Paradise Lost 2

Paradise Lost
By John Milton
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Book I I may assert Eternal Providence,
And justify the ways of God to men.
Say first—for Heaven hides nothing from thy view,
Nor the deep tract of Hell—say first what cause
Moved our grand parents, in that happy state,
O f Man’s first disobedience, and the fruit

Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste
Brought death into the World, and all our woe,
Favoured of Heaven so highly, to fall off
From their Creator, and transgress his will
For one restraint, lords of the World besides.
With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Who first seduced them to that foul revolt?
Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, Th’ infernal Serpent; he it was whose guile,
Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived
Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire The mother of mankind, what time his pride
That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host
In the beginning how the heavens and earth Of rebel Angels, by whose aid, aspiring
Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill To set himself in glory above his peers,
Delight thee more, and Siloa’s brook that flowed He trusted to have equalled the Most High,
Fast by the oracle of God, I thence If he opposed, and with ambitious aim
Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, Against the throne and monarchy of God,
That with no middle flight intends to soar Raised impious war in Heaven and battle proud,
Above th’ Aonian mount, while it pursues With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power
Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. Hurled headlong flaming from th’ ethereal sky,
And chiefly thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer With hideous ruin and combustion, down
Before all temples th’ upright heart and pure, To bottomless perdition, there to dwell
Instruct me, for thou know’st; thou from the first In adamantine chains and penal fire,
Wast present, and, with mighty wings outspread, Who durst defy th’ Omnipotent to arms.
Dove-like sat’st brooding on the vast Abyss, Nine times the space that measures day and night
And mad’st it pregnant: what in me is dark To mortal men, he, with his horrid crew,
Illumine, what is low raise and support; Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf,
That, to the height of this great argument, Confounded, though immortal. But his doom
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Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought Breaking the horrid silence, thus began:—
Both of lost happiness and lasting pain ‘If thou beest he—but O how fallen! how changed
Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, From him who, in the happy realms of light
That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine
Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. Myriads, though bright!—if he whom mutual league,
At once, as far as Angels ken, he views United thoughts and counsels, equal hope
The dismal situation waste and wild. And hazard in the glorious enterprise
A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, Joined with me once, now misery hath joined
As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames In equal ruin; into what pit thou seest
No light; but rather darkness visible From what height fallen: so much the stronger proved
Served only to discover sights of woe, He with his thunder; and till then who knew
Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those,
And rest can never dwell, hope never comes Nor what the potent Victor in his rage
That comes to all, but torture without end Can else inflict, do I repent, or change,
Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind,
With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. And high disdain from sense of injured merit,
Such place Eternal Justice has prepared That with the Mightiest raised me to contend,
For those rebellious; here their prison ordained And to the fierce contentions brought along
In utter darkness, and their portion set, Innumerable force of Spirits armed,
As far removed from God and light of Heaven That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring,
As from the centre thrice to th’ utmost pole. His utmost power with adverse power opposed
Oh how unlike the place from whence they fell! In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven,
There the companions of his fall, o’erwhelmed And shook his throne. What though the field be lost?
With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, All is not lost—the unconquerable will,
He soon discerns; and, weltering by his side, And study of revenge, immortal hate,
One next himself in power, and next in crime, And courage never to submit or yield:
Long after known in Palestine, and named And what is else not to be overcome?
Beelzebub. To whom th’ Arch-Enemy, That glory never shall his wrath or might
And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace

With suppliant knee, and deify his power Though all our glory extinct, and happy state
Who, from the terror of this arm, so late Here swallowed up in endless misery.
Doubted his empire—that were low indeed; But what if he our Conqueror (whom I now
That were an ignominy and shame beneath Of force believe almighty, since no less
This downfall; since, by fate, the strength of Gods, Than such could have o’erpowered such force as ours)
And this empyreal sybstance, cannot fail; Have left us this our spirit and strength entire,
Since, through experience of this great event, Strongly to suffer and support our pains,
In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, That we may so suffice his vengeful ire,
We may with more successful hope resolve Or do him mightier service as his thralls
To wage by force or guile eternal war, By right of war, whate’er his business be,
Irreconcilable to our grand Foe, Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire,
Who now triumphs, and in th’ excess of joy Or do his errands in the gloomy Deep?
Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven.’ What can it the avail though yet we feel
So spake th’ apostate Angel, though in pain, Strength undiminished, or eternal being
Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair; To undergo eternal punishment?’
And him thus answered soon his bold compeer:— Whereto with speedy words th’ Arch-Fiend replied:—
‘O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers ‘Fallen Cherub, to be weak is miserable,
That led th’ embattled Seraphim to war Doing or suffering: but of this be sure—
Under thy conduct, and, in dreadful deeds To do aught good never will be our task,
Fearless, endangered Heaven’s perpetual King, But ever to do ill our sole delight,
And put to proof his high supremacy, As being the contrary to his high will
Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate, Whom we resist. If then his providence
Too well I see and rue the dire event Out of our evil seek to bring forth good,
That, with sad overthrow and foul defeat, Our labour must be to pervert that end,
Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host And out of good still to find means of evil;
In horrible destruction laid thus low, Which ofttimes may succeed so as perhaps
As far as Gods and heavenly Essences Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb
Can perish: for the mind and spirit remains His inmost counsels from their destined aim.
Invincible, and vigour soon returns, But see! the angry Victor hath recalled

His ministers of vengeance and pursuit Briareos or Typhon, whom the den
Back to the gates of Heaven: the sulphurous hail, By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast
Shot after us in storm, o’erblown hath laid Leviathan, which God of all his works
The fiery surge that from the precipice Created hugest that swim th’ ocean-stream.
Of Heaven received us falling; and the thunder, Him, haply slumbering on the Norway foam,
Winged with red lightning and impetuous rage, The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff,
Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell,
To bellow through the vast and boundless Deep. With fixed anchor in his scaly rind,
Let us not slip th’ occasion, whether scorn Moors by his side under the lee, while night
Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe. Invests the sea, and wished morn delays.
Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, So stretched out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay,
The seat of desolation, void of light, Chained on the burning lake; nor ever thence
Save what the glimmering of these livid flames Had risen, or heaved his head, but that the will
Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend And high permission of all-ruling Heaven
From off the tossing of these fiery waves; Left him at large to his own dark designs,
There rest, if any rest can harbour there; That with reiterated crimes he might
And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, Heap on himself damnation, while he sought
Consult how we may henceforth most offend Evil to others, and enraged might see
Our enemy, our own loss how repair, How all his malice served but to bring forth
How overcome this dire calamity, Infinite goodness, grace, and mercy, shewn
What reinforcement we may gain from hope, On Man by him seduced, but on himself
If not, what resolution from despair.’ Treble confusion, wrath, and vengeance poured.
Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate, Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool
With head uplift above the wave, and eyes His mighty stature; on each hand the flames
That sparkling blazed; his other parts besides Driven backward slope their pointing spires, and,rolled
Prone on the flood, extended long and large, In billows, leave i’ th’ midst a horrid vale.
Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge Then with expanded wings he steers his flight
As whom the fables name of monstrous size, Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air,
Titanian or Earth-born, that warred on Jove, That felt unusual weight; till on dry land

He lights—if it were land that ever burned And what I should be, all but less than he
With solid, as the lake with liquid fire, Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least
And such appeared in hue as when the force We shall be free; th’ Almighty hath not built
Of subterranean wind transprots a hill Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:
Torn from Pelorus, or the shattered side Here we may reigh secure; and, in my choice,
Of thundering Etna, whose combustible To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell:
And fuelled entrails, thence conceiving fire, Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.
Sublimed with mineral fury, aid the winds, But wherefore let we then our faithful friends,
And leave a singed bottom all involved Th’ associates and co-partners of our loss,
With stench and smoke. Such resting found the sole Lie thus astonished on th’ oblivious pool,
Of unblest feet. Him followed his next mate; And call them not to share with us their part
Both glorying to have scaped the Stygian flood In this unhappy mansion, or once more
As gods, and by their own recovered strength, With rallied arms to try what may be yet
Not by the sufferance of supernal Power. Regained in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell?’
‘Is this the region, this the soil, the clime,’ So Satan spake; and him Beelzebub
Said then the lost Archangel, ‘this the seat Thus answered:—‘Leader of those armies bright
That we must change for Heaven?—this mournful gloom Which, but th’ Omnipotent, none could have foiled!
For that celestial light? Be it so, since he If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge
Who now is sovereign can dispose and bid Of hope in fears and dangers—heard so oft
What shall be right: farthest from him is best In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge
Whom reason hath equalled, force hath made supreme Of battle, when it raged, in all assaults
Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields, Their surest signal—they will soon resume
Where joy for ever dwells! Hail, horrors! hail, New courage and revive, though now they lie
Infernal world! and thou, profoundest Hell, Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of fire,
Receive thy new possessor—one who brings As we erewhile, astounded and amazed;
A mind not to be changed by place or time. No wonder, fallen such a pernicious height!’
The mind is its own place, and in itself He scare had ceased when the superior Fiend
Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield,
What matter where, if I be still the same, Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round,
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Behind him cast. The broad circumference Of Hell resounded:—‘Princes, Potentates,
Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb Warriors, the Flower of Heaven—once yours; now lost,
Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views If such astonishment as this can seize
At evening, from the top of Fesole, Eternal Spirits! Or have ye chosen this place
Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, After the toil of battle to repose
Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe. Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find
His spear—to equal which the tallest pine To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven?
Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast Or in this abject posture have ye sworn
Of some great ammiral, were but a wand— To adore the Conqueror, who now beholds
He walked with, to support uneasy steps Cherub and Seraph rolling in the flood
Over the burning marl, not like those steps With scattered arms and ensigns, till anon
On Heaven’s azure; and the torrid clime His swift pursuers from Heaven-gates discern
Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire. Th’ advantage, and, descending, tread us down
Nathless he so endured, till on the beach Thus drooping, or with linked thunderbolts
Of that inflamed sea he stood, and called Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf?
His legions—Angel Forms, who lay entranced Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen!’
Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks They heard, and were abashed, and up they sprung
In Vallombrosa, where th’ Etrurian shades Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch
High over-arched embower; or scattered sedge On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread,
Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion armed Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake.
Hath vexed the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o’erthrew Nor did they not perceive the evil plight
Busiris and his Memphian chivalry, In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel;
While with perfidious hatred they pursued Yet to their General’s voice they soon obeyed
The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld Innumerable. As when the potent rod
From the safe shore their floating carcases Of Amram’s son, in Egypt’s evil day,
And broken chariot-wheels. So thick bestrown, Waved round the coast, up-called a pitchy cloud
Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind,
Under amazement of their hideous change. That o’er the realm of impious Pharaoh hung
He called so loud that all the hollow deep Like Night, and darkened all the land of Nile;

So numberless were those bad Angels seen And devils to adore for deities:
Hovering on wing under the cope of Hell, Then were they known to men by various names,
‘Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires; And various idols through the heathen world.
Till, as a signal given, th’ uplifted spear Say, Muse, their names then known, who first, who last,
Of their great Sultan waving to direct Roused from the slumber on that fiery couch,
Their course, in even balance down they light At their great Emperor’s call, as next in worth
On the firm brimstone, and fill all the plain: Came singly where he stood on the bare strand,
A multitude like which the populous North While the promiscuous crowd stood yet aloof?
Poured never from her frozen loins to pass The chief were those who, from the pit of Hell
Rhene or the Danaw, when her barbarous sons Roaming to seek their prey on Earth, durst fix
Came like a deluge on the South, and spread Their seats, long after, next the seat of God,
Beneath Gibraltar to the Libyan sands. Their altars by his altar, gods adored
Forthwith, form every squadron and each band, Among the nations round, and durst abide
The heads and leaders thither haste where stood Jehovah thundering out of Sion, throned
Their great Commander—godlike Shapes, and Forms Between the Cherubim; yea, often placed
Excelling human; princely Dignities; Within his sanctuary itself their shrines,
And Powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones, Abominations; and with cursed things
Though on their names in Heavenly records now His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned,
Be no memorial, blotted out and rased And with their darkness durst affront his light.
By their rebellion from the Books of Life. First, Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood
Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve Of human sacrifice, and parents’ tears;
Got them new names, till, wandering o’er the earth, Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud,
Through God’s high sufferance for the trial of man, Their children’s cries unheard that passed through fire
By falsities and lies the greatest part To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite
Of mankind they corrupted to forsake Worshiped in Rabba and her watery plain,
God their Creator, and th’ invisible In Argob and in Basan, to the stream
Glory of him that made them to transform Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such
Oft to the image of a brute, adorned Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart
With gay religions full of pomp and gold, Of Solomon he led by fraoud to build

His temple right against the temple of God And works of love or enmity fulfil.
On that opprobrious hill, and made his grove For those the race of Israel oft forsook
The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence Their Living Strength, and unfrequented left
And black Gehenna called, the type of Hell. His righteous altar, bowing lowly down
Next Chemos, th’ obscene dread of Moab’s sons, To bestial gods; for which their heads as low
From Aroar to Nebo and the wild Bowed down in battle, sunk before the spear
Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon Of despicable foes. With these in troop
And Horonaim, Seon’s real, beyond Came Astoreth, whom the Phoenicians called
The flowery dale of Sibma clad with vines, Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns;
And Eleale to th’ Asphaltic Pool: To whose bright image nigntly by the moon
Peor his other name, when he enticed Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs;
Israel in Sittim, on their march from Nile, In Sion also not unsung, where stood
To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. Her temple on th’ offensive mountain, built
Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarged By that uxorious king whose heart, though large,
Even to that hill of scandal, by the grove Beguiled by fair idolatresses, fell
Of Moloch homicide, lust hard by hate, To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind,
Till good Josiah drove them thence to Hell. Whose annual wound in Lebanon allured
With these came they who, from the bordering flood The Syrian damsels to lament his fate
Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts In amorous ditties all a summer’s day,
Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names While smooth Adonis from his native rock
Of Baalim and Ashtaroth—those male, Ran purple to the sea, supposed with blood
These feminine. For Spirits, when they please, Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale
Can either sex assume, or both; so soft Infected Sion’s daughters with like heat,
And uncompounded is their essence pure, Whose wanton passions in the sacred proch
Not tried or manacled with joint or limb, Ezekiel saw, when, by the vision led,
Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, His eye surveyed the dark idolatries
Like cumbrous flesh; but, in what shape they choose, Of alienated Judah. Next came one
Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, Who mourned in earnest, when the captive ark
Can execute their airy purposes, Maimed his brute image, head and hands lopt off,

In his own temple, on the grunsel-edge, Both her first-born and all her bleating gods.
Where he fell flat and shamed his worshippers: Belial came last; than whom a Spirit more lewd
Dagon his name, sea-monster,upward man Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love
And downward fish; yet had his temple high Vice for itself. To him no temple stood
Reared in Azotus, dreaded through the coast Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he
Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, In temples and at altars, when the priest
And Accaron and Gaza’s frontier bounds. Turns atheist, as did Eli’s sons, who filled
Him followed Rimmon, whose delightful seat With lust and violence the house of God?
Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks In courts and palaces he also reigns,
Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. And in luxurious cities, where the noise
He also against the house of God was bold: Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers,
A leper once he lost, and gained a king— And injury and outrage; and, when night
Ahaz, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons
God’s altar to disparage and displace Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.
For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night
His odious offerings, and adore the gods In Gibeah, when the hospitable door
Whom he had vanquished. After these appeared Exposed a matron, to avoid worse rape.
A crew who, under names of old renown— These were the prime in order and in might:
Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train— The rest were long to tell; though far renowned
With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused Th’ Ionian gods—of Javan’s issue held
Fanatic Egypt and her priests to seek Gods, yet confessed later than Heaven and Earth,
Their wandering gods disguised in brutish forms Their boasted parents;—Titan, Heaven’s first-born,
Rather than human. Nor did Israel scape With his enormous brood, and birthright seized
Th’ infection, when their borrowed gold composed By younger Saturn: he from mightier Jove,
The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king His own and Rhea’s son, like measure found;
Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, So Jove usurping reigned. These, first in Crete
Likening his Maker to the grazed ox— And Ida known, thence on the snowy top
Jehovah, who, in one night, when he passed Of cold Olympus ruled the middle air,
From Egypt marching, equalled with one stroke Their highest heaven; or on the Delphian cliff,

Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms
Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old Appeared, and serried shields in thick array
Fled over Adria to th’ Hesperian fields, Of depth immeasurable. Anon they move
And o’er the Celtic roamed the utmost Isles. In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood
All these and more came flocking; but with looks Of flutes and soft recorders—such as raised
Downcast and damp; yet such wherein appeared To height of noblest temper heroes old
Obscure some glimpse of joy to have found their Chief Arming to battle, and instead of rage
Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost Deliberate valour breathed, firm, and unmoved
In loss itself; which on his countenance cast With dread of death to flight or foul retreat;
Like doubtful hue. But he, his wonted pride Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage
Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore With solemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase
Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain
Their fainting courage, and dispelled their fears. From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they,
Then straight commands that, at the warlike sound Breathing united force with fixed thought,
Of trumpets loud and clarions, be upreared Moved on in silence to soft pipes that charmed
His mighty standard. That proud honour claimed Their painful steps o’er the burnt soil. And now
Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall: Advanced in view they stand—a horrid front
Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise
Th’ imperial ensign; which, full high advanced, Of warriors old, with ordered spear and shield,
Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, Awaiting what command their mighty Chief
With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed, Had to impose. He through the armed files
Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse
Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds: The whole battalion views—their order due,
At which the universal host up-sent Their visages and stature as of gods;
A shout that tore Hell’s concave, and beyond Their number last he sums. And now his heart
Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. Distends with pride, and, hardening in his strength,
All in a moment through the gloom were seen Glories: for never, since created Man,
Ten thousand banners rise into the air, Met such embodied force as, named with these,
With orient colours waving: with them rose Could merit more than that small infantry

Warred on by cranes—though all the giant brood Signs of remorse and passion, to behold
Of Phlegra with th’ heroic race were joined The fellows of his crime, the followers rather
That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side (Far other once beheld in bliss), condemned
Mixed with auxiliar gods; and what resounds For ever now to have their lot in pain—
In fable or romance of Uther’s son, Millions of Spirits for his fault amerced
Begirt with British and Armoric knights; Of Heaven, and from eteranl splendours flung
And all who since, baptized or infidel, For his revolt—yet faithful how they stood,
Jousted in Aspramont, or Montalban, Their glory withered; as, when heaven’s fire
Damasco, or Marocco, or Trebisond, Hath scathed the forest oaks or mountain pines,
Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore With singed top their stately growth, though bare,
When Charlemain with all his peerage fell Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepared
By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend
Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed From wing to wing, and half enclose him round
Their dread Commander. He, above the rest With all his peers: attention held them mute.
In shape and gesture proudly eminent, Thrice he assayed, and thrice, in spite of scorn,
Stood like a tower. His form had yet not lost Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last
All her original brightness, nor appeared Words interwove with sighs found out their way:—
Less than Archangel ruined, and th’ excess ‘O myriads of immortal Spirits! O Powers
Of glory obscured: as when the sun new-risen Matchless, but with th’ Almighth!—and that strife
Looks through the horizontal misty air Was not inglorious, though th’ event was dire,
Shorn of his beams, or, from behind the moon, As this place testifies, and this dire change,
In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds Hateful to utter. But what power of mind,
On half the nations, and with fear of change Forseeing or presaging, from the depth
Perplexes monarchs. Darkened so, yet shone Of knowledge past or present, could have feared
Above them all th’ Archangel: but his face How such united force of gods, how such
Deep scars of thunder had intrenched, and care As stood like these, could ever know repulse?
Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows For who can yet believe, though after loss,
Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride That all these puissant legions, whose exile
Waiting revenge. Cruel his eye, but cast Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend,

Self-raised, and repossess their native seat? He spake; and, to confirm his words, outflew
For me, be witness all the host of Heaven, Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs
If counsels different, or danger shunned Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze
By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns Far round illumined Hell. Highly they raged
Monarch in Heaven till then as one secure Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms
Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, Clashed on their sounding shields the din of war,
Consent or custom, and his regal state Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven.
Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed— There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top
Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire
Henceforth his might we know, and know our own, Shone with a glossy scurf—undoubted sign
So as not either to provoke, or dread That in his womb was hid metallic ore,
New war provoked: our better part remains The work of sulphur. Thither, winged with speed,
To work in close design, by fraud or guile, A numerous brigade hastened: as when bands
What force effected not; that he no less Of pioneers, with spade and pickaxe armed,
At length from us may find, who overcomes Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field,
By force hath overcome but half his foe. Or cast a rampart. Mammon led them on—
Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell
There went a fame in Heaven that he ere long From Heaven; for even in Heaven his looks and thoughts
Intended to create, and therein plant Were always downward bent, admiring more
A generation whom his choice regard The riches of heaven’s pavement, trodden gold,
Should favour equal to the Sons of Heaven. Than aught divine or holy else enjoyed
Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps In vision beatific. By him first
Our first eruption—thither, or elsewhere; Men also, and by his suggestion taught,
For this infernal pit shall never hold Ransacked the centre, and with impious hands
Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor th’ Abyss Rifled the bowels of their mother Earth
Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew
Full counsel must mature. Peace is despaired; Opened into the hill a spacious wound,
For who can think submission? War, then, war And digged out ribs of gold. Let none admire
Open or understood, must be resolved.’ That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best

Deserve the precious bane. And here let those Their kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove
Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell In wealth and luxury. Th’ ascending pile
Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings, Stood fixed her stately height, and straight the doors,
Learn how their greatest monuments of fame Opening their brazen folds, discover, wide
And strength, and art, are easily outdone Within, her ample spaces o’er the smooth
By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour And level pavement: from the arched roof,
What in an age they, with incessant toil Pendent by subtle magic, many a row
And hands innumerable, scarce perform. Of starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed
Nigh on the plain, in many cells prepared, With naptha and asphaltus, yielded light
That underneath had veins of liquid fire As from a sky. The hasty multitude
Sluiced from the lake, a second multitude Admiring entered; and the work some praise,
With wondrous art founded the massy ore, And some the architect. His hand was known
Severing each kind, and scummed the bullion-dross. In Heaven by many a towered structure high,
A third as soon had formed within the ground Where sceptred Angels held their residence,
A various mould, and from the boiling cells And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King
By strange conveyance filled each hollow nook; Exalted to such power, and gave to rule,
As in an organ, from one blast of wind, Each in his Hierarchy, the Orders bright.
To many a row of pipes the sound-board breathes. Nor was his name unheard or unadored
Anon out of the earth a fabric huge In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land
Rose like an exhalation, with the sound Men called him Mulciber; and how he fell
Of dulcet symphonies and voices sweet— From Heaven they fabled, thrown by angry Jove
Built like a temple, where pilasters round Sheer o’er the crystal battlements: from morn
Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve,
With golden architrave; nor did there want A summer’s day, and with the setting sun
Cornice or frieze, with bossy sculptures graven; Dropt from the zenith, like a falling star,
The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon On Lemnos, th’ Aegaean isle. Thus they relate,
Nor great Alcairo such magnificence Erring; for he with this rebellious rout
Equalled in all their glories, to enshrine Fell long before; nor aught aviled him now
Belus or Serapis their gods, or seat To have built in Heaven high towers; nor did he scape

By all his engines, but was headlong sent, Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room
With his industrious crew, to build in Hell. Throng numberless—like that pygmean race
Meanwhile the winged Heralds, by command Beyond the Indian mount; or faery elves,
Of sovereign power, with awful ceremony Whose midnight revels, by a forest-side
And trumpet’s sound, throughout the host proclaim Or fountain, some belated peasant sees,
A solemn council forthwith to be held Or dreams he sees, while overhead the Moon
At Pandemonium, the high capital Sits arbitress, and nearer to the Earth
Of Satan and his peers. Their summons called Wheels her pale course: they, on their mirth and dance
From every band and squared regiment Intent, with jocund music charm his ear;
By place or choice the worthiest: they anon At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.
With hundreds and with thousands trooping came Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms
Attended. All access was thronged; the gates Reduced their shapes immense, and were at large,
And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall Though without number still, amidst the hall
(Though like a covered field, where champions bold Of that infernal court. But far within,
Wont ride in armed, and at the Soldan’s chair And in their own dimensions like themselves,
Defied the best of Paynim chivalry The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim
To mortal combat, or career with lance), In close recess and secret conclave sat,
Thick swarmed, both on the ground and in the air, A thousand demi-gods on golden seats,
Brushed with the hiss of rustling wings. As bees Frequent and full. After short silence then,
In spring-time, when the Sun with Taurus rides. And summons read, the great consult began.
Pour forth their populous youth about the hive
In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers
Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank,
The suburb of their straw-built citadel,
New rubbed with balm, expatiate, and confer
Their state-affairs: so thick the airy crowd
Swarmed and were straitened; till, the signal given,
Behold a wonder! They but now who seemed
In bigness to surpass Earth’s giant sons,

Book II In Heaven, which follows dignity, might draw
Envy from each inferior; but who here
Will envy whom the highest place exposes
Foremost to stand against the Thunderer’s aim
Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share
H igh on a throne of royal state, which far

Outshone the wealth or Ormus and of Ind,
Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand
Of endless pain? Where there is, then, no good
For which to strive, no strife can grow up there
From faction: for none sure will claim in Hell
Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, Precedence; none whose portion is so small
Satan exalted sat, by merit raised Of present pain that with ambitious mind
To that bad eminence; and, from despair Will covet more! With this advantage, then,
Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires To union, and firm faith, and firm accord,
Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue More than can be in Heaven, we now return
Vain war with Heaven; and, by success untaught, To claim our just inheritance of old,
His proud imaginations thus displayed:— Surer to prosper than prosperity
‘Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven!— Could have assured us; and by what best way,
For, since no deep within her gulf can hold Whether of open war or covert guile,
Immortal vigour, though oppressed and fallen, We now debate. Who can advise may speak.’
I give not Heaven for lost: from this descent He ceased; and next him Moloch, sceptred king,
Celestial Virtues rising will appear Stood up—the strongest and the fiercest Spirit
More glorious and more dread than from no fall, That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despair.
And trust themselves to fear no second fate!— His trust was with th’ Eternal to be deemed
Me though just right, and the fixed laws of Heaven, Equal in strength, and rather than be less
Did first create your leader—next, free choice Cared not to be at all; with that care lost
With what besides in council or in fight Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse,
Hath been achieved of merit—yet this loss, He recked not, and these words thereafter spake:—
Thus far at least recovered, hath much more ‘My sentence is for open war. Of wiles,
Established in a safe, unenvied throne, More unexpert, I boast not: them let those
Yielded with full consent. The happier state Contrive who need, or when they need; not now.

For, while they sit contriving, shall the rest— Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find
Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait To our destruction, if there be in Hell
The signal to ascend—sit lingering here, Fear to be worse destroyed! What can be worse
Heaven’s fugitives, and for their dwelling-place Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned
Accept this dark opprobrious den of shame, In this abhorred deep to utter woe!
The prison of his ryranny who reigns Where pain of unextinguishable fire
By our delay? No! let us rather choose, Must exercise us without hope of end
Armed with Hell-flames and fury, all at once The vassals of his anger, when the scourge
O’er Heaven’s high towers to force resistless way, Inexorably, and the torturing hour,
Turning our tortures into horrid arms Calls us to penance? More destroyed than thus,
Against the Torturer; when, to meet the noise We should be quite abolished, and expire.
Of his almighty engine, he shall hear What fear we then? what doubt we to incense
Infernal thunder, and, for lightning, see His utmost ire? which, to the height enraged,
Black fire and horror shot with equal rage Will either quite consume us, and reduce
Among his Angels, and his throne itself To nothing this essential—happier far
Mixed with Tartarean sulphur and strange fire, Than miserable to have eternal being!—
His own invented torments. But perhaps Or, if our substance be indeed divine,
The way seems difficult, and steep to scale And cannot cease to be, we are at worst
With upright wing against a higher foe! On this side nothing; and by proof we feel
Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven,
Of that forgetful lake benumb not still, And with perpetual inroads to alarm,
That in our porper motion we ascend Though inaccessible, his fatal throne:
Up to our native seat; descent and fall Which, if not victory, is yet revenge.’
To us is adverse. Who but felt of late, He ended frowning, and his look denounced
When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous
Insulting, and pursued us through the Deep, To less than gods. On th’ other side up rose
With what compulsion and laborious flight Belial, in act more graceful and humane.
We sunk thus low? Th’ ascent is easy, then; A fairer person lost not Heaven; he seemed
Th’ event is feared! Should we again provoke For dignity composed, and high exploit.

But all was false and hollow; though his tongue Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire,
Dropped manna, and could make the worse appear Victorious. Thus repulsed, our final hope
The better reason, to perplex and dash Is flat despair: we must exasperate
Maturest counsels: for his thoughts were low— Th’ Almighty Victor to spend all his rage;
To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds And that must end us; that must be our cure—
Timorous and slothful. Yet he pleased the ear, To be no more. Sad cure! for who would lose,
And with persuasive accent thus began:— Though full of pain, this intellectual being,
‘I should be much for open war, O Peers, Those thoughts that wander through eternity,
As not behind in hate, if what was urged To perish rather, swallowed up and lost
Main reason to persuade immediate war In the wide womb of uncreated Night,
Did not dissuade me most, and seem to cast Devoid of sense and motion? And who knows,
Ominous conjecture on the whole success; Let this be good, whether our angry Foe
When he who most excels in fact of arms, Can give it, or will ever? How he can
In what he counsels and in what excels Is doubtful; that he never will is sure.
Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire,
And utter dissolution, as the scope Belike through impotence or unaware,
Of all his aim, after some dire revenge. To give his enemies their wish, and end
First, what revenge? The towers of Heaven are filled Them in his anger whom his anger saves
With armed watch, that render all access To punish endless? ‘Wherefore cease we, then?’
Impregnable: oft on the bodering Deep Say they who counsel war; ‘we are decreed,
Encamp their legions, or with obscure wing Reserved, and destined to eternal woe;
Scout far and wide into the realm of Night, Whatever doing, what can we suffer more,
Scorning surprise. Or, could we break our way What can we suffer worse?’ Is this, then, worst—
By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in arms?
With blackest insurrection to confound What when we fled amain, pursued and struck
Heaven’s purest light, yet our great Enemy, With Heaven’s afflicting thunder, and besought
All incorruptible, would on his throne The Deep to shelter us? This Hell then seemed
Sit unpolluted, and th’ ethereal mould, A refuge from those wounds. Or when we lay
Incapable of stain, would soon expel Chained on the burning lake? That sure was worse.

What if the breath that kindled those grim fires, The Victor’s will. To suffer, as to do,
Awaked, should blow them into sevenfold rage, Our strength is equal; nor the law unjust
And plunge us in the flames; or from above That so ordains. This was at first resolved,
Should intermitted vengeance arm again If we were wise, against so great a foe
His red right hand to plague us? What if all Contending, and so doubtful what might fall.
Her stores were opened, and this firmament I laugh when those who at the spear are bold
Of Hell should spout her cataracts of fire, And venturous, if that fail them, shrink, and fear
Impendent horrors, threatening hideous fall What yet they know must follow—to endure
One day upon our heads; while we perhaps, Exile, or igominy, or bonds, or pain,
Designing or exhorting glorious war, The sentence of their Conqueror. This is now
Caught in a fiery tempest, shall be hurled, Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear,
Each on his rock transfixed, the sport and prey Our Supreme Foe in time may much remit
Or racking whirlwinds, or for ever sunk His anger, and perhaps, thus far removed,
Under yon boiling ocean, wrapt in chains, Not mind us not offending, satisfied
There to converse with everlasting groans, With what is punished; whence these raging fires
Unrespited, unpitied, unreprieved, Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames.
Ages of hopeless end? This would be worse. Our purer essence then will overcome
War, therefore, open or concealed, alike Their noxious vapour; or, inured, not feel;
My voice dissuades; for what can force or guile Or, changed at length, and to the place conformed
With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye In temper and in nature, will receive
Views all things at one view? He from Heaven’s height Familiar the fierce heat; and, void of pain,
All these our motions vain sees and derides, This horror will grow mild, this darkness light;
Not more almighty to resist our might Besides what hope the never-ending flight
Than wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. Of future days may bring, what chance, what change
Shall we, then, live thus vile—the race of Heaven Worth waiting—since our present lot appears
Thus trampled, thus expelled, to suffer here For happy though but ill, for ill not worst,
Chains and these torments? Better these than worse, If we procure not to ourselves more woe.’
By my advice; since fate inevitable Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason’s garb,
Subdues us, and omnipotent decree, Counselled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth,

Not peace; and after him thus Mammon spake:— Of servile pomp. Our greatness will appear
‘Either to disenthrone the King of Heaven Then most conspicuous when great things of small,
We war, if war be best, or to regain Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse,
Our own right lost. Him to unthrone we then We can create, and in what place soe’er
May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain
To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife. Through labour and endurance. This deep world
The former, vain to hope, argues as vain Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst
The latter; for what place can be for us Thick clouds and dark doth Heaven’s all-ruling Sire
Within Heaven’s bound, unless Heaven’s Lord supreme Choose to reside, his glory unobscured,
We overpower? Suppose he should relent And with the majesty of darkness round
And publish grace to all, on promise made Covers his throne, from whence deep thunders roar.
Of new subjection; with what eyes could we Mustering their rage, and Heaven resembles Hell!
Stand in his presence humble, and receive As he our darkness, cannot we his light
Strict laws imposed, to celebrate his throne Imitate when we please? This desert soil
With warbled hyms, and to his Godhead sing Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold;
Forced hallelujahs, while he lordly sits Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise
Our envied sovereign, and his altar breathes Magnificence; and what can Heaven show more?
Ambrosial odours and ambrosial flowers, Our torments also may, in length of time,
Our servile offerings? This must be our task Become our elements, these piercing fires
In Heaven, this our delight. How wearisome As soft as now severe, our temper changed
Eternity so spent in worship paid Into their temper; which must needs remove
To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue, The sensible of pain. All things invite
By force impossible, by leave obtained To peaceful counsels, and the settled state
Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state Of order, how in safety best we may
Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek Compose our present evils, with regard
Our own good from ourselves, and from our own Of what we are and where, dismissing quite
Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess, All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise.’
Free and to none accountable, preferring He scarce had finished, when such murmur filled
Hard liberty before the easy yoke Th’ assembly as when hollow rocks retain

The sound of blustering winds, which all night long A growing empire; doubtless! while we dream,
Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull And know not that the King of Heaven hath doomed
Seafaring men o’erwatched, whose bark by chance This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat
Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt
After the tempest. Such applause was heard From Heaven’s high jurisdiction, in new league
As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased, Banded against his throne, but to remain
Advising peace: for such another field In strictest bondage, though thus far removed,
They dreaded worse than Hell; so much the fear Under th’ inevitable curb, reserved
Of thunder and the sword of Michael His captive multitude. For he, to be sure,
Wrought still within them; and no less desire In height or depth, still first and last will reign
To found this nether empire, which might rise, Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part
By policy and long process of time, By our revolt, but over Hell extend
In emulation opposite to Heaven. His empire, and with iron sceptre rule
Which when Beelzebub perceived—than whom, Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven.
Satan except, none higher sat—with grave What sit we then projecting peace and war?
Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed War hath determined us and foiled with loss
A pillar of state. Deep on his front engraven Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Deliberation sat, and public care; Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given
And princely counsel in his face yet shone, To us enslaved, but custody severe,
Majestic, though in ruin. Sage he stood And stripes and arbitrary punishment
With Atlantean shoulders, fit to bear Inflicted? and what peace can we return,
The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look But, to our power, hostility and hate,
Drew audience and attention still as night Untamed reluctance, and revenge, though slow,
Or summer’s noontide air, while thus he spake:— Yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least
‘Thrones and Imperial Powers, Offspring of Heaven, May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice
Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now In doing what we most in suffering feel?
Must we renounce, and, changing style, be called Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need
Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote With dangerous expedition to invade
Inclines—here to continue, and build up here Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege,

Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find In his disturbance; when his darling sons,
Some easier enterprise? There is a place Hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse
(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven Their frail original, and faded bliss—
Err not)—another World, the happy seat Faded so soon! Advise if this be worth
Of some new race, called Man, about this time Attempting, or to sit in darkness here
To be created like to us, though less Hatching vain empires.’ Thus beelzebub
In power and excellence, but favoured more Pleaded his devilish counsel—first devised
Of him who rules above; so was his will By Satan, and in part proposed: for whence,
Pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath But from the author of all ill, could spring
That shook Heaven’s whole circumference confirmed. So deep a malice, to confound the race
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould To mingle and involve, done all to spite
Or substance, how endued, and what their power The great Creator? But their spite still serves
And where their weakness: how attempted best, His glory to augment. The bold design
By force of subtlety. Though Heaven be shut, Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy
And Heaven’s high Arbitrator sit secure Sparkled in all their eyes: with full assent
In his own strength, this place may lie exposed, They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews:—
The utmost border of his kingdom, left ‘Well have ye judged, well ended long debate,
To their defence who hold it: here, perhaps, Synod of Gods, and, like to what ye are,
Some advantageous act may be achieved Great things resolved, which from the lowest deep
By sudden onset—either with Hell-fire Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate,
To waste his whole creation, or possess Nearer our ancient seat—perhaps in view
All as our own, and drive, as we were driven, Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms,
The puny habitants; or, if not drive, And opportune excursion, we may chance
Seduce them to our party, that their God Re-enter Heaven; or else in some mild zone
May prove their foe, and with repenting hand Dwell, not unvisited of Heaven’s fair light,
Abolish his own works. This would surpass Secure, and at the brightening orient beam
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air,
In our confusion, and our joy upraise To heal the scar of these corrosive fires,

Shall breathe her balm. But, first, whom shall we send With reason hath deep silence and demur
In search of this new World? whom shall we find Seized us, though undismayed. Long is the way
Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light.
The dark, unbottomed, infinite Abyss, Our prison strong, this huge convex of fire,
And through the palpable obscure find out Outrageous to devour, immures us round
His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight, Ninefold; and gates of burning adamant,
Upborne with indefatigable wings Barred over us, prohibit all egress.
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive These passed, if any pass, the void profound
The happy Isle? What strength, what art, can then Of unessential Night receives him next,
Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe, Wide-gaping, and with utter loss of being
Through the strict senteries and stations thick Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf.
Of Angels watching round? Here he had need If thence he scape, into whatever world,
All circumspection: and we now no less Or unknown region, what remains him less
Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape?
The weight of all, and our last hope, relies.’ But I should ill become this throne, O Peers,
This said, he sat; and expectation held And this imperial sovereignty, adorned
His look suspense, awaiting who appeared With splendour, armed with power, if aught proposed
To second, or oppose, or undertake And judged of public moment in the shape
The perilous attempt. But all sat mute, Of difficulty or danger, could deter
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume
In other’s countenance read his own dismay, These royalties, and not refuse to reign,
Astonished. None among the choice and prime Refusing to accept as great a share
Of those Heaven-warring champions could be found Of hazard as of honour, due alike
So hardy as to proffer or accept, To him who reigns, and so much to him due
Alone, the dreadful voyage; till, at last, Of hazard more as he above the rest
Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised High honoured sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers,
Above his fellows, with monarchal pride Terror of Heaven, though fallen; intend at home,
Conscious of highest worth, unmoved thus spake:— While here shall be our home, what best may ease
‘O Progeny of Heaven! Empyreal Thrones! The present misery, and render Hell

