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-

-This is the February 1992 Project Gutenberg release of: 

- 

-Paradise Lost by John Milton 

- 

-The oldest etext known to Project Gutenberg (ca. 1964-1965) 

-(If you know of any older ones, please let us know.) 

- 

- 

-Introduction  (one page) 

- 

-This etext was originally created in 1964-1965 according to Dr. 

-Joseph Raben of Queens College, NY, to whom it is attributed by 

-Project Gutenberg.  We had heard of this etext for years but it 

-was not until 1991 that we actually managed to track it down to 

-a specific location, and then it took months to convince people 

-to let us have a copy, then more months for them actually to do 

-the copying and get it to us.  Then another month to convert to 

-something we could massage with our favorite 486 in DOS.  After 

-that is was only a matter of days to get it into this shape you 

-will see below.  The original was, of course, in CAPS only, and 

-so were all the other etexts of the 60's and early 70's.  Don't 

-let anyone fool you into thinking any etext with both upper and 

-lower case is an original; all those original Project Gutenberg 

-etexts were also in upper case and were translated or rewritten 

-many times to get them into their current condition.  They have 

-been worked on by many people throughout the world. 

- 

-In the course of our searches for Professor Raben and his etext 

-we were never able to determine where copies were or which of a 

-variety of editions he may have used as a source.  We did get a 

-little information here and there, but even after we received a 

-copy of the etext we were unwilling to release it without first 

-determining that it was in fact Public Domain and finding Raben 

-to verify this and get his permission.  Interested enough, in a 

-totally unrelated action to our searches for him, the professor 

-subscribed to the Project Gutenberg listserver and we happened, 

-by accident, to notice his name. (We don't really look at every 

-subscription request as the computers usually handle them.) The 

-etext was then properly identified, copyright analyzed, and the 

-current edition prepared. 

- 

-To give you an estimation of the difference in the original and 

-what we have today:  the original was probably entered on cards 

-commonly known at the time as "IBM cards" (Do Not Fold, Spindle 

-or Mutilate) and probably took in excess of 100,000 of them.  A 

-single card could hold 80 characters (hence 80 characters is an 

-accepted standard for so many computer margins), and the entire 

-original edition we received in all caps was over 800,000 chars 

-in length, including line enumeration, symbols for caps and the 

-punctuation marks, etc., since they were not available keyboard 

-characters at the time (probably the keyboards operated at baud 

-rates of around 113, meaning the typists had to type slowly for 

-the keyboard to keep up). 

- 

-This is the second version of Paradise Lost released by Project 

-Gutenberg.  The first was released as our October, 1991 etext. 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-Paradise Lost 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-Book I 

- 

- 

-Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit 

-Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste 

-Brought death into the World, and all our woe, 

-With loss of Eden, till one greater Man 

-Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, 

-Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top 

-Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire 

-That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed 

-In the beginning how the heavens and earth 

-Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill 

-Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flowed 

-Fast by the oracle of God, I thence 

-Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, 

-That with no middle flight intends to soar 

-Above th' Aonian mount, while it pursues 

-Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. 

-And chiefly thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer 

-Before all temples th' upright heart and pure, 

-Instruct me, for thou know'st; thou from the first 

-Wast present, and, with mighty wings outspread, 

-Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast Abyss, 

-And mad'st it pregnant: what in me is dark 

-Illumine, what is low raise and support; 

-That, to the height of this great argument, 

-I may assert Eternal Providence, 

-And justify the ways of God to men. 

-  Say first--for Heaven hides nothing from thy view, 

-Nor the deep tract of Hell--say first what cause 

-Moved our grand parents, in that happy state, 

-Favoured of Heaven so highly, to fall off 

-From their Creator, and transgress his will 

-For one restraint, lords of the World besides. 

-Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? 

-  Th' infernal Serpent; he it was whose guile, 

-Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived 

-The mother of mankind, what time his pride 

-Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host 

-Of rebel Angels, by whose aid, aspiring 

-To set himself in glory above his peers, 

-He trusted to have equalled the Most High, 

-If he opposed, and with ambitious aim 

-Against the throne and monarchy of God, 

-Raised impious war in Heaven and battle proud, 

-With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power 

-Hurled headlong flaming from th' ethereal sky, 

-With hideous ruin and combustion, down 

-To bottomless perdition, there to dwell 

-In adamantine chains and penal fire, 

-Who durst defy th' Omnipotent to arms. 

-  Nine times the space that measures day and night 

-To mortal men, he, with his horrid crew, 

-Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf, 

-Confounded, though immortal. But his doom 

-Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought 

-Both of lost happiness and lasting pain 

-Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, 

-That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, 

-Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. 

-At once, as far as Angels ken, he views 

-The dismal situation waste and wild. 

-A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, 

-As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames 

-No light; but rather darkness visible 

-Served only to discover sights of woe, 

-Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace 

-And rest can never dwell, hope never comes 

-That comes to all, but torture without end 

-Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed 

-With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. 

-Such place Eternal Justice has prepared 

-For those rebellious; here their prison ordained 

-In utter darkness, and their portion set, 

-As far removed from God and light of Heaven 

-As from the centre thrice to th' utmost pole. 

-Oh how unlike the place from whence they fell! 

-There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelmed 

-With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, 

-He soon discerns; and, weltering by his side, 

-One next himself in power, and next in crime, 

-Long after known in Palestine, and named 

-Beelzebub. To whom th' Arch-Enemy, 

-And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words 

-Breaking the horrid silence, thus began:-- 

-  "If thou beest he--but O how fallen! how changed 

-From him who, in the happy realms of light 

-Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine 

-Myriads, though bright!--if he whom mutual league, 

-United thoughts and counsels, equal hope 

-And hazard in the glorious enterprise 

-Joined with me once, now misery hath joined 

-In equal ruin; into what pit thou seest 

-From what height fallen: so much the stronger proved 

-He with his thunder; and till then who knew 

-The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, 

-Nor what the potent Victor in his rage 

-Can else inflict, do I repent, or change, 

-Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind, 

-And high disdain from sense of injured merit, 

-That with the Mightiest raised me to contend, 

-And to the fierce contentions brought along 

-Innumerable force of Spirits armed, 

-That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, 

-His utmost power with adverse power opposed 

-In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, 

-And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? 

-All is not lost--the unconquerable will, 

-And study of revenge, immortal hate, 

-And courage never to submit or yield: 

-And what is else not to be overcome? 

-That glory never shall his wrath or might 

-Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace 

-With suppliant knee, and deify his power 

-Who, from the terror of this arm, so late 

-Doubted his empire--that were low indeed; 

-That were an ignominy and shame beneath 

-This downfall; since, by fate, the strength of Gods, 

-And this empyreal sybstance, cannot fail; 

-Since, through experience of this great event, 

-In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, 

-We may with more successful hope resolve 

-To wage by force or guile eternal war, 

-Irreconcilable to our grand Foe, 

-Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy 

-Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven." 

-  So spake th' apostate Angel, though in pain, 

-Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair; 

-And him thus answered soon his bold compeer:-- 

-  "O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers 

-That led th' embattled Seraphim to war 

-Under thy conduct, and, in dreadful deeds 

-Fearless, endangered Heaven's perpetual King, 

-And put to proof his high supremacy, 

-Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate, 

-Too well I see and rue the dire event 

-That, with sad overthrow and foul defeat, 

-Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host 

-In horrible destruction laid thus low, 

-As far as Gods and heavenly Essences 

-Can perish: for the mind and spirit remains 

-Invincible, and vigour soon returns, 

-Though all our glory extinct, and happy state 

-Here swallowed up in endless misery. 

-But what if he our Conqueror (whom I now 

-Of force believe almighty, since no less 

-Than such could have o'erpowered such force as ours) 

-Have left us this our spirit and strength entire, 

-Strongly to suffer and support our pains, 

-That we may so suffice his vengeful ire, 

-Or do him mightier service as his thralls 

-By right of war, whate'er his business be, 

-Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire, 

-Or do his errands in the gloomy Deep? 

-What can it the avail though yet we feel 

-Strength undiminished, or eternal being 

-To undergo eternal punishment?" 

-  Whereto with speedy words th' Arch-Fiend replied:-- 

-"Fallen Cherub, to be weak is miserable, 

-Doing or suffering: but of this be sure-- 

-To do aught good never will be our task, 

-But ever to do ill our sole delight, 

-As being the contrary to his high will 

-Whom we resist. If then his providence 

-Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, 

-Our labour must be to pervert that end, 

-And out of good still to find means of evil; 

-Which ofttimes may succeed so as perhaps 

-Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb 

-His inmost counsels from their destined aim. 

-But see! the angry Victor hath recalled 

-His ministers of vengeance and pursuit 

-Back to the gates of Heaven: the sulphurous hail, 

-Shot after us in storm, o'erblown hath laid 

-The fiery surge that from the precipice 

-Of Heaven received us falling; and the thunder, 

-Winged with red lightning and impetuous rage, 

-Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now 

-To bellow through the vast and boundless Deep. 

-Let us not slip th' occasion, whether scorn 

-Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe. 

-Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, 

-The seat of desolation, void of light, 

-Save what the glimmering of these livid flames 

-Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend 

-From off the tossing of these fiery waves; 

-There rest, if any rest can harbour there; 

-And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, 

-Consult how we may henceforth most offend 

-Our enemy, our own loss how repair, 

-How overcome this dire calamity, 

-What reinforcement we may gain from hope, 

-If not, what resolution from despair." 

-  Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate, 

-With head uplift above the wave, and eyes 

-That sparkling blazed; his other parts besides 

-Prone on the flood, extended long and large, 

-Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge 

-As whom the fables name of monstrous size, 

-Titanian or Earth-born, that warred on Jove, 

-Briareos or Typhon, whom the den 

-By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast 

-Leviathan, which God of all his works 

-Created hugest that swim th' ocean-stream. 

-Him, haply slumbering on the Norway foam, 

-The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff, 

-Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell, 

-With fixed anchor in his scaly rind, 

-Moors by his side under the lee, while night 

-Invests the sea, and wished morn delays. 

-So stretched out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay, 

-Chained on the burning lake; nor ever thence 

-Had risen, or heaved his head, but that the will 

-And high permission of all-ruling Heaven 

-Left him at large to his own dark designs, 

-That with reiterated crimes he might 

-Heap on himself damnation, while he sought 

-Evil to others, and enraged might see 

-How all his malice served but to bring forth 

-Infinite goodness, grace, and mercy, shewn 

-On Man by him seduced, but on himself 

-Treble confusion, wrath, and vengeance poured. 

-  Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool 

-His mighty stature; on each hand the flames 

-Driven backward slope their pointing spires, and,rolled 

-In billows, leave i' th' midst a horrid vale. 

-Then with expanded wings he steers his flight 

-Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air, 

-That felt unusual weight; till on dry land 

-He lights--if it were land that ever burned 

-With solid, as the lake with liquid fire, 

-And such appeared in hue as when the force 

-Of subterranean wind transprots a hill 

-Torn from Pelorus, or the shattered side 

-Of thundering Etna, whose combustible 

-And fuelled entrails, thence conceiving fire, 

-Sublimed with mineral fury, aid the winds, 

-And leave a singed bottom all involved 

-With stench and smoke. Such resting found the sole 

-Of unblest feet. Him followed his next mate; 

-Both glorying to have scaped the Stygian flood 

-As gods, and by their own recovered strength, 

-Not by the sufferance of supernal Power. 

-  "Is this the region, this the soil, the clime," 

-Said then the lost Archangel, "this the seat 

-That we must change for Heaven?--this mournful gloom 

-For that celestial light? Be it so, since he 

-Who now is sovereign can dispose and bid 

-What shall be right: farthest from him is best 

-Whom reason hath equalled, force hath made supreme 

-Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields, 

-Where joy for ever dwells! Hail, horrors! hail, 

-Infernal world! and thou, profoundest Hell, 

-Receive thy new possessor--one who brings 

-A mind not to be changed by place or time. 

-The mind is its own place, and in itself 

-Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. 

-What matter where, if I be still the same, 

-And what I should be, all but less than he 

-Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least 

-We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built 

-Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: 

-Here we may reigh secure; and, in my choice, 

-To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: 

-Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. 

-But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, 

-Th' associates and co-partners of our loss, 

-Lie thus astonished on th' oblivious pool, 

-And call them not to share with us their part 

-In this unhappy mansion, or once more 

-With rallied arms to try what may be yet 

-Regained in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell?" 

-  So Satan spake; and him Beelzebub 

-Thus answered:--"Leader of those armies bright 

-Which, but th' Omnipotent, none could have foiled! 

-If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge 

-Of hope in fears and dangers--heard so oft 

-In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge 

-Of battle, when it raged, in all assaults 

-Their surest signal--they will soon resume 

-New courage and revive, though now they lie 

-Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, 

-As we erewhile, astounded and amazed; 

-No wonder, fallen such a pernicious height!" 

-  He scare had ceased when the superior Fiend 

-Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield, 

-Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, 

-Behind him cast. The broad circumference 

-Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb 

-Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views 

-At evening, from the top of Fesole, 

-Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, 

-Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe. 

-His spear--to equal which the tallest pine 

-Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast 

-Of some great ammiral, were but a wand-- 

-He walked with, to support uneasy steps 

-Over the burning marl, not like those steps 

-On Heaven's azure; and the torrid clime 

-Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire. 

-Nathless he so endured, till on the beach 

-Of that inflamed sea he stood, and called 

-His legions--Angel Forms, who lay entranced 

-Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks 

-In Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades 

-High over-arched embower; or scattered sedge 

-Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion armed 

-Hath vexed the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o'erthrew 

-Busiris and his Memphian chivalry, 

-While with perfidious hatred they pursued 

-The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld 

-From the safe shore their floating carcases 

-And broken chariot-wheels. So thick bestrown, 

-Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, 

-Under amazement of their hideous change. 

-He called so loud that all the hollow deep 

-Of Hell resounded:--"Princes, Potentates, 

-Warriors, the Flower of Heaven--once yours; now lost, 

-If such astonishment as this can seize 

-Eternal Spirits! Or have ye chosen this place 

-After the toil of battle to repose 

-Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find 

-To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven? 

-Or in this abject posture have ye sworn 

-To adore the Conqueror, who now beholds 

-Cherub and Seraph rolling in the flood 

-With scattered arms and ensigns, till anon 

-His swift pursuers from Heaven-gates discern 

-Th' advantage, and, descending, tread us down 

-Thus drooping, or with linked thunderbolts 

-Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf? 

-Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen!" 

-  They heard, and were abashed, and up they sprung 

-Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch 

-On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, 

-Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. 

-Nor did they not perceive the evil plight 

-In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; 

-Yet to their General's voice they soon obeyed 

-Innumerable. As when the potent rod 

-Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, 

-Waved round the coast, up-called a pitchy cloud 

-Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind, 

-That o'er the realm of impious Pharaoh hung 

-Like Night, and darkened all the land of Nile; 

-So numberless were those bad Angels seen 

-Hovering on wing under the cope of Hell, 

-'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires; 

-Till, as a signal given, th' uplifted spear 

-Of their great Sultan waving to direct 

-Their course, in even balance down they light 

-On the firm brimstone, and fill all the plain: 

-A multitude like which the populous North 

-Poured never from her frozen loins to pass 

-Rhene or the Danaw, when her barbarous sons 

-Came like a deluge on the South, and spread 

-Beneath Gibraltar to the Libyan sands. 

-Forthwith, form every squadron and each band, 

-The heads and leaders thither haste where stood 

-Their great Commander--godlike Shapes, and Forms 

-Excelling human; princely Dignities; 

-And Powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones, 

-Though on their names in Heavenly records now 

-Be no memorial, blotted out and rased 

-By their rebellion from the Books of Life. 

-Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve 

-Got them new names, till, wandering o'er the earth, 

-Through God's high sufferance for the trial of man, 

-By falsities and lies the greatest part 

-Of mankind they corrupted to forsake 

-God their Creator, and th' invisible 

-Glory of him that made them to transform 

-Oft to the image of a brute, adorned 

-With gay religions full of pomp and gold, 

-And devils to adore for deities: 

-Then were they known to men by various names, 

-And various idols through the heathen world. 

-  Say, Muse, their names then known, who first, who last, 

-Roused from the slumber on that fiery couch, 

-At their great Emperor's call, as next in worth 

-Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, 

-While the promiscuous crowd stood yet aloof? 

-  The chief were those who, from the pit of Hell 

-Roaming to seek their prey on Earth, durst fix 

-Their seats, long after, next the seat of God, 

-Their altars by his altar, gods adored 

-Among the nations round, and durst abide 

-Jehovah thundering out of Sion, throned 

-Between the Cherubim; yea, often placed 

-Within his sanctuary itself their shrines, 

-Abominations; and with cursed things 

-His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned, 

-And with their darkness durst affront his light. 

-First, Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood 

-Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears; 

-Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, 

-Their children's cries unheard that passed through fire 

-To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite 

-Worshiped in Rabba and her watery plain, 

-In Argob and in Basan, to the stream 

-Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such 

-Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart 

-Of Solomon he led by fraoud to build 

-His temple right against the temple of God 

-On that opprobrious hill, and made his grove 

-The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence 

-And black Gehenna called, the type of Hell. 

-Next Chemos, th' obscene dread of Moab's sons, 

-From Aroar to Nebo and the wild 

-Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon 

-And Horonaim, Seon's real, beyond 

-The flowery dale of Sibma clad with vines, 

-And Eleale to th' Asphaltic Pool: 

-Peor his other name, when he enticed 

-Israel in Sittim, on their march from Nile, 

-To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. 

-Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarged 

-Even to that hill of scandal, by the grove 

-Of Moloch homicide, lust hard by hate, 

-Till good Josiah drove them thence to Hell. 

-With these came they who, from the bordering flood 

-Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts 

-Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names 

-Of Baalim and Ashtaroth--those male, 

-These feminine. For Spirits, when they please, 

-Can either sex assume, or both; so soft 

-And uncompounded is their essence pure, 

-Not tried or manacled with joint or limb, 

-Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, 

-Like cumbrous flesh; but, in what shape they choose, 

-Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, 

-Can execute their airy purposes, 

-And works of love or enmity fulfil. 

-For those the race of Israel oft forsook 

-Their Living Strength, and unfrequented left 

-His righteous altar, bowing lowly down 

-To bestial gods; for which their heads as low 

-Bowed down in battle, sunk before the spear 

-Of despicable foes. With these in troop 

-Came Astoreth, whom the Phoenicians called 

-Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns; 

-To whose bright image nigntly by the moon 

-Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs; 

-In Sion also not unsung, where stood 

-Her temple on th' offensive mountain, built 

-By that uxorious king whose heart, though large, 

-Beguiled by fair idolatresses, fell 

-To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, 

-Whose annual wound in Lebanon allured 

-The Syrian damsels to lament his fate 

-In amorous ditties all a summer's day, 

-While smooth Adonis from his native rock 

-Ran purple to the sea, supposed with blood 

-Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale 

-Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, 

-Whose wanton passions in the sacred proch 

-Ezekiel saw, when, by the vision led, 

-His eye surveyed the dark idolatries 

-Of alienated Judah. Next came one 

-Who mourned in earnest, when the captive ark 

-Maimed his brute image, head and hands lopt off, 

-In his own temple, on the grunsel-edge, 

-Where he fell flat and shamed his worshippers: 

-Dagon his name, sea-monster,upward man 

-And downward fish; yet had his temple high 

-Reared in Azotus, dreaded through the coast 

-Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, 

-And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. 

-Him followed Rimmon, whose delightful seat 

-Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks 

-Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. 

-He also against the house of God was bold: 

-A leper once he lost, and gained a king-- 

-Ahaz, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew 

-God's altar to disparage and displace 

-For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn 

-His odious offerings, and adore the gods 

-Whom he had vanquished. After these appeared 

-A crew who, under names of old renown-- 

-Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train-- 

-With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused 

-Fanatic Egypt and her priests to seek 

-Their wandering gods disguised in brutish forms 

-Rather than human. Nor did Israel scape 

-Th' infection, when their borrowed gold composed 

-The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king 

-Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, 

-Likening his Maker to the grazed ox-- 

-Jehovah, who, in one night, when he passed 

-From Egypt marching, equalled with one stroke 

-Both her first-born and all her bleating gods. 

-Belial came last; than whom a Spirit more lewd 

-Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love 

-Vice for itself. To him no temple stood 

-Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he 

-In temples and at altars, when the priest 

-Turns atheist, as did Eli's sons, who filled 

-With lust and violence the house of God? 

-In courts and palaces he also reigns, 

-And in luxurious cities, where the noise 

-Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, 

-And injury and outrage; and, when night 

-Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons 

-Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. 

-Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night 

-In Gibeah, when the hospitable door 

-Exposed a matron, to avoid worse rape. 

-  These were the prime in order and in might: 

-The rest were long to tell; though far renowned 

-Th' Ionian gods--of Javan's issue held 

-Gods, yet confessed later than Heaven and Earth, 

-Their boasted parents;--Titan, Heaven's first-born, 

-With his enormous brood, and birthright seized 

-By younger Saturn: he from mightier Jove, 

-His own and Rhea's son, like measure found; 

-So Jove usurping reigned. These, first in Crete 

-And Ida known, thence on the snowy top 

-Of cold Olympus ruled the middle air, 

-Their highest heaven; or on the Delphian cliff, 

-Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds 

-Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old 

-Fled over Adria to th' Hesperian fields, 

-And o'er the Celtic roamed the utmost Isles. 

-  All these and more came flocking; but with looks 

-Downcast and damp; yet such wherein appeared 

-Obscure some glimpse of joy to have found their Chief 

-Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost 

-In loss itself; which on his countenance cast 

-Like doubtful hue. But he, his wonted pride 

-Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore 

-Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised 

-Their fainting courage, and dispelled their fears. 

-Then straight commands that, at the warlike sound 

-Of trumpets loud and clarions, be upreared 

-His mighty standard. That proud honour claimed 

-Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall: 

-Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled 

-Th' imperial ensign; which, full high advanced, 

-Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, 

-With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed, 

-Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while 

-Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds: 

-At which the universal host up-sent 

-A shout that tore Hell's concave, and beyond 

-Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. 

-All in a moment through the gloom were seen 

-Ten thousand banners rise into the air, 

-With orient colours waving: with them rose 

-A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms 

-Appeared, and serried shields in thick array 

-Of depth immeasurable. Anon they move 

-In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood 

-Of flutes and soft recorders--such as raised 

-To height of noblest temper heroes old 

-Arming to battle, and instead of rage 

-Deliberate valour breathed, firm, and unmoved 

-With dread of death to flight or foul retreat; 

-Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage 

-With solemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase 

-Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain 

-From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they, 

-Breathing united force with fixed thought, 

-Moved on in silence to soft pipes that charmed 

-Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil. And now 

-Advanced in view they stand--a horrid front 

-Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise 

-Of warriors old, with ordered spear and shield, 

-Awaiting what command their mighty Chief 

-Had to impose. He through the armed files 

-Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse 

-The whole battalion views--their order due, 

-Their visages and stature as of gods; 

-Their number last he sums. And now his heart 

-Distends with pride, and, hardening in his strength, 

-Glories: for never, since created Man, 

-Met such embodied force as, named with these, 

-Could merit more than that small infantry 

-Warred on by cranes--though all the giant brood 

-Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were joined 

-That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side 

-Mixed with auxiliar gods; and what resounds 

-In fable or romance of Uther's son, 

-Begirt with British and Armoric knights; 

-And all who since, baptized or infidel, 

-Jousted in Aspramont, or Montalban, 

-Damasco, or Marocco, or Trebisond, 

-Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore 

-When Charlemain with all his peerage fell 

-By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond 

-Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed 

-Their dread Commander. He, above the rest 

-In shape and gesture proudly eminent, 

-Stood like a tower. His form had yet not lost 

-All her original brightness, nor appeared 

-Less than Archangel ruined, and th' excess 

-Of glory obscured: as when the sun new-risen 

-Looks through the horizontal misty air 

-Shorn of his beams, or, from behind the moon, 

-In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds 

-On half the nations, and with fear of change 

-Perplexes monarchs. Darkened so, yet shone 

-Above them all th' Archangel: but his face 

-Deep scars of thunder had intrenched, and care 

-Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows 

-Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride 

-Waiting revenge. Cruel his eye, but cast 

-Signs of remorse and passion, to behold 

-The fellows of his crime, the followers rather 

-(Far other once beheld in bliss), condemned 

-For ever now to have their lot in pain-- 

-Millions of Spirits for his fault amerced 

-Of Heaven, and from eteranl splendours flung 

-For his revolt--yet faithful how they stood, 

-Their glory withered; as, when heaven's fire 

-Hath scathed the forest oaks or mountain pines, 

-With singed top their stately growth, though bare, 

-Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepared 

-To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend 

-From wing to wing, and half enclose him round 

-With all his peers: attention held them mute. 

-Thrice he assayed, and thrice, in spite of scorn, 

-Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last 

-Words interwove with sighs found out their way:-- 

-  "O myriads of immortal Spirits! O Powers 

-Matchless, but with th' Almighth!--and that strife 

-Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire, 

-As this place testifies, and this dire change, 

-Hateful to utter. But what power of mind, 

-Forseeing or presaging, from the depth 

-Of knowledge past or present, could have feared 

-How such united force of gods, how such 

-As stood like these, could ever know repulse? 

-For who can yet believe, though after loss, 

-That all these puissant legions, whose exile 

-Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend, 

-Self-raised, and repossess their native seat? 

-For me, be witness all the host of Heaven, 

-If counsels different, or danger shunned 

-By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns 

-Monarch in Heaven till then as one secure 

-Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, 

-Consent or custom, and his regal state 

-Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed-- 

-Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. 

-Henceforth his might we know, and know our own, 

-So as not either to provoke, or dread 

-New war provoked: our better part remains 

-To work in close design, by fraud or guile, 

-What force effected not; that he no less 

-At length from us may find, who overcomes 

-By force hath overcome but half his foe. 

-Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife 

-There went a fame in Heaven that he ere long 

-Intended to create, and therein plant 

-A generation whom his choice regard 

-Should favour equal to the Sons of Heaven. 

-Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps 

-Our first eruption--thither, or elsewhere; 

-For this infernal pit shall never hold 

-Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor th' Abyss 

-Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts 

-Full counsel must mature. Peace is despaired; 

-For who can think submission? War, then, war 

-Open or understood, must be resolved." 

-  He spake; and, to confirm his words, outflew 

-Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs 

-Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze 

-Far round illumined Hell. Highly they raged 

-Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms 

-Clashed on their sounding shields the din of war, 

-Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven. 

-  There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top 

-Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire 

-Shone with a glossy scurf--undoubted sign 

-That in his womb was hid metallic ore, 

-The work of sulphur. Thither, winged with speed, 

-A numerous brigade hastened: as when bands 

-Of pioneers, with spade and pickaxe armed, 

-Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field, 

-Or cast a rampart. Mammon led them on-- 

-Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell 

-From Heaven; for even in Heaven his looks and thoughts 

-Were always downward bent, admiring more 

-The riches of heaven's pavement, trodden gold, 

-Than aught divine or holy else enjoyed 

-In vision beatific. By him first 

-Men also, and by his suggestion taught, 

-Ransacked the centre, and with impious hands 

-Rifled the bowels of their mother Earth 

-For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew 

-Opened into the hill a spacious wound, 

-And digged out ribs of gold. Let none admire 

-That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best 

-Deserve the precious bane. And here let those 

-Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell 

-Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings, 

-Learn how their greatest monuments of fame 

-And strength, and art, are easily outdone 

-By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour 

-What in an age they, with incessant toil 

-And hands innumerable, scarce perform. 

-Nigh on the plain, in many cells prepared, 

-That underneath had veins of liquid fire 

-Sluiced from the lake, a second multitude 

-With wondrous art founded the massy ore, 

-Severing each kind, and scummed the bullion-dross. 

-A third as soon had formed within the ground 

-A various mould, and from the boiling cells 

-By strange conveyance filled each hollow nook; 

-As in an organ, from one blast of wind, 

-To many a row of pipes the sound-board breathes. 

-Anon out of the earth a fabric huge 

-Rose like an exhalation, with the sound 

-Of dulcet symphonies and voices sweet-- 

-Built like a temple, where pilasters round 

-Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid 

-With golden architrave; nor did there want 

-Cornice or frieze, with bossy sculptures graven; 

-The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon 

-Nor great Alcairo such magnificence 

-Equalled in all their glories, to enshrine 

-Belus or Serapis their gods, or seat 

-Their kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove 

-In wealth and luxury. Th' ascending pile 

-Stood fixed her stately height, and straight the doors, 

-Opening their brazen folds, discover, wide 

-Within, her ample spaces o'er the smooth 

-And level pavement: from the arched roof, 

-Pendent by subtle magic, many a row 

-Of starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed 

-With naptha and asphaltus, yielded light 

-As from a sky. The hasty multitude 

-Admiring entered; and the work some praise, 

-And some the architect. His hand was known 

-In Heaven by many a towered structure high, 

-Where sceptred Angels held their residence, 

-And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King 

-Exalted to such power, and gave to rule, 

-Each in his Hierarchy, the Orders bright. 

-Nor was his name unheard or unadored 

-In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land 

-Men called him Mulciber; and how he fell 

-From Heaven they fabled, thrown by angry Jove 

-Sheer o'er the crystal battlements: from morn 

-To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, 

-A summer's day, and with the setting sun 

-Dropt from the zenith, like a falling star, 

-On Lemnos, th' Aegaean isle. Thus they relate, 

-Erring; for he with this rebellious rout 

-Fell long before; nor aught aviled him now 

-To have built in Heaven high towers; nor did he scape 

-By all his engines, but was headlong sent, 

-With his industrious crew, to build in Hell. 

-  Meanwhile the winged Heralds, by command 

-Of sovereign power, with awful ceremony 

-And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim 

-A solemn council forthwith to be held 

-At Pandemonium, the high capital 

-Of Satan and his peers. Their summons called 

-From every band and squared regiment 

-By place or choice the worthiest: they anon 

-With hundreds and with thousands trooping came 

-Attended. All access was thronged; the gates 

-And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall 

-(Though like a covered field, where champions bold 

-Wont ride in armed, and at the Soldan's chair 

-Defied the best of Paynim chivalry 

-To mortal combat, or career with lance), 

-Thick swarmed, both on the ground and in the air, 

-Brushed with the hiss of rustling wings. As bees 

-In spring-time, when the Sun with Taurus rides. 

-Pour forth their populous youth about the hive 

-In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers 

-Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank, 

-The suburb of their straw-built citadel, 

-New rubbed with balm, expatiate, and confer 

-Their state-affairs: so thick the airy crowd 

-Swarmed and were straitened; till, the signal given, 

-Behold a wonder! They but now who seemed 

-In bigness to surpass Earth's giant sons, 

-Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room 

-Throng numberless--like that pygmean race 

-Beyond the Indian mount; or faery elves, 

-Whose midnight revels, by a forest-side 

-Or fountain, some belated peasant sees, 

-Or dreams he sees, while overhead the Moon 

-Sits arbitress, and nearer to the Earth 

-Wheels her pale course: they, on their mirth and dance 

-Intent, with jocund music charm his ear; 

-At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. 

-Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms 

-Reduced their shapes immense, and were at large, 

-Though without number still, amidst the hall 

-Of that infernal court. But far within, 

-And in their own dimensions like themselves, 

-The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim 

-In close recess and secret conclave sat, 

-A thousand demi-gods on golden seats, 

-Frequent and full. After short silence then, 

-And summons read, the great consult began. 

- 

- 

- 

-Book II                                                          

- 

-  

-High on a throne of royal state, which far 

-Outshone the wealth or Ormus and of Ind, 

-Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand 

-Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, 

-Satan exalted sat, by merit raised 

-To that bad eminence; and, from despair 

-Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires 

-Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue 

-Vain war with Heaven; and, by success untaught, 

-His proud imaginations thus displayed:-- 

-  "Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven!-- 

-For, since no deep within her gulf can hold 

-Immortal vigour, though oppressed and fallen, 

-I give not Heaven for lost: from this descent 

-Celestial Virtues rising will appear 

-More glorious and more dread than from no fall, 

-And trust themselves to fear no second fate!-- 

-Me though just right, and the fixed laws of Heaven, 

-Did first create your leader--next, free choice 

-With what besides in council or in fight 

-Hath been achieved of merit--yet this loss, 

-Thus far at least recovered, hath much more 

-Established in a safe, unenvied throne, 

-Yielded with full consent. The happier state 

-In Heaven, which follows dignity, might draw 

-Envy from each inferior; but who here 

-Will envy whom the highest place exposes 

-Foremost to stand against the Thunderer's aim 

-Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share 

-Of endless pain? Where there is, then, no good 

-For which to strive, no strife can grow up there 

-From faction: for none sure will claim in Hell 

-Precedence; none whose portion is so small 

-Of present pain that with ambitious mind 

-Will covet more! With this advantage, then, 

-To union, and firm faith, and firm accord, 

-More than can be in Heaven, we now return 

-To claim our just inheritance of old, 

-Surer to prosper than prosperity 

-Could have assured us; and by what best way, 

-Whether of open war or covert guile, 

-We now debate. Who can advise may speak." 

-  He ceased; and next him Moloch, sceptred king, 

-Stood up--the strongest and the fiercest Spirit 

-That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despair. 

-His trust was with th' Eternal to be deemed 

-Equal in strength, and rather than be less 

-Cared not to be at all; with that care lost 

-Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse, 

-He recked not, and these words thereafter spake:-- 

-  "My sentence is for open war. Of wiles, 

-More unexpert, I boast not: them let those 

-Contrive who need, or when they need; not now. 

-For, while they sit contriving, shall the rest-- 

-Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait 

-The signal to ascend--sit lingering here, 

-Heaven's fugitives, and for their dwelling-place 

-Accept this dark opprobrious den of shame, 

-The prison of his ryranny who reigns 

-By our delay? No! let us rather choose, 

-Armed with Hell-flames and fury, all at once 

-O'er Heaven's high towers to force resistless way, 

-Turning our tortures into horrid arms 

-Against the Torturer; when, to meet the noise 

-Of his almighty engine, he shall hear 

-Infernal thunder, and, for lightning, see 

-Black fire and horror shot with equal rage 

-Among his Angels, and his throne itself 

-Mixed with Tartarean sulphur and strange fire, 

-His own invented torments. But perhaps 

-The way seems difficult, and steep to scale 

-With upright wing against a higher foe! 

-Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench 

-Of that forgetful lake benumb not still, 

-That in our porper motion we ascend 

-Up to our native seat; descent and fall 

-To us is adverse. Who but felt of late, 

-When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear 

-Insulting, and pursued us through the Deep, 

-With what compulsion and laborious flight 

-We sunk thus low? Th' ascent is easy, then; 

-Th' event is feared! Should we again provoke 

-Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find 

-To our destruction, if there be in Hell 

-Fear to be worse destroyed! What can be worse 

-Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned 

-In this abhorred deep to utter woe! 

-Where pain of unextinguishable fire 

-Must exercise us without hope of end 

-The vassals of his anger, when the scourge 

-Inexorably, and the torturing hour, 

-Calls us to penance? More destroyed than thus, 

-We should be quite abolished, and expire. 

-What fear we then? what doubt we to incense 

-His utmost ire? which, to the height enraged, 

-Will either quite consume us, and reduce 

-To nothing this essential--happier far 

-Than miserable to have eternal being!-- 

-Or, if our substance be indeed divine, 

-And cannot cease to be, we are at worst 

-On this side nothing; and by proof we feel 

-Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven, 

-And with perpetual inroads to alarm, 

-Though inaccessible, his fatal throne: 

-Which, if not victory, is yet revenge." 

-  He ended frowning, and his look denounced 

-Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous 

-To less than gods. On th' other side up rose 

-Belial, in act more graceful and humane. 

-A fairer person lost not Heaven; he seemed 

-For dignity composed, and high exploit. 

-But all was false and hollow; though his tongue 

-Dropped manna, and could make the worse appear 

-The better reason, to perplex and dash 

-Maturest counsels: for his thoughts were low-- 

- To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds 

-Timorous and slothful. Yet he pleased the ear, 

-And with persuasive accent thus began:-- 

-  "I should be much for open war, O Peers, 

-As not behind in hate, if what was urged 

-Main reason to persuade immediate war 

-Did not dissuade me most, and seem to cast 

-Ominous conjecture on the whole success; 

-When he who most excels in fact of arms, 

-In what he counsels and in what excels 

-Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair 

-And utter dissolution, as the scope 

-Of all his aim, after some dire revenge. 

-First, what revenge? The towers of Heaven are filled 

-With armed watch, that render all access 

-Impregnable: oft on the bodering Deep 

-Encamp their legions, or with obscure wing 

-Scout far and wide into the realm of Night, 

-Scorning surprise. Or, could we break our way 

-By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise 

-With blackest insurrection to confound 

-Heaven's purest light, yet our great Enemy, 

-All incorruptible, would on his throne 

-Sit unpolluted, and th' ethereal mould, 

-Incapable of stain, would soon expel 

-Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire, 

-Victorious. Thus repulsed, our final hope 

-Is flat despair: we must exasperate 

-Th' Almighty Victor to spend all his rage; 

-And that must end us; that must be our cure-- 

-To be no more. Sad cure! for who would lose, 

-Though full of pain, this intellectual being, 

-Those thoughts that wander through eternity, 

-To perish rather, swallowed up and lost 

-In the wide womb of uncreated Night, 

-Devoid of sense and motion? And who knows, 

-Let this be good, whether our angry Foe 

-Can give it, or will ever? How he can 

-Is doubtful; that he never will is sure. 

-Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire, 

-Belike through impotence or unaware, 

-To give his enemies their wish, and end 

-Them in his anger whom his anger saves 

-To punish endless? 'Wherefore cease we, then?' 

-Say they who counsel war; 'we are decreed, 

-Reserved, and destined to eternal woe; 

-Whatever doing, what can we suffer more, 

-What can we suffer worse?' Is this, then, worst-- 

-Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in arms? 

-What when we fled amain, pursued and struck 

-With Heaven's afflicting thunder, and besought 

-The Deep to shelter us? This Hell then seemed 

-A refuge from those wounds. Or when we lay 

-Chained on the burning lake? That sure was worse. 

-What if the breath that kindled those grim fires, 

-Awaked, should blow them into sevenfold rage, 

-And plunge us in the flames; or from above 

-Should intermitted vengeance arm again 

-His red right hand to plague us? What if all 

-Her stores were opened, and this firmament 

-Of Hell should spout her cataracts of fire, 

-Impendent horrors, threatening hideous fall 

-One day upon our heads; while we perhaps, 

-Designing or exhorting glorious war, 

-Caught in a fiery tempest, shall be hurled, 

-Each on his rock transfixed, the sport and prey 

-Or racking whirlwinds, or for ever sunk 

-Under yon boiling ocean, wrapt in chains, 

-There to converse with everlasting groans, 

-Unrespited, unpitied, unreprieved, 

-Ages of hopeless end? This would be worse. 

-War, therefore, open or concealed, alike 

-My voice dissuades; for what can force or guile 

-With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye 

-Views all things at one view? He from Heaven's height 

-All these our motions vain sees and derides, 

-Not more almighty to resist our might 

-Than wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. 

-Shall we, then, live thus vile--the race of Heaven 

-Thus trampled, thus expelled, to suffer here 

-Chains and these torments? Better these than worse, 

-By my advice; since fate inevitable 

-Subdues us, and omnipotent decree, 

-The Victor's will. To suffer, as to do, 

-Our strength is equal; nor the law unjust 

-That so ordains. This was at first resolved, 

-If we were wise, against so great a foe 

-Contending, and so doubtful what might fall. 

-I laugh when those who at the spear are bold 

-And venturous, if that fail them, shrink, and fear 

-What yet they know must follow--to endure 

-Exile, or igominy, or bonds, or pain, 

-The sentence of their Conqueror. This is now 

-Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear, 

-Our Supreme Foe in time may much remit 

-His anger, and perhaps, thus far removed, 

-Not mind us not offending, satisfied 

-With what is punished; whence these raging fires 

-Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. 

-Our purer essence then will overcome 

-Their noxious vapour; or, inured, not feel; 

-Or, changed at length, and to the place conformed 

-In temper and in nature, will receive 

-Familiar the fierce heat; and, void of pain, 

-This horror will grow mild, this darkness light; 

-Besides what hope the never-ending flight 

-Of future days may bring, what chance, what change 

-Worth waiting--since our present lot appears 

-For happy though but ill, for ill not worst, 

-If we procure not to ourselves more woe." 

-  Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb, 

-Counselled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth, 

-Not peace; and after him thus Mammon spake:-- 

-  "Either to disenthrone the King of Heaven 

-We war, if war be best, or to regain 

-Our own right lost. Him to unthrone we then 

-May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield 

-To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife. 

-The former, vain to hope, argues as vain 

-The latter; for what place can be for us 

-Within Heaven's bound, unless Heaven's Lord supreme 

-We overpower? Suppose he should relent 

-And publish grace to all, on promise made 

-Of new subjection; with what eyes could we 

-Stand in his presence humble, and receive 

-Strict laws imposed, to celebrate his throne 

-With warbled hyms, and to his Godhead sing 

-Forced hallelujahs, while he lordly sits 

-Our envied sovereign, and his altar breathes 

-Ambrosial odours and ambrosial flowers, 

-Our servile offerings? This must be our task 

-In Heaven, this our delight. How wearisome 

-Eternity so spent in worship paid 

-To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue, 

-By force impossible, by leave obtained 

-Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state 

-Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek 

-Our own good from ourselves, and from our own 

-Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess, 

-Free and to none accountable, preferring 

-Hard liberty before the easy yoke 

-Of servile pomp. Our greatness will appear 

-Then most conspicuous when great things of small, 

-Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse, 

-We can create, and in what place soe'er 

-Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain 

-Through labour and endurance. This deep world 

-Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst 

-Thick clouds and dark doth Heaven's all-ruling Sire 

-Choose to reside, his glory unobscured, 

-And with the majesty of darkness round 

-Covers his throne, from whence deep thunders roar. 

-Mustering their rage, and Heaven resembles Hell! 

-As he our darkness, cannot we his light 

-Imitate when we please? This desert soil 

-Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold; 

-Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise 

-Magnificence; and what can Heaven show more? 

-Our torments also may, in length of time, 

-Become our elements, these piercing fires 

-As soft as now severe, our temper changed 

-Into their temper; which must needs remove 

-The sensible of pain. All things invite 

-To peaceful counsels, and the settled state 

-Of order, how in safety best we may 

-Compose our present evils, with regard 

-Of what we are and where, dismissing quite 

-All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise." 

-  He scarce had finished, when such murmur filled 

-Th' assembly as when hollow rocks retain 

-The sound of blustering winds, which all night long 

-Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull 

-Seafaring men o'erwatched, whose bark by chance 

-Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay 

-After the tempest. Such applause was heard 

-As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased, 

-Advising peace: for such another field 

-They dreaded worse than Hell; so much the fear 

-Of thunder and the sword of Michael 

-Wrought still within them; and no less desire 

-To found this nether empire, which might rise, 

-By policy and long process of time, 

-In emulation opposite to Heaven. 

-Which when Beelzebub perceived--than whom, 

-Satan except, none higher sat--with grave 

-Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed 

-A pillar of state. Deep on his front engraven 

-Deliberation sat, and public care; 

-And princely counsel in his face yet shone, 

-Majestic, though in ruin. Sage he stood 

-With Atlantean shoulders, fit to bear 

-The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look 

-Drew audience and attention still as night 

-Or summer's noontide air, while thus he spake:-- 

-  "Thrones and Imperial Powers, Offspring of Heaven, 

-Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now 

-Must we renounce, and, changing style, be called 

-Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote 

-Inclines--here to continue, and build up here 

-A growing empire; doubtless! while we dream, 

-And know not that the King of Heaven hath doomed 

-This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat 

-Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt 

-From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league 

-Banded against his throne, but to remain 

-In strictest bondage, though thus far removed, 

-Under th' inevitable curb, reserved 

-His captive multitude. For he, to be sure, 

-In height or depth, still first and last will reign 

-Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part 

-By our revolt, but over Hell extend 

-His empire, and with iron sceptre rule 

-Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven. 

-What sit we then projecting peace and war? 

-War hath determined us and foiled with loss 

-Irreparable; terms of peace yet none 

-Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given 

-To us enslaved, but custody severe, 

-And stripes and arbitrary punishment 

-Inflicted? and what peace can we return, 

-But, to our power, hostility and hate, 

-Untamed reluctance, and revenge, though slow, 

-Yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least 

-May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice 

-In doing what we most in suffering feel? 

-Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need 

-With dangerous expedition to invade 

-Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege, 

-Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find 

-Some easier enterprise? There is a place 

-(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven 

-Err not)--another World, the happy seat 

-Of some new race, called Man, about this time 

-To be created like to us, though less 

-In power and excellence, but favoured more 

-Of him who rules above; so was his will 

-Pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath 

-That shook Heaven's whole circumference confirmed. 

-Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn 

-What creatures there inhabit, of what mould 

-Or substance, how endued, and what their power 

-And where their weakness: how attempted best, 

-By force of subtlety. Though Heaven be shut, 

-And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure 

-In his own strength, this place may lie exposed, 

-The utmost border of his kingdom, left 

-To their defence who hold it: here, perhaps, 

-Some advantageous act may be achieved 

-By sudden onset--either with Hell-fire 

-To waste his whole creation, or possess 

-All as our own, and drive, as we were driven, 

-The puny habitants; or, if not drive, 

-Seduce them to our party, that their God 

-May prove their foe, and with repenting hand 

-Abolish his own works. This would surpass 

-Common revenge, and interrupt his joy 

-In our confusion, and our joy upraise 

-In his disturbance; when his darling sons, 

-Hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse 

-Their frail original, and faded bliss-- 

-Faded so soon! Advise if this be worth 

-Attempting, or to sit in darkness here 

-Hatching vain empires." Thus beelzebub 

-Pleaded his devilish counsel--first devised 

-By Satan, and in part proposed: for whence, 

-But from the author of all ill, could spring 

-So deep a malice, to confound the race 

-Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell 

-To mingle and involve, done all to spite 

-The great Creator? But their spite still serves 

-His glory to augment. The bold design 

-Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy 

-Sparkled in all their eyes: with full assent 

-They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews:-- 

-"Well have ye judged, well ended long debate, 

-Synod of Gods, and, like to what ye are, 

-Great things resolved, which from the lowest deep 

-Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, 

-Nearer our ancient seat--perhaps in view 

-Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms, 

-And opportune excursion, we may chance 

-Re-enter Heaven; or else in some mild zone 

-Dwell, not unvisited of Heaven's fair light, 

-Secure, and at the brightening orient beam 

-Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air, 

-To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, 

-Shall breathe her balm. But, first, whom shall we send 

-In search of this new World? whom shall we find 

-Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet 

-The dark, unbottomed, infinite Abyss, 

-And through the palpable obscure find out 

-His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight, 

-Upborne with indefatigable wings 

-Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive 

-The happy Isle? What strength, what art, can then 

-Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe, 

-Through the strict senteries and stations thick 

-Of Angels watching round? Here he had need 

-All circumspection: and we now no less 

-Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send 

-The weight of all, and our last hope, relies." 

-  This said, he sat; and expectation held 

-His look suspense, awaiting who appeared 

-To second, or oppose, or undertake 

-The perilous attempt. But all sat mute, 

-Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each 

-In other's countenance read his own dismay, 

-Astonished. None among the choice and prime 

-Of those Heaven-warring champions could be found 

-So hardy as to proffer or accept, 

-Alone, the dreadful voyage; till, at last, 

-Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised 

-Above his fellows, with monarchal pride 

-Conscious of highest worth, unmoved thus spake:-- 

-  "O Progeny of Heaven! Empyreal Thrones! 

-With reason hath deep silence and demur 

-Seized us, though undismayed. Long is the way 

-And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light. 

-Our prison strong, this huge convex of fire, 

-Outrageous to devour, immures us round 

-Ninefold; and gates of burning adamant, 

-Barred over us, prohibit all egress. 

-These passed, if any pass, the void profound 

-Of unessential Night receives him next, 

-Wide-gaping, and with utter loss of being 

-Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf. 

-If thence he scape, into whatever world, 

-Or unknown region, what remains him less 

-Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape? 

-But I should ill become this throne, O Peers, 

-And this imperial sovereignty, adorned 

-With splendour, armed with power, if aught proposed 

-And judged of public moment in the shape 

-Of difficulty or danger, could deter 

-Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume 

-These royalties, and not refuse to reign, 

-Refusing to accept as great a share 

-Of hazard as of honour, due alike 

-To him who reigns, and so much to him due 

-Of hazard more as he above the rest 

-High honoured sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers, 

-Terror of Heaven, though fallen; intend at home, 

-While here shall be our home, what best may ease 

-The present misery, and render Hell 

-More tolerable; if there be cure or charm 

-To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain 

-Of this ill mansion: intermit no watch 

-Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad 

-Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek 

-Deliverance for us all. This enterprise 

-None shall partake with me." Thus saying, rose 

-The Monarch, and prevented all reply; 

-Prudent lest, from his resolution raised, 

-Others among the chief might offer now, 

-Certain to be refused, what erst they feared, 

-And, so refused, might in opinion stand 

-His rivals, winning cheap the high repute 

-Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they 

-Dreaded not more th' adventure than his voice 

-Forbidding; and at once with him they rose. 

-Their rising all at once was as the sound 

-Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend 

-With awful reverence prone, and as a God 

-Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven. 

-Nor failed they to express how much they praised 

-That for the general safety he despised 

-His own: for neither do the Spirits damned 

-Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast 

-Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, 

-Or close ambition varnished o'er with zeal. 

-  Thus they their doubtful consultations dark 

-Ended, rejoicing in their matchless Chief: 

-As, when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds 

-Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread 

-Heaven's cheerful face, the louring element 

-Scowls o'er the darkened landscape snow or shower, 

-If chance the radiant sun, with farewell sweet, 

-Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, 

-The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds 

-Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings. 

-O shame to men! Devil with devil damned 

-Firm concord holds; men only disagree 

-Of creatures rational, though under hope 

-Of heavenly grace, and, God proclaiming peace, 

-Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife 

-Among themselves, and levy cruel wars 

-Wasting the earth, each other to destroy: 

-As if (which might induce us to accord) 

-Man had not hellish foes enow besides, 

-That day and night for his destruction wait! 

-  The Stygian council thus dissolved; and forth 

-In order came the grand infernal Peers: 

-Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seemed 

-Alone th' antagonist of Heaven, nor less 

-Than Hell's dread Emperor, with pomp supreme, 

-And god-like imitated state: him round 

-A globe of fiery Seraphim enclosed 

-With bright emblazonry, and horrent arms. 

