-\r
-This is the February 1992 Project Gutenberg release of: \r
- \r
-Paradise Lost by John Milton \r
- \r
-The oldest etext known to Project Gutenberg (ca. 1964-1965) \r
-(If you know of any older ones, please let us know.) \r
- \r
- \r
-Introduction (one page) \r
- \r
-This etext was originally created in 1964-1965 according to Dr. \r
-Joseph Raben of Queens College, NY, to whom it is attributed by \r
-Project Gutenberg. We had heard of this etext for years but it \r
-was not until 1991 that we actually managed to track it down to \r
-a specific location, and then it took months to convince people \r
-to let us have a copy, then more months for them actually to do \r
-the copying and get it to us. Then another month to convert to \r
-something we could massage with our favorite 486 in DOS. After \r
-that is was only a matter of days to get it into this shape you \r
-will see below. The original was, of course, in CAPS only, and \r
-so were all the other etexts of the 60's and early 70's. Don't \r
-let anyone fool you into thinking any etext with both upper and \r
-lower case is an original; all those original Project Gutenberg \r
-etexts were also in upper case and were translated or rewritten \r
-many times to get them into their current condition. They have \r
-been worked on by many people throughout the world. \r
- \r
-In the course of our searches for Professor Raben and his etext \r
-we were never able to determine where copies were or which of a \r
-variety of editions he may have used as a source. We did get a \r
-little information here and there, but even after we received a \r
-copy of the etext we were unwilling to release it without first \r
-determining that it was in fact Public Domain and finding Raben \r
-to verify this and get his permission. Interested enough, in a \r
-totally unrelated action to our searches for him, the professor \r
-subscribed to the Project Gutenberg listserver and we happened, \r
-by accident, to notice his name. (We don't really look at every \r
-subscription request as the computers usually handle them.) The \r
-etext was then properly identified, copyright analyzed, and the \r
-current edition prepared. \r
- \r
-To give you an estimation of the difference in the original and \r
-what we have today: the original was probably entered on cards \r
-commonly known at the time as "IBM cards" (Do Not Fold, Spindle \r
-or Mutilate) and probably took in excess of 100,000 of them. A \r
-single card could hold 80 characters (hence 80 characters is an \r
-accepted standard for so many computer margins), and the entire \r
-original edition we received in all caps was over 800,000 chars \r
-in length, including line enumeration, symbols for caps and the \r
-punctuation marks, etc., since they were not available keyboard \r
-characters at the time (probably the keyboards operated at baud \r
-rates of around 113, meaning the typists had to type slowly for \r
-the keyboard to keep up). \r
- \r
-This is the second version of Paradise Lost released by Project \r
-Gutenberg. The first was released as our October, 1991 etext. \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
-Paradise Lost \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
-Book I \r
- \r
- \r
-Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit \r
-Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste \r
-Brought death into the World, and all our woe, \r
-With loss of Eden, till one greater Man \r
-Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, \r
-Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top \r
-Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire \r
-That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed \r
-In the beginning how the heavens and earth \r
-Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill \r
-Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flowed \r
-Fast by the oracle of God, I thence \r
-Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, \r
-That with no middle flight intends to soar \r
-Above th' Aonian mount, while it pursues \r
-Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. \r
-And chiefly thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer \r
-Before all temples th' upright heart and pure, \r
-Instruct me, for thou know'st; thou from the first \r
-Wast present, and, with mighty wings outspread, \r
-Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast Abyss, \r
-And mad'st it pregnant: what in me is dark \r
-Illumine, what is low raise and support; \r
-That, to the height of this great argument, \r
-I may assert Eternal Providence, \r
-And justify the ways of God to men. \r
- Say first--for Heaven hides nothing from thy view, \r
-Nor the deep tract of Hell--say first what cause \r
-Moved our grand parents, in that happy state, \r
-Favoured of Heaven so highly, to fall off \r
-From their Creator, and transgress his will \r
-For one restraint, lords of the World besides. \r
-Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? \r
- Th' infernal Serpent; he it was whose guile, \r
-Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived \r
-The mother of mankind, what time his pride \r
-Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host \r
-Of rebel Angels, by whose aid, aspiring \r
-To set himself in glory above his peers, \r
-He trusted to have equalled the Most High, \r
-If he opposed, and with ambitious aim \r
-Against the throne and monarchy of God, \r
-Raised impious war in Heaven and battle proud, \r
-With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power \r
-Hurled headlong flaming from th' ethereal sky, \r
-With hideous ruin and combustion, down \r
-To bottomless perdition, there to dwell \r
-In adamantine chains and penal fire, \r
-Who durst defy th' Omnipotent to arms. \r
- Nine times the space that measures day and night \r
-To mortal men, he, with his horrid crew, \r
-Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf, \r
-Confounded, though immortal. But his doom \r
-Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought \r
-Both of lost happiness and lasting pain \r
-Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, \r
-That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, \r
-Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. \r
-At once, as far as Angels ken, he views \r
-The dismal situation waste and wild. \r
-A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, \r
-As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames \r
-No light; but rather darkness visible \r
-Served only to discover sights of woe, \r
-Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace \r
-And rest can never dwell, hope never comes \r
-That comes to all, but torture without end \r
-Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed \r
-With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. \r
-Such place Eternal Justice has prepared \r
-For those rebellious; here their prison ordained \r
-In utter darkness, and their portion set, \r
-As far removed from God and light of Heaven \r
-As from the centre thrice to th' utmost pole. \r
-Oh how unlike the place from whence they fell! \r
-There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelmed \r
-With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, \r
-He soon discerns; and, weltering by his side, \r
-One next himself in power, and next in crime, \r
-Long after known in Palestine, and named \r
-Beelzebub. To whom th' Arch-Enemy, \r
-And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words \r
-Breaking the horrid silence, thus began:-- \r
- "If thou beest he--but O how fallen! how changed \r
-From him who, in the happy realms of light \r
-Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine \r
-Myriads, though bright!--if he whom mutual league, \r
-United thoughts and counsels, equal hope \r
-And hazard in the glorious enterprise \r
-Joined with me once, now misery hath joined \r
-In equal ruin; into what pit thou seest \r
-From what height fallen: so much the stronger proved \r
-He with his thunder; and till then who knew \r
-The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, \r
-Nor what the potent Victor in his rage \r
-Can else inflict, do I repent, or change, \r
-Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind, \r
-And high disdain from sense of injured merit, \r
-That with the Mightiest raised me to contend, \r
-And to the fierce contentions brought along \r
-Innumerable force of Spirits armed, \r
-That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, \r
-His utmost power with adverse power opposed \r
-In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, \r
-And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? \r
-All is not lost--the unconquerable will, \r
-And study of revenge, immortal hate, \r
-And courage never to submit or yield: \r
-And what is else not to be overcome? \r
-That glory never shall his wrath or might \r
-Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace \r
-With suppliant knee, and deify his power \r
-Who, from the terror of this arm, so late \r
-Doubted his empire--that were low indeed; \r
-That were an ignominy and shame beneath \r
-This downfall; since, by fate, the strength of Gods, \r
-And this empyreal sybstance, cannot fail; \r
-Since, through experience of this great event, \r
-In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, \r
-We may with more successful hope resolve \r
-To wage by force or guile eternal war, \r
-Irreconcilable to our grand Foe, \r
-Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy \r
-Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven." \r
- So spake th' apostate Angel, though in pain, \r
-Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair; \r
-And him thus answered soon his bold compeer:-- \r
- "O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers \r
-That led th' embattled Seraphim to war \r
-Under thy conduct, and, in dreadful deeds \r
-Fearless, endangered Heaven's perpetual King, \r
-And put to proof his high supremacy, \r
-Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate, \r
-Too well I see and rue the dire event \r
-That, with sad overthrow and foul defeat, \r
-Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host \r
-In horrible destruction laid thus low, \r
-As far as Gods and heavenly Essences \r
-Can perish: for the mind and spirit remains \r
-Invincible, and vigour soon returns, \r
-Though all our glory extinct, and happy state \r
-Here swallowed up in endless misery. \r
-But what if he our Conqueror (whom I now \r
-Of force believe almighty, since no less \r
-Than such could have o'erpowered such force as ours) \r
-Have left us this our spirit and strength entire, \r
-Strongly to suffer and support our pains, \r
-That we may so suffice his vengeful ire, \r
-Or do him mightier service as his thralls \r
-By right of war, whate'er his business be, \r
-Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire, \r
-Or do his errands in the gloomy Deep? \r
-What can it the avail though yet we feel \r
-Strength undiminished, or eternal being \r
-To undergo eternal punishment?" \r
- Whereto with speedy words th' Arch-Fiend replied:-- \r
-"Fallen Cherub, to be weak is miserable, \r
-Doing or suffering: but of this be sure-- \r
-To do aught good never will be our task, \r
-But ever to do ill our sole delight, \r
-As being the contrary to his high will \r
-Whom we resist. If then his providence \r
-Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, \r
-Our labour must be to pervert that end, \r
-And out of good still to find means of evil; \r
-Which ofttimes may succeed so as perhaps \r
-Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb \r
-His inmost counsels from their destined aim. \r
-But see! the angry Victor hath recalled \r
-His ministers of vengeance and pursuit \r
-Back to the gates of Heaven: the sulphurous hail, \r
-Shot after us in storm, o'erblown hath laid \r
-The fiery surge that from the precipice \r
-Of Heaven received us falling; and the thunder, \r
-Winged with red lightning and impetuous rage, \r
-Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now \r
-To bellow through the vast and boundless Deep. \r
-Let us not slip th' occasion, whether scorn \r
-Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe. \r
-Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, \r
-The seat of desolation, void of light, \r
-Save what the glimmering of these livid flames \r
-Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend \r
-From off the tossing of these fiery waves; \r
-There rest, if any rest can harbour there; \r
-And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, \r
-Consult how we may henceforth most offend \r
-Our enemy, our own loss how repair, \r
-How overcome this dire calamity, \r
-What reinforcement we may gain from hope, \r
-If not, what resolution from despair." \r
- Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate, \r
-With head uplift above the wave, and eyes \r
-That sparkling blazed; his other parts besides \r
-Prone on the flood, extended long and large, \r
-Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge \r
-As whom the fables name of monstrous size, \r
-Titanian or Earth-born, that warred on Jove, \r
-Briareos or Typhon, whom the den \r
-By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast \r
-Leviathan, which God of all his works \r
-Created hugest that swim th' ocean-stream. \r
-Him, haply slumbering on the Norway foam, \r
-The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff, \r
-Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell, \r
-With fixed anchor in his scaly rind, \r
-Moors by his side under the lee, while night \r
-Invests the sea, and wished morn delays. \r
-So stretched out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay, \r
-Chained on the burning lake; nor ever thence \r
-Had risen, or heaved his head, but that the will \r
-And high permission of all-ruling Heaven \r
-Left him at large to his own dark designs, \r
-That with reiterated crimes he might \r
-Heap on himself damnation, while he sought \r
-Evil to others, and enraged might see \r
-How all his malice served but to bring forth \r
-Infinite goodness, grace, and mercy, shewn \r
-On Man by him seduced, but on himself \r
-Treble confusion, wrath, and vengeance poured. \r
- Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool \r
-His mighty stature; on each hand the flames \r
-Driven backward slope their pointing spires, and,rolled \r
-In billows, leave i' th' midst a horrid vale. \r
-Then with expanded wings he steers his flight \r
-Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air, \r
-That felt unusual weight; till on dry land \r
-He lights--if it were land that ever burned \r
-With solid, as the lake with liquid fire, \r
-And such appeared in hue as when the force \r
-Of subterranean wind transprots a hill \r
-Torn from Pelorus, or the shattered side \r
-Of thundering Etna, whose combustible \r
-And fuelled entrails, thence conceiving fire, \r
-Sublimed with mineral fury, aid the winds, \r
-And leave a singed bottom all involved \r
-With stench and smoke. Such resting found the sole \r
-Of unblest feet. Him followed his next mate; \r
-Both glorying to have scaped the Stygian flood \r
-As gods, and by their own recovered strength, \r
-Not by the sufferance of supernal Power. \r
- "Is this the region, this the soil, the clime," \r
-Said then the lost Archangel, "this the seat \r
-That we must change for Heaven?--this mournful gloom \r
-For that celestial light? Be it so, since he \r
-Who now is sovereign can dispose and bid \r
-What shall be right: farthest from him is best \r
-Whom reason hath equalled, force hath made supreme \r
-Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields, \r
-Where joy for ever dwells! Hail, horrors! hail, \r
-Infernal world! and thou, profoundest Hell, \r
-Receive thy new possessor--one who brings \r
-A mind not to be changed by place or time. \r
-The mind is its own place, and in itself \r
-Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. \r
-What matter where, if I be still the same, \r
-And what I should be, all but less than he \r
-Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least \r
-We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built \r
-Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: \r
-Here we may reigh secure; and, in my choice, \r
-To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: \r
-Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. \r
-But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, \r
-Th' associates and co-partners of our loss, \r
-Lie thus astonished on th' oblivious pool, \r
-And call them not to share with us their part \r
-In this unhappy mansion, or once more \r
-With rallied arms to try what may be yet \r
-Regained in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell?" \r
- So Satan spake; and him Beelzebub \r
-Thus answered:--"Leader of those armies bright \r
-Which, but th' Omnipotent, none could have foiled! \r
-If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge \r
-Of hope in fears and dangers--heard so oft \r
-In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge \r
-Of battle, when it raged, in all assaults \r
-Their surest signal--they will soon resume \r
-New courage and revive, though now they lie \r
-Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, \r
-As we erewhile, astounded and amazed; \r
-No wonder, fallen such a pernicious height!" \r
- He scare had ceased when the superior Fiend \r
-Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield, \r
-Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, \r
-Behind him cast. The broad circumference \r
-Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb \r
-Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views \r
-At evening, from the top of Fesole, \r
-Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, \r
-Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe. \r
-His spear--to equal which the tallest pine \r
-Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast \r
-Of some great ammiral, were but a wand-- \r
-He walked with, to support uneasy steps \r
-Over the burning marl, not like those steps \r
-On Heaven's azure; and the torrid clime \r
-Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire. \r
-Nathless he so endured, till on the beach \r
-Of that inflamed sea he stood, and called \r
-His legions--Angel Forms, who lay entranced \r
-Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks \r
-In Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades \r
-High over-arched embower; or scattered sedge \r
-Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion armed \r
-Hath vexed the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o'erthrew \r
-Busiris and his Memphian chivalry, \r
-While with perfidious hatred they pursued \r
-The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld \r
-From the safe shore their floating carcases \r
-And broken chariot-wheels. So thick bestrown, \r
-Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, \r
-Under amazement of their hideous change. \r
-He called so loud that all the hollow deep \r
-Of Hell resounded:--"Princes, Potentates, \r
-Warriors, the Flower of Heaven--once yours; now lost, \r
-If such astonishment as this can seize \r
-Eternal Spirits! Or have ye chosen this place \r
-After the toil of battle to repose \r
-Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find \r
-To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven? \r
-Or in this abject posture have ye sworn \r
-To adore the Conqueror, who now beholds \r
-Cherub and Seraph rolling in the flood \r
-With scattered arms and ensigns, till anon \r
-His swift pursuers from Heaven-gates discern \r
-Th' advantage, and, descending, tread us down \r
-Thus drooping, or with linked thunderbolts \r
-Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf? \r
-Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen!" \r
- They heard, and were abashed, and up they sprung \r
-Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch \r
-On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, \r
-Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. \r
-Nor did they not perceive the evil plight \r
-In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; \r
-Yet to their General's voice they soon obeyed \r
-Innumerable. As when the potent rod \r
-Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, \r
-Waved round the coast, up-called a pitchy cloud \r
-Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind, \r
-That o'er the realm of impious Pharaoh hung \r
-Like Night, and darkened all the land of Nile; \r
-So numberless were those bad Angels seen \r
-Hovering on wing under the cope of Hell, \r
-'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires; \r
-Till, as a signal given, th' uplifted spear \r
-Of their great Sultan waving to direct \r
-Their course, in even balance down they light \r
-On the firm brimstone, and fill all the plain: \r
-A multitude like which the populous North \r
-Poured never from her frozen loins to pass \r
-Rhene or the Danaw, when her barbarous sons \r
-Came like a deluge on the South, and spread \r
-Beneath Gibraltar to the Libyan sands. \r
-Forthwith, form every squadron and each band, \r
-The heads and leaders thither haste where stood \r
-Their great Commander--godlike Shapes, and Forms \r
-Excelling human; princely Dignities; \r
-And Powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones, \r
-Though on their names in Heavenly records now \r
-Be no memorial, blotted out and rased \r
-By their rebellion from the Books of Life. \r
-Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve \r
-Got them new names, till, wandering o'er the earth, \r
-Through God's high sufferance for the trial of man, \r
-By falsities and lies the greatest part \r
-Of mankind they corrupted to forsake \r
-God their Creator, and th' invisible \r
-Glory of him that made them to transform \r
-Oft to the image of a brute, adorned \r
-With gay religions full of pomp and gold, \r
-And devils to adore for deities: \r
-Then were they known to men by various names, \r
-And various idols through the heathen world. \r
- Say, Muse, their names then known, who first, who last, \r
-Roused from the slumber on that fiery couch, \r
-At their great Emperor's call, as next in worth \r
-Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, \r
-While the promiscuous crowd stood yet aloof? \r
- The chief were those who, from the pit of Hell \r
-Roaming to seek their prey on Earth, durst fix \r
-Their seats, long after, next the seat of God, \r
-Their altars by his altar, gods adored \r
-Among the nations round, and durst abide \r
-Jehovah thundering out of Sion, throned \r
-Between the Cherubim; yea, often placed \r
-Within his sanctuary itself their shrines, \r
-Abominations; and with cursed things \r
-His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned, \r
-And with their darkness durst affront his light. \r
-First, Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood \r
-Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears; \r
-Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, \r
-Their children's cries unheard that passed through fire \r
-To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite \r
-Worshiped in Rabba and her watery plain, \r
-In Argob and in Basan, to the stream \r
-Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such \r
-Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart \r
-Of Solomon he led by fraoud to build \r
-His temple right against the temple of God \r
-On that opprobrious hill, and made his grove \r
-The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence \r
-And black Gehenna called, the type of Hell. \r
-Next Chemos, th' obscene dread of Moab's sons, \r
-From Aroar to Nebo and the wild \r
-Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon \r
-And Horonaim, Seon's real, beyond \r
-The flowery dale of Sibma clad with vines, \r
-And Eleale to th' Asphaltic Pool: \r
-Peor his other name, when he enticed \r
-Israel in Sittim, on their march from Nile, \r
-To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. \r
-Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarged \r
-Even to that hill of scandal, by the grove \r
-Of Moloch homicide, lust hard by hate, \r
-Till good Josiah drove them thence to Hell. \r
-With these came they who, from the bordering flood \r
-Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts \r
-Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names \r
-Of Baalim and Ashtaroth--those male, \r
-These feminine. For Spirits, when they please, \r
-Can either sex assume, or both; so soft \r
-And uncompounded is their essence pure, \r
-Not tried or manacled with joint or limb, \r
-Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, \r
-Like cumbrous flesh; but, in what shape they choose, \r
-Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, \r
-Can execute their airy purposes, \r
-And works of love or enmity fulfil. \r
-For those the race of Israel oft forsook \r
-Their Living Strength, and unfrequented left \r
-His righteous altar, bowing lowly down \r
-To bestial gods; for which their heads as low \r
-Bowed down in battle, sunk before the spear \r
-Of despicable foes. With these in troop \r
-Came Astoreth, whom the Phoenicians called \r
-Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns; \r
-To whose bright image nigntly by the moon \r
-Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs; \r
-In Sion also not unsung, where stood \r
-Her temple on th' offensive mountain, built \r
-By that uxorious king whose heart, though large, \r
-Beguiled by fair idolatresses, fell \r
-To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, \r
-Whose annual wound in Lebanon allured \r
-The Syrian damsels to lament his fate \r
-In amorous ditties all a summer's day, \r
-While smooth Adonis from his native rock \r
-Ran purple to the sea, supposed with blood \r
-Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale \r
-Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, \r
-Whose wanton passions in the sacred proch \r
-Ezekiel saw, when, by the vision led, \r
-His eye surveyed the dark idolatries \r
-Of alienated Judah. Next came one \r
-Who mourned in earnest, when the captive ark \r
-Maimed his brute image, head and hands lopt off, \r
-In his own temple, on the grunsel-edge, \r
-Where he fell flat and shamed his worshippers: \r
-Dagon his name, sea-monster,upward man \r
-And downward fish; yet had his temple high \r
-Reared in Azotus, dreaded through the coast \r
-Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, \r
-And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. \r
-Him followed Rimmon, whose delightful seat \r
-Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks \r
-Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. \r
-He also against the house of God was bold: \r
-A leper once he lost, and gained a king-- \r
-Ahaz, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew \r
-God's altar to disparage and displace \r
-For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn \r
-His odious offerings, and adore the gods \r
-Whom he had vanquished. After these appeared \r
-A crew who, under names of old renown-- \r
-Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train-- \r
-With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused \r
-Fanatic Egypt and her priests to seek \r
-Their wandering gods disguised in brutish forms \r
-Rather than human. Nor did Israel scape \r
-Th' infection, when their borrowed gold composed \r
-The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king \r
-Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, \r
-Likening his Maker to the grazed ox-- \r
-Jehovah, who, in one night, when he passed \r
-From Egypt marching, equalled with one stroke \r
-Both her first-born and all her bleating gods. \r
-Belial came last; than whom a Spirit more lewd \r
-Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love \r
-Vice for itself. To him no temple stood \r
-Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he \r
-In temples and at altars, when the priest \r
-Turns atheist, as did Eli's sons, who filled \r
-With lust and violence the house of God? \r
-In courts and palaces he also reigns, \r
-And in luxurious cities, where the noise \r
-Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, \r
-And injury and outrage; and, when night \r
-Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons \r
-Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. \r
-Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night \r
-In Gibeah, when the hospitable door \r
-Exposed a matron, to avoid worse rape. \r
- These were the prime in order and in might: \r
-The rest were long to tell; though far renowned \r
-Th' Ionian gods--of Javan's issue held \r
-Gods, yet confessed later than Heaven and Earth, \r
-Their boasted parents;--Titan, Heaven's first-born, \r
-With his enormous brood, and birthright seized \r
-By younger Saturn: he from mightier Jove, \r
-His own and Rhea's son, like measure found; \r
-So Jove usurping reigned. These, first in Crete \r
-And Ida known, thence on the snowy top \r
-Of cold Olympus ruled the middle air, \r
-Their highest heaven; or on the Delphian cliff, \r
-Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds \r
-Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old \r
-Fled over Adria to th' Hesperian fields, \r
-And o'er the Celtic roamed the utmost Isles. \r
- All these and more came flocking; but with looks \r
-Downcast and damp; yet such wherein appeared \r
-Obscure some glimpse of joy to have found their Chief \r
-Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost \r
-In loss itself; which on his countenance cast \r
-Like doubtful hue. But he, his wonted pride \r
-Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore \r
-Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised \r
-Their fainting courage, and dispelled their fears. \r
-Then straight commands that, at the warlike sound \r
-Of trumpets loud and clarions, be upreared \r
-His mighty standard. That proud honour claimed \r
-Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall: \r
-Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled \r
-Th' imperial ensign; which, full high advanced, \r
-Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, \r
-With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed, \r
-Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while \r
-Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds: \r
-At which the universal host up-sent \r
-A shout that tore Hell's concave, and beyond \r
-Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. \r
-All in a moment through the gloom were seen \r
-Ten thousand banners rise into the air, \r
-With orient colours waving: with them rose \r
-A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms \r
-Appeared, and serried shields in thick array \r
-Of depth immeasurable. Anon they move \r
-In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood \r
-Of flutes and soft recorders--such as raised \r
-To height of noblest temper heroes old \r
-Arming to battle, and instead of rage \r
-Deliberate valour breathed, firm, and unmoved \r
-With dread of death to flight or foul retreat; \r
-Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage \r
-With solemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase \r
-Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain \r
-From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they, \r
-Breathing united force with fixed thought, \r
-Moved on in silence to soft pipes that charmed \r
-Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil. And now \r
-Advanced in view they stand--a horrid front \r
-Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise \r
-Of warriors old, with ordered spear and shield, \r
-Awaiting what command their mighty Chief \r
-Had to impose. He through the armed files \r
-Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse \r
-The whole battalion views--their order due, \r
-Their visages and stature as of gods; \r
-Their number last he sums. And now his heart \r
-Distends with pride, and, hardening in his strength, \r
-Glories: for never, since created Man, \r
-Met such embodied force as, named with these, \r
-Could merit more than that small infantry \r
-Warred on by cranes--though all the giant brood \r
-Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were joined \r
-That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side \r
-Mixed with auxiliar gods; and what resounds \r
-In fable or romance of Uther's son, \r
-Begirt with British and Armoric knights; \r
-And all who since, baptized or infidel, \r
-Jousted in Aspramont, or Montalban, \r
-Damasco, or Marocco, or Trebisond, \r
-Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore \r
-When Charlemain with all his peerage fell \r
-By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond \r
-Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed \r
-Their dread Commander. He, above the rest \r
-In shape and gesture proudly eminent, \r
-Stood like a tower. His form had yet not lost \r
-All her original brightness, nor appeared \r
-Less than Archangel ruined, and th' excess \r
-Of glory obscured: as when the sun new-risen \r
-Looks through the horizontal misty air \r
-Shorn of his beams, or, from behind the moon, \r
-In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds \r
-On half the nations, and with fear of change \r
-Perplexes monarchs. Darkened so, yet shone \r
-Above them all th' Archangel: but his face \r
-Deep scars of thunder had intrenched, and care \r
-Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows \r
-Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride \r
-Waiting revenge. Cruel his eye, but cast \r
-Signs of remorse and passion, to behold \r
-The fellows of his crime, the followers rather \r
-(Far other once beheld in bliss), condemned \r
-For ever now to have their lot in pain-- \r
-Millions of Spirits for his fault amerced \r
-Of Heaven, and from eteranl splendours flung \r
-For his revolt--yet faithful how they stood, \r
-Their glory withered; as, when heaven's fire \r
-Hath scathed the forest oaks or mountain pines, \r
-With singed top their stately growth, though bare, \r
-Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepared \r
-To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend \r
-From wing to wing, and half enclose him round \r
-With all his peers: attention held them mute. \r
-Thrice he assayed, and thrice, in spite of scorn, \r
-Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last \r
-Words interwove with sighs found out their way:-- \r
- "O myriads of immortal Spirits! O Powers \r
-Matchless, but with th' Almighth!--and that strife \r
-Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire, \r
-As this place testifies, and this dire change, \r
-Hateful to utter. But what power of mind, \r
-Forseeing or presaging, from the depth \r
-Of knowledge past or present, could have feared \r
-How such united force of gods, how such \r
-As stood like these, could ever know repulse? \r
-For who can yet believe, though after loss, \r
-That all these puissant legions, whose exile \r
-Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend, \r
-Self-raised, and repossess their native seat? \r
-For me, be witness all the host of Heaven, \r
-If counsels different, or danger shunned \r
-By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns \r
-Monarch in Heaven till then as one secure \r
-Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, \r
-Consent or custom, and his regal state \r
-Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed-- \r
-Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. \r
-Henceforth his might we know, and know our own, \r
-So as not either to provoke, or dread \r
-New war provoked: our better part remains \r
-To work in close design, by fraud or guile, \r
-What force effected not; that he no less \r
-At length from us may find, who overcomes \r
-By force hath overcome but half his foe. \r
-Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife \r
-There went a fame in Heaven that he ere long \r
-Intended to create, and therein plant \r
-A generation whom his choice regard \r
-Should favour equal to the Sons of Heaven. \r
-Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps \r
-Our first eruption--thither, or elsewhere; \r
-For this infernal pit shall never hold \r
-Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor th' Abyss \r
-Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts \r
-Full counsel must mature. Peace is despaired; \r
-For who can think submission? War, then, war \r
-Open or understood, must be resolved." \r
- He spake; and, to confirm his words, outflew \r
-Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs \r
-Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze \r
-Far round illumined Hell. Highly they raged \r
-Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms \r
-Clashed on their sounding shields the din of war, \r
-Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven. \r
- There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top \r
-Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire \r
-Shone with a glossy scurf--undoubted sign \r
-That in his womb was hid metallic ore, \r
-The work of sulphur. Thither, winged with speed, \r
-A numerous brigade hastened: as when bands \r
-Of pioneers, with spade and pickaxe armed, \r
-Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field, \r
-Or cast a rampart. Mammon led them on-- \r
-Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell \r
-From Heaven; for even in Heaven his looks and thoughts \r
-Were always downward bent, admiring more \r
-The riches of heaven's pavement, trodden gold, \r
-Than aught divine or holy else enjoyed \r
-In vision beatific. By him first \r
-Men also, and by his suggestion taught, \r
-Ransacked the centre, and with impious hands \r
-Rifled the bowels of their mother Earth \r
-For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew \r
-Opened into the hill a spacious wound, \r
-And digged out ribs of gold. Let none admire \r
-That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best \r
-Deserve the precious bane. And here let those \r
-Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell \r
-Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings, \r
-Learn how their greatest monuments of fame \r
-And strength, and art, are easily outdone \r
-By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour \r
-What in an age they, with incessant toil \r
-And hands innumerable, scarce perform. \r
-Nigh on the plain, in many cells prepared, \r
-That underneath had veins of liquid fire \r
-Sluiced from the lake, a second multitude \r
-With wondrous art founded the massy ore, \r
-Severing each kind, and scummed the bullion-dross. \r
-A third as soon had formed within the ground \r
-A various mould, and from the boiling cells \r
-By strange conveyance filled each hollow nook; \r
-As in an organ, from one blast of wind, \r
-To many a row of pipes the sound-board breathes. \r
-Anon out of the earth a fabric huge \r
-Rose like an exhalation, with the sound \r
-Of dulcet symphonies and voices sweet-- \r
-Built like a temple, where pilasters round \r
-Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid \r
-With golden architrave; nor did there want \r
-Cornice or frieze, with bossy sculptures graven; \r
-The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon \r
-Nor great Alcairo such magnificence \r
-Equalled in all their glories, to enshrine \r
-Belus or Serapis their gods, or seat \r
-Their kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove \r
-In wealth and luxury. Th' ascending pile \r
-Stood fixed her stately height, and straight the doors, \r
-Opening their brazen folds, discover, wide \r
-Within, her ample spaces o'er the smooth \r
-And level pavement: from the arched roof, \r
-Pendent by subtle magic, many a row \r
-Of starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed \r
-With naptha and asphaltus, yielded light \r
-As from a sky. The hasty multitude \r
-Admiring entered; and the work some praise, \r
-And some the architect. His hand was known \r
-In Heaven by many a towered structure high, \r
-Where sceptred Angels held their residence, \r
-And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King \r
-Exalted to such power, and gave to rule, \r
-Each in his Hierarchy, the Orders bright. \r
-Nor was his name unheard or unadored \r
-In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land \r
-Men called him Mulciber; and how he fell \r
-From Heaven they fabled, thrown by angry Jove \r
-Sheer o'er the crystal battlements: from morn \r
-To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, \r
-A summer's day, and with the setting sun \r
-Dropt from the zenith, like a falling star, \r
-On Lemnos, th' Aegaean isle. Thus they relate, \r
-Erring; for he with this rebellious rout \r
-Fell long before; nor aught aviled him now \r
-To have built in Heaven high towers; nor did he scape \r
-By all his engines, but was headlong sent, \r
-With his industrious crew, to build in Hell. \r
- Meanwhile the winged Heralds, by command \r
-Of sovereign power, with awful ceremony \r
-And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim \r
-A solemn council forthwith to be held \r
-At Pandemonium, the high capital \r
-Of Satan and his peers. Their summons called \r
-From every band and squared regiment \r
-By place or choice the worthiest: they anon \r
-With hundreds and with thousands trooping came \r
-Attended. All access was thronged; the gates \r
-And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall \r
-(Though like a covered field, where champions bold \r
-Wont ride in armed, and at the Soldan's chair \r
-Defied the best of Paynim chivalry \r
-To mortal combat, or career with lance), \r
-Thick swarmed, both on the ground and in the air, \r
-Brushed with the hiss of rustling wings. As bees \r
-In spring-time, when the Sun with Taurus rides. \r
-Pour forth their populous youth about the hive \r
-In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers \r
-Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank, \r
-The suburb of their straw-built citadel, \r
-New rubbed with balm, expatiate, and confer \r
-Their state-affairs: so thick the airy crowd \r
-Swarmed and were straitened; till, the signal given, \r
-Behold a wonder! They but now who seemed \r
-In bigness to surpass Earth's giant sons, \r
-Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room \r
-Throng numberless--like that pygmean race \r
-Beyond the Indian mount; or faery elves, \r
-Whose midnight revels, by a forest-side \r
-Or fountain, some belated peasant sees, \r
-Or dreams he sees, while overhead the Moon \r
-Sits arbitress, and nearer to the Earth \r
-Wheels her pale course: they, on their mirth and dance \r
-Intent, with jocund music charm his ear; \r
-At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. \r
-Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms \r
-Reduced their shapes immense, and were at large, \r
-Though without number still, amidst the hall \r
-Of that infernal court. But far within, \r
-And in their own dimensions like themselves, \r
-The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim \r
-In close recess and secret conclave sat, \r
-A thousand demi-gods on golden seats, \r
-Frequent and full. After short silence then, \r
-And summons read, the great consult began. \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
-Book II \r
- \r
- \r
-High on a throne of royal state, which far \r
-Outshone the wealth or Ormus and of Ind, \r
-Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand \r
-Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, \r
-Satan exalted sat, by merit raised \r
-To that bad eminence; and, from despair \r
-Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires \r
-Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue \r
-Vain war with Heaven; and, by success untaught, \r
-His proud imaginations thus displayed:-- \r
- "Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven!-- \r
-For, since no deep within her gulf can hold \r
-Immortal vigour, though oppressed and fallen, \r
-I give not Heaven for lost: from this descent \r
-Celestial Virtues rising will appear \r
-More glorious and more dread than from no fall, \r
-And trust themselves to fear no second fate!-- \r
-Me though just right, and the fixed laws of Heaven, \r
-Did first create your leader--next, free choice \r
-With what besides in council or in fight \r
-Hath been achieved of merit--yet this loss, \r
-Thus far at least recovered, hath much more \r
-Established in a safe, unenvied throne, \r
-Yielded with full consent. The happier state \r
-In Heaven, which follows dignity, might draw \r
-Envy from each inferior; but who here \r
-Will envy whom the highest place exposes \r
-Foremost to stand against the Thunderer's aim \r
-Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share \r
-Of endless pain? Where there is, then, no good \r
-For which to strive, no strife can grow up there \r
-From faction: for none sure will claim in Hell \r
-Precedence; none whose portion is so small \r
-Of present pain that with ambitious mind \r
-Will covet more! With this advantage, then, \r
-To union, and firm faith, and firm accord, \r
-More than can be in Heaven, we now return \r
-To claim our just inheritance of old, \r
-Surer to prosper than prosperity \r
-Could have assured us; and by what best way, \r
-Whether of open war or covert guile, \r
-We now debate. Who can advise may speak." \r
- He ceased; and next him Moloch, sceptred king, \r
-Stood up--the strongest and the fiercest Spirit \r
-That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despair. \r
-His trust was with th' Eternal to be deemed \r
-Equal in strength, and rather than be less \r
-Cared not to be at all; with that care lost \r
-Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse, \r
-He recked not, and these words thereafter spake:-- \r
- "My sentence is for open war. Of wiles, \r
-More unexpert, I boast not: them let those \r
-Contrive who need, or when they need; not now. \r
-For, while they sit contriving, shall the rest-- \r
-Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait \r
-The signal to ascend--sit lingering here, \r
-Heaven's fugitives, and for their dwelling-place \r
-Accept this dark opprobrious den of shame, \r
-The prison of his ryranny who reigns \r
-By our delay? No! let us rather choose, \r
-Armed with Hell-flames and fury, all at once \r
-O'er Heaven's high towers to force resistless way, \r
-Turning our tortures into horrid arms \r
-Against the Torturer; when, to meet the noise \r
-Of his almighty engine, he shall hear \r
-Infernal thunder, and, for lightning, see \r
-Black fire and horror shot with equal rage \r
-Among his Angels, and his throne itself \r
-Mixed with Tartarean sulphur and strange fire, \r
-His own invented torments. But perhaps \r
-The way seems difficult, and steep to scale \r
-With upright wing against a higher foe! \r
-Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench \r
-Of that forgetful lake benumb not still, \r
-That in our porper motion we ascend \r
-Up to our native seat; descent and fall \r
-To us is adverse. Who but felt of late, \r
-When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear \r
-Insulting, and pursued us through the Deep, \r
-With what compulsion and laborious flight \r
-We sunk thus low? Th' ascent is easy, then; \r
-Th' event is feared! Should we again provoke \r
-Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find \r
-To our destruction, if there be in Hell \r
-Fear to be worse destroyed! What can be worse \r
-Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned \r
-In this abhorred deep to utter woe! \r
-Where pain of unextinguishable fire \r
-Must exercise us without hope of end \r
-The vassals of his anger, when the scourge \r
-Inexorably, and the torturing hour, \r
-Calls us to penance? More destroyed than thus, \r
-We should be quite abolished, and expire. \r
-What fear we then? what doubt we to incense \r
-His utmost ire? which, to the height enraged, \r
-Will either quite consume us, and reduce \r
-To nothing this essential--happier far \r
-Than miserable to have eternal being!-- \r
-Or, if our substance be indeed divine, \r
-And cannot cease to be, we are at worst \r
-On this side nothing; and by proof we feel \r
-Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven, \r
-And with perpetual inroads to alarm, \r
-Though inaccessible, his fatal throne: \r
-Which, if not victory, is yet revenge." \r
- He ended frowning, and his look denounced \r
-Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous \r
-To less than gods. On th' other side up rose \r
-Belial, in act more graceful and humane. \r
-A fairer person lost not Heaven; he seemed \r
-For dignity composed, and high exploit. \r
-But all was false and hollow; though his tongue \r
-Dropped manna, and could make the worse appear \r
-The better reason, to perplex and dash \r
-Maturest counsels: for his thoughts were low-- \r
- To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds \r
-Timorous and slothful. Yet he pleased the ear, \r
-And with persuasive accent thus began:-- \r
- "I should be much for open war, O Peers, \r
-As not behind in hate, if what was urged \r
-Main reason to persuade immediate war \r
-Did not dissuade me most, and seem to cast \r
-Ominous conjecture on the whole success; \r
-When he who most excels in fact of arms, \r
-In what he counsels and in what excels \r
-Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair \r
-And utter dissolution, as the scope \r
-Of all his aim, after some dire revenge. \r
-First, what revenge? The towers of Heaven are filled \r
-With armed watch, that render all access \r
-Impregnable: oft on the bodering Deep \r
-Encamp their legions, or with obscure wing \r
-Scout far and wide into the realm of Night, \r
-Scorning surprise. Or, could we break our way \r
-By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise \r
-With blackest insurrection to confound \r
-Heaven's purest light, yet our great Enemy, \r
-All incorruptible, would on his throne \r
-Sit unpolluted, and th' ethereal mould, \r
-Incapable of stain, would soon expel \r
-Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire, \r
-Victorious. Thus repulsed, our final hope \r
-Is flat despair: we must exasperate \r
-Th' Almighty Victor to spend all his rage; \r
-And that must end us; that must be our cure-- \r
-To be no more. Sad cure! for who would lose, \r
-Though full of pain, this intellectual being, \r
-Those thoughts that wander through eternity, \r
-To perish rather, swallowed up and lost \r
-In the wide womb of uncreated Night, \r
-Devoid of sense and motion? And who knows, \r
-Let this be good, whether our angry Foe \r
-Can give it, or will ever? How he can \r
-Is doubtful; that he never will is sure. \r
-Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire, \r
-Belike through impotence or unaware, \r
-To give his enemies their wish, and end \r
-Them in his anger whom his anger saves \r
-To punish endless? 'Wherefore cease we, then?' \r
-Say they who counsel war; 'we are decreed, \r
-Reserved, and destined to eternal woe; \r
-Whatever doing, what can we suffer more, \r
-What can we suffer worse?' Is this, then, worst-- \r
-Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in arms? \r
-What when we fled amain, pursued and struck \r
-With Heaven's afflicting thunder, and besought \r
-The Deep to shelter us? This Hell then seemed \r
-A refuge from those wounds. Or when we lay \r
-Chained on the burning lake? That sure was worse. \r
-What if the breath that kindled those grim fires, \r
-Awaked, should blow them into sevenfold rage, \r
-And plunge us in the flames; or from above \r
-Should intermitted vengeance arm again \r
-His red right hand to plague us? What if all \r
-Her stores were opened, and this firmament \r
-Of Hell should spout her cataracts of fire, \r
-Impendent horrors, threatening hideous fall \r
-One day upon our heads; while we perhaps, \r
-Designing or exhorting glorious war, \r
-Caught in a fiery tempest, shall be hurled, \r
-Each on his rock transfixed, the sport and prey \r
-Or racking whirlwinds, or for ever sunk \r
-Under yon boiling ocean, wrapt in chains, \r
-There to converse with everlasting groans, \r
-Unrespited, unpitied, unreprieved, \r
-Ages of hopeless end? This would be worse. \r
-War, therefore, open or concealed, alike \r
-My voice dissuades; for what can force or guile \r
-With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye \r
-Views all things at one view? He from Heaven's height \r
-All these our motions vain sees and derides, \r
-Not more almighty to resist our might \r
-Than wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. \r
-Shall we, then, live thus vile--the race of Heaven \r
-Thus trampled, thus expelled, to suffer here \r
-Chains and these torments? Better these than worse, \r
-By my advice; since fate inevitable \r
-Subdues us, and omnipotent decree, \r
-The Victor's will. To suffer, as to do, \r
-Our strength is equal; nor the law unjust \r
-That so ordains. This was at first resolved, \r
-If we were wise, against so great a foe \r
-Contending, and so doubtful what might fall. \r
-I laugh when those who at the spear are bold \r
-And venturous, if that fail them, shrink, and fear \r
-What yet they know must follow--to endure \r
-Exile, or igominy, or bonds, or pain, \r
-The sentence of their Conqueror. This is now \r
-Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear, \r
-Our Supreme Foe in time may much remit \r
-His anger, and perhaps, thus far removed, \r
-Not mind us not offending, satisfied \r
-With what is punished; whence these raging fires \r
-Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. \r
-Our purer essence then will overcome \r
-Their noxious vapour; or, inured, not feel; \r
-Or, changed at length, and to the place conformed \r
-In temper and in nature, will receive \r
-Familiar the fierce heat; and, void of pain, \r
-This horror will grow mild, this darkness light; \r
-Besides what hope the never-ending flight \r
-Of future days may bring, what chance, what change \r
-Worth waiting--since our present lot appears \r
-For happy though but ill, for ill not worst, \r
-If we procure not to ourselves more woe." \r
- Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb, \r
-Counselled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth, \r
-Not peace; and after him thus Mammon spake:-- \r
- "Either to disenthrone the King of Heaven \r
-We war, if war be best, or to regain \r
-Our own right lost. Him to unthrone we then \r
-May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield \r
-To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife. \r
-The former, vain to hope, argues as vain \r
-The latter; for what place can be for us \r
-Within Heaven's bound, unless Heaven's Lord supreme \r
-We overpower? Suppose he should relent \r
-And publish grace to all, on promise made \r
-Of new subjection; with what eyes could we \r
-Stand in his presence humble, and receive \r
-Strict laws imposed, to celebrate his throne \r
-With warbled hyms, and to his Godhead sing \r
-Forced hallelujahs, while he lordly sits \r
-Our envied sovereign, and his altar breathes \r
-Ambrosial odours and ambrosial flowers, \r
-Our servile offerings? This must be our task \r
-In Heaven, this our delight. How wearisome \r
-Eternity so spent in worship paid \r
-To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue, \r
-By force impossible, by leave obtained \r
-Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state \r
-Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek \r
-Our own good from ourselves, and from our own \r
-Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess, \r
-Free and to none accountable, preferring \r
-Hard liberty before the easy yoke \r
-Of servile pomp. Our greatness will appear \r
-Then most conspicuous when great things of small, \r
-Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse, \r
-We can create, and in what place soe'er \r
-Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain \r
-Through labour and endurance. This deep world \r
-Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst \r
-Thick clouds and dark doth Heaven's all-ruling Sire \r
-Choose to reside, his glory unobscured, \r
-And with the majesty of darkness round \r
-Covers his throne, from whence deep thunders roar. \r
-Mustering their rage, and Heaven resembles Hell! \r
-As he our darkness, cannot we his light \r
-Imitate when we please? This desert soil \r
-Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold; \r
-Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise \r
-Magnificence; and what can Heaven show more? \r
-Our torments also may, in length of time, \r
-Become our elements, these piercing fires \r
-As soft as now severe, our temper changed \r
-Into their temper; which must needs remove \r
-The sensible of pain. All things invite \r
-To peaceful counsels, and the settled state \r
-Of order, how in safety best we may \r
-Compose our present evils, with regard \r
-Of what we are and where, dismissing quite \r
-All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise." \r
- He scarce had finished, when such murmur filled \r
-Th' assembly as when hollow rocks retain \r
-The sound of blustering winds, which all night long \r
-Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull \r
-Seafaring men o'erwatched, whose bark by chance \r
-Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay \r
-After the tempest. Such applause was heard \r
-As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased, \r
-Advising peace: for such another field \r
-They dreaded worse than Hell; so much the fear \r
-Of thunder and the sword of Michael \r
-Wrought still within them; and no less desire \r
-To found this nether empire, which might rise, \r
-By policy and long process of time, \r
-In emulation opposite to Heaven. \r
-Which when Beelzebub perceived--than whom, \r
-Satan except, none higher sat--with grave \r
-Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed \r
-A pillar of state. Deep on his front engraven \r
-Deliberation sat, and public care; \r
-And princely counsel in his face yet shone, \r
-Majestic, though in ruin. Sage he stood \r
-With Atlantean shoulders, fit to bear \r
-The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look \r
-Drew audience and attention still as night \r
-Or summer's noontide air, while thus he spake:-- \r
- "Thrones and Imperial Powers, Offspring of Heaven, \r
-Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now \r
-Must we renounce, and, changing style, be called \r
-Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote \r
-Inclines--here to continue, and build up here \r
-A growing empire; doubtless! while we dream, \r
-And know not that the King of Heaven hath doomed \r
-This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat \r
-Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt \r
-From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league \r
-Banded against his throne, but to remain \r
-In strictest bondage, though thus far removed, \r
-Under th' inevitable curb, reserved \r
-His captive multitude. For he, to be sure, \r
-In height or depth, still first and last will reign \r
-Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part \r
-By our revolt, but over Hell extend \r
-His empire, and with iron sceptre rule \r
-Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven. \r
-What sit we then projecting peace and war? \r
-War hath determined us and foiled with loss \r
-Irreparable; terms of peace yet none \r
-Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given \r
-To us enslaved, but custody severe, \r
-And stripes and arbitrary punishment \r
-Inflicted? and what peace can we return, \r
-But, to our power, hostility and hate, \r
-Untamed reluctance, and revenge, though slow, \r
-Yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least \r
-May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice \r
-In doing what we most in suffering feel? \r
-Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need \r
-With dangerous expedition to invade \r
-Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege, \r
-Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find \r
-Some easier enterprise? There is a place \r
-(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven \r
-Err not)--another World, the happy seat \r
-Of some new race, called Man, about this time \r
-To be created like to us, though less \r
-In power and excellence, but favoured more \r
-Of him who rules above; so was his will \r
-Pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath \r
-That shook Heaven's whole circumference confirmed. \r
-Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn \r
-What creatures there inhabit, of what mould \r
-Or substance, how endued, and what their power \r
-And where their weakness: how attempted best, \r
-By force of subtlety. Though Heaven be shut, \r
-And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure \r
-In his own strength, this place may lie exposed, \r
-The utmost border of his kingdom, left \r
-To their defence who hold it: here, perhaps, \r
-Some advantageous act may be achieved \r
-By sudden onset--either with Hell-fire \r
-To waste his whole creation, or possess \r
-All as our own, and drive, as we were driven, \r
-The puny habitants; or, if not drive, \r
-Seduce them to our party, that their God \r
-May prove their foe, and with repenting hand \r
-Abolish his own works. This would surpass \r
-Common revenge, and interrupt his joy \r
-In our confusion, and our joy upraise \r
-In his disturbance; when his darling sons, \r
-Hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse \r
-Their frail original, and faded bliss-- \r
-Faded so soon! Advise if this be worth \r
-Attempting, or to sit in darkness here \r
-Hatching vain empires." Thus beelzebub \r
-Pleaded his devilish counsel--first devised \r
-By Satan, and in part proposed: for whence, \r
-But from the author of all ill, could spring \r
-So deep a malice, to confound the race \r
-Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell \r
-To mingle and involve, done all to spite \r
-The great Creator? But their spite still serves \r
-His glory to augment. The bold design \r
-Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy \r
-Sparkled in all their eyes: with full assent \r
-They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews:-- \r
-"Well have ye judged, well ended long debate, \r
-Synod of Gods, and, like to what ye are, \r
-Great things resolved, which from the lowest deep \r
-Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, \r
-Nearer our ancient seat--perhaps in view \r
-Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms, \r
-And opportune excursion, we may chance \r
-Re-enter Heaven; or else in some mild zone \r
-Dwell, not unvisited of Heaven's fair light, \r
-Secure, and at the brightening orient beam \r
-Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air, \r
-To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, \r
-Shall breathe her balm. But, first, whom shall we send \r
-In search of this new World? whom shall we find \r
-Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet \r
-The dark, unbottomed, infinite Abyss, \r
-And through the palpable obscure find out \r
-His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight, \r
-Upborne with indefatigable wings \r
-Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive \r
-The happy Isle? What strength, what art, can then \r
-Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe, \r
-Through the strict senteries and stations thick \r
-Of Angels watching round? Here he had need \r
-All circumspection: and we now no less \r
-Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send \r
-The weight of all, and our last hope, relies." \r
- This said, he sat; and expectation held \r
-His look suspense, awaiting who appeared \r
-To second, or oppose, or undertake \r
-The perilous attempt. But all sat mute, \r
-Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each \r
-In other's countenance read his own dismay, \r
-Astonished. None among the choice and prime \r
-Of those Heaven-warring champions could be found \r
-So hardy as to proffer or accept, \r
-Alone, the dreadful voyage; till, at last, \r
-Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised \r
-Above his fellows, with monarchal pride \r
-Conscious of highest worth, unmoved thus spake:-- \r
- "O Progeny of Heaven! Empyreal Thrones! \r
-With reason hath deep silence and demur \r
-Seized us, though undismayed. Long is the way \r
-And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light. \r
-Our prison strong, this huge convex of fire, \r
-Outrageous to devour, immures us round \r
-Ninefold; and gates of burning adamant, \r
-Barred over us, prohibit all egress. \r
-These passed, if any pass, the void profound \r
-Of unessential Night receives him next, \r
-Wide-gaping, and with utter loss of being \r
-Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf. \r
-If thence he scape, into whatever world, \r
-Or unknown region, what remains him less \r
-Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape? \r
-But I should ill become this throne, O Peers, \r
-And this imperial sovereignty, adorned \r
-With splendour, armed with power, if aught proposed \r
-And judged of public moment in the shape \r
-Of difficulty or danger, could deter \r
-Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume \r
-These royalties, and not refuse to reign, \r
-Refusing to accept as great a share \r
-Of hazard as of honour, due alike \r
-To him who reigns, and so much to him due \r
-Of hazard more as he above the rest \r
-High honoured sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers, \r