More tolerable; if there be cure or charm Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o’erspread
To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain Heaven’s cheerful face, the louring element
Of this ill mansion: intermit no watch Scowls o’er the darkened landscape snow or shower,
Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad If chance the radiant sun, with farewell sweet,
Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek Extend his evening beam, the fields revive,
Deliverance for us all. This enterprise The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds
None shall partake with me.’ Thus saying, rose Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings.
The Monarch, and prevented all reply; O shame to men! Devil with devil damned
Prudent lest, from his resolution raised, Firm concord holds; men only disagree
Others among the chief might offer now, Of creatures rational, though under hope
Certain to be refused, what erst they feared, Of heavenly grace, and, God proclaiming peace,
And, so refused, might in opinion stand Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife
His rivals, winning cheap the high repute Among themselves, and levy cruel wars
Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they Wasting the earth, each other to destroy:
Dreaded not more th’ adventure than his voice As if (which might induce us to accord)
Forbidding; and at once with him they rose. Man had not hellish foes enow besides,
Their rising all at once was as the sound That day and night for his destruction wait!
Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend The Stygian council thus dissolved; and forth
With awful reverence prone, and as a God In order came the grand infernal Peers:
Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven. Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seemed
Nor failed they to express how much they praised Alone th’ antagonist of Heaven, nor less
That for the general safety he despised Than Hell’s dread Emperor, with pomp supreme,
His own: for neither do the Spirits damned And god-like imitated state: him round
Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast A globe of fiery Seraphim enclosed
Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, With bright emblazonry, and horrent arms.
Or close ambition varnished o’er with zeal. Then of their session ended they bid cry
Thus they their doubtful consultations dark With trumpet’s regal sound the great result:
Ended, rejoicing in their matchless Chief: Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim
As, when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy,

By herald’s voice explained; the hollow Abyss Retreated in a silent valley, sing
Heard far adn wide, and all the host of Hell With notes angelical to many a harp
With deafening shout returned them loud acclaim. Their own heroic deeds, and hapless fall
Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised By doom of battle, and complain that Fate
By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers Free Virtue should enthrall to Force or Chance.
Disband; and, wandering, each his several way Their song was partial; but the harmony
Pursues, as inclination or sad choice (What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?)
Leads him perplexed, where he may likeliest find Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment
Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet
The irksome hours, till his great Chief return. (For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense)
Part on the plain, or in the air sublime, Others apart sat on a hill retired,
Upon the wing or in swift race contend, In thoughts more elevate, and reasoned high
As at th’ Olympian games or Pythian fields; Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate—
Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal Fixed fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute,
With rapid wheels, or fronted brigades form: And found no end, in wandering mazes lost.
As when, to warn proud cities, war appears Of good and evil much they argued then,
Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush Of happiness and final misery,
To battle in the clouds; before each van Passion and apathy, and glory and shame:
Prick forth the airy knights, and couch their spears, Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy!—
Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms Yet, with a pleasing sorcery, could charm
From either end of heaven the welkin burns. Pain for a while or anguish, and excite
Others, with vast Typhoean rage, more fell, Fallacious hope, or arm th’ obdured breast
Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air With stubborn patience as with triple steel.
In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar:— Another part, in squadrons and gross bands,
As when Alcides, from Oechalia crowned On bold adventure to discover wide
With conquest, felt th’ envenomed robe, and tore That dismal world, if any clime perhaps
Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pines, Might yield them easier habitation, bend
And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw Four ways their flying march, along the banks
Into th’ Euboic sea. Others, more mild, Of four infernal rivers, that disgorge

Into the burning lake their baleful streams— Both to and fro, their sorrow to augment,
Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate; And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach
Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep; The tempting stream, with one small drop to lose
Cocytus, named of lamentation loud In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe,
Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegeton, All in one moment, and so near the brink;
Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. But Fate withstands, and, to oppose th’ attempt,
Far off from these, a slow and silent stream, Medusa with Gorgonian terror guards
Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls The ford, and of itself the water flies
Her watery labyrinth, whereof who drinks All taste of living wight, as once it fled
Forthwith his former state and being forgets— The lip of Tantalus. Thus roving on
Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. In confused march forlorn, th’ adventurous bands,
Beyond this flood a frozen continent With shuddering horror pale, and eyes aghast,
Lies dark and wild, beat with perpetual storms Viewed first their lamentable lot, and found
Of whirlwind and dire hail, which on firm land No rest. Through many a dark and dreary vale
Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems They passed, and many a region dolorous,
Of ancient pile; all else deep snow and ice, O’er many a frozen, many a fiery alp,
A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of death—
Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old, A universe of death, which God by curse
Where armies whole have sunk: the parching air Created evil, for evil only good;
Burns frore, and cold performs th’ effect of fire. Where all life dies, death lives, and Nature breeds,
Thither, by harpy-footed Furies haled, Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things,
At certain revolutions all the damned Obominable, inutterable, and worse
Are brought; and feel by turns the bitter change Than fables yet have feigned or fear conceived,
Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more fierce, Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimeras dire.
From beds of raging fire to starve in ice Meanwhile the Adversary of God and Man,
Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine Satan, with thoughts inflamed of highest design,
Immovable, infixed, and frozen round Puts on swift wings, and toward the gates of Hell
Periods of time,—thence hurried back to fire. Explores his solitary flight: sometimes
They ferry over this Lethean sound He scours the right hand coast, sometimes the left;

Now shaves with level wing the deep, then soars In secret, riding through the air she comes,
Up to the fiery concave towering high. Lured with the smell of infant blood, to dance
As when far off at sea a fleet descried With Lapland witches, while the labouring moon
Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds Eclipses at their charms. The other Shape—
Close sailing from Bengala, or the isles If shape it might be called that shape had none
Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb;
Their spicy drugs; they on the trading flood, Or substance might be called that shadow seemed,
Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape, For each seemed either—black it stood as Night,
Ply stemming nightly toward the pole: so seemed Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell,
Far off the flying Fiend. At last appear And shook a dreadful dart: what seemed his head
Hell-bounds, high reaching to the horrid roof, The likeness of a kingly crown had on.
And thrice threefold the gates; three folds were brass, Satan was now at hand, and from his seat
Three iron, three of adamantine rock, The monster moving onward came as fast
Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire, With horrid strides; Hell trembled as he strode.
Yet unconsumed. Before the gates there sat Th’ undaunted Fiend what this might be admired—
On either side a formidable Shape. Admired, not feared (God and his Son except,
The one seemed woman to the waist, and fair, Created thing naught valued he nor shunned),
But ended foul in many a scaly fold, And with disdainful look thus first began:—
Voluminous and vast—a serpent armed ‘Whence and what art thou, execrable Shape,
With mortal sting. About her middle round That dar’st, though grim and terrible, advance
A cry of Hell-hounds never-ceasing barked Thy miscreated front athwart my way
With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung To yonder gates? Through them I mean to pass,
A hideous peal; yet, when they list, would creep, That be assured, without leave asked of thee.
If aught disturbed their noise, into her womb, Retire; or taste thy folly, and learn by proof,
And kennel there; yet there still barked and howled Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heaven.’
Within unseen. Far less abhorred than these To whom the Goblin, full of wrath, replied:—
Vexed Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts ‘Art thou that traitor Angel? art thou he,
Calabria from the hoarse Trinacrian shore; Who first broke peace in Heaven and faith, till then
Nor uglier follow the night-hag, when, called Unbroken, and in proud rebellious arms

Drew after him the third part of Heaven’s sons, For never but once more was wither like
Conjured against the Highest—for which both thou To meet so great a foe. And now great deeds
And they, outcast from God, are here condemned Had been achieved, whereof all Hell had rung,
To waste eternal days in woe and pain? Had not the snaky Sorceress, that sat
And reckon’st thou thyself with Spirits of Heaven Fast by Hell-gate and kept the fatal key,
Hell-doomed, and breath’st defiance here and scorn, Risen, and with hideous outcry rushed between.
Where I reign king, and, to enrage thee more, ‘O father, what intends thy hand,’ she cried,
Thy king and lord? Back to thy punishment, ‘Against thy only son? What fury, O son,
False fugitive; and to thy speed add wings, Possesses thee to bend that mortal dart
Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue Against thy father’s head? And know’st for whom?
Thy lingering, or with one stroke of this dart For him who sits above, and laughs the while
Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before.’ At thee, ordained his drudge to execute
So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape, Whate’er his wrath, which he calls justice, bids—
So speaking and so threatening, grew tenfold, His wrath, which one day will destroy ye both!’
More dreadful and deform. On th’ other side, She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest
Incensed with indignation, Satan stood Forbore: then these to her Satan returned:—
Unterrified, and like a comet burned, ‘So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange
That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge Thou interposest, that my sudden hand,
In th’ arctic sky, and from his horrid hair Prevented, spares to tell thee yet by deeds
Shakes pestilence and war. Each at the head What it intends, till first I know of thee
Levelled his deadly aim; their fatal hands What thing thou art, thus double-formed, and why,
No second stroke intend; and such a frown In this infernal vale first met, thou call’st
Each cast at th’ other as when two black clouds, Me father, and that phantasm call’st my son.
With heaven’s artillery fraught, came rattling on I know thee not, nor ever saw till now
Over the Caspian,—then stand front to front Sight more detestable than him and thee.’
Hovering a space, till winds the signal blow T’ whom thus the Portress of Hell-gate replied:—
To join their dark encounter in mid-air. ‘Hast thou forgot me, then; and do I seem
So frowned the mighty combatants that Hell Now in thine eye so foul?—once deemed so fair
Grew darker at their frown; so matched they stood; In Heaven, when at th’ assembly, and in sight

Of all the Seraphim with thee combined Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown,
In bold conspiracy against Heaven’s King, Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes.
All on a sudden miserable pain At last this odious offspring whom thou seest,
Surprised thee, dim thine eyes and dizzy swum Thine own begotten, breaking violent way,
In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast Tore through my entrails, that, with fear and pain
Threw forth, till on the left side opening wide, Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew
Likest to thee in shape and countenance bright, Transformed: but he my inbred enemy
Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess armed, Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart,
Out of thy head I sprung. Amazement seized Made to destroy. I fled, and cried out Death!
All th’ host of Heaven; back they recoiled afraid Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sighed
At first, and called me Sin, and for a sign From all her caves, and back resounded Death!
Portentous held me; but, familiar grown, I fled; but he pursued (though more, it seems,
I pleased, and with attractive graces won Inflamed with lust than rage), and, swifter far,
The most averse—thee chiefly, who, full oft Me overtook, his mother, all dismayed,
Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing, And, in embraces forcible and foul
Becam’st enamoured; and such joy thou took’st Engendering with me, of that rape begot
With me in secret that my womb conceived These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry
A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose, Surround me, as thou saw’st—hourly conceived
And fields were fought in Heaven: wherein remained And hourly born, with sorrow infinite
(For what could else?) to our Almighty Foe To me; for, when they list, into the womb
Clear victory; to our part loss and rout That bred them they return, and howl, and gnaw
Through all the Empyrean. Down they fell, My bowels, their repast; then, bursting forth
Driven headlong from the pitch of Heaven, down Afresh, with conscious terrors vex me round,
Into this Deep; and in the general fall That rest or intermission none I find.
I also: at which time this powerful key Before mine eyes in opposition sits
Into my hands was given, with charge to keep Grim Death, my son and foe, who set them on,
These gates for ever shut, which none can pass And me, his parent, would full soon devour
Without my opening. Pensive here I sat For want of other prey, but that he knows
Alone; but long I sat not, till my womb, His end with mine involved, and knows that I

Should prove a bitter morsel, and his bane, Might hap to move new broils. Be this, or aught
Whenever that shall be: so Fate pronounced. Than this more secret, now designed, I haste
But thou, O father, I forewarn thee, shun To know; and, this once known, shall soon return,
His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope And bring ye to the place where thou and Death
To be invulnerable in those bright arms, Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen
Through tempered heavenly; for that mortal dint, Wing silently the buxom air, embalmed
Save he who reigns above, none can resist.’ With odours. There ye shall be fed and filled
She finished; and the subtle Fiend his lore Immeasurably; all things shall be your prey.’
Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered smooth:— He ceased; for both seemed highly pleased, and Death
‘Dear daughter—since thou claim’st me for thy sire, Grinned horrible a ghastly smile, to hear
And my fair son here show’st me, the dear pledge His famine should be filled, and blessed his maw
Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys Destined to that good hour. No less rejoiced
Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change His mother bad, and thus bespake her sire:—
Befallen us unforeseen, unthought-of—know, ‘The key of this infernal Pit, by due
I come no enemy, but to set free And by command of Heaven’s all-powerful King,
From out this dark and dismal house of pain I keep, by him forbidden to unlock
Both him and thee, and all the heavenly host These adamantine gates; against all force
Of Spirits that, in our just pretences armed, Death ready stands to interpose his dart,
Fell with us from on high. From them I go Fearless to be o’ermatched by living might.
This uncouth errand sole, and one for all But what owe I to his commands above,
Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down
Th’ unfounded Deep, and through the void immense Into this gloom of Tartarus profound,
To search, with wandering quest, a place foretold To sit in hateful office here confined,
Should be—and, by concurring signs, ere now Inhabitant of Heaven and heavenly born—
Created vast and round—a place of bliss Here in perpetual agony and pain,
In the purlieus of Heaven; and therein placed With terrors and with clamours compassed round
A race of upstart creatures, to supply Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed?
Perhaps our vacant room, though more removed, Thou art my father, thou my author, thou
Lest Heaven, surcharged with potent multitude, My being gav’st me; whom should I obey

But thee? whom follow? Thou wilt bring me soon And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold
To that new world of light and bliss, among Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise
The gods who live at ease, where I shall reign Of endless wars, and by confusion stand.
At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems For Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry, four champions fierce,
Thy daughter and thy darling, without end.’ Strive here for mastery, and to battle bring
Thus saying, from her side the fatal key, Their embryon atoms: they around the flag
Sad instrument of all our woe, she took; Of each his faction, in their several clans,
And, towards the gate rolling her bestial train, Light-armed or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift, or slow,
Forthwith the huge portcullis high up-drew, Swarm populous, unnumbered as the sands
Which, but herself, not all the Stygian Powers Of Barca or Cyrene’s torrid soil,
Could once have moved; then in the key-hole turns Levied to side with warring winds, and poise
Th’ intricate wards, and every bolt and bar Their lighter wings. To whom these most adhere
Of massy iron or solid rock with ease He rules a moment: Chaos umpire sits,
Unfastens. On a sudden open fly, And by decision more embroils the fray
With impetuous recoil and jarring sound, By which he reigns: next him, high arbiter,
Th’ infernal doors, and on their hinges grate Chance governs all. Into this wild Abyss,
Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook The womb of Nature, and perhaps her grave,
Of Erebus. She opened; but to shut Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire,
Excelled her power: the gates wide open stood, But all these in their pregnant causes mixed
That with extended wings a bannered host, Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight,
Under spread ensigns marching, mibht pass through Unless th’ Almighty Maker them ordain
With horse and chariots ranked in loose array; His dark materials to create more worlds—
So wide they stood, and like a furnace-mouth Into this wild Abyss the wary Fiend
Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame. Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while,
Before their eyes in sudden view appear Pondering his voyage; for no narrow frith
The secrets of the hoary Deep—a dark He had to cross. Nor was his ear less pealed
Illimitable ocean, without bound, With noises loud and ruinous (to compare
Without dimension; where length, breadth, and height, Great things with small) than when Bellona storms
And time, and place, are lost; where eldest Night With all her battering engines, bent to rase

Some capital city; or less than if this frame Borne through the hollow dark, assaults his ear
Of Heaven were falling, and these elements With loudest vehemence. Thither he plies
In mutiny had from her axle torn Undaunted, to meet there whatever Power
The steadfast Earth. At last his sail-broad vans Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss
He spread for flight, and, in the surging smoke Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask
Uplifted, spurns the ground; thence many a league, Which way the nearest coast of darkness lies
As in a cloudy chair, ascending rides Bordering on light; when straight behold the throne
Audacious; but, that seat soon failing, meets Of Chaos, and his dark pavilion spread
A vast vacuity. All unawares, Wide on the wasteful Deep! With him enthroned
Fluttering his pennons vain, plumb-down he drops Sat sable-vested Night, eldest of things,
Ten thousand fathom deep, and to this hour The consort of his reign; and by them stood
Down had been falling, had not, by ill chance, Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name
The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud, Of Demogorgon; Rumour next, and Chance,
Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him And Tumult, and Confusion, all embroiled,
As many miles aloft. That fury stayed— And Discord with a thousand various mouths.
Quenched in a boggy Syrtis, neither sea, T’ whom Satan, turning boldly, thus:—‘Ye Powers
Nor good dry land—nigh foundered, on he fares, And Spirtis of this nethermost Abyss,
Treading the crude consistence, half on foot, Chaos and ancient Night, I come no spy
Half flying; behoves him now both oar and sail. With purpose to explore or to disturb
As when a gryphon through the wilderness The secrets of your realm; but, by constraint
With winged course, o’er hill or moory dale, Wandering this darksome desert, as my way
Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stealth Lies through your spacious empire up to light,
Had from his wakeful custody purloined Alone and without guide, half lost, I seek,
The guarded gold; so eagerly the Fiend What readiest path leads where your gloomy bounds
O’er bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare, Confine with Heaven; or, if some other place,
With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way, From your dominion won, th’ Ethereal King
And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies. Possesses lately, thither to arrive
At length a universal hubbub wild I travel this profound. Direct my course:
Of stunning sounds, and voices all confused, Directed, no mean recompense it brings

To your behoof, if I that region lost, But, glad that now his sea should find a shore,
All usurpation thence expelled, reduce With fresh alacrity and force renewed
To her original darkness and your sway Springs upward, like a pyramid of fire,
(Which is my present journey), and once more Into the wild expanse, and through the shock
Erect the standard there of ancient Night. Of fighting elements, on all sides round
Yours be th’ advantage all, mine the revenge!’ Environed, wins his way; harder beset
Thus Satan; and him thus the Anarch old, And more endangered than when Argo passed
With faltering speech and visage incomposed, Through Bosporus betwixt the justling rocks,
Answered: ‘I know thee, stranger, who thou art— *** Or when Ulysses on the larboard shunned
That mighty leading Angel, who of late Charybdis, and by th’ other whirlpool steered.
Made head against Heaven’s King, though overthrown. So he with difficulty and labour hard
I saw and heard; for such a numerous host Moved on, with difficulty and labour he;
Fled not in silence through the frighted Deep, But, he once passed, soon after, when Man fell,
With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, Strange alteration! Sin and Death amain,
Confusion worse confounded; and Heaven-gates Following his track (such was the will of Heaven)
Poured out by millions her victorious bands, Paved after him a broad and beaten way
Pursuing. I upon my frontiers here Over the dark Abyss, whose boiling gulf
Keep residence; if all I can will serve Tamely endured a bridge of wondrous length,
That little which is left so to defend, From Hell continued, reaching th’ utmost orb
Encroached on still through our intestine broils Of this frail World; by which the Spirits perverse
Weakening the sceptre of old Night: first, Hell, With easy intercourse pass to and fro
Your dungeon, stretching far and wide beneath; To tempt or punish mortals, except whom
Now lately Heaven and Earth, another world God and good Angels guard by special grace.
Hung o’er my realm, linked in a golden chain But now at last the sacred influence
To that side Heaven from whence your legions fell! Of light appears, and from the walls of Heaven
If that way be your walk, you have not far; Shoots far into the bosom of dim Night
So much the nearer danger. Go, and speed; A glimmering dawn. Here Nature first begins
Havoc, and spoil, and ruin, are my gain.’ Her farthest verge, and Chaos to retire,
He ceased; and Satan stayed not to reply, As from her outmost works, a broken foe,

With tumult less and with less hostile din;
That Satan with less toil, and now with ease, Book III
Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light,
And, like a weather-beaten vessel, holds
Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn;
Or in the emptier waste, resembling air,
Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold
Far off th’ empyreal Heaven, extended wide
H ail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven firstborn,
Or of the Eternal coeternal beam
May I express thee unblam’d? since God is light,
In circuit, undetermined square or round, And never but in unapproached light
With opal towers and battlements adorned Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee
Of living sapphire, once his native seat; Bright effluence of bright essence increate.
And, fast by, hanging in a golden chain, Or hear”st thou rather pure ethereal stream,
This pendent World, in bigness as a star Whose fountain who shall tell? before the sun,
Of smallest magnitude close by the moon. Before the Heavens thou wert, and at the voice
Thither, full fraught with mischievous revenge, Of God, as with a mantle, didst invest ***
Accursed, and in a cursed hour, he hies. The rising world of waters dark and deep,
Won from the void and formless infinite.
Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing,
Escap’d the Stygian pool, though long detain’d
In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight
Through utter and through middle darkness borne,
With other notes than to the Orphean lyre
I sung of Chaos and eternal Night;
Taught by the heavenly Muse to venture down
The dark descent, and up to re-ascend,
Though hard and rare: Thee I revisit safe,
And feel thy sovran vital lamp; but thou
Revisit’st not these eyes, that roll in vain
To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn;

So thick a drop serene hath quench’d their orbs, Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell
Or dim suffusion veil’d. Yet not the more Of things invisible to mortal sight.
Cease I to wander, where the Muses haunt, Now had the Almighty Father from above,
Clear spring, or shady grove, or sunny hill, From the pure empyrean where he sits
Smit with the love of sacred song; but chief High thron’d above all highth, bent down his eye
Thee, Sion, and the flowery brooks beneath, His own works and their works at once to view:
That wash thy hallow’d feet, and warbling flow, About him all the Sanctities of Heaven
Nightly I visit: nor sometimes forget Stood thick as stars, and from his sight receiv’d
So were I equall’d with them in renown, Beatitude past utterance; on his right
Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace; The radiant image of his glory sat,
Blind Thamyris, and blind Maeonides, His only son; on earth he first beheld
And Tiresias, and Phineus, prophets old: Our two first parents, yet the only two
Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move Of mankind in the happy garden plac’d
Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful bird Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love,
Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid Uninterrupted joy, unrivall’d love,
Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year In blissful solitude; he then survey’d
Seasons return; but not to me returns Hell and the gulf between, and Satan there
Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn, Coasting the wall of Heaven on this side Night
Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer’s rose, In the dun air sublime, and ready now
Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine; To stoop with wearied wings, and willing feet,
But cloud instead, and ever-during dark On the bare outside of this world, that seem’d
Surrounds me, from the cheerful ways of men Firm land imbosom’d, without firmament,
Cut off, and for the book of knowledge fair Uncertain which, in ocean or in air.
Presented with a universal blank Him God beholding from his prospect high,
Of nature’s works to me expung’d and ras’d, Wherein past, present, future, he beholds,
And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out. Thus to his only Son foreseeing spake.
So much the rather thou, celestial Light, Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage
Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers Transports our Adversary? whom no bounds
Irradiate; there plant eyes, all mist from thence Prescrib’d no bars of Hell, nor all the chains

Heap’d on him there, nor yet the main abyss So were created, nor can justly accuse
Wide interrupt, can hold; so bent he seems Their Maker, or their making, or their fate,
On desperate revenge, that shall redound As if predestination over-rul’d
Upon his own rebellious head. And now, Their will dispos’d by absolute decree
Through all restraint broke loose, he wings his way Or high foreknowledge they themselves decreed
Not far off Heaven, in the precincts of light, Their own revolt, not I; if I foreknew,
Directly towards the new created world, Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,
And man there plac’d, with purpose to assay Which had no less proved certain unforeknown.
If him by force he can destroy, or, worse, So without least impulse or shadow of fate,
By some false guile pervert; and shall pervert; Or aught by me immutably foreseen,
For man will hearken to his glozing lies, They trespass, authors to themselves in all
And easily transgress the sole command, Both what they judge, and what they choose; for so
Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall I form’d them free: and free they must remain,
He and his faithless progeny: Whose fault? Till they enthrall themselves; I else must change
Whose but his own? ingrate, he had of me Their nature, and revoke the high decree
All he could have; I made him just and right, Unchangeable, eternal, which ordain’d
Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. $THeir freedom: they themselves ordain’d their fall.
Such I created all the ethereal Powers The first sort by their own suggestion fell,
And Spirits, both them who stood, and them who fail’d; Self-tempted, self-deprav’d: Man falls, deceiv’d
Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace,
Not free, what proof could they have given sincere The other none: In mercy and justice both,
Of true allegiance, constant faith or love, Through Heaven and Earth, so shall my glory excel;
Where only what they needs must do appear’d, But Mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine.
Not what they would? what praise could they receive? Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill’d
What pleasure I from such obedience paid, All Heaven, and in the blessed Spirits elect
When will and reason (reason also is choice) Sense of new joy ineffable diffus’d.
Useless and vain, of freedom both despoil’d, Beyond compare the Son of God was seen
Made passive both, had serv’d necessity, Most glorious; in him all his Father shone
Not me? they therefore, as to right belong$ ‘d, Substantially express’d; and in his face

Divine compassion visibly appear’d, Son of my bosom, Son who art alone.
Love without end, and without measure grace, My word, my wisdom, and effectual might,
Which uttering, thus he to his Father spake. All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all
O Father, gracious was that word which clos’d As my eternal purpose hath decreed;
Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace; Man shall not quite be lost, but sav’d who will;
, that Man should find grace; Yet not of will in him, but grace in me
For which both Heaven and earth shall high extol Freely vouchsaf’d; once more I will renew
Thy praises, with the innumerable sound His lapsed powers, though forfeit; and enthrall’d
Of hymns and sacred songs, wherewith thy throne By sin to foul exorbitant desires;
Encompass’d shall resound thee ever blest. Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand
For should Man finally be lost, should Man, On even ground against his mortal foe;
Thy creature late so lov’d, thy youngest son, By me upheld, that he may know how frail
Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though join’d His fallen condition is, and to me owe
With his own folly? that be from thee far, All his deliverance, and to none but me.
That far be from thee, Father, who art judge Some I have chosen of peculiar grace,
Of all things made, and judgest only right. Elect above the rest; so is my will:
Or shall the Adversary thus obtain The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warn’d
His end, and frustrate thine? shall he fulfill Their sinful state, and to appease betimes
His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought, The incensed Deity, while offer’d grace
Or proud return, though to his heavier doom, Invites; for I will clear their senses dark,
Yet with revenge accomplish’d, and to Hell What may suffice, and soften stony hearts
Draw after him the whole race of mankind, To pray, repent, and bring obedience due.
By him corrupted? or wilt thou thyself To prayer, repentance, and obedience due,
Abolish thy creation, and unmake Though but endeavour’d with sincere intent,
For him, what for thy glory thou hast made? Mine ear shall not be slow, mine eye not shut.
So should thy goodness and thy greatness both And I will place within them as a guide,
Be question’d and blasphem’d without defence. My umpire Conscience; whom if they will hear,
To whom the great Creator thus replied. Light after light, well us’d, they shall attain,
O son, in whom my soul hath chief delight, And to the end, persisting, safe arrive.

This my long sufferance, and my day of grace, Father, thy word is past, Man shall find grace;
They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste; And shall grace not find means, that finds her way,
But hard be harden’d, blind be blinded more, The speediest of thy winged messengers,
That they may stumble on, and deeper fall; To visit all thy creatures, and to all
And none but such from mercy I exclude. Comes unprevented, unimplor’d, unsought?
But yet all is not done; Man disobeying, Happy for Man, so coming; he her aid
Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins Can never seek, once dead in sins, and lost;
Against the high supremacy of Heaven, Atonement for himself, or offering meet,
Affecting God-head, and, so losing all, Indebted and undone, hath none to bring;
To expiate his treason hath nought left, Behold me then: me for him, life for life
But to destruction sacred and devote, I offer: on me let thine anger fall;
He, with his whole posterity, must die, Account me Man; I for his sake will leave
Die he or justice must; unless for him Thy bosom, and this glory next to thee
Some other able, and as willing, pay Freely put off, and for him lastly die
The rigid satisfaction, death for death. Well pleased; on me let Death wreak all his rage.
Say, heavenly Powers, where shall we find such love? Under his gloomy power I shall not long
Which of you will be mortal, to redeem Lie vanquished. Thou hast given me to possess
Man’s mortal crime, and just the unjust to save? Life in myself for ever; by thee I live;
Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear? Though now to Death I yield, and am his due,
And silence was in Heaven: $ on Man’s behalf All that of me can die, yet, that debt paid,
He ask’d, but all the heavenly quire stood mute, $ thou wilt not leave me in the loathsome grave
Patron or intercessour none appear’d, His prey, nor suffer my unspotted soul
Much less that durst upon his own head draw For ever with corruption there to dwell;
The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. But I shall rise victorious, and subdue
And now without redemption all mankind My vanquisher, spoiled of his vaunted spoil.
Must have been lost, adjudg’d to Death and Hell Death his death’s wound shall then receive, and stoop
By doom severe, had not the Son of God, Inglorious, of his mortal sting disarmed;
In whom the fulness dwells of love divine, I through the ample air in triumph high
His dearest mediation thus renew’d. Shall lead Hell captive maugre Hell, and show

The powers of darkness bound. Thou, at the sight And be thyself Man among men on Earth,
Pleased, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile, Made flesh, when time shall be, of virgin seed,
While, by thee raised, I ruin all my foes; By wondrous birth; be thou in Adam’s room
Death last, and with his carcase glut the grave; The head of all mankind, though Adam’s son.
Then, with the multitude of my redeemed, As in him perish all men, so in thee,
Shall enter Heaven, long absent, and return, As from a second root, shall be restored
Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud As many as are restored, without thee none.
Of anger shall remain, but peace assured His crime makes guilty all his sons; thy merit,
And reconcilement: wrath shall be no more Imputed, shall absolve them who renounce
Thenceforth, but in thy presence joy entire. Their own both righteous and unrighteous deeds,
His words here ended; but his meek aspect And live in thee transplanted, and from thee
Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love Receive new life. So Man, as is most just,
To mortal men, above which only shone Shall satisfy for Man, be judged and die,
Filial obedience: as a sacrifice And dying rise, and rising with him raise
Glad to be offered, he attends the will His brethren, ransomed with his own dear life.
Of his great Father. Admiration seized So heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate,
All Heaven, what this might mean, and whither tend, Giving to death, and dying to redeem,
Wondering; but soon th’ Almighty thus replied. So dearly to redeem what hellish hate
O thou in Heaven and Earth the only peace So easily destroyed, and still destroys
Found out for mankind under wrath, O thou In those who, when they may, accept not grace.
My sole complacence! Well thou know’st how dear Nor shalt thou, by descending to assume
To me are all my works; nor Man the least, Man’s nature, lessen or degrade thine own.
Though last created, that for him I spare Because thou hast, though throned in highest bliss
Thee from my bosom and right hand, to save, Equal to God, and equally enjoying
By losing thee a while, the whole race lost. God-like fruition, quitted all, to save
A world from utter loss, and hast been found
00021053 By merit more than birthright Son of God,
Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, Found worthiest to be so by being good,
Their nature also to thy nature join; Far more than great or high; because in thee

Love hath abounded more than glory abounds; God shall be all in all. But, all ye Gods,
Therefore thy humiliation shall exalt Adore him, who to compass all this dies;
With thee thy manhood also to this throne: Adore the Son, and honour him as me.
Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt reign No sooner had the Almighty ceased, but all
Both God and Man, Son both of God and Man, The multitude of Angels, with a shout
Anointed universal King; all power Loud as from numbers without number, sweet
I give thee; reign for ever, and assume As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heaven rung
Thy merits; under thee, as head supreme, With jubilee, and loud Hosannas filled
Thrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions, I reduce: The eternal regions: Lowly reverent
All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide Towards either throne they bow, and to the ground
In Heaven, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell. With solemn adoration down they cast
When thou, attended gloriously from Heaven, Their crowns inwove with amarant and gold;
Shalt in the sky appear, and from thee send Immortal amarant, a flower which once
The summoning Arch-Angels to proclaim In Paradise, fast by the tree of life,
Thy dread tribunal; forthwith from all winds, Began to bloom; but soon for man’s offence
The living, and forthwith the cited dead To Heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows,
Of all past ages, to the general doom And flowers aloft shading the fount of life,
Shall hasten; such a peal shall rouse their sleep. And where the river of bliss through midst of Heaven
Then, all thy saints assembled, thou shalt judge Rolls o’er Elysian flowers her amber stream;
Bad Men and Angels; they, arraigned, shall sink With these that never fade the Spirits elect
Beneath thy sentence; Hell, her numbers full, Bind their resplendent locks inwreathed with beams;
Thenceforth shall be for ever shut. Mean while Now in loose garlands thick thrown off, the bright
The world shall burn, and from her ashes spring Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone,
New Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell, Impurpled with celestial roses smiled.
And, after all their tribulations long, Then, crowned again, their golden harps they took,
See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, Harps ever tuned, that glittering by their side
With joy and peace triumphing, and fair truth. Like quivers hung, and with preamble sweet
Then thou thy regal scepter shalt lay by, Of charming symphony they introduce
For regal scepter then no more shall need, Their sacred song, and waken raptures high;

No voice exempt, no voice but well could join To execute fierce vengeance on his foes,
Melodious part, such concord is in Heaven. Not so on Man: Him through their malice fallen,
Thee, Father, first they sung Omnipotent, Father of mercy and grace, thou didst not doom
Immutable, Immortal, Infinite, So strictly, but much more to pity incline:
Eternal King; the Author of all being, No sooner did thy dear and only Son
Fonntain of light, thyself invisible Perceive thee purposed not to doom frail Man
Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit’st So strictly, but much more to pity inclined,
Throned inaccessible, but when thou shadest He to appease thy wrath, and end the strife
The full blaze of thy beams, and, through a cloud Of mercy and justice in thy face discerned,
Drawn round about thee like a radiant shrine, Regardless of the bliss wherein he sat
Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear, Second to thee, offered himself to die
Yet dazzle Heaven, that brightest Seraphim For Man’s offence. O unexampled love,
Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes. Love no where to be found less than Divine!
Thee next they sang of all creation first, Hail, Son of God, Saviour of Men! Thy name
Begotten Son, Divine Similitude, Shall be the copious matter of my song
In whose conspicuous countenance, without cloud Henceforth, and never shall my heart thy praise
Made visible, the Almighty Father shines, Forget, nor from thy Father’s praise disjoin.
Whom else no creature can behold; on thee Thus they in Heaven, above the starry sphere,
Impressed the effulgence of his glory abides, Their happy hours in joy and hymning spent.
Transfused on thee his ample Spirit rests. Mean while upon the firm opacous globe
He Heaven of Heavens and all the Powers therein Of this round world, whose first convex divides
By thee created; and by thee threw down The luminous inferiour orbs, enclosed
The aspiring Dominations: Thou that day From Chaos, and the inroad of Darkness old,
Thy Father’s dreadful thunder didst not spare, Satan alighted walks: A globe far off
Nor stop thy flaming chariot-wheels, that shook It seemed, now seems a boundless continent
Heaven’s everlasting frame, while o’er the necks Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night
Thou drovest of warring Angels disarrayed. Starless exposed, and ever-threatening storms
Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaim Of Chaos blustering round, inclement sky;
Thee only extolled, Son of thy Father’s might, Save on that side which from the wall of Heaven,

Though distant far, some small reflection gains Dissolved on earth, fleet hither, and in vain,
Of glimmering air less vexed with tempest loud: Till final dissolution, wander here;
Here walked the Fiend at large in spacious field. Not in the neighbouring moon as some have dreamed;
As when a vultur on Imaus bred, Those argent fields more likely habitants,
Whose snowy ridge the roving Tartar bounds, Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold
Dislodging from a region scarce of prey Betwixt the angelical and human kind.
To gorge the flesh of lambs or yeanling kids, Hither of ill-joined sons and daughters born
On hills where flocks are fed, flies toward the springs First from the ancient world those giants came
Of Ganges or Hydaspes, Indian streams; With many a vain exploit, though then renowned:
But in his way lights on the barren plains The builders next of Babel on the plain
Of Sericana, where Chineses drive Of Sennaar, and still with vain design,
With sails and wind their cany waggons light: New Babels, had they wherewithal, would build:
So, on this windy sea of land, the Fiend Others came single; he, who, to be deemed
Walked up and down alone, bent on his prey; A God, leaped fondly into Aetna flames,
Alone, for other creature in this place, Empedocles; and he, who, to enjoy
Living or lifeless, to be found was none; Plato’s Elysium, leaped into the sea,
None yet, but store hereafter from the earth Cleombrotus; and many more too long,
Up hither like aereal vapours flew Embryos, and idiots, eremites, and friars
Of all things transitory and vain, when sin White, black, and gray, with all their trumpery.
With vanity had filled the works of men: Here pilgrims roam, that strayed so far to seek
Both all things vain, and all who in vain things In Golgotha him dead, who lives in Heaven;
Built their fond hopes of glory or lasting fame, And they, who to be sure of Paradise,
Or happiness in this or the other life; Dying, put on the weeds of Dominick,
All who have their reward on earth, the fruits Or in Franciscan think to pass disguised;
Of painful superstition and blind zeal, They pass the planets seven, and pass the fixed,
Nought seeking but the praise of men, here find And that crystalling sphere whose balance weighs
Fit retribution, empty as their deeds; The trepidation talked, and that first moved;
All the unaccomplished works of Nature’s hand, And now Saint Peter at Heaven’s wicket seems
Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixed, To wait them with his keys, and now at foot

Of Heaven’s ascent they lift their feet, when lo And waking cried, This is the gate of Heaven.
A violent cross wind from either coast Each stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood
Blows them transverse, ten thousand leagues awry There always, but drawn up to Heaven sometimes
Into the devious air: Then might ye see Viewless; and underneath a bright sea flowed
Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tost Of jasper, or of liquid pearl, whereon
And fluttered into rags; then reliques, beads, Who after came from earth, failing arrived
Indulgences, dispenses, pardons, bulls, Wafted by Angels, or flew o’er the lake
The sport of winds: All these, upwhirled aloft, Rapt in a chariot drawn by fiery steeds.
Fly o’er the backside of the world far off The stairs were then let down, whether to dare
Into a Limbo large and broad, since called The Fiend by easy ascent, or aggravate
The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown His sad exclusion from the doors of bliss:
Long after; now unpeopled, and untrod. Direct against which opened from beneath,
All this dark globe the Fiend found as he passed, Just o’er the blissful seat of Paradise,
And long he wandered, till at last a gleam A passage down to the Earth, a passage wide,
Of dawning light turned thither-ward in haste Wider by far than that of after-times
His travelled steps: far distant he descries Over mount Sion, and, though that were large,
Ascending by degrees magnificent Over the Promised Land to God so dear;
Up to the wall of Heaven a structure high; By which, to visit oft those happy tribes,
At top whereof, but far more rich, appeared On high behests his angels to and fro
The work as of a kingly palace-gate, Passed frequent, and his eye with choice regard
With frontispiece of diamond and gold From Paneas, the fount of Jordan’s flood,
Embellished; thick with sparkling orient gems To Beersaba, where the Holy Land
The portal shone, inimitable on earth Borders on Egypt and the Arabian shore;
By model, or by shading pencil, drawn. So wide the opening seemed, where bounds were set
These stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw To darkness, such as bound the ocean wave.
Angels ascending and descending, bands Satan from hence, now on the lower stair,
Of guardians bright, when he from Esau fled That scaled by steps of gold to Heaven-gate,
To Padan-Aram, in the field of Luz Looks down with wonder at the sudden view
Dreaming by night under the open sky Of all this world at once. As when a scout,

Through dark?;nd desart ways with?oeril gone Allured his eye; thither his course he bends
All?might,?;t?kast by break of cheerful dawn Through the calm firmament, (but up or down,
Obtains the brow of some high-climbing hill, By center, or eccentrick, hard to tell,
Which to his eye discovers unaware Or longitude,) where the great luminary
The goodly prospect of some foreign land Aloof the vulgar constellations thick,
First seen, or some renowned metropolis That from his lordly eye keep distance due,
With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned, Dispenses light from far; they, as they move
Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams: Their starry dance in numbers that compute
Such wonder seised, though after Heaven seen, Days, months, and years, towards his all-cheering lamp
The Spirit malign, but much more envy seised, Turn swift their various motions, or are turned
At sight of all this world beheld so fair. By his magnetick beam, that gently warms
Round he surveys (and well might, where he stood The universe, and to each inward part
So high above the circling canopy With gentle penetration, though unseen,
Of night’s extended shade,) from eastern point Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep;
Of Libra to the fleecy star that bears So wonderously was set his station bright.
Andromeda far off Atlantick seas There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps
Beyond the horizon; then from pole to pole Astronomer in the sun’s lucent orb
He views in breadth, and without longer pause Through his glazed optick tube yet never saw.
Down right into the world’s first region throws The place he found beyond expression bright,
His flight precipitant, and winds with ease Compared with aught on earth, metal or stone;
Through the pure marble air his oblique way Not all parts like, but all alike informed
Amongst innumerable stars, that shone With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire;
Stars distant, but nigh hand seemed other worlds; If metal, part seemed gold, part silver clear;
Or other worlds they seemed, or happy isles, If stone, carbuncle most or chrysolite,
Like those Hesperian gardens famed of old, Ruby or topaz, to the twelve that shone
Fortunate fields, and groves, and flowery vales, In Aaron’s breast-plate, and a stone besides
Thrice happy isles; but who dwelt happy there Imagined rather oft than elsewhere seen,
He staid not to inquire: Above them all That stone, or like to that which here below
The golden sun, in splendour likest Heaven, Philosophers in vain so long have sought,