-Then of their session ended they bid cry 

-With trumpet's regal sound the great result: 

-Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim 

-Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy, 

-By herald's voice explained; the hollow Abyss 

-Heard far adn wide, and all the host of Hell 

-With deafening shout returned them loud acclaim. 

-Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised 

-By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers 

-Disband; and, wandering, each his several way 

-Pursues, as inclination or sad choice 

-Leads him perplexed, where he may likeliest find 

-Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain 

-The irksome hours, till his great Chief return. 

-Part on the plain, or in the air sublime, 

-Upon the wing or in swift race contend, 

-As at th' Olympian games or Pythian fields; 

-Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal 

-With rapid wheels, or fronted brigades form: 

-As when, to warn proud cities, war appears 

-Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush 

-To battle in the clouds; before each van 

-Prick forth the airy knights, and couch their spears, 

-Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms 

-From either end of heaven the welkin burns. 

-Others, with vast Typhoean rage, more fell, 

-Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air 

-In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar:-- 

-As when Alcides, from Oechalia crowned 

-With conquest, felt th' envenomed robe, and tore 

-Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pines, 

-And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw 

-Into th' Euboic sea. Others, more mild, 

-Retreated in a silent valley, sing 

-With notes angelical to many a harp 

-Their own heroic deeds, and hapless fall 

-By doom of battle, and complain that Fate 

-Free Virtue should enthrall to Force or Chance. 

-Their song was partial; but the harmony 

-(What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?) 

-Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment 

-The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet 

-(For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense) 

-Others apart sat on a hill retired, 

-In thoughts more elevate, and reasoned high 

-Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate-- 

-Fixed fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute, 

-And found no end, in wandering mazes lost. 

-Of good and evil much they argued then, 

-Of happiness and final misery, 

-Passion and apathy, and glory and shame: 

-Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy!-- 

-Yet, with a pleasing sorcery, could charm 

-Pain for a while or anguish, and excite 

-Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured breast 

-With stubborn patience as with triple steel. 

-Another part, in squadrons and gross bands, 

-On bold adventure to discover wide 

-That dismal world, if any clime perhaps 

-Might yield them easier habitation, bend 

-Four ways their flying march, along the banks 

-Of four infernal rivers, that disgorge 

-Into the burning lake their baleful streams-- 

-Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate; 

-Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep; 

-Cocytus, named of lamentation loud 

-Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegeton, 

-Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. 

-Far off from these, a slow and silent stream, 

-Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls 

-Her watery labyrinth, whereof who drinks 

-Forthwith his former state and being forgets-- 

-Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. 

-Beyond this flood a frozen continent 

-Lies dark and wild, beat with perpetual storms 

-Of whirlwind and dire hail, which on firm land 

-Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems 

-Of ancient pile; all else deep snow and ice, 

-A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog 

-Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old, 

-Where armies whole have sunk: the parching air 

-Burns frore, and cold performs th' effect of fire. 

-Thither, by harpy-footed Furies haled, 

-At certain revolutions all the damned 

-Are brought; and feel by turns the bitter change 

-Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more fierce, 

-From beds of raging fire to starve in ice 

-Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine 

-Immovable, infixed, and frozen round 

-Periods of time,--thence hurried back to fire. 

-They ferry over this Lethean sound 

-Both to and fro, their sorrow to augment, 

-And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach 

-The tempting stream, with one small drop to lose 

-In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe, 

-All in one moment, and so near the brink; 

-But Fate withstands, and, to oppose th' attempt, 

-Medusa with Gorgonian terror guards 

-The ford, and of itself the water flies 

-All taste of living wight, as once it fled 

-The lip of Tantalus. Thus roving on 

-In confused march forlorn, th' adventurous bands, 

-With shuddering horror pale, and eyes aghast, 

-Viewed first their lamentable lot, and found 

-No rest. Through many a dark and dreary vale 

-They passed, and many a region dolorous, 

-O'er many a frozen, many a fiery alp, 

-Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of death-- 

-A universe of death, which God by curse 

-Created evil, for evil only good; 

-Where all life dies, death lives, and Nature breeds, 

-Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things, 

-Obominable, inutterable, and worse 

-Than fables yet have feigned or fear conceived, 

-Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimeras dire. 

-  Meanwhile the Adversary of God and Man, 

-Satan, with thoughts inflamed of highest design, 

-Puts on swift wings, and toward the gates of Hell 

-Explores his solitary flight: sometimes 

-He scours the right hand coast, sometimes the left; 

-Now shaves with level wing the deep, then soars 

-Up to the fiery concave towering high. 

-As when far off at sea a fleet descried 

-Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds 

-Close sailing from Bengala, or the isles 

-Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring 

-Their spicy drugs; they on the trading flood, 

-Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape, 

-Ply stemming nightly toward the pole: so seemed 

-Far off the flying Fiend. At last appear 

-Hell-bounds, high reaching to the horrid roof, 

-And thrice threefold the gates; three folds were brass, 

-Three iron, three of adamantine rock, 

-Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire, 

-Yet unconsumed. Before the gates there sat 

-On either side a formidable Shape. 

-The one seemed woman to the waist, and fair, 

-But ended foul in many a scaly fold, 

-Voluminous and vast--a serpent armed 

-With mortal sting. About her middle round 

-A cry of Hell-hounds never-ceasing barked 

-With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung 

-A hideous peal; yet, when they list, would creep, 

-If aught disturbed their noise, into her womb, 

-And kennel there; yet there still barked and howled 

-Within unseen. Far less abhorred than these 

-Vexed Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts 

-Calabria from the hoarse Trinacrian shore; 

-Nor uglier follow the night-hag, when, called 

-In secret, riding through the air she comes, 

-Lured with the smell of infant blood, to dance 

-With Lapland witches, while the labouring moon 

-Eclipses at their charms. The other Shape-- 

-If shape it might be called that shape had none 

-Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb; 

-Or substance might be called that shadow seemed, 

-For each seemed either--black it stood as Night, 

-Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell, 

-And shook a dreadful dart: what seemed his head 

-The likeness of a kingly crown had on. 

-Satan was now at hand, and from his seat 

-The monster moving onward came as fast 

-With horrid strides; Hell trembled as he strode. 

-Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admired-- 

-Admired, not feared (God and his Son except, 

-Created thing naught valued he nor shunned), 

-And with disdainful look thus first began:-- 

-  "Whence and what art thou, execrable Shape, 

-That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance 

-Thy miscreated front athwart my way 

-To yonder gates? Through them I mean to pass, 

-That be assured, without leave asked of thee. 

-Retire; or taste thy folly, and learn by proof, 

-Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heaven." 

-  To whom the Goblin, full of wrath, replied:-- 

-"Art thou that traitor Angel? art thou he, 

-Who first broke peace in Heaven and faith, till then 

-Unbroken, and in proud rebellious arms 

-Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons, 

-Conjured against the Highest--for which both thou 

-And they, outcast from God, are here condemned 

-To waste eternal days in woe and pain? 

-And reckon'st thou thyself with Spirits of Heaven 

-Hell-doomed, and breath'st defiance here and scorn, 

-Where I reign king, and, to enrage thee more, 

-Thy king and lord? Back to thy punishment, 

-False fugitive; and to thy speed add wings, 

-Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue 

-Thy lingering, or with one stroke of this dart 

-Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before." 

-  So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape, 

-So speaking and so threatening, grew tenfold, 

-More dreadful and deform. On th' other side, 

-Incensed with indignation, Satan stood 

-Unterrified, and like a comet burned, 

-That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge 

-In th' arctic sky, and from his horrid hair 

-Shakes pestilence and war. Each at the head 

-Levelled his deadly aim; their fatal hands 

-No second stroke intend; and such a frown 

-Each cast at th' other as when two black clouds, 

-With heaven's artillery fraught, came rattling on 

-Over the Caspian,--then stand front to front 

-Hovering a space, till winds the signal blow 

-To join their dark encounter in mid-air. 

-So frowned the mighty combatants that Hell 

-Grew darker at their frown; so matched they stood; 

-For never but once more was wither like 

-To meet so great a foe. And now great deeds 

-Had been achieved, whereof all Hell had rung, 

-Had not the snaky Sorceress, that sat 

-Fast by Hell-gate and kept the fatal key, 

-Risen, and with hideous outcry rushed between. 

-  "O father, what intends thy hand," she cried, 

-"Against thy only son? What fury, O son, 

-Possesses thee to bend that mortal dart 

-Against thy father's head? And know'st for whom? 

-For him who sits above, and laughs the while 

-At thee, ordained his drudge to execute 

-Whate'er his wrath, which he calls justice, bids-- 

-His wrath, which one day will destroy ye both!" 

-  She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest 

-Forbore: then these to her Satan returned:-- 

-  "So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange 

-Thou interposest, that my sudden hand, 

-Prevented, spares to tell thee yet by deeds 

-What it intends, till first I know of thee 

-What thing thou art, thus double-formed, and why, 

-In this infernal vale first met, thou call'st 

-Me father, and that phantasm call'st my son. 

-I know thee not, nor ever saw till now 

-Sight more detestable than him and thee." 

-  T' whom thus the Portress of Hell-gate replied:-- 

-"Hast thou forgot me, then; and do I seem 

-Now in thine eye so foul?--once deemed so fair 

-In Heaven, when at th' assembly, and in sight 

-Of all the Seraphim with thee combined 

-In bold conspiracy against Heaven's King, 

-All on a sudden miserable pain 

-Surprised thee, dim thine eyes and dizzy swum 

-In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast 

-Threw forth, till on the left side opening wide, 

-Likest to thee in shape and countenance bright, 

-Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess armed, 

-Out of thy head I sprung. Amazement seized 

-All th' host of Heaven; back they recoiled afraid 

-At first, and called me Sin, and for a sign 

-Portentous held me; but, familiar grown, 

-I pleased, and with attractive graces won 

-The most averse--thee chiefly, who, full oft 

-Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing, 

-Becam'st enamoured; and such joy thou took'st 

-With me in secret that my womb conceived 

-A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose, 

-And fields were fought in Heaven: wherein remained 

-(For what could else?) to our Almighty Foe 

-Clear victory; to our part loss and rout 

-Through all the Empyrean. Down they fell, 

-Driven headlong from the pitch of Heaven, down 

-Into this Deep; and in the general fall 

-I also: at which time this powerful key 

-Into my hands was given, with charge to keep 

-These gates for ever shut, which none can pass 

-Without my opening. Pensive here I sat 

-Alone; but long I sat not, till my womb, 

-Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown, 

-Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes. 

-At last this odious offspring whom thou seest, 

-Thine own begotten, breaking violent way, 

-Tore through my entrails, that, with fear and pain 

-Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew 

-Transformed: but he my inbred enemy 

-Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart, 

-Made to destroy. I fled, and cried out Death! 

-Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sighed 

-From all her caves, and back resounded Death! 

-I fled; but he pursued (though more, it seems, 

-Inflamed with lust than rage), and, swifter far, 

-Me overtook, his mother, all dismayed, 

-And, in embraces forcible and foul 

-Engendering with me, of that rape begot 

-These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry 

-Surround me, as thou saw'st--hourly conceived 

-And hourly born, with sorrow infinite 

-To me; for, when they list, into the womb 

-That bred them they return, and howl, and gnaw 

-My bowels, their repast; then, bursting forth 

-Afresh, with conscious terrors vex me round, 

-That rest or intermission none I find. 

-Before mine eyes in opposition sits 

-Grim Death, my son and foe, who set them on, 

-And me, his parent, would full soon devour 

-For want of other prey, but that he knows 

-His end with mine involved, and knows that I 

-Should prove a bitter morsel, and his bane, 

-Whenever that shall be: so Fate pronounced. 

-But thou, O father, I forewarn thee, shun 

-His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope 

-To be invulnerable in those bright arms, 

-Through tempered heavenly; for that mortal dint, 

-Save he who reigns above, none can resist." 

-  She finished; and the subtle Fiend his lore 

-Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered smooth:-- 

-  "Dear daughter--since thou claim'st me for thy sire, 

-And my fair son here show'st me, the dear pledge 

-Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys 

-Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change 

-Befallen us unforeseen, unthought-of--know, 

-I come no enemy, but to set free 

-From out this dark and dismal house of pain 

-Both him and thee, and all the heavenly host 

-Of Spirits that, in our just pretences armed, 

-Fell with us from on high. From them I go 

-This uncouth errand sole, and one for all 

-Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread 

-Th' unfounded Deep, and through the void immense 

-To search, with wandering quest, a place foretold 

-Should be--and, by concurring signs, ere now 

-Created vast and round--a place of bliss 

-In the purlieus of Heaven; and therein placed 

-A race of upstart creatures, to supply 

-Perhaps our vacant room, though more removed, 

-Lest Heaven, surcharged with potent multitude, 

-Might hap to move new broils. Be this, or aught 

-Than this more secret, now designed, I haste 

-To know; and, this once known, shall soon return, 

-And bring ye to the place where thou and Death 

-Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen 

-Wing silently the buxom air, embalmed 

-With odours. There ye shall be fed and filled 

-Immeasurably; all things shall be your prey." 

-  He ceased; for both seemed highly pleased, and Death 

-Grinned horrible a ghastly smile, to hear 

-His famine should be filled, and blessed his maw 

-Destined to that good hour. No less rejoiced 

-His mother bad, and thus bespake her sire:-- 

-  "The key of this infernal Pit, by due 

-And by command of Heaven's all-powerful King, 

-I keep, by him forbidden to unlock 

-These adamantine gates; against all force 

-Death ready stands to interpose his dart, 

-Fearless to be o'ermatched by living might. 

-But what owe I to his commands above, 

-Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down 

-Into this gloom of Tartarus profound, 

-To sit in hateful office here confined, 

-Inhabitant of Heaven and heavenly born-- 

-Here in perpetual agony and pain, 

-With terrors and with clamours compassed round 

-Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed? 

-Thou art my father, thou my author, thou 

-My being gav'st me; whom should I obey 

-But thee? whom follow? Thou wilt bring me soon 

-To that new world of light and bliss, among 

-The gods who live at ease, where I shall reign 

-At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems 

-Thy daughter and thy darling, without end." 

-  Thus saying, from her side the fatal key, 

-Sad instrument of all our woe, she took; 

-And, towards the gate rolling her bestial train, 

-Forthwith the huge portcullis high up-drew, 

-Which, but herself, not all the Stygian Powers 

-Could once have moved; then in the key-hole turns 

-Th' intricate wards, and every bolt and bar 

-Of massy iron or solid rock with ease 

-Unfastens. On a sudden open fly, 

-With impetuous recoil and jarring sound, 

-Th' infernal doors, and on their hinges grate 

-Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook 

-Of Erebus. She opened; but to shut 

-Excelled her power: the gates wide open stood, 

-That with extended wings a bannered host, 

-Under spread ensigns marching, mibht pass through 

-With horse and chariots ranked in loose array; 

-So wide they stood, and like a furnace-mouth 

-Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame. 

-Before their eyes in sudden view appear 

-The secrets of the hoary Deep--a dark 

-Illimitable ocean, without bound, 

-Without dimension; where length, breadth, and height, 

-And time, and place, are lost; where eldest Night 

-And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold 

-Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise 

-Of endless wars, and by confusion stand. 

-For Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry, four champions fierce, 

-Strive here for mastery, and to battle bring 

-Their embryon atoms: they around the flag 

-Of each his faction, in their several clans, 

-Light-armed or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift, or slow, 

-Swarm populous, unnumbered as the sands 

-Of Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil, 

-Levied to side with warring winds, and poise 

-Their lighter wings. To whom these most adhere 

-He rules a moment: Chaos umpire sits, 

-And by decision more embroils the fray 

-By which he reigns: next him, high arbiter, 

-Chance governs all. Into this wild Abyss, 

-The womb of Nature, and perhaps her grave, 

-Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire, 

-But all these in their pregnant causes mixed 

-Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight, 

-Unless th' Almighty Maker them ordain 

-His dark materials to create more worlds-- 

-Into this wild Abyss the wary Fiend 

-Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while, 

-Pondering his voyage; for no narrow frith 

-He had to cross. Nor was his ear less pealed 

-With noises loud and ruinous (to compare 

-Great things with small) than when Bellona storms 

-With all her battering engines, bent to rase 

-Some capital city; or less than if this frame 

-Of Heaven were falling, and these elements 

-In mutiny had from her axle torn 

-The steadfast Earth. At last his sail-broad vans 

-He spread for flight, and, in the surging smoke 

-Uplifted, spurns the ground; thence many a league, 

-As in a cloudy chair, ascending rides 

-Audacious; but, that seat soon failing, meets 

-A vast vacuity. All unawares, 

-Fluttering his pennons vain, plumb-down he drops 

-Ten thousand fathom deep, and to this hour 

-Down had been falling, had not, by ill chance, 

-The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud, 

-Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him 

-As many miles aloft. That fury stayed-- 

-Quenched in a boggy Syrtis, neither sea, 

-Nor good dry land--nigh foundered, on he fares, 

-Treading the crude consistence, half on foot, 

-Half flying; behoves him now both oar and sail. 

-As when a gryphon through the wilderness 

-With winged course, o'er hill or moory dale, 

-Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stealth 

-Had from his wakeful custody purloined 

-The guarded gold; so eagerly the Fiend 

-O'er bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare, 

-With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way, 

-And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies. 

-At length a universal hubbub wild 

-Of stunning sounds, and voices all confused, 

-Borne through the hollow dark, assaults his ear 

-With loudest vehemence. Thither he plies 

-Undaunted, to meet there whatever Power 

-Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss 

-Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask 

-Which way the nearest coast of darkness lies 

-Bordering on light; when straight behold the throne 

-Of Chaos, and his dark pavilion spread 

-Wide on the wasteful Deep! With him enthroned 

-Sat sable-vested Night, eldest of things, 

-The consort of his reign; and by them stood 

-Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name 

-Of Demogorgon; Rumour next, and Chance, 

-And Tumult, and Confusion, all embroiled, 

-And Discord with a thousand various mouths. 

-  T' whom Satan, turning boldly, thus:--"Ye Powers 

-And Spirtis of this nethermost Abyss, 

-Chaos and ancient Night, I come no spy 

-With purpose to explore or to disturb 

-The secrets of your realm; but, by constraint 

-Wandering this darksome desert, as my way 

-Lies through your spacious empire up to light, 

-Alone and without guide, half lost, I seek, 

-What readiest path leads where your gloomy bounds 

-Confine with Heaven; or, if some other place, 

-From your dominion won, th' Ethereal King 

-Possesses lately, thither to arrive 

-I travel this profound. Direct my course: 

-Directed, no mean recompense it brings 

-To your behoof, if I that region lost, 

-All usurpation thence expelled, reduce 

-To her original darkness and your sway 

-(Which is my present journey), and once more 

-Erect the standard there of ancient Night. 

-Yours be th' advantage all, mine the revenge!" 

-  Thus Satan; and him thus the Anarch old, 

-With faltering speech and visage incomposed, 

-Answered:  "I know thee, stranger, who thou art--  *** 

-That mighty leading Angel, who of late 

-Made head against Heaven's King, though overthrown. 

-I saw and heard; for such a numerous host 

-Fled not in silence through the frighted Deep, 

-With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, 

-Confusion worse confounded; and Heaven-gates 

-Poured out by millions her victorious bands, 

-Pursuing. I upon my frontiers here 

-Keep residence; if all I can will serve 

-That little which is left so to defend, 

-Encroached on still through our intestine broils 

-Weakening the sceptre of old Night: first, Hell, 

-Your dungeon, stretching far and wide beneath; 

-Now lately Heaven and Earth, another world 

-Hung o'er my realm, linked in a golden chain 

-To that side Heaven from whence your legions fell! 

-If that way be your walk, you have not far; 

-So much the nearer danger. Go, and speed; 

-Havoc, and spoil, and ruin, are my gain." 

-  He ceased; and Satan stayed not to reply, 

-But, glad that now his sea should find a shore, 

-With fresh alacrity and force renewed 

-Springs upward, like a pyramid of fire, 

-Into the wild expanse, and through the shock 

-Of fighting elements, on all sides round 

-Environed, wins his way; harder beset 

-And more endangered than when Argo passed 

-Through Bosporus betwixt the justling rocks, 

-Or when Ulysses on the larboard shunned 

-Charybdis, and by th' other whirlpool steered. 

-So he with difficulty and labour hard 

-Moved on, with difficulty and labour he; 

-But, he once passed, soon after, when Man fell, 

-Strange alteration! Sin and Death amain, 

-Following his track (such was the will of Heaven) 

-Paved after him a broad and beaten way 

-Over the dark Abyss, whose boiling gulf 

-Tamely endured a bridge of wondrous length, 

-From Hell continued, reaching th' utmost orb 

-Of this frail World; by which the Spirits perverse 

-With easy intercourse pass to and fro 

-To tempt or punish mortals, except whom 

-God and good Angels guard by special grace. 

-  But now at last the sacred influence 

-Of light appears, and from the walls of Heaven 

-Shoots far into the bosom of dim Night 

-A glimmering dawn. Here Nature first begins 

-Her farthest verge, and Chaos to retire, 

-As from her outmost works, a broken foe, 

-With tumult less and with less hostile din; 

-That Satan with less toil, and now with ease, 

-Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light, 

-And, like a weather-beaten vessel, holds 

-Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn; 

-Or in the emptier waste, resembling air, 

-Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold 

-Far off th' empyreal Heaven, extended wide 

-In circuit, undetermined square or round, 

-With opal towers and battlements adorned 

-Of living sapphire, once his native seat; 

-And, fast by, hanging in a golden chain, 

-This pendent World, in bigness as a star 

-Of smallest magnitude close by the moon. 

-Thither, full fraught with mischievous revenge, 

-Accursed, and in a cursed hour, he hies. 

- 

- 

- 

-Book III                                                         

- 

- 

-Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven firstborn, 

-Or of the Eternal coeternal beam 

-May I express thee unblam'd?  since God is light, 

-And never but in unapproached light 

-Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee 

-Bright effluence of bright essence increate. 

-Or hear"st thou rather pure ethereal stream, 

-Whose fountain who shall tell?  before the sun, 

-Before the Heavens thou wert, and at the voice 

-Of God, as with a mantle, didst invest  *** 

-The rising world of waters dark and deep, 

-Won from the void and formless infinite. 

-Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing, 

-Escap'd the Stygian pool, though long detain'd 

-In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight 

-Through utter and through middle darkness borne, 

-With other notes than to the Orphean lyre 

-I sung of Chaos and eternal Night; 

-Taught by the heavenly Muse to venture down 

-The dark descent, and up to re-ascend, 

-Though hard and rare:  Thee I revisit safe, 

-And feel thy sovran vital lamp; but thou 

-Revisit'st not these eyes, that roll in vain 

-To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn; 

-So  thick a drop serene hath quench'd their orbs, 

-Or dim suffusion veil'd.  Yet not the more 

-Cease I to wander, where the Muses haunt, 

-Clear spring, or shady grove, or sunny hill, 

-Smit with the love of sacred song; but chief 

-Thee, Sion, and the flowery brooks beneath, 

-That wash thy hallow'd feet, and warbling flow, 

-Nightly I visit:  nor sometimes forget 

-So were I equall'd with them in renown, 

-Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace; 

-Blind Thamyris, and blind Maeonides, 

-And Tiresias, and Phineus, prophets old: 

-Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move 

-Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful bird 

-Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid 

-Tunes her nocturnal note.  Thus with the year 

-Seasons return; but not to me returns 

-Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn, 

-Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose, 

-Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine; 

-But cloud instead, and ever-during dark 

-Surrounds me, from the cheerful ways of men 

-Cut off, and for the book of knowledge fair 

-Presented with a universal blank 

-Of nature's works to me expung'd and ras'd, 

-And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out. 

-So much the rather thou, celestial Light, 

-Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers 

-Irradiate; there plant eyes, all mist from thence 

-Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell 

-Of things invisible to mortal sight. 

-Now had the Almighty Father from above, 

-From the pure empyrean where he sits 

-High thron'd above all highth, bent down his eye 

-His own works and their works at once to view: 

-About him all the Sanctities of Heaven 

-Stood thick as stars, and from his sight receiv'd 

-Beatitude past utterance; on his right 

-The radiant image of his glory sat, 

-His only son; on earth he first beheld 

-Our two first parents, yet the only two 

-Of mankind in the happy garden plac'd 

-Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love, 

-Uninterrupted joy, unrivall'd love, 

-In blissful solitude; he then survey'd 

-Hell and the gulf between, and Satan there  

-Coasting the wall of Heaven on this side Night 

-In the dun air sublime, and ready now 

-To stoop with wearied wings, and willing feet, 

-On the bare outside of this world, that seem'd 

-Firm land imbosom'd, without firmament, 

-Uncertain which, in ocean or in air. 

-Him God beholding from his prospect high, 

-Wherein past, present, future, he beholds, 

-Thus to his only Son foreseeing spake. 

-Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage 

-Transports our Adversary?  whom no bounds 

-Prescrib'd no bars of Hell, nor all the chains 

-Heap'd on him there, nor yet the main abyss 

-Wide interrupt, can hold; so bent he seems 

-On desperate revenge, that shall redound 

-Upon his own rebellious head.  And now, 

-Through all restraint broke loose, he wings his way 

-Not far off Heaven, in the precincts of light, 

-Directly towards the new created world, 

-And man there plac'd, with purpose to assay 

-If him by force he can destroy, or, worse, 

-By some false guile pervert; and shall pervert; 

-For man will hearken to his glozing lies, 

-And easily transgress the sole command, 

-Sole pledge of his obedience:  So will fall 

-He and his faithless progeny:  Whose fault? 

-Whose but his own?  ingrate, he had of me 

-All he could have; I made him just and right, 

-Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. 

-Such I created all the ethereal Powers 

-And Spirits, both them who stood, and them who fail'd; 

-Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. 

-Not free, what proof could they have given sincere 

-Of true allegiance, constant faith or love, 

-Where only what they needs must do appear'd, 

-Not what they would?  what praise could they receive? 

-What pleasure I from such obedience paid, 

-When will and reason (reason also is choice) 

-Useless and vain, of freedom both despoil'd, 

-Made passive both, had serv'd necessity, 

-Not me?  they therefore, as to right belong$ 'd, 

-So were created, nor can justly accuse 

-Their Maker, or their making, or their fate, 

-As if predestination over-rul'd 

-Their will dispos'd by absolute decree 

-Or high foreknowledge they themselves decreed 

-Their own revolt, not I; if I foreknew, 

-Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, 

-Which had no less proved certain unforeknown. 

-So without least impulse or shadow of fate, 

-Or aught by me immutably foreseen, 

-They trespass, authors to themselves in all 

-Both what they judge, and what they choose; for so 

-I form'd them free: and free they must remain, 

-Till they enthrall themselves; I else must change 

-Their nature, and revoke the high decree 

-Unchangeable, eternal, which ordain'd 

-$THeir freedom: they themselves ordain'd their fall. 

-The first sort by their own suggestion fell, 

-Self-tempted, self-deprav'd:  Man falls, deceiv'd 

-By the other first:  Man therefore shall find grace, 

-The other none:  In mercy and justice both, 

-Through Heaven and Earth, so shall my glory excel; 

-But Mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine. 

-Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd 

-All Heaven, and in the blessed Spirits elect 

-Sense of new joy ineffable diffus'd. 

-Beyond compare the Son of God was seen 

-Most glorious; in him all his Father shone 

-Substantially express'd; and in his face 

-Divine compassion visibly appear'd, 

-Love without end, and without measure grace, 

-Which uttering, thus he to his Father spake. 

-O Father, gracious was that word which clos'd 

-Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace; 

-, that Man should find grace; 

-For which both Heaven and earth shall high extol 

-Thy praises, with the innumerable sound 

-Of hymns and sacred songs, wherewith thy throne 

-Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest. 

-For should Man finally be lost, should Man, 

-Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest son, 

-Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though join'd 

-With his own folly?  that be from thee far, 

-That far be from thee, Father, who art judge 

-Of all things made, and judgest only right. 

-Or shall the Adversary thus obtain 

-His end, and frustrate thine?  shall he fulfill 

-His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought, 

-Or proud return, though to his heavier doom, 

-Yet with revenge accomplish'd, and to Hell 

-Draw after him the whole race of mankind, 

-By him corrupted?  or wilt thou thyself 

-Abolish thy creation, and unmake 

-For him, what for thy glory thou hast made? 

-So should thy goodness and thy greatness both 

-Be question'd and blasphem'd without defence. 

-To whom the great Creator thus replied. 

-O son, in whom my soul hath chief delight, 

-Son of my bosom, Son who art alone. 

-My word, my wisdom, and effectual might,  

-All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all 

-As my eternal purpose hath decreed; 

-Man shall not quite be lost, but sav'd who will; 

-Yet not of will in him, but grace in me 

-Freely vouchsaf'd; once more I will renew 

-His lapsed powers, though forfeit; and enthrall'd 

-By sin to foul exorbitant desires; 

-Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand 

-On even ground against his mortal foe; 

-By me upheld, that he may know how frail 

-His fallen condition is, and to me owe 

-All his deliverance, and to none but me. 

-Some I have chosen of peculiar grace, 

-Elect above the rest; so is my will: 

-The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warn'd 

-Their sinful state, and to appease betimes 

-The incensed Deity, while offer'd grace 

-Invites; for I will clear their senses dark, 

-What may suffice, and soften stony hearts 

-To pray, repent, and bring obedience due. 

-To prayer, repentance, and obedience due, 

-Though but endeavour'd with sincere intent, 

-Mine ear shall not be slow, mine eye not shut. 

-And I will place within them as a guide, 

-My umpire Conscience; whom if they will hear, 

-Light after light, well us'd, they shall attain, 

-And to the end, persisting, safe arrive. 

-This my long sufferance, and my day of grace, 

-They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste; 

-But hard be harden'd, blind be blinded more, 

-That they may stumble on, and deeper fall; 

-And none but such from mercy I exclude. 

-But yet all is not done; Man disobeying, 

-Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins 

-Against the high supremacy of Heaven, 

-Affecting God-head, and, so losing all, 

-To expiate his treason hath nought left, 

-But to destruction sacred and devote, 

-He, with his whole posterity, must die, 

-Die he or justice must; unless for him 

-Some other able, and as willing, pay 

-The rigid satisfaction, death for death. 

-Say, heavenly Powers, where shall we find such love? 

-Which of you will be mortal, to redeem 

-Man's mortal crime, and just the unjust to save? 

-Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear? 

-And silence was in Heaven: $ on Man's behalf 

-He ask'd, but all the heavenly quire stood mute, 

-Patron or intercessour none appear'd, 

-Much less that durst upon his own head draw 

-The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. 

-And now without redemption all mankind 

-Must have been lost, adjudg'd to Death and Hell 

-By doom severe, had not the Son of God, 

-In whom the fulness dwells of love divine, 

-His dearest mediation thus renew'd. 

-Father, thy word is past, Man shall find grace; 

-And shall grace not find means, that finds her way, 

-The speediest of thy winged messengers, 

-To visit all thy creatures, and to all 

-Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought? 

-Happy for Man, so coming; he her aid 

-Can never seek, once dead in sins, and lost; 

-Atonement for himself, or offering meet, 

-Indebted and undone, hath none to bring; 

-Behold me then:  me for him, life for life 

-I offer: on me let thine anger fall; 

-Account me Man; I for his sake will leave 

- Thy bosom, and this glory next to thee 

- Freely put off, and for him lastly die 

- Well pleased; on me let Death wreak all his rage. 

- Under his gloomy power I shall not long 

- Lie vanquished. Thou hast given me to possess 

- Life in myself for ever; by thee I live; 

- Though now to Death I yield, and am his due, 

- All that of me can die, yet, that debt paid, 

- $ thou wilt not leave me in the loathsome grave 

- His prey, nor suffer my unspotted soul 

- For ever with corruption there to dwell; 

- But I shall rise victorious, and subdue 

- My vanquisher, spoiled of his vaunted spoil. 

- Death his death's wound shall then receive, and stoop 

- Inglorious, of his mortal sting disarmed; 

- I through the ample air in triumph high 

- Shall lead Hell captive maugre Hell, and show 

-The powers of darkness bound. Thou, at the sight 

- Pleased, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile, 

- While, by thee raised, I ruin all my foes; 

- Death last, and with his carcase glut the grave; 

- Then, with the multitude of my redeemed, 

- Shall enter Heaven, long absent, and return, 

- Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud 

- Of anger shall remain, but peace assured 

- And reconcilement: wrath shall be no more 

- Thenceforth, but in thy presence joy entire. 

- His words here ended; but his meek aspect 

- Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love 

- To mortal men, above which only shone 

- Filial obedience: as a sacrifice 

- Glad to be offered, he attends the will 

- Of his great Father. Admiration seized 

- All Heaven, what this might mean, and whither tend, 

- Wondering; but soon th' Almighty thus replied. 

- O thou in Heaven and Earth the only peace 

- Found out for mankind under wrath, O thou 

- My sole complacence! Well thou know'st how dear 

- To me are all my works; nor Man the least, 

- Though last created, that for him I spare 

- Thee from my bosom and right hand, to save, 

- By losing thee a while, the whole race lost.                    

- 

-     00021053  

- Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, 

- Their nature also to thy nature join; 

- And be thyself Man among men on Earth, 

- Made flesh, when time shall be, of virgin seed, 

- By wondrous birth; be thou in Adam's room 

-The head of all mankind, though Adam's son. 

-As in him perish all men, so in thee, 

-As from a second root, shall be restored 

-As many as are restored, without thee none. 

-His crime makes guilty all his sons; thy merit, 

-Imputed, shall absolve them who renounce 

-Their own both righteous and unrighteous deeds, 

-And live in thee transplanted, and from thee 

-Receive new life.  So Man, as is most just, 

-Shall satisfy for Man, be judged and die, 

-And dying rise, and rising with him raise 

-His brethren, ransomed with his own dear life. 

-So heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate, 

-Giving to death, and dying to redeem, 

-So dearly to redeem what hellish hate 

-So easily destroyed, and still destroys 

-In those who, when they may, accept not grace. 

-Nor shalt thou, by descending to assume 

-Man's nature, lessen or degrade thine own. 

-Because thou hast, though throned in highest bliss 

-Equal to God, and equally enjoying 

-God-like fruition, quitted all, to save 

-A world from utter loss, and hast been found 

-By merit more than birthright Son of God, 

-Found worthiest to be so by being good, 

-Far more than great or high; because in thee 

-Love hath abounded more than glory abounds; 

-Therefore thy humiliation shall exalt 

-With thee thy manhood also to this throne: 

-Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt reign 

-Both God and Man, Son both of God and Man, 

-Anointed universal King; all power 

-I give thee; reign for ever, and assume 

-Thy merits; under thee, as head supreme, 

-Thrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions, I reduce: 

-All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide 

-In Heaven, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell. 

-When thou, attended gloriously from Heaven, 

-Shalt in the sky appear, and from thee send 

-The summoning Arch-Angels to proclaim 

-Thy dread tribunal; forthwith from all winds, 

-The living, and forthwith the cited dead 

-Of all past ages, to the general doom 

-Shall hasten; such a peal shall rouse their sleep. 

-Then, all thy saints assembled, thou shalt judge 

-Bad Men and Angels; they, arraigned, shall sink 

-Beneath thy sentence; Hell, her numbers full, 

-Thenceforth shall be for ever shut.  Mean while 

-The world shall burn, and from her ashes spring 

-New Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell, 

-And, after all their tribulations long, 

-See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, 

-With joy and peace triumphing, and fair truth. 

-Then thou thy regal scepter shalt lay by, 

-For regal scepter then no more shall need, 

-God shall be all in all.  But, all ye Gods, 

-Adore him, who to compass all this dies; 

-Adore the Son, and honour him as me. 

-No sooner had the Almighty ceased, but all 

-The multitude of Angels, with a shout 

-Loud as from numbers without number, sweet 

-As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heaven rung 

-With jubilee, and loud Hosannas filled 

-The eternal regions:  Lowly reverent 

-Towards either throne they bow, and to the ground 

-With solemn adoration down they cast 

-Their crowns inwove with amarant and gold; 

-Immortal amarant, a flower which once 

-In Paradise, fast by the tree of life, 

-Began to bloom; but soon for man's offence 

-To Heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows, 

-And flowers aloft shading the fount of life, 

-And where the river of bliss through midst of Heaven 

-Rolls o'er Elysian flowers her amber stream; 

-With these that never fade the Spirits elect 

-Bind their resplendent locks inwreathed with beams; 

-Now in loose garlands thick thrown off, the bright 

-Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone, 

-Impurpled with celestial roses smiled. 

-Then, crowned again, their golden harps they took, 

-Harps ever tuned, that glittering by their side 

-Like quivers hung, and with preamble sweet 

-Of charming symphony they introduce 

-Their sacred song, and waken raptures high; 

-No voice exempt, no voice but well could join 

-Melodious part, such concord is in Heaven. 

-Thee, Father, first they sung Omnipotent, 

-Immutable, Immortal, Infinite, 

-Eternal King; the Author of all being, 

-Fonntain of light, thyself invisible 

-Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st 

-Throned inaccessible, but when thou shadest 

-The full blaze of thy beams, and, through a cloud 

-Drawn round about thee like a radiant shrine, 

-Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear, 

-Yet dazzle Heaven, that brightest Seraphim 

-Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes. 

-Thee next they sang of all creation first, 

-Begotten Son, Divine Similitude, 

-In whose conspicuous countenance, without cloud 

-Made visible, the Almighty Father shines, 

-Whom else no creature can behold; on thee 

-Impressed the effulgence of his glory abides, 

-Transfused on thee his ample Spirit rests. 

-He Heaven of Heavens and all the Powers therein 

-By thee created; and by thee threw down 

-The aspiring Dominations:  Thou that day 

-Thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare, 

-Nor stop thy flaming chariot-wheels, that shook 

-Heaven's everlasting frame, while o'er the necks 

-Thou drovest of warring Angels disarrayed. 

-Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaim 

-Thee only extolled, Son of thy Father's might, 

-To execute fierce vengeance on his foes, 

-Not so on Man:  Him through their malice fallen, 

-Father of mercy and grace, thou didst not doom 

-So strictly, but much more to pity incline: 

-No sooner did thy dear and only Son 

-Perceive thee purposed not to doom frail Man 

-So strictly, but much more to pity inclined, 

-He to appease thy wrath, and end the strife 

-Of mercy and justice in thy face discerned, 

-Regardless of the bliss wherein he sat 

-Second to thee, offered himself to die 

-For Man's offence.  O unexampled love, 

-Love no where to be found less than Divine! 

-Hail, Son of God, Saviour of Men!  Thy name 

-Shall be the copious matter of my song 

-Henceforth, and never shall my heart thy praise 

-Forget, nor from thy Father's praise disjoin. 

-Thus they in Heaven, above the starry sphere, 

-Their happy hours in joy and hymning spent. 

-Mean while upon the firm opacous globe 

-Of this round world, whose first convex divides 

-The luminous inferiour orbs, enclosed 

-From Chaos, and the inroad of Darkness old, 

-Satan alighted walks:  A globe far off 

-It seemed, now seems a boundless continent 

-Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night 

-Starless exposed, and ever-threatening storms 

-Of Chaos blustering round, inclement sky; 

-Save on that side which from the wall of Heaven, 

-Though distant far, some small reflection gains 

-Of glimmering air less vexed with tempest loud: 

-Here walked the Fiend at large in spacious field. 

-As when a vultur on Imaus bred, 

-Whose snowy ridge the roving Tartar bounds, 

-Dislodging from a region scarce of prey 

-To gorge the flesh of lambs or yeanling kids, 

-On hills where flocks are fed, flies toward the springs 

-Of Ganges or Hydaspes, Indian streams; 

-But in his way lights on the barren plains 

-Of Sericana, where Chineses drive 

-With sails and wind their cany waggons light: 

-So, on this windy sea of land, the Fiend 

-Walked up and down alone, bent on his prey; 

-Alone, for other creature in this place, 

-Living or lifeless, to be found was none; 

-None yet, but store hereafter from the earth 

-Up hither like aereal vapours flew 

-Of all things transitory and vain, when sin 

-With vanity had filled the works of men: 

-Both all things vain, and all who in vain things 

-Built their fond hopes of glory or lasting fame, 

-Or happiness in this or the other life; 

-All who have their reward on earth, the fruits 

-Of painful superstition and blind zeal, 

-Nought seeking but the praise of men, here find 

-Fit retribution, empty as their deeds; 

-All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand, 

-Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixed, 

-Dissolved on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, 

-Till final dissolution, wander here; 

-Not in the neighbouring moon as some have dreamed; 

-Those argent fields more likely habitants, 

-Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold 

-Betwixt the angelical and human kind. 

-Hither of ill-joined sons and daughters born 

-First from the ancient world those giants came 

-With many a vain exploit, though then renowned: 

-The builders next of Babel on the plain 

-Of Sennaar, and still with vain design, 

-New Babels, had they wherewithal, would build: 

-Others came single; he, who, to be deemed 

-A God, leaped fondly into Aetna flames, 

-Empedocles; and he, who, to enjoy 

-Plato's Elysium, leaped into the sea, 

-Cleombrotus; and many more too long, 

-Embryos, and idiots, eremites, and friars 

-White, black, and gray, with all their trumpery. 

-Here pilgrims roam, that strayed so far to seek 

-In Golgotha him dead, who lives in Heaven; 

-And they, who to be sure of Paradise, 

-Dying, put on the weeds of Dominick, 

-Or in Franciscan think to pass disguised; 

-They pass the planets seven, and pass the fixed, 

-And that crystalling sphere whose balance weighs 

-The trepidation talked, and that first moved; 

-And now Saint Peter at Heaven's wicket seems 

-To wait them with his keys, and now at foot 

-Of Heaven's ascent they lift their feet, when lo 

-A violent cross wind from either coast 

-Blows them transverse, ten thousand leagues awry 

-Into the devious air:  Then might ye see 

-Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tost 

-And fluttered into rags; then reliques, beads, 

-Indulgences, dispenses, pardons, bulls, 

-The sport of winds:  All these, upwhirled aloft, 

-Fly o'er the backside of the world far off 

-Into a Limbo large and broad, since called 

-The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown 

-Long after; now unpeopled, and untrod. 

-All this dark globe the Fiend found as he passed, 

-And long he wandered, till at last a gleam 

-Of dawning light turned thither-ward in haste 

-His travelled steps: far distant he descries 

-Ascending by degrees magnificent 

-Up to the wall of Heaven a structure high; 

-At top whereof, but far more rich, appeared 

-The work as of a kingly palace-gate, 

-With frontispiece of diamond and gold 

-Embellished; thick with sparkling orient gems 

-The portal shone, inimitable on earth 

-By model, or by shading pencil, drawn. 

-These stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw 

-Angels ascending and descending, bands 

-Of guardians bright, when he from Esau fled 

-To Padan-Aram, in the field of Luz 

-Dreaming by night under the open sky 

-And waking cried,  This is the gate of Heaven. 

-Each stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood 

-There always, but drawn up to Heaven sometimes 

-Viewless; and underneath a bright sea flowed 

-Of jasper, or of liquid pearl, whereon 

-Who after came from earth, failing arrived 

-Wafted by Angels, or flew o'er the lake 

-Rapt in a chariot drawn by fiery steeds. 

-The stairs were then let down, whether to dare 

-The Fiend by easy ascent, or aggravate 

-His sad exclusion from the doors of bliss: 

-Direct against which opened from beneath, 

-Just o'er the blissful seat of Paradise, 

-A passage down to the Earth, a passage wide, 

-Wider by far than that of after-times 

-Over mount Sion, and, though that were large, 

-Over the Promised Land to God so dear; 

-By which, to visit oft those happy tribes, 

-On high behests his angels to and fro 

-Passed frequent, and his eye with choice regard 

-From Paneas, the fount of Jordan's flood, 

-To Beersaba, where the Holy Land 

-Borders on Egypt and the Arabian shore; 

-So wide the opening seemed, where bounds were set 

-To darkness, such as bound the ocean wave. 

-Satan from hence, now on the lower stair, 

-That scaled by steps of gold to Heaven-gate, 

-Looks down with wonder at the sudden view 

-Of all this world at once.  As when a scout, 

-Through dark?;nd desart ways with?oeril gone 

-All?might,?;t?kast by break of cheerful dawn 

-Obtains the brow of some high-climbing hill, 

-Which to his eye discovers unaware 

-The goodly prospect of some foreign land 

-First seen, or some renowned metropolis 

-With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned, 

-Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams: 

-Such wonder seised, though after Heaven seen, 

-The Spirit malign, but much more envy seised, 

-At sight of all this world beheld so fair. 

-Round he surveys (and well might, where he stood 

-So high above the circling canopy 

-Of night's extended shade,) from eastern point 

-Of Libra to the fleecy star that bears 

-Andromeda far off Atlantick seas 

-Beyond the horizon; then from pole to pole 

-He views in breadth, and without longer pause 

-Down right into the world's first region throws 

-His flight precipitant, and winds with ease 

-Through the pure marble air his oblique way 

-Amongst innumerable stars, that shone 

-Stars distant, but nigh hand seemed other worlds; 

-Or other worlds they seemed, or happy isles, 

-Like those Hesperian gardens famed of old, 

-Fortunate fields, and groves, and flowery vales, 

-Thrice happy isles; but who dwelt happy there 

-He staid not to inquire:  Above them all 

-The golden sun, in splendour likest Heaven, 

-Allured his eye; thither his course he bends 

-Through the calm firmament, (but up or down, 

-By center, or eccentrick, hard to tell, 

-Or longitude,) where the great luminary 

-Aloof the vulgar constellations thick, 

-That from his lordly eye keep distance due, 

-Dispenses light from far; they, as they move 

-Their starry dance in numbers that compute 

-Days, months, and years, towards his all-cheering lamp 

-Turn swift their various motions, or are turned 

-By his magnetick beam, that gently warms 

-The universe, and to each inward part 

-With gentle penetration, though unseen, 

-Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep; 

-So wonderously was set his station bright. 

-There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps 

-Astronomer in the sun's lucent orb 

-Through his glazed optick tube yet never saw. 

-The place he found beyond expression bright, 

-Compared with aught on earth, metal or stone; 

-Not all parts like, but all alike informed 

-With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire; 

-If metal, part seemed gold, part silver clear; 

-If stone, carbuncle most or chrysolite, 

-Ruby or topaz, to the twelve that shone 

-In Aaron's breast-plate, and a stone besides 

-Imagined rather oft than elsewhere seen, 

-That stone, or like to that which here below 

-Philosophers in vain so long have sought, 

-In vain, though by their powerful art they bind 

-Volatile Hermes, and call up unbound 

-In various shapes old Proteus from the sea, 

-Drained through a limbeck to his native form. 

-What wonder then if fields and regions here 

-Breathe forth Elixir pure, and rivers run 

-Potable gold, when with one virtuous touch 

-The arch-chemick sun, so far from us remote, 

-Produces, with terrestrial humour mixed, 

-Here in the dark so many precious things 

-Of colour glorious, and effect so rare? 

-Here matter new to gaze the Devil met 

-Undazzled; far and wide his eye commands; 

-For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade, 

-But all sun-shine, as when his beams at noon 

-Culminate from the equator, as they now 

-Shot upward still direct, whence no way round 

-Shadow from body opaque can fall; and the air, 

-No where so clear, sharpened his visual ray 

-To objects distant far, whereby he soon 

-Saw within ken a glorious Angel stand, 

-The same whom John saw also in the sun: 

-His back was turned, but not his brightness hid; 

-Of beaming sunny rays a golden tiar 

-Circled his head, nor less his locks behind 

-Illustrious on his shoulders fledge with wings 

-Lay waving round; on some great charge employed 

-He seemed, or fixed in cogitation deep. 

-Glad was the Spirit impure, as now in hope 

-To find who might direct his wandering flight 

-To Paradise, the happy seat of Man, 

-His journey's end and our beginning woe. 

-But first he casts to change his proper shape, 

-Which else might work him danger or delay: 

-And now a stripling Cherub he appears, 

-Not of the prime, yet such as in his face 

-Youth smiled celestial, and to every limb 

-Suitable grace diffused, so well he feigned: 

-Under a coronet his flowing hair 

-In curls on either cheek played; wings he wore 

-Of many a coloured plume, sprinkled with gold; 

-His habit fit for speed succinct, and held 

-Before his decent steps a silver wand. 

-He drew not nigh unheard; the Angel bright, 

-Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned, 

-Admonished by his ear, and straight was known 

-The Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the seven 

-Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne, 

-Stand ready at command, and are his eyes 

-That run through all the Heavens, or down to the Earth 

-Bear his swift errands over moist and dry, 

-O'er sea and land: him Satan thus accosts. 

-Uriel, for thou of those seven Spirits that stand 

-In sight of God's high throne, gloriously bright, 

-The first art wont his great authentick will 

-Interpreter through highest Heaven to bring, 

-Where all his sons thy embassy attend; 

-And here art likeliest by supreme decree 

-Like honour to obtain, and as his eye 

-To visit oft this new creation round; 

-Unspeakable desire to see, and know 

-All these his wonderous works, but chiefly Man, 

-His chief delight and favour, him for whom 

-All these his works so wonderous he ordained, 

-Hath brought me from the quires of Cherubim 

-Alone thus wandering.  Brightest Seraph, tell 

-In which of all these shining orbs hath Man 

-His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none, 

-But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell; 

-That I may find him, and with secret gaze 

-Or open admiration him behold, 

-On whom the great Creator hath bestowed 

-Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces poured; 

-That both in him and all things, as is meet, 

-The universal Maker we may praise; 

-Who justly hath driven out his rebel foes 

-To deepest Hell, and, to repair that loss, 

-Created this new happy race of Men 

-To serve him better:  Wise are all his ways. 

-So spake the false dissembler unperceived; 

-For neither Man nor Angel can discern 

-Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks 

-Invisible, except to God alone, 

-By his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth: 

-And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps 

-At wisdom's gate, and to simplicity 

-Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill 

-Where no ill seems:  Which now for once beguiled 

-Uriel, though regent of the sun, and held 

-The sharpest-sighted Spirit of all in Heaven; 

-Who to the fraudulent impostor foul, 

-In his uprightness, answer thus returned. 

-Fair Angel, thy desire, which tends to know 

-The works of God, thereby to glorify 

-The great Work-master, leads to no excess 

-That reaches blame, but rather merits praise 

-The more it seems excess, that led thee hither 

-From thy empyreal mansion thus alone, 

-To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps, 

-Contented with report, hear only in Heaven: 

-For wonderful indeed are all his works, 

-Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all 

-Had in remembrance always with delight; 

-But what created mind can comprehend 

-Their number, or the wisdom infinite 

-That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? 

