PARADISE LOST.
A POEM,
IN TWELVE BOOKS,
BY JOHN MILTON:
WITH
EXPLANATORY NOTES AND A LIFE OF TIHE
AUTHOR.
BY THE
REV. H. STEBBING, A. M
STEEO'TYPED B':. A. JAMES.
PHILADELPHIA:
HAYES & ZELL, PUBLISHERS,
193 MARKET STREET.
1854.








MEMOIR
OF
MILTON'S LIFE AND WRITINGS.
THE celebrated subject of this Memoir was torn Dec. 9, 1608,
His father, who was a scrivener, soon after obtained a sufficiep.
fortune to retire from his profession, but resided, at the birth of the
poet, in Bread-street, London. After having received considerable advantage from the instructions of private tutors, Milton was
sent to St. Paul's school, where he made a remarkable progress
in classical literature; and from whence he was sent to Christ's
College, Cambridge. In 1628 he took his B. A., and in 1632 his
M. A. degree; after receiving which, and declining to take holy
orders, he retired to his father's house at Horton, near Colebroke,
in Buckinghamshire. During the five years he resided here, he pursued his studies with an ardor and diligence which have seldom
been equalled; and besides making many acquisitions in learning,
he produced his exquisite poems of Comus, Lycidas, and some oth
ea minor pieces.
About the year 1638 his mother died, and he obtained the consent of his father to make a tour on the continent; he accordingly
set forth, and very few travelers could be found possessing the
qualifications for profiting by their journey which Milton had acquired in his retirement. In the different parts of the continent,
therefore, which he visited, he was received with the greatest attention by the most celebrated men of the age, and he returned to
England, after an absence of fifteen months, with the acquisition of
many honorable friendships, and an important addition to his stock
of knowledge and accomplishments. It had been his intention to
prolong his tour by a visit to Greece, but the civil commotions which
preceded the establishment of the Commonwealth, were commencing, and he conceived it his duty to lift up his voice in a struggle
to which his love of liberty gave the highest interest.
Almost immediately after Cromwell had obtained an established
ascendancy, Milton was appointed Latin secretary to the government, and in this situation, besides performing the proper duties of
his office, he distinguished himself by several works written in defence of republican principles, and of the conduct of the men who
had rendered themselves most conspicuous in the late contest. Before, however, he acquired this situation, he passed through some
troubles of a domestic natures which, it is probable, materially influiii




v            MEMOIR OF MILTON'S
enced many of his subsequent feelings and opinions. In the yeat
164q he had married the daughter of a gentleman of the name of
Po;rell, a magistrate in Oxfordshire. Unfortunately for the parties,
they each belonged to factions, oter which political rancor exercised entire control, and Milton had scarcely been united a month,
when his wife requested permission to visit her relatives. She obtailed her desire, but soon after intimated that she never intended
returning. This circumstance gave birth to our aithor's celebrated
writings on the subject of divorce; and he was on the point of marrying again, when his repentant wife sought a reconciliation, and
she was restored to favor. At this time also he took pupils, and by
tihe income he thus obtained, he was enabled to support not only
his family, but the father and mother of his wife, who subsequently
suffered in common with the rest of the royalist party.
About the year 1649, after having been for some time laboring under an affection of the eyes, he was afflicted with the total loss of his
sight, which hesnever recovered. But this caused no diminution to
his zeal for learning, and as soon as he found himself free from the
burden of public controversy, he commenced a History of England,
which, however, he carried no farther than the Norman Conquest.
He also prepared some portion of a Latin Thesaurus, which was
published in the Cambridge Dictionary of 1693. But events were
about to happen, which, however inimical to the temporal prosperity of Milton, were, it is probable, of the utmost use in concentrating the powers of his mind on an object sufficiently noble for their
employment. By the restoration of the royal family, he lost his
office, was driven into obscurity, and was for some time in hourly
danger of suffering for the active part he had taken in the councils
of the revolutionary government. But fortunately fot the interests
of literature, his noble genius was no longer to be occupied in the
defence of political factions, or in the preparation of treaties. He
was henceforth to be left in solitude, and in the undisturbed peace
of this obscure home, to hold communion with his own spirit, which
had been gathering strength from worldly trouble, and with the great
and awful spirit of truth which converted the splendid workings of
his imaginations into revelations of her hidden glory. The conception of Paradise Lost was not one of those flashes of genius which it
would be impossible, perhaps, to trace to their cause. It had been
long growing and developing in his mind, and when the particular
form of the work was determined, the vast and glorious assemblage
~f thoughts and visions which had been long present to his intellect,
arranged themselves in a beautiful and perfect order- the creatiN e
faculty of the poet had been at work, and it wanted but the repose
which is necessary to judgment to connect imagination with design.
But there is an inspiration proper to the highest order of poets,
which Milton enjoyed in a supreme degree, and the possession of
which, he signified by those intimations he so fondly gave of his




LIFE AND WRITINGS.                           v
communion with celestial visitants in his lonely chamber, and in
the stillness and darkness of the night. To this mysterious elevation of nature, if it be nothing else, or to this divine gift of clear intellectual vision, are to be ascribed-the deep and solemn tones of his
lyre, the grandeur and splendor of his representations, the power
with which he calls up from the unfathomable depths of chaos and
eternity, spirits of good and evil, the glory with which every scene
and object he describes is bedropped, and the calm authoritative
language with which he inculcates the unchanging beauty of virtue.
We have here also, it may be conjectured, a reason why Paradise
Lost, and I believe it has been the case with all great poems, was
the work of Milton's declining years. It was produced when every
turbulent feeling of youth was subsided; when experience bad had
her perfect work, and when his soul could listen in quiet to the
voice of the charmer, wisdom. Many of its most brilliant passages
might have been produced in earlier years, but it could only be
when the waywardness of thought was subdued, and the human
spirit stood free from temporal hopes and wishes, that it could bear
such a weight of glory; that it could look long and steadily upon
the majestic vision with which it was encompassed.
Paradise Lost was completed in the year 1665, when Milton was
verging towards sixty. He had at that period been suffering for
several years under the distressing deprivation of sight, and an
acute gout, from the torture of which he was seldom free. His fortunes also had been almost continually fluctuating, and he had witnessed as many domestic changes as fall to the lot of most men.
His first wife died in child-bed, and he shortly after married the
daughter of a Captain Woodcock, whom he lost in the same manner as he had done his former wife, before their union had been
completed a year. From the unprotected state, however, to which
ne felt himself reduced by his blindness, he was tempted to enter
the matrimonial state again, and he married a lady of the name of
Minshull, who survived him. While these events were occurring,
he changed his residence to every part of London, till at length he
finally settled himself in a house in Bunhill-row.
Several difficulties, it is said, were found to prevent the publication of Paradise Lost after its completion. These were partly owing to the power of the licenser, who could raise whatever objections
he chose to the printing of any work, and partly to the niggardliness
of the booksellers and the character of the public mind at the period. The latter, it is probable, was the greatest obstacle which an
author in those days had to encounter. There was no reading
populace, no book-clubs, provincial libraries, or facilities for circulating literary works through the mass of the public; intelligence
was in general confined to the small portion of the community who
were possessed of fortune and talents, and the productions of taste
had, consequently, to wait for the slow succession of those select




10            MEMOIR OF MILTON'S
were, therefore} equally sure of vulgar, as of fashionable attention.
The poetry of Milton, on the contrary, touched upon no topic which
the lewd spirit of the age could relish; it fed no unhallowed desire,
perverted no principle of morality, and gave splendor to no character which was notrendered illustrious by holiness. The comnedies of
the most popular authors of the period, and the licentious verses of
the wits of Charles' court, were greedily devoured by all classes, but
no purity of taste was required to enjoy them, and no depth of thought
to fathom their meaning. Milton's verse was a magic stream that
had music for but few ears, and the levity and vicious abandonment of the times had degraded king, courtiers, and people, to the
lowest character of vulgarity.  Hence the comparative neglect
which attended the original publication of Paradise Lost; hence
the fear of the bookseller to give more than five pounds for the copyright, and the slowness of its sale, compared with that of works infinitely inferior in merit.
When, however, these circumstances are considered, there was
no particular bad fortune attending the publication of this poein.
It was sold, in the first instance, to one Simmons, a printer, and
the real wonder is, that it was disposed of for no more than five
pounds, with the agreement that five more should be paid after the
sale of thirteen hundred of the first edition, and the same sum after
the sale cf as many of the second; which stipulation was also to
extend to the third edition. All that Milton lived to'receive was
ten pounds, as he died the same year the second edition was pub
lished. It is impossible not to be forcibly struck with this remarkable circumstance, but when the period in which this work was
published, and its particular character, are considered, its reaching
to three editions in ten years is sufficient proof that it suffered no
greater neglect than may be accounted for by obvious causes. In
the history of literature there is more than a single instance of failurte which the unfortunate author could attribute only to his own
bad luck, which resulted from his want of means to make his work
known, or the neglect which a production of the greatest merit will
often suffer, when a writer has not the advantage of a previously
acquired reputation. Many are the works of genius which have been
permitted to pass at once into oblivion from some such causes as
these, and the authors of which have pined in broken-heartedness after a reputation which they only wanted some favorable accident to
receive, possessing the golden ore, but wanting the amalgam that
should make it valuable in the world. But Milton lost not a particle
of success in this manner; the times were agaihst him, not fortune;
and his labors were as amply rewarded by public fame as any author of such a work as Paradise Lost could have expected.
About three years after the publication of Paradise Lost, the History of England, which had been written many years before, was
printed, and in the following year, 1671, Paradise Regained and




LIFE AND WRITINGS.                        vi
Samson Agonistes. The former ofthese poems was owing tc the
advice of Elwood, a Quaker, who had been a pupil of Milton's and
to whom he had shown his larger work in manuscript. On returning
it the former observed, " Thou hast said much of Paradise Lost, but
what hast thou to say of Paradise Found.     "~ He made no answer," continues Elwood in his account of this conversation, " but
sat some time in a muse; then broke off that discourse, and fell upon another subject."
The temperate mode of living, which Milton had early adopted,
was such as is generally rewarded by a long and healthy life; but
he suffered under an hereditary gout, and his sedentary habits and
unceasing application, all contributed to weaken a constitution
which had never been robust. Few men of letters either have ever
suffered so greatly from the wear and tear of public life. From
what we know of Milton's character there is reason to think that
the ordinary passions of our nature were, from the first dawn of
manhood, subdued in his bosom. There was a calmness and tranquility, amounting to sternness, in his conduct and demeanor. He
was sincere and constant in his friendships, but he wrote to and of
his friends with classical precision, and seemed to find a greater
relish in the intercourse when the learned spirit of antiquity assisted
it. Love of woman never warmed.him sugeiently to make him for
a moment forget the severe assertion of authority, and in his character of child and father no melting tenderness, no irresistible flow of
domestic joy, entered into its composition. It would, perhaps, be refining too much, but I am inclined to think that this austerity of nature may be observed in the coldness with which he seems to have
regarded the objects to which private memory gives a sanctity and
beauty. His poems are singularly devoid of any occasional interest derived from this source. There are no signs of that deep rich
stream of inner feeling which memory calls up in gentler breasts.
We hear him uttering no lament over things which have passed
away, because they were associated with some home-thought, or
old familiar object. Whenever he leaves the present for the past,
it is to hasten far beyond the bounds where history ceases to have a
daily interest; it was not with the generation of his fathers, but
with the patriarchs of the world he held communion, and when his
heart warmed at any recollection of the past, it was his admiration,
not his sympathy, that was awakened. The ordinary passions of
our nature had, therefore, not much influence over Milton. Those
which fever the heart had little, those which contract it had less.
But there was one grand and mighty feeling which kept him in a
state of strong excitement when every other was subdued; it was his
ardent love o.reedom, his lofty aspiration after a liberty which
imoiilo-   render aflrnrne ual'by exalting all. Amid his tranquil
meditations, in the loneliest retirement of his home, when oppressed
with care and blindness, and wearied with the vicissitudes of for




VmLi          MEMOIR OF MILTON'S
tune, this passion was still as burning as in his earliest youth; the
evil days and times on which he was fallen bowed his spirit, but diminished not his thirst for freedom; and when he saw his fondest
hopes disappointed in the destruction of the commonwealth, he
appears to have cherished a bitterness of feeling, as well as a heavy
wearing sorrow, that must have materially assisted in shortening
his days. The, death of this illustrious man took place on the 10th
of iNovember, 1674, at his residence in Bunhill-row.  He was
buried in St. Giles's, Cripplegate, in the chancel of the church,
and the funeral was attended by a great number of noblemnen, as
well as by a large concourse of the populace. In 1737 a monument was raised to his memory in Westminster Abbey, and a few
years back, another snlall one was placed in the church where he
lies interred.
Milton's person is described as of the middle size, and his countenance as remarkable for mildness and beauty of expression.
When at Cambridge, he was called the lady of Christ's College,
and there is an anecdote told of his having captivated, by his singular beauty, the heart of some unknown female of rank, who happened to see him sleeping under a tree. In his advanced age he
suffered so acutely that his hands became almost deformed with
chalk stones, and his face of a sickly paleness. His habits were, as
it has been said, extremely temperate, and those of a diligent student to the last year of his life. He was accustomed to retire to rest
about nine, and to rise at four in the summer and five in winter. The
first thing which he did on getting up, was to hear a chapter of the
Hebrew Bible read to him; he then studied the subjects he was occupied upon till twelve, after which he took an hour's exercise and
then dined.  With playing on the organ, an hour or two's further
study, and the evening's conversation with his friends, the reriainder of the day was concluded, and having eaten a few olives,
smoked his pipe, and drunk a glass of water, he retired to rest.
Milton had five children; four by his first and one by his second
wife; of these, the three daughters whom he had by the former
survived him, the others died in infancy. The last surviving of the
daughters died in August, 1727. She was married to a Spitalfields' weaver of the name of Clarke, by whom she had seven sons
and three daughters. Of these, only two had children; and there
is at present no lineal descendant of the poet living.
But I turn from this brief review of the poet's life to as brief a
consideration of the magnificent talents by which his immortality Is
established.  The genius of Milton has not yet, perhaps, met with
its proper observer. His great fame has made him too sacred an
object in the eyes of general readers to let them think of any thilg
but implicit veneration; and the men of letters who have been professedly his critics, have been more intent on correcting or illustrating the text by their leaming, than on unfolding the veil which par



LIFE AND WRITINGS.                         ix
tially hides the grandeur and uncomprehended beauty of all true poetry. Almost the only one among them who has written with the express purpose of employing a more general and philosophical species
of criticism is Addison, a man of elegant taste and accomplished
mind, but possessing little of that depth of thought, or vigor of intellect, which is necessary to the character of a critic. Johnson, again,
strong as was his mind, was as little fitted for the office he had assumeat; for he was as deficient in depth of perception and feeling,
as Addison was in intellectual power. Much, therefore, as has
been done towards illustrating the works of Milton, the praise or
blame he has received has not proceeded from any very elevated
principles of criticism.
Milton is the most learned of our English poets. There is no
work of either this or any other country on which so much profound
erudition has been expended as on Paradise Lost. The learning of
all ages, the opinions of the wisest men, the superstitions of the most
benighted nations, the truths of philosophy and science, and the
most solemn mysteries of religion, were all explored by the great
author, and he poured out the whole vast treasure of his mind into
the golden vase his imagination had formed. But to decide,.pan
the true character of his genius, we must not be content with the
examination of his larger works. They were composed after his
mind was more than furnished, after it was enveloped with learning; and it is solnetimes, therefore, not clear whether knowledge
have not mastered thought instead of being its auxiliary.
From the earlier poems of Milton we are able to discover, with
some degree of certainty, the principal and original characteristics
of his genius.  In them we trace the love of truth, the creative imap#iathio, the powernler laguage, whic-ltithe features of his
subsequent productions. But we see them in their origin.  With
him the love of t    was the offspring of a tranquil but noble soul,
and from Te dawning of his mind it was the object he most earnestly sought.  But he sought it chiefly among books, or among
those who derived their materials of thinking solely from them.
The fashion of the times was not in favor of original thinking, and
hence he, like the other great men of the period, principally employed himself in heaping together all the knowledge which the accumulated learning of ages could afford. One consequence of this was
the subjection of passion, thought and feeling, to memory; and'tire
is, therefore, to be discovered no beauty of a sentimental kind, even
in his freshest and earliest poems. The same cause will also account far the absence of that heart-reaching, spiritual eloquence,
with which poetry sometimes awakens us. There are scarcely any
thoughts to be found in Milton which can be ascribed to his sympathy with individual suffering, or to his consideration of human nature in its simple but deep workings. He gave himself no time for
this unincumbered view of humanity.  He sought the true philoso



MEMOIR OF MILTON'S
phy of nature, but it was in the history of sects and kingdoms; and
he learnt to excite wonder but not passion. Whatever, therefore,
might have been the tendencies of his nature, truth in his poetry is
a reflected, not primitive truth; the truth which learning searches
for and discovers, not what every heart feels and recognizes.
But Milton possessed an imagination of the highest order; an
Imagination which could combine or -reate at will the noblest objects of contemplation. His early poems. sufficiently attest the en —
ergy of this divine power in his mind. The classical style of hip
verses never affects its originalty; and they run like a stream of
light and beauty wherever the imagination is free to operate.- All
the other faculties of his intellect received their tone from this. His
power of descrinutin wasaisedby'n            fty; the
objects of memory passed through it, and became godlike and eternal. It elevated his thoughts to other worlds of beings, which it
alone could make visible; and reason in her severest moods was
led by it to take her weapons from the splendid and ethereal armory of poetry. In Colnus, the Allegro, and Penseroso, and the religious Odes, we see all this power of the. imagination operating, but
producing only beautiful and holy forms; we are entertained with
the sight of nature suffused with heavenly light, with the discourse
of bright and spiritual beings, and with the view of past scenes,
over which hangs the cloud of divine glory. All here is fresh and
spring-like.   poet's imagination was a bird of Paradise, that
had not strength of wing to explore the dark world beyond~
When years, continued study, and experience of the wofrh, had
altered the general tone of his feelings, this distinguishing power of
his genius assumed, with increasing strength, a severer character.
The world of interminable being was all before it, and it chose
out of the tremendous wilderness of space, the most fearful spot
it could discover. Here it rejoiced in its power. The great void
grew instinct with life. The universe of thought became substantial, and night and ruin stood palpably distinct in the outflooding
and creating light of heaven. No mortal ever saw that vision so
distinct as Milton, and seeing it he could but write as he did. His
imgilnation was a eenss n~t the esult of emotion. It was from
sight, noitieFlng` his inspiration came, and hence the grandeur, but
coldness, of his genius- the distinctness and reality of his creations
— the cramped scholasticism of his philosophy.
There are other points of a minor but highly interesting nature
in considering the genius of Milton. His deficiency of passion was
the only element which was wanting to the perfection of his poetic
character. When we examine it in respect to'every other, we find
it full and complete; perfect, not only in the higher and rarer requisites of genius, but in those lighter qualities from which inferior
minds derive their sole claim to consideration.




PARADISE LOST.
BOO3K I.
The first Boot proposes, first in brief, the whole subject, Man's    l
eland the loss theruponf    dise wherein he was    d:  hen
touches t     re        hi  all, i e      t, or rat  r e      the
SeIrnt; who, revolting from God, and drawing to his sde many legions
of —Angels, was, by the command of God, driven out of Heaven, with all
his crew, into the great deep. Which action passed over, the Poem hastens into the midst of things, presenting Satan with his Angels now fallen into Hell, described here, not in the centre, (for Heaven and Earth
may be supposed as yet not made, certainly not yet accursed,) but in a
place of utter darkness, fitliest called Chaos: Here Satan with his Angels lying on the burning lake, thunderstruck and astonished, after a certain space recovers, as from confusion, calls up him who next in order
and dignity lay by him; They confer of their miserable fall; Satan awakens all his legions, who lay till then in the same manner confounded.They rise; their numbers; array of battle; their chief leaders named, according to the idols known afterwards in Canaan and the countries adjoining. To these Satan directs his speech, comforts them with hope yet
of regaining Heaven, but tells them lastly of a new world and new kind
of creature to be created, according to an ancient prophecy or report in
Heaven; for, that Angels were long before this visible creation, was the
opinion of many ancient Fathers. To find out the truth of this prophecy, and what to determine thereon, lie refers to a full council. What his
associates thence attempt. Pandemonium, the palace of Satan, rises,
suddenly built out of the deep: The infernal peers there sit in council.
OF  Mag's first disobedience, andjhe fruit
Uf thta forbid44. tte,,whose  notial taste
Brought death iitit thc world,' ant all tour woe,
WiTth loss'f f ]fdpn, tinl'ond gre tbrT Mahi
Restortuus, andi~egain'tte blissril seat,                        5
Sing, heavenly Muse, that on the secret top
Of Oreb, ot 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                              10
Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that fiow'd
Fast by the oracle of God; I thence




4             PARADISE LOST.            LBooK L
Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song,)
That with no middle flight intends to soar
Above the o2an mount, while it pursues
Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.
And chiefly Thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer
Before all temples the upright heart and pure,
Instruct me, for Thou know'st; Thou from the first
Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread'20
Dovelike 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,            25
And justify the ways of Go to men.
Say first, or Heaven hides nothing from thy view,
Nor the deep tract of Hell; say first, what cause
Mioved our grand Parents, in that happy state,
Favor'd of Heaven so highly, to fall off    30
From their Creator, and transgress his will
For one restraint, lords of the world besides?
Who first seduced them to that foul revolt?
The inferuLpnt; he it was, whose guile,
Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceived   35
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 equal'd the Most High,    40
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
Hurl'd headlong flaming from the etheral sky,   45
With hideous ruin and combustion, down
To bottomless prfdin; there to dwell
In adamarntine chains and p'enal fire.




BOOK I.]      PARADISE LOST.                  5
Who lurst defy the Omnipotent to arms.
Nine hifs the space that measures day and night 50
To mortal men, he with his horrid crew
Lay vanquish'd, rolling in the fiery gulf,
CQ0.gunded, though immortal: But his doom
Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought
Both of lost happiness, and lasting pain,    65
Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes,
That witness'd huge affliction and dismay
Mix'd with odiirirate pride and steadfast hate:
At once, as far as Angels' ken, he views
The dismal situation waste and wild:         60
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  65
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 had prepared     70'
For those rebellious; here their prison ordain'd
In utter darkness, and their portion set
As far removed from God and light of Heaven
As from the centre thrice to the utmost pole,
0, how unlike the place from whence they fell!  75
There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelm'd
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     80
Beelzebub. To whom the Archenemy,
And thence in Heaven call'd Satan, with bold words
Breaking the horrid silence, thus began.
If thou be he; but 0, how fallen! how changed
1*




6             PARADISE LOST.            [BOOK I.
From him, Who, in the happy realms of light,    85
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,
Join'd with me once, now misery hath join d  90
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 armst Yet not for those,
Nor what the potent victor in his rage       95
Can else inflict, do I repent or change,
Though changed in outward lustre, that fix'd mind,
And high disdain from sense of injured merit,
That with the Mightiest raised me to contend,
And to the fierce contention brought along  100
Innumerable force of Spirits arm'd,
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,    106
And study of r.evge, immortlhate,
And courage never to submit or yield,
And wat is else not to be overcome;
That glory never shall his wrath or might   110
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 igfiwixL, and shame beneath   115
This downfall: since, by fate, the strength of Gods
And this. emyrEal substance cannot fail;
Since through experience of this great event
In arms not worse, in foresight nluch advanced,
We miy with more successful hope.resolve    120




BooK I.]      PARADISE LOST.                  7
To wage, by force or guile, eternal war
Irreconcilable to our grand Foe,
Who now triumphs, and, in the excess of joy
Sole reigning, holds the tyranny of Heaven.
So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain,  125
Vaunting aloud,lut rack'd with deep despair:
And him thus answeid soon his bold compeer
O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers,
That led the embattled Seraphim to war
Under thy conduct, and in dreadful deeds    130
Fearless endanger'd Heaven's perpetual king,
And put to proof his high supremacy,
Whether upheld by strenth, or    ae, ora.;
Too well I see and rue the dire event,
That with sad overthrow, and foul defeat,   135
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 sprit remains
Invincible, and vigor soon returns,         140
Though all our glory extinct, and happy state
Here swallow'd up in endless misery.
But what if he our Conqueror (whom I n6w
Of force believe Almighty, since no less
Than such could have o'erpower'dsuch force as ours)
Have left us this our spirit and strength entire   146
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,  150
Here in che heart of Hell to work in fire,
Dr do his errands in the gloomy deep;
What can it then avail, though yet we feel
strength undiminish'd, or eternal being,
ro undergo eternal punishmentS             155
Whereto with speedy words the Archfiend replied.




8              PARADISE LOST.             [BOOK 1.
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,          160
As being the contrary to his high will
Whom we resist. If then his providence
Out of our evil seek to bring forth good,
Our labor must be to pervert that end,
And out-of good still to find means of evil;  165
Which ofttimes may succeed si as'perhaps
Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb
His inmost counsels from their destined aim.
But see! the angry victor hath recall'd
His ministers of vengeance and-pursuit        170
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,
Wing'd with red lightning and impetuous rage, 17o
Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now
To bellow through the vast and boundless deep;
Let us not slip the occasion, whether scorn
Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe.
Seest tiou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild,   180
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 harbor there;     185
And reassembling 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;    190
If not, what resolution from despair.
Thus Satan talking to his nearest mate




'BOOK I.]     PARADISE LOST.                 9
With head uplift above the w2,e, and eyes
That sparkling blazed; his other parts besides
Prone on the flood, extended long and large  195
Lay floating many a rood; in bulk as huge,
As whom the fables name of monstrous size,
Titanian, or Earth-born, that war'd on Jove;
Briareos or Typhon, whom the den
By ancient Tarsus held; or that seabeast   200
Leviathan, which God of all his works
Created hugest that swim the ocean stream:
HiW, olaply, slumberinggoft- Norway foam
The pilot of some small night founder'd skiff
Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell,  205
With fixed-anchor in his scaly rind,-*. -
Moors by his side under the lee, while night
Invests the sea, and wished morn delays:
So stretch'd out huge in length the Archfiend lay,
Chain'd on the burning lake: nor ever thence   210
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 r.rated crimes he might
Heap on himself damnation, while he sought    215
Evil to others; and, enraged, might see
How all his malice served but to bring forth
Infinite goodness, grace, and mercy, shown
On Man by him seguced; but on himself
Treble confusion, wrath, and vengeance, pour'd. 220
Fortbhu_ghuhthee       ream.nif ptheool
His mighty stature: on each hand the flames,
rlckiw]ar~,e slope their pointing spires, and roll'd
In billows, leave i' the midst a horrid vale.
Then with expanded wings he steers his flight  225
Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air,
That felt unusual weight; till on dry ln1l
He lights, if it were lana that ever burn'd
B




10             PARADISE LOST.            [BooK L
With s9id —as'the- lake with liquid fire:
And such appear'd in hue,. as when the fbrce    230
Of subterranean wind transports a hill
Torn from  eIorus, or the shatter'd side
Of thundering ZE:Aa; whose combustible
And fuel'ldntrails thence conceiving fire,
Sublimed with mineral fury, aid the winds    235
Anid leave a singed bottom all involved
With stench and smoke: swc6h resting found the sole
Of unbless'd feet. Him follow'd his next mate:
Both glorying to have scaped the Stygian flood
As Gods, and by their own recover'd strength,   240
Not by the sufferance of supernal Power.
Is this the region, this the soil, the clime,
Said then the lotArchangel, this the seat
That we must change for Heaven; this mournful gloom
For that celestial light?  Be it so! since he,  245
Who now is Sov'reign, can dispose and bid
What shall be right: furthest from him is best,
Whom reason hath equal'd, force hath made sypreme
Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields,
Where joy forever dwells! Hail horrors! hail,   250
Infernal world! And thou, profoundest Hell,
Receive thy new possessor! one who brings
A m-ind ntto be      d by place r time:
The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.   255
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; the Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy; will not'drive us hence:  MI
Here we may reign secure, and, in my choice,
To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell:.
Better to reJn    Hell than serve in Heaven!
But wherefore let weTten our aihful friends,




BOOK I.]      PARADISE LOST.                 11
The associates and copartners of our loss   265
Lie thus astonished on the oblJus poole
And call them not to share with us their part
In this unhappy mansion; or Once more
With rallied grms to try what may be yet
Regain'd in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell!  210
So Satan spake; and him Beelzub
Thus answer'd. Leader of those armies bright,
Which but the Omnipotent none could have foil'd!
If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge
Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft  275
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 theyplie
Groveling and prostrate on yon lake of fire,  280
As we erewhile, astounded and amazed:
No wonder, fallen such a pernicious height.
"'e scarce had ceased, when the spperior Fiend
Was moving toward the shore: hiW ponderous shield,
Ethereal temper, nmssy, large, and round,
Behind him cast; the br6ad circumference
Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb
Through optic glass the TUaLn artist views
At Evening from the top of Fesple,
Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands,        290
Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe.
His spear, to equal which the tallest pine
Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast
Of some great aditial, were but a wand,
He walked with, to support uneasy steps     295
Over the burning marle, 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 call'd   300




12             PARADISE LOST.           [BooK. I
His legions, Angel forms, who lay entranced
Thick as autumnal leaves that strodWthe brooks
In Vallambrosa, where the Etrur'an shades,
High overarch'd, imbower; or scatter'd sedge
Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion arrn'd    305
Hath vex'd the Red Seacoast, whose waves o'erthrew
Busiis and his Mem   n chivalry,
While with perfidious hatred they pursued
The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld
From the safe shore their floating carcasses  310
And broken chariot wheels: so thick bestrown,
Ajje.j and lost lay these, covering the flood,
Under amazement of their hideous change.
He call'd so loud, thattall-the hollow deeP.
Of Hell resounded! Princ P  t2es,          315
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  320
To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven?
Or in this abject posture have ye sworn
To adore the Conqueror! who now beholds
Cherub and seraph rolling in the flood,
XWith scatter'd arms and ensigns; till anon  325
His swift pursuers from Heaven's gates discern
The advantage, and descending, tread us down
Thus drooping, or with li.A-rthulderbolts
Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf.
A-ake, ariSe._or be for ever fallen!        330
They heard, and were abash'd, 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 theno   perceive  the evil plight  335
In which they were, nor the fierce pains not feel;




BOOK I.]       PARADISE LOST.                13
Yet to their General's voice they soon obey'd;
Innumerable. As when the potent rod
Of AUam's son, in Egypt's evil day,
Waved round the coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud 340
Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind,
That o'er the realm of impious P4iuaoh hung
Like night, and darken'd all the land of Nile:
So numberless were those bad Angels seen
Hovering on wing under the cope of Hell,    345'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires;
Till, as a signal given, the 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;  350
A multitude, like which the populQus North
Pour'd never from her frozen loins, to pass
Rhe.pe or the Danaw, when her barbarous sons
Came like a deluge on the South, and spread
Beneath Gibraltar to the Libyan sands.      355
Forthwith from 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;, 360
Though of their names in heavenly records now
Be no memorial; blotted out and rased
By their rebellion from the book of life.
Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve      364
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 the invisible
Glory of him that made them to transform    37a}
Oft to the image of a brute, adorn'd
With gay religions full of pomp and gold,
2




14             PARADISE LOST.           [BOOK 1.
And Devils to adore for Deities:
Then were they known to men by various names
And various idols through the Heathen world.   375
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 prQ.iiorous crowd stood yet aloof.   380
The chief were those, who from the pit of Hell
Roaming to seek their prey on earth, durst fix
Their seats long after next the seat of God,
Their altars by his altar; Gods adored
Among the nations round: and durst abide    385
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,  390
And with their darkness durst affront his light.
First, Moloch, horrid king, besmear'd with blood
Of human sacrifice, and parel. ts: tears;
Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud,
Their children's cries unheard, that pass'd through fire,
To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite          396
Worship'd in Rabba and her watery plain,
In Arab and in Baqgan, tothe stream
Of utmost ALwn; Nor content with such
Audacious neighborhood, the wisest heart    400
Of Solomon he led by fraud to build
His temple right against the temple of God
On that opprobrious hill: and made his grove
Thleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence
And black Gehenna call'd, the type of Hell.  405
Next Chemos, the obscene dread of Moab's sons,
From Aroer to Nebo, and the wild
Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon




BooK I.]       PARADISE LOST.                15
And Horonaim, Seon's realm, beyond
The flowery dale of Sibma clad with vines;  410
And Eleale to the 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   415
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    420
Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names
Of Baalim and Astaroth; those male,
These feminine; For Spirits, when they please,
Can either sex assume, or both; so soft
And uncompounded is their essence pure;     425
Not tied 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 obscured,
Can execute their aery purposes,            430
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  435
Bow'd down in battle, sunk. before the spear
Of despicable foes. With these in troop
Came Astoreth, whom the Phoenicians call'd
Astarte, queen of Heaven, with crescent horns;
To whose bright image nightly by the moon   440
Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs;
In Sion also not unsung, where stood
Her temple on the offensive mountain, built
By that uxorious king, whose heart, though large,




16            PARADISE LOST.            [BooK I.
Beguiled by fair idolatresses, fell         445
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    450
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 porch
Ezekiel saw, when, by the vision led,       455
His eye survey'd the dark idolatries
Of alienated Judah. Next came one
Who mourn'd in earnest, when the captive ark
Maim'd his brute image, head and hands lopp'd off
In his own temple, on the grunsel edge,     460
Where he fell flat, and shamed his worshippers:
Dagon his name, sea monster, upward man
And downward fish: yet had his temple high
Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the coast
Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon,          465
And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds.
Him follow'd Rimmon, whose delightful seat
Was fair Damastus, on the fertile banks
Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams.
He also against the house of God was bold:  470
A leper once he lost, and gain'd 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    475
Whom he had vanquish'd. After these appear'd
A crew, who, under names of old renown,
Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train,
With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused
Fanatic Egypt, and her priests to seek      480




BooK I.]       PARADISE LOST.                17
Their wandering Gods disguised in brutish forms
Rather than human. Nor did Israel scape
The infection, when their borrow'd gold composed
The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king
Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan,      48a
Likening his Maker to the grazed ox;
Jehovah, who in one night, when he pass'd
From Egypt marching, equal'd with one stroke
Both her first-born and all her bleating Gods.
Belial came last, than whom a Spirit more lewd  490
Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love
Vice for itself: to him no temple stood
Or altar smoked: yet who more oft than he
In temples and at altars, when the priest
Turns atheist, as did Eli's sons, who fill'd  496
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      500
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.      505
These were the prime in order, and in might;
The rest were long to tell, though far renown'd,
The Ionian Gods, of Javan's issue; held
Gods, yet confess'd later than Heaven and Earth,
Their boasted parents: Titan, Heaven's first-born, 510
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 reign'd: these first in Crete
And Ida krown, thence on the snowy top      515
Of cold Olympus ruled the middle air
2*




18            PARADISE LOST.            [BooK I.
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 the Hesperian fields,    520
And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost isles.
All these and more came flocking; but with looks
Downcast and damp; yet such wherein appear'd
Obscure some glimpse of joy, to have found their Chief
Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost 525
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 dispell'd their fears. 530
Then straight commands, that at the warlike sound
Of trumpets loud and clarions be uprear'd
His mighty standard: that proud honour claim'd
Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall;
Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd  535
The imperial ensign; which, full high advanced,
Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind,
With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed,
Serac  arms and trophies; all the while
Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds:      540
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      545
With orient colors waving; with them rose
A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms
Appear'd, and serried shields in thick array
Of depth immeasurable: Anon they move
In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood       550
Of flutes and soft recorders; such as raised
To height of noblest temper heroes old




BooK I.]      PARADISE LOST.                 19
Arming to battle; and instead of rage
Deliberate valor breathed, firm and unmoved
With dread of death to flight or foul retreat;    555
Nor wanting power to mitigate and s'uage
With solemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase
Anguish, and doubt, and fear, and sorrow, and pain
From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they,
Breathing united force, with fixed thought,  560
Moved on in silence to soft pipes, that charm'd
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 order'd spear and shield;    565
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;       570
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 imbodied force, as named with these
Could merit more than that small infantry   575
Warr'd on by cranes; though all the giant brood
Of Phlegra with the heroic race were join'd
That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side
Mix'd with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds
In fable or romance of Uther's son          580
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,      585
When Charlemain with all his peerage fell
By Fontarabia. Thus far these beyond
Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed




21)           PARADISE LOST.            [BooK I.
Their dread Commander; he, above the rest
In shape and gesture proudly eminent,       590
Stood like a tower; his form had not yet lost
All'her original brightness; -ior-ap pear'd
Less than Archangel ruin'd, and the excess
Of glory obscured: as when the sun, new risen,
Looks through the horizontal misty air      595
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. Darken'd so, yet shone
Above them all the Archangel: but his face  600
Deep scars of thunder had intrench'd; 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     605
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather
(Far other once beheld in bliss,) condemn'd
For ever now to have their lot in pain;
Millions of Spirits for his fault amerced
Of heaven, and from eternal splendors flung  610
For his revolt; yet faithful now they stood,
Their glory wither'd: 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 615
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 essay'd, and thrice, in spite of scorn,
Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last  620
Words interwove with sighs, found out their way.
O Myriads of immortal Spirits! O Powers
Matchless, but with the Almighty! and that strife
Was not inglorious, though the event was dire,




Bookc I.1      PARADISE LOST.                  21
As this place testifies, and this dire change  625
Hateful to utter: but what power of mind,
Foreseeing or presafing, from the depth
Of knowledge past or present, could have fear'd,
HIow such united force of Gods, how such
As stood like these, could ever know repulse?    630
For who can yet believe, though after loss,
That all these puissant legions, whose exile
Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to reascend
Self-raised, and repossess their native seat!
For me, be witness all the host of Heaven,    635
If counsels different, or dangers shunn'd
By me have lost our hopes. But he who reigns
Monarch in Heaven, till then as one secure
Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute,
Consent or custom; and his regal state        640
Put forth at full, but still his strength conceal'd,
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    645
To work in close design, by fraud or guile,
What force effected not: that he no less
At length from us may find, who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his foe.
Space may produce new worlds; whereof so rife 650
There went a fame in Heaven that he ere long
Intended to create, and therein plant
A generation, whom his choice regard
Should favor equal to the sons of Heaven:
Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps      655
Our first eruption, thither or elsewhere:
For this infernal pit shall never hold
Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor tho abyss
Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts
Full counsel must mature: Peace is despair'd;   660




