strong and suttle Spirits he called
That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge.
Ithuriel
and
Zephon,
with wingd speed
Search through this Garden, leave unsearcht no nook,
790
But chiefly where those two fair Creatures Lodge,
Now laid perhaps asleep secure of har
•…
e.
This Eevning from the Sun's decline arrived
Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen
Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped
The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:
Such where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring.
So saying, on he led his radiant Files,
Daz'ling the Moon; these to the Bower direct
In search of whom they sought: him there they found
800
Squat like a Toad, close at the ear of
Eve;
Assaying by his Devilish art to reach
The Organs of her Fancie, and with them forge
Illusions as he list, Phantasms and Dreams,
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal Spirits that from pure blood arise
Like gentle breaths from Rivers pure, thence raise
At least distemperd, discontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires
Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride.
810
Him thus intent
Ithuriel
with his Spear
Touch'd lightly; for no falsehood can endure
Touch of Celestial temper; but returns
Of source to its own likeness: up he starts
Discoverd and surprised. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder, laid
Fit for the Tun some Magazine to store
Against a rumord Warr, the Smuttie grain
With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the Air:
So started up in his own shape the Fiend.
820
Back stepped those two fair Angels h
•…
lf amazed
So sudden to behold the grieslie King;
Yet thus, unmovd with fear, accost him soon.
Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to Hell
Com'st thou, escaped thy prison, and transformed,
Why satst thou like an enemy in wait
Here watching at the head of these that sleep?
Know ye not then said
Satan,
filld with scorn,
Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar;
830
Not to know me argue; yourselves unknown,
The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,
Why ask ye, and superfluous begin
Your message, like to end as much in vain?
To whom thus
Zephon,
answering scorn with scorn.
Think not, revolted Spirit, thy sh
•…
pe the same,
Or undiminisht brightness, to be known
As when thou stoodst in Heaven upright and pure;
That Glory then, when thou no more wast good,
Departed from thee, and thou resembl'st now
840
Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul.
But come, for thou, besure, shalt give account
To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and these from harm.
So spake the Cherube, and his grave rebuke
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
Invincible: abashed the Devil stood,
And felt how awful goodness is, and saw
Virtue in her shape how lovly, saw, and pin'd
His loss; but chiefly to find here observd
850
His luster visibly impar'd; yet seemed
Undaunted. If I must contend, said he,
Best with the best, the Sender not the sent,
Or all at once; more glory will be wonn,
Or less be lost. Thy fear, said
Zephon
bold,
Will save us trial what the least can do
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.
The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage;
But like a proud Steed reind, went haughty on,
Chaumping his iron curb: to strive or fly
860
He held it vain; awe from above had quelld
His heart, not else dismai'd. Now drew they nigh
The western point, where those half-rounding guards
Just met, & closing stood in squadron joind
Awaiting next command. To whom thir Chief
Gabriel
from the Front thus called aloud.
O friends, I hear the tread of nimble fêet
Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern
Ithuriel
and
Zephon
through the shade,
And with them comes a third of Regal port,
870
But faded splendor wan; who by his gate
And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell,
Not likely to part hence without c
•…
test;
Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.
He scarce had ended, when those two approachd
And brief related whom they brought, where found,
How busied, in what form and posture couched.
To whom with stern regard thus
Gabriel
spake.
Why hast thou,
Satan,
broke the bounds prescribed
To thy transgressions, and disturbd the charge
880
Of others, who approve not to transgress
By thy example, but have power and right
To question thy bold entrance on this place;
Imploi'd it seems to violate sleep, and those
Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?
To whom thus
Satan
with contemptuous brow.
Gabriel,
thou hadst in Heaven th' esteem of wise,
And such I held thee; but this question asked
Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain?
Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,
890
Though thither doomd? Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt,
And boldly venture to whatever place
Farthest from pain, where thou mig
•…
tsti hope to change
Torment with ease, & soonest recompense
Dole with delight, which in this place I sought;
To thee no reason; who knowest only good,
But evil hast not tried: and wilt object
His will who bound us? let him surer bar
His Iron Gates, if he intends our stay
In that dark durance: thus much what was asked.
900
The rest is true, they found me where they say;
But that implies not violence or harm.
Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved,
Disdainfully half smiling thus replied.
O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise,
Since
Satan
fell, whom folly overthrew,
And now returns him from his prison scapit,
Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise
Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither
Unlicencit from his bounds in Hell prescribed;
910
So wise he judges it to sly from pain
However, and to sĉape his punishment.
So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrath,
Which thou incur'st by flying, meet thy flight
Seavenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain
Can equal anger infinite provokit.
But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee
Came not all Hell broke loose? is pain to them
Less pain, less to be fled, or thou then they
920
Less hardie to endure? courageous Chief,
The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alleg'd
To thy deserted host this cause of flight,
Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.
To which the
•…
iend thus answered frowning stern.
Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain,
Insulting Angel, well thou knowest I stood
Thy fiercest, when in Battle to thy aide
The blasting volied Thunder made all speed
And seconded thy else not dreaded Spear.
930
But still thy words at random, as before,
Argue thy inexperience what behooves
From hard assays and ill successes past
A faithful Leader, not to hazard all
Through ways of danger by himself untri'd.
I therefore, I alone first undertook
To wing the desolate Abyss, and spy
This new created World, whereof in Hell
Fame is not silent, here in hope to find
Better abode, and my afflicted Powers
940
To settle here on Earth, or in mid Air;
Though for possession put to try once more
What thou and thy gay Legions dare against;
Whose easier business were to serve thir Lord
High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his Throne,
And practice'd distances to cringe, not fight.
To whom the warrior Angel soon replied.
To say and strait unsay, pretending first
Wise to fly pain, professing next the Spie,
Argues no Leader, but a liar tracit,
950
Satan,
and couldst thou faithful add? O name,
O sacred name of faithfulness profaned!
Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?
Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head;
Was this your discipline and faith engaged,
Your military obedience, to dissolve
Allegeance to th' acknowledged Power supreme?
And thou sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem
Patron of liberty, who more then thou
Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and servilly adored
960
Heavens awful Monarch? wherefore but in hope
To dispossess him, and thyself to reign?
But mark what I arreede thee now, avant;
Fly thither whence thou fledst: if from this hour
Within these hallowd limits thou appear,
Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chaind,
And Seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn
The facile gates of hell too slightly barrd.
So threatn'd he, but
Satan
to no threats
Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied.
970
Then when I am thy captive talk of chains,
Proud limitarie Cherube, but ere then
Far heavier load thyself expect to feel
From my prevailing arm, though Heavens King
Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy Compeers,
Us'd to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels
In progress through the rode of Heaven Star-pav'd.
While thus he spake, th' Angelic Squadron bright
Turnd fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns
Thir Phalanx, and began to hemm him round
980
With ported Spears, as thick as when a field
Of
Ceres
ripe for harvest waving bends
Her bearded Grove of ears, which way the wind
Swayes them; the careful Plowman doubting stands
Least on the threshing floor his hopeful sheaves
Prove chaff. On th' other side
Satan
allarm'd
Coll
•…
cting all his might dilated stood,
Like
Teneriff
or
Atlas
unremov'd:
His stature reached the Sky, and on his Crest
Sat horror Plum'd; nor wanted in his grasp
990
What seemed both Spear and Shield: now dreadful deeds
Might have ensu'd, nor only Paradise
In this commotion, but the Starrie Cope
Of Heaven perhaps, or all the Elements
At least had gone to rack, disturbd and torn
With violence of this conflict, had not soon
Th' Eternal to prevent such horrid fray
Hung forth in Heaven his golden Scales, yet seen
Betwixt
Astrea
and the
Scorpion
sign,
Wherein all things created first he weighd,
1000
The pendulous round Earth with ballancit Air
In counterpoise, now ponders all events,
Battels and Realms: in these he put two weights
The sequel each of parting and of fight;
The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam;
Which
Gabriel
spying, thus bespake the Fiend.
Satan,
I know thy strength, and thou knowest mine,
Neither our own but given; what folly then
To boast what Arms can do, since thine no more
Then Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubld now
1010
To trample thee as mire: for proof look up,
And read thy Lot in yon celestial Sign
Where thou art weighed, & shown how light, how weak,
If thou resist. The Fiend looked up and knew
His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled
Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.
The End of the Fourth Book.
PARADISE LOST.
BOOK V:
N
Ow Morn her rosie steps in th' Eastern Clime
Advancing, sowed the Earth with Orient Pearl,
When
Adam
wakit, so customd, for his sleep
Was Aerie light, from pure digestion bred,
And temperat vapors bland, which th' only sound
Of leaves and fuming rills,
Aurora
's fan,
Lightly dispersed, and the shrill Matin Song
Of Birds on every bough; so much the more
His wonder was to find unwak'nd
Eve
With Tresses discompos'd, and glowing Cheek,
10
As through unquiet rest: he on his side
Leaning half-raised, with looks of cordial Love
Hung over her enamored, and beheld
Beauty, which whether waking or asleep,
Shot forth peculiar Graces; then with voice
Milde, as when
Zephyrus
on
Flora
breathes,
Her hand soft touching, whisperd thus. Awake
My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found,
Heavens last best gift, my ever new delight,
Awake, the morning shines, and the fresh field
20
Calls us, we lose the prime, to mark how spring
Our tended Plants, how blows the Citron Grove,
What drops the Myrrh, & what the balmie Reed,
How Nature paints her colors, how the Be
Sits on the Bloom extracting liquid sweet.
Such whispering wak'd her, but with startl'd eye
On
Adam,
whom embracing, thus she spake.
O Sole in whom my thoughts find all repose,
My Glory, my Perfection, glad I see
Thy face, and Morn returned, for I this Night,
30
Such night till this I never passed, have dreamed,
If dreamed, not as I oft am wont, of thee,
Works of day passit, or morrows next design,
But of offense and trouble, which my mind
Knew never till this irksome night; methought
Close at mine ear one called me forth to walk
With gentle voice, I thought it thine; it said,
Why sleepst thou
Eve?
now is the pleasant time,
The cool, the silent, save where silence yields
To the night-warbling Bird, that now awake
40
Tunes sweetest his love-labored song; now reigns
Full Orb'd the Moon, and with more pleasing light
Shadowie sets off the face of things; in vain,
If none regard; Heaven wakes with all his eyes,
Whom to behold but thee, Natures desire,
In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment
Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.
I rose as at thy call, but found thee not;
To find thee I directed then my walk;
And on, methought, alone I passed through ways
50
That brought me on a sudden to the Tree
Of interdicted Knowledge: fair it seemed,
Much-fairer to my Fancie then by day:
And as I wondering looked, beside it stood
One shap'd & wing'd like one of those from Heaven
By us oft seen; his dewie locks distilled
Ambrosia; on that Tree he also gaz'd;
And O fair Plant, said he, with fruit surcharg'd,
Deigns none to ease thy load and taste thy sweet,
Nor God, nor Man; is Knowledge so despised?
60
Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste?
Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold
Longer thy offered good, why else set here?
This said he paus'd not, but with venturous Arm
He plucked, he tasted; me damp horror chil'd
At such bold words voucht with a deed so bold▪
But he thus overjoy'd, O Fruit Divine,
Sweet of thyself▪ but much more sweet thus cropped,
Forbidd'n here, it seems, as only fit
For God's, yet able to make God's of Men:
70
And why not God's of Men, since good, the more
Communicated, more abundant grows,
The Author not impaired, but honourd more?
Here, happy Creature, fair Angelic
Eve,
Partake thou also; happy though thou art,
Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be:
Taste this, and be henceforth among the God's
Thy self a Goddess, not to Earth confind,
But sometimes in the Air, as we, sometimes
Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see
80
What life the God's livethere, and such live thou.
So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held,
Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part
Which he had plucked; the pleasant savory smell
So quick'nd appetite, that I, methought,
Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the Clouds
With him I flew, and underneath beheld
The Earth outstretcht immense, a prospect wide
And various: wondering at my flight and change
To this high exaltation; suddenly
90
My Guide was gone, and I, me thought, sunk down,
And fell asleep; but O how glad I wak'd
To find this but a dream! Thus
Eve
her Night
Related, and thus
Adam
answered sad.
Best Image of myself and dearer half,
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep
Affects me equally; nor can I like
This uncouth dream, of evil sprung I fear;
Yet evil whence? in thee can harbor none,
Created pure. But know that in the Soul
100
Are many lesser Faculties that serve
Reason as chief; among these Fansie next
Her office holds; of all external things,
Which the five watchful Senses represent,
She forms Imaginations, Aerie shapes,
Which Reason joining or disjoining, frames
All what we affirm or what deny, and call
Our knowledge or opinion; then retires
Into her private Cell when Nature rifts.
Oft in her absence mimic Fansie wakes
110
To imitate her; but misjoyning shapes,
Wilde work produces oft, and most in dreams,
Ill matching words and deeds long past or late.
Som such resemblances methinks I find
Of our last Eevnings talk, in this thy dream,
But with addition strange; yet be not sad.
Evil into the mind of God or Man
May come and go, so unapprov'd, and leave
No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope
That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream,
120
Waking thou never wilt consent to do:
Be not disheart'nd then, nor cloud those looks
That wont to be more cheerful and serene
Then when fair Morning first smiles on the World,
And let us to our fresh employments rise
Among the Groves, the Fountains, and the Flours
That open now thir choicest bosom'd smells
Reservd from night, and kept for thee in store.
So cheard he his fair Spouse, and she was cheard,
But silently a gentle tear let fall
130
From either eye, and wiped them with her hair;
Two other precious drops that ready stood,
Each in thir crystal sluice, he ere they fell
Kiss'd as the gracious signs of sweet remorse
And pious awe, that feared to have offended.
So all was cleard, and to the Field they haste.
But first from under shady arborous roof,
Soon as they forth were come to open sight
Of day-spring, and the Sun, who scarce up risen
With wheels yet hov'ring over the Ocean brim,
140
Shot parallel to the earth his dewie ray,
Discovering in wide Lantskip all the East
Of Paradise and
Edens
happy Plains,
Lowly they bowed adoring, and began
Thir Orisons, each Morning duly paid
In various style, for neither various style
Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise
Thir Maker, in fit strains pronouncit or sung
Unmeditated, such prompt eloquence
Flowd from thir lips, in Prose or numerous Verse,
150
More
〈◊〉
then needed Lute or Harp
To add more sweetness, and they thus began.
These are thy glorious works Parent of good,
Almighty, thine this universal Frame,
Thus wondrous fair; thyself how wondrous then!
Unspeakable, who sitst above these Heavens,
To us invisible or dimly seen
In these thy lowest works, yet these declare
Thy goodness beyond thought, and Power Divine:
Speak ye who best can tell, ye Sons of light,
160
Angels, for ye behold him, and with songs
And choral symphonies, Day without Night,
Circle his Throne rejoicing, ye in Heaven,
On Earth join all ye Creatures to extol
Him first, him last, him midst, and without end.
Fairest of Starrs, last in the train of Night,
If better thou belong not to the dawn,
Sure pledge of day, that crownst the smiling Morn
With thy bright Circlet, praise him in thy Sphere
While day arises, that sweet hour of Prime.
170
Thou Sun, of this great World both Eye and Soul,
Acknowledge him thy Greater, sound his praise
In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st,
And when high Noon hast gaind, & when thou fallst.
Moon, that now meetst the orient Sun, now fli'st
With the fixed Starrs, fixed in thir Orb that flies,
And ye five other wandering Fires that move
In mystic Dance not without Song, resound
His praise, who out of Darkness called up Light.
Air, and ye Elements the eldest birth
180
Of Natures Womb, that in quaternion run
Perpetual Circle, multiform; and mix
And nourish all things, let your ceasless change
Varie to our great Maker still new praise.
Ye Mists and Exhalations that now rise
From Hill or steaming Lake, duskie or grey,
Till the Sun paint your fleecie skirts with Gold,
In honor to the Worlds great Author rise,
Whether to deck with Clouds the uncolourd sky,
Or wet the thirsty Earth with falling showers,
190
Rising or falling still advance his praise.
His praise ye Winds, that from four Quarters blow,
Breath soft or loud; and wave your tops, ye Pines,
With every Plant, in sign of Worship wave.
Fountains and ye, that warble, as ye flow,
Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
Join voices all ye living Souls, ye Birds,
That singing up to Heaven
〈◊〉
ascend,
Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise;
Ye that in Waters glide, and ye that walk
200
The Earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep;
Witness if I be silent, Morn or Eeven,
To Hill, or Valley, Fountain, or fresh shade
Made vocal by my Song, and taught his praise.
Hail universal Lord, be bounteous still
To give us only good; and if the night
Have gathered aught of evil or conceald,
Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark.
So prayed they innocent, and to thir thoughts
Firm peace recoverd soon and wonted calm.
210
On to thir mornings rural work they haste
Among sweet dew and flours; where any row
Of Fruit-trees overwoodie reachd too far
Thir pamperd boughs, and needed hands to check
Fruitless embraces: or they led the Vine
To wed her Elm; she spous'd about him twines
Her mariageable arms, and with her brings
Her dowr th' adopted Clusters, to adorn
His barren leaves. Them thus imploid beheld▪
With pity Heavens high King, and to him called
220
Raphael,
the sociable Spirit, that deign'd
To travel with
Tobias,
and secured
His marriage with the seaventimes▪ wedded Maid.
Raphael,
said he, thou hear'st what stir on Earth
Satan
from Hell scapit through the darksom Gulf
Hath raisd in Paradise, and how disturbd
This night the human pair, how he designs
In them at once to ruin all mankind.
Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend
Converse with
Adam,
in what Bowre or shade
230
Thou find'st him from the heat of Noon retired,
To respite his day-labor with repast,
Or with repose; and such discourse bring on,
As may advise him of his happy state,
Happiness in his power left free to will,
Left to his own free Will, his Will though free,
Yet mutable; whence warn him to beware
He swerve not too secure: tell him withal
His danger, and from whom, what enemy
Late falln himself from Heaven, is plotting now
240
The fall of others from like state of bliss;
By violence, no, for that shall be withstood,
But by deceit and lies; this let him know,
Least willfully transgressing he pretend
Surprisal, unadmonisht, unforewarnd,
So spake th' Eternal Father, and fulfilld
All Justice: nor delaid the winged Saint
After his charge received; but from among
Thousand Celestial Ardors, where he stood
Vaild with-his gorgeous wings, up springing light
250
Flew through the midst of Heaven; th'angeli
•…
Quires
On each hand parting, to his speed gave way
Through all th'Empyreal road; till at the Gate
Of Heaven arrived, the gate self-opend wide
On golden Hinges turning, as by work
Divine the sov'ran Architect had framed.
From hence, no cloud or, to obstruct his sight,
Starr interposed, however small he sees,
Not unconform to other shining Globes,
Earth and the Gard'n of God, with Cedars crowned
260
Above all Hills. As when by night the Glass
Of
Galileo,
less assured, observes
Imagind Lands and Regions in the Moon:
Or Pilot from amidst the
Cyclades
Delos
or
Samos
first appeering kenns
A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight
He speeds, and through the vast Ethereal Sky
S
•…
iles between worlds & worlds, with steddie wing
Now on the polar winds, then with quick Fann
Winnows the buxom Air; till within soar
270
Of Towring Eagles, to all the Fowls he seems
A
Phoenix,
gaz'd by all, as that sole Bird
When to enshrine his relics in the Sun's
Bright Temple, to
Egyptian Theb's
he flies.
At once on th' Eastern cliff of Paradise
He lights, and to his proper shape returns
A Seraph wingd; six wings he wore, to shade
His lineaments Divine; the pair that clad
Each shoulder broad, came mantling over his breast
With regal Ornament; the middle pair
280
Girt like a Starrie Zone his waste, and round
Skirted his loins and thighs with downie Gold
And colors dipt in Heaven; the third his feet
Shaddowd from either heel with featherd maile
Sky-tinctured grain. Like
Maia's
son he stood,
And shook his Plumes, that Heav'nly fragrance filld
The circuit wide. Strait knew him all the bands
Of Angels under watch; and to his state,
And to his message high in honor rise;
For on some message high they guessd him bound.
290
Thir glittering Tents he passed, and now is come
Into the blissful field, through Groves of Myrrh,
And flouring Odours, Cassia, Nard, and Balm;
A Wilderness of sweets; for Nature here
Wantond as in her prime, and plaid at will
Her Virgin Fancies, pouring forth more sweet,
Wilde above rule or art; enormous bliss.
Him through the spicie Forest onward come
Adam
discerned, as in the door he sat
Of his cool Bowre, while now the mounted Sun
300
Shot down direct his fervid Raies, to warm
Earths inmost womb, more warmth then
Adam
needs;
And
Eve
within, due at her hour prepared
For dinner savory fruits, of taste to please
True appetite, and not disrelish thirst
Of nectarous draughtsbetween, from milky stream,
Berrie or Grape: to whom thus
Adam
called.
Haste hither
Eve,
and worth thy sight behold
Eastward among those Trees, what glorious shape
Comes this way moving; seems another Morn
310
Ris'n on mid-noon; some great behest from Heaven
To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe
This day to be our Guest. But go with speed,
And what thy stores contain, bring forth and pour
Abundance, fit to honor and receive
Our Heav'nly stranger; well we may afford
Our givers thir own gifts, and large bestow
From large bestowd, where Nature multiplies
Her fertil growth, and by disburd'ning grows
More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare.
320
To whom thus
Eve. Adam,
earths hallowd mould,
Of God inspired, small store will serve, where store,
All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk;
Save what by frugal storing firmness gains
To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes:
But I will haste and from each bough and break,
Each Plant & juciest Gourd will pluck such choice
To entertain our Angel guest, as he
Beholding shall confess that here on Earth
God hath dispenst his bounties as in He
•…
v'n.
330
So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste
She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent
What choice to choose for delicacy best,
What order, so contrived as not to mix
Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring
Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change,
Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk
Whatever Earth all-bearing Mother yields
In
India
East or West, or middle shore
In
Pontus
or the
Punic
Coast, or where
340
Alcinous
reigned, fruit of all kinds, in coat,
Rough, or smooth rin'd, or bearded husk, or shell
She gathers, Tribute large, and on the board
Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the Grape
She crushes, inoffensive moust, and meathes
From many a berrie, and from sweet kernels pressed
She tempers dulcet creams, nor these to hold
Wants her fit vessels pure, then strews the ground
With Rose and Odours from the shrub unfum'd.
Mean while our Primitive great Sire, to meet
350
His god-like Guest, walks forth, without more train
Accompani'd then with his own complete
Perfections, in himself was all his state,
More solemn then the tedious pomp that waits
On Princes, when thir rich Retinue long
Of Horses led, and Grooms besmeard with Gold
Dazles the crowd, and sets them all agape.
Nearer his presence
Adam
though not awd,
Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek,
As to a superior Nature, bowing low,
360
Thus said. Native of Heaven, for other place
None can then Heaven such glorious shape contain;
Since by descending from the Thrones above,
Those happy places thou hast deignd a while
To want, a
•…
d
〈◊〉
these, vouchsafe with us
Two only, who yet by
〈◊〉
ran gift possess
This spacious ground, in yonder shady Bowre
To rest, and what the Garden choicest bears
To sit and taste, till this meridian heat
Be over, and the Sun more cool decline.
370
Whom thus the Angelic Virtue answered mild.
Adam,
I therefore came, nor art thou such
Created, or such place hast here to dwell,
As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heaven
To visit thee; lead on then where thy Bowre
Oreshades; for these mid-hours, till Eevning rise
I have at will. So to the Silvan Lodge
They came, that like
Pomona's
Arbour smi
•…
d
With flourets deckit and fragrant smells; but
Eve
Undeckt, save with herself more lovely fair
380
Then Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feigned
Of three that in Mount
Ida
naked strove,
Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil
She needed, Virtue-proof, no thought infirm
Alterd her cheek. On whom the Angel
Hail
Bestowd, the holy salutation used
Long after to blest
Marie,
second
Eve.
Hail Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful Womb
Shall fill the World more numerous with thy Sons
Then with these various fruits the Trees of God
390
Have heaped this Table. Rais'd of grassie terf
I hir Table was, and mossie seats had round,
And on her ample Square from side to side
All
Autumn
pil'd, though
Spring
and
Autumn
here
Danc'd hand in hand. A while discourse they hold;
No fear lest Dinner cool; when thus began
Our Author. Heav'nly stranger, please to taste
These bounties which our Nourisher, from whom
All perfet good unmeasur'd out, descends,
To us for food and for delight hath caused
400
The Earth to yield; unsavourie food perhaps
To spiritual Natures; only this I know,
That one Celestial Father gives to all.
To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives
(Whose praise be ever sung) to man in part
Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found
No ingrateful food: and food alike those pure
Intelligential substances require
As doth your Rational; and both contain
Within them every lower faculty
410
Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste,
•…
asting concoct, digest, assimilate,
And corporeal to incorporeal turn.
For know, whatever was created, needs
To be sustaind and fed; of Elements
The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea,
Earth and the Sea feed Air, the Air those Fires
Ethereal, and as lowest first the Moon;
Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurg'd
Vapours not yet into her substance turned.
420
Nor doth the Moon no nourishment exhale
From her moist Continent to higher Orbes.
The Sun that light imparts to all, receives
From all his alimental recompense
In humid exhalations, and at Even Morn
Sups with the Ocean: though in Heaven the Trees
Of life ambrosial frutage bear, and vines
Yeild Nectar, though from off the boughs each
We brush mellifluous Dewes, and find the ground
Cover'd with pearly grain: yet God hath here
430
Varied his bounty so with new delights,
As may compare with Heaven; and to taste
Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat,
And to thir viands fell, nor seemingly
The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss
Of Theologians, but with keen dispatch
Of real hunger, and concoctive heat
To transubstantiate; what redounds, transpires
Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire
Of sooty coal the Empiric Alchemist
440
Can turn, or holds it possible to turn
Metals of drossiest Ore to perfet Gold
As from the Mine. Mean while at Table
Eve
Ministerd naked, and thir flowing cups
With pleasant liquors crowned: O innocence
Deserving Paradise! if ever, then,
Then had the Sons of God excuse to have been
Enamour'd at that sight; but in those hearts
Love unlibidinous reigned, nor jealousy
Was understood, the injured Lovers Hell.
450
Thus when with meats & drinks they had suffic'd,
Not burd'nd Nature, sudden mind arose
In
Adam,
not to let th' occasion pass
Given him by this great Conference to know
Of things above his World, and of thir being
Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw
Transcend his own so far, whose radiant forms▪
Divine effulgence, whose high Power so far
Exceeded human, and his wary speech
Thus to th'Empyreal Minister he framed.
460
Inhabitant with God, now know I well
Thy favor, in this honor done to man,
Under whose lowly roof thou hast voutsafit
To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,
Food not of Angels, yet accepted so,
As that more willingly thou couldst not seem
At Heavens high feasts to have fed: yet what compare?
To whom the winged Hierarch replied.
O
Adam,
one Almighty is, from whom
470
All things proceed, and up to him return,
If not depraved from good, created all
Such to perfection, one first matter all,
Indu'd with various forms, various degrees
Of substance, and in things that live, of life;
But more refined, more spiritous, and pure,
As nearer to him placit or nearer tending
Each in thir several active Sphears assignd,
Till body up to spirit work, in bounds
Proportiond to each kind. So from the root
Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves
480
More aerie, last the bright consummate flour
Spirits odorous breathes: flours and thir fruit
Mans nourishment, by gradual scale sublim'd
To vital Spirits aspire, to animal,
To intellectual, give both life and sense,
Fansie and understanding, whence the soul
Reason receives, and reason is her being,
Discursive, or Intuitive; discourse
Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours,
Differing but in degree, of kind the same.
490
Wonder not then, what God for you saw good
If I refuse not, but convert, as you,
To proper substance; time may come when men
With Angels may participate, and find
No inconvenient Diet, nor too light Fare:
And from these corporal nutriments perhaps
Your bodies may at last turn all to Spirit,
Improv'd by tract of time, and wingd ascend
Ethereal, as we, or may at choice
Here or in Heav'nly Paradises dwell;
500
If ye be found obedient, and retain
Unalterably firm his love entire
Whose progeny you are. Mean while enjoy
Your fill what happiness this happy state
Can comprehend, incapable of more.
To whom the Patriarch of mankind replied.
O favorable spirit, propitious guest,
Well hast thou taught the way that might direct
Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set
From center to circumference, whereon
510
In contemplation of created things
By steps we may ascend to God. But say,
What meant that caution joind,
if ye be found
Obedient?
can we want obedience then
To him, or possibly his love desert
Who formd us from the dust, and placed us here
Full to the
•…
tmost measure of what bliss
Human desires can seek or apprehend?
To whom the Angel. Son of Heaven and Earth,
Attend: That thou art happy, owe to God;
520
That thou continue'st such, owe to thyself,
That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.
This was that caution given thee; be advised.
God made thee perfet, not immutable;
And good he made thee, but to persevere
He left it in thy power, ordained thy will
By nature free, not over-ruled by Fate
Inextricable, or strict necessity;
Our voluntary service he requires,
Not our necessitated, such with him
530
Findes no acceptance, nor can find, for how
Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve
Willing or no, who will but what they must
By Destinie, and can no other choose?
My self and all th' Angelic Host that stand
In sight of God enthron'd, our happy state
Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;
On other surety none; freely we serve.
Because we freely love, as in our will
To love or not; in this we stand or fall:
540
And some are fallen, to disobedience fallen,
And so from Heaven to deepest Hell; O fall
From what high state of bliss into what woe!
To whom our great Progenitor. Thy words
Attentive, and with more delighted ear
Divine instructer, I have heard, the
•…
when
Cherubic Songs by night from neighbouring Hills
Aereal Music send: nor knew I not
To be both will and deed created free;
Yet that we never shall forget to love
550
Our maker, and obey him whose command
Single, is yet so just, my constant thoughts
Assur'd me and still assure: though what thou tellst
Hath past in Heaven, some doubt within me move,
But more desire to hear, if thou consent,
The full relation, which must needs be strange,
Worthy of Sacred silence to be heard;
And we have yet large day, for scarce the Sun
Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins
His other half in the great Zone of Heaven.
560
Thus
Adam
made request, and
Raphael
After short pause assenting, thus began.
High matter thou injoinst me, O prime of men,
Sad task and hard, for how shall I relate
To human sense th' invisible exploits
Of warring Spirits; how without remorse
The ruin of so many glorious once
And perfet while they stood; how last unfould
The secrets of another world, perhaps
Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good
570
This is dispencit, and what surmounts the reach
Of human sense, I shall delineate so,
By lik'ning spiritual to corporal forms,
As may express them best, though what if Earth
Be but the shadow of Heaven, and things therein
Each to other like, more then on earth is thought?
As yet this world was not, and
Chaos
wild
Reignd where these Heavens now roll, where Earth now rests
Upon her Center pois'd, when on a day
(For Time, though in Eternity, applied
580
To motion, measures all things durable
By present, past, and future) on such day
As Heavens great Year brings forth, th'Empyreal Host
Of Angels by Imperial summons called,
Innumerable before th' Almighty's Throne
Forth with from all the ends of Heaven appeerd
Under thir Hierarchs in orders bright
Ten thousand thousand Ensigns high advanced,
Standards, and Gonfalons twixt Van and Reare
Streame in the Air, and for distinction serve
590
Of Hierarchies, of Orders, and Degrees;
Or in thir glittering Tissues bear imblaz'd
Holy Memorials, acts of Zeal and Love
Recorded eminent. Thus when in Orbes
Of circuit inexpressible they stood,
Orb within Orb, the Father infinite,
By whom in bliss imbosom'd sat the Son,
A midst as from a flaming Mount, whoseop
Brightness had made invisible, thus spake.
Hear all ye Angels, Progenie of Light,
600
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,
Hear my Decree, which unrevokit shall stand.
This day I have begot whom I declare
My only Son, and on this holy Hill
Him have anointed, whom ye now behold
At my right hand; your Head I him appoint;
And by my Self have sworn to him shall bow
All knees in Heaven, and shall con
•…
ess him Lord:
Under his great Vice-gerent Reign abide
United as one individual Soul
610
For ever happy: him who disobeyes
Mee disobeyes, breaks union, and that day
Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls
Into utter darkness, deep ingulft, his place
Ordaind without redemption, without end.
So spaketh' Omnipotent, and with his words
All seemed well pleased, all seemed, but were not all.
That day, as other solemn days, they spent
In song and dance about the sacred Hill,
Mystical dance, which yonder starry Sphere
620
Of Planets and of fixed in all her Wheeles
Resembles nearest, mazes intricate,
Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular
Then most, when most irregular they seem:
And in thir motions harmony Divine
So smoothes her charming tones, that God's own ear
Listens delighted. Eevning approachd
(For we have also our Eevning and our Morn,
We ours for change delectable, not need)
Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn
630
Desirous, all in Circles as they stood,
Tables are set, and on a sudden pil'd
With Angels Food, and rubied Nectar flows:
In Pearl, in Diamond, and massy Gold,
Fruit of delicious Vines, the growth of Heaven.
They eat, they drink, and with refection sweet
Are filled, before th' all bounteous King, who showrd
With copious hand, rejoicing in thir joy.
Now when ambrosial Night with Clouds exhal'd
From that high mount of God, whence light & shade
640
Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had changd
To grateful Twilight (for Night comes not there
In darker veil) and roseat Dews disposed
All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest,
Wide over all the Plain, and wider far
Then all this globous Earth in Plain outspred,
(Such are the Courts of God) Th' Angelic throng
Dispers
•…
in Bands and Files thir Camp extend
By living Streams among the Trees of Life,
Pavilions numberless, and sudden reard,
650
Celestial Tabernacles, where they slept
Fannd with cool Winds, save those who in thir course
Melodious Hymns about the sovran Throne
Alternate all night long: but not so wak'd
Satan,
so call him now, his former name
Is heard no more Heaven; he of the first,
If not the first Arch-Angel, great in Power,
In favor and praeeminence, yet fraught
With envy against the Son of God, that day
Honourd by his great Father, and proclaimd
660
Messiah
King anointed, could not bear
Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaird.
Deep malice thence conceiving & disdain,
Soon as midnight brought on the duskie hour
Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved
With all his Legions to dislodge, and leave
Unworshipt, unobey'd the Throne supreme
Contemptuous, and his next subordinate
Awak'ning, thus to him in secret spake.
Sleepst thou Companion dear, what sleep can close
670
Thy eye-lids? and rememberest what Decree
Of yesterday, so late hath past the lips
Of Heavens Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts
Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart;
Both waking we were one; how then can now
Thy sleep dissent? new Laws thou seest imposed;
New Laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise
In us who serve, new Counsels, to debate
What doubtful may ensue, more in this place
To utter is not safe. Assemble thou
680
Of all those Myriads which we lead the chief;
Tell them that by command, ere yet dim Night
Her shadowie Cloud withdraws, I am to haste,
And all who under me thir Banners wave,
Homeward with flying march where we possess
The Quarters of the North, there to prepare
Fit entertainment to receive our King
The great
Messiah,
and his new commands,
Who speedily through all the Hierarchies
Intends to pass triumphant, and give Laws.