-I saw when at his word the formless mass, 

-This world's material mould, came to a heap: 

-Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar 

-Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined; 

-Till at his second bidding Darkness fled, 

-Light shone, and order from disorder sprung: 

-Swift to their several quarters hasted then 

-The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire; 

-And this ethereal quintessence of Heaven 

-Flew upward, spirited with various forms, 

-That rolled orbicular, and turned to stars 

-Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; 

-Each had his place appointed, each his course; 

-The rest in circuit walls this universe. 

-Look downward on that globe, whose hither side 

-With light from hence, though but reflected, shines; 

-That place is Earth, the seat of Man; that light 

-His day, which else, as the other hemisphere, 

-Night would invade; but there the neighbouring moon 

-So call that opposite fair star) her aid 

-Timely interposes, and her monthly round 

-Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven, 

-With borrowed light her countenance triform 

-Hence fills and empties to enlighten the Earth, 

-And in her pale dominion checks the night. 

-That spot, to which I point, is Paradise, 

-Adam's abode; those lofty shades, his bower. 

-Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. 

-Thus said, he turned; and Satan, bowing low, 

-As to superiour Spirits is wont in Heaven, 

-Where honour due and reverence none neglects, 

-Took leave, and toward the coast of earth beneath, 

-Down from the ecliptick, sped with hoped success, 

-Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel; 

-Nor staid, till on Niphates' top he lights. 

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-Book IV                                                          

- 

- 

-O, for that warning voice, which he, who saw 

-The Apocalypse, heard cry in Heaven aloud, 

-Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, 

-Came furious down to be revenged on men, 

-Woe to the inhabitants on earth! that now, 

-While time was, our first parents had been warned 

-The coming of their secret foe, and 'scaped, 

-Haply so 'scaped his mortal snare:  For now 

-Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down, 

-The tempter ere the accuser of mankind, 

-To wreak on innocent frail Man his loss 

-Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell: 

-Yet, not rejoicing in his speed, though bold 

-Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, 

-Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth 

-Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast, 

-And like a devilish engine back recoils 

-Upon himself; horrour and doubt distract 

-His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir 

-The Hell within him; for within him Hell 

-He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell 

-One step, no more than from himself, can fly 

-By change of place:  Now conscience wakes despair, 

-That slumbered; wakes the bitter memory 

-Of what he was, what is, and what must be 

-Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue. 

-Sometimes towards Eden, which now in his view 

-Lay pleasant, his grieved look he fixes sad; 

-Sometimes towards Heaven, and the full-blazing sun, 

-Which now sat high in his meridian tower: 

-Then, much revolving, thus in sighs began. 

-O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned, 

-Lookest from thy sole dominion like the God 

-Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars 

-Hide their diminished heads; to thee I call, 

-But with no friendly voice, and add thy name, 

-Of Sun! to tell thee how I hate thy beams, 

-That bring to my remembrance from what state 

-I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere; 

-Till pride and worse ambition threw me down 

-Warring in Heaven against Heaven's matchless King: 

-Ah, wherefore! he deserved no such return 

-From me, whom he created what I was 

-In that bright eminence, and with his good 

-Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. 

-What could be less than to afford him praise, 

-The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks, 

-How due! yet all his good proved ill in me, 

-And wrought but malice; lifted up so high 

-I sdeined subjection, and thought one step higher 

-Would set me highest, and in a moment quit 

-The debt immense of endless gratitude, 

-So burdensome still paying, still to owe, 

-Forgetful what from him I still received, 

-And understood not that a grateful mind 

-By owing owes not, but still pays, at once 

-Indebted and discharged; what burden then 

-O, had his powerful destiny ordained 

-Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood 

-Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised 

-Ambition!  Yet why not some other Power 

-As great might have aspired, and me, though mean, 

-Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great 

-Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within 

-Or from without, to all temptations armed. 

-Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand? 

-Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse, 

-But Heaven's free love dealt equally to all? 

-Be then his love accursed, since love or hate, 

-To me alike, it deals eternal woe. 

-Nay, cursed be thou; since against his thy will 

-Chose freely what it now so justly rues. 

-Me miserable! which way shall I fly 

-Infinite wrath, and infinite despair? 

-Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell; 

-And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep 

-Still threatening to devour me opens wide, 

-To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven. 

-O, then, at last relent:  Is there no place 

-Left for repentance, none for pardon left? 

-None left but by submission; and that word 

-Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame 

-Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced 

-With other promises and other vaunts 

-Than to submit, boasting I could subdue 

-The Omnipotent.  Ay me! they little know 

-How dearly I abide that boast so vain, 

-Under what torments inwardly I groan, 

-While they adore me on the throne of Hell. 

-With diadem and scepter high advanced, 

-The lower still I fall, only supreme 

-In misery:  Such joy ambition finds. 

-But say I could repent, and could obtain, 

-By act of grace, my former state; how soon 

-Would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay 

-What feigned submission swore?  Ease would recant 

-Vows made in pain, as violent and void. 

-For never can true reconcilement grow, 

-Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep: 

-Which would but lead me to a worse relapse 

-And heavier fall:  so should I purchase dear 

-Short intermission bought with double smart. 

-This knows my Punisher; therefore as far 

-From granting he, as I from begging, peace; 

-All hope excluded thus, behold, in stead 

-Mankind created, and for him this world. 

-So farewell, hope; and with hope farewell, fear; 

-Farewell, remorse! all good to me is lost; 

-Evil, be thou my good; by thee at least 

-Divided empire with Heaven's King I hold, 

-By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign; 

-As Man ere long, and this new world, shall know. 

-Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face 

-Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy, and despair; 

-Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed 

-Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld. 

-For heavenly minds from such distempers foul 

-Are ever clear.  Whereof he soon aware, 

-Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm, 

-Artificer of fraud; and was the first 

-That practised falsehood under saintly show, 

-Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge: 

-Yet not enough had practised to deceive 

-Uriel once warned; whose eye pursued him down 

- The way he went, and on the Assyrian mount 

- Saw him disfigured, more than could befall 

- Spirit of happy sort; his gestures fierce 

- He marked and mad demeanour, then alone, 

- As he supposed, all unobserved, unseen. 

- So on he fares, and to the border comes 

- Of Eden, where delicious Paradise, 

- Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green, 

- As with a rural mound, the champaign head 

- Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides 

-Access denied; and overhead upgrew 

- Insuperable height of loftiest shade, 

- Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm, 

- A sylvan scene, and, as the ranks ascend, 

- Shade above shade, a woody theatre 

- Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops 

- The verdurous wall of Paradise upsprung;                        

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-Which to our general sire gave prospect large 

-Into his nether empire neighbouring round. 

-And higher than that wall a circling row 

-Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit, 

-Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue, 

-Appeared, with gay enamelled colours mixed: 

-On which the sun more glad impressed his beams 

-Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, 

-When God hath showered the earth; so lovely seemed 

-That landskip:  And of pure now purer air 

-Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires 

-Vernal delight and joy, able to drive 

-All sadness but despair:  Now gentle gales, 

-Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense 

-Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole 

-Those balmy spoils.  As when to them who fail 

-Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past 

-Mozambick, off at sea north-east winds blow 

-Sabean odours from the spicy shore 

-Of Araby the blest; with such delay 

-Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league 

-Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles: 

-So entertained those odorous sweets the Fiend, 

-Who came their bane; though with them better pleased 

-Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume 

-That drove him, though enamoured, from the spouse 

-Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent 

-From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound. 

-Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill 

-Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow; 

-But further way found none, so thick entwined, 

-As one continued brake, the undergrowth 

-Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed 

-All path of man or beast that passed that way. 

-One gate there only was, and that looked east 

-On the other side: which when the arch-felon saw, 

-Due entrance he disdained; and, in contempt, 

-At one flight bound high over-leaped all bound 

-Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within 

-Lights on his feet.  As when a prowling wolf, 

-Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, 

-Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve 

-In hurdled cotes amid the field secure, 

-Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold: 

-Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash 

-Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors, 

-Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault, 

-In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles: 

-So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold; 

-So since into his church lewd hirelings climb. 

-Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life, 

-The middle tree and highest there that grew, 

-Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life 

-Thereby regained, but sat devising death 

-To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought 

-Of that life-giving plant, but only used 

-For prospect, what well used had been the pledge 

-Of immortality.  So little knows 

-Any, but God alone, to value right 

-The good before him, but perverts best things 

-To worst abuse, or to their meanest use. 

-Beneath him with new wonder now he views, 

-To all delight of human sense exposed, 

-In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth, yea more, 

-A Heaven on Earth:  For blissful Paradise 

-Of God the garden was, by him in the east 

-Of Eden planted; Eden stretched her line 

-From Auran eastward to the royal towers 

-Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings, 

-Of where the sons of Eden long before 

-Dwelt in Telassar:  In this pleasant soil 

-His far more pleasant garden God ordained; 

-Out of the fertile ground he caused to grow 

-All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste; 

-And all amid them stood the tree of life, 

-High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit 

-Of vegetable gold; and next to life, 

-Our death, the tree of knowledge, grew fast by, 

-Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill. 

-Southward through Eden went a river large, 

-Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill 

-Passed underneath ingulfed; for God had thrown 

-That mountain as his garden-mould high raised 

-Upon the rapid current, which, through veins 

-Of porous earth with kindly thirst up-drawn, 

-Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill 

-Watered the garden; thence united fell 

-Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood, 

-Which from his darksome passage now appears, 

-And now, divided into four main streams, 

-Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm 

-And country, whereof here needs no account; 

-But rather to tell how, if Art could tell, 

-How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks, 

-Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, 

-With mazy errour under pendant shades 

-Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed 

-Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art 

-In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon 

-Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain, 

-Both where the morning sun first warmly smote 

-The open field, and where the unpierced shade 

-Imbrowned the noontide bowers:  Thus was this place 

-A happy rural seat of various view; 

-Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm, 

-Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind, 

-Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true, 

-If true, here only, and of delicious taste: 

-Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks 

-Grazing the tender herb, were interposed, 

-Or palmy hillock; or the flowery lap 

-Of some irriguous valley spread her store, 

-Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose: 

-Another side, umbrageous grots and caves 

-Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine 

-Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps 

-Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall 

-Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake, 

-That to the fringed bank with myrtle crowned 

-Her crystal mirrour holds, unite their streams. 

-The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs, 

-Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune 

-The trembling leaves, while universal Pan, 

-Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance, 

-Led on the eternal Spring.  Not that fair field 

-Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers, 

-Herself a fairer flower by gloomy Dis 

-Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain 

-To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove 

-Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspired 

-Castalian spring, might with this Paradise 

-Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle 

-Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, 

-Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove, 

-Hid Amalthea, and her florid son 

-Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye; 

-Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard, 

-Mount Amara, though this by some supposed 

-True Paradise under the Ethiop line 

-By Nilus' head, enclosed with shining rock, 

-A whole day's journey high, but wide remote 

-From this Assyrian garden, where the Fiend 

-Saw, undelighted, all delight, all kind 

-Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange 

-Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, 

-Godlike erect, with native honour clad 

-In naked majesty seemed lords of all: 

-And worthy seemed; for in their looks divine 

-The image of their glorious Maker shone, 

-Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure, 

-(Severe, but in true filial freedom placed,) 

-Whence true authority in men; though both 

-Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed; 

-For contemplation he and valour formed; 

-For softness she and sweet attractive grace; 

-He for God only, she for God in him: 

-His fair large front and eye sublime declared 

-Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks 

-Round from his parted forelock manly hung 

-Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad: 

-She, as a veil, down to the slender waist 

-Her unadorned golden tresses wore 

-Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved 

-As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied 

-Subjection, but required with gentle sway, 

-And by her yielded, by him best received, 

-Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, 

-And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay. 

-Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed; 

-Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame 

-Of nature's works, honour dishonourable, 

-Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind 

-With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure, 

-And banished from man's life his happiest life, 

-Simplicity and spotless innocence! 

-So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight 

-Of God or Angel; for they thought no ill: 

-So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair, 

-That ever since in love's embraces met; 

-Adam the goodliest man of men since born 

-His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. 

-Under a tuft of shade that on a green 

-Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side 

-They sat them down; and, after no more toil 

-Of their sweet gardening labour than sufficed 

-To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease 

-More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite 

-More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell, 

-Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs 

-Yielded them, side-long as they sat recline 

-On the soft downy bank damasked with flowers: 

-The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind, 

-Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream; 

-Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles 

-Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems 

-Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league, 

-Alone as they.  About them frisking played 

-All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase 

-In wood or wilderness, forest or den; 

-Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw 

-Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, 

-Gambolled before them; the unwieldy elephant, 

-To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed 

-His?kithetmroboscis; close the serpent sly, 

-Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine 

-His braided train, and of his fatal guile 

-Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass 

-Couched, and now filled with pasture gazing sat, 

-Or bedward ruminating; for the sun, 

-Declined, was hasting now with prone career 

-To the ocean isles, and in the ascending scale 

-Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose: 

-When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood, 

-Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered sad. 

-O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold! 

-Into our room of bliss thus high advanced 

-Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, 

-Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright 

-Little inferiour; whom my thoughts pursue 

-With wonder, and could love, so lively shines 

-In them divine resemblance, and such grace 

-The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured. 

-Ah! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh 

-Your change approaches, when all these delights 

-Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe; 

-More woe, the more your taste is now of joy; 

-Happy, but for so happy ill secured 

-Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven 

-Ill fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe 

-As now is entered; yet no purposed foe 

-To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, 

-Though I unpitied:  League with you I seek, 

-And mutual amity, so strait, so close, 

-That I with you must dwell, or you with me 

-Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please, 

-Like this fair Paradise, your sense; yet such 

-Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, 

-Which I as freely give:  Hell shall unfold, 

-To entertain you two, her widest gates, 

-And send forth all her kings; there will be room, 

-Not like these narrow limits, to receive 

-Your numerous offspring; if no better place, 

-Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge 

-On you who wrong me not for him who wronged. 

-And should I at your harmless innocence 

-Melt, as I do, yet publick reason just, 

-Honour and empire with revenge enlarged, 

-By conquering this new world, compels me now 

-To do what else, though damned, I should abhor. 

-So spake the Fiend, and with necessity, 

-The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds. 

-Then from his lofty stand on that high tree 

-Down he alights among the sportful herd 

-Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, 

-Now other, as their shape served best his end 

-Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied, 

-To mark what of their state he more might learn, 

-By word or action marked. About them round 

-A lion now he stalks with fiery glare; 

-Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied 

-In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play, 

-Straight couches close, then, rising, changes oft 

-His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground, 

-Whence rushing, he might surest seize them both, 

-Griped in each paw: when, Adam first of men 

-To first of women Eve thus moving speech, 

-Turned him, all ear to hear new utterance flow. 

-Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys, 

-Dearer thyself than all; needs must the Power 

-That made us, and for us this ample world, 

-Be infinitely good, and of his good 

-As liberal and free as infinite; 

-That raised us from the dust, and placed us here 

-In all this happiness, who at his hand 

-Have nothing merited, nor can perform 

-Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires 

-From us no other service than to keep 

-This one, this easy charge, of all the trees 

-In Paradise that bear delicious fruit 

-So various, not to taste that only tree 

-Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life; 

-So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, 

-Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowest 

-God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree, 

-The only sign of our obedience left, 

-Among so many signs of power and rule 

-Conferred upon us, and dominion given 

-Over all other creatures that possess 

-Earth, air, and sea.  Then let us not think hard 

-One easy prohibition, who enjoy 

-Free leave so large to all things else, and choice 

-Unlimited of manifold delights: 

-But let us ever praise him, and extol 

-His bounty, following our delightful task, 

-To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers, 

-Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet. 

-To whom thus Eve replied.  O thou for whom 

-And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh, 

-And without whom am to no end, my guide 

-And head! what thou hast said is just and right. 

-For we to him indeed all praises owe, 

-And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy 

-So far the happier lot, enjoying thee 

-Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou 

-Like consort to thyself canst no where find. 

-That day I oft remember, when from sleep 

-I first awaked, and found myself reposed 

-Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where 

-And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. 

-Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound 

-Of waters issued from a cave, and spread 

-Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved 

-Pure as the expanse of Heaven; I thither went 

-With unexperienced thought, and laid me down 

-On the green bank, to look into the clear 

-Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky. 

-As I bent down to look, just opposite 

-A shape within the watery gleam appeared, 

-Bending to look on me:  I started back, 

-It started back; but pleased I soon returned, 

-Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks 

-Of sympathy and love:  There I had fixed 

-Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire, 

-Had not a voice thus warned me;  'What thou seest, 

-'What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself; 

-'With thee it came and goes: but follow me, 

-'And I will bring thee where no shadow stays 

-'Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he 

-'Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy 

-'Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear 

-'Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called 

-'Mother of human race.'  What could I do, 

-But follow straight, invisibly thus led? 

-Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall, 

-Under a platane; yet methought less fair, 

-Less winning soft, less amiably mild, 

-Than that smooth watery image:  Back I turned; 

-Thou following cryedst aloud, 'Return, fair Eve; 

-'Whom flyest thou?  whom thou flyest, of him thou art, 

-'His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent 

-'Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart, 

-'Substantial life, to have thee by my side 

-'Henceforth an individual solace dear; 

-'Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim 

-'My other half:'  With that thy gentle hand 

-Seised mine:  I yielded;and from that time see 

-How beauty is excelled by manly grace, 

-And wisdom, which alone is truly fair. 

-So spake our general mother, and with eyes 

-Of conjugal attraction unreproved, 

-And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned 

-On our first father; half her swelling breast 

-Naked met his, under the flowing gold 

-Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight 

-Both of her beauty, and submissive charms, 

-Smiled with superiour love, as Jupiter 

-On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds 

-That shed Mayflowers; and pressed her matron lip 

-With kisses pure:  Aside the Devil turned 

-For envy; yet with jealous leer malign 

-Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained. 

-Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two, 

-Imparadised in one another's arms, 

-The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill 

-Of bliss on bliss; while I to Hell am thrust, 

-Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire, 

-Among our other torments not the least, 

-Still unfulfilled with pain of longing pines. 

-Yet let me not forget what I have gained 

-From their own mouths:  All is not theirs, it seems; 

-One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge called, 

-Forbidden them to taste:  Knowledge forbidden 

-Suspicious, reasonless.  Why should their Lord 

-Envy them that?  Can it be sin to know? 

-Can it be death?  And do they only stand 

-By ignorance?  Is that their happy state, 

-The proof of their obedience and their faith? 

-O fair foundation laid whereon to build 

-Their ruin! hence I will excite their minds 

-With more desire to know, and to reject 

-Envious commands, invented with design 

-To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt 

-Equal with Gods: aspiring to be such, 

-They taste and die:  What likelier can ensue 

-But first with narrow search I must walk round 

-This garden, and no corner leave unspied; 

-A chance but chance may lead where I may meet 

-Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain side, 

-Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw 

-What further would be learned.  Live while ye may, 

-Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return, 

-Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed! 

-So saying, his proud step he scornful turned, 

-But with sly circumspection, and began 

-Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam 

-Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heaven 

-With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun 

-Slowly descended, and with right aspect 

-Against the eastern gate of Paradise 

-Levelled his evening rays:  It was a rock 

-Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, 

-Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent 

-Accessible from earth, one entrance high; 

-The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung 

-Still as it rose, impossible to climb. 

-Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, 

-Chief of the angelick guards, awaiting night; 

-About him exercised heroick games 

-The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand 

-Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears, 

-Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold. 

-Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even 

-On a sun-beam, swift as a shooting star 

-In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fired 

-Impress the air, and shows the mariner 

-From what point of his compass to beware 

-Impetuous winds:  He thus began in haste. 

-Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given 

-Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place 

-No evil thing approach or enter in. 

-This day at highth of noon came to my sphere 

-A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know 

-More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly Man, 

-God's latest image:  I described his way 

-Bent all on speed, and marked his aery gait; 

-But in the mount that lies from Eden north, 

-Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks 

-Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured: 

-Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade 

-Lost sight of him:  One of the banished crew, 

-I fear, hath ventured from the deep, to raise 

-New troubles; him thy care must be to find. 

-To whom the winged warriour thus returned. 

-Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight, 

-Amid the sun's bright circle where thou sitst, 

-See far and wide:  In at this gate none pass 

-The vigilance here placed, but such as come 

-Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour 

-No creature thence:  If Spirit of other sort, 

-So minded, have o'er-leaped these earthly bounds 

-On purpose, hard thou knowest it to exclude 

-Spiritual substance with corporeal bar. 

-But if within the circuit of these walks, 

-In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom 

-Thou tellest, by morrow dawning I shall know. 

-So promised he; and Uriel to his charge 

-Returned on that bright beam, whose point now raised 

-Bore him slope downward to the sun now fallen 

-Beneath the Azores; whether the prime orb, 

-Incredible how swift, had thither rolled 

-Diurnal, or this less volubil earth, 

-By shorter flight to the east, had left him there 

-Arraying with reflected purple and gold 

-The clouds that on his western throne attend. 

-Now came still Evening on, and Twilight gray 

-Had in her sober livery all things clad; 

-Silence accompanied; for beast and bird, 

-They to their grassy couch, these to their nests 

-Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale; 

-She all night long her amorous descant sung; 

-Silence was pleased:  Now glowed the firmament 

-With living sapphires:  Hesperus, that led 

-The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon, 

-Rising in clouded majesty, at length 

-Apparent queen unveiled her peerless light, 

-And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw. 

-When Adam thus to Eve.  Fair Consort, the hour 

-Of night, and all things now retired to rest, 

-Mind us of like repose; since God hath set 

-Labour and rest, as day and night, to men 

-Successive; and the timely dew of sleep, 

-Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines 

-Our eye-lids:  Other creatures all day long 

-Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest; 

-Man hath his daily work of body or mind 

-Appointed, which declares his dignity, 

-And the regard of Heaven on all his ways; 

-While other animals unactive range, 

-And of their doings God takes no account. 

-To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east 

-With first approach of light, we must be risen, 

-And at our pleasant labour, to reform 

-Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green, 

-Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, 

-That mock our scant manuring, and require 

-More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth: 

-Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, 

-That lie bestrown, unsightly and unsmooth, 

-Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease; 

-Mean while, as Nature wills, night bids us rest. 

-To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorned 

-My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst 

-Unargued I obey:  So God ordains; 

-God is thy law, thou mine:  To know no more 

-Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise. 

-With thee conversing I forget all time; 

-All seasons, and their change, all please alike. 

-Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet, 

-With charm of earliest birds:  pleasant the sun, 

-When first on this delightful land he spreads 

-His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, 

-Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth 

-After soft showers; and sweet the coming on 

-Of grateful Evening mild; then silent Night, 

-With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon, 

-And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train: 

-But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends 

-With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun 

-On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower, 

-Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers; 

-Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night, 

-With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon, 

-Or glittering star-light, without thee is sweet. 

-But wherefore all night long shine these? for whom 

-This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes? 

-To whom our general ancestor replied. 

-Daughter of God and Man, accomplished Eve, 

-These have their course to finish round the earth, 

-By morrow evening, and from land to land 

-In order, though to nations yet unborn, 

-Ministring light prepared, they set and rise; 

-Lest total Darkness should by night regain 

-Her old possession, and extinguish life 

-In Nature and all things; which these soft fires 

-Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat 

-Of various influence foment and warm, 

-Temper or nourish, or in part shed down 

-Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow 

-On earth, made hereby apter to receive 

-Perfection from the sun's more potent ray. 

-These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, 

-Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none, 

-That Heaven would want spectators, God want praise: 

-Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth 

-Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep: 

-All these with ceaseless praise his works behold 

-Both day and night:  How often from the steep 

-Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard 

-Celestial voices to the midnight air, 

-Sole, or responsive each to others note, 

-Singing their great Creator? oft in bands 

-While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, 

-With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds 

-In full harmonick number joined, their songs 

-Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. 

-Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed 

-On to their blissful bower: it was a place 

-Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed 

-All things to Man's delightful use; the roof 

-Of thickest covert was inwoven shade 

-Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew 

-Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side 

-Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub, 

-Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower, 

-Iris all hues, roses, and jessamin, 

-Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought 

-Mosaick; underfoot the violet, 

-Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay 

-Broidered the ground, more coloured than with stone 

-Of costliest emblem:  Other creature here, 

-Bird, beast, insect, or worm, durst enter none, 

-Such was their awe of Man.  In shadier bower 

-More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned, 

-Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph 

-Nor Faunus haunted.  Here, in close recess, 

-With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs, 

-Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed; 

-And heavenly quires the hymenaean sung, 

-What day the genial Angel to our sire 

-Brought her in naked beauty more adorned, 

-More lovely, than Pandora, whom the Gods 

-Endowed with all their gifts, and O! too like 

-In sad event, when to the unwiser son 

-Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnared 

-Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged 

-On him who had stole Jove's authentick fire. 

-Thus, at their shady lodge arrived, both stood, 

-Both turned, and under open sky adored 

-The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven, 

-Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe, 

-And starry pole:  Thou also madest the night, 

-Maker Omnipotent, and thou the day, 

-Which we, in our appointed work employed, 

-Have finished, happy in our mutual help 

-And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss 

-Ordained by thee; and this delicious place 

-For us too large, where thy abundance wants 

-Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. 

-But thou hast promised from us two a race 

-To fill the earth, who shall with us extol 

-Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, 

-And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep. 

-This said unanimous, and other rites 

-Observing none, but adoration pure 

-Which God likes best, into their inmost bower 

-Handed they went; and, eased the putting off 

-These troublesome disguises which we wear, 

-Straight side by side were laid; nor turned, I ween, 

-Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites 

-Mysterious of connubial love refused: 

-Whatever hypocrites austerely talk 

-Of purity, and place, and innocence, 

-Defaming as impure what God declares 

-Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all. 

-Our Maker bids encrease; who bids abstain 

-But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man? 

-Hail, wedded Love, mysterious law, true source 

-Of human offspring, sole propriety 

-In Paradise of all things common else! 

-By thee adulterous Lust was driven from men 

-Among the bestial herds to range; by thee 

-Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure, 

-Relations dear, and all the charities 

-Of father, son, and brother, first were known. 

-Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame, 

-Or think thee unbefitting holiest place, 

-Perpetual fountain of domestick sweets, 

-Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced, 

-Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used. 

-Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights 

-His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, 

-Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile 

-Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared, 

-Casual fruition; nor in court-amours, 

-Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, 

-Or serenate, which the starved lover sings 

-To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. 

-These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept, 

-And on their naked limbs the flowery roof 

-Showered roses, which the morn repaired.  Sleep on, 

-Blest pair; and O!yet happiest, if ye seek 

-No happier state, and know to know no more. 

-Now had night measured with her shadowy cone 

-Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault, 

-And from their ivory port the Cherubim, 

-Forth issuing at the accustomed hour, stood armed 

-To their night watches in warlike parade; 

-When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake. 

-Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south 

-With strictest watch; these other wheel the north; 

-Our circuit meets full west.  As flame they part, 

-Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. 

-From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he called 

-That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge. 

-Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed 

-Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook; 

-But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, 

-Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm. 

-This evening from the sun's decline arrived, 

-Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen 

-Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped 

-The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt: 

-Such, where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring. 

-So saying, on he led his radiant files, 

-Dazzling the moon; these to the bower direct 

-In search of whom they sought:  Him there they found 

-Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, 

-Assaying by his devilish art to reach 

-The organs of her fancy, and with them forge 

-Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams; 

-Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint 

-The animal spirits, that from pure blood arise 

-Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise 

-At least distempered, discontented thoughts, 

-Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, 

-Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride. 

-Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear 

-Touched lightly; for no falshood can endure 

-Touch of celestial temper, but returns 

-Of force to its own likeness:  Up he starts 

-Discovered and surprised.  As when a spark 

-Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid 

-Fit for the tun some magazine to store 

-Against a rumoured war, the smutty grain, 

-With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air; 

-So started up in his own shape the Fiend. 

-Back stept those two fair Angels, half amazed 

-So sudden to behold the grisly king; 

-Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon. 

-Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to Hell 

-Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and, transformed, 

-Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait, 

-Here watching at the head of these that sleep? 

-Know ye not then said Satan, filled with scorn, 

-Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate 

-For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar: 

-Not to know me argues yourselves unknown, 

-The lowest of your throng; or, if ye know, 

-Why ask ye, and superfluous begin 

-Your message, like to end as much in vain? 

-To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn. 

-Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same, 

-Or undiminished brightness to be known, 

-As when thou stoodest in Heaven upright and pure; 

-That glory then, when thou no more wast good, 

-Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now 

-Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul. 

-But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account 

-To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep 

-This place inviolable, and these from harm. 

-So spake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke, 

-Severe in youthful beauty, added grace 

-Invincible:  Abashed the Devil stood, 

-And felt how awful goodness is, and saw 

-Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined 

-His loss; but chiefly to find here observed 

-His lustre visibly impaired; yet seemed 

-Undaunted.  If I must contend, said he, 

-Best with the best, the sender, not the sent, 

-Or all at once; more glory will be won, 

-Or less be lost.  Thy fear, said Zephon bold, 

-Will save us trial what the least can do 

-Single against thee wicked, and thence weak. 

-The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage; 

-But, like a proud steed reined, went haughty on, 

-Champing his iron curb:  To strive or fly 

-He held it vain; awe from above had quelled 

-His heart, not else dismayed.  Now drew they nigh 

-The western point, where those half-rounding guards 

-Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined, 

-A waiting next command.  To whom their Chief, 

-Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud. 

-O friends!  I hear the tread of nimble feet 

-Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern 

-Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade; 

-And with them comes a third of regal port, 

-But faded splendour wan; who by his gait 

-And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell, 

-Not likely to part hence without contest; 

-Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours. 

-He scarce had ended, when those two approached, 

-And brief related whom they brought, where found, 

-How busied, in what form and posture couched. 

-To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake. 

-Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed 

-To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge 

-Of others, who approve not to transgress 

-By thy example, but have power and right 

-To question thy bold entrance on this place; 

-Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those 

-Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss! 

-To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. 

-Gabriel? thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise, 

-And such I held thee; but this question asked 

-Puts me in doubt.  Lives there who loves his pain! 

-Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, 

-Though thither doomed!  Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt 

-And boldly venture to whatever place 

-Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change 

-Torment with ease, and soonest recompense 

-Dole with delight, which in this place I sought; 

-To thee no reason, who knowest only good, 

-But evil hast not tried: and wilt object 

-His will who bounds us!  Let him surer bar 

-His iron gates, if he intends our stay 

-In that dark durance:  Thus much what was asked. 

-The rest is true, they found me where they say; 

-But that implies not violence or harm. 

-Thus he in scorn.  The warlike Angel moved, 

-Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied. 

-O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise 

-Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew, 

-And now returns him from his prison 'scaped, 

-Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise 

-Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither 

-Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed; 

-So wise he judges it to fly from pain 

-However, and to 'scape his punishment! 

-So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath, 

-Which thou incurrest by flying, meet thy flight 

-Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, 

-Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain 

-Can equal anger infinite provoked. 

-But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee 

-Came not all hell broke loose? or thou than they 

-Less hardy to endure?  Courageous Chief! 

-The first in flight from pain! hadst thou alleged 

-To thy deserted host this cause of flight, 

-Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. 

-To which the Fiend thus answered, frowning stern. 

-Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, 

-Insulting Angel! well thou knowest I stood 

-Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid 

-The blasting vollied thunder made all speed, 

-And seconded thy else not dreaded spear. 

-But still thy words at random, as before, 

-Argue thy inexperience what behoves 

-From hard assays and ill successes past 

-A faithful leader, not to hazard all 

-Through ways of danger by himself untried: 

-I, therefore, I alone first undertook 

-To wing the desolate abyss, and spy 

-This new created world, whereof in Hell 

-Fame is not silent, here in hope to find 

-Better abode, and my afflicted Powers 

-To settle here on earth, or in mid air; 

-Though for possession put to try once more 

-What thou and thy gay legions dare against; 

-Whose easier business were to serve their Lord 

-High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, 

-And practised distances to cringe, not fight, 

-To whom the warriour Angel soon replied. 

-To say and straight unsay, pretending first 

-Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, 

-Argues no leader but a liear traced, 

-Satan, and couldst thou faithful add?  O name, 

-O sacred name of faithfulness profaned! 

-Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? 

-Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head. 

-Was this your discipline and faith engaged, 

-Your military obedience, to dissolve 

-Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme? 

-And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem 

-Patron of liberty, who more than thou 

-Once fawned, and cringed, and servily adored 

-Heaven's awful Monarch? wherefore, but in hope 

-To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? 

-But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant; 

-Fly neither whence thou fledst!  If from this hour 

-Within these hallowed limits thou appear, 

-Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained, 

-And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn 

-The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred. 

-So threatened he; but Satan to no threats 

-Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied. 

-Then when I am thy captive talk of chains, 

-Proud limitary Cherub! but ere then 

-Far heavier load thyself expect to feel 

-From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King 

-Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers, 

-Us'd to the yoke, drawest his triumphant wheels 

-In progress through the road of Heaven star-paved. 

-While thus he spake, the angelick squadron bright 

-Turned fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns 

-Their phalanx, and began to hem him round 

-With ported spears, as thick as when a field 

-Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends 

-Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind 

-Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands, 

-Left on the threshing floor his hopeless sheaves 

-Prove chaff.  On the other side, Satan, alarmed, 

-Collecting all his might, dilated stood, 

-Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved: 

-His stature reached the sky, and on his crest 

-Sat Horrour plumed; nor wanted in his grasp 

-What seemed both spear and shield:  Now dreadful deeds 

-Might have ensued, nor only Paradise 

-In this commotion, but the starry cope 

-Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements 

-At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn 

-With violence of this conflict, had not soon 

-The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, 

-Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen 

-Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign, 

-Wherein all things created first he weighed, 

-The pendulous round earth with balanced air 

-In counterpoise, now ponders all events, 

-Battles and realms:  In these he put two weights, 

-The sequel each of parting and of fight: 

-The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam, 

-Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. 

-Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowest mine; 

-Neither our own, but given:  What folly then 

-To boast what arms can do? since thine no more 

-Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now 

-To trample thee as mire:  For proof look up, 

-And read thy lot in yon celestial sign; 

-Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak, 

-If thou resist.  The Fiend looked up, and knew 

-His mounted scale aloft:  Nor more;but fled 

-Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night. 

- 

- 

- 

-Book V                                                           

- 

- 

-Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime 

-Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl, 

-When Adam waked, so customed; for his sleep 

-Was aery-light, from pure digestion bred, 

-And temperate vapours bland, which the only sound 

-Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, 

-Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song 

-Of birds on every bough; so much the more 

-His wonder was to find unwakened Eve 

-With tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek, 

-As through unquiet rest:  He, on his side 

-Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial love 

-Hung over her enamoured, and beheld 

-Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep, 

-Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice 

-Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, 

-Her hand soft touching, whispered thus.  Awake, 

-My fairest, my espoused, my latest found, 

-Heaven's last best gift, my ever new delight! 

-Awake:  The morning shines, and the fresh field 

-Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring 

-Our tender plants, how blows the citron grove, 

-What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed, 

-How nature paints her colours, how the bee 

-Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet. 

-Such whispering waked her, but with startled eye 

-On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spake. 

-O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, 

-My glory, my perfection! glad I see 

-Thy face, and morn returned; for I this night 

-(Such night till this I never passed) have dreamed, 

-If dreamed, not, as I oft am wont, of thee, 

-Works of day past, or morrow's next design, 

-But of offence and trouble, which my mind 

-Knew never till this irksome night:  Methought, 

-Close at mine ear one called me forth to walk 

-With gentle voice;  I thought it thine: It said, 

-'Why sleepest thou, Eve? now is the pleasant time, 

-'The cool, the silent, save where silence yields 

-'To the night-warbling bird, that now awake 

-'Tunes sweetest his love-laboured song; now reigns 

-'Full-orbed the moon, and with more pleasing light 

-'Shadowy sets off the face of things; in vain, 

-'If none regard; Heaven wakes with all his eyes, 

-'Whom to behold but thee, Nature's desire? 

-'In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment 

-'Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.' 

-I rose as at thy call, but found thee not; 

-To find thee I directed then my walk; 

-And on, methought, alone I passed through ways 

-That brought me on a sudden to the tree 

-Of interdicted knowledge: fair it seemed, 

-Much fairer to my fancy than by day: 

-And, as I wondering looked, beside it stood 

-One shaped and winged like one of those from Heaven 

-By us oft seen; his dewy locks distilled 

-Ambrosia; on that tree he also gazed; 

-And 'O fair plant,' said he, 'with fruit surcharged, 

-'Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet, 

-'Nor God, nor Man?  Is knowledge so despised? 

-'Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste? 

-'Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold 

-'Longer thy offered good; why else set here? 

-This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm 

-He plucked, he tasted; me damp horrour chilled 

-At such bold words vouched with a deed so bold: 

-But he thus, overjoyed; 'O fruit divine, 

-'Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt, 

-'Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit 

-'For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men: 

-'And why not Gods of Men; since good, the more 

-'Communicated, more abundant grows, 

-'The author not impaired, but honoured more? 

-'Here, happy creature, fair angelick Eve! 

-'Partake thou also; happy though thou art, 

-'Happier thou mayest be, worthier canst not be: 

-'Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods 

-'Thyself a Goddess, not to earth confined, 

-'But sometimes in the air, as we, sometimes 

-'Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see 

-'What life the Gods live there, and such live thou!' 

-So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held, 

-Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part 

-Which he had plucked; the pleasant savoury smell 

-So quickened appetite, that I, methought, 

-Could not but taste.  Forthwith up to the clouds 

-With him I flew, and underneath beheld 

-The earth outstretched immense, a prospect wide 

-And various:  Wondering at my flight and change 

-To this high exaltation; suddenly 

-My guide was gone, and I, methought, sunk down, 

-And fell asleep; but O, how glad I waked 

-To find this but a dream!  Thus Eve her night 

-Related, and thus Adam answered sad. 

-Best image of myself, and dearer half, 

-The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep 

-Affects me equally; nor can I like 

-This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear; 

-Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none, 

-Created pure.  But know that in the soul 

-Are many lesser faculties, that serve 

-Reason as chief; among these Fancy next 

-Her office holds; of all external things 

-Which the five watchful senses represent, 

-She forms imaginations, aery shapes, 

-Which Reason, joining or disjoining, frames 

-All what we affirm or what deny, and call 

-Our knowledge or opinion; then retires 

-Into her private cell, when nature rests. 

-Oft in her absence mimick Fancy wakes 

-To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes, 

-Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams; 

-Ill matching words and deeds long past or late. 

-Some such resemblances, methinks, I find 

-Of our last evening's talk, in this thy dream, 

-But with addition strange; yet be not sad. 

-Evil into the mind of God or Man 

-May come and go, so unreproved, and leave 

-No spot or blame behind:  Which gives me hope 

-That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream, 

-Waking thou never will consent to do. 

-Be not disheartened then, nor cloud those looks, 

-That wont to be more cheerful and serene, 

-Than when fair morning first smiles on the world; 

-And let us to our fresh employments rise 

-Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers 

-That open now their choisest bosomed smells, 

-Reserved from night, and kept for thee in store. 

-So cheered he his fair spouse, and she was cheered; 

-But silently a gentle tear let fall 

-From either eye, and wiped them with her hair; 

-Two other precious drops that ready stood, 

-Each in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell 

-Kissed, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse 

-And pious awe, that feared to have offended. 

-So all was cleared, and to the field they haste. 

-But first, from under shady arborous roof 

-Soon as they forth were come to open sight 

-Of day-spring, and the sun, who, scarce up-risen, 

-With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean-brim, 

-Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray, 

-Discovering in wide landskip all the east 

-Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains, 

-Lowly they bowed adoring, and began 

-Their orisons, each morning duly paid 

-In various style; for neither various style 

-Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise 

-Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung 

-Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence 

-Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous verse, 

-More tuneable than needed lute or harp 

-To add more sweetness; and they thus began. 

-These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, 

-Almighty!  Thine this universal frame, 

-Thus wonderous fair;  Thyself how wonderous then! 

-Unspeakable, who sitst above these heavens 

-To us invisible, or dimly seen 

-In these thy lowest works; yet these declare 

-Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine. 

-Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light, 

-Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs 

-And choral symphonies, day without night, 

-Circle his throne rejoicing; ye in Heaven 

-On Earth join all ye Creatures to extol 

-Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. 

-Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, 

-If better thou belong not to the dawn, 

-Sure pledge of day, that crownest the smiling morn 

-With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere, 

-While day arises, that sweet hour of prime. 

-Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and soul, 

-Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise 

-In thy eternal course, both when thou climbest, 

-And when high noon hast gained, and when thou fallest. 

-Moon, that now meetest the orient sun, now flyest, 

-With the fixed Stars, fixed in their orb that flies; 

-And ye five other wandering Fires, that move 

-In mystick dance not without song, resound 

-His praise, who out of darkness called up light. 

-Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth 

-Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run 

-Perpetual circle, multiform; and mix 

-And nourish all things; let your ceaseless change 

-Vary to our great Maker still new praise. 

-Ye Mists and Exhalations, that now rise 

-From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray, 

-Till the sun paint your fleecy skirts with gold, 

-In honour to the world's great Author rise; 

-Whether to deck with clouds the uncoloured sky, 

-Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers, 

-Rising or falling still advance his praise. 

-His praise, ye Winds, that from four quarters blow, 

-Breathe soft or loud; and, wave your tops, ye Pines, 

-With every plant, in sign of worship wave. 

-Fountains, and ye that warble, as ye flow, 

-Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. 

-Join voices, all ye living Souls:  Ye Birds, 

-That singing up to Heaven-gate ascend, 

-Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise. 

-Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk 

-The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep; 

-Witness if I be silent, morn or even, 

-To hill, or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, 

-Made vocal by my song, and taught his praise. 

-Hail, universal Lord, be bounteous still 

-To give us only good; and if the night 

-Have gathered aught of evil, or concealed, 

-Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark! 

-So prayed they innocent, and to their thoughts 

-Firm peace recovered soon, and wonted calm. 

-On to their morning's rural work they haste, 

-Among sweet dews and flowers; where any row 

-Of fruit-trees over-woody reached too far 

-Their pampered boughs, and needed hands to check 

-Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine 

-To wed her elm; she, spoused, about him twines 

-Her marriageable arms, and with him brings 

-Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn 

-His barren leaves.  Them thus employed beheld 

-With pity Heaven's high King, and to him called 

-Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deigned 

-To travel with Tobias, and secured 

-His marriage with the seventimes-wedded maid. 

-Raphael, said he, thou hearest what stir on Earth 

-Satan, from Hell 'scaped through the darksome gulf, 

-Hath raised in Paradise; and how disturbed 

-This night the human pair; how he designs 

-In them at once to ruin all mankind. 

-Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend 

-Converse with Adam, in what bower or shade 

-Thou findest him from the heat of noon retired, 

-To respite his day-labour with repast, 

-Or with repose; and such discourse bring on, 

-As may advise him of his happy state, 

-Happiness in his power left free to will, 

-Left to his own free will, his will though free, 

-Yet mutable; whence warn him to beware 

-He swerve not, too secure:  Tell him withal 

-His danger, and from whom; what enemy, 

-Late fallen himself from Heaven, is plotting now 

-The fall of others from like state of bliss; 

-By violence? no, for that shall be withstood; 

-But by deceit and lies:  This let him know, 

-Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend 

-Surprisal, unadmonished, unforewarned. 

-So spake the Eternal Father, and fulfilled 

-All justice:  Nor delayed the winged Saint 

-After his charge received; but from among 

-Thousand celestial Ardours, where he stood 

-Veiled with his gorgeous wings, up springing light, 

-Flew through the midst of Heaven; the angelick quires, 

-On each hand parting, to his speed gave way 

-Through all the empyreal road; till, at the gate 

-Of Heaven arrived, the gate self-opened wide 

-On golden hinges turning, as by work 

-Divine the sovran Architect had framed. 

-From hence no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight, 

-Star interposed, however small he sees, 

-Not unconformed to other shining globes, 

-Earth, and the garden of God, with cedars crowned 

-Above all hills.  As when by night the glass 

-Of Galileo, less assured, observes 

-Imagined lands and regions in the moon: 

-Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades 

-Delos or Samos first appearing, kens 

-A cloudy spot.  Down thither prone in flight 

-He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky 

-Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady wing 

-Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan 

-Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar 

-Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems 

-A phoenix, gazed by all as that sole bird, 

-When, to enshrine his reliques in the Sun's 

-Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies. 

-At once on the eastern cliff of Paradise 

-He lights, and to his proper shape returns 

-A Seraph winged:  Six wings he wore, to shade 

-His lineaments divine; the pair that clad 

-Each shoulder broad, came mantling o'er his breast 

-With regal ornament; the middle pair 

-Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round 

-Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold 

-And colours dipt in Heaven; the third his feet 

-Shadowed from either heel with feathered mail, 

-Sky-tinctured grain.  Like Maia's son he stood, 

-And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance filled 

-The circuit wide.  Straight knew him all the bands 

-Of Angels under watch; and to his state, 

-And to his message high, in honour rise; 

-For on some message high they guessed him bound. 

-Their glittering tents he passed, and now is come 

-Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh, 

-And flowering odours, cassia, nard, and balm; 

-A wilderness of sweets; for Nature here 

-Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will 

-Her virgin fancies pouring forth more sweet, 

-Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. 

-Him through the spicy forest onward come 

-Adam discerned, as in the door he sat 

-Of his cool bower, while now the mounted sun 

-Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm 

-Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam needs: 

-And Eve within, due at her hour prepared 

-For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please 

-True appetite, and not disrelish thirst 

-Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream, 

-Berry or grape:  To whom thus Adam called. 

-Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold 

-Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape 

-Comes this way moving; seems another morn 

-Risen on mid-noon; some great behest from Heaven 

-To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe 

-This day to be our guest.  But go with speed, 

-And, what thy stores contain, bring forth, and pour 

-Abundance, fit to honour and receive 

-Our heavenly stranger:  Well we may afford 

-Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow 

-From large bestowed, where Nature multiplies 

-Her fertile growth, and by disburthening grows 

-More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare. 

-To whom thus Eve.  Adam, earth's hallowed mould, 

-Of God inspired! small store will serve, where store, 

-All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk; 

-Save what by frugal storing firmness gains 

-To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes: 

-But I will haste, and from each bough and brake, 

-Each plant and juciest gourd, will pluck such choice 

-To entertain our Angel-guest, as he 

-Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth 

-God hath dispensed his bounties as in Heaven. 

-So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste 

-She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent 

-What choice to choose for delicacy best, 

-What order, so contrived as not to mix 

-Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring 

-Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change; 

-Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk 

-Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields 

-In India East or West, or middle shore 

-In Pontus or the Punick coast, or where 

-Alcinous reigned, fruit of all kinds, in coat 

-Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell, 

-She gathers, tribute large, and on the board 

-Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the grape 

-She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths 

-From many a berry, and from sweet kernels pressed 

-She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold 

-Wants her fit vessels pure; then strows the ground 

-With rose and odours from the shrub unfumed. 

-Mean while our primitive great sire, to meet 

-His God-like guest, walks forth, without more train 

-Accompanied than with his own complete 

-Perfections; in himself was all his state, 

-More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits 

-On princes, when their rich retinue long 

-Of horses led, and grooms besmeared with gold, 

-Dazzles the croud, and sets them all agape. 

-Nearer his presence Adam, though not awed, 

-Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek, 

-As to a superiour nature bowing low, 

-Thus said.  Native of Heaven, for other place 

-None can than Heaven such glorious shape contain; 

-Since, by descending from the thrones above, 

-Those happy places thou hast deigned a while 

-To want, and honour these, vouchsafe with us 

-Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess 

-This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower 

-To rest; and what the garden choicest bears 

-To sit and taste, till this meridian heat 

-Be over, and the sun more cool decline. 

-Whom thus the angelick Virtue answered mild. 

-Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou such 

-Created, or such place hast here to dwell, 

-As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heaven, 

-To visit thee; lead on then where thy bower 

-O'ershades; for these mid-hours, till evening rise, 

-I have at will.  So to the sylvan lodge 

-They came, that like Pomona's arbour smiled, 

-With flowerets decked, and fragrant smells; but Eve, 

-Undecked save with herself, more lovely fair 

-Than Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feigned 

-Of three that in mount Ida naked strove, 

-Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil 

-She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm 

-Altered her cheek.  On whom the Angel Hail 

-Bestowed, the holy salutation used 

-Long after to blest Mary, second Eve. 

-Hail, Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb 

-Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons, 

-Than with these various fruits the trees of God 

-Have heaped this table!--Raised of grassy turf 

-Their table was, and mossy seats had round, 

-And on her ample square from side to side 

-All autumn piled, though spring and autumn here 

-Danced hand in hand.  A while discourse they hold; 

-No fear lest dinner cool; when thus began 

-Our author.  Heavenly stranger, please to taste 

-These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom 

-All perfect good, unmeasured out, descends, 

-To us for food and for delight hath caused 

-The earth to yield; unsavoury food perhaps 

-To spiritual natures; only this I know, 

-That one celestial Father gives to all. 

-To whom the Angel.  Therefore what he gives 

-(Whose praise be ever sung) to Man in part 

-Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found 

-No ingrateful food:  And food alike those pure 

-Intelligential substances require, 

-As doth your rational; and both contain 

-Within them every lower faculty 

-Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, 

-Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate, 

-And corporeal to incorporeal turn. 

-For know, whatever was created, needs 

-To be sustained and fed:  Of elements 

-The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea, 

-Earth and the sea feed air, the air those fires 

-Ethereal, and as lowest first the moon; 

-Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurged 

-Vapours not yet into her substance turned. 

-Nor doth the moon no nourishment exhale 

-From her moist continent to higher orbs. 

-The sun that light imparts to all, receives 

-From all his alimental recompence 

-In humid exhalations, and at even 

-Sups with the ocean.  Though in Heaven the trees 

-Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines 

-Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each morn 

-We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground 

-Covered with pearly grain:  Yet God hath here 

-Varied his bounty so with new delights, 

-As may compare with Heaven; and to taste 

-Think not I shall be nice.  So down they sat, 

-And to their viands fell; nor seemingly 

-The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss 

-Of Theologians; but with keen dispatch 

-Of real hunger, and concoctive heat 

-To transubstantiate:  What redounds, transpires 

-Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder;if by fire 

-Of sooty coal the empirick alchemist 

-Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, 

-Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold, 

-As from the mine.  Mean while at table Eve 

-Ministered naked, and their flowing cups 

-With pleasant liquours crowned:  O innocence 

-Deserving Paradise! if ever, then, 

-Then had the sons of God excuse to have been 

-Enamoured at that sight; but in those hearts 

-Love unlibidinous reigned, nor jealousy 

-Was understood, the injured lover's hell. 

-Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficed, 

-Not burdened nature, sudden mind arose 

-In Adam, not to let the occasion pass 

-Given him by this great conference to know 

-Of things above his world, and of their being 

-Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw 

-Transcend his own so far; whose radiant forms, 

-Divine effulgence, whose high power, so far 

-Exceeded human; and his wary speech 

-Thus to the empyreal minister he framed. 

-Inhabitant with God, now know I well 

-Thy favour, in this honour done to Man; 

-Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsafed 

-To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste, 

-Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, 

-As that more willingly thou couldst not seem 

-At Heaven's high feasts to have fed: yet what compare 

-To whom the winged Hierarch replied. 

-O Adam, One Almighty is, from whom 

-All things proceed, and up to him return, 

-If not depraved from good, created all 

-Such to perfection, one first matter all, 

-Endued with various forms, various degrees 

-Of substance, and, in things that live, of life; 

-But more refined, more spiritous, and pure, 

-As nearer to him placed, or nearer tending 

-Each in their several active spheres assigned, 

-Till body up to spirit work, in bounds 

-Proportioned to each kind.  So from the root 

-Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves 

-More aery, last the bright consummate flower 

-Spirits odorous breathes: flowers and their fruit, 

-Man's nourishment, by gradual scale sublimed, 

-To vital spirits aspire, to animal, 

-To intellectual; give both life and sense, 

-Fancy and understanding; whence the soul 

-Reason receives, and reason is her being, 

-Discursive, or intuitive; discourse 

-Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, 

-Differing but in degree, of kind the same. 

-Wonder not then, what God for you saw good 

-If I refuse not, but convert, as you 

-To proper substance.  Time may come, when Men 

-With Angels may participate, and find 

-No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare; 

-And from these corporal nutriments perhaps 

-Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit, 

-Improved by tract of time, and, winged, ascend 

-Ethereal, as we; or may, at choice, 

-Here or in heavenly Paradises dwell; 

-If ye be found obedient, and retain 

-Unalterably firm his love entire, 

-Whose progeny you are.  Mean while enjoy 

-Your fill what happiness this happy state 

-Can comprehend, incapable of more. 

-To whom the patriarch of mankind replied. 

-O favourable Spirit, propitious guest, 

-Well hast thou taught the way that might direct 

-Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set 

-From center to circumference; whereon, 

-In contemplation of created things, 

-By steps we may ascend to God.  But say, 

-What meant that caution joined, If ye be found 

-Obedient?  Can we want obedience then 

-To him, or possibly his love desert, 

-Who formed us from the dust and placed us here 

-Full to the utmost measure of what bliss 

-Human desires can seek or apprehend? 

-To whom the Angel.  Son of Heaven and Earth, 

-Attend!  That thou art happy, owe to God; 

-That thou continuest such, owe to thyself, 

-That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. 

-This was that caution given thee; be advised. 

-God made thee perfect, not immutable; 

-And good he made thee, but to persevere 

-He left it in thy power; ordained thy will 

-By nature free, not over-ruled by fate 

-Inextricable, or strict necessity: 

-Our voluntary service he requires, 

-Not our necessitated; such with him 

-Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how 

-Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve 

-Willing or no, who will but what they must 

-By destiny, and can no other choose? 

-Myself, and all the angelick host, that stand 

-In sight of God, enthroned, our happy state 

-Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; 

-On other surety none:  Freely we serve, 

-Because we freely love, as in our will 

-To love or not; in this we stand or fall: 

-And some are fallen, to disobedience fallen, 

-And so from Heaven to deepest Hell; O fall 

-From what high state of bliss, into what woe! 

-To whom our great progenitor.  Thy words 

-Attentive, and with more delighted ear, 

-Divine instructer, I have heard, than when 

-Cherubick songs by night from neighbouring hills 

-Aereal musick send:  Nor knew I not 

-To be both will and deed created free; 

-Yet that we never shall forget to love 

-Our Maker, and obey him whose command 

-Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts 

-Assured me, and still assure:  Though what thou tellest 

-Hath passed in Heaven, some doubt within me move, 

-But more desire to hear, if thou consent, 

-The full relation, which must needs be strange, 

-Worthy of sacred silence to be heard; 

-And we have yet large day, for scarce the sun 

-Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins 

-His other half in the great zone of Heaven. 

-Thus Adam made request; and Raphael, 

-After short pause assenting, thus began. 

-High matter thou enjoinest me, O prime of men, 

-Sad task and hard:  For how shall I relate 

-To human sense the invisible exploits 

-Of warring Spirits? how, without remorse, 

-The ruin of so many glorious once 

-And perfect while they stood? how last unfold 

-The secrets of another world, perhaps 

-Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good 

-This is dispensed; and what surmounts the reach 

-Of human sense, I shall delineate so, 

-By likening spiritual to corporal forms, 

-As may express them best; though what if Earth 

-Be but a shadow of Heaven, and things therein 

-Each to other like, more than on earth is thought? 

-As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild 

-Reigned where these Heavens now roll, where Earth now rests 

-Upon her center poised; when on a day 

-(For time, though in eternity, applied 

-To motion, measures all things durable 

-By present, past, and future,) on such day 

-As Heaven's great year brings forth, the empyreal host 

-Of Angels by imperial summons called, 

-Innumerable before the Almighty's throne 

-Forthwith, from all the ends of Heaven, appeared 

-Under their Hierarchs in orders bright: 

-Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced, 

-Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear 

-Stream in the air, and for distinction serve 

-Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees; 

-Or in their glittering tissues bear imblazed 

-Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love 

-Recorded eminent.  Thus when in orbs 

-Of circuit inexpressible they stood, 

-Orb within orb, the Father Infinite, 

-By whom in bliss imbosomed sat the Son, 

-Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top 

-Brightness had made invisible, thus spake. 

-Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light, 

-Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; 

-Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand. 

-This day I have begot whom I declare 

-My only Son, and on this holy hill 

-Him have anointed, whom ye now behold 

-At my right hand; your head I him appoint; 

-And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow 

-All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord: 

-Under his great vice-gerent reign abide 

-United, as one individual soul, 

-For ever happy:  Him who disobeys, 

-Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day, 

-Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls 

-Into utter darkness, deep ingulfed, his place 

-Ordained without redemption, without end. 

-So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words 

-All seemed well pleased; all seemed, but were not all. 

-That day, as other solemn days, they spent 

-In song and dance about the sacred hill; 

-Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere 

-Of planets, and of fixed, in all her wheels 

-Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, 

-Eccentrick, intervolved, yet regular 

-Then most, when most irregular they seem; 

-And in their motions harmony divine 

-So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear 

-Listens delighted.  Evening now approached, 

-(For we have also our evening and our morn, 

-We ours for change delectable, not need;) 

-Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn 

-Desirous; all in circles as they stood, 

-Tables are set, and on a sudden piled 

-With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows 

-In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold, 

-Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. 

-On flowers reposed, and with fresh flowerets crowned, 

-They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet 

-Quaff immortality and joy, secure 

-Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds 

-Excess, before the all-bounteous King, who showered 

-With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. 

-Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhaled 

-From that high mount of God, whence light and shade 

-Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had changed 

-To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there 

-In darker veil,) and roseat dews disposed 

-All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest; 

-Wide over all the plain, and wider far 

-Than all this globous earth in plain outspread, 

-(Such are the courts of God) the angelick throng, 

-Dispersed in bands and files, their camp extend 

-By living streams among the trees of life, 

-Pavilions numberless, and sudden reared, 

-Celestial tabernacles, where they slept 

-Fanned with cool winds; save those, who, in their course, 

-Melodious hymns about the sovran throne 

-Alternate all night long: but not so waked 

-Satan; so call him now, his former name 

-Is heard no more in Heaven; he of the first, 

-If not the first Arch-Angel, great in power, 

-In favour and pre-eminence, yet fraught 

-With envy against the Son of God, that day 

-Honoured by his great Father, and proclaimed 

-Messiah King anointed, could not bear 

-Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaired. 

-Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, 

-Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour 

-Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved 

-With all his legions to dislodge, and leave 

-Unworshipt, unobeyed, the throne supreme, 

-Contemptuous; and his next subordinate 

-Awakening, thus to him in secret spake. 

-Sleepest thou, Companion dear?  What sleep can close 

-Thy eye-lids? and rememberest what decree 

-Of yesterday, so late hath passed the lips 

-Of Heaven's Almighty.  Thou to me thy thoughts 

-Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart; 

-Both waking we were one; how then can now 

-Thy sleep dissent?  New laws thou seest imposed; 

-New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise 

-In us who serve, new counsels to debate 

-What doubtful may ensue:  More in this place 

-To utter is not safe.  Assemble thou 

-Of all those myriads which we lead the chief; 

-Tell them, that by command, ere yet dim night 

-Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste, 

-And all who under me their banners wave, 

-Homeward, with flying march, where we possess 

-The quarters of the north; there to prepare 

-Fit entertainment to receive our King, 

-The great Messiah, and his new commands, 

-Who speedily through all the hierarchies 

-Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws. 

-So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infused 

-Bad influence into the unwary breast 

-Of his associate:  He together calls, 

-Or several one by one, the regent Powers, 

-Under him Regent; tells, as he was taught, 

-That the Most High commanding, now ere night, 

-Now ere dim night had disincumbered Heaven, 

-The great hierarchal standard was to move; 

-Tells the suggested cause, and casts between 

-Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound 

-Or taint integrity:  But all obeyed 

-The wonted signal, and superiour voice 

-Of their great Potentate; for great indeed 

-His name, and high was his degree in Heaven; 

-His countenance, as the morning-star that guides 

-The starry flock, allured them, and with lies 

-Drew after him the third part of Heaven's host. 

-Mean while the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns 

-Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount, 

-And from within the golden lamps that burn 

-Nightly before him, saw without their light 

-Rebellion rising; saw in whom, how spread 

-Among the sons of morn, what multitudes 

-Were banded to oppose his high decree; 

-And, smiling, to his only Son thus said. 

-Son, thou in whom my glory I behold 

-In full resplendence, Heir of all my might, 

-Nearly it now concerns us to be sure 

-Of our Omnipotence, and with what arms 

-We mean to hold what anciently we claim 

-Of deity or empire:  Such a foe 

-Is rising, who intends to erect his throne 

-Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north; 

-Nor so content, hath in his thought to try 

-In battle, what our power is, or our right. 

-Let us advise, and to this hazard draw 

-With speed what force is left, and all employ 

-In our defence; lest unawares we lose 

-This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill. 

-To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear, 

-Lightning divine, ineffable, serene, 

-Made answer.  Mighty Father, thou thy foes 

-Justly hast in derision, and, secure, 

-Laughest at their vain designs and tumults vain, 

-Matter to me of glory, whom their hate 

-Illustrates, when they see all regal power 

-Given me to quell their pride, and in event 

-Know whether I be dextrous to subdue 

-Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven. 

-So spake the Son; but Satan, with his Powers, 

-Far was advanced on winged speed; an host 

-Innumerable as the stars of night, 

-Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the sun 

-Impearls on every leaf and every flower. 

-Regions they passed, the mighty regencies 

-Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones, 

-In their triple degrees; regions to which 

-All thy dominion, Adam, is no more 

-Than what this garden is to all the earth, 

-And all the sea, from one entire globose 

-Stretched into longitude; which having passed, 

-At length into the limits of the north 

-They came; and Satan to his royal seat 

-High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount 

-Raised on a mount, with pyramids and towers 

-From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold; 

-The palace of great Lucifer, (so call 

-That structure in the dialect of men 

-Interpreted,) which not long after, he 

-Affecting all equality with God, 

-In imitation of that mount whereon 

-Messiah was declared in sight of Heaven, 

-The Mountain of the Congregation called; 

-For thither he assembled all his train, 

-Pretending so commanded to consult 

-About the great reception of their King, 

-Thither to come, and with calumnious art 

-Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears. 

-Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; 

-If these magnifick titles yet remain 

-Not merely titular, since by decree 

-Another now hath to himself engrossed 

-All power, and us eclipsed under the name 

-Of King anointed, for whom all this haste 

-Of midnight-march, and hurried meeting here, 

-This only to consult how we may best, 

-With what may be devised of honours new, 

-Receive him coming to receive from us 

-Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile! 

-Too much to one! but double how endured, 

-To one, and to his image now proclaimed? 

-But what if better counsels might erect 

-Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke? 

-Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend 

-The supple knee?  Ye will not, if I trust 

-To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves 

-Natives and sons of Heaven possessed before 

-By none; and if not equal all, yet free, 

-Equally free; for orders and degrees 

-Jar not with liberty, but well consist. 

-Who can in reason then, or right, assume 

-Monarchy over such as live by right 

-His equals, if in power and splendour less, 

-In freedom equal? or can introduce 

-Law and edict on us, who without law 

-Err not? much less for this to be our Lord, 

-And look for adoration, to the abuse 

-Of those imperial titles, which assert 

-Our being ordained to govern, not to serve. 

-Thus far his bold discourse without controul 

-Had audience; when among the Seraphim 

-Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal adored 

-The Deity, and divine commands obeyed, 

-Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe 

-The current of his fury thus opposed. 

-O argument blasphemous, false, and proud! 

-Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven 

-Expected, least of all from thee,  Ingrate, 

-In place thyself so high above thy peers. 

-Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn 

-The just decree of God, pronounced and sworn, 

-That to his only Son, by right endued 

-With regal scepter, every soul in Heaven 

-Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due 

-Confess him rightful King? unjust, thou sayest, 

-Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free, 

-And equal over equals to let reign, 

-One over all with unsucceeded power. 

-Shalt thou give law to God? shalt thou dispute 

-With him the points of liberty, who made 

-Thee what thou art, and formed the Powers of Heaven 

-Such as he pleased, and circumscribed their being? 

-Yet, by experience taught, we know how good, 

-And of our good and of our dignity 

-How provident he is; how far from thought 

-To make us less, bent rather to exalt 

-Our happy state, under one head more near 

-United.  But to grant it thee unjust, 

-That equal over equals monarch reign: 

-Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count, 

-Or all angelick nature joined in one, 

-Equal to him begotten Son? by whom, 

-As by his Word, the Mighty Father made 

-All things, even thee; and all the Spirits of Heaven 

-By him created in their bright degrees, 

-Crowned them with glory, and to their glory named 

-Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers, 

-Essential Powers; nor by his reign obscured, 

-But more illustrious made; since he the head 

-One of our number thus reduced becomes; 

-His laws our laws; all honour to him done 

-Returns our own.  Cease then this impious rage, 

-And tempt not these; but hasten to appease 

-The incensed Father, and the incensed Son, 

-While pardon may be found in time besought. 

-So spake the fervent Angel; but his zeal 

-None seconded, as out of season judged, 

-Or singular and rash:  Whereat rejoiced 

-The Apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied. 

-That we were formed then sayest thou? and the work 

-Of secondary hands, by task transferred 

-From Father to his Son? strange point and new! 

-Doctrine which we would know whence learned: who saw 

-When this creation was? rememberest thou 

-Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? 

-We know no time when we were not as now; 

-Know none before us, self-begot, self-raised 

-By our own quickening power, when fatal course 

-Had circled his full orb, the birth mature 

-Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons. 

-Our puissance is our own; our own right hand 

-Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try 

-Who is our equal:  Then thou shalt behold 

-Whether by supplication we intend 

-Address, and to begirt the almighty throne 

-Beseeching or besieging.  This report, 

-These tidings carry to the anointed King; 

-And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. 

-He said; and, as the sound of waters deep, 

-Hoarse murmur echoed to his words applause 

-Through the infinite host; nor less for that 

-The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone 

-Encompassed round with foes, thus answered bold. 

-O alienate from God, O Spirit accursed, 

-Forsaken of all good!  I see thy fall 

-Determined, and thy hapless crew involved 

-In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread 

-Both of thy crime and punishment:  Henceforth 

-No more be troubled how to quit the yoke 

-Of God's Messiah; those indulgent laws 

-Will not be now vouchsafed; other decrees 

-Against thee are gone forth without recall; 

-That golden scepter, which thou didst reject, 

-Is now an iron rod to bruise and break 

-Thy disobedience.  Well thou didst advise; 

-Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly 

-These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath 

-Impendent, raging into sudden flame, 

-Distinguish not:  For soon expect to feel 

-His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. 

-Then who created thee lamenting learn, 

-When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. 

-So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found 

-Among the faithless, faithful only he; 

-Among innumerable false, unmoved, 

-Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified, 

-His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; 

-Nor number, nor example, with him wrought 

-To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, 

-Though single.  From amidst them forth he passed, 

-Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained 

-Superiour, nor of violence feared aught; 

-And, with retorted scorn, his back he turned 

-On those proud towers to swift destruction doomed. 

- 

- 

- 

-Book VI                                                          

- 

- 

-All night the dreadless Angel, unpursued, 

-Through Heaven's wide champain held his way; till Morn, 

-Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand 

-Unbarred the gates of light.  There is a cave 

-Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, 

-Where light and darkness in perpetual round 

-Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heaven 

-Grateful vicissitude, like day and night; 

-Light issues forth, and at the other door 

-Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour 

-To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well 

-Seem twilight here:  And now went forth the Morn 

-Such as in highest Heaven arrayed in gold 

-Empyreal; from before her vanished Night, 

-Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain 

-Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright, 

-Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, 

-Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view: 

-War he perceived, war in procinct; and found 

-Already known what he for news had thought 

-To have reported:  Gladly then he mixed 

-Among those friendly Powers, who him received 

-With joy and acclamations loud, that one, 

-That of so many myriads fallen, yet one 

-Returned not lost.  On to the sacred hill 

-They led him high applauded, and present 

-Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, 

-From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard. 

-Servant of God. Well done; well hast thou fought 

-The better fight, who single hast maintained 

-Against revolted multitudes the cause 

-Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; 

-And for the testimony of truth hast borne 

-Universal reproach, far worse to bear 

-Than violence; for this was all thy care 

-To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds 

-Judged thee perverse:  The easier conquest now 

-Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, 

-Back on thy foes more glorious to return, 

-Than scorned thou didst depart; and to subdue 

-By force, who reason for their law refuse, 

-Right reason for their law, and for their King 

-Messiah, who by right of merit reigns. 

-Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince, 

-And thou, in military prowess next, 

-Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons 

-Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints, 

-By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight, 

-Equal in number to that Godless crew 

-Rebellious:  Them with fire and hostile arms 

-Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven 

-Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss, 

-Into their place of punishment, the gulf 

-Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide 

-His fiery Chaos to receive their fall. 

-So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began 

-To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll 

-In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign 

-Of wrath awaked; nor with less dread the loud 

-Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow: 

-At which command the Powers militant, 

-That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined 

-Of union irresistible, moved on 

-In silence their bright legions, to the sound 

-Of instrumental harmony, that breathed 

-Heroick ardour to adventurous deeds 

-Under their God-like leaders, in the cause 

-Of God and his Messiah.  On they move 

-Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill, 

-Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides 

-Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground 

-Their march was, and the passive air upbore 

-Their nimble tread; as when the total kind 

-Of birds, in orderly array on wing, 

-Came summoned over Eden to receive 

-Their names of thee; so over many a tract 

-Of Heaven they marched, and many a province wide, 

-Tenfold the length of this terrene:  At last, 

-Far in the horizon to the north appeared 

-From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretched 

-In battailous aspect, and nearer view 

-Bristled with upright beams innumerable 

-Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields 

-Various, with boastful argument portrayed, 

-The banded Powers of Satan hasting on 

-With furious expedition; for they weened 

-That self-same day, by fight or by surprise, 

-To win the mount of God, and on his throne 

-To set the Envier of his state, the proud 

-Aspirer; but their thoughts proved fond and vain 

-In the mid way:  Though strange to us it seemed 

-At first, that Angel should with Angel war, 

-And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet 

-So oft in festivals of joy and love 

-Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire, 

-Hymning the Eternal Father:  But the shout 

-Of battle now began, and rushing sound 

-Of onset ended soon each milder thought. 

-High in the midst, exalted as a God, 

-The Apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, 

-Idol of majesty divine, enclosed 

-With flaming Cherubim, and golden shields; 

-Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now 

-"twixt host and host but narrow space was left, 

-A dreadful interval, and front to front 

-Presented stood in terrible array 

-Of hideous length:  Before the cloudy van, 

-On the rough edge of battle ere it joined, 

-Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced, 

-Came towering, armed in adamant and gold; 

-Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood 

-Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, 

-And thus his own undaunted heart explores. 

-O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest 

-Should yet remain, where faith and realty 

-Remain not:  Wherefore should not strength and might 

-There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove 

-Where boldest, though to fight unconquerable? 

-His puissance, trusting in the Almighty's aid, 

-I mean to try, whose reason I have tried 

-Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just, 

-That he, who in debate of truth hath won, 

-Should win in arms, in both disputes alike 

-Victor; though brutish that contest and foul, 

-When reason hath to deal with force, yet so 

-Most reason is that reason overcome. 

-So pondering, and from his armed peers 

-Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met 

-His daring foe, at this prevention more 

-Incensed, and thus securely him defied. 

-Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reached 

-The highth of thy aspiring unopposed, 

-The throne of God unguarded, and his side 

-Abandoned, at the terrour of thy power 

-Or potent tongue:  Fool!not to think how vain 

-Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms; 

-Who out of smallest things could, without end, 

-Have raised incessant armies to defeat 

-Thy folly; or with solitary hand 

-Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow, 

-Unaided, could have finished thee, and whelmed 

-Thy legions under darkness:  But thou seest 

-All are not of thy train; there be, who faith 

-Prefer, and piety to God, though then 

-To thee not visible, when I alone 

-Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent 

-From all:  My sect thou seest;now learn too late 

-How few sometimes may know, when thousands err. 

-Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, 

-Thus answered.  Ill for thee, but in wished hour 

-Of my revenge, first sought for, thou returnest 

-From flight, seditious Angel! to receive 

-Thy merited reward, the first assay 

-Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue, 

-Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose 

-A third part of the Gods, in synod met 

-Their deities to assert; who, while they feel 

-Vigour divine within them, can allow 

-Omnipotence to none.  But well thou comest 

-Before thy fellows, ambitious to win 

-From me some plume, that thy success may show 

-Destruction to the rest:  This pause between, 

-(Unanswered lest thou boast) to let thee know, 

-At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven 

-To heavenly souls had been all one; but now 

-I see that most through sloth had rather serve, 

-Ministring Spirits, trained up in feast and song! 

-Such hast thou armed, the minstrelsy of Heaven, 

-Servility with freedom to contend, 

-As both their deeds compared this day shall prove. 

-To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied. 

-Apostate! still thou errest, nor end wilt find 

-Of erring, from the path of truth remote: 

-Unjustly thou depravest it with the name 

-Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains, 

-Or Nature:  God and Nature bid the same, 

-When he who rules is worthiest, and excels 

-Them whom he governs.  This is servitude, 

-To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled 

-Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, 

-Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled; 

-Yet lewdly darest our ministring upbraid. 

-Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve 

-In Heaven God ever blest, and his divine 

-Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyed; 

-Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect:  Mean while 

-From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flight, 

-This greeting on thy impious crest receive. 

-So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, 

-Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell 

-On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight, 

-Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield, 

-Such ruin intercept:  Ten paces huge 

-He back recoiled; the tenth on bended knee 

-His massy spear upstaid; as if on earth 

-Winds under ground, or waters forcing way, 

-Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat, 

-Half sunk with all his pines.  Amazement seised 

-The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see 

-Thus foiled their mightiest; ours joy filled, and shout, 

-Presage of victory, and fierce desire 

-Of battle:  Whereat Michael bid sound 

-The Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heaven 

-It sounded, and the faithful armies rung 

-Hosanna to the Highest:  Nor stood at gaze 

-The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined 

-The horrid shock.  Now storming fury rose, 

-And clamour such as heard in Heaven till now 

-Was never; arms on armour clashing brayed 

-Horrible discord, and the madding wheels 

-Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise 

-Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss 

-Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew, 

-And flying vaulted either host with fire. 

-So under fiery cope together rushed 

-Both battles main, with ruinous assault 

-And inextinguishable rage.  All Heaven 

-Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth 

-Had to her center shook.  What wonder? when 

-Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought 

-On either side, the least of whom could wield 

-These elements, and arm him with the force 

-Of all their regions:  How much more of power 

-Army against army numberless to raise 

-Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, 

-Though not destroy, their happy native seat; 

-Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent, 

-From his strong hold of Heaven, high over-ruled 

-And limited their might; though numbered such 

-As each divided legion might have seemed 

-A numerous host; in strength each armed hand 

-A legion; led in fight, yet leader seemed 

-Each warriour single as in chief, expert 

-When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway 

-Of battle, open when, and when to close 

-The ridges of grim war:  No thought of flight, 

-None of retreat, no unbecoming deed 

-That argued fear; each on himself relied, 

-As only in his arm the moment lay 

-Of victory:  Deeds of eternal fame 

-Were done, but infinite; for wide was spread 

-That war and various; sometimes on firm ground 

-A standing fight, then, soaring on main wing, 

-Tormented all the air; all air seemed then 

-Conflicting fire.  Long time in even scale 

-The battle hung; till Satan, who that day 

-Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms 

-No equal, ranging through the dire attack 

-Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length 

-Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled 

-Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway 

-Brandished aloft, the horrid edge came down 

-Wide-wasting; such destruction to withstand 

-He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb 

-Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, 

-A vast circumference.  At his approach 

-The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil 

-Surceased, and glad, as hoping here to end 

-Intestine war in Heaven, the arch-foe subdued 

-Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown 

-And visage all inflamed first thus began. 

-Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, 

-Unnamed in Heaven, now plenteous as thou seest 

-These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, 

-Though heaviest by just measure on thyself, 

-And thy  adherents:  How hast thou disturbed 

-Heaven's blessed peace, and into nature brought 

-Misery, uncreated till the crime 

-Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instilled 

-Thy malice into thousands, once upright 

-And faithful, now proved false!  But think not here 

-To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out 

-From all her confines.  Heaven, the seat of bliss, 

-Brooks not the works of violence and war. 

-Hence then, and evil go with thee along, 

-Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell; 

-Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils, 

-Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom, 

-Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God, 

-Precipitate thee with augmented pain. 

-So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus 

-The Adversary.  Nor think thou with wind 

-Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds 

-Thou canst not.  Hast thou turned the least of these 

-To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise 

-Unvanquished, easier to transact with me 

-That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats 

-To chase me hence? err not, that so shall end 

-The strife which thou callest evil, but we style 

-The strife of glory; which we mean to win, 

-Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell 

-Thou fablest; here however to dwell free, 

-If not to reign:  Mean while thy utmost force, 

-And join him named Almighty to thy aid, 

-I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh. 

-They ended parle, and both addressed for fight 

-Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue 

-Of Angels, can relate, or to what things 

-Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift 

-Human imagination to such highth 

-Of Godlike power? for likest Gods they seemed, 

-Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms, 

-Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven. 

-Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air 

-Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields 

-Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood 

-In horrour:  From each hand with speed retired, 

-Where erst was thickest fight, the angelick throng, 

-And left large field, unsafe within the wind 

-Of such commotion; such as, to set forth 

-Great things by small, if, nature's concord broke, 

-Among the constellations war were sprung, 

-Two planets, rushing from aspect malign 

-Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky 

-Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. 

-Together both with next to almighty arm 

-Up-lifted imminent, one stroke they aimed 

-That might determine, and not need repeat, 

-As not of power at once; nor odds appeared 

-In might or swift prevention:  But the sword 

-Of Michael from the armoury of God 

-Was given him tempered so, that neither keen 

-Nor solid might resist that edge: it met 

-The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite 

-Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor staid, 

-But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared 

-All his right side:  Then Satan first knew pain, 

-And writhed him to and fro convolved; so sore 

-The griding sword with discontinuous wound 

-Passed through him:  But the ethereal substance closed, 

-Not long divisible; and from the gash 

-A stream of necturous humour issuing flowed 

-Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed, 

-And all his armour stained, ere while so bright. 

-Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run 

-By Angels many and strong, who interposed 

-Defence, while others bore him on their shields 

-Back to his chariot, where it stood retired 

-From off the files of war:  There they him laid 

-Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame, 

-To find himself not matchless, and his pride 

-Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath 

-His confidence to equal God in power. 

-Yet soon he healed; for Spirits that live throughout 

-Vital in every part, not as frail man 

-In entrails, heart of head, liver or reins, 

-Cannot but by annihilating die; 

-Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound 

-Receive, no more than can the fluid air: 

-All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear, 

-All intellect, all sense; and, as they please, 

-They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size 

-Assume, as?kikes them best, condense or rare. 

-Mean while in other parts like deeds deserved 

-Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, 

-And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array 

-Of Moloch, furious king; who him defied, 

-And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound 

-Threatened, nor from the Holy One of Heaven 

-Refrained his tongue blasphemous; but anon 

-Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms 

-And uncouth pain fled bellowing.  On each wing 

-Uriel, and Raphael, his vaunting foe, 

-Though huge, and in a rock of diamond armed, 

-Vanquished Adramelech, and Asmadai, 

-Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods 

-Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight, 

-Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. 

-Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy 

-The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow 

-Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence 

-Of Ramiel scorched and blasted, overthrew. 

-I might relate of thousands, and their names 

-Eternize here on earth; but those elect 

-Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, 

-Seek not the praise of men:  The other sort, 

-In might though wonderous and in acts of war, 

-Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom 

-Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory, 

-Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. 

-For strength from truth divided, and from just, 

-Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise 

-And ignominy; yet to glory aspires 

-Vain-glorious, and through infamy seeks fame: 

-Therefore eternal silence be their doom. 

-And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle swerved, 

-With many an inroad gored; deformed rout 

-Entered, and foul disorder; all the ground 

-With shivered armour strown, and on a heap 

-Chariot and charioteer lay overturned, 

-And fiery-foaming steeds; what stood, recoiled 

-O'er-wearied, through the faint Satanick host 

-Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised, 

-Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain, 

-Fled ignominious, to such evil brought 

-By sin of disobedience; till that hour 

-Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. 

-Far otherwise the inviolable Saints, 

-In cubick phalanx firm, advanced entire, 

-Invulnerable, impenetrably armed; 

-Such high advantages their innocence 

-Gave them above their foes; not to have sinned, 

-Not to have disobeyed; in fight they stood 

-Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained 

-By wound, though from their place by violence moved, 

-Now Night her course began, and, over Heaven 

-Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed, 

-And silence on the odious din of war: 

-Under her cloudy covert both retired, 

-Victor and vanquished:  On the foughten field 

-Michael and his Angels prevalent 

-Encamping, placed in guard their watches round, 

-Cherubick waving fires:  On the other part, 

-Satan with his rebellious disappeared, 

-Far in the dark dislodged; and, void of rest, 

-His potentates to council called by night; 

-And in the midst thus undismayed began. 

-O now in danger tried, now known in arms 

-Not to be overpowered, Companions dear, 

-Found worthy not of liberty alone, 

-Too mean pretence! but what we more affect, 

-Honour, dominion, glory, and renown; 

-Who have sustained one day in doubtful fight, 

-(And if one day, why not eternal days?) 

-What Heaven's Lord had powerfullest to send 

-Against us from about his throne, and judged 

-Sufficient to subdue us to his will, 

-But proves not so:  Then fallible, it seems, 

-Of future we may deem him, though till now 

-Omniscient thought.  True is, less firmly armed, 

-Some disadvantage we endured and pain, 

-Till now not known, but, known, as soon contemned; 

-Since now we find this our empyreal form 

-Incapable of mortal injury, 

-Imperishable, and, though pierced with wound, 

-Soon closing, and by native vigour healed. 

-Of evil then so small as easy think 

-The remedy; perhaps more valid arms, 

-Weapons more violent, when next we meet, 

-May serve to better us, and worse our foes, 

-Or equal what between us made the odds, 

-In nature none:  If other hidden cause 

-Left them superiour, while we can preserve 

-Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound, 

-Due search and consultation will disclose. 

-He sat; and in the assembly next upstood 

-Nisroch, of Principalities the prime; 

-As one he stood escaped from cruel fight, 

-Sore toiled, his riven arms to havock hewn, 

-And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake. 

-Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free 

-Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard 

-For Gods, and too unequal work we find, 

-Against unequal arms to fight in pain, 

-Against unpained, impassive; from which evil 

-Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails 

-Valour or strength, though matchless, quelled with pain 

-Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands 

-Of mightiest?  Sense of pleasure we may well 

-Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, 

-But live content, which is the calmest life: 

-But pain is perfect misery, the worst 

-Of evils, and, excessive, overturns 

-All patience.  He, who therefore can invent 

-With what more forcible we may offend 

-Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm 

-Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves 

-No less than for deliverance what we owe. 

-Whereto with look composed Satan replied. 

-Not uninvented that, which thou aright 

-Believest so main to our success, I bring. 

-Which of us who beholds the bright surface 

-Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand, 

-This continent of spacious Heaven, adorned 

-With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold; 

-Whose eye so superficially surveys 

-These things, as not to mind from whence they grow 

-Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, 

-Of spiritous and fiery spume, till touched 

-With Heaven's ray, and tempered, they shoot forth 

-So beauteous, opening to the ambient light? 

-These in their dark nativity the deep 

-Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame; 

-Which, into hollow engines, long and round, 

-Thick rammed, at the other bore with touch of fire 

-Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth 

-From far, with thundering noise, among our foes 

-Such implements of mischief, as shall dash 

-To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands 

-Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmed 

-The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. 

-Nor long shall be our labour; yet ere dawn, 

-Effect shall end our wish.  Mean while revive; 

-Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joined 

-Think nothing hard, much less to be despaired. 

-He ended, and his words their drooping cheer 

-Enlightened, and their languished hope revived. 

-The invention all admired, and each, how he 

-To be the inventer missed; so easy it seemed 

-Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought 

-Impossible:  Yet, haply, of thy race 

-In future days, if malice should abound, 

-Some one intent on mischief, or inspired 

-With devilish machination, might devise 

-Like instrument to plague the sons of men 

-For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent. 

-Forthwith from council to the work they flew; 

-None arguing stood; innumerable hands 

-Were ready; in a moment up they turned 

-Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath 

-The originals of nature in their crude 

-Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam 

-They found, they mingled, and, with subtle art, 

-Concocted and adusted they reduced 

-To blackest grain, and into store conveyed: 

-Part hidden veins digged up (nor hath this earth 

-Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone, 

-Whereof to found their engines and their balls 

-Of missive ruin; part incentive reed 

-Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. 

-So all ere day-spring, under conscious night, 

-Secret they finished, and in order set, 

-With silent circumspection, unespied. 

-Now when fair morn orient in Heaven appeared, 

-Up rose the victor-Angels, and to arms 

-The matin trumpet sung:  In arms they stood 

-Of golden panoply, refulgent host, 

-Soon banded; others from the dawning hills 

-Look round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour, 

-Each quarter to descry the distant foe, 

-Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight, 

-In motion or in halt:  Him soon they met 

-Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow 

-But firm battalion; back with speediest sail 

-Zophiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, 

-Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried. 

-Arm, Warriours, arm for fight; the foe at hand, 

-Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit 

-This day; fear not his flight;so thick a cloud 

-He comes, and settled in his face I see 

-Sad resolution, and secure:  Let each 

-His adamantine coat gird well, and each 

-Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield, 

-Borne even or high; for this day will pour down, 

-If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower, 

-But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire. 

-So warned he them, aware themselves, and soon 

-In order, quit of all impediment; 

-Instant without disturb they took alarm, 

-And onward moved embattled:  When behold! 

-Not distant far with heavy pace the foe 

-Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube 

-Training his devilish enginery, impaled 

-On every side with shadowing squadrons deep, 

-To hide the fraud.  At interview both stood 

-A while; but suddenly at head appeared 

-Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud. 

-Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold; 

-That all may see who hate us, how we seek 

-Peace and composure, and with open breast 

-Stand ready to receive them, if they like 

-Our overture; and turn not back perverse: 

-But that I doubt; however witness, Heaven! 

-Heaven, witness thou anon! while we discharge 

-Freely our part: ye, who appointed stand 

-Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch 

-What we propound, and loud that all may hear! 

-So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce 

-Had ended; when to right and left the front 

-Divided, and to either flank retired: 

-Which to our eyes discovered, new and strange, 

-A triple mounted row of pillars laid 

-On wheels (for like to pillars most they seemed, 

-Or hollowed bodies made of oak or fir, 

-With branches lopt, in wood or mountain felled,) 

-Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths 

-With hideous orifice gaped on us wide, 

-Portending hollow truce:  At each behind 

-A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed 

-Stood waving tipt with fire; while we, suspense, 

-Collected stood within our thoughts amused, 

-Not long; for sudden all at once their reeds 

-Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied 

-With nicest touch.  Immediate in a flame, 

-But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven appeared, 

-From those deep-throated engines belched, whose roar 

-Embowelled with outrageous noise the air, 

-And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul 

-Their devilish glut, chained thunderbolts and hail 

-Of iron globes; which, on the victor host 

-Levelled, with such impetuous fury smote, 

-That, whom they hit, none on their feet might stand, 

-Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell 

-By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rolled; 

-The sooner for their arms; unarmed, they might 

-Have easily, as Spirits, evaded swift 

-By quick contraction or remove; but now 

-Foul dissipation followed, and forced rout; 

-Nor served it to relax their serried files. 

-What should they do? if on they rushed, repulse 

-Repeated, and indecent overthrow 

-Doubled, would render them yet more despised, 

-And to their foes a laughter; for in view 

-Stood ranked of Seraphim another row, 

-In posture to displode their second tire 

-Of thunder:  Back defeated to return 

-They worse abhorred.  Satan beheld their plight, 

-And to his mates thus in derision called. 

-O Friends! why come not on these victors proud 

-Ere while they fierce were coming; and when we, 

-To entertain them fair with open front 

-And breast, (what could we more?) propounded terms 

-Of composition, straight they changed their minds, 

-Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, 

-As they would dance; yet for a dance they seemed 

-Somewhat extravagant and wild; perhaps 

-For joy of offered peace:  But I suppose, 

-If our proposals once again were heard, 

-We should compel them to a quick result. 

-To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood. 

-Leader! the terms we sent were terms of weight, 

-Of hard contents, and full of force urged home; 

-Such as we might perceive amused them all, 

-And stumbled many:  Who receives them right, 

-Had need from head to foot well understand; 

-Not understood, this gift they have besides, 

-They show us when our foes walk not upright. 

-So they among themselves in pleasant vein 

-Stood scoffing, hightened in their thoughts beyond 

-All doubt of victory:  Eternal Might 

-To match with their inventions they presumed 

-So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn, 

-And all his host derided, while they stood 

-A while in trouble:  But they stood not long; 

-Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms 

-Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose. 

-Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power, 

-Which God hath in his mighty Angels placed!) 

-Their arms away they threw, and to the hills 

-(For Earth hath this variety from Heaven 

-Of pleasure situate in hill and dale,) 

-Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew; 

-From their foundations loosening to and fro, 

-They plucked the seated hills, with all their load, 

-Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops 

-Up-lifting bore them in their hands:  Amaze, 

-Be sure, and terrour, seized the rebel host, 

-When coming towards them so dread they saw 

-The bottom of the mountains upward turned; 

-Till on those cursed engines' triple-row 

-They saw them whelmed, and all their confidence 

-Under the weight of mountains buried deep; 

-Themselves invaded next, and on their heads 

-Main promontories flung, which in the air 

-Came shadowing, and oppressed whole legions armed; 

-Their armour helped their harm, crushed in and bruised 

-Into their substance pent, which wrought them pain 

-Implacable, and many a dolorous groan; 

-Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind 

-Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light, 

-Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown. 

-The rest, in imitation, to like arms 

-Betook them, and the neighbouring hills uptore: 

-So hills amid the air encountered hills, 

-Hurled to and fro with jaculation dire; 

-That under ground they fought in dismal shade; 

-Infernal noise! war seemed a civil game 

-To this uproar; horrid confusion heaped 

-Upon confusion rose:  And now all Heaven 

-Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread; 

-Had not the Almighty Father, where he sits 

-Shrined in his sanctuary of Heaven secure, 

-Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen 

-This tumult, and permitted all, advised: 

-That his great purpose he might so fulfil, 

-To honour his anointed Son avenged 

-Upon his enemies, and to declare 

-All power on him transferred:  Whence to his Son, 

-The Assessour of his throne, he thus began. 

-Effulgence of my glory, Son beloved, 

-Son, in whose face invisible is beheld 

-Visibly, what by Deity I am; 

-And in whose hand what by decree I do, 

-Second Omnipotence! two days are past, 

-Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven, 

-Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame 

-These disobedient:  Sore hath been their fight, 

-As likeliest was, when two such foes met armed; 

-For to themselves I left them; and thou knowest, 

-Equal in their creation they were formed, 

-Save what sin hath impaired; which yet hath wrought 

-Insensibly, for I suspend their doom; 

-Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last 

-Endless, and no solution will be found: 

-War wearied hath performed what war can do, 

-And to disordered rage let loose the reins 

-With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes 

-Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main. 

-Two days are therefore past, the third is thine; 

-For thee I have ordained it; and thus far 

-Have suffered, that the glory may be thine 

-Of ending this great war, since none but Thou 

-Can end it.  Into thee such virtue and grace 

-Immense I have transfused, that all may know 

-In Heaven and Hell thy power above compare; 

-And, this perverse commotion governed thus, 

-To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir 

-Of all things; to be Heir, and to be King 

-By sacred unction, thy deserved right. 

-Go then, Thou Mightiest, in thy Father's might; 

-Ascend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels 

-That shake Heaven's basis, bring forth all my war, 

-My bow and thunder, my almighty arms 

-Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant thigh; 

-Pursue these sons of darkness, drive them out 

-From all Heaven's bounds into the utter deep: 

-There let them learn, as likes them, to despise 

-God, and Messiah his anointed King. 

-He said, and on his Son with rays direct 

-Shone full; he all his Father full expressed 

-Ineffably into his face received; 

-And thus the Filial Godhead answering spake. 

-O Father, O Supreme of heavenly Thrones, 

-First, Highest, Holiest, Best; thou always seek'st 

-To glorify thy Son, I always thee, 

-As is most just:  This I my glory account, 

-My exaltation, and my whole delight, 

-That thou, in me well pleased, declarest thy will 

-Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss. 

-Scepter and power, thy giving, I assume, 

-And gladlier shall resign, when in the end 

-Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee 

-For ever; and in me all whom thou lovest: 

-But whom thou hatest, I hate, and can put on 

-Thy terrours, as I put thy mildness on, 

-Image of thee in all things; and shall soon, 

-Armed with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebelled; 

-To their prepared ill mansion driven down, 

-To chains of darkness, and the undying worm; 

-That from thy just obedience could revolt, 

-Whom to obey is happiness entire. 

-Then shall thy Saints unmixed, and from the impure 

-Far separate, circling thy holy mount, 

-Unfeigned Halleluiahs to thee sing, 

-Hymns of high praise, and I among them Chief. 

-So said, he, o'er his scepter bowing, rose 

-From the right hand of Glory where he sat; 

-And the third sacred morn began to shine, 

-Dawning through Heaven.  Forth rushed with whirlwind sound 

-The chariot of Paternal Deity, 

-Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn, 

-Itself instinct with Spirit, but convoyed 

-By four Cherubick shapes; four faces each 

-Had wonderous; as with stars, their bodies all 

-And wings were set with eyes; with eyes the wheels 

-Of beryl, and careering fires between; 

-Over their heads a crystal firmament, 

-Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure 

-Amber, and colours of the showery arch. 

-He, in celestial panoply all armed 

-Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, 

-Ascended; at his right hand Victory 

-Sat eagle-winged; beside him hung his bow 

-And quiver with three-bolted thunder stored; 

-And from about him fierce effusion rolled 

-Of smoke, and bickering flame, and sparkles dire: 

-Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints, 

-He onward came; far off his coming shone; 

-And twenty thousand (I their number heard) 

-Chariots of God, half on each hand, were seen; 

-He on the wings of Cherub rode sublime 

-On the crystalline sky, in sapphire throned, 

-Illustrious far and wide; but by his own 

-First seen:  Them unexpected joy surprised, 

-When the great ensign of Messiah blazed 

-Aloft by Angels borne, his sign in Heaven; 

-Under whose conduct Michael soon reduced 

-His army, circumfused on either wing, 

-Under their Head imbodied all in one. 

-Before him Power Divine his way prepared; 

-At his command the uprooted hills retired 

-Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went 

-Obsequious; Heaven his wonted face renewed, 

-And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled. 

-This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured, 

-And to rebellious fight rallied their Powers, 

-Insensate, hope conceiving from despair. 

-In heavenly Spirits could such perverseness dwell? 

-But to convince the proud what signs avail, 

-Or wonders move the obdurate to relent? 

-They, hardened more by what might most reclaim, 

-Grieving to see his glory, at the sight 

-Took envy; and, aspiring to his highth, 

-Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud 

-Weening to prosper, and at length prevail 

-Against God and Messiah, or to fall 

-In universal ruin last; and now 

-To final battle drew, disdaining flight, 

-Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God 

-To all his host on either hand thus spake. 

-Stand still in bright array, ye Saints; here stand, 

-Ye Angels armed; this day from battle rest: 

-Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God 

-Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause; 

-And as ye have received, so have ye done, 

-Invincibly:  But of this cursed crew 

-The punishment to other hand belongs; 

-Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints: 

-Number to this day's work is not ordained, 

-Nor multitude; stand only, and behold 

-God's indignation on these godless poured 

-By me; not you, but me, they have despised, 

-Yet envied; against me is all their rage, 

-Because the Father, to whom in Heaven s'preme 

-Kingdom, and power, and glory appertains, 

-Hath honoured me, according to his will. 

-Therefore to me their doom he hath assigned; 

-That they may have their wish, to try with me 

-In battle which the stronger proves; they all, 

-Or I alone against them; since by strength 

-They measure all, of other excellence 

-Not emulous, nor care who them excels; 

-Nor other strife with them do I vouchsafe. 

-So spake the Son, and into terrour changed 

-His countenance too severe to be beheld, 

-And full of wrath bent on his enemies. 

-At once the Four spread out their starry wings 

-With dreadful shade contiguous, and the orbs 

-Of his fierce chariot rolled, as with the sound 

-Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host. 

-He on his impious foes right onward drove, 

-Gloomy as night; under his burning wheels 

-The stedfast empyrean shook throughout, 

-All but the throne itself of God.  Full soon 

-Among them he arrived; in his right hand 

-Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent 

-Before him, such as in their souls infixed 

-Plagues:  They, astonished, all resistance lost, 

-All courage; down their idle weapons dropt: 

-O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode 

-Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate, 

-That wished the mountains now might be again 

-Thrown on them, as a shelter from his ire. 

-Nor less on either side tempestuous fell 

-His arrows, from the fourfold-visaged Four 

-Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels 

-Distinct alike with multitude of eyes; 

-One Spirit in them ruled; and every eye 

-Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire 

-Among the accursed, that withered all their strength, 

-And of their wonted vigour left them drained, 

-Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen. 

-Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked 

-His thunder in mid volley; for he meant 

-Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven: 

-The overthrown he raised, and as a herd 

-Of goats or timorous flock together thronged 

-Drove them before him thunder-struck, pursued 

-With terrours, and with furies, to the bounds 

-And crystal wall of Heaven; which, opening wide, 

-Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed 

-Into the wasteful deep:  The monstrous sight 

-Struck them with horrour backward, but far worse 

-Urged them behind:  Headlong themselves they threw 

-Down from the verge of Heaven; eternal wrath 

-Burnt after them to the bottomless pit. 

-Hell heard the unsufferable noise, Hell saw 

-Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled 

-Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep 

-Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. 

-Nine days they fell:  Confounded Chaos roared, 

-And felt tenfold confusion in their fall 

-Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout 

-Incumbered him with ruin:  Hell at last 

-Yawning received them whole, and on them closed; 

-Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire 

-Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. 

-Disburdened Heaven rejoiced, and soon repaired 

-Her mural breach, returning whence it rolled. 

-Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes, 

-Messiah his triumphal chariot turned: 

-To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood 

-Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts, 

-With jubilee advanced; and, as they went, 

-Shaded with branching palm, each Order bright, 

-Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King, 

-Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given, 

-Worthiest to reign:  He, celebrated, rode 

-Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the courts 

-And temple of his Mighty Father throned 

-On high; who into glory him received, 

-Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss. 

-Thus, measuring things in Heaven by things on Earth, 

-At thy request, and that thou mayest beware 

-By what is past, to thee I have revealed 

-What might have else to human race been hid; 

-The discord which befel, and war in Heaven 

-Among the angelick Powers, and the deep fall 

-Of those too high aspiring, who rebelled 

-With Satan; he who envies now thy state, 

-Who now is plotting how he may seduce 

-Thee also from obedience, that, with him 

-Bereaved of happiness, thou mayest partake 

-His punishment, eternal misery; 

-Which would be all his solace and revenge, 

-As a despite done against the Most High, 

-Thee once to gain companion of his woe. 

-But listen not to his temptations, warn 

-Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard, 

-By terrible example, the reward 

-Of disobedience; firm they might have stood, 

-Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress. 

- 

- 

- 

-Book VII                                                         

- 

- 

-Descend from Heaven, Urania, by that name 

-If rightly thou art called, whose voice divine 

-Following, above the Olympian hill I soar, 

-Above the flight of Pegasean wing! 

-The meaning, not the name, I call: for thou 

-Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top 

-Of old Olympus dwellest; but, heavenly-born, 

-Before the hills appeared, or fountain flowed, 

-Thou with eternal Wisdom didst converse, 

-Wisdom thy sister, and with her didst play 

-In presence of the Almighty Father, pleased 

-With thy celestial song.  Up led by thee 

-Into the Heaven of Heavens I have presumed, 

-An earthly guest, and drawn empyreal air, 

-Thy tempering: with like safety guided down 

-Return me to my native element: 

-Lest from this flying steed unreined, (as once 

-Bellerophon, though from a lower clime,) 

-Dismounted, on the Aleian field I fall, 

-Erroneous there to wander, and forlorn. 

-Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound 

-Within the visible diurnal sphere; 

-Standing on earth, not rapt above the pole, 

-More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged 

-To hoarse or mute, though fallen on evil days, 

-On evil days though fallen, and evil tongues; 

-In darkness, and with dangers compassed round, 

-And solitude; yet not alone, while thou 

-Visitest my slumbers nightly, or when morn 

-Purples the east: still govern thou my song, 

-Urania, and fit audience find, though few. 

-But drive far off the barbarous dissonance 

-Of Bacchus and his revellers, the race 

-Of that wild rout that tore the Thracian bard 

-In Rhodope, where woods and rocks had ears 

-To rapture, till the savage clamour drowned 

-Both harp and voice; nor could the Muse defend 

-Her son.  So fail not thou, who thee implores: 

-For thou art heavenly, she an empty dream. 