V2            PARADISE LOST.            [BOOK I
For who can think submission? War then, War
Open or understood must be resolved.
He spake: and, to confirm his words, out flew
Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze        665
Far round illumined hell: Highly they raged
Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms
Clash'd on their sounding shields the din of war,
Hurling defiance toward the vault of heaven.
There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top    670
Belch'd 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, wing'd with speed
A numerous brigade hasten'd: as when bands    675
Of pioneers, with spade and pickaxe arnm'd,
Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field,
Or cast a rampart. Mammon led them on,
Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell  [thoughts
From Heaven; for e'en in Heaven his looks and
Were always downward bent, admiring more   681'I tie riches of Heaven's pavement, trodden gold,
Thian aught divine or holy else enjoy'd
In vision beatific: by him first
Mien also, and by his suggestion taught,    685
Ransack'd the centre, and with impious hands
Rifled the bowels of their mother Earth
For treasures, better hid. Soon had his crew
Open'd into the hill a spacious wound,
And digg'd out ribs of gold. Let none admire  690
That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best
Deserve the precious bane. And here let those,
Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell
Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings,
Learn how their greatest monuments of fame,  695
And strength, and art, are easily outdone




BooK I.]      PARADISE LOST.                 23
By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour,
What in an age they with incessant toil
And hands innumerable scarce perform.
Nigh on the plain, in many cells prepared,  700
That underneath had veins of liquid fire
Sluiced from the lake, a second multitude
With wondrous art founded the massy ore,
Severing each kind, and scumm'd the bullion dross:
A third as soon had form'd within the ground    705
A various mould, and from the boiling cells
By strange conveyance fill'd each hollow nook;
As in an organ, from one blast of wind,
To many a row of pipes the soundboard breathes.
Anon, out of the earth, a fabric huge       710
Rose like an exhalation, with the sound
Of dulcet symphonies and voices sweet,
Built like a temple, where pilasters round
Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid
WTith golden architrave; nor did there want  715
Cornice or frieze, with bossy sculptures graven;
The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon,
Nor great Alcairo, such magnificence
Equal'd in all their glories, to enshrine
Belus or Serapis, their Gods; or seat       720
Their kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove
In wealth and luxury. The ascending pile
Stood fix'd her stately height; and straight the doors,
Opening their brazen folds, discover, wide
Within, her ample spaces, o'er the smooth  7?5
And level pavement: from the arched roof
Pendant by subtle magic, many a row
Of starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed
With Naphtha and Asphaltus, yielded light
As from a sky. The hasty multitude          730
Admiring enter'd; and the work some praise,
And some the architect: his hand was known




24            PARADISE LOST.            [Boor I.
In Heaven by many a tower'd structure high,
Where sceptred Angels held their residence,
And sat as princes: whom the supreme King   735
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
i'-n-calld him Muiciber, and how he fell    740
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
Dropp'd from the zenith like a falling star,  745
On Lemnos the }Egman isle: thus they relate,
Erring; for he with his rebellious rout
Fell long before; nor aught avail'd him now
To have built in Heaven high towers; nor did he s'cape
By all his engines, but was.headlong sent   750
With his industrious crew to build in Hell.
Meanwhile the winged heralds, by command
Of sov'reign power, with awful ceremony
And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim
A solemn council, forthwith to be held      755
At Pandemonium; the high capitol
Of Satan and his peers: their summons call'd
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 throng'd; the gates    761
And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall
(Though like a cover'd field, where champions bold
Wont ride in arm'd and at the Soldan's chair
Defied the best of Panim chivalry           765
To mortal combat, or career with lance,)
Thick swarm'd, both on the ground and in the air
Brush'd with the hiss of rustling wings. As bees




BooK I.1       PARADISE LOST.                  25
In spring time, when the sun with Taurus rides,
Pour forth their populous youth about the hive   770
In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers
Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank,
The suburb of their strawbuilt citadel,
New rubb'd with balm, exrpate and confer
Their state affairs; So thick the aery crowd  775
Swarm'd and were straiten'd; till, the signal given,
Behold a wonder! They but now who seem'd
In bigness to surpass Earth's giant sons,
Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room
Throng numberless, like that Pygmean race    780
Beyond the Indian mount: or fairy 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      785
Wheels her pale course; they, on their mirth and dance
Intent, with jQc.und 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,790
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;     795
A thousand Demi-gods on golden seats,
Frequent and full. After short silence then,
And summons read, the great consult began.
C             3








PARADISE LOST.
BOOK II.
The consultation begun, Satan debates whether another battle be to
be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven; Some advise it, others dissuade: A third proposal is preferred, mentioned before by Satan, to
search the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature equal or not much inferior to
themselves, about this time to be created: Their doubt, who shall be sent
on this difficult search; Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage, is
honoured and applauded. The council thus ended, the rest betake them
several ways, and to several employments, as their inclinations lead
them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He passes on his journey
to Hell gates; findsthem shut, and who sat there to guard them: by
whom at length they are opened, and discover to him the great gulf between Hell and Heaven; with what difficulty he passes through, directed
by Chaos, the power of that place, to the sight of this new world which
he sought.
HIGH on a throne of royal state, which far
Outshone the wealth of 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                             5
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 display'd.                        10
Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven!
For since no deep within her gulf can hold
Immortal vigor, though oppress'd and fallen,
I give not Heaven for lost. From this'descent
Celestial virtues rising will appear                           15
More glorious and more dread than from no fall,
And trust themselves to fear no second fate.
27




28             PARADISE LOST.          [BooK II.
Me though just right and the fix'd laws of Heaven
Did first create your Leader; next, free choice,
With what besides, in council or in fight,   20
Hath been achieved of merit; yet this loss,
Thus far at least recover'd, hath much more
Establish'd in a safe unenvied throne,
Yielded with full consent. The happier state
In heaven,.which follows dignity, might draw  25
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    30
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    35
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,   40
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:  45
His trust was with the Eternal to be deem'd
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 reck'd not; and these words thereafter spake.  50
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,




Boox ILI       PARADISE LaOST.               29
For while they sit contriving, shall the rest,
Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait    55
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 tyranny who reigns
By our delay! No! let us rather choose,      60
Arm'd 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         65
Infernal thunder; and, for lightning, see
Black fire and horror shot with equal rage
Among his Angels; and his throne itself
Mix'd with Tartarean sulphur and strange fire,
His own invented torments. But perhaps       70
The way is 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 proper motion we ascend          75
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    80
We sunk thus. lowl the ascent is easy then;
The event is fear'd; 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 destroy'd: What can be worse   85
Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemn'd
In this abhorred deep to utter woe;
Where pain of unextinguishable fire
Must exercise us without hope of end,
3V




30            PARADISE LOST.            [BooK II.
The vassals of his anger, when the scourge   90
Inexorably, and the torturing hour
Calls us to penance! More destroy'd than thus,
We should be quite abolish'd, and expire.
What fear we then! what doubt we to incense
His utmost ire! which, to the height enraged,  95
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     100
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.      105
He ended frowning and his look denounced
Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous
To less than Gods. On the other side uprose
Belial, in act more graceful and humane:
A fairer person lost not Heaven, he seem'd  110
For dignity composed, and high exploit:
But all was false and hollow; though his tongue
Dropp'd manna, and could make the worse appear
The better reason, to perplex and dash
Maturest counsels: for his thoughts were low;   115
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, 0 Peers,
As not behind in hate; if what was urged    te0
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,    125




Boo I[I.j     PARADISE LOST.                 31
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 fill'd
With armed watch, that render all access    130
Impregnable: oft on the bordering 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    135
With blackest insurrection, to confound
Heaven's purest light; yet our great Enemy,
All incorruptible, would on his throne
Sit unpolluted; and the ethereal mould,
Incapable of stain, would soon expel        140
Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire,
Victorious. Thus repulsed, our final hope
Is flat despair: We must exasperate
The Almighty Victor to spend all his rage,
And that must end us; that must be our cure,  45
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, swallow'd up and lost
In the wide womb of uncreated night,        160
Devoid of sense and motionS 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,  155
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 thent
Say they who counsel war; we are decreed,   160
Reserved, and destined to eternal woe;




32             PARADISE LOST.           LBnox IL
Whatever doing, what can we suffer mole,
What can we suffer worsel Is this then worst,
Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in arms!
What! when we fled amain, pursued, and struck 165
With Heaven's afflicting thunder, and besought
The deep to shelter us! This Hell then seem'd
A refuge from those wounds; or when we lay
Chain'd on the burning lake! That sure was worse;
What if the breath, that kindled thfose grim fires, 170
Awaked, should blow them into sevenfold rage,
And plunge us in the flamesl or, from above,
Should intermitted vengeance arm again
His red right hand to plague us? What if all
Her stores were open'd, and this firmament  175
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 hurl'd  180
Each on his rock transfix'd, the sport and prey
Of wracking whirlwinds; or forever sunk
Under yon boiling ocean, wrapp'd in chains;
There to converse with everlasting groans,
UJnrespited, unpitied, unreprieved,         185
Ages of hopeless endS This would be worse.
War therefore, open or conceal'd, alike
My voice dissuades; for what can force or guile
With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye
Views all things at one viewl He from Heaven's neight
All these our motions vain sees and derides;    191
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 expell'd to suffer here  195
Chains and these torments! better these than worse,
By my advice; since fate inevitable




Bouo II.1     PARADISE LOST.                 33
Subdues us, and omnipotent decree,
The Victor's will. To suffer, as to do,
Our strength is equal, nor the law unjust   200
That so ordains: This was at first resolved,
If we were wise, against so great a Foe
Contending, and so doubtful what might fall.
I laugh, when those who at the spear are bold
And venturous, if that fail them, shrink and fear 205
What yet they know must follow, to endure
Exile, or ignominy, or bonds, or pain,
The sentence of their Conqueror: This iB now
Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear,
Our Supreme Foe in time may much remit      210
His anger; and perhaps, thus far removed
Not mind us not offending, satisfied
With what is punish'd; whence these raging fires
Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames.
Our purer essence then will overcome        215
Their noxious vapour; or, inured, not feel;
Or changed at length, and to the place conform'd
In temper and in nature, will receive
Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain;
This horror will grow mild, this darkness light;  220
Besides what hope the never ending flight
Of future days 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.   225
Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb,
Counsel'd 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        230
Our own right lost: Him to unthrone we then
May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield
To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife:




34            PARADISE LOST.            [BooK I[.
The former, vain to hope, argues as vain
The latter: For what place can be for us    235
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   240
Strict laws imposed, to celebrate his throne
With warbled hymns and to his Godhead sing
Forced Hallelujahs: while he lordly sits
Our envied Sov'reign, and his altar breathes
Ambrosial odors and ambrosial flowers,      245
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 presume
By force impossible, by leave obtain'd      250
Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state
Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek
Our own good from ourselves, and from our own
Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess,
Free, and to none accountable, preferring   255
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     260
Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain,
Through labor and endurance. This deep world
Of darkness do we dreadS How oft amidst
Thick clouds and dark doth Heaven's all-ruling Sire
Choose to reside, his glory unobscured,     265
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




BOOK II.]      PARADISE LOST.                35
Imitate when we please?  This desert soil   270
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   275
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         280
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 finish'd, when such murmur fill'd
The assembly as when hollow rocks retain    285
The sound of blustering winds, which all night long
Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull
Seafaring men o'erwatch'd, whose bark by chance,
Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay
After the tempest: Such applause was heard  290
As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased,
Advising peace: for 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   295
To found this nether empire, which might rise
By policy, and long process of time,
In emulation opposite to heaven.
Which when Beelzehub perceived, than whom
Satan except none higher sat, with grave    300
Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem'd
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      305




36            PARADISE LOST.            [BOOag II.
With Atlantean shoulders fit to bare
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       311
Must we renounce, and changing style, be call'd
Princes of Hell! for so the popular vote
Inclines, here to continue, and to build up here
A growing empire; doubtless! while we dream, 315
And know not that the King of Heaven hath doom'd
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    320
In strictest bondage, though thus far removed
Under the inevitable curb, reserved
His captive multitude: For he, be sure
In height or depth, still first and last will reign
Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part  325
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 foil'd with loss    330
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,    335
But to our power hostility and hate,
Untamed reluctance, and revenge though slow,
Yet never plotting how the conqueror least
May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice
In doing what we most in suffering feel?    340
Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need




Boos IT1.      PARADISE LOST                 37
With dangerous expedition to invade
Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault nor siege,
Or ambush from the deep. What if we find'Some easier enterprise! There is a place   3145
JIf ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven
Err not,) another world, the happy seat
Of some new race call'd Man, about this time
To be created like to us, though less
In power and excellence, but favor'd more   350
Of Him who rules above; so was his will
Pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath,
That shook teaven's whole circumference, confirm'd
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn'What creatures there inhabit, of what mould,   355
Or substance, how endued, and what their power,
And where their weakness, how attempted best
By force or subtlety. Though Heaven be shut,
And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure
In his own strength, this place may lie exposed, 360
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     365
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    370
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our confusion, and our joy upraise
In his disturbance; when his darling sons,
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse
Their frail original, and faded bliss,      3756
Faded so soon. Advise, if this be worth
Attempting, or to sit in darkness here
4




38            PARADISE LOST.            [BoorK I.
Hatching vain empires. Thus Beelzebub
Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devised
By Satan, and in part proposed: For whence,   380
But from the author of all ill, could spring
So deep a malice, to confound the race
Of mankind in ore root, and Earth with Hell
To mingle and involve, done all to spite
The great Creatorl But their spite still serves   385
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, 390
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   [arnms
Of those bright confines, whence, with neighboring
And opportune excursion, we may chance      396
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,  400
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 unbottom'd infinite abyss,         405
And through the palpable obscure find out
His uncouth way, or spread his aery 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 hirn isafe    411
Through the strict senteries and stations thick
Of Angels watching round! Here he had need




BOOK II.]     PARADISE LOST.                 39
All circumspection; and we now no less
Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send,   415
The weight of all, and our last hope, relies.
This said he sat; and expectation held
His look suspense, awaiting who appear'd
To second, or oppose, or undertake
The perilous attempt: but all sat mute,    42C
Pondering the danger with deep thought; and each
In other's countenance read his own dismay,
Astonish'd: None among the choice and prime
Of those heaven-warring champions could be found
So hardy as to proffer or accept,          425
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!   430
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     435
Ninefold; and gates of burning adamant,
Barr'd over us, prohibit all egress.
These pass'd, if any pass, the void profound
Of unessential Night receives him next
Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being  440
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, 0 Peers,    445
And this imperial sov'reignty, adorn'd
With splendor, arm'd with power, if aught proposed
And judged of public moment, in the shape
Of difficulty or danger could deter




40             PARADISE LOST.            [Boo 11f.
Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume   450
These royalties, and not refuse to reign,
Refusing to accept as great a share
Of hazard as of honor, due alike
To him who reigns, and so much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above the rest         455
High honor'd sitsl 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     460
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      465
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 fear'd;    470
And, so refused, might in opinion stand
His rivals; winning cheap the high repute
Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they
Dreaded not more the adventure than his voice
Forbidding; and at once with him they rose:  475
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 fail'd they to express how much they praised, 480
That for the general safety he despised
His own: For neither do the Spirits damn'd
Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast
Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites
Or close ambition, varnish'd o'er with zeal.  485




BoOK II.]      PARADISE LOST.                41
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 lowering element   490
Scowls o'er the darken'd landscape snow o: 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 ring.  495
0 shame to men! Devil with Devil damn'd
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     500
Among themselves, and levy cruel wars,
Wasting the earth, each other to destroy:
As if (which might induce us to accord)
Man had not hellish foes enow besides,
That, day and night, for his destruction wait.   505
The Stygian council thus dissolved; and forth
In order came the grand infernal Peers:
Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seem'd
Alone the Antagonist of Heaven, nor less
Than Hell's dread Emperor, with promp supreme 510
And Godlike imitated state: him round
A globe of fiery Seraphim enclosed
With bright emblasonry and horrent arms.
Then of their session ended they bid cry
With trumpets'regal sound the great result:    515
Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim
Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy,
By herald's voice explain'd; the hollow abyss
Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell
With deafening shout return'd them loud acclaim. 520
Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised
D               4*




42              PARADISE LOST.             [BooK II.
By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers
Disband; and, wandering, each his several way
Pursues, as inclination or sad choice
Leads him perplex'd, where he may likeliest find 525
Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain
The irksome hours till his great Chief return.
Part on the plain, or in the air stblime,
Upon the wing, or in swift race contend,
As at the Olympian games or Pythian fields;    f530
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        535
Prick forth the aery knights, and couch their spears
Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms
From either end of Heaven the welkin burns.
Others, with vast Typhcean rage more fell,
Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air   540
In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar.
As when Alcides, from CEchalia crown'd
With conquest, felt the envenom'd robe, and tore
Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pines;
And Lichas from the top of (CEta threw          545
Into the Euboic sea. Others more mild,
Retreated in a silent valley, sing
With notes angelical to marry a harp
Their own heroic deeds and hapless fall
By doom of battle; and complain that fate      550
Free virtue should enthral 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,) 556
Others apart sat on a hill retired,




BooK II.]      PARADISE LOST.                43
In thoughts more elevate, and reason'd high
Of providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate;
Fix'd fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute;    560
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!      565
Yet, with a pleasing sorcery, could charm
Pain for a while or anguish, and excite
Fallacious hope, or arm the obdured breast
With stubborn patience, as with triple steel.
Another part, in squadrons and gross bands,  570
On bold adventure to discover wide
That dismal world, if any clime perhaps
Might yield them easier habitation, bend
Four ways their flying march, along the banks
Of four infernal rivers that disgorge       575
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 Phlegethon,   580
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,    585
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    590
Of ancient pile; or else deep snow and ice,
A gulf profound, as that Serbonian bog
Betwixt Damiata and mount (asius old,




44             PARADISE LOST.              [Boo& 1L
Where armies whole have sunk: The parching air
Burns frore, and cold performs the effect of fire. 595
Thither by harpy-footed furies haled,
At certain revolutions, all the damn'd
Are brought; and feel by turns the bitter change
Of fierce extremes, extremes by change urore fierce,
From beds of raging fire, to starve in ice      600
Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine
lnmoveable, infix'd, and frozen round,
Periods of time, thence hurried back to fire.
They ferry over this Letnean sound
Both to and fro, their sorrow to augment,       603
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 the attempt   610
Medusa with Gorgonian terror guards
The ford, and of itself the water flies
All taste of living wight, as once it fled
The lip of Tantalus. Thus roving on
In confused march forlorn,the adventurous bands, 61S
With shuddering horror pale, and eyes aghast,
View'd first their lamentable lot, and found
No rest: through many a dark and dreary vale
They pass'd, and many a region dolorous,
O'er many a frozen, many a fiery Alp,           to0
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,    625
Abominable, inutterable, and worse
Than fables yet have feign'd, or fear conceived,
Gorgons, and I-Iydras, and Chimeras dire.
Meanwhile the adversary of God and Man,




BOOK II.]       PARADISE LOST.                  45
Satan, with thoughts inflamed of highest design, 630
Puts on swift wings, and towards 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.        635
As when far off at sea a fleet descried
Hangs on the cloud, 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,    640
Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape,
Ply stemming nightly toward the pole: so seem'd
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          646
Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire,
Yet unconsumed. Before the gates there sat,
On either side a formidable shape:
The one seem'd woman to the waist, and fair;   650
But ended foul in many a scaly fold
Voluminous and vast; a serpent arm'd
With mortal sting: About her middle round
A cry of Hellhounds never ceasing bark'd
With wide Cerberian mouths full loud, and rung 655
A hideous peal; yet when they list, would creep,
If aught disturb'd their noise, into her womb,
And kennel there; yet there still bark'd and howl'd
Within, unseen. Far less abhorr'd than these
Vex'd Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts   660
Calabria from the hoarse Trinacrian shore;
Nor uglier follow the night hag, when, call'd
In secret, riding through the air she comes
Lured with the smell of infant blood, to dance
With Lapland witches, while the laboring moon 665




46            PARADISE LOST.            LBooK II
Eclipses at their charms. The other shape,
If shape it might be call'd that shape had none
Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb;
Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd,
For each seem'd either; black it stood as Night,   670
Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell,
And shook a dreadful dart; what seem'd 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      675
With horrid strides; Hell trembled as he strode.
The undaunted Fiend what this might be admired;
Admired, not.fear'd; God and his Son except,
Created thing nought valued he, nor shunn'd;
And with disdainful look thus first began:  680
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 ask'd of thee:    685
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      691
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 condemn'd
To waste eternal days in woe and paint      695
And reckon'st thou thyself with Spirits of Heaven,
Hel!-doom'd! and breath'st defiance here and scorn,
Aahereo I reign king; and, to enrage thee more,
Thy king and lordS Back to thy punishment,
False fugitive! and to thy speed add wings;  700
Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue




BOOK II.]      PARADISE LOST.                  47
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    705
More dreadful and deform. On the other side,
Incensed with indignation, Satan stood
Unterrified; and like a conlet burn'd,
~That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge
In the arctic sky, and from his horrid hair   710
Shakes pestilence and war. Each at the head
Level'd 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, come rattling on 715
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 frown'd the mighty combatants that Hell
Grew darker at their frown: so match'd they stood;
For never but once more was either like       721
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,    725
Risen, and with hideous outcry rush'd between.
O Father! what intends thy hand, she cried,
Against thy only Sonl 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    731
At thee ordain'd his drudge: to execute
Whate'er his wrath, which he callsjustice, bids:
His wrath, which one day will destroy ye both!
She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest   735
Forbore; then these to her Satan return'd:
So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange




48             PARADISE LOST.           [BOOK II.
Thou interposest, that my sudden hand,
Prevented, spares to tell thee yet by deeds
What it intends; till first I know of thee  740
What thing thou art, thus double-form'd; 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.    745
To whom thus the Portress of Hell-gate replied:
Hast thou forgot me then, and do I seem
Now in thine eye so foul! once deem'd so fair
In heaven, when at the assembly, and in sight
Of all the Seraphim with thee combined      750
In bold conspiracy against Heaven's King,
All on a sudden miserable pain
Surprised thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy swam
In darkness, while thy head flames tkick and fast
Threw forth; till, on the left side opening wide, 755
Likest to thee in shape and countenance bright
Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess arm'd,
Out of thy head I sprang; Amazement seized
All the host of Heaven; back they recoil'd, afraid
At first, and call'd me Sin, and for a sign  760
Portentous held me; but, familiar grown,
I pleased, and with attractive graces won
The most averse, thee chiefly, who full oft
Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing
Becam'st enamor'd; and such joy thou took'st   765
With me in secret that my womb conceived
A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose,
And fields were fought in Heaven; wherein remain'd
(For what could else?) to our Almighty Foe
Clear victory; to our part loss and rout,   770
Through all the empyrean; down they fell
Driven headlong from the pitch of Heaven, down
Into this deep; and in the general fall




BooI II.]      PARADISE LOST.                49
I also; at which time, this powerful key
Into my hand was given, with charge to keep    775
These gates forever 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.  780
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
Transforrm'd: But he my inbred enemy        785
Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart
Made to destroy' I fled, and cried out Death!
Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sigh'd
From all her caves, and back resounded Death!
I fled; but he pursued (though more, it seems,  790
Inflamed with lust than rage,) and, swifter far,
Me overtook, his mother, all dismay'd;
And, in embraces forcible and foul
Ingendering with me, of that rape begot
These yelling monsters that with ceaseless cry   795
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  800
Afresh with conscience terrors vex me round,
That rest or intermission none I find.
Before mine eyes in opposition sits
Grim Death, my son and foe; who sets them on,
And me his parent would full soon devour    805
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.
5




50             P'ARADISE LOST.          [Boos If.
But thou, 0 Father! I forwarn thee, shun     810
His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope
To be invulnerable in those bright arms,
Though temper'd heavenly; for that mortal dint,
Save he who reigns above, none can resist.
She finish'd; and the subtle Fiend his lore    815
Soon learn'd, now milder, and thus answer'd 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,   821
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 arm'd,  825
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
The unfounded deep, and through the void immense
To search with wandering quest a place foretold 830
Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now
Created vast and round, a place of bliss
In the purlieus of Heaven, and therein placed
A race of upstart creatures, to supply
Perhaps our vacant room; though more removed, 835
Lest Heaven, surcharged with potent multitude,
Might hap to move new broils. Ee this or aught
Than this more secret now design'd, I haste
To know; and, this once known, shall soon return,
And bring ye to the place where Thou and Death 846
Shall dwell at. ease, and up and down unseen
Wing silently the buxom air, embalm'd
With odours; there ye shall be fed and fill'd
Immeasurably, all things shall be your prey.
He ceased, for both seem'd highly pleased; and Death




BOOK IL.]     PARADISE LOST.                 51
Grinn'd horrible a ghastly smile, to hear   846
His famine should be fill'd; and bless'd 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,      850
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'ermatch'd by living might.  855
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,    860
Here in perpetual agony and pain,
With terrors and with clamours compass'd round
Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feedS
Thou art my father, thou my author, thou
My being gav'st me; whom should I obey      865
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.  870
Thus saying, from her side the fatal key,
Sad instrument of all our woe, she took;
And, toward the gate rolling her bestial train,
Forthwith the huge portcullis high updrew,
Which but herself, not all the Stygian Powers   875
Could once have moved; then in the keyhole turns
The 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 jaring sound      880
The infernal doors, and on their hinges grate




62             PARADISE LOST.            [BooK II
Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook
Of Erebus. Sha open'd, but to shut
Excell'd her power; the gates wide open stood,
That with extended wings a banner'd host,     885
Under spread ensigns, marching, might pass through
With horse and chariots rank'd 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       890
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          895
Eternal monarchy, 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     900
Of each his faction, in their several clans,
Light arm'd or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift or sldw,
Swarm populous, unnumber'd as the sands
Of Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil,
Levied to side with warring winds, and poise    905
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,     910
The M omb of nature and perhaps her grave,
Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire,
But all these in their pregnant causes mix'd
Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight
Unless the Almighty Maker them ordain         915
His dark materials to create more worlds;
Into this wild abyss the wary Fiend




BOOK II.I      PARADISE LOST.                  53
Stood on the brink of Hell, and look'd awhile,
Pondering his voyage; for no narrow frith
He had to cross. Nor was his ear less peal'd    920
With noises loud and ruinous (to compare
Great things with'Emall) 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    921
In mutiny had from her axle torn
The steadfast earth. At last his sail-broad vans
He spreads for flight, and in the surging smoke
Uplifted spurns the ground; thence many a league,
As in a cloudy chair, ascending rides         93b
Audacious; but, that seat soon failing, meets
A vast vacuity: all unawares
Fluttering his pennons vain, plumb down he drops
Ten thousand fathoms deep; and to this hour
Down had been falling, had not by ill chance    93L
The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud,
Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him
As many miles aloft: that fury staid,
Quench'd in a boggy Syrtis, neither sea,
Nor good dry land; nigh founder'd on he fares:  944
Treading the crude consistence, half on foot,
Half flying; behooves 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        945
Had from his wakeful custody purloin'd
The guarded gold; So eagerly the Fiend
O'er bog, orsteep, through strait, rough, dense, orrare,
With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way,
And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies. 950
At length a universal hubbub wild
Of stunning sounds and voices all confused
Borne through-the hollow dark, assaults his ear
5*




54            PARADISE LOST.            [BOOK II.
With loudest vehemence: thither he plies,
Undaunted to meet there whatever Power      9.55
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      960
Wide on the wastefufl deep; with him enthroned
Sat sable-vested Night, eldest of things,
The consort of his reign; and by them stood
Orcus and Hades, and the dreaded name
Of Demogorgon; Rumor next and Chance,       965
And Tumult and Confusion all embroil'd,
And Discord with a thousand various mouths.
To whom Satan turning boldly, thus: Ye Powers
And Spirits of this nethermist abyss,
Chaos and ancient Night! I come no spy,     970
With purpose to explore or to disturb
The secrets of your realm: but, by constraint
Wandering this darksome desert, as my way
Lies through your spacious empire up to light,
Alone, and without guide, half lost, I seek  975
What readiest path leads where your gloomy bounds
Confine with Heaven; or if some other place,
From your dominion won, the ethereal King
Possesses lately, thither to arrive
I travel this profound; direct my course;   980
Directed, no mean recompense it brings
To your behoof: if I that region lost,
All usurpation thence expell'd, reduce
To her original darkness and your sway
(Which is my present journey,) and once more  985
Erect the standard there of ancient Night;
Yours be the advantage all: mine the revenge!
Thus Satan; and him thus the Anarch old,
With faltering speech and visage incomposed,




BOOK II.]      PARADISE LOST.                 55
Answer'd: I know thee, stranger, who thou art, 990
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,          995
Confusion worse confounded; and Heaven gates
Pour'd 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,    1000
Encroach'd on still through your 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, link'd in a golden chain  1005
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 staid not to reply;  1010
But, glad that now his sea should find a shore,
With fresh alacrity, and force renew'd,
Springs upward, like a pyramid of fire,
Into the wide expanse; and, through the shock
Of fighting elements, on all sides round   1015
Environ'd, wins his way; harder beset
And more endanger'd than when Argo pass'd
Through Bosporus, betwixt the justling rocks:
Or when Ulysses on the larboard shunn'd
Charybdis, and by the other whirlpool steer'd.  1020
So he with difficulty and labor hard
Moved on: with difficulty and labor he:
But, he once pass'd, soon after, when man fell,
Strange alteration! Sin and Death amain
Following his track, such was the will of Heaven,




56             PARADISE LOST.            [BooK II.
Paved after him a broad and beaten way      1026
Over the dark abyss, whose boiling gulf
Tamely endured a bridge of wondrous length,
From Hell continued, reaching the utmost orb
Of tbLis frail world; by which the Spirits perverse
With easy intercourse pass to and fro       1031
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 1035
Shoots far into the bosom of dim night
A glimmering dawn; Here Nature first begins
Ier furthest verge, and Chaos to retire
As from her outmost works a broken foe
With tumult less, and with less hostile din;    1040
That Satan with less toil, and now with ease,
Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light;
And, like a weather-beaten vessel, holds
Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn;
Or in the emptier waste, resembling air,    1045
Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold
Far off the empyreal Heaven, extended wide
In circuit, undetermined square or round,
With opal towers and battlements adorn'd
Of living sapphire, once his native seat;   1050
And fast by,. hanging in a golden chain,
This pendant world, in bigness as a star
Of smallest magnitude close by the moon.
Thither, full fiaught with mischievous revenge,
Accursed, and in a cursed hour, he hies.    1055




PARADISE LOST.
BOOK III.
God, sitting on his throne, sees Satan flying towards this world, then newly
created;shows him to the Son,who sat at his right hand; foretells the success of Satan in perverting mankind; clears his own justice and wisdom
from all imputation, having created man free, and able enough to have
withstood his tempter; yet declares his purpose of grace towards him, in regard he fell not of his own malice, as did Satan, hbut by him seduced. The
Son of God renders praises to his Father for the manifestation of his gracious purpose towards man; But God again declares, that grace cannot be
extended towards Man without the satisfaction of divine justice: Man hath
offended the majesty of God by aspiring to Godhead, and therefore, with
all his progeny, devoted to death, must die, unless some one can be found
sufficient to answer for his offence, and undergo his punishment. The
Son of God freely offers himself a ransom for Man: The Father accepts,
him, ordains his incarnation, pronounces his exaltation above all names
in Heaven and earth; commands all the Angels to adore him: They obey,
and hymning to their harpsin full choir, celebrate the Father and the Son.
Meanwhile Satan alights upon the bare convex of this world's outermost
orbr, where wandering he first finds a place, since called the Limbo of Vanity; What persons and things fly up thither; Thence comes to the gate of
Heaven, described ascending by stairs, and the waters above the firmament
that flow about it: His passage thence to the orb of the sun; he finds there
Uriel, the regent of that orb, but first changes himself into the shape of a
meaner Angel; and pretending a zealous desire to behold the new creation, and Man whom God had placed here,inquires of him the place of his
habitation, and is directed: Alights first on mount Niphates.
HAIL, hollijgFht, offspring of Heaven first-born,
Or of the Eternal coeternal beam,
May I express thee unblamed.  since God is light,
And never but in unapproached light
Dwelt from  eternity; dwelt then in thee,                          5
Bright effluence of bright essence increate!
Or hear'st thou rather, pure ethereal stream,
Whose fountain who shall tell! Before the sun,
Before.th   Heavens thou wert, and at the voice
-fCod,.as with a mantle, didst invest                              10
The rising world of waters dark and deep
Won from the void and formless infinite.
Thee I revisit now  with bolder wirg,
E                                           57




58            PARADISE LOST.          [BOOK III.
Escaped the Stygian pool, though long detain'd
In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight  15
Through utter and through middle darkness borne,
WAith 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 reascend,       20
Though hard and rare: thee I-revisit safe,
And feel thy sov'reign 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 sere.e hath quench'd their orbs,  25
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,  30
That wash thy hallow'd feet, and warbling flow,
Nightly I visit: nor sometimes forget
Those other two equal'd with me in fate,
So were I equal'd with them in renown!
Blind Thamyris, and blind M~eonide;        35
And Tiresias, and Phineus, prophets old:
Then feed on tght s that v rot     e
Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful bird
Sngs darkling, and in shadiest covert hid
Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year  40
Seasons return: but not to me returns
Day, or the swtUt proa        or morn,
Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose,
Or flocks, or herds, or human face dine;
But cloud intead,  ande.u. g dark          45
Surrounds me, from the cheerful ways of men
Cut off, and for the booTo f1 nowled  fair
Presented with a universal blank
Of nature's works, to me expunged and rased,




BooKr III.]    PARADISE LOST.                 59
And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out.   50
So much the rather thou, celestial Light,
Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers
Irradiate; there plant eyes, all mist from thence
Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell
Of things invisible to mortal eight.         o5
Now had the Almighty Father from above,
From the pure empyrean where he sits
High throned above all height, bent down his eye,
His own works and their works at once to view:
About him all the Sanctities of Heaven        60
Stood thick as stars, and from his sight received
Beatitude past utterrance: 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      65
Of mankind in the happy garden placed,
Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love,
Uninterrupted joy, unrival'd love,
In blissful solitude; he then survey'd
Hell and the gulf between, and Satan there   70
Coasting the wall of Heaven on this side Night
In the dun air sublime, and ready now
To stoop with wearied wings and willing feet,
On the bare outside of this world, that seem'd
Firm land imbosom'd, without firmament,      75
Uncertain which, in ocean or in air.
Him God beholding from his prospect high,
Wherein past, present, future he beholds,
Thus to his only Son foreseeing spake:
Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage    80
Transports our adversary! whom no bounds
Prescribed, 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     85




S0            PARADISE LOST.           [BooK III
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 placed, with purpose to essay  90
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   95
He and his faithless progeny: Whose fault!
Whose but his own! Ingrate, he had of me
IF'eould-ave; I made him just and right,
Sufficient to have stood, thoughxt o   fall.
Su c"er%~~gTe    thai~ie ethereal Powers    106
And Spirits, both them who stood, and them who fall'd;
Freelytheqy stood who stood and fell who fell.
Not free, what prood could they have given sincere
Of true allegiance, constant faith, or love,
Where only what they needs must do appear'd, 105
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 served necessity,   110
Not met 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 overruled
Their will disposed by absolute decree      115
Or high foreknowledge; they themselves decreed
Their own revolt, not I; ifIl.foreknew,
]reknowledge hadno.influence'on their fault,
Whichi61 ess proved certainforekiown.
So without least impulse or shadow of fate,  120
Or aught by me immutably foreseen,




BooK III.]    PARADISE LOST.                 61
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 enthral themselves; I else must change 125
Their nature, and revoke the high decree
Unchangeable, eternal, which ordain'd
Their freedom; they themselves ordain'd their fall.
Qtlfiratherefor selfnf,
By.heother first: Man therefore shall find
The other none: In mercy an justice oth,
EroiiRe~Ini and Earth, so shall my glory excel;
But mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine.
Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd 135
All Heaven, and in the blessed Spirits elect
Sense of new joy ineffable diffused.
Beyond compare the Son of God was seen
Most glorious; in him all his father shone
Substantially express'd; and in his face   140
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 closed 144
Thy sov'reign sentence, that man should find grace;
For which both Heaven and Earth shall high extol
Thy praises, with the innumerable sound
Of hynms and sacred songs, wherewith thy throne
Encompass'd shall resound thee ever bless'd.
For should Man finally be lost? should Man,    150
Thy creature late so loved, 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.  155
Or shall the Adversary thus obtain
His end,and frustrate thine? shall he fulfil
6




62            PARADISE LOST.           [BOOBK III.
His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought;
Or proud return, though to his heavier doom,
Yet with revenge accomplish'd, and to Hell  160
Draw after him the whole race of mankind,
By him corrupted! or wilt thou thyself
Abolish thy creation, and unmake
For him, what for thy glory thou hast made?
So should thy goodness and thy greatness both  165
Be question'd and blasphemed 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,    170
All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all
As my eternal purpose hath decreed;
Man shall not quite be lost, but saved who will;
Yet not of will in him, but grace in me
Freely vouchsafed; once more I will renew   175
His lapsed powers, though forfeit, and enthrall'd
By sin to foul exorbitant desires;
Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand
On even ground against his mortal foe;
By me upheld, that he may know how frail    180
His fallen condition is, and to me owe
All his deliverance, and to none but me.
Some I have chosen of peculiar race,
tlect- ah-ye the rest; sos
The restshallea    call, and oft be warn'd    185
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.   190
To prayer, repentance, and obedience due,
Though but endeavour'd with sincere intent,
Mine ear shall not be slow, mine eye not shut.