690
So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infused
Bad influence into th' unwarie breast
Of his Associate; he together calls,
Or several one by one, the Regent Powers,
Under him Regent, tells, as he was taught,
That the most High commanding, now ere Night,
Now ere dim Night had disincumberd Heaven,
The great Hierarchal Standard was to move;
Tells the suggested cause, and casts between
Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound
700
Or taint integrity; but all obeyed
The wonted signal, and superior voice
Of thir great Potentate; for great indeed
His name, and high was his degree in Heaven;
His count'nance, as the Morning Starr that guides
The starry flock, allured them, and with lies
Drew after him the third part of Heavens Host:
Mean while th' Eternal eye, whose sight discerns
Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy Mount
710
And from within the golden Lamps that burn
Nightly before him, saw without thir light
Rebellion rising, saw in whom, how spread
Among the sons of Morn, what multitudes
Were banded to oppose his high Decree;
And smiling to his only Son thus said.
Son, thou in whom my glory I behold
In full resplendence, Heir of all my might,
Neerly it now concerns us to be sure
Of our Omnipotence, and with what Arms
We mean to hold what anciently we claim
720
Of Deity or Empire, such a foe
Is rising, who intends to erect his Throne
Equal to ours, throughout the spacious North;
Nor so content, hath in his thought to try
In battle, what our Power is, or our right.
Let us advise, and to this hazard draw
With speed what force is left, and all employ
In our defense, lest unawares we lose▪
This our high place, our Sanctuary, our Hill.
To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear
730
Light'ning Divine, ineffable, serene,
Made answer. Mightie Father, thou thy foes
Justly hast in derision, and secure
Laugh'st at thir vain designs and tumults vain,
Matter to me of Glory, whom thir hate
Illustrates, when they see all Regal Power
Giv'n me to quell thir pride, and in event
Know whether I be dextrous to subdue
Thy Rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven.
So spake the Son, but
Satan
with his Powers
740
Far was advancit on winged speed, an Host
Innumerable as the Starrs of Night,
Or Starrs of Morning, Dew-drops, which the Sun
Impearls on every leaf and every flouer.
Regions they passed, the mighty Regencies
Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones
In thir triple Degrees, Regions to which
All thy Dominion,
Adam,
is no more
Then what this Garden is to all the Earth,
And all the Sea, from one entire globose
750
Stretcht into Longitude; which having passed
At leng
•…
h into the limits of the North
They came, and
Satan
to his Royal seat
High on a Hill, far blazing, as a Mount
Rais'd on a Mount, with Pyramids and Towrs
From Diamond Quarries hew'n, & Rocks of Gold,
The Palace of great
Lucifer,
(so call
That Structure in the Dialect of men
Interpreted) which not long after, he
Affecting all equality with God,
760
In imitation of that Mount whereon
Messiah
was declared in sight of Heaven,
The Mountain of the Congregation called;
For thither he assembl'd all his Train,
Pretending so commanded to consult
About the great reception of thir King,
Thither to come, and with calumnious Art
Of counterfeted truth thus held thir ears.
Thrones, Dominations, Princedomes, Virtues, Powers,
If these magnific Titles yet remain
770
Not merely titular, since by Decree
Another now hath to himself ingrossit
All Power, and us eclipst under the name
Of King anointed, for whom all this haste
Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here,
This only to consult how we may best
With what may be devised of honors new
Receive him coming to receive from us
Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile,
Too much to one, but double how endured,
780
To one and to his image now proclaimed?
But what if better counsels might erect
Our minds and teach us to cast off this Yoke?
Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend
The supple knee? ye will not, if I trust
To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves
Natives and Sons of Heaven possessed before
By none, and if not equal all, yet free,
Equally free; for Orders and Degrees
Jarr not with liberty, but well consist.
790
Who can in reason then or right assume
Monarchy over such as live by right
His equals, if in power and splendor less,
In freedom equal? or can introduce
Law and Edict on us, who without law
Err not, much less for this to be our Lord,
And look for adoration to th' abuse
Of those Imperial Titles which a
•…
ert
Our being ordained to govern, not to serve?
Thus far his bold discourse without control
800
Had audience, when among the Seraphim
Ab
•…
iel,
then whom none with more zeal adored
The Deity, and divine commands obei'd,
Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe
The current of his fury thus opposed.
O argument blasphemous,
•…
alse and proud!
Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven
Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate
In place thyself so high above thy Peers.
Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn
810
The just Decree of God, pronouncit and sworn,
That to his only Son by right endu'd
With Regal Scepter, every Soul in Heaven
Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due
Confess him rightful King? unjust thou sayest
Flatly unjust, to bind with Laws the free,
And equal over equals to let Reign,
One over all with unsucceeded power.
Shalt thou give Law to God, shalt thou dispute
With him the points of liberty, who made
820
Thee what thou art, & formd the Powers of Heaven
Such as he pleasd, and circumscrib'd thir being?
Yet by experience taught we know how good,
And of our good, and of our dignity
How provident he is, how far from thought
To make us less, bent rather to exalt
Our happy state under one Head more near
United. But to grant it thee unjust,
That equal over equals Monarch Reign:
Thy self though great & glorious dost thou count,
830
Or all Angelic Nature joind in one,
Equal to him begotten Son, by whom
As by his Word the mighty Father made
All things, even thee, and all the Spirits of Heaven
By him created in thir bright degrees,
Crownd them with Glory, & to thir Glory named
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers
Essential Powers, nor by his Reign obscured,
But more illustrious made, since he the Head
One of our number thus reducit becomes,
840
His Laws our Laws, all honor to him done
Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage,
And tempt not these; but hast'n to appease
Th'incensed Father, and th' incensed Son,
While Pardon may be found in time besought.
So spake the fervent Angel, but his zeal
None seconded, as out of season judged,
Or singular and rash, whereat rejoic'd
Th' Apostat, and more haughty thus replied.
That we were formd then sayest thou? & the work
850
Of secondary hands, by task transferd
From Father to his Son? strange point and new!
Doctrine which we would know whence learnt: who saw
When this creation was? rememberst thou
Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?
We know no time when we were not as now;
Know none before us, self-begot, self-raised
By our own quick'ning power, when fatal course
Had circl'd his full Orbe, the birth mature
Of this our native Heaven, Ethereal Sons.
860
Our puissance is our own, our own right hand
Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try
Who is our equal: then thou
•…
alt behold
Whether by supplication we intend
Address, and to begirt th' Almighty Throne
Beseeching or besieging. This report,
These tidings carry to th' anointed King;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.
He said, and as the sound of waters deep
Hoarce murmur echoed to his words applause
870
Through the infinite Host, nor less for that
The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone
Encompass'd round with foes, thus answered bold.
O alienate from God, O spirit accurst,
Forsak'n of all good; I see thy fall
Determind, and thy hapless crew involved
In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread
Both ofthy crime and punishment: henceforth
No more be troubled how to quit the yoke
Of God's
Messiah;
those indulgent Laws
880
Will not be now
〈◊〉
, other Decrees
Against thee are gone forth without recall;
That Golden Scepter which thou didst reject
Is now an Iron Rod to bruise and break
Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise,
Yet not for thy advise or threats I fly
These wicked Tents devoted, least the wrath
Impendent, raging into sudden flame
Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel
His Thunder on thy head, devouring fire.
890
Then who created thee lamenting learn,
When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.
So spake the Seraph
Abdiel
faithful found,
Among the faithless▪ faithful only he;
Among
〈◊〉
false, unmov'd,
Unshak'n, unseduc'd, unterrifi'd
His Loyaltie he kept, his Love, his Zeal;
Nor number, nor example with him wrought
To
〈◊〉
from truth, or change his constant mind
Though single. From amidst them forth he passed,
900
Long way through hostile scorn, which he susteind
Superior, nor of violence feared aught;
And with retorted scorn his back he turned
On those proud Towrs to swift destruction doomed▪
The End of the Fifth Book.
PARADISE LOST.
BOOK VI.
A
LL night the dreadless Angel unpursu'd
Through Heavens wide Champain held his way, till Morn,
Wakit by the circling Hours, with rosie hand
Unbarr'd the gates of Light. There is a Cave
Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne,
Where light and darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heaven
Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night;
Light issues forth, and at the other door
Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour
10
To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well
Seem twilight here; and now went forth the Morn
Such as in highest Heaven, arrayd in Gold
Empyreal, from before her vanished Night,
Shot through with orient Beams: when all the Plain
Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright,
Chariots and flaming Arms, and fiery Steeds
Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:
Warr he perceav'd, war in procinct, and found
Already known what he for news had thought
20
To have reported: gladly then he mixed
Among thosef riendly Powers who him received
With joy and acclamations loud, that one
That of so many Myriads fallen, yet one
Returnd not lost: On to the sacred hill
They led him high applauded, and present
Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice
From midst a Golden Cloud thus mild was heard.
Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought
The better fight, who single hast maintaind
30
Against revolted multitudes the Cause
Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Arms;
And for the testimony of Truth hast born
Universal reproach, far worse to bear
Then violence: for this was all thy care
To stand approved in sight of God, though Worlds
Judge'd thee perverse: the easier conquest now
Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,
Back on thy foes more glorious to return
Then scornd thou didst depart, and to subdue
40
By force, who reason for thir Law refuse,
Right reason for thir Law, and for thir King
Messiah,
who by right of merit Reigns.
Go
Michael
of Celestial Armies Prince,
And thou in Military prowess next
Gabriel,
lead forth to Battle these my Sons
Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints
By Thousands and by Millions rang'd for fight;
Equal in number to that Godless crew
Rebellious, them with Fire and hostile Arms
50
Fearless assault, and to the brow of Heaven
Pursuing drive them out from God and bliss,
Into thir place of punishment, the Gulf
Of
Tartarus,
which ready opens wide
His fiery
Chaos
to receive thir fall.
So spake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began
To darken all the Hill, and smoke to roll
In duskie wreathes, reluctant flames, the sign
Of wrath awakit: nor with less dread the loud
Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow:
60
At which command the Powers Militant,
That stood for Heaven, in mighty Quadrate join'd
Of Union irresistible, moved on
In silence thir bright Legions, to the sound
Of instrumental Harmonie that breathed
Heroic Ardor to advent'rous deeds
Under thir God-like Leaders, in the Cause
Of God and his
Messiah.
On they move
Indissolubly firm; nor obvious Hill,
Nor streit'ning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides
70
Thir perfet ranks; for high above the ground
Thir march was, and the passive Air upbore
Thir nimble tread; as when the total kind
Of Birds in orderly array on wing
Came summond over
Eden
to receive
Thir names of thee; so over many a tract
Of Heaven they marched, and many a Province wide
Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last
Far in th' Horizon to the North appear'd
From skirt to skirt a fiery Region, stretched
80
In battailous aspect, and nearer view
Bristl'd with upright beams innumerable
Of rigid Spears, and Helmets thronged, and Shields
Various, with boastful Argument portraid,
The banded Powers of
Satan
hasting on
With furious expedition; for they weend
That self same day by fight, or by surprise
To win the Mount of God, and on his Throne
To set the envier of his State, the proud
Aspirer, but thir thoughts proved fond and vain
90
In the mid way: though strange to us it seemed
At first, that Angel should with Angel war,
And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet
So oft in Festivals of joy and love
Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire
Hymning th' Eternal Father: but the shout
Of Battle now began, and rushing sound
Of onset ended soon each milder thought.
High in the midst exalted as a God
Th' Apostat in his Sun-bright Chariot sat
100
Idol of Majesty Divine, enclosed
With Flaming Cherubim, and golden Shields;
Then lighted from his gorgeous Throne, for now
'Twixt Host and Host but narrow space was left,
A dreadful interval, and Front to Front
Presented stood in terrible array
Of hideous length: before the cloudy Van,
On the rough edge of battle ere it join'd,
Satan
with vast and haughty strides advancit,
Came towering, armed in Adamant and Gold;
110
Abdiel
that sight endured not, where he stood
Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,
And thus his own undaunted heart explores.
O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest
Should yet remain, where faith and realtie
Remain not; wherefor should not strength & might
There fail where Virtue fails, or weakest prove
Where boldest; though to sight unconquerable?
His puissance, trusting in th' Almighty's aide,
I mean to try, whose Reason I have tried
120
Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just,
That he who in debate of Truth hath won,
Should win in Arms, in both disputes alike
Victor; though brutish that contest and foul,
When Reason hath to deal with force, yet so
Most reason is that Reason overcome.
So pondering, and from his armed Peers
Forth stepping opposite, half way he met
His daring foe, at this prevention more
Incensit, and thus securely him defi'd.
130
Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reached
The highth of thy aspiring unoppos'd,
The Throne of God unguarded, and his side
Abandond at the terror of thy Power
Or potent tongue; fool, not to think how vain
Against th' Omnipotent to rise in Arms;
Who out of smallest things could without end
Have raised incessant Armies to defeat
Thy folly; or with solitary hand
Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow
140
Unaided could have finished thee, and whelmd
Thy Legions under darkness; but thou seest
All are not of thy Train; there be who Faith
Prefer, and Piety to God, though the
•…
To thee not visible, when I alone
Seemd in thy World erroneous to dissent
From all: my Sect thou seest, now learn too late
How few sometimes may know, when thousands err.
Whom the grand foe with scornful eye askance
Thus answered. Ill for thee, but in wisht hour
150
Of my revenge, first sought for thou returnst
From flight, seditious Angel, to receive
Thy merited reward, the first assay
Of this right hand provokit, since first that tongue
Inspir'd with contradiction durst oppose
A third part of the God's, in Synod met
Thir Deities to assert, who while they feel
Vigour Divine within them, can allow
Omnipotence to none. But well thou comst
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win
160
From me some Plume, that thy success may show
Destruction to the rest: this pause between
(Unanswerd least thou boast) to let thee know;
At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven
To heavenly Souls had been all one; but now
I see that most through sloth had rather serve,
Ministring Spirits, traind up in Feast and Song;
Such hast thou armed, the Minstrelsie of Heaven,
Servilitie with freedom to contend,
As both thir deeds compared this day shall prove.
170
To whom in brief thus
Abdiel
stern replied.
Apostat, still thou errst, nor end wilt find
Of erring, from the path of truth remote:
Unjustly thou deprav'st it with the name
Of
Servitude
to serve whom God ordains,
Or Nature; God and Nature bid the same,
When he who rules is worthiest, and excels
Them whom he governs. This is servitude,
To serve th' unwise, or him who hath rebelld
Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,
180
Thy self not free, but to thyself enthrall'd;
Yet leudly darest our ministering upbraid.
Reign thou in Hell thy Kingdom, let me serve
In Heaven God ever blessed, and his Divine
Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyed,
Yet Chains in Hell, not Realms expect: mean while
From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flight,
This greeting on thy impious Crest receive.
So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,
Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell
190
On the proud Crest of
Satan,
that no sight,
Nor motion of swift thought, less could his Shield
Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge
He back recoild; the tenth on bended knee
His massy Spear upstaid; as if on Earth
Winds under ground or waters forcing way
Sidelong, had pushit a Mountain from his seat
Half sunk with all his Pines. Amazement seis'd
The Rebel Thrones, but greater rage to see
Thus foiled thir mightiest, ours joy filld, and shout,
200
Presage of Victory and fierce desire
Of Battle: whereat
Michael
bid sound
Th'Arch-angel trumpet; through the vast of Heaven
It sounded, and the faithful Armies rung
Hosanna
to the Highest: nor stood at gaze
The adverse Legions, nor less hideous join'd
The horrid shock: now storming fury rose,
And clamour such as heard in Heaven till now
Was never, Arms on Armor clashing bray'd
Horrible discord, and the madding Wheeles
210
Of brazen Chariots rag'd; dire was the noise
Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss
Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew,
And flying vaulted either Host with fire.
Sounder fiery Cope together rush'd
Both Battels▪main, with ruinous assault
And inextinguishable rage; all Heaven
Resounded, and had Earth been then, all Ea
•…
h
Had to her Center shook. What wonder? when
Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought
220
On either side, the least of whom could wield
These Elements, and arm him with the force
Of all thir Regions: how much more of Power
Army against Army numberless to raise
Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb,
Though not destroy, thir happy Native seat;
Had not th' Eternal King Omnipotent
From his strong hold of Heaven high over▪ruled
And limited thir might; though numberd such
As each divided Legion might have seemed
230
A numerous Host, in strength each ar
•…
ed hand
A Legion; led in fight, y
•…
t Leader seemed
Each Warriour single as in Chief, expert
When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway
Of Battle, open when, and when to close
The ridges of grim Warr; no thought of flight,
None of retreat, no unbecoming deed
That argu'd fear; each on himself reli'd,
As only in his arm the moment lay
Of victory; deeds of eternal fame
240
Were don, but infinite: for wide was spread
That Warr and various; sometimes on firm ground
A standing fight, then soaring on main wing
Tormented all the Air; all Air seemed then
Conflicting Fire: long time in eeven scale
The Battle hung; till
Satan,
who that day
Prodigious power had shewn, and met in Arms
No equal, raunging through the dire attack
Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length
Saw where the Sword of
Michael
smote, and fell'd
250
Squadrons at once, with huge two-handed sway
Brandisht aloft the horrid edge came down
Wide wasting; such destruction to withstand
He hasted, and opposed the rocky Orb
Of tenfold Adamant, his ample Shield
A vast circumference: At his approach
The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toile
Surc
•…
'd, and glad as hoping here to end
Intestine War in Heaven, the arch foe subdued
Or Captive dragged in Chains, with hostile frown
260
And visage all enflam'd first thus began.
Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt,
Unnam'd in Heaven, now plenteous, as thou seest
These Acts of hateful strife, hateful to all,
Though heaviest by just measure on thyself
And thy adherents: how hast thou disturbed
Heavens blessed peace, and into Nature brought
Miserie, uncreated till the crime
Of thy Rebellion? how h
•…
t thou instill'd
Thy malice into thousands, once upright
270
And faithful, now proved false. But think not here
To trouble Holy Rest; Heaven casts thee out
From all her Confines. Heaven the seat of bliss
Brooks not the works of violence and Warr.
Hence then, and evil go with thee along
Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell,
Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broils,
Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doom,
Or some more sudden vengeance wing'd from God
Precipitate thee with augmented pain.
280
So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus
The Adversarie. Nor think thou with wind
Of airy threats to awe whom yet with deeds
Thou canst not. Hast thou turned the least of these
To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise
Unvanquisht, easier to transact with me
That thou shouldst hope, imperious, & with threats
To chase me hence? err not that so shall end
The strife which thou call'st evil, but we style
The strife of Glory: which we mean to win,
290
Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell
T
•…
ou fablest, here however to dwell free,
If not to reign: mean while thy utmost force,
And join him named
Almighty
to thy aid,
I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh.
They ended parle, and both addrest for fight
Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue
Of Angels, can relate, or to what things
Liken on Earth conspicuous, that may lift
Human imagination to such highth
300
Of Godlike Power: for likest God's they seemed,
Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms
Fit to decide the Empire of great Heaven.
Now wav'd thir fiery Swords, and in the Air
Made horrid Circles; two broad Suns thir Shields
Blaz'd opposite, while expectation stood
In horror; from each hand with speed retired
Where erst was thickest fight, th' Angelic throng,
And left large field, unsafe within the wind
Of such commotion, such as to set forth
310
Great things by small, If Natures concord broke,
Among the Constellations war were spru
•…
Two Planets rushing from as
•…
ect malign
Of fiercest opposition in mid Sky,
Should combat, and thir jarring Sphears confound.
Together both with next to Almighty Arm,
Uplifted imminent one stroke they aimed
That might determine, and not need repea
•…
e,
As not of power, at once; nor odds appeerd
In might or swift prevention; but the sword
320
Of
Michael
from the Armorie of God
Was given him tempered so, that neither keen
Nor solid might resist that edge▪ it met
The sword of
Satan
with steep force to smite
Descending, and in halfcut sheere, nor staid,
But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering shar'd
All his right side▪ then
Satan
first knew pain,
And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd; so sore
The griding sword with discontinuous wound
Pass'd through him, but th' Ethereal substance closed
330
Not long divisible, and from the gash
A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flowed
Sanguin, such as Celestial Spirits may bleed,
And all his Armor staind ere while so bright.
Forthwith on all sides to his aide was run
By Angels many and strong, who interposed
Defense, while others bore him on thir Shields
Back to his Chariot; where it stood retired
From off the
•…
les of wa
•…
▪ there they him laid
Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame
340
To find him
•…
no
•…
matchless, and his pride
Humbl'd by such rebuke, so far beneath
His confidence to equal God in power.
Yet soon he heard; for Spirits that live throughout
Vital in
〈◊〉
part, not as
〈◊〉
man
In Entrails, Heart or Head, Liver or Reines,
Cannot but by
〈◊〉
die;
Nor in thir liquid texture mortal wound
Receive, no more then can the fluid Air:
All
〈◊〉
th
•…
l
•…
ve, all Head, all Eye, all Eare,
350
All Intellect, all Sense, and as they please,
They Limb themselves▪ and color, shape or size
Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.
Mean while i
•…
other parts like deeds deservd
Memorial, where the might of
Gabriel
•…
ought,
And with
〈◊〉
Ensigns pierced the deep array
Of
Moloc
〈◊〉
King, who him defi'd,
And at his
〈◊〉
wheels to drag him bound
Threatn'd, nor
〈◊◊◊〉
One of Heaven
Refrein'd his tongue
〈◊〉
; but anon
360
Down clov'n to the waste, with shatterd Arms
And uncouth pain sled bellowing. On each wing
Uriel
and
Raphael
his vaunting foe,
Though huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Armd,
Vanquish'd
Adramelec,
and
A
•…
adai,
Two potent Thrones, that to be less then God's
Disdain'd, but meaner thoughts learned in thir flight,
Mangl'd with gastly wounds through Plate and Maile.
Nor stood unmindful
Abdiel
to annoy
The Atheist crew, but with redoubl'd blow
370
Ariel
and
Arioc,
and the violence
Of
Ramiel
scorched and blas
•…
overthrew.
I might relate of thousands, and thir names
Eternize here on Earth; but those elect
Angels contented with thir fame in Heaven
Seek not the praise of men: the other sort
In might though wondrous and in Acts of Warr,
Nor of Renown less eager, yet by doom
Canceld from Heaven and sacred memory,
Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell.
380
For strength from Truth divided and from Just,
Illaudable, naught merits but dispraise
And ignominy, yet to glory aspires
Vain glorious, and through infamy seeks fame:
Therefore Eternal silence be thir doom.
And now thir mightiest quelld, the battle swerv'd,
With many an inroad gor'd; deformed rout
Enter'd, and foul disorder; all the ground
With shiverd armor strow'n, and on a heap
Chariot and Charioter lay overturnd
390
And fiery foaming Steeds; what stood, recoyld
Orewearied, through the faint Satanic Host
Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised,
Then first with fear surprised and sense of pain
Fled ignominious, to such evil brought
By sin of disobedience, till that hour
Not liable to fear or flight or pain.
Far otherwise th' inviolable Saints
In Cubic Phalanx firm advancit entire,
Invulnerable, impenitrably armed:
400
Such high advantages thir innocence
Gave them above thir foes, not to have sinnd,
Not to have disobei'd; in fight they stood
Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained
By wound, though from thir place by violence moved
Now Night her course began, and over Heaven
Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed,
And silence on the odious dinn of Warr:
Under her Cloudie covert both retired,
Victor and Vanquisht: on the foughten field
410
Michael
and his Angels prevalent
Encamping, placed in Guard thir Watches round,
Cherubic waving fires: on th' other part
Satan
with his rebellious disappeerd,
Far in the dark dislodg'd, and void of rest,
His Potentates to Council called by night;
And in the midst thus undismai'd began.
O now in danger tried, now known in Arms
Not to be overpowered, Companions dear,
Found worthy not of Liberty alone,
420
Too mean pretense, but what we more affect,
Honor, Dominion, Glory, and renown,
Who have sustaind one day in doubtful fight,
(And if one day, why not Eternal days?)
What Heavens Lord had powerfullest to send
Against us from about his Throne, and judged
Sufficient to subdue us to his will,
But proves not so: then fallible, it seems,
Of future we may deem him, though till now
Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly armed,
430
Some disadvantage we endured and pain,
Till now not known, but known as soon contemnd,
Since now we find this our Empyreal form
Incapable of mortal injury
Imperishable, and though peirc'd with wound,
Soon closing, and by native vigor healed.
Of evil then so small as easy think
The remedy; perhap
•…
more valid Arms,
Weapons more violent, when next we meet,
May serve to better us, and worse our foes,
440
Or equal what between us made the odds,
In Nature none: if other hidden cause
Left them Superior, while we can preserve
Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound,
Due search and consultation will disclose.
He sat; and in th' assembly next upstood
Nisroc,
of Principalities the prime;
As one he stood escapit from cruel fight,
Sore toild, his riv'n Arms to havoc hewn,
And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake.
450
Deliverer from new Lord's, leader to free
Enjoyment of our right as God's; yet hard
For God's, and too unequal work we find
Against unequal arms to fight in pain,
Against unpaind, impassive; from which evil
Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails
Valour or strength, though matchless, quelld with pain
Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands
Of Mightiest. Sense of pleasure we may well
Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,
460
But live content, which is the calmest life:
But pain is perfet misery, the worst
Of evils, and excessive, overtu
•…
All patience. He who therefore can invent
With what more forcible we may offend
Our yet unwounded Enemies, or arm
Our selves with like defense, to me des
•…
ves
No less then for deliv
•…
ce what w
•…
owe▪
Whereto with look composed
Satan
replied.
Not uninvented that, which thou aright
470
Beleivst so main to our success, I bring;
Which of us who beholds the bright surface
Of this Ethe
•…
us mould wh
•…
on we stand,
This continent of spacious Heaven, adornd
With Plant, Fruit, Flour Ambrosial, Ge
•…
s & Gold,
Whose Eye so superficially surveyes
These things, as not to mind from whence they grow
Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,
Of spiritous and fiery spume, till touched
With Heavens ray, and tempe
•…
d they shoot forth
480
So beauteous▪ op'ning to the ambient light.
These in thir dark Nativitie the Deep
Shall yield us, pregnant wi
•…
infernal flame,
Which into
〈◊◊◊〉
and round
Thick-rammd, at th' other bore with touch of fire
Dilated and infuriate shall send forth
From far with t
•…
dring noise among our
•…
oes
Such imp
•…
nts of mi
•…
chief
〈◊〉
shaal
•…
〈◊〉
To pieces, and o
•…
whelm what
•…
stands
Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmd
490
The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt.
Nor long shall be
〈◊〉
labor, yet
〈◊〉
dawn,
Effect shall
〈◊〉
our wish▪ Mean while revive▪
Abandon fear
〈◊〉
strength an
•…
c
•…
sel jo
•…
d
Think nothing hard, much less to be
•…
spaird.
He ended, and his words thir drooping chere
Enlightn'd, and thir languisht hope revived.
Th' invention all admi
•…
d, and each, how he
To be
〈◊〉
▪ inventer missed, so easy it
•…
eemd
Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought
500
Impossible: yet haply of thy Race
In future days, if Malice should abound,
Some one intent on mischief, or inspired
With dev'lish machination might devise
Like instrument to plague the Sons of men
For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent.
Forthwith from Council to the work they flew,
None arguing stood,
•…
numerable hands
Were ready, in a moment up they turned
Wide the Celestial
•…
oil, and saw beneath
510
Th' originals of Nature in thir crude
Conception; Sulphurous and Nitrous Foame
They found, they mingl'd, and with suttle Art,
Concocted and adusted they reduced
To blackest gra
•…
, and into store conveyd:
Part hidd'n veins diggd up (nor hath this Earth
Entrails unlike) of Mineral and Stone,
Whereof to found thir Engines and thir Balls
Of missive ruin; part incentive reed
Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire.
520
So all ere day spring, under conscious Night
Secret they finished, and in order set,
With silent circumspection unespi'd.
Now when fair Morn Orient in Heaven appeerd
Up rose the Victor Angels, and to Arms
The matin Trumpet Sung: in Arms they stood
Of Golden Panoplie, refulgent Host,
Soon banded; others from the dawning Hills
Lookd round, and Scouts each Coast light-armed scour,
Each quarter, to descry the distant foe,
530
Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight,
In motion or in alt: him soon they met
Under spread Enfignes moving nigh, in slow
But firm Battalion; back with speediest Sail
Zophiel,
of Cherubim the swiftest wing,
Came flying, and in mid Air aloud thus cried.
Arm, Warriours, Arm for
•…
ght, the foe at hand,
Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit
This day, fear not his flight; so thick a Cloud
He comes, and settl'd in his face I see
540
Sad resolution and secure: let each
His Adamantine coat gird well, and each
Fit well his Helme, gripe fast his orbed Shield,
Born eevn or high, for this day will pour down,
If I conjecture aught, no drizling shower,
But rattling storm of Arrows barbd with fire.
So warnd he them aware themselves▪ and so
•…
In order, quit of all impediment;
Instant without disturb they took Alarm,
And onward move Embattelld; when behold
550
Not distant far with heavy pace the Foe
Approaching gross and huge; in hollow Cube
Training his devilish Enginrie, impal'd
On every side with shaddowing Squadrons Deep,
To hide the fraud. At interview both stood
A while, but suddenly at head appeerd
Satan:
And thus was heard Commanding loud.
Vangard, to Right and Left the Front unfould;
That all may see who hate us, how we seek
Peace and composure, and with open breast
560
Stand ready to receive them, if they like
Our overture, and turn not back perverse;
But that I doubt, however witness Heaven,
Heaven witness thou anon, while we discharge
Freely our part: ye who appointed stand
Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch
What we propound, and loud that all may hear.
So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce
Had ended; when to Right and Left the Front
Divided, and to either Flank retired.
570
Which to our eyes discovered new and strange,
A triple-mounted row of Pillars laid
On Wheels (for like to Pillars most they seemed
Or hollow'd bodies made of Oak or Firr
With branches lopped, in Wood or Mountain fell'd)
Brass, Iron, Stonie mould, had not thir mouths
With hideous orifice gapit on us wide,
Portending hollow truce; at each behind
A Seraph stood, and in his hand a Reed
Stood waving tipped with fire; while we suspense,
580
Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd,
Not long, for sudden all at once thir Reeds
Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied
With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame,
But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven appeerd,
From those deep-throated Engines belcht, whose roar
Emboweld with outrageous noise the Air,
And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul
Thir devilish glut, chaind Thunderbolts and Hail
Of Iron Globes, which on the Victor Host
590
Level'd, with such impetuous fury smote,
That whom they hit, none on thir feet might stand,
Though standing else as Rocks, but down they fell
By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel roll'd;
The sooner for thir Arms, unarm'd they might
Have easily as Spirits evaded swift
By quick contraction or remove; but now
Foule dissipation followed and forced rout;
Nor served it to relax thir serried files.
What should they do? if on they rusht, repulse
600
Repeated, and indecent overthrow
Doubl'd, would render them yet more despised,
And to thir foes a laughter; for in view
Stood rankt of Seraphim another row
In posture to displode thir second tire
Of Thunder: back defeated to return
They worse abhor'd.
Satan
beheld thir plight,
And to his Mates thus in derision called.
O Friends, why come not on these Victors proud?
Ere while they fierce were coming, and when we,
610
To entertain them fair with open Front
And Brest, (what could we more?) propounded terms
Of composition, strait they changed thir minds,
Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell,
As they would dance, yet for a dance they seemed
Somwhat extravagant and wild, perhaps
For joy of offered peace: but I suppose
If our proposals once again were heard
We should compel them to a quick result.
To whom thus
Belial
in like gamesom mood.
620
Leader, the terms we sent were terms of weight,
Of hard contents, and full of force urged home,
Such as we might perceive amus'd them all,
And stumbl'd many, who receives them right,
Had need from head to foot well understand;
Not understood, this gift they have besides,
They show us when our foes walk not upright.
So they among themselves in pleasant vein
Stood scoffing, highthn'd in thir thoughts beyond
All doubt of Victory, eternal might
630
To match with thir inventions they presumed
So easy, and of his Thunder made a scorn,
And all his Host derided, while they stood
A while in trouble; but they stood not long,
Rage prompted them at length, & found them arms
Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose.
Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power
Which God hath in his mighty Angels placed)
Thir Arms away they threw, and to the Hills
(For Earth hath this variety from Heaven
640
Of pleasure situate in Hill and Dale)
Light as the Lightning glimpse they ran, they flew,
From thir foundations loosning to and fro
They pluokt the seated Hills with all thir load,
Rocks, Waters, Woods, and by the shaggie tops
Up lifting bore them in thir hands: Amaze,
Be sure, and terror seis'd the rebel Host,
When coming towards them so dread they saw
The bottom of the Mountains upward turned,
Till on those cursed Engines triple-row
650
They saw them whelmd, and all thir confidence
Under the weight of Mountains buried deep,
Themselves invaded next, and on thir heads
Main Promontories flung, which in the Air
Came shadowing, and oppressed whole Legions armed,
Thir armor helped thir harm, crushit in and brus'd
Into thir substance pent, which wrought them pain
Implacable, and many a dolorous groan,
Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind
Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light,
660
Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown.
The rest in imitation to like Arms
Betook them, and the neighbouring Hills uptore;
So Hills amid the Air encounterd Hills
Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire,
That under ground they fought in dismal shade;
Infernal noise; Warr seemed a civil Game
To this uproar; horrid confusion heaped
Upon confusion rose: and now all Heaven
Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspred,
670
Had not th' Almighty Father where he sits
Shrin'd in his Sanctuary of Heaven secure,
Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen
This tumult, and permitted all, advised:
That his great purpose he might so fulfill,
To honor his Anointed Son avenged
Upon his enemies, and to declare
All power on him transferred: whence to his Son
Th' Assessor of his Throne he thus began.
Effulgence of my Glory, Son beloved,
680
Son in whose face invisible is beheld
Visibly, what by Deity I am,
And in whose hand what by Decree I do,
Second Omnipotence, two days are past,
Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven,
Since
Michael
and his Powers went forth to tame
These disobedient; sore hath been thir fight,
As likeliest was, when two such Foes met armed;
For to themselves I left them, and thou knowest,
Equal in their Creation they were formed,
690
Save what sin hath impaird, which yet hath wrought
Insensibly, for I suspend thir doom;
Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last
Endless, and no solution will be found:
Warr wearied hath performed what Warr can do,
And to disordered rage let loose the reins,
With Mountains as with Weapons armed, which makes
Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main.
Two days are therefore past, the third is thine;
For thee I have ordained it, and thus far
700
Have suffered, that the Glory may be thine
Of ending this great Warr, since none but Thou
Can end it. Into thee such Virtue and Grace
Immense I have transfus'd, that all may know
In Heaven and Hell thy Power above compare,
And this perverse Commotion governd thus,
To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir
Of all things, to be Heir and to be King
By Sacred Unction, thy deserved right.
Go then thou Mightiest in thy Fathers might,
710
Ascend my Chariot, guide the rapid Wheeles
That shake Heavens basis, bring forth all my Warr,
My Bow and Thunder, my Almighty Arms
Gird on, and Sword upon thy puissant Thigh;
Pursue these sons of Darkness, drive them out
From all Heavens bounds into the utter Deep▪
There let them learn, as likes them, to despise
God and
Messiah▪
his anointed King.