-Terror of Heaven, though fallen; intend at home, \r
-While here shall be our home, what best may ease \r
-The present misery, and render Hell \r
-More tolerable; if there be cure or charm \r
-To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain \r
-Of this ill mansion: intermit no watch \r
-Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad \r
-Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek \r
-Deliverance for us all. This enterprise \r
-None shall partake with me." Thus saying, rose \r
-The Monarch, and prevented all reply; \r
-Prudent lest, from his resolution raised, \r
-Others among the chief might offer now, \r
-Certain to be refused, what erst they feared, \r
-And, so refused, might in opinion stand \r
-His rivals, winning cheap the high repute \r
-Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they \r
-Dreaded not more th' adventure than his voice \r
-Forbidding; and at once with him they rose. \r
-Their rising all at once was as the sound \r
-Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend \r
-With awful reverence prone, and as a God \r
-Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven. \r
-Nor failed they to express how much they praised \r
-That for the general safety he despised \r
-His own: for neither do the Spirits damned \r
-Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast \r
-Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, \r
-Or close ambition varnished o'er with zeal. \r
- Thus they their doubtful consultations dark \r
-Ended, rejoicing in their matchless Chief: \r
-As, when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds \r
-Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread \r
-Heaven's cheerful face, the louring element \r
-Scowls o'er the darkened landscape snow or shower, \r
-If chance the radiant sun, with farewell sweet, \r
-Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, \r
-The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds \r
-Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings. \r
-O shame to men! Devil with devil damned \r
-Firm concord holds; men only disagree \r
-Of creatures rational, though under hope \r
-Of heavenly grace, and, God proclaiming peace, \r
-Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife \r
-Among themselves, and levy cruel wars \r
-Wasting the earth, each other to destroy: \r
-As if (which might induce us to accord) \r
-Man had not hellish foes enow besides, \r
-That day and night for his destruction wait! \r
- The Stygian council thus dissolved; and forth \r
-In order came the grand infernal Peers: \r
-Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seemed \r
-Alone th' antagonist of Heaven, nor less \r
-Than Hell's dread Emperor, with pomp supreme, \r
-And god-like imitated state: him round \r
-A globe of fiery Seraphim enclosed \r
-With bright emblazonry, and horrent arms. \r
-Then of their session ended they bid cry \r
-With trumpet's regal sound the great result: \r
-Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim \r
-Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy, \r
-By herald's voice explained; the hollow Abyss \r
-Heard far adn wide, and all the host of Hell \r
-With deafening shout returned them loud acclaim. \r
-Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised \r
-By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers \r
-Disband; and, wandering, each his several way \r
-Pursues, as inclination or sad choice \r
-Leads him perplexed, where he may likeliest find \r
-Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain \r
-The irksome hours, till his great Chief return. \r
-Part on the plain, or in the air sublime, \r
-Upon the wing or in swift race contend, \r
-As at th' Olympian games or Pythian fields; \r
-Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal \r
-With rapid wheels, or fronted brigades form: \r
-As when, to warn proud cities, war appears \r
-Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush \r
-To battle in the clouds; before each van \r
-Prick forth the airy knights, and couch their spears, \r
-Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms \r
-From either end of heaven the welkin burns. \r
-Others, with vast Typhoean rage, more fell, \r
-Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air \r
-In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar:-- \r
-As when Alcides, from Oechalia crowned \r
-With conquest, felt th' envenomed robe, and tore \r
-Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pines, \r
-And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw \r
-Into th' Euboic sea. Others, more mild, \r
-Retreated in a silent valley, sing \r
-With notes angelical to many a harp \r
-Their own heroic deeds, and hapless fall \r
-By doom of battle, and complain that Fate \r
-Free Virtue should enthrall to Force or Chance. \r
-Their song was partial; but the harmony \r
-(What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?) \r
-Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment \r
-The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet \r
-(For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense) \r
-Others apart sat on a hill retired, \r
-In thoughts more elevate, and reasoned high \r
-Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate-- \r
-Fixed fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute, \r
-And found no end, in wandering mazes lost. \r
-Of good and evil much they argued then, \r
-Of happiness and final misery, \r
-Passion and apathy, and glory and shame: \r
-Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy!-- \r
-Yet, with a pleasing sorcery, could charm \r
-Pain for a while or anguish, and excite \r
-Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured breast \r
-With stubborn patience as with triple steel. \r
-Another part, in squadrons and gross bands, \r
-On bold adventure to discover wide \r
-That dismal world, if any clime perhaps \r
-Might yield them easier habitation, bend \r
-Four ways their flying march, along the banks \r
-Of four infernal rivers, that disgorge \r
-Into the burning lake their baleful streams-- \r
-Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate; \r
-Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep; \r
-Cocytus, named of lamentation loud \r
-Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegeton, \r
-Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. \r
-Far off from these, a slow and silent stream, \r
-Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls \r
-Her watery labyrinth, whereof who drinks \r
-Forthwith his former state and being forgets-- \r
-Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. \r
-Beyond this flood a frozen continent \r
-Lies dark and wild, beat with perpetual storms \r
-Of whirlwind and dire hail, which on firm land \r
-Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems \r
-Of ancient pile; all else deep snow and ice, \r
-A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog \r
-Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old, \r
-Where armies whole have sunk: the parching air \r
-Burns frore, and cold performs th' effect of fire. \r
-Thither, by harpy-footed Furies haled, \r
-At certain revolutions all the damned \r
-Are brought; and feel by turns the bitter change \r
-Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more fierce, \r
-From beds of raging fire to starve in ice \r
-Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine \r
-Immovable, infixed, and frozen round \r
-Periods of time,--thence hurried back to fire. \r
-They ferry over this Lethean sound \r
-Both to and fro, their sorrow to augment, \r
-And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach \r
-The tempting stream, with one small drop to lose \r
-In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe, \r
-All in one moment, and so near the brink; \r
-But Fate withstands, and, to oppose th' attempt, \r
-Medusa with Gorgonian terror guards \r
-The ford, and of itself the water flies \r
-All taste of living wight, as once it fled \r
-The lip of Tantalus. Thus roving on \r
-In confused march forlorn, th' adventurous bands, \r
-With shuddering horror pale, and eyes aghast, \r
-Viewed first their lamentable lot, and found \r
-No rest. Through many a dark and dreary vale \r
-They passed, and many a region dolorous, \r
-O'er many a frozen, many a fiery alp, \r
-Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of death-- \r
-A universe of death, which God by curse \r
-Created evil, for evil only good; \r
-Where all life dies, death lives, and Nature breeds, \r
-Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things, \r
-Obominable, inutterable, and worse \r
-Than fables yet have feigned or fear conceived, \r
-Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimeras dire. \r
- Meanwhile the Adversary of God and Man, \r
-Satan, with thoughts inflamed of highest design, \r
-Puts on swift wings, and toward the gates of Hell \r
-Explores his solitary flight: sometimes \r
-He scours the right hand coast, sometimes the left; \r
-Now shaves with level wing the deep, then soars \r
-Up to the fiery concave towering high. \r
-As when far off at sea a fleet descried \r
-Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds \r
-Close sailing from Bengala, or the isles \r
-Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring \r
-Their spicy drugs; they on the trading flood, \r
-Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape, \r
-Ply stemming nightly toward the pole: so seemed \r
-Far off the flying Fiend. At last appear \r
-Hell-bounds, high reaching to the horrid roof, \r
-And thrice threefold the gates; three folds were brass, \r
-Three iron, three of adamantine rock, \r
-Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire, \r
-Yet unconsumed. Before the gates there sat \r
-On either side a formidable Shape. \r
-The one seemed woman to the waist, and fair, \r
-But ended foul in many a scaly fold, \r
-Voluminous and vast--a serpent armed \r
-With mortal sting. About her middle round \r
-A cry of Hell-hounds never-ceasing barked \r
-With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung \r
-A hideous peal; yet, when they list, would creep, \r
-If aught disturbed their noise, into her womb, \r
-And kennel there; yet there still barked and howled \r
-Within unseen. Far less abhorred than these \r
-Vexed Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts \r
-Calabria from the hoarse Trinacrian shore; \r
-Nor uglier follow the night-hag, when, called \r
-In secret, riding through the air she comes, \r
-Lured with the smell of infant blood, to dance \r
-With Lapland witches, while the labouring moon \r
-Eclipses at their charms. The other Shape-- \r
-If shape it might be called that shape had none \r
-Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb; \r
-Or substance might be called that shadow seemed, \r
-For each seemed either--black it stood as Night, \r
-Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell, \r
-And shook a dreadful dart: what seemed his head \r
-The likeness of a kingly crown had on. \r
-Satan was now at hand, and from his seat \r
-The monster moving onward came as fast \r
-With horrid strides; Hell trembled as he strode. \r
-Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admired-- \r
-Admired, not feared (God and his Son except, \r
-Created thing naught valued he nor shunned), \r
-And with disdainful look thus first began:-- \r
- "Whence and what art thou, execrable Shape, \r
-That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance \r
-Thy miscreated front athwart my way \r
-To yonder gates? Through them I mean to pass, \r
-That be assured, without leave asked of thee. \r
-Retire; or taste thy folly, and learn by proof, \r
-Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heaven." \r
- To whom the Goblin, full of wrath, replied:-- \r
-"Art thou that traitor Angel? art thou he, \r
-Who first broke peace in Heaven and faith, till then \r
-Unbroken, and in proud rebellious arms \r
-Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons, \r
-Conjured against the Highest--for which both thou \r
-And they, outcast from God, are here condemned \r
-To waste eternal days in woe and pain? \r
-And reckon'st thou thyself with Spirits of Heaven \r
-Hell-doomed, and breath'st defiance here and scorn, \r
-Where I reign king, and, to enrage thee more, \r
-Thy king and lord? Back to thy punishment, \r
-False fugitive; and to thy speed add wings, \r
-Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue \r
-Thy lingering, or with one stroke of this dart \r
-Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before." \r
- So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape, \r
-So speaking and so threatening, grew tenfold, \r
-More dreadful and deform. On th' other side, \r
-Incensed with indignation, Satan stood \r
-Unterrified, and like a comet burned, \r
-That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge \r
-In th' arctic sky, and from his horrid hair \r
-Shakes pestilence and war. Each at the head \r
-Levelled his deadly aim; their fatal hands \r
-No second stroke intend; and such a frown \r
-Each cast at th' other as when two black clouds, \r
-With heaven's artillery fraught, came rattling on \r
-Over the Caspian,--then stand front to front \r
-Hovering a space, till winds the signal blow \r
-To join their dark encounter in mid-air. \r
-So frowned the mighty combatants that Hell \r
-Grew darker at their frown; so matched they stood; \r
-For never but once more was wither like \r
-To meet so great a foe. And now great deeds \r
-Had been achieved, whereof all Hell had rung, \r
-Had not the snaky Sorceress, that sat \r
-Fast by Hell-gate and kept the fatal key, \r
-Risen, and with hideous outcry rushed between. \r
- "O father, what intends thy hand," she cried, \r
-"Against thy only son? What fury, O son, \r
-Possesses thee to bend that mortal dart \r
-Against thy father's head? And know'st for whom? \r
-For him who sits above, and laughs the while \r
-At thee, ordained his drudge to execute \r
-Whate'er his wrath, which he calls justice, bids-- \r
-His wrath, which one day will destroy ye both!" \r
- She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest \r
-Forbore: then these to her Satan returned:-- \r
- "So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange \r
-Thou interposest, that my sudden hand, \r
-Prevented, spares to tell thee yet by deeds \r
-What it intends, till first I know of thee \r
-What thing thou art, thus double-formed, and why, \r
-In this infernal vale first met, thou call'st \r
-Me father, and that phantasm call'st my son. \r
-I know thee not, nor ever saw till now \r
-Sight more detestable than him and thee." \r
- T' whom thus the Portress of Hell-gate replied:-- \r
-"Hast thou forgot me, then; and do I seem \r
-Now in thine eye so foul?--once deemed so fair \r
-In Heaven, when at th' assembly, and in sight \r
-Of all the Seraphim with thee combined \r
-In bold conspiracy against Heaven's King, \r
-All on a sudden miserable pain \r
-Surprised thee, dim thine eyes and dizzy swum \r
-In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast \r
-Threw forth, till on the left side opening wide, \r
-Likest to thee in shape and countenance bright, \r
-Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess armed, \r
-Out of thy head I sprung. Amazement seized \r
-All th' host of Heaven; back they recoiled afraid \r
-At first, and called me Sin, and for a sign \r
-Portentous held me; but, familiar grown, \r
-I pleased, and with attractive graces won \r
-The most averse--thee chiefly, who, full oft \r
-Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing, \r
-Becam'st enamoured; and such joy thou took'st \r
-With me in secret that my womb conceived \r
-A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose, \r
-And fields were fought in Heaven: wherein remained \r
-(For what could else?) to our Almighty Foe \r
-Clear victory; to our part loss and rout \r
-Through all the Empyrean. Down they fell, \r
-Driven headlong from the pitch of Heaven, down \r
-Into this Deep; and in the general fall \r
-I also: at which time this powerful key \r
-Into my hands was given, with charge to keep \r
-These gates for ever shut, which none can pass \r
-Without my opening. Pensive here I sat \r
-Alone; but long I sat not, till my womb, \r
-Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown, \r
-Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes. \r
-At last this odious offspring whom thou seest, \r
-Thine own begotten, breaking violent way, \r
-Tore through my entrails, that, with fear and pain \r
-Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew \r
-Transformed: but he my inbred enemy \r
-Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart, \r
-Made to destroy. I fled, and cried out Death! \r
-Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sighed \r
-From all her caves, and back resounded Death! \r
-I fled; but he pursued (though more, it seems, \r
-Inflamed with lust than rage), and, swifter far, \r
-Me overtook, his mother, all dismayed, \r
-And, in embraces forcible and foul \r
-Engendering with me, of that rape begot \r
-These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry \r
-Surround me, as thou saw'st--hourly conceived \r
-And hourly born, with sorrow infinite \r
-To me; for, when they list, into the womb \r
-That bred them they return, and howl, and gnaw \r
-My bowels, their repast; then, bursting forth \r
-Afresh, with conscious terrors vex me round, \r
-That rest or intermission none I find. \r
-Before mine eyes in opposition sits \r
-Grim Death, my son and foe, who set them on, \r
-And me, his parent, would full soon devour \r
-For want of other prey, but that he knows \r
-His end with mine involved, and knows that I \r
-Should prove a bitter morsel, and his bane, \r
-Whenever that shall be: so Fate pronounced. \r
-But thou, O father, I forewarn thee, shun \r
-His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope \r
-To be invulnerable in those bright arms, \r
-Through tempered heavenly; for that mortal dint, \r
-Save he who reigns above, none can resist." \r
- She finished; and the subtle Fiend his lore \r
-Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered smooth:-- \r
- "Dear daughter--since thou claim'st me for thy sire, \r
-And my fair son here show'st me, the dear pledge \r
-Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys \r
-Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change \r
-Befallen us unforeseen, unthought-of--know, \r
-I come no enemy, but to set free \r
-From out this dark and dismal house of pain \r
-Both him and thee, and all the heavenly host \r
-Of Spirits that, in our just pretences armed, \r
-Fell with us from on high. From them I go \r
-This uncouth errand sole, and one for all \r
-Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread \r
-Th' unfounded Deep, and through the void immense \r
-To search, with wandering quest, a place foretold \r
-Should be--and, by concurring signs, ere now \r
-Created vast and round--a place of bliss \r
-In the purlieus of Heaven; and therein placed \r
-A race of upstart creatures, to supply \r
-Perhaps our vacant room, though more removed, \r
-Lest Heaven, surcharged with potent multitude, \r
-Might hap to move new broils. Be this, or aught \r
-Than this more secret, now designed, I haste \r
-To know; and, this once known, shall soon return, \r
-And bring ye to the place where thou and Death \r
-Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen \r
-Wing silently the buxom air, embalmed \r
-With odours. There ye shall be fed and filled \r
-Immeasurably; all things shall be your prey." \r
- He ceased; for both seemed highly pleased, and Death \r
-Grinned horrible a ghastly smile, to hear \r
-His famine should be filled, and blessed his maw \r
-Destined to that good hour. No less rejoiced \r
-His mother bad, and thus bespake her sire:-- \r
- "The key of this infernal Pit, by due \r
-And by command of Heaven's all-powerful King, \r
-I keep, by him forbidden to unlock \r
-These adamantine gates; against all force \r
-Death ready stands to interpose his dart, \r
-Fearless to be o'ermatched by living might. \r
-But what owe I to his commands above, \r
-Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down \r
-Into this gloom of Tartarus profound, \r
-To sit in hateful office here confined, \r
-Inhabitant of Heaven and heavenly born-- \r
-Here in perpetual agony and pain, \r
-With terrors and with clamours compassed round \r
-Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed? \r
-Thou art my father, thou my author, thou \r
-My being gav'st me; whom should I obey \r
-But thee? whom follow? Thou wilt bring me soon \r
-To that new world of light and bliss, among \r
-The gods who live at ease, where I shall reign \r
-At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems \r
-Thy daughter and thy darling, without end." \r
- Thus saying, from her side the fatal key, \r
-Sad instrument of all our woe, she took; \r
-And, towards the gate rolling her bestial train, \r
-Forthwith the huge portcullis high up-drew, \r
-Which, but herself, not all the Stygian Powers \r
-Could once have moved; then in the key-hole turns \r
-Th' intricate wards, and every bolt and bar \r
-Of massy iron or solid rock with ease \r
-Unfastens. On a sudden open fly, \r
-With impetuous recoil and jarring sound, \r
-Th' infernal doors, and on their hinges grate \r
-Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook \r
-Of Erebus. She opened; but to shut \r
-Excelled her power: the gates wide open stood, \r
-That with extended wings a bannered host, \r
-Under spread ensigns marching, mibht pass through \r
-With horse and chariots ranked in loose array; \r
-So wide they stood, and like a furnace-mouth \r
-Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame. \r
-Before their eyes in sudden view appear \r
-The secrets of the hoary Deep--a dark \r
-Illimitable ocean, without bound, \r
-Without dimension; where length, breadth, and height, \r
-And time, and place, are lost; where eldest Night \r
-And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold \r
-Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise \r
-Of endless wars, and by confusion stand. \r
-For Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry, four champions fierce, \r
-Strive here for mastery, and to battle bring \r
-Their embryon atoms: they around the flag \r
-Of each his faction, in their several clans, \r
-Light-armed or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift, or slow, \r
-Swarm populous, unnumbered as the sands \r
-Of Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil, \r
-Levied to side with warring winds, and poise \r
-Their lighter wings. To whom these most adhere \r
-He rules a moment: Chaos umpire sits, \r
-And by decision more embroils the fray \r
-By which he reigns: next him, high arbiter, \r
-Chance governs all. Into this wild Abyss, \r
-The womb of Nature, and perhaps her grave, \r
-Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire, \r
-But all these in their pregnant causes mixed \r
-Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight, \r
-Unless th' Almighty Maker them ordain \r
-His dark materials to create more worlds-- \r
-Into this wild Abyss the wary Fiend \r
-Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while, \r
-Pondering his voyage; for no narrow frith \r
-He had to cross. Nor was his ear less pealed \r
-With noises loud and ruinous (to compare \r
-Great things with small) than when Bellona storms \r
-With all her battering engines, bent to rase \r
-Some capital city; or less than if this frame \r
-Of Heaven were falling, and these elements \r
-In mutiny had from her axle torn \r
-The steadfast Earth. At last his sail-broad vans \r
-He spread for flight, and, in the surging smoke \r
-Uplifted, spurns the ground; thence many a league, \r
-As in a cloudy chair, ascending rides \r
-Audacious; but, that seat soon failing, meets \r
-A vast vacuity. All unawares, \r
-Fluttering his pennons vain, plumb-down he drops \r
-Ten thousand fathom deep, and to this hour \r
-Down had been falling, had not, by ill chance, \r
-The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud, \r
-Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him \r
-As many miles aloft. That fury stayed-- \r
-Quenched in a boggy Syrtis, neither sea, \r
-Nor good dry land--nigh foundered, on he fares, \r
-Treading the crude consistence, half on foot, \r
-Half flying; behoves him now both oar and sail. \r
-As when a gryphon through the wilderness \r
-With winged course, o'er hill or moory dale, \r
-Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stealth \r
-Had from his wakeful custody purloined \r
-The guarded gold; so eagerly the Fiend \r
-O'er bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare, \r
-With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way, \r
-And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies. \r
-At length a universal hubbub wild \r
-Of stunning sounds, and voices all confused, \r
-Borne through the hollow dark, assaults his ear \r
-With loudest vehemence. Thither he plies \r
-Undaunted, to meet there whatever Power \r
-Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss \r
-Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask \r
-Which way the nearest coast of darkness lies \r
-Bordering on light; when straight behold the throne \r
-Of Chaos, and his dark pavilion spread \r
-Wide on the wasteful Deep! With him enthroned \r
-Sat sable-vested Night, eldest of things, \r
-The consort of his reign; and by them stood \r
-Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name \r
-Of Demogorgon; Rumour next, and Chance, \r
-And Tumult, and Confusion, all embroiled, \r
-And Discord with a thousand various mouths. \r
- T' whom Satan, turning boldly, thus:--"Ye Powers \r
-And Spirtis of this nethermost Abyss, \r
-Chaos and ancient Night, I come no spy \r
-With purpose to explore or to disturb \r
-The secrets of your realm; but, by constraint \r
-Wandering this darksome desert, as my way \r
-Lies through your spacious empire up to light, \r
-Alone and without guide, half lost, I seek, \r
-What readiest path leads where your gloomy bounds \r
-Confine with Heaven; or, if some other place, \r
-From your dominion won, th' Ethereal King \r
-Possesses lately, thither to arrive \r
-I travel this profound. Direct my course: \r
-Directed, no mean recompense it brings \r
-To your behoof, if I that region lost, \r
-All usurpation thence expelled, reduce \r
-To her original darkness and your sway \r
-(Which is my present journey), and once more \r
-Erect the standard there of ancient Night. \r
-Yours be th' advantage all, mine the revenge!" \r
- Thus Satan; and him thus the Anarch old, \r
-With faltering speech and visage incomposed, \r
-Answered: "I know thee, stranger, who thou art-- *** \r
-That mighty leading Angel, who of late \r
-Made head against Heaven's King, though overthrown. \r
-I saw and heard; for such a numerous host \r
-Fled not in silence through the frighted Deep, \r
-With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, \r
-Confusion worse confounded; and Heaven-gates \r
-Poured out by millions her victorious bands, \r
-Pursuing. I upon my frontiers here \r
-Keep residence; if all I can will serve \r
-That little which is left so to defend, \r
-Encroached on still through our intestine broils \r
-Weakening the sceptre of old Night: first, Hell, \r
-Your dungeon, stretching far and wide beneath; \r
-Now lately Heaven and Earth, another world \r
-Hung o'er my realm, linked in a golden chain \r
-To that side Heaven from whence your legions fell! \r
-If that way be your walk, you have not far; \r
-So much the nearer danger. Go, and speed; \r
-Havoc, and spoil, and ruin, are my gain." \r
- He ceased; and Satan stayed not to reply, \r
-But, glad that now his sea should find a shore, \r
-With fresh alacrity and force renewed \r
-Springs upward, like a pyramid of fire, \r
-Into the wild expanse, and through the shock \r
-Of fighting elements, on all sides round \r
-Environed, wins his way; harder beset \r
-And more endangered than when Argo passed \r
-Through Bosporus betwixt the justling rocks, \r
-Or when Ulysses on the larboard shunned \r
-Charybdis, and by th' other whirlpool steered. \r
-So he with difficulty and labour hard \r
-Moved on, with difficulty and labour he; \r
-But, he once passed, soon after, when Man fell, \r
-Strange alteration! Sin and Death amain, \r
-Following his track (such was the will of Heaven) \r
-Paved after him a broad and beaten way \r
-Over the dark Abyss, whose boiling gulf \r
-Tamely endured a bridge of wondrous length, \r
-From Hell continued, reaching th' utmost orb \r
-Of this frail World; by which the Spirits perverse \r
-With easy intercourse pass to and fro \r
-To tempt or punish mortals, except whom \r
-God and good Angels guard by special grace. \r
- But now at last the sacred influence \r
-Of light appears, and from the walls of Heaven \r
-Shoots far into the bosom of dim Night \r
-A glimmering dawn. Here Nature first begins \r
-Her farthest verge, and Chaos to retire, \r
-As from her outmost works, a broken foe, \r
-With tumult less and with less hostile din; \r
-That Satan with less toil, and now with ease, \r
-Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light, \r
-And, like a weather-beaten vessel, holds \r
-Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn; \r
-Or in the emptier waste, resembling air, \r
-Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold \r
-Far off th' empyreal Heaven, extended wide \r
-In circuit, undetermined square or round, \r
-With opal towers and battlements adorned \r
-Of living sapphire, once his native seat; \r
-And, fast by, hanging in a golden chain, \r
-This pendent World, in bigness as a star \r
-Of smallest magnitude close by the moon. \r
-Thither, full fraught with mischievous revenge, \r
-Accursed, and in a cursed hour, he hies. \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
-Book III \r
- \r
- \r
-Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven firstborn, \r
-Or of the Eternal coeternal beam \r
-May I express thee unblam'd? since God is light, \r
-And never but in unapproached light \r
-Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee \r
-Bright effluence of bright essence increate. \r
-Or hear"st thou rather pure ethereal stream, \r
-Whose fountain who shall tell? before the sun, \r
-Before the Heavens thou wert, and at the voice \r
-Of God, as with a mantle, didst invest *** \r
-The rising world of waters dark and deep, \r
-Won from the void and formless infinite. \r
-Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing, \r
-Escap'd the Stygian pool, though long detain'd \r
-In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight \r
-Through utter and through middle darkness borne, \r
-With other notes than to the Orphean lyre \r
-I sung of Chaos and eternal Night; \r
-Taught by the heavenly Muse to venture down \r
-The dark descent, and up to re-ascend, \r
-Though hard and rare: Thee I revisit safe, \r
-And feel thy sovran vital lamp; but thou \r
-Revisit'st not these eyes, that roll in vain \r
-To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn; \r
-So thick a drop serene hath quench'd their orbs, \r
-Or dim suffusion veil'd. Yet not the more \r
-Cease I to wander, where the Muses haunt, \r
-Clear spring, or shady grove, or sunny hill, \r
-Smit with the love of sacred song; but chief \r
-Thee, Sion, and the flowery brooks beneath, \r
-That wash thy hallow'd feet, and warbling flow, \r
-Nightly I visit: nor sometimes forget \r
-So were I equall'd with them in renown, \r
-Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace; \r
-Blind Thamyris, and blind Maeonides, \r
-And Tiresias, and Phineus, prophets old: \r
-Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move \r
-Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful bird \r
-Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid \r
-Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year \r
-Seasons return; but not to me returns \r
-Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn, \r
-Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose, \r
-Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine; \r
-But cloud instead, and ever-during dark \r
-Surrounds me, from the cheerful ways of men \r
-Cut off, and for the book of knowledge fair \r
-Presented with a universal blank \r
-Of nature's works to me expung'd and ras'd, \r
-And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out. \r
-So much the rather thou, celestial Light, \r
-Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers \r
-Irradiate; there plant eyes, all mist from thence \r
-Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell \r
-Of things invisible to mortal sight. \r
-Now had the Almighty Father from above, \r
-From the pure empyrean where he sits \r
-High thron'd above all highth, bent down his eye \r
-His own works and their works at once to view: \r
-About him all the Sanctities of Heaven \r
-Stood thick as stars, and from his sight receiv'd \r
-Beatitude past utterance; on his right \r
-The radiant image of his glory sat, \r
-His only son; on earth he first beheld \r
-Our two first parents, yet the only two \r
-Of mankind in the happy garden plac'd \r
-Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love, \r
-Uninterrupted joy, unrivall'd love, \r
-In blissful solitude; he then survey'd \r
-Hell and the gulf between, and Satan there \r
-Coasting the wall of Heaven on this side Night \r
-In the dun air sublime, and ready now \r
-To stoop with wearied wings, and willing feet, \r
-On the bare outside of this world, that seem'd \r
-Firm land imbosom'd, without firmament, \r
-Uncertain which, in ocean or in air. \r
-Him God beholding from his prospect high, \r
-Wherein past, present, future, he beholds, \r
-Thus to his only Son foreseeing spake. \r
-Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage \r
-Transports our Adversary? whom no bounds \r
-Prescrib'd no bars of Hell, nor all the chains \r
-Heap'd on him there, nor yet the main abyss \r
-Wide interrupt, can hold; so bent he seems \r
-On desperate revenge, that shall redound \r
-Upon his own rebellious head. And now, \r
-Through all restraint broke loose, he wings his way \r
-Not far off Heaven, in the precincts of light, \r
-Directly towards the new created world, \r
-And man there plac'd, with purpose to assay \r
-If him by force he can destroy, or, worse, \r
-By some false guile pervert; and shall pervert; \r
-For man will hearken to his glozing lies, \r
-And easily transgress the sole command, \r
-Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall \r
-He and his faithless progeny: Whose fault? \r
-Whose but his own? ingrate, he had of me \r
-All he could have; I made him just and right, \r
-Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. \r
-Such I created all the ethereal Powers \r
-And Spirits, both them who stood, and them who fail'd; \r
-Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. \r
-Not free, what proof could they have given sincere \r
-Of true allegiance, constant faith or love, \r
-Where only what they needs must do appear'd, \r
-Not what they would? what praise could they receive? \r
-What pleasure I from such obedience paid, \r
-When will and reason (reason also is choice) \r
-Useless and vain, of freedom both despoil'd, \r
-Made passive both, had serv'd necessity, \r
-Not me? they therefore, as to right belong$ 'd, \r
-So were created, nor can justly accuse \r
-Their Maker, or their making, or their fate, \r
-As if predestination over-rul'd \r
-Their will dispos'd by absolute decree \r
-Or high foreknowledge they themselves decreed \r
-Their own revolt, not I; if I foreknew, \r
-Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, \r
-Which had no less proved certain unforeknown. \r
-So without least impulse or shadow of fate, \r
-Or aught by me immutably foreseen, \r
-They trespass, authors to themselves in all \r
-Both what they judge, and what they choose; for so \r
-I form'd them free: and free they must remain, \r
-Till they enthrall themselves; I else must change \r
-Their nature, and revoke the high decree \r
-Unchangeable, eternal, which ordain'd \r
-$THeir freedom: they themselves ordain'd their fall. \r
-The first sort by their own suggestion fell, \r
-Self-tempted, self-deprav'd: Man falls, deceiv'd \r
-By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace, \r
-The other none: In mercy and justice both, \r
-Through Heaven and Earth, so shall my glory excel; \r
-But Mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine. \r
-Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd \r
-All Heaven, and in the blessed Spirits elect \r
-Sense of new joy ineffable diffus'd. \r
-Beyond compare the Son of God was seen \r
-Most glorious; in him all his Father shone \r
-Substantially express'd; and in his face \r
-Divine compassion visibly appear'd, \r
-Love without end, and without measure grace, \r
-Which uttering, thus he to his Father spake. \r
-O Father, gracious was that word which clos'd \r
-Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace; \r
-, that Man should find grace; \r
-For which both Heaven and earth shall high extol \r
-Thy praises, with the innumerable sound \r
-Of hymns and sacred songs, wherewith thy throne \r
-Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest. \r
-For should Man finally be lost, should Man, \r
-Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest son, \r
-Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though join'd \r
-With his own folly? that be from thee far, \r
-That far be from thee, Father, who art judge \r
-Of all things made, and judgest only right. \r
-Or shall the Adversary thus obtain \r
-His end, and frustrate thine? shall he fulfill \r
-His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought, \r
-Or proud return, though to his heavier doom, \r
-Yet with revenge accomplish'd, and to Hell \r
-Draw after him the whole race of mankind, \r
-By him corrupted? or wilt thou thyself \r
-Abolish thy creation, and unmake \r
-For him, what for thy glory thou hast made? \r
-So should thy goodness and thy greatness both \r
-Be question'd and blasphem'd without defence. \r
-To whom the great Creator thus replied. \r
-O son, in whom my soul hath chief delight, \r
-Son of my bosom, Son who art alone. \r
-My word, my wisdom, and effectual might, \r
-All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all \r
-As my eternal purpose hath decreed; \r
-Man shall not quite be lost, but sav'd who will; \r
-Yet not of will in him, but grace in me \r
-Freely vouchsaf'd; once more I will renew \r
-His lapsed powers, though forfeit; and enthrall'd \r
-By sin to foul exorbitant desires; \r
-Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand \r
-On even ground against his mortal foe; \r
-By me upheld, that he may know how frail \r
-His fallen condition is, and to me owe \r
-All his deliverance, and to none but me. \r
-Some I have chosen of peculiar grace, \r
-Elect above the rest; so is my will: \r
-The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warn'd \r
-Their sinful state, and to appease betimes \r
-The incensed Deity, while offer'd grace \r
-Invites; for I will clear their senses dark, \r
-What may suffice, and soften stony hearts \r
-To pray, repent, and bring obedience due. \r
-To prayer, repentance, and obedience due, \r
-Though but endeavour'd with sincere intent, \r
-Mine ear shall not be slow, mine eye not shut. \r
-And I will place within them as a guide, \r
-My umpire Conscience; whom if they will hear, \r
-Light after light, well us'd, they shall attain, \r
-And to the end, persisting, safe arrive. \r
-This my long sufferance, and my day of grace, \r
-They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste; \r
-But hard be harden'd, blind be blinded more, \r
-That they may stumble on, and deeper fall; \r
-And none but such from mercy I exclude. \r
-But yet all is not done; Man disobeying, \r
-Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins \r
-Against the high supremacy of Heaven, \r
-Affecting God-head, and, so losing all, \r
-To expiate his treason hath nought left, \r
-But to destruction sacred and devote, \r
-He, with his whole posterity, must die, \r
-Die he or justice must; unless for him \r
-Some other able, and as willing, pay \r
-The rigid satisfaction, death for death. \r
-Say, heavenly Powers, where shall we find such love? \r
-Which of you will be mortal, to redeem \r
-Man's mortal crime, and just the unjust to save? \r
-Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear? \r
-And silence was in Heaven: $ on Man's behalf \r
-He ask'd, but all the heavenly quire stood mute, \r
-Patron or intercessour none appear'd, \r
-Much less that durst upon his own head draw \r
-The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. \r
-And now without redemption all mankind \r
-Must have been lost, adjudg'd to Death and Hell \r
-By doom severe, had not the Son of God, \r
-In whom the fulness dwells of love divine, \r
-His dearest mediation thus renew'd. \r
-Father, thy word is past, Man shall find grace; \r
-And shall grace not find means, that finds her way, \r
-The speediest of thy winged messengers, \r
-To visit all thy creatures, and to all \r
-Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought? \r
-Happy for Man, so coming; he her aid \r
-Can never seek, once dead in sins, and lost; \r
-Atonement for himself, or offering meet, \r
-Indebted and undone, hath none to bring; \r
-Behold me then: me for him, life for life \r
-I offer: on me let thine anger fall; \r
-Account me Man; I for his sake will leave \r
- Thy bosom, and this glory next to thee \r
- Freely put off, and for him lastly die \r
- Well pleased; on me let Death wreak all his rage. \r
- Under his gloomy power I shall not long \r
- Lie vanquished. Thou hast given me to possess \r
- Life in myself for ever; by thee I live; \r
- Though now to Death I yield, and am his due, \r
- All that of me can die, yet, that debt paid, \r
- $ thou wilt not leave me in the loathsome grave \r
- His prey, nor suffer my unspotted soul \r
- For ever with corruption there to dwell; \r
- But I shall rise victorious, and subdue \r
- My vanquisher, spoiled of his vaunted spoil. \r
- Death his death's wound shall then receive, and stoop \r
- Inglorious, of his mortal sting disarmed; \r
- I through the ample air in triumph high \r
- Shall lead Hell captive maugre Hell, and show \r
-The powers of darkness bound. Thou, at the sight \r
- Pleased, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile, \r
- While, by thee raised, I ruin all my foes; \r
- Death last, and with his carcase glut the grave; \r
- Then, with the multitude of my redeemed, \r
- Shall enter Heaven, long absent, and return, \r
- Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud \r
- Of anger shall remain, but peace assured \r
- And reconcilement: wrath shall be no more \r
- Thenceforth, but in thy presence joy entire. \r
- His words here ended; but his meek aspect \r
- Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love \r
- To mortal men, above which only shone \r
- Filial obedience: as a sacrifice \r
- Glad to be offered, he attends the will \r
- Of his great Father. Admiration seized \r
- All Heaven, what this might mean, and whither tend, \r
- Wondering; but soon th' Almighty thus replied. \r
- O thou in Heaven and Earth the only peace \r
- Found out for mankind under wrath, O thou \r
- My sole complacence! Well thou know'st how dear \r
- To me are all my works; nor Man the least, \r
- Though last created, that for him I spare \r
- Thee from my bosom and right hand, to save, \r
- By losing thee a while, the whole race lost. \r
- \r
- 00021053 \r
- Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, \r
- Their nature also to thy nature join; \r
- And be thyself Man among men on Earth, \r
- Made flesh, when time shall be, of virgin seed, \r
- By wondrous birth; be thou in Adam's room \r
-The head of all mankind, though Adam's son. \r
-As in him perish all men, so in thee, \r
-As from a second root, shall be restored \r
-As many as are restored, without thee none. \r
-His crime makes guilty all his sons; thy merit, \r
-Imputed, shall absolve them who renounce \r
-Their own both righteous and unrighteous deeds, \r
-And live in thee transplanted, and from thee \r
-Receive new life. So Man, as is most just, \r
-Shall satisfy for Man, be judged and die, \r
-And dying rise, and rising with him raise \r
-His brethren, ransomed with his own dear life. \r
-So heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate, \r
-Giving to death, and dying to redeem, \r
-So dearly to redeem what hellish hate \r
-So easily destroyed, and still destroys \r
-In those who, when they may, accept not grace. \r
-Nor shalt thou, by descending to assume \r
-Man's nature, lessen or degrade thine own. \r
-Because thou hast, though throned in highest bliss \r
-Equal to God, and equally enjoying \r
-God-like fruition, quitted all, to save \r
-A world from utter loss, and hast been found \r
-By merit more than birthright Son of God, \r
-Found worthiest to be so by being good, \r
-Far more than great or high; because in thee \r
-Love hath abounded more than glory abounds; \r
-Therefore thy humiliation shall exalt \r
-With thee thy manhood also to this throne: \r
-Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt reign \r
-Both God and Man, Son both of God and Man, \r
-Anointed universal King; all power \r
-I give thee; reign for ever, and assume \r
-Thy merits; under thee, as head supreme, \r
-Thrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions, I reduce: \r
-All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide \r
-In Heaven, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell. \r
-When thou, attended gloriously from Heaven, \r
-Shalt in the sky appear, and from thee send \r
-The summoning Arch-Angels to proclaim \r
-Thy dread tribunal; forthwith from all winds, \r
-The living, and forthwith the cited dead \r
-Of all past ages, to the general doom \r
-Shall hasten; such a peal shall rouse their sleep. \r
-Then, all thy saints assembled, thou shalt judge \r
-Bad Men and Angels; they, arraigned, shall sink \r
-Beneath thy sentence; Hell, her numbers full, \r
-Thenceforth shall be for ever shut. Mean while \r
-The world shall burn, and from her ashes spring \r
-New Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell, \r
-And, after all their tribulations long, \r
-See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, \r
-With joy and peace triumphing, and fair truth. \r
-Then thou thy regal scepter shalt lay by, \r
-For regal scepter then no more shall need, \r
-God shall be all in all. But, all ye Gods, \r
-Adore him, who to compass all this dies; \r
-Adore the Son, and honour him as me. \r
-No sooner had the Almighty ceased, but all \r
-The multitude of Angels, with a shout \r
-Loud as from numbers without number, sweet \r
-As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heaven rung \r
-With jubilee, and loud Hosannas filled \r
-The eternal regions: Lowly reverent \r
-Towards either throne they bow, and to the ground \r
-With solemn adoration down they cast \r
-Their crowns inwove with amarant and gold; \r
-Immortal amarant, a flower which once \r
-In Paradise, fast by the tree of life, \r
-Began to bloom; but soon for man's offence \r
-To Heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows, \r
-And flowers aloft shading the fount of life, \r
-And where the river of bliss through midst of Heaven \r
-Rolls o'er Elysian flowers her amber stream; \r
-With these that never fade the Spirits elect \r
-Bind their resplendent locks inwreathed with beams; \r
-Now in loose garlands thick thrown off, the bright \r
-Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone, \r
-Impurpled with celestial roses smiled. \r
-Then, crowned again, their golden harps they took, \r
-Harps ever tuned, that glittering by their side \r
-Like quivers hung, and with preamble sweet \r
-Of charming symphony they introduce \r
-Their sacred song, and waken raptures high; \r
-No voice exempt, no voice but well could join \r
-Melodious part, such concord is in Heaven. \r
-Thee, Father, first they sung Omnipotent, \r
-Immutable, Immortal, Infinite, \r
-Eternal King; the Author of all being, \r
-Fonntain of light, thyself invisible \r
-Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st \r
-Throned inaccessible, but when thou shadest \r
-The full blaze of thy beams, and, through a cloud \r
-Drawn round about thee like a radiant shrine, \r
-Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear, \r
-Yet dazzle Heaven, that brightest Seraphim \r
-Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes. \r
-Thee next they sang of all creation first, \r
-Begotten Son, Divine Similitude, \r
-In whose conspicuous countenance, without cloud \r
-Made visible, the Almighty Father shines, \r
-Whom else no creature can behold; on thee \r
-Impressed the effulgence of his glory abides, \r
-Transfused on thee his ample Spirit rests. \r
-He Heaven of Heavens and all the Powers therein \r
-By thee created; and by thee threw down \r
-The aspiring Dominations: Thou that day \r
-Thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare, \r
-Nor stop thy flaming chariot-wheels, that shook \r
-Heaven's everlasting frame, while o'er the necks \r
-Thou drovest of warring Angels disarrayed. \r
-Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaim \r
-Thee only extolled, Son of thy Father's might, \r
-To execute fierce vengeance on his foes, \r
-Not so on Man: Him through their malice fallen, \r
-Father of mercy and grace, thou didst not doom \r
-So strictly, but much more to pity incline: \r
-No sooner did thy dear and only Son \r
-Perceive thee purposed not to doom frail Man \r
-So strictly, but much more to pity inclined, \r
-He to appease thy wrath, and end the strife \r
-Of mercy and justice in thy face discerned, \r
-Regardless of the bliss wherein he sat \r
-Second to thee, offered himself to die \r
-For Man's offence. O unexampled love, \r
-Love no where to be found less than Divine! \r
-Hail, Son of God, Saviour of Men! Thy name \r
-Shall be the copious matter of my song \r
-Henceforth, and never shall my heart thy praise \r
-Forget, nor from thy Father's praise disjoin. \r
-Thus they in Heaven, above the starry sphere, \r
-Their happy hours in joy and hymning spent. \r
-Mean while upon the firm opacous globe \r
-Of this round world, whose first convex divides \r
-The luminous inferiour orbs, enclosed \r
-From Chaos, and the inroad of Darkness old, \r
-Satan alighted walks: A globe far off \r
-It seemed, now seems a boundless continent \r
-Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night \r
-Starless exposed, and ever-threatening storms \r
-Of Chaos blustering round, inclement sky; \r
-Save on that side which from the wall of Heaven, \r
-Though distant far, some small reflection gains \r
-Of glimmering air less vexed with tempest loud: \r
-Here walked the Fiend at large in spacious field. \r
-As when a vultur on Imaus bred, \r
-Whose snowy ridge the roving Tartar bounds, \r
-Dislodging from a region scarce of prey \r
-To gorge the flesh of lambs or yeanling kids, \r
-On hills where flocks are fed, flies toward the springs \r
-Of Ganges or Hydaspes, Indian streams; \r
-But in his way lights on the barren plains \r
-Of Sericana, where Chineses drive \r
-With sails and wind their cany waggons light: \r
-So, on this windy sea of land, the Fiend \r
-Walked up and down alone, bent on his prey; \r
-Alone, for other creature in this place, \r
-Living or lifeless, to be found was none; \r
-None yet, but store hereafter from the earth \r
-Up hither like aereal vapours flew \r
-Of all things transitory and vain, when sin \r
-With vanity had filled the works of men: \r
-Both all things vain, and all who in vain things \r
-Built their fond hopes of glory or lasting fame, \r
-Or happiness in this or the other life; \r
-All who have their reward on earth, the fruits \r
-Of painful superstition and blind zeal, \r
-Nought seeking but the praise of men, here find \r
-Fit retribution, empty as their deeds; \r
-All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand, \r
-Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixed, \r
-Dissolved on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, \r
-Till final dissolution, wander here; \r
-Not in the neighbouring moon as some have dreamed; \r
-Those argent fields more likely habitants, \r
-Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold \r
-Betwixt the angelical and human kind. \r
-Hither of ill-joined sons and daughters born \r
-First from the ancient world those giants came \r
-With many a vain exploit, though then renowned: \r
-The builders next of Babel on the plain \r
-Of Sennaar, and still with vain design, \r
-New Babels, had they wherewithal, would build: \r
-Others came single; he, who, to be deemed \r
-A God, leaped fondly into Aetna flames, \r
-Empedocles; and he, who, to enjoy \r
-Plato's Elysium, leaped into the sea, \r
-Cleombrotus; and many more too long, \r
-Embryos, and idiots, eremites, and friars \r
-White, black, and gray, with all their trumpery. \r
-Here pilgrims roam, that strayed so far to seek \r
-In Golgotha him dead, who lives in Heaven; \r
-And they, who to be sure of Paradise, \r
-Dying, put on the weeds of Dominick, \r
-Or in Franciscan think to pass disguised; \r
-They pass the planets seven, and pass the fixed, \r
-And that crystalling sphere whose balance weighs \r
-The trepidation talked, and that first moved; \r
-And now Saint Peter at Heaven's wicket seems \r
-To wait them with his keys, and now at foot \r
-Of Heaven's ascent they lift their feet, when lo \r
-A violent cross wind from either coast \r
-Blows them transverse, ten thousand leagues awry \r
-Into the devious air: Then might ye see \r
-Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tost \r
-And fluttered into rags; then reliques, beads, \r
-Indulgences, dispenses, pardons, bulls, \r
-The sport of winds: All these, upwhirled aloft, \r
-Fly o'er the backside of the world far off \r
-Into a Limbo large and broad, since called \r
-The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown \r
-Long after; now unpeopled, and untrod. \r
-All this dark globe the Fiend found as he passed, \r
-And long he wandered, till at last a gleam \r
-Of dawning light turned thither-ward in haste \r
-His travelled steps: far distant he descries \r
-Ascending by degrees magnificent \r
-Up to the wall of Heaven a structure high; \r
-At top whereof, but far more rich, appeared \r
-The work as of a kingly palace-gate, \r
-With frontispiece of diamond and gold \r
-Embellished; thick with sparkling orient gems \r
-The portal shone, inimitable on earth \r
-By model, or by shading pencil, drawn. \r
-These stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw \r
-Angels ascending and descending, bands \r
-Of guardians bright, when he from Esau fled \r
-To Padan-Aram, in the field of Luz \r
-Dreaming by night under the open sky \r
-And waking cried, This is the gate of Heaven. \r
-Each stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood \r
-There always, but drawn up to Heaven sometimes \r
-Viewless; and underneath a bright sea flowed \r
-Of jasper, or of liquid pearl, whereon \r
-Who after came from earth, failing arrived \r
-Wafted by Angels, or flew o'er the lake \r
-Rapt in a chariot drawn by fiery steeds. \r
-The stairs were then let down, whether to dare \r
-The Fiend by easy ascent, or aggravate \r
-His sad exclusion from the doors of bliss: \r
-Direct against which opened from beneath, \r
-Just o'er the blissful seat of Paradise, \r
-A passage down to the Earth, a passage wide, \r
-Wider by far than that of after-times \r
-Over mount Sion, and, though that were large, \r
-Over the Promised Land to God so dear; \r
-By which, to visit oft those happy tribes, \r
-On high behests his angels to and fro \r
-Passed frequent, and his eye with choice regard \r
-From Paneas, the fount of Jordan's flood, \r
-To Beersaba, where the Holy Land \r
-Borders on Egypt and the Arabian shore; \r
-So wide the opening seemed, where bounds were set \r
-To darkness, such as bound the ocean wave. \r
-Satan from hence, now on the lower stair, \r
-That scaled by steps of gold to Heaven-gate, \r
-Looks down with wonder at the sudden view \r
-Of all this world at once. As when a scout, \r
-Through dark?;nd desart ways with?oeril gone \r
-All?might,?;t?kast by break of cheerful dawn \r
-Obtains the brow of some high-climbing hill, \r
-Which to his eye discovers unaware \r
-The goodly prospect of some foreign land \r
-First seen, or some renowned metropolis \r
-With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned, \r
-Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams: \r
-Such wonder seised, though after Heaven seen, \r
-The Spirit malign, but much more envy seised, \r
-At sight of all this world beheld so fair. \r
-Round he surveys (and well might, where he stood \r
-So high above the circling canopy \r
-Of night's extended shade,) from eastern point \r
-Of Libra to the fleecy star that bears \r
-Andromeda far off Atlantick seas \r
-Beyond the horizon; then from pole to pole \r
-He views in breadth, and without longer pause \r
-Down right into the world's first region throws \r
-His flight precipitant, and winds with ease \r
-Through the pure marble air his oblique way \r
-Amongst innumerable stars, that shone \r
-Stars distant, but nigh hand seemed other worlds; \r
-Or other worlds they seemed, or happy isles, \r
-Like those Hesperian gardens famed of old, \r
-Fortunate fields, and groves, and flowery vales, \r
-Thrice happy isles; but who dwelt happy there \r
-He staid not to inquire: Above them all \r
-The golden sun, in splendour likest Heaven, \r
-Allured his eye; thither his course he bends \r
-Through the calm firmament, (but up or down, \r
-By center, or eccentrick, hard to tell, \r
-Or longitude,) where the great luminary \r
-Aloof the vulgar constellations thick, \r
-That from his lordly eye keep distance due, \r
-Dispenses light from far; they, as they move \r
-Their starry dance in numbers that compute \r
-Days, months, and years, towards his all-cheering lamp \r
-Turn swift their various motions, or are turned \r
-By his magnetick beam, that gently warms \r
-The universe, and to each inward part \r
-With gentle penetration, though unseen, \r
-Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep; \r
-So wonderously was set his station bright. \r
-There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps \r
-Astronomer in the sun's lucent orb \r
-Through his glazed optick tube yet never saw. \r
-The place he found beyond expression bright, \r
-Compared with aught on earth, metal or stone; \r
-Not all parts like, but all alike informed \r
-With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire; \r
-If metal, part seemed gold, part silver clear; \r
-If stone, carbuncle most or chrysolite, \r
-Ruby or topaz, to the twelve that shone \r
-In Aaron's breast-plate, and a stone besides \r
-Imagined rather oft than elsewhere seen, \r
-That stone, or like to that which here below \r
-Philosophers in vain so long have sought, \r
-In vain, though by their powerful art they bind \r
-Volatile Hermes, and call up unbound \r
-In various shapes old Proteus from the sea, \r
-Drained through a limbeck to his native form. \r
-What wonder then if fields and regions here \r
-Breathe forth Elixir pure, and rivers run \r
-Potable gold, when with one virtuous touch \r
-The arch-chemick sun, so far from us remote, \r
-Produces, with terrestrial humour mixed, \r
-Here in the dark so many precious things \r
-Of colour glorious, and effect so rare? \r
-Here matter new to gaze the Devil met \r
-Undazzled; far and wide his eye commands; \r
-For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade, \r
-But all sun-shine, as when his beams at noon \r
-Culminate from the equator, as they now \r
-Shot upward still direct, whence no way round \r
-Shadow from body opaque can fall; and the air, \r
-No where so clear, sharpened his visual ray \r
-To objects distant far, whereby he soon \r
-Saw within ken a glorious Angel stand, \r
-The same whom John saw also in the sun: \r
-His back was turned, but not his brightness hid; \r
-Of beaming sunny rays a golden tiar \r
-Circled his head, nor less his locks behind \r
-Illustrious on his shoulders fledge with wings \r
-Lay waving round; on some great charge employed \r
-He seemed, or fixed in cogitation deep. \r
-Glad was the Spirit impure, as now in hope \r
-To find who might direct his wandering flight \r
-To Paradise, the happy seat of Man, \r
-His journey's end and our beginning woe. \r
-But first he casts to change his proper shape, \r
-Which else might work him danger or delay: \r
-And now a stripling Cherub he appears, \r
-Not of the prime, yet such as in his face \r
-Youth smiled celestial, and to every limb \r
-Suitable grace diffused, so well he feigned: \r
-Under a coronet his flowing hair \r
-In curls on either cheek played; wings he wore \r
-Of many a coloured plume, sprinkled with gold; \r
-His habit fit for speed succinct, and held \r
-Before his decent steps a silver wand. \r
-He drew not nigh unheard; the Angel bright, \r
-Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned, \r
-Admonished by his ear, and straight was known \r
-The Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the seven \r
-Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne, \r
-Stand ready at command, and are his eyes \r
-That run through all the Heavens, or down to the Earth \r
-Bear his swift errands over moist and dry, \r
-O'er sea and land: him Satan thus accosts. \r
-Uriel, for thou of those seven Spirits that stand \r
-In sight of God's high throne, gloriously bright, \r
-The first art wont his great authentick will \r
-Interpreter through highest Heaven to bring, \r
-Where all his sons thy embassy attend; \r
-And here art likeliest by supreme decree \r
-Like honour to obtain, and as his eye \r
-To visit oft this new creation round; \r
-Unspeakable desire to see, and know \r
-All these his wonderous works, but chiefly Man, \r
-His chief delight and favour, him for whom \r
-All these his works so wonderous he ordained, \r
-Hath brought me from the quires of Cherubim \r
-Alone thus wandering. Brightest Seraph, tell \r
-In which of all these shining orbs hath Man \r
-His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none, \r
-But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell; \r
-That I may find him, and with secret gaze \r
-Or open admiration him behold, \r
-On whom the great Creator hath bestowed \r
-Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces poured; \r
-That both in him and all things, as is meet, \r
-The universal Maker we may praise; \r
-Who justly hath driven out his rebel foes \r
-To deepest Hell, and, to repair that loss, \r
-Created this new happy race of Men \r
-To serve him better: Wise are all his ways. \r
-So spake the false dissembler unperceived; \r
-For neither Man nor Angel can discern \r
-Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks \r
-Invisible, except to God alone, \r
-By his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth: \r
-And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps \r
-At wisdom's gate, and to simplicity \r
-Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill \r
-Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguiled \r
-Uriel, though regent of the sun, and held \r
-The sharpest-sighted Spirit of all in Heaven; \r
-Who to the fraudulent impostor foul, \r
-In his uprightness, answer thus returned. \r
-Fair Angel, thy desire, which tends to know \r
-The works of God, thereby to glorify \r
-The great Work-master, leads to no excess \r
-That reaches blame, but rather merits praise \r
-The more it seems excess, that led thee hither \r
-From thy empyreal mansion thus alone, \r
-To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps, \r
-Contented with report, hear only in Heaven: \r
-For wonderful indeed are all his works, \r
-Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all \r
-Had in remembrance always with delight; \r
-But what created mind can comprehend \r
-Their number, or the wisdom infinite \r
-That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? \r
-I saw when at his word the formless mass, \r
-This world's material mould, came to a heap: \r
-Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar \r
-Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined; \r
-Till at his second bidding Darkness fled, \r
-Light shone, and order from disorder sprung: \r
-Swift to their several quarters hasted then \r
-The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire; \r
-And this ethereal quintessence of Heaven \r
-Flew upward, spirited with various forms, \r
-That rolled orbicular, and turned to stars \r
-Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; \r
-Each had his place appointed, each his course; \r
-The rest in circuit walls this universe. \r
-Look downward on that globe, whose hither side \r
-With light from hence, though but reflected, shines; \r
-That place is Earth, the seat of Man; that light \r
-His day, which else, as the other hemisphere, \r
-Night would invade; but there the neighbouring moon \r
-So call that opposite fair star) her aid \r
-Timely interposes, and her monthly round \r
-Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven, \r
-With borrowed light her countenance triform \r
-Hence fills and empties to enlighten the Earth, \r
-And in her pale dominion checks the night. \r
-That spot, to which I point, is Paradise, \r
-Adam's abode; those lofty shades, his bower. \r
-Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. \r
-Thus said, he turned; and Satan, bowing low, \r
-As to superiour Spirits is wont in Heaven, \r