BOOK III.]     PARADISE LOST.                631
And I will place within them as a guide,
My umpire Conscience; whom if they will hear, 195
Light after light, well used, they shall attain,
And to the end, persisting safe arrive.
This my long sufferance, and my day of grace,
Theywho neglect and scorn shall never taste;
But hard be harden'd, blind be blinded more,    200
That they may stumble on, and deeper fall;
And none but such from mercy I exclude.
But yet all is not done; Man disobeying,
Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins
Against the high supremacy of Heaven,       205
Affecting Godhead; 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      210
Some other able, and as willing, pay
The rigid satisfaction, death for death.
Say, heavenly Powers, where shall we find such love?
Which of ye will be mortal, to redeem
Man's mortal crime, and just the unjust to save! 215
Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear?
He ask'd, but all the heavenly choir stood mute,
And silence was in Heaven: On Man's behalf
Patron or intercessor none appear'd,
Much less that durst upon his own head draw   2,20
The deadly forfeiture and ransom set.
And now without redemption all mankind
Must have been lost, adjudged to Death and Hell
By doom severe, had not the Son of God,
In whom the fulness dwells of love divine,  225
His dearest mediation thus renew'd:
Father, thy word is pass'd, Man shall find grace;
And shall grace not find means, that finds her way,
The speediest of thy winged messengers,




64            PARADISE LOST.           [BooK III.
To visit all thy creatures, and to all     230
Comes unprevented, unimplored, unsoughtl
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;   235
Behold me then: me for him, life for life
I offer; on me let thine anger fall;
Account me dan. I for his sake will leave
TlE.~4athis   gY           t thie
FrSY  Jhinlasddie                           240
Well pleased; on me let DeMa.:lt:ak all his rage;
Un-r ers -sgl-r5oom  power I shall not long
Lie vanquish'd; thou has given me to possess
Life in myself forever; by thee I live,
Though now to Death I yield, and am his due   245
All that of me can die; yet, that debt paid.,
Thou wilt not leave me in the loathsome grave
HIis prey, nor suffer my unspotted soul
Forever with corruption there to dwell;
But I shall rise victorious, and subdue     250
My vanquisher, spoil'd of his vaunted spoil;
Death his death's wound then shall receive, and stoop
Inglorious, of his mortal sting disarm'd.
I through the ample air in triumph high
Shall lead Hell captive, maugre Hell, and show 255
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 carcass glut the grave:
Then, with the multitude of my redeem'd,    260
Shall enter Heaven, long absent, and return,
Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud
Of anger shall remain, but peace assured
And reconcilement; wrath shall be no more'henceforth, but in thy presence joy entire.  265




Boo  II.]     PARADISE LOST.                 65
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 offer'd, he attends the will    270
Of his great Father. Admiration seized
All heaven, what this might mean, and whither tend,
Wondering; but soon the Almighty thus replied:
O thou in Heaven and Earth the only peace
Found out for mankind under wrath! 0 thou    275
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.    280
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   285
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; tDheeerit,   290
Imputed, shall absolve them who r edul.,
And live in thee transpi1tAed_ and from thee
Receive new life. So Man, as is most just,
Shall saftsy for Man, be judged and die,    295
And dying rise, and rising with him raise
His brethren, ransom'd 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       300
So easily destroy'd, and still destroys
6*




66             PARADISE LOST.            [BooK IlL
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 bliss305
Equal to God, and equally enjoying
Godlike 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,       310
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    315
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    321
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 Archangels to proclaim          325
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 shat jug ge  330
Ba Med.'anaai~ges;' they, arraign'd, shal-sink
]eneath. thy. sente n'eV'fell - her~-nith{ers full,
Theac.eforth shall be' for"'ever shut. Meanwhile
The world shall'burn'a;if'd from her ashes spring
New Heaven and Earth, wherein'the just shall dwell,
And, after all their tribulations long,       336
See golden days fruitful of golden deeds.




BooK III.]     PARADISE LOST.                  67
With joy and love triumphing, and fair truth.
1Tihehii thou't i;yeg i''b-eptr-e shlalt[ lay by,
F-or]regai Septre nthen inom niioreshall need,  340
God shall be allihit^.lB.:ut, all ye Gods,
Adore him, who to compass all this dies;
Adore the Son, and honor him as me.
No sooner had the Almighty ceased, but all.
The multitude of Angels, with a shout         345
Loud as from numbers without number, sweet
As from bless'd voices, uttering joy, Heaven rung
With jubilee, and loud Hosannas fill'd
The eternal regions: Lowly reverent
Towards either throne they bow, and to the ground
With solemn adoration down they cast          351
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 fo man's offence    355
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 P`Maven
Rolls o'er Elysian flowers her amber stream;
With these that never fade the Spirits elect  360
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, crown'd again, their golden harps they took, 365
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   370
Melodious part, such concord is in Heaven.
Thee, Father, first they sung Omnipotent,
Immutable, Immortal, Infinite,




68            PARADISE LOST.           [BoOK IIl.
Eternal King; the Author of all being,
Fountain of light, thyself invisible        375
Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st
Throned inaccessible, but when thou shad'st
The full blaze of thy beams, and, through a cloud
Drawn round about thee like a radiant shrine,
Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear;    380
Yet dazzle Heaven, that brightest Seraphim
Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes.
Thee next they sang of all creation first,
Begotten Son, Divine Similitude,
In whose conspicuous countenance, without cloud 385
Made visible, the Almighty Father shines,
Whom else no creature can behold; on thee
Impress'd the effulgence of his glory abides,
Transfused on thee his ample Spirit rests.
Ile Heaven of Heavens and all the Powers therein
By thee created; and by thee threw down     391
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 395
Thou drov'st of warring Angels disarray'd.
Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaim
Thee only extoll'd, Son of thy Father's might,
To execute fierce vengeance on his foes,
Not so on Man: Him through their malice fallen, 400
Father of mercy and grace, thou didst not doom
So strictly, but much more to pity incline:
No sooner did thy dear and only Son
Perceive thee purposed not to doom frail Man
So strictly, but much more to pity inclined,  405
He to appease thy wrath, and end the strife
Of mercy and justice in thy face discern'd,
Regardless of the bliss wherein he sat
Second to thee, offer'd himself to die




BooK III.1     PARADISE LOST.                69
For Man's offence. O unexampled love,       410
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.  415
Thus they in heaven, above the starry sphere,
Their happy hours in joy and hymning spent.
Meanwhile upon the firm opacous globe
Of this round world, whose first convex divides
The luminous inferior orbs, enclosed        420
From Chaos and the inroad of Darkness old,
Satan alighted walks: a globe far off
It seem'd, now seems a boundless continent
Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night
Starless exposed, and ever threat'ning storms    425
Of Chaos blustering round, inclemegt sky;
Save on that side which from the wall of Heaven,
Though distant far, some small reflection gains
Of glimmering air less vex'd with tempest loud:
Here walk'd the Fiend at large in spacious field. 430
As when a vulture 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;      436
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    440
Walk'd up and down alone, bent on his prey;
Alone, for other creature in this place,
Living or lifeless, to be found was none;
None yet, but store hereafter from the earth
Up hither like aerial vapors flew           445




70             PARADISE LOST.          [tBoo III.
Of all things transito y and vain, when sin
With vanity had fill'd the works of men:
Both all things vain, and all who on vain things
Built their fond hopes of glory or lasting fame,
Or happiness in this or the other life;     450
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'unaccomplish'd works of Nature's hand, 455
Abortive, monstrous or unkindly mix'd,
Dissolved on earth, fleet hither, and in vain,
Till final dissolution, wander here;
Not in the neighboring moon as some have dream'd;
Those argent fields more likely habitants,  460
Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold
Betwixt the angelical and human kind.
Hither of ill join'd sons and daughters born
First from the ancient world those giants came
With many a vain exploit, though then renown'd:465
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 deem'd
A God, leap'd fondly into.Etna flames,     470
Empedocles; and he who, to enjoy
Plato's Elysium, leap'd into the sea,
Cleombrotus; and many more too long,
Embryos, and idiots, eremites, and friars
White, black, and gray, with all their trumpery. 475
Here pilgrims roam, that stray'd so far to seek
In Golgotha him dead who lives in Heaven;
And they who, to be sure of Paradise,
Dying, put on the weeds of Dominic,
Or in Franciscan think to pass disguised;   480
They pass the planets seven, and pass the fix'd,




BooK III.]     PARADISE LOST.                71
And that crystalline sphere whose balance weighs
The trepidation talk'd, and that first moved;
And now Saint Peter at Heaven's wicket seems
To wait them with his keys, and now at foot    485
Of Heaven's ascent they list 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, toss'd
And flutter'd into rags; then reliques, beads,    491
Indulgences, dispenses, pardons, bulls,
The sport of winds: All these, up-whirl'd aloft,
Fly o'er the backside of the world far off
Into a Limbo large and broad, since call'd  495
The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown
Long after, now unpeopled and untrod.
All this dark globe the Fiend found as ha pass'd,
And long he wander'd, till at last a gleam
Of dawning light turn'd thitberward in haste   500
His travel'd steps: far distant he descries
Ascending by degrees magnificent
Up to the wall of Heaven a structure high;
At top whereof, but far more rich, appear'd
The work as of a kingly palace-gate,        505
With frontispiece of diamond and gold
Embellish'd; thick with sparkling orient gems
The portal shone, inimitable on earth
By model, or by shading pencil drawn.
The stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw  EIO
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.    515
Each stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood
There always, but drawn up to Heaven sometimes




72             PARADISE LOST,           [BooK III
Viewless; and underneath a bright sea flow'd
Of jasper, or of liquid pearl, whereon
Who after came from earth, sailing arrived,  520
Wafted by Angels, or flew o'er the lake
Wrapp'd 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:   525
Direct against which open'd 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 aftertimes
Over mount Sion, and, though that were large,  530
Over the Promised Land to God so dear;
By which to visit oft those happy tribes,
On high behests his Angels to and fro
Pass'd frequent, and his eye with choice regard
From Paneas, the fount of Jordan's flood,    535
To Beersaba where the Holy Land
Borders on Egypt and the Arabian shore;
So wide the opening seem'd, where bounds were set
To darkness, such as bound the ocean wave.
Satan from hence, now on the lower stair,    540
That scaled by steps of gold to Heaven-gate,
Looks down with wonder at the sudden view
Of all this world at once. As when a scout,
Through dark and desert ways with peril gone
All night, at last by break of cheerful dawn  545
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 renown'd metropolis
With glistering spires and pinnacles adorn'd,    550
Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams;
Such wonder seized, though after Heaven seen,
The Spirit malign, but much more envy seized,




BooK III.]     PARADISE LOST.                 73
At sight of all this world beheld so fair.
Round he surveys (and well might, where he stood
So high above the circling canopy           556
Of sight's extended shade,) from eastern point
Of Libra to the fleecy star that bears
Andromeda far off Atlantic seas
Beyonid the horizon; then from pole to pole  560
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       565
Stars distant, but nigh hand seem'd other worlds;
Or other worlds they seem'd, 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  570
He staid not to inquire: Above them all
The golden sun, in splendor likest Heaven,
Allured his eye; thither his course he bends
Through the calm firmament (but up or down,
By centre, or eccentric, hard to tell,      575
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  580
Day.s, months, and years, towards his all cheering lamp
Turn swift their various motions, or are turn'd
By his magnetic beam, that gently warms
The universe, and to each inward part
With gentle penetration, though unseen,     585
Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep;
So wondrously was set his station bright.
Their lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps
Astronomer in the sun's lucent orb
1F               7




74             PARADISE LOST.            [BooK In.
Through his-glazed optic tube yet never saw.   590
The place he found beyond expression bright,
Compared with aught on earth, metal or stone;
Not all parts like, but all alike inform'd
With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire;
If metal, part seem'd gold, part silver clear;  595
If stone, carbuncle most or chrysolite,
Ruby or topaz, to the twelve that shone
In Aaron's breastplate, and a stone besides
Imagined rather oft, than elsewhere seen,
That stone, or like to that which here below  600
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,
Drain'd through a limbeck to his native form.    605
What wonder then if fields and regions here
Breathe forth elixir pure; and rivers run
Potable gold, when with one virtuous touch
The archchemic sun, so far from us remote,
Produces, with terrestrial humor mix'd,       610
Here in the dark so many precious things
Of color 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,  615
But all sunshine, 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, sharpen'd his visual ray   620
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 turn'd, but not his brightness hid;
Of beaming sunny rays a golden tiar           625




BooK III.1     PARADISE LOST.                  75
Circled his head, nor less his locks behind
Illustrious on his shoulders fledge with wings
Lay waving round; on some great charge employ'd
He seem'd, or fix'd in cogitation deep.
Glad was the Spirit impure, as now in hope   630
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:    635
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 feign'd:
Under a coronet his flowing hair             640
In curls on either cheek play'd; wings he wore
Of many a color'd 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,   645
Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turn'd,
Admonish'd by his ear, and straight was known
The Archangel Urie., one of the seven
Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne,
Stand ready at command, and are his eyes     650
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 seve. Spirits titf stand
In sight of God's high throne, gloriously bright,  655
The first art wont his great authentic will,
Interpreter through highest Heaven to bring,
Where all his sons thy embassy attend;
And here art likeliest by supreme decree
Like honor to obtain, and as his 6ye         660
To visit oft this new creation round;




76            PARADISE LOST.           [Boos III.
Unspeakable desire to see and know
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man,
His chief delight and favor, him for whom
All these his works so wondrous he ordain'd,    665
Hath brought me from the choirs 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;  670
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 pour'd;
That both in him and all things, as is meet,  675
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.  680
So spake the false dissembler unperceived;
For neither Man nor Angels can discern
Hypocrisy1 the only ev4 thatwalks
4rieibce,, 8exeptoJra-talQned
By his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth 685
And oft, though Wisdom wake, Suips.iaonjoeeps
At Wi'Adom's gate, and to  B yInicit
Resigns herl rge, while Goodness thinks no ill
Where no ill seems; which now for once beguiled
Uriel, though regent of the sun, and held   690
The sharpest sighted Spirit of all in Heaven;
Who to the fraudulent impostor foul,
In his uprightness, answer thus return'd:
Fair Angel, thy desire, which tends to know
The works of God, thereby to glorify        695
The great Workmaster, leads to no excess
That reaches blame, but rather merits praise




BooK III.]     PARADISE LOST.                  77
The more it seems excess, that led thee hither
From thy empyreal mansion thus alone,
To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps, 700
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 creative mind can comprehend         705
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    710
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;   715
And this etherial quintessence of Heaven
Flew upward, spirited with various forms,
That roll'd orbicular, and turn'd to stars
Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move.
Each had his place appointed, each his course;   720
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,   725
Night would invade; but there the neighboring moon
(So call that opposite fair star) her aid
Timely interposes, and her monthly round
Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven,
With borrow'd light her countenance triform   730
Hence fills and empties to enlighten the Earth,
And in her pale dominion checks the night.
That spot, to which I point, is Paradise,
7%




78            PARADISE LOST.           [BooK III.
Adam's abode; those lofty shades, his bower.
Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. 735
Thus said, he turn'd; and Satan, bowing low,
As to Superior Spirits is wont in Heaven,
Where honor due and reverence none neglects,
Took leave, and toward the coast of earth beneath,
Down from the ecliptic, sped with hoped success, 74
Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel;
Nor staid till on Niphates' top he lights.




PARADISE LOST.
BOOK IV.
Satan, now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he nlust now
attempt the bold enterprise which hb undertook a!one against God and
Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many passions, fear
envy, and despair; but at length confirms himself in evil: journeys on
to Paradise, whose outward aspect and situation are described; overleaps the bounds; sits in the shape of a cormorant on the tree of life, as
highest in the garden, to look about him. The garden described; Satan's first sight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form
and happy state, but with resolution to work their fall; overhears their
discourse: thence gathers that the tree of knowledge was forbidden
them to eat of, tinder penalty of:death; and thereon intends to found
his temptation by seducing them to transgress: Then leaves them awhile
to know further of their state by some other means. Meanwhile Uriel,
descending on a sunbeam, warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate
of Paradise; that some evil Spirit had escaped the deep, and passed at
nmol by his sphere in the shape of a good Angel down to Paradise, dis
covered after by.his tfurious gestures on the mount. Gabriel promises to
find him ere morning. Night coining on, Adam and Eve discourse of
going to their rest: Their bower described; their evening worship. Gabriel, drawing forth his bands of night-watch to walk the round of Paradise, appoints two strong Angels to Adam's bower, lest the evil Spirit
should he there doing some harm to Adam or Eve sleeping: there they
find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him,
though unwilling, to Gabriel: by whom questioned, he scornfully answers; prepares resistance; but, hindered by a sign from Heaven, flies
ot: of Paradise.
0 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,
Wo io the inhabitants on earth! that now,                       5
While time was, our first parents had been warn'd
The coming of their secret foe, and scapedHaply so scaped his mortal snare; For now
Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down,
The tempter ere the accuser of mankind,                         10
To wreck on innocent frail Man his loss
79



80            PARADISE LOST.           [BooK IV.
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  15
Now rolling boils in his timultuous breast,
And like a devilish engine back recoils
Upon himself; horror and doubt distract
His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir
Tshe_1Wi1i-LA  riwm,dQ; wthi n }Gil4         20
He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell
One step, no more than from himself, can fly
By change of place: Now con  cje:.wa* despa-r
Thsl-kumber'd; wakes the bitter memory
Of what he was, what is, and what must be    25
Worse; of worse deeds worse suffering must ensue.
Sometimes towards Eden, which now in his view
Lay pleasant, his grieved look he fixed sad;
Sometimes towards Heaven, and the full-blazing sun
Which now sat high in his meridian tower:    30
Then much revolving, thus in sighs began:
O thou, that, with surpassing glory crown'd,
Look'st from thy sole dominion like the God
Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars
Hide their diminish'd heads; to thee I call,  35
But with no.friendly voice, and add thy name,
O Sun! to tell thee how I hate thy beams,
That bring to my remembrance from what state
I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere;
Til1Lpride and worse ambition threw me down    40
Warring in Heaven a- Thstieaven'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 hisservice hard.    45
What could be less than to afford him praise,
The easiest recompense, and pay him thanks,




BOOK IV.]     PARADISE LOSTr.                81
How due! yet all his good proved ill in mle,
And wrought but malice; lifted up so high
I'sdain'd subjection, and thought one step higher 50._Wo.lLdh!g41~st, 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      55
By owing owes not, but still pays, at once
Indebted and discharged; what burden then!
0, had his powerful destiny ordain'd
Me some inferior Angel, I had stood
Then happy, no unbounded hope had raised     60
Ambition! Yet why not? some other Power
As great might have 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 arm'd.   65
Hadst thollu.thesaawe-fea..wi lpoweo stand]
Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse
But Heav e-n's.free lave dealt equa4ll-to.a1ll,.:
B.e then his. -love agccursed, since love or hate,
To me alike, it deals eternal woe.           70
Nay, cursed be thou; since against his thy will
Chose freely what it now so justly rues.
Me miserable! which way shall I fly
Infinite wrath and infinite despair?
Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell;     75
And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep
Still threat'ning to devour ine opens wide,
To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven.
O then at last relent: Is there no place
Left for repentance, none for pardon left!   80
None left but by submission; and that word
Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame
Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced




82            PARADI'SE LOST.          [BooK IV.
With other promises and other vaunts
Than to submit, boasting I could subdue      85
The Omnipotent. Ah me! they little know
How dearly I abide that boast so vain,
Under whattoprxntsjwardly I groan,
While they adore me on the throne of Hell.
With diadem and sceptre high advanced,       90
The lower still I fall, only supreme
In misery! Such joy ambition finds.
But say I could repent, and could obtain
By act of grace, my former state; how soon
Would height recall high thoughts,how soon unsay 95
What feign'd submission sworel Ease would recant
Vows made in pain, as violent and void.
For -4eye a trnu   Qljleme ntgrw,
Where wounds of deadlerced  so de:
Which         l  c         w. P rel         100
A!4d hea ier falkljo 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    105
Of us outcast, exiled, his new. delight,
Mankind created, and for him this world.
So farewell. hope; and with hope farewell fear;
Farewell, remorsu al my ooTd;to me ls,11ot;
Eilhe thou my good; by thee at lea       1hO
Divided empire with Heaven's-King-i;hold,
By thee, and more thnagnhaLpeihap. will reign;
As man, ere long, and thisnew world shall kniow.
Thus while he spake, each passion dimm'd his face,
Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy, and despair; 1 t*
Which marr'd his borrow'd visage, and betray'd
Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld.
For heavenly minds from such distempers foul
Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware,




BOOK IV.]      PARADISE LOST.                  83
Each perturbation smooth'd with outward calm, 120
Artificer of fraud; and was the first
That practised falsehood under saintly show,.
eeep malice t'o conceal,,couch4with revenge:
Ye't' not enough had practised to deceive
Uriel once warn'd; whose eye pursued him down   125
The way he wet,',anon..the.Assyrian mount
Saw him disfigured, more than could befall
Spirit of happy. sort: His gestures fierce
He mmark'd,       demadano.or,then..alone,
As he supposed, all. unbserved, unseen.       130
So o0n 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      13b
~With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild,
Access denied; and overhead up grew
Insuperable height of loftiest shade,
Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm,
A sylvan scene: and, as the ranks ascend      140
Shade above shade, a woody theatre
Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops
The verd'rous wall of Paradise up sprung.
Which to our general sire gave prospect large
Into his nether empire-neighboring round.     145
And higher than that wall a circling row
Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit,
Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue
Appear'd, with gay enamel'd colours mix'd;
On which the sun more glad impress'd his beams 150
Than on fair evening cloud or humid bow,
When God-hath shower'd the earth; so lovely seem'd
That landscape: and of pure now purer air
Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires
Vernal delight and joy, able to drive         155




84            PARADISE LOST.           [BoK IV
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 sail
Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are pass'd   160
Mozambic, off at sea north-east winds blow
Sabean odours from the spicy shore
Of Araby the bless'd; with such delay
Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league
Cheer'd with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles: 165
So entertain'd those odorous sweets the Fiend,
Who came their bane; though with them better pleased
Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume
That drove him, though enamor'd, from the spouse
Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent   170
From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound.
Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill
Satan had journey'd on, pensive and slow;
But further way found none, so thick entwined
As one continued brake, the undergrowth     175
Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplex'd
All path of man or beast that pass'd that way.
One gate there only was, and that look'd east
On the other side: which when the archfelon saw
Due entrance he disdain'd: and, in contempt,    180
At one slight bound high overleap'd all bound
Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within
Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf,
Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,
Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve 185
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-barr'd and bolted fast, fear no assault,  190
In at the window climbs, or o,'er the tiles;




BooK rV.J      PARADISE LOST.                  85
So clomb this first grand thief ji.G&',;s ld;
So siA.               aw.jo.,hu4.X4ewd ni;insimb.
Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life,'The middle tree and highest there that grew,  19 5
Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life
Th'ereby regain'd, xbut eat.adising death
To them who lived; noron the virtue thought
Of that life-giving plant, but only u''sed"
Fi' ~priospect,'whait well used had been the pledge 200
Of immortality. So little knows
Any, but God alone, to value right
The good before him, but perverts best things
To worst abuse or to their meanest use.
Beneath him with new wonder now he views,   205
To all delight of human sense exposed,
In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth, yea, more,
A Heaven on Earth: For-blisful Paradise
Of God the garden was, by him in tiie east
Of Eden planted: Eden stretch'd her line      210
From Auran eastward to the royal towers
Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings,
Or where the sons of Eden long before
Dwelt in Telassar: In this pleasant soil
His far more pleasant garden God ordain'd;    215
Out of the fertile ground he caused to girow
All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste;
And all amid them stood the tree of life,
High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit
Of vegetable gold; and next to life,          220
Our death, the tree of knowledge, grew fast by,
Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill.
Southward through Eden went a river large,
Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill
Pass'd underneath ingulf'd, for God had thrown  225
That mountain as his garden mound high raised
Upon the rapid current, which through veins
8




86             PARADISE LOST.            [BooK IV.
Of porous earth with kindly thirst updrawn,
Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill
Water'd the garden; thence united fell        230
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;   235
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 error under pendent shades
Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed      240
Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art
In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon
Pourr.'d. forth. pxofuse on..hill, and dale,.and plain,
Both where the morning sun first warmly smote
The open field, and where the.unpierced shade  245
Imbrown'd 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, burnish'd with golden rind,
Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true,          250
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,    255
Flowers of all hue, and withlut 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; meanwhile murmuring waters fall   260
Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake,
That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd
HIer crystal mirror holds, unite their streams.




BoosC IV.]     PARADISE LOST.                87
The birds their choir apply; airs, vernal airs,
Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune    265
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 fairy flower, by gloomy Dis       270
Was gather'd, which cost Ceres all that pain
To seek her through the!world; nor that weet grove
Of Daphne by Orontes, anq the inspired
Castalian spring might with this Paradise
Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle       275
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 Abassian kings their issue guard,  280
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  285
Saw, undelighted, all delight, all kind
Of living creatures new to sight, and strange.
Two of far noble shape, erect and tall,
Godlike erect, with native honor clad
In naked majesty, seem'd lords of all;      290
And worthy seem'd; for in their looks divine
t-he 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   295
Not equal, as their sex not equal seem'd;
For contemplation he and valor form'd,
For softness she and sweet attractive grace;
He forIai (indGalh.i ii:




88            PARADISE LOST.           [BooK IV.
His fair large front and eye sublime declared  300
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           305
Dishevel'd, but ia-..W-tobn ringeJtwavgd
As th9 vine curls her tendrils, whichJim~pled
Sbet.an, but required with gentle sway,
And by her yielded, by him best received;
Yielded with coy submission, modest pride,  310
And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay.
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd;
Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame
Of nature's works, honor dishonorable,
Sin-bred: how have ye troubled all mankind  315
With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure,
And banish'd from man's life his happiest life,
Simplicity and spotless innocence!
So pass'd they naked on, nor shun'd the sight
Of God or Angel; for they thought no ill;   320
So hand in hand they pass'd, 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.
UDljer a tuft of shade that on a green      325
Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side
They sat them down; and after no more toil
Of their sweet gardening labor than sufficed
To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease
More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite    330
More grateful, to their supper fruits they fell;
Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs
Yielded them, sidelong as they sat recline
On the soft downy bank damask'd with flowers;
The savory pulp they chew, and in the rind,    335




BOOK IV.]      PARADISE LOST.                  89
Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream;
Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles
Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems
Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league,
Alone as they. About them frisking play'd     340
All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase
In wood or wilderness, forest or den;
Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw,
Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards,
Gambol'd before them; the unwieldly elephant,  345o
To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreath'd
His lithe proboscis; close thie sentsly,
Insulting: wove with Gordian twine
His braided train, and o        uile
G:ave pDr6.6f ]uiihi/eNeOters on the grass    350
Couch'd, and now fill'd with pasture gazing sat
Or bedward ruminating; for the sun,
Declined, was hast'ning now with prone career
To the ocean isles, and in the ascending scale
Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose   355
When Satan still in gaze, as firs.t.h.  stood,
Scarce thus at length fail'd speeoh'recover'd 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,   360
Not spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright
Little inferior: whom my thoughts pursue
With wonder, and could love, so lively shines
In them divine resemblance, and such grace
The hand that form'd them on their shape hath pour'd.
Ah! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh     366
Your change approaches, when all these delights
Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe;
More woe, the more you taste is now of joy,
Happy, but for so happy ill secured           370
Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven.
G                  84




90            PARADISE LOST.           [Boo] 1V.:11 fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe
is now is enter'd; yet no purposed foe
ro you, whom I could pity thus forlorn,
though I unpitied: League with you I seek,    375
Hnd mutual amity, so straight, so close,
rhat I with you must dwell, or you with me
Henceforth: my dwelling haply may not please,
Like this fair Paradise, your sense; yet such
kccept your Maker's work; he gave it me,    380
Which I as freely give: Hell shall unfold,
ro entertain you two, her widest gates,
And send forth all her kings; there will be room,
Not like these narrow limits, to conceive
Your numerous offspring; if no better place,    385
Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge
)n you who wrong me not for him who wrong'd;
And should I at your harmless innocence
Melt, as I do, yet public reason just,
Honor and empire with revenge enlarged,    390
By conquering this new world, compel me now
ro do what else, though damn'd,Ishould abhor.
So spake the fiend; and with necessity,
Aheiy rant's plea, excused his devilish deeds.
Then from his lofty stand on that high tree  395
Down he alights among the sportful herd
)f those four footed kinds, himself now one
Now other, as their shape served best his end,
"earer to view his prey, and, unespied,
ro mark what of their state he more might learn, 400
By word or action mark'd: About them round
9. 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  405
His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground,
Whence rushing, he might surest seize them both,




BOOK IV.]      PARADISE LOST.                  9,1
Griped in each paw: when Adam, first of men,
To first of women, Eve, thus moving speech,
Turn'd him, all ear to hear new utterance flow:  410
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;              415
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         420
This one, this easy charge, of all the trees
In paradise that bear delicious fruit
So various, not to taste that only tree
Of knowledge, pltby thee tw yii
So near rows death to life wh atils   ehi,   425
Some dreaad]d thingno doubt; forg w.11., twu kn'st
Go~d ath pronou nced it- death toate  t  T.e,
The onlofou,
A     _mong. so m"an     ~.le
Conferr'd up,9p _usIasnd d. o j owi          430
Orer all other creatures that possess
IEraf,,ir e,, 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:              435
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: 0 thou for whom 440
And from whom I was form'd, flesh of thy flesh,
And without whom am to no end, my guide
And head! what thou hast said is just and right,




92             PARADI'SE LOST.           [BooK IV.
For we to him indeed all praises owe
And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy        445
So far the happier lot, enjoying thee
Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou
Like consort to thyself canst nowhere find.
That day I oft rmeember, when from sleep
Ifirst awaked, and found myself reposed       450
Under a shade on flowerst much:.wondering. where
And what. I.waa,.whence thither brought and how.
Not distant fax from..thence: a murmuring.ound
Of waters issued from a cave, and spread'Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved      455'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 seem'd another sky.
As I bent down to look, just opposite        460
A shape within the watery gleam appear'd
Bending't-o i0'oN'tf"-'me: I 5tarted..back;
It started back: but pleased I soon return'd;
Pleased. it return'd as soon with answering looks
Of sympathy and love; There I had fix'd      465
Mine. eayes.. till. aow, and. pined with vain desire
Had not a voice thus warn'dtme; "What thou seest.
What there thou seest,. fair Creature, is thyself;
With thee it came and goes: but follow me
And I will bring thee where no shadow stays    470
Thy coming and thy soft embraces, he
Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy
Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear
Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call'd
Mother-of human race." What could I do,      475
But follow straight, invisibly thus ledl
Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall,
Under a platane; yet methought less fair,
Less winning soft, less amiably mild,




oo IV.]       PARADISE LOST.                  93
Than that smooth watery image: back I turn'd;  480
Thou following criedst aloud, "Return, fair Eve;
Whom fliest thou! Whom thou fliest of      u art,
Ji1fRsh,.his bone, tQ.give thea.being I lent
Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart,
Substantial life, to have thee by my side     485
Henceforth an individual solace dear:
Part of my soul I seek thee,,aad l_.eg.!ai
MISb]; half2.' With that thy gentle hand
Seized mine: I yielded; and from that time see
How beauty is excell'd by manly grace,        490
And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.
So spake our general mother, and with eyes
Of conjugal attraction unreproved,
And meek surrender, half embracing lean'd
On our first father: half her swelling breast  495
Naked met his, under the flowing gold
Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight,
Both of her beauty and submissive charms,
Smiled with superior love, as Jupiter
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds   500
That shed May flowers; and press'd her matron lip
With kisses pure: Aside the Devil turn'd
For envy: yet with jealous leer malign
Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plain'd:
Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two,
Imparadised in one another's arms             506
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,       510
Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines.
Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd
From their own mouths: All is not theirs, it seems;
One fatal tree there stands, of  owe;.cd.'orbiddeg them to taste: Knowledge forbidden!   515




94             PARADISE LOST.           [BooK IV.
Suspicious, reasonless. Why.Lhouldt      d
F;,nvyjle.lhat.  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 faithS  520
O fair foundation laid whereon to build
Their ruin! hence I wjji excite their minds
With more desire t.0 knQ w,.i x4 o.~ejgct
Envious conmmands, inqvr.tedwtith. esign
To keep them low, wh.lom kg.[,.ge     b.dl;.lt 525
Equal with God: aspiring,to he. sch,
They taste and die: What likelier can ensue!
But firstiw — se1M-er      must. walk round
This garden, and no cQrn avere.nspied;
A chance but chance may lead where 1 may meet 530
Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain side,
Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw
What further would be learn'd. Live while ye may,
Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,
Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed!    535
So saying, his proud step he scornful turn'd,
But with sly circumspection, and began    [roam.
Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his
Meanwhile in utmost longitude, where Heaven
With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun  54N
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     545
Accessible from earth, one entrance high;
The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung
Still as it rose, impossible to climb.
Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabrielsaat,
Chbiepaf_1hqanagq1ic gu:trds awaiting night;  550
About him exercised heroic games




BOOK IV.]     PARADISE LOST.                 95
The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand
Celestial armory, shields, helms, and spears,
Hung high with diamond flaming and with gold.
Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even    555
On a sunbeam, swift as a shooting star
In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fired
Impress the air, and shows the mariner
From what point of his compass to beware
Impetuous winds: He thus began in haste:    560
Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given
Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place
No evil thing approach or enter in.
This day at height of noon came to my sphere
A Spirit, zealous, as he seem'd, to know    565
More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly Man,
God's latest image: I described his way
Bent all on speed, and mark'd his aery gait;
But on the mount that lies from Eden north,
Where he first lighted soon discern'd his looks   570
Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured:
Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade
Lost sight of him: One of the banish'd crew,
I fear, hath ventured ifon the deep, to raise
New troubles; him thy care must be to find.  575'Towhom the winged warrior thus return'd;
Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight,
Amid the sun's bright circle where thou sitt'st,
See far and wide: In at this gate none pass
The vigilance here placed, but such as come  580
Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour
No creature thence: If Spirit of other sort,
So minded, has o'erleap'd these earthly bounds
On purpose, hard thou know'st it to exclude
Spiritual substance with corporeal bar.     585
But if within the circuit of these walks,
In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom




96             PARADISE LOST.           [BOOK IV
Thou tell'st, by morrow dawning I shall know.
So promised he: and Uriel to his charge
Return'd on that bright beam, whose point now raised
Bore him slope downward to the sun now fallen 591
Beneath the Azores; whether the pi ime orb,
Incredible how swift, had thither roll'd
Diurnal; or this less voluble earth,
By shorter flight to the east, had left him there,  595
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,      600
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 glow'd the firmament
With living sapphires: Hesperus, that led     605
The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon,
Rising in clouded majesty, at length
Apparent queen unveil'd 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,  611
Mind us of like repose; since God hath set
Labor and rest, as day and night to men
Successive; and the timely dew of sleep,
Now falling with soft slumb'rous weight, inclines 615
Our eyelids: 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,     620
While other animals inactive range,
And of their doings God takes no account
To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east




BooK IV.]      PARADISE LOST.                  97
With first approach of light, we must be risen,
And at our pleasant labor, to reform          625
Yon flowery arbors, 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,  630
That lie bestrown, unsightly and unsmooth,
Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease;
Meanwhile, as Nature wills, night bids us rest.
To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorn'd:
My Author and Disposer, what thou bidd'st     635
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;
Allseasons, and their change, all please alike.   640
Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,
With charm of earliest birds: pleasant the sun,
When first on this delightful land he spreads
His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower
Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth    645
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    650
With charm of earliest birds: nor rising sun
On this delightful land; Vor herb, fruit, flower,
Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers;
Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night,
WVith this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon,    655
Or glittering starlight, without thee, is sweet.
But wherefore all night long shine theseS for whom
This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes!
To whom our general ancestor replied:
9




98            PARADISE LOST.           [BooK IV.
Daughter of God and Man, accomplish'd Eve,   660
These have their course to finish round the earth
By morrow evening, and from land to land
In order, though to nations yet unborn,
Ministering light prepared, they set and rise;
Lest total Darkness should by night regain  665
Her old possession, and extinguish life
In Nature and all things; which these soft fires
Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat
Of various influence foment and warm,
Temper or nourish, or in part shed down     670
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,  674
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   680
Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard
Celestial voices to the midnight air,
Sole, or responsive each to other's note,
Singing their great Creatorl oft in bands
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk,685
With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds
In full harmonic number join'd, their songs
D;iride the night, and lift oursthoughts to Heaven.
Thus talking, hand in hand alone they pass'd
On to their blissful bower: it was a place  690
Chosen by the sov'reign 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   695




BOOK IV.]     PARADISE LOST.                 99
Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub,
Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower,
Iris all hues, roses, and jessamine,
Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between,and wrought
Mosaic; underfoot the violet,               700
Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay
Broider'd the ground, more color'd 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   705
More sacred and sequester'd, though but feign'd,
Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph
Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess,
With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs,
Espoused Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed:  710
And heavenly choirs the hymenean sung,
What day the genial Angel to our sire
Brought her in naked beauty, more adorn'd,
More lovely, than Pandora, whom the Gods
Endow'd with all their gifts, and O! too like  715
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 authentic fire.
Thus, at their shady lodge arrived, both stood, 720
Both turn'd, 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 mad'st the night,
Maker Omnipotent, and thou the day         725
Which we, in our appointed work employ'd
Have finish'd, happy in our mutual help
And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss
Ordain'd by thee; and this delicious place
For us too large, where thy abundance wants    730
Partakers, and uncropp'd falls to the ground.




100            PARADISE LOST.            [BooK IV
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.   735
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,    740
Straight side by side were laid; nor turn'd, 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,          745
Defaming as impure what God declares
Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.
Our maker bids increase; who bids abstain
But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man!
Hail wedded Love! mysterious law, true source  750
Of human offspring, sole propriety
In Paradise of all things common else.
By thee adulterous Lust was driven from men
Among the bestial herds to range; by thee,
Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,     755
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 domestic sweets,        760
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  765
Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendear'd
Casual fruition; nor in court amours,




BOOK IV.]     PARADISE LOST.                101
Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
Or serenade, which the starved lover sings
To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.  770
These, lull'd by nightingales, embracing slept,
And on their naked limbs the flowery roof
Shower'd roses, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on
BlesA'd pair! and 0! yet happiest, if we seek
No happier state, and know to know no more.   775
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 accustom'd hour, stood arm'd
To their night watches in warlike parade;   780
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.    785
From these two strong and subtle Spirits he call'd
That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge.
Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed
Search through this garden, leave unsearch'd no nook;
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, 790
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 thoughtS) escaped
The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt;   795
Such, where ye find, seize 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 t h,close  a v                800
As sto ryiaahi
TWe origans of her fancy, and with them forge




102           PARADISE LOST.            [BooK IV.
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
The animal spirits that from pure blood arise  803
Like gentle breath from river pure, thence raise
At least distemper'd discontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,
Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride.
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear      810
Touch'd lightly; for no falsehood can endure
Touch of celestial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likeness: Up he starts
Discover'd and surprised. As when a spark
Lights on a heap ofnitrous powder, laid      815
Fit for the tun some magazine to store
Against a rumor'd war, the smutty grain,
With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air;
So started up in his own shape the Fiend.
Back stepp'd those two fair Angels, half amazed  820
So sudden to behold the grisly king;
Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon:
Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to Hell
Com'st thou, escaped thy prisonS and, transform'd,
Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait,       825
Here watching at the head of these that sleep!
Know ye not then, said Satan, fill'd 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,   830
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, 835
Or undiminish'd brightness to be known,
As when thou stood'st in Heaven upright and pure;
That glory then, when thou no more wast good
Departed from thee; and thou rmble.ati.