He said, and on his Son with Rayes direct
Shon full, he all his Father full expressed
720
Ineffably into his face received,
And thus the filial Godhead answering spake.
O Father, O Supreme of heavenly Thrones,
First, Highest, Holiest, Best, thou always seekst
To glorify thy Son, I always thee,
As is most just; this I my Glory account,
My exaltation, and my whole delight,
That thou in me well pleased, declarst thy will
Fulfill'd, which to fulfil is all my bliss.
Scepter and Power, thy giving, I assume,
730
And gladlier shall resign, when in the end
Thou shalt be All in All, and I in thee
For ever, and in me all whom thou lov'st:
But whom thou hat'st, I hate, and can put on
Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on,
Image of thee in all things; and shall soon,
Armd with thy might, rid heaven of these rebel'd,
To thir prepared ill Mansion driven down
To chains of Darkness, and th' undying Worm,
That from thy just obedience could revolt,
740
Whom to obey is happiness entire.
Then shall thy Saints unmixed, and from th' impure
Far separate, circling thy holy Mount
Unfained
Hallelujahs
to thee sing,
Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief.
So said, he over his Scepter bowing, rose
From the right hand of Glory where he sat,
And the third sacred Morn began to shine
Dawning through Heaven: forth rush'd with whirlwind sound
The Chariot of Paternal Deity,
750
Flashing thick flames, Wheel within Wheel undrawn,
It self instinct with Spirit, but convoyd
By four Cherubic shapes, four Faces each
Had wondrous, as with Starrs thir bodies all
And Wings were set with Eyes, with Eyes the Wheels
Of Beril, and careering Fires between;
Over thir heads a crystal Firmament,
Whereon a Sapphire Throne, inlaid with pure
Amber, and colors of the showrie Arch.
He in Celestial Panoplie all armed
760
Of radiant
Urim,
work divinely wrought,
Ascended, at his right hand Victory
Sate Eagle-wing'd, befide him hung his Bow
And Quiver with three-bolted Thunder stored,
And from about him fierce Effusion rowld
Of smoke and bickering flame, and sparkles dire;
Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints,
He onward came, far off his coming shon,
And twenty thousand (I thir number heard)
Chariots of God, half on each hand were seen:
770
He on the wings of Cherub rode sublime
On the Crystallin Sky, in Sapphire Throne'd.
Illustrious far and wide, but by his own
First seen, them unexpected joy surprised,
When the great Ensign of
Messiah
blaz'd
Aloft by Angels
•…
orn, his Sign in Heaven:
Under whose Conduct
Michael
soon reduced
His Army, circumfus'd on either Wing,
Under thir Head imbodied all in one.
Before him Power Divine his way prepared;
780
At his command the uprooted Hills retired
Each to his place, they heard his voice and went
Obsequious, Heaven his wonted face renewd,
And with fresh Flourets Hill and Valley smiled.
This saw his hapless Foes, but stood obdur'd,
And to rebellious fight rallied thir Powers
Insensate, hope conceiving from despair.
In heavenly Spirits could such perverseness dwell?
But to convince the proud what Signs avail,
Or Wonders move th' obdurate to relent?
790
They hard'nd more by what might most reclame,
Grieving to see his Glory, at the sight
Took envy, and aspiring to his highth,
Stood reimbattell'd fierce, by force or fraud
Weening to prosper, and at length prevail
Against God and
Messiah,
or to fall
In universal ruin last, and now
To final Battle drew, disdaining flight,
Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God
To all his Host on either hand thus spake.
800
Stand still in bright array ye Saints, here stand
Ye Angels armed, this day from Battle rest;
Faithful hath been your Warfare, and of God
Accepted, fearless in his righteous Cause,
And as ye have received, so have ye don
Invincibly; but of this cursed crew
The punishment to other hand belongs,
Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints;
Number to this days work is not ordained
Nor multitude; stand only and behold
810
God's indignation on these Godless pourd
By me; not you but me they have despised,
Yet envied; against me is all thir rage,
Because the Father, towhom in Heaven supreme
Kingdom and Power and Glory appertains,
Hath honourd me according to his will.
Therefore to me thir doom he hath assig'n'd;
That they may have thir wish, to try with me
In Battle which the stronger proves, they all,
Or I alone against them, since by strength
820
They measure all, of other excellence
Not emulous, nor care who them excels;
Nor other strife with them do I vouchsafe.
So spake the Son, and into terror changed
His count'nance too severe to be beheld
And full of wrath bent on his Enemies.
At once the Four spread out thir Starrie wings
With dreadful shade contiguous, and the Orbes
Of his fierce Chariot rowld, as with the sound
Of torrent Floods, or of a numerous Host.
830
He on his impious Foes right onward drove,
Gloomie as Night; under his burning Wheel
•…
s
The steadfast Empyrean shook throughout,
All but the Throne itself of God. Full soon
Among them he arrived; in his right hand
Grasping ten thousand Thunders, which he sent
Before him; such as in thir Souls infix'd
Plagues; they astonished all resistance lost,
All courage; down thir idle weapons dropped;
O're Shields and Helmes, and helmed heads he rode
840
Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate,
That wished the Mountains now might be again
Thrown on them as a shelter from his ire.
Nor less on either side tempestuous fell
His arrows, from the fourfold-visag'd Four,
Distinct with eyes, and from the living Wheels,
Distinct alike with multitude of eyes,
One Spirit in them ruled, and every eye
Glar'd lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire
Among th' accurst, that witherd all thir strength:
850
And of thir wonted vigor left them draind,
Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen.
Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked
His Thunder in mid Volie, for he meant
Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven:
The overthrown he raised, and as a Heard
Of Goats or
〈◊〉
flock together throngd
Drove them before him Thunder-struck, pursued
With terrors and with suries to the bounds
And Crystal wall of Heaven, which op'ning wide,
860
Rowld inward, and a spacious Gap disclos'd
Into the wastful Deep; the monstrous sight
Strook them with horror backward, but far worse
Urg'd them behind; headlong themselves they threw
Down from the verge of Heaven, Eternal wrath
Burnt after them to the bottomless pit.
Hell heard th' unsufferable noise, Hell saw
Heaven ruining from Heaven and would have fled
Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep
Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound.
870
Nine days they fell; confounded
〈◊〉
roard,
And felt tenfold confusion in thir fall
Through his wild Anarchy, so huge a rout
Incumberd him with ruin: Hell at last
Yawning receavd them whole, and on them closed,
Hell thir fit habitation fraught with fire
Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain.
Disburd'nd Heaven rejoie'd, and soon repaired
Her mural breach, returning whence it rowld.
Sole Victor from th' expulsion of his Foes
880
Messiah
his triumphal Cha
•…
jot turned:
To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood
Eye witnesses of his Almighty Acts,
With Jubilie advanced; and as they went,
Shaded with branching Palme, each order bright,
Sung Triumph, and him sung Victorious King,
Son, Heir, and Lord, to him Dominion given,
Worthiest to Reign: he celebrated rode
Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the Courts
And Temple of his mighty Father Throne'd
890
On high; who into Glory him received,
Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss.
Thus measuring things in Heaven by things on Earth
At thy request, and that thou mayest beware
By what is past, to thee I have revealed
What might have else to human Race been hid;
The discord which befell, and Warr in Heaven
Among th' Angelic Powers, and the deep fall
Of those too high aspiring, who rebelld
With
Satan,
he who envies now thy state,
900
Who now is plotting how he may seduce
Thee also from obedience, that with him
Bereavd of happiness thou mayest partake
His punishment, Eternal misery;
Which would be all his solace and revenge,
As a despite don against the most High,
Thee once to gain Companion of his woe.
But list'n not to his Temptations, warn
Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard
By terrible Example the reward
910
Of disobedience; firm they might have stood,
Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.
The End of the Sixth Book.
PARADISE LOST.
BOOK VII.
D
Escend from Heaven
Urania,
by that name
If rightly thou art called, whose Voice divine
Following, above th'
Ol
•…
mpian
Hill I soar,
Above the flight of
Pegasean
wing.
The meaning, not the Name I call: for thou
Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top
Of old
Olympus
dwell'st, but Heav'nlie borne,
Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flowed,
Thou with Eternal wisdom didst converse,
Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst play
10
In presence of th'. Almighty Father, pleased
With thy Celestiul Song. Up led by thee
Into the Heaven of Heavens I have presumed,
An
〈◊〉
Guest, and drawn Empyreal Air,
Thy tempring; with like safety guided down
Return me to my Native Element:
Least from this flying Steed unrein'd, (as once
Bellerophon,
though from a lower Clime)
Dismounted, on th'
Aleian
Field I fall
Erroneous, there to wander and forlorn.
20
Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound
Within the visible Diurnal Sphere;
Standing on Earth, not wrapped above the Pole,
More safe I Sing with mortal voice, unchang'd
To hoarce or mute, though fallen on evil days,
On evil days though fallen, and evil tongues;
In darkness, and with dangers compassed rouud,
And solitude; yet not alone, while thou
Visit'st my slumbers Nightly, or when Morn
Purples the East: still govern thou my Song,
30
Urania,
and fit audience find, though few.
But drive far off the barbarous dissonance
Of
Bacchus
and his Revellers, the Race
Of that wild Rout that tore the
Thracian
Bard
In
Rhodope,
where Woods and Rocks had Ears
To rapture, till the savage clamor dround
Both Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defend
Her Son. So fail not thou, who thee implores:
For thou art Heaven lie, she an empty dream.
Say Goddess, what ensu'd when
Raphael,
40
The affable Arch-angel, had forewarned
Adam
by dire example to beware
Apostafie, by what befell in Heaven
To those Apostates, least the like befall
In Paradise to
Adam
or his Race,
Charg'd not to touch the interdicted Tree,
If they transgress, and slight that sole command,
So easily obeyd amid the choice
Of all tastes else to please thir appetite,
Though wandering. He with his consorted
Eve
50
The story heard attentive, and was filled
With admiration, and deep Muse to hear
Of things so high and strange, things to thirthought
So unimaginable as hate in Heaven,
And Warr so near the Peace of God in bliss
With such confusion: but the evil soon
Driv'n back redounded as a flood on those
From whom it sprung, impossible to mix
With Blessedness. Whence
Adam
soon repealed
The doubts that in his heart arose: and now
60
Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know
What nearer might concern him, how this World
Of Heaven and Earth conspicuous first began,
When, and whereof created, for what cause,
What within
Eden
or without was done
Before his memory, as one whose drouth
Yet scarce allayed still eyes the current stream,
Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,
Proceeded thus to ask his Heav'nly Guest.
Great things, and full of wonder in our ears,
70
Far differing from this World, thou hast revealed
Divine Interpreter, by favor sent
Down from the Empyrean to forewarn
Us timely of what might else have been our loss,
Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach:
For which to the infinitely Good we owe
Immortal thanks, and his admonishment
Receave with solemn purpose to observe
Immutably his sovran will, the end
Of what we are. But sin
•…
e thou hast voutsafit
80
Gently for our instruction to impart
Things above Earthly thought, which yet concernd
Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemed,
Deign to descend now lower, and r
•…
late
What may no less perhaps avail us known,
How first began this Heaven which we behold
Distant so high, with moving Fires adornd
Innumerable, and this which: yields or fills
All space, the ambient Air wide interfus'd
Imbracing round this
〈◊◊〉
, what cause
90
Mov'd the Creator in his holy Rest
Through all Eternity so late to build
In
Chaos,
and the work begun, how soon
Absolv'd, if unforbid thou mayest unfould
What we, not to explore the secrets
〈◊〉
Of his Eternal Empire, but the more
To magnify his works, the more we know.
And the great Light of Day yet wants to run
Much of his Race though steep, suspens. in Heaven
100
Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he hears,
And longer will delay to hear thee tell
His Generation, and the rising Birth
Of Nature from the unapp
•…
rent
〈◊〉
:
Or if the Star
•…
of Eevning and the
〈◊〉
Haste to thy audience, Night
〈◊◊〉
will bring
Silence, and Sleep listening to thee will watch,
Or we can bid his absence, till thy Song
End, and dismiss thee ere the Morning shine.
Thus
Adam
his illustrous Guest be sought:
And thus the Godlike Angel answered mild.
110
This also thy request with caution asked
Obtaine: though to recount. Almighty works
What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,
Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?
Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve
To glorify the Maker, and infer
Thee also happier, shall not be withheld
Thy hearing, such Commission from above
I have received, to answer thy desire
Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain
120
To ask, nor let
〈◊〉
own inventions hope
Things not revealed▪ which th' invisible King,
Only Omnisci
•…
nt, hath suppres
•…
in Night,
To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:
Anough is left besides to search and know▪
But Knowledge is as food,
〈◊〉
needs no less
Her Temperance over Appetite, to know
In measure what the
〈◊◊〉
well contain,
Oppresses, else with
〈◊〉
, and soon turns
Wisdom to Folly, as Nourishment to Wind
130
Know then, tha
•…
〈◊〉
Lucifer
from Heaven
(So call him, brighter once amidst the Host
Of Angles▪ then that Starr the Starrs among)
Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep
Into his place, and the great
〈◊〉
returned
Victorious with his
〈◊〉
,
〈◊〉
'
〈◊◊〉
Eternal Father
〈◊〉
his Throne be held
Thir multitude, and to his Son thus spake
At least
〈◊〉
envious
〈◊〉
hath failed, who thought
All like himself
〈◊〉
, by
•…
hose
•…
id
140
This
〈◊◊〉
s
•…
rength, the
〈◊〉
Of
〈◊◊〉
▪ us
〈◊〉
,
He trusted to have seis'd, and into fraud
Drew many, whom thir place knows here no more;
Yet far the greater part have kept, I see,
Thir station, heaven yet populous retains
Number sufficient to possess her Realms
Though wide, and this high Temple to frequent
With Ministries due and solemn Rites:
But least his heart exalt him in the harm
150
Already done, to have dispeopl'd Heaven,
My damage fondly deemed, I can repair
That detriment, if such it be to lose
Self-lost, and in a moment will create
Another World, out of one man a Race
Of men innumerable, there to dwell,
Not here, till by degrees of merit raised
They open to themselves at length the way
Up hither, under long obedience tried,
And Earth be changed to Heavn, & Heaven to Earth,
160
One Kingdom, Joy and Union without end.
Mean while inhabit lax, ye Powers of Heaven,
And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee
This I perform, speak thou, and be it don:
My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee
I send along, ride forth, and bid the Deep
Within appointed bounds be Heaven and Earth,
Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill
Infinitude, nor vacuous the space.
Though I uncircumscrib'd myself retire,
170
And put not forth my goodness, which is free
To act or not, Necessity and Chance
Approach not me
•…
, and what I will is Fate.
So spake th' Almighty, and to what he spake
His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect.
Immediate are the Acts of God, more swift
Then time or motion, but to human ears
Cannot without process of speech be told,
So told as earthly notion can receive.
Great triumph and rejoicing was in Heaven
180
When such was heard declared the Almighty's will;
Glory they sung to the most High, good will
To future men, and in thir dwellings peace:
Glory to him whose just avenging ire
Had driven out th' ungodly from his sight
And th' habitations of the just; to him
Glory and praise, whose wisdom had ordained
Good out of evil to create, instead
Of Spirits malign a better Race to bring
Into thir vacant room, and thence diffuse
190
His good to Worlds and Ages infinite.
So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son
On his great Expedition now appear'd,
Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crowned
Of Majesty Divine, Sapience and Love
Immense, and all his Father in him shon.
About his Chariot numberless were poured
Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones,
And Virtues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wing'd,
From the Armoury of God, where stand of old
200
Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodged
Against a solemn day, harnest at hand,
Celestial Equipage; and now came forth
Spontaneous, for within them Spirit livd,
Attendant on thir Lord: Heaven op'nd wide
Her ever during Gates, Harmonious sound
On golden Hinges moving, to let forth
The King of Glory in his powerful Word
And Spirit coming to create new Worlds.
On heavenly ground they stood, and from the shore
210
They viewed the vast immeasurable Abyss
Outrageous as a Sea, dark, wasteful, wild,
Up from the bottom turned by furious winds
And surging waves, as Mountains to assault
Heavens highth, and with the Center mix the Pole.
Silence, ye troubled waves, and thou Deep, peace,
Said then th'
〈◊〉
Word, your discord end:
Nor staid, but on the Wings of Cherubim
Uplifted, in Paternal Glory rode
Far into
Chaos,
and the World unborn;
220
For
Chaos
heard his voice▪ him all his Traine
Follow'd in bright procession to b
•…
hold.
Creation, and the wonders of his might.
Then staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his hand
He took the golden Compasses, prepared
In God's Eternal store, to circumscribe
This Universe, and all created things:
One foot he center'd, and the other turned
Round through the vast profundity obscure,
And said▪ thus far extend, thus far thy bounds,
230
This be thy just Circumferen
•…
e, O World.
Thus God the Heaven created, thus the Earth,
Matter unform'd and void: Darkness profound
Cover'd th' Abyss: but on the watery calm
His brooding wings the Spirit of God
〈◊〉
spread,
And vital
〈◊〉
, and
〈◊◊〉
Throughout
〈◊◊◊〉
, but downward purged
The black
〈◊〉
cold
〈◊◊〉
Adverse to life: then founded, then conglob'd
Like things to like, the rest to several place
240
Disparted, and between spun out the Air,
And Earth self-ballancit on her Center hung.
Let there be Light, said God, and forthwith Light
Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure
Sprung from the Deep, and from her Native East
To journie through the airy gloom began,
Sphere'd in a radiant Cloud, for yet the Sun
Was not; she in a cloudy Tabernacle
Sojourn'd the while. God saw the Light was good;
And light from darkness by the Hemisphere
250
Divided: Light the Day, and Darkness Night
He named. Thus was the first Day Eev'n and Morn:
Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung
By the Celestial Quires, when Orient Light
Exhaling first from Darkness they beheld;
Birth-day of Heaven and Earth; with joy and shout
The hollow Universal Orb they filled,
And touched thir Golden Harps, & hymning praised
God and his works, Creator him they sung,
Both when first Eevning was, and when first Morn.
260
Again, God said, let there be Firmament
Amid the Waters, and let it divide
The Waters from the Waters: and God made
The Firmament, expanse of liquid, pure,
Transparent, Elemental Air, diffused
In circuit to the uttermost convex
Of this great Round: partition firm and sure,
The Waters underneath from those above
Dividing: for as Earth, so he the World
Built on circumfluous Waters calm, in wide
270
Crystallin Ocean, and the loud misrule
Of
Chaos
far removed, least fierce extremes
Contiguous might distemper the whole frame:
And Heaven he named the Firmament: So Eev'n
And Morning
Chorus
sung the second Day.
The Earth was formed, but in the Womb as yet
Of Waters, Embryon immature involved,
Appeer'd not: over all the face of Earth
Main Ocean flowed, not idle, but with warm
Prolific humor soft'ning all her Globe,
280
Fermented the great Mother to conceive,
Satiate with genial moisture, when God said
Be gathered now ye Waters under Heaven
Into one place, and let dry Land appear.
Immediately the Mountains huge appear
Emergent, and thir broad bare backs upheave
Into the Clouds, thir tops ascend the Sky:
So high as heav'd the tumid Hills, so low
Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep,
Capacious bed of Waters: thither they
290
Hasted with glad precipitance, uprowld
As drops on dust conglobing from the dry;
Part rise in crystal Wall, or ridge direct,
For haste; such
〈◊〉
the great command impressed
On the swift slouds: as Armies at the call
Of Trumpet (for of Armies thou hast heard)
Troop to thir Standard, so the watery throng,
Wave rolling after Wave, where way they found,
If steep, with torrent rapture, if through Plain,
Soft▪ ebbing; nor withstood them Rock or Hill,
300
But they, or under ground, or circuit wide
With Serpent error wandering, found thir way,
And on the wa
•…
hie Oose deep Channels wore;
Easie, e're God had bid the ground be dry,
All but within those banks, where Rivers now
Stream, and perpetual draw thir humid train.
The dry Land, Earth, and the great receptacle
Of congregated Waters he called Seas:
And saw that it was good, and said, Let th' Earth
Put forth the verdant Grass, Herb yielding Seed,
310
And Fruit Tree yielding Fruit after her kind;
Whose Seed is in herself upon the Earth.
He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then
Desert and bare, unsightly, unadorn'd,
Brought forth the tender Grass▪ whose verdure clad
Her Universal Face with pleasant green,
Then Herbs of every leaf, that sudden flour'd
Op'ning thir various colors, and made gay
Her bosom smelling sweet: and these scarce blown,
Forth flourishit thick the clustring Vine, forth crept
320
The smelling Gourd, up stood the cornie Reed
Embattell'd in her field: add the humble Shrub,
And Bush with frizl'd hair implicit: last
Rose as in Dance the stately Trees, and spread
Thir branches hung with copious Fruit; or gemm'd
Thir Blossoms: with high Woods the Hills were crowned,
With tufts the valleys & each fountain side,
With borders long the Rivers. That Earth now
Seemd like to Heaven, a seat where God's might dwell,
Or wander with delight, and love to haunt
330
Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rained
Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground
None was, but from the Earth a dewie Mist
Went up and waterd all the ground, and each
Plant of the field, which e're it was in the Earth
God made, and every Herb, before it grew
On the green stemm; God saw that it was good:
So Eev'n and Morn recorded the Third Day.
Again th' Almighty spake: Let there be Lights
High in th' expanse of Heaven to divide
340
The Day from Night; and let them be for Signs,
For Seasons, and for Days, and circling Years,
And let them be for Lights as I ordain
Thir Office in the Firmament of Heaven
To give Light on the Earth; and it was so.
And God made two great Lights, great for thir use
To Man, the greater to have rule by Day,
The less by Night alterne: and made the Starrs,
And set them in the Firmament of Heaven
To illuminate the Earth, and rule the Day
350
In thir vicissitude, and rule the Night,
And Light from Darkness to divide. God saw,
Surveying his great Work, that it was good:
For of Celestial Bodies first the Sun
A mighty Sphere he framed, unlight some first,
Though of Ethereal Mould: then formed the Moon
Globose, and every magnitude of Starrs,
And sowd with Starrs the Heaven thick as a field:
Of Light by far the greater part he took,
Transplanted from her cloudy Shrine, and placed
360
•…
n the Suns Orb, made porous to receive
And drink the liquid Light, firm to retain
Her gathered beams, great Palace now of Light.
Hither as to thir Fountain other Starrs
Repairing, in thir gold'n Urns draw Light,
And hence the Morning Planet guilds his horns;
By tincture or reflection they augment
Thir small peculiar, though from human sight
So far remote, with diminution seen.
First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen,
370
Regent of Day, and all th' Horizon round
Invested with bright Rayes, jocond to
〈◊〉
His Longitude through Heavens high rode: the gray
Dawn, and the
Pleiades
before him danc'd
Shedding sweet influence: less bright the Moon,
But opposite in leveld West was set
His mirror, with full face borrowing her Light
From him, for other light she needed none
In that aspect, and still that distance keeps
Till night, then in the East her turn she shines,
380
Revolvd on Heavens great Axle, and her Reign
With thousand lesser Lights dividual holds,
With thousand thousand Stars, that then appear'd
Spangling the Hemisphere: then first adornd
With thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose,
Glad Eevning & glad Morn crowned the fourth day▪
And God said, let the Waters generate
Reptil with Spawn abundant, living Soul:
And let Fowl fly above the Earth, with wings
Displayd on the op'n Firmament of Heaven.
390
And God created the great Whales, and each
Soul living, each that crept, which▪ plenteously
The waters generated by thir kinds,
And every Bird of wing after his kind;
And saw that it was good, and blessed them, saying,
Be fruitful, multiply, and in the Seas
And Lakes and running Streams the waters fill;
And let the Fowl be multiplied on the Earth.
Forth with the Sounds and Seas, each Creek & Bay
With Frie innumerable swarm, and Shoales
400
Of Fish that with thir Finns and shining Scales
Glide under the green Wave, in Sculles that oft
Bank the mid Sea: part single or with mate
Graze the Sea weed thir pasture, & through Groves
Of Coral stray, or sporting with quick glance
Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold,
Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease, attend
Moist nutriment, or under Rocks thir food
In jointed Armor watch: on smooth the Seal,
And bended Dolphins play: part huge of bulk
410
Wallowing unweildie, enormous in thir Gate
Tempest the Ocean: there Leviathan
Hugest of living Creatures, on the Deep
Str
•…
tcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swims,
And seems a moving Land, and at his Gilles
Draws in, and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea.
Mean while the tepid Caves, and Fens and shoares
Thir Brood as numerous hatch, from the Egg that soon
Bu
•…
sting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd
Thir callow young, but featherd soon and fledge
420
They sum'd thir Penns▪ and soaring th' air sublime
With clang despised the ground, under a cloud
In prospect; there the Eagle and the Stork
On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build:
Part loosely wing the Region, part more wise
In common, rang'd in figure wedge thir way,
Intelligent of seasons, and set forth
Thir Aierie Caravan high over Sea's
Flying, and over Lands with mutual wing
Easing thir flight; so
•…
tears the prudent Crane
430
Her annual Voiage, born on Winds; the Air
Floats, as they pass, fanned with unnumber'd plumes:
From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with song
Solac'd the Woods, and spread thir painted wings
Till Even, nor then the solemn Nightingal
Ceas'd warbling, but all night tuned her soft lays:
Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath'd
Thir downie Brest; the Swan with Arched neck
Between her white wings mantling proudly, Rowes
Her state with Oarie feet: yet oft they quit
440
The Dank, and rising on stiff Pennons, tower
The mid Aereal Sky: Others on ground
Walk'd firm; the erested Cock whose clarion sounds
The silent hours, and th' other whose gay Traine
Adorns him, color'd with the Florid hue
Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes. The Waters thus
With Fish replenished, and the Air with Fowl,
Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fi
•…
t day.
The Sixt, and of Creation last arose
With Eevning Harps and
〈◊〉
, when God said,
450
Let th' Earth bring forth Fowl living in her kind,
Cattle and Creeping things, and Beast of the Earth▪
Each in their kind. The Earth obeyed, and strait
Op'ning her fertil Woomb teem'd at a Birth
Innumerous living Creatures, perfet forms,
Limb'd and full
〈◊〉
: out of the ground up rose
As from his Laire the wild Beast where he wonns
In Forest wild, in Thicket, Brake, or Den;
Among the Trees in Pairs they rose, they walked:
The Cattle in the Fields and Meddowes green:
460
Those rare and solitary, these in flocks
Pasturing at once, and in broad Herds upsprung.
The grassie Clods now Calv'd, now half appear'd
The Tawnie Lion, pawing to get free
His hinder parts, then springs as broke from Bonds,
And Rampant shakes his Brinded main; the Ounce,
The Libbard, and the Tiger, as the Moale
Rising, the crumbl'd Earth above them threw
In Hillocks; the swift Stag from under ground
Bore up his branching head: scarfe from his mould
470
Behemoth
biggest born of Earth upheav'd
His vastness: Fleecit the Flocks and bleating rose,
As Plants: ambiguous between Sea and Land
The River Horse and scalie Crocodile.
At once came forth whatever creeps the ground,
Insect or Worm; those wav'd thir limber fans
For wings, and smallest Lineaments exact
In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride
With spots of Gold and Purple, azure and green:
These as a line thir long dimension drew,
480
Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all
Minims of Nature; some of Serpent kind
Wondrous in length and corpulence involved
Thir Snakie foulds, and added wings. First crept
The Parsimonious Emmet, provident
Of future, in small room large heart enclosed,
Pattern of just equality perhaps
Hereafter, joined in her popular Tribes
Of Commonaltie: swarming next appear'd
The Femal Be that feeds her Husband Drone
490
Deliciously, and builds her waxen Cells
With Honey stored: the rest are numberless,
A
•…
d thou thir Natures knowest, and gavest them Names,
Needlest to thee repeaed; nor unknown
The Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field,
Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen Eyes
And hairy Main terrific, though to thee
Not noxious, but obedient at thy call.
Now Heaven in all her Glory shon, and rowld
Her motions, as the great first-Movers ha
•…
d
500
First wheeld thir course; Earth in her rich attire
Consummate lovly smiled; Air, Water, Earth,
By Fowl, Fish, Beast, was flown, was swum, was walked
Frequent; and of the Sixt day yet remained;
There wanted yet the Master work, the end
Of all yet don; a Creature who not prone
And Brute as other Creatures, but endu'd
With Sanctitie of Reason, might erect
His Stature, and upright with Front serene
Govern the rest, self-knowing, and from thence
510
Magnanimous to correspond with Heaven,
But grateful to acknowledge whence his good
Descends, thither with heart and voice and eyes
Directed in Devotion, to adore
And worship God Supreme, who made him chief
Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent
Eternal Father▪ For where is not he
Present) thus to his Son audibly spake.
Let us make now Man in our image, Man
In our similitude, and let them rule
520
Over the Fish and Fowl of Sea and Air,
Beast of the Field, and over all the Earth,
And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.
This said, he
〈◊〉
thee,
Adam,
thee O Man
Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed
The breath of Life; in his own Image he
Created thee, in the Image of God
Express, and thou becam'st a living Soul.
Male he created thee, but thy consort
Femal for Race; then blessed Mankind, and said,
530
Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the Earth,
Subdue it, and throughout Dominion hold
Over Fish of the Sea, and Fowl of the Air,
And every living thing that moves on the Earth.
Wherever thus created, for no place
Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou knowest
He brought thee into this delicious Grove,
This Garden, planted with the Trees of God,
Delectable both to behold and taste;
And freely all thir pleasant fruit for food
540
Gave thee, all sorts are here that all th'Earth yields,
Varietie without end; but of the Tree
Which tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil,
Thou mayest not; in the day thou eat'st, thou di'st;
Death is the penalty imposed, beware,
And govern well thy appeti
•…
e, least sin
Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.
Here finished he, and all that he had made
View'd, and behold all was entirely good;
So Even and Morn accomplished the Sixt day:
550
Yet not till the Creator from his work
Desisting, though unwearied, up returned
Up to the Heaven of Heavens his high abode,
Thence to behold this new created World
Th'addition of his Empire, how it showed
In prospect from his Throne, how good, how fair,
Answering his great Idea. Up he rode
Followd with acclamation and the sound
Symphonious of ten thousand Harps that tuned
Angelic harmonies: the Earth, the Air
560
Resounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heardest)
The Heavens and all the Constellations rung,
The Planets in thir stations list'ning stood,
While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant.
Open, ye everlasting Gates, they sung,
Open, ye Heavens, your living doors; let in
The great Creator from his work returned
Magnificent, his Six days work, a World;
Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deign
To visit oft the dwellings of just Men
570
Delighted, and with frequent intercourse
Thither will send his winged Messengers
On errands of supernal Grace. So sung
The glorious Train ascending: He through Heaven,
That opened wide her blazing Portals, led
To God's Eternal house direct the way,
A broad and ample rode, whose dust is Gold
And pavement Starrs, as Starrs to thee appear,
Seen in the Galaxie, that Milkie way
Which nightly as a circling Zone thou seest
580
Pouderd with Starrs. And now on Earth the Seaventh
Eev'ning arose in
Eden,
for the Sun
Was set, and twilight from the East came on,
Forerunning Night; when at the holy mount
Of Heavens high-seated top, th' Impereal Throne
Of Godhead, fixed forever firm and sure,
The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down
With his great Father (for he also went
Invisible, yet staid (such privilege
Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordained,
590
Author and end of all things, and from work
Now resting, blessed and hallowd the Seav'nth day,
As resting on that day from all his work,
But not in silence holy kept; the
〈◊〉
Had work and
〈◊〉
not, the solemn
•…
ipe,
And Dulcimer, all Organs of sweet stop,
All sounds on Fret by String or Golden Wire
Temper'd
〈◊〉
Tunings, intermixt with Voice
Choral or Unison: of incense Clouds
Fuming from Golden C
•…
nsers hid the Mount.
600
Creation and the Six days acts they sung,
Great are thy works,
Jehovah,
infinite
Thy power; what thought can measure thee or tongue
Relate thee; greater now in thy return
Then from the Giant Angels; thee that day
Thy Thunders
〈◊〉
, but to
〈◊〉
Is greater then created to destroy.
Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound
Thy Empire? easily the proud attempt
Of Spirits apostat and thir Counsels vain
610
Thou hast repeld, while impiously they thought
Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw
The number of thy worshippers. Who seeks
To lessen thee, against his purpose serves
To manifest the more thy might: his evil
Thou usest, and from thence creat'st more good.
Witness this new-made World, another Heaven
From Heaven Gate not far, founded in view
On the clear
Hyaline,
the Glassie Sea;
Of amplitude almost immense, with Starr's
620
Numerous, and every Starr perhaps a World
Of destind habitation; but thou knowest
Thir seasons: among these the seat of men,
Earth with her nether Ocean circumfus'd,
Thir pleasant dwelling place. Thrice happy men,
And sons of men, whom God hath thus advancit,
Created in his Image, there to dwell
And worship him, and in reward to rule
Over his Works, on Earth, in Sea, or Air,
And multiply a Race of Worshippers
630
Holy and just▪ thrice happy if they know
Thir happiness, and persevere upright.
So sung they, and the Empyrean rung,
With
Hallelujahs:
Thus was Sabbath kept.
And thy request think now fulfilled, that asked
How first this World and face of things began,
And what before thy memory was don
From the beginning, that posterity
Informd by thee might know; if else thou seekst
Aught, not surpassing human measure, say.
640
To whom thus
Adam
gratefully replied.
What thanks sufficient, or what recompense
Equal have I to render thee, Divine
Hystorian, who thus largely hast allayed
The thirst I had of knowledge, and voutsafit
This friendly condescension to relate
Things else by me unsearchable, now heard
With wonder, but delight, and, as is due,
With glory attributed to the high
Creator; something yet of doubt remains,
650
Which only thy solution can resolve.
When I behold this goodly Frame, this World
Of Heaven and Earth consisting, and compute,
Thir magnitudes, this Earth a spot, a grain,
An Atom, with the Firmament compared
And all
•…
er numberd Starrs, that seem to roll
Spaces incomprehensible (for such
Thir distance argues and thir swift return
Diurnal) merely to officiate light
Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot,
660
One day and night; in all thir vast survey
Useless besides, reasoning I oft admire,
How Nature wise and frugal could commit
Such disproportions, with superfluous hand
So many nobler Bodies to create,
Greater so manifold to this one use,
For aught appears, and on thir Orbs impose
Such restless revolution day by day
Repeated, while the sedentarie Earth,
That better might with far less compass move,
670
Serv'd by more noble then herself, attains
Her end without least motion, and receaves,
As Tribute such a sumless journey brought
Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light;
Speed, to describe whose swiftness Number fails.
So spake our Sire, and by his count'nance seemed
Entring on studious thoughts abstruse, which
Eve
Perceaving where she sat retired in sight,
With lowliness Majestic from her seat,
And Grace that won who saw to wish her stay,
680
Rose, and went forth among her Fruits and Flours,
To visit how they prospered, bud and bloom,
Her Nurserie; they at her coming sprung
And touched by her fair tendance gladlier grew.