In vain, though by their powerful art they bind To find who might direct his wandering flight
Volatile Hermes, and call up unbound To Paradise, the happy seat of Man,
In various shapes old Proteus from the sea, His journey’s end and our beginning woe.
Drained through a limbeck to his native form. But first he casts to change his proper shape,
What wonder then if fields and regions here Which else might work him danger or delay:
Breathe forth Elixir pure, and rivers run And now a stripling Cherub he appears,
Potable gold, when with one virtuous touch Not of the prime, yet such as in his face
The arch-chemick sun, so far from us remote, Youth smiled celestial, and to every limb
Produces, with terrestrial humour mixed, Suitable grace diffused, so well he feigned:
Here in the dark so many precious things Under a coronet his flowing hair
Of colour glorious, and effect so rare? In curls on either cheek played; wings he wore
Here matter new to gaze the Devil met Of many a coloured plume, sprinkled with gold;
Undazzled; far and wide his eye commands; His habit fit for speed succinct, and held
For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade, Before his decent steps a silver wand.
But all sun-shine, as when his beams at noon He drew not nigh unheard; the Angel bright,
Culminate from the equator, as they now Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned,
Shot upward still direct, whence no way round Admonished by his ear, and straight was known
Shadow from body opaque can fall; and the air, The Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the seven
No where so clear, sharpened his visual ray Who in God’s presence, nearest to his throne,
To objects distant far, whereby he soon Stand ready at command, and are his eyes
Saw within ken a glorious Angel stand, That run through all the Heavens, or down to the Earth
The same whom John saw also in the sun: Bear his swift errands over moist and dry,
His back was turned, but not his brightness hid; O’er sea and land: him Satan thus accosts.
Of beaming sunny rays a golden tiar Uriel, for thou of those seven Spirits that stand
Circled his head, nor less his locks behind In sight of God’s high throne, gloriously bright,
Illustrious on his shoulders fledge with wings The first art wont his great authentick will
Lay waving round; on some great charge employed Interpreter through highest Heaven to bring,
He seemed, or fixed in cogitation deep. Where all his sons thy embassy attend;
Glad was the Spirit impure, as now in hope And here art likeliest by supreme decree

Like honour to obtain, and as his eye Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguiled
To visit oft this new creation round; Uriel, though regent of the sun, and held
Unspeakable desire to see, and know The sharpest-sighted Spirit of all in Heaven;
All these his wonderous works, but chiefly Man, Who to the fraudulent impostor foul,
His chief delight and favour, him for whom In his uprightness, answer thus returned.
All these his works so wonderous he ordained, Fair Angel, thy desire, which tends to know
Hath brought me from the quires of Cherubim The works of God, thereby to glorify
Alone thus wandering. Brightest Seraph, tell The great Work-master, leads to no excess
In which of all these shining orbs hath Man That reaches blame, but rather merits praise
His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none, The more it seems excess, that led thee hither
But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell; From thy empyreal mansion thus alone,
That I may find him, and with secret gaze To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps,
Or open admiration him behold, Contented with report, hear only in Heaven:
On whom the great Creator hath bestowed For wonderful indeed are all his works,
Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces poured; Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all
That both in him and all things, as is meet, Had in remembrance always with delight;
The universal Maker we may praise; But what created mind can comprehend
Who justly hath driven out his rebel foes Their number, or the wisdom infinite
To deepest Hell, and, to repair that loss, That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep?
Created this new happy race of Men I saw when at his word the formless mass,
To serve him better: Wise are all his ways. This world’s material mould, came to a heap:
So spake the false dissembler unperceived; Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar
For neither Man nor Angel can discern Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined;
Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks Till at his second bidding Darkness fled,
Invisible, except to God alone, Light shone, and order from disorder sprung:
By his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth: Swift to their several quarters hasted then
And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire;
At wisdom’s gate, and to simplicity And this ethereal quintessence of Heaven
Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill Flew upward, spirited with various forms,

That rolled orbicular, and turned to stars
Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; Book IV
Each had his place appointed, each his course;
The rest in circuit walls this universe.
Look downward on that globe, whose hither side
With light from hence, though but reflected, shines;
That place is Earth, the seat of Man; that light
His day, which else, as the other hemisphere,
O , for that warning voice, which he, who saw
The Apocalypse, heard cry in Heaven aloud,
Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,
Night would invade; but there the neighbouring moon Came furious down to be revenged on men,
So call that opposite fair star) her aid Woe to the inhabitants on earth! that now,
Timely interposes, and her monthly round While time was, our first parents had been warned
Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven, The coming of their secret foe, and ‘scaped,
With borrowed light her countenance triform Haply so ‘scaped his mortal snare: For now
Hence fills and empties to enlighten the Earth, Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down,
And in her pale dominion checks the night. The tempter ere the accuser of mankind,
That spot, to which I point, is Paradise, To wreak on innocent frail Man his loss
Adam’s abode; those lofty shades, his bower. Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell:
Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. Yet, not rejoicing in his speed, though bold
Thus said, he turned; and Satan, bowing low, Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,
As to superiour Spirits is wont in Heaven, Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth
Where honour due and reverence none neglects, Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast,
Took leave, and toward the coast of earth beneath, And like a devilish engine back recoils
Down from the ecliptick, sped with hoped success, Upon himself; horrour and doubt distract
Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel; His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir
Nor staid, till on Niphates’ top he lights. The Hell within him; for within him Hell
He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell
One step, no more than from himself, can fly
By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair,
That slumbered; wakes the bitter memory

Of what he was, what is, and what must be Forgetful what from him I still received,
Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue. And understood not that a grateful mind
Sometimes towards Eden, which now in his view By owing owes not, but still pays, at once
Lay pleasant, his grieved look he fixes sad; Indebted and discharged; what burden then
Sometimes towards Heaven, and the full-blazing sun, O, had his powerful destiny ordained
Which now sat high in his meridian tower: Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood
Then, much revolving, thus in sighs began. Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised
O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned, Ambition! Yet why not some other Power
Lookest from thy sole dominion like the God As great might have aspired, and me, though mean,
Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great
Hide their diminished heads; to thee I call, Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within
But with no friendly voice, and add thy name, Or from without, to all temptations armed.
Of Sun! to tell thee how I hate thy beams, Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand?
That bring to my remembrance from what state Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse,
I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere; But Heaven’s free love dealt equally to all?
Till pride and worse ambition threw me down Be then his love accursed, since love or hate,
Warring in Heaven against Heaven’s matchless King: To me alike, it deals eternal woe.
Ah, wherefore! he deserved no such return Nay, cursed be thou; since against his thy will
From me, whom he created what I was Chose freely what it now so justly rues.
In that bright eminence, and with his good Me miserable! which way shall I fly
Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. Infinite wrath, and infinite despair?
What could be less than to afford him praise, Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell;
The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks, And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep
How due! yet all his good proved ill in me, Still threatening to devour me opens wide,
And wrought but malice; lifted up so high To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven.
I sdeined subjection, and thought one step higher O, then, at last relent: Is there no place
Would set me highest, and in a moment quit Left for repentance, none for pardon left?
The debt immense of endless gratitude, None left but by submission; and that word
So burdensome still paying, still to owe, Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame

Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced As Man ere long, and this new world, shall know.
With other promises and other vaunts Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face
Than to submit, boasting I could subdue Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy, and despair;
The Omnipotent. Ay me! they little know Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed
How dearly I abide that boast so vain, Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld.
Under what torments inwardly I groan, For heavenly minds from such distempers foul
While they adore me on the throne of Hell. Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware,
With diadem and scepter high advanced, Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm,
The lower still I fall, only supreme Artificer of fraud; and was the first
In misery: Such joy ambition finds. That practised falsehood under saintly show,
But say I could repent, and could obtain, Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge:
By act of grace, my former state; how soon Yet not enough had practised to deceive
Would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay Uriel once warned; whose eye pursued him down
What feigned submission swore? Ease would recant The way he went, and on the Assyrian mount
Vows made in pain, as violent and void. Saw him disfigured, more than could befall
For never can true reconcilement grow, Spirit of happy sort; his gestures fierce
Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep: He marked and mad demeanour, then alone,
Which would but lead me to a worse relapse As he supposed, all unobserved, unseen.
And heavier fall: so should I purchase dear So on he fares, and to the border comes
Short intermission bought with double smart. Of Eden, where delicious Paradise,
This knows my Punisher; therefore as far Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green,
From granting he, as I from begging, peace; As with a rural mound, the champaign head
All hope excluded thus, behold, in stead Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides
Mankind created, and for him this world. Access denied; and overhead upgrew
So farewell, hope; and with hope farewell, fear; Insuperable height of loftiest shade,
Farewell, remorse! all good to me is lost; Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm,
Evil, be thou my good; by thee at least A sylvan scene, and, as the ranks ascend,
Divided empire with Heaven’s King I hold, Shade above shade, a woody theatre
By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign; Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops

The verdurous wall of Paradise upsprung; Of Tobit’s son, and with a vengeance sent
From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound.
00081429 Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill
Which to our general sire gave prospect large Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow;
Into his nether empire neighbouring round. But further way found none, so thick entwined,
And higher than that wall a circling row As one continued brake, the undergrowth
Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit, Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed
Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue, All path of man or beast that passed that way.
Appeared, with gay enamelled colours mixed: One gate there only was, and that looked east
On which the sun more glad impressed his beams On the other side: which when the arch-felon saw,
Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, Due entrance he disdained; and, in contempt,
When God hath showered the earth; so lovely seemed At one flight bound high over-leaped all bound
That landskip: And of pure now purer air Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within
Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf,
Vernal delight and joy, able to drive Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,
All sadness but despair: Now gentle gales, Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve
Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense In hurdled cotes amid the field secure,
Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole Leaps o’er the fence with ease into the fold:
Those balmy spoils. As when to them who fail Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash
Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors,
Mozambick, off at sea north-east winds blow Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault,
Sabean odours from the spicy shore In at the window climbs, or o’er the tiles:
Of Araby the blest; with such delay So clomb this first grand thief into God’s fold;
Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league So since into his church lewd hirelings climb.
Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles: Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life,
So entertained those odorous sweets the Fiend, The middle tree and highest there that grew,
Who came their bane; though with them better pleased Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life
Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume Thereby regained, but sat devising death
That drove him, though enamoured, from the spouse To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought

Of that life-giving plant, but only used Of porous earth with kindly thirst up-drawn,
For prospect, what well used had been the pledge Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill
Of immortality. So little knows Watered the garden; thence united fell
Any, but God alone, to value right Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood,
The good before him, but perverts best things Which from his darksome passage now appears,
To worst abuse, or to their meanest use. And now, divided into four main streams,
Beneath him with new wonder now he views, Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm
To all delight of human sense exposed, And country, whereof here needs no account;
In narrow room, Nature’s whole wealth, yea more, But rather to tell how, if Art could tell,
A Heaven on Earth: For blissful Paradise How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks,
Of God the garden was, by him in the east Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold,
Of Eden planted; Eden stretched her line With mazy errour under pendant shades
From Auran eastward to the royal towers Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed
Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings, Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art
Of where the sons of Eden long before In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon
Dwelt in Telassar: In this pleasant soil Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain,
His far more pleasant garden God ordained; Both where the morning sun first warmly smote
Out of the fertile ground he caused to grow The open field, and where the unpierced shade
All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste; Imbrowned the noontide bowers: Thus was this place
And all amid them stood the tree of life, A happy rural seat of various view;
High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm,
Of vegetable gold; and next to life, Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind,
Our death, the tree of knowledge, grew fast by, Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true,
Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill. If true, here only, and of delicious taste:
Southward through Eden went a river large, Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks
Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill Grazing the tender herb, were interposed,
Passed underneath ingulfed; for God had thrown Or palmy hillock; or the flowery lap
That mountain as his garden-mould high raised Of some irriguous valley spread her store,
Upon the rapid current, which, through veins Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose:

Another side, umbrageous grots and caves Saw, undelighted, all delight, all kind
Of cool recess, o’er which the mantling vine Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange
Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall,
Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall Godlike erect, with native honour clad
Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake, In naked majesty seemed lords of all:
That to the fringed bank with myrtle crowned And worthy seemed; for in their looks divine
Her crystal mirrour holds, unite their streams. The image of their glorious Maker shone,
The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs, Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure,
Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune (Severe, but in true filial freedom placed,)
The trembling leaves, while universal Pan, Whence true authority in men; though both
Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance, Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed;
Led on the eternal Spring. Not that fair field For contemplation he and valour formed;
Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers, For softness she and sweet attractive grace;
Herself a fairer flower by gloomy Dis He for God only, she for God in him:
Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain His fair large front and eye sublime declared
To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks
Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspired Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Castalian spring, might with this Paradise Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad:
Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle She, as a veil, down to the slender waist
Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, Her unadorned golden tresses wore
Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove, Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved
Hid Amalthea, and her florid son As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied
Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea’s eye; Subjection, but required with gentle sway,
Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard, And by her yielded, by him best received,
Mount Amara, though this by some supposed Yielded with coy submission, modest pride,
True Paradise under the Ethiop line And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay.
By Nilus’ head, enclosed with shining rock, Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed;
A whole day’s journey high, but wide remote Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame
From this Assyrian garden, where the Fiend Of nature’s works, honour dishonourable,

Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards,
With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure, Gambolled before them; the unwieldy elephant,
And banished from man’s life his happiest life, To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed
Simplicity and spotless innocence! His?kithetmroboscis; close the serpent sly,
So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine
Of God or Angel; for they thought no ill: His braided train, and of his fatal guile
So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair, Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass
That ever since in love’s embraces met; Couched, and now filled with pasture gazing sat,
Adam the goodliest man of men since born Or bedward ruminating; for the sun,
His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. Declined, was hasting now with prone career
Under a tuft of shade that on a green To the ocean isles, and in the ascending scale
Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose:
They sat them down; and, after no more toil When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood,
Of their sweet gardening labour than sufficed Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered sad.
To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold!
More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite Into our room of bliss thus high advanced
More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell, Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps,
Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright
Yielded them, side-long as they sat recline Little inferiour; whom my thoughts pursue
On the soft downy bank damasked with flowers: With wonder, and could love, so lively shines
The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind, In them divine resemblance, and such grace
Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream; The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured.
Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles Ah! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh
Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems Your change approaches, when all these delights
Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league, Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe;
Alone as they. About them frisking played More woe, the more your taste is now of joy;
All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase Happy, but for so happy ill secured
In wood or wilderness, forest or den; Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven
Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw Ill fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe

As now is entered; yet no purposed foe A lion now he stalks with fiery glare;
To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied
Though I unpitied: League with you I seek, In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play,
And mutual amity, so strait, so close, Straight couches close, then, rising, changes oft
That I with you must dwell, or you with me His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground,
Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please, Whence rushing, he might surest seize them both,
Like this fair Paradise, your sense; yet such Griped in each paw: when, Adam first of men
Accept your Maker’s work; he gave it me, To first of women Eve thus moving speech,
Which I as freely give: Hell shall unfold, Turned him, all ear to hear new utterance flow.
To entertain you two, her widest gates, Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys,
And send forth all her kings; there will be room, Dearer thyself than all; needs must the Power
Not like these narrow limits, to receive That made us, and for us this ample world,
Your numerous offspring; if no better place, Be infinitely good, and of his good
Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge As liberal and free as infinite;
On you who wrong me not for him who wronged. That raised us from the dust, and placed us here
And should I at your harmless innocence In all this happiness, who at his hand
Melt, as I do, yet publick reason just, Have nothing merited, nor can perform
Honour and empire with revenge enlarged, Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires
By conquering this new world, compels me now From us no other service than to keep
To do what else, though damned, I should abhor. This one, this easy charge, of all the trees
So spake the Fiend, and with necessity, In Paradise that bear delicious fruit
The tyrant’s plea, excused his devilish deeds. So various, not to taste that only tree
Then from his lofty stand on that high tree Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life;
Down he alights among the sportful herd So near grows death to life, whate’er death is,
Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowest
Now other, as their shape served best his end God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree,
Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied, The only sign of our obedience left,
To mark what of their state he more might learn, Among so many signs of power and rule
By word or action marked. About them round Conferred upon us, and dominion given

Over all other creatures that possess As I bent down to look, just opposite
Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard A shape within the watery gleam appeared,
One easy prohibition, who enjoy Bending to look on me: I started back,
Free leave so large to all things else, and choice It started back; but pleased I soon returned,
Unlimited of manifold delights: Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks
But let us ever praise him, and extol Of sympathy and love: There I had fixed
His bounty, following our delightful task, Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire,
To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers, Had not a voice thus warned me; ‘What thou seest,
Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet. ‘What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself;
To whom thus Eve replied. O thou for whom ‘With thee it came and goes: but follow me,
And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh, ‘And I will bring thee where no shadow stays
And without whom am to no end, my guide ‘Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he
And head! what thou hast said is just and right. ‘Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy
For we to him indeed all praises owe, ‘Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear
And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy ‘Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called
So far the happier lot, enjoying thee ‘Mother of human race.’ What could I do,
Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou But follow straight, invisibly thus led?
Like consort to thyself canst no where find. Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall,
That day I oft remember, when from sleep Under a platane; yet methought less fair,
I first awaked, and found myself reposed Less winning soft, less amiably mild,
Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where Than that smooth watery image: Back I turned;
And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. Thou following cryedst aloud, ‘Return, fair Eve;
Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound ‘Whom flyest thou? whom thou flyest, of him thou art,
Of waters issued from a cave, and spread ‘His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent
Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved ‘Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart,
Pure as the expanse of Heaven; I thither went ‘Substantial life, to have thee by my side
With unexperienced thought, and laid me down ‘Henceforth an individual solace dear;
On the green bank, to look into the clear ‘Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim
Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky. ‘My other half:’ With that thy gentle hand

Seised mine: I yielded;and from that time see Can it be death? And do they only stand
How beauty is excelled by manly grace, By ignorance? Is that their happy state,
And wisdom, which alone is truly fair. The proof of their obedience and their faith?
So spake our general mother, and with eyes O fair foundation laid whereon to build
Of conjugal attraction unreproved, Their ruin! hence I will excite their minds
And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned With more desire to know, and to reject
On our first father; half her swelling breast Envious commands, invented with design
Naked met his, under the flowing gold To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt
Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight Equal with Gods: aspiring to be such,
Both of her beauty, and submissive charms, They taste and die: What likelier can ensue
Smiled with superiour love, as Jupiter But first with narrow search I must walk round
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds This garden, and no corner leave unspied;
That shed Mayflowers; and pressed her matron lip A chance but chance may lead where I may meet
With kisses pure: Aside the Devil turned Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain side,
For envy; yet with jealous leer malign Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw
Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained. What further would be learned. Live while ye may,
Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two, Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,
Imparadised in one another’s arms, Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed!
The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill So saying, his proud step he scornful turned,
Of bliss on bliss; while I to Hell am thrust, But with sly circumspection, and began
Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire, Through wood, through waste, o’er hill, o’er dale, his roam
Among our other torments not the least, Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heaven
Still unfulfilled with pain of longing pines. With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun
Yet let me not forget what I have gained Slowly descended, and with right aspect
From their own mouths: All is not theirs, it seems; Against the eastern gate of Paradise
One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge called, Levelled his evening rays: It was a rock
Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidden Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds,
Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent
Envy them that? Can it be sin to know? Accessible from earth, one entrance high;

The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung To whom the winged warriour thus returned.
Still as it rose, impossible to climb. Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight,
Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, Amid the sun’s bright circle where thou sitst,
Chief of the angelick guards, awaiting night; See far and wide: In at this gate none pass
About him exercised heroick games The vigilance here placed, but such as come
The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour
Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears, No creature thence: If Spirit of other sort,
Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold. So minded, have o’er-leaped these earthly bounds
Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even On purpose, hard thou knowest it to exclude
On a sun-beam, swift as a shooting star Spiritual substance with corporeal bar.
In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fired But if within the circuit of these walks,
Impress the air, and shows the mariner In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom
From what point of his compass to beware Thou tellest, by morrow dawning I shall know.
Impetuous winds: He thus began in haste. So promised he; and Uriel to his charge
Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given Returned on that bright beam, whose point now raised
Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place Bore him slope downward to the sun now fallen
No evil thing approach or enter in. Beneath the Azores; whether the prime orb,
This day at highth of noon came to my sphere Incredible how swift, had thither rolled
A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know Diurnal, or this less volubil earth,
More of the Almighty’s works, and chiefly Man, By shorter flight to the east, had left him there
God’s latest image: I described his way Arraying with reflected purple and gold
Bent all on speed, and marked his aery gait; The clouds that on his western throne attend.
But in the mount that lies from Eden north, Now came still Evening on, and Twilight gray
Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks Had in her sober livery all things clad;
Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured: Silence accompanied; for beast and bird,
Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade They to their grassy couch, these to their nests
Lost sight of him: One of the banished crew, Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale;
I fear, hath ventured from the deep, to raise She all night long her amorous descant sung;
New troubles; him thy care must be to find. Silence was pleased: Now glowed the firmament

With living sapphires: Hesperus, that led To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorned
The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon, My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst
Rising in clouded majesty, at length Unargued I obey: So God ordains;
Apparent queen unveiled her peerless light, God is thy law, thou mine: To know no more
And o’er the dark her silver mantle threw. Is woman’s happiest knowledge, and her praise.
When Adam thus to Eve. Fair Consort, the hour With thee conversing I forget all time;
Of night, and all things now retired to rest, All seasons, and their change, all please alike.
Mind us of like repose; since God hath set Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet,
Labour and rest, as day and night, to men With charm of earliest birds: pleasant the sun,
Successive; and the timely dew of sleep, When first on this delightful land he spreads
Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,
Our eye-lids: Other creatures all day long Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth
Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest; After soft showers; and sweet the coming on
Man hath his daily work of body or mind Of grateful Evening mild; then silent Night,
Appointed, which declares his dignity, With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon,
And the regard of Heaven on all his ways; And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train:
While other animals unactive range, But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends
And of their doings God takes no account. With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun
To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower,
With first approach of light, we must be risen, Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers;
And at our pleasant labour, to reform Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night,
Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green, With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon,
Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, Or glittering star-light, without thee is sweet.
That mock our scant manuring, and require But wherefore all night long shine these? for whom
More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth: This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?
Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, To whom our general ancestor replied.
That lie bestrown, unsightly and unsmooth, Daughter of God and Man, accomplished Eve,
Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease; These have their course to finish round the earth,
Mean while, as Nature wills, night bids us rest. By morrow evening, and from land to land

In order, though to nations yet unborn, All things to Man’s delightful use; the roof
Ministring light prepared, they set and rise; Of thickest covert was inwoven shade
Lest total Darkness should by night regain Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew
Her old possession, and extinguish life Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side
In Nature and all things; which these soft fires Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub,
Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower,
Of various influence foment and warm, Iris all hues, roses, and jessamin,
Temper or nourish, or in part shed down Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought
Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow Mosaick; underfoot the violet,
On earth, made hereby apter to receive Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay
Perfection from the sun’s more potent ray. Broidered the ground, more coloured than with stone
These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, Of costliest emblem: Other creature here,
Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none, Bird, beast, insect, or worm, durst enter none,
That Heaven would want spectators, God want praise: Such was their awe of Man. In shadier bower
Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned,
Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep: Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph
All these with ceaseless praise his works behold Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess,
Both day and night: How often from the steep With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs,
Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed;
Celestial voices to the midnight air, And heavenly quires the hymenaean sung,
Sole, or responsive each to others note, What day the genial Angel to our sire
Singing their great Creator? oft in bands Brought her in naked beauty more adorned,
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, More lovely, than Pandora, whom the Gods
With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds Endowed with all their gifts, and O! too like
In full harmonick number joined, their songs In sad event, when to the unwiser son
Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnared
Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged
On to their blissful bower: it was a place On him who had stole Jove’s authentick fire.
Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed Thus, at their shady lodge arrived, both stood,

Both turned, and under open sky adored Hail, wedded Love, mysterious law, true source
The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven, Of human offspring, sole propriety
Which they beheld, the moon’s resplendent globe, In Paradise of all things common else!
And starry pole: Thou also madest the night, By thee adulterous Lust was driven from men
Maker Omnipotent, and thou the day, Among the bestial herds to range; by thee
Which we, in our appointed work employed, Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,
Have finished, happy in our mutual help Relations dear, and all the charities
And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss Of father, son, and brother, first were known.
Ordained by thee; and this delicious place Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame,
For us too large, where thy abundance wants Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,
Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. Perpetual fountain of domestick sweets,
But thou hast promised from us two a race Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced,
To fill the earth, who shall with us extol Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used.
Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights
And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep. His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
This said unanimous, and other rites Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile
Observing none, but adoration pure Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared,
Which God likes best, into their inmost bower Casual fruition; nor in court-amours,
Handed they went; and, eased the putting off Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
These troublesome disguises which we wear, Or serenate, which the starved lover sings
Straight side by side were laid; nor turned, I ween, To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.
Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept,
Mysterious of connubial love refused: And on their naked limbs the flowery roof
Whatever hypocrites austerely talk Showered roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on,
Of purity, and place, and innocence, Blest pair; and O!yet happiest, if ye seek
Defaming as impure what God declares No happier state, and know to know no more.
Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all. Now had night measured with her shadowy cone
Our Maker bids encrease; who bids abstain Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault,
But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man? And from their ivory port the Cherubim,

Forth issuing at the accustomed hour, stood armed Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,
To their night watches in warlike parade; Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride.
When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake. Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south Touched lightly; for no falshood can endure
With strictest watch; these other wheel the north; Touch of celestial temper, but returns
Our circuit meets full west. As flame they part, Of force to its own likeness: Up he starts
Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. Discovered and surprised. As when a spark
From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he called Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge. Fit for the tun some magazine to store
Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed Against a rumoured war, the smutty grain,
Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook; With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air;
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, So started up in his own shape the Fiend.
Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm. Back stept those two fair Angels, half amazed
This evening from the sun’s decline arrived, So sudden to behold the grisly king;
Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon.
Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to Hell
The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt: Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and, transformed,
Such, where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring. Why sat’st thou like an enemy in wait,
So saying, on he led his radiant files, Here watching at the head of these that sleep?
Dazzling the moon; these to the bower direct Know ye not then said Satan, filled with scorn,
In search of whom they sought: Him there they found Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar:
Assaying by his devilish art to reach Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,
The organs of her fancy, and with them forge The lowest of your throng; or, if ye know,
Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams; Why ask ye, and superfluous begin
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint Your message, like to end as much in vain?
The animal spirits, that from pure blood arise To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn.
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same,
At least distempered, discontented thoughts, Or undiminished brightness to be known,

As when thou stoodest in Heaven upright and pure; O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet
That glory then, when thou no more wast good, Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern
Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade;
Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul. And with them comes a third of regal port,
But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account But faded splendour wan; who by his gait
To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell,
This place inviolable, and these from harm. Not likely to part hence without contest;
So spake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke, Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace He scarce had ended, when those two approached,
Invincible: Abashed the Devil stood, And brief related whom they brought, where found,
And felt how awful goodness is, and saw How busied, in what form and posture couched.
Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake.
His loss; but chiefly to find here observed Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed
His lustre visibly impaired; yet seemed To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge
Undaunted. If I must contend, said he, Of others, who approve not to transgress
Best with the best, the sender, not the sent, By thy example, but have power and right
Or all at once; more glory will be won, To question thy bold entrance on this place;
Or less be lost. Thy fear, said Zephon bold, Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those
Will save us trial what the least can do Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss!
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak. To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow.
The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage; Gabriel? thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise,
But, like a proud steed reined, went haughty on, And such I held thee; but this question asked
Champing his iron curb: To strive or fly Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain!
He held it vain; awe from above had quelled Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,
His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh Though thither doomed! Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt
The western point, where those half-rounding guards And boldly venture to whatever place
Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined, Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change
A waiting next command. To whom their Chief, Torment with ease, and soonest recompense
Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud. Dole with delight, which in this place I sought;

To thee no reason, who knowest only good, Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain,
But evil hast not tried: and wilt object Insulting Angel! well thou knowest I stood
His will who bounds us! Let him surer bar Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid
His iron gates, if he intends our stay The blasting vollied thunder made all speed,
In that dark durance: Thus much what was asked. And seconded thy else not dreaded spear.
The rest is true, they found me where they say; But still thy words at random, as before,
But that implies not violence or harm. Argue thy inexperience what behoves
Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved, From hard assays and ill successes past
Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied. A faithful leader, not to hazard all
O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise Through ways of danger by himself untried:
Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew, I, therefore, I alone first undertook
And now returns him from his prison ‘scaped, To wing the desolate abyss, and spy
Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise This new created world, whereof in Hell
Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither Fame is not silent, here in hope to find
Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed; Better abode, and my afflicted Powers
So wise he judges it to fly from pain To settle here on earth, or in mid air;
However, and to ‘scape his punishment! Though for possession put to try once more
So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath, What thou and thy gay legions dare against;
Which thou incurrest by flying, meet thy flight Whose easier business were to serve their Lord
Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne,
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain And practised distances to cringe, not fight,
Can equal anger infinite provoked. To whom the warriour Angel soon replied.
But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee To say and straight unsay, pretending first
Came not all hell broke loose? or thou than they Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy,
Less hardy to endure? Courageous Chief! Argues no leader but a liear traced,
The first in flight from pain! hadst thou alleged Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name,
To thy deserted host this cause of flight, O sacred name of faithfulness profaned!
Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?
To which the Fiend thus answered, frowning stern. Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head.

Was this your discipline and faith engaged, Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands,
Your military obedience, to dissolve Left on the threshing floor his hopeless sheaves
Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme? Prove chaff. On the other side, Satan, alarmed,
And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem Collecting all his might, dilated stood,
Patron of liberty, who more than thou Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved:
Once fawned, and cringed, and servily adored His stature reached the sky, and on his crest
Heaven’s awful Monarch? wherefore, but in hope Sat Horrour plumed; nor wanted in his grasp
To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? What seemed both spear and shield: Now dreadful deeds
But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant; Might have ensued, nor only Paradise
Fly neither whence thou fledst! If from this hour In this commotion, but the starry cope
Within these hallowed limits thou appear, Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements
Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained, At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn
And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn With violence of this conflict, had not soon
The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred. The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray,
So threatened he; but Satan to no threats Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen
Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied. Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign,
Then when I am thy captive talk of chains, Wherein all things created first he weighed,
Proud limitary Cherub! but ere then The pendulous round earth with balanced air
Far heavier load thyself expect to feel In counterpoise, now ponders all events,
From my prevailing arm, though Heaven’s King Battles and realms: In these he put two weights,
Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers, The sequel each of parting and of fight:
Us’d to the yoke, drawest his triumphant wheels The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam,
In progress through the road of Heaven star-paved. Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend.
While thus he spake, the angelick squadron bright Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowest mine;
Turned fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns Neither our own, but given: What folly then
Their phalanx, and began to hem him round To boast what arms can do? since thine no more
With ported spears, as thick as when a field Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now
Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends To trample thee as mire: For proof look up,
Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind And read thy lot in yon celestial sign;

Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak,
If thou resist. The Fiend looked up, and knew Book V
His mounted scale aloft: Nor more;but fled
Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.
N ow Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime

Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl,
When Adam waked, so customed; for his sleep
Was aery-light, from pure digestion bred,
And temperate vapours bland, which the only sound
Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora’s fan,
Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song
Of birds on every bough; so much the more
His wonder was to find unwakened Eve
With tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek,
As through unquiet rest: He, on his side
Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial love
Hung over her enamoured, and beheld
Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep,
Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice
Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes,
Her hand soft touching, whispered thus. Awake,
My fairest, my espoused, my latest found,
Heaven’s last best gift, my ever new delight!
Awake: The morning shines, and the fresh field
Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring
Our tender plants, how blows the citron grove,
What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed,
How nature paints her colours, how the bee

Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet. And, as I wondering looked, beside it stood
Such whispering waked her, but with startled eye One shaped and winged like one of those from Heaven
On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spake. By us oft seen; his dewy locks distilled
O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, Ambrosia; on that tree he also gazed;
My glory, my perfection! glad I see And ‘O fair plant,’ said he, ‘with fruit surcharged,
Thy face, and morn returned; for I this night ‘Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet,
(Such night till this I never passed) have dreamed, ‘Nor God, nor Man? Is knowledge so despised?
If dreamed, not, as I oft am wont, of thee, ‘Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste?
Works of day past, or morrow’s next design, ‘Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold
But of offence and trouble, which my mind ‘Longer thy offered good; why else set here?
Knew never till this irksome night: Methought, This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm
Close at mine ear one called me forth to walk He plucked, he tasted; me damp horrour chilled
With gentle voice; I thought it thine: It said, At such bold words vouched with a deed so bold:
‘Why sleepest thou, Eve? now is the pleasant time, But he thus, overjoyed; ‘O fruit divine,
‘The cool, the silent, save where silence yields ‘Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt,
‘To the night-warbling bird, that now awake ‘Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit
‘Tunes sweetest his love-laboured song; now reigns ‘For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men:
‘Full-orbed the moon, and with more pleasing light ‘And why not Gods of Men; since good, the more
‘Shadowy sets off the face of things; in vain, ‘Communicated, more abundant grows,
‘If none regard; Heaven wakes with all his eyes, ‘The author not impaired, but honoured more?
‘Whom to behold but thee, Nature’s desire? ‘Here, happy creature, fair angelick Eve!
‘In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment ‘Partake thou also; happy though thou art,
‘Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.’ ‘Happier thou mayest be, worthier canst not be:
I rose as at thy call, but found thee not; ‘Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods
To find thee I directed then my walk; ‘Thyself a Goddess, not to earth confined,
And on, methought, alone I passed through ways ‘But sometimes in the air, as we, sometimes
That brought me on a sudden to the tree ‘Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see
Of interdicted knowledge: fair it seemed, ‘What life the Gods live there, and such live thou!’
Much fairer to my fancy than by day: So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held,

Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams;
Which he had plucked; the pleasant savoury smell Ill matching words and deeds long past or late.
So quickened appetite, that I, methought, Some such resemblances, methinks, I find
Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds Of our last evening’s talk, in this thy dream,
With him I flew, and underneath beheld But with addition strange; yet be not sad.
The earth outstretched immense, a prospect wide Evil into the mind of God or Man
And various: Wondering at my flight and change May come and go, so unreproved, and leave
To this high exaltation; suddenly No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope
My guide was gone, and I, methought, sunk down, That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream,
And fell asleep; but O, how glad I waked Waking thou never will consent to do.
To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her night Be not disheartened then, nor cloud those looks,
Related, and thus Adam answered sad. That wont to be more cheerful and serene,
Best image of myself, and dearer half, Than when fair morning first smiles on the world;
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep And let us to our fresh employments rise
Affects me equally; nor can I like Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers
This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear; That open now their choisest bosomed smells,
Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none, Reserved from night, and kept for thee in store.
Created pure. But know that in the soul So cheered he his fair spouse, and she was cheered;
Are many lesser faculties, that serve But silently a gentle tear let fall
Reason as chief; among these Fancy next From either eye, and wiped them with her hair;
Her office holds; of all external things Two other precious drops that ready stood,
Which the five watchful senses represent, Each in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell
She forms imaginations, aery shapes, Kissed, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse
Which Reason, joining or disjoining, frames And pious awe, that feared to have offended.
All what we affirm or what deny, and call So all was cleared, and to the field they haste.
Our knowledge or opinion; then retires But first, from under shady arborous roof
Into her private cell, when nature rests. Soon as they forth were come to open sight
Oft in her absence mimick Fancy wakes Of day-spring, and the sun, who, scarce up-risen,
To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes, With wheels yet hovering o’er the ocean-brim,

Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray, While day arises, that sweet hour of prime.
Discovering in wide landskip all the east Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and soul,
Of Paradise and Eden’s happy plains, Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise
Lowly they bowed adoring, and began In thy eternal course, both when thou climbest,
Their orisons, each morning duly paid And when high noon hast gained, and when thou fallest.
In various style; for neither various style Moon, that now meetest the orient sun, now flyest,
Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise With the fixed Stars, fixed in their orb that flies;
Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung And ye five other wandering Fires, that move
Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence In mystick dance not without song, resound
Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous verse, His praise, who out of darkness called up light.
More tuneable than needed lute or harp Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth
To add more sweetness; and they thus began. Of Nature’s womb, that in quaternion run
These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Perpetual circle, multiform; and mix
Almighty! Thine this universal frame, And nourish all things; let your ceaseless change
Thus wonderous fair; Thyself how wonderous then! Vary to our great Maker still new praise.
Unspeakable, who sitst above these heavens Ye Mists and Exhalations, that now rise
To us invisible, or dimly seen From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray,
In these thy lowest works; yet these declare Till the sun paint your fleecy skirts with gold,
Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine. In honour to the world’s great Author rise;
Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light, Whether to deck with clouds the uncoloured sky,
Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers,
And choral symphonies, day without night, Rising or falling still advance his praise.
Circle his throne rejoicing; ye in Heaven His praise, ye Winds, that from four quarters blow,
On Earth join all ye Creatures to extol Breathe soft or loud; and, wave your tops, ye Pines,
Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. With every plant, in sign of worship wave.
Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, Fountains, and ye that warble, as ye flow,
If better thou belong not to the dawn, Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
Sure pledge of day, that crownest the smiling morn Join voices, all ye living Souls: Ye Birds,
With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere, That singing up to Heaven-gate ascend,

Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise. In them at once to ruin all mankind.
Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend
The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep; Converse with Adam, in what bower or shade
Witness if I be silent, morn or even, Thou findest him from the heat of noon retired,
To hill, or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, To respite his day-labour with repast,
Made vocal by my song, and taught his praise. Or with repose; and such discourse bring on,
Hail, universal Lord, be bounteous still As may advise him of his happy state,
To give us only good; and if the night Happiness in his power left free to will,
Have gathered aught of evil, or concealed, Left to his own free will, his will though free,
Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark! Yet mutable; whence warn him to beware
So prayed they innocent, and to their thoughts He swerve not, too secure: Tell him withal
Firm peace recovered soon, and wonted calm. His danger, and from whom; what enemy,
On to their morning’s rural work they haste, Late fallen himself from Heaven, is plotting now
Among sweet dews and flowers; where any row The fall of others from like state of bliss;
Of fruit-trees over-woody reached too far By violence? no, for that shall be withstood;
Their pampered boughs, and needed hands to check But by deceit and lies: This let him know,
Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend
To wed her elm; she, spoused, about him twines Surprisal, unadmonished, unforewarned.
Her marriageable arms, and with him brings So spake the Eternal Father, and fulfilled
Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn All justice: Nor delayed the winged Saint
His barren leaves. Them thus employed beheld After his charge received; but from among
With pity Heaven’s high King, and to him called Thousand celestial Ardours, where he stood
Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deigned Veiled with his gorgeous wings, up springing light,
To travel with Tobias, and secured Flew through the midst of Heaven; the angelick quires,
His marriage with the seventimes-wedded maid. On each hand parting, to his speed gave way
Raphael, said he, thou hearest what stir on Earth Through all the empyreal road; till, at the gate
Satan, from Hell ‘scaped through the darksome gulf, Of Heaven arrived, the gate self-opened wide
Hath raised in Paradise; and how disturbed On golden hinges turning, as by work
This night the human pair; how he designs Divine the sovran Architect had framed.