-Say, Goddess, what ensued when Raphael, 

-The affable Arch-Angel, had forewarned 

-Adam, by dire example, to beware 

-Apostasy, by what befel in Heaven 

-To those apostates; lest the like befall 

-In Paradise to Adam or his race, 

-Charged not to touch the interdicted tree, 

-If they transgress, and slight that sole command, 

-So easily obeyed amid the choice 

-Of all tastes else to please their appetite, 

-Though wandering.  He, with his consorted Eve, 

-The story heard attentive, and was filled 

-With admiration and deep muse, to hear 

-Of things so high and strange; things, to their thought 

-So unimaginable, as hate in Heaven, 

-And war so near the peace of God in bliss, 

-With such confusion: but the evil, soon 

-Driven back, redounded as a flood on those 

-From whom it sprung; impossible to mix 

-With blessedness.  Whence Adam soon repealed 

-The doubts that in his heart arose: and now 

-Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know 

-What nearer might concern him, how this world 

-Of Heaven and Earth conspicuous first began; 

-When, and whereof created; for what cause; 

-What within Eden, or without, was done 

-Before his memory; as one whose drouth 

-Yet scarce allayed still eyes the current stream, 

-Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites, 

-Proceeded thus to ask his heavenly guest. 

-Great things, and full of wonder in our ears, 

-Far differing from this world, thou hast revealed, 

-Divine interpreter! by favour sent 

-Down from the empyrean, to forewarn 

-Us timely of what might else have been our loss, 

-Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach; 

-For which to the infinitely Good we owe 

-Immortal thanks, and his admonishment 

-Receive, with solemn purpose to observe 

-Immutably his sovran will, the end 

-Of what we are.  But since thou hast vouchsafed 

-Gently, for our instruction, to impart 

-Things above earthly thought, which yet concerned 

-Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemed, 

-Deign to descend now lower, and relate 

-What may no less perhaps avail us known, 

-How first began this Heaven which we behold 

-Distant so high, with moving fires adorned 

-Innumerable; and this which yields or fills 

-All space, the ambient air wide interfused 

-Embracing round this floried Earth; what cause 

-Moved the Creator, in his holy rest 

-Through all eternity, so late to build 

-In Chaos; and the work begun, how soon 

-Absolved; if unforbid thou mayest unfold 

-What we, not to explore the secrets ask 

-Of his eternal empire, but the more 

-To magnify his works, the more we know. 

-And the great light of day yet wants to run 

-Much of his race though steep; suspense in Heaven, 

-Held by thy voice, thy potent voice, he hears, 

-And longer will delay to hear thee tell 

-His generation, and the rising birth 

-Of Nature from the unapparent Deep: 

-Or if the star of evening and the moon 

-Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring, 

-Silence; and Sleep, listening to thee, will watch; 

-Or we can bid his absence, till thy song 

-End, and dismiss thee ere the morning shine. 

-Thus Adam his illustrious guest besought: 

-And thus the Godlike Angel answered mild. 

-This also thy request, with caution asked, 

-Obtain; though to recount almighty works 

-What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice, 

-Or heart of man suffice to comprehend? 

-Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve 

-To glorify the Maker, and infer 

-Thee also happier, shall not be withheld 

-Thy hearing; such commission from above 

-I have received, to answer thy desire 

-Of knowledge within bounds; beyond, abstain 

-To ask; nor let thine own inventions hope 

-Things not revealed, which the invisible King, 

-Only Omniscient, hath suppressed in night; 

-To none communicable in Earth or Heaven: 

-Enough is left besides to search and know. 

-But knowledge is as food, and needs no less 

-Her temperance over appetite, to know 

-In measure what the mind may well contain; 

-Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns 

-Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind. 

-Know then, that, after Lucifer from Heaven 

-(So call him, brighter once amidst the host 

-Of Angels, than that star the stars among,) 

-Fell with his flaming legions through the deep 

-Into his place, and the great Son returned 

-Victorious with his Saints, the Omnipotent 

-Eternal Father from his throne beheld 

-Their multitude, and to his Son thus spake. 

-At least our envious Foe hath failed, who thought 

-All like himself rebellious, by whose aid 

-This inaccessible high strength, the seat 

-Of Deity supreme, us dispossessed, 

-He trusted to have seised, and into fraud 

-Drew many, whom their place knows here no more: 

-Yet far the greater part have kept, I see, 

-Their station; Heaven, yet populous, retains 

-Number sufficient to possess her realms 

-Though wide, and this high temple to frequent 

-With ministeries due, and solemn rites: 

-But, lest his heart exalt him in the harm 

-Already done, to have dispeopled Heaven, 

-My damage fondly deemed, I can repair 

-That detriment, if such it be to lose 

-Self-lost; and in a moment will create 

-Another world, out of one man a race 

-Of men innumerable, there to dwell, 

-Not here; till, by degrees of merit raised, 

-They open to themselves at length the way 

-Up hither, under long obedience tried; 

-And Earth be changed to Heaven, and Heaven to Earth, 

-One kingdom, joy and union without end. 

-Mean while inhabit lax, ye Powers of Heaven; 

-And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee 

-This I perform; speak thou, and be it done! 

-My overshadowing Spirit and Might with thee 

-I send along; ride forth, and bid the Deep 

-Within appointed bounds be Heaven and Earth; 

-Boundless the Deep, because I Am who fill 

-Infinitude, nor vacuous the space. 

-Though I, uncircumscribed myself, retire, 

-And put not forth my goodness, which is free 

-To act or not, Necessity and Chance 

-Approach not me, and what I will is Fate. 

-So spake the Almighty, and to what he spake 

-His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect. 

-Immediate are the acts of God, more swift 

-Than time or motion, but to human ears 

-Cannot without process of speech be told, 

-So told as earthly notion can receive. 

-Great triumph and rejoicing was in Heaven, 

-When such was heard declared the Almighty's will; 

-Glory they sung to the Most High, good will 

-To future men, and in their dwellings peace; 

-Glory to Him, whose just avenging ire 

-Had driven out the ungodly from his sight 

-And the habitations of the just; to Him 

-Glory and praise, whose wisdom had ordained 

-Good out of evil to create; instead 

-Of Spirits malign, a better race to bring 

-Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse 

-His good to worlds and ages infinite. 

-So sang the Hierarchies:  Mean while the Son 

-On his great expedition now appeared, 

-Girt with Omnipotence, with radiance crowned 

-Of Majesty Divine; sapience and love 

-Immense, and all his Father in him shone. 

-About his chariot numberless were poured 

-Cherub, and Seraph, Potentates, and Thrones, 

-And Virtues, winged Spirits, and chariots winged 

-From the armoury of God; where stand of old 

-Myriads, between two brazen mountains lodged 

-Against a solemn day, harnessed at hand, 

-Celestial equipage; and now came forth 

-Spontaneous, for within them Spirit lived, 

-Attendant on their Lord:  Heaven opened wide 

-Her ever-during gates, harmonious sound 

-On golden hinges moving, to let forth 

-The King of Glory, in his powerful Word 

-And Spirit, coming to create new worlds. 

-On heavenly ground they stood; and from the shore 

-They viewed the vast immeasurable abyss 

-Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild, 

-Up from the bottom turned by furious winds 

-And surging waves, as mountains, to assault 

-Heaven's highth, and with the center mix the pole. 

-Silence, ye troubled Waves, and thou Deep, peace, 

-Said then the Omnifick Word; your discord end! 

-Nor staid; but, on the wings of Cherubim 

-Uplifted, in paternal glory rode 

-Far into Chaos, and the world unborn; 

-For Chaos heard his voice:  Him all his train 

-Followed in bright procession, to behold 

-Creation, and the wonders of his might. 

-Then staid the fervid wheels, and in his hand 

-He took the golden compasses, prepared 

-In God's eternal store, to circumscribe 

-This universe, and all created things: 

-One foot he centered, and the other turned 

-Round through the vast profundity obscure; 

-And said, Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds, 

-This be thy just circumference, O World! 

-Thus God the Heaven created, thus the Earth, 

-Matter unformed and void:  Darkness profound 

-Covered the abyss: but on the watery calm 

-His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread, 

-And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth 

-Throughout the fluid mass; but downward purged 

-The black tartareous cold infernal dregs, 

-Adverse to life: then founded, then conglobed 

-Like things to like; the rest to several place 

-Disparted, and between spun out the air; 

-And Earth self-balanced on her center hung. 

-Let there be light, said God; and forthwith Light 

-Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, 

-Sprung from the deep; and from her native east 

-To journey through the aery gloom began, 

-Sphered in a radiant cloud, for yet the sun 

-Was not; she in a cloudy tabernacle 

-Sojourned the while.  God saw the light was good; 

-And light from darkness by the hemisphere 

-Divided: light the Day, and darkness Night, 

-He named.  Thus was the first day even and morn: 

-Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung 

-By the celestial quires, when orient light 

-Exhaling first from darkness they beheld; 

-Birth-day of Heaven and Earth; with joy and shout 

-The hollow universal orb they filled, 

-And touched their golden harps, and hymning praised 

-God and his works; Creator him they sung, 

-Both when first evening was, and when first morn. 

-Again, God said,  Let there be firmament 

-Amid the waters, and let it divide 

-The waters from the waters; and God made 

-The firmament, expanse of liquid, pure, 

-Transparent, elemental air, diffused 

-In circuit to the uttermost convex 

-Of this great round; partition firm and sure, 

-The waters underneath from those above 

-Dividing: for as earth, so he the world 

-Built on circumfluous waters calm, in wide 

-Crystalline ocean, and the loud misrule 

-Of Chaos far removed; lest fierce extremes 

-Contiguous might distemper the whole frame: 

-And Heaven he named the Firmament:  So even 

-And morning chorus sung the second day. 

-The Earth was formed, but in the womb as yet 

-Of waters, embryon immature involved, 

-Appeared not: over all the face of Earth 

-Main ocean flowed, not idle; but, with warm 

-Prolifick humour softening all her globe, 

-Fermented the great mother to conceive, 

-Satiate with genial moisture; when God said, 

-Be gathered now ye waters under Heaven 

-Into one place, and let dry land appear. 

-Immediately the mountains huge appear 

-Emergent, and their broad bare backs upheave 

-Into the clouds; their tops ascend the sky: 

-So high as heaved the tumid hills, so low 

-Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep, 

-Capacious bed of waters:  Thither they 

-Hasted with glad precipitance, uprolled, 

-As drops on dust conglobing from the dry: 

-Part rise in crystal wall, or ridge direct, 

-For haste; such flight the great command impressed 

-On the swift floods:  As armies at the call 

-Of trumpet (for of armies thou hast heard) 

-Troop to their standard; so the watery throng, 

-Wave rolling after wave, where way they found, 

-If steep, with torrent rapture, if through plain, 

-Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them rock or hill; 

-But they, or under ground, or circuit wide 

-With serpent errour wandering, found their way, 

-And on the washy oose deep channels wore; 

-Easy, ere God had bid the ground be dry, 

-All but within those banks, where rivers now 

-Stream, and perpetual draw their humid train. 

-The dry land, Earth; and the great receptacle 

-Of congregated waters, he called Seas: 

-And saw that it was good; and said, Let the Earth 

-Put forth the verdant grass, herb yielding seed, 

-And fruit-tree yielding fruit after her kind, 

-Whose seed is in herself upon the Earth. 

-He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then 

-Desart and bare, unsightly, unadorned, 

-Brought forth the tender grass, whose verdure clad 

-Her universal face with pleasant green; 

-Then herbs of every leaf, that sudden flowered 

-Opening their various colours, and made gay 

-Her bosom, smelling sweet: and, these scarce blown, 

-Forth flourished thick the clustering vine, forth crept 

-The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed 

-Embattled in her field, and the humble shrub, 

-And bush with frizzled hair implicit:  Last 

-Rose, as in dance, the stately trees, and spread 

-Their branches hung with copious fruit, or gemmed 

-Their blossoms:  With high woods the hills were crowned; 

-With tufts the valleys, and each fountain side; 

-With borders long the rivers: that Earth now 

-Seemed like to Heaven, a seat where Gods might dwell, 

-Or wander with delight, and love to haunt 

-Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rained 

-Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground 

-None was; but from the Earth a dewy mist 

-Went up, and watered all the ground, and each 

-Plant of the field; which, ere it was in the Earth, 

-God made, and every herb, before it grew 

-On the green stem:  God saw that it was good: 

-So even and morn recorded the third day. 

-Again the Almighty spake, Let there be lights 

-High in the expanse of Heaven, to divide 

-The day from night; and let them be for signs, 

-For seasons, and for days, and circling years; 

-And let them be for lights, as I ordain 

-Their office in the firmament of Heaven, 

-To give light on the Earth; and it was so. 

-And God made two great lights, great for their use 

-To Man, the greater to have rule by day, 

-The less by night, altern; and made the stars, 

-And set them in the firmament of Heaven 

-To illuminate the Earth, and rule the day 

-In their vicissitude, and rule the night, 

-And light from darkness to divide.  God saw, 

-Surveying his great work, that it was good: 

-For of celestial bodies first the sun 

-A mighty sphere he framed, unlightsome first, 

-Though of ethereal mould: then formed the moon 

-Globose, and every magnitude of stars, 

-And sowed with stars the Heaven, thick as a field: 

-Of light by far the greater part he took, 

-Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and placed 

-In the sun's orb, made porous to receive 

-And drink the liquid light; firm to retain 

-Her gathered beams, great palace now of light. 

-Hither, as to their fountain, other stars 

-Repairing, in their golden urns draw light, 

-And hence the morning-planet gilds her horns; 

-By tincture or reflection they augment 

-Their small peculiar, though from human sight 

-So far remote, with diminution seen, 

-First in his east the glorious lamp was seen, 

-Regent of day, and all the horizon round 

-Invested with bright rays, jocund to run 

-His longitude through Heaven's high road; the gray 

-Dawn, and the Pleiades, before him danced, 

-Shedding sweet influence:  Less bright the moon, 

-But opposite in levelled west was set, 

-His mirrour, with full face borrowing her light 

-From him; for other light she needed none 

-In that aspect, and still that distance keeps 

-Till night; then in the east her turn she shines, 

-Revolved on Heaven's great axle, and her reign 

-With thousand lesser lights dividual holds, 

-With thousand thousand stars, that then appeared 

-Spangling the hemisphere:  Then first adorned 

-With their bright luminaries that set and rose, 

-Glad evening and glad morn crowned the fourth day. 

-And God said, Let the waters generate 

-Reptile with spawn abundant, living soul: 

-And let fowl fly above the Earth, with wings 

-Displayed on the open firmament of Heaven. 

-And God created the great whales, and each 

-Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously 

-The waters generated by their kinds; 

-And every bird of wing after his kind; 

-And saw that it was good, and blessed them, saying. 

-Be fruitful, multiply, and in the seas, 

-And lakes, and running streams, the waters fill; 

-And let the fowl be multiplied, on the Earth. 

-Forthwith the sounds and seas, each creek and bay, 

-With fry innumerable swarm, and shoals 

-Of fish that with their fins, and shining scales, 

-Glide under the green wave, in sculls that oft 

-Bank the mid sea: part single, or with mate, 

-Graze the sea-weed their pasture, and through groves 

-Of coral stray; or, sporting with quick glance, 

-Show to the sun their waved coats dropt with gold; 

-Or, in their pearly shells at ease, attend 

-Moist nutriment; or under rocks their food 

-In jointed armour watch: on smooth the seal 

-And bended dolphins play: part huge of bulk 

-Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait, 

-Tempest the ocean: there leviathan, 

-Hugest of living creatures, on the deep 

-Stretched like a promontory sleeps or swims, 

-And seems a moving land; and at his gills 

-Draws in, and at his trunk spouts out, a sea. 

-Mean while the tepid caves, and fens, and shores, 

-Their brood as numerous hatch, from the egg that soon 

-Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclosed 

-Their callow young; but feathered soon and fledge 

-They summed their pens; and, soaring the air sublime, 

-With clang despised the ground, under a cloud 

-In prospect; there the eagle and the stork 

-On cliffs and cedar tops their eyries build: 

-Part loosely wing the region, part more wise 

-In common, ranged in figure, wedge their way, 

-Intelligent of seasons, and set forth 

-Their aery caravan, high over seas 

-Flying, and over lands, with mutual wing 

-Easing their flight; so steers the prudent crane 

-Her annual voyage, borne on winds; the air 

-Floats as they pass, fanned with unnumbered plumes: 

-From branch to branch the smaller birds with song 

-Solaced the woods, and spread their painted wings 

-Till even; nor then the solemn nightingale 

-Ceased warbling, but all night tun'd her soft lays: 

-Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed 

-Their downy breast; the swan with arched neck, 

-Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows 

-Her state with oary feet; yet oft they quit 

-The dank, and, rising on stiff pennons, tower 

-The mid aereal sky:  Others on ground 

-Walked firm; the crested cock whose clarion sounds 

-The silent hours, and the other whose gay train 

-Adorns him, coloured with the florid hue 

-Of rainbows and starry eyes.  The waters thus 

-With fish replenished, and the air with fowl, 

-Evening and morn solemnized the fifth day. 

-The sixth, and of creation last, arose 

-With evening harps and matin; when God said, 

-Let the Earth bring forth soul living in her kind, 

-Cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the Earth, 

-Each in their kind.  The Earth obeyed, and straight 

-Opening her fertile womb teemed at a birth 

-Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms, 

-Limbed and full grown:  Out of the ground up rose, 

-As from his lair, the wild beast where he wons 

-In forest wild, in thicket, brake, or den; 

-Among the trees in pairs they rose, they walked: 

-The cattle in the fields and meadows green: 

-Those rare and solitary, these in flocks 

-Pasturing at once, and in broad herds upsprung. 

-The grassy clods now calved; now half appeared 

-The tawny lion, pawing to get free 

-His hinder parts, then springs as broke from bonds, 

-And rampant shakes his brinded mane; the ounce, 

-The libbard, and the tiger, as the mole 

-Rising, the crumbled earth above them threw 

-In hillocks:  The swift stag from under ground 

-Bore up his branching head:  Scarce from his mould 

-Behemoth biggest born of earth upheaved 

-His vastness:  Fleeced the flocks and bleating rose, 

-As plants:  Ambiguous between sea and land 

-The river-horse, and scaly crocodile. 

-At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, 

-Insect or worm: those waved their limber fans 

-For wings, and smallest lineaments exact 

-In all the liveries decked of summer's pride 

-With spots of gold and purple, azure and green: 

-These, as a line, their long dimension drew, 

-Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all 

-Minims of nature; some of serpent-kind, 

-Wonderous in length and corpulence, involved 

-Their snaky folds, and added wings.  First crept 

-The parsimonious emmet, provident 

-Of future; in small room large heart enclosed; 

-Pattern of just equality perhaps 

-Hereafter, joined in her popular tribes 

-Of commonalty:  Swarming next appeared 

-The female bee, that feeds her husband drone 

-Deliciously, and builds her waxen cells 

-With honey stored:  The rest are numberless, 

-And thou their natures knowest, and gavest them names, 

-Needless to thee repeated; nor unknown 

-The serpent, subtlest beast of all the field, 

-Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes 

-And hairy mane terrifick, though to thee 

-Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. 

-Now Heaven in all her glory shone, and rolled 

-Her motions, as the great first Mover's hand 

-First wheeled their course:  Earth in her rich attire 

-Consummate lovely smiled; air, water, earth, 

-By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was walked, 

-Frequent; and of the sixth day yet remained: 

-There wanted yet the master-work, the end 

-Of all yet done; a creature, who, not prone 

-And brute as other creatures, but endued 

-With sanctity of reason, might erect 

-His stature, and upright with front serene 

-Govern the rest, self-knowing; and from thence 

-Magnanimous to correspond with Heaven, 

-But grateful to acknowledge whence his good 

-Descends, thither with heart, and voice, and eyes 

-Directed in devotion, to adore 

-And worship God Supreme, who made him chief 

-Of all his works:  therefore the Omnipotent 

-Eternal Father (for where is not he 

-Present?) thus to his Son audibly spake. 

-Let us make now Man in our image, Man 

-In our similitude, and let them rule 

-Over the fish and fowl of sea and air, 

-Beast of the field, and over all the Earth, 

-And every creeping thing that creeps the ground. 

-This said, he formed thee, Adam, thee, O Man, 

-Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed 

-The breath of life; in his own image he 

-Created thee, in the image of God 

-Express; and thou becamest a living soul. 

-Male he created thee; but thy consort 

-Female, for race; then blessed mankind, and said, 

-Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the Earth; 

-Subdue it, and throughout dominion hold 

-Over fish of the sea, and fowl of the air, 

-And every living thing that moves on the Earth. 

-Wherever thus created, for no place 

-Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou knowest, 

-He brought thee into this delicious grove, 

-This garden, planted with the trees of God, 

-Delectable both to behold and taste; 

-And freely all their pleasant fruit for food 

-Gave thee; all sorts are here that all the Earth yields, 

-Variety without end; but of the tree, 

-Which, tasted, works knowledge of good and evil, 

-Thou mayest not; in the day thou eatest, thou diest; 

-Death is the penalty imposed; beware, 

-And govern well thy appetite; lest Sin 

-Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. 

-Here finished he, and all that he had made 

-Viewed, and behold all was entirely good; 

-So even and morn accomplished the sixth day: 

-Yet not till the Creator from his work 

-Desisting, though unwearied, up returned, 

-Up to the Heaven of Heavens, his high abode; 

-Thence to behold this new created world, 

-The addition of his empire, how it showed 

-In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, 

-Answering his great idea.  Up he rode 

-Followed with acclamation, and the sound 

-Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tuned 

-Angelick harmonies:  The earth, the air 

-Resounded, (thou rememberest, for thou heardst,) 

-The heavens and all the constellations rung, 

-The planets in their station listening stood, 

-While the bright pomp ascended jubilant. 

-Open, ye everlasting gates! they sung, 

-Open, ye Heavens! your living doors;let in 

-The great Creator from his work returned 

-Magnificent, his six days work, a World; 

-Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deign 

-To visit oft the dwellings of just men, 

-Delighted; and with frequent intercourse 

-Thither will send his winged messengers 

-On errands of supernal grace.  So sung 

-The glorious train ascending:  He through Heaven, 

-That opened wide her blazing portals, led 

-To God's eternal house direct the way; 

-A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold 

-And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, 

-Seen in the galaxy, that milky way, 

-Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest 

-Powdered with stars.  And now on Earth the seventh 

-Evening arose in Eden, for the sun 

-Was set, and twilight from the east came on, 

-Forerunning night; when at the holy mount 

-Of Heaven's high-seated top, the imperial throne 

-Of Godhead, fixed for ever firm and sure, 

-The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down 

-With his great Father; for he also went 

-Invisible, yet staid, (such privilege 

-Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordained, 

-Author and End of all things; and, from work 

-Now resting, blessed and hallowed the seventh day, 

-As resting on that day from all his work, 

-But not in silence holy kept: the harp 

-Had work and rested not; the solemn pipe, 

-And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop, 

-All sounds on fret by string or golden wire, 

-Tempered soft tunings, intermixed with voice 

-Choral or unison: of incense clouds, 

-Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. 

-Creation and the six days acts they sung: 

-Great are thy works, Jehovah! infinite 

-Thy power! what thought can measure thee, or tongue 

-Relate thee!  Greater now in thy return 

-Than from the giant Angels:  Thee that day 

-Thy thunders magnified; but to create 

-Is greater than created to destroy. 

-Who can impair thee, Mighty King, or bound 

-Thy empire!  Easily the proud attempt 

-Of Spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, 

-Thou hast repelled; while impiously they thought 

-Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw 

-The number of thy worshippers.  Who seeks 

-To lessen thee, against his purpose serves 

-To manifest the more thy might: his evil 

-Thou usest, and from thence createst more good. 

-Witness this new-made world, another Heaven 

-From Heaven-gate not far, founded in view 

-On the clear hyaline, the glassy sea; 

-Of amplitude almost immense, with stars 

-Numerous, and every star perhaps a world 

-Of destined habitation; but thou knowest 

-Their seasons: among these the seat of Men, 

-Earth, with her nether ocean circumfused, 

-Their pleasant dwelling-place.  Thrice happy Men, 

-And sons of Men, whom God hath thus advanced! 

-Created in his image, there to dwell 

-And worship him; and in reward to rule 

-Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air, 

-And multiply a race of worshippers 

-Holy and just:  Thrice happy, if they know 

-Their happiness, and persevere upright! 

-So sung they, and the empyrean rung 

-With halleluiahs:  Thus was sabbath kept. 

-And thy request think now fulfilled, that asked 

-How first this world and face of things began, 

-And what before thy memory was done 

-From the beginning; that posterity, 

-Informed by thee, might know:  If else thou seekest 

-Aught, not surpassing human measure, say. 

- 

- 

- 

-Book VIII                                                        

- 

- 

-The Angel ended, and in Adam's ear 

-So charming left his voice, that he a while 

-Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to hear; 

-Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied. 

-What thanks sufficient, or what recompence 

-Equal, have I to render thee, divine 

-Historian, who thus largely hast allayed 

-The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafed 

-This friendly condescension to relate 

-Things, else by me unsearchable; now heard 

-With wonder, but delight, and, as is due, 

-With glory attributed to the high 

-Creator!  Something yet of doubt remains, 

-Which only thy solution can resolve. 

-When I behold this goodly frame, this world, 

-Of Heaven and Earth consisting; and compute 

-Their magnitudes; this Earth, a spot, a grain, 

-An atom, with the firmament compared 

-And all her numbered stars, that seem to roll 

-Spaces incomprehensible, (for such 

-Their distance argues, and their swift return 

-Diurnal,) merely to officiate light 

-Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot, 

-One day and night; in all her vast survey 

-Useless besides; reasoning I oft admire, 

-How Nature wise and frugal could commit 

-Such disproportions, with superfluous hand 

-So many nobler bodies to create, 

-Greater so manifold, to this one use, 

-For aught appears, and on their orbs impose 

-Such restless revolution day by day 

-Repeated; while the sedentary Earth, 

-That better might with far less compass move, 

-Served by more noble than herself, attains 

-Her end without least motion, and receives, 

-As tribute, such a sumless journey brought 

-Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light; 

-Speed, to describe whose swiftness number fails. 

-So spake our sire, and by his countenance seemed 

-Entering on studious thoughts abstruse; which Eve 

-Perceiving, where she sat retired in sight, 

-With lowliness majestick from her seat, 

-And grace that won who saw to wish her stay, 

-Rose, and went forth among her fruits and flowers, 

-To visit how they prospered, bud and bloom, 

-Her nursery; they at her coming sprung, 

-And, touched by her fair tendance, gladlier grew. 

-Yet went she not, as not with such discourse 

-Delighted, or not capable her ear 

-Of what was high: such pleasure she reserved, 

-Adam relating, she sole auditress; 

-Her husband the relater she preferred 

-Before the Angel, and of him to ask 

-Chose rather; he, she knew, would intermix 

-Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute 

-With conjugal caresses: from his lip 

-Not words alone pleased her.  O! when meet now 

-Such pairs, in love and mutual honour joined? 

-With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went, 

-Not unattended; for on her, as Queen, 

-A pomp of winning Graces waited still, 

-And from about her shot darts of desire 

-Into all eyes, to wish her still in sight. 

-And Raphael now, to Adam's doubt proposed, 

-Benevolent and facile thus replied. 

-To ask or search, I blame thee not; for Heaven 

-Is as the book of God before thee set, 

-Wherein to read his wonderous works, and learn 

-His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years: 

-This to attain, whether Heaven move or Earth, 

-Imports not, if thou reckon right; the rest 

-From Man or Angel the great Architect 

-Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge 

-His secrets to be scanned by them who ought 

-Rather admire; or, if they list to try 

-Conjecture, he his fabrick of the Heavens 

-Hath left to their disputes, perhaps to move 

-His laughter at their quaint opinions wide 

-Hereafter; when they come to model Heaven 

-And calculate the stars, how they will wield 

-The mighty frame; how build, unbuild, contrive 

-To save appearances; how gird the sphere 

-With centrick and eccentrick scribbled o'er, 

-Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb: 

-Already by thy reasoning this I guess, 

-Who art to lead thy offspring, and supposest 

-That bodies bright and greater should not serve 

-The less not bright, nor Heaven such journeys run, 

-Earth sitting still, when she alone receives 

-The benefit:  Consider first, that great 

-Or bright infers not excellence: the Earth 

-Though, in comparison of Heaven, so small, 

-Nor glistering, may of solid good contain 

-More plenty than the sun that barren shines; 

-Whose virtue on itself works no effect, 

-But in the fruitful Earth; there first received, 

-His beams, unactive else, their vigour find. 

-Yet not to Earth are those bright luminaries 

-Officious; but to thee, Earth's habitant. 

-And for the Heaven's wide circuit, let it speak 

-The Maker's high magnificence, who built 

-So spacious, and his line stretched out so far; 

-That Man may know he dwells not in his own; 

-An edifice too large for him to fill, 

-Lodged in a small partition; and the rest 

-Ordained for uses to his Lord best known. 

-The swiftness of those circles attribute, 

-Though numberless, to his Omnipotence, 

-That to corporeal substances could add 

-Speed almost spiritual:  Me thou thinkest not slow, 

-Who since the morning-hour set out from Heaven 

-Where God resides, and ere mid-day arrived 

-In Eden; distance inexpressible 

-By numbers that have name.  But this I urge, 

-Admitting motion in the Heavens, to show 

-Invalid that which thee to doubt it moved; 

-Not that I so affirm, though so it seem 

-To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth. 

-God, to remove his ways from human sense, 

-Placed Heaven from Earth so far, that earthly sight, 

-If it presume, might err in things too high, 

-And no advantage gain.  What if the sun 

-Be center to the world; and other stars, 

-By his attractive virtue and their own 

-Incited, dance about him various rounds? 

-Their wandering course now high, now low, then hid, 

-Progressive, retrograde, or standing still, 

-In six thou seest; and what if seventh to these 

-The planet earth, so stedfast though she seem, 

-Insensibly three different motions move? 

-Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe, 

-Moved contrary with thwart obliquities; 

-Or save the sun his labour, and that swift 

-Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb supposed, 

-Invisible else above all stars, the wheel 

-Of day and night; which needs not thy belief, 

-If earth, industrious of herself, fetch day 

-Travelling east, and with her part averse 

-From the sun's beam meet night, her other part 

-Still luminous by his ray.  What if that light, 

-Sent from her through the wide transpicuous air, 

-To the terrestrial moon be as a star, 

-Enlightening her by day, as she by night 

-This earth? reciprocal, if land be there, 

-Fields and inhabitants:  Her spots thou seest 

-As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce 

-Fruits in her softened soil for some to eat 

-Allotted there; and other suns perhaps, 

-With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry, 

-Communicating male and female light; 

-Which two great sexes animate the world, 

-Stored in each orb perhaps with some that live. 

-For such vast room in Nature unpossessed 

-By living soul, desart and desolate, 

-Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute 

-Each orb a glimpse of light, conveyed so far 

-Down to this habitable, which returns 

-Light back to them, is obvious to dispute. 

-But whether thus these things, or whether not; 

-But whether the sun, predominant in Heaven, 

-Rise on the earth; or earth rise on the sun; 

-He from the east his flaming road begin; 

-Or she from west her silent course advance, 

-With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps 

-On her soft axle, while she paces even, 

-And bears thee soft with the smooth hair along; 

-Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid; 

-Leave them to God above; him serve, and fear! 

-Of other creatures, as him pleases best, 

-Wherever placed, let him dispose; joy thou 

-In what he gives to thee, this Paradise 

-And thy fair Eve; Heaven is for thee too high 

-To know what passes there; be lowly wise: 

-Think only what concerns thee, and thy being; 

-Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there 

-Live, in what state, condition, or degree; 

-Contented that thus far hath been revealed 

-Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven. 

-To whom thus Adam, cleared of doubt, replied. 

-How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure 

-Intelligence of Heaven, Angel serene! 

-And, freed from intricacies, taught to live 

-The easiest way; nor with perplexing thoughts 

-To interrupt the sweet of life, from which 

-God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares, 

-And not molest us; unless we ourselves 

-Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions vain. 

-But apt the mind or fancy is to rove 

-Unchecked, and of her roving is no end; 

-Till warned, or by experience taught, she learn, 

-That, not to know at large of things remote 

-From use, obscure and subtle; but, to know 

-That which before us lies in daily life, 

-Is the prime wisdom:  What is more, is fume, 

-Or emptiness, or fond impertinence: 

-And renders us, in things that most concern, 

-Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek. 

-Therefore from this high pitch let us descend 

-A lower flight, and speak of things at hand 

-Useful; whence, haply, mention may arise 

-Of something not unseasonable to ask, 

-By sufferance, and thy wonted favour, deigned. 

-Thee I have heard relating what was done 

-Ere my remembrance: now, hear me relate 

-My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard; 

-And day is not yet spent; till then thou seest 

-How subtly to detain thee I devise; 

-Inviting thee to hear while I relate; 

-Fond! were it not in hope of thy reply: 

-For, while I sit with thee, I seem in Heaven; 

-And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear 

-Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst 

-And hunger both, from labour, at the hour 

-Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill, 

-Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine 

-Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety. 

-To whom thus Raphael answered heavenly meek. 

-Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men, 

-Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee 

-Abundantly his gifts hath also poured 

-Inward and outward both, his image fair: 

-Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace 

-Attends thee; and each word, each motion, forms; 

-Nor less think we in Heaven of thee on Earth 

-Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire 

-Gladly into the ways of God with Man: 

-For God, we see, hath honoured thee, and set 

-On Man his equal love:  Say therefore on; 

-For I that day was absent, as befel, 

-Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, 

-Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell; 

-Squared in full legion (such command we had) 

-To see that none thence issued forth a spy, 

-Or enemy, while God was in his work; 

-Lest he, incensed at such eruption bold, 

-Destruction with creation might have mixed. 

-Not that they durst without his leave attempt; 

-But us he sends upon his high behests 

-For state, as Sovran King; and to inure 

-Our prompt obedience.  Fast we found, fast shut, 

-The dismal gates, and barricadoed strong; 

-But long ere our approaching heard within 

-Noise, other than the sound of dance or song, 

-Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. 

-Glad we returned up to the coasts of light 

-Ere sabbath-evening: so we had in charge. 

-But thy relation now; for I attend, 

-Pleased with thy words no less than thou with mine. 

-So spake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire. 

-For Man to tell how human life began 

-Is hard; for who himself beginning knew 

-Desire with thee still longer to converse 

-Induced me.  As new waked from soundest sleep, 

-Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid, 

-In balmy sweat; which with his beams the sun 

-Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. 

-Straight toward Heaven my wondering eyes I turned, 

-And gazed a while the ample sky; till, raised 

-By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung, 

-As thitherward endeavouring, and upright 

-Stood on my feet: about me round I saw 

-Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, 

-And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these, 

-Creatures that lived and moved, and walked, or flew; 

-Birds on the branches warbling; all things smiled; 

-With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflowed. 

-Myself I then perused, and limb by limb 

-Surveyed, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran 

-With supple joints, as lively vigour led: 

-But who I was, or where, or from what cause, 

-Knew not; to speak I tried, and forthwith spake; 

-My tongue obeyed, and readily could name 

-Whate'er I saw.  Thou Sun, said I, fair light, 

-And thou enlightened Earth, so fresh and gay, 

-Ye Hills, and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plains, 

-And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell, 

-Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here?-- 

-Not of myself;--by some great Maker then, 

-In goodness and in power pre-eminent: 

-Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, 

-From whom I have that thus I move and live, 

-And feel that I am happier than I know.-- 

-While thus I called, and strayed I knew not whither, 

-From where I first drew air, and first beheld 

-This happy light; when, answer none returned, 

-On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, 

-Pensive I sat me down:  There gentle sleep 

-First found me, and with soft oppression seised 

-My droused sense, untroubled, though I thought 

-I then was passing to my former state 

-Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve: 

-When suddenly stood at my head a dream, 

-Whose inward apparition gently moved 

-My fancy to believe I yet had being, 

-And lived:  One came, methought, of shape divine, 

-And said, 'Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise, 

-'First Man, of men innumerable ordained 

-'First Father! called by thee, I come thy guide 

-'To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.' 

-So saying, by the hand he took me raised, 

-And over fields and waters, as in air 

-Smooth-sliding without step, last led me up 

-A woody mountain; whose high top was plain, 

-A circuit wide, enclosed, with goodliest trees 

-Planted, with walks, and bowers; that what I saw 

-Of Earth before scarce pleasant seemed.  Each tree, 

-Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye 

-Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite 

-To pluck and eat; whereat I waked, and found 

-Before mine eyes all real, as the dream 

-Had lively shadowed:  Here had new begun 

-My wandering, had not he, who was my guide 

-Up hither, from among the trees appeared, 

-Presence Divine.  Rejoicing, but with awe, 

-In adoration at his feet I fell 

-Submiss:  He reared me, and 'Whom thou soughtest I am,' 

-Said mildly, 'Author of all this thou seest 

-'Above, or round about thee, or beneath. 

-'This Paradise I give thee, count it thine 

-'To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat: 

-'Of every tree that in the garden grows 

-'Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth: 

-'But of the tree whose operation brings 

-'Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set 

-'The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, 

-'Amid the garden by the tree of life, 

-'Remember what I warn thee, shun to taste, 

-'And shun the bitter consequence: for know, 

-'The day thou eatest thereof, my sole command 

-'Transgressed, inevitably thou shalt die, 

-'From that day mortal; and this happy state 

-'Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world 

-'Of woe and sorrow.'  Sternly he pronounced 

-The rigid interdiction, which resounds 

-Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice 

-Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect 

-Returned, and gracious purpose thus renewed. 

-'Not only these fair bounds, but all the Earth 

-'To thee and to thy race I give; as lords 

-'Possess it, and all things that therein live, 

-'Or live in sea, or air; beast, fish, and fowl. 

-'In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold 

-'After their kinds; I bring them to receive 

-'From thee their names, and pay thee fealty 

-'With low subjection; understand the same 

-'Of fish within their watery residence, 

-'Not hither summoned, since they cannot change 

-'Their element, to draw the thinner air.' 

-As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold 

-Approaching two and two; these cowering low 

-With blandishment; each bird stooped on his wing. 

-I named them, as they passed, and understood 

-Their nature, with such knowledge God endued 

-My sudden apprehension:  But in these 

-I found not what methought I wanted still; 

-And to the heavenly Vision thus presumed. 

-O, by what name, for thou above all these, 

-Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher, 

-Surpassest far my naming; how may I 

-Adore thee, Author of this universe, 

-And all this good to man? for whose well being 

-So amply, and with hands so liberal, 

-Thou hast provided all things:  But with me 

-I see not who partakes.  In solitude 

-What happiness, who can enjoy alone, 

-Or, all enjoying, what contentment find? 

-Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright, 

-As with a smile more brightened, thus replied. 

-What callest thou solitude?  Is not the Earth 

-With various living creatures, and the air 

-Replenished, and all these at thy command 

-To come and play before thee?  Knowest thou not 

-Their language and their ways?  They also know, 

-And reason not contemptibly:  With these 

-Find pastime, and bear rule; thy realm is large. 

-So spake the Universal Lord, and seemed 

-So ordering:  I, with leave of speech implored, 

-And humble deprecation, thus replied. 

-Let not my words offend thee, Heavenly Power; 

-My Maker, be propitious while I speak. 

-Hast thou not made me here thy substitute, 

-And these inferiour far beneath me set? 

-Among unequals what society 

-Can sort, what harmony, or true delight? 

-Which must be mutual, in proportion due 

-Given and received; but, in disparity 

-The one intense, the other still remiss, 

-Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove 

-Tedious alike:  Of fellowship I speak 

-Such as I seek, fit to participate 

-All rational delight: wherein the brute 

-Cannot be human consort:  They rejoice 

-Each with their kind, lion with lioness; 

-So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined: 

-Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl 

-So well converse, nor with the ox the ape; 

-Worse then can man with beast, and least of all. 

-Whereto the Almighty answered, not displeased. 

-A nice and subtle happiness, I see, 

-Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice 

-Of thy associates, Adam! and wilt taste 

-No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary. 

-What thinkest thou then of me, and this my state? 

-Seem I to thee sufficiently possessed 

-Of happiness, or not? who am alone 

-From all eternity; for none I know 

-Second to me or like, equal much less. 

-How have I then with whom to hold converse, 

-Save with the creatures which I made, and those 

-To me inferiour, infinite descents 

-Beneath what other creatures are to thee? 

-He ceased; I lowly answered.  To attain 

-The highth and depth of thy eternal ways 

-All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things! 

-Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee 

-Is no deficience found:  Not so is Man, 

-But in degree; the cause of his desire 

-By conversation with his like to help 

-Or solace his defects.  No need that thou 

-Shouldst propagate, already Infinite; 

-And through all numbers absolute, though One: 

-But Man by number is to manifest 

-His single imperfection, and beget 

-Like of his like, his image multiplied, 

-In unity defective; which requires 

-Collateral love, and dearest amity. 

-Thou in thy secresy although alone, 

-Best with thyself accompanied, seekest not 

-Social communication; yet, so pleased, 

-Canst raise thy creature to what highth thou wilt 

-Of union or communion, deified: 

-I, by conversing, cannot these erect 

-From prone; nor in their ways complacence find. 

-Thus I emboldened spake, and freedom used 

-Permissive, and acceptance found; which gained 

-This answer from the gracious Voice Divine. 

-Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased; 

-And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone, 

-Which thou hast rightly named, but of thyself; 

-Expressing well the spirit within thee free, 

-My image, not imparted to the brute; 

-Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee 

-Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike; 

-And be so minded still:  I, ere thou spakest, 

-Knew it not good for Man to be alone; 

-And no such company as then thou sawest 

-Intended thee; for trial only brought, 

-To see how thou couldest judge of fit and meet: 

-What next I bring shall please thee, be assured, 

-Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self, 

-Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire. 

-He ended, or I heard no more; for now 

-My earthly by his heavenly overpowered, 

-Which it had long stood under, strained to the highth 

-In that celestial colloquy sublime, 

-As with an object that excels the sense 

-Dazzled and spent, sunk down; and sought repair 

-Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, called 

-By Nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes. 

-Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell 

-Of fancy, my internal sight; by which, 

-Abstract as in a trance, methought I saw, 

-Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape 

-Still glorious before whom awake I stood: 

-Who stooping opened my left side, and took 

-From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm, 

-And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound, 

-But suddenly with flesh filled up and healed: 

-The rib he formed and fashioned with his hands; 

-Under his forming hands a creature grew, 

-Man-like, but different sex; so lovely fair, 

-That what seemed fair in all the world, seemed now 

-Mean, or in her summed up, in her contained 

-And in her looks; which from that time infused 

-Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before, 

-And into all things from her air inspired 

-The spirit of love and amorous delight. 

-She disappeared, and left me dark; I waked 

-To find her, or for ever to deplore 

-Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure: 

-When out of hope, behold her, not far off, 

-Such as I saw her in my dream, adorned 

-With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow 

-To make her amiable:  On she came, 

-Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen, 

-And guided by his voice; nor uninformed 

-Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites: 

-Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, 

-In every gesture dignity and love. 

-I, overjoyed, could not forbear aloud. 

-This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfilled 

-Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign, 

-Giver of all things fair! but fairest this 

-Of all thy gifts! nor enviest.  I now see 

-Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself 

-Before me:  Woman is her name;of Man 

-Extracted: for this cause he shall forego 

-Father and mother, and to his wife adhere; 

-And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul. 

-She heard me thus; and though divinely brought, 

-Yet innocence, and virgin modesty, 

-Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth, 

-That would be wooed, and not unsought be won, 

-Not obvious, not obtrusive, but, retired, 

-The more desirable; or, to say all, 

-Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought, 

-Wrought in her so, that, seeing me, she turned: 

-I followed her; she what was honour knew, 

-And with obsequious majesty approved 

-My pleaded reason.  To the nuptial bower 

-I led her blushing like the morn: All Heaven, 

-And happy constellations, on that hour 

-Shed their selectest influence; the Earth 

-Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill; 

-Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs 

-Whispered it to the woods, and from their wings 

-Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub, 

-Disporting, till the amorous bird of night 

-Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening-star 

-On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp. 

-Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought 

-My story to the sum of earthly bliss, 

-Which I enjoy; and must confess to find 

-In all things else delight indeed, but such 

-As, used or not, works in the mind no change, 

-Nor vehement desire; these delicacies 

-I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, 

-Walks, and the melody of birds: but here 

-Far otherwise, transported I behold, 

-Transported touch; here passion first I felt, 

-Commotion strange! in all enjoyments else 

-Superiour and unmoved; here only weak 

-Against the charm of Beauty's powerful glance. 

-Or Nature failed in me, and left some part 

-Not proof enough such object to sustain; 

-Or, from my side subducting, took perhaps 

-More than enough; at least on her bestowed 

-Too much of ornament, in outward show 

-Elaborate, of inward less exact. 

-For well I understand in the prime end 

-Of Nature her the inferiour, in the mind 

-And inward faculties, which most excel; 

-In outward also her resembling less 

-His image who made both, and less expressing 

-The character of that dominion given 

-O'er other creatures:  Yet when I approach 

-Her loveliness, so absolute she seems 

-And in herself complete, so well to know 

-Her own, that what she wills to do or say, 

-Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best: 

-All higher knowledge in her presence falls 

-Degraded;  Wisdom in discourse with her 

-Loses discountenanced, and like Folly shows; 

-Authority and Reason on her wait, 

-As one intended first, not after made 

-Occasionally; and, to consummate all, 

-Greatness of mind and Nobleness their seat 

-Build in her loveliest, and create an awe 

-About her, as a guard angelick placed. 

-To whom the Angel with contracted brow. 

-Accuse not Nature, she hath done her part; 

-Do thou but thine; and be not diffident 

-Of Wisdom; she deserts thee not, if thou 

-Dismiss not her, when most thou needest her nigh, 

-By attributing overmuch to things 

-Less excellent, as thou thyself perceivest. 

-For, what admirest thou, what transports thee so, 

-An outside? fair, no doubt, and worthy well 

-Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love; 

-Not thy subjection:  Weigh with her thyself; 

-Then value:  Oft-times nothing profits more 

-Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right 

-Well managed; of that skill the more thou knowest, 

-The more she will acknowledge thee her head, 

-And to realities yield all her shows: 

-Made so adorn for thy delight the more, 

-So awful, that with honour thou mayest love 

-Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. 

-But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind 

-Is propagated, seem such dear delight 

-Beyond all other; think the same vouchsafed 

-To cattle and each beast; which would not be 

-To them made common and divulged, if aught 

-Therein enjoyed were worthy to subdue 

-The soul of man, or passion in him move. 

-What higher in her society thou findest 

-Attractive, human, rational, love still; 

-In loving thou dost well, in passion not, 

-Wherein true love consists not:  Love refines 

-The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his seat 

-In reason, and is judicious; is the scale 

-By which to heavenly love thou mayest ascend, 

-Not sunk in carnal pleasure; for which cause, 

-Among the beasts no mate for thee was found. 

-To whom thus, half abashed, Adam replied. 

-Neither her outside formed so fair, nor aught 

-In procreation common to all kinds, 

-(Though higher of the genial bed by far, 

-And with mysterious reverence I deem,) 

-So much delights me, as those graceful acts, 

-Those thousand decencies, that daily flow 

-From all her words and actions mixed with love 

-And sweet compliance, which declare unfeigned 

-Union of mind, or in us both one soul; 

-Harmony to behold in wedded pair 

-More grateful than harmonious sound to the ear. 

-Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose 

-What inward thence I feel, not therefore foiled, 

-Who meet with various objects, from the sense 

-Variously representing; yet, still free, 

-Approve the best, and follow what I approve. 

-To love, thou blamest me not; for Love, thou sayest, 

-Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide; 

-Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask: 

-Love not the heavenly Spirits, and how their love 

-Express they? by looks only? or do they mix 

-Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch? 

-To whom the Angel, with a smile that glowed 

-Celestial rosy red, Love's proper hue, 

-Answered.  Let it suffice thee that thou knowest 

-Us happy, and without love no happiness. 

-Whatever pure thou in the body enjoyest, 

-(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy 

-In eminence; and obstacle find none 

-Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars; 

-Easier than air with air, if Spirits embrace, 

-Total they mix, union of pure with pure 

-Desiring, nor restrained conveyance need, 

-As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul. 

-But I can now no more; the parting sun 

-Beyond the Earth's green Cape and verdant Isles 

-Hesperian sets, my signal to depart. 

-Be strong, live happy, and love!  But, first of all, 

-Him, whom to love is to obey, and keep 

-His great command; take heed lest passion sway 

-Thy judgement to do aught, which else free will 

-Would not admit: thine, and of all thy sons, 

-The weal or woe in thee is placed; beware! 

-I in thy persevering shall rejoice, 

-And all the Blest:  Stand fast;to stand or fall 

-Free in thine own arbitrement it lies. 

-Perfect within, no outward aid require; 

-And all temptation to transgress repel. 

-So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus 

-Followed with benediction.  Since to part, 

-Go, heavenly guest, ethereal Messenger, 

-Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore! 

-Gentle to me and affable hath been 

-Thy condescension, and shall be honoured ever 

-With grateful memory:  Thou to mankind 

-Be good and friendly still, and oft return! 

-So parted they; the Angel up to Heaven 

-From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower. 

- 

- 

- 

-Book IX                                                          

- 

- 

-No more of talk where God or Angel guest 

-With Man, as with his friend, familiar us'd, 

-To sit indulgent, and with him partake 

-Rural repast; permitting him the while 

-Venial discourse unblam'd. I now must change 

-Those notes to tragick; foul distrust, and breach 

-Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt, 

-And disobedience: on the part of Heaven 

-Now alienated, distance and distaste, 

-Anger and just rebuke, and judgement given, 

-That brought into this world a world of woe, 

-Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery 

-Death's harbinger: Sad talk!yet argument 

-Not less but more heroick than the wrath 

-Of stern Achilles on his foe pursued 

-Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; or rage 

-Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous'd; 

-Or Neptune's ire, or Juno's, that so long 

-Perplexed the Greek, and Cytherea's son:                         

- 

-   00482129  

-If answerable style I can obtain 

-Of my celestial patroness, who deigns 

-Her nightly visitation unimplor'd, 

-And dictates to me slumbering; or inspires 

-Easy my unpremeditated verse: 

-Since first this subject for heroick song 

-Pleas'd me long choosing, and beginning late; 

-Not sedulous by nature to indite 

-Wars, hitherto the only argument 

-Heroick deem'd chief mastery to dissect 

-With long and tedious havock fabled knights 

-In battles feign'd; the better fortitude 

-Of patience and heroick martyrdom 

-Unsung; or to describe races and games, 

-Or tilting furniture, imblazon'd shields, 

-Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds, 

-Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights 

-At joust and tournament; then marshall'd feast 

-Serv'd up in hall with sewers and seneshals; 

-The skill of artifice or office mean, 

-Not that which justly gives heroick name 

-To person, or to poem.  Me, of these 

-Nor skill'd nor studious, higher argument 

-Remains; sufficient of itself to raise 

-That name, unless an age too late, or cold 

-Climate, or years, damp my intended wing 

-Depress'd; and much they may, if all be mine, 

-Not hers, who brings it nightly to my ear. 