-Where honour due and reverence none neglects, \r
-Took leave, and toward the coast of earth beneath, \r
-Down from the ecliptick, sped with hoped success, \r
-Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel; \r
-Nor staid, till on Niphates' top he lights. \r
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-Book IV \r
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-O, for that warning voice, which he, who saw \r
-The Apocalypse, heard cry in Heaven aloud, \r
-Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, \r
-Came furious down to be revenged on men, \r
-Woe to the inhabitants on earth! that now, \r
-While time was, our first parents had been warned \r
-The coming of their secret foe, and 'scaped, \r
-Haply so 'scaped his mortal snare: For now \r
-Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down, \r
-The tempter ere the accuser of mankind, \r
-To wreak on innocent frail Man his loss \r
-Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell: \r
-Yet, not rejoicing in his speed, though bold \r
-Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, \r
-Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth \r
-Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast, \r
-And like a devilish engine back recoils \r
-Upon himself; horrour and doubt distract \r
-His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir \r
-The Hell within him; for within him Hell \r
-He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell \r
-One step, no more than from himself, can fly \r
-By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair, \r
-That slumbered; wakes the bitter memory \r
-Of what he was, what is, and what must be \r
-Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue. \r
-Sometimes towards Eden, which now in his view \r
-Lay pleasant, his grieved look he fixes sad; \r
-Sometimes towards Heaven, and the full-blazing sun, \r
-Which now sat high in his meridian tower: \r
-Then, much revolving, thus in sighs began. \r
-O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned, \r
-Lookest from thy sole dominion like the God \r
-Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars \r
-Hide their diminished heads; to thee I call, \r
-But with no friendly voice, and add thy name, \r
-Of Sun! to tell thee how I hate thy beams, \r
-That bring to my remembrance from what state \r
-I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere; \r
-Till pride and worse ambition threw me down \r
-Warring in Heaven against Heaven's matchless King: \r
-Ah, wherefore! he deserved no such return \r
-From me, whom he created what I was \r
-In that bright eminence, and with his good \r
-Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. \r
-What could be less than to afford him praise, \r
-The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks, \r
-How due! yet all his good proved ill in me, \r
-And wrought but malice; lifted up so high \r
-I sdeined subjection, and thought one step higher \r
-Would set me highest, and in a moment quit \r
-The debt immense of endless gratitude, \r
-So burdensome still paying, still to owe, \r
-Forgetful what from him I still received, \r
-And understood not that a grateful mind \r
-By owing owes not, but still pays, at once \r
-Indebted and discharged; what burden then \r
-O, had his powerful destiny ordained \r
-Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood \r
-Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised \r
-Ambition! Yet why not some other Power \r
-As great might have aspired, and me, though mean, \r
-Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great \r
-Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within \r
-Or from without, to all temptations armed. \r
-Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand? \r
-Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse, \r
-But Heaven's free love dealt equally to all? \r
-Be then his love accursed, since love or hate, \r
-To me alike, it deals eternal woe. \r
-Nay, cursed be thou; since against his thy will \r
-Chose freely what it now so justly rues. \r
-Me miserable! which way shall I fly \r
-Infinite wrath, and infinite despair? \r
-Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell; \r
-And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep \r
-Still threatening to devour me opens wide, \r
-To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven. \r
-O, then, at last relent: Is there no place \r
-Left for repentance, none for pardon left? \r
-None left but by submission; and that word \r
-Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame \r
-Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced \r
-With other promises and other vaunts \r
-Than to submit, boasting I could subdue \r
-The Omnipotent. Ay me! they little know \r
-How dearly I abide that boast so vain, \r
-Under what torments inwardly I groan, \r
-While they adore me on the throne of Hell. \r
-With diadem and scepter high advanced, \r
-The lower still I fall, only supreme \r
-In misery: Such joy ambition finds. \r
-But say I could repent, and could obtain, \r
-By act of grace, my former state; how soon \r
-Would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay \r
-What feigned submission swore? Ease would recant \r
-Vows made in pain, as violent and void. \r
-For never can true reconcilement grow, \r
-Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep: \r
-Which would but lead me to a worse relapse \r
-And heavier fall: so should I purchase dear \r
-Short intermission bought with double smart. \r
-This knows my Punisher; therefore as far \r
-From granting he, as I from begging, peace; \r
-All hope excluded thus, behold, in stead \r
-Mankind created, and for him this world. \r
-So farewell, hope; and with hope farewell, fear; \r
-Farewell, remorse! all good to me is lost; \r
-Evil, be thou my good; by thee at least \r
-Divided empire with Heaven's King I hold, \r
-By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign; \r
-As Man ere long, and this new world, shall know. \r
-Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face \r
-Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy, and despair; \r
-Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed \r
-Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld. \r
-For heavenly minds from such distempers foul \r
-Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware, \r
-Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm, \r
-Artificer of fraud; and was the first \r
-That practised falsehood under saintly show, \r
-Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge: \r
-Yet not enough had practised to deceive \r
-Uriel once warned; whose eye pursued him down \r
- The way he went, and on the Assyrian mount \r
- Saw him disfigured, more than could befall \r
- Spirit of happy sort; his gestures fierce \r
- He marked and mad demeanour, then alone, \r
- As he supposed, all unobserved, unseen. \r
- So on he fares, and to the border comes \r
- Of Eden, where delicious Paradise, \r
- Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green, \r
- As with a rural mound, the champaign head \r
- Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides \r
-Access denied; and overhead upgrew \r
- Insuperable height of loftiest shade, \r
- Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm, \r
- A sylvan scene, and, as the ranks ascend, \r
- Shade above shade, a woody theatre \r
- Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops \r
- The verdurous wall of Paradise upsprung; \r
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-Which to our general sire gave prospect large \r
-Into his nether empire neighbouring round. \r
-And higher than that wall a circling row \r
-Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit, \r
-Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue, \r
-Appeared, with gay enamelled colours mixed: \r
-On which the sun more glad impressed his beams \r
-Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, \r
-When God hath showered the earth; so lovely seemed \r
-That landskip: And of pure now purer air \r
-Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires \r
-Vernal delight and joy, able to drive \r
-All sadness but despair: Now gentle gales, \r
-Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense \r
-Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole \r
-Those balmy spoils. As when to them who fail \r
-Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past \r
-Mozambick, off at sea north-east winds blow \r
-Sabean odours from the spicy shore \r
-Of Araby the blest; with such delay \r
-Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league \r
-Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles: \r
-So entertained those odorous sweets the Fiend, \r
-Who came their bane; though with them better pleased \r
-Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume \r
-That drove him, though enamoured, from the spouse \r
-Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent \r
-From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound. \r
-Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill \r
-Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow; \r
-But further way found none, so thick entwined, \r
-As one continued brake, the undergrowth \r
-Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed \r
-All path of man or beast that passed that way. \r
-One gate there only was, and that looked east \r
-On the other side: which when the arch-felon saw, \r
-Due entrance he disdained; and, in contempt, \r
-At one flight bound high over-leaped all bound \r
-Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within \r
-Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf, \r
-Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, \r
-Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve \r
-In hurdled cotes amid the field secure, \r
-Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold: \r
-Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash \r
-Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors, \r
-Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault, \r
-In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles: \r
-So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold; \r
-So since into his church lewd hirelings climb. \r
-Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life, \r
-The middle tree and highest there that grew, \r
-Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life \r
-Thereby regained, but sat devising death \r
-To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought \r
-Of that life-giving plant, but only used \r
-For prospect, what well used had been the pledge \r
-Of immortality. So little knows \r
-Any, but God alone, to value right \r
-The good before him, but perverts best things \r
-To worst abuse, or to their meanest use. \r
-Beneath him with new wonder now he views, \r
-To all delight of human sense exposed, \r
-In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth, yea more, \r
-A Heaven on Earth: For blissful Paradise \r
-Of God the garden was, by him in the east \r
-Of Eden planted; Eden stretched her line \r
-From Auran eastward to the royal towers \r
-Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings, \r
-Of where the sons of Eden long before \r
-Dwelt in Telassar: In this pleasant soil \r
-His far more pleasant garden God ordained; \r
-Out of the fertile ground he caused to grow \r
-All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste; \r
-And all amid them stood the tree of life, \r
-High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit \r
-Of vegetable gold; and next to life, \r
-Our death, the tree of knowledge, grew fast by, \r
-Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill. \r
-Southward through Eden went a river large, \r
-Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill \r
-Passed underneath ingulfed; for God had thrown \r
-That mountain as his garden-mould high raised \r
-Upon the rapid current, which, through veins \r
-Of porous earth with kindly thirst up-drawn, \r
-Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill \r
-Watered the garden; thence united fell \r
-Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood, \r
-Which from his darksome passage now appears, \r
-And now, divided into four main streams, \r
-Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm \r
-And country, whereof here needs no account; \r
-But rather to tell how, if Art could tell, \r
-How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks, \r
-Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, \r
-With mazy errour under pendant shades \r
-Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed \r
-Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art \r
-In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon \r
-Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain, \r
-Both where the morning sun first warmly smote \r
-The open field, and where the unpierced shade \r
-Imbrowned the noontide bowers: Thus was this place \r
-A happy rural seat of various view; \r
-Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm, \r
-Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind, \r
-Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true, \r
-If true, here only, and of delicious taste: \r
-Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks \r
-Grazing the tender herb, were interposed, \r
-Or palmy hillock; or the flowery lap \r
-Of some irriguous valley spread her store, \r
-Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose: \r
-Another side, umbrageous grots and caves \r
-Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine \r
-Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps \r
-Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall \r
-Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake, \r
-That to the fringed bank with myrtle crowned \r
-Her crystal mirrour holds, unite their streams. \r
-The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs, \r
-Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune \r
-The trembling leaves, while universal Pan, \r
-Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance, \r
-Led on the eternal Spring. Not that fair field \r
-Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers, \r
-Herself a fairer flower by gloomy Dis \r
-Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain \r
-To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove \r
-Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspired \r
-Castalian spring, might with this Paradise \r
-Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle \r
-Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, \r
-Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove, \r
-Hid Amalthea, and her florid son \r
-Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye; \r
-Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard, \r
-Mount Amara, though this by some supposed \r
-True Paradise under the Ethiop line \r
-By Nilus' head, enclosed with shining rock, \r
-A whole day's journey high, but wide remote \r
-From this Assyrian garden, where the Fiend \r
-Saw, undelighted, all delight, all kind \r
-Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange \r
-Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, \r
-Godlike erect, with native honour clad \r
-In naked majesty seemed lords of all: \r
-And worthy seemed; for in their looks divine \r
-The image of their glorious Maker shone, \r
-Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure, \r
-(Severe, but in true filial freedom placed,) \r
-Whence true authority in men; though both \r
-Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed; \r
-For contemplation he and valour formed; \r
-For softness she and sweet attractive grace; \r
-He for God only, she for God in him: \r
-His fair large front and eye sublime declared \r
-Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks \r
-Round from his parted forelock manly hung \r
-Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad: \r
-She, as a veil, down to the slender waist \r
-Her unadorned golden tresses wore \r
-Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved \r
-As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied \r
-Subjection, but required with gentle sway, \r
-And by her yielded, by him best received, \r
-Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, \r
-And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay. \r
-Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed; \r
-Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame \r
-Of nature's works, honour dishonourable, \r
-Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind \r
-With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure, \r
-And banished from man's life his happiest life, \r
-Simplicity and spotless innocence! \r
-So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight \r
-Of God or Angel; for they thought no ill: \r
-So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair, \r
-That ever since in love's embraces met; \r
-Adam the goodliest man of men since born \r
-His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. \r
-Under a tuft of shade that on a green \r
-Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side \r
-They sat them down; and, after no more toil \r
-Of their sweet gardening labour than sufficed \r
-To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease \r
-More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite \r
-More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell, \r
-Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs \r
-Yielded them, side-long as they sat recline \r
-On the soft downy bank damasked with flowers: \r
-The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind, \r
-Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream; \r
-Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles \r
-Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems \r
-Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league, \r
-Alone as they. About them frisking played \r
-All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase \r
-In wood or wilderness, forest or den; \r
-Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw \r
-Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, \r
-Gambolled before them; the unwieldy elephant, \r
-To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed \r
-His?kithetmroboscis; close the serpent sly, \r
-Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine \r
-His braided train, and of his fatal guile \r
-Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass \r
-Couched, and now filled with pasture gazing sat, \r
-Or bedward ruminating; for the sun, \r
-Declined, was hasting now with prone career \r
-To the ocean isles, and in the ascending scale \r
-Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose: \r
-When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood, \r
-Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered sad. \r
-O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold! \r
-Into our room of bliss thus high advanced \r
-Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, \r
-Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright \r
-Little inferiour; whom my thoughts pursue \r
-With wonder, and could love, so lively shines \r
-In them divine resemblance, and such grace \r
-The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured. \r
-Ah! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh \r
-Your change approaches, when all these delights \r
-Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe; \r
-More woe, the more your taste is now of joy; \r
-Happy, but for so happy ill secured \r
-Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven \r
-Ill fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe \r
-As now is entered; yet no purposed foe \r
-To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, \r
-Though I unpitied: League with you I seek, \r
-And mutual amity, so strait, so close, \r
-That I with you must dwell, or you with me \r
-Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please, \r
-Like this fair Paradise, your sense; yet such \r
-Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, \r
-Which I as freely give: Hell shall unfold, \r
-To entertain you two, her widest gates, \r
-And send forth all her kings; there will be room, \r
-Not like these narrow limits, to receive \r
-Your numerous offspring; if no better place, \r
-Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge \r
-On you who wrong me not for him who wronged. \r
-And should I at your harmless innocence \r
-Melt, as I do, yet publick reason just, \r
-Honour and empire with revenge enlarged, \r
-By conquering this new world, compels me now \r
-To do what else, though damned, I should abhor. \r
-So spake the Fiend, and with necessity, \r
-The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds. \r
-Then from his lofty stand on that high tree \r
-Down he alights among the sportful herd \r
-Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, \r
-Now other, as their shape served best his end \r
-Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied, \r
-To mark what of their state he more might learn, \r
-By word or action marked. About them round \r
-A lion now he stalks with fiery glare; \r
-Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied \r
-In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play, \r
-Straight couches close, then, rising, changes oft \r
-His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground, \r
-Whence rushing, he might surest seize them both, \r
-Griped in each paw: when, Adam first of men \r
-To first of women Eve thus moving speech, \r
-Turned him, all ear to hear new utterance flow. \r
-Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys, \r
-Dearer thyself than all; needs must the Power \r
-That made us, and for us this ample world, \r
-Be infinitely good, and of his good \r
-As liberal and free as infinite; \r
-That raised us from the dust, and placed us here \r
-In all this happiness, who at his hand \r
-Have nothing merited, nor can perform \r
-Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires \r
-From us no other service than to keep \r
-This one, this easy charge, of all the trees \r
-In Paradise that bear delicious fruit \r
-So various, not to taste that only tree \r
-Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life; \r
-So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, \r
-Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowest \r
-God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree, \r
-The only sign of our obedience left, \r
-Among so many signs of power and rule \r
-Conferred upon us, and dominion given \r
-Over all other creatures that possess \r
-Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard \r
-One easy prohibition, who enjoy \r
-Free leave so large to all things else, and choice \r
-Unlimited of manifold delights: \r
-But let us ever praise him, and extol \r
-His bounty, following our delightful task, \r
-To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers, \r
-Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet. \r
-To whom thus Eve replied. O thou for whom \r
-And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh, \r
-And without whom am to no end, my guide \r
-And head! what thou hast said is just and right. \r
-For we to him indeed all praises owe, \r
-And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy \r
-So far the happier lot, enjoying thee \r
-Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou \r
-Like consort to thyself canst no where find. \r
-That day I oft remember, when from sleep \r
-I first awaked, and found myself reposed \r
-Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where \r
-And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. \r
-Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound \r
-Of waters issued from a cave, and spread \r
-Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved \r
-Pure as the expanse of Heaven; I thither went \r
-With unexperienced thought, and laid me down \r
-On the green bank, to look into the clear \r
-Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky. \r
-As I bent down to look, just opposite \r
-A shape within the watery gleam appeared, \r
-Bending to look on me: I started back, \r
-It started back; but pleased I soon returned, \r
-Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks \r
-Of sympathy and love: There I had fixed \r
-Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire, \r
-Had not a voice thus warned me; 'What thou seest, \r
-'What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself; \r
-'With thee it came and goes: but follow me, \r
-'And I will bring thee where no shadow stays \r
-'Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he \r
-'Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy \r
-'Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear \r
-'Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called \r
-'Mother of human race.' What could I do, \r
-But follow straight, invisibly thus led? \r
-Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall, \r
-Under a platane; yet methought less fair, \r
-Less winning soft, less amiably mild, \r
-Than that smooth watery image: Back I turned; \r
-Thou following cryedst aloud, 'Return, fair Eve; \r
-'Whom flyest thou? whom thou flyest, of him thou art, \r
-'His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent \r
-'Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart, \r
-'Substantial life, to have thee by my side \r
-'Henceforth an individual solace dear; \r
-'Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim \r
-'My other half:' With that thy gentle hand \r
-Seised mine: I yielded;and from that time see \r
-How beauty is excelled by manly grace, \r
-And wisdom, which alone is truly fair. \r
-So spake our general mother, and with eyes \r
-Of conjugal attraction unreproved, \r
-And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned \r
-On our first father; half her swelling breast \r
-Naked met his, under the flowing gold \r
-Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight \r
-Both of her beauty, and submissive charms, \r
-Smiled with superiour love, as Jupiter \r
-On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds \r
-That shed Mayflowers; and pressed her matron lip \r
-With kisses pure: Aside the Devil turned \r
-For envy; yet with jealous leer malign \r
-Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained. \r
-Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two, \r
-Imparadised in one another's arms, \r
-The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill \r
-Of bliss on bliss; while I to Hell am thrust, \r
-Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire, \r
-Among our other torments not the least, \r
-Still unfulfilled with pain of longing pines. \r
-Yet let me not forget what I have gained \r
-From their own mouths: All is not theirs, it seems; \r
-One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge called, \r
-Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidden \r
-Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord \r
-Envy them that? Can it be sin to know? \r
-Can it be death? And do they only stand \r
-By ignorance? Is that their happy state, \r
-The proof of their obedience and their faith? \r
-O fair foundation laid whereon to build \r
-Their ruin! hence I will excite their minds \r
-With more desire to know, and to reject \r
-Envious commands, invented with design \r
-To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt \r
-Equal with Gods: aspiring to be such, \r
-They taste and die: What likelier can ensue \r
-But first with narrow search I must walk round \r
-This garden, and no corner leave unspied; \r
-A chance but chance may lead where I may meet \r
-Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain side, \r
-Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw \r
-What further would be learned. Live while ye may, \r
-Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return, \r
-Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed! \r
-So saying, his proud step he scornful turned, \r
-But with sly circumspection, and began \r
-Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam \r
-Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heaven \r
-With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun \r
-Slowly descended, and with right aspect \r
-Against the eastern gate of Paradise \r
-Levelled his evening rays: It was a rock \r
-Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, \r
-Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent \r
-Accessible from earth, one entrance high; \r
-The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung \r
-Still as it rose, impossible to climb. \r
-Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, \r
-Chief of the angelick guards, awaiting night; \r
-About him exercised heroick games \r
-The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand \r
-Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears, \r
-Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold. \r
-Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even \r
-On a sun-beam, swift as a shooting star \r
-In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fired \r
-Impress the air, and shows the mariner \r
-From what point of his compass to beware \r
-Impetuous winds: He thus began in haste. \r
-Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given \r
-Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place \r
-No evil thing approach or enter in. \r
-This day at highth of noon came to my sphere \r
-A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know \r
-More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly Man, \r
-God's latest image: I described his way \r
-Bent all on speed, and marked his aery gait; \r
-But in the mount that lies from Eden north, \r
-Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks \r
-Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured: \r
-Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade \r
-Lost sight of him: One of the banished crew, \r
-I fear, hath ventured from the deep, to raise \r
-New troubles; him thy care must be to find. \r
-To whom the winged warriour thus returned. \r
-Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight, \r
-Amid the sun's bright circle where thou sitst, \r
-See far and wide: In at this gate none pass \r
-The vigilance here placed, but such as come \r
-Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour \r
-No creature thence: If Spirit of other sort, \r
-So minded, have o'er-leaped these earthly bounds \r
-On purpose, hard thou knowest it to exclude \r
-Spiritual substance with corporeal bar. \r
-But if within the circuit of these walks, \r
-In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom \r
-Thou tellest, by morrow dawning I shall know. \r
-So promised he; and Uriel to his charge \r
-Returned on that bright beam, whose point now raised \r
-Bore him slope downward to the sun now fallen \r
-Beneath the Azores; whether the prime orb, \r
-Incredible how swift, had thither rolled \r
-Diurnal, or this less volubil earth, \r
-By shorter flight to the east, had left him there \r
-Arraying with reflected purple and gold \r
-The clouds that on his western throne attend. \r
-Now came still Evening on, and Twilight gray \r
-Had in her sober livery all things clad; \r
-Silence accompanied; for beast and bird, \r
-They to their grassy couch, these to their nests \r
-Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale; \r
-She all night long her amorous descant sung; \r
-Silence was pleased: Now glowed the firmament \r
-With living sapphires: Hesperus, that led \r
-The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon, \r
-Rising in clouded majesty, at length \r
-Apparent queen unveiled her peerless light, \r
-And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw. \r
-When Adam thus to Eve. Fair Consort, the hour \r
-Of night, and all things now retired to rest, \r
-Mind us of like repose; since God hath set \r
-Labour and rest, as day and night, to men \r
-Successive; and the timely dew of sleep, \r
-Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines \r
-Our eye-lids: Other creatures all day long \r
-Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest; \r
-Man hath his daily work of body or mind \r
-Appointed, which declares his dignity, \r
-And the regard of Heaven on all his ways; \r
-While other animals unactive range, \r
-And of their doings God takes no account. \r
-To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east \r
-With first approach of light, we must be risen, \r
-And at our pleasant labour, to reform \r
-Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green, \r
-Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, \r
-That mock our scant manuring, and require \r
-More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth: \r
-Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, \r
-That lie bestrown, unsightly and unsmooth, \r
-Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease; \r
-Mean while, as Nature wills, night bids us rest. \r
-To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorned \r
-My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst \r
-Unargued I obey: So God ordains; \r
-God is thy law, thou mine: To know no more \r
-Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise. \r
-With thee conversing I forget all time; \r
-All seasons, and their change, all please alike. \r
-Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet, \r
-With charm of earliest birds: pleasant the sun, \r
-When first on this delightful land he spreads \r
-His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, \r
-Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth \r
-After soft showers; and sweet the coming on \r
-Of grateful Evening mild; then silent Night, \r
-With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon, \r
-And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train: \r
-But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends \r
-With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun \r
-On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower, \r
-Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers; \r
-Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night, \r
-With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon, \r
-Or glittering star-light, without thee is sweet. \r
-But wherefore all night long shine these? for whom \r
-This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes? \r
-To whom our general ancestor replied. \r
-Daughter of God and Man, accomplished Eve, \r
-These have their course to finish round the earth, \r
-By morrow evening, and from land to land \r
-In order, though to nations yet unborn, \r
-Ministring light prepared, they set and rise; \r
-Lest total Darkness should by night regain \r
-Her old possession, and extinguish life \r
-In Nature and all things; which these soft fires \r
-Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat \r
-Of various influence foment and warm, \r
-Temper or nourish, or in part shed down \r
-Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow \r
-On earth, made hereby apter to receive \r
-Perfection from the sun's more potent ray. \r
-These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, \r
-Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none, \r
-That Heaven would want spectators, God want praise: \r
-Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth \r
-Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep: \r
-All these with ceaseless praise his works behold \r
-Both day and night: How often from the steep \r
-Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard \r
-Celestial voices to the midnight air, \r
-Sole, or responsive each to others note, \r
-Singing their great Creator? oft in bands \r
-While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, \r
-With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds \r
-In full harmonick number joined, their songs \r
-Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. \r
-Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed \r
-On to their blissful bower: it was a place \r
-Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed \r
-All things to Man's delightful use; the roof \r
-Of thickest covert was inwoven shade \r
-Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew \r
-Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side \r
-Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub, \r
-Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower, \r
-Iris all hues, roses, and jessamin, \r
-Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought \r
-Mosaick; underfoot the violet, \r
-Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay \r
-Broidered the ground, more coloured than with stone \r
-Of costliest emblem: Other creature here, \r
-Bird, beast, insect, or worm, durst enter none, \r
-Such was their awe of Man. In shadier bower \r
-More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned, \r
-Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph \r
-Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess, \r
-With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs, \r
-Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed; \r
-And heavenly quires the hymenaean sung, \r
-What day the genial Angel to our sire \r
-Brought her in naked beauty more adorned, \r
-More lovely, than Pandora, whom the Gods \r
-Endowed with all their gifts, and O! too like \r
-In sad event, when to the unwiser son \r
-Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnared \r
-Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged \r
-On him who had stole Jove's authentick fire. \r
-Thus, at their shady lodge arrived, both stood, \r
-Both turned, and under open sky adored \r
-The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven, \r
-Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe, \r
-And starry pole: Thou also madest the night, \r
-Maker Omnipotent, and thou the day, \r
-Which we, in our appointed work employed, \r
-Have finished, happy in our mutual help \r
-And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss \r
-Ordained by thee; and this delicious place \r
-For us too large, where thy abundance wants \r
-Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. \r
-But thou hast promised from us two a race \r
-To fill the earth, who shall with us extol \r
-Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, \r
-And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep. \r
-This said unanimous, and other rites \r
-Observing none, but adoration pure \r
-Which God likes best, into their inmost bower \r
-Handed they went; and, eased the putting off \r
-These troublesome disguises which we wear, \r
-Straight side by side were laid; nor turned, I ween, \r
-Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites \r
-Mysterious of connubial love refused: \r
-Whatever hypocrites austerely talk \r
-Of purity, and place, and innocence, \r
-Defaming as impure what God declares \r
-Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all. \r
-Our Maker bids encrease; who bids abstain \r
-But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man? \r
-Hail, wedded Love, mysterious law, true source \r
-Of human offspring, sole propriety \r
-In Paradise of all things common else! \r
-By thee adulterous Lust was driven from men \r
-Among the bestial herds to range; by thee \r
-Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure, \r
-Relations dear, and all the charities \r
-Of father, son, and brother, first were known. \r
-Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame, \r
-Or think thee unbefitting holiest place, \r
-Perpetual fountain of domestick sweets, \r
-Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced, \r
-Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used. \r
-Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights \r
-His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, \r
-Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile \r
-Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared, \r
-Casual fruition; nor in court-amours, \r
-Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, \r
-Or serenate, which the starved lover sings \r
-To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. \r
-These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept, \r
-And on their naked limbs the flowery roof \r
-Showered roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on, \r
-Blest pair; and O!yet happiest, if ye seek \r
-No happier state, and know to know no more. \r
-Now had night measured with her shadowy cone \r
-Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault, \r
-And from their ivory port the Cherubim, \r
-Forth issuing at the accustomed hour, stood armed \r
-To their night watches in warlike parade; \r
-When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake. \r
-Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south \r
-With strictest watch; these other wheel the north; \r
-Our circuit meets full west. As flame they part, \r
-Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. \r
-From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he called \r
-That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge. \r
-Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed \r
-Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook; \r
-But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, \r
-Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm. \r
-This evening from the sun's decline arrived, \r
-Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen \r
-Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped \r
-The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt: \r
-Such, where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring. \r
-So saying, on he led his radiant files, \r
-Dazzling the moon; these to the bower direct \r
-In search of whom they sought: Him there they found \r
-Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, \r
-Assaying by his devilish art to reach \r
-The organs of her fancy, and with them forge \r
-Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams; \r
-Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint \r
-The animal spirits, that from pure blood arise \r
-Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise \r
-At least distempered, discontented thoughts, \r
-Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, \r
-Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride. \r
-Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear \r
-Touched lightly; for no falshood can endure \r
-Touch of celestial temper, but returns \r
-Of force to its own likeness: Up he starts \r
-Discovered and surprised. As when a spark \r
-Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid \r
-Fit for the tun some magazine to store \r
-Against a rumoured war, the smutty grain, \r
-With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air; \r
-So started up in his own shape the Fiend. \r
-Back stept those two fair Angels, half amazed \r
-So sudden to behold the grisly king; \r
-Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon. \r
-Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to Hell \r
-Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and, transformed, \r
-Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait, \r
-Here watching at the head of these that sleep? \r
-Know ye not then said Satan, filled with scorn, \r
-Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate \r
-For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar: \r
-Not to know me argues yourselves unknown, \r
-The lowest of your throng; or, if ye know, \r
-Why ask ye, and superfluous begin \r
-Your message, like to end as much in vain? \r
-To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn. \r
-Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same, \r
-Or undiminished brightness to be known, \r
-As when thou stoodest in Heaven upright and pure; \r
-That glory then, when thou no more wast good, \r
-Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now \r
-Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul. \r
-But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account \r
-To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep \r
-This place inviolable, and these from harm. \r
-So spake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke, \r
-Severe in youthful beauty, added grace \r
-Invincible: Abashed the Devil stood, \r
-And felt how awful goodness is, and saw \r
-Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined \r
-His loss; but chiefly to find here observed \r
-His lustre visibly impaired; yet seemed \r
-Undaunted. If I must contend, said he, \r
-Best with the best, the sender, not the sent, \r
-Or all at once; more glory will be won, \r
-Or less be lost. Thy fear, said Zephon bold, \r
-Will save us trial what the least can do \r
-Single against thee wicked, and thence weak. \r
-The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage; \r
-But, like a proud steed reined, went haughty on, \r
-Champing his iron curb: To strive or fly \r
-He held it vain; awe from above had quelled \r
-His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh \r
-The western point, where those half-rounding guards \r
-Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined, \r
-A waiting next command. To whom their Chief, \r
-Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud. \r
-O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet \r
-Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern \r
-Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade; \r
-And with them comes a third of regal port, \r
-But faded splendour wan; who by his gait \r
-And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell, \r
-Not likely to part hence without contest; \r
-Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours. \r
-He scarce had ended, when those two approached, \r
-And brief related whom they brought, where found, \r
-How busied, in what form and posture couched. \r
-To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake. \r
-Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed \r
-To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge \r
-Of others, who approve not to transgress \r
-By thy example, but have power and right \r
-To question thy bold entrance on this place; \r
-Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those \r
-Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss! \r
-To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. \r
-Gabriel? thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise, \r
-And such I held thee; but this question asked \r
-Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain! \r
-Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, \r
-Though thither doomed! Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt \r
-And boldly venture to whatever place \r
-Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change \r
-Torment with ease, and soonest recompense \r
-Dole with delight, which in this place I sought; \r
-To thee no reason, who knowest only good, \r
-But evil hast not tried: and wilt object \r
-His will who bounds us! Let him surer bar \r
-His iron gates, if he intends our stay \r
-In that dark durance: Thus much what was asked. \r
-The rest is true, they found me where they say; \r
-But that implies not violence or harm. \r
-Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved, \r
-Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied. \r
-O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise \r
-Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew, \r
-And now returns him from his prison 'scaped, \r
-Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise \r
-Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither \r
-Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed; \r
-So wise he judges it to fly from pain \r
-However, and to 'scape his punishment! \r
-So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath, \r
-Which thou incurrest by flying, meet thy flight \r
-Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, \r
-Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain \r
-Can equal anger infinite provoked. \r
-But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee \r
-Came not all hell broke loose? or thou than they \r
-Less hardy to endure? Courageous Chief! \r
-The first in flight from pain! hadst thou alleged \r
-To thy deserted host this cause of flight, \r
-Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. \r
-To which the Fiend thus answered, frowning stern. \r
-Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, \r
-Insulting Angel! well thou knowest I stood \r
-Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid \r
-The blasting vollied thunder made all speed, \r
-And seconded thy else not dreaded spear. \r
-But still thy words at random, as before, \r
-Argue thy inexperience what behoves \r
-From hard assays and ill successes past \r
-A faithful leader, not to hazard all \r
-Through ways of danger by himself untried: \r
-I, therefore, I alone first undertook \r
-To wing the desolate abyss, and spy \r
-This new created world, whereof in Hell \r
-Fame is not silent, here in hope to find \r
-Better abode, and my afflicted Powers \r
-To settle here on earth, or in mid air; \r
-Though for possession put to try once more \r
-What thou and thy gay legions dare against; \r
-Whose easier business were to serve their Lord \r
-High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, \r
-And practised distances to cringe, not fight, \r
-To whom the warriour Angel soon replied. \r
-To say and straight unsay, pretending first \r
-Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, \r
-Argues no leader but a liear traced, \r
-Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, \r
-O sacred name of faithfulness profaned! \r
-Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? \r
-Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head. \r
-Was this your discipline and faith engaged, \r
-Your military obedience, to dissolve \r
-Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme? \r
-And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem \r
-Patron of liberty, who more than thou \r
-Once fawned, and cringed, and servily adored \r
-Heaven's awful Monarch? wherefore, but in hope \r
-To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? \r
-But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant; \r
-Fly neither whence thou fledst! If from this hour \r
-Within these hallowed limits thou appear, \r
-Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained, \r
-And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn \r
-The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred. \r
-So threatened he; but Satan to no threats \r
-Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied. \r
-Then when I am thy captive talk of chains, \r
-Proud limitary Cherub! but ere then \r
-Far heavier load thyself expect to feel \r
-From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King \r
-Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers, \r
-Us'd to the yoke, drawest his triumphant wheels \r
-In progress through the road of Heaven star-paved. \r
-While thus he spake, the angelick squadron bright \r
-Turned fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns \r
-Their phalanx, and began to hem him round \r
-With ported spears, as thick as when a field \r
-Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends \r
-Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind \r
-Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands, \r
-Left on the threshing floor his hopeless sheaves \r
-Prove chaff. On the other side, Satan, alarmed, \r
-Collecting all his might, dilated stood, \r
-Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved: \r
-His stature reached the sky, and on his crest \r
-Sat Horrour plumed; nor wanted in his grasp \r
-What seemed both spear and shield: Now dreadful deeds \r
-Might have ensued, nor only Paradise \r
-In this commotion, but the starry cope \r
-Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements \r
-At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn \r
-With violence of this conflict, had not soon \r
-The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, \r
-Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen \r
-Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign, \r
-Wherein all things created first he weighed, \r
-The pendulous round earth with balanced air \r
-In counterpoise, now ponders all events, \r
-Battles and realms: In these he put two weights, \r
-The sequel each of parting and of fight: \r
-The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam, \r
-Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. \r
-Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowest mine; \r
-Neither our own, but given: What folly then \r
-To boast what arms can do? since thine no more \r
-Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now \r
-To trample thee as mire: For proof look up, \r
-And read thy lot in yon celestial sign; \r
-Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak, \r
-If thou resist. The Fiend looked up, and knew \r
-His mounted scale aloft: Nor more;but fled \r
-Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night. \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
-Book V \r
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- \r
-Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime \r
-Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl, \r
-When Adam waked, so customed; for his sleep \r
-Was aery-light, from pure digestion bred, \r
-And temperate vapours bland, which the only sound \r
-Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, \r
-Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song \r
-Of birds on every bough; so much the more \r
-His wonder was to find unwakened Eve \r
-With tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek, \r
-As through unquiet rest: He, on his side \r
-Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial love \r
-Hung over her enamoured, and beheld \r
-Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep, \r
-Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice \r
-Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, \r
-Her hand soft touching, whispered thus. Awake, \r
-My fairest, my espoused, my latest found, \r
-Heaven's last best gift, my ever new delight! \r
-Awake: The morning shines, and the fresh field \r
-Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring \r
-Our tender plants, how blows the citron grove, \r
-What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed, \r
-How nature paints her colours, how the bee \r
-Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet. \r
-Such whispering waked her, but with startled eye \r
-On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spake. \r
-O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, \r
-My glory, my perfection! glad I see \r
-Thy face, and morn returned; for I this night \r
-(Such night till this I never passed) have dreamed, \r
-If dreamed, not, as I oft am wont, of thee, \r
-Works of day past, or morrow's next design, \r
-But of offence and trouble, which my mind \r
-Knew never till this irksome night: Methought, \r
-Close at mine ear one called me forth to walk \r
-With gentle voice; I thought it thine: It said, \r
-'Why sleepest thou, Eve? now is the pleasant time, \r
-'The cool, the silent, save where silence yields \r
-'To the night-warbling bird, that now awake \r
-'Tunes sweetest his love-laboured song; now reigns \r
-'Full-orbed the moon, and with more pleasing light \r
-'Shadowy sets off the face of things; in vain, \r
-'If none regard; Heaven wakes with all his eyes, \r
-'Whom to behold but thee, Nature's desire? \r
-'In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment \r
-'Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.' \r
-I rose as at thy call, but found thee not; \r
-To find thee I directed then my walk; \r
-And on, methought, alone I passed through ways \r
-That brought me on a sudden to the tree \r
-Of interdicted knowledge: fair it seemed, \r
-Much fairer to my fancy than by day: \r
-And, as I wondering looked, beside it stood \r
-One shaped and winged like one of those from Heaven \r
-By us oft seen; his dewy locks distilled \r
-Ambrosia; on that tree he also gazed; \r
-And 'O fair plant,' said he, 'with fruit surcharged, \r
-'Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet, \r
-'Nor God, nor Man? Is knowledge so despised? \r
-'Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste? \r
-'Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold \r
-'Longer thy offered good; why else set here? \r
-This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm \r
-He plucked, he tasted; me damp horrour chilled \r
-At such bold words vouched with a deed so bold: \r
-But he thus, overjoyed; 'O fruit divine, \r
-'Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt, \r
-'Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit \r
-'For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men: \r
-'And why not Gods of Men; since good, the more \r
-'Communicated, more abundant grows, \r
-'The author not impaired, but honoured more? \r
-'Here, happy creature, fair angelick Eve! \r
-'Partake thou also; happy though thou art, \r
-'Happier thou mayest be, worthier canst not be: \r
-'Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods \r
-'Thyself a Goddess, not to earth confined, \r
-'But sometimes in the air, as we, sometimes \r
-'Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see \r
-'What life the Gods live there, and such live thou!' \r
-So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held, \r
-Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part \r
-Which he had plucked; the pleasant savoury smell \r
-So quickened appetite, that I, methought, \r
-Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds \r
-With him I flew, and underneath beheld \r
-The earth outstretched immense, a prospect wide \r
-And various: Wondering at my flight and change \r
-To this high exaltation; suddenly \r
-My guide was gone, and I, methought, sunk down, \r
-And fell asleep; but O, how glad I waked \r
-To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her night \r
-Related, and thus Adam answered sad. \r
-Best image of myself, and dearer half, \r
-The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep \r
-Affects me equally; nor can I like \r
-This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear; \r
-Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none, \r
-Created pure. But know that in the soul \r
-Are many lesser faculties, that serve \r
-Reason as chief; among these Fancy next \r
-Her office holds; of all external things \r
-Which the five watchful senses represent, \r
-She forms imaginations, aery shapes, \r
-Which Reason, joining or disjoining, frames \r
-All what we affirm or what deny, and call \r
-Our knowledge or opinion; then retires \r
-Into her private cell, when nature rests. \r
-Oft in her absence mimick Fancy wakes \r
-To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes, \r
-Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams; \r
-Ill matching words and deeds long past or late. \r
-Some such resemblances, methinks, I find \r
-Of our last evening's talk, in this thy dream, \r
-But with addition strange; yet be not sad. \r
-Evil into the mind of God or Man \r
-May come and go, so unreproved, and leave \r
-No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope \r
-That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream, \r
-Waking thou never will consent to do. \r
-Be not disheartened then, nor cloud those looks, \r
-That wont to be more cheerful and serene, \r
-Than when fair morning first smiles on the world; \r
-And let us to our fresh employments rise \r
-Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers \r
-That open now their choisest bosomed smells, \r
-Reserved from night, and kept for thee in store. \r
-So cheered he his fair spouse, and she was cheered; \r
-But silently a gentle tear let fall \r
-From either eye, and wiped them with her hair; \r
-Two other precious drops that ready stood, \r
-Each in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell \r
-Kissed, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse \r
-And pious awe, that feared to have offended. \r
-So all was cleared, and to the field they haste. \r
-But first, from under shady arborous roof \r
-Soon as they forth were come to open sight \r
-Of day-spring, and the sun, who, scarce up-risen, \r
-With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean-brim, \r
-Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray, \r
-Discovering in wide landskip all the east \r
-Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains, \r
-Lowly they bowed adoring, and began \r
-Their orisons, each morning duly paid \r
-In various style; for neither various style \r
-Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise \r
-Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung \r
-Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence \r
-Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous verse, \r
-More tuneable than needed lute or harp \r
-To add more sweetness; and they thus began. \r
-These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, \r
-Almighty! Thine this universal frame, \r
-Thus wonderous fair; Thyself how wonderous then! \r
-Unspeakable, who sitst above these heavens \r
-To us invisible, or dimly seen \r
-In these thy lowest works; yet these declare \r
-Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine. \r
-Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light, \r
-Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs \r
-And choral symphonies, day without night, \r
-Circle his throne rejoicing; ye in Heaven \r
-On Earth join all ye Creatures to extol \r
-Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. \r
-Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, \r
-If better thou belong not to the dawn, \r
-Sure pledge of day, that crownest the smiling morn \r
-With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere, \r
-While day arises, that sweet hour of prime. \r
-Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and soul, \r
-Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise \r
-In thy eternal course, both when thou climbest, \r
-And when high noon hast gained, and when thou fallest. \r
-Moon, that now meetest the orient sun, now flyest, \r
-With the fixed Stars, fixed in their orb that flies; \r
-And ye five other wandering Fires, that move \r
-In mystick dance not without song, resound \r
-His praise, who out of darkness called up light. \r
-Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth \r
-Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run \r
-Perpetual circle, multiform; and mix \r
-And nourish all things; let your ceaseless change \r
-Vary to our great Maker still new praise. \r
-Ye Mists and Exhalations, that now rise \r
-From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray, \r
-Till the sun paint your fleecy skirts with gold, \r
-In honour to the world's great Author rise; \r
-Whether to deck with clouds the uncoloured sky, \r
-Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers, \r
-Rising or falling still advance his praise. \r
-His praise, ye Winds, that from four quarters blow, \r
-Breathe soft or loud; and, wave your tops, ye Pines, \r
-With every plant, in sign of worship wave. \r
-Fountains, and ye that warble, as ye flow, \r
-Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. \r
-Join voices, all ye living Souls: Ye Birds, \r
-That singing up to Heaven-gate ascend, \r
-Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise. \r
-Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk \r
-The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep; \r
-Witness if I be silent, morn or even, \r
-To hill, or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, \r
-Made vocal by my song, and taught his praise. \r
-Hail, universal Lord, be bounteous still \r
-To give us only good; and if the night \r
-Have gathered aught of evil, or concealed, \r
-Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark! \r
-So prayed they innocent, and to their thoughts \r
-Firm peace recovered soon, and wonted calm. \r
-On to their morning's rural work they haste, \r
-Among sweet dews and flowers; where any row \r
-Of fruit-trees over-woody reached too far \r
-Their pampered boughs, and needed hands to check \r
-Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine \r
-To wed her elm; she, spoused, about him twines \r
-Her marriageable arms, and with him brings \r
-Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn \r
-His barren leaves. Them thus employed beheld \r
-With pity Heaven's high King, and to him called \r
-Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deigned \r
-To travel with Tobias, and secured \r
-His marriage with the seventimes-wedded maid. \r
-Raphael, said he, thou hearest what stir on Earth \r
-Satan, from Hell 'scaped through the darksome gulf, \r
-Hath raised in Paradise; and how disturbed \r
-This night the human pair; how he designs \r
-In them at once to ruin all mankind. \r
-Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend \r
-Converse with Adam, in what bower or shade \r
-Thou findest him from the heat of noon retired, \r
-To respite his day-labour with repast, \r
-Or with repose; and such discourse bring on, \r
-As may advise him of his happy state, \r
-Happiness in his power left free to will, \r
-Left to his own free will, his will though free, \r