BooK IV.]      PARADISE LOST.                103
Thy sin and place of d     _lll  hre   fl.    840
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      845
Invincible: Abash'd 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 impair'd, yet seem'd     850
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     855
Single against thee, wicked, and thence weak.
The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage;
But like a proud steed rein'd, went haughty on,
Champing his iron curb: To strive or fly
He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd  860
His heart, not else dismay'd. Now drew they nigh
The western point, where those half-rounding guards
Just met, and closing stood in squadron join'd
Awaiting next command. To whom their Chief,
Gabriel, from the front thus call'd aloud:  865
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 splendor wan; who by his gait     870
And fierce demeanor 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 approach'd,
And brief related whom they brought, where found,




104           PARADISE LOST.          [BooK IV.
Fow busied, in what form and posture couch'd. 876
To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake:
Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed
To thy transgressions, and disturb'd the charge
Of others, who approve not to transgress   880
By thy example, but have power and right
To question thy bold entrance on this place;
Employ'd it seems, to violate sleep, and those
Whose dwelling God hath planted here in blisst
To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow; 885
Gabriel! thou had'st in Heaven the esteem of wise,
And such I held thee; but this question ask'd
Puts me in doubt. Livess his pain!
Who would nqt, findimg'  way, break loQosfroQn-ell,'iiugh thilther doom'd. Thou wouldst thyself no doubt,.n bldvnIyt~iit'r~to what ever place      89)
Furthest 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 know'st only good,  895
But evil hast not tried: and wilt object
His will who bound us! Let him surer bar
His iron gates, if he intends our stay
In that dark durance: thus much what was ask'd.
The rest is true, they found me where they say;  900
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,    905
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      910
However, and to scape his punishment!




BooK IV.]      PARADISE LOST.                 105
So judge thou still presumptuous! till the wrath,
Which thou incurr'st by flying, rmeet thy flight
Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain    915
Can equal anger infinite provoked.
But wherefore thou alone! wherefore with thee
Came not all hell broke loose! is pain to them
Less pain, less to be fled; or thou than they
Less hardy to endure. Courageous Chief!       920
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 answer'd, frowning stern:
Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain,  925
Insulting angel! well thou know'st 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,     930
Argue thy inexperience what behooves
From hard assays and ill successes pass'd
A faithful leader, not to hazard all
Through ways of danger by himself untried:
I, therefore, I alone first undertook         935
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;       940
Though for possession put to try once more
What thou and thy gay legions dare against;
Whose easier buisness were to serve their Lord
High up in Heaven. with songs to hymn his throne
And practiced distances to cringe, not fight.  945
To whom the warrior Angel soon replied:
To say and straight unsay, pretending first
H




106           PARADISE LOST.           LBooK IV.
Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy,
Argues no leader but a liar traced,
Satan, and couldst thou' faithful' add! 0 name, 950
O sacred name of faithfulness profane!
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        955
Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme!
And thou, sly hypocrite, who now would'st seem
Patron of liberty, who more than thou
Once fawn'd, and cringed, and servilely adored
Heaven's awful Monarch! wherefore, but in hope 960
To dispossess him, and thyself to reign!.
But mark what I arreed thee now, Avaunt!
Fly thither whence thou fledst! If from this hour
Within these hallow'd limits thou appear,
Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chain'd,  965
And seal thee so as henceforth not to scorn
The facile gates of Hell too slightly barr'd.
So threatened he; but Satan to no threats
Gave heedfbut waxing more in rage replied:
Then when I am thy captive talk of chains,   970
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,
Used to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels 975
In progress through the road of Heaven star-paved.
While thus he spake, the angelic squadron bright
Turn'd fiery red, sharp'ning in mooned horns
Their phalanx, and began to hem him round
With ported spears, as thick as when a field  980
Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends
Her bearded grove of ears, which way t:ke wind
Sways them; the careful ploughman doubting stands




BOOK IV.J     PARADISE LOST.                107
Lest on the threshing-floor his hopeless sheav es
Prove chaff. On the other side, Satan, alarm'd, 985
Collecting all his might, dilated stood
Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved:
His stature reach'd the sky, and on his crest
Sat Horror plumed; nor wanted in his grasp  [deeds
What seem'd both spear and shield: now dreadful
Might have ensued, nor only Paradise        991
In this commotion, but the starry cope
Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements
At least had gone to wreck, disturb'd and torn
With violence in this conflict, had not soon  995
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 weigh'd,
The pendulous round earth with balanced air  1000
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 kick'd the beam;
Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend: 1005
Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'st 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,  1010
And read thy lot in yon celestial sign;  [weak
Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how
If thou resist. The Fiend look'd up, and knew
His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled
Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.1015








PARADISE LOST.
BOOK V.
Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; lhe
likes it not, yet comforts her: They come forth to their day-labowurs;
Their morning hymn at the door of their bower. God, to render nwan
inexcusable, sends Gabriel to admonish him of his obedience, of his fiee
estate, of his enemy near at hand, who he is, and why his enenmy, am(l
whatever else may avail Adam to know. Raphael conies downl to
Paradise; his appearance described; his coming discerned by Adam nalhr
off sitting at the door of his bower; he goes out to meet himn, brilgs
him to his lodge, entertains him with the choicest fruits of Paradise got
together by Eve; their discolrse at table: Riaphael performs his Bres:
sage, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy; relates, at Adamlr's
request, who that enemy is, and how lie came to be so, beginning friomu
his first revolt in heaven, and the occasion thereof; lowhe drew his
legions after him to the parts of the north, and there incited them to
rebel with him, persuading all but only Abdiel, a Seraph, who in argument dissuades and opposes him, then forsakes himn.
Now  Morn, her rosy steps in the' eastern clime
Advancing, sow'd the earth with orient pearl,
When Adam waked, so custom'd; for his sleep
Was aery light, from pure digestion bred,
And t6mperate vapors bland, which the' only sound
Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan,                        6
Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song
Of birds on every bough; so much the more
His wonder was to find unwaken'd Eve
With tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek,                    10
As through unquiet rest: he on his side
Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial love
I-Hung over her enamor'd, and beheld
Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep,
Shot forth peculiar graces, then with voice                     IF
iNild as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes,
IHer hand soft touching, whisper'd thus: Awake.
10.9                   10




110           PARADISE LOST.            [Buoo V
My fairest, my espoused, my latest found,
Heaven's last best gift, my ever new delight!
Awake: the morning shines, and the fresh field   20
Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring
Our tender plants, how blows the citron grove,
What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed,
How nature paints her colors, how the bee
Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet.  23
Such whispering waked her, but with startled eye
On Adam,whom embracing, thus she spake:
0 sole in whom my thoughts find all repose,
My glory, my perfection! glad I see
Thy face, and morn return'd; for I this night  30
(Such night till this I never pass'd) have dream'd,
If dream'd, not, as I oft am wont, of thee,
Works of day past, or morrow's next design,
But offence and trouble, which my mind
Knew never till this irksome night: methought,  35
Close at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk
With gentle voice; I thought it thine: it said,;"Why sleep'st thou, Eve! now is the pleasant time,
The cool, the silent, save when silence yields
To the night-warbling bird, that now awake  40
Tunes sweetest his love-labor'd song; now reigns
Full orb'd 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 desirel   45
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;
Andon,methought, alone I pass'd through ways   50
That brought me on a sudden to the tree
Of interdicted knowledge: fair it seem'd,
Much fairer to my fancy than by day




BOOK V.]       PARADISE LOST.               111
And, as I wondering look'd, beside it stood
One shaped and wing'd like one of those from Heaven
By us oft seen; his dewy locks distill'd    56
Ambrosia; on that tree he also gazed;
And, "0O 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?  60
Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste!
Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold
Longer thy offer'd good; why else set here!"
This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm
He pluck'd, he tasted; me damp horror chill'd  65
At such bold words vouch'd with a deed so bold:
But he thus, overjoy'd: " O fruit divine,
Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropp'd,
Forbidden here it seems, as only fit
For Gods, yet able to make Gods of men:      70
And why not Gods of men; since good, the more
Communicated, more abundant grows,
The author not impair'd, but honor'd morel
Here, happy creature, fair angelic Eve!
Partake thou also: happy though thou art,    75
Happier thou mayst 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    80
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
Whi'h he had pluck'd; the pleasant savory smell
So quicken'd appetite, that I, methought,    85
Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds
With him I flew, and underneath beheld
The earth outstretch'd immense, a prospect wide
And various: wondering at my flight and change




112           PARADISE LOST.            [BooK V
To this high exaltation; suddenly            90
]Jy guide was gone, and I methought sunk down
And fell asleep; but 0, how glad I waked
To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her night
Related, and thus Adam answer'd sad:
Best image of myself, and dearer half,     95
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep
Affects me equally; nor can I like
This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear;
Yet evil whence! in thee can harbor none,
Created pure. But know that in the soul     100
Are many lesser faculties, that serve
Reason as chief; among these Fancy next
Her office holds; of all external things,
Which the five watchful senses represent,
She forms imaginations, aery shapes,        105
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 mimic Fancy wakes        110
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 talk, in this thy dream,  115
But with addition strange; yet be not sad.
Evil into the mind of God or Man
May come and go, so unapproved, and leave
No spot or blame behind: which gives me hope
That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream,   12)
Waking thou never wilt consent to do.
Be not dishearten'd 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   125




BOOK V.]      PARADISE LOST.                 11.
Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers
That open now their choicest bosom'd smells,
Reserved from night, and kept for thee in store.
So zheer'd he his fair spouse, and she was cheer t
But silently a gentle tear let fall          4
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
Kiss'd, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse
And pious awe, that fear'd to have offended.    Ac
So all was clear'd, and to the field they haste.
But first, from under shady arborous roof
Soon as they forth were come to open sight
Of dayspring, and the sun, who, scarce uprisen,
With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean-brim,.4 
Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray,
Discovering in wide landscape all the east
Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains;
Lowly they bow'd 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
Flow'd from their lips, in prose or numerous verse l1_
More tunable 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 wondrous fair; thyself how wondrous then! 155
Unspeakable, who sitt'st above these heavens
To us invisible or dimly seen
In these thy lowest works; yet these declare
Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine.
Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light,   160
Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs
10*




114            PARADISE LOST.            [BooK V.
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. 165
Fairest of stars, last in the train of night,
If better thou belong not to the dawn,
Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smiling moin
With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere,
While day arises, that sweet hour of prime.   i70
Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and soul,
Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise
In thy eternal course, both when thou climnb'st,
And when high noon hast gain'd,and when thou fall'st.
Moon, that now meet'st the orient sun, now fliest, 175
With the fixed Stars, fix'd in their orb that flies;
And, ye five other wandering Fires, that move
In mystic dance not without song, resound
His praise, who out of darkness call'd up light.
Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth        180
Of Nature's womb, that in quate'nion 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       185
From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray,
Till the sun paint your fleecy skirts with gold,
In honor to the world's great Author rise;
Whether to deck with clouds the uncolour'd sky,
Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers,   190
Rising or falling still advance his praise.
IHis 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,    195
Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
Join voices all ye living Souls; Ye Birds,




8ooK V.]      PARADISE LOST.                 115
rhat 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   200
rhe earth, and stately tread or lowly creep:
Witness if I be silent, morn or even,
[o hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade,.ade vocal by my song, and taught his praise.
Hail universal Lord! be bounteous still     205
~o give us only good; and if the night
Have gather'd aught of evil, or conceal'd,
Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark!
So pray'd they innocent, and to their thoughts
Firm peace recover'd soon, and wonted calm.   210
On to their morning's rural work they haste,
Among sweet dews and flowers; where any row
Of fruit trees over-woody reach'd too far
Their pamper'd boughs, and needed hands to check
Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine    215
To wed her elm; she, spoused, about him twines
Her marriageable arms, and with her brings
Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn
His barren leaves. Them thus employ'd beheld
With pity Heaven's high King, and to him call'd 220
Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deign'd
To travel with Tobias, and secured
His marriage with the seven times wedded maid.
Raphael, said he, thou hear'st what stir on Earth
Satan from Hell,scaped through the darksome gulf,
Hath raised in Paradise, and how disturb'd  226
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   2.30
Thou find'st him from the heat of noon retired,
To respite his day-labor with repast,
Or with repose; and such discourse bring on,




116            PARADISE LOST.            [BOOK V
As may advise him of his happy state,
Happiness in his power left free to will,     235
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 240
The fall of others from like state of bliss;
By violence! no, for that shall be withstood;
But by deceit and lies: This let him know,
Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend
Surprisal, unadmonish'd, unforewarn'd.        245
So spake the Eternal Father, and fulfill'd
All justice: Nor delay'd the winged Saint
After his charge received; but from among
Thousand celestial Ardours, where he stood
Veil'd with his gorgeous wings, upspringing light, 250
Flew through the midst of heaven; the angelic choirs,
On each hand parting, to his speed gave way
Through all the empyreal road; till, at the gate
Of Heaven arrived, the gate self-open'd wide
On Golden hinges turning, as by work          255
Divine the sov'reign Architect had framed.
From hence no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight.
Star interposed, however small, he sees,
Not unconform'd to other shining globes,
Earth, and the garden of God, with cedars crown'd
Above all hills. As when by night the glass    261
Of Galileo, less assured, observes
Imagined lands and regions in the moon:
Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades
Delos or Samos first appearing, kens          265
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




BOOK V.]       PARADISE LOST.                 117
Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar      276
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 Egyptiana Thhb"rhe flies.
At once on the eastern cliff of Paradise'275
He lights, and to his proper shape returns,
A seraph wing'd: 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         280
Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round
Skirted his loins and thighswithdowny gold
And colors dipp'd in Heaven; the third his feet
Shadow'd from either hel with feather'd mail,
Sky-tinctured grain. Like Maia's son he stood,  285
And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance fill'd
The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands
Of Angels under watch; and to his state
And to his message high, in honor rise;
For on some message high they guess'd him bound.
Their glittering tents he pass'd, and now is come 291
Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh,
And flowering adours, cassia, nard, and balm;
A wilderness of sweets: for Nature here
Wanton'd as in her prime, and play'd at will   295
Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet,
Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss.
Him through the spicy forest onward come
Adam discern'd, as in the door he sat
Of his cool bower, while now the mounted sun  300
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 savory fruits, of taste to please
True appetite, and not disrelish thirst      3o.




118           PARADISE LOST.           [BOOK V.
Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream,
Berry or grape: To whom thus Adam call'd:
Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold
Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape
Conies this way moving; seems another morn    310
Risen on midnoon; some great behest from Heaven
To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe
This day to be our guest. But go with speed,
And, what thy stores contain, bring forth, and pour
Abundance, fit to honor and receive         315
Our heavenly stranger: Well may we afford
Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow
From large bestow'd, where nature multiplies
Her fertile growth, and by disburdening grows
More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare.  320
To whom thus Eve: Adam, earth's hallow'd 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:   325
But I will haste, and from each bough and brake,
Each plant and juiciest 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.  330
So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste
She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent:
What choice to choose for delicacy best,
What order, so contrived as not to mix
Tastes not well join'd, inelegant, but bring  335
Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change;
Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk
Whatever Earth, all bearing mother, yields
In India East or West, or middle shore
In Pontus or the Punic coast, or where      340
Alcinous reign'd, fruit of all kinds, in coat




BooB V.]      PARADISE LOST.                119
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   345
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
WVith rose and odors from the shrub unfumed.
Meanwhile our primitive great sire, to meet   350
His Godlike 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    355
Of horses led, and grooms besmear'd with gold,
Dazzles the crowd, and sets them all agape.
Nearer his presence Adam, though not awed,
Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek,
As to a superior nature bowing low,         360
Thus said: Native of Heaven, for other place
None can than Heaven such glorious shape contain;
Since, by descending from the thrones above,
Those happy places thou hast deign'd a while
To want,and honor these, vouchsafe with us    365
Two only, who yet by sov'reign 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.     370
Whom thus the angelic Virtue answer'd mild;
Adam, I herefore 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  375
O'ershades; for these midhours, till evening rise,
I have at will. So to the silvan lodge




I%-           PARADISE LOST.            [BOOK V
They came, that like Pomona's arbor smiled,
With flowerets deck'd, and fragrant smells; but Eve,
Undeck'd save with herself, more lovely fair    380
Than Woodnymph, or the fairest Goddess feign'd
Of three that in mount Ida naked strove,
Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil
She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm
Alter'd her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail   385
Bestow'd, the holy salutation used
Long after to bless'd 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  390
Have heap'd 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; 395
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  400
The earth to yield; unsavory 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 Manin part   405
Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found
No ilgrateful food: and food alike those pure
Intelligential substances require
As doth your rational; and both contain
Within them every lower faculty             410
Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste
Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate,
And corporeal to incorporeal turn.




Booc V.]      PARADISE LOST.                 121
For know, whatever was created needs
To be sustain'd and fed: of elements        415
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
Vapors not yet into her substance turn'd.   420
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 recompense
In humid exhalations, and at even           425
Sups with the ocean. Though in Heaven the trees
Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines
Yield nectar; though from off the boughs cach morn
We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground
Cover'd with pearly grain: yet God hath here    430
Varied his bounty so with new delights,
As may compare with Heaven; and to taste
Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat
And to their viands fell; nor seemingly
The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss   435
Of Theologians; but with keen dispatch
Of real hunger, and concoctive heat
To transubstantiate: what redounds transpires
Through Spirits with ease: nor wonder; if by fire
Of sooty coal the empiric alchemist         440
Can turn, or holds it possible to turn,
Meta.s )f drossiest ore to perfect gold,
As from the mine. Meanwhile at.table Eve
Minister'd naked, and their flowing cups
With pleasant liquors crown'd: 0 innocence  446
Deserving Paradise! If ever, then,
Then had the sons of God excuse to have been
Enamor'd at that sight; but in those hearts
Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor jealousy
I           11




122            PARADISE LOST.            [BOOK V.
Was understood, the injured lover's hell.     450
Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficed,
Not burden'd 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    455
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:      460
Inhabitant with God, now know I well
Thy favor, in this honor 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,         465
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.     470
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 spirituous, and pure,    475
As nearer to him pla~ced, or nearer tending
Each in their several active spheres assign'd,
Till bodly up to spirit work, in bounds
Proportion'd to each kind. So from the root
Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves
More aery, last the bright consummate flower    431
Spirit 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,    485




BOOK V.]       PARADISE LOST.               123
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.  490
Wonder not then, what God for you saw good
If I refuse not, but convert, as you,
To proper substance. Timne may come, when Men
With Angels may participate, and find
No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare;   495
And from these corporal nutriments perhaps
Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit,
Improved by tract of time, and, wing'd, ascend
Ethereal, as we; or may, at choice,
Here or in heavenly Paradises dwell;        500
If ye be found obedient, and retain
Unalterably firm his love entire,
Whose progeny you are. Meanwhile enjoy
Your fill what happiness this happy state
Can comprehend, incapable of more.         505
To whom the patriarch of mankind replied:
O favorable Spirit, propitious guest,
Well hast thou taught the way that might direct
Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set
From centre to circumference; whereon,     510
In contemplation of created things,
By steps we may ascend to God. But say,
What meant that cautio 
Obedient? Can we want obedience then
To him, or possibly his love desert,       515
Who formed us from the dust and placed us here,
Full to the utmost measure of what bliss
Human desires can seek or apprehendS
To whom the Angel: Son of Heaven and Earth,
Attend! That thou art happy, owe to God;    520
That thou continuest such, owe to thyself,




124        PARADISE LOST.               LBoox V
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     525
Hewftt it in thy power; ordain'd thy will
By nature free, not overruled by fate
Inextricable, or strict necessity:
Our voluntary service he requires,
Not our necessitated; such with him         530
Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how
Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve
VWilling or no, who will but what they must
By destiny, and can no other choose'
Myself, and all the angelic host, that stand  535
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;   540
And some are fallen, to disobedience fallen,
And so from Heaven to deepest Hell; O fall
From what high state of bliss, into what woe!
To whom our great progenitor: Thy words
Attentive, and with more delighted ear,     545
Divine instructor, I have heard, than when
Cherubic sougs by night from neighboring hills
Aerial music send: nor knew I not
To be both will and deed created free;
Yet that we never shall forget to love      550
Our Maker, and obey him whose command
Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts
Assured me, and still assure: though what thou tell'st
Hath pass'd in Heaven some doubt within me move,
But more desire to hear, if thou consent,   555
The full relation, which must needs be strange,
Worthy of sacred silence to be heard




BOOx V.]      PARADISE LOST.                125
And we have yet large day, for scarce the sun
Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins
His other half in the great zone of Heaven.  560
Thus Adam made request: and Raphael,
After short pause assenting, thus began;
High matter thou enjoin'st me, 0 prime of men,
Sad task and hard; for how shall I relate
To human sense the invisible exploits       565
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     570
This is dispensed; and what surmounts the reach
Of human sense, I shall delineate so,
By likening spiritual to corporeal forms,
As may express them best; though what if Earth
Be but the shadow of Heaven, and things therein 575
Each to other like, more than on earth is thoughtS
As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild
Reigned where these Heavens now roll, where Earth
Upon her centre poised; when on a day  [now rests
(For time, though in eternity, applied      580
To motion, measures all things durable
By present, past, and future,) on such day
As Heaven's great year brings forth, the empyrial host
Of Angels, by imperial summons call'd,
Innumerable before the Almighty's throne   585
Forthwith from all the ends of Heaven appear'd
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  590
Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees;
Or in their glittering tissues bear imblazed
Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love
11*




126           PARADISE LOST.            [BooK V
Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs
Of circuit inexpressible they stood,        595
Orb within orb, the Father Infinite,
By whom in bliss imbosom'd sat the Son,
Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top
Brightness had made invisible, thus spake:
Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light,    600
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       605
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 vicegerent reign abide
United, as one individual soul,             610
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 ingulf'd, his place
Ordain'd without redemption, without end.  615
So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words
All seem'd well pleased; all seem'd, but were not all.
That day, as other solemn days, they spent
In song and dance about the sacred hill;
Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere  620
Of planets, and of fix'd, in all her wheels
Resembles nearest, mazes intricate,
Eccentric, intervolved, yet regular
Then most, when most irregular they seem;
And in their motions harmony divine         625
So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear
Listens delighted. Evening now approach'd,
(For we have also our evening and our morn,
We ours for change delectable, not need;)




Bo0o V.]      PARADISE LOST.                127
Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn  630
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. 635
On flowers reposed, and with fresh flowerets crown'd
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 shower'd
With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy.  641
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    645
In darker veil,) and roseate 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 angelic throng, 650
Dispersed in bands and files, their camp extend
By living streams among the trees of life,
Pavilions numberless, and sudden rear'd,
Celestial tabernacles, where they slept
Fann'd with cool winds; save those who in their course,
Melodious hymns about the sov'reign throne  656Alternate all night long: but not so waked
Sat.n;.o call him now, his former name
Is heard no more in Heaven; he of the first,
If not the first Archangel, great in power,  660
In favor, and pre-eminence, yet fraught
With envy against the Son of God, that day
Honor'd b his great Father, and proclaim'd
Messiah King anointed, could not bear
Through pride that sight, and thought himself impair'd




128           PARADISE LOST.            [Boox V.
Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain,  666
Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour
Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved
With all his legions to dislodge, and leave
Unworship'd, unobey'd, the throne supreme,    670
Contemptuous; and his next subordinate
Awakening, thus to him in secret spake:
Sleep'st thou, companion dear! What sleep can close
Thy eyelids? and remember'st what decree
Of yesterday, so late hath pass'd the lips  675
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     681
What doubtful may ensue: More in this place
To utter is not safe. Assemble thou
Of all th)se myriads which we lead the chief;
Tell them, that by command, ere yet dim night  685
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,      690
The great Messiah, and his new commands,
Who speedily through all the hierarchies
Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.
So spake the false Archangel, and infused
Bad influence into the unwary breast       695
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 disencumber'd Heaven,  700
The great hierarchal standard was to move;




b'V.f  PARADISE LOST.              1]23
Tells the suggested cause, and casts between
Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound
Or taint integrity: but all obey'd
The wonted signal, and superior voice       705
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 Wjtt]lis
Drewwa2t r    thtt laird paat&  Heaven's host.  710
Meanwhile 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   715
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,  720
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  725
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    730
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   735
Justly hast in derision, and, secure,
Laugh'st at their vain designs and tumults vain,




130           PARADISE LOST.             [BooK V
Matter to me of glory, whom their hate
Illustrates, when they see all regal power
Given me to quell their pride, and in event   740
Know whether I be dexterous 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; a host
Innumerable as the stars of night,            74.1
Or stars of morning, dewdrops, which the sun
Impearls on every leaf and every flower.
Regions they pass'd, the mighty regencies
Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones,
In their triple degrees; regions to which     750
All thy dominion, Adam, is no more
Than what this garden is to all the earth
And all the sea, from one entire globose
Stretch'd into longitude; which having pass'd,
At length into the limits of the north        7 55
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 2p1aca.tat.IiAfer (so call                760
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,      765
The Mountain of the Congregation call'd;
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      770
Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears:
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powerst
If these magnific titles yet remain




BOOK V.]      PARADISE LOST.                131
Not merely titular, since by decree
Another now hath to himself engross'd       775
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 honors new,     780
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     785
Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yokel
Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend
The supple kneel Ye will not, if I trust
To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves
Natives and sons of Heaven possess'd before    790
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         795
His equals, if in power and splendor less,
In freedom equal! or can introduce
Law and edict on us, who without law
Err not? much less for this to be our Lord,
And look for adoration, to the abuse        800
Of those imperial titles, which assert
Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve.
Thus far his bold discourse without control
Had audience: when among the Seraphim
Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal adored  805
The Deity, and divine commands obey'd,
Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe
The current of his fury thus opposed.
0 argument blasphemous, false, and proud!




132           PARADISE LOST.           [Boor V.
Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven   81&0
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       815
With regal sceptre, every soul in Heaven
Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due
Confess him rightful King! unjust, thou say'st,
Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free,
And equal over equals to let reign,         820
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 artj"and form'd the Powers of Heaven
Such as he pleased, and circumscribed their being?
Yet, by experience taught, we know how good, 826
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   830
United. But to grant it thee unjust,
That equal over equals monarch reign:
Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count,
Or all angelic nature join'd in one,
Equal to him begotten Son? by whom,         835
As by his Word, the Mighty Father made
All things, e'en thee, and all the Spirits of Heaven
By him created in their bright degrees',
Crown'd them with glory, and to their glory named
Tlbxaes, Domiatiaons, Princvdams, Virtues. Power.,
Essential powers; nor by his reign obscured,  841
But more illustrious made; since he the head
Onre of our number thus reduced becomes;
His laws our laws; all honor to him done
Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage, 845




Bo  V.]       PARADISE LOST.                13]
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,     850
Or singular and rash: Whereat rejoiced
The Apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied:
That we were form'd then, say'st thou? and the work
Of secondary hands, by task transferr'd
From Father to his Son! strange point and new!  855
Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd: who
When this creation was? remember'st thou   [saw
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  860
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  865
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;   870
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.
Hie said: and, as the sound of waters deep,
Hoarse murmur echo'd to his words applause
Through the infinite host; nor less for that
The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone,  875
Encompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd 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  880
Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth
1t




134           PARADISE LOST.           [Boo0 V.
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 recal;  885
That golden sceptre which thou didst reject,
[s 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  890
[mpendent, 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. 895
So spake the Seraph4l Abdiel, faithful found
Among the faithless, faithful only he;
Among innumerable false, unmoved,
Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified,
Htis loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal;  900
Nor number nor example with him wrought
To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind,
Though single. From amidst them forth he pass'd,
Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustain'd
Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught:   905
And, with retorted scorn, his back he turn'd
On those proud towers to swift destruction doom'd.




PARADISE LOST.
BOOK VI.
Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to
battle against Satan and his Angels. The first fight described: Satan and
his Powers retire under night: IHe calls a council; invents devilish engines,
which, in the second day's fight, put Michael and his Angels to some disorder; but they at length, pulling up mountains,overwhelmed both the
force and machines of Satan; Yet, the tumult not so ending, God, on
the third day, sends MESSIAH his son, for whom he had reserved the
glory of that victory: He, in the power of his Father, coming to the place,
and causing all his legions to stand still on either side, with his chariot
and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues thenl, unable
to resist, towards the wall of Heaven: which opening, they leap down
with horror and confusion into the place of punishment prepared for
them in the deep: MESSIAH returns with triumph to his Father.
ALL night the dreadless Angel, unpursued,    [Morn,
Through Heaven's wide champaign held his way; till
Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand
Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave
Within the mount of God, fast by his throne,                 5
WVhere light and darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through
Grateful vicissitude, like day and night;            [Heaven
Light issues forth, and at the other door
Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour                   10
To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well
Seem twilight here: And now went forth the Morn
Such as in highest Heaven array'd in gold
Empyreal; from before her vanish'd Night,
Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain 15
Cover'd 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                   20
135




136            PARADISE LOST.            [Boo3r VL
To have reported: Gladly then he mix'd
Among those friendly Powers, who him received
With joy and acclamations loud, that one,
That of so many myriads fallen, yet one
Return'd not lost. On to the sacred hill       25
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 maintain'd   30
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       3.
To stand approved in sight of God, though world,
Judged thee perverse: The easier conquest now
Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,
Back on thy foes more glorious to return
Than scorn'd thou didst depart; and to subdue    40
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, Mic.hal, of celestial armies prince,
Ancdlthou, in military prowess next,           45
xab.iel, lead forth to battle th-ese my sons
Invincible; lead forth my;.med Saints,
Fy thousands and by rr'ilions, ranged for fight,
Equal in number to'mnat Godless crew
Rebellious: Them with fire and hostile arms    50
Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven
Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss,
Into their place of punishment, the gulf
Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide
His fiery Chaos to receive their fall.         55
So spake the Sov'reign Voice, and clouds began




Boo VI.J      PARADISE LOST.                 137
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:     60
At which command the Powers militant,
That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate join'd
Of Union irresistible, moved on
In silence their bright legions, to the sound
Of instrumental harmony that breathed        65
Heroic ardor to adventurous deeds,
Under their Godlike 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 70
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 summon'd over Eden to receive            5
Their names of thee; so over many a tract
Of Heaven they march'd and mn any a province wide,
Tenfold the length of this teirrene: At last,
Far in the horizon to the north appear'd
From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretch'd  80
In battalious aspect, and nearei view,
Bristled with upright beams innumerable
Of rigid spears, and helmets throng'd, and shields
Various, with boastful argument portray'd,
The banded Powers of Satan hasting on        85
With furious expedition; for they ween'd
That selfsame 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 90
In the mid way: Though strange to us it seem'd
At first that Angel should with Angel war,
K                 12*




1358          PARADISE LOST.           [Boot VI.
And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet
So oft in festivals of joy and love
Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire,        95
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,  100
Idol of majesty divine, enclosed
WVith 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     105
Presented stood in terrible array
Of hideous length: Before the cloudy van
On the rough edge of battle ere it join'd,
Satan with vast and haughty strides advanced
Came towering, arm'd in adamant and gold;   110
Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood
Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,
And thus his own undaunted heart explores:
O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest
Should yet remain, where faith and realty   115
Remain not: Wherefore should not strength and might
There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove
Where boldest, though to sight unconquerable?
His puissance, trusting in the Almighty's aid,
I mean to try, whose reason I have tried    120
Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just,
That he, who in debate of truth hath won,
Should win in arms, in both disputes alike
Victor; though brutish that contest and foul
When reason hath to deal with force, yet so  125
Most reason is that reason overcome.
So pondering, and from his armed peers
Forth stepping opposite, half way he met




Boo~ VI.]     PARADISE LOST.                ]3t
His daring foe, at this prevention more
Incensed, and thus securely him defied:     130
Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reach'd
The height of thy aspiring unopposed,
The throne of God unguarded, and his side
Abandon'd, at the terror of thy power
Or potent tongue: Fool! not to think how vain  135
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,     140
Unaided, could have finish'd thee, and whelm'd
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           145
Seem'd 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 answer'd: Ill for thee, but in wish'd hour  150
Of my revenge, first sought for, thou return'st
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   155
A third part of the Gods, in synod met
Their deities to assert; who, while they feel
Vigor divine within them, can allow
Omnipotence to none. But well thou comest
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win        160
From me some plume, that thy success may show
Destruction to the rest; This pause between
(Unanswer'd lest thou boast,) to let thee know
At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven.




140            PARADISE LOST.           [BOOK VI.
To heavenly souls had been all one; but now   165
I see that most through sloth had rather serve,
Ministering Spirits, train'd up in feast and song!
Such hast thou arm'd, the minstrelsy of Heaven,
Servility with freedom to contend,
As both their deeds compared this day shall prove. 170
To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied:
Apostate! still thou err'st, nor end wilt find
Of erring, from the path of truth remote:
Unjustly thou deprav'st it with the name
Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains      175
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 rebell'd
Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,  180
Thyself not free, but to thyself enthrall'd;
Yet lewdly dar'st our ministering upbraid.
Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve
In heaven God ever bless'd, and his divine
Behests obey, worthiest to be obey'd;        185
Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect; Meanwhile
From me, return'd, as erst thou saidst, from flight,
This greeting on thy impious crest receive.
So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,
Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell  190
On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight,
Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield,
Such ruin intercept: Ten paces huge
He back recoil'd; the tenth on bended knee
His massy spear upstaid: as if on earth      195
Winds under ground, or waters forcing way,
Sidelong had push'd a mountain from his seat
Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seized
The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see
Thus foil'd their mightiest; ours joy fill'd, and shout,




BOOK VI.]     PARADISE LOST.                141
Presage of victory, and fierce desire       201
Of battle: Whereat Michael bid sound
The Archangel trumpet; through the vast of Heaven
It sounded, and the faithful armies rung 
Hosanna to the Highest: Nor stood at gaze   205
The adverse legions, nor less hideous join'd
The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose,
And clamor such as heard in Heaven till now
Was never; arms on armor clashing bray'd
Horrible discord, and the madding wheels    210
Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise
Of conflict; overhead the dismal hiss
Of fiery darts in flaming volleys flew,
And flying vaulted either host with fire.
So under fiery cope together rush'd         215
Both battles main, with ruinous assault
And inextinguishable rage.. All Heaven
Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth
Had to her centre shook. What wonder' when
Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought   220
On either side, the least of whom could wield
These elements, and arm him with the force
Of all their regions: How much more of Power
Army against army numberless to raise
Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb,   225
Though not destroy, their happy native seat;
Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent,
From his strong hold of Heaven, high overruled
And limited their might; though number'd such
As each divided legion might have seem'd    230
A numerous host; in strength each armed hand
A legion; led in fight, yet leader seem'd
Each warrior single as in chief, expert
When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway
Of battle, open when, and when to close     235
The ridges of grim war: No thought of flight,




142           PARADISE LOST.           [BOOiK VI.
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           240
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 seem'd then
Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale   245
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 fell'd 250
Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway
Brandish'd 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,       256
A vast circumference. At his approach
The great Archangel from his warlike toil
Surceased, and glad as hoping here to end
Intestine war in Heaven, the archfoe subdued
Or captive dragg'd in chains, with hostile frown  260
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,    265
And thy adherents: How hast thou disturb'd
Heaven's blessed peace, and into nature brought
Misery, uncreated till the crime
Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instill'd
Thy malice into thousands, once upright     270
And faithful, now proved false! But think not here
To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out




BooK VI.]      PARADISE LOST.               A43
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,    275
Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell;
Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils,
Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom,
Or some more sudden vengeance, wing'd from God,
Precipitate thee with augmented pain.       280
So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus
the Adversary. Nor think thou with wind
Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds
Thou canst not. Hast thou turn'd the least of these
To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise  285
Unvanquish'd, 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 call'st evil, but we style
The strife of glory; which we mean to win,  290
Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell
Thou fablest; here however to dwell free,
If not to reign: Meanwhile thy utmost force,
And join him named Almighty to thy aid,
I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh.    295
They ended parle, and both address'd 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 height            300
Of Godlike powerS for likest Gods they seem'd;
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 305
Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood
In horror: From each hand with speed retired,
Where erst was thickest fight, the angelic throng,




144           PARADISE LOST.            [BooK VI.
And left large field, unsafe within the wind
Of such commotion; such as, to set forth     310
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      316
Uplifted imminent, one stroke they aim'd
That might determine, and not need repeat,
As not of power at once; nor odds appear'd
In might or swift prevention: But the.sword  320
Of Michael from the armory of God.
Was given him temper'd 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,    325
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
Pass'd through him: But the ethereal substance closed,
Not long divisible; and from the gash        331
A stream of nectarous humor issuing flow'd
Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed,
And all his armor stained, erewhile so bright.
Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run    335
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,    340
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 heal'd; for Spirits that live throughout




Book VI.]      PARADISE LOST.
Vital in every part, not as frail man
In entrails, heart or 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 color, shape, or size
Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.
Meanwhile in other parts like deeds deserved
Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,   355
And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array
Of Moloch, furious king; who him defied,
And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound
Threaten'd, nor from the Holy One of Heaven
Refrain'd his tongue blasphemous; but anon   360
Down cloven to the waist, with shatter'd arms
And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing
Uriel, and Raphael, his vaunting foe,
Though huge, and in a rock of diamond arm'd,
Vanquish'd Adramelech, and Asmadai,         365
Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods
Disdain'd, but meaner thoughts learn'd in their flight.
Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail
Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy
The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow   370
Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence
Of Ramiel scorch'd and blasted, overthrew.
I might relate of thousands, and their names
Eternize here on earth: but those elect
Angels, contented with their fame in HI-eaven,  375
Seek not the praise of men: The other snrt,
In might though wondrous and in acts oi wa:,
Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom
Cancel'd from Heaven and sacred memory,
Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell.   330
13




146           PARADISE LOST.            IBoOK VI.
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.    385
And now, their mightiest quell'd, the battle swerved,
With many an inroad gored; deformed rout
Enter'd, and foul disorder; all the ground
With shiver'd armor strown, and on a heap
Chariot and charioteer lay overturn'd,       390
And fiery-foaming steeds; what stood recoil'd
O'er wearied, through the faint Satanic host
Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised,
Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain,
Fled ignominious, to such evil brought      395
By sin of disobedience; till that hour
Not liable to fear or flight or pain.
Far otherwise the inviolable Saints
In cubic phalanx firm, advanced entire,
Invulnerable, impenetrably arm'd;           400
Such high advantages their innocence
Gave them above their foes; not to have sinn'd,
Not to have disobey'd; in fight they stood
Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd
By wound, though from their place by violence moved.
Now night her course began, and, over Heaven 406
Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed,
And silence on the odious din of war:
Under her cloudy covert both retired,
Victor and vanquish'd; On the foughten field    410
Michael and his Angels prevalent
Encamping, placed in guard their watches round
Cherubic waving fires: On the other part
Satan with his rebellious disappear'd,
Far in the dark dislodged; and, void of rest,    415
His potentates to council call'd by night;