-The sun was sunk, and after him the star 

-Of Hesperus, whose office is to bring 

-Twilight upon the earth, short arbiter 

-"twixt day and night, and now from end to end 

-Night's hemisphere had veil'd the horizon round: 

-When satan, who late fled before the threats 

-Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improv'd 

-In meditated fraud and malice, bent 

-On Man's destruction, maugre what might hap 

-Of heavier on himself, fearless returned 

-From compassing the earth; cautious of day, 

-Since Uriel, regent of the sun, descried 

-His entrance, and foreworned the Cherubim 

-That kept their watch; thence full of anguish driven, 

-The space of seven continued nights he rode 

-With darkness; thrice the equinoctial line 

-He circled; four times crossed the car of night 

-From pole to pole, traversing each colure; 

-On the eighth returned; and, on the coast averse 

-From entrance or Cherubick watch, by stealth 

-Found unsuspected way.  There was a place, 

-Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change, 

-Where Tigris, at the foot of Paradise, 

-Into a gulf shot under ground, till part 

-Rose up a fountain by the tree of life: 

-In with the river sunk, and with it rose 

-Satan, involved in rising mist; then sought 

-Where to lie hid; sea he had searched, and land, 

-From Eden over Pontus and the pool 

-Maeotis, up beyond the river Ob; 

-Downward as far antarctick; and in length, 

-West from Orontes to the ocean barred 

-At Darien ; thence to the land where flows 

-Ganges and Indus: Thus the orb he roamed 

-With narrow search; and with inspection deep 

-Considered every creature, which of all 

-Most opportune might serve his wiles; and found 

-The Serpent subtlest beast of all the field. 

-Him after long debate, irresolute 

-Of thoughts revolved, his final sentence chose 

-Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom 

-To enter, and his dark suggestions hide 

-From sharpest sight: for, in the wily snake 

-Whatever sleights, none would suspicious mark, 

-As from his wit and native subtlety 

-Proceeding; which, in other beasts observed, 

-Doubt might beget of diabolick power 

-Active within, beyond the sense of brute. 

-Thus he resolved, but first from inward grief 

-His bursting passion into plaints thus poured. 

-More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built 

-With second thoughts, reforming what was old! 

-O Earth, how like to Heaven, if not preferred 

-For what God, after better, worse would build? 

-Terrestrial Heaven, danced round by other Heavens 

-That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps, 

-Light above light, for thee alone, as seems, 

-In thee concentring all their precious beams 

-Of sacred influence!  As God in Heaven 

-Is center, yet extends to all; so thou, 

-Centring, receivest from all those orbs: in thee, 

-Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears 

-Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth 

-Of creatures animate with gradual life 

-Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in Man. 

-With what delight could I have walked thee round, 

-If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange 

-Of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains, 

-Now land, now sea and shores with forest crowned, 

-Rocks, dens, and caves!  But I in none of these 

-Find place or refuge; and the more I see 

-Pleasures about me, so much more I feel 

-Torment within me, as from the hateful siege 

-Of contraries: all good to me becomes 

-Bane, and in Heaven much worse would be my state. 

-But neither here seek I, no nor in Heaven 

-To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven's Supreme; 

-Nor hope to be myself less miserable 

-By what I seek, but others to make such 

-As I, though thereby worse to me redound: 

-For only in destroying I find ease 

-To my relentless thoughts; and, him destroyed, 

-Or won to what may work his utter loss, 

-For whom all this was made, all this will soon 

-Follow, as to him linked in weal or woe; 

-In woe then; that destruction wide may range: 

-To me shall be the glory sole among 

-The infernal Powers, in one day to have marred 

-What he, Almighty styled, six nights and days 

-Continued making; and who knows how long 

-Before had been contriving? though perhaps 

-Not longer than since I, in one night, freed 

-From servitude inglorious well nigh half 

-The angelick name, and thinner left the throng 

-Of his adorers: He, to be avenged, 

-And to repair his numbers thus impaired, 

-Whether such virtue spent of old now failed 

-More Angels to create, if they at least 

-Are his created, or, to spite us more, 

-Determined to advance into our room 

-A creature formed of earth, and him endow, 

-Exalted from so base original, 

-With heavenly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed, 

-He effected; Man he made, and for him built 

-Magnificent this world, and earth his seat, 

-Him lord pronounced; and, O indignity! 

-Subjected to his service angel-wings, 

-And flaming ministers to watch and tend 

-Their earthly charge: Of these the vigilance 

-I dread; and, to elude, thus wrapt in mist 

-Of midnight vapour glide obscure, and pry 

-In every bush and brake, where hap may find 

-The serpent sleeping; in whose mazy folds 

-To hide me, and the dark intent I bring. 

-O foul descent! that I, who erst contended 

-With Gods to sit the highest, am now constrained 

-Into a beast; and, mixed with bestial slime, 

-This essence to incarnate and imbrute, 

-That to the highth of Deity aspired! 

-But what will not ambition and revenge 

-Descend to?  Who aspires, must down as low 

-As high he soared; obnoxious, first or last, 

-To basest things.  Revenge, at first though sweet, 

-Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils: 

-Let it; I reck not, so it light well aimed, 

-Since higher I fall short, on him who next 

-Provokes my envy, this new favourite 

-Of Heaven, this man of clay, son of despite, 

-Whom, us the more to spite, his Maker raised 

-From dust: Spite then with spite is best repaid. 

-So saying, through each thicket dank or dry, 

-Like a black mist low-creeping, he held on 

-His midnight-search, where soonest he might find 

-The serpent; him fast-sleeping soon he found 

-In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled, 

-His head the midst, well stored with subtile wiles: 

-Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den, 

-Nor nocent yet; but, on the grassy herb, 

-Fearless unfeared he slept: in at his mouth 

-The Devil entered; and his brutal sense, 

-In heart or head, possessing, soon inspired 

-With act intelligential; but his sleep 

-Disturbed not, waiting close the approach of morn. 

-Now, when as sacred light began to dawn 

-In Eden on the humid flowers, that breathed 

-Their morning incense, when all things, that breathe, 

-From the Earth's great altar send up silent praise 

-To the Creator, and his nostrils fill 

-With grateful smell, forth came the human pair, 

-And joined their vocal worship to the quire 

-Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake 

-The season prime for sweetest scents and airs: 

-Then commune, how that day they best may ply 

-Their growing work: for much their work out-grew 

-The hands' dispatch of two gardening so wide, 

-And Eve first to her husband thus began. 

-Adam, well may we labour still to dress 

-This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower, 

-Our pleasant task enjoined; but, till more hands 

-Aid us, the work under our labour grows, 

-Luxurious by restraint; what we by day 

-Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, 

-One night or two with wanton growth derides 

-Tending to wild.  Thou therefore now advise, 

-Or bear what to my mind first thoughts present: 

-Let us divide our labours; thou, where choice 

-Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind 

-The woodbine round this arbour, or direct 

-The clasping ivy where to climb; while I, 

-In yonder spring of roses intermixed 

-With myrtle, find what to redress till noon: 

-For, while so near each other thus all day 

-Our task we choose, what wonder if so near 

-Looks intervene and smiles, or object new 

-Casual discourse draw on; which intermits 

-Our day's work, brought to little, though begun 

-Early, and the hour of supper comes unearned? 

-To whom mild answer Adam thus returned. 

-Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond 

-Compare above all living creatures dear! 

-Well hast thou motioned, well thy thoughts employed, 

-How we might best fulfil the work which here 

-God hath assigned us; nor of me shalt pass 

-Unpraised: for nothing lovelier can be found 

-In woman, than to study houshold good, 

-And good works in her husband to promote. 

-Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed 

-Labour, as to debar us when we need 

-Refreshment, whether food, or talk between, 

-Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse 

-Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow, 

-To brute denied, and are of love the food; 

-Love, not the lowest end of human life. 

-For not to irksome toil, but to delight, 

-He made us, and delight to reason joined. 

-These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands 

-Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide 

-As we need walk, till younger hands ere long 

-Assist us; But, if much converse perhaps 

-Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield: 

-For solitude sometimes is best society, 

-And short retirement urges sweet return. 

-But other doubt possesses me, lest harm 

-Befall thee severed from me; for thou knowest 

-What hath been warned us, what malicious foe 

-Envying our happiness, and of his own 

-Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame 

-By sly assault; and somewhere nigh at hand 

-Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find 

-His wish and best advantage, us asunder; 

-Hopeless to circumvent us joined, where each 

-To other speedy aid might lend at need: 

-Whether his first design be to withdraw 

-Our fealty from God, or to disturb 

-Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss 

-Enjoyed by us excites his envy more; 

-Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side 

-That gave thee being, still shades thee, and protects. 

-The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, 

-Safest and seemliest by her husband stays, 

-Who guards her, or with her the worst endures. 

-To whom the virgin majesty of Eve, 

-As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, 

-With sweet austere composure thus replied. 

-Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth's Lord! 

-That such an enemy we have, who seeks 

-Our ruin, both by thee informed I learn, 

-And from the parting Angel over-heard, 

-As in a shady nook I stood behind, 

-Just then returned at shut of evening flowers. 

-But, that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt 

-To God or thee, because we have a foe 

-May tempt it, I expected not to hear. 

-His violence thou fearest not, being such 

-As we, not capable of death or pain, 

-Can either not receive, or can repel. 

-His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers 

-Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love 

-Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced; 

-Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy breast, 

-Adam, mis-thought of her to thee so dear? 

-To whom with healing words Adam replied. 

-Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve! 

-For such thou art; from sin and blame entire: 

-Not diffident of thee do I dissuade 

-Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid 

-The attempt itself, intended by our foe. 

-For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses 

-The tempted with dishonour foul; supposed 

-Not incorruptible of faith, not proof 

-Against temptation: Thou thyself with scorn 

-And anger wouldst resent the offered wrong, 

-Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then, 

-If such affront I labour to avert 

-From thee alone, which on us both at once 

-The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare; 

-Or daring, first on me the assault shall light. 

-Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn; 

-Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce 

-Angels; nor think superfluous other's aid. 

-I, from the influence of thy looks, receive 

-Access in every virtue; in thy sight 

-More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were 

-Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on, 

-Shame to be overcome or over-reached, 

-Would utmost vigour raise, and raised unite. 

-Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel 

-When I am present, and thy trial choose 

-With me, best witness of thy virtue tried? 

-So spake domestick Adam in his care 

-And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought 

-Less attributed to her faith sincere, 

-Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed. 

-If this be our condition, thus to dwell 

-In narrow circuit straitened by a foe, 

-Subtle or violent, we not endued 

-Single with like defence, wherever met; 

-How are we happy, still in fear of harm? 

-But harm precedes not sin: only our foe, 

-Tempting, affronts us with his foul esteem 

-Of our integrity: his foul esteem 

-Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns 

-Foul on himself; then wherefore shunned or feared 

-By us? who rather double honour gain 

-From his surmise proved false; find peace within, 

-Favour from Heaven, our witness, from the event. 

-And what is faith, love, virtue, unassayed 

-Alone, without exteriour help sustained? 

-Let us not then suspect our happy state 

-Left so imperfect by the Maker wise, 

-As not secure to single or combined. 

-Frail is our happiness, if this be so, 

-And Eden were no Eden, thus exposed. 

-To whom thus Adam fervently replied. 

-O Woman, best are all things as the will 

-Of God ordained them: His creating hand 

-Nothing imperfect or deficient left 

-Of all that he created, much less Man, 

-Or aught that might his happy state secure, 

-Secure from outward force; within himself 

-The danger lies, yet lies within his power: 

-Against his will he can receive no harm. 

-But God left free the will; for what obeys 

-Reason, is free; and Reason he made right, 

-But bid her well be ware, and still erect; 

-Lest, by some fair-appearing good surprised, 

-She dictate false; and mis-inform the will 

-To do what God expressly hath forbid. 

-Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins, 

-That I should mind thee oft; and mind thou me. 

-Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve; 

-Since Reason not impossibly may meet 

-Some specious object by the foe suborned, 

-And fall into deception unaware, 

-Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warned. 

-Seek not temptation then, which to avoid 

-Were better, and most likely if from me 

-Thou sever not: Trial will come unsought. 

-Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve 

-First thy obedience; the other who can know, 

-Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? 

-But, if thou think, trial unsought may find 

-Us both securer than thus warned thou seemest, 

-Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more; 

-Go in thy native innocence, rely 

-On what thou hast of virtue; summon all! 

-For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine. 

-So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve 

-Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied. 

-With thy permission then, and thus forewarned 

-Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words 

-Touched only; that our trial, when least sought, 

-May find us both perhaps far less prepared, 

-The willinger I go, nor much expect 

-A foe so proud will first the weaker seek; 

-So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse. 

-Thus saying, from her husband's hand her hand 

-Soft she withdrew; and, like a Wood-Nymph light, 

-Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's train, 

-Betook her to the groves; but Delia's self 

-In gait surpassed, and Goddess-like deport, 

-Though not as she with bow and quiver armed, 

-But with such gardening tools as Art yet rude, 

-Guiltless of fire, had formed, or Angels brought. 

-To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorned, 

-Likest she seemed, Pomona when she fled 

-Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime, 

-Yet virgin of Proserpina from Jove. 

-Her long with ardent look his eye pursued 

-Delighted, but desiring more her stay. 

-Oft he to her his charge of quick return 

-Repeated; she to him as oft engaged 

-To be returned by noon amid the bower, 

-And all things in best order to invite 

-Noontide repast, or afternoon's repose. 

-O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve, 

-Of thy presumed return! event perverse! 

-Thou never from that hour in Paradise 

-Foundst either sweet repast, or sound repose; 

-Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades, 

-Waited with hellish rancour imminent 

-To intercept thy way, or send thee back 

-Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss! 

-For now, and since first break of dawn, the Fiend, 

-Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come; 

-And on his quest, where likeliest he might find 

-The only two of mankind, but in them 

-The whole included race, his purposed prey. 

-In bower and field he sought, where any tuft 

-Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay, 

-Their tendance, or plantation for delight; 

-By fountain or by shady rivulet 

-He sought them both, but wished his hap might find 

-Eve separate; he wished, but not with hope 

-Of what so seldom chanced; when to his wish, 

-Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies, 

-Veiled in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood, 

-Half spied, so thick the roses blushing round 

-About her glowed, oft stooping to support 

-Each flower of slender stalk, whose head, though gay 

-Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold, 

-Hung drooping unsustained; them she upstays 

-Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while 

-Herself, though fairest unsupported flower, 

-From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh. 

-Nearer he drew, and many a walk traversed 

-Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm; 

-Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen, 

-Among thick-woven arborets, and flowers 

-Imbordered on each bank, the hand of Eve: 

-Spot more delicious than those gardens feigned 

-Or of revived Adonis, or renowned 

-Alcinous, host of old Laertes' son; 

-Or that, not mystick, where the sapient king 

-Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse. 

-Much he the place admired, the person more. 

-As one who long in populous city pent, 

-Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air, 

-Forth issuing on a summer's morn, to breathe 

-Among the pleasant villages and farms 

-Adjoined, from each thing met conceives delight; 

-The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine, 

-Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound; 

-If chance, with nymph-like step, fair virgin pass, 

-What pleasing seemed, for her now pleases more; 

-She most, and in her look sums all delight: 

-Such pleasure took the Serpent to behold 

-This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve 

-Thus early, thus alone: Her heavenly form 

-Angelick, but more soft, and feminine, 

-Her graceful innocence, her every air 

-Of gesture, or least action, overawed 

-His malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved 

-His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought: 

-That space the Evil-one abstracted stood 

-From his own evil, and for the time remained 

-Stupidly good; of enmity disarmed, 

-Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge: 

-But the hot Hell that always in him burns, 

-Though in mid Heaven, soon ended his delight, 

-And tortures him now more, the more he sees 

-Of pleasure, not for him ordained: then soon 

-Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts 

-Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites. 

-Thoughts, whither have ye led me! with what sweet 

-Compulsion thus transported, to forget 

-What hither brought us! hate, not love;nor hope 

-Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste 

-Of pleasure; but all pleasure to destroy, 

-Save what is in destroying; other joy 

-To me is lost.  Then, let me not let pass 

-Occasion which now smiles; behold alone 

-The woman, opportune to all attempts, 

-Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh, 

-Whose higher intellectual more I shun, 

-And strength, of courage haughty, and of limb 

-Heroick built, though of terrestrial mould; 

-Foe not informidable! exempt from wound, 

-I not; so much hath Hell debased, and pain 

-Enfeebled me, to what I was in Heaven. 

-She fair, divinely fair, fit love for Gods! 

-Not terrible, though terrour be in love 

-And beauty, not approached by stronger hate, 

-Hate stronger, under show of love well feigned; 

-The way which to her ruin now I tend. 

-So spake the enemy of mankind, enclosed 

-In serpent, inmate bad! and toward Eve 

-Addressed his way: not with indented wave, 

-Prone on the ground, as since; but on his rear, 

-Circular base of rising folds, that towered 

-Fold above fold, a surging maze! his head 

-Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes; 

-With burnished neck of verdant gold, erect 

-Amidst his circling spires, that on the grass 

-Floated redundant: pleasing was his shape 

-And lovely; never since of serpent-kind 

-Lovelier, not those that in Illyria changed, 

-Hermione and Cadmus, or the god 

-In Epidaurus; nor to which transformed 

-Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline, was seen; 

-He with Olympias; this with her who bore 

-Scipio, the highth of Rome.  With tract oblique 

-At first, as one who sought access, but feared 

-To interrupt, side-long he works his way. 

-As when a ship, by skilful steersmen wrought 

-Nigh river's mouth or foreland, where the wind 

-Veers oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her sail: 

-So varied he, and of his tortuous train 

-Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve, 

-To lure her eye; she, busied, heard the sound 

-Of rusling leaves, but minded not, as used 

-To such disport before her through the field, 

-From every beast; more duteous at her call, 

-Than at Circean call the herd disguised. 

-He, bolder now, uncalled before her stood, 

-But as in gaze admiring: oft he bowed 

-His turret crest, and sleek enamelled neck, 

-Fawning; and licked the ground whereon she trod. 

-His gentle dumb expression turned at length 

-The eye of Eve to mark his play; he, glad 

-Of her attention gained, with serpent-tongue 

-Organick, or impulse of vocal air, 

-His fraudulent temptation thus began. 

-Wonder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps 

-Thou canst, who art sole wonder! much less arm 

-Thy looks, the Heaven of mildness, with disdain, 

-Displeased that I approach thee thus, and gaze 

-Insatiate; I thus single;nor have feared 

-Thy awful brow, more awful thus retired. 

-Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair, 

-Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine 

-By gift, and thy celestial beauty adore 

-With ravishment beheld! there best beheld, 

-Where universally admired; but here 

-In this enclosure wild, these beasts among, 

-Beholders rude, and shallow to discern 

-Half what in thee is fair, one man except, 

-Who sees thee? and what is one? who should be seen 

-A Goddess among Gods, adored and served 

-By Angels numberless, thy daily train. 

-So glozed the Tempter, and his proem tuned: 

-Into the heart of Eve his words made way, 

-Though at the voice much marvelling; at length, 

-Not unamazed, she thus in answer spake. 

-What may this mean? language of man pronounced 

-By tongue of brute, and human sense expressed? 

-The first, at least, of these I thought denied 

-To beasts; whom God, on their creation-day, 

-Created mute to all articulate sound: 

-The latter I demur; for in their looks 

-Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. 

-Thee, Serpent, subtlest beast of all the field 

-I knew, but not with human voice endued; 

-Redouble then this miracle, and say, 

-How camest thou speakable of mute, and how 

-To me so friendly grown above the rest 

-Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight? 

-Say, for such wonder claims attention due. 

-To whom the guileful Tempter thus replied. 

-Empress of this fair world, resplendent Eve! 

-Easy to me it is to tell thee all 

-What thou commandest; and right thou shouldst be obeyed: 

-I was at first as other beasts that graze 

-The trodden herb, of abject thoughts and low, 

-As was my food; nor aught but food discerned 

-Or sex, and apprehended nothing high: 

-Till, on a day roving the field, I chanced 

-A goodly tree far distant to behold 

-Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixed, 

-Ruddy and gold: I nearer drew to gaze; 

-When from the boughs a savoury odour blown, 

-Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense 

-Than smell of sweetest fennel, or the teats 

-Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even, 

-Unsucked of lamb or kid, that tend their play. 

-To satisfy the sharp desire I had 

-Of tasting those fair apples, I resolved 

-Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once, 

-Powerful persuaders, quickened at the scent 

-Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen. 

-About the mossy trunk I wound me soon; 

-For, high from ground, the branches would require 

-Thy utmost reach or Adam's: Round the tree 

-All other beasts that saw, with like desire 

-Longing and envying stood, but could not reach. 

-Amid the tree now got, where plenty hung 

-Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill 

-I spared not; for, such pleasure till that hour, 

-At feed or fountain, never had I found. 

-Sated at length, ere long I might perceive 

-Strange alteration in me, to degree 

-Of reason in my inward powers; and speech 

-Wanted not long; though to this shape retained. 

-Thenceforth to speculations high or deep 

-I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind 

-Considered all things visible in Heaven, 

-Or Earth, or Middle; all things fair and good: 

-But all that fair and good in thy divine 

-Semblance, and in thy beauty's heavenly ray, 

-United I beheld; no fair to thine 

-Equivalent or second! which compelled 

-Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come 

-And gaze, and worship thee of right declared 

-Sovran of creatures, universal Dame! 

-So talked the spirited sly Snake; and Eve, 

-Yet more amazed, unwary thus replied. 

-Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt 

-The virtue of that fruit, in thee first proved: 

-But say, where grows the tree? from hence how far? 

-For many are the trees of God that grow 

-In Paradise, and various, yet unknown 

-To us; in such abundance lies our choice, 

-As leaves a greater store of fruit untouched, 

-Still hanging incorruptible, till men 

-Grow up to their provision, and more hands 

-Help to disburden Nature of her birth. 

-To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad. 

-Empress, the way is ready, and not long; 

-Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat, 

-Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past 

-Of blowing myrrh and balm: if thou accept 

-My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon 

-Lead then, said Eve.  He, leading, swiftly rolled 

-In tangles, and made intricate seem straight, 

-To mischief swift.  Hope elevates, and joy 

-Brightens his crest; as when a wandering fire, 

-Compact of unctuous vapour, which the night 

-Condenses, and the cold environs round, 

-Kindled through agitation to a flame, 

-Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends, 

-Hovering and blazing with delusive light, 

-Misleads the amazed night-wanderer from his way 

-To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool; 

-There swallowed up and lost, from succour far. 

-So glistered the dire Snake, and into fraud 

-Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the tree 

-Of prohibition, root of all our woe; 

-Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake. 

-Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither, 

-Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess, 

-The credit of whose virtue rest with thee; 

-Wonderous indeed, if cause of such effects. 

-But of this tree we may not taste nor touch; 

-God so commanded, and left that command 

-Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live 

-Law to ourselves; our reason is our law. 

-To whom the Tempter guilefully replied. 

-Indeed! hath God then said that of the fruit 

-Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat, 

-Yet Lords declared of all in earth or air$? 

-To whom thus Eve, yet sinless.  Of the fruit 

-Of each tree in the garden we may eat; 

-But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst 

-The garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat 

-Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 

-She scarce had said, though brief, when now more bold 

-The Tempter, but with show of zeal and love 

-To Man, and indignation at his wrong, 

-New part puts on; and, as to passion moved, 

-Fluctuates disturbed, yet comely and in act 

-Raised, as of some great matter to begin. 

-As when of old some orator renowned, 

-In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence 

-Flourished, since mute! to some great cause addressed, 

-Stood in himself collected; while each part, 

-Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue; 

-Sometimes in highth began, as no delay 

-Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right: 

-So standing, moving, or to highth up grown, 

-The Tempter, all impassioned, thus began. 

-O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving Plant, 

-Mother of science! now I feel thy power 

-Within me clear; not only to discern 

-Things in their causes, but to trace the ways 

-Of highest agents, deemed however wise. 

-Queen of this universe! do not believe 

-Those rigid threats of death: ye shall not die: 

-How should you? by the fruit? it gives you life 

-To knowledge; by the threatener? look on me, 

-Me, who have touched and tasted; yet both live, 

-And life more perfect have attained than Fate 

-Meant me, by venturing higher than my lot. 

-Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast 

-Is open? or will God incense his ire 

-For such a petty trespass? and not praise 

-Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain 

-Of death denounced, whatever thing death be, 

-Deterred not from achieving what might lead 

-To happier life, knowledge of good and evil; 

-Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil 

-Be real, why not known, since easier shunned? 

-God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just; 

-Not just, not God; not feared then, nor obeyed: 

-Your fear itself of death removes the fear. 

-Why then was this forbid?  Why, but to awe; 

-Why, but to keep ye low and ignorant, 

-His worshippers?  He knows that in the day 

-Ye eat thereof, your eyes that seem so clear, 

-Yet are but dim, shall perfectly be then 

-Opened and cleared, and ye shall be as Gods, 

-Knowing both good and evil, as they know. 

-That ye shall be as Gods, since I as Man, 

-Internal Man, is but proportion meet; 

-I, of brute, human; ye, of human, Gods. 

-So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off 

-Human, to put on Gods; death to be wished, 

-Though threatened, which no worse than this can bring. 

-And what are Gods, that Man may not become 

-As they, participating God-like food? 

-The Gods are first, and that advantage use 

-On our belief, that all from them proceeds: 

-I question it; for this fair earth I see, 

-Warmed by the sun, producing every kind; 

-Them, nothing: if they all things, who enclosed 

-Knowledge of good and evil in this tree, 

-That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains 

-Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies 

-The offence, that Man should thus attain to know? 

-What can your knowledge hurt him, or this tree 

-Impart against his will, if all be his? 

-Or is it envy? and can envy dwell 

-In heavenly breasts?  These, these, and many more 

-Causes import your need of this fair fruit. 

-Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste! 

-He ended; and his words, replete with guile, 

-Into her heart too easy entrance won: 

-Fixed on the fruit she gazed, which to behold 

-Might tempt alone; and in her ears the sound 

-Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregned 

-With reason, to her seeming, and with truth: 

-Mean while the hour of noon drew on, and waked 

-An eager appetite, raised by the smell 

-So savoury of that fruit, which with desire, 

-Inclinable now grown to touch or taste, 

-Solicited her longing eye; yet first 

-Pausing a while, thus to herself she mused. 

-Great are thy virtues, doubtless, best of fruits, 

-Though kept from man, and worthy to be admired; 

-Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay 

-Gave elocution to the mute, and taught 

-The tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise: 

-Thy praise he also, who forbids thy use, 

-Conceals not from us, naming thee the tree 

-Of knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil; 

-Forbids us then to taste! but his forbidding 

-Commends thee more, while it infers the good 

-By thee communicated, and our want: 

-For good unknown sure is not had; or, had 

-And yet unknown, is as not had at all. 

-In plain then, what forbids he but to know, 

-Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise? 

-Such prohibitions bind not.  But, if death 

-Bind us with after-bands, what profits then 

-Our inward freedom?  In the day we eat 

-Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we shall die! 

-How dies the Serpent? he hath eaten and lives, 

-And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns, 

-Irrational till then.  For us alone 

-Was death invented? or to us denied 

-This intellectual food, for beasts reserved? 

-For beasts it seems: yet that one beast which first 

-Hath tasted envies not, but brings with joy 

-The good befallen him, author unsuspect, 

-Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile. 

-What fear I then? rather, what know to fear 

-Under this ignorance of good and evil, 

-Of God or death, of law or penalty? 

-Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine, 

-Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste, 

-Of virtue to make wise:  What hinders then 

-To reach, and feed at once both body and mind? 

-So saying, her rash hand in evil hour 

-Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat! 

-Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, 

-Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe, 

-That all was lost.  Back to the thicket slunk 

-The guilty Serpent; and well might;for Eve, 

-Intent now wholly on her taste, nought else 

-Regarded; such delight till then, as seemed, 

-In fruit she never tasted, whether true 

-Or fancied so, through expectation high 

-Of knowledge; not was Godhead from her thought. 

-Greedily she ingorged without restraint, 

-And knew not eating death:  Satiate at length, 

-And hightened as with wine, jocund and boon, 

-Thus to herself she pleasingly began. 

-O sovran, virtuous, precious of all trees 

-In Paradise! of operation blest 

-To sapience, hitherto obscured, infamed. 

-And thy fair fruit let hang, as to no end 

-Created; but henceforth my early care, 

-Not without song, each morning, and due praise, 

-Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease 

-Of thy full branches offered free to all; 

-Till, dieted by thee, I grow mature 

-In knowledge, as the Gods, who all things know; 

-Though others envy what they cannot give: 

-For, had the gift been theirs, it had not here 

-Thus grown.  Experience, next, to thee I owe, 

-Best guide; not following thee, I had remained 

-In ignorance; thou openest wisdom's way, 

-And givest access, though secret she retire. 

-And I perhaps am secret: Heaven is high, 

-High, and remote to see from thence distinct 

-Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps 

-May have diverted from continual watch 

-Our great Forbidder, safe with all his spies 

-About him.  But to Adam in what sort 

-Shall I appear? shall I to him make known 

-As yet my change, and give him to partake 

-Full happiness with me, or rather not, 

-But keeps the odds of knowledge in my power 

-Without copartner? so to add what wants 

-In female sex, the more to draw his love, 

-And render me more equal; and perhaps, 

-A thing not undesirable, sometime 

-Superiour; for, inferiour, who is free 

-This may be well:  But what if God have seen, 

-And death ensue? then I shall be no more! 

-And Adam, wedded to another Eve, 

-Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct; 

-A death to think!  Confirmed then I resolve, 

-Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe: 

-So dear I love him, that with him all deaths 

-I could endure, without him live no life. 

-So saying, from the tree her step she turned; 

-But first low reverence done, as to the Power 

-That dwelt within, whose presence had infused 

-Into the plant sciential sap, derived 

-From nectar, drink of Gods.  Adam the while, 

-Waiting desirous her return, had wove 

-Of choicest flowers a garland, to adorn 

-Her tresses, and her rural labours crown; 

-As reapers oft are wont their harvest-queen. 

-Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new 

-Solace in her return, so long delayed: 

-Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill, 

-Misgave him; he the faltering measure felt; 

-And forth to meet her went, the way she took 

-That morn when first they parted: by the tree 

-Of knowledge he must pass; there he her met, 

-Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand 

-A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled, 

-New gathered, and ambrosial smell diffused. 

-To him she hasted; in her face excuse 

-Came prologue, and apology too prompt; 

-Which, with bland words at will, she thus addressed. 

-Hast thou not wondered, Adam, at my stay? 

-Thee I have missed, and thought it long, deprived 

-Thy presence; agony of love till now 

-Not felt, nor shall be twice; for never more 

-Mean I to try, what rash untried I sought, 

-The pain of absence from thy sight.  But strange 

-Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear: 

-This tree is not, as we are told, a tree 

-Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown 

-Opening the way, but of divine effect 

-To open eyes, and make them Gods who taste; 

-And hath been tasted such:  The serpent wise, 

-Or not restrained as we, or not obeying, 

-Hath eaten of the fruit; and is become, 

-Not dead, as we are threatened, but thenceforth 

-Endued with human voice and human sense, 

-Reasoning to admiration; and with me 

-Persuasively hath so prevailed, that I 

-Have also tasted, and have also found 

-The effects to correspond; opener mine eyes, 

-Dim erst, dilated spirits, ampler heart, 

-And growing up to Godhead; which for thee 

-Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise. 

-For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss; 

-Tedious, unshared with thee, and odious soon. 

-Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot 

-May join us, equal joy, as equal love; 

-Lest, thou not tasting, different degree 

-Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce 

-Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit. 

-Thus Eve with countenance blithe her story told; 

-But in her cheek distemper flushing glowed. 

-On the other side Adam, soon as he heard 

-The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed, 

-Astonied stood and blank, while horrour chill 

-Ran through his veins, and all his joints relaxed; 

-From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve 

-Down dropt, and all the faded roses shed: 

-Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length 

-First to himself he inward silence broke. 

-O fairest of Creation, last and best 

-Of all God's works, Creature in whom excelled 

-Whatever can to sight or thought be formed, 

-Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet! 

-How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost, 

-Defaced, deflowered, and now to death devote! 

-Rather, how hast thou yielded to transgress 

-The strict forbiddance, how to violate 

-The sacred fruit forbidden!  Some cursed fraud 

-Of enemy hath beguiled thee, yet unknown, 

-And me with thee hath ruined; for with thee 

-Certain my resolution is to die: 

-How can I live without thee! how forego 

-Thy sweet converse, and love so dearly joined, 

-To live again in these wild woods forlorn! 

-Should God create another Eve, and I 

-Another rib afford, yet loss of thee 

-Would never from my heart: no, no!I feel 

-The link of Nature draw me: flesh of flesh, 

-Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy state 

-Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe. 

-So having said, as one from sad dismay 

-Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbed 

-Submitting to what seemed remediless, 

-Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turned. 

-Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve, 

-And peril great provoked, who thus hast dared, 

-Had it been only coveting to eye 

-That sacred fruit, sacred to abstinence, 

-Much more to taste it under ban to touch. 

-But past who can recall, or done undo? 

-Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate; yet so 

-Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact 

-Is not so heinous now, foretasted fruit, 

-Profaned first by the serpent, by him first 

-Made common, and unhallowed, ere our taste; 

-Nor yet on him found deadly; yet he lives; 

-Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live, as Man, 

-Higher degree of life; inducement strong 

-To us, as likely tasting to attain 

-Proportional ascent; which cannot be 

-But to be Gods, or Angels, demi-Gods. 

-Nor can I think that God, Creator wise, 

-Though threatening, will in earnest so destroy 

-Us his prime creatures, dignified so high, 

-Set over all his works; which in our fall, 

-For us created, needs with us must fail, 

-Dependant made; so God shall uncreate, 

-Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour lose; 

-Not well conceived of God, who, though his power 

-Creation could repeat, yet would be loth 

-Us to abolish, lest the Adversary 

-Triumph, and say; "Fickle their state whom God 

-"Most favours; who can please him long? Me first 

-"He ruined, now Mankind; whom will he next?" 

-Matter of scorn, not to be given the Foe. 

-However I with thee have fixed my lot, 

-Certain to undergo like doom:  If death 

-Consort with thee, death is to me as life; 

-So forcible within my heart I feel 

-The bond of Nature draw me to my own; 

-My own in thee, for what thou art is mine; 

-Our state cannot be severed; we are one, 

-One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself. 

-So Adam; and thus Eve to him replied. 

-O glorious trial of exceeding love, 

-Illustrious evidence, example high! 

-Engaging me to emulate; but, short 

-Of thy perfection, how shall I attain, 

-Adam, from whose dear side I boast me sprung, 

-And gladly of our union hear thee speak, 

-One heart, one soul in both; whereof good proof 

-This day affords, declaring thee resolved, 

-Rather than death, or aught than death more dread, 

-Shall separate us, linked in love so dear, 

-To undergo with me one guilt, one crime, 

-If any be, of tasting this fair fruit; 

-Whose virtue for of good still good proceeds, 

-Direct, or by occasion, hath presented 

-This happy trial of thy love, which else 

-So eminently never had been known? 

-Were it I thought death menaced would ensue 

-This my attempt, I would sustain alone 

-The worst, and not persuade thee, rather die 

-Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact 

-Pernicious to thy peace; chiefly assured 

-Remarkably so late of thy so true, 

-So faithful, love unequalled: but I feel 

-Far otherwise the event; not death, but life 

-Augmented, opened eyes, new hopes, new joys, 

-Taste so divine, that what of sweet before 

-Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh. 

-On my experience, Adam, freely taste, 

-And fear of death deliver to the winds. 

-So saying, she embraced him, and for joy 

-Tenderly wept; much won, that he his love 

-Had so ennobled, as of choice to incur 

-Divine displeasure for her sake, or death. 

-In recompence for such compliance bad 

-Such recompence best merits from the bough 

-She gave him of that fair enticing fruit 

-With liberal hand: he scrupled not to eat, 

-Against his better knowledge; not deceived, 

-But fondly overcome with female charm. 

-Earth trembled from her entrails, as again 

-In pangs; and Nature gave a second groan; 

-Sky loured; and, muttering thunder, some sad drops 

-Wept at completing of the mortal sin 

-Original: while Adam took no thought, 

-Eating his fill; nor Eve to iterate 

-Her former trespass feared, the more to sooth 

-Him with her loved society; that now, 

-As with new wine intoxicated both, 

-They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel 

-Divinity within them breeding wings, 

-Wherewith to scorn the earth:  But that false fruit 

-Far other operation first displayed, 

-Carnal desire inflaming; he on Eve 

-Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him 

-As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn: 

-Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move. 

-Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste, 

-And elegant, of sapience no small part; 

-Since to each meaning savour we apply, 

-And palate call judicious; I the praise 

-Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purveyed. 

-Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstained 

-From this delightful fruit, nor known till now 

-True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be 

-In things to us forbidden, it might be wished, 

-For this one tree had been forbidden ten. 

-But come, so well refreshed, now let us play, 

-As meet is, after such delicious fare; 

-For never did thy beauty, since the day 

-I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorned 

-With all perfections, so inflame my sense 

-With ardour to enjoy thee, fairer now 

-Than ever; bounty of this virtuous tree! 

-So said he, and forbore not glance or toy 

-Of amorous intent; well understood 

-Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious fire. 

-Her hand he seised; and to a shady bank, 

-Thick over-head with verdant roof imbowered, 

-He led her nothing loth; flowers were the couch, 

-Pansies, and violets, and asphodel, 

-And hyacinth;  Earth's freshest softest lap. 

-There they their fill of love and love's disport 

-Took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal, 

-The solace of their sin; till dewy sleep 

-Oppressed them, wearied with their amorous play, 

-Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit, 

-That with exhilarating vapour bland 

-About their spirits had played, and inmost powers 

-Made err, was now exhaled; and grosser sleep, 

-Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams 

-Incumbered, now had left them; up they rose 

-As from unrest; and, each the other viewing, 

-Soon found their eyes how opened, and their minds 

-How darkened; innocence, that as a veil 

-Had shadowed them from knowing ill, was gone; 

-Just confidence, and native righteousness, 

-And honour, from about them, naked left 

-To guilty Shame; he covered, but his robe 

-Uncovered more.  So rose the Danite strong, 

-Herculean Samson, from the harlot-lap 

-Of Philistean Dalilah, and waked 

-Shorn of his strength.  They destitute and bare 

-Of all their virtue:  Silent, and in face 

-Confounded, long they sat, as strucken mute: 

-Till Adam, though not less than Eve abashed, 

-At length gave utterance to these words constrained. 

-O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear 

-To that false worm, of whomsoever taught 

-To counterfeit Man's voice; true in our fall, 

-False in our promised rising; since our eyes 

-Opened we find indeed, and find we know 

-Both good and evil; good lost, and evil got; 

-Bad fruit of knowledge, if this be to know; 

-Which leaves us naked thus, of honour void, 

-Of innocence, of faith, of purity, 

-Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained, 

-And in our faces evident the signs 

-Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store; 

-Even shame, the last of evils; of the first 

-Be sure then.--How shall I behold the face 

-Henceforth of God or Angel, erst with joy 

-And rapture so oft beheld?  Those heavenly shapes 

-Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze 

-Insufferably bright.  O! might I here 

-In solitude live savage; in some glade 

-Obscured, where highest woods, impenetrable 

-To star or sun-light, spread their umbrage broad 

-And brown as evening:  Cover me, ye Pines! 

-Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs 

-Hide me, where I may never see them more!-- 

-But let us now, as in bad plight, devise 

-What best may for the present serve to hide 

-The parts of each from other, that seem most 

-To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen; 

-Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together sewed, 

-And girded on our loins, may cover round 

-Those middle parts; that this new comer, Shame, 

-There sit not, and reproach us as unclean. 

-So counselled he, and both together went 

-Into the thickest wood; there soon they chose 

-The fig-tree; not that kind for fruit renowned, 

-But such as at this day, to Indians known, 

-In Malabar or Decan spreads her arms 

-Branching so broad and long, that in the ground 

-The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow 

-About the mother tree, a pillared shade 

-High over-arched, and echoing walks between: 

-There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat, 

-Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds 

-At loop-holes cut through thickest shade:  Those leaves 

-They gathered, broad as Amazonian targe; 

-And, with what skill they had, together sewed, 

-To gird their waist; vain covering, if to hide 

-Their guilt and dreaded shame!  O, how unlike 

-To that first naked glory!  Such of late 

-Columbus found the American, so girt 

-With feathered cincture; naked else, and wild 

-Among the trees on isles and woody shores. 

-Thus fenced, and, as they thought, their shame in part 

-Covered, but not at rest or ease of mind, 

-They sat them down to weep; nor only tears 

-Rained at their eyes, but high winds worse within 

-Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate, 

-Mistrust, suspicion, discord; and shook sore 

-Their inward state of mind, calm region once 

-And full of peace, now tost and turbulent: 

-For Understanding ruled not, and the Will 

-Heard not her lore; both in subjection now 

-To sensual Appetite, who from beneath 

-Usurping over sovran Reason claimed 

-Superiour sway: From thus distempered breast, 

-Adam, estranged in look and altered style, 

-Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewed. 

-Would thou hadst hearkened to my words, and staid 

-With me, as I besought thee, when that strange 

-Desire of wandering, this unhappy morn, 

-I know not whence possessed thee; we had then 

-Remained still happy; not, as now, despoiled 

-Of all our good; shamed, naked, miserable! 

-Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve 

-The faith they owe; when earnestly they seek 

-Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail. 

-To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve. 

-What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe! 

-Imputest thou that to my default, or will 

-Of wandering, as thou callest it, which who knows 

-But might as ill have happened thou being by, 

-Or to thyself perhaps?  Hadst thou been there, 

-Or here the attempt, thou couldst not have discerned 

-Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake; 

-No ground of enmity between us known, 

-Why he should mean me ill, or seek to harm. 

-Was I to have never parted from thy side? 

-As good have grown there still a lifeless rib. 

-Being as I am, why didst not thou, the head, 

-Command me absolutely not to go, 

-Going into such danger, as thou saidst? 

-Too facile then, thou didst not much gainsay; 

-Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. 

-Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent, 

-Neither had I transgressed, nor thou with me. 

-To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied. 

-Is this the love, is this the recompence 

-Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve! expressed 

-Immutable, when thou wert lost, not I; 

-Who might have lived, and joyed immortal bliss, 

-Yet willingly chose rather death with thee? 

-And am I now upbraided as the cause 

-Of thy transgressing?  Not enough severe, 

-It seems, in thy restraint:  What could I more 

-I warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold 

-The danger, and the lurking enemy 

-That lay in wait; beyond this, had been force; 

-And force upon free will hath here no place. 

-But confidence then bore thee on; secure 

-Either to meet no danger, or to find 

-Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps 

-I also erred, in overmuch admiring 

-What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thought 

-No evil durst attempt thee; but I rue 

-The errour now, which is become my crime, 

-And thou the accuser.  Thus it shall befall 

-Him, who, to worth in women overtrusting, 

-Lets her will rule: restraint she will not brook; 

-And, left to herself, if evil thence ensue, 

-She first his weak indulgence will accuse. 

-Thus they in mutual accusation spent 

-The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning; 

-And of their vain contest appeared no end. 

- 

- 

- 

-Book X                                                           

- 

- 

-Mean while the heinous and despiteful act 

-Of Satan, done in Paradise; and how 

-He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve, 

-Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, 

-Was known in Heaven; for what can 'scape the eye 

-Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart 

-Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, 

-Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind 

-Of Man, with strength entire and free will armed, 

-Complete to have discovered and repulsed 

-Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. 

-For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered, 

-The high injunction, not to taste that fruit, 

-Whoever tempted; which they not obeying, 

-(Incurred what could they less?) the penalty; 

-And, manifold in sin, deserved to fall. 

-Up into Heaven from Paradise in haste 

-The angelick guards ascended, mute, and sad, 

-For Man; for of his state by this they knew, 

-Much wondering how the subtle Fiend had stolen 

-Entrance unseen.  Soon as the unwelcome news 

-From Earth arrived at Heaven-gate, displeased 

-All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare 

-That time celestial visages, yet, mixed 

-With pity, violated not their bliss. 

-About the new-arrived, in multitudes 

-The ethereal people ran, to hear and know 

-How all befel:  They towards the throne supreme, 

-Accountable, made haste, to make appear, 

-With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance 

-And easily approved; when the Most High 

-Eternal Father, from his secret cloud, 

-Amidst in thunder uttered thus his voice. 

-Assembled Angels, and ye Powers returned 

-From unsuccessful charge; be not dismayed, 

-Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth, 

-Which your sincerest care could not prevent; 

-Foretold so lately what would come to pass, 

-When first this tempter crossed the gulf from Hell. 

-I told ye then he should prevail, and speed 

-On his bad errand; Man should be seduced, 

-And flattered out of all, believing lies 

-Against his Maker; no decree of mine 

-Concurring to necessitate his fall, 

-Or touch with lightest moment of impulse 

-His free will, to her own inclining left 

-In even scale.  But fallen he is; and now 

-What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass 

-On his transgression,--death denounced that day? 

-Which he presumes already vain and void, 

-Because not yet inflicted, as he feared, 

-By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find 

-Forbearance no acquittance, ere day end. 

-Justice shall not return as bounty scorned. 

-But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee, 

-Vicegerent Son?  To thee I have transferred 

-All judgement, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. 

-Easy it may be seen that I intend 

-Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee 

-Man's friend, his Mediator, his designed 

-Both ransom and Redeemer voluntary, 

-And destined Man himself to judge Man fallen. 

-So spake the Father; and, unfolding bright 

-Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son 

-Blazed forth unclouded Deity: He full 

-Resplendent all his Father manifest 

-Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild. 

-Father Eternal, thine is to decree; 

-Mine, both in Heaven and Earth, to do thy will 

-Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son beloved, 

-Mayest ever rest well pleased.  I go to judge 

-On earth these thy transgressours; but thou knowest, 

-Whoever judged, the worst on me must light, 

-When time shall be; for so I undertook 

-Before thee; and, not repenting, this obtain 

-Of right, that I may mitigate their doom 

-On me derived; yet I shall temper so 

-Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most 

-Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. 

-Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none 

-Are to behold the judgement, but the judged, 

-Those two; the third best absent is condemned, 

-Convict by flight, and rebel to all law: 

-Conviction to the serpent none belongs. 

-Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose 

-Of high collateral glory: Him Thrones, and Powers, 

-Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant, 

-Accompanied to Heaven-gate; from whence 

-Eden, and all the coast, in prospect lay. 

-Down he descended straight; the speed of Gods 

-Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes winged. 

-Now was the sun in western cadence low 

-From noon, and gentle airs, due at their hour, 

-To fan the earth now waked, and usher in 

-The evening cool; when he, from wrath more cool, 

-Came the mild Judge, and Intercessour both, 

-To sentence Man:  The voice of God they heard 

-Now walking in the garden, by soft winds 

-Brought to their ears, while day declined; they heard, 

-And from his presence hid themselves among 

-The thickest trees, both man and wife; till God, 

-Approaching, thus to Adam called aloud. 

-Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet 

-My coming seen far off?  I miss thee here, 

-Not pleased, thus entertained with solitude, 

-Where obvious duty ere while appeared unsought: 

-Or come I less conspicuous, or what change 

-Absents thee, or what chance detains?--Come forth! 

-He came; and with him Eve, more loth, though first 

-To offend; discountenanced both, and discomposed; 

-Love was not in their looks, either to God, 

-Or to each other; but apparent guilt, 

-And shame, and perturbation, and despair, 

-Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile. 

-Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief. 

-I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice 

-Afraid, being naked, hid myself.  To whom 

-The gracious Judge without revile replied. 

-My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared, 

-But still rejoiced; how is it now become 

-So dreadful to thee?  That thou art naked, who 

-Hath told thee?  Hast thou eaten of the tree, 

-Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat? 

-To whom thus Adam sore beset replied. 

-O Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand 

-Before my Judge; either to undergo 

-Myself the total crime, or to accuse 

-My other self, the partner of my life; 

-Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, 

-I should conceal, and not expose to blame 

-By my complaint: but strict necessity 

-Subdues me, and calamitous constraint; 

-Lest on my head both sin and punishment, 

-However insupportable, be all 

-Devolved; though should I hold my peace, yet thou 

-Wouldst easily detect what I conceal.-- 

-This Woman, whom thou madest to be my help, 

-And gavest me as thy perfect gift, so good, 

-So fit, so acceptable, so divine, 

-That from her hand I could suspect no ill, 

-And what she did, whatever in itself, 

-Her doing seemed to justify the deed; 

-She gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 

-To whom the Sovran Presence thus replied. 

-Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey 

-Before his voice? or was she made thy guide, 

-Superiour, or but equal, that to her 

-Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place 

-Wherein God set thee above her made of thee, 

-And for thee, whose perfection far excelled 

-Hers in all real dignity?  Adorned 

-She was indeed, and lovely, to attract 

-Thy love, not thy subjection; and her gifts 

-Were such, as under government well seemed; 

-Unseemly to bear rule; which was thy part 

-And person, hadst thou known thyself aright. 

-So having said, he thus to Eve in few. 

-Say, Woman, what is this which thou hast done? 

-To whom sad Eve, with shame nigh overwhelmed, 

-Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge 

-Bold or loquacious, thus abashed replied. 

-The Serpent me beguiled, and I did eat. 

-Which when the Lord God heard, without delay 

-To judgement he proceeded on the accused 

-Serpent, though brute; unable to transfer 

-The guilt on him, who made him instrument 

-Of mischief, and polluted from the end 

-Of his creation; justly then accursed, 

-As vitiated in nature:  More to know 

-Concerned not Man, (since he no further knew) 

-Nor altered his offence; yet God at last 

-To Satan first in sin his doom applied, 

-Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best: 

-And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall. 

-Because thou hast done this, thou art accursed 

-Above all cattle, each beast of the field; 

-Upon thy belly groveling thou shalt go, 

-And dust shalt eat all the days of thy life. 