Yet went she not, as not with such discourse
Delighted, or not capable her ear
Of what was high: such pleasure she reserved,
Adam
relating, she sole Auditress;
Her Husband the Relater she prefer'd
Before the Angel, and of him to ask
690
Chose rather; he, she knew would intermix
Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute
With conjugal Caresses, from his Lip
Not Words alone pleased her. O when meet now
Such pairs, in Love and mutual Honor join'd?
With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went;
Not unattended, for on her as Queen
A pomp of winning Graces waited still,
And from about her shot Darts of desire
Into all Eyes to wish her still in sight.
700
And
Raphael
now to
Adam
's doubt proposed
Benevolent and facile thus replied.
To ask or search I blame thee not, for Heaven
Is as the Book of God before thee set,
Wherein to read his wondrous Works, and learn
His Seasons, Hours, or Days, or Months, or Yeares:
This to attain, whether Heaven move or Earth,
Imports not, if thou reck'n right, the rest
From Man or Angel the great Architect
Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge
710
His secrets to be scann'd by them who ought
Rather admire; or if they list to try
Conjecture, he his Fabric of the Heavens
Hath left to thir disputes, perhaps to move
His laughter at thir quaint Opinions wide
Hereafter, when they come to model Heaven
And calculate the Starrs, how they will wield
The mighty frame, how build, unbuild, contrive
To save appeerances, how gird the Sphere
With Centric and Eccentric scribl'd over,
720
Cycle and Epicycle, Orb in Orb:
Alreadie by thy reasoning this I guess,
Who art to lead thy offspring, and supposest
That Bodies bright and greater should not serve
The less not bright, nor Heaven such journeys run,
Earth sitting still, when she alone receaves
The benefit: consider first, that Great
Or Bright infers not Excellence: the Earth
Though, in comparison of Heaven, so small,
Nor glistering, may of solid good contain
730
More plenty then the Sun that barren shines,
Whose virtue on itself works no effect,
But in the fruitful Earth; there first receavd
His beams, unactive else, thir vigor find.
Yet not to Earth are those bright Luminaries
Officious, but to thee Earths habitant.
And for the Heavens wide Circuit, let it speak
The Makers high magnificence, who built
So spacious, and his Line stretched out so far;
That Man may know he dwells not in his own;
740
An Edifice too large for him to fill,
Lodg'd in a small partition, and the rest
Ordain'd for uses to his Lord best known.
The swiftness of those Circles attribute,
Though numberless, to his Omnipotence,
That to corporeal substances could add
Speed almost Spiritual; me thou thinkest not slow,
Who since the Morning hour set out from Heaven
Where God resides, and ere mid-day arrived
In
Eden,
distance inexpressible
750
By Numbers that have name. But this I urge,
Admitting Motion in the Heavens, to show
Invalid that which thee to doubt it moved;
Not that I so affirm, though so it seem
To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth.
God to remove his ways from human sense,
Plac'd Heaven from Earth so far, that earthly sight,
If it presume, might err in things too high,
And no advantage gain. What if the Sun
Be Center to the World, and other Starrs
760
By his attractive virtue and thir own
Incited, dance about him various rounds?
Thir wandering course now high, now low, then hid,
Progressive, retrograde, or standing still,
In six thou seest, and what if sev'nth to these
The Planet Earth, so steadfast though she seem,
Insensibly three different Motions move?
Which else to several Sphears thou must ascribe,
Mov'd contrary with thwart obliquities,
Or save the Sun his labor, and that swift
770
Nocturnal and Diurnal rhomb supposed,
Invisible else above all Starrs, the Wheel
Of Day and Night; which needs not thy belief,
If Earth industrious of herself fetch Day
Travelling East, and with her part averse
From the Suns beam meet Night, her other part
Still luminous by his ray. What if that light
Sent from her through the wide transpicuous air,
To the terrestrial Moon be as a Starr
Enlightning her by Day, as she by Night
780
This Earth? reciprocal, if Land be there,
Feilds and Inhabitants: Her spots thou seest
As Clouds, and Clouds may rain, and Rain produce
Fruits in her soft'nd Soil, for some to eat
Allotted there; and other Suns perhaps
With thir attendant Moons thou wilt descry
Communicating Male and Femal Light,
Which two great Sexes animate the World,
Stor'd in each Orb perhaps with some that live.
For such vast room in Nature unpossest
790
By living Soul, desert and desolate,
Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute
Each Orb a glimpse of Light, conveyd so far
Down to this habitable, which returns
Light back to them, is obvious to dispute.
But whether thus these things, or whether not,
Whether the Sun predominant in Heaven
Rise on the Earth, or Earth rise on the Sun,
He from the East his flaming rode begin,
Or She from West her silent course advance
800
With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps
On her soft Axle, while she paces Eev'n,
And be
•…
rs thee soft with the smooth Air along,
Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid,
Leave them to God above, him serve and fear;
Of other Creatures, as him pleases best,
Wherever placit, let him dispose: joy thou
In what he gives to thee, this Paradise
And thy fair
Eve;
Heaven is for thee too high
To know what passes there; be lowly wise:
810
Think only what concerns thee and thy being;
Dream not of other Worlds, what Creatures there
Live, in what state, condition or degree,
Contented that thus far hath been revealed
Not of Earth only but of highest Heaven.
To whom thus
Adam
cleerd of doubt, replied.
How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure
Intelligence of Heaven, Angel serene,
And freed from intricacies, taught to live,
820
The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts
To interrupt the sweet of Life, from which
God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares,
And not molest us, unless we ourselves
Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions vain.
But apt the Mind or Fancie is to roave
Uncheckt, and of her roaving is no end;
Till warned, or by experience taught, she learn,
That not to know at large of things remote
From use, obscure and suttle, but to know
830
That which before us lies in daily life,
Is the prime Wisdom, what is more, is fume,
Or emptiness, or fond impertinence,
And renders us in things that most concern
Unpractis'd, unprepar'd, and still to seek.
Therefore from this high pitch let us descend
A lower flight, and speak of things at hand
Useful, whence haply mention may arise
Of something not unseasonable to ask
By sufferance, and thy wonted favor deign'd.
840
Thee I have heard relating what was don
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 suttly 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
Then Fruits of Palm-tree pleasantest to thirst
And hunger both, from labor, at the hour
850
Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill,
Though pleasant, but thy words with Grace Divine
Imbu'd, bring to thir 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.
860
Nor less think we in Heaven of thee on Earth
Then of our fellow servant, and inquire
Gladly into the ways of God with Man:
For God we see hath honor'd 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;
Squar'd in full Legion (such command we had)
To see that none thence issu'd forth a spy,
870
Or enemy, while God was in his work,
Least he incenst 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 Sovran King, and to enure
Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut
The dismal Gates, and barricado'd strong;
But long ere our approaching heard within
Noise, other then the sound of Dance or Song,
880
Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage.
Glad we returned up to the coasts of Light
Ere Sabbath Eev'ning: so we had in charge.
But thy relation now; for I attend,
Pleas'd with thywords no less then 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 wakit from soundest sleep
890
Soft on the flourie herb I found me laid
In Balmie Sweat, which with his Beams the Sun
Soon dri'd, and on the reeking moisture fed.
Strait toward Heaven my wondering Eyes I turned,
And gaz'd a while the ample Sky, till raised
By quick instinctive motion up I sprung,
As thitherward endevoring, and upright
Stood on my feet; about me round I saw
Hill, Dale, and shady Woods, and sunnie Plaines,
And liquid Lapse of murmuring Streams; by these,
900
Creatures that livd, and movd, and walked, or flew,
Birds on the branches warbling; all things smiled,
With fragrance and with joy my heart oreflow'd.
My self▪ I then perus'd, and Limb by Limb
Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran
With supple joints, as lively vigor led:
But who I was, or where, or from what cause,
Knew not; to speak I tried, and forthwith spake,
My Tongue obeyed and readily could name
What e're I saw. Thou Sun, said I, fair Light,
910
And thou enlight'nd Earth, so fresh and gay,
Ye Hills and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plaines,
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 praeeminent;
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 then I know.
While thus I called, and stray'd I knew not whither,
920
From where I first drew Air, and first beheld
This happy Light, when answer none returned,
On a green shady Bank profuse of Flours
Pensive I sat me down; there gentle sleep
First found me, and with soft oppression seis'd
My droused sense, untroubl'd, though I thought
I the
•…
was passing to my former state
Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve:
When suddenly stood at my Head a dream,
Whose inward apparition gently moved
930
My Fancy to believe I yet had being,
And livd: One came, methought, of shape Divine,
And said, thy Mansion wants thee,
Adam,
rise,
First Man, of Men innumerable ordained
First Father, called by thee I come thy Guide
To the Garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.
So saying, by the hand he took me raised,
And over Fields and Waters, as in Air
Smooth sliding without step, last led me up
A woodie Mountain; whose high top was plain,
940
A Circuit wide, enclosed, with goodliest Trees
Planted, with Walks, and Bowers, that what I saw
Of Earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each Tree
Load'n with fairest Fruit, that hung to the Eye
Tempting, stir'd in me sudden appetite
To pluck and eat; whereat I wak'd, and found
Before mine Eyes all real, as the dream
Had lively shadowd: Here had new begun
My wandering, had not he who was my Guide
Up hither, from among the Trees appear'd,
950
Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe
In adoration at his feet I fell
Submiss: he reared me, & Whom thou soughtst I am,
Said mildly, Author of all this thou seest
Above, or round about thee or beneath.
This Paradise I give thee, count it thine
To Till and keep, and of the Fruit to eat:
Of every Tr
•…
e that in the Garden grows
Eate freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth:
But of the Tree whose operation brings
960
Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set
The Pledge of thy Obedience and thy Faith,
Amid the Garden by the Tree of Life,
Remember what I wa
•…
ne thee, shun to taste,
And shun the bitter consequence: for know,
The day thou eat'st thereof, my sole command
Transgrest, inevitably thou shalt die;
From that day-mortal, and this happy State
Shalt loose, expel'd from hence into a World
Of woe and sorrow. Sternly he pronounced
970
The rigid interdiction, which resounds
Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice
Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect
Return'd and gracious purpose thus renewed.
Not only these fair bounds, but all the Earth
To thee and to thy Race I give; as Lord's
Possess it, and all things that therein live,
Or live in Sea, or Air, Beast, Fish, and Fowl.
In sign whereof cach Bird and Beast behold
After thir kinds; I bring them to receive
980
From thee thir Names, and pay thee fealty
With low subjection; understand the same
Of Fish within thir watery residence,
Not hither summond, since they cannot change
Thir Element to draw the thinner Air.
As thus he spake, each Bird and Beast behold
Approaching two and two, These cowring low
With blandishment, each Bird stoop'd on his wing.
I named them, as they passed, and understood
Thir Nature, with such knowledge God endu'd
990
My sudden apprehension: but in these
I found not what me thought I wanted still;
And to the Heav'nly vision thus presumed.
O by what Name, for thou above all these,
Above mankind, or aught then mankind higher,
Surpassest far my naming, how may I
Adore thee, Author of this Universe,
And all this good to man, for whose well being
So amply, and with hands so liberal
Thou hast provided all things: but with me
1000
I see not who partakes. In solitude
What happiness, who can enjoy alone,
Or all enjoying, what contentment find?
Thus I presumptuous; and the vision bright,
As with a smile more bright'nd, thus replied.
What call'st thou solitude, is not the Earth
With various living creatures, and the Air
Replenisht, and all these at thy command
To come and play before thee, knowest thou not
Thir language and thir ways, they also know,
1010
And reason not contemptibly; with these
Find pastime, and bear rule; thy Realm is large.
So spake the Universal Lord, and seemed
So ordering. I with leave of speech implor'd,
And humble deprecation thus replied.
Let not my words offend thee, Heav'nly Power,
My Maker, be propitious while I speak.
Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,
And these inferior far beneath me set?
Among unequals what society
1020
Can sort, what harmony or true delight?
Which must be mutual, in proportion due
Giv'n and received; but in disparity
The one intense, the other still
•…
emiss
Cannot well suite with either, but soon prove
Tedious alike: Of fellowship I speak
Such as I seek, fit to participate
All rational delight, wherein the brute
Cannot be human consort; they rejoice
Each with thir kind, Lion with Lioness;
1030
So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined;
Much less can Bird with Beast, or Fish with Fowl
So well converse, nor with the Ox the Ape;
Wors then can Man with Beast, and least of all.
Whereto
〈◊〉
Almighty answered, not displeased.
A nice and suttle happiness I see
Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice
Of thy Associates,
Adam,
and wilt taste
No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary.
What thinkest thou then of me, and this my State,
1040
Seem I to thee sufficiently possessed
Of happiness, or not? who am alone
From all Eternity, for none I know
Second to me or like, equal much less.
How have I then with whom to hold converse
Save with the Creatures which I made, and those
To me inferior, infinite descents
Beneath what other Creatures are to thee?
He ceased, I lowly answered. To attain
The highth and depth of thy Eternal ways
1050
All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things;
Thou in thyself art perfet, and in thee
Is no deficience found; not so is Man,
But in degree, the cause of his desire
By conversation with his like to help,
Or solace his defects. No need that thou
Shouldst propagat, already infinite;
And through all numbers absolute, though One;
B
•…
t Man by number is to manifest
His single imperfection, and beget
1060
Like of his like, his Image multipli'd,
In unity defective, which requires
Collateral love, and dearest amity.
Thou in thy secrecy although alone,
Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not
Social communication, yet so pleased,
Canst raise thy Creature to what highth thou wilt
Of Union or Communion, deifi'd;
I by conversing cannot these erect
From prone, nor in thir ways complacence find.
1070
Thus I embold'nd spake, and freedom used
Permissive, and acceptance found, which gained
This answer from the gracious voice Divine.
Thus far to try thee,
Adam,
I was pleased,
And find thee knowing not of Beasts alone,
Which thou hast rightly named, but of thyself,
Expressing well the spirit within thee free,
My Image, not imparted to the Brute,
Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee
Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike,
1080
And be so minded still; I, ere thou spak'st,
Knew it not good for Man to be alone,
And no such company as then thou saw'st
Intended thee, for trial only brought,
To see how thou couldest judge of fit and meet:
What next I bring shall please thee, be assured,
Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,
Thy wish, exactly to thy hearts desire.
He ended, or I heard no more, for now
My earthly by his Heav'nly overpowered,
1090
Which it had long stood under, streind to the highth
In that celestial Colloquie sublime,
As with an object that excels the sense,
Dazl'd and spent, sunk down, and sought repair
Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, called
By Nature as in aide, and closed mine eyes.
Mine eyes he closed, but op'n left the Cell
Of Fancie my internal sight, by which
Abstract as in a transe methought I saw,
Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape
1100
Still glorious before whom awake I stood;
Who stooping op'nd my left side, and took
From thence a Rib, with cordial spirits warm,
And Life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound,
But suddenly with flesh filled up & healed:
The Rib he formd and fashond with his hands;
Under his forming hands a Creature grew,
Manlike, but different sex; so lovly fair,
That what seemed fair in all the World, seemed now
Mean, or in her summd up, in her containd
1110
And in her looks, which from that time infused
Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before,
And into all things from her Air inspired
The spirit of love and amorous delight.
She disappeerd, and left me dark, I wak'd▪
To find her, or forever to deplore
Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure:
When out of hope, behold her, not far off;
Such as I saw her in my dream, adornd
With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow
1120
To make her amiable: On she came,
Led by her Heav'nly Maker, though unseen,
And guided by his voice, nor uninformd
Of nuptial Sanctitie and marriage Rites:
Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her Eye,
In every gesture dignity and love.
I overjoyd could not forbear aloud.
This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfilled
Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign,
Giver of all things fair, but fairest this
1130
Of all thy gifts, nor enviest. I now see
Bone of my Bone, Flesh of my Flesh, my Self
Before me; Woman is her Name, of Man
Extracted; for this cause he shall forgo,
Father and Mother, and to his Wife adhere;
And they shall be one Flesh, one Heart, one Soul.
She heard me thus, and though divinely brought,
Yet Innocence and Virgin Modestie,
Her virtue and the conscience of her worth,
That would be wooed, and not unsought be won,
1140
Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retired,
The more desirable, or to say all,
Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought,
Wrought in her so, that seeing me, she turned;
I followed her, she what was Honor knew,
And with obsequious Majesty approved
My pleaded reason. To the Nuptial Bowre
I led her blushing like the Morn: all Heaven,
And happy Constellations on that hour
Shed thir selectest influence; the Earth
1150
Gave sign of gratulation, and each Hill;
Joyous the Birds; fresh Gales and gentle Aires
Whisper'd it to the Woods, and from thir wings
Flung Rose, flung Odours from the spicie Shrub,
Disporting, till the amorous Bird of Night
Sung Spousal, and bid haste the Eevning Starr
On his Hill top, to light the bridal Lamp.
Thus I have told thee all my State, and brought
My Story to the sum of earthly bliss
Which I enjoy, and must confess to find
1160
In all things else delight indeed, but such
As used or not, works in the mind no change,
Nor vehement desire, these delicacies
I mean of Taste, Sight, Smell, Herbs, Fruits, & Flours,
Walks, and the melody of Birds; but here▪
Far otherwise, transported I behold;
Transported touch; here passion first I felt,
Commotion strange, in all enjoyments else
Superior and unmov'd, here only weak
Against the charm of Beauties powerful glance.
1170
Or Nature faild in me, and left some part
Not proof enough such Object to sustain,
Or from my side subducting, took perhaps
More then enough; at least on her bestowed
Too much of Ornament, in outward show
Elaborate, of inward less exact.
For well I understand in the prime end
Of Nature her th' inferior, in the mind
And inward Faculties, which most excel,
In outward also her resembling less
1180
His Image who made both, and less expressing
The character of that Dominion given
O're other Creatures; yet when I approach
Her loveliness, so absolute she seems
And in herself complete, so well to know
Her own, that what she wills to do or say,
Seems wisest, vertuousest, discreetest, best;
All higher knowledge in her presence falls
Degraded, Wisdom in discourse with her
Looses discount'nancit, and like folly shows;
1190
Authority and Reason on her wait,
As one intended first, not after made
Occasionally; and to consummate all,
Greatness of mind and nobleness thir seat
Build in her loveliest, and create an awe
About her, as a guard Angelic placit.
To whom the Angel with contracted brow.
Accuse not Nature, she hath don her part;
Do thou but thine, and be not diffident
Of Wisdom, she deserts thee not, if thou
1200
Dismiss not her, when most thou needest her nigh,
By attributing overmuch to things
Less excellent, as thou thyself perceav'st.
For what admir'st thou, what transports thee so,
An outside? fair no doubt, and worthy well
Thy cherishing, thy honoring, and thy love,
Not thy subjection: weigh with her thyself;
Then value: Oft times nothing profits more
Then self-esteem, grounded on just and right
Well managed; of that skill the more thou knowest,
1210
The more she will acknowledge thee her Head,
And to realities yield all her shows;
Made so adorn for thy delight the more,
So awful, that with honor thou mayest love
Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise.
But if the sense of touch whereby mankind
Is propagated seem such dear delight
Beyond all other, think the same voutsaft
To Cattle and each Beast; which would not be
To them made common & divulged, if aught
1220
Therein enjoyed were worthy to subdue
The Soul of Man, or passion in him move.
What higher in her society thou findst
Attractive, human, rational, love still;
In loving thou dost well, in passion not,
Wherein true Love consists not; love refines
The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his seat
In Reason, and is judicious, is the scale
By which to heavenly Love thou mayest as
•…
end,
Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause
1230
Among the Beasts no Mate for thee was found.
To whom thus half abashit
Adam
replied.
Neither her outside formd so fair, nor aught
In procreation common to all kinds
(Though higher of the genial Bed by far,
And with mysterious reverence I deem)
So much delights me, as those graceful acts,
Those thousand decencies that daily flow
From all her words and actions, mixed with Love
And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd
1240
Union of Mind, or in us both one Soul;
Harmonie to behold in wedded pair
More grateful then harmonious sound to the ear.
Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose
What inward thence I feel, not therefore foild,
Who meet with various objects, from the sense
Variously representing; yet still free
Approve the best, and follow what I approve.
To love thou blam'st me not, for love thou sayest
Leads upto Heaven, is both the way and guide;
1250
Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask;
Love not the heavenly Spirits, and how thir Love
Express they, by looks only, or do they mix
Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?
To whom the Angel with a smile that glow'd
Celestial rosie red, Loves proper hue,
Answer'd. Let it suffice thee that thou knowest
Us happy, and without Love no happiness.
Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy'st
(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy
1260
In eminence, and obstacle find none
Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive
〈◊〉
▪
Easier then Air with Air, if Spirits embrace,
Total they mix, Union of Pure with Pure
Desiring; nor restrained conveyance need
As Flesh to mix with Flesh, or Soul with Soul.
But I can now no more; the parting Sun
Beyond the Earths green Cape and verdant Isles
Hesperean
sets, my Signal to depart.
Be strong, live happy, and love, but first of all
1270
Him whom to love is to obey, and keep
His great command; take heed least Passion sway
Thy Judgment to do aught, which else free Will
Would not admit; thine and of all thy Sons
The weal or woe in thee is placit; beware.
I in thy persevering shall rejoice,
And all the Blest: stand fast; to stand or fall
Free in thine own Arbitrement it lies.
Perfet within, no outward aid require;
And all temptation to transgress repel.
1280
So saying, he arose; whom
Adam
thus
Follow'd with benediction. Since to part,
Go heavenly Guest, Ethereal Messenger,
Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore.
Gentle to me and affable hath been
Thy condescension, and shall be honor'd ever
With grateful Memory: thou to mankind
Be good and friendly still, and oft return.
So parted they, the Angel up to Heaven
From the thick shade, and
Adam
to his Bowre.
1290
PARADISE LOST.
BOOK VIII.
N
O more of talk where God or Angel Guest
With Man, as with his Friend, familiar used
To sit indulgent, and with him partake
Rural repast, permitting him the while
Venial discourse unblam'd: I now must change
Those Notes to Tragic; foul distrust, and breach
Disloyal on the part of Man, r
•…
volt,
And diso
•…
dience: On the part of Heaven
Now ali
•…
ted, distance and distaste,
10
Anger and just rebuke, and judgment given,
That brought into this World a world of woe,
Sin and her shadow Death, and Miserie
Deaths
•…
arbinger: Sad
〈◊〉
, yet argument
Not less but more Heroic then the wrath
Of stern
Aohilles
on his Foe pursued
Thrice Fugitive about
Troy
Wall; or rage
Of
Turnus
for
Lavinia
disespous'd,
Or
Neptun
's ire or
Juno
's, that so long
Perplex'd the
Greek
and
Cytherea
's Son;
If answerable style I can obtain
20
Of my Celestial Patroness, who deignes
Her nightly visitation unimplor'd,
And dictates to me slumbering, or inspires
Easie my unpremeditated Verse:
Since first this Subject for Heroic Song
Pleas'd me long choosing, and beginning late;
Not sedulous by Nature to indite
Warrs, hitherto the only Argument
Heroic deemed, chief maistrie to dissect
With long and tedious havoc fabl'd Knights
30
In Battels feigned; the better fortitude
Of Patience and Heroic Martyrdom
Unsung; or to describe Races and Games,
Or tilting Furniture, emblazon'd Shields,
Impreses quaint, Caparisons and Steeds;
Bases and tinsel Trappings, gorgeous Knights
At Joust and Torneament; then marshal'd Feast
Serv'd up in Hall with Sewers, and Seneshals;
The skill of Artifice or Office mean,
Not that which justly gives Heroic name
40
To Person or to Poem▪ Mee of these
Nor skilld nor
•…
udious, higher Argument
Remains, sufficient of itself to raise
That name, un
•…
ess an age too late, or cold
Climat, or Years damp my intended wing
Deprest, and much they may, if all be mine,
Not Hers who brings it nightly to my Ear.
The Sun was sunk, and after him the Starr
Of
Hesperus,
whose Office is to bring
Twilight upon the Earth, short Arbiter
50
Twixt Day and Night, and now from end to end
Nights Hemisphere had veild the Horizon round:
When
Satan
who late fled before the threats
Of
Gabriel
out of
Eden,
now improved
In meditated fraud and malice, bent
On man's destruction, maugre what might hap
Of heavier on himself, fearless returned.
By Night he fled, and at Midnight returned
From compassing the Earth, cautious of day,
Since
Uriel
Regent of the Sun descri'd
60
His entrance, and forewarnd the Cherubim
That kept thir watch; thence full of anguish driven,
The space of seven continued Nights he rode
With darkness, thrice the Equinoctial Line
He circl'd, four times crossed the Carr of Night
From Pole to Pole, traversing each Colure;
On the eighth returned, and on the Coast averse
From entrance or Cherubic Watch, by stealth
Found unsuspected way. There was a place,
Now not, though Sin, not Time, first wraught the change,
70
Where
Tigris
at the foot of Paradise
Into a Gulf shot under ground, till part
Rose up a Fountain by the Tree of Life;
In with the River sunk, and with it rose
Satan involved in rising Mist, then sought
Where to lie hid; Sea he had searched and Land
From
Eden
over
Pontus,
and the Poole
Maeotis,
up beyond the River
Ob;
Downward as far Antartic; and in length
West from
Orontes
to the Ocean bar'd
80
At
Darie
•…
,
thence to the Land where flows
Ganges
and
Indus:
thus the Orb he roam'd
With narrow search; and with inspection deep
Consider'd every Creature, which of all
Most opportune might serve his Wiles, and found
The Serpent suttlest Beast of all the Field.
Him after long debate, irresolute
Of thoughts revolv'd, his final sentence chose
Fit Vessel, fittest Imp of fraud, in whom
To enter, and his dark suggestions hide
90
From sharpest sight: for in the wily Snake,
Whatever sleights none would suspicious mark,
As from his wit and native suttletie
Proceeding, which in other Beasts observed
Doubt might beget of Diabolic power
Active within beyond the sense of brute.
Thus he resolved, but first from inward grief
His bursting passion into plaints thus poured:
O Earth, how like to Heaven, if not prefer'd
More justly, Seat worthier of God's, as built
100
With second thoughts, reforming what was old!
For what God after better worse would build?
Terrestrial Heaven, dan
•…
't round by other Heavens
That shine, yet bear thir bright officious Lamps,
Light above Light, for thee alone, as seems,
In thee concentring all thir precious beams
Of sacred influence: As God in Heaven
Is Center, yet extends to all, so thou
Centring receive'st from all those Orbs; in thee,
Not in themselves, all thir known virtue appears
110
Productive in Herb, Plant, and nobler birth
Of Creatures animate with gradual life
Of Growth, Sense, Reason, all sum'd up in Man.
With what delight could I have walked thee round
If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange
Of Hill and Vallie, Rivers, Woods and Plaines,
Now Land, now Sea, & Shores with Forest crowned,
Rocks, Dens, and Caves; but I in none of these
Find place or refuge; and the more I see
Pleasures about me, so much more I feel
120
Torment within me, as from the hateful siege
Of contraries; all good to me becomes
Bane, and in Heaven much wor
•…
e would be my state.
But neither here seek I, no nor in Heaven
To dwell, unless by maistring Heavens Supreame;
Nor hope to be myself less miserable
By what I seek, but others to make such
As I, though thereby worse to me redound:
For only in destroying I find ease
To my relentless thoughts; and him destroyed,
130
Or won to what may work his utter loss,
For whom all this was made, all this will soon
Follow, as to him linked in weal or woe,
In woe then; that destruction wide may range:
To me shall be the glory sole among
The infernal Powers, in one day to have mar'd
What he
Almighty
still'd, six Nights and Days
Continu'd making, and who knows how long
Before had been contriving, though perhaps
Not longer then since I in one Night freed
140
From servitude inglorious well nigh half
Th' Angelic Name, and thinner left the throng
Of his adorers: he to be avenged,
And to repair his numbers thus impaired,
Whether such virtue spent of old now faild
More Angels to Create, if they at least
Are his Created or to spite us more,
Determin'd to advance into our room
A Creature formed of Earth, and him endow,
Exalted from so base original,
150
With Heav'nly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed
He effected; Man he made, and for him built
Magnificent this World, and Earth his seat,
Him Lord pronounced, and, O indignity!
Subjected to his service Angel wings,
And flaming Ministers to watch and tend
Thir earthie Charge: Of these the vigilance
I dread, and to elude, thus wrapped in mist
Of midnight vapor glide obscure, and pry
In every Bush and Brake, where hap may find
160
The Serpent sleeping, in whose mazie foulds
To hide me, and the dark intent I bring.
O foul descent! that I who erst contended
With God's to sit the highest, am now constraind
Into a Beast, and mixed with bestial slime,
This essence to incarnate and imbrute,
That to the hight of Deity aspir'd;
But what will not Ambition and Revenge
Descend to? who aspires must down as low
As high he soard; obnoxious first or last
170
To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet,
Bitter ere long back on itself recoiles;
Let it; I reck not, so it light well aimed,
Since higher I fall short, on him who next.
Provokes my envy, this new Favorite
Of Heaven, this Man of Clay, Son of despite,
Whom us the more to spite his Maker raised
From dust: spite then with spite is best repaid.
So saying, through each Thicket Danck or Drie,
Like a black mist low creeping, he held on
180
His midnight search, where soonest he might find
The Serpent: him fast sleeping soon he found
In Labyrinth of many a round self-rowld,
His head the midst, well stored with suttle wiles:
Not yet in horrid Shade or dismal Den,
Not nocent yet, but on the grassie Herb
Fearless unfeard he slept: in at his Mouth
The Devil enterd, and his brutal sense,
In heart or head, possessing soon inspired
With act intelligential; but his sleep
190
Disturbd not, waiting close th' approach of Morn.
Now whenas sacred Light began to dawn
In
Eden
on the humid Flours, that breathed
Thir morning Incense, when all things that breath,
From th' Earths great Altar send up silent praise
To the Creator, and his Nostrils fill
With grateful Smell, forth came the human pair
And joined thir vocal Worship to the Choir
Of Creatures wanting voice, that done, partake
The season, prime for sweetest Sents and Aires:
200
Then commune how that day they best may ply
Thir growing work: for much thir work outgrew
The hands dispatch of two Gardning so wide.
And
Eve
first to her Husband thus began.
Adam,
well may we labor still to dress
This Garden, still to tend Plant, Herb and Flour.
Our pleasant task enjoin'd, but till more hands
Aid us, the work under our labor grows,
Luxurious by restraint; what we by day
Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind,
210
One night or two with wanton growth derides
Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise
Or hear what to my mind first thoughts present,
Let us divide our labors, thou where choice
Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind
The Woodbine round this Arbour, or direct
The clasping Ivy where to climb, while I
In yonder Spring of Roses intermixt
With Myrtle, find what to redress till Noon:
For while so near each other thus all day
220
Our task we choose, what wonder if so near
Looks intervene and smiles, or object new
Casual discourse draw on, which intermits
Our days work brought to little, though begun
Early, and th' hour of Supper comes unearn'd.
To whom mild answer
Adam
thus returned.
Sole
Eve,
Associate sole, to me beyond
Compare above all living Creatures dear,
Well hast thou motion'd, well thy thoughts imployd
How we might best fulfill the work which here
230
God hath assigned us, nor of me shalt pass
Unprais'd: for nothing lovelier can be found
In woman, then to study household good,
And good works in her Husband to promote.
Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed
Labor, as to debar us when we need
Resreshment, whether food, or talk between,
Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse
Of looks and smiles, for smiles from Reason flow,
To brute denied, and are of Love the food,
240
Love not the lowest end of human life.
F
•…
r not to irksome toile, but to delight
He made us, and delight to Reason join'd.
Th
•…
se paths and Bowers doubt not but our joint hands
Will keep from Wilderness with ease, as wide
As we need walk, till younger hands ere long
Assist us: But if much converse perhaps
Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield.
For solitude sometimes is best society,
And short retirement urges sweet return.
250
But other doubt possesses me, least harm
Befall thee severed from me; for thou knowest
What hath been warned us, what malicious Foe
Envying our happiness, and of his own
Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame
By sly assault; and somwhere nigh at hand
Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find
His wish and best advantage, us asunder,
Hopeless to circumvent us joined, where each
To other speedy aide might lend at need;
260
Whether his first design be to withdraw
Our fealty from God, or to disturb
Conjugal Love, then which perhaps no bliss
Enjoy'd by us excites his envy more;
Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side
That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects.
The Wife, where danger or dishonor lurks,
Safest and seemliest by her Husband stays,
Who guards her, or with her the worst endures.
To whom the Virgin Majesty of
Eve,
270
As one who loves, and some unkindn
•…
ss m
•…
ets,
With sweet austeer composure thus replied.
Ofspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earths Lord,
That such an Enemy we have, who seeks
Our ruin, both by thee informed I learn,
And from the parting Angel over-heard
As in a shady nook I stood behind,
Just then returned at shut of Evening Flours.
But that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt
To God or thee, because we have a foe
280
May tempt it, I expected not to hear.
His violence thou fearst not, being such,
As we, not capable of death or pain,
Can either not receive, or can repel.
His fraud is then thy fear, which plain infers
Thy equal fear that my firm Faith and Love
Can by his fraud be shak'n or seducit;
Thoughts, which how found they harbor in thy breast,
Adam,
missthought of her to thee so dear?
To whom with healing words
Adam
replied.
290
Daughter of God and Man, immortal
Eve,
For such thou art, from sin and blame entire:
Not diffident of thee do I dissuade
Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid
Th' attempt itself, intended by our Foe.
For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses
The tempted with dishonor foul, supposed
Not incorruptible of Faith, not prooff
Against temptation: thou thyself with scorn
And anger wouldst resent the offered wrong,
300
Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then,
If such affront I labor to avert
From thee alone, which on us both at once
The Enemy, though bold, will hardly dare;
Or daring, first on
•…
eeth' assault shall light.
Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn;
Suttle he needs must be, who
•…
old seduce
Angels, nor think superfluous others aid.
I from the influence of thy looks receive
Access in every Virtue, in thy sight
310
More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were
Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on,
Shame to be overcome or over-reached
Would utmost vigor▪ raise, and raised unite.
Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel
When I am present, and thy trial choose
With me, best witness of thy Virtue tried.
So spake domestic
Adam
in his care
And Matrimonial Love, but
Eve,
who thought
Less attributed to her Faith sincere,
320
Thus her reply with accent sweet renewd.
If this be our condition, thus to dwell
In narrow circuit strait'nd by a Foe,
Suttle or violent, we not endu'd
Single with like defense, wherever met,
How are we happy, still in fear of harm?
•…
ut harm precedes not sin: only our Foe
Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem
Of our integrity: his foul esteem
Sticks no dishonor on our Front, but turns
330
Foul on himself; then wherefor shunned or feared
By us? who rather double honor gain
From his surmise proved false, find peace within,
Favor from Heaven, our witness from th'event.
And what is Faith, Love, Virtue unassaid
Alone, without exterior help sustaind?