From hence no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight, And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance filled
Star interposed, however small he sees, The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands
Not unconformed to other shining globes, Of Angels under watch; and to his state,
Earth, and the garden of God, with cedars crowned And to his message high, in honour rise;
Above all hills. As when by night the glass For on some message high they guessed him bound.
Of Galileo, less assured, observes Their glittering tents he passed, and now is come
Imagined lands and regions in the moon: Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh,
Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades And flowering odours, cassia, nard, and balm;
Delos or Samos first appearing, kens A wilderness of sweets; for Nature here
A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will
He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky Her virgin fancies pouring forth more sweet,
Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady wing Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss.
Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan Him through the spicy forest onward come
Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar Adam discerned, as in the door he sat
Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems Of his cool bower, while now the mounted sun
A phoenix, gazed by all as that sole bird, Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm
When, to enshrine his reliques in the Sun’s Earth’s inmost womb, more warmth than Adam needs:
Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies. And Eve within, due at her hour prepared
At once on the eastern cliff of Paradise For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please
He lights, and to his proper shape returns True appetite, and not disrelish thirst
A Seraph winged: Six wings he wore, to shade Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream,
His lineaments divine; the pair that clad Berry or grape: To whom thus Adam called.
Each shoulder broad, came mantling o’er his breast Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold
With regal ornament; the middle pair Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape
Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round Comes this way moving; seems another morn
Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold Risen on mid-noon; some great behest from Heaven
And colours dipt in Heaven; the third his feet To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe
Shadowed from either heel with feathered mail, This day to be our guest. But go with speed,
Sky-tinctured grain. Like Maia’s son he stood, And, what thy stores contain, bring forth, and pour

Abundance, fit to honour and receive Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the grape
Our heavenly stranger: Well we may afford She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths
Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow From many a berry, and from sweet kernels pressed
From large bestowed, where Nature multiplies She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold
Her fertile growth, and by disburthening grows Wants her fit vessels pure; then strows the ground
More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare. With rose and odours from the shrub unfumed.
To whom thus Eve. Adam, earth’s hallowed mould, Mean while our primitive great sire, to meet
Of God inspired! small store will serve, where store, His God-like guest, walks forth, without more train
All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk; Accompanied than with his own complete
Save what by frugal storing firmness gains Perfections; in himself was all his state,
To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes: More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits
But I will haste, and from each bough and brake, On princes, when their rich retinue long
Each plant and juciest gourd, will pluck such choice Of horses led, and grooms besmeared with gold,
To entertain our Angel-guest, as he Dazzles the croud, and sets them all agape.
Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth Nearer his presence Adam, though not awed,
God hath dispensed his bounties as in Heaven. Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek,
So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste As to a superiour nature bowing low,
She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent Thus said. Native of Heaven, for other place
What choice to choose for delicacy best, None can than Heaven such glorious shape contain;
What order, so contrived as not to mix Since, by descending from the thrones above,
Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring Those happy places thou hast deigned a while
Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change; To want, and honour these, vouchsafe with us
Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess
Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower
In India East or West, or middle shore To rest; and what the garden choicest bears
In Pontus or the Punick coast, or where To sit and taste, till this meridian heat
Alcinous reigned, fruit of all kinds, in coat Be over, and the sun more cool decline.
Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell, Whom thus the angelick Virtue answered mild.
She gathers, tribute large, and on the board Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou such

Created, or such place hast here to dwell, To spiritual natures; only this I know,
As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heaven, That one celestial Father gives to all.
To visit thee; lead on then where thy bower To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives
O’ershades; for these mid-hours, till evening rise, (Whose praise be ever sung) to Man in part
I have at will. So to the sylvan lodge Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found
They came, that like Pomona’s arbour smiled, No ingrateful food: And food alike those pure
With flowerets decked, and fragrant smells; but Eve, Intelligential substances require,
Undecked save with herself, more lovely fair As doth your rational; and both contain
Than Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feigned Within them every lower faculty
Of three that in mount Ida naked strove, Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste,
Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate,
She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm And corporeal to incorporeal turn.
Altered her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail For know, whatever was created, needs
Bestowed, the holy salutation used To be sustained and fed: Of elements
Long after to blest Mary, second Eve. The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea,
Hail, Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb Earth and the sea feed air, the air those fires
Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons, Ethereal, and as lowest first the moon;
Than with these various fruits the trees of God Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurged
Have heaped this table!—Raised of grassy turf Vapours not yet into her substance turned.
Their table was, and mossy seats had round, Nor doth the moon no nourishment exhale
And on her ample square from side to side From her moist continent to higher orbs.
All autumn piled, though spring and autumn here The sun that light imparts to all, receives
Danced hand in hand. A while discourse they hold; From all his alimental recompence
No fear lest dinner cool; when thus began In humid exhalations, and at even
Our author. Heavenly stranger, please to taste Sups with the ocean. Though in Heaven the trees
These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines
All perfect good, unmeasured out, descends, Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each morn
To us for food and for delight hath caused We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground
The earth to yield; unsavoury food perhaps Covered with pearly grain: Yet God hath here

Varied his bounty so with new delights, Thus to the empyreal minister he framed.
As may compare with Heaven; and to taste Inhabitant with God, now know I well
Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat, Thy favour, in this honour done to Man;
And to their viands fell; nor seemingly Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsafed
The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,
Of Theologians; but with keen dispatch Food not of Angels, yet accepted so,
Of real hunger, and concoctive heat As that more willingly thou couldst not seem
To transubstantiate: What redounds, transpires At Heaven’s high feasts to have fed: yet what compare
Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder;if by fire To whom the winged Hierarch replied.
Of sooty coal the empirick alchemist O Adam, One Almighty is, from whom
Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, All things proceed, and up to him return,
Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold, If not depraved from good, created all
As from the mine. Mean while at table Eve Such to perfection, one first matter all,
Ministered naked, and their flowing cups Endued with various forms, various degrees
With pleasant liquours crowned: O innocence Of substance, and, in things that live, of life;
Deserving Paradise! if ever, then, But more refined, more spiritous, and pure,
Then had the sons of God excuse to have been As nearer to him placed, or nearer tending
Enamoured at that sight; but in those hearts Each in their several active spheres assigned,
Love unlibidinous reigned, nor jealousy Till body up to spirit work, in bounds
Was understood, the injured lover’s hell. Proportioned to each kind. So from the root
Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficed, Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves
Not burdened nature, sudden mind arose More aery, last the bright consummate flower
In Adam, not to let the occasion pass Spirits odorous breathes: flowers and their fruit,
Given him by this great conference to know Man’s nourishment, by gradual scale sublimed,
Of things above his world, and of their being To vital spirits aspire, to animal,
Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw To intellectual; give both life and sense,
Transcend his own so far; whose radiant forms, Fancy and understanding; whence the soul
Divine effulgence, whose high power, so far Reason receives, and reason is her being,
Exceeded human; and his wary speech Discursive, or intuitive; discourse

Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, Human desires can seek or apprehend?
Differing but in degree, of kind the same. To whom the Angel. Son of Heaven and Earth,
Wonder not then, what God for you saw good Attend! That thou art happy, owe to God;
If I refuse not, but convert, as you That thou continuest such, owe to thyself,
To proper substance. Time may come, when Men That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.
With Angels may participate, and find This was that caution given thee; be advised.
No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare; God made thee perfect, not immutable;
And from these corporal nutriments perhaps And good he made thee, but to persevere
Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit, He left it in thy power; ordained thy will
Improved by tract of time, and, winged, ascend By nature free, not over-ruled by fate
Ethereal, as we; or may, at choice, Inextricable, or strict necessity:
Here or in heavenly Paradises dwell; Our voluntary service he requires,
If ye be found obedient, and retain Not our necessitated; such with him
Unalterably firm his love entire, Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how
Whose progeny you are. Mean while enjoy Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve
Your fill what happiness this happy state Willing or no, who will but what they must
Can comprehend, incapable of more. By destiny, and can no other choose?
To whom the patriarch of mankind replied. Myself, and all the angelick host, that stand
O favourable Spirit, propitious guest, In sight of God, enthroned, our happy state
Well hast thou taught the way that might direct Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;
Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set On other surety none: Freely we serve,
From center to circumference; whereon, Because we freely love, as in our will
In contemplation of created things, To love or not; in this we stand or fall:
By steps we may ascend to God. But say, And some are fallen, to disobedience fallen,
What meant that caution joined, If ye be found And so from Heaven to deepest Hell; O fall
Obedient? Can we want obedience then From what high state of bliss, into what woe!
To him, or possibly his love desert, To whom our great progenitor. Thy words
Who formed us from the dust and placed us here Attentive, and with more delighted ear,
Full to the utmost measure of what bliss Divine instructer, I have heard, than when

Cherubick songs by night from neighbouring hills Each to other like, more than on earth is thought?
Aereal musick send: Nor knew I not As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild
To be both will and deed created free; Reigned where these Heavens now roll, where Earth now
Yet that we never shall forget to love rests
Our Maker, and obey him whose command Upon her center poised; when on a day
Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts (For time, though in eternity, applied
Assured me, and still assure: Though what thou tellest To motion, measures all things durable
Hath passed in Heaven, some doubt within me move, By present, past, and future,) on such day
But more desire to hear, if thou consent, As Heaven’s great year brings forth, the empyreal host
The full relation, which must needs be strange, Of Angels by imperial summons called,
Worthy of sacred silence to be heard; Innumerable before the Almighty’s throne
And we have yet large day, for scarce the sun Forthwith, from all the ends of Heaven, appeared
Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins Under their Hierarchs in orders bright:
His other half in the great zone of Heaven. Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced,
Thus Adam made request; and Raphael, Standards and gonfalons ‘twixt van and rear
After short pause assenting, thus began. Stream in the air, and for distinction serve
High matter thou enjoinest me, O prime of men, Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees;
Sad task and hard: For how shall I relate Or in their glittering tissues bear imblazed
To human sense the invisible exploits Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love
Of warring Spirits? how, without remorse, Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs
The ruin of so many glorious once Of circuit inexpressible they stood,
And perfect while they stood? how last unfold Orb within orb, the Father Infinite,
The secrets of another world, perhaps By whom in bliss imbosomed sat the Son,
Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top
This is dispensed; and what surmounts the reach Brightness had made invisible, thus spake.
Of human sense, I shall delineate so, Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light,
By likening spiritual to corporal forms, Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers;
As may express them best; though what if Earth Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand.
Be but a shadow of Heaven, and things therein This day I have begot whom I declare

My only Son, and on this holy hill With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows
Him have anointed, whom ye now behold In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold,
At my right hand; your head I him appoint; Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven.
And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow On flowers reposed, and with fresh flowerets crowned,
All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord: They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet
Under his great vice-gerent reign abide Quaff immortality and joy, secure
United, as one individual soul, Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds
For ever happy: Him who disobeys, Excess, before the all-bounteous King, who showered
Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day, With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy.
Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhaled
Into utter darkness, deep ingulfed, his place From that high mount of God, whence light and shade
Ordained without redemption, without end. Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had changed
So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there
All seemed well pleased; all seemed, but were not all. In darker veil,) and roseat dews disposed
That day, as other solemn days, they spent All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest;
In song and dance about the sacred hill; Wide over all the plain, and wider far
Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere Than all this globous earth in plain outspread,
Of planets, and of fixed, in all her wheels (Such are the courts of God) the angelick throng,
Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, Dispersed in bands and files, their camp extend
Eccentrick, intervolved, yet regular By living streams among the trees of life,
Then most, when most irregular they seem; Pavilions numberless, and sudden reared,
And in their motions harmony divine Celestial tabernacles, where they slept
So smooths her charming tones, that God’s own ear Fanned with cool winds; save those, who, in their course,
Listens delighted. Evening now approached, Melodious hymns about the sovran throne
(For we have also our evening and our morn, Alternate all night long: but not so waked
We ours for change delectable, not need;) Satan; so call him now, his former name
Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn Is heard no more in Heaven; he of the first,
Desirous; all in circles as they stood, If not the first Arch-Angel, great in power,
Tables are set, and on a sudden piled In favour and pre-eminence, yet fraught

With envy against the Son of God, that day The great Messiah, and his new commands,
Honoured by his great Father, and proclaimed Who speedily through all the hierarchies
Messiah King anointed, could not bear Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.
Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaired. So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infused
Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, Bad influence into the unwary breast
Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour Of his associate: He together calls,
Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved Or several one by one, the regent Powers,
With all his legions to dislodge, and leave Under him Regent; tells, as he was taught,
Unworshipt, unobeyed, the throne supreme, That the Most High commanding, now ere night,
Contemptuous; and his next subordinate Now ere dim night had disincumbered Heaven,
Awakening, thus to him in secret spake. The great hierarchal standard was to move;
Sleepest thou, Companion dear? What sleep can close Tells the suggested cause, and casts between
Thy eye-lids? and rememberest what decree Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound
Of yesterday, so late hath passed the lips Or taint integrity: But all obeyed
Of Heaven’s Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts The wonted signal, and superiour voice
Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart; Of their great Potentate; for great indeed
Both waking we were one; how then can now His name, and high was his degree in Heaven;
Thy sleep dissent? New laws thou seest imposed; His countenance, as the morning-star that guides
New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise The starry flock, allured them, and with lies
In us who serve, new counsels to debate Drew after him the third part of Heaven’s host.
What doubtful may ensue: More in this place Mean while the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns
To utter is not safe. Assemble thou Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount,
Of all those myriads which we lead the chief; And from within the golden lamps that burn
Tell them, that by command, ere yet dim night Nightly before him, saw without their light
Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste, Rebellion rising; saw in whom, how spread
And all who under me their banners wave, Among the sons of morn, what multitudes
Homeward, with flying march, where we possess Were banded to oppose his high decree;
The quarters of the north; there to prepare And, smiling, to his only Son thus said.
Fit entertainment to receive our King, Son, thou in whom my glory I behold

In full resplendence, Heir of all my might, Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones,
Nearly it now concerns us to be sure In their triple degrees; regions to which
Of our Omnipotence, and with what arms All thy dominion, Adam, is no more
We mean to hold what anciently we claim Than what this garden is to all the earth,
Of deity or empire: Such a foe And all the sea, from one entire globose
Is rising, who intends to erect his throne Stretched into longitude; which having passed,
Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north; At length into the limits of the north
Nor so content, hath in his thought to try They came; and Satan to his royal seat
In battle, what our power is, or our right. High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount
Let us advise, and to this hazard draw Raised on a mount, with pyramids and towers
With speed what force is left, and all employ From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold;
In our defence; lest unawares we lose The palace of great Lucifer, (so call
This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill. That structure in the dialect of men
To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear, Interpreted,) which not long after, he
Lightning divine, ineffable, serene, Affecting all equality with God,
Made answer. Mighty Father, thou thy foes In imitation of that mount whereon
Justly hast in derision, and, secure, Messiah was declared in sight of Heaven,
Laughest at their vain designs and tumults vain, The Mountain of the Congregation called;
Matter to me of glory, whom their hate For thither he assembled all his train,
Illustrates, when they see all regal power Pretending so commanded to consult
Given me to quell their pride, and in event About the great reception of their King,
Know whether I be dextrous to subdue Thither to come, and with calumnious art
Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven. Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears.
So spake the Son; but Satan, with his Powers, Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers;
Far was advanced on winged speed; an host If these magnifick titles yet remain
Innumerable as the stars of night, Not merely titular, since by decree
Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the sun Another now hath to himself engrossed
Impearls on every leaf and every flower. All power, and us eclipsed under the name
Regions they passed, the mighty regencies Of King anointed, for whom all this haste

Of midnight-march, and hurried meeting here, Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe
This only to consult how we may best, The current of his fury thus opposed.
With what may be devised of honours new, O argument blasphemous, false, and proud!
Receive him coming to receive from us Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven
Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile! Expected, least of all from thee, Ingrate,
Too much to one! but double how endured, In place thyself so high above thy peers.
To one, and to his image now proclaimed? Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn
But what if better counsels might erect The just decree of God, pronounced and sworn,
Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke? That to his only Son, by right endued
Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend With regal scepter, every soul in Heaven
The supple knee? Ye will not, if I trust Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due
To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves Confess him rightful King? unjust, thou sayest,
Natives and sons of Heaven possessed before Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free,
By none; and if not equal all, yet free, And equal over equals to let reign,
Equally free; for orders and degrees One over all with unsucceeded power.
Jar not with liberty, but well consist. Shalt thou give law to God? shalt thou dispute
Who can in reason then, or right, assume With him the points of liberty, who made
Monarchy over such as live by right Thee what thou art, and formed the Powers of Heaven
His equals, if in power and splendour less, Such as he pleased, and circumscribed their being?
In freedom equal? or can introduce Yet, by experience taught, we know how good,
Law and edict on us, who without law And of our good and of our dignity
Err not? much less for this to be our Lord, How provident he is; how far from thought
And look for adoration, to the abuse To make us less, bent rather to exalt
Of those imperial titles, which assert Our happy state, under one head more near
Our being ordained to govern, not to serve. United. But to grant it thee unjust,
Thus far his bold discourse without controul That equal over equals monarch reign:
Had audience; when among the Seraphim Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count,
Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal adored Or all angelick nature joined in one,
The Deity, and divine commands obeyed, Equal to him begotten Son? by whom,

As by his Word, the Mighty Father made Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try
All things, even thee; and all the Spirits of Heaven Who is our equal: Then thou shalt behold
By him created in their bright degrees, Whether by supplication we intend
Crowned them with glory, and to their glory named Address, and to begirt the almighty throne
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers, Beseeching or besieging. This report,
Essential Powers; nor by his reign obscured, These tidings carry to the anointed King;
But more illustrious made; since he the head And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.
One of our number thus reduced becomes; He said; and, as the sound of waters deep,
His laws our laws; all honour to him done Hoarse murmur echoed to his words applause
Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage, Through the infinite host; nor less for that
And tempt not these; but hasten to appease The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone
The incensed Father, and the incensed Son, Encompassed round with foes, thus answered bold.
While pardon may be found in time besought. O alienate from God, O Spirit accursed,
So spake the fervent Angel; but his zeal Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall
None seconded, as out of season judged, Determined, and thy hapless crew involved
Or singular and rash: Whereat rejoiced In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread
The Apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied. Both of thy crime and punishment: Henceforth
That we were formed then sayest thou? and the work No more be troubled how to quit the yoke
Of secondary hands, by task transferred Of God’s Messiah; those indulgent laws
From Father to his Son? strange point and new! Will not be now vouchsafed; other decrees
Doctrine which we would know whence learned: who saw Against thee are gone forth without recall;
When this creation was? rememberest thou That golden scepter, which thou didst reject,
Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? Is now an iron rod to bruise and break
We know no time when we were not as now; Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise;
Know none before us, self-begot, self-raised Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly
By our own quickening power, when fatal course These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath
Had circled his full orb, the birth mature Impendent, raging into sudden flame,
Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons. Distinguish not: For soon expect to feel
Our puissance is our own; our own right hand His thunder on thy head, devouring fire.

Then who created thee lamenting learn,
When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. Book VI
So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found
Among the faithless, faithful only he;
Among innumerable false, unmoved,
Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified,
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal;
Nor number, nor example, with him wrought
A ll night the dreadless Angel, unpursued,
Through Heaven’s wide champain held his way; till
Morn,
To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand
Though single. From amidst them forth he passed, Unbarred the gates of light. There is a cave
Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained Within the mount of God, fast by his throne,
Superiour, nor of violence feared aught; Where light and darkness in perpetual round
And, with retorted scorn, his back he turned Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through
On those proud towers to swift destruction doomed. Heaven
Grateful vicissitude, like day and night;
Light issues forth, and at the other door
Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour
To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well
Seem twilight here: And now went forth the Morn
Such as in highest Heaven arrayed in gold
Empyreal; from before her vanished Night,
Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain
Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright,
Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds,
Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:
War he perceived, war in procinct; and found
Already known what he for news had thought
To have reported: Gladly then he mixed
Among those friendly Powers, who him received

With joy and acclamations loud, that one, Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss,
That of so many myriads fallen, yet one Into their place of punishment, the gulf
Returned not lost. On to the sacred hill Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide
They led him high applauded, and present His fiery Chaos to receive their fall.
Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began
From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard. To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll
Servant of God. Well done; well hast thou fought In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign
The better fight, who single hast maintained Of wrath awaked; nor with less dread the loud
Against revolted multitudes the cause Ethereal trumpet from on high ‘gan blow:
Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; At which command the Powers militant,
And for the testimony of truth hast borne That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined
Universal reproach, far worse to bear Of union irresistible, moved on
Than violence; for this was all thy care In silence their bright legions, to the sound
To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds Of instrumental harmony, that breathed
Judged thee perverse: The easier conquest now Heroick ardour to adventurous deeds
Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, Under their God-like leaders, in the cause
Back on thy foes more glorious to return, Of God and his Messiah. On they move
Than scorned thou didst depart; and to subdue Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill,
By force, who reason for their law refuse, Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides
Right reason for their law, and for their King Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground
Messiah, who by right of merit reigns. Their march was, and the passive air upbore
Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince, Their nimble tread; as when the total kind
And thou, in military prowess next, Of birds, in orderly array on wing,
Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons Came summoned over Eden to receive
Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints, Their names of thee; so over many a tract
By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight, Of Heaven they marched, and many a province wide,
Equal in number to that Godless crew Tenfold the length of this terrene: At last,
Rebellious: Them with fire and hostile arms Far in the horizon to the north appeared
Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretched

In battailous aspect, and nearer view Came towering, armed in adamant and gold;
Bristled with upright beams innumerable Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood
Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,
Various, with boastful argument portrayed, And thus his own undaunted heart explores.
The banded Powers of Satan hasting on O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest
With furious expedition; for they weened Should yet remain, where faith and realty
That self-same day, by fight or by surprise, Remain not: Wherefore should not strength and might
To win the mount of God, and on his throne There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove
To set the Envier of his state, the proud Where boldest, though to fight unconquerable?
Aspirer; but their thoughts proved fond and vain His puissance, trusting in the Almighty’s aid,
In the mid way: Though strange to us it seemed I mean to try, whose reason I have tried
At first, that Angel should with Angel war, Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just,
And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet That he, who in debate of truth hath won,
So oft in festivals of joy and love Should win in arms, in both disputes alike
Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire, Victor; though brutish that contest and foul,
Hymning the Eternal Father: But the shout When reason hath to deal with force, yet so
Of battle now began, and rushing sound Most reason is that reason overcome.
Of onset ended soon each milder thought. So pondering, and from his armed peers
High in the midst, exalted as a God, Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met
The Apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, His daring foe, at this prevention more
Idol of majesty divine, enclosed Incensed, and thus securely him defied.
With flaming Cherubim, and golden shields; Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reached
Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now The highth of thy aspiring unopposed,
‘twixt host and host but narrow space was left, The throne of God unguarded, and his side
A dreadful interval, and front to front Abandoned, at the terrour of thy power
Presented stood in terrible array Or potent tongue: Fool!not to think how vain
Of hideous length: Before the cloudy van, Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms;
On the rough edge of battle ere it joined, Who out of smallest things could, without end,
Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced, Have raised incessant armies to defeat

Thy folly; or with solitary hand Such hast thou armed, the minstrelsy of Heaven,
Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow, Servility with freedom to contend,
Unaided, could have finished thee, and whelmed As both their deeds compared this day shall prove.
Thy legions under darkness: But thou seest To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied.
All are not of thy train; there be, who faith Apostate! still thou errest, nor end wilt find
Prefer, and piety to God, though then Of erring, from the path of truth remote:
To thee not visible, when I alone Unjustly thou depravest it with the name
Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains,
From all: My sect thou seest;now learn too late Or Nature: God and Nature bid the same,
How few sometimes may know, when thousands err. When he who rules is worthiest, and excels
Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, Them whom he governs. This is servitude,
Thus answered. Ill for thee, but in wished hour To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled
Of my revenge, first sought for, thou returnest Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,
From flight, seditious Angel! to receive Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled;
Thy merited reward, the first assay Yet lewdly darest our ministring upbraid.
Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue, Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve
Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose In Heaven God ever blest, and his divine
A third part of the Gods, in synod met Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyed;
Their deities to assert; who, while they feel Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect: Mean while
Vigour divine within them, can allow From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flight,
Omnipotence to none. But well thou comest This greeting on thy impious crest receive.
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,
From me some plume, that thy success may show Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell
Destruction to the rest: This pause between, On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight,
(Unanswered lest thou boast) to let thee know, Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield,
At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven Such ruin intercept: Ten paces huge
To heavenly souls had been all one; but now He back recoiled; the tenth on bended knee
I see that most through sloth had rather serve, His massy spear upstaid; as if on earth
Ministring Spirits, trained up in feast and song! Winds under ground, or waters forcing way,

Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat, Though not destroy, their happy native seat;
Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seised Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent,
The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see From his strong hold of Heaven, high over-ruled
Thus foiled their mightiest; ours joy filled, and shout, And limited their might; though numbered such
Presage of victory, and fierce desire As each divided legion might have seemed
Of battle: Whereat Michael bid sound A numerous host; in strength each armed hand
The Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heaven A legion; led in fight, yet leader seemed
It sounded, and the faithful armies rung Each warriour single as in chief, expert
Hosanna to the Highest: Nor stood at gaze When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway
The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined Of battle, open when, and when to close
The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose, The ridges of grim war: No thought of flight,
And clamour such as heard in Heaven till now None of retreat, no unbecoming deed
Was never; arms on armour clashing brayed That argued fear; each on himself relied,
Horrible discord, and the madding wheels As only in his arm the moment lay
Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise Of victory: Deeds of eternal fame
Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss Were done, but infinite; for wide was spread
Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew, That war and various; sometimes on firm ground
And flying vaulted either host with fire. A standing fight, then, soaring on main wing,
So under fiery cope together rushed Tormented all the air; all air seemed then
Both battles main, with ruinous assault Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale
And inextinguishable rage. All Heaven The battle hung; till Satan, who that day
Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms
Had to her center shook. What wonder? when No equal, ranging through the dire attack
Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length
On either side, the least of whom could wield Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled
These elements, and arm him with the force Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway
Of all their regions: How much more of power Brandished aloft, the horrid edge came down
Army against army numberless to raise Wide-wasting; such destruction to withstand
Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb

Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, Thou canst not. Hast thou turned the least of these
A vast circumference. At his approach To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise
The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil Unvanquished, easier to transact with me
Surceased, and glad, as hoping here to end That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats
Intestine war in Heaven, the arch-foe subdued To chase me hence? err not, that so shall end
Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown The strife which thou callest evil, but we style
And visage all inflamed first thus began. The strife of glory; which we mean to win,
Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell
Unnamed in Heaven, now plenteous as thou seest Thou fablest; here however to dwell free,
These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, If not to reign: Mean while thy utmost force,
Though heaviest by just measure on thyself, And join him named Almighty to thy aid,
And thy adherents: How hast thou disturbed I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh.
Heaven’s blessed peace, and into nature brought They ended parle, and both addressed for fight
Misery, uncreated till the crime Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue
Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instilled Of Angels, can relate, or to what things
Thy malice into thousands, once upright Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift
And faithful, now proved false! But think not here Human imagination to such highth
To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out Of Godlike power? for likest Gods they seemed,
From all her confines. Heaven, the seat of bliss, Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms,
Brooks not the works of violence and war. Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven.
Hence then, and evil go with thee along, Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air
Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell; Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields
Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils, Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood
Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom, In horrour: From each hand with speed retired,
Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God, Where erst was thickest fight, the angelick throng,
Precipitate thee with augmented pain. And left large field, unsafe within the wind
So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus Of such commotion; such as, to set forth
The Adversary. Nor think thou with wind Great things by small, if, nature’s concord broke,
Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds Among the constellations war were sprung,

Two planets, rushing from aspect malign Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath
Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky His confidence to equal God in power.
Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. Yet soon he healed; for Spirits that live throughout
Together both with next to almighty arm Vital in every part, not as frail man
Up-lifted imminent, one stroke they aimed In entrails, heart of head, liver or reins,
That might determine, and not need repeat, Cannot but by annihilating die;
As not of power at once; nor odds appeared Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound
In might or swift prevention: But the sword Receive, no more than can the fluid air:
Of Michael from the armoury of God All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear,
Was given him tempered so, that neither keen All intellect, all sense; and, as they please,
Nor solid might resist that edge: it met They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size
The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite Assume, as?kikes them best, condense or rare.
Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor staid, Mean while in other parts like deeds deserved
But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,
All his right side: Then Satan first knew pain, And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array
And writhed him to and fro convolved; so sore Of Moloch, furious king; who him defied,
The griding sword with discontinuous wound And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound
Passed through him: But the ethereal substance closed, Threatened, nor from the Holy One of Heaven
Not long divisible; and from the gash Refrained his tongue blasphemous; but anon
A stream of necturous humour issuing flowed Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms
Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed, And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing
And all his armour stained, ere while so bright. Uriel, and Raphael, his vaunting foe,
Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run Though huge, and in a rock of diamond armed,
By Angels many and strong, who interposed Vanquished Adramelech, and Asmadai,
Defence, while others bore him on their shields Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods
Back to his chariot, where it stood retired Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight,
From off the files of war: There they him laid Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail.
Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame, Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy
To find himself not matchless, and his pride The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow

Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence Invulnerable, impenetrably armed;
Of Ramiel scorched and blasted, overthrew. Such high advantages their innocence
I might relate of thousands, and their names Gave them above their foes; not to have sinned,
Eternize here on earth; but those elect Not to have disobeyed; in fight they stood
Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained
Seek not the praise of men: The other sort, By wound, though from their place by violence moved,
In might though wonderous and in acts of war, Now Night her course began, and, over Heaven
Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed,
Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory, And silence on the odious din of war:
Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. Under her cloudy covert both retired,
For strength from truth divided, and from just, Victor and vanquished: On the foughten field
Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise Michael and his Angels prevalent
And ignominy; yet to glory aspires Encamping, placed in guard their watches round,
Vain-glorious, and through infamy seeks fame: Cherubick waving fires: On the other part,
Therefore eternal silence be their doom. Satan with his rebellious disappeared,
And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle swerved, Far in the dark dislodged; and, void of rest,
With many an inroad gored; deformed rout His potentates to council called by night;
Entered, and foul disorder; all the ground And in the midst thus undismayed began.
With shivered armour strown, and on a heap O now in danger tried, now known in arms
Chariot and charioteer lay overturned, Not to be overpowered, Companions dear,
And fiery-foaming steeds; what stood, recoiled Found worthy not of liberty alone,
O’er-wearied, through the faint Satanick host Too mean pretence! but what we more affect,
Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised, Honour, dominion, glory, and renown;
Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain, Who have sustained one day in doubtful fight,
Fled ignominious, to such evil brought (And if one day, why not eternal days?)
By sin of disobedience; till that hour What Heaven’s Lord had powerfullest to send
Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. Against us from about his throne, and judged
Far otherwise the inviolable Saints, Sufficient to subdue us to his will,
In cubick phalanx firm, advanced entire, But proves not so: Then fallible, it seems,

Of future we may deem him, though till now Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands
Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly armed, Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well
Some disadvantage we endured and pain, Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,
Till now not known, but, known, as soon contemned; But live content, which is the calmest life:
Since now we find this our empyreal form But pain is perfect misery, the worst
Incapable of mortal injury, Of evils, and, excessive, overturns
Imperishable, and, though pierced with wound, All patience. He, who therefore can invent
Soon closing, and by native vigour healed. With what more forcible we may offend
Of evil then so small as easy think Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm
The remedy; perhaps more valid arms, Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves
Weapons more violent, when next we meet, No less than for deliverance what we owe.
May serve to better us, and worse our foes, Whereto with look composed Satan replied.
Or equal what between us made the odds, Not uninvented that, which thou aright
In nature none: If other hidden cause Believest so main to our success, I bring.
Left them superiour, while we can preserve Which of us who beholds the bright surface
Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound, Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand,
Due search and consultation will disclose. This continent of spacious Heaven, adorned
He sat; and in the assembly next upstood With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold;
Nisroch, of Principalities the prime; Whose eye so superficially surveys
As one he stood escaped from cruel fight, These things, as not to mind from whence they grow
Sore toiled, his riven arms to havock hewn, Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,
And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake. Of spiritous and fiery spume, till touched
Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free With Heaven’s ray, and tempered, they shoot forth
Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard So beauteous, opening to the ambient light?
For Gods, and too unequal work we find, These in their dark nativity the deep
Against unequal arms to fight in pain, Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame;
Against unpained, impassive; from which evil Which, into hollow engines, long and round,
Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails Thick rammed, at the other bore with touch of fire
Valour or strength, though matchless, quelled with pain Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth

From far, with thundering noise, among our foes Part hidden veins digged up (nor hath this earth
Such implements of mischief, as shall dash Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone,
To pieces, and o’erwhelm whatever stands Whereof to found their engines and their balls
Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmed Of missive ruin; part incentive reed
The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire.
Nor long shall be our labour; yet ere dawn, So all ere day-spring, under conscious night,
Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive; Secret they finished, and in order set,
Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joined With silent circumspection, unespied.
Think nothing hard, much less to be despaired. Now when fair morn orient in Heaven appeared,
He ended, and his words their drooping cheer Up rose the victor-Angels, and to arms
Enlightened, and their languished hope revived. The matin trumpet sung: In arms they stood
The invention all admired, and each, how he Of golden panoply, refulgent host,
To be the inventer missed; so easy it seemed Soon banded; others from the dawning hills
Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought Look round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour,
Impossible: Yet, haply, of thy race Each quarter to descry the distant foe,
In future days, if malice should abound, Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight,
Some one intent on mischief, or inspired In motion or in halt: Him soon they met
With devilish machination, might devise Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow
Like instrument to plague the sons of men But firm battalion; back with speediest sail
For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent. Zophiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing,
Forthwith from council to the work they flew; Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried.
None arguing stood; innumerable hands Arm, Warriours, arm for fight; the foe at hand,
Were ready; in a moment up they turned Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit
Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath This day; fear not his flight;so thick a cloud
The originals of nature in their crude He comes, and settled in his face I see
Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam Sad resolution, and secure: Let each
They found, they mingled, and, with subtle art, His adamantine coat gird well, and each
Concocted and adusted they reduced Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield,
To blackest grain, and into store conveyed: Borne even or high; for this day will pour down,

If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower, Or hollowed bodies made of oak or fir,
But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire. With branches lopt, in wood or mountain felled,)
So warned he them, aware themselves, and soon Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths
In order, quit of all impediment; With hideous orifice gaped on us wide,
Instant without disturb they took alarm, Portending hollow truce: At each behind
And onward moved embattled: When behold! A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed
Not distant far with heavy pace the foe Stood waving tipt with fire; while we, suspense,
Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube Collected stood within our thoughts amused,
Training his devilish enginery, impaled Not long; for sudden all at once their reeds
On every side with shadowing squadrons deep, Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied
To hide the fraud. At interview both stood With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame,
A while; but suddenly at head appeared But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven appeared,
Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud. From those deep-throated engines belched, whose roar
Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold; Embowelled with outrageous noise the air,
That all may see who hate us, how we seek And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul
Peace and composure, and with open breast Their devilish glut, chained thunderbolts and hail
Stand ready to receive them, if they like Of iron globes; which, on the victor host
Our overture; and turn not back perverse: Levelled, with such impetuous fury smote,
But that I doubt; however witness, Heaven! That, whom they hit, none on their feet might stand,
Heaven, witness thou anon! while we discharge Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell
Freely our part: ye, who appointed stand By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rolled;
Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch The sooner for their arms; unarmed, they might
What we propound, and loud that all may hear! Have easily, as Spirits, evaded swift
So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce By quick contraction or remove; but now
Had ended; when to right and left the front Foul dissipation followed, and forced rout;
Divided, and to either flank retired: Nor served it to relax their serried files.
Which to our eyes discovered, new and strange, What should they do? if on they rushed, repulse
A triple mounted row of pillars laid Repeated, and indecent overthrow
On wheels (for like to pillars most they seemed, Doubled, would render them yet more despised,

And to their foes a laughter; for in view So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn,
Stood ranked of Seraphim another row, And all his host derided, while they stood
In posture to displode their second tire A while in trouble: But they stood not long;
Of thunder: Back defeated to return Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms
They worse abhorred. Satan beheld their plight, Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose.
And to his mates thus in derision called. Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power,
O Friends! why come not on these victors proud Which God hath in his mighty Angels placed!)
Ere while they fierce were coming; and when we, Their arms away they threw, and to the hills
To entertain them fair with open front (For Earth hath this variety from Heaven
And breast, (what could we more?) propounded terms Of pleasure situate in hill and dale,)
Of composition, straight they changed their minds, Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew;
Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, From their foundations loosening to and fro,
As they would dance; yet for a dance they seemed They plucked the seated hills, with all their load,
Somewhat extravagant and wild; perhaps Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops
For joy of offered peace: But I suppose, Up-lifting bore them in their hands: Amaze,
If our proposals once again were heard, Be sure, and terrour, seized the rebel host,
We should compel them to a quick result. When coming towards them so dread they saw
To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood. The bottom of the mountains upward turned;
Leader! the terms we sent were terms of weight, Till on those cursed engines’ triple-row
Of hard contents, and full of force urged home; They saw them whelmed, and all their confidence
Such as we might perceive amused them all, Under the weight of mountains buried deep;
And stumbled many: Who receives them right, Themselves invaded next, and on their heads
Had need from head to foot well understand; Main promontories flung, which in the air
Not understood, this gift they have besides, Came shadowing, and oppressed whole legions armed;
They show us when our foes walk not upright. Their armour helped their harm, crushed in and bruised
So they among themselves in pleasant vein Into their substance pent, which wrought them pain
Stood scoffing, hightened in their thoughts beyond Implacable, and many a dolorous groan;
All doubt of victory: Eternal Might Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind
To match with their inventions they presumed Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light,

Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown. Equal in their creation they were formed,
The rest, in imitation, to like arms Save what sin hath impaired; which yet hath wrought
Betook them, and the neighbouring hills uptore: Insensibly, for I suspend their doom;
So hills amid the air encountered hills, Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last
Hurled to and fro with jaculation dire; Endless, and no solution will be found:
That under ground they fought in dismal shade; War wearied hath performed what war can do,
Infernal noise! war seemed a civil game And to disordered rage let loose the reins
To this uproar; horrid confusion heaped With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes
Upon confusion rose: And now all Heaven Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main.
Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread; Two days are therefore past, the third is thine;
Had not the Almighty Father, where he sits For thee I have ordained it; and thus far
Shrined in his sanctuary of Heaven secure, Have suffered, that the glory may be thine
Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen Of ending this great war, since none but Thou
This tumult, and permitted all, advised: Can end it. Into thee such virtue and grace
That his great purpose he might so fulfil, Immense I have transfused, that all may know
To honour his anointed Son avenged In Heaven and Hell thy power above compare;
Upon his enemies, and to declare And, this perverse commotion governed thus,
All power on him transferred: Whence to his Son, To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir
The Assessour of his throne, he thus began. Of all things; to be Heir, and to be King
Effulgence of my glory, Son beloved, By sacred unction, thy deserved right.
Son, in whose face invisible is beheld Go then, Thou Mightiest, in thy Father’s might;
Visibly, what by Deity I am; Ascend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels
And in whose hand what by decree I do, That shake Heaven’s basis, bring forth all my war,
Second Omnipotence! two days are past, My bow and thunder, my almighty arms
Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven, Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant thigh;
Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame Pursue these sons of darkness, drive them out
These disobedient: Sore hath been their fight, From all Heaven’s bounds into the utter deep:
As likeliest was, when two such foes met armed; There let them learn, as likes them, to despise
For to themselves I left them; and thou knowest, God, and Messiah his anointed King.