BOOK VI.]     PARADISE LOST.               147
And in the midst thus undismay'd began:
O now in danger tried, now known in arms
Not to be overpowered, Companions dear,
Found worthy not of liberty alone,         420
Too mean pretence! but what we more affect,
Honor, dominion, glory, and renown;
Who have sustained one day in doubtful fight,
(And if one day, why not eternal days?),VWhat Heaven's Lord had powerfulest to send    425
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 arm'd, 430
Some disadvantage we endured and pain,
Till now not known, but, known, as soon contemn'd;
Since now we find this our empyreal form
Incapable of mortal injury,
Imperishable and, though pierced with wound, 435
Soon closing, and by native vigor heal'd.
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  440
Or equal what between us made the odds,
In nature none: if other hidden cause
Left them superior, while we can preserve
Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound,
Due search and consultation will disclose.  445
He sat; and in the assembly next upstood
Nisroch, of Principalities the prime;
As one he stood escaped from cruel fight,
Sore toil'd, his riven arms to havoc hewn,
And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake:    450
Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free
Enjoyment of our right as Gods: yet hard




148           PARADISE LOST.            [BooK VI.
For Gods, and two unequal work we find,
Against unequal arms to fight in pain,
Against unpain'd, impassive; from which evil   455
Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails
Valor or strength, though matchless, quell'd with pain,
Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands
Of mightiest? Sense of' pleasure we may well
Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,   460
But live content, which is the calmest life:
But pain is perfect misery, the worst
Of evils, and, excessive, overturns
All patience. He, who therefore can invent
With what more forcible we may offend        465
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       470
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, adorn'd
With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold;
Whose eye so superficially surveys           476
These things, as not to mind from whence they grow
Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,
Of spirituous and fiery spume, till touch'd
With Heaven's ray, and ternper'd, they shoot forth 480
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 ramm'd, at the other bore with touch of fire 485
Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth
From far, with thundering noise, among our foes
Such implements of mischief as shall dash




BoOK VI.]      PARADISE LOST.                 49
To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands
Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarm'd   490
The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt.
Nor long shall be our labor: yet ere dawn,
Effect shall end our wish. Meanwhile revive;
Abandon fear; to strength and counsel join'd
Think nothing hard, much less to be despair'd.   495
He ended, and his words their drooping cheer
Enlighten'd, and their languish'd hope revived.
The invention all admired, and each, how he
To be the inventor miss'd; so easy it seem'd [thought
Once found, which yet unfound most would have
Impossible: Yet haply of thy race           501
In future days, if malice should abound,
Some one intent on mnischief, or inspired
With devilish machination, might devise
Like instrument to plague the sons of men    505
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 turn'd'Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath    510
The originals of nature in their crude
Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam
They found, they mingled, and, with subtile art,
Concocted and adjusted, they reduced
To blackest grain, and into store convey'd:  515
Part hidlen 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,  520
So all ere dayspring, under conscious night,
Secret they finish'd, and in order set,
With silent circumspection, unespiled.
Now when fair morn orient in Heaven appear'd,
13 *




150           PARADISE LOST.            [BOOK VI.
Up rose the victor-Angels, and to arms       525
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,     530
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,      535
Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried:
Arm, Warriors, 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     540
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,  545
But rattling storms of arrows barb'd with fire.
So warn'd he them, aware themselves, and soon
In order, quit of all impediment;
Instant without disturb they took alarm,
And onward moved embattled: When behold!   550
Not distant far with heavy piacej the foe
Approaching gross and hu.ge, in hollow.cube
Training his devilish enginery, impaled
On every side with shadowing squadrons deep,
To hide the fraud. At interview both stood  555
Awhile; but suddenly at head appear'd
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   560




BooKr VI.J     PARADISE LOST.                151
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,    565
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 dnd left the front
Divided, and to either flank retired:       570
Which to our eyes discover'd, new and strange,
A trjlle mounted row —of pillars laid
On wheels (for like to pillars most they seem'd,
Or hollow'd bodies made of oak or fir,
With branches lopp'd, in wood or mountain fell'd,)
Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths  576
With hideous orifice gaped on us wide,
Portending hollow truce: At each behind
A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed
Stood waving tipp'd with fire: while we, suspense,
Collected stood within our thoughts amused,    581
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 appear'd,
From those deep-throated engines belch'd, whose roar
Embowel'd with outrageous noise the air,
And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul
Their devilish glut, chain'd thunderbolts and hail
Of iron globes; which on the victor host    590
Level'd, with such impetuous fury smote,
That whom they hit none on their feet might stand,
Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell
By thousands, Angel on Archangel roll'd;
The sooner for their arms; unarm'd, they might  595
Have easily, as Spirits, evaded swift




152           PARADISE LOST.           LBooK VI.
By quick contraction or remove; but now
Foul dissipation follow'd, and forced rout;
Nor served it to relax their serried files.
What should they do! if on they rush'd, repulse 600
Repeated, and indecent overthrow
Doubled, would render them yet more despised,
And to their foes a laughter; for in view
Stood rank'd of Seraphim another row,
In posture to displode their second tire    605
Of thunder: Back defeated to return
They worse abhorred. Satan beheld their plight,
And to his mates thus in derision call'd:
O Friends! why come not on these victors proud!
Ere while they fierce were coming; and when we 610
To entertain them fair with open front
And breast, (what could we more?)propounded terms
Of composition, straight they chang'd their minds,
Flew off and into strange vagaries fell,
As they would dance; yet for a dance they seem'd 615
Somewhat extravagant and wild: perhaps
For joy of offer'd 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: 620
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;    625
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, heighten'd in their thoughts beyond
All doubt of victory: Eternal Might         630
To match with their inventions they presumed
So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn,




BooK VI.]     PARADISE LOST.                 153
And all his host derided, while they stood
Awhile in trouble: But they stood -not long;
Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms
Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose.  636
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     640
Of pleasure situate in hill and dale,)
Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew;
Frorm their foundations loosening to and fro,
They pluck'd the seated hills, with all their load,
Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops   645
Uplifting bore them in their hands: Amaze,
Be sure, and terror seized the rebel host,
When coming towards them so dread they saw
The bottom of the mountains upward turn'd;
Till on those cursed engines' triple-row    650
They saw them whelm'd, and all their confidence
Under the weigbf mxnountains buxied deep;
Themselves invaded next, and on their heads
Main promontories flung, which in the air   654
Camne shadowing, and oppress'd whole legions arm'd;
Their armor helped their harm, crush'd 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, 660
Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown.
The rest, in imitation, to like arms
Betook them, and the neighboring hills uptore:
So hills amid the air encounter'd hills,
Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire;     665
That under ground they fought in dismal shade;
Infernal noise! war seem'd a civil game
To this uproar; horrid confusion heap'd
L




'54           PARADISE LOST.           [BooK VNI.
Upon confusion rose: and now all Heaven
Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread;    670
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,  675
To honor his anointed Son avenged
Upon his enemies, and to declare
All power on him transferr'd: whence to his Son,
The Assessor of his throne, he thus began:
Effulgence of my glory, Son beloved,      680
Son, in whose face invisible is beheld
Visibly what by Deity I am;
And in whose hand what by decree I do,
Second Omnipotence! two days are pass'd,
Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven,  68o
Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame
These disobedient: sore hath been their fight,
As likeliest was, when two such foes met arm'd;
For to themselves I left them; and thou know'st,
Equal in their creation they were form'd,   690
Save what sin hath impair'd; 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 perform'd what war can do,  695
And to disorder'd rage let loose the reins,
With mountains, as with weapons, arm'd; which makes
Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main.
Two days are therefore pass'd, the third is thine;
For thee I have ordain'd it; and thus far   700
Have suffer'd, 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




BooK V'I.]     PARADISE LOS T.               155
In Heaven and Hell thy power above compare;  705
And, this perverse commotion govern'd 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; 710
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   715
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 express'd  72C
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,          725
As is most just: this I my glory account,
My exaltation, and my whole delight,
That thou, in me well pleased, declar'st thy will
Fulfill'd, which to fulfil is all my bliss.
Sceptre and power, thy giving, I assume,    730
And gladlier shall resign, when in the end
Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee
For ever; and in me all whom thou lovest:
But whom thou hatest I hate, and can put on
Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on,      735
Image of thee in all things; and shall soon,
Arm'd with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebell'd;
ro their prepared ill mansion driven down,
ro chains of darkness, and the undying worm;
That from thy just obedience could revolt,  740




1t6           PARADISE LOST.           [Boor Vi.
Whom to obey is happiness entire.
Then shall thy Saints unmix'd, and from the impure
Far separate, circling thy holy mount,
Unfeigned Hallelujahs to thee sing,
Hymns of high praise, and I among them Chief. 745;
So said, he, o'er his sceptre bowing, rose
From the right hand of Glory where he sat;
And the third sacred morn began to shine,
Dawning through Heaven. Forth rush'd with whirl
The chariot of Paternal Deity,     [wind sound,
Flasning thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn,
Itself instinct with Spirit, but convoy'd   752
By four Cherubic shapes; four faces each
Had wondrous; as with stars, their bodies all
And wings were set with eyes; with eyes the wheels
Of beryl, and careering fires between;      756
Over their heads a crystal firmament,
Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure
Amber, and colors of the showery arch.
He, in celestial panoply all arm'd          760
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 roll'd   76b
Of smoke and bickering flame and sparkles dire:
Attended with ten 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;  770
Ile 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     775
Aloft by angels borne, his sign in Heaven;




BooK VI.]      PARADISE LOST.                 lr7
Under whose conduct Michael soon reduced
His army, circumfused on either wing,
Under their head embodied all in one.
Before him Power Divine his way prepared:     78G
At his command the uprooted hills retired
Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went
Obsequious; Heaven his wonted face renew'd,
And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled.
This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured  785
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!       790
They, harden'd more by what might most reclaim,
Grieving to see his glory, at the sight
Took envy; and, aspiring to his height,
Stood reembattled fierce, by force or fraud
Weening to prosper, and at length prevail    79S
Against God and Messiah, or to fall
In universal ruin last; and now
To final battle drew, disdaining flight,
Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God
To all his host on either hand thus spake:    800
Stand still in bright array, ye Saints; here stand,
Ye angels arm'd; 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,      805
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 ordain'd,
Nor multitude; stand only, and behold         810
God's indignation on these godless pour'd
By me; not you, but me they have despised,
14




158           PARADISE LOS1'.          [BooK VI.
Yet envied; against me is all their rage,
Because the Father, to whom in Heaven supreme
Kingdom and power and glory appertains,     815
Hath honor'd me, according to his will.
Therefore to me their doom he hath assign'd;
That they may have their wish, to try with me
In battle which the stronger proves; they all,
Or I atone against them; since by strength  820
They measure all of other excellence
Not emulous, nor care who them excels;
Nor other strife with them do I vouchsafe.
So spake the Son, and into terror changed
His countenance too severe to be beheld,    825
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 roll'd, as with the sound
Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host.   830
He on his impious foes right onward drove,
Gloomy as night; under his burning wheels
The steadfast empyrean shook throughout,
All but the throne itself of God,full soon
Among them he arrived; in his right hand    835
Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent
Before him, such as in their souls infix'd
Plagues: they, astonish'd, all resistance lost,
All courage; down their idle weapons dropp'd:
O'er shields and helms and helmed heads he rode 840
Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate,
That wish'd 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  845
Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels
Distinct alike with multitude of eyes;
One Spirit in them ruled; and every eye




BooK VI.]      PARADISE LOST.                 159
Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire
Among the accursed, that wither'd all their strength,
And of their wonted vigor left them drain'd,    851
Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen.
Yet half his strength he put not forth, but check'd
HIis thunder in mid volley; for he meant
Not to destroy, but root them out of Ieaven:    855
The overthrown he raised; and, as a herd
Of goats or timorous flock together throng'd,
Drove them before him thunderstruck, pursued
With terrors, and with furies, to the bounds
And crystal wall of Heaven: which, opening wide, 860
Roll'd inward, and a spacious gap disclosed
Into the wasteful deep: the monstrous sight
Struck them with horror backward, but far worse
Urged them behind: headlong themselves they threw
Down from the verge of Heaven; eternal wrath 865
Burn'd after them to the bottomless pit.
Hell heard the unsufferable noise, Hell saw
Heaven running from Heaven, and would have fled
Aftrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep
Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound.   870
Niine days they fell: confounded Chaos roar'd,
And felt tenfold confusion in their fall
Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout
Encumber'd him with ruin: Hell at last
Yawning received them %vhole, and on them closed,
Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire  876
Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain.
Disburden'd Heaven rejoiced and soon repair'd
Hter mural breach, returning whence it roll'd.
Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes,  880
Messiah his triumphal chariot turn'd:
To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood
Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts,
With jubilee advanced; and, as they went




160           PARADISE LOST.          [BooK VI.
Shaded with branching palm, each Order bright 885
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    190
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 mayst beware
By what is pass'd, to thee I have reveal'd  895
What might have else to human race been hid;
The discord which befel, and war in Heaven
Among the angelic Powers, and the deep fall
Of those too high aspiring, who rebell'd
With Satan; he who envies now thy state,  900
Who now is plotting how he may seduce
Thee also from obedience, that, with him
Bereaved of happiness, thou mayst partake
His punishment, eternal misery;
Which would be all his solace and revenge,  905
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            910
Of disobedience; firm they might have stood,
Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.




PARADISE LOST.
BOOK VII.
Raphael, at the request of Adam, relates how and wherefore this world
was first created; that God, after the expelling of Satan and his Angels
out of Heaven, declared his pleasure to create another world, and other
creatures to dwell therein; sends his Son with glory and attendance of
Angels to perform the work of Creation in six days: the Angels cele
brate with hymns the performance thereof, and his reascension into HeaTen.
DESCEND from Heaven, Urania, by that name
If rightly thou art call'd, 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               5
Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top
Of old Olympus dwell'st; but heavenly born,
Befbre the hills appear'd or fountain flow'd,
Thou with eternal Wisdom  didst converse,
Wisdom thy sister, and with her didst play               10
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,             15
Return me to my native element:
Lest from this flying steed unrein'd (as once
Bellerophon, though from a lower clime,)
Dismounted, on the Aleian field I fall,
Erroaeous there to wander, and forlorn.                 20
Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound
Within the visible diurnal sphere;
Standing on earth, not wrapp'd above the pole,
14:




162           PARADISE LOST.          [Boost VIL
More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged
To hoarse or mute, though fallen on evil days,    25
On evil days though fallen, and evil tongues;
In darkness, and- with dangers compass'd round,
And solitude: ye'f not alone, while thou
Visit'st my slumbers nightly, or when morn
Purples the east: still govern thou my song,  30
Urania, and fit audience find, though few.
But drive far off the barbarous dissonance
Of Bacchus and his revellers, the race
Of that wild rout that tore the Thracian bard
In Rhodope, where woods and rocks had ears    35
To rapture, till the savage clamor drown'd
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,    40
The affable Archangel, had forewarn'd
Adam, by dire example, to beware
Apostacy, by what befel in Heaven
To those apostates: lest the like befal
In Paradise to Adam or his race,            4:
Charged not to touch the interdicted tree,
If they transgress, and slight that sole command,
So easily obey'd amid the choice
Of all tastes else to please their appetite,
Though wandering. He, with his consort Eve,  50
The story heard attentive, and was fill'd
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,  55
With such confusion: but the evil, soon
Driven back, redounded as a flood on those
From whom it sprang; impossible to mix
With blessedness. Whence Adam soon repeal'd




BooK VII.]    PARADISE LOST.                163
The doubts that in his heart arose: and now  60
Led on, yet sinless with desire to know
What nearer might concern him, how this wor. d
Of Heaven and Earth conspicuous first began;
When, and whereof created; for what cause;
What within Eden, or without, was done       65
Before his memory; as one whose drouth
Yet scarce allay'd 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,   70
Far differing from this world, thou hast reveal'd,
Divine interpreter! by favor sent
Down from the empyrean, to forewarn
Us timely of what might else have been our loss,
Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach:
For which to the infinitely Good we owe      76
Immortal thanks, and his admonishment
Receive, with solemn purpose to observe
Immutably his sov'reign will, the end
Of what we are. But since thou hast vouchsafed 80
Gently, for our instruction, to impart
Things above earthly thought, which yet concern'd
Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seem'd,
Deign to descend now lower, and relate
What may no less perhaps avail us known,     85
How first began this Heaven which we behold
Distant so high, with moving fires adorn'd
Innumerable; and this which yields or fills
All space, the ambient air wide interfused
Embracing round this florid Earth; what cause    90
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 mayst unfold
What we, not to explore the secrets, ask.    95




64          PARADISE LOST.            [Boor VII.
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,   100
And longer wil! 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 105
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 answer'd mild:   110
This also thy request, with caution ask'd,
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 ser 3 115
To glorify the Maker: and infer
Thee also happier, shall not be withheld
Thy hearing; such commission from above
I have received, to answer thy desire
Of knowledge within bounds; beyond, abstain   120
To ask; nor let thine own inventions hope
Things not reveal'd, which the invisible King,
Only Omniscient, hath suppress'd in night;
To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:
Enough is left besides to search and know.  126
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.    130
Know then, that, after Lucifer from Heaven




5iooK VII.)   PARADISE LOST.                165
(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 return'd  135
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 fail'd who thought
All like himself rebellious, by whose aid   140
This inaccessible high strength, the seat
Of Deity supreme, us dispossess'd,
He trusted to have seized, and into fraud
Drew many, whom their place knows here no more:
Yet far the greater part have kept, I see,  145
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   150
A:r'eady done, to have dispeopled Heaven,
My damage fondly deem'd, 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        155
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  h be changed  to Heaven, and. H.a e   alh,,
One kingdom, joy and union without end.     161
Meanwhile inhabit lax, ye Powers of Heaven;
And thou, my word, begotten Son, by thee
This I perform; speak thou, and be it done!
Mly overshadowing Spirit and Might with thee   165
I send along; ride forth, and bid the deep
Within appointed bounds be Heaven and Earth;




166           PARADISE LOST.          [BooK VII.
Boundless the deep, because I Am who fill
Infinitude, nor vacuous the space.
Though I, uncircumscribed myself, retire,   170
And put not forth my goodness, which is free
To act or not, Necessity and Chance
Approach not me, ah whatd.wwilli A
So spake the Almighty, and to what he spake,
His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect.  175
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,  180
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   185
And the habitation of the just; to Him
Glory and praise, whose wisdom had ordain'd
Good out of evil to create; instead
Of Spirits malign, a better race to bring
Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse  190
His good to worlds and ages infinite.
So sang the Hierarchies: meanwhile the Son
On his great expedition now appear'd,
Girt with Omnipotence, with radiance crown'd
Of Majesty Divine; sapience and love        195
Immense, and all his Father in him shone.
About his chariot numberless were pour'd
Cherub, and Seraph, Potentates, and Thrones,
And Virtues, winged Spirits, and chariots wing'd
From the armory of God; where stand of old    200
Myriads, between two brazen mountains lodged
Against a solemn day, harness'd at hand,
Celestial equipage; and now came forth




BOOK VII.]    PARADISE LOST                  167
Spontaneous, for within them Spirit lived
Attendant on their Lord: Heaven open'd widke    205
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 view'd the vast immeasurable abyss     211
Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild,
Up from the bottom turn'd by furious winds
And surging waves, as mountains, to assault   214
Heaven's height, and with the centre mix the pole.
Silence, ye troubled Waves, and, thou Deep, peace
Said then the Omnific Word; your discord end!
Nor staid; but on the wings of Cherubim
Uplifted, in paternal glory rode
Far into Chaos, and the world unborn;       220
For Chaos heard his voice: Him all his train
Follow'd 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      225
In God's eternal store, to circumscribe.
This universe, and all created things:
One fo         tttire  tlkri triind
Rouind through the vyast profundity Qbsqu.x. cu
And said;  Thu'ts far extend,.thu.sJf.ar.ty. bands; 230
This be thy just circumferuc.a World!
TIhus od the Heaven created, thus the Earth,
Matter unform'd and void; darkness profound
Cover'd the abyss: but on the watery caln
His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread, 235
And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth
Throughout the fluid mass; but downward purged
The black tartarcous cold infernal dregs,
Adverse to life: then founded, then conglobed




!.:           PARADISE LOST.          [BCOK VII.
Like things to like; the rest to several place  240
Disparted, and between spun out the air;
And earth self-balanced on her centre 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 245
To journey through the aery gloom began,
Sphered in a radiant cloud, for yet the sun
Was not; she in a cloudy tabernacle
Sojourn'd the while. God saw the light was good;
And light from darkness by the hemisphere   250
Divided: light the Day, and darkness Night,
He named. Thus was the first day even and morn;
Nor pass'd uncelebrated, or unsung
By the celestial choirs, when orient light
Exhaling first from darkness they beheld;   256
Birthday of Heaven and Earth; with joy and shout
The hollow universal orb they fill'd,
And touch'd 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   26i
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        265
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 Fide  270
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.     275




BooK VII.J    PARADISE LOST.                169
The Earth was form'd, but, in the womb as yet
Of waters, embryon immature involved,
Appear'd not: over all the face of Earth
Main ocean flow'd, not idle; but, with warm
Prolific humor softening all her globe,     280
Fermented the great mother to conceive,
Satiate with genial moisture; when God said,
Be gather'd now, ye waters under Heaven,
Into one place, and let dry land appear.
Immediately the mountains huge appear       285
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       290
Hasted with glad precipitance, uproll'd,
As drops on dust conglobing from the dry:
Part rise in crystal wall, or ridge direct,
For haste; such flight the great command impress'd
On the swift floods: as armies at tle call  295
Of trumpet (for of armies thou hast heard)
Troop to their standard; so the watery throng,
Nave rolling after wave, where way they found,
If steep, with torrent rupture, if through plain,
Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them rock or hill;    300
But they, or under ground, or circuit wide
With serpent error wandering, found their way,
And on the washy ooze deep channels wore;
Easy, ere God had bid the ground be dry,
All but within those banks, where rivers now    305
Stream, and perpetual draw their humid train.
The dry land Earth, and the great receptacle
Of congregated waters he call'd Seas:
And saw that it was good: and said, Let the Earth
Put forth the verdant grass, herb yielding seed,  310
And fruit-tree yielding fruit after her kind,
M              15




170           PARADISE LOST.           [BooK VII.
Whose seed is in herself upon the Earth.
He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then
Desert and bare, unsightly, unadorn'd,
Brought forth the tender grass, whose verdure clad 315
Her universal face with pleasant green;
Then herbs of every leaf, that sudden flower'd
Opening their various colors, and made gay
Her bosom, smelling sweet: and, these scarce blown,
Forth flourish'd thick the clustering vine, forth crept
The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed  326
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 gemm'd 325
Their blossoms: with high woods the hills were crown'd:
With tufts the valleys, and each fountain side;
With borders long the rivers: the Earth now
Seem'd like to Heaven, a seat where Gods might dwell]
Or wander with delight, and love to haunt   330
Her sacred shadeslthough God had yet not rain'd
Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground
None was; but from the Earth a dewy mist
Went up, and water'd all the ground, and each
Plant of the field; which, ere it was in the Earth, 335
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    340
The day from night; and let them be for signs,
For seasons, and for days, and circling years;
And let them be for lights, as I ordain
Their office in the firmament of Heaven,
To give light on the Earth; and it was so.  34b
And God made two great lights, great for their use
To Man, the greater to have rule by day,




Boom VII.J    PARADISE LOST.                  171
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     350
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,   355
Though of ethereal mould: then form'd the moon
Globose, and every magnitude of stars,
And sow'd with stars the Heaven, thick as a field:
Of light by far the greater part he took,
Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and placed 360
In the sun's orb, made porous to receive
And drink the liquid light; firm to retain
Her gather'd beams, great palace now of light.
Hither, as to their fountain, other stars
Repairing, in their golden urns draw light,   365
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,  370
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, 375
But opposite in level'd west was set,
His mirror, with full face borrowing her light
From him; for other light she needed none
In that aspect, and still that distance keeps'Till night; then in the east her turn she shines,  38u
Revolved on Heaven's great axle, and her reign
With thousand lesser lights dividual holds,
With thousand thousand stars, that then appear'd




172            PARADISE LOST.           [Book VII
Spangling the hemisphere: then first adorn'd
With their bright luminaries that set and rose,   385
Glad evening and glad morn crown'd the fourth day.
And God said, Let the waters generate
Reptile with spawn abundant, living souls:
And let fowl fly above the Earth, with wings
Display'd on the open firmament of Heaven.    390
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 bless'd them, saying,
Be fruitful, multiply, and in the seas        396
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        400
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 seaweed their pasture, and through groves
Of coral stray; or, sporting with quick glance,    405
Show to the sun their waved coats dropp'd 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    410
Wallo.wi.ng. Unwieldvy, enormous in their gait,
Tempest the ocean: there leviathan,
Hugest of living creatures, on the deep
Stretch'd like a promontory, sleeps or swims,
And seems a moving land; and at his gills    415
Draws in, and at his trunk spouts out, a sea.
Meanwhile the tepid caves and fens and shores
Their brood as numerous hatch, from the egg that soon
Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclosed  419




BooK VII.]    PARADISE LOST.                173
Their callow young; but feather'd soon and fledge
They summ'd their pens; and, soaring the air sublime,
With clang despised the ground, under a cloud
In prospect; there the eagle and the stork
On cliff and cedar tops their eyries build:
Part loosely wing the region, part more wise  425
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  430
Her annual voyage, borne on winds; the air
Floats as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd 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  435
Ceased warbling, but all night tuned 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  440
The dank, and rising on stiff pennons, tower
The mid aerial sky: others on ground
WValk'd firm; the crested cock whose clarion sounds
The silent hours, and the other whose gay train
Adorns him, color'd with the florid hue     445
Of rainbows and starry eyes. The waters thus
With fish replenish'd, 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, 450
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 obey'd, and straight
Opening her fertile womb teem'd at a birth
Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms,  455
15 *




174           PARADISE LOST.          [BOOK V11.
Limb'd and full grown: out of the ground uprose,
As from his lair, the wild beast,where he runs
In forest wild, in thicket, brake, or den;
Among the trees in pairs they rose, they walk'd:
The cattle in the fields and meadows green:  460
Those rare and solitary, these in flocks
Pasturing at once, and in broad herds upsprung.
The grassy clods now calved; now half appear'd
The tawny lion pawing to get free           464
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    469
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, 475
Insect or worm: those waved their limber fans
For wings, and smallest lineaments exact
In all the liveries deek'd of summer's pride,
With spots of gold and purple, azure and green:
These, as a line, their long dimension drew,    480
Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all
Minims of nature; some of serpent kind,
Wondrous in length and corpulence, involved
Their snaky folds, and added wings. First crept
The parsimonious emmet, provident           485
Of future; in small room large heart enclosed;
Pattern of just equality perhaps
Hereafter, joined in her popular tribes
Of commonalty: swarming next appear'd
The female bee, that feeds her husband drone   490
Deliciously, and builds her waxen cells




Boox VII.]    PARADISE LOST.                175
With honey stored: the rest are numberless,
And thou their natures know'st,and gav'st them names,
Needless to thee repeated; nor unknown
The serpent subtlest beast of all the field,  495
Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes
And hairy mane terrific, though to thee
Not noxious, but obedient at thy call.
wifow Heaven in all her glory shone an I roll'd
Her motions, as the great first Mover's hand  500
First wheel'd their course: Earth in her rich attire
Consummate lovely smiled; air, water, earth,
By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was walk'd,
Frequent; and of the sixth day yet remain'd:
There wanted yet the master-work, the end   505
Of all yet done; a creature, who not prone
And brute as other creatures, but endued
With sancthyoYre1~fte    rect
His stature, and upright with front serene
Govern the rest, self-knowing; and from thence  510
Magnanimous to correspond with Heaven.
But grateful to acknowledge whence his good
Descends; thither with heart, and voice, and eyes
Directed in devotion to adore
And worship God Supreme, who made him chief 515
Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent
Eternal Father (for where is not he
Present!) thus to his Son audibly spake:
Let us make now Man in our image, Man
In our similitude, and let them rule        520
Over the fish and fowl of sea and air,
Beast of the field, and over all the Earth,
And every creeping thing that creeps the ground
This said, he form'd thee, Adam, thee, O Man,
Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed  525
The breath of life; in his o.Wnmag e he
Crate dthee, i-aitabimaige-ofod




176            PARADISE LOST.          [Booz VII.
Express; and thou becamest a living soul.
Male he created thee; but thy consort
Female, for race; then bless'd mankind, and said, 530
Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth;
Subdue it, and throughout dominion hold
Over fish of the sea, and fowl of the air,
And every living thing that moves on the Earthj
Wherever thus created, for no place         535
Is yet distinct by name; thence, as thou know'st,
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  540
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 mayst not; in the daton 
Death is the penalty imposed; beware,       545
And govern well thy appetite; lest Sin
Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.
Here finish'd he, and all that he had made
View'd, and behold all was entirely good;
So even and morn accomplish'd the sixth day;   5b0
Yet not till the Creator from his work
Desisting, though unwearied, up return'd,
Up to the Heaven of Heavens, his high abode;
Thence to behold this new created world,
The addition of his empire, how it show'd   555
In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair,
Answering his great idea. Up he rode
Follow'd with acclamation, and the sound
Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tuned
Angelic harmonies: the earth, the air       560
Resounded (thou remember'st, for thou heard'st,)
The heavens and all the constellations rung,
The planets in their station listening stood,




BooK VII.]    PARADISE LOST.                177
While the bright pomp ascended jubilant.
Open, ye everlasting gates! they sung,      565
Open, ye Heavens! your living doors; let in
The great Creator from his work return'd
Magnificent, his six days' work, a World;
Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deign
To visit oft the dwellings of just men,     570
Delighted; and with frequent intercourse
Thither will send his winged messengers
On errands of supernal grace. So sung
The glorious train ascending: He through Heaven,
That open'd wide her blazing portals, led   575
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    580
Powder'd with stars. And now on earth the seventh
Evening arose in Eden, for the sun
Was set, and twilight from the east came on,
Forerllnning night; when at the holy mount
Of Heaven's high seated top, the imperial throne 585
Of Godhead, fix'd for ever firm and sure,
The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down
Writh his great Father; for he also went
Invisible, yet staid (such privilege
Hath Omnipresence,) and the work ordain'd,    590
Author and End of all things; and, from work
Now resting, blessed and hallow'd 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,   595
And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop,
All sounds on fret by string or golden wire,
Temper'd soft tunings, intermix'd with voice
Choral or unison: of incense clouds,




178           PARADISE LOST.           [BooK VII.
Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount.    600
creation and the six days' acts they sung:
-reat are thy works, Jehovah! infinite
rhy power! what thought can measure thee, or tongue
Relate thee! Greater now in thy return
[han from the giant Angels: Thee that day   605
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,  610
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    615
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 hzaline, the glassy sea;
Of amplitude almost immense, with stars     620
Numerous, and every star perhaps a world
Of destined habitation; but thou know'st
Their seasons: among these the seat of Men,
Earth, with her nether ocean circumfused,
Their pleasant dwelling place. Thrice happy Men, 625
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          630
Holy and just: thrice happy, if they know
Their happiness, and persevere upright!
So sung they, and the empyrean rung
With hallelujahs: thus was sabbath kept.
And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd   635




Boor VII.J    PARADISE LOST.               179
How first this world and face of things began,
And what before thy memory was done
From the beginning; that posterity
Inform'd by thee, might know: if else thou seek'st
Aught, not surpassing human measure, say.  640








PARADISE LOST.
BOOK VIII.
Adam inquires concerning celestial motions; is doubtfully answered and
exhorted tosearch rather things more worthy of knowledge: Adamn assents: and, Ef' desirous to detain Raphael, relates to him what he remembered since nis own creation; his placing in Paradise; his talk with
God concerning solitude and fit society; his first meeting and nuptials
with Eve; his discourse with the Angel thereupon: who, after admonitions
repeated, departs.
THE Angel ended, and in Adam's ear
So charming left his voice, that he awhile
Thought him still speaking, still stood fix'd to hear;
Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied:
What thanks sufficient, or what recompense               5
Equal, have I to render thee, divine
Historian, who thus largely hast allay'd
The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafed
Thlis friendly condescension to relate
Things else by me unsearchable; now heard                  10
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,              15
Of Heaven and earth consisting; and compute
Their magnitudes; this Earth, a spot, a grain,
An atom, with the'firmament compared
And all her number'd stars, that seem  to roll
Spaces incomprehensible (for such                         20
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
16                    181




182            PARADISE LOST.           [BooK VIII
Useless besides; reasoning I oft admire        25
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   30
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,   35
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 seem'd
Entering on studious thoughts abstruse; which Eve
Perceiving, where she sat retired in sight,   41
With lowliness majestic 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,   45
Her nursery; they at her coming sprung,
And, touch'd 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,    50
Adam relating, she sole auditress;
Her husband the relater she preferr'd
Before the Angel, and of him to ask
Chose rather; he, she knew, would intermix
Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute  5F
With conjugal caresses: from his lip
Not words alone pleased her. 0! when meet now
Such pairs, in love and mutual honor join'd.
With goddess-like demeanor forth she went,
Not unattended; for on her, as Queen,         60




BOOK VIII.]    PARADISE LOST.                 183
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:            65
To ask or search, I blame thee not; for Heaven
Is as the book of God before thee set,
Wherein to read his wondrous works, and learn
His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years:
This to attain, whether Heaven move or Earth,   70
Imports not, if thou reckon right; the rest
For Man or Angel the great Architect
Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge
His secrets to be scann'd by them who ought
Rather. admire; or, if they list to try        75
Conjecture, he his fabric 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   80
The mighty frame; how build, unbuild, contrive
To save appearances; how gird the sphere
With centric and eccentric scribbled o'er
Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb:
Already by thy reasoning this I guess,         85
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        90
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 virtues on itself works no effect.       95
Bat in the fruitful Earth; there first received,




184            PARADISE LOST.         [BooK VIJL
His beams, unactive else, their vigor 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   100
The Maker's high magnificence, who built
So spacious, and his line stretch'd 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    105
Ordain'd for uses to his Lord best known.
The swiftness of those circles attribute,
Though numberless,to his Omnipotence,
That to corporeal substances could add
Speed almost spiritual: Me thou think'st not slow, 110
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     115
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,  121
And no advantage gain. What if the sun
Be centre to the world; and other stars,
By his attractive virtue and their own
Incited darnce about him various rounds!     125
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 steadfast though she seem,
Insensibly three different motions move?     1.30
Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe,
Moved contrary with thwart obliquities;




BoosK VIII.]   PARADISE tOST.                  185
Or save the sun his labor, and that swift
Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb supposed,
Invisible else above all stars, the wheel      135
Of day and night; which needs not thy belief,
If earth, industrious of herself, fetch day
Traveling 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  140
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    145
As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce
Fruits in her soften'd soil for some to eat
Allotted there; and other suns perhaps
With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry,
Communicating male and female light;           150
Which two great sexes animate the world,
Stored in each orb perhaps with some that live.
For such vast room in Nature unpossess'd
By living soul, desert and desolate,
Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute        155
Each orb a glimpse of light, convey'd so far
Down to this habitable, which returns
Light back to them, is obvious to dispute.
But whether thus these things, or whether not;
Whether the sun, predominant in Heaven,        160
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,        165
And bears thee soft with the smooth air along;
Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid;
Leave them to God above; him serve, and fear!
N            16*




186           PARADISE LOST.          [BooK VIJI.
Of other creatures, as him pleases best,
Wherever placed, let him dispose; joy thou  170
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 175
Live in what state, condition, or degree;
Contented that thus far hath been reveal'd
Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven.
To whom thus Adam, clear'd of doubt, replied:
How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure      180
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,    185
And not molest us; unless we ourselves
Seek them with wandering thoughts and notions vain
But apt the mind or fancy is to rove
Uncheck'd, and of her roving is no end;
Till warn'd, or by experience taught, she learn, 190
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:'        195
And renders us, in things that most concern,
Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek.
T} erefore from this high pitch let us descend
A lower flight, and speak of things at hand
Usefill; whence, haply, mention may arise   200
Of something not unreasonable to ask,
By sufferance, and thy wonted favor, deign'd.
Thee I have heard relating what was done
Ere my remembrance: now, hear me relate




hoor VII. I    PARADISE LOST.              187
My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard;   205
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;    210
And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear
Than fruits of palm tree pleaspntest to thirst
And hunger both, from labor, 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.  216
To whom thus Raphael answer'd heavenly meek:
Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men,
Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee
Abundantly his gifts hath also pour'd       220
Inward and outward both, his image fair:
Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace
Attend thee; and each word, each motion, form;
Nor less think we in Heaven of thee on Earth
Than of our fellow-servant, and enquire     225
Gladly into the ways of God with Man:
For God, we see, hath honor'd thee, and set
On Man his equal love: Say therefore on;
For I that day was absent, as befel,
Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure,      230
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,    235
Destruction with creation might have mix'd.
Not that they durst without his leave attempt;
But as he sends upon his high behests
For state, as Sov'reign King; and to inure
Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut 240




188           PARADISE LOST.         [BooK VIII.
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 return'd up to the coasts of light  245
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        250
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   255
Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed.
Straight toward Heaven my wondering eyes I turn'd,
And gazed awhile the ample sky; till, raised
By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung,
As thitherward endeavoring, and upright     260
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 walk'd, or flew;
Birds on the branches warbling; all things smiled;
With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflow'd. 266
Myself I then perused, and limb by limb
Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran
With supple joints, as lively vigor led:
But who I was, or where, or from what cause,   270
Knew not; to speak I tried, and forthwith spake;
My tongue obey'd, and readily could name
Whate'er I saw. Thou Sun, said I, fair light,
And thou enlighten'd Earth, so fresh and gay,
Ye Htills, and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plains,
And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell,  276




Bootl VI1I.J  PARADISE LOST.                1S
Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here —
Not of myself; —by some great Maker then,
in goodness and in power preeminent:
Tell me how may I know him, how adore,      280
From whomn I have that thus 1 move and live,
And feel that I am happier than I know.While thus I call'd, and strayed I knew not whither,
From where~I first drew air, and first beheld
This happy light; when answer none return'd,   285
On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers,
Pensive I sat me down: there gentle sleep
First found me, and with soft oppression seized
My drowsied sense, untroubled, though I thought
I then was passing to my former state       290
Insensible, and forthwith to desolve:
When suddenly stood at my head a dream,
Whose inward apparition gently moved
My fancy to believedI yet had being1
And lived: One camre, methought, of shape divine,
And said, Thy mansion wants thee, Adam: rise, 296
First Man, of men innumerable ordain'd
First Father! call'd by thee, I come thy guide
To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.
So saying, by the hand he took me raised,   300
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 305
Of Earth before scarce pleasant seem'd. Each tree,
Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye
Tempting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite
To pluck and eat; whereat I waked, and found
Before mine eyes all real, as the dream     310
Had lively shadow'd: Here had new begun
My wandering, had not he, who was my guide




190           PARADISE LOST.           [Boos ~III,
Up hither, from among the trees appear'd,
Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe,
In adoration at his feet I fell             315
Submiss: He rear'd me, and Whom thou sought'st Iam,
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.  320
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,  325
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 eat'st thereof, my sole command
Transgress'd, inevitably thou shalt die,    330
From that day mortal; and this happy state
Shalt lose, expell'd 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   335
Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect
Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renew'd:
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,  340
Or live in sea, or air; beast, fish, and fowl.
In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold
After their kind; I bring them to receive
From thee their names, and pay thee fealty
With low subjection; understand the same    345
Of fish within their watery residence,
Not hither summon'd, since they canrot change
Their element, to draw the thinner air.