Let us not then suspect our happy State
L
•…
ft so imperfet by the Maker w
•…
se,
As not secure to single or combined.
Fraile is our happiness, if this be so,
340
And
Eden
were no
Eden
thus exposed.
To whom thus
Adam
fervently replied.
O Woman, best are all things as the will
Of God ordained them, his creating hand
Nothing imperfet or deficient left
Of all that he Created, much less Man,
Or ought that might his happy State secure,
Secure from outward force; within himself
The danger lies, yet lies within his power:
Against his will he can receive no harm.
350
But God left free the Will, for what obeys
Reason, is free, and Reason he made right,
But bid her well beware, and still erect,
Least by some fair appeering good surprised
She dictate false, and missinforme the Will
To do what God expressly hath forbid.
Not then mistrust, but tender love enjoins,
That I should mind thee oft, and mind thou me.
Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve,
Since Reason not impossibly may meet
360
Some specious object by the Foe subornd,
And fall into deception unaware,
Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warnd.
Seek not temptation then, which to avoid
Were better, and most likely if from
•…
ee
Thou sever not: Trial will come unsoug
•…
t.
Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve
First thy obedience; the other who can know,
Not seeing thee attempted, who attest?
But if thou think, trial unsought may find
370
Us both securer then thus warnd thou seemst,
Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;
Go in thy native innocence, rely
On what thou hast of virtue, summon all,
For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine.
So spake the Patriarch of Mankind, but
Eve
Persisted, yet submiss, though last, replied.
With thy permission then, and thus forewarnd
Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words
Touchd only, that our trial, when least sought,
380
May find us both perhaps far less prepared,
The willinger I go, nor much expect
A Foe so proud will first the weaker seek;
So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.
Thus saying, from her Husbands hand her hand
Soft she withdrew, and like a Wood-Nymph light
Oread
or
Dryad,
or of
Delia
's Traine,
Betook her to the Groves, but
Delia
's self
In gate surpass'd and Goddess-like deport,
Though not as she with Bow and Quiver armed,
390
But with such Gardning Tools as Art yet rude,
Guiltless of fire had formd, or Angels brought.
To
Pales,
or
Pomona,
thus adornd,
Likest she seemed,
Pomona
when she fled
Vertumnus,
or to
Ceres
in her Prime,
Yet Virgin of
Proserpina
from
Jove.
Her long with ardent look his Eye pursued
Delighted, but desiring more her stay.
Oft he to her his charge of quick return
Repeated, she to him as oft engaged
400
To be returned by Noon amid the Bowre,
And all things in best order to invite
Noontide repast, or Afternoons repose.
O much deceav'd, much failing, hapless
Eve,
O
•…
thy presumed return! event perverse!
Thou never from that hour in Paradise
Foundst either sweet repast, or sound repose;
Such ambush hid among sweet Flours and Shades
Waited with hellish rancor imminent
To intercept thy way, or send thee back
410
Despoild of Innocence, of Faith, of Bliss.
For now, and since first break of dawn the Fiend,
Meer Serpent in appearance, forth was come,
And on his Quest, where likeliest he might find
The only two of Mankind, but in them
The whole included Race, his purposd prey.
In Bowre and Field he sought, where any tuft
Of Grove or Garden-Plot more pleasant lay,
Thir tendance or Plantation for delight,
By Fountain or by shady Rivulet
420
He sought them both, but wished his hap might find
Eve
separate, he wished, but not with hope
Of what so seldom chanced, when to his wish,
Beyond his hope,
Eve
separate he spies,
Veild in a Cloud of Fragrance, where she stood,
Half spi'd, so thick the Roses bushing round
About her glowd, oft stooping to support
Each Flour of slender stalk, whose head though gay
Carnation, Purple, Azure, or spect with Gold,
Hung drooping unsustaind, them she upstaies
430
Gently with Mirtle band, mindless the while,
Her self, though fairest unsupported Flour,
From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh.
Nearer he drew, and many a walk travers'd
Of stateliest Covert, Cedar, Pine, or Palme,
Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen
Among thick-wov'n Arborets and Flours
Imborderd on each Bank, the hand of
Eve:
Spot more delicious then those Gardens feigned
Or of revived
Adonis,
or renownd
440
Alcinous,
host of old
Laertes
Son,
Or that, not Mystic, where the Sapient King
Held dalliance with his fair
Egyptian
Spouse.
Much he the Place admired, the Person more.
As one who long in populous City pent,
Where Houses thick and Sewers annoy the Air,
Forth issuing on a Summers Morn to breathe
Among the pleasant Villages and Farms
Adjoynd, from each thing met conceaves delight,
The smell of Grain, or tedded Grass, or Kine,
450
Or Dairie, each rural sight, each rural sound;
If chance with Nymphlike step fair Virgin pass,
What pleasing seemed, for her now pleases more,
She most, and in her look sums all Delight.
Such Pleasure took the Serpent to behold
This Flourie Plat, the sweet recess of
Eve
Thus early, thus alone; her Heav'nly form
Angelic, but more soft, and Feminine,
Her graceful Innocence, her every Air
Of gesture or lest action overawd
460
His Malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved
His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought:
That space the Evil one abstracted stood
From his own evil, and for the time remaind
Stupidly good, of enmity disarmed,
Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge;
But the hot Hell that always in him burns,
Though in mid Heaven, soon ended his delight,
And tortures him now more, the more he sees
Of pleasure not for him ordained: then soon
470
Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts
Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites.
Thoughts, whither have ye led me, with what sweet
Compulsion thus transported to forget
What hither brought us, hate, not love, nor hope
Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste
Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy,
Save what is in destroying, other joy
To me is lost. Then let me not let pass
Occasion which now smiles, behold alone
480
The Woman, opportune to all attempts,
Her Husband, for I view far round, not nigh,
Whose higher intellectual more I shun,
And strength, of courage haughty, and of limb
Heroic built, though of terrestrial mould,
Foe not informidable, exempt from wound,
I not; so much hath Hell debas'd, and pain
Infeebl'd me, to what I was in Heaven.
She fair, divinely fair, fit Love for God's,
Not terrible, though terror be in Love
490
And beauty, not approached by stronger hate,
Hate stronger, under show of Love well feigned,
The way which to her ruin now I tend.
So spake the Enemy of Mankind, enclosed
In Serpent, Inmate bad, and toward
Eve
Address'd his way, not with indented wave,
Prone on the ground, as since, but on his rear,
Circular base of rising foulds, that tour'd
Fould above fold a surging Maze, his Head
Crested aloft, and Carbuncle his Eyes;
500
With burnisht Neck of verdant Gold, erect
Amidst his circling Spires, that on the grass
Floted redundant: pleasing was his shape,
And lovely, never since of Serpent kind
Lovelier, not those that in
Illyria
changed
Hermione
and
Cadmus,
or the God
In
Epidaurus;
nor to which transformd
Ammonian Jove,
or
Capitoline
was seen,
He with
Olympias,
this with her who bore
Scipio
the highth of
Rome.
With tract oblique
510
At first, as one who sought access, but feared
To interrupt, side-long he works his way.
As when a Ship by skillful Stearsman wrought
Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind
Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile;
So varied he, and of his tortuous Traine
Curld many a wanton wreath in sight of
Eve,
To lure her Eye; she busied heard the sound
Of rusling Leaves, but minded not, as used
To such disport before her through the Field,
520
From every Beast, more duteous at her call,
Then at
Circean
call the Herd disguised.
He boulder now, uncall'd before her stood;
But as in gaze admiring: Oft he bowd
His turret Crest, and sleek enamel'd Neck,
Fawning, and licked the ground whereon she trod.
His gentle dumb expression turned at length
The Eye of
Eve
to mark his play; he glad
Of her attention gaind, with Serpent Tongue
Organic, or impulse of vocal Air,
530
His fraudulent temptation thus began.
Wonder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps
Thou canst, who art sole Wonder, much less arm
Thy looks, the Heaven of mildness, with disdain,
Displeas'd that I approach thee thus, and gaze
In
•…
atiate, I thus single, nor have feared
Thy awful brow, more awful thus retired.
Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair,
Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine
By gift, and thy Celestial Beauty adore
540
With ravishment beheld, there best beheld
Where universally admired; but here
In this enclosure wild, these Beasts among,
Beholders rude, and shallow to discern
Half what in thee is fair, one man except,
Who sees thee? (and what is one?) who shouldst be seen
A Goddess among God's, adored and served
By Angels numberless, thy daily Train.
So gloz'd the Tempter, and his Proem tuned;
Into the Heart of
Eve
his words made way,
550
Though at the voice much marveling; at length
Not unamaz'd she thus in answer spake.
What may this mean? Language of Man pronouncit
By Tongue of Brute, and human sense expressed?
The first at lest of these I thought denied
To Beasts, whom God on thir Creation-Day
Created mute to all articulat sound;
The latter I demure, for in thir looks
Much reason, and in thir actions oft appears.
Thee, Serpent, suttlest beast of all the field
560
I knew, but not with human voice endu'd;
Redouble then this miracle, and say,
How camest thou speakable of mute, and how
To me so friendly grown above the rest
Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight?
Say, for such wonder claims attention due.
To whom the guileful Tempter thus replied.
Empress of this fair World, resplendent
Eve,
Easie to me it is to tell thee all
What thou commandst, and right thou shouldst be obeyd:
570
I was at first as other Beasts that graze
The trodden Herb, of abject thoughts and low,
As was my food, nor aught but food discerned
Or Sex, and apprehended nothing high:
Till on a day roaving the field, I chanced
A goodly Tree far distant to behold
Loaden with fruit of fairest colors mixed,
Ruddie and Gold: I nearer drew to gaze;
When from the boughs a savorie odour blow'n,
Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense
580
Then smell of sweetest Fenel, or the Teats
Of Ewe or Goat dropping with Milk at Eevn,
Unsuckt of Lamb or Kid, that tend thir play.
To satisfy the sharp desire I had
Of tasting those fair Apples, I resolved
Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once,
Powerful persuaders, quick'nd at the scent
Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen.
About the Mo
•…
ie Trunk I wound me
•…
oon,
For high from ground the branches would require
590
Thy utmost reach or
Adams:
Round the Tree
All other Beasts that saw, with like desire
Longing and envying stood, but could not reach.
Amid the Tree now got, where plenty hung
Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill
I spared not, for such pleasure till that hour
At Feed or Fountain never had I found.
Sated at length, ere long I might perceive
Strange alteration in me, to degree
Of Reason in my inward Powers, and Speech
600
Wanted not long, though to this shape retaind.
Thenceforth to Speculations high or deep
I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind
Considerd all things visible in Heaven,
Or Earth, or Middle, all things fair and good;
But all that fair and good in thy Divine
Semblance, and in thy Beauties heavenly Ray
United I beheld; no Fair to thine
Equivalent or second, which compelled
Mee thus, though importune perhaps, to come
610
And gaze, and worship thee of right declared
Sovran of Creatures, universal Dame.
So talked the spirited sly Snake; and
Eve
Yet more amazed unwarie thus replied.
Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt
The virtue of that Fruit, in thee first proved:
But say, where grows the Tree, from hence how far?
For many are the Trees of God that grow
In Paradise, and various, yet unknown
To us, in such abundance lies our choice,
620
As leaves a greater store of Fruit untouched,
Still hanging incorruptible, till men
Grow up to thir provision, and more hands
Help to disburden Nature of her Bearth.
To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad.
Empress, the way is ready, and not long,
Beyond a row of Myrtles, on a Flat,
Fast by a Fountain, one small Thicket past
Of blowi
•…
g Myrrh and Balm; if thou accept
My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon.
630
Lead then, said
Eve.
He leading swiftly rowld
In tangles, and make intricate seem strait,
To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy
Bright'ns his Crest, as when a wandering Fire
Compact of unctuous vapor, which the Night
Condenses, and the cold invirons round,
Kindl'd through agitation to a Flame,
Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends,
Hovering and blazing with delusive Light,
Misleads th' amazed Night-wanderer from his way
640
To Boggs and Mires, & oft through Pond or Poole,
There swallowed up and lost, from succor far.
So glister'd the dire Snake, and into fraud
Led
Eve
our credulous Mother, to the Tree
Of prohibi
•…
ion, root of all our woe;
Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake.
Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither,
Fruitless to me, though Fruit be here to excess,
The credit of whose virtue rest with thee,
Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects.
650
But of this Tree we may not taste nor touch;
God so commanded, and left that Command
Sole Daughter of his voice; the rest, we live
Law to ourselves, our Reason is our Law.
To whom the Tempter guilefully replied.
Indeed? hath God then said that of the Fruit
Of all these Garden Trees ye shall not eat,
Yet Lord's declared of all in Earth or Air?
To whom thus
Eve
yet sinless. Of the Fruit
Of each Tree in the Garden we may eat,
660
But of the Fruit of this fair Tree amidst
The Garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat
Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, least ye die.
She scarce had said, though brief, when now more bold
The Tempter, but with show of Zeal and Love
To Man, and indignation at his wrong,
New part puts on, and as to passion moved,
Fluctuats disturbd, yet comely, and in act
Rais'd, as of some great matter to begin.
As when of old some Orator renound
670
In
Athens
or free
Rome,
where Eloquence
Flourishd, since mute, to some great cause
〈◊〉
▪
Stood in himself collected, while each part,
Motion, each act won audience ere the tongue,
Somtimes in highth began, as no delay
Of Preface brooking through his Zeal of Right.
So standing, moving, or to highth upgrown
The Tempter all impassiond thus began.
O Sacred, Wise, and Wisdom-giving Plant,
Mother of Science, Now I feel thy Power
680
Within me clear, not only to discern
Things in thir Causes, but to trace the ways
Of highest Agents, deemd however wise.
Queen of this Universe, do not believe
Those rigid threats of Death; ye shall not Die:
How should ye? by the Fruit? it gives you Life
To Knowledge? By the Threatner, look on me,
Mee who have touched and tasted, yet both live,
And life more perfet have attained then Fate
Meant me, by ventring higher then my Lot.
690
Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast
Is open? or will God incense his ire
For such a petty Trespass, and not praise
Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain
Of Death denouncit, whatever thing Death be,
Deterrd not from achieving what might lead
To happier life, knowledge of Good and Evil;
Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil
Be real, why not known, since easier shunnd?
God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just;
700
Not just, not God; not feared then, nor obeid:
Your fear itself of Death removes the fear.
Why then was this forbid? Why but to awe,
Why but to keep ye low and ignorant,
His worshippers; he knows that in the day
Ye Eate thereof, your Eyes that seem so clear,
Yet are but dim, shall perfetly be then
Op'nd and cleerd, and ye shall be as God's,
Knowing both Good and Evil as they know.
That ye should be as God's, since I as Man,
710
Internal Man, is but proportion meet,
I of brute human, ye of human God's.
So ye shall die perhaps▪ by putting off
Human, to put on God's, death to be wisht,
Though threat'nd, which no worse then this can bring.
And what are God's that Man may not become
As they, participating God-like food?
The God's are first, and that advantage use
On our belief, that all from them proceeds;
I question it, for this fair Earth I see,
720
Warm'd by the Sun, producing every kind,
Them nothing: If they all things, who enclosed
Knowledge of Good and Evil in this Tree,
That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains
Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies
Th' offense, that Man should thus attain to know?
What can your knowledge hurt him, or this Tree
Impart against his will if all be his?
Or is it envy, and can envy dwell
In heavenly breasts? these, these and many more
730
Causes import your need of this fair Fruit.
Goddess human, reach then, and freely taste.
He ended, and his words replete with guile
Into her heart too easy entrance won:
Fixt on the Fruit she gaz'd, which to behold
Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound
Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregn'd
With Reason, to her seeming, and with Truth;
Meanwhile the hour of Noon drew on, and wak'd
An eager appetite, raised by the smell
740
So savorie of that Fruit, which with desire,
Inclinable now grown to touch or taste,
Sollicited her longing eye; yet first
Pausing a while, thus to herself she mus'd.
Great are thy Virtues, doubtless, best of Fruits,
Though kept from Man, & worthy to be admired,
Whose taste, too long forborne, at first assay
Gave elocution to the mute, and taught
The Tongue not made for Speech to speak thy praise:
Thy praise he also who forbids thy use,
750
Conceales not from us, naming thee the Tree
Of Knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil;
Forbids us then to taste, but his forbidding
Commends thee more, w
•…
ile it inf
•…
s the good
By thee communicated, and our want:
For good unknown, sure is not had, or had
And yet unknown, is as not had at all.
In plain then, what forbids he but to know,
Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise?
Such prohibitions bind not. But if Death
760
Bind us with after-bands, what profits then
Our inward freedom? In the day we eat
Of this fair Fruit, our doom is, we shall die.
How dies the Serpent? he hath eat'n and lives,
And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns,
Irrational till then. For us alone
Was death invented? or to us denied
This intellectual food, for beasts reserved?
For Beasts it seems: yet that one Beast which first
Hath tasted, envies not, but brings with joy
770
The good befall'n him, Author unsuspect,
Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile.
What fear I then, rather what know to fear
Under this ignorance of Good and Evil,
Of God or Death, of Law or Penaltie?
Here grows the Cure of all, this Fruit Divine,
Fair to the Eye, inviting to the Taste,
Of virtue to make wise: what hinders then
To reach, and feed at once both Body and Mind?
So saying, her rash hand in evil hour
780
Forth reaching to the Fruit, she plucked, she eat:
Earth felt the wound, and N
•…
ure from her seat
Sighing through all her Works gave signs of woe,
That all was lost. Back to the Thicket slunk
The guilty Serpent, and well might, for
Eve
Intent now wholly on her taste, naught else
Regarded, such delight till then, as seemed,
In Fruit she never tasted, whether true
Or fancied so, through expectation high
Of knowledge, nor was God-head from her thought.
790
Greedily she ingorg'd without restraint,
And knew not eating Death: Satiate at length,
And hight'nd as with Wine, jocond and boon,
Thus to herself she pleasingly began.
O Sovran, virtuous, precious of all Trees
In Paradise, of operation blest
To Sapience, hitherto obscured, infam'd,
And thy fair Fruit let hang, as to no end
Created; but henceforth my early care,
Not without Song, each Morning, and due praise
800
Shall tend thee, and the fertil burden ease
Of thy full branches offered free to all;
Till dieted by thee I grow mature
In knowledge, as the God's who all things know;
Though others envy what they cannot give;
For had the gift been theirs, it had not here
Thus grown. Experience, next to thee I owe,
Best guide; not following thee, I had remaind
In ignorance, thou op'nst Wisdoms way,
And givest access, though secret she retire.
810
And I perhaps am secret; Heaven is high,
High and remote to see from thence distinct
Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps
May have diverted from continual watch
Our great Forbidder, safe with all his Spies
About him. But to
Adam
in what sort
Shall I appear? shall I to him make known
As yet my change, and give him to partake
Full happiness with me, or rather not,
But keep the odds of Knowledge in my power
820
Without Copartner? so to add what wants
In Femal Sex, the more to draw his Love,
And render me more equal, and perhaps,
A thing not undesireable, sometime
Superior; for inferior who is free?
This may be well: but what if God have seen,
And Death ensue? then I shall be no more,
And
Adam
wedded to another
Eve,
Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct;
A death to think. Confirm'd then I resolve,
830
Adam
shall share with me in bliss or woe:
So dear I love him, that with him all deaths
I could endure, without him live no life.
So saying, from the Tree her step she turned,
But first low Reverence don, as to the power
That dwelt within, whose presence had infused
Into the plant sciential sap, derived
From Nectar, drink of God's.
Adam
the while
Waiting desirous her return, had wove
Of choicest Flours a Garland to adorn
840
Her Tresses, and her rural labors crown
As Reapers oft are wont thir Harvest Queen.
Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new
Solace in her return, so long delayed;
Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill,
Misgave him; he the faultring measure felt;
And forth to meet her went, the way she took
That Morn when first they parted; by the Tree
Of Knowledge he must pass, there he her met,
Scarse from the Tree returning; in her hand
850
A bough of fairest fruit that downie smiled,
New gatherd, and ambrosial smell diffused.
To him she hasted, in her face excuse
Came Prologue, and Apology to prompt,
Which with bland words at will she thus addrest.
Hast thou not wonderd,
Adam,
at my stay?
Thee I have misst, and thought it long, deprived
Thy presence, agony of love till now
Not felt, nor shall be twice, for never more
Mean I to try, what rash untri'd I sought,
860
The pain of absence from thy sight. But strange
Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear:
This Tree is not as we are told, a Tree
Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown
Op'ning the way, but of Divine effect
To open Eyes, and make them God's who taste;
And hath been tasted such: the Serpent wise,
Or not restraind as we, or not obeying,
Hath eat'n of the fruit, and is become,
Not dead, as we are threatn'd, but thenceforth
870
Endu'd with human voice and human sense,
Reasoning to admiration, and with me
Perswasively hath so prevailed, that I
Have also tasted, and have also found
Th' effects to correspond, opener mine Eyes,
Dimm erst, dilated Spirits, ampler Heart,
And growing up to Godhead; which for thee
Chiefly I▪ sought, without thee can despise.
For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss,
Tedious, unshar'd with thee, and odious soon.
880
Thou therefore also taste, that equal Lot
May join us, equal Joy, as equal Love;
Least thou not tasting, different degree
Disjoyne us, and I then too late renounce
Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit.
Thus
Eve
with Countnance blithe her story told;
But in her Cheek distemper flushing glowd.
On th' other side,
Adam,
soon as he heard
The fatal Trespass don by
Eve,
amazed,
Astonied stood and Blank, while horror chill
890
Ran through his v
•…
ins, and all his joints relax'd;
From his slack hand the Garland wreath'd for
Eve
Down dropped, and all the faded Roses shed:
Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length
First to himself he inward silence broke.
O fairest of Creation, last and best
Of all God's Works, Creature in whom excel'd
Whatever can to sight or thought be formd,
Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!
How art thou lost, how on a sudden lost,
900
Defacit, deflourd, and now to Death devote?
Rather how hast thou yielded to transgress
The strict forbiddance, how to violate
The sacred Fruit forbid'n! some cursed fraud
Of Enemy hath beguile'd thee, yet unknown,
And me with thee hath ruind, for with thee
Certain my resolution is to Die;
How can I live without thee, how forgo
Thy sweet Converse and Love so dearly join'd,
To live again in these wild Woods forlorn?
910
Should God create another
Eve,
and I
Another Rib afford, yet loss of thee
Would never from my heart; no no, I feel
The Link of Nature draw me: Flesh of Flesh,
Bone of my Bone thou art, and from thy State
Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe.
So having said, as one from sad dismay
Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbd
Submitting to what seemed remediless,
Thus in calm mood his Words to
Eve
he turned.
920
Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventrous
Eve,
And peril great provokit, who thus hast dared
Had it been only coveting to Eye
That sacred Fruit, sacred to abstinence,
Much more to taste it under banne to touch.
But past who can recall, or don undo?
Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate, yet so
Perhaps thou shalt not Die, perhaps the Fact
Is not so heinous now, for
•…
tasted Fruit,
Profan'd first by the Serpent, by him first
930
Made common and unhallowd ere our taste;
Nor yet on him found deadly, he yet lives,
Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live as Man
Higher degree of Life, inducement strong
To us, as likely tasting to attain
Proportional ascent, which cannot be
But to be God's, or Angels Demi-gods.
Nor can I think that God, Creator wise,
Though threatening, will in earnest so destroy
Us his prime Creatures, dignisi'd so high,
940
Set over all his Works, which in our Fall,
For us created, needs with us must fail,
Dependent made; so God shall uncreate,
Be frustrate, do, undo, and labor loose,
Not well conceav'd of God, who though his Power
Creation could repeat, yet would be loath
Us to abolish, least the Adversary
Triumph and say; Fickle their State whom God
Most Favors, who can please him long? Mee first
He ruind, now Mankind; whom will he next?
950
Matter of scorn, not to be given the Foe.
However I with thee have fixed my Lot,
Certain to undergo like doom, if Death
Consort with thee, Death is to me as Life;
So forcible within my heart I feel
The Bond of Nature draw me to my own,
My own in thee, for what thou art is mine;
Our State cannot be severd, we are one,
One Flesh; to loose thee were to loose myself.
So
Adam,
and thus
Eve
to him replied.
960
O glorious trial of exceeding Love,
Illustrious evidence, example high!
I
•…
gaging me to emulate, but short
Of thy perfection, how shall I attain,
Adam,
from whose dear side I boast me sprung,
And gladly of our Union hear thee speak,
One Heart, one Soul in both; whereof good prooff
This day affords, declaring thee resolvd,
Rather then Death or aught then Death more dread
Shall separate us, linked in Love so dear,
970
To undergo with me one Guilt, one Crime,
If any be, of tasting this fair Fruit,
Whose virtue, for of good still good proceeds,
Direct, or by occasion hath presented
This happy trial of thy Love, which else
So eminently never had been known.
Were it I thought Death menacit would ensue
This my attempt, I would sustain alone
The worst, and not persuade thee, rather die
Deserted, then oblige thee with a fact
980
Pernicious to thy Peace, chiefly assured
Remarkably so late of thy so true,
So faithful Love unequald; but I feel
Far otherwise th' event, not Death, but Life
Augmented, op'nd Eyes, new Hopes, new Joyes,
Taste so Divine, that what of sweet before
Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh.
On my experience,
Adam,
freely taste,
And fear of Death deliver to the Winds.
So saying, she embraced him, and for joy
990
Tenderly wept, much won that he his Love
Had so enobl'd, as of choice to incur
Divine displeasure for her sake, or Death.
In recompense (for such compliance bad
Such recompense best merits) from the bough
She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit
With liberal hand: he scrupl'd not to eat
Against his better knowledge, not deceav'd,
But fondly overcome with Femal charm.
Earth trembl'd from her entrails, as again
1000
In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan,
Sky lowr'd, and muttering Thunder, some sad drops
Wept at completing of the mortal Sin
Original; while
Adam
took no thought,
Eating his fill, nor
Eve
to iterate
Her former trespass feared, the more to soothe
Him with her loved society, that now
As with new Wine intoxicated both
They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel
Divini
•…
e within them breeding wings
1010
Where with to scorn the Ea
•…
h: but that false Fruit
Far other operation first: displayed,
Carnal desire en
•…
ming, he on
Eve
Began to cast lascivious Eyes▪ she him
As want only repaid; in Lust they burn:
Till
Adam
•…
us
•…
gan
Eve
to dalliance move.
Eve,
now I see thou art exact of taste,
And elegant, of Sapience no small part,
Since to each meaning savor we apply,
And Palate call judicious; I the praise
1020
Yeild thee, so well this day thou hast purvey'd.
Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstained
From this delightful Fruit, nor known till now
True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be
In things to us forbidden, it might be wished,
For this one Tree had been forbidden ten.
But come, so well refreshit, now let us play,
As meet is, after such delicious Fare;
For never did thy Beauty since the day
I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorned
1030
With all perfections, so en
•…
ame my sense
With ardor to enjoy thee,
•…
airer now
Then ever, bounty of this virtuous Tree.
So said he, and forbore not glance or toy
Of amorous intent, well understood
Of
Eve,
whose Eye darted contagious Fire.
Her hand he seis'd, and to a shady bank,
Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr'd
He led her nothing loath; Flours were the Couch,
Pansies, and Violets, and A
•…
phodel,
1040
And Hyacinth, Earths fresh
•…
st softest lap.
There they thir
•…
ill of Love and Loves disport
Took largely, of thir▪mutual guilt the Seal,
The
•…
olace of thir sin, till dewie sleep
Oppress'd them, wearied with thir amorous play.
Soon as the force of that fallacious Fruit,
That with exhile rating vapor bland
About thir spi
•…
ts had plaid, and inmost powers
Made err, was now exhal'd, and gro
•…
er sleep
Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams
1050
Encumberd, now had le
•…
t them, up they rose
As from unrest, and each the other
〈◊〉
▪
Soon found thir Eyes how op
•…
d, and thir minds
How dark'nd; i
•…
ocence, that as a v
•…
le
Had
•…
dow'd them from knowing
〈◊〉
, was gone,
Just confidence, and na
•…
ve righteousness,
And honor from about them, naked left
To guilty shame he covered, but his Robe
Uncover'd more. So rose the
Dani
•…
e
strong
Herculean Samson
from the Harlot-lap
1060
Of
Philistean Dalil
•…
,
and wak'd
Shorn of his strength, They destitute and bare
Of all thir virtue: silent, and in face
Confounded long they sat, as struck'n mute,
Till
Adam,
though not less then
Eve
abashed,
At length gave utterance to these words constraind.
O
Eve,
in evil
•…
our thou didst give ear
To that
〈◊〉
W
•…
rm, of whomsoever taught
To counterfeit Mans voice, true in our Fall,
False in our promised Rising; since our Eyes
1070
Op'nd we find indeed, and find we know
Both Good and Evil, Good lost, and Evil got,
Bad Fruit of Knowledge, if this be to know,
Which leaves us naked thus, of Honor void,
Of Innocence, of Faith, of Purity,
Our wonted Ornaments now soild and staind,
And in our Faces evident the signs
Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store;
Even shame, the last of evils; of the first
Be sure then. How shall I be hold the face
1080
Hencef
•…
th of God or Angel, erst with joy
And rapture so oft beheld? those heavenly shapes
Will dazzle now this earthly, with thir blaze
Insufferably bright. O might I here
In solitude live savage, in some glade
Obscur'd, where highest Woods impenetrable
To Starr or Sun-light, spread thir umbrage broad,
And brown as Evening: Co
•…
er me ye Pines,
Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs
Hide me, where I may never see them more.
1090
But let us now, as in bad plight, devise
What best may for the present serve to hide
The Parts of each from other, that seem most
To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen,
Some Tree whose broad▪ smooth Leaves together sowd,
And girded on our loins, may cover round
Those middle parts, that this new commer, Shame,
There sit not, and reproach us as unclean.
So counseled he▪ and both together went
Into the thickest Wood, there soon they chose
1100
The Fig tree, not that kind for Fr
•…
it renowned,
But such as at this day to
Indians
known
In
Malabar
or
Decan
spreds her Arms
Braunching so broad and long, that in the ground
The bended Twigs take root, and Daughters grow
About the Mother Tree, a Pillard shade
High overarchit, and echoing Walks between;
There oft the
Indian
Herdsman shunning heat
Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing Herds
At Loopholes cut through thickest shade: Those Leaves
1110
They gatherd; broad as
Amazonian
Targe,
And with what skill they had, together sowd,
To gird thir waste, vain Covering if to hide
Thir guilt and dreaded shame; O how unlike
To that first naked Glory. Such of late
Columbus
found th'
American
so girt
With featherd Cincture, naked else and wild
Among the Trees on Isles and woodie Shores.
Thus fencit, and as they thought, thir shame in part
Coverd, but not at rest or ease of Mind,
1120
They sat them down to weep, nor only Tears
Raind at thir Eyes, but high Winds worse within
Began to rise, high Passions, Anger, Hate▪
Mistrust, Suspicion, Discord, and shook sore
Thir inward State of Mind, calm Region once
And full of Peace, now tost and turbulent:
For Understanding ruled not, and the Will
Heard not her lore, both in subjection now
To sensual Appetite, who from beneathe
Usurping over sovran Reason claimd
1130
Superior sway: From thus distemperd breast,
Adam,
estrang'd in look and alterd style,
Speech intermitted thus to
Eve
renewd.
Would thou hadst hark'nd to my words, & stai'd
With me, as I besought thee, when that strange
Desire of wandering this unhappy Morn,
I know not whence possessd thee; we had then
Remaind still happy, not as now, despoild
Of all our good, shamed, naked, miserable.
Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve
1140
The Faith they owe; when earnestly they seek
Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail.
To whom soon moved with touch of blame thus
Eve.
What words have past thy Lips,
Adam
severe,
Imput'st thou that to my default, or will
Of wandering, as thou call'st it, which who knows
But might as ill have happ'nd thou being by,
Or to thyself perhaps: hadst thou been there,
Or here th'attempt, thou couldst not have discerned
Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake;
1150
No ground of enmity between us known,
Why he should mean me ill, or seek to harm.
Was I to have never parted from thy side?
As good have grown there still a lifeless Rib.
Being as I am, why didst not thou the Head
Command
•…
e absolutely not to go,
Going into such danger as thou saidst?
Too facile then thou didst not much gainsay,
Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss.
Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent,
1160
Neither had I transgressed, nor thou with me.
To whom then first incenst
Adam
replied.
Is this the Love, is this the recompense
Of mine to thee, ingrateful
Eve,
expressed
Immutable when thou wert lost, not I,
Who might have lived and joyd immortal bliss,
Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee:
And am I now upbraided, as the cause
Of thy transgressing? not enough severe,
It seems, in thy restraint: what could I more?
1170
I warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold
The danger, and the lurking Enemy
That lay in wait; beyond this had been force,
And force upon free Will hath here no place.
But confidence then bore thee on, secure
Either to meet no danger, or to find
Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps
I also erred in overmuch admiring
What seemed in thee so perfet, that I thought
No evil durst attempt thee, but I rue
1180
That error now, which is become my crime,
And thou th' accuser. Thus it shall befall
Him who to worth in Women overtrusting
Lets her Will rule; restraint she will not brook,
And left to herself, if evil thence ensue,
She first his weak indulgence will accuse.
Thus they in mutual accusation spent
The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning,
And of thir vain contest appear'd no end.
The end of the Eighth Book.
PARADISE LOST.
BOOK IX.
M
Eanwhile the heinous and despiteful act
Of
Satan
done in Paradise, and how
He in the Serpent had perverted
Eve,
Her Husband she, to taste the fatal fruit,
Was known in Heaven; for what can scape the Eye
Of God All-seeing, or deceive his Heart
Omniscient, who in all things wise and just,
Hinder'd not
Satan
to attempt the mind
Of Man, with strength entire, and free Will armed,
Complete to have discovered and repulst
10
Whatever wiles of Foe or seeming Friend.
For still they knew, and ought to have still remember'd
The high Injunction not to taste that Fruit,
Whoever tempted; which they not obeying,
Incurr'd, what could they less, the penalty,
And manifold in sin, deserved to fall.
Up into Heaven from Paradise in hast
Th' Angelic Guards ascended, mute and sad
For Man, for of his state by this they knew,
Much wondering how the suttle Fiend had stolen
20
Entrance unseen. Soon as th' unwelcome news
From Earth arrived at Heaven Gate, displeased
All were who heard, dim sadness did not spare
That time Celestial visages, yet mixed
With pity, violated not thir bliss.
About the new-arrived, in multitudes
Th' ethereal People ran, to hear and know
How all befell: they towards the Throne Supreme
Accountable made haste to make appear
With righteous plea, thir utmost vigilance,
30
And easily approved; when the most High
Eternal Father from his secret Cloud,
Amidst in Thunder uttered thus his voice.
Assembl'd Angels, and ye Powers returned
From unsuccessful charge, be not dismayed,
Nor troubled at these tidings from the Earth,
Which your sincerest care could not prevent,
Foretold so lately what would come to pass,
When first this Tempter crossed the Gulf from Hell.