He said, and on his Son with rays direct And the third sacred morn began to shine,
Shone full; he all his Father full expressed Dawning through Heaven. Forth rushed with whirlwind
Ineffably into his face received; sound
And thus the Filial Godhead answering spake. The chariot of Paternal Deity,
O Father, O Supreme of heavenly Thrones, Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn,
First, Highest, Holiest, Best; thou always seek’st Itself instinct with Spirit, but convoyed
To glorify thy Son, I always thee, By four Cherubick shapes; four faces each
As is most just: This I my glory account, Had wonderous; as with stars, their bodies all
My exaltation, and my whole delight, And wings were set with eyes; with eyes the wheels
That thou, in me well pleased, declarest thy will Of beryl, and careering fires between;
Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss. Over their heads a crystal firmament,
Scepter and power, thy giving, I assume, Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure
And gladlier shall resign, when in the end Amber, and colours of the showery arch.
Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee He, in celestial panoply all armed
For ever; and in me all whom thou lovest: Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought,
But whom thou hatest, I hate, and can put on Ascended; at his right hand Victory
Thy terrours, as I put thy mildness on, Sat eagle-winged; beside him hung his bow
Image of thee in all things; and shall soon, And quiver with three-bolted thunder stored;
Armed with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebelled; And from about him fierce effusion rolled
To their prepared ill mansion driven down, Of smoke, and bickering flame, and sparkles dire:
To chains of darkness, and the undying worm; Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints,
That from thy just obedience could revolt, He onward came; far off his coming shone;
Whom to obey is happiness entire. And twenty thousand (I their number heard)
Then shall thy Saints unmixed, and from the impure Chariots of God, half on each hand, were seen;
Far separate, circling thy holy mount, He on the wings of Cherub rode sublime
Unfeigned Halleluiahs to thee sing, On the crystalline sky, in sapphire throned,
Hymns of high praise, and I among them Chief. Illustrious far and wide; but by his own
So said, he, o’er his scepter bowing, rose First seen: Them unexpected joy surprised,
From the right hand of Glory where he sat; When the great ensign of Messiah blazed

Aloft by Angels borne, his sign in Heaven; And as ye have received, so have ye done,
Under whose conduct Michael soon reduced Invincibly: But of this cursed crew
His army, circumfused on either wing, The punishment to other hand belongs;
Under their Head imbodied all in one. Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints:
Before him Power Divine his way prepared; Number to this day’s work is not ordained,
At his command the uprooted hills retired Nor multitude; stand only, and behold
Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went God’s indignation on these godless poured
Obsequious; Heaven his wonted face renewed, By me; not you, but me, they have despised,
And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled. Yet envied; against me is all their rage,
This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured, Because the Father, to whom in Heaven s’preme
And to rebellious fight rallied their Powers, Kingdom, and power, and glory appertains,
Insensate, hope conceiving from despair. Hath honoured me, according to his will.
In heavenly Spirits could such perverseness dwell? Therefore to me their doom he hath assigned;
But to convince the proud what signs avail, That they may have their wish, to try with me
Or wonders move the obdurate to relent? In battle which the stronger proves; they all,
They, hardened more by what might most reclaim, Or I alone against them; since by strength
Grieving to see his glory, at the sight They measure all, of other excellence
Took envy; and, aspiring to his highth, Not emulous, nor care who them excels;
Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud Nor other strife with them do I vouchsafe.
Weening to prosper, and at length prevail So spake the Son, and into terrour changed
Against God and Messiah, or to fall His countenance too severe to be beheld,
In universal ruin last; and now And full of wrath bent on his enemies.
To final battle drew, disdaining flight, At once the Four spread out their starry wings
Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God With dreadful shade contiguous, and the orbs
To all his host on either hand thus spake. Of his fierce chariot rolled, as with the sound
Stand still in bright array, ye Saints; here stand, Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host.
Ye Angels armed; this day from battle rest: He on his impious foes right onward drove,
Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God Gloomy as night; under his burning wheels
Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause; The stedfast empyrean shook throughout,

All but the throne itself of God. Full soon Struck them with horrour backward, but far worse
Among them he arrived; in his right hand Urged them behind: Headlong themselves they threw
Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent Down from the verge of Heaven; eternal wrath
Before him, such as in their souls infixed Burnt after them to the bottomless pit.
Plagues: They, astonished, all resistance lost, Hell heard the unsufferable noise, Hell saw
All courage; down their idle weapons dropt: Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled
O’er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep
Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate, Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound.
That wished the mountains now might be again Nine days they fell: Confounded Chaos roared,
Thrown on them, as a shelter from his ire. And felt tenfold confusion in their fall
Nor less on either side tempestuous fell Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout
His arrows, from the fourfold-visaged Four Incumbered him with ruin: Hell at last
Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels Yawning received them whole, and on them closed;
Distinct alike with multitude of eyes; Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire
One Spirit in them ruled; and every eye Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain.
Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire Disburdened Heaven rejoiced, and soon repaired
Among the accursed, that withered all their strength, Her mural breach, returning whence it rolled.
And of their wonted vigour left them drained, Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes,
Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen. Messiah his triumphal chariot turned:
Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood
His thunder in mid volley; for he meant Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts,
Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven: With jubilee advanced; and, as they went,
The overthrown he raised, and as a herd Shaded with branching palm, each Order bright,
Of goats or timorous flock together thronged Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King,
Drove them before him thunder-struck, pursued Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given,
With terrours, and with furies, to the bounds Worthiest to reign: He, celebrated, rode
And crystal wall of Heaven; which, opening wide, Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the courts
Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed And temple of his Mighty Father throned
Into the wasteful deep: The monstrous sight 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, Book VII
At thy request, and that thou mayest beware
By what is past, to thee I have revealed
What might have else to human race been hid;
The discord which befel, and war in Heaven
Among the angelick Powers, and the deep fall
Of those too high aspiring, who rebelled
D escend from Heaven, Urania, by that name
If rightly thou art called, whose voice divine
Following, above the Olympian hill I soar,
With Satan; he who envies now thy state, Above the flight of Pegasean wing!
Who now is plotting how he may seduce The meaning, not the name, I call: for thou
Thee also from obedience, that, with him Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top
Bereaved of happiness, thou mayest partake Of old Olympus dwellest; but, heavenly-born,
His punishment, eternal misery; Before the hills appeared, or fountain flowed,
Which would be all his solace and revenge, Thou with eternal Wisdom didst converse,
As a despite done against the Most High, Wisdom thy sister, and with her didst play
Thee once to gain companion of his woe. In presence of the Almighty Father, pleased
But listen not to his temptations, warn With thy celestial song. Up led by thee
Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard, Into the Heaven of Heavens I have presumed,
By terrible example, the reward An earthly guest, and drawn empyreal air,
Of disobedience; firm they might have stood, Thy tempering: with like safety guided down
Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress. Return me to my native element:
Lest from this flying steed unreined, (as once
Bellerophon, though from a lower clime,)
Dismounted, on the Aleian field I fall,
Erroneous there to wander, and forlorn.
Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound
Within the visible diurnal sphere;
Standing on earth, not rapt above the pole,
More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged

To hoarse or mute, though fallen on evil days, So unimaginable, as hate in Heaven,
On evil days though fallen, and evil tongues; And war so near the peace of God in bliss,
In darkness, and with dangers compassed round, With such confusion: but the evil, soon
And solitude; yet not alone, while thou Driven back, redounded as a flood on those
Visitest my slumbers nightly, or when morn From whom it sprung; impossible to mix
Purples the east: still govern thou my song, With blessedness. Whence Adam soon repealed
Urania, and fit audience find, though few. The doubts that in his heart arose: and now
But drive far off the barbarous dissonance Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know
Of Bacchus and his revellers, the race What nearer might concern him, how this world
Of that wild rout that tore the Thracian bard Of Heaven and Earth conspicuous first began;
In Rhodope, where woods and rocks had ears When, and whereof created; for what cause;
To rapture, till the savage clamour drowned What within Eden, or without, was done
Both harp and voice; nor could the Muse defend Before his memory; as one whose drouth
Her son. So fail not thou, who thee implores: Yet scarce allayed still eyes the current stream,
For thou art heavenly, she an empty dream. Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,
Say, Goddess, what ensued when Raphael, Proceeded thus to ask his heavenly guest.
The affable Arch-Angel, had forewarned Great things, and full of wonder in our ears,
Adam, by dire example, to beware Far differing from this world, thou hast revealed,
Apostasy, by what befel in Heaven Divine interpreter! by favour sent
To those apostates; lest the like befall Down from the empyrean, to forewarn
In Paradise to Adam or his race, Us timely of what might else have been our loss,
Charged not to touch the interdicted tree, Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach;
If they transgress, and slight that sole command, For which to the infinitely Good we owe
So easily obeyed amid the choice Immortal thanks, and his admonishment
Of all tastes else to please their appetite, Receive, with solemn purpose to observe
Though wandering. He, with his consorted Eve, Immutably his sovran will, the end
The story heard attentive, and was filled Of what we are. But since thou hast vouchsafed
With admiration and deep muse, to hear Gently, for our instruction, to impart
Of things so high and strange; things, to their thought Things above earthly thought, which yet concerned

Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemed, Obtain; though to recount almighty works
Deign to descend now lower, and relate What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,
What may no less perhaps avail us known, Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?
How first began this Heaven which we behold Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve
Distant so high, with moving fires adorned To glorify the Maker, and infer
Innumerable; and this which yields or fills Thee also happier, shall not be withheld
All space, the ambient air wide interfused Thy hearing; such commission from above
Embracing round this floried Earth; what cause I have received, to answer thy desire
Moved the Creator, in his holy rest Of knowledge within bounds; beyond, abstain
Through all eternity, so late to build To ask; nor let thine own inventions hope
In Chaos; and the work begun, how soon Things not revealed, which the invisible King,
Absolved; if unforbid thou mayest unfold Only Omniscient, hath suppressed in night;
What we, not to explore the secrets ask To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:
Of his eternal empire, but the more Enough is left besides to search and know.
To magnify his works, the more we know. But knowledge is as food, and needs no less
And the great light of day yet wants to run Her temperance over appetite, to know
Much of his race though steep; suspense in Heaven, In measure what the mind may well contain;
Held by thy voice, thy potent voice, he hears, Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns
And longer will delay to hear thee tell Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind.
His generation, and the rising birth Know then, that, after Lucifer from Heaven
Of Nature from the unapparent Deep: (So call him, brighter once amidst the host
Or if the star of evening and the moon Of Angels, than that star the stars among,)
Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring, Fell with his flaming legions through the deep
Silence; and Sleep, listening to thee, will watch; Into his place, and the great Son returned
Or we can bid his absence, till thy song Victorious with his Saints, the Omnipotent
End, and dismiss thee ere the morning shine. Eternal Father from his throne beheld
Thus Adam his illustrious guest besought: Their multitude, and to his Son thus spake.
And thus the Godlike Angel answered mild. At least our envious Foe hath failed, who thought
This also thy request, with caution asked, All like himself rebellious, by whose aid

This inaccessible high strength, the seat Though I, uncircumscribed myself, retire,
Of Deity supreme, us dispossessed, And put not forth my goodness, which is free
He trusted to have seised, and into fraud To act or not, Necessity and Chance
Drew many, whom their place knows here no more: Approach not me, and what I will is Fate.
Yet far the greater part have kept, I see, So spake the Almighty, and to what he spake
Their station; Heaven, yet populous, retains His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect.
Number sufficient to possess her realms Immediate are the acts of God, more swift
Though wide, and this high temple to frequent Than time or motion, but to human ears
With ministeries due, and solemn rites: Cannot without process of speech be told,
But, lest his heart exalt him in the harm So told as earthly notion can receive.
Already done, to have dispeopled Heaven, Great triumph and rejoicing was in Heaven,
My damage fondly deemed, I can repair When such was heard declared the Almighty’s will;
That detriment, if such it be to lose Glory they sung to the Most High, good will
Self-lost; and in a moment will create To future men, and in their dwellings peace;
Another world, out of one man a race Glory to Him, whose just avenging ire
Of men innumerable, there to dwell, Had driven out the ungodly from his sight
Not here; till, by degrees of merit raised, And the habitations of the just; to Him
They open to themselves at length the way Glory and praise, whose wisdom had ordained
Up hither, under long obedience tried; Good out of evil to create; instead
And Earth be changed to Heaven, and Heaven to Earth, Of Spirits malign, a better race to bring
One kingdom, joy and union without end. Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse
Mean while inhabit lax, ye Powers of Heaven; His good to worlds and ages infinite.
And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son
This I perform; speak thou, and be it done! On his great expedition now appeared,
My overshadowing Spirit and Might with thee Girt with Omnipotence, with radiance crowned
I send along; ride forth, and bid the Deep Of Majesty Divine; sapience and love
Within appointed bounds be Heaven and Earth; Immense, and all his Father in him shone.
Boundless the Deep, because I Am who fill About his chariot numberless were poured
Infinitude, nor vacuous the space. Cherub, and Seraph, Potentates, and Thrones,

And Virtues, winged Spirits, and chariots winged One foot he centered, and the other turned
From the armoury of God; where stand of old Round through the vast profundity obscure;
Myriads, between two brazen mountains lodged And said, Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds,
Against a solemn day, harnessed at hand, This be thy just circumference, O World!
Celestial equipage; and now came forth Thus God the Heaven created, thus the Earth,
Spontaneous, for within them Spirit lived, Matter unformed and void: Darkness profound
Attendant on their Lord: Heaven opened wide Covered the abyss: but on the watery calm
Her ever-during gates, harmonious sound His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread,
On golden hinges moving, to let forth And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth
The King of Glory, in his powerful Word Throughout the fluid mass; but downward purged
And Spirit, coming to create new worlds. The black tartareous cold infernal dregs,
On heavenly ground they stood; and from the shore Adverse to life: then founded, then conglobed
They viewed the vast immeasurable abyss Like things to like; the rest to several place
Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild, Disparted, and between spun out the air;
Up from the bottom turned by furious winds And Earth self-balanced on her center hung.
And surging waves, as mountains, to assault Let there be light, said God; and forthwith Light
Heaven’s highth, and with the center mix the pole. Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure,
Silence, ye troubled Waves, and thou Deep, peace, Sprung from the deep; and from her native east
Said then the Omnifick Word; your discord end! To journey through the aery gloom began,
Nor staid; but, on the wings of Cherubim Sphered in a radiant cloud, for yet the sun
Uplifted, in paternal glory rode Was not; she in a cloudy tabernacle
Far into Chaos, and the world unborn; Sojourned the while. God saw the light was good;
For Chaos heard his voice: Him all his train And light from darkness by the hemisphere
Followed in bright procession, to behold Divided: light the Day, and darkness Night,
Creation, and the wonders of his might. He named. Thus was the first day even and morn:
Then staid the fervid wheels, and in his hand Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung
He took the golden compasses, prepared By the celestial quires, when orient light
In God’s eternal store, to circumscribe Exhaling first from darkness they beheld;
This universe, and all created things: Birth-day of Heaven and Earth; with joy and shout

The hollow universal orb they filled, Emergent, and their broad bare backs upheave
And touched their golden harps, and hymning praised Into the clouds; their tops ascend the sky:
God and his works; Creator him they sung, So high as heaved the tumid hills, so low
Both when first evening was, and when first morn. Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep,
Again, God said, Let there be firmament Capacious bed of waters: Thither they
Amid the waters, and let it divide Hasted with glad precipitance, uprolled,
The waters from the waters; and God made As drops on dust conglobing from the dry:
The firmament, expanse of liquid, pure, Part rise in crystal wall, or ridge direct,
Transparent, elemental air, diffused For haste; such flight the great command impressed
In circuit to the uttermost convex On the swift floods: As armies at the call
Of this great round; partition firm and sure, Of trumpet (for of armies thou hast heard)
The waters underneath from those above Troop to their standard; so the watery throng,
Dividing: for as earth, so he the world Wave rolling after wave, where way they found,
Built on circumfluous waters calm, in wide If steep, with torrent rapture, if through plain,
Crystalline ocean, and the loud misrule Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them rock or hill;
Of Chaos far removed; lest fierce extremes But they, or under ground, or circuit wide
Contiguous might distemper the whole frame: With serpent errour wandering, found their way,
And Heaven he named the Firmament: So even And on the washy oose deep channels wore;
And morning chorus sung the second day. Easy, ere God had bid the ground be dry,
The Earth was formed, but in the womb as yet All but within those banks, where rivers now
Of waters, embryon immature involved, Stream, and perpetual draw their humid train.
Appeared not: over all the face of Earth The dry land, Earth; and the great receptacle
Main ocean flowed, not idle; but, with warm Of congregated waters, he called Seas:
Prolifick humour softening all her globe, And saw that it was good; and said, Let the Earth
Fermented the great mother to conceive, Put forth the verdant grass, herb yielding seed,
Satiate with genial moisture; when God said, And fruit-tree yielding fruit after her kind,
Be gathered now ye waters under Heaven Whose seed is in herself upon the Earth.
Into one place, and let dry land appear. He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then
Immediately the mountains huge appear Desart and bare, unsightly, unadorned,

Brought forth the tender grass, whose verdure clad Their office in the firmament of Heaven,
Her universal face with pleasant green; To give light on the Earth; and it was so.
Then herbs of every leaf, that sudden flowered And God made two great lights, great for their use
Opening their various colours, and made gay To Man, the greater to have rule by day,
Her bosom, smelling sweet: and, these scarce blown, The less by night, altern; and made the stars,
Forth flourished thick the clustering vine, forth crept And set them in the firmament of Heaven
The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed To illuminate the Earth, and rule the day
Embattled in her field, and the humble shrub, In their vicissitude, and rule the night,
And bush with frizzled hair implicit: Last And light from darkness to divide. God saw,
Rose, as in dance, the stately trees, and spread Surveying his great work, that it was good:
Their branches hung with copious fruit, or gemmed For of celestial bodies first the sun
Their blossoms: With high woods the hills were crowned; A mighty sphere he framed, unlightsome first,
With tufts the valleys, and each fountain side; Though of ethereal mould: then formed the moon
With borders long the rivers: that Earth now Globose, and every magnitude of stars,
Seemed like to Heaven, a seat where Gods might dwell, And sowed with stars the Heaven, thick as a field:
Or wander with delight, and love to haunt Of light by far the greater part he took,
Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rained Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and placed
Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground In the sun’s orb, made porous to receive
None was; but from the Earth a dewy mist And drink the liquid light; firm to retain
Went up, and watered all the ground, and each Her gathered beams, great palace now of light.
Plant of the field; which, ere it was in the Earth, Hither, as to their fountain, other stars
God made, and every herb, before it grew Repairing, in their golden urns draw light,
On the green stem: God saw that it was good: And hence the morning-planet gilds her horns;
So even and morn recorded the third day. By tincture or reflection they augment
Again the Almighty spake, Let there be lights Their small peculiar, though from human sight
High in the expanse of Heaven, to divide So far remote, with diminution seen,
The day from night; and let them be for signs, First in his east the glorious lamp was seen,
For seasons, and for days, and circling years; Regent of day, and all the horizon round
And let them be for lights, as I ordain Invested with bright rays, jocund to run

His longitude through Heaven’s high road; the gray Glide under the green wave, in sculls that oft
Dawn, and the Pleiades, before him danced, Bank the mid sea: part single, or with mate,
Shedding sweet influence: Less bright the moon, Graze the sea-weed their pasture, and through groves
But opposite in levelled west was set, Of coral stray; or, sporting with quick glance,
His mirrour, with full face borrowing her light Show to the sun their waved coats dropt with gold;
From him; for other light she needed none Or, in their pearly shells at ease, attend
In that aspect, and still that distance keeps Moist nutriment; or under rocks their food
Till night; then in the east her turn she shines, In jointed armour watch: on smooth the seal
Revolved on Heaven’s great axle, and her reign And bended dolphins play: part huge of bulk
With thousand lesser lights dividual holds, Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait,
With thousand thousand stars, that then appeared Tempest the ocean: there leviathan,
Spangling the hemisphere: Then first adorned Hugest of living creatures, on the deep
With their bright luminaries that set and rose, Stretched like a promontory sleeps or swims,
Glad evening and glad morn crowned the fourth day. And seems a moving land; and at his gills
And God said, Let the waters generate Draws in, and at his trunk spouts out, a sea.
Reptile with spawn abundant, living soul: Mean while the tepid caves, and fens, and shores,
And let fowl fly above the Earth, with wings Their brood as numerous hatch, from the egg that soon
Displayed on the open firmament of Heaven. Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclosed
And God created the great whales, and each Their callow young; but feathered soon and fledge
Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously They summed their pens; and, soaring the air sublime,
The waters generated by their kinds; With clang despised the ground, under a cloud
And every bird of wing after his kind; In prospect; there the eagle and the stork
And saw that it was good, and blessed them, saying. On cliffs and cedar tops their eyries build:
Be fruitful, multiply, and in the seas, Part loosely wing the region, part more wise
And lakes, and running streams, the waters fill; In common, ranged in figure, wedge their way,
And let the fowl be multiplied, on the Earth. Intelligent of seasons, and set forth
Forthwith the sounds and seas, each creek and bay, Their aery caravan, high over seas
With fry innumerable swarm, and shoals Flying, and over lands, with mutual wing
Of fish that with their fins, and shining scales, Easing their flight; so steers the prudent crane

Her annual voyage, borne on winds; the air The cattle in the fields and meadows green:
Floats as they pass, fanned with unnumbered plumes: Those rare and solitary, these in flocks
From branch to branch the smaller birds with song Pasturing at once, and in broad herds upsprung.
Solaced the woods, and spread their painted wings The grassy clods now calved; now half appeared
Till even; nor then the solemn nightingale The tawny lion, pawing to get free
Ceased warbling, but all night tun’d her soft lays: His hinder parts, then springs as broke from bonds,
Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed And rampant shakes his brinded mane; the ounce,
Their downy breast; the swan with arched neck, The libbard, and the tiger, as the mole
Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows Rising, the crumbled earth above them threw
Her state with oary feet; yet oft they quit In hillocks: The swift stag from under ground
The dank, and, rising on stiff pennons, tower Bore up his branching head: Scarce from his mould
The mid aereal sky: Others on ground Behemoth biggest born of earth upheaved
Walked firm; the crested cock whose clarion sounds His vastness: Fleeced the flocks and bleating rose,
The silent hours, and the other whose gay train As plants: Ambiguous between sea and land
Adorns him, coloured with the florid hue The river-horse, and scaly crocodile.
Of rainbows and starry eyes. The waters thus At once came forth whatever creeps the ground,
With fish replenished, and the air with fowl, Insect or worm: those waved their limber fans
Evening and morn solemnized the fifth day. For wings, and smallest lineaments exact
The sixth, and of creation last, arose In all the liveries decked of summer’s pride
With evening harps and matin; when God said, With spots of gold and purple, azure and green:
Let the Earth bring forth soul living in her kind, These, as a line, their long dimension drew,
Cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the Earth, Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all
Each in their kind. The Earth obeyed, and straight Minims of nature; some of serpent-kind,
Opening her fertile womb teemed at a birth Wonderous in length and corpulence, involved
Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms, Their snaky folds, and added wings. First crept
Limbed and full grown: Out of the ground up rose, The parsimonious emmet, provident
As from his lair, the wild beast where he wons Of future; in small room large heart enclosed;
In forest wild, in thicket, brake, or den; Pattern of just equality perhaps
Among the trees in pairs they rose, they walked: Hereafter, joined in her popular tribes

Of commonalty: Swarming next appeared Present?) thus to his Son audibly spake.
The female bee, that feeds her husband drone Let us make now Man in our image, Man
Deliciously, and builds her waxen cells In our similitude, and let them rule
With honey stored: The rest are numberless, Over the fish and fowl of sea and air,
And thou their natures knowest, and gavest them names, Beast of the field, and over all the Earth,
Needless to thee repeated; nor unknown And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.
The serpent, subtlest beast of all the field, This said, he formed thee, Adam, thee, O Man,
Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed
And hairy mane terrifick, though to thee The breath of life; in his own image he
Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. Created thee, in the image of God
Now Heaven in all her glory shone, and rolled Express; and thou becamest a living soul.
Her motions, as the great first Mover’s hand Male he created thee; but thy consort
First wheeled their course: Earth in her rich attire Female, for race; then blessed mankind, and said,
Consummate lovely smiled; air, water, earth, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the Earth;
By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was walked, Subdue it, and throughout dominion hold
Frequent; and of the sixth day yet remained: Over fish of the sea, and fowl of the air,
There wanted yet the master-work, the end And every living thing that moves on the Earth.
Of all yet done; a creature, who, not prone Wherever thus created, for no place
And brute as other creatures, but endued Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou knowest,
With sanctity of reason, might erect He brought thee into this delicious grove,
His stature, and upright with front serene This garden, planted with the trees of God,
Govern the rest, self-knowing; and from thence Delectable both to behold and taste;
Magnanimous to correspond with Heaven, And freely all their pleasant fruit for food
But grateful to acknowledge whence his good Gave thee; all sorts are here that all the Earth yields,
Descends, thither with heart, and voice, and eyes Variety without end; but of the tree,
Directed in devotion, to adore Which, tasted, works knowledge of good and evil,
And worship God Supreme, who made him chief Thou mayest not; in the day thou eatest, thou diest;
Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent Death is the penalty imposed; beware,
Eternal Father (for where is not he And govern well thy appetite; lest Sin

Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. To God’s eternal house direct the way;
Here finished he, and all that he had made A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold
Viewed, and behold all was entirely good; And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear,
So even and morn accomplished the sixth day: Seen in the galaxy, that milky way,
Yet not till the Creator from his work Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest
Desisting, though unwearied, up returned, Powdered with stars. And now on Earth the seventh
Up to the Heaven of Heavens, his high abode; Evening arose in Eden, for the sun
Thence to behold this new created world, Was set, and twilight from the east came on,
The addition of his empire, how it showed Forerunning night; when at the holy mount
In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, Of Heaven’s high-seated top, the imperial throne
Answering his great idea. Up he rode Of Godhead, fixed for ever firm and sure,
Followed with acclamation, and the sound The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down
Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tuned With his great Father; for he also went
Angelick harmonies: The earth, the air Invisible, yet staid, (such privilege
Resounded, (thou rememberest, for thou heardst,) Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordained,
The heavens and all the constellations rung, Author and End of all things; and, from work
The planets in their station listening stood, Now resting, blessed and hallowed the seventh day,
While the bright pomp ascended jubilant. As resting on that day from all his work,
Open, ye everlasting gates! they sung, But not in silence holy kept: the harp
Open, ye Heavens! your living doors;let in Had work and rested not; the solemn pipe,
The great Creator from his work returned And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop,
Magnificent, his six days work, a World; All sounds on fret by string or golden wire,
Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deign Tempered soft tunings, intermixed with voice
To visit oft the dwellings of just men, Choral or unison: of incense clouds,
Delighted; and with frequent intercourse Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount.
Thither will send his winged messengers Creation and the six days acts they sung:
On errands of supernal grace. So sung Great are thy works, Jehovah! infinite
The glorious train ascending: He through Heaven, Thy power! what thought can measure thee, or tongue
That opened wide her blazing portals, led Relate thee! Greater now in thy return

Than from the giant Angels: Thee that day With halleluiahs: Thus was sabbath kept.
Thy thunders magnified; but to create And thy request think now fulfilled, that asked
Is greater than created to destroy. How first this world and face of things began,
Who can impair thee, Mighty King, or bound And what before thy memory was done
Thy empire! Easily the proud attempt From the beginning; that posterity,
Of Spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, Informed by thee, might know: If else thou seekest
Thou hast repelled; while impiously they thought Aught, not surpassing human measure, say.
Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw
The number of thy worshippers. Who seeks
To lessen thee, against his purpose serves
To manifest the more thy might: his evil
Thou usest, and from thence createst more good.
Witness this new-made world, another Heaven
From Heaven-gate not far, founded in view
On the clear hyaline, the glassy sea;
Of amplitude almost immense, with stars
Numerous, and every star perhaps a world
Of destined habitation; but thou knowest
Their seasons: among these the seat of Men,
Earth, with her nether ocean circumfused,
Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy Men,
And sons of Men, whom God hath thus advanced!
Created in his image, there to dwell
And worship him; and in reward to rule
Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air,
And multiply a race of worshippers
Holy and just: Thrice happy, if they know
Their happiness, and persevere upright!
So sung they, and the empyrean rung

Book VIII Useless besides; reasoning I oft admire,
How Nature wise and frugal could commit
Such disproportions, with superfluous hand
So many nobler bodies to create,
Greater so manifold, to this one use,
T he Angel ended, and in Adam’s ear

So charming left his voice, that he a while
Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to hear;
For aught appears, and on their orbs impose
Such restless revolution day by day
Repeated; while the sedentary Earth,
Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied. That better might with far less compass move,
What thanks sufficient, or what recompence Served by more noble than herself, attains
Equal, have I to render thee, divine Her end without least motion, and receives,
Historian, who thus largely hast allayed As tribute, such a sumless journey brought
The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafed Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light;
This friendly condescension to relate Speed, to describe whose swiftness number fails.
Things, else by me unsearchable; now heard So spake our sire, and by his countenance seemed
With wonder, but delight, and, as is due, Entering on studious thoughts abstruse; which Eve
With glory attributed to the high Perceiving, where she sat retired in sight,
Creator! Something yet of doubt remains, With lowliness majestick from her seat,
Which only thy solution can resolve. And grace that won who saw to wish her stay,
When I behold this goodly frame, this world, Rose, and went forth among her fruits and flowers,
Of Heaven and Earth consisting; and compute To visit how they prospered, bud and bloom,
Their magnitudes; this Earth, a spot, a grain, Her nursery; they at her coming sprung,
An atom, with the firmament compared And, touched by her fair tendance, gladlier grew.
And all her numbered stars, that seem to roll Yet went she not, as not with such discourse
Spaces incomprehensible, (for such Delighted, or not capable her ear
Their distance argues, and their swift return Of what was high: such pleasure she reserved,
Diurnal,) merely to officiate light Adam relating, she sole auditress;
Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot, Her husband the relater she preferred
One day and night; in all her vast survey Before the Angel, and of him to ask

Chose rather; he, she knew, would intermix With centrick and eccentrick scribbled o’er,
Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb:
With conjugal caresses: from his lip Already by thy reasoning this I guess,
Not words alone pleased her. O! when meet now Who art to lead thy offspring, and supposest
Such pairs, in love and mutual honour joined? That bodies bright and greater should not serve
With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went, The less not bright, nor Heaven such journeys run,
Not unattended; for on her, as Queen, Earth sitting still, when she alone receives
A pomp of winning Graces waited still, The benefit: Consider first, that great
And from about her shot darts of desire Or bright infers not excellence: the Earth
Into all eyes, to wish her still in sight. Though, in comparison of Heaven, so small,
And Raphael now, to Adam’s doubt proposed, Nor glistering, may of solid good contain
Benevolent and facile thus replied. More plenty than the sun that barren shines;
To ask or search, I blame thee not; for Heaven Whose virtue on itself works no effect,
Is as the book of God before thee set, But in the fruitful Earth; there first received,
Wherein to read his wonderous works, and learn His beams, unactive else, their vigour find.
His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years: Yet not to Earth are those bright luminaries
This to attain, whether Heaven move or Earth, Officious; but to thee, Earth’s habitant.
Imports not, if thou reckon right; the rest And for the Heaven’s wide circuit, let it speak
From Man or Angel the great Architect The Maker’s high magnificence, who built
Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge So spacious, and his line stretched out so far;
His secrets to be scanned by them who ought That Man may know he dwells not in his own;
Rather admire; or, if they list to try An edifice too large for him to fill,
Conjecture, he his fabrick of the Heavens Lodged in a small partition; and the rest
Hath left to their disputes, perhaps to move Ordained for uses to his Lord best known.
His laughter at their quaint opinions wide The swiftness of those circles attribute,
Hereafter; when they come to model Heaven Though numberless, to his Omnipotence,
And calculate the stars, how they will wield That to corporeal substances could add
The mighty frame; how build, unbuild, contrive Speed almost spiritual: Me thou thinkest not slow,
To save appearances; how gird the sphere Who since the morning-hour set out from Heaven

Where God resides, and ere mid-day arrived Sent from her through the wide transpicuous air,
In Eden; distance inexpressible To the terrestrial moon be as a star,
By numbers that have name. But this I urge, Enlightening her by day, as she by night
Admitting motion in the Heavens, to show This earth? reciprocal, if land be there,
Invalid that which thee to doubt it moved; Fields and inhabitants: Her spots thou seest
Not that I so affirm, though so it seem As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce
To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth. Fruits in her softened soil for some to eat
God, to remove his ways from human sense, Allotted there; and other suns perhaps,
Placed Heaven from Earth so far, that earthly sight, With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry,
If it presume, might err in things too high, Communicating male and female light;
And no advantage gain. What if the sun Which two great sexes animate the world,
Be center to the world; and other stars, Stored in each orb perhaps with some that live.
By his attractive virtue and their own For such vast room in Nature unpossessed
Incited, dance about him various rounds? By living soul, desart and desolate,
Their wandering course now high, now low, then hid, Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute
Progressive, retrograde, or standing still, Each orb a glimpse of light, conveyed so far
In six thou seest; and what if seventh to these Down to this habitable, which returns
The planet earth, so stedfast though she seem, Light back to them, is obvious to dispute.
Insensibly three different motions move? But whether thus these things, or whether not;
Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe, But whether the sun, predominant in Heaven,
Moved contrary with thwart obliquities; Rise on the earth; or earth rise on the sun;
Or save the sun his labour, and that swift He from the east his flaming road begin;
Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb supposed, Or she from west her silent course advance,
Invisible else above all stars, the wheel With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps
Of day and night; which needs not thy belief, On her soft axle, while she paces even,
If earth, industrious of herself, fetch day And bears thee soft with the smooth hair along;
Travelling east, and with her part averse Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid;
From the sun’s beam meet night, her other part Leave them to God above; him serve, and fear!
Still luminous by his ray. What if that light, Of other creatures, as him pleases best,

Wherever placed, let him dispose; joy thou A lower flight, and speak of things at hand
In what he gives to thee, this Paradise Useful; whence, haply, mention may arise
And thy fair Eve; Heaven is for thee too high Of something not unseasonable to ask,
To know what passes there; be lowly wise: By sufferance, and thy wonted favour, deigned.
Think only what concerns thee, and thy being; Thee I have heard relating what was done
Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there Ere my remembrance: now, hear me relate
Live, in what state, condition, or degree; My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard;
Contented that thus far hath been revealed And day is not yet spent; till then thou seest
Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven. How subtly to detain thee I devise;
To whom thus Adam, cleared of doubt, replied. Inviting thee to hear while I relate;
How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure Fond! were it not in hope of thy reply:
Intelligence of Heaven, Angel serene! For, while I sit with thee, I seem in Heaven;
And, freed from intricacies, taught to live And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear
The easiest way; nor with perplexing thoughts Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst
To interrupt the sweet of life, from which And hunger both, from labour, at the hour
God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares, Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill,
And not molest us; unless we ourselves Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine
Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions vain. Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety.
But apt the mind or fancy is to rove To whom thus Raphael answered heavenly meek.
Unchecked, and of her roving is no end; Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men,
Till warned, or by experience taught, she learn, Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee
That, not to know at large of things remote Abundantly his gifts hath also poured
From use, obscure and subtle; but, to know Inward and outward both, his image fair:
That which before us lies in daily life, Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace
Is the prime wisdom: What is more, is fume, Attends thee; and each word, each motion, forms;
Or emptiness, or fond impertinence: Nor less think we in Heaven of thee on Earth
And renders us, in things that most concern, Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire
Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek. Gladly into the ways of God with Man:
Therefore from this high pitch let us descend For God, we see, hath honoured thee, and set

On Man his equal love: Say therefore on; Straight toward Heaven my wondering eyes I turned,
For I that day was absent, as befel, And gazed a while the ample sky; till, raised
Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung,
Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell; As thitherward endeavouring, and upright
Squared in full legion (such command we had) Stood on my feet: about me round I saw
To see that none thence issued forth a spy, Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains,
Or enemy, while God was in his work; And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these,
Lest he, incensed at such eruption bold, Creatures that lived and moved, and walked, or flew;
Destruction with creation might have mixed. Birds on the branches warbling; all things smiled;
Not that they durst without his leave attempt; With fragrance and with joy my heart o’erflowed.
But us he sends upon his high behests Myself I then perused, and limb by limb
For state, as Sovran King; and to inure Surveyed, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran
Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut, With supple joints, as lively vigour led:
The dismal gates, and barricadoed strong; But who I was, or where, or from what cause,
But long ere our approaching heard within Knew not; to speak I tried, and forthwith spake;
Noise, other than the sound of dance or song, My tongue obeyed, and readily could name
Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. Whate’er I saw. Thou Sun, said I, fair light,
Glad we returned up to the coasts of light And thou enlightened Earth, so fresh and gay,
Ere sabbath-evening: so we had in charge. Ye Hills, and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plains,
But thy relation now; for I attend, And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell,
Pleased with thy words no less than thou with mine. Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here?—
So spake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire. Not of myself;—by some great Maker then,
For Man to tell how human life began In goodness and in power pre-eminent:
Is hard; for who himself beginning knew Tell me, how may I know him, how adore,
Desire with thee still longer to converse From whom I have that thus I move and live,
Induced me. As new waked from soundest sleep, And feel that I am happier than I know.—
Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid, While thus I called, and strayed I knew not whither,
In balmy sweat; which with his beams the sun From where I first drew air, and first beheld
Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. This happy light; when, answer none returned,

On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, In adoration at his feet I fell
Pensive I sat me down: There gentle sleep Submiss: He reared me, and ‘Whom thou soughtest I am,’
First found me, and with soft oppression seised Said mildly, ‘Author of all this thou seest
My droused sense, untroubled, though I thought ‘Above, or round about thee, or beneath.
I then was passing to my former state ‘This Paradise I give thee, count it thine
Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve: ‘To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat:
When suddenly stood at my head a dream, ‘Of every tree that in the garden grows
Whose inward apparition gently moved ‘Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth:
My fancy to believe I yet had being, ‘But of the tree whose operation brings
And lived: One came, methought, of shape divine, ‘Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set
And said, ‘Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise, ‘The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith,
‘First Man, of men innumerable ordained ‘Amid the garden by the tree of life,
‘First Father! called by thee, I come thy guide ‘Remember what I warn thee, shun to taste,
‘To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.’ ‘And shun the bitter consequence: for know,
So saying, by the hand he took me raised, ‘The day thou eatest thereof, my sole command
And over fields and waters, as in air ‘Transgressed, inevitably thou shalt die,
Smooth-sliding without step, last led me up ‘From that day mortal; and this happy state
A woody mountain; whose high top was plain, ‘Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world
A circuit wide, enclosed, with goodliest trees ‘Of woe and sorrow.’ Sternly he pronounced
Planted, with walks, and bowers; that what I saw The rigid interdiction, which resounds
Of Earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree, Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice
Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect
Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite Returned, and gracious purpose thus renewed.
To pluck and eat; whereat I waked, and found ‘Not only these fair bounds, but all the Earth
Before mine eyes all real, as the dream ‘To thee and to thy race I give; as lords
Had lively shadowed: Here had new begun ‘Possess it, and all things that therein live,
My wandering, had not he, who was my guide ‘Or live in sea, or air; beast, fish, and fowl.
Up hither, from among the trees appeared, ‘In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold
Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe, ‘After their kinds; I bring them to receive

‘From thee their names, and pay thee fealty Their language and their ways? They also know,
‘With low subjection; understand the same And reason not contemptibly: With these
‘Of fish within their watery residence, Find pastime, and bear rule; thy realm is large.
‘Not hither summoned, since they cannot change So spake the Universal Lord, and seemed
‘Their element, to draw the thinner air.’ So ordering: I, with leave of speech implored,
As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold And humble deprecation, thus replied.
Approaching two and two; these cowering low Let not my words offend thee, Heavenly Power;
With blandishment; each bird stooped on his wing. My Maker, be propitious while I speak.
I named them, as they passed, and understood Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,
Their nature, with such knowledge God endued And these inferiour far beneath me set?
My sudden apprehension: But in these Among unequals what society
I found not what methought I wanted still; Can sort, what harmony, or true delight?
And to the heavenly Vision thus presumed. Which must be mutual, in proportion due
O, by what name, for thou above all these, Given and received; but, in disparity
Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher, The one intense, the other still remiss,
Surpassest far my naming; how may I Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove
Adore thee, Author of this universe, Tedious alike: Of fellowship I speak
And all this good to man? for whose well being Such as I seek, fit to participate
So amply, and with hands so liberal, All rational delight: wherein the brute
Thou hast provided all things: But with me Cannot be human consort: They rejoice
I see not who partakes. In solitude Each with their kind, lion with lioness;
What happiness, who can enjoy alone, So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined:
Or, all enjoying, what contentment find? Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl
Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright, So well converse, nor with the ox the ape;
As with a smile more brightened, thus replied. Worse then can man with beast, and least of all.
What callest thou solitude? Is not the Earth Whereto the Almighty answered, not displeased.
With various living creatures, and the air A nice and subtle happiness, I see,
Replenished, and all these at thy command Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice
To come and play before thee? Knowest thou not Of thy associates, Adam! and wilt taste

No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary. Of union or communion, deified:
What thinkest thou then of me, and this my state? I, by conversing, cannot these erect
Seem I to thee sufficiently possessed From prone; nor in their ways complacence find.
Of happiness, or not? who am alone Thus I emboldened spake, and freedom used
From all eternity; for none I know Permissive, and acceptance found; which gained
Second to me or like, equal much less. This answer from the gracious Voice Divine.
How have I then with whom to hold converse, Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased;
Save with the creatures which I made, and those And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone,
To me inferiour, infinite descents Which thou hast rightly named, but of thyself;
Beneath what other creatures are to thee? Expressing well the spirit within thee free,
He ceased; I lowly answered. To attain My image, not imparted to the brute;
The highth and depth of thy eternal ways Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee
All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things! Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike;
Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee And be so minded still: I, ere thou spakest,
Is no deficience found: Not so is Man, Knew it not good for Man to be alone;
But in degree; the cause of his desire And no such company as then thou sawest
By conversation with his like to help Intended thee; for trial only brought,
Or solace his defects. No need that thou To see how thou couldest judge of fit and meet:
Shouldst propagate, already Infinite; What next I bring shall please thee, be assured,
And through all numbers absolute, though One: Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,
But Man by number is to manifest Thy wish exactly to thy heart’s desire.
His single imperfection, and beget He ended, or I heard no more; for now
Like of his like, his image multiplied, My earthly by his heavenly overpowered,
In unity defective; which requires Which it had long stood under, strained to the highth
Collateral love, and dearest amity. In that celestial colloquy sublime,
Thou in thy secresy although alone, As with an object that excels the sense
Best with thyself accompanied, seekest not Dazzled and spent, sunk down; and sought repair
Social communication; yet, so pleased, Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, called
Canst raise thy creature to what highth thou wilt By Nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes.

Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell In every gesture dignity and love.
Of fancy, my internal sight; by which, I, overjoyed, could not forbear aloud.
Abstract as in a trance, methought I saw, This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfilled
Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign,
Still glorious before whom awake I stood: Giver of all things fair! but fairest this
Who stooping opened my left side, and took Of all thy gifts! nor enviest. I now see
From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm, Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself
And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound, Before me: Woman is her name;of Man
But suddenly with flesh filled up and healed: Extracted: for this cause he shall forego
The rib he formed and fashioned with his hands; Father and mother, and to his wife adhere;
Under his forming hands a creature grew, And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul.
Man-like, but different sex; so lovely fair, She heard me thus; and though divinely brought,
That what seemed fair in all the world, seemed now Yet innocence, and virgin modesty,
Mean, or in her summed up, in her contained Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth,
And in her looks; which from that time infused That would be wooed, and not unsought be won,
Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before, Not obvious, not obtrusive, but, retired,
And into all things from her air inspired The more desirable; or, to say all,
The spirit of love and amorous delight. Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought,
She disappeared, and left me dark; I waked Wrought in her so, that, seeing me, she turned:
To find her, or for ever to deplore I followed her; she what was honour knew,
Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure: And with obsequious majesty approved
When out of hope, behold her, not far off, My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower
Such as I saw her in my dream, adorned I led her blushing like the morn: All Heaven,
With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow And happy constellations, on that hour
To make her amiable: On she came, Shed their selectest influence; the Earth
Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen, Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill;
And guided by his voice; nor uninformed Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs
Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites: Whispered it to the woods, and from their wings
Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub,

Disporting, till the amorous bird of night Her loveliness, so absolute she seems
Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening-star And in herself complete, so well to know
On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp. Her own, that what she wills to do or say,
Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best:
My story to the sum of earthly bliss, All higher knowledge in her presence falls
Which I enjoy; and must confess to find Degraded; Wisdom in discourse with her
In all things else delight indeed, but such Loses discountenanced, and like Folly shows;
As, used or not, works in the mind no change, Authority and Reason on her wait,
Nor vehement desire; these delicacies As one intended first, not after made
I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, Occasionally; and, to consummate all,
Walks, and the melody of birds: but here Greatness of mind and Nobleness their seat
Far otherwise, transported I behold, Build in her loveliest, and create an awe
Transported touch; here passion first I felt, About her, as a guard angelick placed.
Commotion strange! in all enjoyments else To whom the Angel with contracted brow.
Superiour and unmoved; here only weak Accuse not Nature, she hath done her part;
Against the charm of Beauty’s powerful glance. Do thou but thine; and be not diffident
Or Nature failed in me, and left some part Of Wisdom; she deserts thee not, if thou
Not proof enough such object to sustain; Dismiss not her, when most thou needest her nigh,
Or, from my side subducting, took perhaps By attributing overmuch to things
More than enough; at least on her bestowed Less excellent, as thou thyself perceivest.
Too much of ornament, in outward show For, what admirest thou, what transports thee so,
Elaborate, of inward less exact. An outside? fair, no doubt, and worthy well
For well I understand in the prime end Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love;
Of Nature her the inferiour, in the mind Not thy subjection: Weigh with her thyself;
And inward faculties, which most excel; Then value: Oft-times nothing profits more
In outward also her resembling less Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right
His image who made both, and less expressing Well managed; of that skill the more thou knowest,
The character of that dominion given The more she will acknowledge thee her head,
O’er other creatures: Yet when I approach And to realities yield all her shows:

Made so adorn for thy delight the more, Harmony to behold in wedded pair
So awful, that with honour thou mayest love More grateful than harmonious sound to the ear.
Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose
But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind What inward thence I feel, not therefore foiled,
Is propagated, seem such dear delight Who meet with various objects, from the sense
Beyond all other; think the same vouchsafed Variously representing; yet, still free,
To cattle and each beast; which would not be Approve the best, and follow what I approve.
To them made common and divulged, if aught To love, thou blamest me not; for Love, thou sayest,
Therein enjoyed were worthy to subdue Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide;
The soul of man, or passion in him move. Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask:
What higher in her society thou findest Love not the heavenly Spirits, and how their love
Attractive, human, rational, love still; Express they? by looks only? or do they mix
In loving thou dost well, in passion not, Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?
Wherein true love consists not: Love refines To whom the Angel, with a smile that glowed
The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his seat Celestial rosy red, Love’s proper hue,
In reason, and is judicious; is the scale Answered. Let it suffice thee that thou knowest
By which to heavenly love thou mayest ascend, Us happy, and without love no happiness.
Not sunk in carnal pleasure; for which cause, Whatever pure thou in the body enjoyest,
Among the beasts no mate for thee was found. (And pure thou wert created) we enjoy
To whom thus, half abashed, Adam replied. In eminence; and obstacle find none
Neither her outside formed so fair, nor aught Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars;
In procreation common to all kinds, Easier than air with air, if Spirits embrace,
(Though higher of the genial bed by far, Total they mix, union of pure with pure
And with mysterious reverence I deem,) Desiring, nor restrained conveyance need,
So much delights me, as those graceful acts, As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul.
Those thousand decencies, that daily flow But I can now no more; the parting sun
From all her words and actions mixed with love Beyond the Earth’s green Cape and verdant Isles
And sweet compliance, which declare unfeigned Hesperian sets, my signal to depart.
Union of mind, or in us both one soul; 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 Book IX
Thy judgement to do aught, which else free will
Would not admit: thine, and of all thy sons,
The weal or woe in thee is placed; beware!
I in thy persevering shall rejoice,
And all the Blest: Stand fast;to stand or fall
Free in thine own arbitrement it lies.
N o more of talk where God or Angel guest
With Man, as with his friend, familiar us’d,
To sit indulgent, and with him partake
Perfect within, no outward aid require; Rural repast; permitting him the while
And all temptation to transgress repel. Venial discourse unblam’d. I now must change
So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus Those notes to tragick; foul distrust, and breach
Followed with benediction. Since to part, Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt,
Go, heavenly guest, ethereal Messenger, And disobedience: on the part of Heaven
Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore! Now alienated, distance and distaste,
Gentle to me and affable hath been Anger and just rebuke, and judgement given,
Thy condescension, and shall be honoured ever That brought into this world a world of woe,
With grateful memory: Thou to mankind Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery
Be good and friendly still, and oft return! Death’s harbinger: Sad talk!yet argument
So parted they; the Angel up to Heaven Not less but more heroick than the wrath
From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower. Of stern Achilles on his foe pursued
Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; or rage
Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous’d;
Or Neptune’s ire, or Juno’s, that so long
Perplexed the Greek, and Cytherea’s son:
If answerable style I can obtain
Of my celestial patroness, who deigns
Her nightly visitation unimplor’d,
And dictates to me slumbering; or inspires
Easy my unpremeditated verse:

Since first this subject for heroick song Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improv’d
Pleas’d me long choosing, and beginning late; In meditated fraud and malice, bent
Not sedulous by nature to indite On Man’s destruction, maugre what might hap
Wars, hitherto the only argument Of heavier on himself, fearless returned
Heroick deem’d chief mastery to dissect From compassing the earth; cautious of day,
With long and tedious havock fabled knights Since Uriel, regent of the sun, descried
In battles feign’d; the better fortitude His entrance, and foreworned the Cherubim
Of patience and heroick martyrdom That kept their watch; thence full of anguish driven,
Unsung; or to describe races and games, The space of seven continued nights he rode
Or tilting furniture, imblazon’d shields, With darkness; thrice the equinoctial line
Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds, He circled; four times crossed the car of night
Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights From pole to pole, traversing each colure;
At joust and tournament; then marshall’d feast On the eighth returned; and, on the coast averse
Serv’d up in hall with sewers and seneshals; From entrance or Cherubick watch, by stealth
The skill of artifice or office mean, Found unsuspected way. There was a place,
Not that which justly gives heroick name Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change,
To person, or to poem. Me, of these Where Tigris, at the foot of Paradise,
Nor skill’d nor studious, higher argument Into a gulf shot under ground, till part
Remains; sufficient of itself to raise Rose up a fountain by the tree of life:
That name, unless an age too late, or cold In with the river sunk, and with it rose
Climate, or years, damp my intended wing Satan, involved in rising mist; then sought
Depress’d; and much they may, if all be mine, Where to lie hid; sea he had searched, and land,
Not hers, who brings it nightly to my ear. From Eden over Pontus and the pool
The sun was sunk, and after him the star Maeotis, up beyond the river Ob;
Of Hesperus, whose office is to bring Downward as far antarctick; and in length,
Twilight upon the earth, short arbiter West from Orontes to the ocean barred
‘twixt day and night, and now from end to end At Darien ; thence to the land where flows
Night’s hemisphere had veil’d the horizon round: Ganges and Indus: Thus the orb he roamed
When satan, who late fled before the threats With narrow search; and with inspection deep

Considered every creature, which of all Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in Man.
Most opportune might serve his wiles; and found With what delight could I have walked thee round,
The Serpent subtlest beast of all the field. If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange
Him after long debate, irresolute Of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains,
Of thoughts revolved, his final sentence chose Now land, now sea and shores with forest crowned,
Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom Rocks, dens, and caves! But I in none of these
To enter, and his dark suggestions hide Find place or refuge; and the more I see
From sharpest sight: for, in the wily snake Pleasures about me, so much more I feel
Whatever sleights, none would suspicious mark, Torment within me, as from the hateful siege
As from his wit and native subtlety Of contraries: all good to me becomes
Proceeding; which, in other beasts observed, Bane, and in Heaven much worse would be my state.
Doubt might beget of diabolick power But neither here seek I, no nor in Heaven
Active within, beyond the sense of brute. To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven’s Supreme;
Thus he resolved, but first from inward grief Nor hope to be myself less miserable
His bursting passion into plaints thus poured. By what I seek, but others to make such
More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built As I, though thereby worse to me redound:
With second thoughts, reforming what was old! For only in destroying I find ease
O Earth, how like to Heaven, if not preferred To my relentless thoughts; and, him destroyed,
For what God, after better, worse would build? Or won to what may work his utter loss,
Terrestrial Heaven, danced round by other Heavens For whom all this was made, all this will soon
That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps, Follow, as to him linked in weal or woe;
Light above light, for thee alone, as seems, In woe then; that destruction wide may range:
In thee concentring all their precious beams To me shall be the glory sole among
Of sacred influence! As God in Heaven The infernal Powers, in one day to have marred
Is center, yet extends to all; so thou, What he, Almighty styled, six nights and days
Centring, receivest from all those orbs: in thee, Continued making; and who knows how long
Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears Before had been contriving? though perhaps
Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth Not longer than since I, in one night, freed
Of creatures animate with gradual life From servitude inglorious well nigh half

The angelick name, and thinner left the throng To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet,
Of his adorers: He, to be avenged, Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils:
And to repair his numbers thus impaired, Let it; I reck not, so it light well aimed,
Whether such virtue spent of old now failed Since higher I fall short, on him who next
More Angels to create, if they at least Provokes my envy, this new favourite
Are his created, or, to spite us more, Of Heaven, this man of clay, son of despite,
Determined to advance into our room Whom, us the more to spite, his Maker raised
A creature formed of earth, and him endow, From dust: Spite then with spite is best repaid.
Exalted from so base original, So saying, through each thicket dank or dry,
With heavenly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed, Like a black mist low-creeping, he held on
He effected; Man he made, and for him built His midnight-search, where soonest he might find
Magnificent this world, and earth his seat, The serpent; him fast-sleeping soon he found
Him lord pronounced; and, O indignity! In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled,
Subjected to his service angel-wings, His head the midst, well stored with subtile wiles:
And flaming ministers to watch and tend Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den,
Their earthly charge: Of these the vigilance Nor nocent yet; but, on the grassy herb,
I dread; and, to elude, thus wrapt in mist Fearless unfeared he slept: in at his mouth
Of midnight vapour glide obscure, and pry The Devil entered; and his brutal sense,
In every bush and brake, where hap may find In heart or head, possessing, soon inspired
The serpent sleeping; in whose mazy folds With act intelligential; but his sleep
To hide me, and the dark intent I bring. Disturbed not, waiting close the approach of morn.
O foul descent! that I, who erst contended Now, when as sacred light began to dawn
With Gods to sit the highest, am now constrained In Eden on the humid flowers, that breathed
Into a beast; and, mixed with bestial slime, Their morning incense, when all things, that breathe,
This essence to incarnate and imbrute, From the Earth’s great altar send up silent praise
That to the highth of Deity aspired! To the Creator, and his nostrils fill
But what will not ambition and revenge With grateful smell, forth came the human pair,
Descend to? Who aspires, must down as low And joined their vocal worship to the quire
As high he soared; obnoxious, first or last, Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake

The season prime for sweetest scents and airs: Well hast thou motioned, well thy thoughts employed,
Then commune, how that day they best may ply How we might best fulfil the work which here
Their growing work: for much their work out-grew God hath assigned us; nor of me shalt pass
The hands’ dispatch of two gardening so wide, Unpraised: for nothing lovelier can be found
And Eve first to her husband thus began. In woman, than to study houshold good,
Adam, well may we labour still to dress And good works in her husband to promote.
This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower, Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed
Our pleasant task enjoined; but, till more hands Labour, as to debar us when we need
Aid us, the work under our labour grows, Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,
Luxurious by restraint; what we by day Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse
Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow,
One night or two with wanton growth derides To brute denied, and are of love the food;
Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise, Love, not the lowest end of human life.
Or bear what to my mind first thoughts present: For not to irksome toil, but to delight,
Let us divide our labours; thou, where choice He made us, and delight to reason joined.
Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands
The woodbine round this arbour, or direct Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide
The clasping ivy where to climb; while I, As we need walk, till younger hands ere long
In yonder spring of roses intermixed Assist us; But, if much converse perhaps
With myrtle, find what to redress till noon: Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield:
For, while so near each other thus all day For solitude sometimes is best society,
Our task we choose, what wonder if so near And short retirement urges sweet return.
Looks intervene and smiles, or object new But other doubt possesses me, lest harm
Casual discourse draw on; which intermits Befall thee severed from me; for thou knowest
Our day’s work, brought to little, though begun What hath been warned us, what malicious foe
Early, and the hour of supper comes unearned? Envying our happiness, and of his own
To whom mild answer Adam thus returned. Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame
Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond By sly assault; and somewhere nigh at hand
Compare above all living creatures dear! Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find

His wish and best advantage, us asunder; Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced;
Hopeless to circumvent us joined, where each Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy breast,
To other speedy aid might lend at need: Adam, mis-thought of her to thee so dear?
Whether his first design be to withdraw To whom with healing words Adam replied.
Our fealty from God, or to disturb Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve!
Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss For such thou art; from sin and blame entire:
Enjoyed by us excites his envy more; Not diffident of thee do I dissuade
Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid
That gave thee being, still shades thee, and protects. The attempt itself, intended by our foe.
The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses
Safest and seemliest by her husband stays, The tempted with dishonour foul; supposed
Who guards her, or with her the worst endures. Not incorruptible of faith, not proof
To whom the virgin majesty of Eve, Against temptation: Thou thyself with scorn
As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, And anger wouldst resent the offered wrong,
With sweet austere composure thus replied. Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then,
Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth’s Lord! If such affront I labour to avert
That such an enemy we have, who seeks From thee alone, which on us both at once
Our ruin, both by thee informed I learn, The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare;
And from the parting Angel over-heard, Or daring, first on me the assault shall light.
As in a shady nook I stood behind, Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn;
Just then returned at shut of evening flowers. Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce
But, that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt Angels; nor think superfluous other’s aid.
To God or thee, because we have a foe I, from the influence of thy looks, receive
May tempt it, I expected not to hear. Access in every virtue; in thy sight
His violence thou fearest not, being such More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were
As we, not capable of death or pain, Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on,
Can either not receive, or can repel. Shame to be overcome or over-reached,
His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers Would utmost vigour raise, and raised unite.
Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel

When I am present, and thy trial choose Nothing imperfect or deficient left
With me, best witness of thy virtue tried? Of all that he created, much less Man,
So spake domestick Adam in his care Or aught that might his happy state secure,
And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought Secure from outward force; within himself
Less attributed to her faith sincere, The danger lies, yet lies within his power:
Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed. Against his will he can receive no harm.
If this be our condition, thus to dwell But God left free the will; for what obeys
In narrow circuit straitened by a foe, Reason, is free; and Reason he made right,
Subtle or violent, we not endued But bid her well be ware, and still erect;
Single with like defence, wherever met; Lest, by some fair-appearing good surprised,
How are we happy, still in fear of harm? She dictate false; and mis-inform the will
But harm precedes not sin: only our foe, To do what God expressly hath forbid.
Tempting, affronts us with his foul esteem Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins,
Of our integrity: his foul esteem That I should mind thee oft; and mind thou me.
Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve;
Foul on himself; then wherefore shunned or feared Since Reason not impossibly may meet
By us? who rather double honour gain Some specious object by the foe suborned,
From his surmise proved false; find peace within, And fall into deception unaware,
Favour from Heaven, our witness, from the event. Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warned.
And what is faith, love, virtue, unassayed Seek not temptation then, which to avoid
Alone, without exteriour help sustained? Were better, and most likely if from me
Let us not then suspect our happy state Thou sever not: Trial will come unsought.
Left so imperfect by the Maker wise, Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve
As not secure to single or combined. First thy obedience; the other who can know,
Frail is our happiness, if this be so, Not seeing thee attempted, who attest?
And Eden were no Eden, thus exposed. But, if thou think, trial unsought may find
To whom thus Adam fervently replied. Us both securer than thus warned thou seemest,
O Woman, best are all things as the will Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;
Of God ordained them: His creating hand Go in thy native innocence, rely

On what thou hast of virtue; summon all! Noontide repast, or afternoon’s repose.
For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine. O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve,
So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve Of thy presumed return! event perverse!
Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied. Thou never from that hour in Paradise
With thy permission then, and thus forewarned Foundst either sweet repast, or sound repose;
Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades,
Touched only; that our trial, when least sought, Waited with hellish rancour imminent
May find us both perhaps far less prepared, To intercept thy way, or send thee back
The willinger I go, nor much expect Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss!
A foe so proud will first the weaker seek; For now, and since first break of dawn, the Fiend,
So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse. Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come;
Thus saying, from her husband’s hand her hand And on his quest, where likeliest he might find
Soft she withdrew; and, like a Wood-Nymph light, The only two of mankind, but in them
Oread or Dryad, or of Delia’s train, The whole included race, his purposed prey.
Betook her to the groves; but Delia’s self In bower and field he sought, where any tuft
In gait surpassed, and Goddess-like deport, Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay,
Though not as she with bow and quiver armed, Their tendance, or plantation for delight;
But with such gardening tools as Art yet rude, By fountain or by shady rivulet
Guiltless of fire, had formed, or Angels brought. He sought them both, but wished his hap might find
To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorned, Eve separate; he wished, but not with hope
Likest she seemed, Pomona when she fled Of what so seldom chanced; when to his wish,
Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime, Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies,
Yet virgin of Proserpina from Jove. Veiled in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood,
Her long with ardent look his eye pursued Half spied, so thick the roses blushing round
Delighted, but desiring more her stay. About her glowed, oft stooping to support
Oft he to her his charge of quick return Each flower of slender stalk, whose head, though gay
Repeated; she to him as oft engaged Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold,
To be returned by noon amid the bower, Hung drooping unsustained; them she upstays
And all things in best order to invite Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while

Herself, though fairest unsupported flower, His malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved
From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh. His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought:
Nearer he drew, and many a walk traversed That space the Evil-one abstracted stood
Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm; From his own evil, and for the time remained
Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen, Stupidly good; of enmity disarmed,
Among thick-woven arborets, and flowers Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge:
Imbordered on each bank, the hand of Eve: But the hot Hell that always in him burns,
Spot more delicious than those gardens feigned Though in mid Heaven, soon ended his delight,
Or of revived Adonis, or renowned And tortures him now more, the more he sees
Alcinous, host of old Laertes’ son; Of pleasure, not for him ordained: then soon
Or that, not mystick, where the sapient king Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts
Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse. Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites.
Much he the place admired, the person more. Thoughts, whither have ye led me! with what sweet
As one who long in populous city pent, Compulsion thus transported, to forget
Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air, What hither brought us! hate, not love;nor hope
Forth issuing on a summer’s morn, to breathe Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste
Among the pleasant villages and farms Of pleasure; but all pleasure to destroy,
Adjoined, from each thing met conceives delight; Save what is in destroying; other joy
The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine, To me is lost. Then, let me not let pass
Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound; Occasion which now smiles; behold alone
If chance, with nymph-like step, fair virgin pass, The woman, opportune to all attempts,
What pleasing seemed, for her now pleases more; Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh,
She most, and in her look sums all delight: Whose higher intellectual more I shun,
Such pleasure took the Serpent to behold And strength, of courage haughty, and of limb
This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve Heroick built, though of terrestrial mould;
Thus early, thus alone: Her heavenly form Foe not informidable! exempt from wound,
Angelick, but more soft, and feminine, I not; so much hath Hell debased, and pain
Her graceful innocence, her every air Enfeebled me, to what I was in Heaven.
Of gesture, or least action, overawed She fair, divinely fair, fit love for Gods!

Not terrible, though terrour be in love Of rusling leaves, but minded not, as used
And beauty, not approached by stronger hate, To such disport before her through the field,
Hate stronger, under show of love well feigned; From every beast; more duteous at her call,
The way which to her ruin now I tend. Than at Circean call the herd disguised.
So spake the enemy of mankind, enclosed He, bolder now, uncalled before her stood,
In serpent, inmate bad! and toward Eve But as in gaze admiring: oft he bowed
Addressed his way: not with indented wave, His turret crest, and sleek enamelled neck,
Prone on the ground, as since; but on his rear, Fawning; and licked the ground whereon she trod.
Circular base of rising folds, that towered His gentle dumb expression turned at length
Fold above fold, a surging maze! his head The eye of Eve to mark his play; he, glad
Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes; Of her attention gained, with serpent-tongue
With burnished neck of verdant gold, erect Organick, or impulse of vocal air,
Amidst his circling spires, that on the grass His fraudulent temptation thus began.
Floated redundant: pleasing was his shape Wonder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps
And lovely; never since of serpent-kind Thou canst, who art sole wonder! much less arm
Lovelier, not those that in Illyria changed, Thy looks, the Heaven of mildness, with disdain,
Hermione and Cadmus, or the god Displeased that I approach thee thus, and gaze
In Epidaurus; nor to which transformed Insatiate; I thus single;nor have feared
Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline, was seen; Thy awful brow, more awful thus retired.
He with Olympias; this with her who bore Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair,
Scipio, the highth of Rome. With tract oblique Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine
At first, as one who sought access, but feared By gift, and thy celestial beauty adore
To interrupt, side-long he works his way. With ravishment beheld! there best beheld,
As when a ship, by skilful steersmen wrought Where universally admired; but here
Nigh river’s mouth or foreland, where the wind In this enclosure wild, these beasts among,
Veers oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her sail: Beholders rude, and shallow to discern
So varied he, and of his tortuous train Half what in thee is fair, one man except,
Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve, Who sees thee? and what is one? who should be seen
To lure her eye; she, busied, heard the sound A Goddess among Gods, adored and served

By Angels numberless, thy daily train. A goodly tree far distant to behold
So glozed the Tempter, and his proem tuned: Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixed,
Into the heart of Eve his words made way, Ruddy and gold: I nearer drew to gaze;
Though at the voice much marvelling; at length, When from the boughs a savoury odour blown,
Not unamazed, she thus in answer spake. Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense
What may this mean? language of man pronounced Than smell of sweetest fennel, or the teats
By tongue of brute, and human sense expressed? Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even,
The first, at least, of these I thought denied Unsucked of lamb or kid, that tend their play.
To beasts; whom God, on their creation-day, To satisfy the sharp desire I had
Created mute to all articulate sound: Of tasting those fair apples, I resolved
The latter I demur; for in their looks Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once,
Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. Powerful persuaders, quickened at the scent
Thee, Serpent, subtlest beast of all the field Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen.
I knew, but not with human voice endued; About the mossy trunk I wound me soon;
Redouble then this miracle, and say, For, high from ground, the branches would require
How camest thou speakable of mute, and how Thy utmost reach or Adam’s: Round the tree
To me so friendly grown above the rest All other beasts that saw, with like desire
Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight? Longing and envying stood, but could not reach.
Say, for such wonder claims attention due. Amid the tree now got, where plenty hung
To whom the guileful Tempter thus replied. Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill
Empress of this fair world, resplendent Eve! I spared not; for, such pleasure till that hour,
Easy to me it is to tell thee all At feed or fountain, never had I found.
What thou commandest; and right thou shouldst be Sated at length, ere long I might perceive
obeyed: Strange alteration in me, to degree
I was at first as other beasts that graze Of reason in my inward powers; and speech
The trodden herb, of abject thoughts and low, Wanted not long; though to this shape retained.
As was my food; nor aught but food discerned Thenceforth to speculations high or deep
Or sex, and apprehended nothing high: I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind
Till, on a day roving the field, I chanced Considered all things visible in Heaven,

Or Earth, or Middle; all things fair and good: Brightens his crest; as when a wandering fire,
But all that fair and good in thy divine Compact of unctuous vapour, which the night
Semblance, and in thy beauty’s heavenly ray, Condenses, and the cold environs round,
United I beheld; no fair to thine Kindled through agitation to a flame,
Equivalent or second! which compelled Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends,
Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come Hovering and blazing with delusive light,
And gaze, and worship thee of right declared Misleads the amazed night-wanderer from his way
Sovran of creatures, universal Dame! To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool;
So talked the spirited sly Snake; and Eve, There swallowed up and lost, from succour far.
Yet more amazed, unwary thus replied. So glistered the dire Snake, and into fraud
Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the tree
The virtue of that fruit, in thee first proved: Of prohibition, root of all our woe;
But say, where grows the tree? from hence how far? Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake.
For many are the trees of God that grow Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither,
In Paradise, and various, yet unknown Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess,
To us; in such abundance lies our choice, The credit of whose virtue rest with thee;
As leaves a greater store of fruit untouched, Wonderous indeed, if cause of such effects.
Still hanging incorruptible, till men But of this tree we may not taste nor touch;
Grow up to their provision, and more hands God so commanded, and left that command
Help to disburden Nature of her birth. Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live
To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad. Law to ourselves; our reason is our law.
Empress, the way is ready, and not long; To whom the Tempter guilefully replied.
Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat, Indeed! hath God then said that of the fruit
Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat,
Of blowing myrrh and balm: if thou accept Yet Lords declared of all in earth or air$?
My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon To whom thus Eve, yet sinless. Of the fruit
Lead then, said Eve. He, leading, swiftly rolled Of each tree in the garden we may eat;
In tangles, and made intricate seem straight, But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst
To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy The garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat

Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die. Is open? or will God incense his ire
She scarce had said, though brief, when now more bold For such a petty trespass? and not praise
The Tempter, but with show of zeal and love Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain
To Man, and indignation at his wrong, Of death denounced, whatever thing death be,
New part puts on; and, as to passion moved, Deterred not from achieving what might lead
Fluctuates disturbed, yet comely and in act To happier life, knowledge of good and evil;
Raised, as of some great matter to begin. Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil
As when of old some orator renowned, Be real, why not known, since easier shunned?
In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just;
Flourished, since mute! to some great cause addressed, Not just, not God; not feared then, nor obeyed:
Stood in himself collected; while each part, Your fear itself of death removes the fear.
Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue; Why then was this forbid? Why, but to awe;
Sometimes in highth began, as no delay Why, but to keep ye low and ignorant,
Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right: His worshippers? He knows that in the day
So standing, moving, or to highth up grown, Ye eat thereof, your eyes that seem so clear,
The Tempter, all impassioned, thus began. Yet are but dim, shall perfectly be then
O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving Plant, Opened and cleared, and ye shall be as Gods,
Mother of science! now I feel thy power Knowing both good and evil, as they know.
Within me clear; not only to discern That ye shall be as Gods, since I as Man,
Things in their causes, but to trace the ways Internal Man, is but proportion meet;
Of highest agents, deemed however wise. I, of brute, human; ye, of human, Gods.
Queen of this universe! do not believe So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off
Those rigid threats of death: ye shall not die: Human, to put on Gods; death to be wished,
How should you? by the fruit? it gives you life Though threatened, which no worse than this can bring.
To knowledge; by the threatener? look on me, And what are Gods, that Man may not become
Me, who have touched and tasted; yet both live, As they, participating God-like food?
And life more perfect have attained than Fate The Gods are first, and that advantage use
Meant me, by venturing higher than my lot. On our belief, that all from them proceeds:
Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast I question it; for this fair earth I see,

Warmed by the sun, producing every kind; Thy praise he also, who forbids thy use,
Them, nothing: if they all things, who enclosed Conceals not from us, naming thee the tree
Knowledge of good and evil in this tree, Of knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil;
That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains Forbids us then to taste! but his forbidding
Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies Commends thee more, while it infers the good
The offence, that Man should thus attain to know? By thee communicated, and our want:
What can your knowledge hurt him, or this tree For good unknown sure is not had; or, had
Impart against his will, if all be his? And yet unknown, is as not had at all.
Or is it envy? and can envy dwell In plain then, what forbids he but to know,
In heavenly breasts? These, these, and many more Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise?
Causes import your need of this fair fruit. Such prohibitions bind not. But, if death
Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste! Bind us with after-bands, what profits then
He ended; and his words, replete with guile, Our inward freedom? In the day we eat
Into her heart too easy entrance won: Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we shall die!
Fixed on the fruit she gazed, which to behold How dies the Serpent? he hath eaten and lives,
Might tempt alone; and in her ears the sound And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns,
Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregned Irrational till then. For us alone
With reason, to her seeming, and with truth: Was death invented? or to us denied
Mean while the hour of noon drew on, and waked This intellectual food, for beasts reserved?
An eager appetite, raised by the smell For beasts it seems: yet that one beast which first
So savoury of that fruit, which with desire, Hath tasted envies not, but brings with joy
Inclinable now grown to touch or taste, The good befallen him, author unsuspect,
Solicited her longing eye; yet first Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile.
Pausing a while, thus to herself she mused. What fear I then? rather, what know to fear
Great are thy virtues, doubtless, best of fruits, Under this ignorance of good and evil,
Though kept from man, and worthy to be admired; Of God or death, of law or penalty?
Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine,
Gave elocution to the mute, and taught Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste,
The tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise: Of virtue to make wise: What hinders then

To reach, and feed at once both body and mind? Best guide; not following thee, I had remained
So saying, her rash hand in evil hour In ignorance; thou openest wisdom’s way,
Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat! And givest access, though secret she retire.
Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, And I perhaps am secret: Heaven is high,
Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe, High, and remote to see from thence distinct
That all was lost. Back to the thicket slunk Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps
The guilty Serpent; and well might;for Eve, May have diverted from continual watch
Intent now wholly on her taste, nought else Our great Forbidder, safe with all his spies
Regarded; such delight till then, as seemed, About him. But to Adam in what sort
In fruit she never tasted, whether true Shall I appear? shall I to him make known
Or fancied so, through expectation high As yet my change, and give him to partake
Of knowledge; not was Godhead from her thought. Full happiness with me, or rather not,
Greedily she ingorged without restraint, But keeps the odds of knowledge in my power
And knew not eating death: Satiate at length, Without copartner? so to add what wants
And hightened as with wine, jocund and boon, In female sex, the more to draw his love,
Thus to herself she pleasingly began. And render me more equal; and perhaps,
O sovran, virtuous, precious of all trees A thing not undesirable, sometime
In Paradise! of operation blest Superiour; for, inferiour, who is free
To sapience, hitherto obscured, infamed. This may be well: But what if God have seen,
And thy fair fruit let hang, as to no end And death ensue? then I shall be no more!
Created; but henceforth my early care, And Adam, wedded to another Eve,
Not without song, each morning, and due praise, Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct;
Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease A death to think! Confirmed then I resolve,
Of thy full branches offered free to all; Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe:
Till, dieted by thee, I grow mature So dear I love him, that with him all deaths
In knowledge, as the Gods, who all things know; I could endure, without him live no life.
Though others envy what they cannot give: So saying, from the tree her step she turned;
For, had the gift been theirs, it had not here But first low reverence done, as to the Power
Thus grown. Experience, next, to thee I owe, That dwelt within, whose presence had infused

Into the plant sciential sap, derived To open eyes, and make them Gods who taste;
From nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while, And hath been tasted such: The serpent wise,
Waiting desirous her return, had wove Or not restrained as we, or not obeying,
Of choicest flowers a garland, to adorn Hath eaten of the fruit; and is become,
Her tresses, and her rural labours crown; Not dead, as we are threatened, but thenceforth
As reapers oft are wont their harvest-queen. Endued with human voice and human sense,
Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new Reasoning to admiration; and with me
Solace in her return, so long delayed: Persuasively hath so prevailed, that I
Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill, Have also tasted, and have also found
Misgave him; he the faltering measure felt; The effects to correspond; opener mine eyes,
And forth to meet her went, the way she took Dim erst, dilated spirits, ampler heart,
That morn when first they parted: by the tree And growing up to Godhead; which for thee
Of knowledge he must pass; there he her met, Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise.
Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss;
A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled, Tedious, unshared with thee, and odious soon.
New gathered, and ambrosial smell diffused. Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot
To him she hasted; in her face excuse May join us, equal joy, as equal love;
Came prologue, and apology too prompt; Lest, thou not tasting, different degree
Which, with bland words at will, she thus addressed. Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce
Hast thou not wondered, Adam, at my stay? Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit.
Thee I have missed, and thought it long, deprived Thus Eve with countenance blithe her story told;
Thy presence; agony of love till now But in her cheek distemper flushing glowed.
Not felt, nor shall be twice; for never more On the other side Adam, soon as he heard
Mean I to try, what rash untried I sought, The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed,
The pain of absence from thy sight. But strange Astonied stood and blank, while horrour chill
Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear: Ran through his veins, and all his joints relaxed;
This tree is not, as we are told, a tree From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve
Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown Down dropt, and all the faded roses shed:
Opening the way, but of divine effect Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length

First to himself he inward silence broke. That sacred fruit, sacred to abstinence,
O fairest of Creation, last and best Much more to taste it under ban to touch.
Of all God’s works, Creature in whom excelled But past who can recall, or done undo?
Whatever can to sight or thought be formed, Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate; yet so
Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet! Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact
How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost, Is not so heinous now, foretasted fruit,
Defaced, deflowered, and now to death devote! Profaned first by the serpent, by him first
Rather, how hast thou yielded to transgress Made common, and unhallowed, ere our taste;
The strict forbiddance, how to violate Nor yet on him found deadly; yet he lives;
The sacred fruit forbidden! Some cursed fraud Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live, as Man,
Of enemy hath beguiled thee, yet unknown, Higher degree of life; inducement strong
And me with thee hath ruined; for with thee To us, as likely tasting to attain
Certain my resolution is to die: Proportional ascent; which cannot be
How can I live without thee! how forego But to be Gods, or Angels, demi-Gods.
Thy sweet converse, and love so dearly joined, Nor can I think that God, Creator wise,
To live again in these wild woods forlorn! Though threatening, will in earnest so destroy
Should God create another Eve, and I Us his prime creatures, dignified so high,
Another rib afford, yet loss of thee Set over all his works; which in our fall,
Would never from my heart: no, no!I feel For us created, needs with us must fail,
The link of Nature draw me: flesh of flesh, Dependant made; so God shall uncreate,
Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy state Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour lose;
Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe. Not well conceived of God, who, though his power
So having said, as one from sad dismay Creation could repeat, yet would be loth
Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbed Us to abolish, lest the Adversary
Submitting to what seemed remediless, Triumph, and say; ‘Fickle their state whom God
Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turned. ‘Most favours; who can please him long? Me first
Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve, ‘He ruined, now Mankind; whom will he next?’
And peril great provoked, who thus hast dared, Matter of scorn, not to be given the Foe.
Had it been only coveting to eye However I with thee have fixed my lot,

Certain to undergo like doom: If death Remarkably so late of thy so true,
Consort with thee, death is to me as life; So faithful, love unequalled: but I feel
So forcible within my heart I feel Far otherwise the event; not death, but life
The bond of Nature draw me to my own; Augmented, opened eyes, new hopes, new joys,
My own in thee, for what thou art is mine; Taste so divine, that what of sweet before
Our state cannot be severed; we are one, Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh.
One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself. On my experience, Adam, freely taste,
So Adam; and thus Eve to him replied. And fear of death deliver to the winds.
O glorious trial of exceeding love, So saying, she embraced him, and for joy
Illustrious evidence, example high! Tenderly wept; much won, that he his love
Engaging me to emulate; but, short Had so ennobled, as of choice to incur
Of thy perfection, how shall I attain, Divine displeasure for her sake, or death.
Adam, from whose dear side I boast me sprung, In recompence for such compliance bad
And gladly of our union hear thee speak, Such recompence best merits from the bough
One heart, one soul in both; whereof good proof She gave him of that fair enticing fruit
This day affords, declaring thee resolved, With liberal hand: he scrupled not to eat,
Rather than death, or aught than death more dread, Against his better knowledge; not deceived,
Shall separate us, linked in love so dear, But fondly overcome with female charm.
To undergo with me one guilt, one crime, Earth trembled from her entrails, as again
If any be, of tasting this fair fruit; In pangs; and Nature gave a second groan;
Whose virtue for of good still good proceeds, Sky loured; and, muttering thunder, some sad drops
Direct, or by occasion, hath presented Wept at completing of the mortal sin
This happy trial of thy love, which else Original: while Adam took no thought,
So eminently never had been known? Eating his fill; nor Eve to iterate
Were it I thought death menaced would ensue Her former trespass feared, the more to sooth
This my attempt, I would sustain alone Him with her loved society; that now,
The worst, and not persuade thee, rather die As with new wine intoxicated both,
Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel
Pernicious to thy peace; chiefly assured Divinity within them breeding wings,