-Yet mutable; whence warn him to beware \r
-He swerve not, too secure: Tell him withal \r
-His danger, and from whom; what enemy, \r
-Late fallen himself from Heaven, is plotting now \r
-The fall of others from like state of bliss; \r
-By violence? no, for that shall be withstood; \r
-But by deceit and lies: This let him know, \r
-Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend \r
-Surprisal, unadmonished, unforewarned. \r
-So spake the Eternal Father, and fulfilled \r
-All justice: Nor delayed the winged Saint \r
-After his charge received; but from among \r
-Thousand celestial Ardours, where he stood \r
-Veiled with his gorgeous wings, up springing light, \r
-Flew through the midst of Heaven; the angelick quires, \r
-On each hand parting, to his speed gave way \r
-Through all the empyreal road; till, at the gate \r
-Of Heaven arrived, the gate self-opened wide \r
-On golden hinges turning, as by work \r
-Divine the sovran Architect had framed. \r
-From hence no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight, \r
-Star interposed, however small he sees, \r
-Not unconformed to other shining globes, \r
-Earth, and the garden of God, with cedars crowned \r
-Above all hills. As when by night the glass \r
-Of Galileo, less assured, observes \r
-Imagined lands and regions in the moon: \r
-Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades \r
-Delos or Samos first appearing, kens \r
-A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight \r
-He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky \r
-Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady wing \r
-Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan \r
-Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar \r
-Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems \r
-A phoenix, gazed by all as that sole bird, \r
-When, to enshrine his reliques in the Sun's \r
-Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies. \r
-At once on the eastern cliff of Paradise \r
-He lights, and to his proper shape returns \r
-A Seraph winged: Six wings he wore, to shade \r
-His lineaments divine; the pair that clad \r
-Each shoulder broad, came mantling o'er his breast \r
-With regal ornament; the middle pair \r
-Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round \r
-Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold \r
-And colours dipt in Heaven; the third his feet \r
-Shadowed from either heel with feathered mail, \r
-Sky-tinctured grain. Like Maia's son he stood, \r
-And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance filled \r
-The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands \r
-Of Angels under watch; and to his state, \r
-And to his message high, in honour rise; \r
-For on some message high they guessed him bound. \r
-Their glittering tents he passed, and now is come \r
-Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh, \r
-And flowering odours, cassia, nard, and balm; \r
-A wilderness of sweets; for Nature here \r
-Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will \r
-Her virgin fancies pouring forth more sweet, \r
-Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. \r
-Him through the spicy forest onward come \r
-Adam discerned, as in the door he sat \r
-Of his cool bower, while now the mounted sun \r
-Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm \r
-Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam needs: \r
-And Eve within, due at her hour prepared \r
-For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please \r
-True appetite, and not disrelish thirst \r
-Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream, \r
-Berry or grape: To whom thus Adam called. \r
-Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold \r
-Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape \r
-Comes this way moving; seems another morn \r
-Risen on mid-noon; some great behest from Heaven \r
-To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe \r
-This day to be our guest. But go with speed, \r
-And, what thy stores contain, bring forth, and pour \r
-Abundance, fit to honour and receive \r
-Our heavenly stranger: Well we may afford \r
-Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow \r
-From large bestowed, where Nature multiplies \r
-Her fertile growth, and by disburthening grows \r
-More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare. \r
-To whom thus Eve. Adam, earth's hallowed mould, \r
-Of God inspired! small store will serve, where store, \r
-All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk; \r
-Save what by frugal storing firmness gains \r
-To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes: \r
-But I will haste, and from each bough and brake, \r
-Each plant and juciest gourd, will pluck such choice \r
-To entertain our Angel-guest, as he \r
-Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth \r
-God hath dispensed his bounties as in Heaven. \r
-So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste \r
-She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent \r
-What choice to choose for delicacy best, \r
-What order, so contrived as not to mix \r
-Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring \r
-Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change; \r
-Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk \r
-Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields \r
-In India East or West, or middle shore \r
-In Pontus or the Punick coast, or where \r
-Alcinous reigned, fruit of all kinds, in coat \r
-Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell, \r
-She gathers, tribute large, and on the board \r
-Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the grape \r
-She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths \r
-From many a berry, and from sweet kernels pressed \r
-She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold \r
-Wants her fit vessels pure; then strows the ground \r
-With rose and odours from the shrub unfumed. \r
-Mean while our primitive great sire, to meet \r
-His God-like guest, walks forth, without more train \r
-Accompanied than with his own complete \r
-Perfections; in himself was all his state, \r
-More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits \r
-On princes, when their rich retinue long \r
-Of horses led, and grooms besmeared with gold, \r
-Dazzles the croud, and sets them all agape. \r
-Nearer his presence Adam, though not awed, \r
-Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek, \r
-As to a superiour nature bowing low, \r
-Thus said. Native of Heaven, for other place \r
-None can than Heaven such glorious shape contain; \r
-Since, by descending from the thrones above, \r
-Those happy places thou hast deigned a while \r
-To want, and honour these, vouchsafe with us \r
-Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess \r
-This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower \r
-To rest; and what the garden choicest bears \r
-To sit and taste, till this meridian heat \r
-Be over, and the sun more cool decline. \r
-Whom thus the angelick Virtue answered mild. \r
-Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou such \r
-Created, or such place hast here to dwell, \r
-As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heaven, \r
-To visit thee; lead on then where thy bower \r
-O'ershades; for these mid-hours, till evening rise, \r
-I have at will. So to the sylvan lodge \r
-They came, that like Pomona's arbour smiled, \r
-With flowerets decked, and fragrant smells; but Eve, \r
-Undecked save with herself, more lovely fair \r
-Than Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feigned \r
-Of three that in mount Ida naked strove, \r
-Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil \r
-She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm \r
-Altered her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail \r
-Bestowed, the holy salutation used \r
-Long after to blest Mary, second Eve. \r
-Hail, Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb \r
-Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons, \r
-Than with these various fruits the trees of God \r
-Have heaped this table!--Raised of grassy turf \r
-Their table was, and mossy seats had round, \r
-And on her ample square from side to side \r
-All autumn piled, though spring and autumn here \r
-Danced hand in hand. A while discourse they hold; \r
-No fear lest dinner cool; when thus began \r
-Our author. Heavenly stranger, please to taste \r
-These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom \r
-All perfect good, unmeasured out, descends, \r
-To us for food and for delight hath caused \r
-The earth to yield; unsavoury food perhaps \r
-To spiritual natures; only this I know, \r
-That one celestial Father gives to all. \r
-To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives \r
-(Whose praise be ever sung) to Man in part \r
-Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found \r
-No ingrateful food: And food alike those pure \r
-Intelligential substances require, \r
-As doth your rational; and both contain \r
-Within them every lower faculty \r
-Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, \r
-Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate, \r
-And corporeal to incorporeal turn. \r
-For know, whatever was created, needs \r
-To be sustained and fed: Of elements \r
-The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea, \r
-Earth and the sea feed air, the air those fires \r
-Ethereal, and as lowest first the moon; \r
-Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurged \r
-Vapours not yet into her substance turned. \r
-Nor doth the moon no nourishment exhale \r
-From her moist continent to higher orbs. \r
-The sun that light imparts to all, receives \r
-From all his alimental recompence \r
-In humid exhalations, and at even \r
-Sups with the ocean. Though in Heaven the trees \r
-Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines \r
-Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each morn \r
-We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground \r
-Covered with pearly grain: Yet God hath here \r
-Varied his bounty so with new delights, \r
-As may compare with Heaven; and to taste \r
-Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat, \r
-And to their viands fell; nor seemingly \r
-The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss \r
-Of Theologians; but with keen dispatch \r
-Of real hunger, and concoctive heat \r
-To transubstantiate: What redounds, transpires \r
-Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder;if by fire \r
-Of sooty coal the empirick alchemist \r
-Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, \r
-Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold, \r
-As from the mine. Mean while at table Eve \r
-Ministered naked, and their flowing cups \r
-With pleasant liquours crowned: O innocence \r
-Deserving Paradise! if ever, then, \r
-Then had the sons of God excuse to have been \r
-Enamoured at that sight; but in those hearts \r
-Love unlibidinous reigned, nor jealousy \r
-Was understood, the injured lover's hell. \r
-Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficed, \r
-Not burdened nature, sudden mind arose \r
-In Adam, not to let the occasion pass \r
-Given him by this great conference to know \r
-Of things above his world, and of their being \r
-Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw \r
-Transcend his own so far; whose radiant forms, \r
-Divine effulgence, whose high power, so far \r
-Exceeded human; and his wary speech \r
-Thus to the empyreal minister he framed. \r
-Inhabitant with God, now know I well \r
-Thy favour, in this honour done to Man; \r
-Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsafed \r
-To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste, \r
-Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, \r
-As that more willingly thou couldst not seem \r
-At Heaven's high feasts to have fed: yet what compare \r
-To whom the winged Hierarch replied. \r
-O Adam, One Almighty is, from whom \r
-All things proceed, and up to him return, \r
-If not depraved from good, created all \r
-Such to perfection, one first matter all, \r
-Endued with various forms, various degrees \r
-Of substance, and, in things that live, of life; \r
-But more refined, more spiritous, and pure, \r
-As nearer to him placed, or nearer tending \r
-Each in their several active spheres assigned, \r
-Till body up to spirit work, in bounds \r
-Proportioned to each kind. So from the root \r
-Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves \r
-More aery, last the bright consummate flower \r
-Spirits odorous breathes: flowers and their fruit, \r
-Man's nourishment, by gradual scale sublimed, \r
-To vital spirits aspire, to animal, \r
-To intellectual; give both life and sense, \r
-Fancy and understanding; whence the soul \r
-Reason receives, and reason is her being, \r
-Discursive, or intuitive; discourse \r
-Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, \r
-Differing but in degree, of kind the same. \r
-Wonder not then, what God for you saw good \r
-If I refuse not, but convert, as you \r
-To proper substance. Time may come, when Men \r
-With Angels may participate, and find \r
-No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare; \r
-And from these corporal nutriments perhaps \r
-Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit, \r
-Improved by tract of time, and, winged, ascend \r
-Ethereal, as we; or may, at choice, \r
-Here or in heavenly Paradises dwell; \r
-If ye be found obedient, and retain \r
-Unalterably firm his love entire, \r
-Whose progeny you are. Mean while enjoy \r
-Your fill what happiness this happy state \r
-Can comprehend, incapable of more. \r
-To whom the patriarch of mankind replied. \r
-O favourable Spirit, propitious guest, \r
-Well hast thou taught the way that might direct \r
-Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set \r
-From center to circumference; whereon, \r
-In contemplation of created things, \r
-By steps we may ascend to God. But say, \r
-What meant that caution joined, If ye be found \r
-Obedient? Can we want obedience then \r
-To him, or possibly his love desert, \r
-Who formed us from the dust and placed us here \r
-Full to the utmost measure of what bliss \r
-Human desires can seek or apprehend? \r
-To whom the Angel. Son of Heaven and Earth, \r
-Attend! That thou art happy, owe to God; \r
-That thou continuest such, owe to thyself, \r
-That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. \r
-This was that caution given thee; be advised. \r
-God made thee perfect, not immutable; \r
-And good he made thee, but to persevere \r
-He left it in thy power; ordained thy will \r
-By nature free, not over-ruled by fate \r
-Inextricable, or strict necessity: \r
-Our voluntary service he requires, \r
-Not our necessitated; such with him \r
-Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how \r
-Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve \r
-Willing or no, who will but what they must \r
-By destiny, and can no other choose? \r
-Myself, and all the angelick host, that stand \r
-In sight of God, enthroned, our happy state \r
-Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; \r
-On other surety none: Freely we serve, \r
-Because we freely love, as in our will \r
-To love or not; in this we stand or fall: \r
-And some are fallen, to disobedience fallen, \r
-And so from Heaven to deepest Hell; O fall \r
-From what high state of bliss, into what woe! \r
-To whom our great progenitor. Thy words \r
-Attentive, and with more delighted ear, \r
-Divine instructer, I have heard, than when \r
-Cherubick songs by night from neighbouring hills \r
-Aereal musick send: Nor knew I not \r
-To be both will and deed created free; \r
-Yet that we never shall forget to love \r
-Our Maker, and obey him whose command \r
-Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts \r
-Assured me, and still assure: Though what thou tellest \r
-Hath passed in Heaven, some doubt within me move, \r
-But more desire to hear, if thou consent, \r
-The full relation, which must needs be strange, \r
-Worthy of sacred silence to be heard; \r
-And we have yet large day, for scarce the sun \r
-Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins \r
-His other half in the great zone of Heaven. \r
-Thus Adam made request; and Raphael, \r
-After short pause assenting, thus began. \r
-High matter thou enjoinest me, O prime of men, \r
-Sad task and hard: For how shall I relate \r
-To human sense the invisible exploits \r
-Of warring Spirits? how, without remorse, \r
-The ruin of so many glorious once \r
-And perfect while they stood? how last unfold \r
-The secrets of another world, perhaps \r
-Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good \r
-This is dispensed; and what surmounts the reach \r
-Of human sense, I shall delineate so, \r
-By likening spiritual to corporal forms, \r
-As may express them best; though what if Earth \r
-Be but a shadow of Heaven, and things therein \r
-Each to other like, more than on earth is thought? \r
-As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild \r
-Reigned where these Heavens now roll, where Earth now rests \r
-Upon her center poised; when on a day \r
-(For time, though in eternity, applied \r
-To motion, measures all things durable \r
-By present, past, and future,) on such day \r
-As Heaven's great year brings forth, the empyreal host \r
-Of Angels by imperial summons called, \r
-Innumerable before the Almighty's throne \r
-Forthwith, from all the ends of Heaven, appeared \r
-Under their Hierarchs in orders bright: \r
-Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced, \r
-Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear \r
-Stream in the air, and for distinction serve \r
-Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees; \r
-Or in their glittering tissues bear imblazed \r
-Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love \r
-Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs \r
-Of circuit inexpressible they stood, \r
-Orb within orb, the Father Infinite, \r
-By whom in bliss imbosomed sat the Son, \r
-Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top \r
-Brightness had made invisible, thus spake. \r
-Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light, \r
-Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; \r
-Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand. \r
-This day I have begot whom I declare \r
-My only Son, and on this holy hill \r
-Him have anointed, whom ye now behold \r
-At my right hand; your head I him appoint; \r
-And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow \r
-All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord: \r
-Under his great vice-gerent reign abide \r
-United, as one individual soul, \r
-For ever happy: Him who disobeys, \r
-Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day, \r
-Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls \r
-Into utter darkness, deep ingulfed, his place \r
-Ordained without redemption, without end. \r
-So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words \r
-All seemed well pleased; all seemed, but were not all. \r
-That day, as other solemn days, they spent \r
-In song and dance about the sacred hill; \r
-Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere \r
-Of planets, and of fixed, in all her wheels \r
-Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, \r
-Eccentrick, intervolved, yet regular \r
-Then most, when most irregular they seem; \r
-And in their motions harmony divine \r
-So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear \r
-Listens delighted. Evening now approached, \r
-(For we have also our evening and our morn, \r
-We ours for change delectable, not need;) \r
-Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn \r
-Desirous; all in circles as they stood, \r
-Tables are set, and on a sudden piled \r
-With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows \r
-In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold, \r
-Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. \r
-On flowers reposed, and with fresh flowerets crowned, \r
-They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet \r
-Quaff immortality and joy, secure \r
-Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds \r
-Excess, before the all-bounteous King, who showered \r
-With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. \r
-Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhaled \r
-From that high mount of God, whence light and shade \r
-Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had changed \r
-To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there \r
-In darker veil,) and roseat dews disposed \r
-All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest; \r
-Wide over all the plain, and wider far \r
-Than all this globous earth in plain outspread, \r
-(Such are the courts of God) the angelick throng, \r
-Dispersed in bands and files, their camp extend \r
-By living streams among the trees of life, \r
-Pavilions numberless, and sudden reared, \r
-Celestial tabernacles, where they slept \r
-Fanned with cool winds; save those, who, in their course, \r
-Melodious hymns about the sovran throne \r
-Alternate all night long: but not so waked \r
-Satan; so call him now, his former name \r
-Is heard no more in Heaven; he of the first, \r
-If not the first Arch-Angel, great in power, \r
-In favour and pre-eminence, yet fraught \r
-With envy against the Son of God, that day \r
-Honoured by his great Father, and proclaimed \r
-Messiah King anointed, could not bear \r
-Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaired. \r
-Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, \r
-Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour \r
-Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved \r
-With all his legions to dislodge, and leave \r
-Unworshipt, unobeyed, the throne supreme, \r
-Contemptuous; and his next subordinate \r
-Awakening, thus to him in secret spake. \r
-Sleepest thou, Companion dear? What sleep can close \r
-Thy eye-lids? and rememberest what decree \r
-Of yesterday, so late hath passed the lips \r
-Of Heaven's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts \r
-Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart; \r
-Both waking we were one; how then can now \r
-Thy sleep dissent? New laws thou seest imposed; \r
-New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise \r
-In us who serve, new counsels to debate \r
-What doubtful may ensue: More in this place \r
-To utter is not safe. Assemble thou \r
-Of all those myriads which we lead the chief; \r
-Tell them, that by command, ere yet dim night \r
-Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste, \r
-And all who under me their banners wave, \r
-Homeward, with flying march, where we possess \r
-The quarters of the north; there to prepare \r
-Fit entertainment to receive our King, \r
-The great Messiah, and his new commands, \r
-Who speedily through all the hierarchies \r
-Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws. \r
-So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infused \r
-Bad influence into the unwary breast \r
-Of his associate: He together calls, \r
-Or several one by one, the regent Powers, \r
-Under him Regent; tells, as he was taught, \r
-That the Most High commanding, now ere night, \r
-Now ere dim night had disincumbered Heaven, \r
-The great hierarchal standard was to move; \r
-Tells the suggested cause, and casts between \r
-Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound \r
-Or taint integrity: But all obeyed \r
-The wonted signal, and superiour voice \r
-Of their great Potentate; for great indeed \r
-His name, and high was his degree in Heaven; \r
-His countenance, as the morning-star that guides \r
-The starry flock, allured them, and with lies \r
-Drew after him the third part of Heaven's host. \r
-Mean while the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns \r
-Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount, \r
-And from within the golden lamps that burn \r
-Nightly before him, saw without their light \r
-Rebellion rising; saw in whom, how spread \r
-Among the sons of morn, what multitudes \r
-Were banded to oppose his high decree; \r
-And, smiling, to his only Son thus said. \r
-Son, thou in whom my glory I behold \r
-In full resplendence, Heir of all my might, \r
-Nearly it now concerns us to be sure \r
-Of our Omnipotence, and with what arms \r
-We mean to hold what anciently we claim \r
-Of deity or empire: Such a foe \r
-Is rising, who intends to erect his throne \r
-Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north; \r
-Nor so content, hath in his thought to try \r
-In battle, what our power is, or our right. \r
-Let us advise, and to this hazard draw \r
-With speed what force is left, and all employ \r
-In our defence; lest unawares we lose \r
-This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill. \r
-To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear, \r
-Lightning divine, ineffable, serene, \r
-Made answer. Mighty Father, thou thy foes \r
-Justly hast in derision, and, secure, \r
-Laughest at their vain designs and tumults vain, \r
-Matter to me of glory, whom their hate \r
-Illustrates, when they see all regal power \r
-Given me to quell their pride, and in event \r
-Know whether I be dextrous to subdue \r
-Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven. \r
-So spake the Son; but Satan, with his Powers, \r
-Far was advanced on winged speed; an host \r
-Innumerable as the stars of night, \r
-Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the sun \r
-Impearls on every leaf and every flower. \r
-Regions they passed, the mighty regencies \r
-Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones, \r
-In their triple degrees; regions to which \r
-All thy dominion, Adam, is no more \r
-Than what this garden is to all the earth, \r
-And all the sea, from one entire globose \r
-Stretched into longitude; which having passed, \r
-At length into the limits of the north \r
-They came; and Satan to his royal seat \r
-High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount \r
-Raised on a mount, with pyramids and towers \r
-From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold; \r
-The palace of great Lucifer, (so call \r
-That structure in the dialect of men \r
-Interpreted,) which not long after, he \r
-Affecting all equality with God, \r
-In imitation of that mount whereon \r
-Messiah was declared in sight of Heaven, \r
-The Mountain of the Congregation called; \r
-For thither he assembled all his train, \r
-Pretending so commanded to consult \r
-About the great reception of their King, \r
-Thither to come, and with calumnious art \r
-Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears. \r
-Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; \r
-If these magnifick titles yet remain \r
-Not merely titular, since by decree \r
-Another now hath to himself engrossed \r
-All power, and us eclipsed under the name \r
-Of King anointed, for whom all this haste \r
-Of midnight-march, and hurried meeting here, \r
-This only to consult how we may best, \r
-With what may be devised of honours new, \r
-Receive him coming to receive from us \r
-Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile! \r
-Too much to one! but double how endured, \r
-To one, and to his image now proclaimed? \r
-But what if better counsels might erect \r
-Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke? \r
-Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend \r
-The supple knee? Ye will not, if I trust \r
-To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves \r
-Natives and sons of Heaven possessed before \r
-By none; and if not equal all, yet free, \r
-Equally free; for orders and degrees \r
-Jar not with liberty, but well consist. \r
-Who can in reason then, or right, assume \r
-Monarchy over such as live by right \r
-His equals, if in power and splendour less, \r
-In freedom equal? or can introduce \r
-Law and edict on us, who without law \r
-Err not? much less for this to be our Lord, \r
-And look for adoration, to the abuse \r
-Of those imperial titles, which assert \r
-Our being ordained to govern, not to serve. \r
-Thus far his bold discourse without controul \r
-Had audience; when among the Seraphim \r
-Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal adored \r
-The Deity, and divine commands obeyed, \r
-Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe \r
-The current of his fury thus opposed. \r
-O argument blasphemous, false, and proud! \r
-Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven \r
-Expected, least of all from thee, Ingrate, \r
-In place thyself so high above thy peers. \r
-Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn \r
-The just decree of God, pronounced and sworn, \r
-That to his only Son, by right endued \r
-With regal scepter, every soul in Heaven \r
-Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due \r
-Confess him rightful King? unjust, thou sayest, \r
-Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free, \r
-And equal over equals to let reign, \r
-One over all with unsucceeded power. \r
-Shalt thou give law to God? shalt thou dispute \r
-With him the points of liberty, who made \r
-Thee what thou art, and formed the Powers of Heaven \r
-Such as he pleased, and circumscribed their being? \r
-Yet, by experience taught, we know how good, \r
-And of our good and of our dignity \r
-How provident he is; how far from thought \r
-To make us less, bent rather to exalt \r
-Our happy state, under one head more near \r
-United. But to grant it thee unjust, \r
-That equal over equals monarch reign: \r
-Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count, \r
-Or all angelick nature joined in one, \r
-Equal to him begotten Son? by whom, \r
-As by his Word, the Mighty Father made \r
-All things, even thee; and all the Spirits of Heaven \r
-By him created in their bright degrees, \r
-Crowned them with glory, and to their glory named \r
-Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers, \r
-Essential Powers; nor by his reign obscured, \r
-But more illustrious made; since he the head \r
-One of our number thus reduced becomes; \r
-His laws our laws; all honour to him done \r
-Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage, \r
-And tempt not these; but hasten to appease \r
-The incensed Father, and the incensed Son, \r
-While pardon may be found in time besought. \r
-So spake the fervent Angel; but his zeal \r
-None seconded, as out of season judged, \r
-Or singular and rash: Whereat rejoiced \r
-The Apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied. \r
-That we were formed then sayest thou? and the work \r
-Of secondary hands, by task transferred \r
-From Father to his Son? strange point and new! \r
-Doctrine which we would know whence learned: who saw \r
-When this creation was? rememberest thou \r
-Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? \r
-We know no time when we were not as now; \r
-Know none before us, self-begot, self-raised \r
-By our own quickening power, when fatal course \r
-Had circled his full orb, the birth mature \r
-Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons. \r
-Our puissance is our own; our own right hand \r
-Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try \r
-Who is our equal: Then thou shalt behold \r
-Whether by supplication we intend \r
-Address, and to begirt the almighty throne \r
-Beseeching or besieging. This report, \r
-These tidings carry to the anointed King; \r
-And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. \r
-He said; and, as the sound of waters deep, \r
-Hoarse murmur echoed to his words applause \r
-Through the infinite host; nor less for that \r
-The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone \r
-Encompassed round with foes, thus answered bold. \r
-O alienate from God, O Spirit accursed, \r
-Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall \r
-Determined, and thy hapless crew involved \r
-In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread \r
-Both of thy crime and punishment: Henceforth \r
-No more be troubled how to quit the yoke \r
-Of God's Messiah; those indulgent laws \r
-Will not be now vouchsafed; other decrees \r
-Against thee are gone forth without recall; \r
-That golden scepter, which thou didst reject, \r
-Is now an iron rod to bruise and break \r
-Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise; \r
-Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly \r
-These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath \r
-Impendent, raging into sudden flame, \r
-Distinguish not: For soon expect to feel \r
-His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. \r
-Then who created thee lamenting learn, \r
-When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. \r
-So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found \r
-Among the faithless, faithful only he; \r
-Among innumerable false, unmoved, \r
-Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified, \r
-His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; \r
-Nor number, nor example, with him wrought \r
-To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, \r
-Though single. From amidst them forth he passed, \r
-Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained \r
-Superiour, nor of violence feared aught; \r
-And, with retorted scorn, his back he turned \r
-On those proud towers to swift destruction doomed. \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
-Book VI \r
- \r
- \r
-All night the dreadless Angel, unpursued, \r
-Through Heaven's wide champain held his way; till Morn, \r
-Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand \r
-Unbarred the gates of light. There is a cave \r
-Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, \r
-Where light and darkness in perpetual round \r
-Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heaven \r
-Grateful vicissitude, like day and night; \r
-Light issues forth, and at the other door \r
-Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour \r
-To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well \r
-Seem twilight here: And now went forth the Morn \r
-Such as in highest Heaven arrayed in gold \r
-Empyreal; from before her vanished Night, \r
-Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain \r
-Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright, \r
-Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, \r
-Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view: \r
-War he perceived, war in procinct; and found \r
-Already known what he for news had thought \r
-To have reported: Gladly then he mixed \r
-Among those friendly Powers, who him received \r
-With joy and acclamations loud, that one, \r
-That of so many myriads fallen, yet one \r
-Returned not lost. On to the sacred hill \r
-They led him high applauded, and present \r
-Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, \r
-From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard. \r
-Servant of God. Well done; well hast thou fought \r
-The better fight, who single hast maintained \r
-Against revolted multitudes the cause \r
-Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; \r
-And for the testimony of truth hast borne \r
-Universal reproach, far worse to bear \r
-Than violence; for this was all thy care \r
-To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds \r
-Judged thee perverse: The easier conquest now \r
-Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, \r
-Back on thy foes more glorious to return, \r
-Than scorned thou didst depart; and to subdue \r
-By force, who reason for their law refuse, \r
-Right reason for their law, and for their King \r
-Messiah, who by right of merit reigns. \r
-Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince, \r
-And thou, in military prowess next, \r
-Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons \r
-Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints, \r
-By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight, \r
-Equal in number to that Godless crew \r
-Rebellious: Them with fire and hostile arms \r
-Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven \r
-Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss, \r
-Into their place of punishment, the gulf \r
-Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide \r
-His fiery Chaos to receive their fall. \r
-So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began \r
-To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll \r
-In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign \r
-Of wrath awaked; nor with less dread the loud \r
-Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow: \r
-At which command the Powers militant, \r
-That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined \r
-Of union irresistible, moved on \r
-In silence their bright legions, to the sound \r
-Of instrumental harmony, that breathed \r
-Heroick ardour to adventurous deeds \r
-Under their God-like leaders, in the cause \r
-Of God and his Messiah. On they move \r
-Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill, \r
-Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides \r
-Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground \r
-Their march was, and the passive air upbore \r
-Their nimble tread; as when the total kind \r
-Of birds, in orderly array on wing, \r
-Came summoned over Eden to receive \r
-Their names of thee; so over many a tract \r
-Of Heaven they marched, and many a province wide, \r
-Tenfold the length of this terrene: At last, \r
-Far in the horizon to the north appeared \r
-From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretched \r
-In battailous aspect, and nearer view \r
-Bristled with upright beams innumerable \r
-Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields \r
-Various, with boastful argument portrayed, \r
-The banded Powers of Satan hasting on \r
-With furious expedition; for they weened \r
-That self-same day, by fight or by surprise, \r
-To win the mount of God, and on his throne \r
-To set the Envier of his state, the proud \r
-Aspirer; but their thoughts proved fond and vain \r
-In the mid way: Though strange to us it seemed \r
-At first, that Angel should with Angel war, \r
-And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet \r
-So oft in festivals of joy and love \r
-Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire, \r
-Hymning the Eternal Father: But the shout \r
-Of battle now began, and rushing sound \r
-Of onset ended soon each milder thought. \r
-High in the midst, exalted as a God, \r
-The Apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, \r
-Idol of majesty divine, enclosed \r
-With flaming Cherubim, and golden shields; \r
-Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now \r
-"twixt host and host but narrow space was left, \r
-A dreadful interval, and front to front \r
-Presented stood in terrible array \r
-Of hideous length: Before the cloudy van, \r
-On the rough edge of battle ere it joined, \r
-Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced, \r
-Came towering, armed in adamant and gold; \r
-Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood \r
-Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, \r
-And thus his own undaunted heart explores. \r
-O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest \r
-Should yet remain, where faith and realty \r
-Remain not: Wherefore should not strength and might \r
-There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove \r
-Where boldest, though to fight unconquerable? \r
-His puissance, trusting in the Almighty's aid, \r
-I mean to try, whose reason I have tried \r
-Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just, \r
-That he, who in debate of truth hath won, \r
-Should win in arms, in both disputes alike \r
-Victor; though brutish that contest and foul, \r
-When reason hath to deal with force, yet so \r
-Most reason is that reason overcome. \r
-So pondering, and from his armed peers \r
-Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met \r
-His daring foe, at this prevention more \r
-Incensed, and thus securely him defied. \r
-Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reached \r
-The highth of thy aspiring unopposed, \r
-The throne of God unguarded, and his side \r
-Abandoned, at the terrour of thy power \r
-Or potent tongue: Fool!not to think how vain \r
-Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms; \r
-Who out of smallest things could, without end, \r
-Have raised incessant armies to defeat \r
-Thy folly; or with solitary hand \r
-Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow, \r
-Unaided, could have finished thee, and whelmed \r
-Thy legions under darkness: But thou seest \r
-All are not of thy train; there be, who faith \r
-Prefer, and piety to God, though then \r
-To thee not visible, when I alone \r
-Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent \r
-From all: My sect thou seest;now learn too late \r
-How few sometimes may know, when thousands err. \r
-Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, \r
-Thus answered. Ill for thee, but in wished hour \r
-Of my revenge, first sought for, thou returnest \r
-From flight, seditious Angel! to receive \r
-Thy merited reward, the first assay \r
-Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue, \r
-Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose \r
-A third part of the Gods, in synod met \r
-Their deities to assert; who, while they feel \r
-Vigour divine within them, can allow \r
-Omnipotence to none. But well thou comest \r
-Before thy fellows, ambitious to win \r
-From me some plume, that thy success may show \r
-Destruction to the rest: This pause between, \r
-(Unanswered lest thou boast) to let thee know, \r
-At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven \r
-To heavenly souls had been all one; but now \r
-I see that most through sloth had rather serve, \r
-Ministring Spirits, trained up in feast and song! \r
-Such hast thou armed, the minstrelsy of Heaven, \r
-Servility with freedom to contend, \r
-As both their deeds compared this day shall prove. \r
-To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied. \r
-Apostate! still thou errest, nor end wilt find \r
-Of erring, from the path of truth remote: \r
-Unjustly thou depravest it with the name \r
-Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains, \r
-Or Nature: God and Nature bid the same, \r
-When he who rules is worthiest, and excels \r
-Them whom he governs. This is servitude, \r
-To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled \r
-Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, \r
-Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled; \r
-Yet lewdly darest our ministring upbraid. \r
-Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve \r
-In Heaven God ever blest, and his divine \r
-Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyed; \r
-Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect: Mean while \r
-From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flight, \r
-This greeting on thy impious crest receive. \r
-So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, \r
-Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell \r
-On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight, \r
-Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield, \r
-Such ruin intercept: Ten paces huge \r
-He back recoiled; the tenth on bended knee \r
-His massy spear upstaid; as if on earth \r
-Winds under ground, or waters forcing way, \r
-Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat, \r
-Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seised \r
-The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see \r
-Thus foiled their mightiest; ours joy filled, and shout, \r
-Presage of victory, and fierce desire \r
-Of battle: Whereat Michael bid sound \r
-The Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heaven \r
-It sounded, and the faithful armies rung \r
-Hosanna to the Highest: Nor stood at gaze \r
-The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined \r
-The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose, \r
-And clamour such as heard in Heaven till now \r
-Was never; arms on armour clashing brayed \r
-Horrible discord, and the madding wheels \r
-Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise \r
-Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss \r
-Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew, \r
-And flying vaulted either host with fire. \r
-So under fiery cope together rushed \r
-Both battles main, with ruinous assault \r
-And inextinguishable rage. All Heaven \r
-Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth \r
-Had to her center shook. What wonder? when \r
-Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought \r
-On either side, the least of whom could wield \r
-These elements, and arm him with the force \r
-Of all their regions: How much more of power \r
-Army against army numberless to raise \r
-Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, \r
-Though not destroy, their happy native seat; \r
-Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent, \r
-From his strong hold of Heaven, high over-ruled \r
-And limited their might; though numbered such \r
-As each divided legion might have seemed \r
-A numerous host; in strength each armed hand \r
-A legion; led in fight, yet leader seemed \r
-Each warriour single as in chief, expert \r
-When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway \r
-Of battle, open when, and when to close \r
-The ridges of grim war: No thought of flight, \r
-None of retreat, no unbecoming deed \r
-That argued fear; each on himself relied, \r
-As only in his arm the moment lay \r
-Of victory: Deeds of eternal fame \r
-Were done, but infinite; for wide was spread \r
-That war and various; sometimes on firm ground \r
-A standing fight, then, soaring on main wing, \r
-Tormented all the air; all air seemed then \r
-Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale \r
-The battle hung; till Satan, who that day \r
-Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms \r
-No equal, ranging through the dire attack \r
-Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length \r
-Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled \r
-Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway \r
-Brandished aloft, the horrid edge came down \r
-Wide-wasting; such destruction to withstand \r
-He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb \r
-Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, \r
-A vast circumference. At his approach \r
-The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil \r
-Surceased, and glad, as hoping here to end \r
-Intestine war in Heaven, the arch-foe subdued \r
-Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown \r
-And visage all inflamed first thus began. \r
-Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, \r
-Unnamed in Heaven, now plenteous as thou seest \r
-These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, \r
-Though heaviest by just measure on thyself, \r
-And thy adherents: How hast thou disturbed \r
-Heaven's blessed peace, and into nature brought \r
-Misery, uncreated till the crime \r
-Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instilled \r
-Thy malice into thousands, once upright \r
-And faithful, now proved false! But think not here \r
-To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out \r
-From all her confines. Heaven, the seat of bliss, \r
-Brooks not the works of violence and war. \r
-Hence then, and evil go with thee along, \r
-Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell; \r
-Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils, \r
-Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom, \r
-Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God, \r
-Precipitate thee with augmented pain. \r
-So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus \r
-The Adversary. Nor think thou with wind \r
-Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds \r
-Thou canst not. Hast thou turned the least of these \r
-To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise \r
-Unvanquished, easier to transact with me \r
-That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats \r
-To chase me hence? err not, that so shall end \r
-The strife which thou callest evil, but we style \r
-The strife of glory; which we mean to win, \r
-Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell \r
-Thou fablest; here however to dwell free, \r
-If not to reign: Mean while thy utmost force, \r
-And join him named Almighty to thy aid, \r
-I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh. \r
-They ended parle, and both addressed for fight \r
-Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue \r
-Of Angels, can relate, or to what things \r
-Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift \r
-Human imagination to such highth \r
-Of Godlike power? for likest Gods they seemed, \r
-Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms, \r
-Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven. \r
-Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air \r
-Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields \r
-Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood \r
-In horrour: From each hand with speed retired, \r
-Where erst was thickest fight, the angelick throng, \r
-And left large field, unsafe within the wind \r
-Of such commotion; such as, to set forth \r
-Great things by small, if, nature's concord broke, \r
-Among the constellations war were sprung, \r
-Two planets, rushing from aspect malign \r
-Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky \r
-Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. \r
-Together both with next to almighty arm \r
-Up-lifted imminent, one stroke they aimed \r
-That might determine, and not need repeat, \r
-As not of power at once; nor odds appeared \r
-In might or swift prevention: But the sword \r
-Of Michael from the armoury of God \r
-Was given him tempered so, that neither keen \r
-Nor solid might resist that edge: it met \r
-The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite \r
-Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor staid, \r
-But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared \r
-All his right side: Then Satan first knew pain, \r
-And writhed him to and fro convolved; so sore \r
-The griding sword with discontinuous wound \r
-Passed through him: But the ethereal substance closed, \r
-Not long divisible; and from the gash \r
-A stream of necturous humour issuing flowed \r
-Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed, \r
-And all his armour stained, ere while so bright. \r
-Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run \r
-By Angels many and strong, who interposed \r
-Defence, while others bore him on their shields \r
-Back to his chariot, where it stood retired \r
-From off the files of war: There they him laid \r
-Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame, \r
-To find himself not matchless, and his pride \r
-Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath \r
-His confidence to equal God in power. \r
-Yet soon he healed; for Spirits that live throughout \r
-Vital in every part, not as frail man \r
-In entrails, heart of head, liver or reins, \r
-Cannot but by annihilating die; \r
-Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound \r
-Receive, no more than can the fluid air: \r
-All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear, \r
-All intellect, all sense; and, as they please, \r
-They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size \r
-Assume, as?kikes them best, condense or rare. \r
-Mean while in other parts like deeds deserved \r
-Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, \r
-And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array \r
-Of Moloch, furious king; who him defied, \r
-And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound \r
-Threatened, nor from the Holy One of Heaven \r
-Refrained his tongue blasphemous; but anon \r
-Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms \r
-And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing \r
-Uriel, and Raphael, his vaunting foe, \r
-Though huge, and in a rock of diamond armed, \r
-Vanquished Adramelech, and Asmadai, \r
-Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods \r
-Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight, \r
-Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. \r
-Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy \r
-The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow \r
-Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence \r
-Of Ramiel scorched and blasted, overthrew. \r
-I might relate of thousands, and their names \r
-Eternize here on earth; but those elect \r
-Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, \r
-Seek not the praise of men: The other sort, \r
-In might though wonderous and in acts of war, \r
-Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom \r
-Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory, \r
-Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. \r
-For strength from truth divided, and from just, \r
-Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise \r
-And ignominy; yet to glory aspires \r
-Vain-glorious, and through infamy seeks fame: \r
-Therefore eternal silence be their doom. \r
-And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle swerved, \r
-With many an inroad gored; deformed rout \r
-Entered, and foul disorder; all the ground \r
-With shivered armour strown, and on a heap \r
-Chariot and charioteer lay overturned, \r
-And fiery-foaming steeds; what stood, recoiled \r
-O'er-wearied, through the faint Satanick host \r
-Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised, \r
-Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain, \r
-Fled ignominious, to such evil brought \r
-By sin of disobedience; till that hour \r
-Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. \r
-Far otherwise the inviolable Saints, \r
-In cubick phalanx firm, advanced entire, \r
-Invulnerable, impenetrably armed; \r
-Such high advantages their innocence \r
-Gave them above their foes; not to have sinned, \r
-Not to have disobeyed; in fight they stood \r
-Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained \r
-By wound, though from their place by violence moved, \r
-Now Night her course began, and, over Heaven \r
-Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed, \r
-And silence on the odious din of war: \r
-Under her cloudy covert both retired, \r
-Victor and vanquished: On the foughten field \r
-Michael and his Angels prevalent \r
-Encamping, placed in guard their watches round, \r
-Cherubick waving fires: On the other part, \r
-Satan with his rebellious disappeared, \r
-Far in the dark dislodged; and, void of rest, \r
-His potentates to council called by night; \r
-And in the midst thus undismayed began. \r
-O now in danger tried, now known in arms \r
-Not to be overpowered, Companions dear, \r
-Found worthy not of liberty alone, \r
-Too mean pretence! but what we more affect, \r
-Honour, dominion, glory, and renown; \r
-Who have sustained one day in doubtful fight, \r
-(And if one day, why not eternal days?) \r
-What Heaven's Lord had powerfullest to send \r
-Against us from about his throne, and judged \r
-Sufficient to subdue us to his will, \r
-But proves not so: Then fallible, it seems, \r
-Of future we may deem him, though till now \r
-Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly armed, \r
-Some disadvantage we endured and pain, \r
-Till now not known, but, known, as soon contemned; \r
-Since now we find this our empyreal form \r
-Incapable of mortal injury, \r
-Imperishable, and, though pierced with wound, \r
-Soon closing, and by native vigour healed. \r
-Of evil then so small as easy think \r
-The remedy; perhaps more valid arms, \r
-Weapons more violent, when next we meet, \r
-May serve to better us, and worse our foes, \r
-Or equal what between us made the odds, \r
-In nature none: If other hidden cause \r
-Left them superiour, while we can preserve \r
-Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound, \r
-Due search and consultation will disclose. \r
-He sat; and in the assembly next upstood \r
-Nisroch, of Principalities the prime; \r
-As one he stood escaped from cruel fight, \r
-Sore toiled, his riven arms to havock hewn, \r
-And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake. \r
-Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free \r
-Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard \r
-For Gods, and too unequal work we find, \r
-Against unequal arms to fight in pain, \r
-Against unpained, impassive; from which evil \r
-Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails \r
-Valour or strength, though matchless, quelled with pain \r
-Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands \r
-Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well \r
-Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, \r
-But live content, which is the calmest life: \r
-But pain is perfect misery, the worst \r
-Of evils, and, excessive, overturns \r
-All patience. He, who therefore can invent \r
-With what more forcible we may offend \r
-Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm \r
-Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves \r
-No less than for deliverance what we owe. \r
-Whereto with look composed Satan replied. \r
-Not uninvented that, which thou aright \r
-Believest so main to our success, I bring. \r
-Which of us who beholds the bright surface \r
-Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand, \r
-This continent of spacious Heaven, adorned \r
-With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold; \r
-Whose eye so superficially surveys \r
-These things, as not to mind from whence they grow \r
-Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, \r
-Of spiritous and fiery spume, till touched \r
-With Heaven's ray, and tempered, they shoot forth \r
-So beauteous, opening to the ambient light? \r
-These in their dark nativity the deep \r
-Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame; \r
-Which, into hollow engines, long and round, \r
-Thick rammed, at the other bore with touch of fire \r
-Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth \r
-From far, with thundering noise, among our foes \r
-Such implements of mischief, as shall dash \r
-To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands \r
-Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmed \r
-The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. \r
-Nor long shall be our labour; yet ere dawn, \r
-Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive; \r
-Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joined \r
-Think nothing hard, much less to be despaired. \r
-He ended, and his words their drooping cheer \r
-Enlightened, and their languished hope revived. \r
-The invention all admired, and each, how he \r
-To be the inventer missed; so easy it seemed \r
-Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought \r
-Impossible: Yet, haply, of thy race \r
-In future days, if malice should abound, \r
-Some one intent on mischief, or inspired \r
-With devilish machination, might devise \r
-Like instrument to plague the sons of men \r
-For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent. \r
-Forthwith from council to the work they flew; \r
-None arguing stood; innumerable hands \r
-Were ready; in a moment up they turned \r
-Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath \r
-The originals of nature in their crude \r
-Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam \r
-They found, they mingled, and, with subtle art, \r
-Concocted and adusted they reduced \r
-To blackest grain, and into store conveyed: \r
-Part hidden veins digged up (nor hath this earth \r
-Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone, \r
-Whereof to found their engines and their balls \r
-Of missive ruin; part incentive reed \r
-Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. \r
-So all ere day-spring, under conscious night, \r
-Secret they finished, and in order set, \r
-With silent circumspection, unespied. \r
-Now when fair morn orient in Heaven appeared, \r
-Up rose the victor-Angels, and to arms \r
-The matin trumpet sung: In arms they stood \r
-Of golden panoply, refulgent host, \r
-Soon banded; others from the dawning hills \r
-Look round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour, \r
-Each quarter to descry the distant foe, \r
-Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight, \r
-In motion or in halt: Him soon they met \r
-Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow \r
-But firm battalion; back with speediest sail \r
-Zophiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, \r
-Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried. \r
-Arm, Warriours, arm for fight; the foe at hand, \r
-Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit \r
-This day; fear not his flight;so thick a cloud \r
-He comes, and settled in his face I see \r
-Sad resolution, and secure: Let each \r
-His adamantine coat gird well, and each \r
-Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield, \r
-Borne even or high; for this day will pour down, \r
-If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower, \r
-But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire. \r
-So warned he them, aware themselves, and soon \r
-In order, quit of all impediment; \r
-Instant without disturb they took alarm, \r
-And onward moved embattled: When behold! \r
-Not distant far with heavy pace the foe \r
-Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube \r
-Training his devilish enginery, impaled \r
-On every side with shadowing squadrons deep, \r
-To hide the fraud. At interview both stood \r
-A while; but suddenly at head appeared \r
-Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud. \r
-Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold; \r
-That all may see who hate us, how we seek \r
-Peace and composure, and with open breast \r
-Stand ready to receive them, if they like \r
-Our overture; and turn not back perverse: \r
-But that I doubt; however witness, Heaven! \r
-Heaven, witness thou anon! while we discharge \r
-Freely our part: ye, who appointed stand \r
-Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch \r
-What we propound, and loud that all may hear! \r
-So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce \r
-Had ended; when to right and left the front \r
-Divided, and to either flank retired: \r
-Which to our eyes discovered, new and strange, \r
-A triple mounted row of pillars laid \r
-On wheels (for like to pillars most they seemed, \r
-Or hollowed bodies made of oak or fir, \r
-With branches lopt, in wood or mountain felled,) \r
-Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths \r
-With hideous orifice gaped on us wide, \r
-Portending hollow truce: At each behind \r
-A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed \r
-Stood waving tipt with fire; while we, suspense, \r
-Collected stood within our thoughts amused, \r
-Not long; for sudden all at once their reeds \r
-Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied \r
-With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, \r
-But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven appeared, \r
-From those deep-throated engines belched, whose roar \r
-Embowelled with outrageous noise the air, \r
-And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul \r
-Their devilish glut, chained thunderbolts and hail \r
-Of iron globes; which, on the victor host \r
-Levelled, with such impetuous fury smote, \r
-That, whom they hit, none on their feet might stand, \r
-Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell \r
-By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rolled; \r
-The sooner for their arms; unarmed, they might \r
-Have easily, as Spirits, evaded swift \r
-By quick contraction or remove; but now \r
-Foul dissipation followed, and forced rout; \r
-Nor served it to relax their serried files. \r
-What should they do? if on they rushed, repulse \r
-Repeated, and indecent overthrow \r
-Doubled, would render them yet more despised, \r
-And to their foes a laughter; for in view \r
-Stood ranked of Seraphim another row, \r
-In posture to displode their second tire \r
-Of thunder: Back defeated to return \r
-They worse abhorred. Satan beheld their plight, \r
-And to his mates thus in derision called. \r
-O Friends! why come not on these victors proud \r
-Ere while they fierce were coming; and when we, \r
-To entertain them fair with open front \r
-And breast, (what could we more?) propounded terms \r
-Of composition, straight they changed their minds, \r
-Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, \r
-As they would dance; yet for a dance they seemed \r
-Somewhat extravagant and wild; perhaps \r
-For joy of offered peace: But I suppose, \r
-If our proposals once again were heard, \r
-We should compel them to a quick result. \r
-To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood. \r
-Leader! the terms we sent were terms of weight, \r
-Of hard contents, and full of force urged home; \r
-Such as we might perceive amused them all, \r
-And stumbled many: Who receives them right, \r
-Had need from head to foot well understand; \r
-Not understood, this gift they have besides, \r
-They show us when our foes walk not upright. \r
-So they among themselves in pleasant vein \r
-Stood scoffing, hightened in their thoughts beyond \r
-All doubt of victory: Eternal Might \r
-To match with their inventions they presumed \r
-So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn, \r
-And all his host derided, while they stood \r
-A while in trouble: But they stood not long; \r
-Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms \r
-Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose. \r
-Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power, \r
-Which God hath in his mighty Angels placed!) \r
-Their arms away they threw, and to the hills \r
-(For Earth hath this variety from Heaven \r
-Of pleasure situate in hill and dale,) \r
-Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew; \r
-From their foundations loosening to and fro, \r
-They plucked the seated hills, with all their load, \r
-Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops \r
-Up-lifting bore them in their hands: Amaze, \r
-Be sure, and terrour, seized the rebel host, \r
-When coming towards them so dread they saw \r
-The bottom of the mountains upward turned; \r
-Till on those cursed engines' triple-row \r
-They saw them whelmed, and all their confidence \r
-Under the weight of mountains buried deep; \r
-Themselves invaded next, and on their heads \r
-Main promontories flung, which in the air \r
-Came shadowing, and oppressed whole legions armed; \r
-Their armour helped their harm, crushed in and bruised \r
-Into their substance pent, which wrought them pain \r
-Implacable, and many a dolorous groan; \r
-Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind \r
-Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light, \r
-Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown. \r
-The rest, in imitation, to like arms \r
-Betook them, and the neighbouring hills uptore: \r
-So hills amid the air encountered hills, \r
-Hurled to and fro with jaculation dire; \r
-That under ground they fought in dismal shade; \r
-Infernal noise! war seemed a civil game \r
-To this uproar; horrid confusion heaped \r
-Upon confusion rose: And now all Heaven \r
-Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread; \r
-Had not the Almighty Father, where he sits \r
-Shrined in his sanctuary of Heaven secure, \r
-Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen \r
-This tumult, and permitted all, advised: \r
-That his great purpose he might so fulfil, \r
-To honour his anointed Son avenged \r
-Upon his enemies, and to declare \r
-All power on him transferred: Whence to his Son, \r
-The Assessour of his throne, he thus began. \r
-Effulgence of my glory, Son beloved, \r
-Son, in whose face invisible is beheld \r
-Visibly, what by Deity I am; \r
-And in whose hand what by decree I do, \r
-Second Omnipotence! two days are past, \r
-Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven, \r
-Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame \r
-These disobedient: Sore hath been their fight, \r
-As likeliest was, when two such foes met armed; \r
-For to themselves I left them; and thou knowest, \r
-Equal in their creation they were formed, \r
-Save what sin hath impaired; which yet hath wrought \r
-Insensibly, for I suspend their doom; \r
-Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last \r
-Endless, and no solution will be found: \r
-War wearied hath performed what war can do, \r
-And to disordered rage let loose the reins \r
-With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes \r
-Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main. \r
-Two days are therefore past, the third is thine; \r
-For thee I have ordained it; and thus far \r
-Have suffered, that the glory may be thine \r
-Of ending this great war, since none but Thou \r
-Can end it. Into thee such virtue and grace \r
-Immense I have transfused, that all may know \r
-In Heaven and Hell thy power above compare; \r
-And, this perverse commotion governed thus, \r
-To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir \r
-Of all things; to be Heir, and to be King \r
-By sacred unction, thy deserved right. \r
-Go then, Thou Mightiest, in thy Father's might; \r
-Ascend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels \r
-That shake Heaven's basis, bring forth all my war, \r
-My bow and thunder, my almighty arms \r
-Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant thigh; \r
-Pursue these sons of darkness, drive them out \r
-From all Heaven's bounds into the utter deep: \r
-There let them learn, as likes them, to despise \r
-God, and Messiah his anointed King. \r
-He said, and on his Son with rays direct \r
-Shone full; he all his Father full expressed \r
-Ineffably into his face received; \r
-And thus the Filial Godhead answering spake. \r
-O Father, O Supreme of heavenly Thrones, \r
-First, Highest, Holiest, Best; thou always seek'st \r
-To glorify thy Son, I always thee, \r
-As is most just: This I my glory account, \r
-My exaltation, and my whole delight, \r
-That thou, in me well pleased, declarest thy will \r
-Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss. \r
-Scepter and power, thy giving, I assume, \r
-And gladlier shall resign, when in the end \r
-Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee \r
-For ever; and in me all whom thou lovest: \r
-But whom thou hatest, I hate, and can put on \r
-Thy terrours, as I put thy mildness on, \r
-Image of thee in all things; and shall soon, \r
-Armed with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebelled; \r
-To their prepared ill mansion driven down, \r
-To chains of darkness, and the undying worm; \r
-That from thy just obedience could revolt, \r
-Whom to obey is happiness entire. \r
-Then shall thy Saints unmixed, and from the impure \r
-Far separate, circling thy holy mount, \r
-Unfeigned Halleluiahs to thee sing, \r
-Hymns of high praise, and I among them Chief. \r
-So said, he, o'er his scepter bowing, rose \r
-From the right hand of Glory where he sat; \r
-And the third sacred morn began to shine, \r
-Dawning through Heaven. Forth rushed with whirlwind sound \r
-The chariot of Paternal Deity, \r
-Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn, \r
-Itself instinct with Spirit, but convoyed \r
-By four Cherubick shapes; four faces each \r
-Had wonderous; as with stars, their bodies all \r
-And wings were set with eyes; with eyes the wheels \r
-Of beryl, and careering fires between; \r
-Over their heads a crystal firmament, \r
-Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure \r
-Amber, and colours of the showery arch. \r
-He, in celestial panoply all armed \r
-Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, \r
-Ascended; at his right hand Victory \r
-Sat eagle-winged; beside him hung his bow \r
-And quiver with three-bolted thunder stored; \r
-And from about him fierce effusion rolled \r
-Of smoke, and bickering flame, and sparkles dire: \r
-Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints, \r
-He onward came; far off his coming shone; \r
-And twenty thousand (I their number heard) \r
-Chariots of God, half on each hand, were seen; \r
-He on the wings of Cherub rode sublime \r
-On the crystalline sky, in sapphire throned, \r
-Illustrious far and wide; but by his own \r
-First seen: Them unexpected joy surprised, \r
-When the great ensign of Messiah blazed \r
-Aloft by Angels borne, his sign in Heaven; \r
-Under whose conduct Michael soon reduced \r
-His army, circumfused on either wing, \r
-Under their Head imbodied all in one. \r
-Before him Power Divine his way prepared; \r
-At his command the uprooted hills retired \r
-Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went \r
-Obsequious; Heaven his wonted face renewed, \r
-And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled. \r
-This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured, \r
-And to rebellious fight rallied their Powers, \r
-Insensate, hope conceiving from despair. \r
-In heavenly Spirits could such perverseness dwell? \r
-But to convince the proud what signs avail, \r
-Or wonders move the obdurate to relent? \r
-They, hardened more by what might most reclaim, \r
-Grieving to see his glory, at the sight \r
-Took envy; and, aspiring to his highth, \r
-Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud \r
-Weening to prosper, and at length prevail \r
-Against God and Messiah, or to fall \r
-In universal ruin last; and now \r
-To final battle drew, disdaining flight, \r
-Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God \r
-To all his host on either hand thus spake. \r
-Stand still in bright array, ye Saints; here stand, \r
-Ye Angels armed; this day from battle rest: \r
-Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God \r
-Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause; \r
-And as ye have received, so have ye done, \r
-Invincibly: But of this cursed crew \r
-The punishment to other hand belongs; \r
-Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints: \r
-Number to this day's work is not ordained, \r
-Nor multitude; stand only, and behold \r
-God's indignation on these godless poured \r
-By me; not you, but me, they have despised, \r
-Yet envied; against me is all their rage, \r
-Because the Father, to whom in Heaven s'preme \r
-Kingdom, and power, and glory appertains, \r
-Hath honoured me, according to his will. \r
-Therefore to me their doom he hath assigned; \r
-That they may have their wish, to try with me \r
-In battle which the stronger proves; they all, \r
-Or I alone against them; since by strength \r
-They measure all, of other excellence \r
-Not emulous, nor care who them excels; \r
-Nor other strife with them do I vouchsafe. \r
-So spake the Son, and into terrour changed \r
-His countenance too severe to be beheld, \r
-And full of wrath bent on his enemies. \r
-At once the Four spread out their starry wings \r
-With dreadful shade contiguous, and the orbs \r
-Of his fierce chariot rolled, as with the sound \r
-Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host. \r
-He on his impious foes right onward drove, \r
-Gloomy as night; under his burning wheels \r
-The stedfast empyrean shook throughout, \r
-All but the throne itself of God. Full soon \r
-Among them he arrived; in his right hand \r
-Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent \r
-Before him, such as in their souls infixed \r
-Plagues: They, astonished, all resistance lost, \r
-All courage; down their idle weapons dropt: \r
-O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode \r
-Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate, \r
-That wished the mountains now might be again \r
-Thrown on them, as a shelter from his ire. \r
-Nor less on either side tempestuous fell \r
-His arrows, from the fourfold-visaged Four \r
-Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels \r
-Distinct alike with multitude of eyes; \r
-One Spirit in them ruled; and every eye \r
-Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire \r
-Among the accursed, that withered all their strength, \r
-And of their wonted vigour left them drained, \r
-Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen. \r
-Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked \r
-His thunder in mid volley; for he meant \r
-Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven: \r
-The overthrown he raised, and as a herd \r
-Of goats or timorous flock together thronged \r
-Drove them before him thunder-struck, pursued \r
-With terrours, and with furies, to the bounds \r
-And crystal wall of Heaven; which, opening wide, \r
-Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed \r
-Into the wasteful deep: The monstrous sight \r
-Struck them with horrour backward, but far worse \r
-Urged them behind: Headlong themselves they threw \r
-Down from the verge of Heaven; eternal wrath \r
-Burnt after them to the bottomless pit. \r
-Hell heard the unsufferable noise, Hell saw \r
-Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled \r
-Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep \r
-Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. \r
-Nine days they fell: Confounded Chaos roared, \r
-And felt tenfold confusion in their fall \r
-Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout \r
-Incumbered him with ruin: Hell at last \r
-Yawning received them whole, and on them closed; \r
-Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire \r
-Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. \r
-Disburdened Heaven rejoiced, and soon repaired \r
-Her mural breach, returning whence it rolled. \r
-Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes, \r
-Messiah his triumphal chariot turned: \r
-To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood \r
-Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts, \r
-With jubilee advanced; and, as they went, \r
-Shaded with branching palm, each Order bright, \r
-Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King, \r
-Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given, \r
-Worthiest to reign: He, celebrated, rode \r
-Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the courts \r
-And temple of his Mighty Father throned \r
-On high; who into glory him received, \r
-Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss. \r
-Thus, measuring things in Heaven by things on Earth, \r
-At thy request, and that thou mayest beware \r
-By what is past, to thee I have revealed \r
-What might have else to human race been hid; \r
-The discord which befel, and war in Heaven \r
-Among the angelick Powers, and the deep fall \r
-Of those too high aspiring, who rebelled \r
-With Satan; he who envies now thy state, \r
-Who now is plotting how he may seduce \r
-Thee also from obedience, that, with him \r
-Bereaved of happiness, thou mayest partake \r
-His punishment, eternal misery; \r
-Which would be all his solace and revenge, \r
-As a despite done against the Most High, \r
-Thee once to gain companion of his woe. \r
-But listen not to his temptations, warn \r
-Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard, \r
-By terrible example, the reward \r
-Of disobedience; firm they might have stood, \r
-Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress. \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
-Book VII \r
- \r
- \r
-Descend from Heaven, Urania, by that name \r
-If rightly thou art called, whose voice divine \r
-Following, above the Olympian hill I soar, \r
-Above the flight of Pegasean wing! \r
-The meaning, not the name, I call: for thou \r
-Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top \r
-Of old Olympus dwellest; but, heavenly-born, \r
-Before the hills appeared, or fountain flowed, \r
-Thou with eternal Wisdom didst converse, \r
-Wisdom thy sister, and with her didst play \r
-In presence of the Almighty Father, pleased \r
-With thy celestial song. Up led by thee \r
-Into the Heaven of Heavens I have presumed, \r
-An earthly guest, and drawn empyreal air, \r
-Thy tempering: with like safety guided down \r
-Return me to my native element: \r
-Lest from this flying steed unreined, (as once \r
-Bellerophon, though from a lower clime,) \r
-Dismounted, on the Aleian field I fall, \r
-Erroneous there to wander, and forlorn. \r
-Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound \r
-Within the visible diurnal sphere; \r
-Standing on earth, not rapt above the pole, \r
-More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged \r
-To hoarse or mute, though fallen on evil days, \r
-On evil days though fallen, and evil tongues; \r
-In darkness, and with dangers compassed round, \r
-And solitude; yet not alone, while thou \r
-Visitest my slumbers nightly, or when morn \r
-Purples the east: still govern thou my song, \r
-Urania, and fit audience find, though few. \r
-But drive far off the barbarous dissonance \r
-Of Bacchus and his revellers, the race \r
-Of that wild rout that tore the Thracian bard \r
-In Rhodope, where woods and rocks had ears \r
-To rapture, till the savage clamour drowned \r
-Both harp and voice; nor could the Muse defend \r
-Her son. So fail not thou, who thee implores: \r
-For thou art heavenly, she an empty dream. \r
-Say, Goddess, what ensued when Raphael, \r
-The affable Arch-Angel, had forewarned \r
-Adam, by dire example, to beware \r
-Apostasy, by what befel in Heaven \r
-To those apostates; lest the like befall \r
-In Paradise to Adam or his race, \r
-Charged not to touch the interdicted tree, \r
-If they transgress, and slight that sole command, \r
-So easily obeyed amid the choice \r
-Of all tastes else to please their appetite, \r
-Though wandering. He, with his consorted Eve, \r
-The story heard attentive, and was filled \r
-With admiration and deep muse, to hear \r
-Of things so high and strange; things, to their thought \r
-So unimaginable, as hate in Heaven, \r
-And war so near the peace of God in bliss, \r
-With such confusion: but the evil, soon \r
-Driven back, redounded as a flood on those \r
-From whom it sprung; impossible to mix \r
-With blessedness. Whence Adam soon repealed \r
-The doubts that in his heart arose: and now \r
-Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know \r
-What nearer might concern him, how this world \r
-Of Heaven and Earth conspicuous first began; \r
-When, and whereof created; for what cause; \r
-What within Eden, or without, was done \r
-Before his memory; as one whose drouth \r
-Yet scarce allayed still eyes the current stream, \r
-Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites, \r
-Proceeded thus to ask his heavenly guest. \r
-Great things, and full of wonder in our ears, \r
-Far differing from this world, thou hast revealed, \r
-Divine interpreter! by favour sent \r
-Down from the empyrean, to forewarn \r
-Us timely of what might else have been our loss, \r
-Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach; \r
-For which to the infinitely Good we owe \r
-Immortal thanks, and his admonishment \r
-Receive, with solemn purpose to observe \r
-Immutably his sovran will, the end \r
-Of what we are. But since thou hast vouchsafed \r
-Gently, for our instruction, to impart \r
-Things above earthly thought, which yet concerned \r
-Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemed, \r
-Deign to descend now lower, and relate \r
-What may no less perhaps avail us known, \r
-How first began this Heaven which we behold \r
-Distant so high, with moving fires adorned \r
-Innumerable; and this which yields or fills \r
-All space, the ambient air wide interfused \r
-Embracing round this floried Earth; what cause \r
-Moved the Creator, in his holy rest \r
-Through all eternity, so late to build \r
-In Chaos; and the work begun, how soon \r
-Absolved; if unforbid thou mayest unfold \r
-What we, not to explore the secrets ask \r
-Of his eternal empire, but the more \r
-To magnify his works, the more we know. \r
-And the great light of day yet wants to run \r
-Much of his race though steep; suspense in Heaven, \r
-Held by thy voice, thy potent voice, he hears, \r
-And longer will delay to hear thee tell \r
-His generation, and the rising birth \r
-Of Nature from the unapparent Deep: \r
-Or if the star of evening and the moon \r
-Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring, \r
-Silence; and Sleep, listening to thee, will watch; \r
-Or we can bid his absence, till thy song \r
-End, and dismiss thee ere the morning shine. \r
-Thus Adam his illustrious guest besought: \r
-And thus the Godlike Angel answered mild. \r
-This also thy request, with caution asked, \r
-Obtain; though to recount almighty works \r
-What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice, \r
-Or heart of man suffice to comprehend? \r
-Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve \r
-To glorify the Maker, and infer \r
-Thee also happier, shall not be withheld \r
-Thy hearing; such commission from above \r
-I have received, to answer thy desire \r
-Of knowledge within bounds; beyond, abstain \r
-To ask; nor let thine own inventions hope \r
-Things not revealed, which the invisible King, \r
-Only Omniscient, hath suppressed in night; \r
-To none communicable in Earth or Heaven: \r
-Enough is left besides to search and know. \r
-But knowledge is as food, and needs no less \r
-Her temperance over appetite, to know \r
-In measure what the mind may well contain; \r
-Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns \r
-Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind. \r
-Know then, that, after Lucifer from Heaven \r
-(So call him, brighter once amidst the host \r
-Of Angels, than that star the stars among,) \r
-Fell with his flaming legions through the deep \r
-Into his place, and the great Son returned \r
-Victorious with his Saints, the Omnipotent \r
-Eternal Father from his throne beheld \r
-Their multitude, and to his Son thus spake. \r
-At least our envious Foe hath failed, who thought \r
-All like himself rebellious, by whose aid \r
-This inaccessible high strength, the seat \r
-Of Deity supreme, us dispossessed, \r
-He trusted to have seised, and into fraud \r
-Drew many, whom their place knows here no more: \r
-Yet far the greater part have kept, I see, \r
-Their station; Heaven, yet populous, retains \r
-Number sufficient to possess her realms \r
-Though wide, and this high temple to frequent \r
-With ministeries due, and solemn rites: \r
-But, lest his heart exalt him in the harm \r
-Already done, to have dispeopled Heaven, \r
-My damage fondly deemed, I can repair \r
-That detriment, if such it be to lose \r
-Self-lost; and in a moment will create \r
-Another world, out of one man a race \r
-Of men innumerable, there to dwell, \r
-Not here; till, by degrees of merit raised, \r
-They open to themselves at length the way \r
-Up hither, under long obedience tried; \r
-And Earth be changed to Heaven, and Heaven to Earth, \r
-One kingdom, joy and union without end. \r
-Mean while inhabit lax, ye Powers of Heaven; \r
-And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee \r
-This I perform; speak thou, and be it done! \r
-My overshadowing Spirit and Might with thee \r
-I send along; ride forth, and bid the Deep \r
-Within appointed bounds be Heaven and Earth; \r
-Boundless the Deep, because I Am who fill \r
-Infinitude, nor vacuous the space. \r
-Though I, uncircumscribed myself, retire, \r
-And put not forth my goodness, which is free \r
-To act or not, Necessity and Chance \r
-Approach not me, and what I will is Fate. \r
-So spake the Almighty, and to what he spake \r
-His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect. \r
-Immediate are the acts of God, more swift \r
-Than time or motion, but to human ears \r
-Cannot without process of speech be told, \r
-So told as earthly notion can receive. \r
-Great triumph and rejoicing was in Heaven, \r
-When such was heard declared the Almighty's will; \r
-Glory they sung to the Most High, good will \r
-To future men, and in their dwellings peace; \r
-Glory to Him, whose just avenging ire \r
-Had driven out the ungodly from his sight \r
-And the habitations of the just; to Him \r
-Glory and praise, whose wisdom had ordained \r
-Good out of evil to create; instead \r
-Of Spirits malign, a better race to bring \r
-Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse \r
-His good to worlds and ages infinite. \r
-So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son \r
-On his great expedition now appeared, \r
-Girt with Omnipotence, with radiance crowned \r
-Of Majesty Divine; sapience and love \r
-Immense, and all his Father in him shone. \r
-About his chariot numberless were poured \r
-Cherub, and Seraph, Potentates, and Thrones, \r
-And Virtues, winged Spirits, and chariots winged \r
-From the armoury of God; where stand of old \r
-Myriads, between two brazen mountains lodged \r
-Against a solemn day, harnessed at hand, \r
-Celestial equipage; and now came forth \r
-Spontaneous, for within them Spirit lived, \r
-Attendant on their Lord: Heaven opened wide \r
-Her ever-during gates, harmonious sound \r
-On golden hinges moving, to let forth \r
-The King of Glory, in his powerful Word \r
-And Spirit, coming to create new worlds. \r
-On heavenly ground they stood; and from the shore \r
-They viewed the vast immeasurable abyss \r
-Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild, \r
-Up from the bottom turned by furious winds \r
-And surging waves, as mountains, to assault \r
-Heaven's highth, and with the center mix the pole. \r
-Silence, ye troubled Waves, and thou Deep, peace, \r
-Said then the Omnifick Word; your discord end! \r
-Nor staid; but, on the wings of Cherubim \r
-Uplifted, in paternal glory rode \r
-Far into Chaos, and the world unborn; \r
-For Chaos heard his voice: Him all his train \r
-Followed in bright procession, to behold \r
-Creation, and the wonders of his might. \r
-Then staid the fervid wheels, and in his hand \r
-He took the golden compasses, prepared \r
-In God's eternal store, to circumscribe \r
-This universe, and all created things: \r
-One foot he centered, and the other turned \r
-Round through the vast profundity obscure; \r
-And said, Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds, \r
-This be thy just circumference, O World! \r
-Thus God the Heaven created, thus the Earth, \r
-Matter unformed and void: Darkness profound \r
-Covered the abyss: but on the watery calm \r
-His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread, \r
-And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth \r
-Throughout the fluid mass; but downward purged \r
-The black tartareous cold infernal dregs, \r
-Adverse to life: then founded, then conglobed \r
-Like things to like; the rest to several place \r
-Disparted, and between spun out the air; \r
-And Earth self-balanced on her center hung. \r
-Let there be light, said God; and forthwith Light \r
-Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, \r
-Sprung from the deep; and from her native east \r
-To journey through the aery gloom began, \r
-Sphered in a radiant cloud, for yet the sun \r
-Was not; she in a cloudy tabernacle \r
-Sojourned the while. God saw the light was good; \r
-And light from darkness by the hemisphere \r
-Divided: light the Day, and darkness Night, \r
-He named. Thus was the first day even and morn: \r
-Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung \r
-By the celestial quires, when orient light \r
-Exhaling first from darkness they beheld; \r
-Birth-day of Heaven and Earth; with joy and shout \r
-The hollow universal orb they filled, \r
-And touched their golden harps, and hymning praised \r
-God and his works; Creator him they sung, \r
-Both when first evening was, and when first morn. \r
-Again, God said, Let there be firmament \r
-Amid the waters, and let it divide \r
-The waters from the waters; and God made \r
-The firmament, expanse of liquid, pure, \r
-Transparent, elemental air, diffused \r
-In circuit to the uttermost convex \r
-Of this great round; partition firm and sure, \r
-The waters underneath from those above \r
-Dividing: for as earth, so he the world \r
-Built on circumfluous waters calm, in wide \r
-Crystalline ocean, and the loud misrule \r
-Of Chaos far removed; lest fierce extremes \r
-Contiguous might distemper the whole frame: \r
-And Heaven he named the Firmament: So even \r
-And morning chorus sung the second day. \r
-The Earth was formed, but in the womb as yet \r
-Of waters, embryon immature involved, \r
-Appeared not: over all the face of Earth \r
-Main ocean flowed, not idle; but, with warm \r
-Prolifick humour softening all her globe, \r
-Fermented the great mother to conceive, \r
-Satiate with genial moisture; when God said, \r
-Be gathered now ye waters under Heaven \r
-Into one place, and let dry land appear. \r
-Immediately the mountains huge appear \r
-Emergent, and their broad bare backs upheave \r
-Into the clouds; their tops ascend the sky: \r
-So high as heaved the tumid hills, so low \r
-Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep, \r
-Capacious bed of waters: Thither they \r
-Hasted with glad precipitance, uprolled, \r
-As drops on dust conglobing from the dry: \r
-Part rise in crystal wall, or ridge direct, \r
-For haste; such flight the great command impressed \r
-On the swift floods: As armies at the call \r
-Of trumpet (for of armies thou hast heard) \r
-Troop to their standard; so the watery throng, \r
-Wave rolling after wave, where way they found, \r
-If steep, with torrent rapture, if through plain, \r
-Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them rock or hill; \r
-But they, or under ground, or circuit wide \r
-With serpent errour wandering, found their way, \r
-And on the washy oose deep channels wore; \r
-Easy, ere God had bid the ground be dry, \r
-All but within those banks, where rivers now \r
-Stream, and perpetual draw their humid train. \r
-The dry land, Earth; and the great receptacle \r
-Of congregated waters, he called Seas: \r
-And saw that it was good; and said, Let the Earth \r
-Put forth the verdant grass, herb yielding seed, \r
-And fruit-tree yielding fruit after her kind, \r
-Whose seed is in herself upon the Earth. \r
-He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then \r
-Desart and bare, unsightly, unadorned, \r
-Brought forth the tender grass, whose verdure clad \r
-Her universal face with pleasant green; \r
-Then herbs of every leaf, that sudden flowered \r
-Opening their various colours, and made gay \r
-Her bosom, smelling sweet: and, these scarce blown, \r
-Forth flourished thick the clustering vine, forth crept \r
-The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed \r
-Embattled in her field, and the humble shrub, \r
-And bush with frizzled hair implicit: Last \r
-Rose, as in dance, the stately trees, and spread \r
-Their branches hung with copious fruit, or gemmed \r
-Their blossoms: With high woods the hills were crowned; \r
-With tufts the valleys, and each fountain side; \r
-With borders long the rivers: that Earth now \r
-Seemed like to Heaven, a seat where Gods might dwell, \r
-Or wander with delight, and love to haunt \r
-Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rained \r
-Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground \r
-None was; but from the Earth a dewy mist \r
-Went up, and watered all the ground, and each \r
-Plant of the field; which, ere it was in the Earth, \r
-God made, and every herb, before it grew \r
-On the green stem: God saw that it was good: \r
-So even and morn recorded the third day. \r
-Again the Almighty spake, Let there be lights \r
-High in the expanse of Heaven, to divide \r
-The day from night; and let them be for signs, \r
-For seasons, and for days, and circling years; \r
-And let them be for lights, as I ordain \r
-Their office in the firmament of Heaven, \r
-To give light on the Earth; and it was so. \r
-And God made two great lights, great for their use \r
-To Man, the greater to have rule by day, \r
-The less by night, altern; and made the stars, \r
-And set them in the firmament of Heaven \r
-To illuminate the Earth, and rule the day \r
-In their vicissitude, and rule the night, \r
-And light from darkness to divide. God saw, \r
-Surveying his great work, that it was good: \r
-For of celestial bodies first the sun \r
-A mighty sphere he framed, unlightsome first, \r
-Though of ethereal mould: then formed the moon \r
-Globose, and every magnitude of stars, \r
-And sowed with stars the Heaven, thick as a field: \r
-Of light by far the greater part he took, \r
-Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and placed \r
-In the sun's orb, made porous to receive \r
-And drink the liquid light; firm to retain \r
-Her gathered beams, great palace now of light. \r
-Hither, as to their fountain, other stars \r
-Repairing, in their golden urns draw light, \r
-And hence the morning-planet gilds her horns; \r
-By tincture or reflection they augment \r
-Their small peculiar, though from human sight \r
-So far remote, with diminution seen, \r
-First in his east the glorious lamp was seen, \r
-Regent of day, and all the horizon round \r
-Invested with bright rays, jocund to run \r
-His longitude through Heaven's high road; the gray \r
-Dawn, and the Pleiades, before him danced, \r
-Shedding sweet influence: Less bright the moon, \r
-But opposite in levelled west was set, \r
-His mirrour, with full face borrowing her light \r
-From him; for other light she needed none \r
-In that aspect, and still that distance keeps \r
-Till night; then in the east her turn she shines, \r
-Revolved on Heaven's great axle, and her reign \r
-With thousand lesser lights dividual holds, \r
-With thousand thousand stars, that then appeared \r
-Spangling the hemisphere: Then first adorned \r
-With their bright luminaries that set and rose, \r
-Glad evening and glad morn crowned the fourth day. \r
-And God said, Let the waters generate \r
-Reptile with spawn abundant, living soul: \r
-And let fowl fly above the Earth, with wings \r
-Displayed on the open firmament of Heaven. \r
-And God created the great whales, and each \r
-Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously \r
-The waters generated by their kinds; \r
-And every bird of wing after his kind; \r
-And saw that it was good, and blessed them, saying. \r
-Be fruitful, multiply, and in the seas, \r
-And lakes, and running streams, the waters fill; \r
-And let the fowl be multiplied, on the Earth. \r
-Forthwith the sounds and seas, each creek and bay, \r
-With fry innumerable swarm, and shoals \r
-Of fish that with their fins, and shining scales, \r
-Glide under the green wave, in sculls that oft \r
-Bank the mid sea: part single, or with mate, \r
-Graze the sea-weed their pasture, and through groves \r
-Of coral stray; or, sporting with quick glance, \r
-Show to the sun their waved coats dropt with gold; \r
-Or, in their pearly shells at ease, attend \r
-Moist nutriment; or under rocks their food \r
-In jointed armour watch: on smooth the seal \r
-And bended dolphins play: part huge of bulk \r
-Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait, \r
-Tempest the ocean: there leviathan, \r
-Hugest of living creatures, on the deep \r
-Stretched like a promontory sleeps or swims, \r
-And seems a moving land; and at his gills \r
-Draws in, and at his trunk spouts out, a sea. \r
-Mean while the tepid caves, and fens, and shores, \r
-Their brood as numerous hatch, from the egg that soon \r
-Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclosed \r
-Their callow young; but feathered soon and fledge \r
-They summed their pens; and, soaring the air sublime, \r
-With clang despised the ground, under a cloud \r
-In prospect; there the eagle and the stork \r
-On cliffs and cedar tops their eyries build: \r
-Part loosely wing the region, part more wise \r
-In common, ranged in figure, wedge their way, \r
-Intelligent of seasons, and set forth \r
-Their aery caravan, high over seas \r
-Flying, and over lands, with mutual wing \r
-Easing their flight; so steers the prudent crane \r
-Her annual voyage, borne on winds; the air \r
-Floats as they pass, fanned with unnumbered plumes: \r
-From branch to branch the smaller birds with song \r
-Solaced the woods, and spread their painted wings \r
-Till even; nor then the solemn nightingale \r
-Ceased warbling, but all night tun'd her soft lays: \r
-Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed \r
-Their downy breast; the swan with arched neck, \r
-Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows \r
-Her state with oary feet; yet oft they quit \r
-The dank, and, rising on stiff pennons, tower \r
-The mid aereal sky: Others on ground \r
-Walked firm; the crested cock whose clarion sounds \r
-The silent hours, and the other whose gay train \r
-Adorns him, coloured with the florid hue \r
-Of rainbows and starry eyes. The waters thus \r
-With fish replenished, and the air with fowl, \r
-Evening and morn solemnized the fifth day. \r
-The sixth, and of creation last, arose \r
-With evening harps and matin; when God said, \r
-Let the Earth bring forth soul living in her kind, \r
-Cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the Earth, \r
-Each in their kind. The Earth obeyed, and straight \r
-Opening her fertile womb teemed at a birth \r
-Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms, \r
-Limbed and full grown: Out of the ground up rose, \r
-As from his lair, the wild beast where he wons \r
-In forest wild, in thicket, brake, or den; \r
-Among the trees in pairs they rose, they walked: \r
-The cattle in the fields and meadows green: \r
-Those rare and solitary, these in flocks \r
-Pasturing at once, and in broad herds upsprung. \r
-The grassy clods now calved; now half appeared \r
-The tawny lion, pawing to get free \r
-His hinder parts, then springs as broke from bonds, \r
-And rampant shakes his brinded mane; the ounce, \r
-The libbard, and the tiger, as the mole \r
-Rising, the crumbled earth above them threw \r
-In hillocks: The swift stag from under ground \r
-Bore up his branching head: Scarce from his mould \r
-Behemoth biggest born of earth upheaved \r
-His vastness: Fleeced the flocks and bleating rose, \r
-As plants: Ambiguous between sea and land \r
-The river-horse, and scaly crocodile. \r
-At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, \r
-Insect or worm: those waved their limber fans \r
-For wings, and smallest lineaments exact \r
-In all the liveries decked of summer's pride \r
-With spots of gold and purple, azure and green: \r
-These, as a line, their long dimension drew, \r
-Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all \r
-Minims of nature; some of serpent-kind, \r
-Wonderous in length and corpulence, involved \r
-Their snaky folds, and added wings. First crept \r
-The parsimonious emmet, provident \r
-Of future; in small room large heart enclosed; \r
-Pattern of just equality perhaps \r
-Hereafter, joined in her popular tribes \r
-Of commonalty: Swarming next appeared \r
-The female bee, that feeds her husband drone \r
-Deliciously, and builds her waxen cells \r
-With honey stored: The rest are numberless, \r
-And thou their natures knowest, and gavest them names, \r
-Needless to thee repeated; nor unknown \r
-The serpent, subtlest beast of all the field, \r
-Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes \r
-And hairy mane terrifick, though to thee \r
-Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. \r
-Now Heaven in all her glory shone, and rolled \r
-Her motions, as the great first Mover's hand \r
-First wheeled their course: Earth in her rich attire \r
-Consummate lovely smiled; air, water, earth, \r
-By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was walked, \r
-Frequent; and of the sixth day yet remained: \r
-There wanted yet the master-work, the end \r
-Of all yet done; a creature, who, not prone \r
-And brute as other creatures, but endued \r
-With sanctity of reason, might erect \r
-His stature, and upright with front serene \r
-Govern the rest, self-knowing; and from thence \r
-Magnanimous to correspond with Heaven, \r
-But grateful to acknowledge whence his good \r
-Descends, thither with heart, and voice, and eyes \r
-Directed in devotion, to adore \r
-And worship God Supreme, who made him chief \r
-Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent \r
-Eternal Father (for where is not he \r
-Present?) thus to his Son audibly spake. \r
-Let us make now Man in our image, Man \r
-In our similitude, and let them rule \r
-Over the fish and fowl of sea and air, \r
-Beast of the field, and over all the Earth, \r
-And every creeping thing that creeps the ground. \r
-This said, he formed thee, Adam, thee, O Man, \r
-Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed \r
-The breath of life; in his own image he \r
-Created thee, in the image of God \r
-Express; and thou becamest a living soul. \r
-Male he created thee; but thy consort \r
-Female, for race; then blessed mankind, and said, \r
-Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the Earth; \r
-Subdue it, and throughout dominion hold \r
-Over fish of the sea, and fowl of the air, \r
-And every living thing that moves on the Earth. \r
-Wherever thus created, for no place \r
-Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou knowest, \r
-He brought thee into this delicious grove, \r
-This garden, planted with the trees of God, \r
-Delectable both to behold and taste; \r
-And freely all their pleasant fruit for food \r
-Gave thee; all sorts are here that all the Earth yields, \r
-Variety without end; but of the tree, \r
-Which, tasted, works knowledge of good and evil, \r
-Thou mayest not; in the day thou eatest, thou diest; \r
-Death is the penalty imposed; beware, \r
-And govern well thy appetite; lest Sin \r
-Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. \r
-Here finished he, and all that he had made \r
-Viewed, and behold all was entirely good; \r
-So even and morn accomplished the sixth day: \r
-Yet not till the Creator from his work \r
-Desisting, though unwearied, up returned, \r
-Up to the Heaven of Heavens, his high abode; \r
-Thence to behold this new created world, \r
-The addition of his empire, how it showed \r
-In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, \r
-Answering his great idea. Up he rode \r
-Followed with acclamation, and the sound \r
-Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tuned \r
-Angelick harmonies: The earth, the air \r
-Resounded, (thou rememberest, for thou heardst,) \r
-The heavens and all the constellations rung, \r
-The planets in their station listening stood, \r
-While the bright pomp ascended jubilant. \r
-Open, ye everlasting gates! they sung, \r
-Open, ye Heavens! your living doors;let in \r
-The great Creator from his work returned \r
-Magnificent, his six days work, a World; \r
-Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deign \r
-To visit oft the dwellings of just men, \r
-Delighted; and with frequent intercourse \r
-Thither will send his winged messengers \r
-On errands of supernal grace. So sung \r
-The glorious train ascending: He through Heaven, \r
-That opened wide her blazing portals, led \r
-To God's eternal house direct the way; \r
-A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold \r
-And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, \r
-Seen in the galaxy, that milky way, \r
-Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest \r
-Powdered with stars. And now on Earth the seventh \r
-Evening arose in Eden, for the sun \r
-Was set, and twilight from the east came on, \r
-Forerunning night; when at the holy mount \r
-Of Heaven's high-seated top, the imperial throne \r
-Of Godhead, fixed for ever firm and sure, \r
-The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down \r
-With his great Father; for he also went \r
-Invisible, yet staid, (such privilege \r
-Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordained, \r
-Author and End of all things; and, from work \r
-Now resting, blessed and hallowed the seventh day, \r
-As resting on that day from all his work, \r
-But not in silence holy kept: the harp \r
-Had work and rested not; the solemn pipe, \r
-And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop, \r
-All sounds on fret by string or golden wire, \r
-Tempered soft tunings, intermixed with voice \r
-Choral or unison: of incense clouds, \r
-Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. \r
-Creation and the six days acts they sung: \r
-Great are thy works, Jehovah! infinite \r
-Thy power! what thought can measure thee, or tongue \r
-Relate thee! Greater now in thy return \r
-Than from the giant Angels: Thee that day \r
-Thy thunders magnified; but to create \r
-Is greater than created to destroy. \r
-Who can impair thee, Mighty King, or bound \r
-Thy empire! Easily the proud attempt \r
-Of Spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, \r
-Thou hast repelled; while impiously they thought \r
-Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw \r
-The number of thy worshippers. Who seeks \r
-To lessen thee, against his purpose serves \r
-To manifest the more thy might: his evil \r
-Thou usest, and from thence createst more good. \r
-Witness this new-made world, another Heaven \r
-From Heaven-gate not far, founded in view \r
-On the clear hyaline, the glassy sea; \r
-Of amplitude almost immense, with stars \r
-Numerous, and every star perhaps a world \r
-Of destined habitation; but thou knowest \r
-Their seasons: among these the seat of Men, \r
-Earth, with her nether ocean circumfused, \r
-Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy Men, \r
-And sons of Men, whom God hath thus advanced! \r
-Created in his image, there to dwell \r
-And worship him; and in reward to rule \r
-Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air, \r
-And multiply a race of worshippers \r
-Holy and just: Thrice happy, if they know \r
-Their happiness, and persevere upright! \r
-So sung they, and the empyrean rung \r
-With halleluiahs: Thus was sabbath kept. \r
-And thy request think now fulfilled, that asked \r
-How first this world and face of things began, \r
-And what before thy memory was done \r
-From the beginning; that posterity, \r
-Informed by thee, might know: If else thou seekest \r
-Aught, not surpassing human measure, say. \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
-Book VIII \r
- \r
- \r
-The Angel ended, and in Adam's ear \r
-So charming left his voice, that he a while \r
-Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to hear; \r
-Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied. \r
-What thanks sufficient, or what recompence \r
-Equal, have I to render thee, divine \r
-Historian, who thus largely hast allayed \r
-The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafed \r
-This friendly condescension to relate \r
-Things, else by me unsearchable; now heard \r
-With wonder, but delight, and, as is due, \r
-With glory attributed to the high \r
-Creator! Something yet of doubt remains, \r
-Which only thy solution can resolve. \r
-When I behold this goodly frame, this world, \r
-Of Heaven and Earth consisting; and compute \r
-Their magnitudes; this Earth, a spot, a grain, \r
-An atom, with the firmament compared \r
-And all her numbered stars, that seem to roll \r
-Spaces incomprehensible, (for such \r
-Their distance argues, and their swift return \r
-Diurnal,) merely to officiate light \r
-Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot, \r
-One day and night; in all her vast survey \r
-Useless besides; reasoning I oft admire, \r
-How Nature wise and frugal could commit \r
-Such disproportions, with superfluous hand \r
-So many nobler bodies to create, \r
-Greater so manifold, to this one use, \r
-For aught appears, and on their orbs impose \r
-Such restless revolution day by day \r
-Repeated; while the sedentary Earth, \r
-That better might with far less compass move, \r
-Served by more noble than herself, attains \r
-Her end without least motion, and receives, \r
-As tribute, such a sumless journey brought \r
-Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light; \r
-Speed, to describe whose swiftness number fails. \r
-So spake our sire, and by his countenance seemed \r
-Entering on studious thoughts abstruse; which Eve \r
-Perceiving, where she sat retired in sight, \r
-With lowliness majestick from her seat, \r
-And grace that won who saw to wish her stay, \r
-Rose, and went forth among her fruits and flowers, \r
-To visit how they prospered, bud and bloom, \r
-Her nursery; they at her coming sprung, \r
-And, touched by her fair tendance, gladlier grew. \r
-Yet went she not, as not with such discourse \r
-Delighted, or not capable her ear \r
-Of what was high: such pleasure she reserved, \r
-Adam relating, she sole auditress; \r
-Her husband the relater she preferred \r
-Before the Angel, and of him to ask \r
-Chose rather; he, she knew, would intermix \r
-Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute \r
-With conjugal caresses: from his lip \r
-Not words alone pleased her. O! when meet now \r
-Such pairs, in love and mutual honour joined? \r
-With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went, \r
-Not unattended; for on her, as Queen, \r
-A pomp of winning Graces waited still, \r
-And from about her shot darts of desire \r
-Into all eyes, to wish her still in sight. \r
-And Raphael now, to Adam's doubt proposed, \r
-Benevolent and facile thus replied. \r
-To ask or search, I blame thee not; for Heaven \r
-Is as the book of God before thee set, \r
-Wherein to read his wonderous works, and learn \r
-His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years: \r
-This to attain, whether Heaven move or Earth, \r
-Imports not, if thou reckon right; the rest \r
-From Man or Angel the great Architect \r
-Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge \r
-His secrets to be scanned by them who ought \r
-Rather admire; or, if they list to try \r
-Conjecture, he his fabrick of the Heavens \r
-Hath left to their disputes, perhaps to move \r
-His laughter at their quaint opinions wide \r
-Hereafter; when they come to model Heaven \r
-And calculate the stars, how they will wield \r
-The mighty frame; how build, unbuild, contrive \r
-To save appearances; how gird the sphere \r
-With centrick and eccentrick scribbled o'er, \r
-Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb: \r
-Already by thy reasoning this I guess, \r
-Who art to lead thy offspring, and supposest \r
-That bodies bright and greater should not serve \r
-The less not bright, nor Heaven such journeys run, \r
-Earth sitting still, when she alone receives \r
-The benefit: Consider first, that great \r
-Or bright infers not excellence: the Earth \r
-Though, in comparison of Heaven, so small, \r
-Nor glistering, may of solid good contain \r
-More plenty than the sun that barren shines; \r
-Whose virtue on itself works no effect, \r
-But in the fruitful Earth; there first received, \r
-His beams, unactive else, their vigour find. \r
-Yet not to Earth are those bright luminaries \r
-Officious; but to thee, Earth's habitant. \r
-And for the Heaven's wide circuit, let it speak \r
-The Maker's high magnificence, who built \r
-So spacious, and his line stretched out so far; \r
-That Man may know he dwells not in his own; \r
-An edifice too large for him to fill, \r
-Lodged in a small partition; and the rest \r
-Ordained for uses to his Lord best known. \r
-The swiftness of those circles attribute, \r
-Though numberless, to his Omnipotence, \r
-That to corporeal substances could add \r
-Speed almost spiritual: Me thou thinkest not slow, \r
-Who since the morning-hour set out from Heaven \r
-Where God resides, and ere mid-day arrived \r
-In Eden; distance inexpressible \r
-By numbers that have name. But this I urge, \r
-Admitting motion in the Heavens, to show \r
-Invalid that which thee to doubt it moved; \r
-Not that I so affirm, though so it seem \r
-To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth. \r
-God, to remove his ways from human sense, \r
-Placed Heaven from Earth so far, that earthly sight, \r
-If it presume, might err in things too high, \r
-And no advantage gain. What if the sun \r
-Be center to the world; and other stars, \r
-By his attractive virtue and their own \r
-Incited, dance about him various rounds? \r
-Their wandering course now high, now low, then hid, \r
-Progressive, retrograde, or standing still, \r
-In six thou seest; and what if seventh to these \r
-The planet earth, so stedfast though she seem, \r
-Insensibly three different motions move? \r
-Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe, \r
-Moved contrary with thwart obliquities; \r
-Or save the sun his labour, and that swift \r
-Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb supposed, \r
-Invisible else above all stars, the wheel \r
-Of day and night; which needs not thy belief, \r
-If earth, industrious of herself, fetch day \r
-Travelling east, and with her part averse \r
-From the sun's beam meet night, her other part \r
-Still luminous by his ray. What if that light, \r
-Sent from her through the wide transpicuous air, \r
-To the terrestrial moon be as a star, \r
-Enlightening her by day, as she by night \r
-This earth? reciprocal, if land be there, \r
-Fields and inhabitants: Her spots thou seest \r
-As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce \r
-Fruits in her softened soil for some to eat \r
-Allotted there; and other suns perhaps, \r
-With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry, \r
-Communicating male and female light; \r
-Which two great sexes animate the world, \r
-Stored in each orb perhaps with some that live. \r
-For such vast room in Nature unpossessed \r
-By living soul, desart and desolate, \r
-Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute \r
-Each orb a glimpse of light, conveyed so far \r
-Down to this habitable, which returns \r
-Light back to them, is obvious to dispute. \r
-But whether thus these things, or whether not; \r
-But whether the sun, predominant in Heaven, \r
-Rise on the earth; or earth rise on the sun; \r
-He from the east his flaming road begin; \r
-Or she from west her silent course advance, \r
-With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps \r
-On her soft axle, while she paces even, \r
-And bears thee soft with the smooth hair along; \r
-Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid; \r
-Leave them to God above; him serve, and fear! \r
-Of other creatures, as him pleases best, \r
-Wherever placed, let him dispose; joy thou \r
-In what he gives to thee, this Paradise \r
-And thy fair Eve; Heaven is for thee too high \r
-To know what passes there; be lowly wise: \r
-Think only what concerns thee, and thy being; \r
-Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there \r
-Live, in what state, condition, or degree; \r
-Contented that thus far hath been revealed \r
-Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven. \r
-To whom thus Adam, cleared of doubt, replied. \r
-How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure \r
-Intelligence of Heaven, Angel serene! \r
-And, freed from intricacies, taught to live \r
-The easiest way; nor with perplexing thoughts \r
-To interrupt the sweet of life, from which \r
-God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares, \r
-And not molest us; unless we ourselves \r
-Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions vain. \r
-But apt the mind or fancy is to rove \r
-Unchecked, and of her roving is no end; \r
-Till warned, or by experience taught, she learn, \r
-That, not to know at large of things remote \r
-From use, obscure and subtle; but, to know \r
-That which before us lies in daily life, \r
-Is the prime wisdom: What is more, is fume, \r
-Or emptiness, or fond impertinence: \r
-And renders us, in things that most concern, \r
-Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek. \r
-Therefore from this high pitch let us descend \r
-A lower flight, and speak of things at hand \r
-Useful; whence, haply, mention may arise \r
-Of something not unseasonable to ask, \r
-By sufferance, and thy wonted favour, deigned. \r
-Thee I have heard relating what was done \r
-Ere my remembrance: now, hear me relate \r
-My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard; \r
-And day is not yet spent; till then thou seest \r
-How subtly to detain thee I devise; \r
-Inviting thee to hear while I relate; \r
-Fond! were it not in hope of thy reply: \r
-For, while I sit with thee, I seem in Heaven; \r
-And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear \r
-Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst \r
-And hunger both, from labour, at the hour \r
-Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill, \r
-Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine \r
-Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety. \r
-To whom thus Raphael answered heavenly meek. \r
-Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men, \r
-Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee \r
-Abundantly his gifts hath also poured \r
-Inward and outward both, his image fair: \r
-Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace \r
-Attends thee; and each word, each motion, forms; \r
-Nor less think we in Heaven of thee on Earth \r
-Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire \r
-Gladly into the ways of God with Man: \r
-For God, we see, hath honoured thee, and set \r
-On Man his equal love: Say therefore on; \r
-For I that day was absent, as befel, \r
-Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, \r
-Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell; \r
-Squared in full legion (such command we had) \r
-To see that none thence issued forth a spy, \r
-Or enemy, while God was in his work; \r
-Lest he, incensed at such eruption bold, \r
-Destruction with creation might have mixed. \r
-Not that they durst without his leave attempt; \r
-But us he sends upon his high behests \r
-For state, as Sovran King; and to inure \r
-Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut, \r
-The dismal gates, and barricadoed strong; \r
-But long ere our approaching heard within \r
-Noise, other than the sound of dance or song, \r
-Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. \r
-Glad we returned up to the coasts of light \r
-Ere sabbath-evening: so we had in charge. \r
-But thy relation now; for I attend, \r
-Pleased with thy words no less than thou with mine. \r
-So spake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire. \r
-For Man to tell how human life began \r
-Is hard; for who himself beginning knew \r
-Desire with thee still longer to converse \r
-Induced me. As new waked from soundest sleep, \r
-Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid, \r
-In balmy sweat; which with his beams the sun \r
-Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. \r
-Straight toward Heaven my wondering eyes I turned, \r
-And gazed a while the ample sky; till, raised \r
-By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung, \r
-As thitherward endeavouring, and upright \r
-Stood on my feet: about me round I saw \r
-Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, \r
-And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these, \r
-Creatures that lived and moved, and walked, or flew; \r
-Birds on the branches warbling; all things smiled; \r
-With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflowed. \r
-Myself I then perused, and limb by limb \r
-Surveyed, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran \r
-With supple joints, as lively vigour led: \r
-But who I was, or where, or from what cause, \r
-Knew not; to speak I tried, and forthwith spake; \r
-My tongue obeyed, and readily could name \r
-Whate'er I saw. Thou Sun, said I, fair light, \r
-And thou enlightened Earth, so fresh and gay, \r
-Ye Hills, and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plains, \r
-And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell, \r
-Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here?-- \r
-Not of myself;--by some great Maker then, \r
-In goodness and in power pre-eminent: \r
-Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, \r
-From whom I have that thus I move and live, \r
-And feel that I am happier than I know.-- \r
-While thus I called, and strayed I knew not whither, \r
-From where I first drew air, and first beheld \r
-This happy light; when, answer none returned, \r
-On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, \r
-Pensive I sat me down: There gentle sleep \r
-First found me, and with soft oppression seised \r
-My droused sense, untroubled, though I thought \r
-I then was passing to my former state \r
-Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve: \r
-When suddenly stood at my head a dream, \r
-Whose inward apparition gently moved \r
-My fancy to believe I yet had being, \r
-And lived: One came, methought, of shape divine, \r
-And said, 'Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise, \r
-'First Man, of men innumerable ordained \r
-'First Father! called by thee, I come thy guide \r
-'To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.' \r
-So saying, by the hand he took me raised, \r
-And over fields and waters, as in air \r
-Smooth-sliding without step, last led me up \r
-A woody mountain; whose high top was plain, \r
-A circuit wide, enclosed, with goodliest trees \r
-Planted, with walks, and bowers; that what I saw \r
-Of Earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree, \r
-Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye \r
-Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite \r
-To pluck and eat; whereat I waked, and found \r
-Before mine eyes all real, as the dream \r
-Had lively shadowed: Here had new begun \r
-My wandering, had not he, who was my guide \r
-Up hither, from among the trees appeared, \r
-Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe, \r
-In adoration at his feet I fell \r
-Submiss: He reared me, and 'Whom thou soughtest I am,' \r
-Said mildly, 'Author of all this thou seest \r
-'Above, or round about thee, or beneath. \r
-'This Paradise I give thee, count it thine \r
-'To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat: \r
-'Of every tree that in the garden grows \r
-'Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth: \r
-'But of the tree whose operation brings \r
-'Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set \r
-'The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, \r
-'Amid the garden by the tree of life, \r
-'Remember what I warn thee, shun to taste, \r
-'And shun the bitter consequence: for know, \r
-'The day thou eatest thereof, my sole command \r
-'Transgressed, inevitably thou shalt die, \r
-'From that day mortal; and this happy state \r
-'Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world \r
-'Of woe and sorrow.' Sternly he pronounced \r
-The rigid interdiction, which resounds \r
-Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice \r
-Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect \r
-Returned, and gracious purpose thus renewed. \r
-'Not only these fair bounds, but all the Earth \r
-'To thee and to thy race I give; as lords \r
-'Possess it, and all things that therein live, \r
-'Or live in sea, or air; beast, fish, and fowl. \r
-'In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold \r
-'After their kinds; I bring them to receive \r
-'From thee their names, and pay thee fealty \r
-'With low subjection; understand the same \r
-'Of fish within their watery residence, \r
-'Not hither summoned, since they cannot change \r
-'Their element, to draw the thinner air.' \r
-As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold \r
-Approaching two and two; these cowering low \r
-With blandishment; each bird stooped on his wing. \r
-I named them, as they passed, and understood \r
-Their nature, with such knowledge God endued \r
-My sudden apprehension: But in these \r
-I found not what methought I wanted still; \r
-And to the heavenly Vision thus presumed. \r
-O, by what name, for thou above all these, \r
-Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher, \r
-Surpassest far my naming; how may I \r
-Adore thee, Author of this universe, \r
-And all this good to man? for whose well being \r
-So amply, and with hands so liberal, \r
-Thou hast provided all things: But with me \r
-I see not who partakes. In solitude \r
-What happiness, who can enjoy alone, \r
-Or, all enjoying, what contentment find? \r
-Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright, \r
-As with a smile more brightened, thus replied. \r
-What callest thou solitude? Is not the Earth \r
-With various living creatures, and the air \r
-Replenished, and all these at thy command \r
-To come and play before thee? Knowest thou not \r
-Their language and their ways? They also know, \r
-And reason not contemptibly: With these \r
-Find pastime, and bear rule; thy realm is large. \r
-So spake the Universal Lord, and seemed \r
-So ordering: I, with leave of speech implored, \r
-And humble deprecation, thus replied. \r
-Let not my words offend thee, Heavenly Power; \r
-My Maker, be propitious while I speak. \r
-Hast thou not made me here thy substitute, \r
-And these inferiour far beneath me set? \r
-Among unequals what society \r
-Can sort, what harmony, or true delight? \r
-Which must be mutual, in proportion due \r
-Given and received; but, in disparity \r
-The one intense, the other still remiss, \r
-Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove \r
-Tedious alike: Of fellowship I speak \r
-Such as I seek, fit to participate \r
-All rational delight: wherein the brute \r
-Cannot be human consort: They rejoice \r
-Each with their kind, lion with lioness; \r
-So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined: \r
-Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl \r
-So well converse, nor with the ox the ape; \r
-Worse then can man with beast, and least of all. \r
-Whereto the Almighty answered, not displeased. \r
-A nice and subtle happiness, I see, \r
-Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice \r
-Of thy associates, Adam! and wilt taste \r
-No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary. \r
-What thinkest thou then of me, and this my state? \r
-Seem I to thee sufficiently possessed \r
-Of happiness, or not? who am alone \r
-From all eternity; for none I know \r
-Second to me or like, equal much less. \r
-How have I then with whom to hold converse, \r
-Save with the creatures which I made, and those \r
-To me inferiour, infinite descents \r
-Beneath what other creatures are to thee? \r
-He ceased; I lowly answered. To attain \r
-The highth and depth of thy eternal ways \r
-All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things! \r
-Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee \r
-Is no deficience found: Not so is Man, \r
-But in degree; the cause of his desire \r
-By conversation with his like to help \r
-Or solace his defects. No need that thou \r
-Shouldst propagate, already Infinite; \r
-And through all numbers absolute, though One: \r
-But Man by number is to manifest \r
-His single imperfection, and beget \r
-Like of his like, his image multiplied, \r
-In unity defective; which requires \r
-Collateral love, and dearest amity. \r
-Thou in thy secresy although alone, \r
-Best with thyself accompanied, seekest not \r
-Social communication; yet, so pleased, \r
-Canst raise thy creature to what highth thou wilt \r