I told ye then he should prevail and speed
40
On his bad Errand, Man should be seducit
And
•…
latter'd out of all, believing lies
Against his Maker; no Decree of mine
Concurring to necessitate his Fall,
Or touch with lightest moment of impulse
His free Will, to her own inclining left
In eevn scale. But fallen he is, and now
What rests, but that the mortal Sentence pass
On his transgression, Death denouncit that day,
Which he presumes already vain and void,
50
Because not yet inflicted, as he feared,
By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find
Forbearance no acquittance ere day end.
Justice shall not return as bounty scorned.
But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee
Vicegerent Son, to thee I have transferred
All Judgment, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell.
Easie it may be seen that I intend
Mercy collegue with Justice, sending thee
Mans Friend, his Mediator, his designed
60
Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntary,
And destined Man himself to judge Man fallen.
So spake the Father, and unfolding bright
Toward the right hand his Glory, on the Son
Blaz'd forth unclouded Deity; he full
Resplendent all his Father manifest
Express'd, and thus divinely answered mild.
Father Eternal, thine is to decree
•…
,
Mine both in Heaven and Earth to do thy will
Supreme, that thou in me thy Son beloved
70
Mayst ever rest well pleased. I go to j
•…
dge
On Earth these thy transgressors, but thou knowest,
Whoever judged, the worst on me must light,
When time shall be, for so I undertook
Before thee; and not repenting, this obtain
Of right, that I may mitigate thir doom
On me derived, yet I shall temper so
Justice with Mercy, as may illustrate most
Them fully satisfied, and thee appease.
Attendance none shall need, nor Train, where none
80
Are to behold the Judgment, but the judged,
Those two; the third best absent is condemned,
Convict by flight, and Rebel to all Law
Conviction to the Serpent none belongs.
Thus saying, from his radiant Seat he rose
Of high collateral glory
•…
: him Thrones and Powers,
Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant
Accompanied to Heaven Gate, from whence
Eden
and all the Coast in prospect lay.
Down he descended strait; the speed of God's
90
Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing'd.
Now was the Sun in Western cadence low
From Noon, and gentle Aires due at thir hour
To fan the Earth now wak'd, and usher in
The Eevning cool when he from wrath more cool
Came the mild Judge and Intercessor both
To sentence Man: the voice of God they heard
Now walking in the Garden, by soft winds
Brought to thir
〈◊〉
, while day declined, they heard,
And from his presence hid themselves among
100
The thickest Trees, both Man and Wife, till God
Approaching, thus to
Adam
called aloud.
Where art thou
Adam,
wont with joy to meet
My coming seen far off? I miss thee here,
Not pleased, thus entertaind with solitude,
Where obvious duty erewhile appeared unsaught:
Or come I less conspicuous, or what change
Absents thee, or what chance detains? Come forth.
He came, and with him
Eve,
more loath, though first
To offend, discount'nancit both, and discompos'd;
110
Love was not in thir looks, either to God
Or to each other, but apparent guilt,
And shame, and perturbation, and despair,
Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile.
Whence
Adam
faultring long, thus answered brief.
I heard thee in the Garden, and of thy voice
Affraid, being naked, hid myself. To whom
The gracious Judge without revile replied.
My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared,
But still rejoycit, how is it now become
120
So dreadful to thee? that thou art naked, who
Hath told thee? hast thou
〈◊〉
of the Tree
Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?
To whom thus
Adam
sore beset replied.
O Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand
Before my Judge, either to undergo
My self the total Crime, or to accuse
My other self, the partner of my life;
Whose failing, while her Faith to me remains,
I should conceal, and not expose to blame
130
By my complaint; but strict necessity
Subdues me, and calamitous constraint,
Least on my head both sin and punishment,
However insupportable, be all
Devolv'd; though should I hold my peace, yet thou
Wouldst easily detect what I conceal.
This Woman whom thou madest to be my help,
And gavest me as thy perfet gift, so good,
So fit, so acceptable, so Divine,
That from her hand I could suspect no ill,
140
And what she did, whatever in itself,
Her doing seemed to justify the deed;
She gave me of the Tree, and I did eat.
To whom the sovran Presence thus replied.
Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey
Before his voice, or was she made thy guide,
Superior, or but equal, that to her
Thou didst resign thy Manhood, and the Place
Wherein God set thee above her made of thee,
And for thee, whose perfection far excel'd
150
Hers in all real dignity Adornd
She was indeed, and lovely to attract
Thy Love, not thy Subjection, and her Gifts
Were such as under Government well seemed,
Unseemly to bear rule, which was thy part
And person, hadst thou known thyself aright.
So having said, he thus to
Eve
in few:
Say Woman, what is this which thou hast done?
To whom sad
Eve
with shame nigh overwhelmed,
Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge
160
Bold or loquacious, thus
〈◊〉
replied.
The Serpent me beguile'd and I did eat.
Which when the Lord God heard, without delay
To Judgment he proceeded on th' accused
Serpent though brute, unable to transfer
The Guilt on him who made him instrument
Of mischief, and polluted from the end
Of his Creation; justly then accurst,
As vitiated in Nature: more to know
Concern'd not Man (since he no further knew)
170
Nor altered his offense; yet God at last
To Satan
•…
irst in sin his doom applied,
Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best:
And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall.
Because thou hast done this, thou art accurst
Above all Cattle, each Beast of the Field;
Upon thy Belly groveling thou sh
•…
lt go,
And dust shalt eat all the days of thy Life.
Between Thee and the Woman I will put
Enmitie, and between thine and her Seed;
180
Her Seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel.
So spake this 'Oracle, then verifi'd
When
Jesus
son of
Mary
second
Eve,
Saw Satan fall like Lightning down from Heaven,
Prince of the Air; then rising from his Grave
Spoild Principalities and Powers, triumphed
In open show, and with ascension bright
Captivity led captive through the A
•…
re,
The Realm itself of Satan long usurped,
Whom he shall tread at last under our feet;
190
Eevn he who now foretold his fatal bruise,
And to the Woman thus his Sentence turned.
Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply
By thy Conception; Childern thou shalt bring
In sorrow forth, and to thy Husbands will
Thine shall submit, he over thee shall rule.
On
Adam
last thus judgment he pronounced.
Because thou hast hark'nd to the voice of thy Wife,
And eaten of the Tree concerning which
I charged thee, saying: Thou shalt not eat thereof,
200
Curs'd is the ground for thy sake, thou in sorrow
Shalt eat thereof all the days of thy Life;
Thorns also and Thistles it shall bring thee forth
Unbid, and thou shalt eat th' Herb of th' Field,
In the sweat of thy Face shalt thou eat Bread,
Till thou return unto the ground, for thou
Out of the ground wast taken, know thy Birth,
For dust thou art, and shalt to dust return.
So judged he Man, both Judge and Savior sent,
And th' instant stroke of Death denouncit that day
210
Remov'd far off; then pitying how they stood
Before him naked to the air, that now
Must suffer change, disdained not to begin
Thenceforth the form of servant to assume,
As when he washed his servants feet, so now
As Father of his Family he clad
Thir nakedness with Skins of Beasts, or slain,
Or as the Snake with youthful Coat repaid;
And thought not much to clothe his Enemies:
Nor he thir outward only with the Skins
220
Of Beasts, but inward nakedness, much more
Opprobrious, with his Robe of righteousness,
Araying covered from his Fathers sight.
To him with swift ascent he up returned,
Into his blissful bosom reassum'd
In glory as of old, to him appeased
All, though all-knowing, what had past with Man
Recounted, mixing intercession sweet.
Meanwhile ere thus was sinned and judged on Earth,
Within the Gates of Hell sat Sin and Death,
2g0
In counterview within the Gates, that now
Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame
Far into
Chaos,
since the Fiend passed through,
Sin opening, who thus now to Death began.
O Son, why sit we here each other viewing
Idlely, while Satan our great Author thrives
In other Worlds, and happier Seat provides
For us his offspring dear? It cannot be
But that success attends him; if mishap,
Ere this he had returned, with fury driven
By his Avenger, since no place like this
Can fit his punishment, or their revenge.
Methinks I feel new strength within me rise,
Wings growing, and Dominion given me large
Beyond this Deep; whatever draws me on,
Or sympathy, or some connatural force
Powerful at greatest distance to unite
With secret amity things of like kind
250
By secretest conveyance. Thou my Shade
Inseparable must with me along:
For Death from Sin no power can separate.
But least the difficulty of passing back
Stay his return perhaps over this Gulf
Impassable, impervious, let us try
Adventrous work, yet to thy power and mine
Not unagreeable, to found a path
Over this Maine from Hell to that new World
Where Satan now prevails, a Monument
260
Of merit high to all th' infernal Host,
Easing thir passage hence, for intercourse,
Or transmigration, as thir lot shall lead.
Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn
By this new felt attraction and instinct.
Whom thus the meager Shadow answered soon.
Go whither Fate and inclination strong
Leads thee, I shall not lag behind, nor err
The way, thou leading, such a sent I draw
Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste
270
The savor of Death from all things there that live:
Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest
Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid.
So saying, with delight he snuff'd the smell
Of mortal change on Earth. As when a flock
Of ravenous Fowl, though many a League remote,
Against the day of Battle, to a Field,
Where Armies lie encampt, come flying, lur'd
With sent of living Carcasses designed
For death, the following day, in bloody fight.
So scented the grim Feature, and upturn'd
His Nostril wide into the murkie Air,
280
Sagacious of his Quarry from so far.
Then Both from out Hell Gates into the waste
Wide Anarchy of
Chaos
damp and dark
Flew divers, & with Power (thir Power was great)
Hovering upon the Waters; what they met
Solid or slimie, as in raging Sea
Tost up and down, together crowded drove
From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell.
As when two Polar Winds blowing adverse
Upon the
Cronian
Sea, together drive
290
Mountains of Ice, that stop th' imagined way
Beyond
Petsora
Eastward, to the rich
Cathaian
Coast. The aggregated Soyle
Death with his Mace petrific, cold and dry,
As with a Trident smote, and fixit as firm
As
Delos
floating once; the rest his look
Bound with
Gorgonian
rigor not to move,
And with
Asphaltic
slime; broad as the Gate,
Deep to the Roots of Hell the gathered beach
They fastened, and the Mole immense wraught on
300
Over the foaming deep high Archt, a Bridge
Of length prodigious joining to the Wall
Immoveable of this now fenceless world
Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad,
Smooth, easy, inoffensive down to Hell.
So, if great things to small may be compared,
Xerxes,
the Liberty of
Greece
to yoke,
From
Susa
his
Memnonian
Palace high
Came to the Sea, and over
Hellespont
310
Bridging his way,
Europe
with
Asia
join'd,
And scourged with many a stroke th' indignant waves.
Now had they brought the work by wondrous Art
Pontifical, a ridge of pendent Rock
Over the vext Abyss, following the track
Of
Satan,
to the self same place where he
First lighted from his Wing, and landed safe
From out of
Chaos
to the outside bare
Of this round World: with Pinns of Adamant
And Chains they made all fast, too fast they made
320
And durable; and now in little space
The Confines met of Empyrean Heaven
And of this World, and on the left hand Hell
With long reach interposed; three several ways
In sight, to each of these three places led.
And now thir way to Earth they had descri'd,
To Paradise first tending, when behold
Satan
in likeness of an Angel bright
Betwixt the
Centaure
and the
Scorpion
stearing
His
Zenith,
while the Sun in
Aries
rose:
Disguis'd he came, but those his Childern dear
330
Thir Parent soon discerned, though in disguise.
He, after
Eve
seducit, unminded slunk
Into the Wood fast by, and changing shape
To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act
By
Eve,
though all unweeting, seconded
Upon her Husband, saw thir shame that sought
Vain covertures; but when he saw descend
The Son of God to judge them, terrifi'd
He fled, not hoping to escape, but shun
The present, fearing gu
•…
ie what his wrath
340
Might suddenly inflict; that past, returned
By Night, and listening where the hapless Paire
Sate in thir sad discourse, and various plaint,
Thence gatherd his own doom, which understood
Not instant, but of future time. With joy
And tidings fraught, to Hell he now returned,
And at the brink of
Chaos,
near the foot
Of this new wondrous Pontifice, unhopit
Met who to meet him came, his Ofspring dear.
Great joy was at thir meeting, and at sight
350
Of that stupendous Bridge his joy increased.
Long he admiring stood, till Sin, his fair
Inchanting Daughter, thus the silence broke.
O Parent, these are thy magnific deeds,
Thy Trophies, which thou view'st as not thine own,
Thou art thir Author and prime Architect:
For I no sooner in my Heart divin'd,
My Heart, which by a secret harmony
Still moves with thine, join'd in connection sweet,
That thou on Earth hadst prospered, which thy looks
360
Now also evidence, but straight I felt
Though distant from thee Worlds between, yet felt
That I must a
•…
ter thee with this thy Son;
Such fatal consequence unites us three:
Hell could no longer hold us in her bounds,
Nor this unvoyageable Gulf obscure
Detain from following thy illustrious track.
Thou hast atchiev'd our liberty, confined
Within Hell Gates till now, thou us impow'rd
To fortify thus far, and overlay
370
With this portentous Bridge the dark Abyss.
Thine now is all this World, thy virtue hath won
What thy hands built not, thy Wisdom gained
With odds what Warr hath lost, and fully avenged
Our foil in Heaven; here thou shalt Monarch reign,
There didst not; there let him still Victor sway,
As Battle hath adjudged, from this new World
Retiring, by his own doom alienated,
And henceforth Monarchy with thee divide
Of all things, parted by th' Empyreal bounds,
380
His Quadrature, from thy Orbicular World,
Or try thee now more dang'rous to his Throne.
Whom thus the Prince of Darkness answered glad.
Fair Daughter, and thou Son and Grandchild both,
High proof ye now have given to be the Race
Of
Satan
(for I glory in the name,
Antagonist of Heavens Almighty King)
Amply have merited of me, of all
Th' Infernal Empire, that so near Heavens door
Triumphal with triumphal act have met,
390
Mine with this glorious Work, & made one Realm
Hell and this World, one Realm, one Continent
Of easy thorough-fare. Therefore while I
Descend through Darkness, on your Rode with ease
To my associate Powers, them to acquaint
With these successes, and with them rejoice,
You two this way, among those numerous Orbs
All yours, right down to Paradise descend;
There dwell & Reign in bliss, thence on the Earth
Dominion exercise and in the Air,
400
Chiefly on Man, sole Lord of all declared,
Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill.
My Substitutes I send ye, and Create
Plenipotent on Earth, of matchless might
Issuing from me: on your joint vigor now
My hold of this new Kingdom all depends,
Through Sin to Death exposed by my exploit.
If your joint power prevail, th' affairs of Hell
No detriment need fear, go and be strong.
So saying he dismissed them, they with speed
410
Thir course through thickest Constellations held
Spreading thir bane; the blasted Starrs looked wan,
And Planets, Planet-struck, real Eclipse
Then suffered. Th' other way
Satan
went down
The Causey to Hell Gate; on either side
Disparted
Chaos
over built exclaimd,
And with rebounding surge the bars assaild,
That scorned his indignation: through the Gate,
Wide open and unguarded,
Satan
passed,
And all about found desolate; for those
420
Appointed to sit there, had left thir charge,
Flown to the upper World; the rest were all
Far to the in land retired, about the walls
Of
Pandaemonium,
City and proud seat
Of
Lucifer,
so by allusion called,
Of that bright Starr to
Satan
paragond.
There kept thir Watch the Legions, while the Grand
In Council sat, solicitous what chance
Might intercept thir Emperor sent, so he
Departing gave command, and they observed.
430
As when the
Tartar
from his
Russian
Foe
By
〈◊〉
over the Snowie Plaines
Retires, or
Bactrian
Sophi from the horns
Of
Turkish
Crescent, leaves all waste beyond
The Realm of
Aladule,
in his retreat
To
Tauris
or
Casbeen.
So these the late
Heaven-banished Host, left desert utmost Hell
Many a dark League, reducit in careful Watch
Round thir Metropolis, and now expecting
Each hour their great adventurer from the search
440
Of Forrein Worlds: he through the midst unmarkt,
In show plebeian Angel militant
Of lowest order, past; and from the door
Of that
Plutonian
Hall, invisible
Ascended his high Throne, which under state
Of richest texture spread, at th' upper end
Was placit in regal luster. Down a while
He sat, and round about him saw unseen:
At last as from a Cloud his fulgent head
And shape Starr-bright appear'd, or brighter, clad
450
With what permissive glory since his fall
Was left him, or false glitter: All amazed
At that so sudden blaze the
Stygian
throng
Bent thir aspect, and whom they wished beheld,
Thir mighty Chief returned: loud was th'acclaime:
Forth rush'd in haste the great consulting Peers,
Rais'd from thir dark
Divan,
and with like joy
Congratulant approached him, who with hand
Silence, and with these words attention won.
Thrones▪ Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,
460
For in possession such, not only of right,
I call ye and declare ye now, returned
Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth
Triumphant out of this infernal Pit
Abominable, accurst, the house of woe,
And Dungeon of our Tyrant: Now possess,
As Lord's, a spacious World, to our native Heaven
Little inferior, by my adventure hard
With peril great atchiev'd. Long were to tell
What I have don, what suffered, with what pain
470
Voyag'd th' unreal, vast, unbounded deep
Of horrible confusion, over which
By Sin and Death a broad way now is pav'd
To expedite your glorious march; but I
Toild out my uncouth passage, for
•…
't to ride
Th' intractable Abyss, plunged in the womb
Of unoriginal
Night
and
Chaos
wild,
That jealous of thir secrets fiercely opposed
My journey strange, with clamorous uproar
Protesting Fate supreme; thence how I found
480
The new created World, which fame in Heaven
Long had foretold, a Fabric wonderful
Of absolute perfection, therein Man
Placit in a Paradise, by our exile
Made happy: Him by fraud I have seduced
From his Creator, and the more to increase
Your wonder, with an Apple; he thereat
Offended, worth your laughter, hath given up
Both his beloved Man and all his World,
To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us,
490
Without our hazard, labor, or allarme,
To range in, and to dwell, and over Man
To rule, as over all he should have ruled.
True is, me also he hath judged, or rather
Mee not, but the brute Serpent in whose shape
Man I deceav'd: that which to me belongs,
Is enmity, which he will put between
Mee and Mankind; I am to bruise his heel;
His Seed, when is not set, shall bruise my head:
A World who would not purchase with a bruise,
500
Or much more grievous pain? Ye have th' account
Of my performance: What remains, ye God's,
But up and enter now into full bliss.
So having said, a while he stood, expecting
Thir universal shout and high applause
To fill his ear, when contrary he hears
On all sides, from innumerable tongues
A dismal universal hiss, the sound
Of public scorn; he wonderd, but not long
Had leisure, wondering at himself now more;
570
His Visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare,
His Arms clung to his Ribs, his Leggs entwining
Each other, till supplanted down he fell
A monstrous Serpent on his Belly prone,
Reluctant, but in vain, a greater power
Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned,
According to his doom: he would have spoke,
But hiss for hiss returned with forked tongue
To forked tongue, for now were all transformed
Alike, to Serpents all as accessories
520
To his bold Riot: dreadful was the din
Of hissing through the Hall, thick swarming now
With complicated monsters, head and tail,
Scorpion and Asp, and
Amphisbaen
•…
dire,
Cerastes
hornd,
Hydrus,
and
Ellops
drear,
And
Dipsas
(Not so thick swarm'd once the Soil
Bedropt with blood of
Gorgon,
or the Isle▪
Ophiusa
) but still greatest he the midst,
Now Dragon grown, larger then whom the Sun
Ingenderd in the
Pythian
Vale on slime,
530
Huge
Python,
and his Power no less he seemed
Above the rest still to retain; they all
Him followed issuing forth to th' open Field,
Where all yet left of that revolted Rout
Heaven-fallen, in station stood or just array,
Sublime with expectation when to see
In Triumph issuing forth thir glorious Chief;
They saw, but other sight instead, a crowd
Of ugly Serpents; horror on them fell,
And horrid sympathy; for what they saw,
540
They felt themselves now changing; down thir arms,
Down fell both Spear and Shield, down they as fast,
And the dire hiss renewed, and the dire form
Catcht by Contagion, like in punishment,
As in thir crime. Thus was th' applause they meant,
Turnd to exploding hiss, triumph to shame
Cast on themselves from thir own mouths. There stood
A Grove hard by, sprung up with this thir change,
His will who reigns above, to aggravate
Thir penance, laden with fair Fruit, like that
550
Which grew in Paradise, the bait of
Eve
Us'd by the Tempter: on that prospect strange
Thir earnest eyes they fixed, imagining
For one forbidden Tree a multitude
Now ris'n, to work them further woe or shame;
Yet parched with scalding thurst and hunger
〈◊〉
,
Though to delude them sent, could not abstain,
But on they rould in heaps, and up the Trees
Climbing, sat thicker then the snakie locks
That curld
Megaera:
greedily they plucked
560
The Frutage fair to sight, like that which grew
Neer that bituminous Lake where
Sodom
flam'd;
This more delusive, not the touch, but taste
Deceav'd; they fondly thinking to allay
Thir appetite with gust, instead of Fruit
Chewd bitter Ashes, which th' offended taste
With spattering noise rejected: oft they assayd,
Hunger and thirst constraining, drugd as oft,
With hatefullest disrelish writh'd thir jaws
With soot and cinders filled; so oft they fell
570
Into the same illusion, not as Man
Whom they triumphed once lapsed. Thus were they plagu'd
And worn with Famin, long and ceasless hiss,
Till thir lost shape, permitted, they resum'd,
Yearly enjoynd, some say, to undergo
This annual humbling certain numbered days,
To dash thir pride, and joy for Man seducit.
However some tradition they dispersed
Among the Heathen of thir purchase got,
And Fabl'd how the Serpent, whom they called
580
Ophion
with
Eurynome,
the wide-
Encroaching
Eve
perhaps, had first the rule
Of high
Olympus,
thence by
Saturn
driven
And
Ops,
ere yet
Dictaean Jove
was born.
Mean while in Paradise the hellish pair
Too soon arrived,
Sin
there in power before,
Once actual, now in body, and to dwell
Habitual habitant; behind her
Death
Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet
On his pale Horse: to whom
Sin
thus began.
590
Second of
Satan
sprung, all conquering
Death,
What thinkest thou of our Empire now, though earnd
With travail difficult, not better far
Then still at Hels dark threshold to have sat watch,
Unnam'd, undreaded, and thyself half starved?
Whom thus the Sin-born Monster answered soon.
To me, who with eternal Famin pine,
Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or Heaven,
There best, where most with ravin I may meet;
Which here, though plenteous, all too little seems
600
To stuff this Maw, this vast unhide-bound Corps.
To whom th' incestuous Mother thus replied.
Thou therefore on these Herbs, and Fruits, & Flours
Feed first, on each Beast next, and Fish, and Fowl,
No homely morsels, and whatever thing
The
〈◊〉
of Time mowes down, devour unspar'd,
Till I in Man residing through the Race,
His thoughts, his looks, words, actions all infect,
And
〈◊〉
him thy last and sweetest prey.
This said, they both betook them several ways,
610
Both to destroy▪
〈◊〉
unimmortal make
All kinds, and for destruction to mature
Sooner or later; which th' Almighty seeing,
From his transcendent Seat the Saints among,
To those bright Orders utterd thus his voice.
See with what heat these Dogs of Hell advance
To waste and havoc yonder World, which I
So fair and good created, and had still
Kept in that state, had not the folly of Man
Let in these wastful Furies, who impute
620
Folly to me, so doth the Prince of Hell
And his Adherents, that with so much ease
I suffer them to enter and possess
A place so heavenly, and conniving seem
To gratify my scornful Enemies,
That laugh, as if transported with some fit
Of Passion, I to them had quitted all,
At random yielded up to their misrule;
And know not that I called and drew them thither
My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth
630
Which man's polluting Sin with taint hath shed
On what was pure, till crammed and gorg'd, nigh burst
With sucked and glutted offal, at one sling
Of thy victorious Arm, well-pleasing Son,
Both
Sin,
and
Death,
and yawning
Grave
at last
Through
Chaos
hurld, obstruct the mouth of Hell
For ever, and seal up his ravenous Jawes.
Then Heaven and Earth renewd shall be made pure
To sanctity that shall receive no stain:
Till then the Curse pronouncit on both precedes.
640
He ended, and the heavenly Audience loud
Sung
Halleluia,
as the sound of Seas,
Through multitude that sung: Just are thy ways,
Righteous are thy Decrees on all thy Works;
Who can extenuate thee? Next, to the Son,
Destin'd restorer of Mankind, by whom
New Heaven and Earth shall to the Ages rise,
Or down from Heaven descend. Such was thir song,
While the Creator calling forth by name
His mighty Angels gave them several charge,
650
As sorted best with present things The Sun
Had first his precept so to move, so shine,
As might affect the Earth with cold and heat
Scarce tolerable, and from the North to call
Decrepit Winter, from the South to bring
Solstitial summers heat. To the blanc Moon
Her office they prescribed, to th' other five
Thir planetarie motions and aspects
In
Sextile, Square,
and
Trine,
and
Opposite,
Of noxious efficacy, and when to join
660
In Synod unbenigne, and taught the fixed
Thir influence malignant when to shower,
Which of them rising with the Sun, or falling,
Should prove tempestuous: To the Winds they set
Thir corners, when with bluster to confound
Sea, Air, and Shoar, the Thunder when to roll
With terror through the dark Aereal Hall.
Some say he bid his Angels turn ascanse
The Poles of Earth twice ten degrees and more
From the Suns Axle; they with labor push'd
670
Oblique the Centric Globe: Som say the Sun
Was bid turn Reines from th' Equinoctial Rode
Like distant breadth to
Taurus
with the Seav'n
Atlantic
Sisters, and the
Spartan
Twins
Up to the
Tropic
Crab; thence down amaine
By
Leo
and the
Virgin
and the
Scales,
As deep as
Capricorne,
to bring in change
Of Seasons to each Clime; else had the Spring
Perpetual smiled on Earth with vernant Flours,
Equal in Days and Nights, except to those
680
Beyond the Polar Circles; to them Day
Had unbenighted shon, while the low Sun
To recompense his distance, in thir sight
Had rounded still th'
Horizon,
and not known
Or East or West, which had forbid the Snow
From cold
Estotiland,
and South as far
Beneath
Magellan.
At that tasted Fruit
The Sun, as from
Thyestean
Banquet, turned
His course intended; else how had the World
Inhabited, though sinless, more then now,
690
Avoided pinching cold and scorching heat?
These changes in the Heavens, though slow, produced
Like change on Sea and Land, sideral blast,
Vapour, and Mist, and Exhalation hot,
Corrupt and Pestilent: Now from the North
Of
Norumbega,
and the
Samoed
shore
Bursting thir brazen Dungeon, armed
〈◊〉
ice
And snow and hail and stormy gust and flaw,
Boreas
and
Caecias
and
Argestes
loud
And
Thrascias
rend the Woods and Seas upturn;
700
With adverse blast up-turns them from the South
Notus
and
Afer
black with thundrous Clouds
From
Serraliona;
thwart of these as fierce
Forth rush the
Levant
and the
Ponent
Winds
Eur
•…
s
and
Zephir
with thir lateral noise,
Sirocco,
and
Libecchio.
Thus began
Outrage from lifeless things; but Discord first
Daughter of Sin, among th' irrational,
Death introduced through fierce antipathy:
Beast now with Beast gan war, & Fowl with Fowl,
710
And Fish with Fish; to graze the Herb all leaving,
Devourd each other; nor stood much in awe
Of Man, but fled him, or with count'nance grim
Glar'd on him passing: these were from without
The growing miseries, which
Adam
saw
Alreadie in part, though hid in gloomiest shade,
To sorrow abandond, but worse felt within,
And in a troubled Sea of passion tost,
Thus to disburd'n sought with sad complaint.
O miserable of happy! is this the end
720
Of this new glorious World, and me so late
The Glory of that Glory, who now become
Accurst of blessed, hide me from the face
Of God, whom to behold was then my highth
Of happiness: yet well, if here would end
The misery, I deserved it, and would bear
My own deservings; but this will not serve;
All that I eat or drink, or shall beget,
Is propagated curse. O voice once heard
Delightfully,
Encrease and multiply,
730
Now death to hear! for what can I increase
Or multiply, but curses on my head?
Who of all Ages to succeed, but feeling
The evil on him brought by me, will curse
My Head, Ill fare our Ancestor impure,
For this we may thank
Adam;
but his thanks
Shall be the execration; so besides
Mine own that bide upon me, all from me
Shall with a fierce reflux on me redound,
On me as on thir natural center light
740
Heavy, though in thir place. O fleeting joys
Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes!
Did I request thee, Maker, from my Clay
To mould me Man, did I solicit thee
From darkness to promote me, or here place
In this delicious Garden? as my Will
Concurd not to my being, it were but right
And equal to reduce me to my dust,
Desirous to resign, and render back
All I received, unable to perform
750
Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold
The good I sought not. To the loss of that,
Sufficient penalty, why hast thou added
The sense of endless woes? inexplicable
Thy Justice seems; yet to say truth, too late,
I thus contest; then should have been refusd
Those terms whatever, when they were proposed:
Thou didst accept them; wilt thou enjoy the good,
Then cavil the conditions? and though God
Made thee without thy leave, what if thy Son
760
Prove disobedient, and reproved, retort,
Wherefore didst thou beget me? I sought it not:
Wouldst thou admit for his contempt of thee
That proud excuse? yet him not thy election,
But Natural necessity begot.
God made thee of choice his own, and of his own
To serve him, thy reward was of his grace,
Thy punishment then justly is at his Will.
Be it so, for I submit, his doom is fair,
That dust I am, and shall to dust return:
770
O welcome hour whenever! why delays
His hand to execute what his Decree
Fixd on this day? why do I overlive,
Why am I mocked with death, and length'nd out
To deathless pain? how gladly would I meet
Mortality my sentence, and be Earth
Insensible, how glad would lay me down
As in my Mothers lap? there I should rest
And sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more
Would Thunder in my ears, no fear of worse
780
To me and to my offspring would torment me
With cruel expectation. Yet one doubt
Pursues me still, least all I cannot die,
Least that pure breath of Life, the Spirit of Man
Which God inspired, cannot together perish
With this corporeal Clod; then in the Grave,
Or in some other dismal place, who knows
But I shall die a living Death? O thought
Horrid, if true! yet why? it was but breath
Of Life that sin'd; what dies but what had life
790
And sin? the Body properly hath neither.
All of me then shall die: let this appease
The doubt, since human reach no further knows.
For though the Lord of all be infinite,
Is his wrath also? be it, man is not so,
But mortal doomed. How can he exercise
Wrath without end on Man whom Death must end?
Can he make deathless Death? that were to make
Strange contradiction, which to God himself
Impossible is held, as Argument
800
Of weakness, not of Power. Will he, draw out,
For angers
〈◊〉
,
〈◊〉
to
〈◊〉
In
〈◊〉
man, to
〈◊〉
his rigor
〈◊◊〉
; that were to extend
His Sentence beyond dust and Natures Law,
By which all Causes else according still
To the reception of thir matter act,
Not to th' extent of thir own Sphere. But say
That Death be not one stroke, as I supposed,
Bereaving sense, but endless misery
810
From this day onward, which I feel begun
Both in me, and without
〈◊〉
, and
〈◊〉
last
To perpetuity; Ay me, that
〈◊〉
Comes thundering back with dreadful
〈◊〉
On my
〈◊〉
head; both Death and I
Am found Eternal, and incorporate both,
Nor I on my part
•…
ingle, in me all
Posterity stands cursed: Fair Patrimony
That I must leave ye, Sons; O were I able
To waste it all myself, and leave
〈◊〉
none
820
So disinherited how would ye bless
Me now your Curse! Ah, why should all mankind
For one man's fault thus guiltless be condemned,
If guiltless? But from
〈◊〉
what can proceed,
But all corrupt, both Mind and Will
〈◊〉
,
Not to do only, but to will the same
With me? how can they acquitted stand
In sight of God? Him after all Disputes
〈◊◊〉
: all my
〈◊〉
vain
And
〈◊〉
, though through Mazes, lead me still
830
But to my own conviction. first and last
On me, me only, as the source and spring
Of all corruption, all the blame lights due;
So might the wrath. Fond wish!
〈◊〉
thou support
That burden heavier then the Earth to
〈◊〉
,
Then all the World much heavier, though divided
With that bad Woman? Thus what thou
〈◊〉
,
And what thou fearst, alike destroys all hope
Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable
Beyond all past
〈◊〉
and
〈◊〉
,
840
To
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
like both
〈◊〉
and
〈◊〉
.
O Conscience, into what Abyss of fears
And horrors
〈◊〉
thou
〈◊〉
me; out of which
I find no way. from
〈◊〉
to deeper plunged!
Thus
Adam
to himself lamented loud
〈◊〉
the still Night, not now, as
〈◊◊〉
.
Wholsom and cool, and mild, but with
〈◊〉
Air
Accompanied, with damps and dreadful gloom,
Which to his evil Conscience represented
All things with double terror: On the ground
850
Outstretcht he lay, on the cold ground, and oft
Curs'd his Creation, Death as
〈◊〉
accused
Of tardie execution, since denouncit
The day of his offense. Why comes not Death,
Said he, with one thrice acceptable stroke
To end me? Shall Truth fail to keep her word,
Justice Divine not hast'n to be just?
But Death comes not at call, Justice Divine
Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries.
O Woods, O Fountains, Hillocks, Dales and Bowrs,
860
With other echo late I taught your Shades
To answer, and resound far other Song.
Whom thus afflicted when sad
Eve
beheld,
Desolate where she sat, approaching nigh,
Soft words to his fierce passion she assay'd:
But her with
•…
tern regard he thus repel'd.
Out of my sight, thou Serpent, that name b
•…
st
Befits thee with him leagu'd, thyself as false
And hateful; nothing wants, but that thy shape,
Like his, and color Serpentine may show
870
Thy inward fraud, to warn all Creatures from thee
Henceforth; least that too heavenly form, pretended
To hellish falsehood,
〈◊〉
them. But for thee
I had persisted happy, had not thy pride
And wandering vanity, when lest was safe,
Rejected my fore warning, and disdained
Not to be trusted, longing to be seen
Though by the Devil himself, him overweening
To over-reach, but with the Serpent meeting
Fool'd and beguile'd, by him thou, I by thee,
880
To trust thee from my side, imagined wise,
Constant, mature, proof against all assaults,
And understood not all was but a show
Rather then solid vertu, all but a Rib
Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears,
More to the part sinister from me drawn,
Well if thrown out, as supernumerarie
To my just number found. O why did God,
Creator wise, that people'd highest Heaven
With Spirits Masculine, create at last
890
This novelty on Earth, this fair defect
Of Nature, and not fill the World at once
With Men as Angels without Feminine,
Or find some other way to generate
Mankind? this mischief had not then befall'n,
And more that shall befall, innumerable
Disturbances on Earth through Femal snares,
And straight conjunction with this Sex: for either
He never shall find out fit Mate, but such
As some misfortune brings him, or mistake,
900
Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain
Through her perverseness, but shall see her gaind
By a far worse, or if she love, withheld
By Parents, or his happiest choice too late
Shall meet, already linked and Wedlock-bound
To a fell Adversarie, his hate or shame:
Which infinite calamity shall cause
To Human life, and household peace confound.