BOOK VIII.J   PARADISE LOST.               191
As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold
Approaching two and two; these cowering low   350
With blandishment; each bird stoop'd on his wing.
I named them as they pass'd, and understood
Their nature, with such knowledge God endued
My sudden apprehension: But in these
I found not what methought I wanted still;    355
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,       360
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,       365
Or, all enjoying, what contentment finds
Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright,
As with a smile more brighten'd, thus replied:
WVhat call'st thou solitude! Is not the Earth
With various living creatures, and the air  370
Replenish'd, and all these at thy command
To come and play before thee! Know'st 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.  375
So spake the Universal Lord, and seem'd
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.    38(
Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,
And these inferior far beneath me set'
Among unequals what society
Can sort, what harmony, or true delight.




192            PARADISE LOST.           [BOOK VIII
Which must be mutual, in proportion due        385
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             390
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  395
So well converse, nor with the ox the ape;
WVorse then can man with beast, and least of all.
WVhereto the Almighty answer'd, not displeased:
A nice and subtile happiness I see,
Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice      400
Of thy associates, Adam! and wilt taste
No pleasure, though in pleasure,solitary.
What think'st thou then of me, and this my state!
Seem I to thee sufficiently possess'd
Of happiness or not! who am alone             405
From all eternity; for none I know
Second to me or alike, equal much less.
How have I then with whom to hold converse,
Save with the creatures which I made, and those
To me inferior, infinite descents             410
Beneath what other creatures are to thee!
He ceased; I lowiy answer'd: To attain
The height and depth of thy eternal ways
All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things!
Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee      415
Is no deficience found: Not so is man,
But in degree; the cause of his desire
By conversation with his like to help
Orsolace his defects. No need that thou
Shouldst propagate, already Infinite;         420




BooK VIII.]   PARADISE LOS T.                193
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           4.25
Collateral love, and dearest amity.
Thou in thy secrecy although alone,
Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not
Social communication; yet, so pleased,
Canst raise thy creature to what height thou wilt 430
Of union or communion, deified:
I, by conversing, cannot these erect
From prone; nor in their ways complacence find.
Thus I embolden'd spake, and freedom used
Permissive, and acceptance found; which gain'd 435
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, b-ut of thyself;
Epre swiin~.w d                    eir: i thi theAe e,  440
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:       445
And no such company as then thou saw'st
Intended thee; for trial only brought,
To see how thou couldst judge of fit and meet:
WVhat next I bring shall please thee, be assured,
Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,  45('
Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire.
He ended, or I heard no more; for now
Mvly earthly by his heavenly overpower'd,
Which it had long stood under, strain'd to the height
In that celestial colloquy sublime,         455
As with an object that excels the sense
17




194           PARADISE LOST.          [Boos VIII.
Dazzled and spent, sunk down; and sought repair
Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, call'd
By Nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes.
Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell  460
Of fancy, my internal sight, by which,
Abstract as in a trance, methougkt 1 saw,
Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape
Still glorious before whom awake I stood:
Who stooping open'd my left side, and took  465
From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm,
And life-blood s;reaming fresh wide was the wound
But suddenly with flesh fill'd up and heal'd:
The rib he form'd and fashion'd with his hands;
Under his forming hands a creature grew,    470
Manlike, but different sex; so lovely fair,
That what seem'd fair in all the world, seem'd now
Mean or in her summ'd up, in her contain'd
And in her looks; which from that time infused
Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before,     475
And into all things from her air inspired
The spirit of love and amorous delight.
She disappear'd and left me dark; I waked
To find her or for ever to deplore
Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure:   480
When out of hope, behold her, not far off,
Such as I saw her in my dream, adorn'd
With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow
To make her amiable: On she came,
Led by her Heavenly Maker, though unseen,   485
And guided by his voice; nor uninform'd
Of nuptial sanctity and marriage rites:
Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye,
In every gesture dignity and love.
I, overjoy'd, could not forbear aloud:      490
This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfill'd
Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign,




Boot VIII.]    PARADISE LOST.                195
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  495
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,          501
Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth,
That would be woo'd, and not unsought to be won,
Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retired,
The more desirable; or, to say all,         505
Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought,
Wrought in her so, that seeing me she turn'd:
I follow'd her; she what was honor knew,
And with obsequious majesty approved
My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower     510
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    515
Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings
Flung rose, flung odors 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.  520
Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought
SMy 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,  52b5
Nor vehement desire; these delicacies
I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers,
Walks, and the melody of birds: but here




19b            PARADISE LOST.          [BooK VIII.
Far otherwise, transported I behold,
Transported touch: here passion first I felt,  530
Commotion strange! in all enjoyments else
Superior and unmoved; here only weak
Against the charm of Beauty's powerful glance.
Or Nature fail'd in me, and left some part
Not proof enough such object to sustain;      535
Or from my side subducting, took perhaps
More than enough; at least on her bestow'd
Too much of ornament, in outward show
Elaborate, of inward less exact.
For well I understand in the prime end        540
Of Nature.her the.inferi&i, i. the mind.
And inwar dfaculties,.which mos.t.excel;
In outward.als,,ther.restembling less
His image who 0mae.?Qbh, andess expressing
The chaacter.of.thatdomninion..givn        545
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:  550
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         565
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 angelic placed.
To whom the Angel with contracted brow:    560
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 need'st her nigh




BOOK VIII]     PARADISE LOST.               197
By attributing overmuch to things           565
Less excellent, as thou thyself perceivest.
For,what admir'st thou, what transports thee so?
An outside! fair, no doubt, and worthy well
Thy cherishing, thy honoring, and thy love;
Not thy subjection. Weigh with her thyself,  570
Then value: Ofttimes nothing profits more
Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right
Well managed; of that skill the more thou know'st,
The more she will acknowledge thee her head,
And to realities yield all her shows:       575
Made so adorn for thy delight the more,
So awful, that with honor thou mayest love
Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise..But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind
Is propagated, seem such dear delight       580
Beyond all other; think the same vouchsafed
To cattle and each bmast; which would not be
To them made common and divulged, if aught
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue
The soul of man, or passion in him move.   585
What higher in her society thou find'st
Attractive, human, rational, love still;
In loving thou doest well, in passion not,
Wherein true love consists not: Love refines
The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his seat  590
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 abash'd, Adam replied:   595
Neither her outside form'd 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,    600
17*




198           PARADISE LOST.          [Book VIII.
Those thousand decencies, that daily flow
From all her words and actions,mix'd with love
And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd
Union of mind, or in us both one soul;
Harmony to behold in wedded pair            605
More grateful than harmonious sound to the ear.
Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose
What inward thence I feel, not therefore foil'd,
Who meet with various objects, from the sense
Variously representing; yet,still free,     610
Approve the best, and follow what I approve.
To love thou blamest me not; for Love, thou say'st,
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 615
Express they? by looks only. or do they mix
Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch!
To whom the Angel, with a smile that glow'd
Celestial rosy red, Love's proper hue,
Answer'd: Let it suffice thee that thou know'st  620
Us happy, and without love no happiness.
Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy'st
(And pure thou wert created,) we enjoy
In eminence; and obstacle find none
Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars,    625
Easier than air with air, if Spirits embrace,
Total they mix, union of pure with pure
Desiring, nor restrain'd conveyance need,
As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul.
But I can now no more; the parting sun      630
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 635
Thy judgpmentQdaaughtlWhich else free will




Boox VIII.]    PARADISE LOST.                199
WouJd 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 bless'd: Stand fast; to stand or fall   640
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
Follow'd with benediction. Since to part,   645
Go, heavenly guest, ethereal Messenger,
Sent from whose sov'reign goodness I adore!
Gentle to me and affable hath been
Thy condescension, and shall be honor'd ever
With grateful memory: Thou to mankind       650
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








PARADISE LOST.
BOOK IX.
Satan, having compassed the Earth, with meditated guile, returns, as a
mist by night, into Paradise; enters into the Serpent sleeping. Adam
and Eve in the morning go forth to their labors, which Eve proposes to
divide in several places, each laboring apart: Adam consents not; alleging the danger lest that enemy, of whom they were forewarned, should
attempt her found alone; Eve, loath to be thought not circumspect or firm
enough, urges her going apart, the rather desirous to make trial of her
strength; Adam at last yields: The Serpent finds her alone; his subtle approach, first gazing. then speaking; with much flattery extolling Eve above all other creatures. Eve, wondering to hear the Serpent speak, asks
how he attained to human speech and such understanding not till now;
the Serpent answers, that by tasting of a certain tree in the garden he attained both to speech and reason, till then void of both: Eve requires him
to bring her to that tree, and finds it to be the tree of knowledge forbidden: The Serpent, now grown bolder, with'many wiles and arguments, induces her at length to eat; she, pleased with the taste, deliberates awhile
whether to impart thereof to Adam or not: at last brings him of the fruit;
relates what persuaded her to eat thereof; Adam at first amazed, but perceiving her lost, resolves, through vehemence of love, to perish with her:
and extenuating the trespass, eats also of the fruit; The effects thereof in
them both; they seek to cover their nakedness; then fall to variance and
accusation of one another.
No MORE of talk where God or Angel guest
With man, as with his friend, familiar used
To sit indulgent, and with him partake
Rural repast; permitting him the while
Venial discourse unblamed.  I now  must change    5
Those notes to tragic; foul distrust, and breach
Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt,
And disobedience: on the part   Jeaven,
Now alienated, distance and di iste,
Anger and just rebuke, and juLgment given,                      10
That brought into this world a World of woe,
Sin and her shadow Death, and misery,
Death's harbinger. sad task! yet argument
0                                          201




202            PARADISE LOST.             [Boo0K I
Not less but more heroic than the wrath
Of stern Achilles on his foe pursued           15
Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; or rage
Of Turnus for Lavinia disespoused;
Or Neptune's ire, or Juno's, that so long
Perplex'd the Greek, and Cytherea's son;
If answerable style I can obtain               20
Of my celestial patroness, who deigns
Her nightly visitation unimplored,
And dictates to me slumbering; or inspires
Easy my unpremeditated verse:
Since first this subject for heroic song       25
Pleased me long choosing, and beginning late;
Not sedulous by nature to indite
Wars, hitherto the only argument
Heroic deem'd; chief mastery to dissect
With long and tedious havoc fabled knights     30
In battles feign'd; the better fortitude
Of patience and heroic martyrdom
Unsung; or to describe races and games,
Or tilting furniture, imblazon'd shields,
Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds,       35
Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights
At joust and tournament; then marshal'd feast
Served up in hall with sewers and seneschals;
The skill of artifice or office mean,
Not that which justly gives heroic name        40
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, da? my intended wing      45
Depress'd; and much hey 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




Boox IX.]      PARADISE LOST.                  203
Twilight upon the earth, short arbiter         50
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 improved
In meditated fraud and malice, bent/:          55
On Man's destruction, maugre twha might hap
Of heavier on himself, fearless return'd.
By night he fled, and at midnight return'd
From compassing the earth; cautious of day,
Since Uriel, regent of the sun, descried       60
His entrance, and forewarn'd the Cherubim
That kept their watch; thence full of anguish driven,
The space of &sevenc canued  aihtaiet ad e
With darkness; thricete equ.inoctia] line
He circled; four times cross'd the car-of night  65
From pole to pole, traversing each colure;
On the eighth returxa'd; and, on the coast averse
From entrance or cherubic watch, by stealth
Found unsuspected way. There was a place,
Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change,
Where Tigris, at the foot of Paradise,         71
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    75
Where to lie hid; sea he had search'd, and land,
Prom Eden over Pontus and the pool
MIVeotis, up beyond the river Oh;
Downward as far antarctic; and in length,
West from Orontes to the ocean barr'd          80
At Darien; thence to the land where flows
Ganges and Indus: Thus the orb he roam'd
With narrow search; and with inspection deep
Consider'd every creature, which of all
Most opportune might serve his wiles; and found  85




'204            PARADISE LOST.             [BooK IX.
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          90
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 diabolic power               95
Active within, beyond the sense of brute.
Thus he resolved, but first from inward grief
His bursting passion into plaints thus pour'd:
0 Earth, how like to Heaven, if not preferr'd
More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built     100
With second thoughts, reforming what was old!
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,     105
In thee concentring all their precious beams
Of sacred influence! As God in Heaven
Is centre, yet extends to all; so thou,
Centring, receiv'st from all those orbs: in thee,
Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears 110
Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth
Of creatures animate with gradual life
Of growth, sense, reason, all summ'd up in Man
WVith what delight could I have walk'd thee round,
If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange      115
Of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains,
Now land, now sea, and shores with forests crown'd,
Rocks, dens, and caves! But I in none of these
Find place or refuge, and the more I see
Pleasures about me, so much more I feel         120
Torment within me, as from the hateful siege




BooK IX.J     PARADISE LOST                  205
Of contraries: all good in 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; 125
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 destroy'd,   130
Or won to what may work his utter loss,
For whom all this was made, all this will soon
Follow, as to him link'd in weal or woe;
In woe then; that destruction wide may range:
To me shall be the glory sole among.        135
The infernal Powers, in one day to have marr'd
What he, Almighty styled, six nights and days
Continued making; and who knows how long
Before had been contrivingS though perhaps
Not longer since than I, in one night, freed  140
From servitude inglorious, well nigh half
The angelic name, and thinner left the throng
Of his adorers: He to be avenged,
And to repair his numbers thus impair'd,
Whether such virtue spent of old now fail'd  145
More Angels to create, if they at least
Are his created, or, to spite us more,
Determined to advance into our room
A creature form'd of earth, and him endow,
Exalted from so base original,              150
With heavenly spoil, 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,       155
And flaming ministers to watch and tend
Their earthly charge: Of these the vigilance
18




206            PARADISE LOST.             [BOOK IX.
I dread; and, to elude, thus wrapp'd in mist
Of midnight vapor glide obscure, and pry
In every bush and brake, where hap may find    160
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 constrain'd
Into a beast; and, mix'd with bestial slime,  165
This essence to incarnate and imbrute,
That to the height of Deity aspired!
Butwhat will not ambition and revenge
I.e-cend tol Who aspires must down as low
As high he soar'd; obnoxious, first, or last  170
To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet,
Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils:
Let it; I reck not, so it light well aim'd,
Since higher I fall short, on him who next
Provokes my envy, this new favorite           175
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    180
His midnight search, where soonest he might find
The serpent; him fast sleeping soon he found
In labyrinth of many a round self-roll'd,
His head the midst, well stored with subtle wiles.
Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den,        185
Nor nocent yet; but on the grassy herb,
Fearless,unfear'd,he slept: in at his mouth
The Devil enter'd; and his brutal sense,
In heart or head, possessing, soon inspired
With act intelligential; but his sleep       190
Disturb'd not, waiting close the approach of morn.
Now, when as sacred light began to dawn
In Eden on the humid flowers, that breathed




Boos IX.]      PARADISE LOST.                 207
Their morning incense, when all things that breathe,
From the Earth's great altar send up silent praise 195
To the Creator, and his nostrils fill
With grateful smell, forth came the human pair,
And join'd their vocal worship to the choir
Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake
The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs:  200
Then commune, how that day they best may ply
Their growing work: for much their work outgrew
The hands' despatch of two gardening so wide,
And Eve first to her husband thus began:
Adam, well may we labor still to dress     205
This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower,
Our pleasant task enjoin'd; but till more hands
Aid us, the work under our labor grows,
Luxurious by restraint; what we by day
Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind,   210
One night or two with wanton growth derides,
Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise,
Or bear what to my mind first thoughts present:
Let us divide our labors; thou, where choice
Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind 215
The woodbine round this arbor, or direct
The clasping ivy where to climb; while I,
In yonder spring of roses intermix'd
Vith myrtle, find what to redress till noon:
For, while so near each other thus all day   220
Our task we choose, what wonder if, so near,
Looks intervene and smiles, or object new
Casual discourse draw on; which intermits
Our day's work, brought to little, though begun
Early, and the hour of supper comes unearn'dl   225
To whom mild answer Adam thus return'd:
Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond
Compare above all living creatures dear!
Well hast thou motion'd, well thy thoughts employ'd,




208           PARADISE LOST.           [BooK i.
How we might best fulfil the work which here   230
God hath assign'd us; nor of me shalt pass
Unpraised: for nothing lovelier can be found
In woman, than to study household good,
And good works in her husband to promote.
Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed   235
Labor, 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;  240
Love, not the lowest end of human life.
For not to irksome toil, but to delight,
He made us, and delight to reason join'd.
These baths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands
Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide    245
As we need walk, till younger hands ere long
Assist us: but, if much converse perhaps
Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield:
For solitude sometimes is best society,
And short retirement urges sweet return.    250
But other doubt possesses me, lest harm
Befal thee sever'd from me; for thou know'st
What hath been warn'd us, what malicious foe
Envying our happiness, and of his own
Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame    255
By sly assaults; and somewhere nigh at hand
Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find
His wish and best advantage, us asunder;
Hopeless to circumvent us join'd, where each
To other speedy aid might lend at need:     260
Whether his first design be to withdraw
Our fealty from God, or to disturb
Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss
Enjoy'd by us excites his envy more;
Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side  265




Bo0 IX.]       PARADISE LOST.               209
That gave thee being, still shades thee, and protects.
The wife, where danger or dishonor lurks,
Safest and seemliest by her husband stays,
Who guards her, or with her the worst endures.
To whom the virgin majesty of Eve,        270
As one who loves, and some 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 inform'd I learn,    275
And from the parting Angel overheard,
As in a shady nook I stood behind,
Just then return'd at shut of evening flowers.
But, that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt
To God or thee, because we have a foe       280
May tempt it, I expected not to hear.
His violence thou fear'st 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    285
Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love
Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced;
Thoughts, which how found they harbor in thy breast,
Adam, misthought of her to thee so dearl
To whom with healing words Adam replied:   290
Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve!
For such thou art; from sin and blame entire.
Not diffident of thee do I dissuade
Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid
The attempt itself, intended by our foe.    295
For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses
The tempted with dishonor foul; supposed
Not incorruptible of faith, not proof
Against temptation: thou thyself with scorn
And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong,    300
Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then,
18*




210            PARADISE LOST.           [BooK IX.
Ifsuch affront I labor to avert
From thee alone, which on us both at once
The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare,
Or daring, first on me the assault shall light.  305
Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn;
Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce
Angels; nor think superfluous others' aid.
I, from the influence of thy looks, receive
Access in every virtue; in thy sight         310
Mdore wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were
Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on,
Shame to be overcome or overreach'd,
Would utmost vigor raise, and raised unite.
Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel 315
WVhen I am present, and thy trial choose
With me, best witness of thy virtue tried?
So spake domestic Adam in his care
And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought
Less attributed to her faith sincere,        320
Thus her reply with accent sweet renew'd:
If this be our condition, thus to dwell
In narrow circuit straiten'd by a foe,
Subtle or violent, we not endued
Single with like defence, wherever met;      325
How are we happy, still in fear of harml
But harm precedes not sin: only our foe,
Tempting, affronts us with his foul esteem
Of our integrity: his foul esteem
Sticks no dishonor on our front, but turns    330
Foul on himself; then wherefore shunn'd or fear'd
By us? who rather double honor gain
From his surmise proved false; find peace within,
Favor from Heaven, our witness, from the event.
And what is faith, love, virtue, unassay'd    335
Alone, without exterior help sustain'dl
Let us not then suspect our happy state




BoOK IX.]      PARADISE LOST.                 211
Left so imperfect by the Maker wise,
As not secure to single or combined.
Frail is our happiness, if this be so,        340
And Eden were no Eden, thus exposed.
To whom thus Adam fervently replied:
O Woman, best are all things as the will
Of God ordain'd them: His creating hand
Nothing imperfect or deficient left           345
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.      350
But God left free the-will; for what obeys
Reason, is free; aj  Reasonahe nae right,
Butbid hfer well beware, and still erect;
Lest, by some fair-appearing good surprised,
She dictate false; and misinform the will     355
To do what God expressly hath forbid.
Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins,
That I should mind thee oft; and mind thou me,
Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve;
Since Reason not impossibly may meet          360
Some specious object by the foe suborn'd,
And fall into deception unaware,
Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warn'd.
Seek not temptation then, which to avoid
Were better, and most likely if from me       365
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    370
Us both securer than thus warn'd thou seem'st
Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;
Go in thy native innocence, rely




212            PARADISE LOST.          [BooK IX.
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    375
Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied:
With thy permission then, and thus forewarn'd
Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words
Touch'd only; that our trial, when least sought,
May find us both perhaps far less prepared,  380
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 Woodnymph light, 385
Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's train,
]Betook her to the groves; but Delia's self
In gait surpass'd and goddesslike deport,
Though not as she with bow and quiver arm'd,
But with such gardening tools as Art yet rude,   390
Guiltless of fire, had form'd, or Angels brought.
To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorn'd,
Likest she seem'd Pomona when she fled
Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime,
Yet virgin of Proserpina from Jove.         395
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 return'd by noon amid the bower,      400
And all things in best order to invite
Noontide repast, or afterncon's repose.
O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve,
Of thy presumed return! event perverse!
Thou never from that hour in Paradise       405
Found'st either sweet repast or sound repose;:
Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades,
Waited with hellish rancor imminent




BooK IX.]     PARADISE LOST.               213
To intercept thy way, or send thee back
Despoil'd of innocence, of faith, of bliss!  410
For now, and since first break of dawn, the Fiend,
Alere 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.    415
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 wish'd his hap might find
Eve separate; he wish'd but not with hope  421
Of what so seldom chanced; when to his wish,
Peyond his hope, Eve separate he spies,
Veil'd in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood,
Half spied, so thick the roses blushing round  425
About her glow'd, oft stooping to support
Each flower of slender stalk, whose head, though gay
Carnation, purple, azure, or speck'd with gold,
Hung drooping unsustain'd; them she upstays
Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while    430
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,  435
Among thick-woven arboiets, and flowers
Embroider'd on each bank, the hand of Eve:
Spot more delicious than those gardens feign'd
Or of revived Adonis, or renown'd
Alcinous, host of old Laertes' son;        44(
Or that, not mystic, where the sapient king
Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse.
Much he the place admired, the person more
As one who long in populous city pent,




214           PARADISE LOST.           [BOOK IX.
Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air,  445
Forth issuing on a summer's morn, to breathe
Among the pleasant villages and farms
Adjoin'd, from each thing met conceives delight;
The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine,
Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound;  450
If chance, with nymphlike step, fair virgin pass,
What pleasing seem'd, 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;  455
Thus early, thus alone: her heavenly form
Angelic, but more soft and feminine,
Her graceful innocence, her every air
Of gesture, or least action, overawed
His malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved  460
His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought:
That space the Evil One abstracted stood
From his own evil, and for the time remain'd
Stupidly good; of enmity disarm'd,
Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge:     465
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 ordain'd: then soon
Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts    470
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    475
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,       480




BOOK IX.J      PARADISE LOST.                 215
Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh,
Whose higher intellectual more I shun,,
And strength, of courage haughty, and of limb
Heroic built, though of terrestrial mould;
Foe not informidable! exempt from wound,     485
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 terror be in love
And beauty, not approach'd by stronger hate,    490
Hate stronger, under show of love well feign'd;
The way which to her ruin now I tend.
So spake the enemy of mankind, enclosed
In serpent, inmate bad! and towards Eve
Address'd his way: not with indented wave,    495
Prone on the ground, as since; but on his rear,
Circular base of rising folds, that tower'd
Fold above fold, a surging maze! his head
Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes;
With burnish'd neck of verdant gold, erect   500
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              505
In Epidaurus; nor to which transform'd
Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline, was seen;
He with Olympias; this with her who bore
Scipio, the height of Rome. With tract oblique
At first, as one who sought access, but fear'd    510
To interrupt, sidelong he works his way,
As when a ship, by skilful steersman 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      515
Curl'd many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve,




216           PARADISE LOST.           [Booei IX.
To lure her eye; she, busied, heard the sound
Of rustling leaves, but minded not, as used
To such disport before her through the field,
From every beast; more duteous at her call  520
Than at Circean call the herd disguised.
He, bolder now, uncall'd before her stood,
But as in gaze admiring: oft he bow'd
His turret crest, and sleek enamel neck,
Fawning; and lick'd the ground whereon she trod.
His gentle dumb expression turn'd at length    526
The eye of Eve to mark his play: he, glad
Of her attention gain'd, with serpent-tongue
Organic, or impulse of vocal air,
His fraudulent temptation thus began:      530
Wonder not, sov'reign 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 fear'd  535
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,  540
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    546
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 marveling; at length  550
Not unamazed, she thus in answer spake:
What may this meant language of man pronounced




Book IX.1      PARADISE LOST.                  217
By tongue of brute, and human sense express'd.
The first, at least, of these I thought denied
To beasts; whom God, on their creation-day,   555
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;      560
Redouble then this miracle, and say,
How cam'st thou speakable of mute, and how
To me so friendly grown above the rest
Of brutal kind, that daily are in sightS
Say, for such wonder claims attention due.    565
To whom the guileful Tempter thus replied:
Empress of this fair world, resplendent Eve!
Easy to me it is to tell thee all         [obey'd:
What thou command'st; and right thou sh-ouldst be
I was at first as other beasts that graze     570
The trodden herb, of abject thoughts and low,
As was my food: nor aught but food discern'd
Or sex, and apprehended nothing high:
Till, on a day roving the field, I chanced
A goodly tree far distant to behold,          575
Loaden with fruit of fairest colors mix'd,
Ruddy and gold: I nearer drew to gaze;
When from the boughs a savory odor blown,
Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense
Than smell of sweetest fennel, or the teats   580
Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even,
Unsuck'd 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,      585
Powerful persuaders, quicken'd at the scent
Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen.
About the mossy trunk I wound me soon;
P             19




218           PARADISE LOST.           [Boos IX.
for, high from ground the branches would require
T'hy utmost reach or Adam's: round the tree  590
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
[ spared not; for, such pleasure till that hour,    595
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 retain'd.  600
Thenceforth to speculations high or deep
I turn'd my thoughts, and with capacious mind
Consider'd all things visible in Heaven,
Or Earth, or Middle; all things fair and good:
But all that fair and good in thy divine    605
Semblance, and in thy beauty's heavenly ray,
United I beheld; no -fair to thine
Equivalent or second! which compell'd
Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come
And gaze, and worship thee of right declared    610
Sov'reign of creatures, universal Dame!
So talk'd the spirited sly Snake: and Eve,
Yet more amazed, unwary thus replied:
Serpent, thy overpraising leaves no doubt
The virtue of that fruit, in thee first proved:  615
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 untouch'd,  62
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:




Boo00IX.j      PARADISE LOS T.                219
Empress, the way is ready, and not long;      625
Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat,
Fast by a fountain, one small thicket pass'd
Of blowing myrrh and balm: if thou accept
lMy conduct, I can bring thee thither soon.
Lead then, said Eve. He, leading, swiftly roll'd 630
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 vapor, which the night
Condenses, and the cold environs round,       635
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; 640
There swallow'd up and lost, from succor far.
So glister'd the dire Snake, and into fraud
Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the.tree
Of prohibition, root of all our woe;          644
WVhich when she saw, thus to her guide she spake:
Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither,
Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess,
The credit of whose virtue rest with thee;
Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects.
But of this tree we may not taste nor touch;  650
God so commanded, and left that command
Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we Iyve
Law to ourselves; our reason is our law.
To whom the Tempter guilefully replied:
Indeed! hath God then said that of the fruit  655
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     660




220           PARADISE LOST.            [BooK IX.
The garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat
Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die.  [bold
She scarce hid said, though brief, when now more
The Tempter, but with show of zeal and love
To Man, and indignation at his wrong,       665
New part puts on; and, as to passion moved
Fluctuates disturb'd, yet comely and in act
Raised, as of some great matter to begin
As when of old some orator renown'd,
In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence     670
Flourish'd, since mute! to some great cause address'd,
Stood in himself collected; while each part,
Motion, each act won audience ere the tongue;
Sometimes in height began, as no delay
Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right:   675
So standing, moving, or to height up grown,
The Tempter, all impassion'd thus began:
O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving Plant,
Mother of science! now I feel thy power
Within me clear; not only to discern        680
Things in their causes, but to trace the ways
Of highest agents, deem'd 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  685
To knowledge; by the threatener? look on me,
Me, who have touch'd 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    690
Is open! or will God incense his ire
For such a petty trespassl and not praise
Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain
Of death denounced, whatever thing death be,
Deterr'd not from achieving what might lead  695
To happier life, knowledge of good and evil.




BooK IX.]      PARADISE LOST.                221
Of good,how just! of evil, if what is evil
Be real, why not known, since easier shunn'd.
God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just;.
Not just, not God; not fear'd then, nor obey'd:   700
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,  705
Yet are but dim, shall perfectly be then
Open'd and clear'd, 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;       710
I, of brute, human; ye, of human, Gods.
So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off
HIuman, to put on Gods; death to be wish'd,
Though threaten'd, which no worse than this can bring
And what are Gods, that Man may not become   715
As they, participating Godlike 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,
Warm'd by the sun, producing every kind;    720
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 726
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.  730
Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste!
He ended; and his words, replete with guile,
19*




222            PARADISE LOST.            LBoox IX.
Into her heart too easy entrance won:
Fix'd on the fruit she gazed, which to behold
Might tempt alone; and in her ears the sound  735
Yet rung of his persuasive words;mpregn'd
With reason to her seeming, and with truth:
Meanwhile the hour of noon drew on and waked
An eager appetite, raised by the smell
So savory of that fruit, which with desire,   740
Inclinable now grown to touch or taste,
Solicited her longing eye; yet first
Pausing awhile, 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 forborne, at first essay  746
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    750
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     755
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 wisel
Such prohibitions bind not. But if death
Bind us with after-bands,what profits then    760
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            765
Was death invented? or to us denied
This intellectual food, for beasts reserved!
For beasts it seems: yet that one beast which first




BooK IX.]      PARADISE LOST.                2-23
Hath tasted envies not, but brings with joy
The good befall'n him, author unsuspect,    770
Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile.
What fear I then? rather, what know to fear
Under this ignorance of good and evil,
if God or death, of law or penalty!
Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine,  775
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 pluck'd, she eat! 780
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  785
Regarded; such delight till then, as seem'd,
In fruit she never tasted, whether true
Or fancied so, through expectation high
Of knowledge; nor was Godhead from her thought.
Greedily she ingorged without restraint,    790
And new not eating death. Satiate at length,
And heighten'd as with wine, jocund and boon,
Thus to herself she pleasingly began:
O sov'reign, virtuous, precious of all trees
In Paradise! of operation bless'd           795
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  800
Of thy full branches offer'd 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:




224            PARADISE LOST.           [BOOK IX.
For, had the, gift been theirs, it had not here  S05
Thus grown. Experience next, to thee I owe,
Best guide; not following thee, I had remain'd
In ignorance; thou open'st wisdom's way,
And givest access, though secret she retire.
And I perhaps am secret: Heaven is high,    810
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         815
Shall I appear! shall I to him make known
As yet my change, and give him to partake
Full happiness with me, or rather not,
But keep the odds of knowledge in my power
Without copartner! so to add what wants     820
In female sex, the more to draw his love,
And render me more equal; and perhaps,
A thing not undesirable, sometime
Superior; for inferior, who is free!
This may bb well: But what if God have seen,   825
And death ensue! Then I shall be no more!
And Adam, wedded to another Eve,
Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct;
A death to think! Confirm'd then I resolve,
Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe:   830
So dear I love hims, that with him all deaths
I could endure, without him live no life.
So saying, from the tree her step she turn'd;
But first low reverence done, as to the Power
That dwelt within, whose presence had infused 836
Into the plant sciential sap, derived
From nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while,
Waiting desirous heir return, had wove
Of choicest flowers a garland, to adorn
Her tresses, and her rural labors crown;   840




Boot. IX.]     PARADISE LOST.               225
As reapers oft are wont their harvest-queen.
Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new
Solace in her return, so long delay'd:
Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill,
Misgave him; he the faltering measure felt;  845
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,  850
New gather'd, 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 address'd:
Hast thou not wonder'd, Adam, at my stays   855
Thee I have miss'd, 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,
That pain, of absence from thy sight. But strange 860
Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear:
This tree is not, as we are told, a tree
Of danger tasted, or to evil unknown
Opening the way, but of divine effect
To open eyes, and make them Gods who taste;  865
And hath been tasted such: The serpent wise,
Or not restrain'd as we, or not obeying,
Hath eaten of the fruit; and is become,
Not dead, as we are threaten'd, but henceforth
Endued with human voice and human sense,   870
Reasoning to admiration; and with me
Persuasively hath so prevail'd that I
Have also tasted, and have also found
The effects to correspond; opener mine eyes,
Dim erst, dilated spirits, ampler heart,    875
And growing up to godhead; which for thee




226           PARADISE LOST.            [BooK IX.
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    880
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 glow'd.  886
On the other side Adam, soon as he heard
The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed,
Astonished stood and blank, while horror chill
Ran through his veins, rand all his joints relax'd; 890
From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve
Down dropp'd, 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       895
Of all God's works, Creature in whom excell'd
Whatever can to slight or thought be form'd,
Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!
How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost,
Defaced, deflower'd, and now to death devote!  900
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 ruin'd; for with thee  905
Certain my resolution is to die:
How can I live without thee! how forego
Thy sweet converse, and love so dearly join'd
To live again in these wild woods forlorn!
Should God create another Eve, and I         910
Another rib afford, yet loss of thee
Would never from my heart: no, no! I feel




BooK IX.]      PARADISE LOST.                 227
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.     915
So having said, as one from sad dismay
Recomforted, and after thoughts disturb'd
Submitting to what seem'd remediless,
Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turn'd:
Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve, 920
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 pain to touch
But past who can recal, or done undol         925
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 unhallow'd, ere our taste;   930
Nor yet on him found deadly; yet he lives;
Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live, as Man,
Higher degrfee of life; inducement strong
To us as likely tasting to attain
Proportional ascent; which cannot be          935
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,    940
For us created, needs with us must fail,
Dependent made; so God shall uncreate,
Be frustrate, do, undo, and labor lose;
Not well conceived of God, who, though his power
Creation could repeat, yet would be loath     945
Us to abolish, lest the Adversary
Triumph, and say: " Fickle their state whom God
Most favors; who can please him long! Me first




228            PARADISE LOST.           [BooK IX.
He ruin'd; now mankind; whom will he next."
Matter of scorn, not to be given the Foe.   950
However I with thee have fix'd my lot,
Certain to undergo like doom: If death
Consort with thee, death is to me as life;
So forcibly within my heart I feel
The bond of Nature draw me to my own;       955
My own in thee, for what thou art is mine;
Our state cannot be sever'd; 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,         960
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 gladjy of our union hear thee speak,    965
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, link'd in love so dear,
To undergo with me one guilt, one crime,    970
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!          975
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    980
Remarkably so late of thy so true,
So faithful, love unequal'd: but I feel
Far otherwise the event; not death, but life
Augmented, open'd eyes, new hopes, new joys,




Boos IX.]      PARADISE LOST.                2~'
Taste so divine that what of sweet before   985
Hath touch'd 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   990
Had so ennobled, as of choice to incur
Divine displeasure for her sake, or death.
In recompense (for such compliance bad
Such recompense best merits) from the bough
She gave him of that fair enticing fruit.   995
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;  1000
Sky lour'd; and, muttering thunder, some sad drops
Wept at completing of the mortal sin
Original: while Adam took no thought,
Eating his fill; nor Eve to iterate
Her former trespass fear'd, the more to soothe   1005
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 display'd,       1010
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:    1015
Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste
And elegant, of safiiece nb small part;
Since to each meaning savor we apply,
And palate call judicious; I the praise
Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purvey'd. 1020
20




230            PARADISE LOST.            [Book IX.
Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstain'd
From this delightful fruit, nor known till now
True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be
In things to us forbidden, it might be wish'd
For this one tree had been forbidden ten.    1025
But come, so well refresh'd, 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, adorn'd
With all perfections, so inflame my sense    1030
With ardor to enjoy thee, fairer now
Than ever; bounty of this virtuous tree!
So said he, and forebore not glance or toy
Of amorous intent; well understood
Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious fire.    1035
Her hand he seized; and to a shady bank
Thick overhead with verdant roof imbower'd,
He led her nothing loath: flowers were the couch,
Pansies, and violets, and asphodel,
And hyacinth; Earth's freshest, softest lap.  1040
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
Oppress'd them, wearied with their amorous play.
Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit,  1045
That with exhilarating vapor bland
About their spirits had play'd, and inmost powers
Made err, was now exhaled; and grosser sleep,
Bred of unkindly fumes, With conscious dreams
Incumber'd, now had left them: up they rose   1050
As from unrest; and each the other viewing,
Soon found their eyes how open'd, and their minds
How darken'd; innocence, that as a veil
Had shadow'd them from knowing ill, was gone:
Just confidence, and native righteousness    1055
And honor, from about them, naked left




Book IX.]      PARADISE LOST.                 231
To guilty Shame; he cover'd, but his robe
Uncover'd more. So rose the Danite strong,
Herculean Samson, from the harlot lap of
Philistean Dalilah, and waked                106()
Shorn of his strength; they destitute and bare
Of all their virtue: Silent, and in face
Confounded, long they sat, as stricken mute:
Till Adam, though not less than Eve abash'd,
At length gave utterance to these words constrain'd:
0 Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear    1066
To that false worm, of whomsoever taught
To counterfeit Man's voice; true in our fall,
False in our promised rising; since our eyes
Open'd we find indeed, and find we know      1070
Both good and evil: good lost, and evil got;
Bad fruit of knowledge, if this be to know;
Which leaves us naked thus, of honor void,
Of innocence, of faith, of purity,
Our wonted ornaments now soil'd and stain'd,  1075
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    1080
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  1085
To star or sunlight, 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     1090
What best may for the present serve to hide
The parts of each from other, that seem most