-Of union or communion, deified: \r
-I, by conversing, cannot these erect \r
-From prone; nor in their ways complacence find. \r
-Thus I emboldened spake, and freedom used \r
-Permissive, and acceptance found; which gained \r
-This answer from the gracious Voice Divine. \r
-Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased; \r
-And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone, \r
-Which thou hast rightly named, but of thyself; \r
-Expressing well the spirit within thee free, \r
-My image, not imparted to the brute; \r
-Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee \r
-Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike; \r
-And be so minded still: I, ere thou spakest, \r
-Knew it not good for Man to be alone; \r
-And no such company as then thou sawest \r
-Intended thee; for trial only brought, \r
-To see how thou couldest judge of fit and meet: \r
-What next I bring shall please thee, be assured, \r
-Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self, \r
-Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire. \r
-He ended, or I heard no more; for now \r
-My earthly by his heavenly overpowered, \r
-Which it had long stood under, strained to the highth \r
-In that celestial colloquy sublime, \r
-As with an object that excels the sense \r
-Dazzled and spent, sunk down; and sought repair \r
-Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, called \r
-By Nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes. \r
-Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell \r
-Of fancy, my internal sight; by which, \r
-Abstract as in a trance, methought I saw, \r
-Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape \r
-Still glorious before whom awake I stood: \r
-Who stooping opened my left side, and took \r
-From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm, \r
-And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound, \r
-But suddenly with flesh filled up and healed: \r
-The rib he formed and fashioned with his hands; \r
-Under his forming hands a creature grew, \r
-Man-like, but different sex; so lovely fair, \r
-That what seemed fair in all the world, seemed now \r
-Mean, or in her summed up, in her contained \r
-And in her looks; which from that time infused \r
-Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before, \r
-And into all things from her air inspired \r
-The spirit of love and amorous delight. \r
-She disappeared, and left me dark; I waked \r
-To find her, or for ever to deplore \r
-Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure: \r
-When out of hope, behold her, not far off, \r
-Such as I saw her in my dream, adorned \r
-With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow \r
-To make her amiable: On she came, \r
-Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen, \r
-And guided by his voice; nor uninformed \r
-Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites: \r
-Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, \r
-In every gesture dignity and love. \r
-I, overjoyed, could not forbear aloud. \r
-This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfilled \r
-Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign, \r
-Giver of all things fair! but fairest this \r
-Of all thy gifts! nor enviest. I now see \r
-Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself \r
-Before me: Woman is her name;of Man \r
-Extracted: for this cause he shall forego \r
-Father and mother, and to his wife adhere; \r
-And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul. \r
-She heard me thus; and though divinely brought, \r
-Yet innocence, and virgin modesty, \r
-Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth, \r
-That would be wooed, and not unsought be won, \r
-Not obvious, not obtrusive, but, retired, \r
-The more desirable; or, to say all, \r
-Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought, \r
-Wrought in her so, that, seeing me, she turned: \r
-I followed her; she what was honour knew, \r
-And with obsequious majesty approved \r
-My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower \r
-I led her blushing like the morn: All Heaven, \r
-And happy constellations, on that hour \r
-Shed their selectest influence; the Earth \r
-Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill; \r
-Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs \r
-Whispered it to the woods, and from their wings \r
-Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub, \r
-Disporting, till the amorous bird of night \r
-Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening-star \r
-On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp. \r
-Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought \r
-My story to the sum of earthly bliss, \r
-Which I enjoy; and must confess to find \r
-In all things else delight indeed, but such \r
-As, used or not, works in the mind no change, \r
-Nor vehement desire; these delicacies \r
-I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, \r
-Walks, and the melody of birds: but here \r
-Far otherwise, transported I behold, \r
-Transported touch; here passion first I felt, \r
-Commotion strange! in all enjoyments else \r
-Superiour and unmoved; here only weak \r
-Against the charm of Beauty's powerful glance. \r
-Or Nature failed in me, and left some part \r
-Not proof enough such object to sustain; \r
-Or, from my side subducting, took perhaps \r
-More than enough; at least on her bestowed \r
-Too much of ornament, in outward show \r
-Elaborate, of inward less exact. \r
-For well I understand in the prime end \r
-Of Nature her the inferiour, in the mind \r
-And inward faculties, which most excel; \r
-In outward also her resembling less \r
-His image who made both, and less expressing \r
-The character of that dominion given \r
-O'er other creatures: Yet when I approach \r
-Her loveliness, so absolute she seems \r
-And in herself complete, so well to know \r
-Her own, that what she wills to do or say, \r
-Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best: \r
-All higher knowledge in her presence falls \r
-Degraded; Wisdom in discourse with her \r
-Loses discountenanced, and like Folly shows; \r
-Authority and Reason on her wait, \r
-As one intended first, not after made \r
-Occasionally; and, to consummate all, \r
-Greatness of mind and Nobleness their seat \r
-Build in her loveliest, and create an awe \r
-About her, as a guard angelick placed. \r
-To whom the Angel with contracted brow. \r
-Accuse not Nature, she hath done her part; \r
-Do thou but thine; and be not diffident \r
-Of Wisdom; she deserts thee not, if thou \r
-Dismiss not her, when most thou needest her nigh, \r
-By attributing overmuch to things \r
-Less excellent, as thou thyself perceivest. \r
-For, what admirest thou, what transports thee so, \r
-An outside? fair, no doubt, and worthy well \r
-Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love; \r
-Not thy subjection: Weigh with her thyself; \r
-Then value: Oft-times nothing profits more \r
-Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right \r
-Well managed; of that skill the more thou knowest, \r
-The more she will acknowledge thee her head, \r
-And to realities yield all her shows: \r
-Made so adorn for thy delight the more, \r
-So awful, that with honour thou mayest love \r
-Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. \r
-But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind \r
-Is propagated, seem such dear delight \r
-Beyond all other; think the same vouchsafed \r
-To cattle and each beast; which would not be \r
-To them made common and divulged, if aught \r
-Therein enjoyed were worthy to subdue \r
-The soul of man, or passion in him move. \r
-What higher in her society thou findest \r
-Attractive, human, rational, love still; \r
-In loving thou dost well, in passion not, \r
-Wherein true love consists not: Love refines \r
-The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his seat \r
-In reason, and is judicious; is the scale \r
-By which to heavenly love thou mayest ascend, \r
-Not sunk in carnal pleasure; for which cause, \r
-Among the beasts no mate for thee was found. \r
-To whom thus, half abashed, Adam replied. \r
-Neither her outside formed so fair, nor aught \r
-In procreation common to all kinds, \r
-(Though higher of the genial bed by far, \r
-And with mysterious reverence I deem,) \r
-So much delights me, as those graceful acts, \r
-Those thousand decencies, that daily flow \r
-From all her words and actions mixed with love \r
-And sweet compliance, which declare unfeigned \r
-Union of mind, or in us both one soul; \r
-Harmony to behold in wedded pair \r
-More grateful than harmonious sound to the ear. \r
-Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose \r
-What inward thence I feel, not therefore foiled, \r
-Who meet with various objects, from the sense \r
-Variously representing; yet, still free, \r
-Approve the best, and follow what I approve. \r
-To love, thou blamest me not; for Love, thou sayest, \r
-Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide; \r
-Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask: \r
-Love not the heavenly Spirits, and how their love \r
-Express they? by looks only? or do they mix \r
-Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch? \r
-To whom the Angel, with a smile that glowed \r
-Celestial rosy red, Love's proper hue, \r
-Answered. Let it suffice thee that thou knowest \r
-Us happy, and without love no happiness. \r
-Whatever pure thou in the body enjoyest, \r
-(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy \r
-In eminence; and obstacle find none \r
-Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars; \r
-Easier than air with air, if Spirits embrace, \r
-Total they mix, union of pure with pure \r
-Desiring, nor restrained conveyance need, \r
-As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul. \r
-But I can now no more; the parting sun \r
-Beyond the Earth's green Cape and verdant Isles \r
-Hesperian sets, my signal to depart. \r
-Be strong, live happy, and love! But, first of all, \r
-Him, whom to love is to obey, and keep \r
-His great command; take heed lest passion sway \r
-Thy judgement to do aught, which else free will \r
-Would not admit: thine, and of all thy sons, \r
-The weal or woe in thee is placed; beware! \r
-I in thy persevering shall rejoice, \r
-And all the Blest: Stand fast;to stand or fall \r
-Free in thine own arbitrement it lies. \r
-Perfect within, no outward aid require; \r
-And all temptation to transgress repel. \r
-So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus \r
-Followed with benediction. Since to part, \r
-Go, heavenly guest, ethereal Messenger, \r
-Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore! \r
-Gentle to me and affable hath been \r
-Thy condescension, and shall be honoured ever \r
-With grateful memory: Thou to mankind \r
-Be good and friendly still, and oft return! \r
-So parted they; the Angel up to Heaven \r
-From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower. \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
-Book IX \r
- \r
- \r
-No more of talk where God or Angel guest \r
-With Man, as with his friend, familiar us'd, \r
-To sit indulgent, and with him partake \r
-Rural repast; permitting him the while \r
-Venial discourse unblam'd. I now must change \r
-Those notes to tragick; foul distrust, and breach \r
-Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt, \r
-And disobedience: on the part of Heaven \r
-Now alienated, distance and distaste, \r
-Anger and just rebuke, and judgement given, \r
-That brought into this world a world of woe, \r
-Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery \r
-Death's harbinger: Sad talk!yet argument \r
-Not less but more heroick than the wrath \r
-Of stern Achilles on his foe pursued \r
-Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; or rage \r
-Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous'd; \r
-Or Neptune's ire, or Juno's, that so long \r
-Perplexed the Greek, and Cytherea's son: \r
- \r
- 00482129 \r
-If answerable style I can obtain \r
-Of my celestial patroness, who deigns \r
-Her nightly visitation unimplor'd, \r
-And dictates to me slumbering; or inspires \r
-Easy my unpremeditated verse: \r
-Since first this subject for heroick song \r
-Pleas'd me long choosing, and beginning late; \r
-Not sedulous by nature to indite \r
-Wars, hitherto the only argument \r
-Heroick deem'd chief mastery to dissect \r
-With long and tedious havock fabled knights \r
-In battles feign'd; the better fortitude \r
-Of patience and heroick martyrdom \r
-Unsung; or to describe races and games, \r
-Or tilting furniture, imblazon'd shields, \r
-Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds, \r
-Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights \r
-At joust and tournament; then marshall'd feast \r
-Serv'd up in hall with sewers and seneshals; \r
-The skill of artifice or office mean, \r
-Not that which justly gives heroick name \r
-To person, or to poem. Me, of these \r
-Nor skill'd nor studious, higher argument \r
-Remains; sufficient of itself to raise \r
-That name, unless an age too late, or cold \r
-Climate, or years, damp my intended wing \r
-Depress'd; and much they may, if all be mine, \r
-Not hers, who brings it nightly to my ear. \r
-The sun was sunk, and after him the star \r
-Of Hesperus, whose office is to bring \r
-Twilight upon the earth, short arbiter \r
-"twixt day and night, and now from end to end \r
-Night's hemisphere had veil'd the horizon round: \r
-When satan, who late fled before the threats \r
-Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improv'd \r
-In meditated fraud and malice, bent \r
-On Man's destruction, maugre what might hap \r
-Of heavier on himself, fearless returned \r
-From compassing the earth; cautious of day, \r
-Since Uriel, regent of the sun, descried \r
-His entrance, and foreworned the Cherubim \r
-That kept their watch; thence full of anguish driven, \r
-The space of seven continued nights he rode \r
-With darkness; thrice the equinoctial line \r
-He circled; four times crossed the car of night \r
-From pole to pole, traversing each colure; \r
-On the eighth returned; and, on the coast averse \r
-From entrance or Cherubick watch, by stealth \r
-Found unsuspected way. There was a place, \r
-Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change, \r
-Where Tigris, at the foot of Paradise, \r
-Into a gulf shot under ground, till part \r
-Rose up a fountain by the tree of life: \r
-In with the river sunk, and with it rose \r
-Satan, involved in rising mist; then sought \r
-Where to lie hid; sea he had searched, and land, \r
-From Eden over Pontus and the pool \r
-Maeotis, up beyond the river Ob; \r
-Downward as far antarctick; and in length, \r
-West from Orontes to the ocean barred \r
-At Darien ; thence to the land where flows \r
-Ganges and Indus: Thus the orb he roamed \r
-With narrow search; and with inspection deep \r
-Considered every creature, which of all \r
-Most opportune might serve his wiles; and found \r
-The Serpent subtlest beast of all the field. \r
-Him after long debate, irresolute \r
-Of thoughts revolved, his final sentence chose \r
-Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom \r
-To enter, and his dark suggestions hide \r
-From sharpest sight: for, in the wily snake \r
-Whatever sleights, none would suspicious mark, \r
-As from his wit and native subtlety \r
-Proceeding; which, in other beasts observed, \r
-Doubt might beget of diabolick power \r
-Active within, beyond the sense of brute. \r
-Thus he resolved, but first from inward grief \r
-His bursting passion into plaints thus poured. \r
-More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built \r
-With second thoughts, reforming what was old! \r
-O Earth, how like to Heaven, if not preferred \r
-For what God, after better, worse would build? \r
-Terrestrial Heaven, danced round by other Heavens \r
-That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps, \r
-Light above light, for thee alone, as seems, \r
-In thee concentring all their precious beams \r
-Of sacred influence! As God in Heaven \r
-Is center, yet extends to all; so thou, \r
-Centring, receivest from all those orbs: in thee, \r
-Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears \r
-Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth \r
-Of creatures animate with gradual life \r
-Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in Man. \r
-With what delight could I have walked thee round, \r
-If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange \r
-Of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains, \r
-Now land, now sea and shores with forest crowned, \r
-Rocks, dens, and caves! But I in none of these \r
-Find place or refuge; and the more I see \r
-Pleasures about me, so much more I feel \r
-Torment within me, as from the hateful siege \r
-Of contraries: all good to me becomes \r
-Bane, and in Heaven much worse would be my state. \r
-But neither here seek I, no nor in Heaven \r
-To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven's Supreme; \r
-Nor hope to be myself less miserable \r
-By what I seek, but others to make such \r
-As I, though thereby worse to me redound: \r
-For only in destroying I find ease \r
-To my relentless thoughts; and, him destroyed, \r
-Or won to what may work his utter loss, \r
-For whom all this was made, all this will soon \r
-Follow, as to him linked in weal or woe; \r
-In woe then; that destruction wide may range: \r
-To me shall be the glory sole among \r
-The infernal Powers, in one day to have marred \r
-What he, Almighty styled, six nights and days \r
-Continued making; and who knows how long \r
-Before had been contriving? though perhaps \r
-Not longer than since I, in one night, freed \r
-From servitude inglorious well nigh half \r
-The angelick name, and thinner left the throng \r
-Of his adorers: He, to be avenged, \r
-And to repair his numbers thus impaired, \r
-Whether such virtue spent of old now failed \r
-More Angels to create, if they at least \r
-Are his created, or, to spite us more, \r
-Determined to advance into our room \r
-A creature formed of earth, and him endow, \r
-Exalted from so base original, \r
-With heavenly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed, \r
-He effected; Man he made, and for him built \r
-Magnificent this world, and earth his seat, \r
-Him lord pronounced; and, O indignity! \r
-Subjected to his service angel-wings, \r
-And flaming ministers to watch and tend \r
-Their earthly charge: Of these the vigilance \r
-I dread; and, to elude, thus wrapt in mist \r
-Of midnight vapour glide obscure, and pry \r
-In every bush and brake, where hap may find \r
-The serpent sleeping; in whose mazy folds \r
-To hide me, and the dark intent I bring. \r
-O foul descent! that I, who erst contended \r
-With Gods to sit the highest, am now constrained \r
-Into a beast; and, mixed with bestial slime, \r
-This essence to incarnate and imbrute, \r
-That to the highth of Deity aspired! \r
-But what will not ambition and revenge \r
-Descend to? Who aspires, must down as low \r
-As high he soared; obnoxious, first or last, \r
-To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet, \r
-Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils: \r
-Let it; I reck not, so it light well aimed, \r
-Since higher I fall short, on him who next \r
-Provokes my envy, this new favourite \r
-Of Heaven, this man of clay, son of despite, \r
-Whom, us the more to spite, his Maker raised \r
-From dust: Spite then with spite is best repaid. \r
-So saying, through each thicket dank or dry, \r
-Like a black mist low-creeping, he held on \r
-His midnight-search, where soonest he might find \r
-The serpent; him fast-sleeping soon he found \r
-In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled, \r
-His head the midst, well stored with subtile wiles: \r
-Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den, \r
-Nor nocent yet; but, on the grassy herb, \r
-Fearless unfeared he slept: in at his mouth \r
-The Devil entered; and his brutal sense, \r
-In heart or head, possessing, soon inspired \r
-With act intelligential; but his sleep \r
-Disturbed not, waiting close the approach of morn. \r
-Now, when as sacred light began to dawn \r
-In Eden on the humid flowers, that breathed \r
-Their morning incense, when all things, that breathe, \r
-From the Earth's great altar send up silent praise \r
-To the Creator, and his nostrils fill \r
-With grateful smell, forth came the human pair, \r
-And joined their vocal worship to the quire \r
-Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake \r
-The season prime for sweetest scents and airs: \r
-Then commune, how that day they best may ply \r
-Their growing work: for much their work out-grew \r
-The hands' dispatch of two gardening so wide, \r
-And Eve first to her husband thus began. \r
-Adam, well may we labour still to dress \r
-This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower, \r
-Our pleasant task enjoined; but, till more hands \r
-Aid us, the work under our labour grows, \r
-Luxurious by restraint; what we by day \r
-Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, \r
-One night or two with wanton growth derides \r
-Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise, \r
-Or bear what to my mind first thoughts present: \r
-Let us divide our labours; thou, where choice \r
-Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind \r
-The woodbine round this arbour, or direct \r
-The clasping ivy where to climb; while I, \r
-In yonder spring of roses intermixed \r
-With myrtle, find what to redress till noon: \r
-For, while so near each other thus all day \r
-Our task we choose, what wonder if so near \r
-Looks intervene and smiles, or object new \r
-Casual discourse draw on; which intermits \r
-Our day's work, brought to little, though begun \r
-Early, and the hour of supper comes unearned? \r
-To whom mild answer Adam thus returned. \r
-Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond \r
-Compare above all living creatures dear! \r
-Well hast thou motioned, well thy thoughts employed, \r
-How we might best fulfil the work which here \r
-God hath assigned us; nor of me shalt pass \r
-Unpraised: for nothing lovelier can be found \r
-In woman, than to study houshold good, \r
-And good works in her husband to promote. \r
-Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed \r
-Labour, as to debar us when we need \r
-Refreshment, whether food, or talk between, \r
-Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse \r
-Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow, \r
-To brute denied, and are of love the food; \r
-Love, not the lowest end of human life. \r
-For not to irksome toil, but to delight, \r
-He made us, and delight to reason joined. \r
-These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands \r
-Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide \r
-As we need walk, till younger hands ere long \r
-Assist us; But, if much converse perhaps \r
-Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield: \r
-For solitude sometimes is best society, \r
-And short retirement urges sweet return. \r
-But other doubt possesses me, lest harm \r
-Befall thee severed from me; for thou knowest \r
-What hath been warned us, what malicious foe \r
-Envying our happiness, and of his own \r
-Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame \r
-By sly assault; and somewhere nigh at hand \r
-Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find \r
-His wish and best advantage, us asunder; \r
-Hopeless to circumvent us joined, where each \r
-To other speedy aid might lend at need: \r
-Whether his first design be to withdraw \r
-Our fealty from God, or to disturb \r
-Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss \r
-Enjoyed by us excites his envy more; \r
-Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side \r
-That gave thee being, still shades thee, and protects. \r
-The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, \r
-Safest and seemliest by her husband stays, \r
-Who guards her, or with her the worst endures. \r
-To whom the virgin majesty of Eve, \r
-As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, \r
-With sweet austere composure thus replied. \r
-Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth's Lord! \r
-That such an enemy we have, who seeks \r
-Our ruin, both by thee informed I learn, \r
-And from the parting Angel over-heard, \r
-As in a shady nook I stood behind, \r
-Just then returned at shut of evening flowers. \r
-But, that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt \r
-To God or thee, because we have a foe \r
-May tempt it, I expected not to hear. \r
-His violence thou fearest not, being such \r
-As we, not capable of death or pain, \r
-Can either not receive, or can repel. \r
-His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers \r
-Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love \r
-Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced; \r
-Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy breast, \r
-Adam, mis-thought of her to thee so dear? \r
-To whom with healing words Adam replied. \r
-Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve! \r
-For such thou art; from sin and blame entire: \r
-Not diffident of thee do I dissuade \r
-Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid \r
-The attempt itself, intended by our foe. \r
-For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses \r
-The tempted with dishonour foul; supposed \r
-Not incorruptible of faith, not proof \r
-Against temptation: Thou thyself with scorn \r
-And anger wouldst resent the offered wrong, \r
-Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then, \r
-If such affront I labour to avert \r
-From thee alone, which on us both at once \r
-The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare; \r
-Or daring, first on me the assault shall light. \r
-Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn; \r
-Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce \r
-Angels; nor think superfluous other's aid. \r
-I, from the influence of thy looks, receive \r
-Access in every virtue; in thy sight \r
-More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were \r
-Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on, \r
-Shame to be overcome or over-reached, \r
-Would utmost vigour raise, and raised unite. \r
-Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel \r
-When I am present, and thy trial choose \r
-With me, best witness of thy virtue tried? \r
-So spake domestick Adam in his care \r
-And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought \r
-Less attributed to her faith sincere, \r
-Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed. \r
-If this be our condition, thus to dwell \r
-In narrow circuit straitened by a foe, \r
-Subtle or violent, we not endued \r
-Single with like defence, wherever met; \r
-How are we happy, still in fear of harm? \r
-But harm precedes not sin: only our foe, \r
-Tempting, affronts us with his foul esteem \r
-Of our integrity: his foul esteem \r
-Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns \r
-Foul on himself; then wherefore shunned or feared \r
-By us? who rather double honour gain \r
-From his surmise proved false; find peace within, \r
-Favour from Heaven, our witness, from the event. \r
-And what is faith, love, virtue, unassayed \r
-Alone, without exteriour help sustained? \r
-Let us not then suspect our happy state \r
-Left so imperfect by the Maker wise, \r
-As not secure to single or combined. \r
-Frail is our happiness, if this be so, \r
-And Eden were no Eden, thus exposed. \r
-To whom thus Adam fervently replied. \r
-O Woman, best are all things as the will \r
-Of God ordained them: His creating hand \r
-Nothing imperfect or deficient left \r
-Of all that he created, much less Man, \r
-Or aught that might his happy state secure, \r
-Secure from outward force; within himself \r
-The danger lies, yet lies within his power: \r
-Against his will he can receive no harm. \r
-But God left free the will; for what obeys \r
-Reason, is free; and Reason he made right, \r
-But bid her well be ware, and still erect; \r
-Lest, by some fair-appearing good surprised, \r
-She dictate false; and mis-inform the will \r
-To do what God expressly hath forbid. \r
-Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins, \r
-That I should mind thee oft; and mind thou me. \r
-Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve; \r
-Since Reason not impossibly may meet \r
-Some specious object by the foe suborned, \r
-And fall into deception unaware, \r
-Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warned. \r
-Seek not temptation then, which to avoid \r
-Were better, and most likely if from me \r
-Thou sever not: Trial will come unsought. \r
-Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve \r
-First thy obedience; the other who can know, \r
-Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? \r
-But, if thou think, trial unsought may find \r
-Us both securer than thus warned thou seemest, \r
-Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more; \r
-Go in thy native innocence, rely \r
-On what thou hast of virtue; summon all! \r
-For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine. \r
-So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve \r
-Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied. \r
-With thy permission then, and thus forewarned \r
-Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words \r
-Touched only; that our trial, when least sought, \r
-May find us both perhaps far less prepared, \r
-The willinger I go, nor much expect \r
-A foe so proud will first the weaker seek; \r
-So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse. \r
-Thus saying, from her husband's hand her hand \r
-Soft she withdrew; and, like a Wood-Nymph light, \r
-Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's train, \r
-Betook her to the groves; but Delia's self \r
-In gait surpassed, and Goddess-like deport, \r
-Though not as she with bow and quiver armed, \r
-But with such gardening tools as Art yet rude, \r
-Guiltless of fire, had formed, or Angels brought. \r
-To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorned, \r
-Likest she seemed, Pomona when she fled \r
-Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime, \r
-Yet virgin of Proserpina from Jove. \r
-Her long with ardent look his eye pursued \r
-Delighted, but desiring more her stay. \r
-Oft he to her his charge of quick return \r
-Repeated; she to him as oft engaged \r
-To be returned by noon amid the bower, \r
-And all things in best order to invite \r
-Noontide repast, or afternoon's repose. \r
-O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve, \r
-Of thy presumed return! event perverse! \r
-Thou never from that hour in Paradise \r
-Foundst either sweet repast, or sound repose; \r
-Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades, \r
-Waited with hellish rancour imminent \r
-To intercept thy way, or send thee back \r
-Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss! \r
-For now, and since first break of dawn, the Fiend, \r
-Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come; \r
-And on his quest, where likeliest he might find \r
-The only two of mankind, but in them \r
-The whole included race, his purposed prey. \r
-In bower and field he sought, where any tuft \r
-Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay, \r
-Their tendance, or plantation for delight; \r
-By fountain or by shady rivulet \r
-He sought them both, but wished his hap might find \r
-Eve separate; he wished, but not with hope \r
-Of what so seldom chanced; when to his wish, \r
-Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies, \r
-Veiled in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood, \r
-Half spied, so thick the roses blushing round \r
-About her glowed, oft stooping to support \r
-Each flower of slender stalk, whose head, though gay \r
-Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold, \r
-Hung drooping unsustained; them she upstays \r
-Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while \r
-Herself, though fairest unsupported flower, \r
-From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh. \r
-Nearer he drew, and many a walk traversed \r
-Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm; \r
-Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen, \r
-Among thick-woven arborets, and flowers \r
-Imbordered on each bank, the hand of Eve: \r
-Spot more delicious than those gardens feigned \r
-Or of revived Adonis, or renowned \r
-Alcinous, host of old Laertes' son; \r
-Or that, not mystick, where the sapient king \r
-Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse. \r
-Much he the place admired, the person more. \r
-As one who long in populous city pent, \r
-Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air, \r
-Forth issuing on a summer's morn, to breathe \r
-Among the pleasant villages and farms \r
-Adjoined, from each thing met conceives delight; \r
-The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine, \r
-Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound; \r
-If chance, with nymph-like step, fair virgin pass, \r
-What pleasing seemed, for her now pleases more; \r
-She most, and in her look sums all delight: \r
-Such pleasure took the Serpent to behold \r
-This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve \r
-Thus early, thus alone: Her heavenly form \r
-Angelick, but more soft, and feminine, \r
-Her graceful innocence, her every air \r
-Of gesture, or least action, overawed \r
-His malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved \r
-His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought: \r
-That space the Evil-one abstracted stood \r
-From his own evil, and for the time remained \r
-Stupidly good; of enmity disarmed, \r
-Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge: \r
-But the hot Hell that always in him burns, \r
-Though in mid Heaven, soon ended his delight, \r
-And tortures him now more, the more he sees \r
-Of pleasure, not for him ordained: then soon \r
-Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts \r
-Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites. \r
-Thoughts, whither have ye led me! with what sweet \r
-Compulsion thus transported, to forget \r
-What hither brought us! hate, not love;nor hope \r
-Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste \r
-Of pleasure; but all pleasure to destroy, \r
-Save what is in destroying; other joy \r
-To me is lost. Then, let me not let pass \r
-Occasion which now smiles; behold alone \r
-The woman, opportune to all attempts, \r
-Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh, \r
-Whose higher intellectual more I shun, \r
-And strength, of courage haughty, and of limb \r
-Heroick built, though of terrestrial mould; \r
-Foe not informidable! exempt from wound, \r
-I not; so much hath Hell debased, and pain \r
-Enfeebled me, to what I was in Heaven. \r
-She fair, divinely fair, fit love for Gods! \r
-Not terrible, though terrour be in love \r
-And beauty, not approached by stronger hate, \r
-Hate stronger, under show of love well feigned; \r
-The way which to her ruin now I tend. \r
-So spake the enemy of mankind, enclosed \r
-In serpent, inmate bad! and toward Eve \r
-Addressed his way: not with indented wave, \r
-Prone on the ground, as since; but on his rear, \r
-Circular base of rising folds, that towered \r
-Fold above fold, a surging maze! his head \r
-Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes; \r
-With burnished neck of verdant gold, erect \r
-Amidst his circling spires, that on the grass \r
-Floated redundant: pleasing was his shape \r
-And lovely; never since of serpent-kind \r
-Lovelier, not those that in Illyria changed, \r
-Hermione and Cadmus, or the god \r
-In Epidaurus; nor to which transformed \r
-Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline, was seen; \r
-He with Olympias; this with her who bore \r
-Scipio, the highth of Rome. With tract oblique \r
-At first, as one who sought access, but feared \r
-To interrupt, side-long he works his way. \r
-As when a ship, by skilful steersmen wrought \r
-Nigh river's mouth or foreland, where the wind \r
-Veers oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her sail: \r
-So varied he, and of his tortuous train \r
-Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve, \r
-To lure her eye; she, busied, heard the sound \r
-Of rusling leaves, but minded not, as used \r
-To such disport before her through the field, \r
-From every beast; more duteous at her call, \r
-Than at Circean call the herd disguised. \r
-He, bolder now, uncalled before her stood, \r
-But as in gaze admiring: oft he bowed \r
-His turret crest, and sleek enamelled neck, \r
-Fawning; and licked the ground whereon she trod. \r
-His gentle dumb expression turned at length \r
-The eye of Eve to mark his play; he, glad \r
-Of her attention gained, with serpent-tongue \r
-Organick, or impulse of vocal air, \r
-His fraudulent temptation thus began. \r
-Wonder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps \r
-Thou canst, who art sole wonder! much less arm \r
-Thy looks, the Heaven of mildness, with disdain, \r
-Displeased that I approach thee thus, and gaze \r
-Insatiate; I thus single;nor have feared \r
-Thy awful brow, more awful thus retired. \r
-Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair, \r
-Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine \r
-By gift, and thy celestial beauty adore \r
-With ravishment beheld! there best beheld, \r
-Where universally admired; but here \r
-In this enclosure wild, these beasts among, \r
-Beholders rude, and shallow to discern \r
-Half what in thee is fair, one man except, \r
-Who sees thee? and what is one? who should be seen \r
-A Goddess among Gods, adored and served \r
-By Angels numberless, thy daily train. \r
-So glozed the Tempter, and his proem tuned: \r
-Into the heart of Eve his words made way, \r
-Though at the voice much marvelling; at length, \r
-Not unamazed, she thus in answer spake. \r
-What may this mean? language of man pronounced \r
-By tongue of brute, and human sense expressed? \r
-The first, at least, of these I thought denied \r
-To beasts; whom God, on their creation-day, \r
-Created mute to all articulate sound: \r
-The latter I demur; for in their looks \r
-Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. \r
-Thee, Serpent, subtlest beast of all the field \r
-I knew, but not with human voice endued; \r
-Redouble then this miracle, and say, \r
-How camest thou speakable of mute, and how \r
-To me so friendly grown above the rest \r
-Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight? \r
-Say, for such wonder claims attention due. \r
-To whom the guileful Tempter thus replied. \r
-Empress of this fair world, resplendent Eve! \r
-Easy to me it is to tell thee all \r
-What thou commandest; and right thou shouldst be obeyed: \r
-I was at first as other beasts that graze \r
-The trodden herb, of abject thoughts and low, \r
-As was my food; nor aught but food discerned \r
-Or sex, and apprehended nothing high: \r
-Till, on a day roving the field, I chanced \r
-A goodly tree far distant to behold \r
-Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixed, \r
-Ruddy and gold: I nearer drew to gaze; \r
-When from the boughs a savoury odour blown, \r
-Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense \r
-Than smell of sweetest fennel, or the teats \r
-Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even, \r
-Unsucked of lamb or kid, that tend their play. \r
-To satisfy the sharp desire I had \r
-Of tasting those fair apples, I resolved \r
-Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once, \r
-Powerful persuaders, quickened at the scent \r
-Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen. \r
-About the mossy trunk I wound me soon; \r
-For, high from ground, the branches would require \r
-Thy utmost reach or Adam's: Round the tree \r
-All other beasts that saw, with like desire \r
-Longing and envying stood, but could not reach. \r
-Amid the tree now got, where plenty hung \r
-Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill \r
-I spared not; for, such pleasure till that hour, \r
-At feed or fountain, never had I found. \r
-Sated at length, ere long I might perceive \r
-Strange alteration in me, to degree \r
-Of reason in my inward powers; and speech \r
-Wanted not long; though to this shape retained. \r
-Thenceforth to speculations high or deep \r
-I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind \r
-Considered all things visible in Heaven, \r
-Or Earth, or Middle; all things fair and good: \r
-But all that fair and good in thy divine \r
-Semblance, and in thy beauty's heavenly ray, \r
-United I beheld; no fair to thine \r
-Equivalent or second! which compelled \r
-Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come \r
-And gaze, and worship thee of right declared \r
-Sovran of creatures, universal Dame! \r
-So talked the spirited sly Snake; and Eve, \r
-Yet more amazed, unwary thus replied. \r
-Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt \r
-The virtue of that fruit, in thee first proved: \r
-But say, where grows the tree? from hence how far? \r
-For many are the trees of God that grow \r
-In Paradise, and various, yet unknown \r
-To us; in such abundance lies our choice, \r
-As leaves a greater store of fruit untouched, \r
-Still hanging incorruptible, till men \r
-Grow up to their provision, and more hands \r
-Help to disburden Nature of her birth. \r
-To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad. \r
-Empress, the way is ready, and not long; \r
-Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat, \r
-Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past \r
-Of blowing myrrh and balm: if thou accept \r
-My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon \r
-Lead then, said Eve. He, leading, swiftly rolled \r
-In tangles, and made intricate seem straight, \r
-To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy \r
-Brightens his crest; as when a wandering fire, \r
-Compact of unctuous vapour, which the night \r
-Condenses, and the cold environs round, \r
-Kindled through agitation to a flame, \r
-Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends, \r
-Hovering and blazing with delusive light, \r
-Misleads the amazed night-wanderer from his way \r
-To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool; \r
-There swallowed up and lost, from succour far. \r
-So glistered the dire Snake, and into fraud \r
-Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the tree \r
-Of prohibition, root of all our woe; \r
-Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake. \r
-Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither, \r
-Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess, \r
-The credit of whose virtue rest with thee; \r
-Wonderous indeed, if cause of such effects. \r
-But of this tree we may not taste nor touch; \r
-God so commanded, and left that command \r
-Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live \r
-Law to ourselves; our reason is our law. \r
-To whom the Tempter guilefully replied. \r
-Indeed! hath God then said that of the fruit \r
-Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat, \r
-Yet Lords declared of all in earth or air$? \r
-To whom thus Eve, yet sinless. Of the fruit \r
-Of each tree in the garden we may eat; \r
-But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst \r
-The garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat \r
-Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die. \r
-She scarce had said, though brief, when now more bold \r
-The Tempter, but with show of zeal and love \r
-To Man, and indignation at his wrong, \r
-New part puts on; and, as to passion moved, \r
-Fluctuates disturbed, yet comely and in act \r
-Raised, as of some great matter to begin. \r
-As when of old some orator renowned, \r
-In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence \r
-Flourished, since mute! to some great cause addressed, \r
-Stood in himself collected; while each part, \r
-Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue; \r
-Sometimes in highth began, as no delay \r
-Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right: \r
-So standing, moving, or to highth up grown, \r
-The Tempter, all impassioned, thus began. \r
-O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving Plant, \r
-Mother of science! now I feel thy power \r
-Within me clear; not only to discern \r
-Things in their causes, but to trace the ways \r
-Of highest agents, deemed however wise. \r
-Queen of this universe! do not believe \r
-Those rigid threats of death: ye shall not die: \r
-How should you? by the fruit? it gives you life \r
-To knowledge; by the threatener? look on me, \r
-Me, who have touched and tasted; yet both live, \r
-And life more perfect have attained than Fate \r
-Meant me, by venturing higher than my lot. \r
-Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast \r
-Is open? or will God incense his ire \r
-For such a petty trespass? and not praise \r
-Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain \r
-Of death denounced, whatever thing death be, \r
-Deterred not from achieving what might lead \r
-To happier life, knowledge of good and evil; \r
-Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil \r
-Be real, why not known, since easier shunned? \r
-God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just; \r
-Not just, not God; not feared then, nor obeyed: \r
-Your fear itself of death removes the fear. \r
-Why then was this forbid? Why, but to awe; \r
-Why, but to keep ye low and ignorant, \r
-His worshippers? He knows that in the day \r
-Ye eat thereof, your eyes that seem so clear, \r
-Yet are but dim, shall perfectly be then \r
-Opened and cleared, and ye shall be as Gods, \r
-Knowing both good and evil, as they know. \r
-That ye shall be as Gods, since I as Man, \r
-Internal Man, is but proportion meet; \r
-I, of brute, human; ye, of human, Gods. \r
-So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off \r
-Human, to put on Gods; death to be wished, \r
-Though threatened, which no worse than this can bring. \r
-And what are Gods, that Man may not become \r
-As they, participating God-like food? \r
-The Gods are first, and that advantage use \r
-On our belief, that all from them proceeds: \r
-I question it; for this fair earth I see, \r
-Warmed by the sun, producing every kind; \r
-Them, nothing: if they all things, who enclosed \r
-Knowledge of good and evil in this tree, \r
-That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains \r
-Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies \r
-The offence, that Man should thus attain to know? \r
-What can your knowledge hurt him, or this tree \r
-Impart against his will, if all be his? \r
-Or is it envy? and can envy dwell \r
-In heavenly breasts? These, these, and many more \r
-Causes import your need of this fair fruit. \r
-Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste! \r
-He ended; and his words, replete with guile, \r
-Into her heart too easy entrance won: \r
-Fixed on the fruit she gazed, which to behold \r
-Might tempt alone; and in her ears the sound \r
-Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregned \r
-With reason, to her seeming, and with truth: \r
-Mean while the hour of noon drew on, and waked \r
-An eager appetite, raised by the smell \r
-So savoury of that fruit, which with desire, \r
-Inclinable now grown to touch or taste, \r
-Solicited her longing eye; yet first \r
-Pausing a while, thus to herself she mused. \r
-Great are thy virtues, doubtless, best of fruits, \r
-Though kept from man, and worthy to be admired; \r
-Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay \r
-Gave elocution to the mute, and taught \r
-The tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise: \r
-Thy praise he also, who forbids thy use, \r
-Conceals not from us, naming thee the tree \r
-Of knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil; \r
-Forbids us then to taste! but his forbidding \r
-Commends thee more, while it infers the good \r
-By thee communicated, and our want: \r
-For good unknown sure is not had; or, had \r
-And yet unknown, is as not had at all. \r
-In plain then, what forbids he but to know, \r
-Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise? \r
-Such prohibitions bind not. But, if death \r
-Bind us with after-bands, what profits then \r
-Our inward freedom? In the day we eat \r
-Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we shall die! \r
-How dies the Serpent? he hath eaten and lives, \r
-And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns, \r
-Irrational till then. For us alone \r
-Was death invented? or to us denied \r
-This intellectual food, for beasts reserved? \r
-For beasts it seems: yet that one beast which first \r
-Hath tasted envies not, but brings with joy \r
-The good befallen him, author unsuspect, \r
-Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile. \r
-What fear I then? rather, what know to fear \r
-Under this ignorance of good and evil, \r
-Of God or death, of law or penalty? \r
-Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine, \r
-Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste, \r
-Of virtue to make wise: What hinders then \r
-To reach, and feed at once both body and mind? \r
-So saying, her rash hand in evil hour \r
-Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat! \r
-Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, \r
-Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe, \r
-That all was lost. Back to the thicket slunk \r
-The guilty Serpent; and well might;for Eve, \r
-Intent now wholly on her taste, nought else \r
-Regarded; such delight till then, as seemed, \r
-In fruit she never tasted, whether true \r
-Or fancied so, through expectation high \r
-Of knowledge; not was Godhead from her thought. \r
-Greedily she ingorged without restraint, \r
-And knew not eating death: Satiate at length, \r
-And hightened as with wine, jocund and boon, \r
-Thus to herself she pleasingly began. \r
-O sovran, virtuous, precious of all trees \r
-In Paradise! of operation blest \r
-To sapience, hitherto obscured, infamed. \r
-And thy fair fruit let hang, as to no end \r
-Created; but henceforth my early care, \r
-Not without song, each morning, and due praise, \r
-Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease \r
-Of thy full branches offered free to all; \r
-Till, dieted by thee, I grow mature \r
-In knowledge, as the Gods, who all things know; \r
-Though others envy what they cannot give: \r
-For, had the gift been theirs, it had not here \r
-Thus grown. Experience, next, to thee I owe, \r
-Best guide; not following thee, I had remained \r
-In ignorance; thou openest wisdom's way, \r
-And givest access, though secret she retire. \r
-And I perhaps am secret: Heaven is high, \r
-High, and remote to see from thence distinct \r
-Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps \r
-May have diverted from continual watch \r
-Our great Forbidder, safe with all his spies \r
-About him. But to Adam in what sort \r
-Shall I appear? shall I to him make known \r
-As yet my change, and give him to partake \r
-Full happiness with me, or rather not, \r
-But keeps the odds of knowledge in my power \r
-Without copartner? so to add what wants \r
-In female sex, the more to draw his love, \r
-And render me more equal; and perhaps, \r
-A thing not undesirable, sometime \r
-Superiour; for, inferiour, who is free \r
-This may be well: But what if God have seen, \r
-And death ensue? then I shall be no more! \r
-And Adam, wedded to another Eve, \r
-Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct; \r
-A death to think! Confirmed then I resolve, \r
-Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe: \r
-So dear I love him, that with him all deaths \r
-I could endure, without him live no life. \r
-So saying, from the tree her step she turned; \r
-But first low reverence done, as to the Power \r
-That dwelt within, whose presence had infused \r
-Into the plant sciential sap, derived \r
-From nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while, \r
-Waiting desirous her return, had wove \r
-Of choicest flowers a garland, to adorn \r
-Her tresses, and her rural labours crown; \r
-As reapers oft are wont their harvest-queen. \r
-Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new \r
-Solace in her return, so long delayed: \r
-Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill, \r
-Misgave him; he the faltering measure felt; \r
-And forth to meet her went, the way she took \r
-That morn when first they parted: by the tree \r
-Of knowledge he must pass; there he her met, \r
-Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand \r
-A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled, \r
-New gathered, and ambrosial smell diffused. \r
-To him she hasted; in her face excuse \r
-Came prologue, and apology too prompt; \r
-Which, with bland words at will, she thus addressed. \r
-Hast thou not wondered, Adam, at my stay? \r
-Thee I have missed, and thought it long, deprived \r
-Thy presence; agony of love till now \r
-Not felt, nor shall be twice; for never more \r
-Mean I to try, what rash untried I sought, \r
-The pain of absence from thy sight. But strange \r
-Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear: \r
-This tree is not, as we are told, a tree \r
-Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown \r
-Opening the way, but of divine effect \r
-To open eyes, and make them Gods who taste; \r
-And hath been tasted such: The serpent wise, \r
-Or not restrained as we, or not obeying, \r
-Hath eaten of the fruit; and is become, \r
-Not dead, as we are threatened, but thenceforth \r
-Endued with human voice and human sense, \r
-Reasoning to admiration; and with me \r
-Persuasively hath so prevailed, that I \r
-Have also tasted, and have also found \r
-The effects to correspond; opener mine eyes, \r
-Dim erst, dilated spirits, ampler heart, \r
-And growing up to Godhead; which for thee \r
-Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise. \r
-For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss; \r
-Tedious, unshared with thee, and odious soon. \r
-Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot \r
-May join us, equal joy, as equal love; \r
-Lest, thou not tasting, different degree \r
-Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce \r
-Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit. \r
-Thus Eve with countenance blithe her story told; \r
-But in her cheek distemper flushing glowed. \r
-On the other side Adam, soon as he heard \r
-The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed, \r
-Astonied stood and blank, while horrour chill \r
-Ran through his veins, and all his joints relaxed; \r
-From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve \r
-Down dropt, and all the faded roses shed: \r
-Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length \r
-First to himself he inward silence broke. \r
-O fairest of Creation, last and best \r
-Of all God's works, Creature in whom excelled \r
-Whatever can to sight or thought be formed, \r
-Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet! \r
-How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost, \r
-Defaced, deflowered, and now to death devote! \r
-Rather, how hast thou yielded to transgress \r
-The strict forbiddance, how to violate \r
-The sacred fruit forbidden! Some cursed fraud \r
-Of enemy hath beguiled thee, yet unknown, \r
-And me with thee hath ruined; for with thee \r
-Certain my resolution is to die: \r
-How can I live without thee! how forego \r
-Thy sweet converse, and love so dearly joined, \r
-To live again in these wild woods forlorn! \r
-Should God create another Eve, and I \r
-Another rib afford, yet loss of thee \r
-Would never from my heart: no, no!I feel \r
-The link of Nature draw me: flesh of flesh, \r
-Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy state \r
-Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe. \r
-So having said, as one from sad dismay \r
-Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbed \r
-Submitting to what seemed remediless, \r
-Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turned. \r
-Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve, \r
-And peril great provoked, who thus hast dared, \r
-Had it been only coveting to eye \r
-That sacred fruit, sacred to abstinence, \r
-Much more to taste it under ban to touch. \r
-But past who can recall, or done undo? \r
-Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate; yet so \r
-Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact \r
-Is not so heinous now, foretasted fruit, \r
-Profaned first by the serpent, by him first \r
-Made common, and unhallowed, ere our taste; \r
-Nor yet on him found deadly; yet he lives; \r
-Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live, as Man, \r
-Higher degree of life; inducement strong \r
-To us, as likely tasting to attain \r
-Proportional ascent; which cannot be \r
-But to be Gods, or Angels, demi-Gods. \r
-Nor can I think that God, Creator wise, \r
-Though threatening, will in earnest so destroy \r
-Us his prime creatures, dignified so high, \r
-Set over all his works; which in our fall, \r
-For us created, needs with us must fail, \r
-Dependant made; so God shall uncreate, \r
-Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour lose; \r
-Not well conceived of God, who, though his power \r
-Creation could repeat, yet would be loth \r
-Us to abolish, lest the Adversary \r
-Triumph, and say; "Fickle their state whom God \r
-"Most favours; who can please him long? Me first \r
-"He ruined, now Mankind; whom will he next?" \r
-Matter of scorn, not to be given the Foe. \r
-However I with thee have fixed my lot, \r
-Certain to undergo like doom: If death \r
-Consort with thee, death is to me as life; \r
-So forcible within my heart I feel \r
-The bond of Nature draw me to my own; \r
-My own in thee, for what thou art is mine; \r
-Our state cannot be severed; we are one, \r
-One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself. \r
-So Adam; and thus Eve to him replied. \r
-O glorious trial of exceeding love, \r
-Illustrious evidence, example high! \r
-Engaging me to emulate; but, short \r
-Of thy perfection, how shall I attain, \r
-Adam, from whose dear side I boast me sprung, \r
-And gladly of our union hear thee speak, \r
-One heart, one soul in both; whereof good proof \r
-This day affords, declaring thee resolved, \r
-Rather than death, or aught than death more dread, \r
-Shall separate us, linked in love so dear, \r
-To undergo with me one guilt, one crime, \r
-If any be, of tasting this fair fruit; \r
-Whose virtue for of good still good proceeds, \r
-Direct, or by occasion, hath presented \r
-This happy trial of thy love, which else \r
-So eminently never had been known? \r
-Were it I thought death menaced would ensue \r
-This my attempt, I would sustain alone \r
-The worst, and not persuade thee, rather die \r
-Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact \r
-Pernicious to thy peace; chiefly assured \r
-Remarkably so late of thy so true, \r
-So faithful, love unequalled: but I feel \r
-Far otherwise the event; not death, but life \r
-Augmented, opened eyes, new hopes, new joys, \r
-Taste so divine, that what of sweet before \r
-Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh. \r
-On my experience, Adam, freely taste, \r
-And fear of death deliver to the winds. \r
-So saying, she embraced him, and for joy \r
-Tenderly wept; much won, that he his love \r
-Had so ennobled, as of choice to incur \r
-Divine displeasure for her sake, or death. \r
-In recompence for such compliance bad \r
-Such recompence best merits from the bough \r
-She gave him of that fair enticing fruit \r
-With liberal hand: he scrupled not to eat, \r
-Against his better knowledge; not deceived, \r
-But fondly overcome with female charm. \r
-Earth trembled from her entrails, as again \r
-In pangs; and Nature gave a second groan; \r
-Sky loured; and, muttering thunder, some sad drops \r
-Wept at completing of the mortal sin \r
-Original: while Adam took no thought, \r
-Eating his fill; nor Eve to iterate \r
-Her former trespass feared, the more to sooth \r
-Him with her loved society; that now, \r
-As with new wine intoxicated both, \r
-They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel \r
-Divinity within them breeding wings, \r
-Wherewith to scorn the earth: But that false fruit \r
-Far other operation first displayed, \r
-Carnal desire inflaming; he on Eve \r
-Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him \r
-As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn: \r
-Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move. \r
-Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste, \r
-And elegant, of sapience no small part; \r
-Since to each meaning savour we apply, \r
-And palate call judicious; I the praise \r
-Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purveyed. \r
-Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstained \r
-From this delightful fruit, nor known till now \r
-True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be \r
-In things to us forbidden, it might be wished, \r
-For this one tree had been forbidden ten. \r
-But come, so well refreshed, now let us play, \r
-As meet is, after such delicious fare; \r
-For never did thy beauty, since the day \r
-I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorned \r
-With all perfections, so inflame my sense \r
-With ardour to enjoy thee, fairer now \r
-Than ever; bounty of this virtuous tree! \r
-So said he, and forbore not glance or toy \r
-Of amorous intent; well understood \r
-Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious fire. \r
-Her hand he seised; and to a shady bank, \r
-Thick over-head with verdant roof imbowered, \r
-He led her nothing loth; flowers were the couch, \r
-Pansies, and violets, and asphodel, \r
-And hyacinth; Earth's freshest softest lap. \r
-There they their fill of love and love's disport \r
-Took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal, \r
-The solace of their sin; till dewy sleep \r
-Oppressed them, wearied with their amorous play, \r
-Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit, \r
-That with exhilarating vapour bland \r
-About their spirits had played, and inmost powers \r
-Made err, was now exhaled; and grosser sleep, \r
-Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams \r
-Incumbered, now had left them; up they rose \r
-As from unrest; and, each the other viewing, \r
-Soon found their eyes how opened, and their minds \r
-How darkened; innocence, that as a veil \r
-Had shadowed them from knowing ill, was gone; \r
-Just confidence, and native righteousness, \r
-And honour, from about them, naked left \r
-To guilty Shame; he covered, but his robe \r
-Uncovered more. So rose the Danite strong, \r
-Herculean Samson, from the harlot-lap \r
-Of Philistean Dalilah, and waked \r
-Shorn of his strength. They destitute and bare \r
-Of all their virtue: Silent, and in face \r
-Confounded, long they sat, as strucken mute: \r
-Till Adam, though not less than Eve abashed, \r
-At length gave utterance to these words constrained. \r
-O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear \r
-To that false worm, of whomsoever taught \r
-To counterfeit Man's voice; true in our fall, \r
-False in our promised rising; since our eyes \r
-Opened we find indeed, and find we know \r
-Both good and evil; good lost, and evil got; \r
-Bad fruit of knowledge, if this be to know; \r
-Which leaves us naked thus, of honour void, \r
-Of innocence, of faith, of purity, \r
-Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained, \r
-And in our faces evident the signs \r
-Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store; \r
-Even shame, the last of evils; of the first \r
-Be sure then.--How shall I behold the face \r
-Henceforth of God or Angel, erst with joy \r
-And rapture so oft beheld? Those heavenly shapes \r
-Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze \r
-Insufferably bright. O! might I here \r
-In solitude live savage; in some glade \r
-Obscured, where highest woods, impenetrable \r
-To star or sun-light, spread their umbrage broad \r
-And brown as evening: Cover me, ye Pines! \r
-Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs \r
-Hide me, where I may never see them more!-- \r
-But let us now, as in bad plight, devise \r
-What best may for the present serve to hide \r
-The parts of each from other, that seem most \r
-To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen; \r
-Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together sewed, \r
-And girded on our loins, may cover round \r
-Those middle parts; that this new comer, Shame, \r
-There sit not, and reproach us as unclean. \r
-So counselled he, and both together went \r
-Into the thickest wood; there soon they chose \r
-The fig-tree; not that kind for fruit renowned, \r
-But such as at this day, to Indians known, \r
-In Malabar or Decan spreads her arms \r
-Branching so broad and long, that in the ground \r
-The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow \r
-About the mother tree, a pillared shade \r
-High over-arched, and echoing walks between: \r
-There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat, \r
-Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds \r
-At loop-holes cut through thickest shade: Those leaves \r
-They gathered, broad as Amazonian targe; \r
-And, with what skill they had, together sewed, \r
-To gird their waist; vain covering, if to hide \r
-Their guilt and dreaded shame! O, how unlike \r
-To that first naked glory! Such of late \r
-Columbus found the American, so girt \r