He added not, and from her turned, but
Eve
Not so repulst, with Tears that
〈◊〉
not flowing,
910
And tresses all disorderd, at his feet
Fell humble, and embracing them, be saught
His peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint.
Forsake me not thus,
Adam,
witness Heaven
What love sincere, and reverence in my heart
I bear thee, and unweeting have offended,
Unhappilie deceav'd; thy suppliant
I beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not,
Whereon I live, thy gentle looks, thy aid,
Thy counsel in this uttermost distress,
920
My only strength and stay: forlorn of thee,
Whither shall I betake me, where subsist?
While yet we live, scarce one short hour perhaps,
Between us two let there be peace, both joining,
As join'd in injuries, one enmity
Against a Foe by doom express assigned us,
That cruel Serpent: On me exercise not
Thy hatred for this misery befall'n,
On me already lost, me then thyself
More miserable; both have sinned, but thou
930
Against God only, I against God and thee,
And to the place of judgment will return,
There with my cries importune Heaven, that all
The sentence from thy head removed may light
On me, fole cause to thee of all this woe,
Mee me only just object of his ire.
She ended weeping, and her lowly plight,
Immoveable till peace obtained from fault
Acknowledg'd and deplor'd, in
Adam
〈◊〉
Commiseration;
•…
oon his heart relented
940
Towards her, his life so late and sole delight,
Now at his feet submissive in distress,
Creature so fair his reconcilement
•…
eeking,
His counsel whom she had displeased, his aide;
As one disarmed, his anger all he lost,
And thus with peaceful wprds uprais'd her soon.
Unwarie, and too desirous, as before,
So now of what thou knowest not, who desir'st
The punishment all on thyself; alas,
Bear thine own first, ill able to sustain
950
His full wrath whose thou feelst as yet lest part,
And my displeasure bearst so ill. If Prayers
Could alter high Decrees, I to that place
Would speed before thee, and be louder heard,
That on my head all might be visited,
Thy frailty and infirmer Sex forgiv'n,
To me committed and by me exposed.
But rise, let us no more contend, nor blame
Each other, blamed enough elsewhere, but strive
In offices of Love, how we may light'n
960
Each others burden in our share of woe;
Since this days Death denouncit, if ought I see,
Will prove no sudden, but a slow-pacit evil,
A long days dying to augment our pain,
And to our Seed (O hapless Seed!) derived.
To whom thus
Eve,
recovering heart, replied.
Adam,
by sad experiment I know
How little weight my words with thee can find,
Found so erroneous, thence by just event
Found so unfortunate; nevertheless,
970
Restor'd by thee, vile as I am, to place
Of new acceptance, hopeful to regain
Thy Love, the sole contentment of my heart,
Living or dying from thee I will not hide
What thoughts in my unquiet breast are ris'n,
Tending to
〈◊〉
relief of our extremes,
Or end, though sharp and sad, yet tolerable,
As in our evils, and of easier choice.
If care of our descent perplex us most,
Which must be born to certain woe, devourd
980
By Death at last, and miserable it is
To be to others cause of misery,
Our own begotten, and of our Loines to bring
Into this cursed World a woeful Race,
That after wretched Li
•…
e must be at last
Food for so soul a Monster, in thy power
It lies, yet ere Conception to prevent
The Race unblest, to being yet unbegot.
Childless thou art, Childless r
•…
main:
So Death shall be deceav'd his glut, and with us two
990
Be forced to satissie his Rav'nous Maw.
But if thou judge it hard and difficult,
Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain
From Loves due Rites, Nuptial embraces sweet,
And with desire to languish without hope,
Before the present object languishing
With like desire, which would be misery
And torment less then none of what we dread,
Then both our
〈◊〉
and Seed at once to free
From what we fear for both, let us make short,
1000
Let us
•…
eek Death, or he not found, supply
With our own hands his Office on ourselves;
Why stand we longer shivering under
•…
ears,
That show no end but Death, and have the power,
Of many ways to die the
〈◊〉
choosing,
Destruction with destruction to destroy.
She ended here, or vehement despair
Broke off the rest; so much of Death her thoughts
Had entertaind, as died her Cheeks with pale.
But
Adam
with such counsel nothing swayed,
1010
To better hopes his more attentive mind
Labouring had raised, and thus to
Eve
replied.
Eve,
thy contempt of life and pleasure seems
To argue in thee something more sublime
And excellent then what thy mind contemns;
But self-destruction therefore saught, refutes
That excellence thought in thee, and implies,
Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret
For loss of life and pleasure overlov'd.
Or if thou
•…
ovet death, as utmost end
1020
Of misery, so thinking to evade
The penalty pronouncit, doubt not but God
Hath wiselier armed his vengefulire then so
To be forestall'd; much more I fear least Death
So snatched will not exempt us from the pain
We are by doom to pay; rather such acts
Of contumacy will provoke the highest
To make death in us live: Then let us seek
Som safer resolution, which methinks
I have in view, calling to mind with heed
1030
Part of our Sentence, that thy Seed shall bruise
The Serpents head; piteous amends, unless
Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand Foe
S
•…
tan,
who in the Serpent hath contrived
Against us this deceit: to
〈◊〉
his head
Would be r
•…
venge indeed; which will be lost
By death brought on ourselves, or childless days
Resolv'd, as thou proposest; so our Foe
Shall scape his punishment ordained, and we
Instead shall double ours upon our heads.
1040
No more be mentioned then of violence
Against ourselves, and willful barrenness,
That cuts us off from hope, and savors only
Rancor and pride, impatience and despite,
Reluctance against God and his just yoke
Laid on our Necks. Remember with what mild
And gracious temper he both heard and judged
Without wrath or reviling; we expected
Immediate dissolution, which we thought
Was meant by Death that day, when lo, to thee
1050
Pains only in Child-bearing were foretold,
And bringing forth, soon recompencit with joy,
Fruit of thy Womb: On me the Curse
〈◊〉
Glanc'd on the ground, with labor I must earn
My bread; what harm? Idleness had been worse;
My labor will sustain me; and least Cold
Or Heat should injure us, his timely care
Hath unbesaught provided, and his hands
Cloath'd us unworthy, pitying while he judged;
How much more, if we pray him, will his ear
1060
Be open, and his heart to pity incline,
And teach us fu
•…
there by what means to shun
Th'inclement Seasons, Rain, Ice, Hail and Snow,
Which now the Sky with various Face begins
To show us in this Mountain, while the Winds
Blow moist and keen, sh
•…
ttering the graceful locks
Of these fair spreading Trees; which bids us seek
Som better shroud, some better warmth to cherish
Our Limbs benumm'd, ere this diurnal Starr
Leave cold the Night, how we his gathered beams
1070
Reflected, may with matter sere foment,
Or by collision of two bodies grind
The Air attrite to Fire, as late the Clouds
Justling or pushed with Winds rude in thir shock
Tine the slant Lightning, whose thwart flame driven down
Kindles the gummie bark of Firr or Pine,
And sends a comfortable heat from far,
Which might supply the Sun: such Fire to use,
And what may else be remedy or cure
To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought,
1080
He will instruct us praying, and of Grace
Beseeching him, so as we need not fear
To pass commodiously this life, sustained
By him with many comforts, till we end
In dust, our final rest and native home.
What better can we do, then to the place
Repairing where he judged us, prostrate fall
Before him reverent, and there confess
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears
Watering the ground, and with our sighs the Air
1090
Frequenting, se
•…
t from hearts contrite, in sign
Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.
Undoubtedly he will relent and turn
From his displeasure; in whose look serene,
When angry most he seemed and most severe,
What else but favor, grace, and mercy shon?
So spake our Father penitent, nor
Eve
Felt less remorse: they forthwith to the plac
•…
Repairing where he judged them prostrate fell
Before him reverent, and both confessed
1100
Humbly thir faults, and pardon begged, with tears
Watering the ground, and with thir sighs the Air
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign
Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.
The End of the Ninth Book.
PARADISE LOST.
BOOK X.
T
Hus they in lowliest plight repentant stood
Praying, for from the Mercy-seat above
〈◊〉
-Grace deseending had removed
The stony from thir hearts, and made new flesh
Regenerat grow instead, that sighs now breathed
Unutterable, which the Spirit of prayer
Inspir'd, and wing'd for Heaven with speedier flight
Then loudest Oratory: yet thir port
Not of mean suitors, nor important less
Seem'd thir Petition, then when th' ancient Pair
10
〈◊◊〉
, less ancient yet then these,
Deucalion
and chaste
Pyrrha
to restore
The Race of Mankind drownd, before the Shrine
Of
Themis
stood devout. To Heaven thir prayers
Flew up, nor missd the way, by envious winds
Blow'n vagabond or frustrate: in they passed
Dimentionless through Heav'nly doors; then clad
With ineense, where the Golden Altar fum'd,
By thir great Intercessor, came in sight
Before the Fathers Throne: Them the glad Son
20
Presenting, thus to intercede began.
See Father, what first fruits on Earth are sprung
From thy-implanted Grace in M
•…
n, these Sighs
And Prayers, which in this Golden Censer, mixed
With Incense, I thy P
•…
jest before thee bring,
Fruits of more pleasing savor from thy seed
Sow'n with contrition in his heart, then those
Which his own hand manuring all the Trees
Of Paradise could have producit, ere fall▪n
From innocence. Now
•…
herefore bend thine ear
30
To supplication, hear his sighs though mute;
Unskilful with what words to pray, let me
Interpret for him, me his Advocate
And propiriation, all his works on me
Good or not good ingraft, my Merit those
Shall perfet, and for these my Death shall pay.
Accept me, and in me from these receive
The smell of peace toward Mankind, let him live
Before thee reconciled, at least his days
Numberd, though sad, till Death, his doom (which I
40
To mi
•…
igate thus plead, not to reverse)
To better life shall yield him, where with me
All my redeemd may dwell in joy and bliss,
Made one with me as I with thee am one▪
To whom the Father, without Cloud, serene▪
All thy request for Man, accepted Son,
Obtain, all thy request was my Decree:
But longer in that Paradise to dwell,
The Law I gave to Nature him forbids:
Those pure immortal Elements that know
50
No gross, no unharmoneous mixture foul,
Eject him tainted now, and purge him off
As a distemper, gross to air as gross,
And mortal food, as may dispose him best
For dissolution wrought by Si
•…
, that first
Distemperd all things, and of incorrupt
Corrupted. I at first with two fair gifts
Created him endowd, with Happiness
And Immortality: that fondly lost,
This other served but to eternize woe;
60
Till I provided Death; so Death becomes
His final remedy, and after Life
Tri'd in sharp tribulation, and refined
By Faith and faithful works, to second Life,
Wakit in the renovation of the just,
Resignes him up with Heaven and Earth renewd.
But let us call to Synod all the Blest
Through Heavens wide bounds; from them I will not hide
My judgments, how with Mankind I proceed,
As how with peccant Angels late they saw;
70
And in thir state, though firm, stood more confirmd.
He ended, and the Son gave signal high
To the bright Minister that watchd, he blew
His Trumpet, heard in
Oreb
since perhaps
When God descended, and perhaps once more
To sound at general doom. Th' Angelic blast
Filld all the Regions: from thir blissful Bowrs
Of
Amarantin
Shade, Fountain or Spring,
By the waters of Life, where ere they sat
In fellowships of joy: the Sons of Light
80
Hasted, resorting to the Summons high,
And took thir Seats; till from his Throne supreme
Th' Almighty thus pronounced his sovran Will.
O Sons, like one of us Man is become
To know both Good and Evil, since his taste
Of that defended Fruit; but let him boast
His knowledge of Good lost, and Evil got,
Happier, had it suffic'd him to have known
Good by itself, and Evil not at all.
He sorrows now, repents, and prays contrite,
90
My motions in him, longer then they move,
His heart I know, how variable and vain
Self-left. Least therefore his now bolder hand
Reach also of the Tree of Life, and eat,
And live forever, dream at least to live
For ever, to remove him I decree,
And send him from the Garden forth to Till
The Ground whence he was taken, fitter soil.
Michael,
this my behest have thou in charge,
Take to thee from among the Cherubim
100
Thy choice of flaming warriors, least the Fiend
Or in behalf of Man, or to invade
Vacant possession some new trouble raise:
Hast thee, and from the Paradise of God
Without remorse drive out the sinful Pair,
From hallowd ground th' unholie, and denounce
To them and to thir Progenie from thence
Perpetual bani
•…
ent. Yet least they faint
At the sad Sentence rigorously urged,
For I behold the
•…
so
•…
nd and with tears
110
Bewailing thir excess, all terror hide.
If patiently thy bidding they obey,
Dismiss them not disconsolate; reveal
To
Adam
what shall come in future days,
As I shall thee enlighten, intermix
My Cov'nant in the Woman's seed renewd;
So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace:
And on the East side of the Garden place,
Where entrance up from
Eden
easiest climbs,
Cherubic watch, and of a Sword the flame
120
Wide waving, all approach far off to fright,
And guard all passage to the Tree of Life:
Least Paradise a receptacle prove
To Spirits foul, and all my Trees thir prey,
With whose stol'n Fruit Man once more to delude.
He ceased; and th' Archangelic Power prepared
For swist descent, with him the Cohort bright
Of watchful Cherubim; four faces each
Had, like a double
Janus,
all thir shape
Spangl'd with eyes more numerous then those
130
Of
Argus,
and more wakeful then to drouze,
Charm'd with
Arcadian
Pipe, the Pastoral Reed
Of
Hermes,
or his opiate Rod. Mean while
To resalute the World with sacred Light
L
•…
cothea
wak'd, and with fresh dews imbalmd
The Earth, w
•…
en
Adam
and first Matron
Eve
Had ended now thir Orisons, and found,
Strength added from above, new hope to spring
Out of despair, joy, but with fear yet link
•…
;
Which thus to
Eve
his welcome words renewd.
140
Eve,
easily may Faith admit, that all
The good which we enjoy, from Heaven descends
But that from us ought should ascend to Heaven
So prevalent as to concern the mind
Of God high-blest, or to incline his will,
Hard to belief may
〈◊〉
▪ yet this will Prayer,
Or one short sigh of
〈◊〉
breath, up-borne
Even to the Seat of God
〈◊◊〉
I saught
By Prayer th' offended Deity co appease,
150
Kneel'd and before him humbl'd all my heart,
Methought I saw him placable and mil
•…
,
Bending hi
•…
•…
are; persuasion in me grew
That I was heard with favor; peace returned
Home to my breast, and to my memory
His promise, that thy Seed shall bruise our Foe;
Which then not minded in dismay, yet now
Assures me that the bitterness of death
Is past, and we shall live. Whence Hail to thee,
Eve
rightly called, Mother of all Mankind,
160
Mother of all things living, since by thee
Man is to live, and all things live for Man.
To whom thus
Eve
with sad demeanour meek.
Ill worthy I such title should belong
To me transgressor, who for thee ordained
A help, became thy s
•…
are; to me reproach
Rather belongs, distrust and all dispraise:
But infinite in pardon was my Judge,
That I who first brought Death on all, am gracit
The source of life; next favorable t
•…
u,
170
Who highly thus to entitle me voutsat
〈◊〉
,
Far oath
•…
name deserving. But the Field
To labor calls us now with sweat imposed,
Though after sleepless Night; for see the Morn,
All unconcerned with our unrest, begins
Her rosie progress smiling; let us
•…
orth,
I never from thy side henceforth to stray,
Wherere our days work lies, though now enjoind
Laborious, till day droop; while her
•…
we dwell,
What can be toilsome in these pleas
•…
nt Walkes?
Here let us live, though in fallen state, c
•…
ntent.
180
So spake, so wished much-humbl'd
Eve,
but Fate
Subscrib'd not; Nature first gave Signs, imprest
On Bird, Beast, Air, Air suddenly eclipsed
After short blush of Morn; nigh in her sight
The Bird of
Jove,
stooped from his aerie tour,
Two Birds of gayest plume before him drove:
Down from a Hill the Beast that reigns in Woods,
First Hunter then, pursued a gentle brace,
Goodliest of all the Forest, Hart and Hind;
Direct to th' Eastern Gate was bent thir flight.
190
Adam
observed, and with his Eye the chase
Pursuing, not unmov'd to
Eve
thus spake.
O
Eve,
some further change awaits us nigh,
Which Heaven by these mute signs in Nature shows
Forerunners of his purpose, or to warn
Us haply too secure of our discharge
From penalty, because from death releast
S
•…
e days; how long, and what till then our life,
Who knows, or more then this, that we are dust,
And thither must return and be no more.
200
Why else this double object in our sight
Of slight pursued in th' Air and ore the ground
One way the self-same hour? why in the East
Darkness ere Days mid-course, and Morning light
More orient in yon Western Cloud that draws
O're the blew Firmament a radiant white,
And slow descends, with something heavenly fraught.
He erred not, for by this the heavenly Bands
Down from a Sky of Jasper lighted now
In Paradise, and on a Hill made alt,
210
A glorious Apparition, had not doubt
And carnal fear that day dim'd
Adams
eye.
Not that more glorious, when the Angels met
Jacob
in
Mahanaim,
where he saw
The sield Pavilion'd with his Guardians bright;
Nor that which on the flaming Mount appeerd
In
Dothan,
covered with a Camp of Fire,
Against the
S
•…
rian
King, who to surprise
One man, Assassin-like had levied Warr,
Warr unproclam'd. The Princely Hierarch
220
In thir bright stand, there left his Powers to seise
Possession of the Gard
•…
n; he alone,
To find where
Adam
shelterd, took his way,
Not unperceav'd of
Adam,
who to
Eve,
While the great Visitant approachd, thus spake.
Eve,
now expect great tidings, which perhaps
Of us will soon determine, or impose
New Laws to be observed; f
•…
r I descry
From yonder blazing Cloud
•…
hat veils the Hill
One of the heavenly Host, and by his Gate
230
None of the meanest, some great Potentate
Or of the Thrones above, such Majesty
Invests him coming; yet not terrible,
That I should fear, nor sociably mild,
As
Raphael,
that I should much confide,
But solemn and sublime, whom not to offend,
With reverence I must meet, and thou retire.
He ended; and th' Arch-Angel soon drew nigh,
Not in his shape Celestial, but as Man
Clad to meet Man; over his lucid Arms
240
A military Vest of purple flowd
Livelier then
Meliboean,
or the grain
Of
Sarra,
worn by Kings and Hero's old
In time of Truce;
Iris
had dipt the wooff;
His starry Helme unbuckl'd showed him prime
In Manhood where Youth ended; by his side
As in a glistering
Zodiac
hung the Sword,
Satan's dire dread, and in his hand the Spear.
Adam
bowd low, he Kingly from his State
Inclin'd not, but his coming thus declared.
250
Adam,
Heavens high behest no Preface needs:
Sufficient that thy Prayers are heard, and Death,
Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress,
Defeated of his seisure many days
Giv'n thee of Grace, wherein thou mayest repent,
And one bad act with many deeds well done
Mayst cover: well may then thy Lord appeased
Redeem thee quite from Deaths rapacious claim;
But longer in this Paradise to dwell
Permits not; to remove thee I am come,
260
And send thee from the Garden forth to till
The ground whence thou wast taken, fitter Soil.
He added not, for
Adam
at the news
Heart-struck with chilling gripe of sorrow stood,
That all his senses bound;
Eve,
who unseen
Yet all had heard, with audible lament
Discover'd soon the place of her retire.
O unexspected stroke, worse then of Death!
Must I thus leave thee Paradise? thus leave
Thee Native Soil, these happy Walks and Shades,
270
Fit haunt of God's? where I had hope to spend,
Quiet though sad, the respite of that day
That must be mortal to us both. O flours,
That never will in other Climate grow,
My early visitation, and my last
At Eev'n, which I bred up with tender hand
From the first op'ning bud, and gave ye Names,
Who now shall rear ye to the Sun, or rank
Your Tribes, and water from th' ambrosial Fount?
Thee lastly nuptial Bowre, by me adornd
280
With what to sight or smell was sweet; from thee
How shall I part, and whither wander down
Into a lower World, to this obscure
And wild, how shall we breath in other Air
Less pure, accustomd to immortal Fruits?
Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild.
Lament not
Eve,
but patiently resign
What justly thou hast lost; nor set thy heart,
Thus over fond, on that which is not thine;
Thy going is not lonely, with thee goes
290
Thy Husband, him to follow thou art bound;
Where he abides, think there thy native soil.
Adam
by this from the cold sudden damp
Recovering, and his scatterd spirits returned,
To
Michael
thus his humble words addressd.
Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or named
Of them the Highest, for such of shape may seem
Prince above Princes, gently hast thou told
Thy message, which might else in telling wound,
And in performing end us; what besides
300
Of sorrow and dejection and despair
Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring,
Departure from this happy place, our sweet
Recess, and only consolation left
Familiar to our eyes, all places else
In hospitable appear and desolate,
Nor knowing us nor known: and if by prayer
Incessant I could hope to change the will
Of him who all things can, I would not cease
To weary him with my assiduous cries:
310
But prayer against his absolute Decree
No more avails then breath against the wind,
Blown stifling back on him that breaths it forth:
Therefore to his great bidding I submit.
This most a
•…
icts
•…
e, that departing hence,
As from his face I shall be hid, deprivd
His blessed count'nance; here I could frequent,
With worship, place by place where he voutsaf'd
Presence Divine, and to my Sons relate;
On this Mount he appeerd, under this Tree
320
Stood visible, among these Pines his voice
I heard, here with him at this Fountain talked:
So many grateful Altars I would rear
Of grassie Terfe, and pile up every Stone
Of luster from the brook, in memory,
Or monument to Ages, and thereon
Offer sweet smelling Gumms & Fruits and Flours:
In yonder nether World where shall I seek
His bright appearances, or footstep trace?
For though I fled him angry, yet recalled
330
To life prolongd and promisd Race, I now
Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts
Of glory, and far off his steps adore.
To whom thus
Michael
with regard benign.
Adam,
thou knowest Heaven his, and all the Earth▪
Not this Rock only; his Omnipresence fills
Land, Sea, and Air, and every kind that lives,
Fomented by his virtual power and warmd:
All th' Earth he gave thee to possess and rule,
No despicable gift; surmi
•…
not then
340
His presence to these narrow bounds confined
Of Paradise or
Eden:
this had been
Perhaps thy Capital Seat, from whence had spread
All generations, and had hither come
From all the ends of th' Earth, to celebrate
And reverence thee thir great Progenitor.
But this praeeminence thou hast lost, brought dow
•…
To dwell on eeven ground now with thy Sons:
Yet doubt not but in Vallie and in Plain
God is as here, and will be found alike
350
Present, and of his presence many a
•…
gne
Still following thee, still compassing th
•…
e round
With goodness and paternal Love, his Face
Express, and of his steps the track Divine.
Which that thou mayst believe, and be confirmd,
Ere thou from hence depart, know I am sent
•…
o show thee what shall come in future days
•…
o thee and to thy Ofspring; good with bad
Expect to hear, supernal Grace contending
With sinfulness of Men; thereby to learn
360
True patience, and to temper joy with fear
And pious sorrow, equally enur'd
By moderation either
•…
ate to bear,
Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead
Safest thy life, and best prepared endure
Thy mortal passage when it comes. Ascend
This Hill
•…
let
Eve
(for I have drenched her eyes)
Here sleep
•…
elow while thou to foresight wak'st,
As once
〈◊◊〉
, while She to life was formd.
To w
•…
m
〈◊〉
Adam
gratefully replied.
370
〈◊〉
, I follow
•…
he, safe Guide, the path
〈◊◊◊〉
, and to the hand of Heaven submit,
•…
wever ch
•…
'ning, to the evil turn
My obvious breast, arming to overcome
〈◊〉
suffering, and earn rest from labor won,
If so I
〈◊〉
attain. So both ascend
In the Visions of God: It was a Hill
O
•…
Paradise the highest, from whose top
The Hemisphere of Earth in clearest 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 show him all Earths Kingdoms and thir Glory.
His Eye might there command wherever stood
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
Paq
•…
in
of
Sinaean
Kings, and thence
390
To
Agra
and
Lahor
of great
Mogul
Down to the golden
Chersonese,
or where
The
Persian
in
Ecbatan
sat, or since
In
Hispahan,
or where the
Russian Ksar
In
Mosco,
or the Sultan in
Bizance,
Turchestan
-born; nor could his eye not ken
Th' Empire of
Negus
to his utmost Port
Ercoco
and the less Maritine Kings
Mombaza,
and
Quiloa,
and
Melind,
And
Sofala
thought
Ophir,
to the Realm
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
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 unspoil'd
Guiana,
whose great City
Geryons
Sons
410
Call
El Dorado:
but to nobler sights
Michael
from
Adams
eyes the Filme removed
Which that false Fruit that promised clearer sight
Had bred; then purged with Euphrasie and Rue
The visual Nerve, for he had much to see;
And from the Well of Life three drops instill'd.
So deep the power of these Ingredients pierced,
Eevn to the inmost seat of mental sight,
That
Adam
now enfor
•…
to close his eyes,
Sunk down and all his Spirits became intranst:
420
But him the gentle Angel by the hand
Soon raised, and his attention thus recalled.
Adam,
now ope thine eyes, and first behold
Th' effects which thy original crime hath wrought
In some to spring from thee, who never touched
Th' excepted Tree, nor with the Snake conspired,
Nor sin'd thy sin, yet from that sin derive
Corruption to bring forth more violent deeds.
His eyes he op'nd, and beheld a field,
Part arable and tilth, whereon were Sheaves
430
New reaped, the other part sheep walks and foulds;
Ith' midst an Altar as the Land-mark stood
Rustic, of grassie sord; thither anon
A sweatie Reaper from his Tillage brought
First Fruits, the green Eare, and the yellow Sheaf,
Uncull'd, as came to hand; a Shepherd next
More
〈◊〉
came with the Firstlings of his Flock
Choicest and best; then sacrificing, laid
The Inwards and thir Fat, with Incense strewed,
On the cleft Wood, and all due Rites performed.
440
His Offring soon propitious Fire from Heaven
Consum'd with nimble glance, and grateful steam;
The others not, for his was not sincere;
Whereat he inlie rag'd, and as they talked,
Smote him into the Midriff with a stone
That beat out life; he fell, and deadly pale
Groand out his Soul with gushing blood effus'd.
Much at that sight was
Adam
in his heart
Dismai'd, and thus in haste to th' Angel cried.
O Teacher, some great mischief hath befall'n
450
To that meek man, who well had sacrificed;
Is Piety thus and pure Devotion paid?
T' whom
Michael
thus, he also moved, replied.
These two are Brethren,
Adam,
and to come
Out of thy loins; th' unjust the just hath slain,
For envy that his Brothers Offering
•…
ound
From Heaven acceptance; but the bloody Fact
Will be avenged, and th' others Faith approved
Loose no reward, though here thou see him die,
Rowling in dust and gore. To which our Sire.
460
Alas, both for the deed and for the cause!
But have I now seen Death? Is this the way
I must return to native dust? O sight
Of terror, foul and ugly to behold,
Horrid to think, how horrible to feel!
To whom thus
M
•…
l.
Death thou hast seen
In his
•…
irst shape on man;
•…
ut many shapes
Of Death, and many are the ways that lead
To his grim Cave, all dismal; yet to sense
M
•…
re terrible at th' entrance then within.
470
So
•…
e, as thou saw'st, by violent stroke shall die,
By Fire, Flood, Famin, by Intemperance more
In Meats and Drinks, which on the Earth shall bring
Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew
Before thee shall appear; that thou mayst know
What misery th' inabstinence of
Eve
Shall bring on men. Immediately a place
Before his eyes appeared, sad, noisesome, dark,
A Lazar-house it seemed, wherein were laid
Numbers of all diseas'd, all maladies
480
Of gastly Spasm, or racking torture, qualms
Of heart-fick Agony, all feavorous kinds,
Convulsions, Epilepsies,
〈◊〉
Catarrhs,
Intestin Stone and Ulcer, Colic pangs,
Dropsies, and
〈◊〉
, and Joint-racking Rheums.
Dire was the tossing, deep the groans, despair
Tended the sick
〈◊◊〉
Couch to Couch;
And over them triumphant Death his Dart
Shook, but delaid to strike, though oft invokit
With vows, as thir chief good, and final hope.
490
Sight so deform what heart of Rock could long
Drie-ey'd behold?
Adam
could not, but wept,
Though not of Woman born, compassion quelled
His best of Man, and gave him up to tears
A space, till firmer thoughts restraind excess,
And scarce recovering words his plaint renewed.
O miserable Mankind, to what fall
Degraded, to what wretched state reserved!
Better end here unborn. Why is life given
To be thus wrested from us? rather why
500
Obtruded on us thus? who if we knew
What we receive, would ei
•…
her not accept
Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down,
Glad to be so dismissed in peace. Can thus
Th' Image of God in man created once
So goodly and erect, though faulty since,
To such unsightly sufferings be debasit
〈◊〉
inhuman pains? Why should not Man,
R
•…
taining still Divine similitude
In part, from such deformities be free,
510
And for his Makers Image sake exempt?
Thir Makers Image, answered
Michael,
then
Forsook them, when themselves they villifi'd
To serve ungovern'd appetite, and took
His Image whom they served, a
〈◊〉
vice,
Inductive mainly to the sin of
Eve.
Therefore so abject is thir punishment,
Disfiguring not God's likeness, but thir own,
Or if his likeness, by themselves
〈◊〉
While they pervert
〈◊〉
Natures healthful rules
520
To loathsome sickness, worthily, since they
God's Image did not reverence in themselves.
I yield it just, said
Adam,
and submit.
But is there yet no other way,
〈◊〉
These painful passages, how we may come
To Death, and mix with our
〈◊〉
dust?
There is, said
Michael,
if thou well observe
The rule of not too much, by temperance taught
In what thou eatst and drinkst, seeking from thence
Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight,
530
Till many years over thy head return:
So mayest thou live, till like ripe Fruit thou drop
Into thy Mothers lap, or be with ease
Gatherd, not harshly plucked, for death mature:
This is old age; but then thou must outlive
Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will change
To witherd weak & gray; thy Senses then
O
•…
se, all taste of pleasure must forgo,
To what thou hast, and for the Air of youth
Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign
540
A melancholy damp of cold and dry
To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume
The Balm of Life. To whom our Ancestor.
Henceforth I fly not Death, nor would prolong
Life much, bent rather how I may be quit
Fairest and easiest of this combrous charge,
Which I must keep till my appointed day
Of rendering up.
Michael
to him replied.
Nor love thy Life, nor hate; but what thou livst
Live well, how long or short permit to Heaven:
550
And now prepare thee for another sight.
He lookd and saw a spacious Plain, whereon
Were Tents of various hue; by some were herds
Of Cattle grazing: others, whence the sound
Of Instruments that made melodious chime
Was heard, of Harp and Organ; and who moovd
Thir stops and chords was feen: his volant touch
Instinct through all proportions low and high
Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue.
In other part stood one who at the Forge
560
Labouring, two massy clods of Iron and Brass
Had melted (whether found where casual fire
Had wasted woods on Mountain or in Vale,
Down to the veins of Earth, thence gliding hot
To some Caves mouth, or whether washed by stream
From underground) the liquid Ore he dreind
Into fit moulds prepared; from which he formd
First his own Tooles; then, what might else be wrought
Fusil or grav'n in mettle. After these,
But on the hither side a different sort
570
From the high neighbouring Hills, which was thir Seat,
Down to the Plain descended: by thir guise
Just men they seemed, and all thir study bent
To worship God aright, and know his works
Not
•…
id, nor those things lost which might preserve
Freedom and Peace to men: they on the Plain
Long had not walked, when from the Tents behold
A Beavie of fair Women, richly gay
In Gems and wanton dress; to the Harp they sung
Soft amorous Ditties, and in dance came on:
580
The Men though grave, ey'd them, and let thir eyes
Rove without rein, till in the amorous Net
Fast caught, they liked, and each his liking chose;
And now of love they treat till th' Eevning Star
Loves Harbinger appeerd; then all in heat
They light the Nuptial Torch, and bid invoke
Hymen, then first to marriage Rites invokit;
With Feast and Music all the Ten
•…
si resound.
Such happy interview and fair event
Of love & youth not lost, Songs, Garlands, Flours,
590
And charming Symphonies attach'd the heart
Of
Adam,
soon inclined to admit delight,
The bent of Nature; which he thus expressed.
True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest,
Much better seems this Vision, and more hope
Of peaceful days portends, then those two past;
Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse,
Here Nature seems fulfilld in all her ends.
To whom thus
Michael.
Judge not what is best
By pleasure, though to Nature seeming meet,
600
Created, as thou art, to nobler end
Holy and pure, conformity divine.
Those Tents thou sawst so pleasant, were the Tents
Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his Race
Who slew his Brother; studious they appere
Of Arts that polish Life, Inventers rare,
Unmindful of thir Maker, though his Spirit
Taught them, but they his gifts acknowledged none.
Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget;
For that fair femal Troop thou sawst, that seemed
610
Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay,
Yet empty of all good wherein consists
Woman's domestic honor and chief praise;
Bred only and completed to the taste
Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance,
To dress, and troule the Tongue, and roll the Eye.
To these that sober Race of Men, whose lives
Religious titl'd them the Sons of God,
Shall yield up all thir virtue, all thir fame
Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles
620
Of these fair Atheists, and now swim in joy,
(Erelong to swim at large) and laugh; for which
The world erelong a world of tears must weep.
To whom thus
Adam
of short joy bereft.
O pity and shame, that they who to live well
Enterd so fair, should turn aside to tread
Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint!
But still I see the tenor of Mans woe
Holds on the same, from Woman to begin.
From Mans effeminate slackness it begins,
630
Said th' Angel, who should better hold his place
By wisdom, and superior gifts receavd.
But now prepare thee for another Scene.
He lookd and saw wide Territory spread
Before him, Towns, and rural works between,
Cities of Men with lofty Gates and Towrs,
Concours in Arms, fierce Faces threatening Warr,
Giants of mighty Bone, and bold emprise;
Part wield thir Arms, part courb the foaming Steed,
Single or in Array of Battle rang'd
640
Both Horse and Foot, nor idly mustering stood;
One way a Band select from forage drives
A herd of Beeves, fair Oxen and fair Kine
From a fat Meddow ground; or fleecy Flock,
Ewes and thir bleating Lambs over the Plain,
Thir Bootie; scarce with Life the Shepherds fly,
But call in aide, which tacks a bloody Fray;
With cruel Tournament the Squadrons join;
Where Cattle pastur'd late, now scatterd lies
With Carcasses and Arms th' ensanguind Field
650
Deserted: Others to a City strong
Lay Siege, encampt; by Batterie, Scale, and Mine,
Assaulting; others from the Wall defend
With Dart and Jav'lin, Stones and sulfurous Fire;
On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds.