-Between thee and the woman I will put 

-Enmity, and between thine and her seed; 

-Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel. 

-So spake this oracle, then verified 

-When Jesus, Son of Mary, second Eve, 

-Saw Satan fall, like lightning, down from Heaven, 

-Prince of the air; then, rising from his grave 

-Spoiled Principalities and Powers, triumphed 

-In open show; and, with ascension bright, 

-Captivity led captive through the air, 

-The realm itself of Satan, long usurped; 

-Whom he shall tread at last under our feet; 

-Even he, who now foretold his fatal bruise; 

-And to the Woman thus his sentence turned. 

-Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply 

-By thy conception; children thou shalt bring 

-In sorrow forth; and to thy husband's will 

-Thine shall submit; he over thee shall rule. 

-On Adam last thus judgement he pronounced. 

-Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, 

-And eaten of the tree, concerning which 

-I charged thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat thereof: 

-Cursed is the ground for thy sake; thou in sorrow 

-Shalt eat thereof, all the days of thy life; 

-Thorns also and thistles it shall bring thee forth 

-Unbid; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 

-In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, 

-Till thou return unto the ground; for thou 

-Out of the ground wast taken, know thy birth, 

-For dust thou art, and shalt to dust return. 

-So judged he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent; 

-And the instant stroke of death, denounced that day, 

-Removed far off; then, pitying how they stood 

-Before him naked to the air, that now 

-Must suffer change, disdained not to begin 

-Thenceforth the form of servant to assume; 

-As when he washed his servants feet; so now, 

-As father of his family, he clad 

-Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain, 

-Or as the snake with youthful coat repaid; 

-And thought not much to clothe his enemies; 

-Nor he their outward only with the skins 

-Of beasts, but inward nakedness, much more. 

-Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness, 

-Arraying, covered from his Father's sight. 

-To him with swift ascent he up returned, 

-Into his blissful bosom reassumed 

-In glory, as of old; to him appeased 

-All, though all-knowing, what had passed with Man 

-Recounted, mixing intercession sweet. 

-Mean while, ere thus was sinned and judged on Earth, 

-Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death, 

-In counterview within the gates, that now 

-Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame 

-Far into Chaos, since the Fiend passed through, 

-Sin opening; who thus now to Death began. 

-O Son, why sit we here each other viewing 

-Idly, while Satan, our great author, thrives 

-In other worlds, and happier seat provides 

-For us, his offspring dear?  It cannot be 

-But that success attends him; if mishap, 

-Ere this he had returned, with fury driven 

-By his avengers; since no place like this 

-Can fit his punishment, or their revenge. 

-Methinks I feel new strength within me rise, 

-Wings growing, and dominion given me large 

-Beyond this deep; whatever draws me on, 

-Or sympathy, or some connatural force, 

-Powerful at greatest distance to unite, 

-With secret amity, things of like kind, 

-By secretest conveyance.  Thou, my shade 

-Inseparable, must with me along; 

-For Death from Sin no power can separate. 

-But, lest the difficulty of passing back 

-Stay his return perhaps over this gulf 

-Impassable, impervious; let us try 

-Adventurous work, yet to thy power and mine 

-Not unagreeable, to found a path 

-Over this main from Hell to that new world, 

-Where Satan now prevails; a monument 

-Of merit high to all the infernal host, 

-Easing their passage hence, for intercourse, 

-Or transmigration, as their lot shall lead. 

-Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn 

-By this new-felt attraction and instinct. 

-Whom thus the meager Shadow answered soon. 

-Go, whither Fate, and inclination strong, 

-Leads thee; I shall not lag behind, nor err 

-The way, thou leading; such a scent I draw 

-Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste 

-The savour of death from all things there that live: 

-Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest 

-Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid. 

-So saying, with delight he snuffed the smell 

-Of mortal change on earth.  As when a flock 

-Of ravenous fowl, though many a league remote, 

-Against the day of battle, to a field, 

-Where armies lie encamped, come flying, lured 

-With scent of living carcasses designed 

-For death, the following day, in bloody fight: 

-So scented the grim Feature, and upturned 

-His nostril wide into the murky air; 

-Sagacious of his quarry from so far. 

-Then both from out Hell-gates, into the waste 

-Wide anarchy of Chaos, damp and dark, 

-Flew diverse; and with power (their power was great) 

-Hovering upon the waters, what they met 

-Solid or slimy, as in raging sea 

-Tost up and down, together crouded drove, 

-From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell; 

-As when two polar winds, blowing adverse 

-Upon the Cronian sea, together drive 

-Mountains of ice, that stop the imagined way 

-Beyond Petsora eastward, to the rich 

-Cathaian coast.  The aggregated soil 

-Death with his mace petrifick, cold and dry, 

-As with a trident, smote; and fixed as firm 

-As Delos, floating once; the rest his look 

-Bound with Gorgonian rigour not to move; 

-And with Asphaltick slime, broad as the gate, 

-Deep to the roots of Hell the gathered beach 

-They fastened, and the mole immense wrought on 

-Over the foaming deep high-arched, a bridge 

-Of length prodigious, joining to the wall 

-Immoveable of this now fenceless world, 

-Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad, 

-Smooth, easy, inoffensive, down to Hell. 

-So, if great things to small may be compared, 

-Xerxes, the liberty of Greece to yoke, 

-From Susa, his Memnonian palace high, 

-Came to the sea: and, over Hellespont 

-Bridging his way, Europe with Asia joined, 

-And scourged with many a stroke the indignant waves. 

-Now had they brought the work by wonderous art 

-Pontifical, a ridge of pendant rock, 

-Over the vexed abyss, following the track 

-Of Satan to the self-same place where he 

-First lighted from his wing, and landed safe 

-From out of Chaos, to the outside bare 

-Of this round world:  With pins of adamant 

-And chains they made all fast, too fast they made 

-And durable!  And now in little space 

-The confines met of empyrean Heaven, 

-And of this World; and, on the left hand, Hell 

-With long reach interposed; three several ways 

-In sight, to each of these three places led. 

-And now their way to Earth they had descried, 

-To Paradise first tending; when, behold! 

-Satan, in likeness of an Angel bright, 

-Betwixt the Centaur and the Scorpion steering 

-His zenith, while the sun in Aries rose: 

-Disguised he came; but those his children dear 

-Their parent soon discerned, though in disguise. 

-He, after Eve seduced, unminded slunk 

-Into the wood fast by; and, changing shape, 

-To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act 

-By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded 

-Upon her husband; saw their shame that sought 

-Vain covertures; but when he saw descend 

-The Son of God to judge them, terrified 

-He fled; not hoping to escape, but shun 

-The present; fearing, guilty, what his wrath 

-Might suddenly inflict; that past, returned 

-By night, and listening where the hapless pair 

-Sat in their sad discourse, and various plaint, 

-Thence gathered his own doom; which understood 

-Not instant, but of future time, with joy 

-And tidings fraught, to Hell he now returned; 

-And at the brink of Chaos, near the foot 

-Of this new wonderous pontifice, unhoped 

-Met, who to meet him came, his offspring dear. 

-Great joy was at their meeting, and at sight 

-Of that stupendious bridge his joy encreased. 

-Long he admiring stood, till Sin, his fair 

-Enchanting daughter, thus the silence broke. 

-O Parent, these are thy magnifick deeds, 

-Thy trophies! which thou viewest as not thine own; 

-Thou art their author, and prime architect: 

-For I no sooner in my heart divined, 

-My heart, which by a secret harmony 

-Still moves with thine, joined in connexion sweet, 

-That thou on earth hadst prospered, which thy looks 

-Now also evidence, but straight I felt, 

-Though distant from thee worlds between, yet felt, 

-That I must after thee, with this thy son; 

-Such fatal consequence unites us three! 

-Hell could no longer hold us in our bounds, 

-Nor this unvoyageable gulf obscure 

-Detain from following thy illustrious track. 

-Thou hast achieved our liberty, confined 

-Within Hell-gates till now; thou us impowered 

-To fortify thus far, and overlay, 

-With this portentous bridge, the dark abyss. 

-Thine now is all this world; thy virtue hath won 

-What thy hands builded not; thy wisdom gained 

-With odds what war hath lost, and fully avenged 

-Our foil in Heaven; here thou shalt monarch reign, 

-There didst not; there let him still victor sway, 

-As battle hath adjudged; from this new world 

-Retiring, by his own doom alienated; 

-And henceforth monarchy with thee divide 

-Of all things, parted by the empyreal bounds, 

-His quadrature, from thy orbicular world; 

-Or try thee now more dangerous to his throne. 

-Whom thus the Prince of darkness answered glad. 

-Fair Daughter, and thou Son and Grandchild both; 

-High proof ye now have given to be the race 

-Of Satan (for I glory in the name, 

-Antagonist of Heaven's Almighty King,) 

-Amply have merited of me, of all 

-The infernal empire, that so near Heaven's door 

-Triumphal with triumphal act have met, 

-Mine, with this glorious work; and made one realm, 

-Hell and this world, one realm, one continent 

-Of easy thorough-fare.  Therefore, while I 

-Descend through darkness, on your road with ease, 

-To my associate Powers, them to acquaint 

-With these successes, and with them rejoice; 

-You two this way, among these numerous orbs, 

-All yours, right down to Paradise descend; 

-There dwell, and reign in bliss; thence on the earth 

-Dominion exercise and in the air, 

-Chiefly on Man, sole lord of all declared; 

-Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill. 

-My substitutes I send ye, and create 

-Plenipotent on earth, of matchless might 

-Issuing from me: on your joint vigour now 

-My hold of this new kingdom all depends, 

-Through Sin to Death exposed by my exploit. 

-If your joint power prevail, the affairs of Hell 

-No detriment need fear; go, and be strong! 

-So saying he dismissed them; they with speed 

-Their course through thickest constellations held, 

-Spreading their bane; the blasted stars looked wan, 

-And planets, planet-struck, real eclipse 

-Then suffered.  The other way Satan went down 

-The causey to Hell-gate:  On either side 

-Disparted Chaos overbuilt exclaimed, 

-And with rebounding surge the bars assailed, 

-That scorned his indignation:  Through the gate, 

-Wide open and unguarded, Satan passed, 

-And all about found desolate; for those, 

-Appointed to sit there, had left their charge, 

-Flown to the upper world; the rest were all 

-Far to the inland retired, about the walls 

-Of Pandemonium; city and proud seat 

-Of Lucifer, so by allusion called 

-Of that bright star to Satan paragoned; 

-There kept their watch the legions, while the Grand 

-In council sat, solicitous what chance 

-Might intercept their emperour sent; so he 

-Departing gave command, and they observed. 

-As when the Tartar from his Russian foe, 

-By Astracan, over the snowy plains, 

-Retires; or Bactrin Sophi, from the horns 

-Of Turkish crescent, leaves all waste beyond 

-The realm of Aladule, in his retreat 

-To Tauris or Casbeen:  So these, the late 

-Heaven-banished host, left desart utmost Hell 

-Many a dark league, reduced in careful watch 

-Round their metropolis; and now expecting 

-Each hour their great adventurer, from the search 

-Of foreign worlds:  He through the midst unmarked, 

-In show plebeian Angel militant 

-Of lowest order, passed; and from the door 

-Of that Plutonian hall, invisible 

-Ascended his high throne; which, under state 

-Of richest texture spread, at the upper end 

-Was placed in regal lustre.  Down a while 

-He sat, and round about him saw unseen: 

-At last, as from a cloud, his fulgent head 

-And shape star-bright appeared, or brighter; clad 

-With what permissive glory since his fall 

-Was left him, or false glitter:  All amazed 

-At that so sudden blaze the Stygian throng 

-Bent their aspect, and whom they wished beheld, 

-Their mighty Chief returned: loud was the acclaim: 

-Forth rushed in haste the great consulting peers, 

-Raised from their dark Divan, and with like joy 

-Congratulant approached him; who with hand 

-Silence, and with these words attention, won. 

-Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; 

-For in possession such, not only of right, 

-I call ye, and declare ye now; returned 

-Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth 

-Triumphant out of this infernal pit 

-Abominable, accursed, the house of woe, 

-And dungeon of our tyrant:  Now possess, 

-As Lords, a spacious world, to our native Heaven 

-Little inferiour, by my adventure hard 

-With peril great achieved.  Long were to tell 

-What I have done; what suffered;with what pain 

-Voyaged th' unreal, vast, unbounded deep 

-Of horrible confusion; over which 

-By Sin and Death a broad way now is paved, 

-To expedite your glorious march; but I 

-Toiled out my uncouth passage, forced to ride 

-The untractable abyss, plunged in the womb 

-Of unoriginal Night and Chaos wild; 

-That, jealous of their secrets, fiercely opposed 

-My journey strange, with clamorous uproar 

-Protesting Fate supreme; thence how I found 

-The new created world, which fame in Heaven 

-Long had foretold, a fabrick wonderful 

-Of absolute perfection! therein Man 

-Placed in a Paradise, by our exile 

-Made happy:  Him by fraud I have seduced 

-From his Creator; and, the more to encrease 

-Your wonder, with an apple; he, thereat 

-Offended, worth your laughter! hath given up 

-Both his beloved Man, and all his world, 

-To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us, 

-Without our hazard, labour, or alarm; 

-To range in, and to dwell, and over Man 

-To rule, as over all he should have ruled. 

-True is, me also he hath judged, or rather 

-Me not, but the brute serpent in whose shape 

-Man I deceived: that which to me belongs, 

-Is enmity which he will put between 

-Me and mankind; I am to bruise his heel; 

-His seed, when is not set, shall bruise my head: 

-A world who would not purchase with a bruise, 

-Or much more grievous pain?--Ye have the account 

-Of my performance:  What remains, ye Gods, 

-But up, and enter now into full bliss? 

-So having said, a while he stood, expecting 

-Their universal shout, and high applause, 

-To fill his ear; when, contrary, he hears 

-On all sides, from innumerable tongues, 

-A dismal universal hiss, the sound 

-Of publick scorn; he wondered, but not long 

-Had leisure, wondering at himself now more, 

-His visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare; 

-His arms clung to his ribs; his legs entwining 

-Each other, till supplanted down he fell 

-A monstrous serpent on his belly prone, 

-Reluctant, but in vain; a greater power 

-Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned, 

-According to his doom: he would have spoke, 

-But hiss for hiss returned with forked tongue 

-To forked tongue; for now were all transformed 

-Alike, to serpents all, as accessories 

-To his bold riot:  Dreadful was the din 

-Of hissing through the hall, thick swarming now 

-With complicated monsters head and tail, 

-Scorpion, and Asp, and Amphisbaena dire, 

-Cerastes horned, Hydrus, and Elops drear, 

-And Dipsas; (not so thick swarmed once the soil 

-Bedropt with blood of Gorgon, or the isle 

-Ophiusa,) but still greatest he the midst, 

-Now Dragon grown, larger than whom the sun 

-Ingendered in the Pythian vale or slime, 

-Huge Python, and his power no less he seemed 

-Above the rest still to retain; they all 

-Him followed, issuing forth to the open field, 

-Where all yet left of that revolted rout, 

-Heaven-fallen, in station stood or just array; 

-Sublime with expectation when to see 

-In triumph issuing forth their glorious Chief; 

-They saw, but other sight instead! a croud 

-Of ugly serpents; horrour on them fell, 

-And horrid sympathy; for, what they saw, 

-They felt themselves, now changing; down their arms, 

-Down fell both spear and shield; down they as fast; 

-And the dire hiss renewed, and the dire form 

-Catched, by contagion; like in punishment, 

-As in their crime.  Thus was the applause they meant, 

-Turned to exploding hiss, triumph to shame 

-Cast on themselves from their own mouths.  There stood 

-A grove hard by, sprung up with this their change, 

-His will who reigns above, to aggravate 

-Their penance, laden with fair fruit, like that 

-Which grew in Paradise, the bait of Eve 

-Used by the Tempter: on that prospect strange 

-Their earnest eyes they fixed, imagining 

-For one forbidden tree a multitude 

-Now risen, to work them further woe or shame; 

-Yet, parched with scalding thirst and hunger fierce, 

-Though to delude them sent, could not abstain; 

-But on they rolled in heaps, and, up the trees 

-Climbing, sat thicker than the snaky locks 

-That curled Megaera: greedily they plucked 

-The fruitage fair to sight, like that which grew 

-Near that bituminous lake where Sodom flamed; 

-This more delusive, not the touch, but taste 

-Deceived; they, fondly thinking to allay 

-Their appetite with gust, instead of fruit 

-Chewed bitter ashes, which the offended taste 

-With spattering noise rejected: oft they assayed, 

-Hunger and thirst constraining; drugged as oft, 

-With hatefullest disrelish writhed their jaws, 

-With soot and cinders filled; so oft they fell 

-Into the same illusion, not as Man 

-Whom they triumphed once lapsed.  Thus were they plagued 

-And worn with famine, long and ceaseless hiss, 

-Till their lost shape, permitted, they resumed; 

-Yearly enjoined, some say, to undergo, 

-This annual humbling certain numbered days, 

-To dash their pride, and joy, for Man seduced. 

-However, some tradition they dispersed 

-Among the Heathen, of their purchase got, 

-And fabled how the Serpent, whom they called 

-Ophion, with Eurynome, the wide-- 

-Encroaching Eve perhaps, had first the rule 

-Of high Olympus; thence by Saturn driven 

-And Ops, ere yet Dictaean Jove was born. 

-Mean while in Paradise the hellish pair 

-Too soon arrived; Sin, there in power before, 

-Once actual; now in body, and to dwell 

-Habitual habitant; behind her Death, 

-Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet 

-On his pale horse: to whom Sin thus began. 

-Second of Satan sprung, all-conquering Death! 

-What thinkest thou of our empire now, though earned 

-With travel difficult, not better far 

-Than still at Hell's dark threshold to have sat watch, 

-Unnamed, undreaded, and thyself half starved? 

-Whom thus the Sin-born monster answered soon. 

-To me, who with eternal famine pine, 

-Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or Heaven; 

-There best, where most with ravine I may meet; 

-Which here, though plenteous, all too little seems 

-To stuff this maw, this vast unhide-bound corps. 

-To whom the incestuous mother thus replied. 

-Thou therefore on these herbs, and fruits, and flowers, 

-Feed first; on each beast next, and fish, and fowl; 

-No homely morsels! and, whatever thing 

-The sithe of Time mows down, devour unspared; 

-Till I, in Man residing, through the race, 

-His thoughts, his looks, words, actions, all infect; 

-And season him thy last and sweetest prey. 

-This said, they both betook them several ways, 

-Both to destroy, or unimmortal make 

-All kinds, and for destruction to mature 

-Sooner or later; which the Almighty seeing, 

-From his transcendent seat the Saints among, 

-To those bright Orders uttered thus his voice. 

-See, with what heat these dogs of Hell advance 

-To waste and havock yonder world, which I 

-So fair and good created; and had still 

-Kept in that state, had not the folly of Man 

-Let in these wasteful furies, who impute 

-Folly to me; so doth the Prince of Hell 

-And his adherents, that with so much ease 

-I suffer them to enter and possess 

-A place so heavenly; and, conniving, seem 

-To gratify my scornful enemies, 

-That laugh, as if, transported with some fit 

-Of passion, I to them had quitted all, 

-At random yielded up to their misrule; 

-And know not that I called, and drew them thither, 

-My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth 

-Which Man's polluting sin with taint hath shed 

-On what was pure; til, crammed and gorged, nigh burst 

-With sucked and glutted offal, at one sling 

-Of thy victorious arm, well-pleasing Son, 

-Both Sin, and Death, and yawning Grave, at last, 

-Through Chaos hurled, obstruct the mouth of Hell 

-For ever, and seal up his ravenous jaws. 

-Then Heaven and Earth renewed shall be made pure 

-To sanctity, that shall receive no stain: 

-Till then, the curse pronounced on both precedes. 

-He ended, and the heavenly audience loud 

-Sung Halleluiah, as the sound of seas, 

-Through multitude that sung:  Just are thy ways, 

-Righteous are thy decrees on all thy works; 

-Who can extenuate thee?  Next, to the Son, 

-Destined Restorer of mankind, by whom 

-New Heaven and Earth shall to the ages rise, 

-Or down from Heaven descend.--Such was their song; 

-While the Creator, calling forth by name 

-His mighty Angels, gave them several charge, 

-As sorted best with present things.  The sun 

-Had first his precept so to move, so shine, 

-As might affect the earth with cold and heat 

-Scarce tolerable; and from the north to call 

-Decrepit winter; from the south to bring 

-Solstitial summer's heat.  To the blanc moon 

-Her office they prescribed; to the other five 

-Their planetary motions, and aspects, 

-In sextile, square, and trine, and opposite, 

-Of noxious efficacy, and when to join 

-In synod unbenign; and taught the fixed 

-Their influence malignant when to shower, 

-Which of them rising with the sun, or falling, 

-Should prove tempestuous:  To the winds they set 

-Their corners, when with bluster to confound 

-Sea, air, and shore; the thunder when to roll 

-With terrour through the dark aereal hall. 

-Some say, he bid his Angels turn ascanse 

-The poles of earth, twice ten degrees and more, 

-From the sun's axle; they with labour pushed 

-Oblique the centrick globe:  Some say, the sun 

-Was bid turn reins from the equinoctial road 

-Like distant breadth to Taurus with the seven 

-Atlantick Sisters, and the Spartan Twins, 

-Up to the Tropick Crab: thence down amain 

-By Leo, and the Virgin, and the Scales, 

-As deep as Capricorn; to bring in change 

-Of seasons to each clime; else had the spring 

-Perpetual smiled on earth with vernant flowers, 

-Equal in days and nights, except to those 

-Beyond the polar circles; to them day 

-Had unbenighted shone, while the low sun, 

-To recompense his distance, in their sight 

-Had rounded still the horizon, and not known 

-Or east or west; which had forbid the snow 

-From cold Estotiland, and south as far 

-Beneath Magellan.  At that tasted fruit 

-The sun, as from Thyestean banquet, turned 

-His course intended; else, how had the world 

-Inhabited, though sinless, more than now, 

-Avoided pinching cold and scorching heat? 

-These changes in the Heavens, though slow, produced 

-Like change on sea and land; sideral blast, 

-Vapour, and mist, and exhalation hot, 

-Corrupt and pestilent:  Now from the north 

-Of Norumbega, and the Samoed shore, 

-Bursting their brazen dungeon, armed with ice, 

-And snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw, 

-Boreas, and Caecias, and Argestes loud, 

-And Thrascias, rend the woods, and seas upturn; 

-With adverse blast upturns them from the south 

-Notus, and Afer black with thunderous clouds 

-From Serraliona; thwart of these, as fierce, 

-Forth rush the Levant and the Ponent winds, 

-Eurus and Zephyr, with their lateral noise, 

-Sirocco and Libecchio.  Thus began 

-Outrage from lifeless things; but Discord first, 

-Daughter of Sin, among the irrational 

-Death introduced, through fierce antipathy: 

-Beast now with beast 'gan war, and fowl with fowl, 

-And fish with fish; to graze the herb all leaving, 

-Devoured each other; nor stood much in awe 

-Of Man, but fled him; or, with countenance grim, 

-Glared on him passing.  These were from without 

-The growing miseries, which Adam saw 

-Already in part, though hid in gloomiest shade, 

-To sorrow abandoned, but worse felt within; 

-And, in a troubled sea of passion tost, 

-Thus to disburden sought with sad complaint. 

-O miserable of happy!  Is this the end 

-Of this new glorious world, and me so late 

-The glory of that glory, who now become 

-Accursed, of blessed? hide me from the face 

-Of God, whom to behold was then my highth 

-Of happiness!--Yet well, if here would end 

-The misery; I deserved it, and would bear 

-My own deservings; but this will not serve: 

-All that I eat or drink, or shall beget, 

-Is propagated curse.  O voice, once heard 

-Delightfully, Encrease and multiply; 

-Now death to hear! for what can I encrease, 

-Or multiply, but curses on my head? 

-Who of all ages to succeed, but, feeling 

-The evil on him brought by me, will curse 

-My head?  Ill fare our ancestor impure, 

-For this we may thank Adam! but his thanks 

-Shall be the execration: so, besides 

-Mine own that bide upon me, all from me 

-Shall with a fierce reflux on me rebound; 

-On me, as on their natural center, light 

-Heavy, though in their place.  O fleeting joys 

-Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes! 

-Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay 

-To mould me Man? did I solicit thee 

-From darkness to promote me, or here place 

-In this delicious garden?  As my will 

-Concurred not to my being, it were but right 

-And equal to reduce me to my dust; 

-Desirous to resign and render back 

-All I received; unable to perform 

-Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold 

-The good I sought not.  To the loss of that, 

-Sufficient penalty, why hast thou added 

-The sense of endless woes?  Inexplicable 

-Why am I mocked with death, and lengthened out 

-To deathless pain?  How gladly would I meet 

-Mortality my sentence, and be earth 

-Insensible!  How glad would lay me down 

-As in my mother's lap!  There I should rest, 

-And sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more 

-Would thunder in my ears; no fear of worse 

-To me, and to my offspring, would torment me 

-With cruel expectation.  Yet one doubt 

-Pursues me still, lest all I cannot die; 

-Lest that pure breath of life, the spirit of Man 

-Which God inspired, cannot together perish 

-With this corporeal clod; then, in the grave, 

-Or in some other dismal place, who knows 

-But I shall die a living death?  O thought 

-Horrid, if true!  Yet why? It was but breath 

-Of life that sinned; what dies but what had life 

-And sin?  The body properly had neither, 

-All of me then shall die: let this appease 

-The doubt, since human reach no further knows. 

-For though the Lord of all be infinite, 

-Is his wrath also?  Be it, Man is not so, 

-But mortal doomed.  How can he exercise 

-Wrath without end on Man, whom death must end? 

-Can he make deathless death?  That were to make 

-Strange contradiction, which to God himself 

-Impossible is held; as argument 

-Of weakness, not of power.  Will he draw out, 

-For anger's sake, finite to infinite, 

-In punished Man, to satisfy his rigour, 

-Satisfied never?  That were to extend 

-His sentence beyond dust and Nature's law; 

-By which all causes else, according still 

-To the reception of their matter, act; 

-Not to the extent of their own sphere.  But say 

-That death be not one stroke, as I supposed, 

-Bereaving sense, but endless misery 

-From this day onward; which I feel begun 

-Both in me, and without me; and so last 

-To perpetuity;--Ay me!that fear 

-Comes thundering back with dreadful revolution 

-On my defenceless head; both Death and I 

-Am found eternal, and incorporate both; 

-Nor I on my part single; in me all 

-Posterity stands cursed:  Fair patrimony 

-That I must leave ye, Sons!  O, were I able 

-To waste it all myself, and leave ye none! 

-So disinherited, how would you bless 

-Me, now your curse!  Ah, why should all mankind, 

-For one man's fault, thus guiltless be condemned, 

-It guiltless?  But from me what can proceed, 

-But all corrupt; both mind and will depraved 

-Not to do only, but to will the same 

-With me?  How can they then acquitted stand 

-In sight of God?  Him, after all disputes, 

-Forced I absolve: all my evasions vain, 

-And reasonings, though through mazes, lead me still 

-But to my own conviction: first and last 

-On me, me only, as the source and spring 

-Of all corruption, all the blame lights due; 

-So might the wrath!  Fond wish!couldst thou support 

-That burden, heavier than the earth to bear; 

-Than all the world much heavier, though divided 

-With that bad Woman?  Thus, what thou desirest, 

-And what thou fearest, alike destroys all hope 

-Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable 

-Beyond all past example and future; 

-To Satan only like both crime and doom. 

-O Conscience! into what abyss of fears 

-And horrours hast thou driven me; out of which 

-I find no way, from deep to deeper plunged! 

-Thus Adam to himself lamented loud, 

-Through the still night; not now, as ere Man fell, 

-Wholesome, and cool, and mild, but with black air 

-Accompanied; with damps, and dreadful gloom; 

-Which to his evil conscience represented 

-All things with double terrour:  On the ground 

-Outstretched he lay, on the cold ground; and oft 

-Cursed his creation;  Death as oft accused 

-Of tardy execution, since denounced 

-The day of his offence.  Why comes not Death, 

-Said he, with one thrice-acceptable stroke 

-To end me?  Shall Truth fail to keep her word, 

-Justice Divine not hasten to be just? 

-But Death comes not at call; Justice Divine 

-Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries, 

-O woods, O fountains, hillocks, dales, and bowers! 

-With other echo late I taught your shades 

-To answer, and resound far other song.-- 

-Whom thus afflicted when sad Eve beheld, 

-Desolate where she sat, approaching nigh, 

-Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed: 

-But her with stern regard he thus repelled. 

-Out of my sight, thou Serpent!  That name best 

-Befits thee with him leagued, thyself as false 

-And hateful; nothing wants, but that thy shape, 

-Like his, and colour serpentine, may show 

-Thy inward fraud; to warn all creatures from thee 

-Henceforth; lest that too heavenly form, pretended 

-To hellish falshood, snare them!  But for thee 

-I had persisted happy; had not thy pride 

-And wandering vanity, when least was safe, 

-Rejected my forewarning, and disdained 

-Not to be trusted; longing to be seen, 

-Though by the Devil himself; him overweening 

-To over-reach; but, with the serpent meeting, 

-Fooled and beguiled; by him thou, I by thee 

-To trust thee from my side; imagined wise, 

-Constant, mature, proof against all assaults; 

-And understood not all was but a show, 

-Rather than solid virtue; all but a rib 

-Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears, 

-More to the part sinister, from me drawn; 

-Well if thrown out, as supernumerary 

-To my just number found.  O! why did God, 

-Creator wise, that peopled highest Heaven 

-With Spirits masculine, create at last 

-This novelty on earth, this fair defect 

-Of nature, and not fill the world at once 

-With Men, as Angels, without feminine; 

-Or find some other way to generate 

-Mankind?  This mischief had not been befallen, 

-And more that shall befall; innumerable 

-Disturbances on earth through female snares, 

-And strait conjunction with this sex: for either 

-He never shall find out fit mate, but such 

-As some misfortune brings him, or mistake; 

-Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain 

-Through her perverseness, but shall see her gained 

-By a far worse; or, if she love, withheld 

-By parents; or his happiest choice too late 

-Shall meet, already linked and wedlock-bound 

-To a fell adversary, his hate or shame: 

-Which infinite calamity shall cause 

-To human life, and houshold peace confound. 

-He added not, and from her turned; but Eve, 

-Not so repulsed, with tears that ceased not flowing 

-And tresses all disordered, at his feet 

-Fell humble; and, embracing them, besought 

-His peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint. 

-Forsake me not thus, Adam! witness Heaven 

-What love sincere, and reverence in my heart 

-I bear thee, and unweeting have offended, 

-Unhappily deceived!  Thy suppliant 

-I beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not, 

-Whereon I live, thy gentle looks, thy aid, 

-Thy counsel, in this uttermost distress, 

-My only strength and stay:  Forlorn of thee, 

-Whither shall I betake me, where subsist? 

-While yet we live, scarce one short hour perhaps, 

-Between us two let there be peace; both joining, 

-As joined in injuries, one enmity 

-Against a foe by doom express assigned us, 

-That cruel Serpent:  On me exercise not 

-Thy hatred for this misery befallen; 

-On me already lost, me than thyself 

-More miserable!  Both have sinned;but thou 

-Against God only; I against God and thee; 

-And to the place of judgement will return, 

-There with my cries importune Heaven; that all 

-The sentence, from thy head removed, may light 

-On me, sole cause to thee of all this woe; 

-Me, me only, just object of his ire! 

-She ended weeping; and her lowly plight, 

-Immoveable, till peace obtained from fault 

-Acknowledged and deplored, in Adam wrought 

-Commiseration:  Soon his heart relented 

-Towards her, his life so late, and sole delight, 

-Now at his feet submissive in distress; 

-Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking, 

-His counsel, whom she had displeased, his aid: 

-As one disarmed, his anger all he lost, 

-And thus with peaceful words upraised her soon. 

-Unwary, and too desirous, as before, 

-So now of what thou knowest not, who desirest 

-The punishment all on thyself; alas! 

-Bear thine own first, ill able to sustain 

-His full wrath, whose thou feelest as yet least part, 

-And my displeasure bearest so ill.  If prayers 

-Could alter high decrees, I to that place 

-Would speed before thee, and be louder heard, 

-That on my head all might be visited; 

-Thy frailty and infirmer sex forgiven, 

-To me committed, and by me exposed. 

-But rise;--let us no more contend, nor blame 

-Each other, blamed enough elsewhere; but strive 

-In offices of love, how we may lighten 

-Each other's burden, in our share of woe; 

-Since this day's death denounced, if aught I see, 

-Will prove no sudden, but a slow-paced evil; 

-A long day's dying, to augment our pain; 

-And to our seed (O hapless seed!) derived. 

-To whom thus Eve, recovering heart, replied. 

-Adam, by sad experiment I know 

-How little weight my words with thee can find, 

-Found so erroneous; thence by just event 

-Found so unfortunate:  Nevertheless, 

-Restored by thee, vile as I am, to place 

-Of new acceptance, hopeful to regain 

-Thy love, the sole contentment of my heart 

-Living or dying, from thee I will not hide 

-What thoughts in my unquiet breast are risen, 

-Tending to some relief of our extremes, 

-Or end; though sharp and sad, yet tolerable, 

-As in our evils, and of easier choice. 

-If care of our descent perplex us most, 

-Which must be born to certain woe, devoured 

-By Death at last; and miserable it is 

-To be to others cause of misery, 

-Our own begotten, and of our loins to bring 

-Into this cursed world a woeful race, 

-That after wretched life must be at last 

-Food for so foul a monster; in thy power 

-It lies, yet ere conception to prevent 

-The race unblest, to being yet unbegot. 

-Childless thou art, childless remain: so Death 

-Shall be deceived his glut, and with us two 

-Be forced to satisfy his ravenous maw. 

-But if thou judge it hard and difficult, 

-Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain 

-From love's due rights, nuptial embraces sweet; 

-And with desire to languish without hope, 

-Before the present object languishing 

-With like desire; which would be misery 

-And torment less than none of what we dread; 

-Then, both ourselves and seed at once to free 

-From what we fear for both, let us make short, -- 

-Let us seek Death; -- or, he not found, supply 

-With our own hands his office on ourselves: 

-Why stand we longer shivering under fears, 

-That show no end but death, and have the power, 

-Of many ways to die the shortest choosing, 

-Destruction with destruction to destroy? -- 

-She ended here, or vehement despair 

-Broke off the rest: so much of death her thoughts 

-Had entertained, as dyed her cheeks with pale. 

-But Adam, with such counsel nothing swayed, 

-To better hopes his more attentive mind 

-Labouring had raised; and thus to Eve replied. 

-Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems 

-To argue in thee something more sublime 

-And excellent, than what thy mind contemns; 

-But self-destruction therefore sought, refutes 

-That excellence thought in thee; and implies, 

-Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret 

-For loss of life and pleasure overloved. 

-Or if thou covet death, as utmost end 

-Of misery, so thinking to evade 

-The penalty pronounced; doubt not but God 

-Hath wiselier armed his vengeful ire, than so 

-To be forestalled; much more I fear lest death, 

-So snatched, will not exempt us from the pain 

-We are by doom to pay; rather, such acts 

-Of contumacy will provoke the Highest 

-To make death in us live:  Then let us seek 

-Some safer resolution, which methinks 

-I have in view, calling to mind with heed 

-Part of our sentence, that thy seed shall bruise 

-The Serpent's head; piteous amends! unless 

-Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand foe, 

-Satan; who, in the serpent, hath contrived 

-Against us this deceit:  To crush his head 

-Would be revenge indeed! which will be lost 

-By death brought on ourselves, or childless days 

-Resolved, as thou proposest; so our foe 

-Shal 'scape his punishment ordained, and we 

-Instead shall double ours upon our heads. 

-No more be mentioned then of violence 

-Against ourselves; and wilful barrenness, 

-That cuts us off from hope; and savours only 

-Rancour and pride, impatience and despite, 

-Reluctance against God and his just yoke 

-Laid on our necks.  Remember with what mild 

-And gracious temper he both heard, and judged, 

-Without wrath or reviling; we expected 

-Immediate dissolution, which we thought 

-Was meant by death that day; when lo!to thee 

-Pains only in child-bearing were foretold, 

-And bringing forth; soon recompensed with joy, 

-Fruit of thy womb:  On me the curse aslope 

-Glanced on the ground; with labour I must earn 

-My bread; what harm? Idleness had been worse; 

-My labour will sustain me; and, lest cold 

-Or heat should injure us, his timely care 

-Hath, unbesought, provided; and his hands 

-Clothed us unworthy, pitying while he judged; 

-How much more, if we pray him, will his ear 

-Be open, and his heart to pity incline, 

-And teach us further by what means to shun 

-The inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and snow! 

-Which now the sky, with various face, begins 

-To show us in this mountain; while the winds 

-Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks 

-Of these fair spreading trees; which bids us seek 

-Some better shroud, some better warmth to cherish 

-Our limbs benummed, ere this diurnal star 

-Leave cold the night, how we his gathered beams 

-Reflected may with matter sere foment; 

-Or, by collision of two bodies, grind 

-The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds 

-Justling, or pushed with winds, rude in their shock, 

-Tine the slant lightning; whose thwart flame, driven down 

-Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine; 

-And sends a comfortable heat from far, 

-Which might supply the sun:  Such fire to use, 

-And what may else be remedy or cure 

-To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought, 

-He will instruct us praying, and of grace 

-Beseeching him; so as we need not fear 

-To pass commodiously this life, sustained 

-By him with many comforts, till we end 

-In dust, our final rest and native home. 

-What better can we do, than, to the place 

-Repairing where he judged us, prostrate fall 

-Before him reverent; and there confess 

-Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears 

-Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air 

-Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign 

-Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek 

- 

- 

- 

-Book XI                                                          

- 

- 

-Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn 

-From his displeasure; in whose look serene, 

-When angry most he seemed and most severe, 

-What else but favour, grace, and mercy, shone? 

-So spake our father penitent; nor Eve 

-Felt less remorse: they, forthwith to the place 

-Repairing where he judged them, prostrate fell 

-Before him reverent; and both confessed 

-Humbly their faults, and pardon begged; with tears 

-Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air 

-Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign 

-Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek. 

-Thus they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood 

-Praying; for from the mercy-seat above 

-Prevenient grace descending had removed 

-The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh 

-Regenerate grow instead; that sighs now breathed 

-Unutterable; which the Spirit of prayer 

-Inspired, and winged for Heaven with speedier flight 

-Than loudest oratory:  Yet their port 

-Not of mean suitors; nor important less 

-Seemed their petition, than when the ancient pair 

-In fables old, less ancient yet than these, 

-Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha, to restore 

-The race of mankind drowned, before the shrine 

-Of Themis stood devout.  To Heaven their prayers 

-Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious winds 

-Blown vagabond or frustrate: in they passed 

-Dimensionless through heavenly doors; then clad 

-With incense, where the golden altar fumed, 

-By their great intercessour, came in sight 

-Before the Father's throne: them the glad Son 

-Presenting, thus to intercede began. 

-See$ Father, what first-fruits on earth are sprung 

-From thy implanted grace in Man; these sighs 

-And prayers, which in this golden censer mixed 

-With incense, I thy priest before thee bring; 

-Fruits of more pleasing savour, from thy seed 

-Sown with contrition in his heart, than those 

-Which, his own hand manuring, all the trees 

-Of Paradise could have produced, ere fallen 

-From innocence.  Now therefore, bend thine ear 

-To supplication; hear his sighs, though mute; 

-Unskilful with what words to pray, let me 

-Interpret for him; me, his advocate 

-And propitiation; all his works on me, 

-Good, or not good, ingraft; my merit those 

-Shall perfect, and for these my death shall pay. 

-Accept me; and, in me, from these receive 

-The smell of peace toward mankind: let him live 

-Before thee reconciled, at least his days 

-Numbered, though sad; till death, his doom, (which I 

-To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse,) 

-To better life shall yield him: where with me 

-All my redeemed may dwell in joy and bliss; 

-Made one with me, as I with thee am one. 

-To whom the Father, without cloud, serene. 

-All thy request for Man, accepted Son, 

-Obtain; all thy request was my decree: 

-But, longer in that Paradise to dwell, 

-The law I gave to Nature him forbids: 

-Those pure immortal elements, that know, 

-No gross, no unharmonious mixture foul, 

-Eject him, tainted now; and purge him off, 

-As a distemper, gross, to air as gross, 

-And mortal food; as may dispose him best 

-For dissolution wrought by sin, that first 

-Distempered all things, and of incorrupt 

-Corrupted.  I, at first, with two fair gifts 

-Created him endowed; with happiness, 

-And immortality: that fondly lost, 

-This other served but to eternize woe; 

-Till I provided death: so death becomes 

-His final remedy; and, after life, 

-Tried in sharp tribulation, and refined 

-By faith and faithful works, to second life, 

-Waked in the renovation of the just, 

-Resigns him up with Heaven and Earth renewed. 

-But let us call to synod all the Blest, 

-Through Heaven's wide bounds: from them I will not hide 

-My judgements; how with mankind I proceed, 

-As how with peccant Angels late they saw, 

-And in their state, though firm, stood more confirmed. 

-He ended, and the Son gave signal high 

-To the bright minister that watched; he blew 

-His trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps 

-When God descended, and perhaps once more 

-To sound at general doom.  The angelick blast 

-Filled all the regions: from their blisful bowers 

-Of amarantine shade, fountain or spring, 

-By the waters of life, where'er they sat 

-In fellowships of joy, the sons of light 

-Hasted, resorting to the summons high; 

-And took their seats; till from his throne supreme 

-The Almighty thus pronounced his sovran will. 

-O Sons, like one of us Man is become 

-To know both good and evil, since his taste 

-Of that defended fruit; but let him boast 

-His knowledge of good lost, and evil got; 

-Happier! had it sufficed him to have known 

-Good by itself, and evil not at all. 

-He sorrows now, repents, and prays contrite, 

-My motions in him; longer than they move, 

-His heart I know, how variable and vain, 

-Self-left.  Lest therefore his now bolder hand 

-Reach also of the tree of life, and eat, 

-And live for ever, dream at least to live 

-For ever, to remove him I decree, 

-And send him from the garden forth to till 

-The ground whence he was taken, fitter soil. 

-Michael, this my behest have thou in charge; 

-Take to thee from among the Cherubim 

-Thy choice of flaming warriours, lest the Fiend, 

-Or in behalf of Man, or to invade 

-Vacant possession, some new trouble raise: 

-Haste thee, and from the Paradise of God 

-Without remorse drive out the sinful pair; 

-From hallowed ground the unholy; and denounce 

-To them, and to their progeny, from thence 

-Perpetual banishment.  Yet, lest they faint 

-At the sad sentence rigorously urged, 

-(For I behold them softened, and with tears 

-Bewailing their excess,) all terrour hide. 

-If patiently thy bidding they obey, 

-Dismiss them not disconsolate; reveal 

-To Adam what shall come in future days, 

-As I shall thee enlighten; intermix 

-My covenant in the Woman's seed renewed; 

-So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace: 

-And on the east side of the garden place, 

-Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbs, 

-Cherubick watch; and of a sword the flame 

-Wide-waving; all approach far off to fright, 

-And guard all passage to the tree of life: 

-Lest Paradise a receptacle prove 

-To Spirits foul, and all my trees their prey; 

-With whose stolen fruit Man once more to delude. 

-He ceased; and the arch-angelick Power prepared 

-For swift descent; with him the cohort bright 

-Of watchful Cherubim: four faces each 

-Had, like a double Janus; all their shape 

-Spangled with eyes more numerous than those 

-Of Argus, and more wakeful than to drouse, 

-Charmed with Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed 

-Of Hermes, or his opiate rod.  Mean while, 

-To re-salute the world with sacred light, 

-Leucothea waked; and with fresh dews imbalmed 

-The earth; when Adam and first matron Eve 

-Had ended now their orisons, and found 

-Strength added from above; new hope to spring 

-Out of despair; joy, but with fear yet linked; 

-Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewed. 

-Eve, easily my faith admit, that all 

-The good which we enjoy from Heaven descends; 

-But, that from us aught should ascend to Heaven 

-So prevalent as to concern the mind 

-Of God high-blest, or to incline his will, 

-Hard to belief may seem; yet this will prayer 

-Or one short sigh of human breath, upborne 

-Even to the seat of God.  For since I sought 

-By prayer the offended Deity to appease; 

-Kneeled, and before him humbled all my heart; 

-Methought I saw him placable and mild, 

-Bending his ear; persuasion in me grew 

-That I was heard with favour; peace returned 

-Home to my breast, and to my memory 

-His promise, that thy seed shall bruise our foe; 

-Which, then not minded in dismay, yet now 

-Assures me that the bitterness of death 

-Is past, and we shall live.  Whence hail to thee, 

-Eve rightly called, mother of all mankind, 

-Mother of all things living, since by thee 

-Man is to live; and all things live for Man. 

-To whom thus Eve with sad demeanour meek. 

-Ill-worthy I such title should belong 

-To me transgressour; who, for thee ordained 

-A help, became thy snare; to me reproach 

-Rather belongs, distrust, and all dispraise: 

-But infinite in pardon was my Judge, 

-That I, who first brought death on all, am graced 

-The source of life; next favourable thou, 

-Who highly thus to entitle me vouchsaf'st, 

-Far other name deserving.  But the field 

-To labour calls us, now with sweat imposed, 

-Though after sleepless night; for see!the morn, 

-All unconcerned with our unrest, begins 

-Her rosy progress smiling: let us forth; 

-I never from thy side henceforth to stray, 

-Where'er our day's work lies, though now enjoined 

-Laborious, till day droop; while here we dwell, 

-What can be toilsome in these pleasant walks? 

-Here let us live, though in fallen state, content. 

-So spake, so wished much humbled Eve; but Fate 

-Subscribed not:  Nature first gave signs, impressed 

-On bird, beast, air; air suddenly eclipsed, 

-After short blush of morn; nigh in her sight 

-The bird of Jove, stooped from his aery tour, 

-Two birds of gayest plume before him drove; 

-Down from a hill the beast that reigns in woods, 

-First hunter then, pursued a gentle brace, 

-Goodliest of all the forest, hart and hind; 

-Direct to the eastern gate was bent their flight. 

-Adam observed, and with his eye the chase 

-Pursuing, not unmoved, to Eve thus spake. 

-O Eve, some further change awaits us nigh, 

-Which Heaven, by these mute signs in Nature, shows 

-Forerunners of his purpose; or to warn 

-Us, haply too secure, of our discharge 

-From penalty, because from death released 

-Some days: how long, and what till then our life, 

-Who knows? or more than this, that we are dust, 

-And thither must return, and be no more? 

-Why else this double object in our sight 

-Of flight pursued in the air, and o'er the ground, 

-One way the self-same hour? why in the east 

-Darkness ere day's mid-course, and morning-light 

-More orient in yon western cloud, that draws 

-O'er the blue firmament a radiant white, 

-And slow descends with something heavenly fraught? 

-He erred not; for by this the heavenly bands 

-Down from a sky of jasper lighted now 

-In Paradise, and on a hill made halt; 

-A glorious apparition, had not doubt 

-And carnal fear that day dimmed Adam's eye. 

-Not that more glorious, when the Angels met 

-Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw 

-The field pavilioned with his guardians bright; 

-Nor that, which on the flaming mount appeared 

-In Dothan, covered with a camp of fire, 

-Against the Syrian king, who to surprise 

-One man, assassin-like, had levied war, 

-War unproclaimed.  The princely Hierarch 

-In their bright stand there left his Powers, to seise 

-Possession of the garden; he alone, 

-To find where Adam sheltered, took his way, 

-Not unperceived of Adam; who to Eve, 

-While the great visitant approached, thus spake. 

-Eve$ now expect great tidings, which perhaps 

-Of us will soon determine, or impose 

-New laws to be observed; for I descry, 

-From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill, 

-One of the heavenly host; and, by his gait, 

-None of the meanest; some great Potentate 

-Or of the Thrones above; such majesty 

-Invests him coming! yet not terrible, 

-That I should fear; nor sociably mild, 

-As Raphael, that I should much confide; 

-But solemn and sublime; whom not to offend, 

-With reverence I must meet, and thou retire. 

-He ended: and the Arch-Angel soon drew nigh, 

-Not in his shape celestial, but as man 

-Clad to meet man; over his lucid arms 

-A military vest of purple flowed, 

-Livelier than Meliboean, or the grain 

-Of Sarra, worn by kings and heroes old 

-In time of truce; Iris had dipt the woof; 

-His starry helm unbuckled showed him prime 

-In manhood where youth ended; by his side, 

-As in a glistering zodiack, hung the sword, 

-Satan's dire dread; and in his hand the spear. 

-Adam bowed low; he, kingly, from his state 

-Inclined not, but his coming thus declared. 

-Adam, Heaven's high behest no preface needs: 

-Sufficient that thy prayers are heard; and Death, 

-Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress, 

-Defeated of his seisure many days 

-Given thee of grace; wherein thou mayest repent, 

-And one bad act with many deeds well done 

-Mayest cover:  Well may then thy Lord, appeased, 

-Redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious claim; 

-But longer in this Paradise to dwell 

-Permits not: to remove thee I am come, 

-And send thee from the garden forth to till 

-The ground whence thou wast taken, fitter soil. 

-He added not; for Adam at the news 

-Heart-struck with chilling gripe of sorrow stood, 

-That all his senses bound; Eve, who unseen 

-Yet all had heard, with audible lament 

-Discovered soon the place of her retire. 

-O unexpected stroke, worse than of Death! 

-Must I thus leave thee$ Paradise? thus leave 

-Thee, native soil! these happy walks and shades, 

-Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to spend, 

-Quiet though sad, the respite of that day 

-That must be mortal to us both.  O flowers, 

-That never will in other climate grow, 

-My early visitation, and my last 

- ;t even, which I bred up with tender hand 

-From the first opening bud, and gave ye names! 

-Who now shall rear ye to the sun, or rank 

-Your tribes, and water from the ambrosial fount? 

-Thee lastly, nuptial bower! by me adorned 

-With what to sight or smell was sweet! from thee 

-How shall I part, and whither wander down 

-Into a lower world; to this obscure 

-And wild? how shall we breathe in other air 

-Less pure, accustomed to immortal fruits? 

-Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild. 

-Lament not, Eve, but patiently resign 

-What justly thou hast lost, nor set thy heart, 

-Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine: 

-Thy going is not lonely; with thee goes 

-Thy husband; whom to follow thou art bound; 

-Where he abides, think there thy native soil. 