-With feathered cincture; naked else, and wild \r
-Among the trees on isles and woody shores. \r
-Thus fenced, and, as they thought, their shame in part \r
-Covered, but not at rest or ease of mind, \r
-They sat them down to weep; nor only tears \r
-Rained at their eyes, but high winds worse within \r
-Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate, \r
-Mistrust, suspicion, discord; and shook sore \r
-Their inward state of mind, calm region once \r
-And full of peace, now tost and turbulent: \r
-For Understanding ruled not, and the Will \r
-Heard not her lore; both in subjection now \r
-To sensual Appetite, who from beneath \r
-Usurping over sovran Reason claimed \r
-Superiour sway: From thus distempered breast, \r
-Adam, estranged in look and altered style, \r
-Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewed. \r
-Would thou hadst hearkened to my words, and staid \r
-With me, as I besought thee, when that strange \r
-Desire of wandering, this unhappy morn, \r
-I know not whence possessed thee; we had then \r
-Remained still happy; not, as now, despoiled \r
-Of all our good; shamed, naked, miserable! \r
-Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve \r
-The faith they owe; when earnestly they seek \r
-Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail. \r
-To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve. \r
-What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe! \r
-Imputest thou that to my default, or will \r
-Of wandering, as thou callest it, which who knows \r
-But might as ill have happened thou being by, \r
-Or to thyself perhaps? Hadst thou been there, \r
-Or here the attempt, thou couldst not have discerned \r
-Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake; \r
-No ground of enmity between us known, \r
-Why he should mean me ill, or seek to harm. \r
-Was I to have never parted from thy side? \r
-As good have grown there still a lifeless rib. \r
-Being as I am, why didst not thou, the head, \r
-Command me absolutely not to go, \r
-Going into such danger, as thou saidst? \r
-Too facile then, thou didst not much gainsay; \r
-Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. \r
-Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent, \r
-Neither had I transgressed, nor thou with me. \r
-To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied. \r
-Is this the love, is this the recompence \r
-Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve! expressed \r
-Immutable, when thou wert lost, not I; \r
-Who might have lived, and joyed immortal bliss, \r
-Yet willingly chose rather death with thee? \r
-And am I now upbraided as the cause \r
-Of thy transgressing? Not enough severe, \r
-It seems, in thy restraint: What could I more \r
-I warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold \r
-The danger, and the lurking enemy \r
-That lay in wait; beyond this, had been force; \r
-And force upon free will hath here no place. \r
-But confidence then bore thee on; secure \r
-Either to meet no danger, or to find \r
-Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps \r
-I also erred, in overmuch admiring \r
-What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thought \r
-No evil durst attempt thee; but I rue \r
-The errour now, which is become my crime, \r
-And thou the accuser. Thus it shall befall \r
-Him, who, to worth in women overtrusting, \r
-Lets her will rule: restraint she will not brook; \r
-And, left to herself, if evil thence ensue, \r
-She first his weak indulgence will accuse. \r
-Thus they in mutual accusation spent \r
-The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning; \r
-And of their vain contest appeared no end. \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
-Book X \r
- \r
- \r
-Mean while the heinous and despiteful act \r
-Of Satan, done in Paradise; and how \r
-He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve, \r
-Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, \r
-Was known in Heaven; for what can 'scape the eye \r
-Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart \r
-Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, \r
-Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind \r
-Of Man, with strength entire and free will armed, \r
-Complete to have discovered and repulsed \r
-Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. \r
-For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered, \r
-The high injunction, not to taste that fruit, \r
-Whoever tempted; which they not obeying, \r
-(Incurred what could they less?) the penalty; \r
-And, manifold in sin, deserved to fall. \r
-Up into Heaven from Paradise in haste \r
-The angelick guards ascended, mute, and sad, \r
-For Man; for of his state by this they knew, \r
-Much wondering how the subtle Fiend had stolen \r
-Entrance unseen. Soon as the unwelcome news \r
-From Earth arrived at Heaven-gate, displeased \r
-All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare \r
-That time celestial visages, yet, mixed \r
-With pity, violated not their bliss. \r
-About the new-arrived, in multitudes \r
-The ethereal people ran, to hear and know \r
-How all befel: They towards the throne supreme, \r
-Accountable, made haste, to make appear, \r
-With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance \r
-And easily approved; when the Most High \r
-Eternal Father, from his secret cloud, \r
-Amidst in thunder uttered thus his voice. \r
-Assembled Angels, and ye Powers returned \r
-From unsuccessful charge; be not dismayed, \r
-Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth, \r
-Which your sincerest care could not prevent; \r
-Foretold so lately what would come to pass, \r
-When first this tempter crossed the gulf from Hell. \r
-I told ye then he should prevail, and speed \r
-On his bad errand; Man should be seduced, \r
-And flattered out of all, believing lies \r
-Against his Maker; no decree of mine \r
-Concurring to necessitate his fall, \r
-Or touch with lightest moment of impulse \r
-His free will, to her own inclining left \r
-In even scale. But fallen he is; and now \r
-What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass \r
-On his transgression,--death denounced that day? \r
-Which he presumes already vain and void, \r
-Because not yet inflicted, as he feared, \r
-By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find \r
-Forbearance no acquittance, ere day end. \r
-Justice shall not return as bounty scorned. \r
-But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee, \r
-Vicegerent Son? To thee I have transferred \r
-All judgement, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. \r
-Easy it may be seen that I intend \r
-Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee \r
-Man's friend, his Mediator, his designed \r
-Both ransom and Redeemer voluntary, \r
-And destined Man himself to judge Man fallen. \r
-So spake the Father; and, unfolding bright \r
-Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son \r
-Blazed forth unclouded Deity: He full \r
-Resplendent all his Father manifest \r
-Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild. \r
-Father Eternal, thine is to decree; \r
-Mine, both in Heaven and Earth, to do thy will \r
-Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son beloved, \r
-Mayest ever rest well pleased. I go to judge \r
-On earth these thy transgressours; but thou knowest, \r
-Whoever judged, the worst on me must light, \r
-When time shall be; for so I undertook \r
-Before thee; and, not repenting, this obtain \r
-Of right, that I may mitigate their doom \r
-On me derived; yet I shall temper so \r
-Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most \r
-Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. \r
-Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none \r
-Are to behold the judgement, but the judged, \r
-Those two; the third best absent is condemned, \r
-Convict by flight, and rebel to all law: \r
-Conviction to the serpent none belongs. \r
-Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose \r
-Of high collateral glory: Him Thrones, and Powers, \r
-Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant, \r
-Accompanied to Heaven-gate; from whence \r
-Eden, and all the coast, in prospect lay. \r
-Down he descended straight; the speed of Gods \r
-Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes winged. \r
-Now was the sun in western cadence low \r
-From noon, and gentle airs, due at their hour, \r
-To fan the earth now waked, and usher in \r
-The evening cool; when he, from wrath more cool, \r
-Came the mild Judge, and Intercessour both, \r
-To sentence Man: The voice of God they heard \r
-Now walking in the garden, by soft winds \r
-Brought to their ears, while day declined; they heard, \r
-And from his presence hid themselves among \r
-The thickest trees, both man and wife; till God, \r
-Approaching, thus to Adam called aloud. \r
-Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet \r
-My coming seen far off? I miss thee here, \r
-Not pleased, thus entertained with solitude, \r
-Where obvious duty ere while appeared unsought: \r
-Or come I less conspicuous, or what change \r
-Absents thee, or what chance detains?--Come forth! \r
-He came; and with him Eve, more loth, though first \r
-To offend; discountenanced both, and discomposed; \r
-Love was not in their looks, either to God, \r
-Or to each other; but apparent guilt, \r
-And shame, and perturbation, and despair, \r
-Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile. \r
-Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief. \r
-I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice \r
-Afraid, being naked, hid myself. To whom \r
-The gracious Judge without revile replied. \r
-My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared, \r
-But still rejoiced; how is it now become \r
-So dreadful to thee? That thou art naked, who \r
-Hath told thee? Hast thou eaten of the tree, \r
-Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat? \r
-To whom thus Adam sore beset replied. \r
-O Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand \r
-Before my Judge; either to undergo \r
-Myself the total crime, or to accuse \r
-My other self, the partner of my life; \r
-Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, \r
-I should conceal, and not expose to blame \r
-By my complaint: but strict necessity \r
-Subdues me, and calamitous constraint; \r
-Lest on my head both sin and punishment, \r
-However insupportable, be all \r
-Devolved; though should I hold my peace, yet thou \r
-Wouldst easily detect what I conceal.-- \r
-This Woman, whom thou madest to be my help, \r
-And gavest me as thy perfect gift, so good, \r
-So fit, so acceptable, so divine, \r
-That from her hand I could suspect no ill, \r
-And what she did, whatever in itself, \r
-Her doing seemed to justify the deed; \r
-She gave me of the tree, and I did eat. \r
-To whom the Sovran Presence thus replied. \r
-Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey \r
-Before his voice? or was she made thy guide, \r
-Superiour, or but equal, that to her \r
-Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place \r
-Wherein God set thee above her made of thee, \r
-And for thee, whose perfection far excelled \r
-Hers in all real dignity? Adorned \r
-She was indeed, and lovely, to attract \r
-Thy love, not thy subjection; and her gifts \r
-Were such, as under government well seemed; \r
-Unseemly to bear rule; which was thy part \r
-And person, hadst thou known thyself aright. \r
-So having said, he thus to Eve in few. \r
-Say, Woman, what is this which thou hast done? \r
-To whom sad Eve, with shame nigh overwhelmed, \r
-Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge \r
-Bold or loquacious, thus abashed replied. \r
-The Serpent me beguiled, and I did eat. \r
-Which when the Lord God heard, without delay \r
-To judgement he proceeded on the accused \r
-Serpent, though brute; unable to transfer \r
-The guilt on him, who made him instrument \r
-Of mischief, and polluted from the end \r
-Of his creation; justly then accursed, \r
-As vitiated in nature: More to know \r
-Concerned not Man, (since he no further knew) \r
-Nor altered his offence; yet God at last \r
-To Satan first in sin his doom applied, \r
-Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best: \r
-And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall. \r
-Because thou hast done this, thou art accursed \r
-Above all cattle, each beast of the field; \r
-Upon thy belly groveling thou shalt go, \r
-And dust shalt eat all the days of thy life. \r
-Between thee and the woman I will put \r
-Enmity, and between thine and her seed; \r
-Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel. \r
-So spake this oracle, then verified \r
-When Jesus, Son of Mary, second Eve, \r
-Saw Satan fall, like lightning, down from Heaven, \r
-Prince of the air; then, rising from his grave \r
-Spoiled Principalities and Powers, triumphed \r
-In open show; and, with ascension bright, \r
-Captivity led captive through the air, \r
-The realm itself of Satan, long usurped; \r
-Whom he shall tread at last under our feet; \r
-Even he, who now foretold his fatal bruise; \r
-And to the Woman thus his sentence turned. \r
-Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply \r
-By thy conception; children thou shalt bring \r
-In sorrow forth; and to thy husband's will \r
-Thine shall submit; he over thee shall rule. \r
-On Adam last thus judgement he pronounced. \r
-Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, \r
-And eaten of the tree, concerning which \r
-I charged thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat thereof: \r
-Cursed is the ground for thy sake; thou in sorrow \r
-Shalt eat thereof, all the days of thy life; \r
-Thorns also and thistles it shall bring thee forth \r
-Unbid; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; \r
-In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, \r
-Till thou return unto the ground; for thou \r
-Out of the ground wast taken, know thy birth, \r
-For dust thou art, and shalt to dust return. \r
-So judged he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent; \r
-And the instant stroke of death, denounced that day, \r
-Removed far off; then, pitying how they stood \r
-Before him naked to the air, that now \r
-Must suffer change, disdained not to begin \r
-Thenceforth the form of servant to assume; \r
-As when he washed his servants feet; so now, \r
-As father of his family, he clad \r
-Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain, \r
-Or as the snake with youthful coat repaid; \r
-And thought not much to clothe his enemies; \r
-Nor he their outward only with the skins \r
-Of beasts, but inward nakedness, much more. \r
-Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness, \r
-Arraying, covered from his Father's sight. \r
-To him with swift ascent he up returned, \r
-Into his blissful bosom reassumed \r
-In glory, as of old; to him appeased \r
-All, though all-knowing, what had passed with Man \r
-Recounted, mixing intercession sweet. \r
-Mean while, ere thus was sinned and judged on Earth, \r
-Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death, \r
-In counterview within the gates, that now \r
-Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame \r
-Far into Chaos, since the Fiend passed through, \r
-Sin opening; who thus now to Death began. \r
-O Son, why sit we here each other viewing \r
-Idly, while Satan, our great author, thrives \r
-In other worlds, and happier seat provides \r
-For us, his offspring dear? It cannot be \r
-But that success attends him; if mishap, \r
-Ere this he had returned, with fury driven \r
-By his avengers; since no place like this \r
-Can fit his punishment, or their revenge. \r
-Methinks I feel new strength within me rise, \r
-Wings growing, and dominion given me large \r
-Beyond this deep; whatever draws me on, \r
-Or sympathy, or some connatural force, \r
-Powerful at greatest distance to unite, \r
-With secret amity, things of like kind, \r
-By secretest conveyance. Thou, my shade \r
-Inseparable, must with me along; \r
-For Death from Sin no power can separate. \r
-But, lest the difficulty of passing back \r
-Stay his return perhaps over this gulf \r
-Impassable, impervious; let us try \r
-Adventurous work, yet to thy power and mine \r
-Not unagreeable, to found a path \r
-Over this main from Hell to that new world, \r
-Where Satan now prevails; a monument \r
-Of merit high to all the infernal host, \r
-Easing their passage hence, for intercourse, \r
-Or transmigration, as their lot shall lead. \r
-Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn \r
-By this new-felt attraction and instinct. \r
-Whom thus the meager Shadow answered soon. \r
-Go, whither Fate, and inclination strong, \r
-Leads thee; I shall not lag behind, nor err \r
-The way, thou leading; such a scent I draw \r
-Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste \r
-The savour of death from all things there that live: \r
-Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest \r
-Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid. \r
-So saying, with delight he snuffed the smell \r
-Of mortal change on earth. As when a flock \r
-Of ravenous fowl, though many a league remote, \r
-Against the day of battle, to a field, \r
-Where armies lie encamped, come flying, lured \r
-With scent of living carcasses designed \r
-For death, the following day, in bloody fight: \r
-So scented the grim Feature, and upturned \r
-His nostril wide into the murky air; \r
-Sagacious of his quarry from so far. \r
-Then both from out Hell-gates, into the waste \r
-Wide anarchy of Chaos, damp and dark, \r
-Flew diverse; and with power (their power was great) \r
-Hovering upon the waters, what they met \r
-Solid or slimy, as in raging sea \r
-Tost up and down, together crouded drove, \r
-From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell; \r
-As when two polar winds, blowing adverse \r
-Upon the Cronian sea, together drive \r
-Mountains of ice, that stop the imagined way \r
-Beyond Petsora eastward, to the rich \r
-Cathaian coast. The aggregated soil \r
-Death with his mace petrifick, cold and dry, \r
-As with a trident, smote; and fixed as firm \r
-As Delos, floating once; the rest his look \r
-Bound with Gorgonian rigour not to move; \r
-And with Asphaltick slime, broad as the gate, \r
-Deep to the roots of Hell the gathered beach \r
-They fastened, and the mole immense wrought on \r
-Over the foaming deep high-arched, a bridge \r
-Of length prodigious, joining to the wall \r
-Immoveable of this now fenceless world, \r
-Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad, \r
-Smooth, easy, inoffensive, down to Hell. \r
-So, if great things to small may be compared, \r
-Xerxes, the liberty of Greece to yoke, \r
-From Susa, his Memnonian palace high, \r
-Came to the sea: and, over Hellespont \r
-Bridging his way, Europe with Asia joined, \r
-And scourged with many a stroke the indignant waves. \r
-Now had they brought the work by wonderous art \r
-Pontifical, a ridge of pendant rock, \r
-Over the vexed abyss, following the track \r
-Of Satan to the self-same place where he \r
-First lighted from his wing, and landed safe \r
-From out of Chaos, to the outside bare \r
-Of this round world: With pins of adamant \r
-And chains they made all fast, too fast they made \r
-And durable! And now in little space \r
-The confines met of empyrean Heaven, \r
-And of this World; and, on the left hand, Hell \r
-With long reach interposed; three several ways \r
-In sight, to each of these three places led. \r
-And now their way to Earth they had descried, \r
-To Paradise first tending; when, behold! \r
-Satan, in likeness of an Angel bright, \r
-Betwixt the Centaur and the Scorpion steering \r
-His zenith, while the sun in Aries rose: \r
-Disguised he came; but those his children dear \r
-Their parent soon discerned, though in disguise. \r
-He, after Eve seduced, unminded slunk \r
-Into the wood fast by; and, changing shape, \r
-To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act \r
-By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded \r
-Upon her husband; saw their shame that sought \r
-Vain covertures; but when he saw descend \r
-The Son of God to judge them, terrified \r
-He fled; not hoping to escape, but shun \r
-The present; fearing, guilty, what his wrath \r
-Might suddenly inflict; that past, returned \r
-By night, and listening where the hapless pair \r
-Sat in their sad discourse, and various plaint, \r
-Thence gathered his own doom; which understood \r
-Not instant, but of future time, with joy \r
-And tidings fraught, to Hell he now returned; \r
-And at the brink of Chaos, near the foot \r
-Of this new wonderous pontifice, unhoped \r
-Met, who to meet him came, his offspring dear. \r
-Great joy was at their meeting, and at sight \r
-Of that stupendious bridge his joy encreased. \r
-Long he admiring stood, till Sin, his fair \r
-Enchanting daughter, thus the silence broke. \r
-O Parent, these are thy magnifick deeds, \r
-Thy trophies! which thou viewest as not thine own; \r
-Thou art their author, and prime architect: \r
-For I no sooner in my heart divined, \r
-My heart, which by a secret harmony \r
-Still moves with thine, joined in connexion sweet, \r
-That thou on earth hadst prospered, which thy looks \r
-Now also evidence, but straight I felt, \r
-Though distant from thee worlds between, yet felt, \r
-That I must after thee, with this thy son; \r
-Such fatal consequence unites us three! \r
-Hell could no longer hold us in our bounds, \r
-Nor this unvoyageable gulf obscure \r
-Detain from following thy illustrious track. \r
-Thou hast achieved our liberty, confined \r
-Within Hell-gates till now; thou us impowered \r
-To fortify thus far, and overlay, \r
-With this portentous bridge, the dark abyss. \r
-Thine now is all this world; thy virtue hath won \r
-What thy hands builded not; thy wisdom gained \r
-With odds what war hath lost, and fully avenged \r
-Our foil in Heaven; here thou shalt monarch reign, \r
-There didst not; there let him still victor sway, \r
-As battle hath adjudged; from this new world \r
-Retiring, by his own doom alienated; \r
-And henceforth monarchy with thee divide \r
-Of all things, parted by the empyreal bounds, \r
-His quadrature, from thy orbicular world; \r
-Or try thee now more dangerous to his throne. \r
-Whom thus the Prince of darkness answered glad. \r
-Fair Daughter, and thou Son and Grandchild both; \r
-High proof ye now have given to be the race \r
-Of Satan (for I glory in the name, \r
-Antagonist of Heaven's Almighty King,) \r
-Amply have merited of me, of all \r
-The infernal empire, that so near Heaven's door \r
-Triumphal with triumphal act have met, \r
-Mine, with this glorious work; and made one realm, \r
-Hell and this world, one realm, one continent \r
-Of easy thorough-fare. Therefore, while I \r
-Descend through darkness, on your road with ease, \r
-To my associate Powers, them to acquaint \r
-With these successes, and with them rejoice; \r
-You two this way, among these numerous orbs, \r
-All yours, right down to Paradise descend; \r
-There dwell, and reign in bliss; thence on the earth \r
-Dominion exercise and in the air, \r
-Chiefly on Man, sole lord of all declared; \r
-Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill. \r
-My substitutes I send ye, and create \r
-Plenipotent on earth, of matchless might \r
-Issuing from me: on your joint vigour now \r
-My hold of this new kingdom all depends, \r
-Through Sin to Death exposed by my exploit. \r
-If your joint power prevail, the affairs of Hell \r
-No detriment need fear; go, and be strong! \r
-So saying he dismissed them; they with speed \r
-Their course through thickest constellations held, \r
-Spreading their bane; the blasted stars looked wan, \r
-And planets, planet-struck, real eclipse \r
-Then suffered. The other way Satan went down \r
-The causey to Hell-gate: On either side \r
-Disparted Chaos overbuilt exclaimed, \r
-And with rebounding surge the bars assailed, \r
-That scorned his indignation: Through the gate, \r
-Wide open and unguarded, Satan passed, \r
-And all about found desolate; for those, \r
-Appointed to sit there, had left their charge, \r
-Flown to the upper world; the rest were all \r
-Far to the inland retired, about the walls \r
-Of Pandemonium; city and proud seat \r
-Of Lucifer, so by allusion called \r
-Of that bright star to Satan paragoned; \r
-There kept their watch the legions, while the Grand \r
-In council sat, solicitous what chance \r
-Might intercept their emperour sent; so he \r
-Departing gave command, and they observed. \r
-As when the Tartar from his Russian foe, \r
-By Astracan, over the snowy plains, \r
-Retires; or Bactrin Sophi, from the horns \r
-Of Turkish crescent, leaves all waste beyond \r
-The realm of Aladule, in his retreat \r
-To Tauris or Casbeen: So these, the late \r
-Heaven-banished host, left desart utmost Hell \r
-Many a dark league, reduced in careful watch \r
-Round their metropolis; and now expecting \r
-Each hour their great adventurer, from the search \r
-Of foreign worlds: He through the midst unmarked, \r
-In show plebeian Angel militant \r
-Of lowest order, passed; and from the door \r
-Of that Plutonian hall, invisible \r
-Ascended his high throne; which, under state \r
-Of richest texture spread, at the upper end \r
-Was placed in regal lustre. Down a while \r
-He sat, and round about him saw unseen: \r
-At last, as from a cloud, his fulgent head \r
-And shape star-bright appeared, or brighter; clad \r
-With what permissive glory since his fall \r
-Was left him, or false glitter: All amazed \r
-At that so sudden blaze the Stygian throng \r
-Bent their aspect, and whom they wished beheld, \r
-Their mighty Chief returned: loud was the acclaim: \r
-Forth rushed in haste the great consulting peers, \r
-Raised from their dark Divan, and with like joy \r
-Congratulant approached him; who with hand \r
-Silence, and with these words attention, won. \r
-Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; \r
-For in possession such, not only of right, \r
-I call ye, and declare ye now; returned \r
-Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth \r
-Triumphant out of this infernal pit \r
-Abominable, accursed, the house of woe, \r
-And dungeon of our tyrant: Now possess, \r
-As Lords, a spacious world, to our native Heaven \r
-Little inferiour, by my adventure hard \r
-With peril great achieved. Long were to tell \r
-What I have done; what suffered;with what pain \r
-Voyaged th' unreal, vast, unbounded deep \r
-Of horrible confusion; over which \r
-By Sin and Death a broad way now is paved, \r
-To expedite your glorious march; but I \r
-Toiled out my uncouth passage, forced to ride \r
-The untractable abyss, plunged in the womb \r
-Of unoriginal Night and Chaos wild; \r
-That, jealous of their secrets, fiercely opposed \r
-My journey strange, with clamorous uproar \r
-Protesting Fate supreme; thence how I found \r
-The new created world, which fame in Heaven \r
-Long had foretold, a fabrick wonderful \r
-Of absolute perfection! therein Man \r
-Placed in a Paradise, by our exile \r
-Made happy: Him by fraud I have seduced \r
-From his Creator; and, the more to encrease \r
-Your wonder, with an apple; he, thereat \r
-Offended, worth your laughter! hath given up \r
-Both his beloved Man, and all his world, \r
-To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us, \r
-Without our hazard, labour, or alarm; \r
-To range in, and to dwell, and over Man \r
-To rule, as over all he should have ruled. \r
-True is, me also he hath judged, or rather \r
-Me not, but the brute serpent in whose shape \r
-Man I deceived: that which to me belongs, \r
-Is enmity which he will put between \r
-Me and mankind; I am to bruise his heel; \r
-His seed, when is not set, shall bruise my head: \r
-A world who would not purchase with a bruise, \r
-Or much more grievous pain?--Ye have the account \r
-Of my performance: What remains, ye Gods, \r
-But up, and enter now into full bliss? \r
-So having said, a while he stood, expecting \r
-Their universal shout, and high applause, \r
-To fill his ear; when, contrary, he hears \r
-On all sides, from innumerable tongues, \r
-A dismal universal hiss, the sound \r
-Of publick scorn; he wondered, but not long \r
-Had leisure, wondering at himself now more, \r
-His visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare; \r
-His arms clung to his ribs; his legs entwining \r
-Each other, till supplanted down he fell \r
-A monstrous serpent on his belly prone, \r
-Reluctant, but in vain; a greater power \r
-Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned, \r
-According to his doom: he would have spoke, \r
-But hiss for hiss returned with forked tongue \r
-To forked tongue; for now were all transformed \r
-Alike, to serpents all, as accessories \r
-To his bold riot: Dreadful was the din \r
-Of hissing through the hall, thick swarming now \r
-With complicated monsters head and tail, \r
-Scorpion, and Asp, and Amphisbaena dire, \r
-Cerastes horned, Hydrus, and Elops drear, \r
-And Dipsas; (not so thick swarmed once the soil \r
-Bedropt with blood of Gorgon, or the isle \r
-Ophiusa,) but still greatest he the midst, \r
-Now Dragon grown, larger than whom the sun \r
-Ingendered in the Pythian vale or slime, \r
-Huge Python, and his power no less he seemed \r
-Above the rest still to retain; they all \r
-Him followed, issuing forth to the open field, \r
-Where all yet left of that revolted rout, \r
-Heaven-fallen, in station stood or just array; \r
-Sublime with expectation when to see \r
-In triumph issuing forth their glorious Chief; \r
-They saw, but other sight instead! a croud \r
-Of ugly serpents; horrour on them fell, \r
-And horrid sympathy; for, what they saw, \r
-They felt themselves, now changing; down their arms, \r
-Down fell both spear and shield; down they as fast; \r
-And the dire hiss renewed, and the dire form \r
-Catched, by contagion; like in punishment, \r
-As in their crime. Thus was the applause they meant, \r
-Turned to exploding hiss, triumph to shame \r
-Cast on themselves from their own mouths. There stood \r
-A grove hard by, sprung up with this their change, \r
-His will who reigns above, to aggravate \r
-Their penance, laden with fair fruit, like that \r
-Which grew in Paradise, the bait of Eve \r
-Used by the Tempter: on that prospect strange \r
-Their earnest eyes they fixed, imagining \r
-For one forbidden tree a multitude \r
-Now risen, to work them further woe or shame; \r
-Yet, parched with scalding thirst and hunger fierce, \r
-Though to delude them sent, could not abstain; \r
-But on they rolled in heaps, and, up the trees \r
-Climbing, sat thicker than the snaky locks \r
-That curled Megaera: greedily they plucked \r
-The fruitage fair to sight, like that which grew \r
-Near that bituminous lake where Sodom flamed; \r
-This more delusive, not the touch, but taste \r
-Deceived; they, fondly thinking to allay \r
-Their appetite with gust, instead of fruit \r
-Chewed bitter ashes, which the offended taste \r
-With spattering noise rejected: oft they assayed, \r
-Hunger and thirst constraining; drugged as oft, \r
-With hatefullest disrelish writhed their jaws, \r
-With soot and cinders filled; so oft they fell \r
-Into the same illusion, not as Man \r
-Whom they triumphed once lapsed. Thus were they plagued \r
-And worn with famine, long and ceaseless hiss, \r
-Till their lost shape, permitted, they resumed; \r
-Yearly enjoined, some say, to undergo, \r
-This annual humbling certain numbered days, \r
-To dash their pride, and joy, for Man seduced. \r
-However, some tradition they dispersed \r
-Among the Heathen, of their purchase got, \r
-And fabled how the Serpent, whom they called \r
-Ophion, with Eurynome, the wide-- \r
-Encroaching Eve perhaps, had first the rule \r
-Of high Olympus; thence by Saturn driven \r
-And Ops, ere yet Dictaean Jove was born. \r
-Mean while in Paradise the hellish pair \r
-Too soon arrived; Sin, there in power before, \r
-Once actual; now in body, and to dwell \r
-Habitual habitant; behind her Death, \r
-Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet \r
-On his pale horse: to whom Sin thus began. \r
-Second of Satan sprung, all-conquering Death! \r
-What thinkest thou of our empire now, though earned \r
-With travel difficult, not better far \r
-Than still at Hell's dark threshold to have sat watch, \r
-Unnamed, undreaded, and thyself half starved? \r
-Whom thus the Sin-born monster answered soon. \r
-To me, who with eternal famine pine, \r
-Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or Heaven; \r
-There best, where most with ravine I may meet; \r
-Which here, though plenteous, all too little seems \r
-To stuff this maw, this vast unhide-bound corps. \r
-To whom the incestuous mother thus replied. \r
-Thou therefore on these herbs, and fruits, and flowers, \r
-Feed first; on each beast next, and fish, and fowl; \r
-No homely morsels! and, whatever thing \r
-The sithe of Time mows down, devour unspared; \r
-Till I, in Man residing, through the race, \r
-His thoughts, his looks, words, actions, all infect; \r
-And season him thy last and sweetest prey. \r
-This said, they both betook them several ways, \r
-Both to destroy, or unimmortal make \r
-All kinds, and for destruction to mature \r
-Sooner or later; which the Almighty seeing, \r
-From his transcendent seat the Saints among, \r
-To those bright Orders uttered thus his voice. \r
-See, with what heat these dogs of Hell advance \r
-To waste and havock yonder world, which I \r
-So fair and good created; and had still \r
-Kept in that state, had not the folly of Man \r
-Let in these wasteful furies, who impute \r
-Folly to me; so doth the Prince of Hell \r
-And his adherents, that with so much ease \r
-I suffer them to enter and possess \r
-A place so heavenly; and, conniving, seem \r
-To gratify my scornful enemies, \r
-That laugh, as if, transported with some fit \r
-Of passion, I to them had quitted all, \r
-At random yielded up to their misrule; \r
-And know not that I called, and drew them thither, \r
-My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth \r
-Which Man's polluting sin with taint hath shed \r
-On what was pure; til, crammed and gorged, nigh burst \r
-With sucked and glutted offal, at one sling \r
-Of thy victorious arm, well-pleasing Son, \r
-Both Sin, and Death, and yawning Grave, at last, \r
-Through Chaos hurled, obstruct the mouth of Hell \r
-For ever, and seal up his ravenous jaws. \r
-Then Heaven and Earth renewed shall be made pure \r
-To sanctity, that shall receive no stain: \r
-Till then, the curse pronounced on both precedes. \r
-He ended, and the heavenly audience loud \r
-Sung Halleluiah, as the sound of seas, \r
-Through multitude that sung: Just are thy ways, \r
-Righteous are thy decrees on all thy works; \r
-Who can extenuate thee? Next, to the Son, \r
-Destined Restorer of mankind, by whom \r
-New Heaven and Earth shall to the ages rise, \r
-Or down from Heaven descend.--Such was their song; \r
-While the Creator, calling forth by name \r
-His mighty Angels, gave them several charge, \r
-As sorted best with present things. The sun \r
-Had first his precept so to move, so shine, \r
-As might affect the earth with cold and heat \r
-Scarce tolerable; and from the north to call \r
-Decrepit winter; from the south to bring \r
-Solstitial summer's heat. To the blanc moon \r
-Her office they prescribed; to the other five \r
-Their planetary motions, and aspects, \r
-In sextile, square, and trine, and opposite, \r
-Of noxious efficacy, and when to join \r
-In synod unbenign; and taught the fixed \r
-Their influence malignant when to shower, \r
-Which of them rising with the sun, or falling, \r
-Should prove tempestuous: To the winds they set \r
-Their corners, when with bluster to confound \r
-Sea, air, and shore; the thunder when to roll \r
-With terrour through the dark aereal hall. \r
-Some say, he bid his Angels turn ascanse \r
-The poles of earth, twice ten degrees and more, \r
-From the sun's axle; they with labour pushed \r
-Oblique the centrick globe: Some say, the sun \r
-Was bid turn reins from the equinoctial road \r
-Like distant breadth to Taurus with the seven \r
-Atlantick Sisters, and the Spartan Twins, \r
-Up to the Tropick Crab: thence down amain \r
-By Leo, and the Virgin, and the Scales, \r
-As deep as Capricorn; to bring in change \r
-Of seasons to each clime; else had the spring \r
-Perpetual smiled on earth with vernant flowers, \r
-Equal in days and nights, except to those \r
-Beyond the polar circles; to them day \r
-Had unbenighted shone, while the low sun, \r
-To recompense his distance, in their sight \r
-Had rounded still the horizon, and not known \r
-Or east or west; which had forbid the snow \r
-From cold Estotiland, and south as far \r
-Beneath Magellan. At that tasted fruit \r
-The sun, as from Thyestean banquet, turned \r
-His course intended; else, how had the world \r
-Inhabited, though sinless, more than now, \r
-Avoided pinching cold and scorching heat? \r
-These changes in the Heavens, though slow, produced \r
-Like change on sea and land; sideral blast, \r
-Vapour, and mist, and exhalation hot, \r
-Corrupt and pestilent: Now from the north \r
-Of Norumbega, and the Samoed shore, \r
-Bursting their brazen dungeon, armed with ice, \r
-And snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw, \r
-Boreas, and Caecias, and Argestes loud, \r
-And Thrascias, rend the woods, and seas upturn; \r
-With adverse blast upturns them from the south \r
-Notus, and Afer black with thunderous clouds \r
-From Serraliona; thwart of these, as fierce, \r
-Forth rush the Levant and the Ponent winds, \r
-Eurus and Zephyr, with their lateral noise, \r
-Sirocco and Libecchio. Thus began \r
-Outrage from lifeless things; but Discord first, \r
-Daughter of Sin, among the irrational \r
-Death introduced, through fierce antipathy: \r
-Beast now with beast 'gan war, and fowl with fowl, \r
-And fish with fish; to graze the herb all leaving, \r
-Devoured each other; nor stood much in awe \r
-Of Man, but fled him; or, with countenance grim, \r
-Glared on him passing. These were from without \r
-The growing miseries, which Adam saw \r
-Already in part, though hid in gloomiest shade, \r
-To sorrow abandoned, but worse felt within; \r
-And, in a troubled sea of passion tost, \r
-Thus to disburden sought with sad complaint. \r
-O miserable of happy! Is this the end \r
-Of this new glorious world, and me so late \r
-The glory of that glory, who now become \r
-Accursed, of blessed? hide me from the face \r
-Of God, whom to behold was then my highth \r
-Of happiness!--Yet well, if here would end \r
-The misery; I deserved it, and would bear \r
-My own deservings; but this will not serve: \r
-All that I eat or drink, or shall beget, \r
-Is propagated curse. O voice, once heard \r
-Delightfully, Encrease and multiply; \r
-Now death to hear! for what can I encrease, \r
-Or multiply, but curses on my head? \r
-Who of all ages to succeed, but, feeling \r
-The evil on him brought by me, will curse \r
-My head? Ill fare our ancestor impure, \r
-For this we may thank Adam! but his thanks \r
-Shall be the execration: so, besides \r
-Mine own that bide upon me, all from me \r
-Shall with a fierce reflux on me rebound; \r
-On me, as on their natural center, light \r
-Heavy, though in their place. O fleeting joys \r
-Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes! \r
-Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay \r
-To mould me Man? did I solicit thee \r
-From darkness to promote me, or here place \r
-In this delicious garden? As my will \r
-Concurred not to my being, it were but right \r
-And equal to reduce me to my dust; \r
-Desirous to resign and render back \r
-All I received; unable to perform \r
-Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold \r
-The good I sought not. To the loss of that, \r
-Sufficient penalty, why hast thou added \r
-The sense of endless woes? Inexplicable \r
-Why am I mocked with death, and lengthened out \r
-To deathless pain? How gladly would I meet \r
-Mortality my sentence, and be earth \r
-Insensible! How glad would lay me down \r
-As in my mother's lap! There I should rest, \r
-And sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more \r
-Would thunder in my ears; no fear of worse \r
-To me, and to my offspring, would torment me \r
-With cruel expectation. Yet one doubt \r
-Pursues me still, lest all I cannot die; \r
-Lest that pure breath of life, the spirit of Man \r
-Which God inspired, cannot together perish \r
-With this corporeal clod; then, in the grave, \r
-Or in some other dismal place, who knows \r
-But I shall die a living death? O thought \r
-Horrid, if true! Yet why? It was but breath \r
-Of life that sinned; what dies but what had life \r
-And sin? The body properly had neither, \r
-All of me then shall die: let this appease \r
-The doubt, since human reach no further knows. \r
-For though the Lord of all be infinite, \r
-Is his wrath also? Be it, Man is not so, \r
-But mortal doomed. How can he exercise \r
-Wrath without end on Man, whom death must end? \r
-Can he make deathless death? That were to make \r
-Strange contradiction, which to God himself \r
-Impossible is held; as argument \r
-Of weakness, not of power. Will he draw out, \r
-For anger's sake, finite to infinite, \r
-In punished Man, to satisfy his rigour, \r
-Satisfied never? That were to extend \r
-His sentence beyond dust and Nature's law; \r
-By which all causes else, according still \r
-To the reception of their matter, act; \r
-Not to the extent of their own sphere. But say \r
-That death be not one stroke, as I supposed, \r
-Bereaving sense, but endless misery \r
-From this day onward; which I feel begun \r
-Both in me, and without me; and so last \r
-To perpetuity;--Ay me!that fear \r
-Comes thundering back with dreadful revolution \r
-On my defenceless head; both Death and I \r
-Am found eternal, and incorporate both; \r
-Nor I on my part single; in me all \r
-Posterity stands cursed: Fair patrimony \r
-That I must leave ye, Sons! O, were I able \r
-To waste it all myself, and leave ye none! \r
-So disinherited, how would you bless \r
-Me, now your curse! Ah, why should all mankind, \r
-For one man's fault, thus guiltless be condemned, \r
-It guiltless? But from me what can proceed, \r
-But all corrupt; both mind and will depraved \r
-Not to do only, but to will the same \r
-With me? How can they then acquitted stand \r
-In sight of God? Him, after all disputes, \r
-Forced I absolve: all my evasions vain, \r
-And reasonings, though through mazes, lead me still \r
-But to my own conviction: first and last \r
-On me, me only, as the source and spring \r
-Of all corruption, all the blame lights due; \r
-So might the wrath! Fond wish!couldst thou support \r
-That burden, heavier than the earth to bear; \r
-Than all the world much heavier, though divided \r
-With that bad Woman? Thus, what thou desirest, \r
-And what thou fearest, alike destroys all hope \r
-Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable \r
-Beyond all past example and future; \r
-To Satan only like both crime and doom. \r
-O Conscience! into what abyss of fears \r
-And horrours hast thou driven me; out of which \r
-I find no way, from deep to deeper plunged! \r
-Thus Adam to himself lamented loud, \r
-Through the still night; not now, as ere Man fell, \r
-Wholesome, and cool, and mild, but with black air \r
-Accompanied; with damps, and dreadful gloom; \r
-Which to his evil conscience represented \r
-All things with double terrour: On the ground \r
-Outstretched he lay, on the cold ground; and oft \r
-Cursed his creation; Death as oft accused \r
-Of tardy execution, since denounced \r
-The day of his offence. Why comes not Death, \r
-Said he, with one thrice-acceptable stroke \r
-To end me? Shall Truth fail to keep her word, \r
-Justice Divine not hasten to be just? \r
-But Death comes not at call; Justice Divine \r
-Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries, \r
-O woods, O fountains, hillocks, dales, and bowers! \r
-With other echo late I taught your shades \r
-To answer, and resound far other song.-- \r
-Whom thus afflicted when sad Eve beheld, \r
-Desolate where she sat, approaching nigh, \r
-Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed: \r
-But her with stern regard he thus repelled. \r
-Out of my sight, thou Serpent! That name best \r
-Befits thee with him leagued, thyself as false \r
-And hateful; nothing wants, but that thy shape, \r
-Like his, and colour serpentine, may show \r
-Thy inward fraud; to warn all creatures from thee \r
-Henceforth; lest that too heavenly form, pretended \r
-To hellish falshood, snare them! But for thee \r
-I had persisted happy; had not thy pride \r
-And wandering vanity, when least was safe, \r
-Rejected my forewarning, and disdained \r
-Not to be trusted; longing to be seen, \r
-Though by the Devil himself; him overweening \r
-To over-reach; but, with the serpent meeting, \r
-Fooled and beguiled; by him thou, I by thee \r
-To trust thee from my side; imagined wise, \r
-Constant, mature, proof against all assaults; \r
-And understood not all was but a show, \r
-Rather than solid virtue; all but a rib \r
-Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears, \r
-More to the part sinister, from me drawn; \r
-Well if thrown out, as supernumerary \r
-To my just number found. O! why did God, \r
-Creator wise, that peopled highest Heaven \r
-With Spirits masculine, create at last \r
-This novelty on earth, this fair defect \r
-Of nature, and not fill the world at once \r
-With Men, as Angels, without feminine; \r
-Or find some other way to generate \r
-Mankind? This mischief had not been befallen, \r
-And more that shall befall; innumerable \r
-Disturbances on earth through female snares, \r
-And strait conjunction with this sex: for either \r
-He never shall find out fit mate, but such \r
-As some misfortune brings him, or mistake; \r
-Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain \r
-Through her perverseness, but shall see her gained \r
-By a far worse; or, if she love, withheld \r
-By parents; or his happiest choice too late \r
-Shall meet, already linked and wedlock-bound \r
-To a fell adversary, his hate or shame: \r
-Which infinite calamity shall cause \r
-To human life, and houshold peace confound. \r
-He added not, and from her turned; but Eve, \r
-Not so repulsed, with tears that ceased not flowing \r
-And tresses all disordered, at his feet \r
-Fell humble; and, embracing them, besought \r
-His peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint. \r
-Forsake me not thus, Adam! witness Heaven \r
-What love sincere, and reverence in my heart \r
-I bear thee, and unweeting have offended, \r
-Unhappily deceived! Thy suppliant \r
-I beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not, \r
-Whereon I live, thy gentle looks, thy aid, \r
-Thy counsel, in this uttermost distress, \r
-My only strength and stay: Forlorn of thee, \r
-Whither shall I betake me, where subsist? \r
-While yet we live, scarce one short hour perhaps, \r
-Between us two let there be peace; both joining, \r
-As joined in injuries, one enmity \r
-Against a foe by doom express assigned us, \r
-That cruel Serpent: On me exercise not \r
-Thy hatred for this misery befallen; \r
-On me already lost, me than thyself \r
-More miserable! Both have sinned;but thou \r
-Against God only; I against God and thee; \r
-And to the place of judgement will return, \r
-There with my cries importune Heaven; that all \r
-The sentence, from thy head removed, may light \r
-On me, sole cause to thee of all this woe; \r
-Me, me only, just object of his ire! \r
-She ended weeping; and her lowly plight, \r
-Immoveable, till peace obtained from fault \r
-Acknowledged and deplored, in Adam wrought \r
-Commiseration: Soon his heart relented \r
-Towards her, his life so late, and sole delight, \r
-Now at his feet submissive in distress; \r
-Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking, \r
-His counsel, whom she had displeased, his aid: \r
-As one disarmed, his anger all he lost, \r
-And thus with peaceful words upraised her soon. \r
-Unwary, and too desirous, as before, \r
-So now of what thou knowest not, who desirest \r
-The punishment all on thyself; alas! \r
-Bear thine own first, ill able to sustain \r
-His full wrath, whose thou feelest as yet least part, \r
-And my displeasure bearest so ill. If prayers \r
-Could alter high decrees, I to that place \r
-Would speed before thee, and be louder heard, \r
-That on my head all might be visited; \r
-Thy frailty and infirmer sex forgiven, \r
-To me committed, and by me exposed. \r
-But rise;--let us no more contend, nor blame \r
-Each other, blamed enough elsewhere; but strive \r
-In offices of love, how we may lighten \r
-Each other's burden, in our share of woe; \r
-Since this day's death denounced, if aught I see, \r
-Will prove no sudden, but a slow-paced evil; \r
-A long day's dying, to augment our pain; \r
-And to our seed (O hapless seed!) derived. \r
-To whom thus Eve, recovering heart, replied. \r
-Adam, by sad experiment I know \r
-How little weight my words with thee can find, \r
-Found so erroneous; thence by just event \r
-Found so unfortunate: Nevertheless, \r
-Restored by thee, vile as I am, to place \r
-Of new acceptance, hopeful to regain \r
-Thy love, the sole contentment of my heart \r
-Living or dying, from thee I will not hide \r
-What thoughts in my unquiet breast are risen, \r
-Tending to some relief of our extremes, \r
-Or end; though sharp and sad, yet tolerable, \r
-As in our evils, and of easier choice. \r
-If care of our descent perplex us most, \r
-Which must be born to certain woe, devoured \r
-By Death at last; and miserable it is \r
-To be to others cause of misery, \r
-Our own begotten, and of our loins to bring \r
-Into this cursed world a woeful race, \r
-That after wretched life must be at last \r
-Food for so foul a monster; in thy power \r
-It lies, yet ere conception to prevent \r
-The race unblest, to being yet unbegot. \r
-Childless thou art, childless remain: so Death \r
-Shall be deceived his glut, and with us two \r
-Be forced to satisfy his ravenous maw. \r
-But if thou judge it hard and difficult, \r
-Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain \r
-From love's due rights, nuptial embraces sweet; \r
-And with desire to languish without hope, \r
-Before the present object languishing \r
-With like desire; which would be misery \r
-And torment less than none of what we dread; \r
-Then, both ourselves and seed at once to free \r
-From what we fear for both, let us make short, -- \r
-Let us seek Death; -- or, he not found, supply \r
-With our own hands his office on ourselves: \r
-Why stand we longer shivering under fears, \r
-That show no end but death, and have the power, \r
-Of many ways to die the shortest choosing, \r
-Destruction with destruction to destroy? -- \r
-She ended here, or vehement despair \r
-Broke off the rest: so much of death her thoughts \r
-Had entertained, as dyed her cheeks with pale. \r
-But Adam, with such counsel nothing swayed, \r
-To better hopes his more attentive mind \r
-Labouring had raised; and thus to Eve replied. \r
-Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems \r
-To argue in thee something more sublime \r
-And excellent, than what thy mind contemns; \r
-But self-destruction therefore sought, refutes \r
-That excellence thought in thee; and implies, \r
-Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret \r
-For loss of life and pleasure overloved. \r
-Or if thou covet death, as utmost end \r
-Of misery, so thinking to evade \r
-The penalty pronounced; doubt not but God \r
-Hath wiselier armed his vengeful ire, than so \r
-To be forestalled; much more I fear lest death, \r
-So snatched, will not exempt us from the pain \r
-We are by doom to pay; rather, such acts \r
-Of contumacy will provoke the Highest \r
-To make death in us live: Then let us seek \r
-Some safer resolution, which methinks \r
-I have in view, calling to mind with heed \r
-Part of our sentence, that thy seed shall bruise \r
-The Serpent's head; piteous amends! unless \r
-Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand foe, \r
-Satan; who, in the serpent, hath contrived \r
-Against us this deceit: To crush his head \r
-Would be revenge indeed! which will be lost \r
-By death brought on ourselves, or childless days \r
-Resolved, as thou proposest; so our foe \r
-Shal 'scape his punishment ordained, and we \r
-Instead shall double ours upon our heads. \r
-No more be mentioned then of violence \r
-Against ourselves; and wilful barrenness, \r
-That cuts us off from hope; and savours only \r
-Rancour and pride, impatience and despite, \r
-Reluctance against God and his just yoke \r
-Laid on our necks. Remember with what mild \r
-And gracious temper he both heard, and judged, \r
-Without wrath or reviling; we expected \r
-Immediate dissolution, which we thought \r
-Was meant by death that day; when lo!to thee \r
-Pains only in child-bearing were foretold, \r
-And bringing forth; soon recompensed with joy, \r
-Fruit of thy womb: On me the curse aslope \r
-Glanced on the ground; with labour I must earn \r
-My bread; what harm? Idleness had been worse; \r
-My labour will sustain me; and, lest cold \r
-Or heat should injure us, his timely care \r
-Hath, unbesought, provided; and his hands \r
-Clothed us unworthy, pitying while he judged; \r
-How much more, if we pray him, will his ear \r
-Be open, and his heart to pity incline, \r
-And teach us further by what means to shun \r
-The inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and snow! \r
-Which now the sky, with various face, begins \r
-To show us in this mountain; while the winds \r
-Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks \r
-Of these fair spreading trees; which bids us seek \r
-Some better shroud, some better warmth to cherish \r
-Our limbs benummed, ere this diurnal star \r
-Leave cold the night, how we his gathered beams \r
-Reflected may with matter sere foment; \r
-Or, by collision of two bodies, grind \r
-The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds \r
-Justling, or pushed with winds, rude in their shock, \r
-Tine the slant lightning; whose thwart flame, driven down \r
-Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine; \r
-And sends a comfortable heat from far, \r
-Which might supply the sun: Such fire to use, \r
-And what may else be remedy or cure \r
-To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought, \r
-He will instruct us praying, and of grace \r
-Beseeching him; so as we need not fear \r
-To pass commodiously this life, sustained \r
-By him with many comforts, till we end \r
-In dust, our final rest and native home. \r
-What better can we do, than, to the place \r
-Repairing where he judged us, prostrate fall \r
-Before him reverent; and there confess \r
-Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears \r
-Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air \r
-Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign \r
-Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
-Book XI \r
- \r
- \r
-Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn \r
-From his displeasure; in whose look serene, \r
-When angry most he seemed and most severe, \r
-What else but favour, grace, and mercy, shone? \r
-So spake our father penitent; nor Eve \r
-Felt less remorse: they, forthwith to the place \r
-Repairing where he judged them, prostrate fell \r
-Before him reverent; and both confessed \r
-Humbly their faults, and pardon begged; with tears \r
-Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air \r
-Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign \r
-Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek. \r
-Thus they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood \r
-Praying; for from the mercy-seat above \r
-Prevenient grace descending had removed \r
-The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh \r
-Regenerate grow instead; that sighs now breathed \r
-Unutterable; which the Spirit of prayer \r
-Inspired, and winged for Heaven with speedier flight \r
-Than loudest oratory: Yet their port \r
-Not of mean suitors; nor important less \r
-Seemed their petition, than when the ancient pair \r
-In fables old, less ancient yet than these, \r
-Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha, to restore \r
-The race of mankind drowned, before the shrine \r
-Of Themis stood devout. To Heaven their prayers \r
-Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious winds \r
-Blown vagabond or frustrate: in they passed \r
-Dimensionless through heavenly doors; then clad \r
-With incense, where the golden altar fumed, \r
-By their great intercessour, came in sight \r
-Before the Father's throne: them the glad Son \r
-Presenting, thus to intercede began. \r
-See$ Father, what first-fruits on earth are sprung \r
-From thy implanted grace in Man; these sighs \r
-And prayers, which in this golden censer mixed \r
-With incense, I thy priest before thee bring; \r
-Fruits of more pleasing savour, from thy seed \r
-Sown with contrition in his heart, than those \r
-Which, his own hand manuring, all the trees \r
-Of Paradise could have produced, ere fallen \r
-From innocence. Now therefore, bend thine ear \r
-To supplication; hear his sighs, though mute; \r
-Unskilful with what words to pray, let me \r
-Interpret for him; me, his advocate \r
-And propitiation; all his works on me, \r
-Good, or not good, ingraft; my merit those \r
-Shall perfect, and for these my death shall pay. \r
-Accept me; and, in me, from these receive \r
-The smell of peace toward mankind: let him live \r
-Before thee reconciled, at least his days \r
-Numbered, though sad; till death, his doom, (which I \r
-To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse,) \r
-To better life shall yield him: where with me \r
-All my redeemed may dwell in joy and bliss; \r
-Made one with me, as I with thee am one. \r
-To whom the Father, without cloud, serene. \r
-All thy request for Man, accepted Son, \r
-Obtain; all thy request was my decree: \r
-But, longer in that Paradise to dwell, \r
-The law I gave to Nature him forbids: \r
-Those pure immortal elements, that know, \r
-No gross, no unharmonious mixture foul, \r
-Eject him, tainted now; and purge him off, \r
-As a distemper, gross, to air as gross, \r
-And mortal food; as may dispose him best \r
-For dissolution wrought by sin, that first \r
-Distempered all things, and of incorrupt \r
-Corrupted. I, at first, with two fair gifts \r
-Created him endowed; with happiness, \r
-And immortality: that fondly lost, \r
-This other served but to eternize woe; \r
-Till I provided death: so death becomes \r
-His final remedy; and, after life, \r
-Tried in sharp tribulation, and refined \r
-By faith and faithful works, to second life, \r
-Waked in the renovation of the just, \r
-Resigns him up with Heaven and Earth renewed. \r
-But let us call to synod all the Blest, \r
-Through Heaven's wide bounds: from them I will not hide \r
-My judgements; how with mankind I proceed, \r
-As how with peccant Angels late they saw, \r
-And in their state, though firm, stood more confirmed. \r
-He ended, and the Son gave signal high \r
-To the bright minister that watched; he blew \r
-His trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps \r
-When God descended, and perhaps once more \r
-To sound at general doom. The angelick blast \r
-Filled all the regions: from their blisful bowers \r
-Of amarantine shade, fountain or spring, \r
-By the waters of life, where'er they sat \r
-In fellowships of joy, the sons of light \r
-Hasted, resorting to the summons high; \r
-And took their seats; till from his throne supreme \r
-The Almighty thus pronounced his sovran will. \r
-O Sons, like one of us Man is become \r
-To know both good and evil, since his taste \r
-Of that defended fruit; but let him boast \r
-His knowledge of good lost, and evil got; \r
-Happier! had it sufficed him to have known \r
-Good by itself, and evil not at all. \r
-He sorrows now, repents, and prays contrite, \r
-My motions in him; longer than they move, \r
-His heart I know, how variable and vain, \r
-Self-left. Lest therefore his now bolder hand \r
-Reach also of the tree of life, and eat, \r
-And live for ever, dream at least to live \r
-For ever, to remove him I decree, \r
-And send him from the garden forth to till \r
-The ground whence he was taken, fitter soil. \r
-Michael, this my behest have thou in charge; \r
-Take to thee from among the Cherubim \r
-Thy choice of flaming warriours, lest the Fiend, \r
-Or in behalf of Man, or to invade \r
-Vacant possession, some new trouble raise: \r
-Haste thee, and from the Paradise of God \r
-Without remorse drive out the sinful pair; \r
-From hallowed ground the unholy; and denounce \r
-To them, and to their progeny, from thence \r
-Perpetual banishment. Yet, lest they faint \r
-At the sad sentence rigorously urged, \r
-(For I behold them softened, and with tears \r
-Bewailing their excess,) all terrour hide. \r
-If patiently thy bidding they obey, \r
-Dismiss them not disconsolate; reveal \r
-To Adam what shall come in future days, \r
-As I shall thee enlighten; intermix \r
-My covenant in the Woman's seed renewed; \r
-So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace: \r
-And on the east side of the garden place, \r
-Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbs, \r
-Cherubick watch; and of a sword the flame \r
-Wide-waving; all approach far off to fright, \r
-And guard all passage to the tree of life: \r
-Lest Paradise a receptacle prove \r
-To Spirits foul, and all my trees their prey; \r
-With whose stolen fruit Man once more to delude. \r
-He ceased; and the arch-angelick Power prepared \r
-For swift descent; with him the cohort bright \r
-Of watchful Cherubim: four faces each \r
-Had, like a double Janus; all their shape \r
-Spangled with eyes more numerous than those \r
-Of Argus, and more wakeful than to drouse, \r
-Charmed with Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed \r
-Of Hermes, or his opiate rod. Mean while, \r
-To re-salute the world with sacred light, \r
-Leucothea waked; and with fresh dews imbalmed \r
-The earth; when Adam and first matron Eve \r
-Had ended now their orisons, and found \r
-Strength added from above; new hope to spring \r
-Out of despair; joy, but with fear yet linked; \r
-Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewed. \r
-Eve, easily my faith admit, that all \r
-The good which we enjoy from Heaven descends; \r
-But, that from us aught should ascend to Heaven \r
-So prevalent as to concern the mind \r
-Of God high-blest, or to incline his will, \r
-Hard to belief may seem; yet this will prayer \r
-Or one short sigh of human breath, upborne \r
-Even to the seat of God. For since I sought \r
-By prayer the offended Deity to appease; \r
-Kneeled, and before him humbled all my heart; \r
-Methought I saw him placable and mild, \r
-Bending his ear; persuasion in me grew \r
-That I was heard with favour; peace returned \r
-Home to my breast, and to my memory \r
-His promise, that thy seed shall bruise our foe; \r
-Which, then not minded in dismay, yet now \r
-Assures me that the bitterness of death \r
-Is past, and we shall live. Whence hail to thee, \r
-Eve rightly called, mother of all mankind, \r
-Mother of all things living, since by thee \r
-Man is to live; and all things live for Man. \r
-To whom thus Eve with sad demeanour meek. \r
-Ill-worthy I such title should belong \r
-To me transgressour; who, for thee ordained \r
-A help, became thy snare; to me reproach \r
-Rather belongs, distrust, and all dispraise: \r
-But infinite in pardon was my Judge, \r
-That I, who first brought death on all, am graced \r
-The source of life; next favourable thou, \r
-Who highly thus to entitle me vouchsaf'st, \r
-Far other name deserving. But the field \r
-To labour calls us, now with sweat imposed, \r
-Though after sleepless night; for see!the morn, \r
-All unconcerned with our unrest, begins \r
-Her rosy progress smiling: let us forth; \r
-I never from thy side henceforth to stray, \r
-Where'er our day's work lies, though now enjoined \r
-Laborious, till day droop; while here we dwell, \r
-What can be toilsome in these pleasant walks? \r
-Here let us live, though in fallen state, content. \r
-So spake, so wished much humbled Eve; but Fate \r
-Subscribed not: Nature first gave signs, impressed \r
-On bird, beast, air; air suddenly eclipsed, \r
-After short blush of morn; nigh in her sight \r
-The bird of Jove, stooped from his aery tour, \r
-Two birds of gayest plume before him drove; \r
-Down from a hill the beast that reigns in woods, \r
-First hunter then, pursued a gentle brace, \r
-Goodliest of all the forest, hart and hind; \r
-Direct to the eastern gate was bent their flight. \r
-Adam observed, and with his eye the chase \r
-Pursuing, not unmoved, to Eve thus spake. \r
-O Eve, some further change awaits us nigh, \r
-Which Heaven, by these mute signs in Nature, shows \r
-Forerunners of his purpose; or to warn \r
-Us, haply too secure, of our discharge \r
-From penalty, because from death released \r
-Some days: how long, and what till then our life, \r
-Who knows? or more than this, that we are dust, \r
-And thither must return, and be no more? \r
-Why else this double object in our sight \r
-Of flight pursued in the air, and o'er the ground, \r
-One way the self-same hour? why in the east \r
-Darkness ere day's mid-course, and morning-light \r
-More orient in yon western cloud, that draws \r
-O'er the blue firmament a radiant white, \r
-And slow descends with something heavenly fraught? \r
-He erred not; for by this the heavenly bands \r
-Down from a sky of jasper lighted now \r
-In Paradise, and on a hill made halt; \r
-A glorious apparition, had not doubt \r
-And carnal fear that day dimmed Adam's eye. \r