Wherewith to scorn the earth: But that false fruit Pansies, and violets, and asphodel,
Far other operation first displayed, And hyacinth; Earth’s freshest softest lap.
Carnal desire inflaming; he on Eve There they their fill of love and love’s disport
Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him Took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal,
As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn: The solace of their sin; till dewy sleep
Till Adam thus ‘gan Eve to dalliance move. Oppressed them, wearied with their amorous play,
Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste, Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit,
And elegant, of sapience no small part; That with exhilarating vapour bland
Since to each meaning savour we apply, About their spirits had played, and inmost powers
And palate call judicious; I the praise Made err, was now exhaled; and grosser sleep,
Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purveyed. Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams
Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstained Incumbered, now had left them; up they rose
From this delightful fruit, nor known till now As from unrest; and, each the other viewing,
True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be Soon found their eyes how opened, and their minds
In things to us forbidden, it might be wished, How darkened; innocence, that as a veil
For this one tree had been forbidden ten. Had shadowed them from knowing ill, was gone;
But come, so well refreshed, now let us play, Just confidence, and native righteousness,
As meet is, after such delicious fare; And honour, from about them, naked left
For never did thy beauty, since the day To guilty Shame; he covered, but his robe
I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorned Uncovered more. So rose the Danite strong,
With all perfections, so inflame my sense Herculean Samson, from the harlot-lap
With ardour to enjoy thee, fairer now Of Philistean Dalilah, and waked
Than ever; bounty of this virtuous tree! Shorn of his strength. They destitute and bare
So said he, and forbore not glance or toy Of all their virtue: Silent, and in face
Of amorous intent; well understood Confounded, long they sat, as strucken mute:
Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious fire. Till Adam, though not less than Eve abashed,
Her hand he seised; and to a shady bank, At length gave utterance to these words constrained.
Thick over-head with verdant roof imbowered, O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear
He led her nothing loth; flowers were the couch, To that false worm, of whomsoever taught

To counterfeit Man’s voice; true in our fall, There sit not, and reproach us as unclean.
False in our promised rising; since our eyes So counselled he, and both together went
Opened we find indeed, and find we know Into the thickest wood; there soon they chose
Both good and evil; good lost, and evil got; The fig-tree; not that kind for fruit renowned,
Bad fruit of knowledge, if this be to know; But such as at this day, to Indians known,
Which leaves us naked thus, of honour void, In Malabar or Decan spreads her arms
Of innocence, of faith, of purity, Branching so broad and long, that in the ground
Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained, The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow
And in our faces evident the signs About the mother tree, a pillared shade
Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store; High over-arched, and echoing walks between:
Even shame, the last of evils; of the first There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat,
Be sure then.—How shall I behold the face Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds
Henceforth of God or Angel, erst with joy At loop-holes cut through thickest shade: Those leaves
And rapture so oft beheld? Those heavenly shapes They gathered, broad as Amazonian targe;
Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze And, with what skill they had, together sewed,
Insufferably bright. O! might I here To gird their waist; vain covering, if to hide
In solitude live savage; in some glade Their guilt and dreaded shame! O, how unlike
Obscured, where highest woods, impenetrable To that first naked glory! Such of late
To star or sun-light, spread their umbrage broad Columbus found the American, so girt
And brown as evening: Cover me, ye Pines! With feathered cincture; naked else, and wild
Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs Among the trees on isles and woody shores.
Hide me, where I may never see them more!— Thus fenced, and, as they thought, their shame in part
But let us now, as in bad plight, devise Covered, but not at rest or ease of mind,
What best may for the present serve to hide They sat them down to weep; nor only tears
The parts of each from other, that seem most Rained at their eyes, but high winds worse within
To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen; Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate,
Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together sewed, Mistrust, suspicion, discord; and shook sore
And girded on our loins, may cover round Their inward state of mind, calm region once
Those middle parts; that this new comer, Shame, And full of peace, now tost and turbulent:

For Understanding ruled not, and the Will Command me absolutely not to go,
Heard not her lore; both in subjection now Going into such danger, as thou saidst?
To sensual Appetite, who from beneath Too facile then, thou didst not much gainsay;
Usurping over sovran Reason claimed Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss.
Superiour sway: From thus distempered breast, Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent,
Adam, estranged in look and altered style, Neither had I transgressed, nor thou with me.
Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewed. To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied.
Would thou hadst hearkened to my words, and staid Is this the love, is this the recompence
With me, as I besought thee, when that strange Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve! expressed
Desire of wandering, this unhappy morn, Immutable, when thou wert lost, not I;
I know not whence possessed thee; we had then Who might have lived, and joyed immortal bliss,
Remained still happy; not, as now, despoiled Yet willingly chose rather death with thee?
Of all our good; shamed, naked, miserable! And am I now upbraided as the cause
Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve Of thy transgressing? Not enough severe,
The faith they owe; when earnestly they seek It seems, in thy restraint: What could I more
Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail. I warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold
To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve. The danger, and the lurking enemy
What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe! That lay in wait; beyond this, had been force;
Imputest thou that to my default, or will And force upon free will hath here no place.
Of wandering, as thou callest it, which who knows But confidence then bore thee on; secure
But might as ill have happened thou being by, Either to meet no danger, or to find
Or to thyself perhaps? Hadst thou been there, Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps
Or here the attempt, thou couldst not have discerned I also erred, in overmuch admiring
Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake; What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thought
No ground of enmity between us known, No evil durst attempt thee; but I rue
Why he should mean me ill, or seek to harm. The errour now, which is become my crime,
Was I to have never parted from thy side? And thou the accuser. Thus it shall befall
As good have grown there still a lifeless rib. Him, who, to worth in women overtrusting,
Being as I am, why didst not thou, the head, Lets her will rule: restraint she will not brook;

And, left to herself, if evil thence ensue,
She first his weak indulgence will accuse. Book X
Thus they in mutual accusation spent
The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning;
And of their vain contest appeared no end.
\
M ean while the heinous and despiteful act
Of Satan, done in Paradise; and how
He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve,
Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit,
Was known in Heaven; for what can ‘scape the eye
Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart
Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just,
Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind
Of Man, with strength entire and free will armed,
Complete to have discovered and repulsed
Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend.
For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered,
The high injunction, not to taste that fruit,
Whoever tempted; which they not obeying,
(Incurred what could they less?) the penalty;
And, manifold in sin, deserved to fall.
Up into Heaven from Paradise in haste
The angelick guards ascended, mute, and sad,
For Man; for of his state by this they knew,
Much wondering how the subtle Fiend had stolen
Entrance unseen. Soon as the unwelcome news
From Earth arrived at Heaven-gate, displeased
All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare
That time celestial visages, yet, mixed

With pity, violated not their bliss. Justice shall not return as bounty scorned.
About the new-arrived, in multitudes But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee,
The ethereal people ran, to hear and know Vicegerent Son? To thee I have transferred
How all befel: They towards the throne supreme, All judgement, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell.
Accountable, made haste, to make appear, Easy it may be seen that I intend
With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee
And easily approved; when the Most High Man’s friend, his Mediator, his designed
Eternal Father, from his secret cloud, Both ransom and Redeemer voluntary,
Amidst in thunder uttered thus his voice. And destined Man himself to judge Man fallen.
Assembled Angels, and ye Powers returned So spake the Father; and, unfolding bright
From unsuccessful charge; be not dismayed, Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son
Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth, Blazed forth unclouded Deity: He full
Which your sincerest care could not prevent; Resplendent all his Father manifest
Foretold so lately what would come to pass, Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild.
When first this tempter crossed the gulf from Hell. Father Eternal, thine is to decree;
I told ye then he should prevail, and speed Mine, both in Heaven and Earth, to do thy will
On his bad errand; Man should be seduced, Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son beloved,
And flattered out of all, believing lies Mayest ever rest well pleased. I go to judge
Against his Maker; no decree of mine On earth these thy transgressours; but thou knowest,
Concurring to necessitate his fall, Whoever judged, the worst on me must light,
Or touch with lightest moment of impulse When time shall be; for so I undertook
His free will, to her own inclining left Before thee; and, not repenting, this obtain
In even scale. But fallen he is; and now Of right, that I may mitigate their doom
What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass On me derived; yet I shall temper so
On his transgression,—death denounced that day? Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most
Which he presumes already vain and void, Them fully satisfied, and thee appease.
Because not yet inflicted, as he feared, Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none
By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find Are to behold the judgement, but the judged,
Forbearance no acquittance, ere day end. Those two; the third best absent is condemned,

Convict by flight, and rebel to all law: Or to each other; but apparent guilt,
Conviction to the serpent none belongs. And shame, and perturbation, and despair,
Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile.
Of high collateral glory: Him Thrones, and Powers, Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief.
Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant, I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice
Accompanied to Heaven-gate; from whence Afraid, being naked, hid myself. To whom
Eden, and all the coast, in prospect lay. The gracious Judge without revile replied.
Down he descended straight; the speed of Gods My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared,
Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes winged. But still rejoiced; how is it now become
Now was the sun in western cadence low So dreadful to thee? That thou art naked, who
From noon, and gentle airs, due at their hour, Hath told thee? Hast thou eaten of the tree,
To fan the earth now waked, and usher in Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?
The evening cool; when he, from wrath more cool, To whom thus Adam sore beset replied.
Came the mild Judge, and Intercessour both, O Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand
To sentence Man: The voice of God they heard Before my Judge; either to undergo
Now walking in the garden, by soft winds Myself the total crime, or to accuse
Brought to their ears, while day declined; they heard, My other self, the partner of my life;
And from his presence hid themselves among Whose failing, while her faith to me remains,
The thickest trees, both man and wife; till God, I should conceal, and not expose to blame
Approaching, thus to Adam called aloud. By my complaint: but strict necessity
Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet Subdues me, and calamitous constraint;
My coming seen far off? I miss thee here, Lest on my head both sin and punishment,
Not pleased, thus entertained with solitude, However insupportable, be all
Where obvious duty ere while appeared unsought: Devolved; though should I hold my peace, yet thou
Or come I less conspicuous, or what change Wouldst easily detect what I conceal.—
Absents thee, or what chance detains?—Come forth! This Woman, whom thou madest to be my help,
He came; and with him Eve, more loth, though first And gavest me as thy perfect gift, so good,
To offend; discountenanced both, and discomposed; So fit, so acceptable, so divine,
Love was not in their looks, either to God, That from her hand I could suspect no ill,

And what she did, whatever in itself, Concerned not Man, (since he no further knew)
Her doing seemed to justify the deed; Nor altered his offence; yet God at last
She gave me of the tree, and I did eat. To Satan first in sin his doom applied,
To whom the Sovran Presence thus replied. Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best:
Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall.
Before his voice? or was she made thy guide, Because thou hast done this, thou art accursed
Superiour, or but equal, that to her Above all cattle, each beast of the field;
Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place Upon thy belly groveling thou shalt go,
Wherein God set thee above her made of thee, And dust shalt eat all the days of thy life.
And for thee, whose perfection far excelled Between thee and the woman I will put
Hers in all real dignity? Adorned Enmity, and between thine and her seed;
She was indeed, and lovely, to attract Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel.
Thy love, not thy subjection; and her gifts So spake this oracle, then verified
Were such, as under government well seemed; When Jesus, Son of Mary, second Eve,
Unseemly to bear rule; which was thy part Saw Satan fall, like lightning, down from Heaven,
And person, hadst thou known thyself aright. Prince of the air; then, rising from his grave
So having said, he thus to Eve in few. Spoiled Principalities and Powers, triumphed
Say, Woman, what is this which thou hast done? In open show; and, with ascension bright,
To whom sad Eve, with shame nigh overwhelmed, Captivity led captive through the air,
Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge The realm itself of Satan, long usurped;
Bold or loquacious, thus abashed replied. Whom he shall tread at last under our feet;
The Serpent me beguiled, and I did eat. Even he, who now foretold his fatal bruise;
Which when the Lord God heard, without delay And to the Woman thus his sentence turned.
To judgement he proceeded on the accused Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply
Serpent, though brute; unable to transfer By thy conception; children thou shalt bring
The guilt on him, who made him instrument In sorrow forth; and to thy husband’s will
Of mischief, and polluted from the end Thine shall submit; he over thee shall rule.
Of his creation; justly then accursed, On Adam last thus judgement he pronounced.
As vitiated in nature: More to know Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife,

And eaten of the tree, concerning which Recounted, mixing intercession sweet.
I charged thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat thereof: Mean while, ere thus was sinned and judged on Earth,
Cursed is the ground for thy sake; thou in sorrow Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death,
Shalt eat thereof, all the days of thy life; In counterview within the gates, that now
Thorns also and thistles it shall bring thee forth Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame
Unbid; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; Far into Chaos, since the Fiend passed through,
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, Sin opening; who thus now to Death began.
Till thou return unto the ground; for thou O Son, why sit we here each other viewing
Out of the ground wast taken, know thy birth, Idly, while Satan, our great author, thrives
For dust thou art, and shalt to dust return. In other worlds, and happier seat provides
So judged he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent; For us, his offspring dear? It cannot be
And the instant stroke of death, denounced that day, But that success attends him; if mishap,
Removed far off; then, pitying how they stood Ere this he had returned, with fury driven
Before him naked to the air, that now By his avengers; since no place like this
Must suffer change, disdained not to begin Can fit his punishment, or their revenge.
Thenceforth the form of servant to assume; Methinks I feel new strength within me rise,
As when he washed his servants feet; so now, Wings growing, and dominion given me large
As father of his family, he clad Beyond this deep; whatever draws me on,
Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain, Or sympathy, or some connatural force,
Or as the snake with youthful coat repaid; Powerful at greatest distance to unite,
And thought not much to clothe his enemies; With secret amity, things of like kind,
Nor he their outward only with the skins By secretest conveyance. Thou, my shade
Of beasts, but inward nakedness, much more. Inseparable, must with me along;
Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness, For Death from Sin no power can separate.
Arraying, covered from his Father’s sight. But, lest the difficulty of passing back
To him with swift ascent he up returned, Stay his return perhaps over this gulf
Into his blissful bosom reassumed Impassable, impervious; let us try
In glory, as of old; to him appeased Adventurous work, yet to thy power and mine
All, though all-knowing, what had passed with Man Not unagreeable, to found a path

Over this main from Hell to that new world, Solid or slimy, as in raging sea
Where Satan now prevails; a monument Tost up and down, together crouded drove,
Of merit high to all the infernal host, From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell;
Easing their passage hence, for intercourse, As when two polar winds, blowing adverse
Or transmigration, as their lot shall lead. Upon the Cronian sea, together drive
Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn Mountains of ice, that stop the imagined way
By this new-felt attraction and instinct. Beyond Petsora eastward, to the rich
Whom thus the meager Shadow answered soon. Cathaian coast. The aggregated soil
Go, whither Fate, and inclination strong, Death with his mace petrifick, cold and dry,
Leads thee; I shall not lag behind, nor err As with a trident, smote; and fixed as firm
The way, thou leading; such a scent I draw As Delos, floating once; the rest his look
Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste Bound with Gorgonian rigour not to move;
The savour of death from all things there that live: And with Asphaltick slime, broad as the gate,
Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest Deep to the roots of Hell the gathered beach
Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid. They fastened, and the mole immense wrought on
So saying, with delight he snuffed the smell Over the foaming deep high-arched, a bridge
Of mortal change on earth. As when a flock Of length prodigious, joining to the wall
Of ravenous fowl, though many a league remote, Immoveable of this now fenceless world,
Against the day of battle, to a field, Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad,
Where armies lie encamped, come flying, lured Smooth, easy, inoffensive, down to Hell.
With scent of living carcasses designed So, if great things to small may be compared,
For death, the following day, in bloody fight: Xerxes, the liberty of Greece to yoke,
So scented the grim Feature, and upturned From Susa, his Memnonian palace high,
His nostril wide into the murky air; Came to the sea: and, over Hellespont
Sagacious of his quarry from so far. Bridging his way, Europe with Asia joined,
Then both from out Hell-gates, into the waste And scourged with many a stroke the indignant waves.
Wide anarchy of Chaos, damp and dark, Now had they brought the work by wonderous art
Flew diverse; and with power (their power was great) Pontifical, a ridge of pendant rock,
Hovering upon the waters, what they met Over the vexed abyss, following the track

Of Satan to the self-same place where he Thence gathered his own doom; which understood
First lighted from his wing, and landed safe Not instant, but of future time, with joy
From out of Chaos, to the outside bare And tidings fraught, to Hell he now returned;
Of this round world: With pins of adamant And at the brink of Chaos, near the foot
And chains they made all fast, too fast they made Of this new wonderous pontifice, unhoped
And durable! And now in little space Met, who to meet him came, his offspring dear.
The confines met of empyrean Heaven, Great joy was at their meeting, and at sight
And of this World; and, on the left hand, Hell Of that stupendious bridge his joy encreased.
With long reach interposed; three several ways Long he admiring stood, till Sin, his fair
In sight, to each of these three places led. Enchanting daughter, thus the silence broke.
And now their way to Earth they had descried, O Parent, these are thy magnifick deeds,
To Paradise first tending; when, behold! Thy trophies! which thou viewest as not thine own;
Satan, in likeness of an Angel bright, Thou art their author, and prime architect:
Betwixt the Centaur and the Scorpion steering For I no sooner in my heart divined,
His zenith, while the sun in Aries rose: My heart, which by a secret harmony
Disguised he came; but those his children dear Still moves with thine, joined in connexion sweet,
Their parent soon discerned, though in disguise. That thou on earth hadst prospered, which thy looks
He, after Eve seduced, unminded slunk Now also evidence, but straight I felt,
Into the wood fast by; and, changing shape, Though distant from thee worlds between, yet felt,
To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act That I must after thee, with this thy son;
By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded Such fatal consequence unites us three!
Upon her husband; saw their shame that sought Hell could no longer hold us in our bounds,
Vain covertures; but when he saw descend Nor this unvoyageable gulf obscure
The Son of God to judge them, terrified Detain from following thy illustrious track.
He fled; not hoping to escape, but shun Thou hast achieved our liberty, confined
The present; fearing, guilty, what his wrath Within Hell-gates till now; thou us impowered
Might suddenly inflict; that past, returned To fortify thus far, and overlay,
By night, and listening where the hapless pair With this portentous bridge, the dark abyss.
Sat in their sad discourse, and various plaint, Thine now is all this world; thy virtue hath won

What thy hands builded not; thy wisdom gained Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill.
With odds what war hath lost, and fully avenged My substitutes I send ye, and create
Our foil in Heaven; here thou shalt monarch reign, Plenipotent on earth, of matchless might
There didst not; there let him still victor sway, Issuing from me: on your joint vigour now
As battle hath adjudged; from this new world My hold of this new kingdom all depends,
Retiring, by his own doom alienated; Through Sin to Death exposed by my exploit.
And henceforth monarchy with thee divide If your joint power prevail, the affairs of Hell
Of all things, parted by the empyreal bounds, No detriment need fear; go, and be strong!
His quadrature, from thy orbicular world; So saying he dismissed them; they with speed
Or try thee now more dangerous to his throne. Their course through thickest constellations held,
Whom thus the Prince of darkness answered glad. Spreading their bane; the blasted stars looked wan,
Fair Daughter, and thou Son and Grandchild both; And planets, planet-struck, real eclipse
High proof ye now have given to be the race Then suffered. The other way Satan went down
Of Satan (for I glory in the name, The causey to Hell-gate: On either side
Antagonist of Heaven’s Almighty King,) Disparted Chaos overbuilt exclaimed,
Amply have merited of me, of all And with rebounding surge the bars assailed,
The infernal empire, that so near Heaven’s door That scorned his indignation: Through the gate,
Triumphal with triumphal act have met, Wide open and unguarded, Satan passed,
Mine, with this glorious work; and made one realm, And all about found desolate; for those,
Hell and this world, one realm, one continent Appointed to sit there, had left their charge,
Of easy thorough-fare. Therefore, while I Flown to the upper world; the rest were all
Descend through darkness, on your road with ease, Far to the inland retired, about the walls
To my associate Powers, them to acquaint Of Pandemonium; city and proud seat
With these successes, and with them rejoice; Of Lucifer, so by allusion called
You two this way, among these numerous orbs, Of that bright star to Satan paragoned;
All yours, right down to Paradise descend; There kept their watch the legions, while the Grand
There dwell, and reign in bliss; thence on the earth In council sat, solicitous what chance
Dominion exercise and in the air, Might intercept their emperour sent; so he
Chiefly on Man, sole lord of all declared; Departing gave command, and they observed.

As when the Tartar from his Russian foe, Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers;
By Astracan, over the snowy plains, For in possession such, not only of right,
Retires; or Bactrin Sophi, from the horns I call ye, and declare ye now; returned
Of Turkish crescent, leaves all waste beyond Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth
The realm of Aladule, in his retreat Triumphant out of this infernal pit
To Tauris or Casbeen: So these, the late Abominable, accursed, the house of woe,
Heaven-banished host, left desart utmost Hell And dungeon of our tyrant: Now possess,
Many a dark league, reduced in careful watch As Lords, a spacious world, to our native Heaven
Round their metropolis; and now expecting Little inferiour, by my adventure hard
Each hour their great adventurer, from the search With peril great achieved. Long were to tell
Of foreign worlds: He through the midst unmarked, What I have done; what suffered;with what pain
In show plebeian Angel militant Voyaged th’ unreal, vast, unbounded deep
Of lowest order, passed; and from the door Of horrible confusion; over which
Of that Plutonian hall, invisible By Sin and Death a broad way now is paved,
Ascended his high throne; which, under state To expedite your glorious march; but I
Of richest texture spread, at the upper end Toiled out my uncouth passage, forced to ride
Was placed in regal lustre. Down a while The untractable abyss, plunged in the womb
He sat, and round about him saw unseen: Of unoriginal Night and Chaos wild;
At last, as from a cloud, his fulgent head That, jealous of their secrets, fiercely opposed
And shape star-bright appeared, or brighter; clad My journey strange, with clamorous uproar
With what permissive glory since his fall Protesting Fate supreme; thence how I found
Was left him, or false glitter: All amazed The new created world, which fame in Heaven
At that so sudden blaze the Stygian throng Long had foretold, a fabrick wonderful
Bent their aspect, and whom they wished beheld, Of absolute perfection! therein Man
Their mighty Chief returned: loud was the acclaim: Placed in a Paradise, by our exile
Forth rushed in haste the great consulting peers, Made happy: Him by fraud I have seduced
Raised from their dark Divan, and with like joy From his Creator; and, the more to encrease
Congratulant approached him; who with hand Your wonder, with an apple; he, thereat
Silence, and with these words attention, won. Offended, worth your laughter! hath given up

Both his beloved Man, and all his world, But hiss for hiss returned with forked tongue
To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us, To forked tongue; for now were all transformed
Without our hazard, labour, or alarm; Alike, to serpents all, as accessories
To range in, and to dwell, and over Man To his bold riot: Dreadful was the din
To rule, as over all he should have ruled. Of hissing through the hall, thick swarming now
True is, me also he hath judged, or rather With complicated monsters head and tail,
Me not, but the brute serpent in whose shape Scorpion, and Asp, and Amphisbaena dire,
Man I deceived: that which to me belongs, Cerastes horned, Hydrus, and Elops drear,
Is enmity which he will put between And Dipsas; (not so thick swarmed once the soil
Me and mankind; I am to bruise his heel; Bedropt with blood of Gorgon, or the isle
His seed, when is not set, shall bruise my head: Ophiusa,) but still greatest he the midst,
A world who would not purchase with a bruise, Now Dragon grown, larger than whom the sun
Or much more grievous pain?—Ye have the account Ingendered in the Pythian vale or slime,
Of my performance: What remains, ye Gods, Huge Python, and his power no less he seemed
But up, and enter now into full bliss? Above the rest still to retain; they all
So having said, a while he stood, expecting Him followed, issuing forth to the open field,
Their universal shout, and high applause, Where all yet left of that revolted rout,
To fill his ear; when, contrary, he hears Heaven-fallen, in station stood or just array;
On all sides, from innumerable tongues, Sublime with expectation when to see
A dismal universal hiss, the sound In triumph issuing forth their glorious Chief;
Of publick scorn; he wondered, but not long They saw, but other sight instead! a croud
Had leisure, wondering at himself now more, Of ugly serpents; horrour on them fell,
His visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare; And horrid sympathy; for, what they saw,
His arms clung to his ribs; his legs entwining They felt themselves, now changing; down their arms,
Each other, till supplanted down he fell Down fell both spear and shield; down they as fast;
A monstrous serpent on his belly prone, And the dire hiss renewed, and the dire form
Reluctant, but in vain; a greater power Catched, by contagion; like in punishment,
Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned, As in their crime. Thus was the applause they meant,
According to his doom: he would have spoke, Turned to exploding hiss, triumph to shame

Cast on themselves from their own mouths. There stood Yearly enjoined, some say, to undergo,
A grove hard by, sprung up with this their change, This annual humbling certain numbered days,
His will who reigns above, to aggravate To dash their pride, and joy, for Man seduced.
Their penance, laden with fair fruit, like that However, some tradition they dispersed
Which grew in Paradise, the bait of Eve Among the Heathen, of their purchase got,
Used by the Tempter: on that prospect strange And fabled how the Serpent, whom they called
Their earnest eyes they fixed, imagining Ophion, with Eurynome, the wide—
For one forbidden tree a multitude Encroaching Eve perhaps, had first the rule
Now risen, to work them further woe or shame; Of high Olympus; thence by Saturn driven
Yet, parched with scalding thirst and hunger fierce, And Ops, ere yet Dictaean Jove was born.
Though to delude them sent, could not abstain; Mean while in Paradise the hellish pair
But on they rolled in heaps, and, up the trees Too soon arrived; Sin, there in power before,
Climbing, sat thicker than the snaky locks Once actual; now in body, and to dwell
That curled Megaera: greedily they plucked Habitual habitant; behind her Death,
The fruitage fair to sight, like that which grew Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet
Near that bituminous lake where Sodom flamed; On his pale horse: to whom Sin thus began.
This more delusive, not the touch, but taste Second of Satan sprung, all-conquering Death!
Deceived; they, fondly thinking to allay What thinkest thou of our empire now, though earned
Their appetite with gust, instead of fruit With travel difficult, not better far
Chewed bitter ashes, which the offended taste Than still at Hell’s dark threshold to have sat watch,
With spattering noise rejected: oft they assayed, Unnamed, undreaded, and thyself half starved?
Hunger and thirst constraining; drugged as oft, Whom thus the Sin-born monster answered soon.
With hatefullest disrelish writhed their jaws, To me, who with eternal famine pine,
With soot and cinders filled; so oft they fell Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or Heaven;
Into the same illusion, not as Man There best, where most with ravine I may meet;
Whom they triumphed once lapsed. Thus were they Which here, though plenteous, all too little seems
plagued To stuff this maw, this vast unhide-bound corps.
And worn with famine, long and ceaseless hiss, To whom the incestuous mother thus replied.
Till their lost shape, permitted, they resumed; Thou therefore on these herbs, and fruits, and flowers,

Feed first; on each beast next, and fish, and fowl; With sucked and glutted offal, at one sling
No homely morsels! and, whatever thing Of thy victorious arm, well-pleasing Son,
The sithe of Time mows down, devour unspared; Both Sin, and Death, and yawning Grave, at last,
Till I, in Man residing, through the race, Through Chaos hurled, obstruct the mouth of Hell
His thoughts, his looks, words, actions, all infect; For ever, and seal up his ravenous jaws.
And season him thy last and sweetest prey. Then Heaven and Earth renewed shall be made pure
This said, they both betook them several ways, To sanctity, that shall receive no stain:
Both to destroy, or unimmortal make Till then, the curse pronounced on both precedes.
All kinds, and for destruction to mature He ended, and the heavenly audience loud
Sooner or later; which the Almighty seeing, Sung Halleluiah, as the sound of seas,
From his transcendent seat the Saints among, Through multitude that sung: Just are thy ways,
To those bright Orders uttered thus his voice. Righteous are thy decrees on all thy works;
See, with what heat these dogs of Hell advance Who can extenuate thee? Next, to the Son,
To waste and havock yonder world, which I Destined Restorer of mankind, by whom
So fair and good created; and had still New Heaven and Earth shall to the ages rise,
Kept in that state, had not the folly of Man Or down from Heaven descend.—Such was their song;
Let in these wasteful furies, who impute While the Creator, calling forth by name
Folly to me; so doth the Prince of Hell His mighty Angels, gave them several charge,
And his adherents, that with so much ease As sorted best with present things. The sun
I suffer them to enter and possess Had first his precept so to move, so shine,
A place so heavenly; and, conniving, seem As might affect the earth with cold and heat
To gratify my scornful enemies, Scarce tolerable; and from the north to call
That laugh, as if, transported with some fit Decrepit winter; from the south to bring
Of passion, I to them had quitted all, Solstitial summer’s heat. To the blanc moon
At random yielded up to their misrule; Her office they prescribed; to the other five
And know not that I called, and drew them thither, Their planetary motions, and aspects,
My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth In sextile, square, and trine, and opposite,
Which Man’s polluting sin with taint hath shed Of noxious efficacy, and when to join
On what was pure; til, crammed and gorged, nigh burst In synod unbenign; and taught the fixed

Their influence malignant when to shower, Avoided pinching cold and scorching heat?
Which of them rising with the sun, or falling, These changes in the Heavens, though slow, produced
Should prove tempestuous: To the winds they set Like change on sea and land; sideral blast,
Their corners, when with bluster to confound Vapour, and mist, and exhalation hot,
Sea, air, and shore; the thunder when to roll Corrupt and pestilent: Now from the north
With terrour through the dark aereal hall. Of Norumbega, and the Samoed shore,
Some say, he bid his Angels turn ascanse Bursting their brazen dungeon, armed with ice,
The poles of earth, twice ten degrees and more, And snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw,
From the sun’s axle; they with labour pushed Boreas, and Caecias, and Argestes loud,
Oblique the centrick globe: Some say, the sun And Thrascias, rend the woods, and seas upturn;
Was bid turn reins from the equinoctial road With adverse blast upturns them from the south
Like distant breadth to Taurus with the seven Notus, and Afer black with thunderous clouds
Atlantick Sisters, and the Spartan Twins, From Serraliona; thwart of these, as fierce,
Up to the Tropick Crab: thence down amain Forth rush the Levant and the Ponent winds,
By Leo, and the Virgin, and the Scales, Eurus and Zephyr, with their lateral noise,
As deep as Capricorn; to bring in change Sirocco and Libecchio. Thus began
Of seasons to each clime; else had the spring Outrage from lifeless things; but Discord first,
Perpetual smiled on earth with vernant flowers, Daughter of Sin, among the irrational
Equal in days and nights, except to those Death introduced, through fierce antipathy:
Beyond the polar circles; to them day Beast now with beast ‘gan war, and fowl with fowl,
Had unbenighted shone, while the low sun, And fish with fish; to graze the herb all leaving,
To recompense his distance, in their sight Devoured each other; nor stood much in awe
Had rounded still the horizon, and not known Of Man, but fled him; or, with countenance grim,
Or east or west; which had forbid the snow Glared on him passing. These were from without
From cold Estotiland, and south as far The growing miseries, which Adam saw
Beneath Magellan. At that tasted fruit Already in part, though hid in gloomiest shade,
The sun, as from Thyestean banquet, turned To sorrow abandoned, but worse felt within;
His course intended; else, how had the world And, in a troubled sea of passion tost,
Inhabited, though sinless, more than now, Thus to disburden sought with sad complaint.

O miserable of happy! Is this the end Desirous to resign and render back
Of this new glorious world, and me so late All I received; unable to perform
The glory of that glory, who now become Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold
Accursed, of blessed? hide me from the face The good I sought not. To the loss of that,
Of God, whom to behold was then my highth Sufficient penalty, why hast thou added
Of happiness!—Yet well, if here would end The sense of endless woes? Inexplicable
The misery; I deserved it, and would bear Why am I mocked with death, and lengthened out
My own deservings; but this will not serve: To deathless pain? How gladly would I meet
All that I eat or drink, or shall beget, Mortality my sentence, and be earth
Is propagated curse. O voice, once heard Insensible! How glad would lay me down
Delightfully, Encrease and multiply; As in my mother’s lap! There I should rest,
Now death to hear! for what can I encrease, And sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more
Or multiply, but curses on my head? Would thunder in my ears; no fear of worse
Who of all ages to succeed, but, feeling To me, and to my offspring, would torment me
The evil on him brought by me, will curse With cruel expectation. Yet one doubt
My head? Ill fare our ancestor impure, Pursues me still, lest all I cannot die;
For this we may thank Adam! but his thanks Lest that pure breath of life, the spirit of Man
Shall be the execration: so, besides Which God inspired, cannot together perish
Mine own that bide upon me, all from me With this corporeal clod; then, in the grave,
Shall with a fierce reflux on me rebound; Or in some other dismal place, who knows
On me, as on their natural center, light But I shall die a living death? O thought
Heavy, though in their place. O fleeting joys Horrid, if true! Yet why? It was but breath
Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes! Of life that sinned; what dies but what had life
Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay And sin? The body properly had neither,
To mould me Man? did I solicit thee All of me then shall die: let this appease
From darkness to promote me, or here place The doubt, since human reach no further knows.
In this delicious garden? As my will For though the Lord of all be infinite,
Concurred not to my being, it were but right Is his wrath also? Be it, Man is not so,
And equal to reduce me to my dust; But mortal doomed. How can he exercise

Wrath without end on Man, whom death must end? Not to do only, but to will the same
Can he make deathless death? That were to make With me? How can they then acquitted stand
Strange contradiction, which to God himself In sight of God? Him, after all disputes,
Impossible is held; as argument Forced I absolve: all my evasions vain,
Of weakness, not of power. Will he draw out, And reasonings, though through mazes, lead me still
For anger’s sake, finite to infinite, But to my own conviction: first and last
In punished Man, to satisfy his rigour, On me, me only, as the source and spring
Satisfied never? That were to extend Of all corruption, all the blame lights due;
His sentence beyond dust and Nature’s law; So might the wrath! Fond wish!couldst thou support
By which all causes else, according still That burden, heavier than the earth to bear;
To the reception of their matter, act; Than all the world much heavier, though divided
Not to the extent of their own sphere. But say With that bad Woman? Thus, what thou desirest,
That death be not one stroke, as I supposed, And what thou fearest, alike destroys all hope
Bereaving sense, but endless misery Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable
From this day onward; which I feel begun Beyond all past example and future;
Both in me, and without me; and so last To Satan only like both crime and doom.
To perpetuity;—Ay me!that fear O Conscience! into what abyss of fears
Comes thundering back with dreadful revolution And horrours hast thou driven me; out of which
On my defenceless head; both Death and I I find no way, from deep to deeper plunged!
Am found eternal, and incorporate both; Thus Adam to himself lamented loud,
Nor I on my part single; in me all Through the still night; not now, as ere Man fell,
Posterity stands cursed: Fair patrimony Wholesome, and cool, and mild, but with black air
That I must leave ye, Sons! O, were I able Accompanied; with damps, and dreadful gloom;
To waste it all myself, and leave ye none! Which to his evil conscience represented
So disinherited, how would you bless All things with double terrour: On the ground
Me, now your curse! Ah, why should all mankind, Outstretched he lay, on the cold ground; and oft
For one man’s fault, thus guiltless be condemned, Cursed his creation; Death as oft accused
It guiltless? But from me what can proceed, Of tardy execution, since denounced
But all corrupt; both mind and will depraved The day of his offence. Why comes not Death,

Said he, with one thrice-acceptable stroke Rather than solid virtue; all but a rib
To end me? Shall Truth fail to keep her word, Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears,
Justice Divine not hasten to be just? More to the part sinister, from me drawn;
But Death comes not at call; Justice Divine Well if thrown out, as supernumerary
Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries, To my just number found. O! why did God,
O woods, O fountains, hillocks, dales, and bowers! Creator wise, that peopled highest Heaven
With other echo late I taught your shades With Spirits masculine, create at last
To answer, and resound far other song.— This novelty on earth, this fair defect
Whom thus afflicted when sad Eve beheld, Of nature, and not fill the world at once
Desolate where she sat, approaching nigh, With Men, as Angels, without feminine;
Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed: Or find some other way to generate
But her with stern regard he thus repelled. Mankind? This mischief had not been befallen,
Out of my sight, thou Serpent! That name best And more that shall befall; innumerable
Befits thee with him leagued, thyself as false Disturbances on earth through female snares,
And hateful; nothing wants, but that thy shape, And strait conjunction with this sex: for either
Like his, and colour serpentine, may show He never shall find out fit mate, but such
Thy inward fraud; to warn all creatures from thee As some misfortune brings him, or mistake;
Henceforth; lest that too heavenly form, pretended Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain
To hellish falshood, snare them! But for thee Through her perverseness, but shall see her gained
I had persisted happy; had not thy pride By a far worse; or, if she love, withheld
And wandering vanity, when least was safe, By parents; or his happiest choice too late
Rejected my forewarning, and disdained Shall meet, already linked and wedlock-bound
Not to be trusted; longing to be seen, To a fell adversary, his hate or shame:
Though by the Devil himself; him overweening Which infinite calamity shall cause
To over-reach; but, with the serpent meeting, To human life, and houshold peace confound.
Fooled and beguiled; by him thou, I by thee He added not, and from her turned; but Eve,
To trust thee from my side; imagined wise, Not so repulsed, with tears that ceased not flowing
Constant, mature, proof against all assaults; And tresses all disordered, at his feet
And understood not all was but a show, Fell humble; and, embracing them, besought

His peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint. Now at his feet submissive in distress;
Forsake me not thus, Adam! witness Heaven Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking,
What love sincere, and reverence in my heart His counsel, whom she had displeased, his aid:
I bear thee, and unweeting have offended, As one disarmed, his anger all he lost,
Unhappily deceived! Thy suppliant And thus with peaceful words upraised her soon.
I beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not, Unwary, and too desirous, as before,
Whereon I live, thy gentle looks, thy aid, So now of what thou knowest not, who desirest
Thy counsel, in this uttermost distress, The punishment all on thyself; alas!
My only strength and stay: Forlorn of thee, Bear thine own first, ill able to sustain
Whither shall I betake me, where subsist? His full wrath, whose thou feelest as yet least part,
While yet we live, scarce one short hour perhaps, And my displeasure bearest so ill. If prayers
Between us two let there be peace; both joining, Could alter high decrees, I to that place
As joined in injuries, one enmity Would speed before thee, and be louder heard,
Against a foe by doom express assigned us, That on my head all might be visited;
That cruel Serpent: On me exercise not Thy frailty and infirmer sex forgiven,
Thy hatred for this misery befallen; To me committed, and by me exposed.
On me already lost, me than thyself But rise;—let us no more contend, nor blame
More miserable! Both have sinned;but thou Each other, blamed enough elsewhere; but strive
Against God only; I against God and thee; In offices of love, how we may lighten
And to the place of judgement will return, Each other’s burden, in our share of woe;
There with my cries importune Heaven; that all Since this day’s death denounced, if aught I see,
The sentence, from thy head removed, may light Will prove no sudden, but a slow-paced evil;
On me, sole cause to thee of all this woe; A long day’s dying, to augment our pain;
Me, me only, just object of his ire! And to our seed (O hapless seed!) derived.
She ended weeping; and her lowly plight, To whom thus Eve, recovering heart, replied.
Immoveable, till peace obtained from fault Adam, by sad experiment I know
Acknowledged and deplored, in Adam wrought How little weight my words with thee can find,
Commiseration: Soon his heart relented Found so erroneous; thence by just event
Towards her, his life so late, and sole delight, Found so unfortunate: Nevertheless,

Restored by thee, vile as I am, to place From what we fear for both, let us make short, —
Of new acceptance, hopeful to regain Let us seek Death; — or, he not found, supply
Thy love, the sole contentment of my heart With our own hands his office on ourselves:
Living or dying, from thee I will not hide Why stand we longer shivering under fears,
What thoughts in my unquiet breast are risen, That show no end but death, and have the power,
Tending to some relief of our extremes, Of many ways to die the shortest choosing,
Or end; though sharp and sad, yet tolerable, Destruction with destruction to destroy? —
As in our evils, and of easier choice. She ended here, or vehement despair
If care of our descent perplex us most, Broke off the rest: so much of death her thoughts
Which must be born to certain woe, devoured Had entertained, as dyed her cheeks with pale.
By Death at last; and miserable it is But Adam, with such counsel nothing swayed,
To be to others cause of misery, To better hopes his more attentive mind
Our own begotten, and of our loins to bring Labouring had raised; and thus to Eve replied.
Into this cursed world a woeful race, Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems
That after wretched life must be at last To argue in thee something more sublime
Food for so foul a monster; in thy power And excellent, than what thy mind contemns;
It lies, yet ere conception to prevent But self-destruction therefore sought, refutes
The race unblest, to being yet unbegot. That excellence thought in thee; and implies,
Childless thou art, childless remain: so Death Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret
Shall be deceived his glut, and with us two For loss of life and pleasure overloved.
Be forced to satisfy his ravenous maw. Or if thou covet death, as utmost end
But if thou judge it hard and difficult, Of misery, so thinking to evade
Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain The penalty pronounced; doubt not but God
From love’s due rights, nuptial embraces sweet; Hath wiselier armed his vengeful ire, than so
And with desire to languish without hope, To be forestalled; much more I fear lest death,
Before the present object languishing So snatched, will not exempt us from the pain
With like desire; which would be misery We are by doom to pay; rather, such acts
And torment less than none of what we dread; Of contumacy will provoke the Highest
Then, both ourselves and seed at once to free To make death in us live: Then let us seek