232           PARADISE LOST.           [BoOK IX.
To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen;
Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together sew'd,
And girded on our loins, may cover round.    1095
Those middle parts; that this new comer, Shame,
There sit not, and reproach us as unclean.
So counsel'd he, and both together went
Into the thicket wood; there soon they chose
The fig-tree; not that kind for fruit renown'd,   1100
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 pillar'd shade    1105
High overarch'd, and echoing walks between:
There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat,
Sheltersin cool, and tends his pasturing herds
At loopholes cut through thickest shade: Those leaves
They gather'd, broad as Amazonian targe;   1110
And, with what skill they had, together sew'd,
To gird their waist; vain covering, if to hide
Their guilt and dreaded shame! 0, how unlike
To that first naked glory! Such of late
Columbus found the American, so girt       1115
With feather'd cincture; naked else, and wild
Among the trees on isles and woody shores.
Thus fenced, and, as they thought, their shame in part
Cover'd, but not at rest or ease of mind,
They sat them down to weep; nor only tears   1120
Rain'd 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 toss'd and turbulent:   1125
For Understanding ruled not, and the Will
Heard not her lore; both in subjection now
To sensual appetite, who from beneath




Boo lX.]       PARADISE LOST.               233
Usurping over sov'reign Reason claim'd
Superior sway: From thus distemper'd breast,  1130
Adam, estranged in look and alter'd style,
Speech intermitted thus to Eve renew'd:
Would thou hadst hearken'd to my words, and staid
With me, as I besought thee, when that strange
Desire of wandering, this unhappy morn,    1135
I know not whence possess'd thee; we had then
Remain'd still happy; not as now, despoil'd
Of all our good; shamed, naked, miserable!
Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve
The faith they owe; whenearnestly they seek   1140
Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail.  [Eve:
To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, thus
What words have pass'd thy lips, Adam, severe!
Imputest thou that to my default, or will
Of wandering as thou call'st it, which who knows 1145
But might as ill have happen'd thou being by,
Or to thyself perhapsl Hadst thou been there,
Or here the attempt, thou couldst not have discern'd
Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake;
No ground of enmity between us known,      1150
Why he should mean an ill, or seek to harm.
Was I to have ne'er 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,           1155
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 fix'd in thy dissent,
Neither had I transgress'd, nor thou with me.  1160
To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied:
Is this the love, is this the recompense
Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve! express'd
Immutable, when thou wert lost, not I;
Q.              20*




234            PARADISE LOST.            [Boor IX.
Who might have lived, and joy'd immortal bliss, 1165
Yet willingly chose rather death with thee!
And am I now upbraided, as the cause
Of thy transgression? Not enough severe,
It seems, in thy restraint; WThat could I morel
I warn'd thee, I admonish'd thee, foretold   1170
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         11 5
Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps
I also err'd, in overmuch admiring
What seem'd in thee so perfect, that I thought
No evil durst attempt thee; but I rue
The error now, which is become my crime,     1180
And thou the accuser. Thus it shall befal
Him, who, to worth in woman 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.   1185
Thus they in mutual accusation spent
The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning
And of their vain contest appear'd no end




PARADISE LOST.
BOOK X.
Man's transgression known, the guardian Angels forsake Paradise, and
return up to Heaven to approve their vigilance, and are approved; God
declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He
sends his Son to judge the transgressors; who descends and gives sentence
accordingly; then in pity, clothes them both, and reascends. Sin and
Death, sitting till then at the gates of Hell. by wondrous sympathy feeling
the success of Satan in this new world, and the sin by Man there comlnitted, resolve to sit no longer confined in Hell, but to follow Satan their sire
up to the place of Man: To make the way easier from Hell to this world,
to and fro, they pave a broad high-way or bridge over Chaos, according
to the tract that Satan first made; then, preparing for Earth, they meet
him, proud of his success, returning to Hlell; their mutual gratulation.
Satan arrives at pandemonium, in full assembly relates with boasting his
success against Man; instead of applause, is entertained with a general
hiss by all his audience, transformed with himself also suddenly into serpents, according to his doom given in Paradise; then, deluded with a show
of the forbidden tree springing up before them, they, greedily reaching to
take of the fruit, chew dust and bitter ashes. The proceedings of Sin
and Death: God foretels the final victory of his Son over them, and the
renewing of all things; but, for the present, commands his Angels to make
several alterations in the Heavens and elements. Adam, more and more
perceiving his fallen condition, heavily bewails, rejects the condolement
of Eve; she persists, and at length appeases him: then, to evade the curse
likely to fall on their offspring, proposes to Adam violent ways, wbhich
he approves not; but, conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late
promise made them, that her seed should be revenged on the Serpent; and
exhorts her with him to seek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance
and supplication.
MEANWHILE 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 4
Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart
Omniscientl who, in all things wise and just,
Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind
Of Man, with strength entire and free will arm'd,
Complete to have discover'd and repulsed                        10
235




236           PARADISE LOST.            LBooK X.
Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend
For still they knew, and ought to have still rernember'd,
The high injunction, not to taste that fruit,
Whoever tempted; which they not obeying,
Incurr'd (what could they less?) the penalty;  15
And, manifold in sin, deserved to fall.
Up into Heaven from Paradise in haste
The Angelic guards ascended, mute and sad
For Man; for of his state by this they knew,
MIuch wondering how the subtle Fiend had stolen 20
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, mix'd
With pity, violated not their bliss.         25
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,  30
And easily approved: when the M~ost High
Eternal Father, from his secret cloud,
Amidst in thunder utter'd thus his voice:
Assembled Angels, and ye Powers return'd
From unsuccessful charge, be not dismay'd,   35
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 cross'd the gulf from Hell.
I told ye then he should prevail, and speed  40
On his bad errand; Man should be seduced,
And flatter'd out of all, believing lies
Against his Maker; no decree of mine
Concurring to necessitate his fall,
Or touch with lightest moment of impulse     4l
His free will, to her own inclining left




Boo0 X.]      PARADISE LOST.
In even scale. But fallen he is; and now
What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass
On his transgression, death denounced thalday.
Which he presumes already vain and void,     50
Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd,
By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find
Fdrbearance no accquittance, ere day end.
Justice shall not return as bounty scorn'd.
But whom send I to judge them! whom but thee, 55
Vicegerent Son! To thee I have transferr'd
All judgment, 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 design'd     60
Both ransom and Redeemer voluntary,
And destined Man himself to judge Man fallen.'So spake the Father; and,- unfolding bright
Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son
Blazed forth unclouded Deity: He full        65
Resplendent all his Father manifest
Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd mild:
Father Eternal, thine is to decree;
Mine, both in Heaven and Earth, to do thy will
Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son beloved,   70
Mayst ever rest well pleased. I go to judge
On earth these thy transgressors; but thou know'st,
Whoever judged, the worst on me must light,
When time shall be; for so I undertook
Before thee; and, not repenting, this obtain  75
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 80
Are to behold the judgment, but the judged,
Those two; the third best absent is condemn'd,




238           PARADISE LOST.            [BooK X
Convict by flight, and rebel to all law:
Conviction to the serpent none belongs.
Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose  85
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   90
Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing'd.
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, 95
Came the mild Judge, and Intercessor both,
To sentence Man: The voice of God they heard
Now walking in the garden, by soft winds
Brought to their ears, while day declined; they heard,
And from his presence hid themselves among    100
The thickest trees, both man and wife; till God,
Approaching, thus to Adam call'd aloud:
Where art thou, Adam wont with joy to meet
My coming seen far off. I miss thee here,
Not pleased, thus entertain'd with solitude,  105
Where obvious duty ere while appear'd unsought:
Or come I less conspicuous, or what change
Absents thee, or what chance detains —Come forth!
He came; and with him Eve, more loath, though first
To offend; discountenanced both, and discomposed; 110
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 answer'd brief: 115
I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice
Afraid, being naked, hid myself. To whom
The gracious Judge without revile replied:




BooK X.]      PARADISE LOST.                 239
My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not fear'd,
But still rejoiced; how is it now become     120
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:
0 Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand    125
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   130
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.-      136
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,  140
And what she did, whatever in itself,
Her doing seem'd to justify the deed;
She gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
To whom the Sov'reign Presence thus replied:
Was she thy God, that her thoh didst obey   145
Before his voice? or was she made thy guide,
Superior, or but equal, that to her
Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place
Wherein God set thee above her made of thee,
And for thee, whose perfection far excell'd  150
Hers in all real dignity. Adorn'd,
She was indeed, and lovely, to attract
Thy love, not thy subjection; and her gifts
Were such, as under government well seem'd;




~40            PARADISE LOST.            [BooK X.
Unseemly to bear rule; which was thy part   155
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 overwhelm'd,
Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge   160
Bold or loquacious, thus abash'd replied:
The Serpent me beguiled, and I did eat.
Which when the Lord God heard, without delay
To judgment he proceeded on the accused
Serpent, though brute; unable to transfer   165
The guilt on hirM who made him instrument
Of mischief, and polluted from the end
Of his creation; justly then accursed,
As vitiated in nature: More to know
Concern'd not man (since he no further knew,)  170
Nor alter'd 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 faii:
Because thou hast done this thou art accursed 175
Above all cattle, each beast of the field;
Upon thy belly grovelling thou thalt 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;      180
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,    185
Spoil'd Principalities and Powers, triumph'd
In open show; and, with ascension bright,
Captivity led captive through the air,
The realm itself of Satan, long usurp'd;
Whom he shall tread at last under our feet;  190




BoOK X.]      PARADISE LOST.                 241
Even he, who now foretold his fatal bruise:
And to the woman thus his sentence turn'd:
Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply
By thy conception; children thou shalt bring
In sorrow forth; and to thy husband's will  195
Thine shall submit; he over thee shall rule.
On Adam last thus judgment he pronounced:
Because thou hast hearken'd to the voice of thy wife,
And eaten of the tree, concerning which
I charged thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat thereof; 200
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,    205
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   511
Before him naked to the air, that now
Must suffer change, disdain'd not to begin
Thenceforth the form of servant to assume;
As when he wash'd his servant's feet; so now    215
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    220
Of beasts, but inward nakedness much more
Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness
Arraying, cover'd from his Father's sight.
To him with swift ascent he up return'd,
Into his blissful bosom reassumed           225
In glory, as of old; to him appeased
21




242           PARADISE LOST.            LBooK X.
All, though all-knowing, what had pass'd with Man
Recounted, mixing intercession sweet.
Meanwhile, ere thus was sinn'd and judged on Earth,
Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death,  230
In counterview within the gates, that now
Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame
Far into Chaos, since the Fiend pass'd through,
Sin opening; who thus now to Death began:
O Son, why sit we here each'other viewing    235
Idly, while Satan, our great author, thrives
In other worlds, and happier seat provides
For us, his offspring dearl It cannot be
But that success attends him; if mishap,
Ere this he had return'd, with fury driven  240
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,     245
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:            250
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  255
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,.260
Or transmigration, as their lot shall lead.
Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn




BooK X.]      PARADISE LOST.                243
By this new-felt attraction and instinct.
Whom thus the meagre shadow answer'd soon:
Go, whither Fate and inclination strong     265
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   270
Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid.
So saying, with delight he snuffd 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,      275
Where armies lie encamp'd, come flying, lured
With scent of living carcasses design'd
For death, the following day, in bloody fight:
So scented the grim Feature, and upturn'd
His nostril wide into the murky air;        280
Sagacious of his quarry from so far.
Them 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     285
Solid or slimy, as in raging sea
Toss'd up and down, together crowded drove,
From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell:
As when two polar winds, blowing adverse
Upon the Cronian sea, together drive        290
Mountains of ice, thatstop the imagined way
Beyond Petsora eastward, to the rich
Cathaian coast. The aggregated soil
Death with his mace petrific, cold and dry,
As with a trident, smote; and fix'd as firm  295
As Delos, floating once; the rest his look
Bound with Gorgonian rigor not to move;
And with Asphaltic slime, broad as the gate,




244            PARADISE LOST.           [BOOK
Deep to the roots of Hell the gather'd beach
They fasten'd, and the mole immense wrought on 300
Over the foaming deep high-arched, a bridge
Of length prodigious, joining to the wall
Immovable of this now fenceless woarld,l
Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad,
Smooth, easy, inoffensive, down to Hell.    305
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 join'd,  310
And scourged with many a stroke the indignant waves.
Now had they brought the work by wondrous art
Pontifical, a ridge of pendent rock,
Over the vex'd abyss, following the track
Of Satan to the selfsame place where he     315
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        320
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,  325
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   330
Their parent soon discern'd, 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




Boor X.J      PARADISE LOST.                245
By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded      335
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    340
Might suddenly inflict; that pass'd, return'd
By night, and listening where the hapless pair
Sat in their sad discourse, and various plaint,
Thence gather'd his own doom; which understood
Not instant, but of future time, with joy   345
And tidings fraught, to Hell he now return'd;
And at the brink of Chaos, near the foot
Of this new wondrous pontifice, unhoped
Met who to meet him came, his offspring dear.
Great joy was at their meeting, and at sight  350
Of that stupendous bridge his joy increased.
Long he admiring stood, till Sin, his fair
Enchanting daughter, thus the silence broke:
O Parent, these are thy magnific deeds,
Thy trophies! which thou view'st as not thine own;
Thou art their author, and prime architect:  356
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 prosper'd, which thy looks
Now also evidence, but straight I felt,     361
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,  365
Nor thid unvoyageable gulf obscure
Detain from following thy illustrious track.
Thou hast achieved our liberty, confined
Within Hell-gates till now; thou us impower'd
To fortify thus far, and overlay,           370
21*




246           PARADISE LOST.          [BooK X
With this portentous bridge, the dark abyss,
Thine now is all this world; thy virtue hath won
What thy hands builded not; thy wisdom gain'd
With odds what war hath lost, and fully avenged
Our foil in HIeaven; here thou shalt monarch reign,
There didst not; there let him still victor sway,  376
As battle liath 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,    380
His quadrature, from thy orbicular world;
Or try thee now more dangerous to his throne.
Whom thus the Prince of darkness answer'd glad:
Fair Daughter, and thou son and grandchild both;
High proof ye now have given to be the race    385
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,     390
Mine, with this glorious work; and made one realm,
H.ell and this world, one realm, one continent
Of easy thoroughfare. Therefore, while I
Descend through darkness, on your road with ease,
To my associate Powers, them to acquaint   395
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,          400
Chiefly on Man, sole lord of all declared;
Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill.
My substitutes I send ye, and create
Plenipotent on earth, of matchless might
Issuing from me; on your joint vigor now   405
My hold of this new kingdom all depends,




BOOrK X.]     PARADISE LOST.                247
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 dismiss'd them; they with speed 410
Their course through thickest constellations held,
Spreading their bane; the blasted stars look'd wan:
And planets,planet-struck, real eclipse
Then suffer'd. The other way Satan went down
The causey to Hell gate: On either side     415
Disparted Chaos overbuilt exclaim'd,
And with rebounding surge the bars assail'd
That scorn'd his indignation: through the gate,
Wide open and unguarded, Satan pass'd,
And all about found desolate; for those,    420
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 call'd           425
Of that bright star to Satan paragon'd;
There kept their watch the legions, while the Grand
In council sat, solicitous what chance
M[ight intercept their emperor sent; so he
Departing gave command, and they observed.   430
As when the Tartar from his Russian foe,
By Astracan, over the snowy plains,
Retires; or Bactrian Sophi, from the horns
Of Turkish crescent, leaves all waste beyond
The realm of Aladule, in his retreat        435
To Tauris or Casbeen: So these, the late
Heaven-banish'd host, left desert utmost Hell
Many a dark league, reduced in careful watch
Round their metropolis; and now expecting
Each hour their great adventurer, from the search 440
Of foreign worlds: He through the midst, unmark'd,
In show plebeian Angel militant




248           PARADISE LOST.            [Boog X.
Of lowest order,pass'd; and from the door
Of that Plutonian hall, invisible
Ascended his high throne; which, under state   445
Of richest texture spread, at the upper end
Was placed in regal lustre. Down awhile
He sat, and round about him saw unseen;
At last as from a cloud, his fulgent head
And shape star-bright appear'd, or brighter; clad 450
With what permissive glory since his fall
Was left him, or false glitter: All amazed
At that so sudden blaze the Stygian throng
Bent their aspect, and whom they wish'd beheld,
Their mighty Chief return'd: loud was the acclaim:
Forth rush'd in haste the great consulting peers, 456
Raised from their dark Divan, and with like joy
Congratulant approach'd him; who with hand
Silence, and with these words attention won.
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers;
For in possession such, not only of right,  461
I call ye, and declare ye now; return'd
Successful beycnd hope, to lead ye forth
Triumphant out of this infernal pit
Abominable, accursed, the house of woe,     465
And dungeon of our tyrant: Now possess,
As Lords, a spacious world, to our native Heaven
Little inferior, by my adventure hard
With peril great achieved. Long were to tell
What I have done, what suffer'd; with what pain 470
Voyaged the 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
Toil'd out my uncouth passage, forced to ride   475
The untractable abyss, plunged in the womb
Of unoriginal Night and Chaos wild;
That, jealous of their secrets, fiercely opposed




BooKi X.]     PARADISE LOST.               243
My journey strange, with clamorous uproar
Protesting fate supreme; thence how I ibund    480
The new created world, which fame in Heaven
Long had foretold, a fabric wonderful
Of absolute perfection! wherein Man
Placed in a Paradise, by our exile
Made happy; Him by fraud I have seduced    485
From his Creator; and, the more to increase
Your wonder, with an apple; he, thereat
Offended, worth your laughter! hath given up
Both his beloved Man and all his world,
To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us,     490
Without our hazard, labor, or 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   495
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, 500
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, awhile he stood, expecting
Their universal shout and high applause   505
To fill his ear; when, contrary, he hears
On all sides, from innumerable tongues,
A dismal universal hiss, the sound
Of public scorn; he wonder'd, but not long
Had leisure, wondering at himself now more;   5 10
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,
R




250            PARADISE LOST.             LBOK X.
Reluctant, but in vain; a greater power       515
Now ruled him, punish'd in the shape he sinn'd,
According to his doom: he would have spoke,
But hiss for hiss return'd with forked tongue
To forked tongue; for now were all transform'd
Alike, to serpents all, as accessories        520
To this 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 horn'd, Hydrus, and Elops drear,     525
And Dipsas (not so thick swarm'd once the soil
Bedropp'd with blood of Gorgon, or the isle
Ophiusa;) but still greatest he the midst,
Now Dragon grown, larger than whom the sun
Engender'd in the Pythian vale or slime,      530
Hugle Python, and his power no less he seem'd
Above the rest still to retain; they all
Him follow'd issuing forth to the open field,
Where all yet left of that revolted rout,
Heaven-fallen, in station stood or just array;  535
Sublime with expectation when to see
In triumph issuing forth their glorious Chief;
They saw, but other sight instead! a crowd
Of ugly serpents: horror on them fell,
And horrid sympathy; for, what they saw,     540
They felt themselves, now changing; down their arms
Down fell both spear and shield; down they as fast;
And the rlire hiss renew'd, and the dire form
Catch'd by contagion; like in punishment,
As in their crime. Thus was the applause they meant
Turn'd to exploding hiss, triumph to shame    546
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    551;




BOOKI X.]       PARADISE LOST.                251
Which grew in Paradise, the bait of Eve
Used by the Tempter: on that prospect strange
Their earnest eyes they fix'd, imagining
For one forbidden tree a multitude
Now risen, to work them further woe or shame; 555
Yet, parch'd with scalding thirst and hunger fierce,
Though to delude them sent, could not abstain;
But on they roll'd in heaps, and, up the trees
Climbing, sat thicker than the snaky locks
That curl'd Megsera; greedily they pluck'd    560
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    565
Chew'd bitter ashes, which the offended taste
With spattering noise rejected; oft they essay'd,
Hunger and thirst constraining; drugg'd as oft,
With hatefulest disrelish writhed their jaws,
With soot and cinders fill'd; so oft they fell  570
Into the same illusion, not as Man       [plagued
Whom they triumph'd once lapsed. Thus were they
And worn with, famine, long and ceaseless hiss,
Till thteir lost shape, permitted, they resumed;
Yearly enjoin'd, some say to undergo          575
This annual humbling certain number'd 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 call'd  580
Ophion, with Eurynome, the wide
Encroaching Eve perhaps, had first the rule
Of high Olympus; thence by Saturn driven
And Ops, ere yet Dictsean love was born.
Meanwhile in Paradise the hellish pair        585
Too soon arrived; Sin, there in power before,




252            PARADISE LOST.           [BooK X.
Once actual; now in body, and to dwell
Habitual habitant; behind her Death,
Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet
On his pale horse; to whom Sin thus began:  590
Second of Satan sprung, all conquering Death!
What think'st thou of our empire now, though earn'd
With travel difficultL not better far
Than still at Hell's dark threshold to have sat watch,
Unnamed, undreaded, and thyself half starved! 595
WVhom thus the Sin-born monster answer'd soon:
To me, who with eternal famine pine,
Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or Heaven;
There best, where most with ravin I may meet;
Which there, though plenteous, all too little seems 600
To stuff this maw, this vast unhide-bound corpse.
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      605
The scythe 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,  610
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 utter'd thus his voice:    615
See, with what heat these dogs of Hell advance
To waste and havoc yonder world, which I
So fair and good created; and had still
Kept in that state, had not the folly of Man
Let in these wasteful furies, who impute    620
Folly to me; so doth the Prince of Hell
And his adherents, that with so much ease




Boos X.]       PARADISE LOST.                 253
I suffer them to enter and possess
A place so heavenly; and, conniving, seem
To gratify my scornful enemies,               6-25
That laugh as if transported with some fit
Of passion, I to them had quitted all,
At random yielded up to their misrule;
And now not that I call'd and drew them thither,
My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth    630
Which Man's polluting sin with taint hath shed
On what was pure; till cramm'd and gorged, nigh burst,
With suck'd and glutted offal, at one sling
Of thy victorious arm, well pleasing Son,
Both Sin, and Death, and yawning Grave, at last, 635
Through Chaos hurl'd, obstruct the mouth of Hell
For ever, and seal up his ravenous jaws.
Then Heaven and Earth renew'd shall be made pure
To sanctify, that shall receive no stain:
Till then, the curse pronounced on both precedes. 642
He ended, and the heavenly audience loud
Sung Hallelujah, as the sound of seas,
Through multitude that sung: Just are thy ways,
Righteous are thy decrees on all thy works;
Who can extenuate theel Next, to the Son      645
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,   650
As sorted best with present things. The sun
Had first his precept so to move, so shine,
As might affect the earth with cold and heat
Scarce tolerable; and from the north to call
Decrepit winter; from the south to bring     655
Solstitial summer's heat. To the blanc moon
Her office they prescribed: to the other five
Their planetary motions, and aspects,
22




254           PARADISE LOST.            [BooK X
In sextile, square, and trine, and opposite,
Of noxious efficacy, and when tojoin        660
In synod unbenign; and taught the fix'd
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   665
Sea, air, and shore; the thunder when to roll
With terror through the dark aerial hall.
Some say, he bid his Angels turn askance
The poles of earth, twice ten degrees and more,
From the sun's axle; they with labor push'd  670
Oblique the centric globe: Some say, the sun
Was bid turn reins from the equinoctial road
Like distant breadth to Taurus with the seven
Atlantic Sisters, and the Spartan Twins,
Up to the Tropic Crab; thence down amain    675
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 verdant flowers,
Equal in days and nights, except to those   680
Beyond the polar circles; to them day
Had unbenighted shone, while the lo'wsun,
To recompense his distance in their sight
Had rounded still the horizon, and not known
Or east or west; which had forbid the snow  685
From cold Estotiland, and south as far
Beneath Magellan. At that tasted fruit
The sun, as from Thyestean banquet turn'd
His course intended; else how had the world
Inhabited, though sinless, more than now    690
Avoided pinching cold and scorching heat!
These changes in the Heavens, though slow, produced
Like change on sea and land; sideral blast,
Vapor, and mist, and exhalation hot,




BooK X.]       PARADISE LOST.               255
Corrupt and pestilent; Now from the north   695
Of Norumbega, and the'Sameod shore,
Bursting their brazen dungeon, arm'd with ice,
And snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw,
Boreas, and CEecias, and Argestes loud,
And Thrascias, rend the woods, and seas upturn; 700
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,  705
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, 711
Devour'd each other; nor stood much in awe
Of Man, but fled him; or, with countenance g_rim,
Glared on him passing.,' Thesewere from without
The growing miseries, which Adam saw        715
Already in part, though hid in gloomiest shade,
To sorrow abandon'd, but worse felt within;
And in a troubled sea of passion toss'd,
Thus to disburden sought with sad complaint:
O miserable of happy! Is this the end     720
Of this new glorious world, and me so late
The glory of that glory, who now become
Accursed of blessed? hide me from the face
Of God, whom to behold was then my height
Of happiness!-Yet well, if here would end   725
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. 0 voice, once heard
Delightfully, Increase and multiply:        730




256           PARADISE LOST.           [Bo00 X.
Now death to hear! for what can I increase,
Or multiply, but curses on my head?
Who of all ages to succeed, but, feeling
The evil on him brought by me, will curse
My head? Ill fare our ancestor impure!      735
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 centre, light    740
Heavy, though in their place. 0 fleeting joys
Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes!
Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay
To mould me Manl did I solicit thee
From darkness to promote me, or here place  745
In this delicious gardenS As my will
Concurr'd not to my being, it were but right
And equal to reduce me to my dust:
Desirous to resign and render back
All I received; unable to perform           750
Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold
The good I sought not. To the loss of that,
Sufficient penalty, why hast thou added
The sense of endless woes? Inexplicable
Thy justice seems; yet, to say truth, too late  755
I thus contest; then should have been refilsed
Those terms, whatever, when they were proposed:
Thou didst accept them: wilt thou enjoy the good,
Then cavil the conditionsl and, though God
Made thee without thy leave, what if thy son  760
Prove disobedient; and, reproved, retort,
Wherefore didst thou beget mel I sought it not:
Wouldst thou admit for his contempt of thee,
That proud excuse' yet him not thy election,
But natural necessity begot.                765
God made thee of choice his own, and of his own




Booe X.]       PARADISE LOST.                 257
To serve him; thy reward was of his grace;
Thy punishment then justly is at his will.
Be it so, for I submit; his doom is fair,
That dust I am, and shall to dust return:    770
O welcome hour whenever! Why delays
His hand to execute what his decree
Fix'd on this day? Why do I overlive.
Why am I mock'd with death, and lengthen'd out
To deathless pain! How gladly would I meet    775
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   780
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   785
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 sinn'd; what dies but what had life   790
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; MIan is not so,    795
But mortal doom'd. How can lye exercise
Wrath without end on Man, whom death must end?
Can he make deathless death? That were to make
Strange contradiction, which to God himself
Impossible is held; as argument              800
Of weakness, not of powver. Will he draw out
For anger's sake, finite to infinite,
22*




258           PARADISE LOST.            [BOOK X.
Tn punish'd Man, to satisfy his rigor,
Satisfied never! That were to extend
His sentence beyond dust and Nature's law;    805
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         810
From this day onward; which I feel begun
Both in me, and without me; and so last
To perpetuity; —Ah me! that fear
Comes thundering back-with dreadful revolution
On my defenceless head; both Death and I    815
Are found eternal, and incorporate both;
Nor I on my part single; in me all
Posterity stands accursed; fair patrimony
That I must leave ye, Sons! O, were I able
To waste it all myself, and leave ye none!  820
So disinherited, how would you bless
Me, now your curse! Ah, why should all mankind,
For one man's fault, thus guiltless be condemn'd,
If guiltless! But from me what can proceed,
But all corrupt; both mind and will depraved    825
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, led me still
But to my own conviction: first and last    831
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;    835
Than all the world much heavier, though divided
With that bad Woman! Thus, what thou desirest,
And what thou fear'st, alike destroys all hope




BooK X.]      PARADISE LOST.                259
Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable
Beyond all past example and future;         840
To Satan only like,both crime and doom,
O Conscience! into what abyss of fears
And horrors hast thou driven me: out of which
I find no way, from deep to deeper plunged!
Thus Adam to himself lamented loud,       845
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 terror: on the ground  850
Outstretch'd 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  855
To end mel 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.
0 woods, 0 fountains, hillocks, dales, and bowers! 860
With other echo late I taught your shades
To answer, and resound far other song.W\hom thus afflicted when sad Eve beheld,
Desolate where she sat, approaching nigh,
Soft words to his fierce passion she essay'd:  865
But her with stern regard he thus repell'd:
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 color serpentine, may show    870
Thy inward fraud; to warn all creatures from thee
Henceforth; lest that too heavenly form, pretended,
To hellish falsehood snare them! But for thee
I had persisted happy; had not thy pride




260            PARADISE LOST.            [Book X.
And wandering vanity, when least was safe,    875
Rejected my forewarning, and disdain'd
Not to be trusted; longing to be seen,
Though by the Devil himself; him overweening
To overreach; but, with the serpent meeting,
Fool'd and beguiled; by him thou, I by thee,    880
To trust thee from my side; imagined wise,
Constant, mature, proof against all assaults;
And understood not all was but a show,
Rather than solid virtue; all but a rib
Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears,      885
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        890
This novelty on earth, this fair defect
Of nature, and not fill the world at once
With Men, as Angels, without feminine;
Or find some other way to generate
Mankind! This mischief had not then befallen,  895
And more that shall befal; 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;    900
Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain
Through her perverseness, but shall see her gain'd
By a far worse: or. if she love, withheld
By parents; or his happiest choice too late
Shall meet, already link'd and wedlock bound    905
To a fell adversary, his hate or shame:
Which infinite calamity shall cause
To human life, and household peace confound.
He added not, and from her turn'd; but Eve,
Not so repulsed, with tears that ceased not flowing,




Boot: X.]      PARADISE LOST.                 26&
And tresses all disorder'd, at his feet       911
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    915
I bear thee, and unweeting have offended,
Unhappily deceived! Thy suppliant
I beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not,
Whereon 1 live, thy gentle looks, thy aid,
Thy counsel, in this uttermost distress,      920
My only strength and stay: forlorn of thee,
Whither shall I betake me, where subsistS
While yet we live, scarce one short hour perhaps,
Between us two let there be peace; both joining,
As join'd in injuries, one enmity             925
Against a foe by doom express assign'd 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 sinn'd; but thou    930
Against God only; I against God and thee;
And to the place of judgment will return,
There with my cries importune Heaven, that all
The sentence, f'om thy head removed, may light
On me, sole cause to thee of all this woe;    935
Me, me only, just object of his ire!
She ended weeping; and her lowly plight,
Immoveable, till peace obtain'd from fault
Acknowledged and deplored, in Adam wrought
Commiseration: soon his heart relented        940
Towards her, his life so late, and sole delight
Now at his feet submissive in distress;
Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking,
His counsel, whom she had displeased, his aid:
As one disarm'd, his anger all he lost,       945
And thus with peaceful words upraised her soon:




262            PARA DISE LOST.            [BooK X.
Unwary, and too desirous, as before,
So now of what thou know'st not, who desirest
The punishment all on thyself; alas!
Bear thine own first, ill able to sustain'    956
His full wrath, whose thou feel'st as yet least part,
And my displeasure bear'st so ill. If prayers
Couid aiter high decrees, I to that place
Would speed before thee, and be louder heard,
That on my head all might be visited;         955
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        960
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'adying, to augment our pain;
And to our seed (O hapless seed!) derivea,    965
To whom thus Eve, recovering heart, replied:
Adam, by sad experiment I know
How little weight my words with thee can find,
Found so erroneous; thence by just event
Found so unfortunate: nevertheless,           970
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,  975
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, devour'd   980
By, Death at last; and miserable it is
To be to others cause of misery,




Boos X.1      PARADISE LOST.                 263
Our own begotten, and of our loins to bring
Into this cursed world a woful race,
That after wretched life must be at last     985
Food for so foul a monster; in thy power
It lies, yet ere conception, to prevent
The race unbless'd, to being yet unbegot.
Childless thou art, childless remain: so Death
Shall be deceived his glut, and with us two  990
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,   995
Before the present ulject 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, 1000
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,  1005
Destruction with destruction to destroylShe ended here, or vehement despair
Broke off the rest; so much of death her thoughts
Had entertain'd, as dyed her cheeks with pale.
But Adam, with such counsel nothing sway'd, 1010
To better hopes his more attentive mind
Laboring 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;  1015
But self-destruction therefore sought refutes
That excellence thought in thee; and implies,
Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret




264            PARADISE LOST.           [Boox X.
For loss of life and pleasure overloved.
Or if thou covet death, as utmost end      10o20
Of misery, so thinking to evade
The penalty pronounced; doubt not but God
Hath wiselier arm'd his vengeful ire than so
To be forestall'd; much more I fear lest death,
So snatch'd, will not exempt us from the pain  1025
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  1030
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  1035
\Would be revenge indeed! which will be lost
By death brought on ourselves, or childless days
Resolved as thou proposest; so our foe
Shall scape his punishment ordain'd, and we
Instead shall double ours upon our heads.  1040
No more be mention'd then of violence
Against ourselves, and willful barrenness,
That cuts us off from hope, and savors only
Rancor and pride, impatience and despite,
Reluctance against God and his just yoke   1045
Laid on our necks. Remember with what mild
And gracious temper he both heard, and judged,
Without wrath or reviling; we expected
Immediate dissolution, which we thought
Was meant by death that day: when lo! to thee 1050
Pains only in childbearing were foretold,
And bringing forth; soon recompensed with joy,
Fruit of thy womb: on me the curse aslope
Glanced on the ground; with labor I must earn




SOOK X.]       PARADISE LOST.                265
My bread; what harml Idleness had been worse. 1055
My labor 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    1060
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   1065
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 benumb'd ere this diurnal star
Leave cold the night, how we his gather'd beams 1070
Reflected may with matter sere foment;
Or, by collusion of two bodies, grind
The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds
Justling, or push'd with winds, rude in their shock,
Tine the slant lightning; whose thwart flame, driven
down,
Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine;      1076
And sends a comfortable heat from far,
Which might supply the sun: such fire to use,
And what may else be remedy or cure
To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought, 1080
He will instruct us praying, and of grace
Beseeching him: so as we need not fear
To pass commodiously this life, sustain'd
By him with many comforts, till we end
In dust, our final rest and native home.    1085
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
S                23




266            PARADISE LOST.            LBooK X.
Wateling the ground, and with our sighs the air 1090
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign
Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek!
Undoubtedly he will relent and turn
From his displeasure; in whose look serene,
When angry most he seem'd and most severe,  1095
What else but favor, 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     1100
Humbly their faults, and pardon begg'd: with tears
Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign
Of sorrow unfeign'd and humiliation meek.




PARADISE LOST.
BOOK XI.
The Son of God presents to his Father the prayers of our first parents now
repenting, and intercedes for them: God accepts them, but declares that
they must no longer abide in Paradise; sends Michael with a band of
Cherubim to dispossess them: but first to reveal to Adam future things:
Michael's coming down. Adam shows to Eve certain ominous signs; he
discerns Michael's approach; goes out to meet him; the Angel denounces
their departure. Eve's Lamentation. Adam pleads, but submits: The
Angel leads him up to a high hill; sets before him in vision what shall happen till the Flood.
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 5
Unutterable; which the Spirit of prayer
Inspired, and wing'd for Heaven with speedier flight
Than loudest oratory: yet their port
Not of mean suitors; nor important less
Seem'd their petition, than when the ancient pair 10
In fables old, less ancient yet than these,
Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha, to restore
The race of mankind drown'd, before the shrine
Of Themis stood devout. To Heaven their prayers
Flew up,nor miss'd the way, by envious winds              15
Blown vagabond or frustrate: in they pass'd
Dimensionless through heavenly doors; then clad
With incense, where the golden altar fumed
By their great Intercessor, came in sight
Before the Father's throne: them  the glad Son            20
Presenting, thus to intercede began:
See, Father, what first fruits on earth are sprung
267




268            PARADISE LOST.          TBooK XI.
From thy implanted grace in Man; these sighs
And prayers, which in this golden censer, mix'd
xWith incense, I thy priest before thee bring:  25
Fruits of more pleasing savor, 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 30
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    35
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
Numnler'd, though sad; till death, his doom (which I
To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse,)     41
To better life shall yield him: where with me
All my redeem'd may dwell in joy and bliss;
Made one with me, as I with thee am one.
To whom the Father, without cloud serene;    45
All thy request for Man, accepted Son,
Obtain; all thy request was my decree:
But, longer in that Paradise to dwell,
The law I gave to nature him forbids:
Those pure immortal elements, that know      50
No gross, no 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   55
Distemper'd all things, and of incorrupt
Corrupted. I, at first, with two fair gifts
Created him endow'd; with happiness




BooK XI.]      PARADISE LOST.                269
And immortality; that fondly lost,
This other served but to eternize woe;       60
Till I provided death: so death becomes
His final remedy; and, after life,
Tried in sharp tribulation, and refined
By faith and faithful works, to second life,
Waked in the renovation of the just,         65
Resigns him up with Heaven and Earth renew'd.
But let us call to synod all the Bless'd  [hide
Through Heaven's wide bounds: from them I will not
My judgments; how with mankind I proceed,
As how with peccant Angels late they saw,    70
And in their state, though firm, stood more confirm'd.
He ended, and the Son gave signal high
To the bright minister that watch'd; he blew
His trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps
When God descended, and perhaps once more   75
To sound at general doom. The angelic blast
Fill'd all the regions: from their blissful bowers
Of Amarantine shade, fountian or spring,
By the waters of life,.where'er they sat
In fellowships of joy, the sons of light     80
Hasted, resorting to the summons high;
And took their seats; till from his throne supreme
The Almighty thus pronounced his sov'reign will:
O Sons, like one of us Man is become
To know both good and evil, since his taste  85
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,    90
My motions in him; longer than they move,
His heart I know, hqw variable and vain,
Self-left. Lest therefore his now bolder hand
Reach also of the tree of life, and eat,
23*




270            PARADISE LOST.           [BOK XI.
And live for ever, dream at least to live     95
For ever, to remove him I decree,
And send him from the garden forth to till
The ground whence he was taken, fitter soil.
Michael, this my behest have thou in charge,
Take to thee from among the Cherubim         100
Thy choice of flaming warriors, 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;   10b
From hallow'd 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  110
Bewailing their excess,) all terror hide.
If patiently thy bidding they obey,
Dismiss them not disconsolate; reveal
To Adam what shall come in future days,
As I shall thee enlighten; intermix          115
My covenant in the Woman's seed renew'd;
So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace:
And on the east side of the garden place,
Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbs,
Cherubic watch; and of a sword the flame     120
Wide-waving; all approach far off to fright,
And guard all passage to the tree of life:
Lest Paradise a receptacle prove
To Spirits foul, and all my trees their prey:
With whose stolen fruit Man once more to delude, 125
He ceased; and the archangelic 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 ihan those  130




lsrcx Xi1     PARADISE LOST.                271
Oi Argus, and more wakeful than to drowse,
Cbarll'd with Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed
Of Hermes, or his opiate rod. Meanwhile,
To resalaie the world with sacred light,
Leucothea-raked, and with fresh dews embalm'd 135
The earth; when Adatn and first matron Eve
Had ended now their olisons, and found
Strength added froIn ablove, new hope to spring
Out of despair; joy, but with fear yet link'd;
Which thus to Eve his *elcome words renew'd: 140
Eve, easily may faith admnit, that all
T'fhe good which we enjoy fioln iHeaven descends,
But, that from us aught should aasend to Heaven
So prevalent as to concern the nind
Of God high-bless'd, or to incline hid will,  145
Hard to belief may seem; yet this wili prayer
Or one short sigh of human breath, upborne
Even to the seat of God. For since 1 oiught
By prayer the offended Deity to appease,
Kneel'd, and before him humbled all my /,art;  150
Methought I saw him placable and mild,
Bending his ear; persuasion in me grew
That I was heard with favor; peace return'a
Home to my breast, and to my memory
His promise, that thy seed shall bruise our f5 t    155
Which, then not minded in dismay, yet now
Assures me that the bitterness of death
Is pass'd, and we shall live. Whence hail to thee,
Eve rightly call'd, mother of all mankind,
Mother of all things living, since by thee,  160
Man is to live; and all things live for Man.
To whom thus Eve with sad demeanor meek:
Ill worthy I such title should belong
To me transgressor; who for thee ordain'd
A help, became thy snare; to me reproach    165
Rather belongs, distrust, and all dispraise;




272           PARADISE LOST.           [BooK XI.
But infinite in pardon was my Judge,
That I, who first brought death on all, am graced
The source of life; next favorable thou,
Who highly thus to entitle me vouchsafest,  170
Far other name deserving. But the field
To labor calls us, now with sweat imposed,
Though after sleepless night; for see! the morn,
All unconcerned with our unrest, begins
Her rosy progress smiling: let us forth;    175
I never from thy side henceforth to stray,
Where'er our day's work lies, though now enjoin'd
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. 180
So spake, so wish'd much humbled Eve; but Fate
Subscribed not: Nature first gave signs, impress'd
On bird, beast, air; air suddenly eclipsed,
After short blush of morn; nigh in her sight
The bird of Jove, stoop'd from his aery tour,    185
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.  190
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      195
Us, haply too secure of our discharge
From penalty, because from death released
Some days: how long, and what till then our life,
Who knowst or more than this, that we are dust,
And thither must return, and be no mores    200
Why else this double object in our sight
Of flight pursued in the air, and o'er the ground.