-Not that more glorious, when the Angels met \r
-Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw \r
-The field pavilioned with his guardians bright; \r
-Nor that, which on the flaming mount appeared \r
-In Dothan, covered with a camp of fire, \r
-Against the Syrian king, who to surprise \r
-One man, assassin-like, had levied war, \r
-War unproclaimed. The princely Hierarch \r
-In their bright stand there left his Powers, to seise \r
-Possession of the garden; he alone, \r
-To find where Adam sheltered, took his way, \r
-Not unperceived of Adam; who to Eve, \r
-While the great visitant approached, thus spake. \r
-Eve$ now expect great tidings, which perhaps \r
-Of us will soon determine, or impose \r
-New laws to be observed; for I descry, \r
-From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill, \r
-One of the heavenly host; and, by his gait, \r
-None of the meanest; some great Potentate \r
-Or of the Thrones above; such majesty \r
-Invests him coming! yet not terrible, \r
-That I should fear; nor sociably mild, \r
-As Raphael, that I should much confide; \r
-But solemn and sublime; whom not to offend, \r
-With reverence I must meet, and thou retire. \r
-He ended: and the Arch-Angel soon drew nigh, \r
-Not in his shape celestial, but as man \r
-Clad to meet man; over his lucid arms \r
-A military vest of purple flowed, \r
-Livelier than Meliboean, or the grain \r
-Of Sarra, worn by kings and heroes old \r
-In time of truce; Iris had dipt the woof; \r
-His starry helm unbuckled showed him prime \r
-In manhood where youth ended; by his side, \r
-As in a glistering zodiack, hung the sword, \r
-Satan's dire dread; and in his hand the spear. \r
-Adam bowed low; he, kingly, from his state \r
-Inclined not, but his coming thus declared. \r
-Adam, Heaven's high behest no preface needs: \r
-Sufficient that thy prayers are heard; and Death, \r
-Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress, \r
-Defeated of his seisure many days \r
-Given thee of grace; wherein thou mayest repent, \r
-And one bad act with many deeds well done \r
-Mayest cover: Well may then thy Lord, appeased, \r
-Redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious claim; \r
-But longer in this Paradise to dwell \r
-Permits not: to remove thee I am come, \r
-And send thee from the garden forth to till \r
-The ground whence thou wast taken, fitter soil. \r
-He added not; for Adam at the news \r
-Heart-struck with chilling gripe of sorrow stood, \r
-That all his senses bound; Eve, who unseen \r
-Yet all had heard, with audible lament \r
-Discovered soon the place of her retire. \r
-O unexpected stroke, worse than of Death! \r
-Must I thus leave thee$ Paradise? thus leave \r
-Thee, native soil! these happy walks and shades, \r
-Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to spend, \r
-Quiet though sad, the respite of that day \r
-That must be mortal to us both. O flowers, \r
-That never will in other climate grow, \r
-My early visitation, and my last \r
- ;t even, which I bred up with tender hand \r
-From the first opening bud, and gave ye names! \r
-Who now shall rear ye to the sun, or rank \r
-Your tribes, and water from the ambrosial fount? \r
-Thee lastly, nuptial bower! by me adorned \r
-With what to sight or smell was sweet! from thee \r
-How shall I part, and whither wander down \r
-Into a lower world; to this obscure \r
-And wild? how shall we breathe in other air \r
-Less pure, accustomed to immortal fruits? \r
-Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild. \r
-Lament not, Eve, but patiently resign \r
-What justly thou hast lost, nor set thy heart, \r
-Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine: \r
-Thy going is not lonely; with thee goes \r
-Thy husband; whom to follow thou art bound; \r
-Where he abides, think there thy native soil. \r
-Adam, by this from the cold sudden damp \r
-Recovering, and his scattered spirits returned, \r
-To Michael thus his humble words addressed. \r
-Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or named \r
-Of them the highest; for such of shape may seem \r
-Prince above princes! gently hast thou told \r
-Thy message, which might else in telling wound, \r
-And in performing end us; what besides \r
-Of sorrow, and dejection, and despair, \r
-Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring, \r
-Departure from this happy place, our sweet \r
-Recess, and only consolation left \r
-Familiar to our eyes! all places else \r
-Inhospitable appear, and desolate; \r
-Nor knowing us, nor known: And, if by prayer \r
-Incessant I could hope to change the will \r
-Of Him who all things can, I would not cease \r
-To weary him with my assiduous cries: \r
-But prayer against his absolute decree \r
-No more avails than breath against the wind, \r
-Blown stifling back on him that breathes it forth: \r
-Therefore to his great bidding I submit. \r
-This most afflicts me, that, departing hence, \r
-As from his face I shall be hid, deprived \r
-His blessed countenance: Here I could frequent \r
-With worship place by place where he vouchsafed \r
-Presence Divine; and to my sons relate, \r
-'On this mount he appeared; under this tree \r
-'Stood visible; among these pines his voice \r
-'I heard; here with him at this fountain talked: \r
-So many grateful altars I would rear \r
-Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone \r
-Of lustre from the brook, in memory, \r
-Or monument to ages; and theron \r
-Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and flowers: \r
-In yonder nether world where shall I seek \r
-His bright appearances, or foot-step trace? \r
-For though I fled him angry, yet recalled \r
-To life prolonged and promised race, I now \r
-Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts \r
-Of glory; and far off his steps adore. \r
-To whom thus Michael with regard benign. \r
-Adam, thou knowest Heaven his, and all the Earth; \r
-Not this rock only; his Omnipresence fills \r
-Land, sea, and air, and every kind that lives, \r
-Fomented by his virtual power and warmed: \r
-All the earth he gave thee to possess and rule, \r
-No despicable gift; surmise not then \r
-His presence to these narrow bounds confined \r
-Of Paradise, or Eden: this had been \r
-Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had spread \r
-All generations; and had hither come \r
-From all the ends of the earth, to celebrate \r
-And reverence thee, their great progenitor. \r
-But this pre-eminence thou hast lost, brought down \r
-To dwell on even ground now with thy sons: \r
-Yet doubt not but in valley, and in plain, \r
-God is, as here; and will be found alike \r
-Present; and of his presence many a sign \r
-Still following thee, still compassing thee round \r
-With goodness and paternal love, his face \r
-Express, and of his steps the track divine. \r
-Which that thou mayest believe, and be confirmed \r
-Ere thou from hence depart; know, I am sent \r
-To show thee what shall come in future days \r
-To thee, and to thy offspring: good with bad \r
-Expect to hear; supernal grace contending \r
-With sinfulness of men; thereby to learn \r
-True patience, and to temper joy with fear \r
-And pious sorrow; equally inured \r
-By moderation either state to bear, \r
-Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead \r
-Safest thy life, and best prepared endure \r
-Thy mortal passage when it comes.--Ascend \r
-This hill; let Eve (for I have drenched her eyes) \r
-Here sleep below; while thou to foresight wakest; \r
-As once thou sleptst, while she to life was formed. \r
-To whom thus Adam gratefully replied. \r
-Ascend, I follow thee, safe Guide, the path \r
-Thou leadest me; and to the hand of Heaven submit, \r
-However chastening; to the evil turn \r
-My obvious breast; arming to overcome \r
-By suffering, and earn rest from labour won, \r
-If so I may attain. -- So both ascend \r
-In the visions of God. It was a hill, \r
-Of Paradise the highest; from whose top \r
-The hemisphere of earth, in clearest ken, \r
-Stretched out to the amplest reach of prospect lay. \r
-Not higher that hill, nor wider looking round, \r
-Whereon, for different cause, the Tempter set \r
-Our second Adam, in the wilderness; \r
-To show him all Earth's kingdoms, and their glory. \r
-His eye might there command wherever stood \r
-City of old or modern fame, the seat \r
-Of mightiest empire, from the destined walls \r
-Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can, \r
-And Samarchand by Oxus, Temir's throne, \r
-To Paquin of Sinaean kings; and thence \r
-To Agra and Lahor of great Mogul, \r
-Down to the golden Chersonese; or where \r
-The Persian in Ecbatan sat, or since \r
-In Hispahan; or where the Russian Ksar \r
-In Mosco; or the Sultan in Bizance, \r
-Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken \r
-The empire of Negus to his utmost port \r
-Ercoco, and the less maritim kings \r
-Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind, \r
-And Sofala, thought Ophir, to the realm \r
-Of Congo, and Angola farthest south; \r
-Or thence from Niger flood to Atlas mount \r
-The kingdoms of Almansor, Fez and Sus, \r
-Morocco, and Algiers, and Tremisen; \r
-On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway \r
-The world: in spirit perhaps he also saw \r
-Rich Mexico, the seat of Montezume, \r
-And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat \r
-Of Atabalipa; and yet unspoiled \r
-Guiana, whose great city Geryon's sons \r
-Call El Dorado. But to nobler sights \r
-Michael from Adam's eyes the film removed, \r
-Which that false fruit that promised clearer sight \r
-Had bred; then purged with euphrasy and rue \r
-The visual nerve, for he had much to see; \r
-And from the well of life three drops instilled. \r
-So deep the power of these ingredients pierced, \r
-Even to the inmost seat of mental sight, \r
-That Adam, now enforced to close his eyes, \r
-Sunk down, and all his spirits became entranced; \r
-But him the gentle Angel by the hand \r
-Soon raised, and his attention thus recalled. \r
-Adam, now ope thine eyes; and first behold \r
-The effects, which thy original crime hath wrought \r
-In some to spring from thee; who never touched \r
-The excepted tree; nor with the snake conspired; \r
-Nor sinned thy sin; yet from that sin derive \r
-Corruption, to bring forth more violent deeds. \r
-His eyes he opened, and beheld a field, \r
-Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves \r
-New reaped; the other part sheep-walks and folds; \r
-I' the midst an altar as the land-mark stood, \r
-Rustick, of grassy sord; thither anon \r
-A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought \r
-First fruits, the green ear, and the yellow sheaf, \r
-Unculled, as came to hand; a shepherd next, \r
-More meek, came with the firstlings of his flock, \r
-Choicest and best; then, sacrificing, laid \r
-The inwards and their fat, with incense strowed, \r
-On the cleft wood, and all due rights performed: \r
-His offering soon propitious fire from Heaven \r
-Consumed with nimble glance, and grateful steam; \r
-The other's not, for his was not sincere; \r
-Whereat he inly raged, and, as they talked, \r
-Smote him into the midriff with a stone \r
-That beat out life; he fell;and, deadly pale, \r
-Groaned out his soul with gushing blood effused. \r
-Much at that sight was Adam in his heart \r
-Dismayed, and thus in haste to the Angel cried. \r
-O Teacher, some great mischief hath befallen \r
-To that meek man, who well had sacrificed; \r
-Is piety thus and pure devotion paid? \r
-To whom Michael thus, he also moved, replied. \r
-These two are brethren, Adam, and to come \r
-Out of thy loins; the unjust the just hath slain, \r
-For envy that his brother's offering found \r
-From Heaven acceptance; but the bloody fact \r
-Will be avenged; and the other's faith, approved, \r
-Lose no reward; though here thou see him die, \r
-Rolling in dust and gore. To which our sire. \r
-Alas! both for the deed, and for the cause! \r
-But have I now seen Death? Is this the way \r
-I must return to native dust? O sight \r
-Of terrour, foul and ugly to behold, \r
-Horrid to think, how horrible to feel! \r
-To whom thus Michael. Death thou hast seen \r
-In his first shape on Man; but many shapes \r
-Of Death, and many are the ways that lead \r
-To his grim cave, all dismal; yet to sense \r
-More terrible at the entrance, than within. \r
-Some, as thou sawest, by violent stroke shall die; \r
-By fire, flood, famine, by intemperance more \r
-In meats and drinks, which on the earth shall bring \r
-Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew \r
-Before thee shall appear; that thou mayest know \r
-What misery the inabstinence of Eve \r
-Shall bring on Men. Immediately a place \r
-Before his eyes appeared, sad, noisome, dark; \r
-A lazar-house it seemed; wherein were laid \r
-Numbers of all diseased; all maladies \r
-Of ghastly spasm, or racking torture, qualms \r
-Of heart-sick agony, all feverous kinds, \r
-Convulsions, epilepsies, fierce catarrhs, \r
-Intestine stone and ulcer, colick-pangs, \r
-Demoniack phrenzy, moaping melancholy, \r
-And moon-struck madness, pining atrophy, \r
-Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence, \r
-Dropsies, and asthmas, and joint-racking rheums. \r
-Dire was the tossing, deep the groans; Despair \r
-Tended the sick busiest from couch to couch; \r
-And over them triumphant Death his dart \r
-Shook, but delayed to strike, though oft invoked \r
-With vows, as their chief good, and final hope. \r
-Sight so deform what heart of rock could long \r
-Dry-eyed behold? Adam could not, but wept, \r
-Though not of woman born; compassion quelled \r
-His best of man, and gave him up to tears \r
-A space, till firmer thoughts restrained excess; \r
-And, scarce recovering words, his plaint renewed. \r
-O miserable mankind, to what fall \r
-Degraded, to what wretched state reserved! \r
-Better end here unborn. Why is life given \r
-To be thus wrested from us? rather, why \r
-Obtruded on us thus? who, if we knew \r
-What we receive, would either no accept \r
-Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down; \r
-Glad to be so dismissed in peace. Can thus \r
-The image of God in Man, created once \r
-So goodly and erect, though faulty since, \r
-To such unsightly sufferings be debased \r
-Under inhuman pains? Why should not Man, \r
-Retaining still divine similitude \r
-In part, from such deformities be free, \r
-And, for his Maker's image sake, exempt? \r
-Their Maker's image, answered Michael, then \r
-Forsook them, when themselves they vilified \r
-To serve ungoverned Appetite; and took \r
-His image whom they served, a brutish vice, \r
-Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve. \r
-Therefore so abject is their punishment, \r
-Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own; \r
-Or if his likeness, by themselves defaced; \r
-While they pervert pure Nature's healthful rules \r
-To loathsome sickness; worthily, since they \r
-God's image did not reverence in themselves. \r
-I yield it just, said Adam, and submit. \r
-But is there yet no other way, besides \r
-These painful passages, how we may come \r
-To death, and mix with our connatural dust? \r
-There is, said Michael, if thou well observe \r
-The rule of Not too much; by temperance taught, \r
-In what thou eatest and drinkest; seeking from thence \r
-Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight, \r
-Till many years over thy head return: \r
-So mayest thou live; till, like ripe fruit, thou drop \r
-Into thy mother's lap; or be with ease \r
-Gathered, nor harshly plucked; for death mature: \r
-This is Old Age; but then, thou must outlive \r
-Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty; which will change \r
-To withered, weak, and gray; thy senses then, \r
-Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forego, \r
-To what thou hast; and, for the air of youth, \r
-Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign \r
-A melancholy damp of cold and dry \r
-To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume \r
-The balm of life. To whom our ancestor. \r
-Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong \r
-Life much; bent rather, how I may be quit, \r
-Fairest and easiest, of this cumbrous charge; \r
-Which I must keep till my appointed day \r
-Of rendering up, and patiently attend \r
-My dissolution. Michael replied. \r
-Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou livest \r
-Live well; how long, or short, permit to Heaven: \r
-And now prepare thee for another sight. \r
-He looked, and saw a spacious plain, whereon \r
-Were tents of various hue; by some, were herds \r
-Of cattle grazing; others, whence the sound \r
-Of instruments, that made melodious chime, \r
-Was heard, of harp and organ; and, who moved \r
-Their stops and chords, was seen; his volant touch, \r
-Instinct through all proportions, low and high, \r
-Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue. \r
-In other part stood one who, at the forge \r
-Labouring, two massy clods of iron and brass \r
-Had melted, (whether found where casual fire \r
-Had wasted woods on mountain or in vale, \r
-Down to the veins of earth; thence gliding hot \r
-To some cave's mouth; or whether washed by stream \r
-From underground;) the liquid ore he drained \r
-Into fit moulds prepared; from which he formed \r
-First his own tools; then, what might else be wrought \r
-Fusil or graven in metal. After these, \r
-But on the hither side, a different sort \r
-From the high neighbouring hills, which was their seat, \r
-Down to the plain descended; by their guise \r
-Just men they seemed, and all their study bent \r
-To worship God aright, and know his works \r
-Not hid; nor those things last, which might preserve \r
-Freedom and peace to Men; they on the plain \r
-Long had not walked, when from the tents, behold! \r
-A bevy of fair women, richly gay \r
-In gems and wanton dress; to the harp they sung \r
-Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on: \r
-The men, though grave, eyed them; and let their eyes \r
-Rove without rein; till, in the amorous net \r
-Fast caught, they liked; and each his liking chose; \r
-And now of love they treat, till the evening-star, \r
-Love's harbinger, appeared; then, all in heat \r
-They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke \r
-Hymen, then first to marriage rites invoked: \r
-With feast and musick all the tents resound. \r
-Such happy interview, and fair event \r
-Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flowers, \r
-And charming symphonies, attached the heart \r
-Of Adam, soon inclined to admit delight, \r
-The bent of nature; which he thus expressed. \r
-True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest; \r
-Much better seems this vision, and more hope \r
-Of peaceful days portends, than those two past; \r
-Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse; \r
-Here Nature seems fulfilled in all her ends. \r
-To whom thus Michael. Judge not what is best \r
-By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet; \r
-Created, as thou art, to nobler end \r
-Holy and pure, conformity divine. \r
-Those tents thou sawest so pleasant, were the tents \r
-Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race \r
-Who slew his brother; studious they appear \r
-Of arts that polish life, inventers rare; \r
-Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit \r
-Taught them; but they his gifts acknowledged none. \r
-Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget; \r
-For that fair female troop thou sawest, that seemed \r
-Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay, \r
-Yet empty of all good wherein consists \r
-Woman's domestick honour and chief praise; \r
-Bred only and completed to the taste \r
-Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance, \r
-To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye: \r
-To these that sober race of men, whose lives \r
-Religious titled them the sons of God, \r
-Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame \r
-Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles \r
-Of these fair atheists; and now swim in joy, \r
-Erelong to swim at large; and laugh, for which \r
-The world erelong a world of tears must weep. \r
-To whom thus Adam, of short joy bereft. \r
-O pity and shame, that they, who to live well \r
-Entered so fair, should turn aside to tread \r
-Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint! \r
-But still I see the tenour of Man's woe \r
-Holds on the same, from Woman to begin. \r
-From Man's effeminate slackness it begins, \r
-Said the Angel, who should better hold his place \r
-By wisdom, and superiour gifts received. \r
-But now prepare thee for another scene. \r
-He looked, and saw wide territory spread \r
-Before him, towns, and rural works between; \r
-Cities of men with lofty gates and towers, \r
-Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war, \r
-Giants of mighty bone and bold emprise; \r
-Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, \r
-Single or in array of battle ranged \r
-Both horse and foot, nor idly mustering stood; \r
-One way a band select from forage drives \r
-A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine, \r
-From a fat meadow ground; or fleecy flock, \r
-Ewes and their bleating lambs over the plain, \r
-Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly, \r
-But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray; \r
-With cruel tournament the squadrons join; \r
-Where cattle pastured late, now scattered lies \r
-With carcasses and arms the ensanguined field, \r
-Deserted: Others to a city strong \r
-Lay siege, encamped; by battery, scale, and mine, \r
-Assaulting; others from the wall defend \r
-With dart and javelin, stones, and sulphurous fire; \r
-On each hand slaughter, and gigantick deeds. \r
-In other part the sceptered heralds call \r
-To council, in the city-gates; anon \r
-Gray-headed men and grave, with warriours mixed, \r
-Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon, \r
-In factious opposition; till at last, \r
-Of middle age one rising, eminent \r
-In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, \r
-Of justice, or religion, truth, and peace, \r
-And judgement from above: him old and young \r
-Exploded, and had seized with violent hands, \r
-Had not a cloud descending snatched him thence \r
-Unseen amid the throng: so violence \r
-Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law, \r
-Through all the plain, and refuge none was found. \r
-Adam was all in tears, and to his guide \r
-Lamenting turned full sad; O!what are these, \r
-Death's ministers, not men? who thus deal death \r
-Inhumanly to men, and multiply \r
-Ten thousandfold the sin of him who slew \r
-His brother: for of whom such massacre \r
-Make they, but of their brethren; men of men \r
-But who was that just man, whom had not Heaven \r
-Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost? \r
-To whom thus Michael. These are the product \r
-Of those ill-mated marriages thou sawest; \r
-Where good with bad were matched, who of themselves \r
-Abhor to join; and, by imprudence mixed, \r
-Produce prodigious births of body or mind. \r
-Such were these giants, men of high renown; \r
-For in those days might only shall be admired, \r
-And valour and heroick virtue called; \r
-To overcome in battle, and subdue \r
-Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite \r
-Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch \r
-Of human glory; and for glory done \r
-Of triumph, to be styled great conquerours \r
-Patrons of mankind, Gods, and sons of Gods; \r
-Destroyers rightlier called, and plagues of men. \r
-Thus fame shall be achieved, renown on earth; \r
-And what most merits fame, in silence hid. \r
-But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldst \r
-The only righteous in a world preverse, \r
-And therefore hated, therefore so beset \r
-With foes, for daring single to be just, \r
-And utter odious truth, that God would come \r
-To judge them with his Saints; him the Most High \r
-Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds \r
-Did, as thou sawest, receive, to walk with God \r
-High in salvation and the climes of bliss, \r
-Exempt from death; to show thee what reward \r
-Awaits the good; the rest what punishment; \r
-Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold. \r
-He looked, and saw the face of things quite changed; \r
-The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar; \r
-All now was turned to jollity and game, \r
-To luxury and riot, feast and dance; \r
-Marrying or prostituting, as befel, \r
-Rape or adultery, where passing fair \r
-Allured them; thence from cups to civil broils. \r
-At length a reverend sire among them came, \r
-And of their doings great dislike declared, \r
-And testified against their ways; he oft \r
-Frequented their assemblies, whereso met, \r
-Triumphs or festivals; and to them preached \r
-Conversion and repentance, as to souls \r
-In prison, under judgements imminent: \r
-But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceased \r
-Contending, and removed his tents far off; \r
-Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall, \r
-Began to build a vessel of huge bulk; \r
-Measured by cubit, length, and breadth, and highth; \r
-Smeared round with pitch; and in the side a door \r
-Contrived; and of provisions laid in large, \r
-For man and beast: when lo, a wonder strange! \r
-Of every beast, and bird, and insect small, \r
-Came sevens, and pairs; and entered in as taught \r
-Their order: last the sire and his three sons, \r
-With their four wives; and God made fast the door. \r
-Mean while the south-wind rose, and, with black wings \r
-Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove \r
-From under Heaven; the hills to their supply \r
-Vapour, and exhalation dusk and moist, \r
-Sent up amain; and now the thickened sky \r
-Like a dark cieling stood; down rushed the rain \r
-Impetuous; and continued, till the earth \r
-No more was seen: the floating vessel swum \r
-Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow \r
-Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings else \r
-Flood overwhelmed, and them with all their pomp \r
-Deep under water rolled; sea covered sea, \r
-Sea without shore; and in their palaces, \r
-Where luxury late reigned, sea-monsters whelped \r
-And stabled; of mankind, so numerous late, \r
-All left, in one small bottom swum imbarked. \r
-How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold \r
-The end of all thy offspring, end so sad, \r
-Depopulation! Thee another flood, \r
-Of tears and sorrow a flood, thee also drowned, \r
-And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently reared \r
-By the Angel, on thy feet thou stoodest at last, \r
-Though comfortless; as when a father mourns \r
-His children, all in view destroyed at once; \r
-And scarce to the Angel utter'dst thus thy plaint. \r
-O visions ill foreseen! Better had I \r
-Lived ignorant of future! so had borne \r
-My part of evil only, each day's lot \r
-Enough to bear; those now, that were dispensed \r
-The burden of many ages, on me light \r
-At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth \r
-Abortive, to torment me ere their being, \r
-With thought that they must be. Let no man seek \r
-Henceforth to be foretold, what shall befall \r
-Him or his children; evil he may be sure, \r
-Which neither his foreknowing can prevent; \r
-And he the future evil shall no less \r
-In apprehension than in substance feel, \r
-Grievous to bear: but that care now is past, \r
-Man is not whom to warn: those few escaped \r
-Famine and anguish will at last consume, \r
-Wandering that watery desart: I had hope, \r
-When violence was ceased, and war on earth, \r
-All would have then gone well; peace would have crowned \r
-With length of happy days the race of Man; \r
-But I was far deceived; for now I see \r
-Peace to corrupt no less than war to waste. \r
-How comes it thus? unfold, celestial Guide, \r
-And whether here the race of Man will end. \r
-To whom thus Michael. Those, whom last thou sawest \r
-In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they \r
-First seen in acts of prowess eminent \r
-And great exploits, but of true virtue void; \r
-Who, having spilt much blood, and done much wast \r
-Subduing nations, and achieved thereby \r
-Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey; \r
-Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth, \r
-Surfeit, and lust; till wantonness and pride \r
-Raise out of friendship hostile deeds in peace. \r
-The conquered also, and enslaved by war, \r
-Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose \r
-And fear of God; from whom their piety feigned \r
-In sharp contest of battle found no aid \r
-Against invaders; therefore, cooled in zeal, \r
-Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure, \r
-Worldly or dissolute, on what their lords \r
-Shall leave them to enjoy; for the earth shall bear \r
-More than enough, that temperance may be tried: \r
-So all shall turn degenerate, all depraved; \r
-Justice and temperance, truth and faith, forgot; \r
-One man except, the only son of light \r
-In a dark age, against example good, \r
-Against allurement, custom, and a world \r
-Offended: fearless of reproach and scorn, \r
-The grand-child, with twelve sons encreased, departs \r
-From Canaan, to a land hereafter called \r
-Egypt, divided by the river Nile; \r
-See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths \r
-Into the sea: To sojourn in that land \r
-He comes, invited by a younger son \r
-In time of dearth; a son, whose worthy deeds \r
-Raise him to be the second in that realm \r
-Of Pharaoh: There he dies, and leaves his race \r
-Growing into a nation, and now grown \r
-Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks \r
-To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests \r
-Or violence, he of their wicked ways \r
-Shall them admonish; and before them set \r
-The paths of righteousness, how much more safe \r
-And full of peace; denouncing wrath to come \r
-On their impenitence; and shall return \r
-Of them derided, but of God observed \r
-The one just man alive; by his command \r
-Shall build a wonderous ark, as thou beheldst, \r
-To save himself, and houshold, from amidst \r
-A world devote to universal wrack. \r
-No sooner he, with them of man and beast \r
-Select for life, shall in the ark be lodged, \r
-And sheltered round; but all the cataracts \r
-Of Heaven set open on the Earth shall pour \r
-Rain, day and night; all fountains of the deep, \r
-Broke up, shall heave the ocean to usurp \r
-Beyond all bounds; till inundation rise \r
-Above the highest hills: Then shall this mount \r
-Of Paradise by might of waves be moved \r
-Out of his place, pushed by the horned flood, \r
-With all his verdure spoiled, and trees adrift, \r
-Down the great river to the opening gulf, \r
-And there take root an island salt and bare, \r
-The haunt of seals, and orcs, and sea-mews' clang: \r
-To teach thee that God attributes to place \r
-No sanctity, if none be thither brought \r
-By men who there frequent, or therein dwell. \r
-And now, what further shall ensue, behold. \r
-He looked, and saw the ark hull on the flood, \r
-Which now abated; for the clouds were fled, \r
-Driven by a keen north-wind, that, blowing dry, \r
-Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decayed; \r
-And the clear sun on his wide watery glass \r
-Gazed hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew, \r
-As after thirst; which made their flowing shrink \r
-From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole \r
-With soft foot towards the deep; who now had stopt \r
-His sluces, as the Heaven his windows shut. \r
-The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground, \r
-Fast on the top of some high mountain fixed. \r
-And now the tops of hills, as rocks, appear; \r
-With clamour thence the rapid currents drive, \r
-Towards the retreating sea, their furious tide. \r
-Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies, \r
-And after him, the surer messenger, \r
-A dove sent forth once and again to spy \r
-Green tree or ground, whereon his foot may light: \r
-The second time returning, in his bill \r
-An olive-leaf he brings, pacifick sign: \r
-Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark \r
-The ancient sire descends, with all his train; \r
-Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout, \r
-Grateful to Heaven, over his head beholds \r
-A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow \r
-Conspicuous with three lifted colours gay, \r
-Betokening peace from God, and covenant new. \r
-Whereat the heart of Adam, erst so sad, \r
-Greatly rejoiced; and thus his joy broke forth. \r
-O thou, who future things canst represent \r
-As present, heavenly Instructer! I revive \r
-At this last sight; assured that Man shall live, \r
-With all the creatures, and their seed preserve. \r
-Far less I now lament for one whole world \r
-Of wicked sons destroyed, than I rejoice \r
-For one man found so perfect, and so just, \r
-That God vouchsafes to raise another world \r
-From him, and all his anger to forget. \r
-But say, what mean those coloured streaks in Heaven \r
-Distended, as the brow of God appeased? \r
-Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind \r
-The fluid skirts of that same watery cloud, \r
-Lest it again dissolve, and shower the earth? \r
-To whom the Arch-Angel. Dextrously thou aimest; \r
-So willingly doth God remit his ire, \r
-Though late repenting him of Man depraved; \r
-Grieved at his heart, when looking down he saw \r
-The whole earth filled with violence, and all flesh \r
-Corrupting each their way; yet, those removed, \r
-Such grace shall one just man find in his sight, \r
-That he relents, not to blot out mankind; \r
-And makes a covenant never to destroy \r
-The earth again by flood; nor let the sea \r
-Surpass his bounds; nor rain to drown the world, \r
-With man therein or beast; but, when he brings \r
-Over the earth a cloud, will therein set \r
-His triple-coloured bow, whereon to look, \r
-And call to mind his covenant: Day and night, \r
-Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost, \r
-Shall hold their course; till fire purge all things new, \r
-Both Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell. \r
- \r
- \r
- \r
-Book XII \r
- \r
- \r
-As one who in his journey bates at noon, \r
-Though bent on speed; so here the Arch-Angel paused \r
-Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored, \r
-If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; \r
-Then, with transition sweet, new speech resumes. \r
-Thus thou hast seen one world begin, and end; \r
-And Man, as from a second stock, proceed. \r
-Much thou hast yet to see; but I perceive \r
-Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine \r
-Must needs impair and weary human sense: \r
-Henceforth what is to come I will relate; \r
-Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. \r
-This second source of Men, while yet but few, \r
-And while the dread of judgement past remains \r
-Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, \r
-With some regard to what is just and right \r
-Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace; \r
-Labouring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, \r
-Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock, \r
-Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, \r
-With large wine-offerings poured, and sacred feast, \r
-Shall spend their days in joy unblamed; and dwell \r
-Long time in peace, by families and tribes, \r
-Under paternal rule: till one shall rise \r
-Of proud ambitious heart; who, not content \r
-With fair equality, fraternal state, \r
-Will arrogate dominion undeserved \r
-Over his brethren, and quite dispossess \r
-Concord and law of nature from the earth; \r
-Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game) \r
-With war, and hostile snare, such as refuse \r
-Subjection to his empire tyrannous: \r
-A mighty hunter thence he shall be styled \r
-Before the Lord; as in despite of Heaven, \r
-Or from Heaven, claiming second sovranty; \r
-And from rebellion shall derive his name, \r
-Though of rebellion others he accuse. \r
-He with a crew, whom like ambition joins \r
-With him or under him to tyrannize, \r
-Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find \r
-The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge \r
-Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell: \r
-Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast to build \r
-A city and tower, whose top may reach to Heaven; \r
-And get themselves a name; lest, far dispersed \r
-In foreign lands, their memory be lost; \r
-Regardless whether good or evil fame. \r
-But God, who oft descends to visit men \r
-Unseen, and through their habitations walks \r
-To mark their doings, them beholding soon, \r
-Comes down to see their city, ere the tower \r
-Obstruct Heaven-towers, and in derision sets \r
-Upon their tongues a various spirit, to rase \r
-Quite out their native language; and, instead, \r
-To sow a jangling noise of words unknown: \r
-Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud, \r
-Among the builders; each to other calls \r
-Not understood; till hoarse, and all in rage, \r
-As mocked they storm: great laughter was in Heaven, \r
-And looking down, to see the hubbub strange, \r
-And hear the din: Thus was the building left \r
-Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named. \r
-Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeased. \r
-O execrable son! so to aspire \r
-Above his brethren; to himself assuming \r
-Authority usurped, from God not given: \r
-He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, \r
-Dominion absolute; that right we hold \r
-By his donation; but man over men \r
-He made not lord; such title to himself \r
-Reserving, human left from human free. \r
-But this usurper his encroachment proud \r
-Stays not on Man; to God his tower intends \r
-Siege and defiance: Wretched man!what food \r
-Will he convey up thither, to sustain \r
-Himself and his rash army; where thin air \r
-Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross, \r
-And famish him of breath, if not of bread? \r
-To whom thus Michael. Justly thou abhorrest \r
-That son, who on the quiet state of men \r
-Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue \r
-Rational liberty; yet know withal, \r
-Since thy original lapse, true liberty \r
-Is lost, which always with right reason dwells \r
-Twinned, and from her hath no dividual being: \r
-Reason in man obscured, or not obeyed, \r
-Immediately inordinate desires, \r
-And upstart passions, catch the government \r
-From reason; and to servitude reduce \r
-Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits \r
-Within himself unworthy powers to reign \r
-Over free reason, God, in judgement just, \r
-Subjects him from without to violent lords; \r
-Who oft as undeservedly enthrall \r
-His outward freedom: Tyranny must be; \r
-Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse. \r
-Yet sometimes nations will decline so low \r
-From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong, \r
-But justice, and some fatal curse annexed, \r
-Deprives them of their outward liberty; \r
-Their inward lost: Witness the irreverent son \r
-Of him who built the ark; who, for the shame \r
-Done to his father, heard this heavy curse, \r
-Servant of servants, on his vicious race. \r
-Thus will this latter, as the former world, \r
-Still tend from bad to worse; till God at last, \r
-Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw \r
-His presence from among them, and avert \r
-His holy eyes; resolving from thenceforth \r
-To leave them to their own polluted ways; \r
-And one peculiar nation to select \r
-From all the rest, of whom to be invoked, \r
-A nation from one faithful man to spring: \r
-Him on this side Euphrates yet residing, \r
-Bred up in idol-worship: O, that men \r
-(Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown, \r
-While yet the patriarch lived, who 'scaped the flood, \r
-As to forsake the living God, and fall \r
-To worship their own work in wood and stone \r
-For Gods! Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes \r
-To call by vision, from his father's house, \r
-His kindred, and false Gods, into a land \r
-Which he will show him; and from him will raise \r
-A mighty nation; and upon him shower \r
-His benediction so, that in his seed \r
-All nations shall be blest: he straight obeys; \r
-Not knowing to what land, yet firm believes: \r
-I see him, but thou canst not, with what faith \r
-He leaves his Gods, his friends, and native soil, \r
-Ur of Chaldaea, passing now the ford \r
-To Haran; after him a cumbrous train \r
-Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude; \r
-Not wandering poor, but trusting all his wealth \r
-With God, who called him, in a land unknown. \r
-Canaan he now attains; I see his tents \r
-Pitched about Sechem, and the neighbouring plain \r
-Of Moreh; there by promise he receives \r
-Gift to his progeny of all that land, \r
-From Hameth northward to the Desart south; \r
-(Things by their names I call, though yet unnamed;) \r
-From Hermon east to the great western Sea; \r
-Mount Hermon, yonder sea; each place behold \r
-In prospect, as I point them; on the shore \r
-Mount Carmel; here, the double-founted stream, \r
-Jordan, true limit eastward; but his sons \r
-Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of hills. \r
-This ponder, that all nations of the earth \r
-Shall in his seed be blessed: By that seed \r
-Is meant thy great Deliverer, who shall bruise \r
-The Serpent's head; whereof to thee anon \r
-Plainlier shall be revealed. This patriarch blest, \r
-Whom faithful Abraham due time shall call, \r
-A son, and of his son a grand-child, leaves; \r
-Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown: \r
-The grandchild, with twelve sons increased, departs \r
-From Canaan to a land hereafter called \r
-Egypt, divided by the river Nile \r
-See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths \r
-Into the sea. To sojourn in that land \r
-He comes, invited by a younger son \r
-In time of dearth, a son whose worthy deeds \r
-Raise him to be the second in that realm \r
-Of Pharaoh. There he dies, and leaves his race \r
-Growing into a nation, and now grown \r
-Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks \r
-To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests \r
-Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them slaves \r
-Inhospitably, and kills their infant males: \r
-Till by two brethren (these two brethren call \r
-Moses and Aaron) sent from God to claim \r
-His people from enthralment, they return, \r
-With glory and spoil, back to their promised land. \r
-But first, the lawless tyrant, who denies \r
-To know their God, or message to regard, \r
-Must be compelled by signs and judgements dire; \r
-To blood unshed the rivers must be turned; \r
-Frogs, lice, and flies, must all his palace fill \r
-With loathed intrusion, and fill all the land; \r
-His cattle must of rot and murren die; \r
-Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss, \r
-And all his people; thunder mixed with hail, \r
-Hail mixed with fire, must rend the Egyptians sky, \r
-And wheel on the earth, devouring where it rolls; \r
-What it devours not, herb, or fruit, or grain, \r
-A darksome cloud of locusts swarming down \r
-Must eat, and on the ground leave nothing green; \r
-Darkness must overshadow all his bounds, \r
-Palpable darkness, and blot out three days; \r
-Last, with one midnight stroke, all the first-born \r
-Of Egypt must lie dead. Thus with ten wounds \r
-The river-dragon tamed at length submits \r
-To let his sojourners depart, and oft \r
-Humbles his stubborn heart; but still, as ice \r
-More hardened after thaw; till, in his rage \r
-Pursuing whom he late dismissed, the sea \r
-Swallows him with his host; but them lets pass, \r
-As on dry land, between two crystal walls; \r
-Awed by the rod of Moses so to stand \r
-Divided, till his rescued gain their shore: \r
-Such wondrous power God to his saint will lend, \r
-Though present in his Angel; who shall go \r
-Before them in a cloud, and pillar of fire; \r
-By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire; \r
-To guide them in their journey, and remove \r
-Behind them, while the obdurate king pursues: \r
-All night he will pursue; but his approach \r
-Darkness defends between till morning watch; \r
-Then through the fiery pillar, and the cloud, \r
-God looking forth will trouble all his host, \r
-And craze their chariot-wheels: when by command \r
-Moses once more his potent rod extends \r
-Over the sea; the sea his rod obeys; \r
-On their embattled ranks the waves return, \r
-And overwhelm their war: The race elect \r
-Safe toward Canaan from the shore advance \r
-Through the wild Desart, not the readiest way; \r
-Lest, entering on the Canaanite alarmed, \r
-War terrify them inexpert, and fear \r
-Return them back to Egypt, choosing rather \r
-Inglorious life with servitude; for life \r
-To noble and ignoble is more sweet \r
-Untrained in arms, where rashness leads not on. \r
-This also shall they gain by their delay \r
-In the wide wilderness; there they shall found \r
-Their government, and their great senate choose \r
-Through the twelve tribes, to rule by laws ordained: \r
-God from the mount of Sinai, whose gray top \r
-Shall tremble, he descending, will himself \r
-In thunder, lightning, and loud trumpets' sound, \r
-Ordain them laws; part, such as appertain \r
-To civil justice; part, religious rites \r
-Of sacrifice; informing them, by types \r
-And shadows, of that destined Seed to bruise \r
-The Serpent, by what means he shall achieve \r
-Mankind's deliverance. But the voice of God \r
-To mortal ear is dreadful: They beseech \r
-That Moses might report to them his will, \r
-And terrour cease; he grants what they besought, \r
-Instructed that to God is no access \r
-Without Mediator, whose high office now \r
-Moses in figure bears; to introduce \r
-One greater, of whose day he shall foretel, \r
-And all the Prophets in their age the times \r
-Of great Messiah shall sing. Thus, laws and rites \r
-Established, such delight hath God in Men \r
-Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes \r
-Among them to set up his tabernacle; \r
-The Holy One with mortal Men to dwell: \r
-By his prescript a sanctuary is framed \r
-Of cedar, overlaid with gold; therein \r
-An ark, and in the ark his testimony, \r
-The records of his covenant; over these \r
-A mercy-seat of gold, between the wings \r
-Of two bright Cherubim; before him burn \r
-Seven lamps as in a zodiack representing \r
-The heavenly fires; over the tent a cloud \r
-Shall rest by day, a fiery gleam by night; \r
-Save when they journey, and at length they come, \r
-Conducted by his Angel, to the land \r
-Promised to Abraham and his seed:--The rest \r
-Were long to tell; how many battles fought \r
-How many kings destroyed; and kingdoms won; \r
-Or how the sun shall in mid Heaven stand still \r
-A day entire, and night's due course adjourn, \r
-Man's voice commanding, 'Sun, in Gibeon stand, \r
-'And thou moon in the vale of Aialon, \r
-'Till Israel overcome! so call the third \r
-From Abraham, son of Isaac; and from him \r
-His whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win. \r
-Here Adam interposed. O sent from Heaven, \r
-Enlightener of my darkness, gracious things \r
-Thou hast revealed; those chiefly, which concern \r
-Just Abraham and his seed: now first I find \r
-Mine eyes true-opening, and my heart much eased; \r
-Erewhile perplexed with thoughts, what would become \r
-Of me and all mankind: But now I see \r
-His day, in whom all nations shall be blest; \r
-Favour unmerited by me, who sought \r
-Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means. \r
-This yet I apprehend not, why to those \r
-Among whom God will deign to dwell on earth \r
-So many and so various laws are given; \r
-So many laws argue so many sins \r
-Among them; how can God with such reside? \r
-To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that sin \r
-Will reign among them, as of thee begot; \r
-And therefore was law given them, to evince \r
-Their natural pravity, by stirring up \r
-Sin against law to fight: that when they see \r
-Law can discover sin, but not remove, \r
-Save by those shadowy expiations weak, \r
-The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude \r
-Some blood more precious must be paid for Man; \r
-Just for unjust; that, in such righteousness \r
-To them by faith imputed, they may find \r
-Justification towards God, and peace \r
-Of conscience; which the law by ceremonies \r
-Cannot appease; nor Man the mortal part \r
-Perform; and, not performing, cannot live. \r
-So law appears imperfect; and but given \r
-With purpose to resign them, in full time, \r
-Up to a better covenant; disciplined \r
-From shadowy types to truth; from flesh to spirit; \r
-From imposition of strict laws to free \r
-Acceptance of large grace; from servile fear \r
-To filial; works of law to works of faith. \r
-And therefore shall not Moses, though of God \r
-Highly beloved, being but the minister \r
-Of law, his people into Canaan lead; \r
-But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call, \r
-His name and office bearing, who shall quell \r
-The adversary-Serpent, and bring back \r
-Through the world's wilderness long-wandered Man \r
-Safe to eternal Paradise of rest. \r
-Mean while they, in their earthly Canaan placed, \r
-Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins \r
-National interrupt their publick peace, \r
-Provoking God to raise them enemies; \r
-From whom as oft he saves them penitent \r
-By Judges first, then under Kings; of whom \r
-The second, both for piety renowned \r
-And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive \r
-Irrevocable, that his regal throne \r
-For ever shall endure; the like shall sing \r
-All Prophecy, that of the royal stock \r
-Of David (so I name this king) shall rise \r
-A Son, the Woman's seed to thee foretold, \r
-Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust \r
-All nations; and to kings foretold, of kings \r
-The last; for of his reign shall be no end. \r
-But first, a long succession must ensue; \r
-And his next son, for wealth and wisdom famed, \r
-The clouded ark of God, till then in tents \r
-Wandering, shall in a glorious temple enshrine. \r
-Such follow him, as shall be registered \r
-Part good, part bad; of bad the longer scroll; \r
-Whose foul idolatries, and other faults \r
-Heaped to the popular sum, will so incense \r
-God, as to leave them, and expose their land, \r
-Their city, his temple, and his holy ark, \r
-With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey \r
-To that proud city, whose high walls thou sawest \r
-Left in confusion; Babylon thence called. \r
-There in captivity he lets them dwell \r
-The space of seventy years; then brings them back, \r
-Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn \r
-To David, stablished as the days of Heaven. \r
-Returned from Babylon by leave of kings \r
-Their lords, whom God disposed, the house of God \r
-They first re-edify; and for a while \r
-In mean estate live moderate; till, grown \r
-In wealth and multitude, factious they grow; \r
-But first among the priests dissention springs, \r
-Men who attend the altar, and should most \r
-Endeavour peace: their strife pollution brings \r
-Upon the temple itself: at last they seise \r
-The scepter, and regard not David's sons; \r
-Then lose it to a stranger, that the true \r
-Anointed King Messiah might be born \r
-Barred of his right; yet at his birth a star, \r
-Unseen before in Heaven, proclaims him come; \r
-And guides the eastern sages, who inquire \r
-His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and gold: \r
-His place of birth a solemn Angel tells \r
-To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night; \r
-They gladly thither haste, and by a quire \r
-Of squadroned Angels hear his carol sung. \r
-A virgin is his mother, but his sire \r
-The power of the Most High: He shall ascend \r
-The throne hereditary, and bound his reign \r
-With Earth's wide bounds, his glory with the Heavens. \r
-He ceased, discerning Adam with such joy \r
-Surcharged, as had like grief been dewed in tears, \r
-Without the vent of words; which these he breathed. \r
-O prophet of glad tidings, finisher \r
-Of utmost hope! now clear I understand \r
-What oft my steadiest thoughts have searched in vain; \r
-Why our great Expectation should be called \r
-The seed of Woman: Virgin Mother, hail, \r
-High in the love of Heaven; yet from my loins \r
-Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son \r
-Of God Most High: so God with Man unites! \r
-Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise \r
-Expect with mortal pain: Say where and when \r
-Their fight, what stroke shall bruise the victor's heel. \r
-To whom thus Michael. Dream not of their fight, \r
-As of a duel, or the local wounds \r
-Of head or heel: Not therefore joins the Son \r
-Manhood to Godhead, with more strength to foil \r
-Thy enemy; nor so is overcome \r
-Satan, whose fall from Heaven, a deadlier bruise, \r
-Disabled, not to give thee thy death's wound: \r
-Which he, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure, \r
-Not by destroying Satan, but his works \r
-In thee, and in thy seed: Nor can this be, \r
-But by fulfilling that which thou didst want, \r
-Obedience to the law of God, imposed \r
-On penalty of death, and suffering death; \r
-The penalty to thy transgression due, \r
-And due to theirs which out of thine will grow: \r
-So only can high Justice rest appaid. \r
-The law of God exact he shall fulfil \r
-Both by obedience and by love, though love \r
-Alone fulfil the law; thy punishment \r
-He shall endure, by coming in the flesh \r
-To a reproachful life, and cursed death; \r
-Proclaiming life to all who shall believe \r
-In his redemption; and that his obedience, \r
-Imputed, becomes theirs by faith; his merits \r
-To save them, not their own, though legal, works. \r
-For this he shall live hated, be blasphemed, \r
-Seised on by force, judged, and to death condemned \r
-A shameful and accursed, nailed to the cross \r
-By his own nation; slain for bringing life: \r
-But to the cross he nails thy enemies, \r
-The law that is against thee, and the sins \r
-Of all mankind, with him there crucified, \r
-Never to hurt them more who rightly trust \r
-In this his satisfaction; so he dies, \r
-But soon revives; Death over him no power \r
-Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light \r
-Return, the stars of morn shall see him rise \r
-Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light, \r
-Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems, \r
-His death for Man, as many as offered life \r
-Neglect not, and the benefit embrace \r
-By faith not void of works: This God-like act \r
-Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldest have died, \r
-In sin for ever lost from life; this act \r
-Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength, \r
-Defeating Sin and Death, his two main arms; \r
-And fix far deeper in his head their stings \r
-Than temporal death shall bruise the victor's heel, \r
-Or theirs whom he redeems; a death, like sleep, \r
-A gentle wafting to immortal life. \r
-Nor after resurrection shall he stay \r
-Longer on earth, than certain times to appear \r
-To his disciples, men who in his life \r
-Still followed him; to them shall leave in charge \r
-To teach all nations what of him they learned \r
-And his salvation; them who shall believe \r
-Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign \r
-Of washing them from guilt of sin to life \r
-Pure, and in mind prepared, if so befall, \r
-For death, like that which the Redeemer died. \r
-All nations they shall teach; for, from that day, \r
-Not only to the sons of Abraham's loins \r
-Salvation shall be preached, but to the sons \r
-Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world; \r
-So in his seed all nations shall be blest. \r
-Then to the Heaven of Heavens he shall ascend \r
-With victory, triumphing through the air \r
-Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise \r
-The Serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains \r
-Through all his realm, and there confounded leave; \r
-Then enter into glory, and resume \r
-His seat at God's right hand, exalted high \r
-Above all names in Heaven; and thence shall come, \r
-When this world's dissolution shall be ripe, \r
-With glory and power to judge both quick and dead; \r
-To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward \r
-His faithful, and receive them into bliss, \r
-Whether in Heaven or Earth; for then the Earth \r
-Shall all be Paradise, far happier place \r
-Than this of Eden, and far happier days. \r
-So spake the Arch-Angel Michael; then paused, \r
-As at the world's great period; and our sire, \r
-Replete with joy and wonder, thus replied. \r
-O Goodness infinite, Goodness immense! \r
-That all this good of evil shall produce, \r
-And evil turn to good; more wonderful \r
-Than that which by creation first brought forth \r
-Light out of darkness! Full of doubt I stand, \r
-Whether I should repent me now of sin \r
-By me done, and occasioned; or rejoice \r
-Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring; \r
-To God more glory, more good-will to Men \r
-From God, and over wrath grace shall abound. \r
-But say, if our Deliverer up to Heaven \r
-Must re-ascend, what will betide the few \r
-His faithful, left among the unfaithful herd, \r
-The enemies of truth? Who then shall guide \r
-His people, who defend? Will they not deal \r
-Worse with his followers than with him they dealt? \r
-Be sure they will, said the Angel; but from Heaven \r
-He to his own a Comforter will send, \r
-The promise of the Father, who shall dwell \r
-His Spirit within them; and the law of faith, \r
-Working through love, upon their hearts shall write, \r
-To guide them in all truth; and also arm \r
-With spiritual armour, able to resist \r
-Satan's assaults, and quench his fiery darts; \r
-What man can do against them, not afraid, \r
-Though to the death; against such cruelties \r
-With inward consolations recompensed, \r
-And oft supported so as shall amaze \r
-Their proudest persecutors: For the Spirit, \r
-Poured first on his Apostles, whom he sends \r
-To evangelize the nations, then on all \r
-Baptized, shall them with wonderous gifts endue \r
-To speak all tongues, and do all miracles, \r
-As did their Lord before them. Thus they win \r
-Great numbers of each nation to receive \r
-With joy the tidings brought from Heaven: At length \r
-Their ministry performed, and race well run, \r
-Their doctrine and their story written left, \r
-They die; but in their room, as they forewarn, \r
-Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves, \r
-Who all the sacred mysteries of Heaven \r
-To their own vile advantages shall turn \r
-Of lucre and ambition; and the truth \r
-With superstitions and traditions taint, \r
-Left only in those written records pure, \r
-Though not but by the Spirit understood. \r
-Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names, \r
-Places, and titles, and with these to join \r
-Secular power; though feigning still to act \r
-By spiritual, to themselves appropriating \r
-The Spirit of God, promised alike and given \r
-To all believers; and, from that pretence, \r
-Spiritual laws by carnal power shall force \r
-On every conscience; laws which none shall find \r
-Left them inrolled, or what the Spirit within \r
-Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then \r
-But force the Spirit of Grace itself, and bind \r
-His consort Liberty? what, but unbuild \r
-His living temples, built by faith to stand, \r
-Their own faith, not another's? for, on earth, \r
-Who against faith and conscience can be heard \r
-Infallible? yet many will presume: \r
-Whence heavy persecution shall arise \r
-On all, who in the worship persevere \r
-Of spirit and truth; the rest, far greater part, \r
-Will deem in outward rites and specious forms \r
-Religion satisfied; Truth shall retire \r
-Bestuck with slanderous darts, and works of faith \r
-Rarely be found: So shall the world go on, \r
-To good malignant, to bad men benign; \r
-Under her own weight groaning; till the day \r
-Appear of respiration to the just, \r
-And vengeance to the wicked, at return \r
-Of him so lately promised to thy aid, \r
-The Woman's Seed; obscurely then foretold, \r
-Now ampler known thy Saviour and thy Lord; \r
-Last, in the clouds, from Heaven to be revealed \r
-In glory of the Father, to dissolve \r
-Satan with his perverted world; then raise \r
-From the conflagrant mass, purged and refined, \r
-New Heavens, new Earth, ages of endless date, \r
-Founded in righteousness, and peace, and love; \r
-To bring forth fruits, joy and eternal bliss. \r
-He ended; and thus Adam last replied. \r
-How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest, \r
-Measured this transient world, the race of time, \r
-Till time stand fixed! Beyond is all abyss, \r
-Eternity, whose end no eye can reach. \r
-Greatly-instructed I shall hence depart; \r
-Greatly in peace of thought; and have my fill \r
-Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain; \r
-Beyond which was my folly to aspire. \r
-Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best, \r
-And love with fear the only God; to walk \r
-As in his presence; ever to observe \r
-His providence; and on him sole depend, \r
-Merciful over all his works, with good \r
-Still overcoming evil, and by small \r
-Accomplishing great things, by things deemed weak \r
-Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise \r
-By simply meek: that suffering for truth's sake \r
-Is fortitude to highest victory, \r
-And, to the faithful, death the gate of life; \r
-Taught this by his example, whom I now \r
-Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest. \r
-To whom thus also the Angel last replied. \r
-This having learned, thou hast attained the sum \r
-Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars \r
-Thou knewest by name, and all the ethereal powers, \r
-All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works, \r
-Or works of God in Heaven, air, earth, or sea, \r
-And all the riches of this world enjoyedst, \r
-And all the rule, one empire; only add \r
-Deeds to thy knowledge answerable; add faith, \r
-Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love, \r
-By name to come called charity, the soul \r
-Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loth \r
-To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess \r
-A Paradise within thee, happier far.-- \r
-Let us descend now therefore from this top \r
-Of speculation; for the hour precise \r
-Exacts our parting hence; and see!the guards, \r
-By me encamped on yonder hill, expect \r
-Their motion; at whose front a flaming sword, \r
-In signal of remove, waves fiercely round: \r
-We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve; \r
-Her also I with gentle dreams have calmed \r
-Portending good, and all her spirits composed \r
-To meek submission: thou, at season fit, \r
-Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard; \r
-Chiefly what may concern her faith to know, \r
-The great deliverance by her seed to come \r
-(For by the Woman's seed) on all mankind: \r
-That ye may live, which will be many days, \r
-Both in one faith unanimous, though sad, \r
-With cause, for evils past; yet much more cheered \r
-With meditation on the happy end. \r
-He ended, and they both descend the hill; \r
-Descended, Adam to the bower, where Eve \r
-Lay sleeping, ran before; but found her waked; \r
-And thus with words not sad she him received. \r
-Whence thou returnest, and whither wentest, I know; \r
-For God is also in sleep; and dreams advise, \r
-Which he hath sent propitious, some great good \r
-Presaging, since with sorrow and heart's distress \r
-Wearied I fell asleep: But now lead on; \r
-In me is no delay; with thee to go, \r
-Is to stay here; without thee here to stay, \r
-Is to go hence unwilling; thou to me \r
-Art all things under $Heaven, all places thou, \r
-Who for my wilful crime art banished hence. \r
-This further consolation yet secure \r
-I carry hence; though all by me is lost, \r
-Such favour I unworthy am vouchsafed, \r
-By me the Promised Seed shall all restore. \r
-So spake our mother Eve; and Adam heard \r
-Well pleased, but answered not: For now, too nigh \r
-The Arch-Angel stood; and, from the other hill \r
-To their fixed station, all in bright array \r
-The Cherubim descended; on the ground \r
-Gliding meteorous, as evening-mist \r
-Risen from a river o'er the marish glides, \r
-And gathers ground fast at the labourer's heel \r
-Homeward returning. High in front advanced, \r
-The brandished sword of God before them blazed, \r
-Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat, \r
-And vapour as the Libyan air adust, \r
-Began to parch that temperate clime; whereat \r
-In either hand the hastening Angel caught \r
-Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate \r
-Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast \r
-To the subjected plain; then disappeared. \r
-They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld \r
-Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, \r
-Waved over by that flaming brand; the gate \r
-With dreadful faces thronged, and fiery arms: \r
-Some natural tears they dropt, but wiped them soon; \r
-The world was all before them, where to choose \r
-Their place of rest, and Providence their guide: \r
-They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, \r
-Through Eden took their solitary way. \r
- \r
-[The End]\1a\1a\r