-Adam, by this from the cold sudden damp 

-Recovering, and his scattered spirits returned, 

-To Michael thus his humble words addressed. 

-Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or named 

-Of them the highest; for such of shape may seem 

-Prince above princes! gently hast thou told 

-Thy message, which might else in telling wound, 

-And in performing end us; what besides 

-Of sorrow, and dejection, and despair, 

-Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring, 

-Departure from this happy place, our sweet 

-Recess, and only consolation left 

-Familiar to our eyes! all places else 

-Inhospitable appear, and desolate; 

-Nor knowing us, nor known:  And, if by prayer 

-Incessant I could hope to change the will 

-Of Him who all things can, I would not cease 

-To weary him with my assiduous cries: 

-But prayer against his absolute decree 

-No more avails than breath against the wind, 

-Blown stifling back on him that breathes it forth: 

-Therefore to his great bidding I submit. 

-This most afflicts me, that, departing hence, 

-As from his face I shall be hid, deprived 

-His blessed countenance:  Here I could frequent 

-With worship place by place where he vouchsafed 

-Presence Divine; and to my sons relate, 

-'On this mount he appeared; under this tree 

-'Stood visible; among these pines his voice 

-'I heard; here with him at this fountain talked: 

-So many grateful altars I would rear 

-Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone 

-Of lustre from the brook, in memory, 

-Or monument to ages; and theron 

-Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and flowers: 

-In yonder nether world where shall I seek 

-His bright appearances, or foot-step trace? 

-For though I fled him angry, yet recalled 

-To life prolonged and promised race, I now 

-Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts 

-Of glory; and far off his steps adore. 

-To whom thus Michael with regard benign. 

-Adam, thou knowest Heaven his, and all the Earth; 

-Not this rock only; his Omnipresence fills 

-Land, sea, and air, and every kind that lives, 

-Fomented by his virtual power and warmed: 

-All the earth he gave thee to possess and rule, 

-No despicable gift; surmise not then 

-His presence to these narrow bounds confined 

-Of Paradise, or Eden: this had been 

-Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had spread 

-All generations; and had hither come 

-From all the ends of the earth, to celebrate 

-And reverence thee, their great progenitor. 

-But this pre-eminence thou hast lost, brought down 

-To dwell on even ground now with thy sons: 

-Yet doubt not but in valley, and in plain, 

-God is, as here; and will be found alike 

-Present; and of his presence many a sign 

-Still following thee, still compassing thee round 

-With goodness and paternal love, his face 

-Express, and of his steps the track divine. 

-Which that thou mayest believe, and be confirmed 

-Ere thou from hence depart; know, I am sent 

-To show thee what shall come in future days 

-To thee, and to thy offspring: good with bad 

-Expect to hear; supernal grace contending 

-With sinfulness of men; thereby to learn 

-True patience, and to temper joy with fear 

-And pious sorrow; equally inured 

-By moderation either state to bear, 

-Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead 

-Safest thy life, and best prepared endure 

-Thy mortal passage when it comes.--Ascend 

-This hill; let Eve (for I have drenched her eyes) 

-Here sleep below; while thou to foresight wakest; 

-As once thou sleptst, while she to life was formed. 

-To whom thus Adam gratefully replied. 

-Ascend, I follow thee, safe Guide, the path 

-Thou leadest me; and to the hand of Heaven submit, 

-However chastening; to the evil turn 

-My obvious breast; arming to overcome 

-By suffering, and earn rest from labour won, 

-If so I may attain. -- So both ascend 

-In the visions of God.  It was a hill, 

-Of Paradise the highest; from whose top 

-The hemisphere of earth, in clearest ken, 

-Stretched out to the amplest reach of prospect lay. 

-Not higher that hill, nor wider looking round, 

-Whereon, for different cause, the Tempter set 

-Our second Adam, in the wilderness; 

-To show him all Earth's kingdoms, and their glory. 

-His eye might there command wherever stood 

-City of old or modern fame, the seat 

-Of mightiest empire, from the destined walls 

-Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can, 

-And Samarchand by Oxus, Temir's throne, 

-To Paquin of Sinaean kings; and thence 

-To Agra and Lahor of great Mogul, 

-Down to the golden Chersonese; or where 

-The Persian in Ecbatan sat, or since 

-In Hispahan; or where the Russian Ksar 

-In Mosco; or the Sultan in Bizance, 

-Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken 

-The empire of Negus to his utmost port 

-Ercoco, and the less maritim kings 

-Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind, 

-And Sofala, thought Ophir, to the realm 

-Of Congo, and Angola farthest south; 

-Or thence from Niger flood to Atlas mount 

-The kingdoms of Almansor, Fez and Sus, 

-Morocco, and Algiers, and Tremisen; 

-On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway 

-The world: in spirit perhaps he also saw 

-Rich Mexico, the seat of Montezume, 

-And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat 

-Of Atabalipa; and yet unspoiled 

-Guiana, whose great city Geryon's sons 

-Call El Dorado.  But to nobler sights 

-Michael from Adam's eyes the film removed, 

-Which that false fruit that promised clearer sight 

-Had bred; then purged with euphrasy and rue 

-The visual nerve, for he had much to see; 

-And from the well of life three drops instilled. 

-So deep the power of these ingredients pierced, 

-Even to the inmost seat of mental sight, 

-That Adam, now enforced to close his eyes, 

-Sunk down, and all his spirits became entranced; 

-But him the gentle Angel by the hand 

-Soon raised, and his attention thus recalled. 

-Adam, now ope thine eyes; and first behold 

-The effects, which thy original crime hath wrought 

-In some to spring from thee; who never touched 

-The excepted tree; nor with the snake conspired; 

-Nor sinned thy sin; yet from that sin derive 

-Corruption, to bring forth more violent deeds. 

-His eyes he opened, and beheld a field, 

-Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves 

-New reaped; the other part sheep-walks and folds; 

-I' the midst an altar as the land-mark stood, 

-Rustick, of grassy sord; thither anon 

-A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought 

-First fruits, the green ear, and the yellow sheaf, 

-Unculled, as came to hand; a shepherd next, 

-More meek, came with the firstlings of his flock, 

-Choicest and best; then, sacrificing, laid 

-The inwards and their fat, with incense strowed, 

-On the cleft wood, and all due rights performed: 

-His offering soon propitious fire from Heaven 

-Consumed with nimble glance, and grateful steam; 

-The other's not, for his was not sincere; 

-Whereat he inly raged, and, as they talked, 

-Smote him into the midriff with a stone 

-That beat out life; he fell;and, deadly pale, 

-Groaned out his soul with gushing blood effused. 

-Much at that sight was Adam in his heart 

-Dismayed, and thus in haste to the Angel cried. 

-O Teacher, some great mischief hath befallen 

-To that meek man, who well had sacrificed; 

-Is piety thus and pure devotion paid? 

-To whom Michael thus, he also moved, replied. 

-These two are brethren, Adam, and to come 

-Out of thy loins; the unjust the just hath slain, 

-For envy that his brother's offering found 

-From Heaven acceptance; but the bloody fact 

-Will be avenged; and the other's faith, approved, 

-Lose no reward; though here thou see him die, 

-Rolling in dust and gore.  To which our sire. 

-Alas! both for the deed, and for the cause! 

-But have I now seen Death?  Is this the way 

-I must return to native dust?  O sight 

-Of terrour, foul and ugly to behold, 

-Horrid to think, how horrible to feel! 

-To whom thus Michael.  Death thou hast seen 

-In his first shape on Man; but many shapes 

-Of Death, and many are the ways that lead 

-To his grim cave, all dismal; yet to sense 

-More terrible at the entrance, than within. 

-Some, as thou sawest, by violent stroke shall die; 

-By fire, flood, famine, by intemperance more 

-In meats and drinks, which on the earth shall bring 

-Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew 

-Before thee shall appear; that thou mayest know 

-What misery the inabstinence of Eve 

-Shall bring on Men.  Immediately a place 

-Before his eyes appeared, sad, noisome, dark; 

-A lazar-house it seemed; wherein were laid 

-Numbers of all diseased; all maladies 

-Of ghastly spasm, or racking torture, qualms 

-Of heart-sick agony, all feverous kinds, 

-Convulsions, epilepsies, fierce catarrhs, 

-Intestine stone and ulcer, colick-pangs, 

-Demoniack phrenzy, moaping melancholy, 

-And moon-struck madness, pining atrophy, 

-Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence, 

-Dropsies, and asthmas, and joint-racking rheums. 

-Dire was the tossing, deep the groans; Despair 

-Tended the sick busiest from couch to couch; 

-And over them triumphant Death his dart 

-Shook, but delayed to strike, though oft invoked 

-With vows, as their chief good, and final hope. 

-Sight so deform what heart of rock could long 

-Dry-eyed behold?  Adam could not, but wept, 

-Though not of woman born; compassion quelled 

-His best of man, and gave him up to tears 

-A space, till firmer thoughts restrained excess; 

-And, scarce recovering words, his plaint renewed. 

-O miserable mankind, to what fall 

-Degraded, to what wretched state reserved! 

-Better end here unborn.  Why is life given 

-To be thus wrested from us? rather, why 

-Obtruded on us thus? who, if we knew 

-What we receive, would either no accept 

-Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down; 

-Glad to be so dismissed in peace.  Can thus 

-The image of God in Man, created once 

-So goodly and erect, though faulty since, 

-To such unsightly sufferings be debased 

-Under inhuman pains?  Why should not Man, 

-Retaining still divine similitude 

-In part, from such deformities be free, 

-And, for his Maker's image sake, exempt? 

-Their Maker's image, answered Michael, then 

-Forsook them, when themselves they vilified 

-To serve ungoverned Appetite; and took 

-His image whom they served, a brutish vice, 

-Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve. 

-Therefore so abject is their punishment, 

-Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own; 

-Or if his likeness, by themselves defaced; 

-While they pervert pure Nature's healthful rules 

-To loathsome sickness; worthily, since they 

-God's image did not reverence in themselves. 

-I yield it just, said Adam, and submit. 

-But is there yet no other way, besides 

-These painful passages, how we may come 

-To death, and mix with our connatural dust? 

-There is, said Michael, if thou well observe 

-The rule of Not too much; by temperance taught, 

-In what thou eatest and drinkest; seeking from thence 

-Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight, 

-Till many years over thy head return: 

-So mayest thou live; till, like ripe fruit, thou drop 

-Into thy mother's lap; or be with ease 

-Gathered, nor harshly plucked; for death mature: 

-This is Old Age; but then, thou must outlive 

-Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty; which will change 

-To withered, weak, and gray; thy senses then, 

-Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forego, 

-To what thou hast; and, for the air of youth, 

-Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign 

-A melancholy damp of cold and dry 

-To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume 

-The balm of life.  To whom our ancestor. 

-Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong 

-Life much; bent rather, how I may be quit, 

-Fairest and easiest, of this cumbrous charge; 

-Which I must keep till my appointed day 

-Of rendering up, and patiently attend 

-My dissolution.  Michael replied. 

-Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou livest 

-Live well; how long, or short, permit to Heaven: 

-And now prepare thee for another sight. 

-He looked, and saw a spacious plain, whereon 

-Were tents of various hue; by some, were herds 

-Of cattle grazing; others, whence the sound 

-Of instruments, that made melodious chime, 

-Was heard, of harp and organ; and, who moved 

-Their stops and chords, was seen; his volant touch, 

-Instinct through all proportions, low and high, 

-Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue. 

-In other part stood one who, at the forge 

-Labouring, two massy clods of iron and brass 

-Had melted, (whether found where casual fire 

-Had wasted woods on mountain or in vale, 

-Down to the veins of earth; thence gliding hot 

-To some cave's mouth; or whether washed by stream 

-From underground;) the liquid ore he drained 

-Into fit moulds prepared; from which he formed 

-First his own tools; then, what might else be wrought 

-Fusil or graven in metal.  After these, 

-But on the hither side, a different sort 

-From the high neighbouring hills, which was their seat, 

-Down to the plain descended; by their guise 

-Just men they seemed, and all their study bent 

-To worship God aright, and know his works 

-Not hid; nor those things last, which might preserve 

-Freedom and peace to Men; they on the plain 

-Long had not walked, when from the tents, behold! 

-A bevy of fair women, richly gay 

-In gems and wanton dress; to the harp they sung 

-Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on: 

-The men, though grave, eyed them; and let their eyes 

-Rove without rein; till, in the amorous net 

-Fast caught, they liked; and each his liking chose; 

-And now of love they treat, till the evening-star, 

-Love's harbinger, appeared; then, all in heat 

-They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke 

-Hymen, then first to marriage rites invoked: 

-With feast and musick all the tents resound. 

-Such happy interview, and fair event 

-Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flowers, 

-And charming symphonies, attached the heart 

-Of Adam, soon inclined to admit delight, 

-The bent of nature; which he thus expressed. 

-True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest; 

-Much better seems this vision, and more hope 

-Of peaceful days portends, than those two past; 

-Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse; 

-Here Nature seems fulfilled in all her ends. 

-To whom thus Michael.  Judge not what is best 

-By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet; 

-Created, as thou art, to nobler end 

-Holy and pure, conformity divine. 

-Those tents thou sawest so pleasant, were the tents 

-Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race 

-Who slew his brother; studious they appear 

-Of arts that polish life, inventers rare; 

-Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit 

-Taught them; but they his gifts acknowledged none. 

-Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget; 

-For that fair female troop thou sawest, that seemed 

-Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay, 

-Yet empty of all good wherein consists 

-Woman's domestick honour and chief praise; 

-Bred only and completed to the taste 

-Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance, 

-To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye: 

-To these that sober race of men, whose lives 

-Religious titled them the sons of God, 

-Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame 

-Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles 

-Of these fair atheists; and now swim in joy, 

-Erelong to swim at large; and laugh, for which 

-The world erelong a world of tears must weep. 

-To whom thus Adam, of short joy bereft. 

-O pity and shame, that they, who to live well 

-Entered so fair, should turn aside to tread 

-Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint! 

-But still I see the tenour of Man's woe 

-Holds on the same, from Woman to begin. 

-From Man's effeminate slackness it begins, 

-Said the Angel, who should better hold his place 

-By wisdom, and superiour gifts received. 

-But now prepare thee for another scene. 

-He looked, and saw wide territory spread 

-Before him, towns, and rural works between; 

-Cities of men with lofty gates and towers, 

-Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war, 

-Giants of mighty bone and bold emprise; 

-Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, 

-Single or in array of battle ranged 

-Both horse and foot, nor idly mustering stood; 

-One way a band select from forage drives 

-A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine, 

-From a fat meadow ground; or fleecy flock, 

-Ewes and their bleating lambs over the plain, 

-Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly, 

-But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray; 

-With cruel tournament the squadrons join; 

-Where cattle pastured late, now scattered lies 

-With carcasses and arms the ensanguined field, 

-Deserted:  Others to a city strong 

-Lay siege, encamped; by battery, scale, and mine, 

-Assaulting; others from the wall defend 

-With dart and javelin, stones, and sulphurous fire; 

-On each hand slaughter, and gigantick deeds. 

-In other part the sceptered heralds call 

-To council, in the city-gates; anon 

-Gray-headed men and grave, with warriours mixed, 

-Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon, 

-In factious opposition; till at last, 

-Of middle age one rising, eminent 

-In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, 

-Of justice, or religion, truth, and peace, 

-And judgement from above: him old and young 

-Exploded, and had seized with violent hands, 

-Had not a cloud descending snatched him thence 

-Unseen amid the throng: so violence 

-Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law, 

-Through all the plain, and refuge none was found. 

-Adam was all in tears, and to his guide 

-Lamenting turned full sad; O!what are these, 

-Death's ministers, not men? who thus deal death 

-Inhumanly to men, and multiply 

-Ten thousandfold the sin of him who slew 

-His brother: for of whom such massacre 

-Make they, but of their brethren; men of men 

-But who was that just man, whom had not Heaven 

-Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost? 

-To whom thus Michael.  These are the product 

-Of those ill-mated marriages thou sawest; 

-Where good with bad were matched, who of themselves 

-Abhor to join; and, by imprudence mixed, 

-Produce prodigious births of body or mind. 

-Such were these giants, men of high renown; 

-For in those days might only shall be admired, 

-And valour and heroick virtue called; 

-To overcome in battle, and subdue 

-Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite 

-Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch 

-Of human glory; and for glory done 

-Of triumph, to be styled great conquerours 

-Patrons of mankind, Gods, and sons of Gods; 

-Destroyers rightlier called, and plagues of men. 

-Thus fame shall be achieved, renown on earth; 

-And what most merits fame, in silence hid. 

-But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldst 

-The only righteous in a world preverse, 

-And therefore hated, therefore so beset 

-With foes, for daring single to be just, 

-And utter odious truth, that God would come 

-To judge them with his Saints; him the Most High 

-Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds 

-Did, as thou sawest, receive, to walk with God 

-High in salvation and the climes of bliss, 

-Exempt from death; to show thee what reward 

-Awaits the good; the rest what punishment; 

-Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold. 

-He looked, and saw the face of things quite changed; 

-The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar; 

-All now was turned to jollity and game, 

-To luxury and riot, feast and dance; 

-Marrying or prostituting, as befel, 

-Rape or adultery, where passing fair 

-Allured them; thence from cups to civil broils. 

-At length a reverend sire among them came, 

-And of their doings great dislike declared, 

-And testified against their ways; he oft 

-Frequented their assemblies, whereso met, 

-Triumphs or festivals; and to them preached 

-Conversion and repentance, as to souls 

-In prison, under judgements imminent: 

-But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceased 

-Contending, and removed his tents far off; 

-Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall, 

-Began to build a vessel of huge bulk; 

-Measured by cubit, length, and breadth, and highth; 

-Smeared round with pitch; and in the side a door 

-Contrived; and of provisions laid in large, 

-For man and beast: when lo, a wonder strange! 

-Of every beast, and bird, and insect small, 

-Came sevens, and pairs; and entered in as taught 

-Their order: last the sire and his three sons, 

-With their four wives; and God made fast the door. 

-Mean while the south-wind rose, and, with black wings 

-Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove 

-From under Heaven; the hills to their supply 

-Vapour, and exhalation dusk and moist, 

-Sent up amain; and now the thickened sky 

-Like a dark cieling stood; down rushed the rain 

-Impetuous; and continued, till the earth 

-No more was seen: the floating vessel swum 

-Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow 

-Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings else 

-Flood overwhelmed, and them with all their pomp 

-Deep under water rolled; sea covered sea, 

-Sea without shore; and in their palaces, 

-Where luxury late reigned, sea-monsters whelped 

-And stabled; of mankind, so numerous late, 

-All left, in one small bottom swum imbarked. 

-How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold 

-The end of all thy offspring, end so sad, 

-Depopulation!  Thee another flood, 

-Of tears and sorrow a flood, thee also drowned, 

-And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently reared 

-By the Angel, on thy feet thou stoodest at last, 

-Though comfortless; as when a father mourns 

-His children, all in view destroyed at once; 

-And scarce to the Angel utter'dst thus thy plaint. 

-O visions ill foreseen!  Better had I 

-Lived ignorant of future! so had borne 

-My part of evil only, each day's lot 

-Enough to bear; those now, that were dispensed 

-The burden of many ages, on me light 

-At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth 

-Abortive, to torment me ere their being, 

-With thought that they must be.  Let no man seek 

-Henceforth to be foretold, what shall befall 

-Him or his children; evil he may be sure, 

-Which neither his foreknowing can prevent; 

-And he the future evil shall no less 

-In apprehension than in substance feel, 

-Grievous to bear: but that care now is past, 

-Man is not whom to warn: those few escaped 

-Famine and anguish will at last consume, 

-Wandering that watery desart:  I had hope, 

-When violence was ceased, and war on earth, 

-All would have then gone well; peace would have crowned 

-With length of happy days the race of Man; 

-But I was far deceived; for now I see 

-Peace to corrupt no less than war to waste. 

-How comes it thus? unfold, celestial Guide, 

-And whether here the race of Man will end. 

-To whom thus Michael.  Those, whom last thou sawest 

-In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they 

-First seen in acts of prowess eminent 

-And great exploits, but of true virtue void; 

-Who, having spilt much blood, and done much wast 

-Subduing nations, and achieved thereby 

-Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey; 

-Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth, 

-Surfeit, and lust; till wantonness and pride 

-Raise out of friendship hostile deeds in peace. 

-The conquered also, and enslaved by war, 

-Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose 

-And fear of God; from whom their piety feigned 

-In sharp contest of battle found no aid 

-Against invaders; therefore, cooled in zeal, 

-Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure, 

-Worldly or dissolute, on what their lords 

-Shall leave them to enjoy; for the earth shall bear 

-More than enough, that temperance may be tried: 

-So all shall turn degenerate, all depraved; 

-Justice and temperance, truth and faith, forgot; 

-One man except, the only son of light 

-In a dark age, against example good, 

-Against allurement, custom, and a world 

-Offended: fearless of reproach and scorn, 

-The grand-child, with twelve sons encreased, departs 

-From Canaan, to a land hereafter called 

-Egypt, divided by the river Nile; 

-See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths 

-Into the sea:  To sojourn in that land 

-He comes, invited by a younger son 

-In time of dearth; a son, whose worthy deeds 

-Raise him to be the second in that realm 

-Of Pharaoh:  There he dies, and leaves his race 

-Growing into a nation, and now grown 

-Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks 

-To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests 

-Or violence, he of their wicked ways 

-Shall them admonish; and before them set 

-The paths of righteousness, how much more safe 

-And full of peace; denouncing wrath to come 

-On their impenitence; and shall return 

-Of them derided, but of God observed 

-The one just man alive; by his command 

-Shall build a wonderous ark, as thou beheldst, 

-To save himself, and houshold, from amidst 

-A world devote to universal wrack. 

-No sooner he, with them of man and beast 

-Select for life, shall in the ark be lodged, 

-And sheltered round; but all the cataracts 

-Of Heaven set open on the Earth shall pour 

-Rain, day and night; all fountains of the deep, 

-Broke up, shall heave the ocean to usurp 

-Beyond all bounds; till inundation rise 

-Above the highest hills:  Then shall this mount 

-Of Paradise by might of waves be moved 

-Out of his place, pushed by the horned flood, 

-With all his verdure spoiled, and trees adrift, 

-Down the great river to the opening gulf, 

-And there take root an island salt and bare, 

-The haunt of seals, and orcs, and sea-mews' clang: 

-To teach thee that God attributes to place 

-No sanctity, if none be thither brought 

-By men who there frequent, or therein dwell. 

-And now, what further shall ensue, behold. 

-He looked, and saw the ark hull on the flood, 

-Which now abated; for the clouds were fled, 

-Driven by a keen north-wind, that, blowing dry, 

-Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decayed; 

-And the clear sun on his wide watery glass 

-Gazed hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew, 

-As after thirst; which made their flowing shrink 

-From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole 

-With soft foot towards the deep; who now had stopt 

-His sluces, as the Heaven his windows shut. 

-The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground, 

-Fast on the top of some high mountain fixed. 

-And now the tops of hills, as rocks, appear; 

-With clamour thence the rapid currents drive, 

-Towards the retreating sea, their furious tide. 

-Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies, 

-And after him, the surer messenger, 

-A dove sent forth once and again to spy 

-Green tree or ground, whereon his foot may light: 

-The second time returning, in his bill 

-An olive-leaf he brings, pacifick sign: 

-Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark 

-The ancient sire descends, with all his train; 

-Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout, 

-Grateful to Heaven, over his head beholds 

-A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow 

-Conspicuous with three lifted colours gay, 

-Betokening peace from God, and covenant new. 

-Whereat the heart of Adam, erst so sad, 

-Greatly rejoiced; and thus his joy broke forth. 

-O thou, who future things canst represent 

-As present, heavenly Instructer!  I revive 

-At this last sight; assured that Man shall live, 

-With all the creatures, and their seed preserve. 

-Far less I now lament for one whole world 

-Of wicked sons destroyed, than I rejoice 

-For one man found so perfect, and so just, 

-That God vouchsafes to raise another world 

-From him, and all his anger to forget. 

-But say, what mean those coloured streaks in Heaven 

-Distended, as the brow of God appeased? 

-Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind 

-The fluid skirts of that same watery cloud, 

-Lest it again dissolve, and shower the earth? 

-To whom the Arch-Angel.  Dextrously thou aimest; 

-So willingly doth God remit his ire, 

-Though late repenting him of Man depraved; 

-Grieved at his heart, when looking down he saw 

-The whole earth filled with violence, and all flesh 

-Corrupting each their way; yet, those removed, 

-Such grace shall one just man find in his sight, 

-That he relents, not to blot out mankind; 

-And makes a covenant never to destroy 

-The earth again by flood; nor let the sea 

-Surpass his bounds; nor rain to drown the world, 

-With man therein or beast; but, when he brings 

-Over the earth a cloud, will therein set 

-His triple-coloured bow, whereon to look, 

-And call to mind his covenant: Day and night, 

-Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost, 

-Shall hold their course; till fire purge all things new, 

-Both Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell. 

- 

- 

- 

-Book XII                                                         

- 

- 

-As one who in his journey bates at noon, 

-Though bent on speed; so here the Arch-Angel paused 

-Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored, 

-If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; 

-Then, with transition sweet, new speech resumes. 

-Thus thou hast seen one world begin, and end; 

-And Man, as from a second stock, proceed. 

-Much thou hast yet to see; but I perceive 

-Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine 

-Must needs impair and weary human sense: 

-Henceforth what is to come I will relate; 

-Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. 

-This second source of Men, while yet but few, 

-And while the dread of judgement past remains 

-Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, 

-With some regard to what is just and right 

-Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace; 

-Labouring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, 

-Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock, 

-Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, 

-With large wine-offerings poured, and sacred feast, 

-Shall spend their days in joy unblamed; and dwell 

-Long time in peace, by families and tribes, 

-Under paternal rule: till one shall rise 

-Of proud ambitious heart; who, not content 

-With fair equality, fraternal state, 

-Will arrogate dominion undeserved 

-Over his brethren, and quite dispossess 

-Concord and law of nature from the earth; 

-Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game) 

-With war, and hostile snare, such as refuse 

-Subjection to his empire tyrannous: 

-A mighty hunter thence he shall be styled 

-Before the Lord; as in despite of Heaven, 

-Or from Heaven, claiming second sovranty; 

-And from rebellion shall derive his name, 

-Though of rebellion others he accuse. 

-He with a crew, whom like ambition joins 

-With him or under him to tyrannize, 

-Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find 

-The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge 

-Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell: 

-Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast to build 

-A city and tower, whose top may reach to Heaven; 

-And get themselves a name; lest, far dispersed 

-In foreign lands, their memory be lost; 

-Regardless whether good or evil fame. 

-But God, who oft descends to visit men 

-Unseen, and through their habitations walks 

-To mark their doings, them beholding soon, 

-Comes down to see their city, ere the tower 

-Obstruct Heaven-towers, and in derision sets 

-Upon their tongues a various spirit, to rase 

-Quite out their native language; and, instead, 

-To sow a jangling noise of words unknown: 

-Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud, 

-Among the builders; each to other calls 

-Not understood; till hoarse, and all in rage, 

-As mocked they storm: great laughter was in Heaven, 

-And looking down, to see the hubbub strange, 

-And hear the din:  Thus was the building left 

-Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named. 

-Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeased. 

-O execrable son! so to aspire 

-Above his brethren; to himself assuming 

-Authority usurped, from God not given: 

-He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, 

-Dominion absolute; that right we hold 

-By his donation; but man over men 

-He made not lord; such title to himself 

-Reserving, human left from human free. 

-But this usurper his encroachment proud 

-Stays not on Man; to God his tower intends 

-Siege and defiance:  Wretched man!what food 

-Will he convey up thither, to sustain 

-Himself and his rash army; where thin air 

-Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross, 

-And famish him of breath, if not of bread? 

-To whom thus Michael.  Justly thou abhorrest 

-That son, who on the quiet state of men 

-Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue 

-Rational liberty; yet know withal, 

-Since thy original lapse, true liberty 

-Is lost, which always with right reason dwells 

-Twinned, and from her hath no dividual being: 

-Reason in man obscured, or not obeyed, 

-Immediately inordinate desires, 

-And upstart passions, catch the government 

-From reason; and to servitude reduce 

-Man, till then free.  Therefore, since he permits 

-Within himself unworthy powers to reign 

-Over free reason, God, in judgement just, 

-Subjects him from without to violent lords; 

-Who oft as undeservedly enthrall 

-His outward freedom:  Tyranny must be; 

-Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse. 

-Yet sometimes nations will decline so low 

-From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong, 

-But justice, and some fatal curse annexed, 

-Deprives them of their outward liberty; 

-Their inward lost:  Witness the irreverent son 

-Of him who built the ark; who, for the shame 

-Done to his father, heard this heavy curse, 

-Servant of servants, on his vicious race. 

-Thus will this latter, as the former world, 

-Still tend from bad to worse; till God at last, 

-Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw 

-His presence from among them, and avert 

-His holy eyes; resolving from thenceforth 

-To leave them to their own polluted ways; 

-And one peculiar nation to select 

-From all the rest, of whom to be invoked, 

-A nation from one faithful man to spring: 

-Him on this side Euphrates yet residing, 

-Bred up in idol-worship:  O, that men 

-(Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown, 

-While yet the patriarch lived, who 'scaped the flood, 

-As to forsake the living God, and fall 

-To worship their own work in wood and stone 

-For Gods!  Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes 

-To call by vision, from his father's house, 

-His kindred, and false Gods, into a land 

-Which he will show him; and from him will raise 

-A mighty nation; and upon him shower 

-His benediction so, that in his seed 

-All nations shall be blest: he straight obeys; 

-Not knowing to what land, yet firm believes: 

-I see him, but thou canst not, with what faith 

-He leaves his Gods, his friends, and native soil, 

-Ur of Chaldaea, passing now the ford 

-To Haran; after him a cumbrous train 

-Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude; 

-Not wandering poor, but trusting all his wealth 

-With God, who called him, in a land unknown. 

-Canaan he now attains; I see his tents 

-Pitched about Sechem, and the neighbouring plain 

-Of Moreh; there by promise he receives 

-Gift to his progeny of all that land, 

-From Hameth northward to the Desart south; 

-(Things by their names I call, though yet unnamed;) 

-From Hermon east to the great western Sea; 

-Mount Hermon, yonder sea; each place behold 

-In prospect, as I point them; on the shore 

-Mount Carmel; here, the double-founted stream, 

-Jordan, true limit eastward; but his sons 

-Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of hills. 

-This ponder, that all nations of the earth 

-Shall in his seed be blessed:  By that seed 

-Is meant thy great Deliverer, who shall bruise 

-The Serpent's head; whereof to thee anon 

-Plainlier shall be revealed.  This patriarch blest, 

-Whom faithful Abraham due time shall call, 

-A son, and of his son a grand-child, leaves; 

-Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown: 

-The grandchild, with twelve sons increased, departs 

-From Canaan to a land hereafter called 

-Egypt, divided by the river Nile 

-See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths 

-Into the sea. To sojourn in that land 

-He comes, invited by a younger son 

-In time of dearth, a son whose worthy deeds 

-Raise him to be the second in that realm 

-Of Pharaoh. There he dies, and leaves his race 

-Growing into a nation, and now grown 

-Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks 

-To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests 

-Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them slaves 

-Inhospitably, and kills their infant males: 

-Till by two brethren (these two brethren call 

-Moses and Aaron) sent from God to claim 

-His people from enthralment, they return, 

-With glory and spoil, back to their promised land. 

-But first, the lawless tyrant, who denies 

-To know their God, or message to regard, 

-Must be compelled by signs and judgements dire; 

-To blood unshed the rivers must be turned; 

-Frogs, lice, and flies, must all his palace fill 

-With loathed intrusion, and fill all the land; 

-His cattle must of rot and murren die; 

-Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss, 

-And all his people; thunder mixed with hail, 

-Hail mixed with fire, must rend the Egyptians sky, 

-And wheel on the earth, devouring where it rolls; 

-What it devours not, herb, or fruit, or grain, 

-A darksome cloud of locusts swarming down 

-Must eat, and on the ground leave nothing green; 

-Darkness must overshadow all his bounds, 

-Palpable darkness, and blot out three days; 

-Last, with one midnight stroke, all the first-born 

-Of Egypt must lie dead.  Thus with ten wounds 

-The river-dragon tamed at length submits 

-To let his sojourners depart, and oft 

-Humbles his stubborn heart; but still, as ice 

-More hardened after thaw; till, in his rage 

-Pursuing whom he late dismissed, the sea 

-Swallows him with his host; but them lets pass, 

-As on dry land, between two crystal walls; 

-Awed by the rod of Moses so to stand 

-Divided, till his rescued gain their shore: 

-Such wondrous power God to his saint will lend, 

-Though present in his Angel; who shall go 

-Before them in a cloud, and pillar of fire; 

-By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire; 

-To guide them in their journey, and remove 

-Behind them, while the obdurate king pursues: 

-All night he will pursue; but his approach 

-Darkness defends between till morning watch; 

-Then through the fiery pillar, and the cloud, 

-God looking forth will trouble all his host, 

-And craze their chariot-wheels: when by command 

-Moses once more his potent rod extends 

-Over the sea; the sea his rod obeys; 

-On their embattled ranks the waves return, 

-And overwhelm their war:  The race elect 

-Safe toward Canaan from the shore advance 

-Through the wild Desart, not the readiest way; 

-Lest, entering on the Canaanite alarmed, 

-War terrify them inexpert, and fear 

-Return them back to Egypt, choosing rather 

-Inglorious life with servitude; for life 

-To noble and ignoble is more sweet 

-Untrained in arms, where rashness leads not on. 

-This also shall they gain by their delay 

-In the wide wilderness; there they shall found 

-Their government, and their great senate choose 

-Through the twelve tribes, to rule by laws ordained: 

-God from the mount of Sinai, whose gray top 

-Shall tremble, he descending, will himself 

-In thunder, lightning, and loud trumpets' sound, 

-Ordain them laws; part, such as appertain 

-To civil justice; part, religious rites 

-Of sacrifice; informing them, by types 

-And shadows, of that destined Seed to bruise 

-The Serpent, by what means he shall achieve 

-Mankind's deliverance.  But the voice of God 

-To mortal ear is dreadful:  They beseech 

-That Moses might report to them his will, 

-And terrour cease; he grants what they besought, 

-Instructed that to God is no access 

-Without Mediator, whose high office now 

-Moses in figure bears; to introduce 

-One greater, of whose day he shall foretel, 

-And all the Prophets in their age the times 

-Of great Messiah shall sing.  Thus, laws and rites 

-Established, such delight hath God in Men 

-Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes 

-Among them to set up his tabernacle; 

-The Holy One with mortal Men to dwell: 

-By his prescript a sanctuary is framed 

-Of cedar, overlaid with gold; therein 

-An ark, and in the ark his testimony, 

-The records of his covenant; over these 

-A mercy-seat of gold, between the wings 

-Of two bright Cherubim; before him burn 

-Seven lamps as in a zodiack representing 

-The heavenly fires; over the tent a cloud 

-Shall rest by day, a fiery gleam by night; 

-Save when they journey, and at length they come, 

-Conducted by his Angel, to the land 

-Promised to Abraham and his seed:--The rest 

-Were long to tell; how many battles fought 

-How many kings destroyed; and kingdoms won; 

-Or how the sun shall in mid Heaven stand still 

-A day entire, and night's due course adjourn, 

-Man's voice commanding, 'Sun, in Gibeon stand, 

-'And thou moon in the vale of Aialon, 

-'Till Israel overcome! so call the third 

-From Abraham, son of Isaac; and from him 

-His whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win. 

-Here Adam interposed.  O sent from Heaven, 

-Enlightener of my darkness, gracious things 

-Thou hast revealed; those chiefly, which concern 

-Just Abraham and his seed: now first I find 

-Mine eyes true-opening, and my heart much eased; 

-Erewhile perplexed with thoughts, what would become 

-Of me and all mankind:  But now I see 

-His day, in whom all nations shall be blest; 

-Favour unmerited by me, who sought 

-Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means. 

-This yet I apprehend not, why to those 

-Among whom God will deign to dwell on earth 

-So many and so various laws are given; 

-So many laws argue so many sins 

-Among them; how can God with such reside? 

-To whom thus Michael.  Doubt not but that sin 

-Will reign among them, as of thee begot; 

-And therefore was law given them, to evince 

-Their natural pravity, by stirring up 

-Sin against law to fight: that when they see 

-Law can discover sin, but not remove, 

-Save by those shadowy expiations weak, 

-The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude 

-Some blood more precious must be paid for Man; 

-Just for unjust; that, in such righteousness 

-To them by faith imputed, they may find 

-Justification towards God, and peace 

-Of conscience; which the law by ceremonies 

-Cannot appease; nor Man the mortal part 

-Perform; and, not performing, cannot live. 

-So law appears imperfect; and but given 

-With purpose to resign them, in full time, 

-Up to a better covenant; disciplined 

-From shadowy types to truth; from flesh to spirit; 

-From imposition of strict laws to free 

-Acceptance of large grace; from servile fear 

-To filial; works of law to works of faith. 

-And therefore shall not Moses, though of God 

-Highly beloved, being but the minister 

-Of law, his people into Canaan lead; 

-But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call, 

-His name and office bearing, who shall quell 

-The adversary-Serpent, and bring back 

-Through the world's wilderness long-wandered Man 

-Safe to eternal Paradise of rest. 

-Mean while they, in their earthly Canaan placed, 

-Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins 

-National interrupt their publick peace, 

-Provoking God to raise them enemies; 

-From whom as oft he saves them penitent 

-By Judges first, then under Kings; of whom 

-The second, both for piety renowned 

-And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive 

-Irrevocable, that his regal throne 

-For ever shall endure; the like shall sing 

-All Prophecy, that of the royal stock 

-Of David (so I name this king) shall rise 

-A Son, the Woman's seed to thee foretold, 

-Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust 

-All nations; and to kings foretold, of kings 

-The last; for of his reign shall be no end. 

-But first, a long succession must ensue; 

-And his next son, for wealth and wisdom famed, 

-The clouded ark of God, till then in tents 

-Wandering, shall in a glorious temple enshrine. 

-Such follow him, as shall be registered 

-Part good, part bad; of bad the longer scroll; 

-Whose foul idolatries, and other faults 

-Heaped to the popular sum, will so incense 

-God, as to leave them, and expose their land, 

-Their city, his temple, and his holy ark, 

-With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey 

-To that proud city, whose high walls thou sawest 

-Left in confusion; Babylon thence called. 

-There in captivity he lets them dwell 

-The space of seventy years; then brings them back, 

-Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn 

-To David, stablished as the days of Heaven. 

-Returned from Babylon by leave of kings 

-Their lords, whom God disposed, the house of God 

-They first re-edify; and for a while 

-In mean estate live moderate; till, grown 

-In wealth and multitude, factious they grow; 

-But first among the priests dissention springs, 

-Men who attend the altar, and should most 

-Endeavour peace: their strife pollution brings 

-Upon the temple itself: at last they seise 

-The scepter, and regard not David's sons; 

-Then lose it to a stranger, that the true 

-Anointed King Messiah might be born 

-Barred of his right; yet at his birth a star, 

-Unseen before in Heaven, proclaims him come; 

-And guides the eastern sages, who inquire 

-His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and gold: 

-His place of birth a solemn Angel tells 

-To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night; 

-They gladly thither haste, and by a quire 

-Of squadroned Angels hear his carol sung. 

-A virgin is his mother, but his sire 

-The power of the Most High:  He shall ascend 

-The throne hereditary, and bound his reign 

-With Earth's wide bounds, his glory with the Heavens. 

-He ceased, discerning Adam with such joy 

-Surcharged, as had like grief been dewed in tears, 

-Without the vent of words; which these he breathed. 

-O prophet of glad tidings, finisher 

-Of utmost hope! now clear I understand 

-What oft my steadiest thoughts have searched in vain; 

-Why our great Expectation should be called 

-The seed of Woman:  Virgin Mother, hail, 

-High in the love of Heaven; yet from my loins 

-Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son 

-Of God Most High: so God with Man unites! 

-Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise 

-Expect with mortal pain:  Say where and when 

-Their fight, what stroke shall bruise the victor's heel. 

-To whom thus Michael.  Dream not of their fight, 

-As of a duel, or the local wounds 

-Of head or heel:  Not therefore joins the Son 

-Manhood to Godhead, with more strength to foil 

-Thy enemy; nor so is overcome 

-Satan, whose fall from Heaven, a deadlier bruise, 

-Disabled, not to give thee thy death's wound: 

-Which he, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure, 

-Not by destroying Satan, but his works 

-In thee, and in thy seed:  Nor can this be, 

-But by fulfilling that which thou didst want, 

-Obedience to the law of God, imposed 

-On penalty of death, and suffering death; 

-The penalty to thy transgression due, 

-And due to theirs which out of thine will grow: 

-So only can high Justice rest appaid. 

-The law of God exact he shall fulfil 

-Both by obedience and by love, though love 

-Alone fulfil the law; thy punishment 

-He shall endure, by coming in the flesh 

-To a reproachful life, and cursed death; 

-Proclaiming life to all who shall believe 

-In his redemption; and that his obedience, 

-Imputed, becomes theirs by faith; his merits 

-To save them, not their own, though legal, works. 

-For this he shall live hated, be blasphemed, 

-Seised on by force, judged, and to death condemned 

-A shameful and accursed, nailed to the cross 

-By his own nation; slain for bringing life: 

-But to the cross he nails thy enemies, 

-The law that is against thee, and the sins 

-Of all mankind, with him there crucified, 

-Never to hurt them more who rightly trust 

-In this his satisfaction; so he dies, 

-But soon revives; Death over him no power 

-Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light 

-Return, the stars of morn shall see him rise 

-Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light, 

-Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems, 

-His death for Man, as many as offered life 

-Neglect not, and the benefit embrace 

-By faith not void of works:  This God-like act 

-Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldest have died, 

-In sin for ever lost from life; this act 

-Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength, 

-Defeating Sin and Death, his two main arms; 

-And fix far deeper in his head their stings 

-Than temporal death shall bruise the victor's heel, 

-Or theirs whom he redeems; a death, like sleep, 

-A gentle wafting to immortal life. 

-Nor after resurrection shall he stay 

-Longer on earth, than certain times to appear 

-To his disciples, men who in his life 

-Still followed him; to them shall leave in charge 

-To teach all nations what of him they learned 

-And his salvation; them who shall believe 

-Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign 

-Of washing them from guilt of sin to life 

-Pure, and in mind prepared, if so befall, 

-For death, like that which the Redeemer died. 

-All nations they shall teach; for, from that day, 

-Not only to the sons of Abraham's loins 

-Salvation shall be preached, but to the sons 

-Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world; 

-So in his seed all nations shall be blest. 

-Then to the Heaven of Heavens he shall ascend 

-With victory, triumphing through the air 

-Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise 

-The Serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains 

-Through all his realm, and there confounded leave; 

-Then enter into glory, and resume 

-His seat at God's right hand, exalted high 

-Above all names in Heaven; and thence shall come, 

-When this world's dissolution shall be ripe, 

-With glory and power to judge both quick and dead; 

-To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward 

-His faithful, and receive them into bliss, 

-Whether in Heaven or Earth; for then the Earth 

-Shall all be Paradise, far happier place 

-Than this of Eden, and far happier days. 

-So spake the Arch-Angel Michael; then paused, 

-As at the world's great period; and our sire, 

-Replete with joy and wonder, thus replied. 

-O Goodness infinite, Goodness immense! 

-That all this good of evil shall produce, 

-And evil turn to good; more wonderful 

-Than that which by creation first brought forth 

-Light out of darkness!  Full of doubt I stand, 

-Whether I should repent me now of sin 

-By me done, and occasioned; or rejoice 

-Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring; 

-To God more glory, more good-will to Men 

-From God, and over wrath grace shall abound. 

-But say, if our Deliverer up to Heaven 

-Must re-ascend, what will betide the few 

-His faithful, left among the unfaithful herd, 

-The enemies of truth?  Who then shall guide 

-His people, who defend?  Will they not deal 

-Worse with his followers than with him they dealt? 

-Be sure they will, said the Angel; but from Heaven 

-He to his own a Comforter will send, 

-The promise of the Father, who shall dwell 

-His Spirit within them; and the law of faith, 

-Working through love, upon their hearts shall write, 

-To guide them in all truth; and also arm 

-With spiritual armour, able to resist 

-Satan's assaults, and quench his fiery darts; 

-What man can do against them, not afraid, 

-Though to the death; against such cruelties 

-With inward consolations recompensed, 

-And oft supported so as shall amaze 

-Their proudest persecutors:  For the Spirit, 

-Poured first on his Apostles, whom he sends 

-To evangelize the nations, then on all 

-Baptized, shall them with wonderous gifts endue 

-To speak all tongues, and do all miracles, 

-As did their Lord before them.  Thus they win 

-Great numbers of each nation to receive 

-With joy the tidings brought from Heaven:  At length 

-Their ministry performed, and race well run, 

-Their doctrine and their story written left, 

-They die; but in their room, as they forewarn, 

-Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves, 

-Who all the sacred mysteries of Heaven 

-To their own vile advantages shall turn 

-Of lucre and ambition; and the truth 

-With superstitions and traditions taint, 

-Left only in those written records pure, 

-Though not but by the Spirit understood. 

-Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names, 

-Places, and titles, and with these to join 

-Secular power; though feigning still to act 

-By spiritual, to themselves appropriating 

-The Spirit of God, promised alike and given 

-To all believers; and, from that pretence, 

-Spiritual laws by carnal power shall force 

-On every conscience; laws which none shall find 

-Left them inrolled, or what the Spirit within 

-Shall on the heart engrave.  What will they then 

-But force the Spirit of Grace itself, and bind 

-His consort Liberty? what, but unbuild 

-His living temples, built by faith to stand, 

-Their own faith, not another's? for, on earth, 

-Who against faith and conscience can be heard 

-Infallible? yet many will presume: 

-Whence heavy persecution shall arise 

-On all, who in the worship persevere 

-Of spirit and truth; the rest, far greater part, 

-Will deem in outward rites and specious forms 

-Religion satisfied; Truth shall retire 

-Bestuck with slanderous darts, and works of faith 

-Rarely be found:  So shall the world go on, 

-To good malignant, to bad men benign; 

-Under her own weight groaning; till the day 

-Appear of respiration to the just, 

-And vengeance to the wicked, at return 

-Of him so lately promised to thy aid, 

-The Woman's Seed; obscurely then foretold, 

-Now ampler known thy Saviour and thy Lord; 

-Last, in the clouds, from Heaven to be revealed 

-In glory of the Father, to dissolve 

-Satan with his perverted world; then raise 

-From the conflagrant mass, purged and refined, 

-New Heavens, new Earth, ages of endless date, 

-Founded in righteousness, and peace, and love; 

-To bring forth fruits, joy and eternal bliss. 

-He ended; and thus Adam last replied. 

-How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest, 

-Measured this transient world, the race of time, 

-Till time stand fixed!  Beyond is all abyss, 

-Eternity, whose end no eye can reach. 

-Greatly-instructed I shall hence depart; 

-Greatly in peace of thought; and have my fill 

-Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain; 

-Beyond which was my folly to aspire. 

-Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best, 

-And love with fear the only God; to walk 

-As in his presence; ever to observe 

-His providence; and on him sole depend, 

-Merciful over all his works, with good 

-Still overcoming evil, and by small 

-Accomplishing great things, by things deemed weak 

-Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise 

-By simply meek: that suffering for truth's sake 

-Is fortitude to highest victory, 

-And, to the faithful, death the gate of life; 

-Taught this by his example, whom I now 

-Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest. 

-To whom thus also the Angel last replied. 

-This having learned, thou hast attained the sum 

-Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars 

-Thou knewest by name, and all the ethereal powers, 

-All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works, 

-Or works of God in Heaven, air, earth, or sea, 

-And all the riches of this world enjoyedst, 

-And all the rule, one empire; only add 

-Deeds to thy knowledge answerable; add faith, 

-Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love, 

-By name to come called charity, the soul 

-Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loth 

-To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess 

-A Paradise within thee, happier far.-- 

-Let us descend now therefore from this top 

-Of speculation; for the hour precise 

-Exacts our parting hence; and see!the guards, 

-By me encamped on yonder hill, expect 

-Their motion; at whose front a flaming sword, 

-In signal of remove, waves fiercely round: 

-We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve; 

-Her also I with gentle dreams have calmed 

-Portending good, and all her spirits composed 

-To meek submission: thou, at season fit, 

-Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard; 

-Chiefly what may concern her faith to know, 

-The great deliverance by her seed to come 

-(For by the Woman's seed) on all mankind: 

-That ye may live, which will be many days, 

-Both in one faith unanimous, though sad, 

-With cause, for evils past; yet much more cheered 

-With meditation on the happy end. 

-He ended, and they both descend the hill; 

-Descended, Adam to the bower, where Eve 

-Lay sleeping, ran before; but found her waked; 

-And thus with words not sad she him received. 

-Whence thou returnest, and whither wentest, I know; 

-For God is also in sleep; and dreams advise, 

-Which he hath sent propitious, some great good 

-Presaging, since with sorrow and heart's distress 

-Wearied I fell asleep:  But now lead on; 

-In me is no delay; with thee to go, 

-Is to stay here; without thee here to stay, 

-Is to go hence unwilling; thou to me 

-Art all things under $Heaven, all places thou, 

-Who for my wilful crime art banished hence. 

-This further consolation yet secure 

-I carry hence; though all by me is lost, 

-Such favour I unworthy am vouchsafed, 

-By me the Promised Seed shall all restore. 

-So spake our mother Eve; and Adam heard 

-Well pleased, but answered not:  For now, too nigh 

-The Arch-Angel stood; and, from the other hill 

-To their fixed station, all in bright array 

-The Cherubim descended; on the ground 

-Gliding meteorous, as evening-mist 

-Risen from a river o'er the marish glides, 

-And gathers ground fast at the labourer's heel 

-Homeward returning.  High in front advanced, 

-The brandished sword of God before them blazed, 

-Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat, 

-And vapour as the Libyan air adust, 

-Began to parch that temperate clime; whereat 

-In either hand the hastening Angel caught 

-Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate 

-Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast 

-To the subjected plain; then disappeared. 

-They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld 

-Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, 

-Waved over by that flaming brand; the gate 

-With dreadful faces thronged, and fiery arms: 

-Some natural tears they dropt, but wiped them soon; 

-The world was all before them, where to choose 

-Their place of rest, and Providence their guide: 

-They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, 

-Through Eden took their solitary way. 

- 

-[The End]