BooK XI.]     PARADISE LOST.                273
One way the selfsame hourl why in the east
Darkness ere day's mid-course, and morning-light
More orient in yon western cloud, that draws   205
O'er the blue firmament a radiant white,
And slow descends with something heavenly fraugnt!
He err'd not; for by this the heavenly bands
Down from a sky of jasper lighted now
In Paradise, and on a hill made halt;       210
A glorious apparition, had not doubt
And carnal fear that day dimm'd Adam's eye.
Not that more glorious, when the Angels met
Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw
The field pavilion'd with his guardians bright:  215
Nor that, which on the flaming mount appear'd
In Dothan, cover'd with a camp of fire,
Against the Syrian king, who to surprise
One man, assassin-like, had levied war,
War unproclaim'd. The princely Hierarch     220
In their bright stand there left his Powers, to seize
Possession of the garden; he alone,
To find where Adam shelter'd, took his way,
Not unperceived of Adam: who to Eve,
While the great visitant approach'd, thus spake:  225
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,  230
None of the meanest; some great Potentate,
Or of the Thrones above; such majesty
Invests him coming! yet not terrible,
That I should fear; nor sociably mild,
As Raphael, that I should much confide;     235
But solemn and sublime; whom not to offend,
With reverence I must meet, and thou retire.
He ended: and the Archangel soon drew nigh,




274           PARADISE LOST.           LBooK  x.
Not in his shape celestial, but as man
Clad to meet man; over his lucid arms       240
A military vest of purple flow'd,
Livelier than Melibcean, or the grain
Of Sarra, worn by kings and heroes old
In time of truce; Iris had dipp'd the woof;
His starry helm unbuckled show'd him prime    245
In manhood where youth ended; by his side,
As in a glistering zodiac, hung the sword,
Satan's dire dread; and in his hand the spear.
Adam bow'd low; he, kingly, from his state
Inclined not, but his coming thus declared:  250
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 seizure many days
Given thee of grace; wherein thou mayst repent, 255
And one bad act with many deeds well done
Mayst 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,      260
And send thee from the garden forth to till
The ground whence thou wast taken, fitter soil.
He added not; for Adam at the newrs
Heart-struck with chilling gripe of sorrow stood,
That all his senses bound; Eve, who unseen  265
Yet all had heard, with audible lament
Discover'd 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 shadGs, 270
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. 0 flowers,
That never will in other climate grow,




BooK XI.]     PARADISE LOST.                275
My early visitation, and my last            275
At 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 fountl
Thee lastly, nuptial bower! by me adorn'd   280
With what to sight or smell was sweet! from thee
How shall I part, and whither wander down
Into a lower world; to this obscure
And wild! how shall we breathe in other air
Less pure, accustom'd to immortal fruits!   285
Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild:
Lament not, Eve, but patiently resign
What justly thou hast lost, nor set thy heart,
Thus overfond, on that which is not thine:
Thy going is not lonely; with thee goes    290
Thy husband; him to follow thou art bound;
Where he abides, think there thy native soil.
Adam, by this from the cold sudden damp
Recovering, and his scatter'd spirits return'd,
To Michael thus his humble words address'd:    295
Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or named
Of them the highest; for such of shape may seem
Prince above princes: gently hast thou told
Thy message, which might else in telling wound,
And in performing end us; what besides      300
Of sorrow, and dejection, and despair,
Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring,
Departure from this happy place, our sweet
Recess, and only consolation left
Familiar to our eyes! all places else       305
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:       310




2'76           PARADISE LOST.            LBooK XL
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,  315
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 appear'd; under this tree    320
Stood visible; among these pines his voice
I heard; here with him at this fountain talk'd:
So many grateful altars I would rear
Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone
Of lustre from the brook, in memory,          325
Or Mnonument to ages; and thereon
Offer sweet-smelling gums, and. fruits, and flowers:
In yonder nether world where shall I seek
HIis bright appearances, or footstep trace?
For though Ifled him angry, yet, recall'd     330
To life prolong'd 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:
Adarn, thou know'st Heaven his, and all the Earth;
Not this rock only; his Omnipresence fills    336
Land. sea, and air, and every kind that lives
Fomented by his virtual power and warm'd:
All the earth he gave thee to possess and rule,
No despicable gift; surmise not then          340
His presence to these narrow bounds confined
Of Paradise, or Eden; this had been
Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had spread
All generations; and had hither come
From all the ends of the earth, to celebrate  345
And reverence thee, their great progenitor.




BooK XI.]      PARADISE LOST.                 277
But this preeminence thou hast lost, brought down
To dwell on even ground now with thy sons:
Yet doubt not but in valley and on plain
God is, as here; and will be found alike      350
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 mayst believe, and be confirm'd 355
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      360
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     365
Thy mortal passage when it cornes.-Ascend
This hill; let Eve (for 1 have drench'd her eyes)
Here sleep below; while thou to foresight wakest;
As once thou slept'st, while she to life was form'd.
To whom thus Adam gratefully replied:      370
Ascend; I follow thee, safe Guide, the path
Thou lead'st 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 labor won,  375
If so I may attain.-So both ascend
IrI the visions of God. It was a hill,
Of Paradise the highest; from whose top
The hemisphere of earth, in clearest ken,
Stretch'd out to the amplest reach of prospect lay. 380
Not higher that hill, nor wider looking round,
Whereon, for different cause, the Tempter set
24




278           PARADISE LOST.           [BOOK XI.
Our second Adam, in the wilderness;
To show him all Earth's kingdoms and their glory.
His eye might there command wherever stood    385
City of old or modern fame, the seat
Of mightiest empire, from the destined wall
Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can,
And Samarcand by Oxus, Temir's throne,
To Paquin of Sineean kings; and thence      390
To Agra and Lahore 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,         395
Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken
The empire of Negus to his utmost port
Ercoco, and the less maritime kings
Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind,
And Sofala, thought Ophir, to the realm     400
Of Congo, and Angola furthest 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 405
The world: in spirit perhaps he also saw
Rich Mexico, the seat of Montezume,
And Cuscodin Peru, the richer seat
Of Atabalipa; and yet unspoil'd
Guiana, whose great city Geryon's sons      410
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;   415
And from the well of life three drops instill'd.
So deep the power of these ingredients pierced,
Even to the inmost seat of mental sight,




BOOK XI.]      PAR AD I S E L O S T.         279
That Adam, now enforced to close his eyes,
Sunk down, and all his spirits became entranced; 420
But him the gentle Angel by the hand
Soon raised, and his attention thus recall'd:
Adam, now open thine eyes; and first behold
The effects which thy original crime hath wrought
In some to spring from thee; who never touched 425
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  430
New reap'd; the other part sheep-walks and folds;
I' the midst an altar as the landmark stood,
Rustic, of grassy sord: thither anon
A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought
First fruits, the green ear, and the yellow sheaf,  435
Uncull'd, 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 strow'd,
On the cleft wood, and all due rites performed.  440
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 talk'd,
Smote him into the midriff with a stone     445
That beat out life: he fell; and, deadly pale,
Groan'd out his soul with gushing blood effused.
Much at that sight was Adam in his heart
Dismay'd, and thus in haste to the Angel cried:
0 Teacher! some great mischief hath bemallen   450
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




280            PARADISE LOST.           [Boor XI.
Out of thy loins; the unjust the just hath slain,   455
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:   460
Alas! both for the deed and for the cause;
But have I now seen Death! Is this the way
I must return to native dust! 0 sight
Of terror, foul and ugly to behold,
Horrid to think, how horrible to feel!      465
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;  470
Some, as thou saw'st, 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 may'st know 475
What misery the inabstinence of Eve
Shall bring on Men; Immediately a place
Before his eyes appear'd, sad, noisome, dark;
A lazar-house it seem'd; wherein were laid
Numbers of all diseased; all maladies       480
Ot ghlastly spasm, or racking torture, qualms
Of heartsick agony, all feverous kinds,
Convulsions, epilepsies, fierce catarrhs,
Intestine stone and ulcer, colic-pangs,
Demoniac frenzy, moping melancholy,         385
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;    490




BooK XI.]     PARADISE LOST.                281
And over them triumphant Death his dart
Shook, but delay'd 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 beholdS Adam could not, but wept,   495
Though not of woman born; compassion quell'd
His best of man, and gave him up to tears
A space, till firmer thoughts restrain'd excess;
And, scarce recovering words, his plaint renew'd:
0 miserable mankind, to what fall        500
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 not accept   505
Life offer'd, or soon beg to lay it down;
Glad to be so dismiss'dinpeace. Can thus
The image of God in Man, created once
So goodly and erect, though faulty since,
To such unsightly sufferings be debased    510
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, answer'd Michael, then  515
Forsook them, when themselves they vilified
To serve ungovern'd Appetite; and took
His image whom they served, a brutish vice
inductive mainly to the sin of Eve.
Therefore so abject is their punishment,   520
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.   525
I yield it just, said Adam, and submit.
T              24*




282           PARADISE LOS T.          [BooK XI.
But is there yet no other way, besides
These painful passages, how we may come
To death, and mnix with our connatural dust?
There is, said Michael, if thou well observe    530
The rule of V'ot too much; by temperance taught,
In what thou eat'st and drink'st; seeking from thence
Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight,
Till many years over thy head retuin:
So may'st thou live; till, like ripe fruit, thou drop 535
Into thy mother's lap; or be with ease
Gather'd, not harshly pluck'd; for death mature:
This is Old Age; but then thou must outlive [change
Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty; which will
To wither'd, weak, and gray; thy senses then,  540
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    545
The balhn 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     550
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.     555
He look'd, 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 560
Their stops and chords, was seen; his volant touch
Instinct through all proportions, low and high,




BooK XI.]       PARADISE LOST.               283
Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue.
In other part stood one, who, at the forge
Laboring, two massy clods of iron and brass  565
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 wash'd by stream
Fromunderground;) the liquid ore he drain'd   570
Into fit moulds prepared; from which he form'd
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 neighboring hills, which was their seat,
Down to the plain descended; by their guise    576
Just men they seem'd, 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   580
Long had not walk'd, 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  586
Fast caught, they liked; and each his liking chose;
And now of love they treat, till the evening star,
Love's harbinger, appear'd; then, all in heat
They light the nuptial torch, and did invoke  590
Hymen, then first to marriage rites invoked:
With feast and music all the tents resound.
Such happy interview, and fair event
Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flowers,
And charming symphonies, attach'd the heart   595
Of Adam, soon inclined to admit delight,
The bent of nature; which he thus express'd:
True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel bless'd;




254           PARADISE LOST.           LBooK XI.
Much better seems this vision, and more hope
Of peaceful days portends, than those two pass'd; 600
Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse;
Here Nature seems fulfill'd 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,        605
Holy and pure, conformity divine.
Those tents thou saw'st so pleasant were the tents
Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race
Who slew his brother; studious they.appear
Of arts that polish life, inventors rare;   610
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 saw'st, that seem'd
Of Goddesses so blithe, so smooth, so gay,  615
Yet empty of all good, wherein consists
Woman's domestic honor and chief praise;
Bred only and completed to the taste
Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance,
To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye:  620
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,    625
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
Enter'd so fair, should turn aside to tread  63Q
Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint!
But still I see the tenor of Man's woe
Holds on the same, from Woman to begin.
From Man's effeminate slackness it begins,




Boce XI.]      PARADISE LOST.                 285
Said the Angel, who should better hold his place 635
By wisdom, and superior gifts received.
But now prepare thee for another scene.
He look'd, and saw wide territory spread
Before him, towns, and rural works between;
Cities of Men with lofty gates and towers,    640
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;   645
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,   650
But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray;
With cruel tournament the squadrons join;
Where cattle pastured late, now scatter'd lies
With carcasses and arms the ensanguined field,
Deserted: Others to a city strong             655
Lay siege, encamp'd; by battery, scale, and mine,
Assaulting: others from the wall defend
With dart and javelin, stones, and sulphurous fire;
On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds.
In otl.er part the sceptred heralds call      660'lo council, in the city-gates; anon
Gray-headed men and grave, with warriors mix'd
Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon,
In factious opposition; till at last,
Of middle age one rising, eminent             665
Ih wise deport, spake much of right and wrong,
Of justice, of religion, truth, and peace,
Andjudgment from above: him old and young
Exploded, and had seized with violent hands,
Had not a cloud descending snatch'd him thence 670




286           PARADISE LOST.           LBooK XI.
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 turn'd full sad: 0! what are these,   675
Death's ministers, not men. who thus deal death
Inhumanly to men, and multiply
Ten thousand fold the sin of him who slew
His brother; for of whom such massacre
Make they, but of their brethren; men of men.   680
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 saw'st;  [selves
Where good with bad were match'd, who of themAbhor to join; and, by imprudence mix'd,    686
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 valor and heroic virtue call'd;         690
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 conquerors,  695
Patrons of mankind, Gods, and sons of Gods;
Destroyers rightlier call'd, 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 700
The only righteous in a world perverse,
And therefore hated, therefore so beset
With foes, for daring single to be just,
And utter odious truth, that God would come
To judge them with his Saints; him the Most High,
Wrap'd in a balmy cloud with winged steeds,   706




BooK XI.]     PARADISE LOST.                 287
Did, as thou saw'st, 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;    710
Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold.
He look'd, and saw the face of things quite changed;
The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar;
All now was turn'd to jollity and game,
To luxury and riot, feast and dance;        716
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,  720
And testified against their ways; he oft
Frequented their assemblies, whereso met,
Triumphs of festivals; and to them preach'd
Conversion and repentance, as to souls
In prison, under judgment imminent:         7 25
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 height;
Sm ar'd round with pitch; and in the side a door 731
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 enter'd in as taught 735
Their order: last the sire and his three sons,
With their four wives; and God made fast the door.
Meanwhile the south-wind rose, and, with black wings
Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove
From under Heaven; the hills to their supply    740
Vapor, and exhalation dusk and moist,
Sent up amain; and now the thicken'd sky




288            PARADISE LOST.            [Booik XI.
Like a dark ceiling stood; down rush'd the rain
Impetuous; and continued, till the earth
No more was seen; the floating vessel swum    745
Uplifted, and secure, with beaked prow
Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings else
Flood overwhelm'd, and them with all their pomp
Deep under water roll'd; sea cover'd sea,
Sea without shore; and in their palaces,      750
Where luxury late reign'd, sea-monsters whelp'd
And stabled; of mankind, so numerous late,
All left in one small bottom swum embark'd.
How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold
The end of all thy offspring, end so sad,     7f55'Depopulation! Thee another flood,
Of tears and sorrow a flood, thee also drown'd,
And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently rear'd
By the Angel, on thy feet thou stood'st at last,
Though comfortless; as when a father mourns    760
His children, all in view destroy'd 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          765
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 befal    771
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,       77S
Grievous to bear: but that care now is pass'd,
Man is not whom to warn; those few escaped
Famine and anguish will at last consume,




Bo0r XI.]       PARADISE LOST.                 289
Wandering that watery desert: I had hope,
When violence was ceased, and war on earth,   780
All would have then gone well; peace would have
crown'd
With length of happy days the race of man;
But I was far deceived; for now I see
Peace to corupt no less than war to waste.
How comes it thusl unfold, celestial Guide,   785
And whether here the race of Man will end.
To whom thus Michael: Those, whom last thou
saw'st
In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they
First seen in acts of prowess eminent
And great exploits, but of true virtue void;  790
Who, having spilt much blood, and done much waste,
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  795
Raise, out of friendship, hostile deeds in peace.
The conquer'd also, and enslaved by war,
Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose
And fear of God; from whom their piety feign'd
In sharp contest of battle found no aid       800
Against invaders; therefore, cool'd 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: 805
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       810
Offended: fearless of reproach and scorn,
Or violence, he of their wicked ways
G25




291)          PARADISE LOST,           [BOOK XI.
Shall them admonish; and before them set
The paths of righteousness, how much more safe
And full of peace; denouncing wrath to come    815
On their impenitence; and shall return
Of them derided, but of God observed
The one just man alive; by his command
Shall build a wondrous ark, as thou beheldst,
To save himself and household from amidst   820
A world devote to universal wrack.
No sooner he, with them of man and beaO
Select for life, shall in the ark be lodge,
And shelter'd round, but all the cataracts
Of Heaven set open on the Earth shall pour  825
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      830
Out of his place, push'd by the horned flood,
With all his verdure spoil'd, 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 ores, and seamews' clang: 835
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 look'd, and saw the ark hull on the flood,  840
Which now abated; for the clouds were fled,
Driven by a keen north wind, that, blowing dry,
Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decay'd;
And the clear sun on his wide watery glass
Gazed hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew,  845
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 stopp'd




BOOK XI.]     PARADISE LOST.                  291
His sluices, as the Heaven his windows shut.
The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground, 850
Fast on the top of some high mountain fix'd.
And now the tops of hills, as rocks, appear;
With clamor thence the rapid currents drive,
Towards the retreating sea, their furious tide.
Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies,     855
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, pacific sign;        860
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         865
Conspicuous with three listed colors gay,
Betokening peace from God, and covenant new.
Whereat the heart of Adam, erst so sad,
Greatly rejoiced; and thus his joy broke forth:
0 thou, who, future things canst represent    870
As present, heavenly Instructor! 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 destroy'd, than I rejoice     875
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 color'd streaks in Heaven
Distended, as the brow of God appeased!      880
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 archangel: Dexterous'y thou aim'st.




292            PARADISE LOST.           [Boo XI.
So willingly doth God remit his ire,        885
Though late repenting him of Man depraved;
Grieved at his heart, when looking down he saw
The whole earth fill'd with violence, and all flesh
Corrupting each their way; yet, those removed,
Such grace shall one just man find in his sight,  890
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 895
Over the earth a cloud, will therein set
His triple-color'd bow, whereon to look,
And call to mind his covenant: day and night,
Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost,    899
Shall hold their course; till fire purge all things new,
Both Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell.




PARADISE LOST.
BOOK XII.
The Angel Michael continues, from the Flood, to relate what shall
succeed; then, in the mention of Abraham, comes by degrees to explain who that Seed of the Woman shall be, which was promised
Adam and Eve in the Fall; his incarnation, death, resurrection, and
ascension; the state of the church till his second coming. Adam.
greatly satisfied and recomforted by these relations and promises, descends the hill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while had
slept, but with gentle dreams composed to quietness of mind and submission. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradise, the fiery
sword waving behind them, and the Cherubim taking their stations to
guard the place.
As ONEr who in his journey bates at noon,
Though bent on speed; so here the Archangel paused
Betwixt the world destroy'd and world restorea,
If Adam aught perhaps might interpose;
Then, with transition sweet, new speech resumes: 5
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:                  10
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 judgment past remains
Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity,                  1f
With some regard to what is just and right,
Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace;
Laboring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop,
Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock,
Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid,                    20
25*                    293




294            PARADISE LOST.          LBooKXII.
With large wine-offerings pour'd, 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   25
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)   30
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 sovereignty;    35
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  40
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    45
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,   50
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:    55
Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud,




BoOK XII.J     PARADISE LOST.               295
Among the builders; each to other calls
Not understood, till hoarse, and all in rage,
As mock'd they storm: great laughter was in Heaven,
And looking down, to see the hubbub strange,    60
And hsar the din: thus was the building left
Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named..Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeased:
0 execrable son! so to aspire
Above his brethren; to himself assuming      65
Authority usurp'd, 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      70
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        75
Himself and his rash army; where thin air
Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross,
And famish him of breath, if not of breadS
To whom thus Michael: Justly thou abhorr'st
That son, who on the quiet state of men      80
Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue
Rational liberty; yet know withal,
Since thy original lapse, true liberty
Is lost, which always with right reason dwells
Twinn'd, and from her hath no dividual being:   85
Reason in man obscured or not obey'd,
Immediately inordinate desires
And upstart passions catch the government
From reason; and to servitude reduce
Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits  90
Within himself unworthy powers to reign
Over free reason, God, in judgment just,




296           PARADISE LOST.           [Book XIL
Subjects him from without to violent lords;
Who oft as undeservedly enthral
His outward freedom: tyranny must be;        95
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 annex'd,
Deprives them of their outward liberty;     100
Their inward lust: 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,  105
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;   110
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: 0, that men        115
(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,  121
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         125
All nations shall be bless'd: he straight obeys;
Not knowing to what land, yet firm believes:
I see him, but thou canst not, with what faith




Boos XII.]     PARADISE LOST.                 297
He leaves his Gods, his friends, and native soil,
Ur of Chaldea, passing now the ford           130
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 call'd him, in a land unknown.
Canaan he now attains; I see his tents        135
Pitch'd about Sechem, and the neighboring plain
Of Moreh; there by promise he receives
Gift to his progeny of all that land,
From Hamath northward to the Desert south,
(Things by their names I call, tho' yet unnamed;) 140
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     145
Shall dwell toSenir, 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      150
Plainlier shall be reveal'd. This patriarch bless'd,
Whom faithful Abraham due time shall call,
A son, and of his son a grandchild, leaves;
Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown:
The grandchild, with twelve sons increas'd, departs
From Canaan, to a land hereafter call'd       150
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            160
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
U




298           PARADISE LOST.           [Book XIL
Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks        165
To stop their overgrowth, Us inmate guests   [slaves
Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them
Inhospitably, and kills their infant males:
Till by two brethren (these two brethren call'd
Moses and Aaron) sent from God to claim       170
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 compell'd by signs and judgments dire; 175
To blood unshed the rivers must be turn'd;
Frogs, lice, and flies must all his palace fill
With loathed intrusion, and fill all the land;
His cattle must of rot and murrain die;
Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss,    180
And all his people; thunder mix'd with hail,
Hail mix'd with fire, must rend the Egyptian sky.
And wheel on earth, devouring where it rolls;
What it devours not, herb, or fruit, or grain,
A darksome cloud of locusts swarming down    185
Must eat, and on the ground leave nothing greenDarkness 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 190
The river-dragon tamed at length submits
To let his sojourners depart, and oft
Humbles his stubborn heart; but still as ice
More harden'd after thaw; till, in his rage
Pursuing whom he late dismiss'd, the sea      19l
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, 200




BOCel XII.]    PARADISE.OST.                 299
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:  205
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,  209
And craze their chariot-wheels: when by command
Moses once more his potent rod extends
Over'-he sea; the sea his rod obeys;
On their embattled ranks the waves return,
And overwhelm their war: the race elect
Safe towards Canaan from the shore advance   215
Through the wild Desert, not the readiest way;
Lest, entering on the Canaanite alarm'd,
War terrify them inexpert, and fear
Return them back to Egypt, choosing rather
Inglorious life with servitude; for life      220
To noble, and ignoble is more sweet
Untrain'd 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 225
Through the twelve tribes, to rule by laws ordain'd;
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    230
To civil justice; part, religiousrites
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   2P"
To mortal ear is dreadful: they beseech




300           PARADISE LOST.          [BooK Xt1.
That Moses might report to them his'will,
And terror cease; he grants what they besought,
Instructed that to God is no access
Without Mediator, whose high office now    24(
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
Establish'd, such delight hath God in men   245
Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes
Among them'  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       250
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 zodiac representing     255
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    260
Were long to tell; how many battles fought;
How many kings destroy'd; 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, 265
And thou, moon, in the vale of Aijalon
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: 0 sent fronm Heaven,  270
Enlightener of my darkness, gracious things
Thou hast reveal'd; those chiefly which concern




BOOK XII.]     PARADISE LOST.               301
Just Abraham and his seed; now first I find
Mine eyes true-opening, and my heart much eased;
Erewhile perplex'd with thoughts, what would become
Of me and all mankind; but now I see        275
His day, in whom all nations shall be bless'd;
Favor unmerited by' me, who sought
Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means.
This yet I apprehend not, why to those      280
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 285
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,       290
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     295
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     300
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  305
To filial; works of law to works of faith.
And therefore shall not Moses, though of God
Highly beloved, being but the minister
26




302           PARADISE LOST.            [BooK XIL
Of law, his people into Canaan lead;
But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call,     310
His name and office bearing, who shall quell
The Adversary Serpent, and bring back
Through the world's wilderness long-wander'd Man
Safe to eternal Paradise of rest.
Meanwhile they, in their earthly Canaan placed,  315
Long time shall dwell and prosper; but when sins
National interrupt their public peace,
Provoking God to raise them enemies;
From whom as oft he saves them penitent,
By judges first, then under kings; of whom    320
The second, both for piety renown'd
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         325
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.   330
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 register'd       335
Part good, part bad; of bad the longer scroll;
Whose foul idolatries, and other faults
Heap'd to the popular sum, will so incense
God, as to leave them, and expose their land,
Their city, his temple, and his holy ark,     340
With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey
To that proud city, whose high walls thou saw'st
Left in confusion; Babylon thence call'd.
There in captivity he lets them dwell




BOOK XII.]     PARADISE LOST.               303
The space of seventy years; then brings them back,
Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn   346
To David, stablish'd as the days of Heaven.
Return'd from Babylon by leave of kings
Their lords, whom God disposed, the house of God
They first reedify; and for awhile          350
In mean estate live moderate; till, grown
In wealth and multitude, factious they grow.
But first among the priests dissension springs,
Men who attend the altar, and should most
Endeavor peace: their strife pollution brings  355
Upon the temple itself: at last they seize
The sceptre, and regard not David's sons;
Then lose it to a stranger, that the true
Anointed King Messiah might be born
Barr'd of his right; yet at his birth a star,  360
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;  365
They gladly thither haste, and by a choir
Of squadron'd 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  370
With earth's wide bounds, his glory with the Heavens.
He ceased, discerning Adam with such joy
Surcharged, as had like grief been dew'd in tears,
Without the vent of words; which these he breathed.
0 prophet of glad tidings, finisher         375
Of utmost hope! now clear I understand
What oft my steadiest thoughts have search'd in Xrain,
Why our great Expectation should be call'd
The seed of Woman: Virgin Mother, hail,
High in the love of Heaven; yet from my loins   380




304           PARADISE LOST.          [BooK XII.
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   384
Their fight, what stroke shall bruise the victor'sheel.
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               390
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,   395
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; 400
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     405
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. 410
For this he shall live hated, be blasphemed,
Seized on by force, judged, and to death condemn'd
A shameful and accursed, nail'd to the cross
By his own nation; slain for bringing life:
But to the cross he nails thy enemies,      415
The law that is against thee, and the sins




BOOe XII.]     PARADISE LOST.                305
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    420
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 offer'd life  425
Neglect not, and the benefit embrace
By faith not void of works: this.godlike act
Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldst have died,
In sin for ever lost from life; this act
Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength, 430
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.          435
Nor after resurrection shall he stay
Longer on earth than certain times to appear
To his disciples, men who in his life
Still follow'd him; to them shall leave in charge
To teach all nations what of him they learn'd    440
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 befal,
For death like that which the Redeemer died.   445
All nations they shall teach: for, from that day
Not only to the sons of Abraham's loins
Salvation shall be preach'd, but to the sons
Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world;
So in his seed all nations shall be bless'd;  450
Then to the Heaven of Heavens he shall ascend
With victory, triumphing through the air
26*




306           PARADISE LOST.          [BooK XII.
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           456
His seat at Gol'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  461
HIis 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.    465
So spake the Archangel 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,   470
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 occasion'd; or rejoice       475
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 reascend, what will betide the few     480
His faithful, left among the unfaithful herd,
The enemies of truth! Who then shall guide
His people, who defendS 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,        486
The promise of the Father, who shall dwell
His spirit within them; and the law of faith,




BooK XII.]      PARADISE LOST.                 307
Working through love, upon their hearts shall write,
To guide them in all truth; and also arm      490
With spiritual armor, able to resist
Satan's assaults, and quench his fiery darts;
What man can do against them, not afraid,
Though to the death; against such cruelties
With inward consolation recompensed,          495
And oft supported so as shall amaze
Their proudest persecutors: for the Spirit,
Pour'd first on his Apostles, whom he sends
To evangelize the nations, then on all
Baptized, shall them with wondrous gifts endue  500
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 perform'd and race well run,   505
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       510
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 they shall seek to avail themselves of names,
Places, and titles, and with these to join    516
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,    52G
Spiritual laws by carnal power shall force
On every conscience; laws which none shall find
Left them inroll'd, or what the Spirit within
Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then




308            PARADISE LOST.           [BooK XII.
But force the Spirit of Grace itself, and bind  525
His consort Libertyl 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
Infalliblel yet many will presume:            530
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        535
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,            540
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 reveal'd  545
In glory of the Father, to dissolve
Satan with his perverted world; then raise
From the conflagrant mass, purged and refined,
New Heaven, new Earth, ages of endless date,
Founded in righteousness, and peace, and love; 550
To bring forth fruits, joy and eternal bliss.
He ended; and thus Adam last replied:
How soon hath thy prediction, Seer bless'd,
Measured this transient world, the race of time,
Till time stand fix'd! Beyond is all abyss,   555
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.         560




BooK XII.]     PARADISE LOST.                 309
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        565
Still overcoming evil, and by small
Accomplishing great things; by things, deem'd weak,
Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise
By simply meek: that suffering for truth's sake
Is fortitude to highest victory,              570
And to the faithful, death the gate of life;
Taught this by his example, whom I now
Acknowledge my Redeemer ever bless'd.
To whom thus also.the Angel last replied:
This having learn'd, thou hast attain'd the sum   575
Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars
Thou knew'st 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 enjoy'st,    580
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 call'd charity, the soul
Of all the rest: then wilt t;iil not be loath  585
To leave this Paradise, but shalt,ossess
A Paradise within thee, happier far.
Let us descend now therefore from this Cop
Of speculation; for the hour precise,
Exacts our parting hence; and see! the guards,  590
By me encamp'd 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 calm'd,    595
Portending good, and all her spirits composed




310          PARADISE LOST.            [BOOK XII
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   600
(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 cheer'd
W~ith meditation on the happy end.          605
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 return'st, and whither went'st, I know;
For God is also in sleep; and dreams advise,    611
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,         615
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 banish'd hence.
This further consolation yet secure         620
I carry hence; though all by me is lost,
Such favor I unworthy am vouchsafed,
By me the Promised Seed shall all restore.
So spake our mother Eve; and Adam heard
Well pleased, but answer'd not; for now too nigh 625
The archangel stood; and, from the other hill
To their fix'd 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,  630
And gathers ground fast at the laborer's heel
Homeward returning. High in front advanced,




BOOK XII.]     PARADISE LOST.               311
The brandish'd sword of God before them blazed,
Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat
And vapor, as the Libyan air adust,         635
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.   640
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 throng'd, and fiery arms:
Some natural tears they dropp'd, but wiped them soon;
The world was all before them, where to choose 646
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide:
They, hand hand, with wandering steps and slow,
Through Eden took their solitary way.
THE ENDb




312                                  NOTES.
BOOK I.
II. Siloa v.an *t c  atain lowing near the temple of Jerusalem.
15. Th'.ies,s. rFoe.ot; the classical seat of the Muses.
82 Satan in Hehrt  w means an enemy. 543. Reign, used like the Latn regnum, forkingdom.
678. Mammon s a Syrian word, and means riches. 728. Cresset, any great light.
797. Frequent, like the Latin frequens, meaning full.
BOOK II.
89. Exercised, this word is here used in the sense of the Latin exerceo, that is, to vex or trouble.
104. Fatal, that is, upheld by fate.  124. Fact of arms; from the Italian fatto d'arme; a battle.
278. The sensible of pain. Sensible is used as a substantive; a Grecian mode of expression.
406. Palpable obscure; this is another instance of Milton's using adjectives in the sense of sub.
dantives.
409. The earth is here called an island, in allusion to its hanging in the air, which surrounds it
like a sea. The word arrive, was formerly frequently used without a preposition following.
439. Unessential; that is, void of substance. 513. Horrent; rough and sharp.
517. Sounding alchemy, a very fine mtetonymy for the trumpets.
592. Serbonis was a lake two hundred furlongs long, and one thousand round, between Mount
Casitos and Damiata, a city in Eygpt. It was sometimes so covered with the loose sand of the
neighboring hills, as not to be distinguished from the land. - See Herod. 1. 3. and Lucan. 8. 539.
595. Frore, frosty. —See Virgil, Georg. i. 93. Ecclus. xlii. 20, 21. Ps. cxxi. 6.
693. Conjured, from the Latin coesjurare, to conspire or league together.
933. Pennsons, commonly spelt pinions.
943. A gryphon, (or griffin,) is a fabulous creature said to guard gold mines, in its upper part
it was like an eagle, in its lower like a lion. The drimanpiana were a one-eyed people of
Scythia.
BOOR IlL.
49. Rased, from the Latin radere, to rub out, in allusion to the manner in which the ancients,
who wrote on waxen tablets, obliterated writing.
471. Empedocles was a Pythagorean philosopher, who threw himself into the crater of mount
Etna. Cleombrotuus was a young man, who, having been deeply interested with Plato's reflections on the immortality of the soul, leaped into the sea that he might at once enjoy the felicity
mentioned.
603. Hermes, or Mercury; Proteus was a sea-god, celebrated as is well known for the variety
of shapes he had the power of taking; the ancients meant to express, under the name of this fabulous being, the first principle of things. The stone alluded to, is that by which philosophers
hoped to turn all things into gold.
627. Fledge, instead of fledged, for softness. 643. Succinct; (girded up,) ready or prepared.
644. Decent; used in the Latin sense, graceful and beautiful.
730. Triform, (three-shaped,) crescent, full, and waning.
BOOK IV.
555. Through th' even, or that part of the heavens now becoming dark with the approaching
evening. 567. Describ'd, that is, observed attentively.
756. The charities; the affections called forth by the different relations of life.
962. AJrreed, to declare or award. 980. Ported spears; borne pointed towards him.
BOOK V.
249. Ardors, Seraphim, which has the same meaning in Hebrew. 345. Meaths, sweet drinks.
440. Empyric, making many experiments.
BOOK VI.
19. War in precinct, in allusion to the soldiers girding themselves up before the battle.
84. Boastful argument, in allusion to the designs painted on the shields of knights.
599. Serried, from the Italian serrate; close, compact.
868. Ruininsg, from the Latin ruo, to rush or fall headlong.
BOOK VII.
3:23. Hair, coma is the same in Latin, small leaves, twigs,'c. implicit, entangled.
402. Sculls, a Saxon word, signifying an assembly.
42.1. Summ'd their pens. Pens, from the Latin penna, a feather. Summs'd, a term in faicon.
ry, fneaning full grown.  467. The libbard, the leopard; the word is used by Spenser and others
597. The divisions on the finger board of a violin are called frets.
BOOK IX.
85. Impresses qsuaint; witty devices on the shields- Bases, or housings. -Sewers, servants
who placed the dishes on the table. - Seneschal, a principal servant, or steward.
BOOK X.
156. Person, here used in the sense of the Latin persona, character.
312. Art pontifical. The art of raising bridges was among the most wonderful in antiquity;
and the high-priest of the Romans derived his name Pontifex, from pons, a bridge, and facere, to
make. 872. Pretended to; in the Latin sense, held before.
BOOK XI.
86. Defended, (and defends, b. xii. 207.) like the French defendre, to forbid.
BOOK XII.
310. Jesus and Joshua are the same name, the former being the Greek, and the latter the He.
brew form. Jesus is used for Joshua, Acts vii. 45. Heb. iv. 8.
540. Of respiration; in Scripture, the times of refreshing. Acts iii 19
630. MUriuh; from the French Marais, a marsh.