In other part the scepter'd Haralds call
To Council in the City Gates: anon
Grey-headed men and grave, with Warriours mixed,
Assemble, and Harangues are heard, but soon
In factious opposition, till at last
660
Of middle Age one rising, eminent
In wise deport, spake much of Right and Wrong,
Of Justice, of Religion, Truth and Peace,
And Judgment from above: him old and young
Exploded, and had seized with violent hands,
Had not a Cloud descending snatched him thence
Unseen amid the throng: so violence
Proceeded, and Oppression, and Sword-Law
Through all the Plain, and refuge none was found.
Adam
was all in tears, and to his guide
670
Lamenting turned full sad; O what are these,
Deaths Ministers, not Men, who thus deal Death
Inhumanly to men, and multiply
Ten thousand fold the sin of him who slew
His Brother; for of whom such massacher
Make they but of thir Brethren, men of men?
But who was that Just Man, whom had not Heaven
Rescu'd, had in his Righteousness been lost?
To whom thus
Michael;
These are the product
Of those ill-mated Marriages thou saw'st;
680
Where good with bad were matched, who of themselves
Abhor to join; and by imprudence mixed,
Produce prodigious Births of body or mind.
Such were these Giants, men of high renown;
For in those days Might only shall be admired,
And Valour and Heroic Vertu called;
To overcome in Battle, and subdue
Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite
Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch
Of human Glory, and for Glory done
690
Of triumph, to be still'd great Conquerors,
Patrons of Mankind, God's, and Sons of God's,
Destroyers rightlier called and Plagues of men.
Thus Fame shall be achiev'd, renown on Earth,
And what most merits fame in silence hid.
But he the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldst
The only righteous in a World perverse,
And therefore hated, therefore so beset
With Foes for daring single to be just,
And utter odious Truth, that God would come
700
To judge them with his Saints: Him the most High
Rapt in a balmie Cloud with winged Steeds▪
Did, as thou sawst, receive, to walk with God
High in Salvation and the Climes of bliss,
Exempt from Death; to show thee what reward
Awaits the good, the rest what punishment;
Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold.
He looked, & saw the sace of things quite changed▪
The brazen Throat of Warr had ceased to roar,
All now was turned to jollity and game,
710
To luxury and riot, feast and dance,
Marrying or prostituting, as befell,
Rape or Adultery, where passing fair
Allurd them; thence from Cups to civil Broiles.
At length a Reverend Sire among them came,
And of thir▪ doings great dislike declared,
And testifi'd against thir ways; he oft
Frequented thir Assemblies, whereso met,
Triumphs or Festivals, and to them preached
Conversion and Repentance, as to Souls
720
In prison under Judgments imminent:
But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceased
Contending, and removed his Tents far off;
Then from the Mountain hewing Timber tall,
Began to build a Vessel of huge bulk,
Measur'd by Cubit, length, & breadth, and highth,
Smeard round with Pitch, and in the side a door
Contriv'd, and of provisions laid in large
For Man and Beast: when loe a wonder strange!
Of every Beast, and Bird, and Insect small
730
Came seavens, and pairs, and enterd in, as taught
Thir order; last the Sire, and his three Sons
With thir four Wives; and God made fast the door.
Meanwhile the Southwind rose, & with black wings
Wide hovering, all the Clouds together drove
From under Heaven; the Hills to their supply
Vapour, and Exhalation dusk and moist,
Sent up amain; and now the thick'nd Sky
Like a dark Ceeling stood; down rush'd the Rain
Impetuous, and continued till the Earth
740
No more was seen; the floating Vessel swum
Uplifted; and secure with beaked prow
Rode tilting over the Waves, all dwellings else
Flood overwhelmd, and them with all thir pomp
Deep under water rould; Sea covered Sea,
Sea without shore; and in thir Palaces
Where luxury late reigned, Sea-monsters whelp'd
And stabl'd; of Mankind, so numerous late,
All left, in one small bottom swum imbarkit.
How didst thou grieve then,
Adam,
to behold
750
The end of all thy Ofspring, end so sad,
Depopulation; thee another Flood,
Of tears and sorrow a Flood thee also drowned,
And sunk thee as thy Sons; till gently reard
By th' Angel, on thy feet thou stoodst at last,
Though comfortless, as when a Father mourns
His Childern, all in view destroyed at once;
And scarce to th' Angel utterdst thus thy plaint.
O Visions ill foreseen! better had I
Liv'd ignorant of future, so had borne
760
My part of evil only, each days lot
Anough to bear; those now, that were dispenst
The burd'n of many Ages, on me light
At once, by my foreknowledge gaining Birth
Abortive, to torment me ere thir being,
With thought that they must be. Let no man seek
Henceforth to be foretold what shall befall
Him or his Childern, evil he may be sure,
Which neither his foreknowing can prevent,
And he the future evil shall no less
770
In apprehension then in substance feel
Grievous to bear: but that care now is past,
Man is not whom to warn: those few escapit
Famin and anguish will at last consume
Wandering that watery Desert: I had hope
When violence was ceasit, and Warr on Earth,
All would have then gone well, peace would have crowned
With length of happy days the race of man;
But I was far deceav'd; for now I see
Peace to corrupt no less then Warr to waste.
780
How comes it thus? unfould, Celestial Guide,
And whether here the Race of man will end.
To whom thus
Michael.
Those whom last thou sawst
In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they
First seen in acts of prowess eminent
And great exploits, but of true vertu void;
Who having spilled much blood, and don much waste
Subduing Nations, and achievd thereby
Fame in the World, high titles, and rich prey,
Shall change thir course to pleasure, ease, and sloth,
790
Surfet, and lust, till wantonness and pride
Raise out of friendship hostil deeds in Peace.
The conquerd also, and enslav'd by Warr
Shall with thir freedom lost all vertu loose
And fear of God, from whom thir piety feigned
In sharp contest of Battle found no aide
Against invaders; therefore coold in zeal
Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure,
Worldlie or dissolute, on what thir Lord's
Shall leave them to enjoy; for th' Earth shall bear
800
More then enough, that temperance may be tried:
So all shall turn degenerate, all depraved,
Justice and Temperance, Truth and Faith forgot;
One Man except, the only Son of light
In a dark Age, against example good,
Against allurement, custom, and a World
Offended; fearless of reproach and scorn,
Or violence, he of thir wicked ways
Shall them admonish, and before them set
The paths of righteousness, how much more safe,
810
And full of peace, denouncing wrath to come
On thir impenitence; and shall return
Of them derided, but of God observd
The one just Man alive; by his command
Shall build a wondrous Ark, as thou beheldst,
To save himself and household from amidst
A World devote to universal rack.
No sooner he with them of Man and Beast
Select for life shall in the Ark be lodged,
And shelterd round, but all the Cataracts
820
Of Heaven set open on the Earth shall pour
Rain day and night, all fountains of the Deep
Broke up, shall heave the Ocean to usurp
Beyond all bounds, till inundation rise
Above the highest Hills: then shall this Mount
Of Paradise by might of Waves be moovd
Out of his place, pushd by the horned flood,
With all his verdure spoiled, and Trees adrift
Down the great River to the op'ning Gulf,
And there take root an Island salt and bare,
830
The haunt of Seals and Orcs, and Sea-mews clang.
To teach thee that God attributes to place
No sanctity, if none be thither brought
By Men who there frequent, or therein dwell.
And now what further shall ensue, behold.
He lookd, and saw the Ark hull on the flood,
Which now abated, for the Clouds were fled,
Drivn by a keen North-wind, that blowing dry
Wrinkl'd the face of Deluge, as decai'd;
And the clear Sun on his wide watery Glass
840
Gaz'd hot, and of the fresh Wave largely drew,
As after thirst, which made thir flowing shrink
From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole
With soft foot towards the deep, who now had stopped
•…
is is Sluces, as the Heaven his windows shut.
The Ark no more now flotes, but seems on ground
Fast on the top of some high mountain fixed.
And now the tops of Hills as Rocks appear;
With clamor thence the rapid Currents drive
Towards the retreating Sea thir furious tide.
850
Forthwith from out the Ark a Raven flies,
And after him, the surer messenger,
A Dove sent forth once and agen to spy
Green Tree or ground whereon his foot may light;
The second time returning, in his Bill
An Olive leaf he brings, pacific sign:
Anon dry ground appears, and from his Ark
The ancient Sire descends with all his Train;
Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout,
Grateful to Heaven, over his head beholds
860
A dewie Cloud, and in the Cloud a Bow
Conspicuous with three listed colors gay,
Betok'ning peace from God, and Cov'nant new.
Whereat the heart of
Adam
erst so sad
Greatly rejoiced, and thus his joy broke forth.
O thou that future things canst represent
As present, Heav'nly instructer, I revive
At this last sight, assured that Man shall live
With all the Creatures, and thir seed preserve.
Far less I now lament for one whole World
870
Of wicked Sons destroyed, then I rejoice
For one Man found so perfet and so just,
That God vouchsafes to raise another World
From him, and all his anger to forget.
But say, what mean those colourd streaks in Heavn,
Distended as the Brow of God appeased,
Or serve they as a flourie verge to bind
The fluid skirts of that same watery Cloud,
Least it again dissolve and shower the Earth?
To whom th' Archangel. Dextrously thou aim'st;
So willingly doth God remit his Ire,
880
Though late repenting him of Man depraved,
Griev'd at his heart, when looking down he saw
The whole Earth
•…
ill'd with violence, and all flesh
Corrupting each thirway; yet those remoov'd,
Such grace shall one just Man find in his sight,
That he relents, not to blot out mankind,
And makes a Covenant never to destroy
The Earth again by flood, nor let the Sea
Surpass his bounds, nor Rain to drown the World
With Man therein or Beast; but when he brings
890
Over the Earth a Cloud, will therein set
His triple-color'd Bow, whereon to look
And call to mind his Cov'nant: Day and Night,
Seed time and Harvest, Heat and hoary Frost
Shall hold thir course, till fire purge all things new,
Both Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell.
Thus thou hast seen one World begin and end;
And Man as from a second stock proceed.
Much thou hast yet to see, but I perceive
Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine
900
Must needs impair and weary human sense:
Henceforth what is to come I will relate,
Thou therefore give due audience, and attend.
This second sours of Men, while yet but few;
And while the dread of judgment past remains
Fresh in thir minds, fearing the Deity,
With some regard to what is just and right
Shall lead thir lives, and multiply apace,
Labouring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop,
Corn wine and oil; and from the herd or flock,
910
Oft sacrificing Bullock, Lamb, or Kid,
With large Wine-offerings poured, and sacred Feast
Shall spend thir days in joy unblam'd, and dwell
Long time in peace by Families and Tribes
Under paternal rule; till one shall rise
Of proud ambitious heart, who not content
With fair equality, fraternal state,
Will arrogate Dominion undeserv'd
Over his brethren, and quite dispossess
Concord and law of Nature from the Earth;
920
Hunting (and Men not Beasts shall be his game)
With Warr and hostile snare such as refuse
Subjection to his Empire tyrannous:
A mighty Hunter thence he shall be still'd
Before the Lord, as in despite of Heaven,
Or from Heaven claming second Sovrantie;
And from Rebellion shall derive his name,
Though of Rebellion others he accuse.
He with a crew, whom like Ambition joins
With him or under him to tyrannize,
930
Marching from
Eden
towards the West, shall find
The Plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge
Boiles out from under ground, the mouth of Hell;
Of Brick, and of that stuff they cast to build
A City & Tower, whose top may reach to Heaven;
And get themselves a name, least far dispersed
In foreign Lands thir memory be lost,
Regardless whether good or evil fame.
But God who oft descends to visit men
Unseen, and through thir habitations walks
940
To mark thir doings, them beholding soon,
Comes down to see thir City, ere the Tower
Obstruct Heaven Towrs, and in derision sets
Upon thir Tongues a various Spirit to rase
Quite out thir Native Language, and instead
To sow a jangling noise of words unknown:
Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud
Among the Builders; each to other calls
Not understood, till hoarse, and all in rage,
As mocked they storm; great laughter was in Heaven
950
And looking down, to see the hubbub strange
And hear the din; thus was the building left
Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named.
Whereto thus
Adam
fatherly displeased.
O execrable Son so to aspire
Above his Brethren, to himself assuming
Authority usurped, from God not given:
He gave us only over Beast, Fish, Fowl
Dominion absolute; that right we hold
By his donation; but Man over men
960
He made not Lord; such title to himself
Reserving, human left from human free.
But this Usurper his encroachment proud
Stayes not on Man; to God his Tower intends
Siege and defiance: Wretched man! what food
Will he convey up thither to sustain
Himself and his rash Army, where thin Air
Above the Clouds will pine his entrails gross,
And famish him of Breath, if not of Bread?
To whom thus
Michael.
Justly thou abhor'st
970
That Son, who on the quiet state of men
Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue
Rational Liberty; yet know withal,
Since thy original lapse, true Liberty
Is lost, which always with right Reason dwells
Twinn'd, and from her hath no dividual being:
Reason in man obscured, or not obeyd,
Immediately inordinate desires
And upstart Passions ca
•…
ch the Government
From Reason, and to servitude reduce
980
Man till then free. Therefore since he permits
Within himself unworthy Powers to reign
Over free Reason, God in Judgment just
Subjects him from without to violent Lord's;
Who oft as undeservedly enthrall
His outward freedom: Tyrannie must be,
Though to the Tyrant thereby no excuse.
Yet sometimes Nations will decline so low
From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong,
But Justice, and some fatal curse annexed
990
Deprives them of thir outward liberty,
Thir inward lost: Witness th' irreverent Son
Of him who built the Ark, who for the shame
Don to his Father, heard this heavy curse,
Servant of Servants,
on his vicious Race.
Thus will this latter, as the former World,
Still tend from bad to worse, till God at last
Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw
His presence from among them, and avert
His holy Eyes; resolving from thenceforth
1000
To leave them to thir own polluted ways;
And one peculiar Nation to select
From all the rest, of whom to be invok'd,
A Nation from one faithful man to spring:
Him on this side
Euphrates
yet residing,
Bred up in Idol-worship; O that men
(Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown,
While yet the Patriarch lived, who scaped the Flood,
As to forsake the living God, and fall
To worship thir own work in Wood and Stone
1010
For God's! yet him God the most High vouchsafes
To call by Vision from his Fathers house,
His kind
•…
ed and false God's, into a Land
Which he will show him, and from him will raise
A mighty Nation, and upon him shower
His benediction so, that in his Seed
All Nations shall be blest; he straight obeys,
Not knowing to what Land, yet firm believes:
I see him, but thou canst not, with what Faith
He leaves his God's, his Friends, and native Soil
1020
Ur
of
Chaldea,
passing now the Ford
To
Haran,
after him a cumbrous Train
Of Herds and Flocks, and numerous servitude;
Not wandering poor, but trusting all his wealth
With God, who called him, in a land unknown.
Canaan
he now attains, I see his Tents
Pitcht about
Shechem,
and the neighbouring Plain
Of
Moreh;
there by promise he receaves
Gift to his Progenie of all that Land;
From
Hamath
Northward to the Desert South
1030
(Things by thir names I call, though yet unnam'd)
From
Hermon
East to the great Western Sea,
Mount
Hermon,
yonder Sea, each place behold
In prospect, as I point them; on the shore
Mount
Carmel;
here the double-founted stream
Jordan,
true limit Eastward; but his Sons
Shall dwell to
Senir,
that long ridge of Hills.
This ponder, that all Nations of the Earth
Shall in his Seed be blessed; by that Seed
Is meant thy great deliverer, who shall bruise
1040
The Serpents head; whereof to thee anon
Plainlier shall be reveald. This Patriarch blest,
Whom
faithful Abraham
due time shall call,
A Son, and of his Son a Grand-child leaves,
Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown;
The Grandchilde with twelve Sons increased, departs
From
Canaan,
to a Land hereafter called
Egypt,
divided by the River
Nile;
See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths
Into the Sea: to sojourn in that Land
1050
He comes invited by a younger Son
In time of dearth, a Son whose worthy deeds
Raise him to be the second in that Realm
Of
Pharaoh:
there he dies, and leaves his Race
Growing into a Nation, and now grown
Suspected to a sequent King, who seeks
To stop thir overgrowth, as inmate guests
Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them slaves
Inhospitably, and kills thir infant Males:
Till by two brethren (those two brethren call
1060
Moses
and
Aaron
) sent from God to claim
His people from enthralment, they return
With glory and spoil back to thir promised Land.
But first the lawless Tyrant, who denies
To know thir God, or message to regard,
Must be compelld by Signs and Judgments dire;
To blood unshed the Rivers must be turned,
Frogs, Lice and Flies must all his Palace
•…
ill
With loathed intru
•…
on, and fill all the land;
His Cattle must of Rot and Murren die,
1070
Botches and blaines must all his flesh imboss,
And all his people; Thunder mixed with Hail,
Hail mixed with fire must rend th'
Egyptian
Sky
And wheel on th' Earth, devouring where it rouls;
What it devours not, Herb, or Fruit, or Graine,
A darksom Cloud of Locusts swarming down
Must eat, and on the ground leave nothing green:
Darkness must overshadow all his bounds,
Palpable darkness, and blot out three days;
1080
Last with one midnight stroke all the first-born
Of
Egypt
must lie dead. Thus with ten wounds
This River-dragon tamed at length submits
To let his sojourners depart, and oft
Humbles his stubborn heart, but still as Ice
More hard'nd after thaw, till in his rage
Pursuing whom he late dismissd, the Sea
Swallows him with his Host, but them lets pass
As on dry land between two christal walls,
Aw'd by the rod of
Moses
so to stand
Divided, till his rescu'd gain thir shore:
1090
Such wondrous power God to his Saint will lend,
Though present in his Angel, who shall go
Before them in a Cloud, and Pillar of Fire,
By day a Cloud, by night a pillar of Fire,
To guide them in thir journey, and remove
Behind them, while th' obdurate King pursues:
All night he will pursue, but his approach
Darkness defends between till morning Watch;
Then through the Firey Pillar and the Cloud
God looking forth will trouble all his Host
1100
And craze thir Chariot wheels: when by command
Moses
once more his potent Rod extends
Over the Sea; the Sea his Rod obeys;
On thir imbattelld ranks the Waves return,
And overwhelm thir Warr: the Race elect
Safe towards
Canaan
from the shore advance
Through the wild Desert, not the readiest way,
Least entering on the
Canaanite
allarmd
Warr terrify them inexpert, and fear
Return them back to
Egypt,
choosing rather
1100
Inglorious life with servitude; for life
To noble and ignoble is more sweet
Untraind in Arms, where rashness leads not on.
This also shall they gain by thir delay
In the wide Wilderness, there they shall found
Thir government, and thir great Senate choose
Through the twelve Tribes, to rule by Laws ordained:
God from the Mount of
Sinai,
whose gray top
Shall tremble, he descending, will himself
In Thunder Lightning and loud Trumpets sound
1120
Ordaine them Laws; part such as appertain
To civil Justice, part religious Rites
Of sacrifice, informing them, by types
And shadows, of that destind Seed to bruise
The Serpent, by what means he shall achieve
Mankinds deliverance. But the voice of God
To mortal ear is dreadful; they beseech
That
Moses
might report to them his will,
And terror cease; he grants them thir desire,
Instructed that to God is no access
1130
Without Mediator, whose high Office now
Moses
in figure bears, to introduce
One greater, of whose day he shall foretell,
And all the Prophets in thir Age the times
Of great
Messiah
shall sing. Thus Laws and Rites
Establisht, such delight hath God in Men
Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes
Among them to set up his Tabernacle,
The holy One with mortal Men to dwell:
By his prescript a Sanctuary is framed
1140
Of Cedar, overlaid with Gold, therein
An Ark, and in the Ark his Testimony,
The Records of his Cov'nant, over these
A Mercy-seat of Gold between the wings
Of two bright Cherubim, before him burn
Seaven Lamps as in a Zodiac representing
The Heav'nly fires; over the Tent a Cloud
Shall rest by Day, a
〈◊〉
gleame by Night,
Save when they journie, and at length they come,
Conducted by his Angel to the Land
1150
Promisd to
Abraham
and his Seed: the rest
Were long to tell, how many Battels fought,
How many Kings destroyed, and Kingdoms won,
Or how the Sun shall in mid Heaven stand still
A day entire, and Nights due course adjourn,
Mans voice commanding, Sun in
Gibeon
stand,
And thou Moon in the vale of
Aialon,
Till
Israel
overcome; so call the third
From
Abraham,
Son of
Isaac,
and from him
His whole descent, who thus shall
Canaan
win.
1160
Here
Adam
interposed. O sent from Heaven,
Enlightner of my darkness, gracious things
Thou hast reveald, those chiefly which concern
Just
Abraham
and his Seed: now first I find
Mine eyes true op'ning, and my heart much eased,
Erwhile perplexed with thoughts what would become
Of me and all Mankind; but now I see
His day, in whom all Nations shall be blest,
Favor unmerited by me, who sought
Forbidd'n knowledge by forbid'n means.
1170
This yet I apprehend not, why to those
Among whom God will deign to dwell on Earth
So many and so various Laws are given;
So many Laws argue so many sins
Among them; how can God with such refide?
To whom thus
Michael.
Doubt not but that sin
Will reign among them, as of thee begot;
And therefore was Law given them to evince
Thir natural pravitie, by stirring up
Sin against Law to fight; that when they see
1180
Law can discover sin, but not remove,
Save by those shadowie expiations weak,
The blood of Bulls and Goats, they may conclude
Some blood more precious must be paid for Man,
Just for unjust, that in such righteousness
To them by Faith imputed, they may find
Justification towards God, and peace
Of Conscience, which the Law by Ceremonies
Cannot appease, nor Man the moral part
Perform, and not performing cannot live.
1190
So Law appears imperfet, and but given
With purpose to resign them in full time
Up to a better Cov'nant, disciplined
From shadowie Types to Truth, from Flesh to Spirit,
From imposition of strict Laws, to free
Acceptance of large Grace, from servile fear
To filial▪ works of Law to works of Faith.
And therefore shall not
Moses,
though of God
Highly beloved, being but the Minister
Of Law, his people into
Canaan
lead;
1200
But
Joshua
whom the Gentiles
Jesus
call,
His Name and Office bearing, who shall quell
The adversary Serpent, and bring back
Through the worlds wilderness long wanderd man
Safe to eternal Paradise of rest.
Meanwhile they in thir earthly
Canaan
placit
Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins
National interrupt thir public peace,
Provoking God to raise them enemies:
From whom as oft he saves them penitent
1210
By Judges first, then under Kings; of whom
The second, both for piety renownd
And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive
Irrevocable, that his Regal Throne
For ever shall endure; the like shall sing
All Prophecy, That of the Royal Stock
Of
David
(so I name this King) shall rise
A Son, the Woman's Seed to thee foretold,
Foretold to
Abraham,
as in whom shall trust
All Nations, and to Kings foretold, of Kings
1220
The last, for of his Reign shall be no end.
But first a long succession must ensue,
And his next Son for Wealth and Wisdom famed,
The clouded Ark of God till then in Tents
Wandering, shall in a glorious Temple enshrine.
Such follow him, as shall be registerd
Part good, part bad, of bad the longer scrowle,
Whose foul Idolatries, and other faults
Heapt to the popular sum, will so incense
God, as to leave them, and expose thir Land,
1230
Thir City, his Temple, and his holy Ark
With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey
To that proud City, whose high Walls thou saw'st
Left in confusion,
Babylon
thence called.
There in captivity he lets them dwell
The space of seventy years, then brings them back,
Remembering mercy, and his Cov'nant sworn
To
David,
stablished as the days of Heaven.
Returnd from
Babylon
by leave of Kings
Thir Lord's, whom God disposed, the house of God
1240
They first re-edify, and for a while
In mean estate live moderate, till grown
In wealth and multitude, factious they grow;
But first among the Priests dissension springs,
Men who attend the Altar, and should most
Endeavor Peace: thir strife pollution brings
Upon the Temple itself: at last they seise
The Scepter, and regard not
David's
Sons,
Then loose it to a stranger, that the true
Anointed King
Messiah
might be born
1250
Barr'd of his right; yet at his Birth a Starr
Unseen before in Heaven proclaims him come,
And guides the Eastern Sages, who inquire
His place, to offer Incense, Myrrh, and Gold;
His place of birth a solemn Angel tells
To simple Shepherds, keeping watch by night;
They gladly thither haste, and by a Choir
Of squadrond Angels hear his Carol sung.
A Virgin is his Mother, but his Sire
The Power of the most High; he shall ascend
1260
The Throne hereditary, and bound his Reign
With earths wide bounds, his glory with the Heavens.
He ceased, discerning
Adam
with such joy
Surcharg'd, as had like grief been dew'd in tears,
Without the vent of words, which these he breathed.
O Prophet of glad tidings, finisher
Of utmost hope! now clear I understand
What oft my steddiest thoughts have searched in vain,
Why our great expectation should be called
The seed of Woman: Virgin Mother, Hail,
1270
High in the love of Heaven, yet from my Loynes
Thou shalt proceed, and from thy Womb the Son
Of God most High; So God with man unites.
Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise
Expect with mortal pain: say where and when
Thir fight, what stroke shall bruise the Victors heel.
To whom thus
Michael.
Dream not of thir fight,
As of a Duel, or the local wounds
Of head or heel: not therefore joins the Son
Manhood to God-head, with more strength to foil
1280
Thy enemy; nor so is overcome
Satan,
whose fall from Heaven, a deadlier bruise,
Disabl'd not to give thee thy deaths wound:
Which he, who comes thy Savior, shall recure,
Not by destroying
Satan,
but his works
In thee and in thy Seed: nor can this be,
But by fulfilling that which thou didst want,
Obedience to the Law of God, imposed
On penalty of death, and suffering death,
The penalty to thy transgression due,
1290
And due to theirs which out of thine will grow:
So only can high Justice rest appaid.
The Law of God exact he shall fulfill
Both by obedience and by love, though love
Alone fulfill the Law; thy punishment
He shall endure by coming in the Flesh
To a reproachful life and cursed death,
Proclaming Life to all who shall believe
In his redemption, and that his obedience
Imputed becomes theirs by Faith, his merits
1300
To save them, not thir own, though legal works.
For this he shall live hated, be blasphemed,
Seis'd on by force, judged, and to death condemnd
A shameful and accurst, naild to the Cross
By his own Nation, slain for bringing Life;
But to the Cross he nails thy Enemies,
The Law that is against thee, and the sins
Of all mankind, with him there crucified,
Never to hurt them more who rightly trust
In this his satisfaction; so he dies,
1310
But soon revives, Death over him no power
Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light
Return, the Stars of Morn shall see him rise
Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light,
Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems,
His death for Man, as many as offered Life
Neglect not, and the benefit embrace
By Faith not void of works: this God-like act
Annuls thy doom▪ the death thou shouldst have died,
In sin forever lost from life; this act
1320
Shall bruise the head of
Satan,
crush his strength
Defeating Sin and Death, his two main arms,
And fix far deeper in his head thir stings
Then temporal death shall bruise the Victors heel,
Or theirs whom he redeems, a death like sleep,
A gentle wafting to immortal Life.
Nor after resurrection shall he stay
Longer on Earth then certain times to appear
To his Disciples, Men who in his Life
Still followed him; to them shall leave in charge
1330
To teach all nations what of him they learned
And his Salvation, them who shall believe
Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign
Of washing them from guilt of sin to Life
Pure, and in mind prepared, if so befall,
For death, like that which the redeemer died.
All Nations they shall teach; for from that day
Not only to the Sons of
Abraham's
Loines
Salvation shall be Preacht, but to the Sons
Of
Abraham's
Faith wherever through the world;
1340
So in his seed all Nations shall be blest.
Then to the Heaven of Heavens he shall ascend
With victory, triumphing through the air
Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise
The Serpent, Prince of air, and drag in Chaines
Through all his realm, & there confounded leave;
Then enter into glory, and resume
His Seat at God's right hand, exalted high
Above all names in Heaven; and thence shall come,
When this worlds dissolution shall be ripe,
1350
With glory and power to judge both quick & dead,
To judge th' unfaithful dead, but to reward
His faithful, and receive them into bliss,
Whether in Heaven or Earth, for then the Earth
Shall all be Paradise, far happier place
Then this of
Eden,
and far happier days.
So spake th' Archangel
Michael,
then paus'd,
As at the Worlds great period; and our Sire
Replete with joy and wonder thus replied.
O goodness infinite, goodness immense!
1360
That all this good of evil shall produce,
And evil turn to good; more wonderful
Then that which by creation first brought forth
Light out of darkness! full of doubt I stand,
Whether I should repent me now of sin
By me done and occasiond, or rejoice
Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring,
To God more glory, more good will to Men
From God, and over wrath grace shall abound.
But say, if our deliverer up to Heaven
1370
Must reascend, what will betide the few
His faithful, left among th' unfaithful herd,
The enemies of truth; who then shall guide
His people, who defend? will they not deal
Wors with his followers then with him they dealt?
Be sure they will, said th' Angel; but from Heaven
He to his own a Comforter will send,
The promise of the Father, who shall dwell
His Spirit within them, and the Law of Faith
Working through love, upon thir hearts shall write,
1380
To guide them in all truth, and also arm
With spiritual Armor, able to resist
Satan's
assaults, and quench his fiery darts,
What Man can do against them, not afraid,
Though to the death, against such cruelties
With inward consolations recompencit,
And oft supported so as shall amaze
Thir proudest persecutors: for the Spirit
Powrd first on his Apostles, whom he sends
To evangelize the Nations, then on all
1390
Baptiz'd, shall them with wondrous gifts endue
To speak all Tongues, and do all Miracles,
As did thir Lord before them. Thus they win
Great numbers of each Nation to receive
With joy the tidings brought from Heaven: at length
Thir Ministry performed, and race well run,
Thir doctrine and thir story written left,
They die; but in thir room, as they forewarn,
Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous Wolves,
Who all the sacred mysteries of Heaven
1400
To thir own vile advantages shall turn
Of lucre and ambition, and the truth
With superstitions and traditions taint,
Left only in those written Records pure,
Though not but by the Spirit understood.
Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names,
Places and titles, and with these to join
Secular power, though feigning still to act
By spiritual, to themselves appropriating
The Spirit of God, promisd alike and given
1410
To all Believers; and from that pretense,
Spiritual Laws by carnal power shall force
On every conscience; Laws which none shall find
Left them inrould, or what the Spirit within
Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then
But force the Spirit of Grace itself, and bind
His consort Liberty; what, but unbuild
His living Temples, built by Faith to stand,
Thir own Faith not another's: for on Earth
Who against Faith and Conscience can be heard
1420
Infallible? yet many will presume:
Whence heavy persecution shall arise
On all who in the worship persevere
Of Spirit and Truth; the rest, far greater part,
Will deem in outward Rites and specious forms
Religion satisfied; Truth shall retire
Bestuck with slandrous darts, and works of Faith
Rarely be found: so shall the World go on,
To good malignant, to bad men benign,
Under her own weight groaning, till the day
1430
Appeer of respiration to the just,
And vengeance to the wicked, at return
Of him so lately promiss'd to thy aid,
The Woman's seed, obscurely then foretold,
Now amplier known thy Savior and thy Lord,
Last in the Clouds from Heaven to be reveald
In glory of the Father, to dissolve
Satan
with his perverted World, then raise
From the conflagrant mass, purged and refined,
New Heavens, new Earth, Ages of endless date
1440
Founded in righteousness and peace and love,
To bring forth fruits Joy and eternal Bliss.
He ended; and thus
Adam
last replied.
How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest,
Measur'd this transient World, the Race of time,
Till time stand fixed: beyond is all abyss,
Eternity, whose end no eye can reach.
Greatly instructed I shall hence depart,
Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill
Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain;
1450
Beyond which was my folly to aspire.
Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best,
And love with fear the only God, to walk
As in his presence, ever to observe,
His providence, and on him sole depend,
Merciful over all his works, with good
Still overcoming evil, and by small
Accomplishing great things, by things deemd weak
Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise
By simply meek; that suffering for Truths sake
1460
Is fortitude to highest victory,
And to the faithful Death the Gate of Life;
Taught this by his example whom I now
Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest.
To whom thus also th' Angel last replied:
This having learnt, thou hast attained the sum
Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the Starrs
Thou knewst by name, and all th' ethereal Powers,
All secrets of the deep, all Natures works,
Or works of God in Heaven, Air, Earth, or Sea,
1470
And all the riches of this World enjoydst,
And all the rule, one Empire; only add
Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add Faith,
Add Virtue, Patience, Temperance, add Love,
By name to come called Charity, the soul
Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath
To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess
A Paradise within thee, happier far.
Let us descend now therefore from this top
Of Speculation; for the hour precise
1480
Exacts our parting hence; and see the Guards,
By me encampt on yonder Hill, expect
Thir motion, at whose Front a flaming Sword,
In signal of remove, waves fiercely round;
We may no longer stay: go, waken
Eve;
Her also I with gentle Dreams have calm'd
Portending good, and all her spirits composed
To meek submission: thou at season fit
Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard,
Chiefly what may concern her Faith to know,
1490
The great deliverance by her Seed to come
(For by the Woman's Seed) on all Mankind.
That ye may live, which will be many days,
Both in one Faith unanimous though sad,
With cause for evils past, yet much more cheered
With meditation on the happy end.
He ended, and they both descend the Hill;
Descended,
Adam
to the Bowre where
Eve
Lay sleeping ran before, but found her wakit;
And thus with words not sad she him received.
1500
Whence thou returnst, & whither wentst, I know;
For God is also in sleep, and Dreams advise,
Which he hath sent propitious, some great good
Presaging, since with sorrow and hearts distress
Wearied I fell asleep: but now lead on;
In me is no delay; with thee to go,
Is to stay here; without thee here to stay,
Is to go hence unwilling; thou to me
Art all things under Heaven, all places thou,
Who for my willful crime art banished hence.
1510
This further consolation yet secure
I carry hence; though all by me is lost,
Such favor I unworthy am voutsaft,
By me the Promis'd Seed shall all restore.
So spake our Mother
Eve,
and
Adam
heard
Well pleased, but answered not; for now too nigh
Th' Archangel stood, and from the other Hill
To thir fixed Station, all in bright array
The Cherubim descended; on the ground
Gliding meteorous, as Ev'ning Mist
1520
Ris'n from a River over the marish glides,
And gathers ground fast at the Laborers heel
Homeward returning. High in Front advancit,
The brandisht Sword of God before them blaz'd
Fierce as a Comet; which with torrid heat,
And vapor as the
Libyan
Air adust,
Began to parch that temperate Clime; whereat
In either hand the hastening Angel caught
Our lingering Parents, and to th' Eastern Gate
Led them direct, and down the Cliff as fast
1530
To the subjected Plain; then disappeer'd.
They looking back, all th' Eastern side beheld
Of Paradise, so late thir happy seat,
Wav'd over by that flaming Brand, the
•…
ate
With dreadful Faces thronged and fiery Arms:
Som natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon;
The World was all before them, where to choose
Thir place of rest, and Providence thir guide:
They hand in hand with wandering steps and slow,
Through
Eden
took thir solitary way.
1540
THE END.