Some safer resolution, which methinks Hath, unbesought, provided; and his hands
I have in view, calling to mind with heed Clothed us unworthy, pitying while he judged;
Part of our sentence, that thy seed shall bruise How much more, if we pray him, will his ear
The Serpent’s head; piteous amends! unless Be open, and his heart to pity incline,
Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand foe, And teach us further by what means to shun
Satan; who, in the serpent, hath contrived The inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and snow!
Against us this deceit: To crush his head Which now the sky, with various face, begins
Would be revenge indeed! which will be lost To show us in this mountain; while the winds
By death brought on ourselves, or childless days Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks
Resolved, as thou proposest; so our foe Of these fair spreading trees; which bids us seek
Shal ‘scape his punishment ordained, and we Some better shroud, some better warmth to cherish
Instead shall double ours upon our heads. Our limbs benummed, ere this diurnal star
No more be mentioned then of violence Leave cold the night, how we his gathered beams
Against ourselves; and wilful barrenness, Reflected may with matter sere foment;
That cuts us off from hope; and savours only Or, by collision of two bodies, grind
Rancour and pride, impatience and despite, The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds
Reluctance against God and his just yoke Justling, or pushed with winds, rude in their shock,
Laid on our necks. Remember with what mild Tine the slant lightning; whose thwart flame, driven down
And gracious temper he both heard, and judged, Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine;
Without wrath or reviling; we expected And sends a comfortable heat from far,
Immediate dissolution, which we thought Which might supply the sun: Such fire to use,
Was meant by death that day; when lo!to thee And what may else be remedy or cure
Pains only in child-bearing were foretold, To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought,
And bringing forth; soon recompensed with joy, He will instruct us praying, and of grace
Fruit of thy womb: On me the curse aslope Beseeching him; so as we need not fear
Glanced on the ground; with labour I must earn To pass commodiously this life, sustained
My bread; what harm? Idleness had been worse; By him with many comforts, till we end
My labour will sustain me; and, lest cold In dust, our final rest and native home.
Or heat should injure us, his timely care What better can we do, than, to the place

Repairing where he judged us, prostrate fall
Before him reverent; and there confess Book XI
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears
Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign
Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek
U ndoubtedly he will relent, and turn
From his displeasure; in whose look serene,
When angry most he seemed and most severe,
What else but favour, grace, and mercy, shone?
So spake our father penitent; nor Eve
Felt less remorse: they, forthwith to the place
Repairing where he judged them, prostrate fell
Before him reverent; and both confessed
Humbly their faults, and pardon begged; with tears
Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign
Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek.
Thus they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood
Praying; for from the mercy-seat above
Prevenient grace descending had removed
The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh
Regenerate grow instead; that sighs now breathed
Unutterable; which the Spirit of prayer
Inspired, and winged for Heaven with speedier flight
Than loudest oratory: Yet their port
Not of mean suitors; nor important less
Seemed their petition, than when the ancient pair
In fables old, less ancient yet than these,
Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha, to restore

The race of mankind drowned, before the shrine To better life shall yield him: where with me
Of Themis stood devout. To Heaven their prayers All my redeemed may dwell in joy and bliss;
Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious winds Made one with me, as I with thee am one.
Blown vagabond or frustrate: in they passed To whom the Father, without cloud, serene.
Dimensionless through heavenly doors; then clad All thy request for Man, accepted Son,
With incense, where the golden altar fumed, Obtain; all thy request was my decree:
By their great intercessour, came in sight But, longer in that Paradise to dwell,
Before the Father’s throne: them the glad Son The law I gave to Nature him forbids:
Presenting, thus to intercede began. Those pure immortal elements, that know,
See$ Father, what first-fruits on earth are sprung No gross, no unharmonious mixture foul,
From thy implanted grace in Man; these sighs Eject him, tainted now; and purge him off,
And prayers, which in this golden censer mixed As a distemper, gross, to air as gross,
With incense, I thy priest before thee bring; And mortal food; as may dispose him best
Fruits of more pleasing savour, from thy seed For dissolution wrought by sin, that first
Sown with contrition in his heart, than those Distempered all things, and of incorrupt
Which, his own hand manuring, all the trees Corrupted. I, at first, with two fair gifts
Of Paradise could have produced, ere fallen Created him endowed; with happiness,
From innocence. Now therefore, bend thine ear And immortality: that fondly lost,
To supplication; hear his sighs, though mute; This other served but to eternize woe;
Unskilful with what words to pray, let me Till I provided death: so death becomes
Interpret for him; me, his advocate His final remedy; and, after life,
And propitiation; all his works on me, Tried in sharp tribulation, and refined
Good, or not good, ingraft; my merit those By faith and faithful works, to second life,
Shall perfect, and for these my death shall pay. Waked in the renovation of the just,
Accept me; and, in me, from these receive Resigns him up with Heaven and Earth renewed.
The smell of peace toward mankind: let him live But let us call to synod all the Blest,
Before thee reconciled, at least his days Through Heaven’s wide bounds: from them I will not hide
Numbered, though sad; till death, his doom, (which I My judgements; how with mankind I proceed,
To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse,) As how with peccant Angels late they saw,

And in their state, though firm, stood more confirmed. Take to thee from among the Cherubim
He ended, and the Son gave signal high Thy choice of flaming warriours, lest the Fiend,
To the bright minister that watched; he blew Or in behalf of Man, or to invade
His trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps Vacant possession, some new trouble raise:
When God descended, and perhaps once more Haste thee, and from the Paradise of God
To sound at general doom. The angelick blast Without remorse drive out the sinful pair;
Filled all the regions: from their blisful bowers From hallowed ground the unholy; and denounce
Of amarantine shade, fountain or spring, To them, and to their progeny, from thence
By the waters of life, where’er they sat Perpetual banishment. Yet, lest they faint
In fellowships of joy, the sons of light At the sad sentence rigorously urged,
Hasted, resorting to the summons high; (For I behold them softened, and with tears
And took their seats; till from his throne supreme Bewailing their excess,) all terrour hide.
The Almighty thus pronounced his sovran will. If patiently thy bidding they obey,
O Sons, like one of us Man is become Dismiss them not disconsolate; reveal
To know both good and evil, since his taste To Adam what shall come in future days,
Of that defended fruit; but let him boast As I shall thee enlighten; intermix
His knowledge of good lost, and evil got; My covenant in the Woman’s seed renewed;
Happier! had it sufficed him to have known So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace:
Good by itself, and evil not at all. And on the east side of the garden place,
He sorrows now, repents, and prays contrite, Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbs,
My motions in him; longer than they move, Cherubick watch; and of a sword the flame
His heart I know, how variable and vain, Wide-waving; all approach far off to fright,
Self-left. Lest therefore his now bolder hand And guard all passage to the tree of life:
Reach also of the tree of life, and eat, Lest Paradise a receptacle prove
And live for ever, dream at least to live To Spirits foul, and all my trees their prey;
For ever, to remove him I decree, With whose stolen fruit Man once more to delude.
And send him from the garden forth to till He ceased; and the arch-angelick Power prepared
The ground whence he was taken, fitter soil. For swift descent; with him the cohort bright
Michael, this my behest have thou in charge; Of watchful Cherubim: four faces each

Had, like a double Janus; all their shape Is past, and we shall live. Whence hail to thee,
Spangled with eyes more numerous than those Eve rightly called, mother of all mankind,
Of Argus, and more wakeful than to drouse, Mother of all things living, since by thee
Charmed with Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed Man is to live; and all things live for Man.
Of Hermes, or his opiate rod. Mean while, To whom thus Eve with sad demeanour meek.
To re-salute the world with sacred light, Ill-worthy I such title should belong
Leucothea waked; and with fresh dews imbalmed To me transgressour; who, for thee ordained
The earth; when Adam and first matron Eve A help, became thy snare; to me reproach
Had ended now their orisons, and found Rather belongs, distrust, and all dispraise:
Strength added from above; new hope to spring But infinite in pardon was my Judge,
Out of despair; joy, but with fear yet linked; That I, who first brought death on all, am graced
Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewed. The source of life; next favourable thou,
Eve, easily my faith admit, that all Who highly thus to entitle me vouchsaf’st,
The good which we enjoy from Heaven descends; Far other name deserving. But the field
But, that from us aught should ascend to Heaven To labour calls us, now with sweat imposed,
So prevalent as to concern the mind Though after sleepless night; for see!the morn,
Of God high-blest, or to incline his will, All unconcerned with our unrest, begins
Hard to belief may seem; yet this will prayer Her rosy progress smiling: let us forth;
Or one short sigh of human breath, upborne I never from thy side henceforth to stray,
Even to the seat of God. For since I sought Where’er our day’s work lies, though now enjoined
By prayer the offended Deity to appease; Laborious, till day droop; while here we dwell,
Kneeled, and before him humbled all my heart; What can be toilsome in these pleasant walks?
Methought I saw him placable and mild, Here let us live, though in fallen state, content.
Bending his ear; persuasion in me grew So spake, so wished much humbled Eve; but Fate
That I was heard with favour; peace returned Subscribed not: Nature first gave signs, impressed
Home to my breast, and to my memory On bird, beast, air; air suddenly eclipsed,
His promise, that thy seed shall bruise our foe; After short blush of morn; nigh in her sight
Which, then not minded in dismay, yet now The bird of Jove, stooped from his aery tour,
Assures me that the bitterness of death Two birds of gayest plume before him drove;

Down from a hill the beast that reigns in woods, Nor that, which on the flaming mount appeared
First hunter then, pursued a gentle brace, In Dothan, covered with a camp of fire,
Goodliest of all the forest, hart and hind; Against the Syrian king, who to surprise
Direct to the eastern gate was bent their flight. One man, assassin-like, had levied war,
Adam observed, and with his eye the chase War unproclaimed. The princely Hierarch
Pursuing, not unmoved, to Eve thus spake. In their bright stand there left his Powers, to seise
O Eve, some further change awaits us nigh, Possession of the garden; he alone,
Which Heaven, by these mute signs in Nature, shows To find where Adam sheltered, took his way,
Forerunners of his purpose; or to warn Not unperceived of Adam; who to Eve,
Us, haply too secure, of our discharge While the great visitant approached, thus spake.
From penalty, because from death released Eve$ now expect great tidings, which perhaps
Some days: how long, and what till then our life, Of us will soon determine, or impose
Who knows? or more than this, that we are dust, New laws to be observed; for I descry,
And thither must return, and be no more? From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill,
Why else this double object in our sight One of the heavenly host; and, by his gait,
Of flight pursued in the air, and o’er the ground, None of the meanest; some great Potentate
One way the self-same hour? why in the east Or of the Thrones above; such majesty
Darkness ere day’s mid-course, and morning-light Invests him coming! yet not terrible,
More orient in yon western cloud, that draws That I should fear; nor sociably mild,
O’er the blue firmament a radiant white, As Raphael, that I should much confide;
And slow descends with something heavenly fraught? But solemn and sublime; whom not to offend,
He erred not; for by this the heavenly bands With reverence I must meet, and thou retire.
Down from a sky of jasper lighted now He ended: and the Arch-Angel soon drew nigh,
In Paradise, and on a hill made halt; Not in his shape celestial, but as man
A glorious apparition, had not doubt Clad to meet man; over his lucid arms
And carnal fear that day dimmed Adam’s eye. A military vest of purple flowed,
Not that more glorious, when the Angels met Livelier than Meliboean, or the grain
Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw Of Sarra, worn by kings and heroes old
The field pavilioned with his guardians bright; In time of truce; Iris had dipt the woof;

His starry helm unbuckled showed him prime That never will in other climate grow,
In manhood where youth ended; by his side, My early visitation, and my last
As in a glistering zodiack, hung the sword, ;t even, which I bred up with tender hand
Satan’s dire dread; and in his hand the spear. From the first opening bud, and gave ye names!
Adam bowed low; he, kingly, from his state Who now shall rear ye to the sun, or rank
Inclined not, but his coming thus declared. Your tribes, and water from the ambrosial fount?
Adam, Heaven’s high behest no preface needs: Thee lastly, nuptial bower! by me adorned
Sufficient that thy prayers are heard; and Death, With what to sight or smell was sweet! from thee
Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress, How shall I part, and whither wander down
Defeated of his seisure many days Into a lower world; to this obscure
Given thee of grace; wherein thou mayest repent, And wild? how shall we breathe in other air
And one bad act with many deeds well done Less pure, accustomed to immortal fruits?
Mayest cover: Well may then thy Lord, appeased, Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild.
Redeem thee quite from Death’s rapacious claim; Lament not, Eve, but patiently resign
But longer in this Paradise to dwell What justly thou hast lost, nor set thy heart,
Permits not: to remove thee I am come, Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine:
And send thee from the garden forth to till Thy going is not lonely; with thee goes
The ground whence thou wast taken, fitter soil. Thy husband; whom to follow thou art bound;
He added not; for Adam at the news Where he abides, think there thy native soil.
Heart-struck with chilling gripe of sorrow stood, Adam, by this from the cold sudden damp
That all his senses bound; Eve, who unseen Recovering, and his scattered spirits returned,
Yet all had heard, with audible lament To Michael thus his humble words addressed.
Discovered soon the place of her retire. Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or named
O unexpected stroke, worse than of Death! Of them the highest; for such of shape may seem
Must I thus leave thee$ Paradise? thus leave Prince above princes! gently hast thou told
Thee, native soil! these happy walks and shades, Thy message, which might else in telling wound,
Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to spend, And in performing end us; what besides
Quiet though sad, the respite of that day Of sorrow, and dejection, and despair,
That must be mortal to us both. O flowers, Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring,

Departure from this happy place, our sweet Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts
Recess, and only consolation left Of glory; and far off his steps adore.
Familiar to our eyes! all places else To whom thus Michael with regard benign.
Inhospitable appear, and desolate; Adam, thou knowest Heaven his, and all the Earth;
Nor knowing us, nor known: And, if by prayer Not this rock only; his Omnipresence fills
Incessant I could hope to change the will Land, sea, and air, and every kind that lives,
Of Him who all things can, I would not cease Fomented by his virtual power and warmed:
To weary him with my assiduous cries: All the earth he gave thee to possess and rule,
But prayer against his absolute decree No despicable gift; surmise not then
No more avails than breath against the wind, His presence to these narrow bounds confined
Blown stifling back on him that breathes it forth: Of Paradise, or Eden: this had been
Therefore to his great bidding I submit. Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had spread
This most afflicts me, that, departing hence, All generations; and had hither come
As from his face I shall be hid, deprived From all the ends of the earth, to celebrate
His blessed countenance: Here I could frequent And reverence thee, their great progenitor.
With worship place by place where he vouchsafed But this pre-eminence thou hast lost, brought down
Presence Divine; and to my sons relate, To dwell on even ground now with thy sons:
‘On this mount he appeared; under this tree Yet doubt not but in valley, and in plain,
‘Stood visible; among these pines his voice God is, as here; and will be found alike
‘I heard; here with him at this fountain talked: Present; and of his presence many a sign
So many grateful altars I would rear Still following thee, still compassing thee round
Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone With goodness and paternal love, his face
Of lustre from the brook, in memory, Express, and of his steps the track divine.
Or monument to ages; and theron Which that thou mayest believe, and be confirmed
Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and flowers: Ere thou from hence depart; know, I am sent
In yonder nether world where shall I seek To show thee what shall come in future days
His bright appearances, or foot-step trace? To thee, and to thy offspring: good with bad
For though I fled him angry, yet recalled Expect to hear; supernal grace contending
To life prolonged and promised race, I now With sinfulness of men; thereby to learn

True patience, and to temper joy with fear To Paquin of Sinaean kings; and thence
And pious sorrow; equally inured To Agra and Lahor of great Mogul,
By moderation either state to bear, Down to the golden Chersonese; or where
Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead The Persian in Ecbatan sat, or since
Safest thy life, and best prepared endure In Hispahan; or where the Russian Ksar
Thy mortal passage when it comes.—Ascend In Mosco; or the Sultan in Bizance,
This hill; let Eve (for I have drenched her eyes) Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken
Here sleep below; while thou to foresight wakest; The empire of Negus to his utmost port
As once thou sleptst, while she to life was formed. Ercoco, and the less maritim kings
To whom thus Adam gratefully replied. Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind,
Ascend, I follow thee, safe Guide, the path And Sofala, thought Ophir, to the realm
Thou leadest me; and to the hand of Heaven submit, Of Congo, and Angola farthest south;
However chastening; to the evil turn Or thence from Niger flood to Atlas mount
My obvious breast; arming to overcome The kingdoms of Almansor, Fez and Sus,
By suffering, and earn rest from labour won, Morocco, and Algiers, and Tremisen;
If so I may attain. — So both ascend On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway
In the visions of God. It was a hill, The world: in spirit perhaps he also saw
Of Paradise the highest; from whose top Rich Mexico, the seat of Montezume,
The hemisphere of earth, in clearest ken, And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat
Stretched out to the amplest reach of prospect lay. Of Atabalipa; and yet unspoiled
Not higher that hill, nor wider looking round, Guiana, whose great city Geryon’s sons
Whereon, for different cause, the Tempter set Call El Dorado. But to nobler sights
Our second Adam, in the wilderness; Michael from Adam’s eyes the film removed,
To show him all Earth’s kingdoms, and their glory. Which that false fruit that promised clearer sight
His eye might there command wherever stood Had bred; then purged with euphrasy and rue
City of old or modern fame, the seat The visual nerve, for he had much to see;
Of mightiest empire, from the destined walls And from the well of life three drops instilled.
Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can, So deep the power of these ingredients pierced,
And Samarchand by Oxus, Temir’s throne, Even to the inmost seat of mental sight,

That Adam, now enforced to close his eyes, Much at that sight was Adam in his heart
Sunk down, and all his spirits became entranced; Dismayed, and thus in haste to the Angel cried.
But him the gentle Angel by the hand O Teacher, some great mischief hath befallen
Soon raised, and his attention thus recalled. To that meek man, who well had sacrificed;
Adam, now ope thine eyes; and first behold Is piety thus and pure devotion paid?
The effects, which thy original crime hath wrought To whom Michael thus, he also moved, replied.
In some to spring from thee; who never touched These two are brethren, Adam, and to come
The excepted tree; nor with the snake conspired; Out of thy loins; the unjust the just hath slain,
Nor sinned thy sin; yet from that sin derive For envy that his brother’s offering found
Corruption, to bring forth more violent deeds. From Heaven acceptance; but the bloody fact
His eyes he opened, and beheld a field, Will be avenged; and the other’s faith, approved,
Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves Lose no reward; though here thou see him die,
New reaped; the other part sheep-walks and folds; Rolling in dust and gore. To which our sire.
I’ the midst an altar as the land-mark stood, Alas! both for the deed, and for the cause!
Rustick, of grassy sord; thither anon But have I now seen Death? Is this the way
A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought I must return to native dust? O sight
First fruits, the green ear, and the yellow sheaf, Of terrour, foul and ugly to behold,
Unculled, as came to hand; a shepherd next, Horrid to think, how horrible to feel!
More meek, came with the firstlings of his flock, To whom thus Michael. Death thou hast seen
Choicest and best; then, sacrificing, laid In his first shape on Man; but many shapes
The inwards and their fat, with incense strowed, Of Death, and many are the ways that lead
On the cleft wood, and all due rights performed: To his grim cave, all dismal; yet to sense
His offering soon propitious fire from Heaven More terrible at the entrance, than within.
Consumed with nimble glance, and grateful steam; Some, as thou sawest, by violent stroke shall die;
The other’s not, for his was not sincere; By fire, flood, famine, by intemperance more
Whereat he inly raged, and, as they talked, In meats and drinks, which on the earth shall bring
Smote him into the midriff with a stone Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew
That beat out life; he fell;and, deadly pale, Before thee shall appear; that thou mayest know
Groaned out his soul with gushing blood effused. What misery the inabstinence of Eve

Shall bring on Men. Immediately a place Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down;
Before his eyes appeared, sad, noisome, dark; Glad to be so dismissed in peace. Can thus
A lazar-house it seemed; wherein were laid The image of God in Man, created once
Numbers of all diseased; all maladies So goodly and erect, though faulty since,
Of ghastly spasm, or racking torture, qualms To such unsightly sufferings be debased
Of heart-sick agony, all feverous kinds, Under inhuman pains? Why should not Man,
Convulsions, epilepsies, fierce catarrhs, Retaining still divine similitude
Intestine stone and ulcer, colick-pangs, In part, from such deformities be free,
Demoniack phrenzy, moaping melancholy, And, for his Maker’s image sake, exempt?
And moon-struck madness, pining atrophy, Their Maker’s image, answered Michael, then
Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence, Forsook them, when themselves they vilified
Dropsies, and asthmas, and joint-racking rheums. To serve ungoverned Appetite; and took
Dire was the tossing, deep the groans; Despair His image whom they served, a brutish vice,
Tended the sick busiest from couch to couch; Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve.
And over them triumphant Death his dart Therefore so abject is their punishment,
Shook, but delayed to strike, though oft invoked Disfiguring not God’s likeness, but their own;
With vows, as their chief good, and final hope. Or if his likeness, by themselves defaced;
Sight so deform what heart of rock could long While they pervert pure Nature’s healthful rules
Dry-eyed behold? Adam could not, but wept, To loathsome sickness; worthily, since they
Though not of woman born; compassion quelled God’s image did not reverence in themselves.
His best of man, and gave him up to tears I yield it just, said Adam, and submit.
A space, till firmer thoughts restrained excess; But is there yet no other way, besides
And, scarce recovering words, his plaint renewed. These painful passages, how we may come
O miserable mankind, to what fall To death, and mix with our connatural dust?
Degraded, to what wretched state reserved! There is, said Michael, if thou well observe
Better end here unborn. Why is life given The rule of Not too much; by temperance taught,
To be thus wrested from us? rather, why In what thou eatest and drinkest; seeking from thence
Obtruded on us thus? who, if we knew Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight,
What we receive, would either no accept Till many years over thy head return:

So mayest thou live; till, like ripe fruit, thou drop In other part stood one who, at the forge
Into thy mother’s lap; or be with ease Labouring, two massy clods of iron and brass
Gathered, nor harshly plucked; for death mature: Had melted, (whether found where casual fire
This is Old Age; but then, thou must outlive Had wasted woods on mountain or in vale,
Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty; which will change Down to the veins of earth; thence gliding hot
To withered, weak, and gray; thy senses then, To some cave’s mouth; or whether washed by stream
Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forego, From underground;) the liquid ore he drained
To what thou hast; and, for the air of youth, Into fit moulds prepared; from which he formed
Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign First his own tools; then, what might else be wrought
A melancholy damp of cold and dry Fusil or graven in metal. After these,
To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume But on the hither side, a different sort
The balm of life. To whom our ancestor. From the high neighbouring hills, which was their seat,
Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong Down to the plain descended; by their guise
Life much; bent rather, how I may be quit, Just men they seemed, and all their study bent
Fairest and easiest, of this cumbrous charge; To worship God aright, and know his works
Which I must keep till my appointed day Not hid; nor those things last, which might preserve
Of rendering up, and patiently attend Freedom and peace to Men; they on the plain
My dissolution. Michael replied. Long had not walked, when from the tents, behold!
Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou livest A bevy of fair women, richly gay
Live well; how long, or short, permit to Heaven: In gems and wanton dress; to the harp they sung
And now prepare thee for another sight. Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on:
He looked, and saw a spacious plain, whereon The men, though grave, eyed them; and let their eyes
Were tents of various hue; by some, were herds Rove without rein; till, in the amorous net
Of cattle grazing; others, whence the sound Fast caught, they liked; and each his liking chose;
Of instruments, that made melodious chime, And now of love they treat, till the evening-star,
Was heard, of harp and organ; and, who moved Love’s harbinger, appeared; then, all in heat
Their stops and chords, was seen; his volant touch, They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke
Instinct through all proportions, low and high, Hymen, then first to marriage rites invoked:
Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue. With feast and musick all the tents resound.

Such happy interview, and fair event Religious titled them the sons of God,
Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flowers, Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame
And charming symphonies, attached the heart Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles
Of Adam, soon inclined to admit delight, Of these fair atheists; and now swim in joy,
The bent of nature; which he thus expressed. Erelong to swim at large; and laugh, for which
True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest; The world erelong a world of tears must weep.
Much better seems this vision, and more hope To whom thus Adam, of short joy bereft.
Of peaceful days portends, than those two past; O pity and shame, that they, who to live well
Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse; Entered so fair, should turn aside to tread
Here Nature seems fulfilled in all her ends. Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint!
To whom thus Michael. Judge not what is best But still I see the tenour of Man’s woe
By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet; Holds on the same, from Woman to begin.
Created, as thou art, to nobler end From Man’s effeminate slackness it begins,
Holy and pure, conformity divine. Said the Angel, who should better hold his place
Those tents thou sawest so pleasant, were the tents By wisdom, and superiour gifts received.
Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race But now prepare thee for another scene.
Who slew his brother; studious they appear He looked, and saw wide territory spread
Of arts that polish life, inventers rare; Before him, towns, and rural works between;
Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit Cities of men with lofty gates and towers,
Taught them; but they his gifts acknowledged none. Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war,
Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget; Giants of mighty bone and bold emprise;
For that fair female troop thou sawest, that seemed Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed,
Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay, Single or in array of battle ranged
Yet empty of all good wherein consists Both horse and foot, nor idly mustering stood;
Woman’s domestick honour and chief praise; One way a band select from forage drives
Bred only and completed to the taste A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine,
Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance, From a fat meadow ground; or fleecy flock,
To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye: Ewes and their bleating lambs over the plain,
To these that sober race of men, whose lives Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly,

But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray; Make they, but of their brethren; men of men
With cruel tournament the squadrons join; But who was that just man, whom had not Heaven
Where cattle pastured late, now scattered lies Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost?
With carcasses and arms the ensanguined field, To whom thus Michael. These are the product
Deserted: Others to a city strong Of those ill-mated marriages thou sawest;
Lay siege, encamped; by battery, scale, and mine, Where good with bad were matched, who of themselves
Assaulting; others from the wall defend Abhor to join; and, by imprudence mixed,
With dart and javelin, stones, and sulphurous fire; Produce prodigious births of body or mind.
On each hand slaughter, and gigantick deeds. Such were these giants, men of high renown;
In other part the sceptered heralds call For in those days might only shall be admired,
To council, in the city-gates; anon And valour and heroick virtue called;
Gray-headed men and grave, with warriours mixed, To overcome in battle, and subdue
Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon, Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite
In factious opposition; till at last, Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch
Of middle age one rising, eminent Of human glory; and for glory done
In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, Of triumph, to be styled great conquerours
Of justice, or religion, truth, and peace, Patrons of mankind, Gods, and sons of Gods;
And judgement from above: him old and young Destroyers rightlier called, and plagues of men.
Exploded, and had seized with violent hands, Thus fame shall be achieved, renown on earth;
Had not a cloud descending snatched him thence And what most merits fame, in silence hid.
Unseen amid the throng: so violence But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldst
Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law, The only righteous in a world preverse,
Through all the plain, and refuge none was found. And therefore hated, therefore so beset
Adam was all in tears, and to his guide With foes, for daring single to be just,
Lamenting turned full sad; O!what are these, And utter odious truth, that God would come
Death’s ministers, not men? who thus deal death To judge them with his Saints; him the Most High
Inhumanly to men, and multiply Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds
Ten thousandfold the sin of him who slew Did, as thou sawest, receive, to walk with God
His brother: for of whom such massacre High in salvation and the climes of bliss,

Exempt from death; to show thee what reward Mean while the south-wind rose, and, with black wings
Awaits the good; the rest what punishment; Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove
Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold. From under Heaven; the hills to their supply
He looked, and saw the face of things quite changed; Vapour, and exhalation dusk and moist,
The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar; Sent up amain; and now the thickened sky
All now was turned to jollity and game, Like a dark cieling stood; down rushed the rain
To luxury and riot, feast and dance; Impetuous; and continued, till the earth
Marrying or prostituting, as befel, No more was seen: the floating vessel swum
Rape or adultery, where passing fair Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow
Allured them; thence from cups to civil broils. Rode tilting o’er the waves; all dwellings else
At length a reverend sire among them came, Flood overwhelmed, and them with all their pomp
And of their doings great dislike declared, Deep under water rolled; sea covered sea,
And testified against their ways; he oft Sea without shore; and in their palaces,
Frequented their assemblies, whereso met, Where luxury late reigned, sea-monsters whelped
Triumphs or festivals; and to them preached And stabled; of mankind, so numerous late,
Conversion and repentance, as to souls All left, in one small bottom swum imbarked.
In prison, under judgements imminent: How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold
But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceased The end of all thy offspring, end so sad,
Contending, and removed his tents far off; Depopulation! Thee another flood,
Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall, Of tears and sorrow a flood, thee also drowned,
Began to build a vessel of huge bulk; And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently reared
Measured by cubit, length, and breadth, and highth; By the Angel, on thy feet thou stoodest at last,
Smeared round with pitch; and in the side a door Though comfortless; as when a father mourns
Contrived; and of provisions laid in large, His children, all in view destroyed at once;
For man and beast: when lo, a wonder strange! And scarce to the Angel utter’dst thus thy plaint.
Of every beast, and bird, and insect small, O visions ill foreseen! Better had I
Came sevens, and pairs; and entered in as taught Lived ignorant of future! so had borne
Their order: last the sire and his three sons, My part of evil only, each day’s lot
With their four wives; and God made fast the door. Enough to bear; those now, that were dispensed

The burden of many ages, on me light Raise out of friendship hostile deeds in peace.
At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth The conquered also, and enslaved by war,
Abortive, to torment me ere their being, Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose
With thought that they must be. Let no man seek And fear of God; from whom their piety feigned
Henceforth to be foretold, what shall befall In sharp contest of battle found no aid
Him or his children; evil he may be sure, Against invaders; therefore, cooled in zeal,
Which neither his foreknowing can prevent; Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure,
And he the future evil shall no less Worldly or dissolute, on what their lords
In apprehension than in substance feel, Shall leave them to enjoy; for the earth shall bear
Grievous to bear: but that care now is past, More than enough, that temperance may be tried:
Man is not whom to warn: those few escaped So all shall turn degenerate, all depraved;
Famine and anguish will at last consume, Justice and temperance, truth and faith, forgot;
Wandering that watery desart: I had hope, One man except, the only son of light
When violence was ceased, and war on earth, In a dark age, against example good,
All would have then gone well; peace would have crowned Against allurement, custom, and a world
With length of happy days the race of Man; Offended: fearless of reproach and scorn,
But I was far deceived; for now I see The grand-child, with twelve sons encreased, departs
Peace to corrupt no less than war to waste. From Canaan, to a land hereafter called
How comes it thus? unfold, celestial Guide, Egypt, divided by the river Nile;
And whether here the race of Man will end. See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths
To whom thus Michael. Those, whom last thou sawest Into the sea: To sojourn in that land
In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they He comes, invited by a younger son
First seen in acts of prowess eminent In time of dearth; a son, whose worthy deeds
And great exploits, but of true virtue void; Raise him to be the second in that realm
Who, having spilt much blood, and done much wast Of Pharaoh: There he dies, and leaves his race
Subduing nations, and achieved thereby Growing into a nation, and now grown
Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey; Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks
Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth, To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests
Surfeit, and lust; till wantonness and pride Or violence, he of their wicked ways

Shall them admonish; and before them set Driven by a keen north-wind, that, blowing dry,
The paths of righteousness, how much more safe Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decayed;
And full of peace; denouncing wrath to come And the clear sun on his wide watery glass
On their impenitence; and shall return Gazed hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew,
Of them derided, but of God observed As after thirst; which made their flowing shrink
The one just man alive; by his command From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole
Shall build a wonderous ark, as thou beheldst, With soft foot towards the deep; who now had stopt
To save himself, and houshold, from amidst His sluces, as the Heaven his windows shut.
A world devote to universal wrack. The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground,
No sooner he, with them of man and beast Fast on the top of some high mountain fixed.
Select for life, shall in the ark be lodged, And now the tops of hills, as rocks, appear;
And sheltered round; but all the cataracts With clamour thence the rapid currents drive,
Of Heaven set open on the Earth shall pour Towards the retreating sea, their furious tide.
Rain, day and night; all fountains of the deep, Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies,
Broke up, shall heave the ocean to usurp And after him, the surer messenger,
Beyond all bounds; till inundation rise A dove sent forth once and again to spy
Above the highest hills: Then shall this mount Green tree or ground, whereon his foot may light:
Of Paradise by might of waves be moved The second time returning, in his bill
Out of his place, pushed by the horned flood, An olive-leaf he brings, pacifick sign:
With all his verdure spoiled, and trees adrift, Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark
Down the great river to the opening gulf, The ancient sire descends, with all his train;
And there take root an island salt and bare, Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout,
The haunt of seals, and orcs, and sea-mews’ clang: Grateful to Heaven, over his head beholds
To teach thee that God attributes to place A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow
No sanctity, if none be thither brought Conspicuous with three lifted colours gay,
By men who there frequent, or therein dwell. Betokening peace from God, and covenant new.
And now, what further shall ensue, behold. Whereat the heart of Adam, erst so sad,
He looked, and saw the ark hull on the flood, Greatly rejoiced; and thus his joy broke forth.
Which now abated; for the clouds were fled, O thou, who future things canst represent

As present, heavenly Instructer! I revive Shall hold their course; till fire purge all things new,
At this last sight; assured that Man shall live, Both Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell.
With all the creatures, and their seed preserve.
Far less I now lament for one whole world
Of wicked sons destroyed, than I rejoice
For one man found so perfect, and so just,
That God vouchsafes to raise another world
From him, and all his anger to forget.
But say, what mean those coloured streaks in Heaven
Distended, as the brow of God appeased?
Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind
The fluid skirts of that same watery cloud,
Lest it again dissolve, and shower the earth?
To whom the Arch-Angel. Dextrously thou aimest;
So willingly doth God remit his ire,
Though late repenting him of Man depraved;
Grieved at his heart, when looking down he saw
The whole earth filled with violence, and all flesh
Corrupting each their way; yet, those removed,
Such grace shall one just man find in his sight,
That he relents, not to blot out mankind;
And makes a covenant never to destroy
The earth again by flood; nor let the sea
Surpass his bounds; nor rain to drown the world,
With man therein or beast; but, when he brings
Over the earth a cloud, will therein set
His triple-coloured bow, whereon to look,
And call to mind his covenant: Day and night,
Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost,

Book XII Of proud ambitious heart; who, not content
With fair equality, fraternal state,
Will arrogate dominion undeserved
Over his brethren, and quite dispossess
Concord and law of nature from the earth;
A s one who in his journey bates at noon,

Though bent on speed; so here the Arch-Angel paused
Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored,
Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game)
With war, and hostile snare, such as refuse
Subjection to his empire tyrannous:
If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; A mighty hunter thence he shall be styled
Then, with transition sweet, new speech resumes. Before the Lord; as in despite of Heaven,
Thus thou hast seen one world begin, and end; Or from Heaven, claiming second sovranty;
And Man, as from a second stock, proceed. And from rebellion shall derive his name,
Much thou hast yet to see; but I perceive Though of rebellion others he accuse.
Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine He with a crew, whom like ambition joins
Must needs impair and weary human sense: With him or under him to tyrannize,
Henceforth what is to come I will relate; Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find
Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge
This second source of Men, while yet but few, Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell:
And while the dread of judgement past remains Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast to build
Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, A city and tower, whose top may reach to Heaven;
With some regard to what is just and right And get themselves a name; lest, far dispersed
Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace; In foreign lands, their memory be lost;
Labouring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, Regardless whether good or evil fame.
Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock, But God, who oft descends to visit men
Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, Unseen, and through their habitations walks
With large wine-offerings poured, and sacred feast, To mark their doings, them beholding soon,
Shall spend their days in joy unblamed; and dwell Comes down to see their city, ere the tower
Long time in peace, by families and tribes, Obstruct Heaven-towers, and in derision sets
Under paternal rule: till one shall rise Upon their tongues a various spirit, to rase

Quite out their native language; and, instead, Since thy original lapse, true liberty
To sow a jangling noise of words unknown: Is lost, which always with right reason dwells
Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud, Twinned, and from her hath no dividual being:
Among the builders; each to other calls Reason in man obscured, or not obeyed,
Not understood; till hoarse, and all in rage, Immediately inordinate desires,
As mocked they storm: great laughter was in Heaven, And upstart passions, catch the government
And looking down, to see the hubbub strange, From reason; and to servitude reduce
And hear the din: Thus was the building left Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits
Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named. Within himself unworthy powers to reign
Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeased. Over free reason, God, in judgement just,
O execrable son! so to aspire Subjects him from without to violent lords;
Above his brethren; to himself assuming Who oft as undeservedly enthrall
Authority usurped, from God not given: His outward freedom: Tyranny must be;
He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse.
Dominion absolute; that right we hold Yet sometimes nations will decline so low
By his donation; but man over men From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong,
He made not lord; such title to himself But justice, and some fatal curse annexed,
Reserving, human left from human free. Deprives them of their outward liberty;
But this usurper his encroachment proud Their inward lost: Witness the irreverent son
Stays not on Man; to God his tower intends Of him who built the ark; who, for the shame
Siege and defiance: Wretched man!what food Done to his father, heard this heavy curse,
Will he convey up thither, to sustain Servant of servants, on his vicious race.
Himself and his rash army; where thin air Thus will this latter, as the former world,
Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross, Still tend from bad to worse; till God at last,
And famish him of breath, if not of bread? Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw
To whom thus Michael. Justly thou abhorrest His presence from among them, and avert
That son, who on the quiet state of men His holy eyes; resolving from thenceforth
Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue To leave them to their own polluted ways;
Rational liberty; yet know withal, And one peculiar nation to select

From all the rest, of whom to be invoked, From Hermon east to the great western Sea;
A nation from one faithful man to spring: Mount Hermon, yonder sea; each place behold
Him on this side Euphrates yet residing, In prospect, as I point them; on the shore
Bred up in idol-worship: O, that men Mount Carmel; here, the double-founted stream,
(Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown, Jordan, true limit eastward; but his sons
While yet the patriarch lived, who ‘scaped the flood, Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of hills.
As to forsake the living God, and fall This ponder, that all nations of the earth
To worship their own work in wood and stone Shall in his seed be blessed: By that seed
For Gods! Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes Is meant thy great Deliverer, who shall bruise
To call by vision, from his father’s house, The Serpent’s head; whereof to thee anon
His kindred, and false Gods, into a land Plainlier shall be revealed. This patriarch blest,
Which he will show him; and from him will raise Whom faithful Abraham due time shall call,
A mighty nation; and upon him shower A son, and of his son a grand-child, leaves;
His benediction so, that in his seed Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown:
All nations shall be blest: he straight obeys; The grandchild, with twelve sons increased, departs
Not knowing to what land, yet firm believes: From Canaan to a land hereafter called
I see him, but thou canst not, with what faith Egypt, divided by the river Nile
He leaves his Gods, his friends, and native soil, See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths
Ur of Chaldaea, passing now the ford Into the sea. To sojourn in that land
To Haran; after him a cumbrous train He comes, invited by a younger son
Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude; In time of dearth, a son whose worthy deeds
Not wandering poor, but trusting all his wealth Raise him to be the second in that realm
With God, who called him, in a land unknown. Of Pharaoh. There he dies, and leaves his race
Canaan he now attains; I see his tents Growing into a nation, and now grown
Pitched about Sechem, and the neighbouring plain Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks
Of Moreh; there by promise he receives To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests
Gift to his progeny of all that land, Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them slaves
From Hameth northward to the Desart south; Inhospitably, and kills their infant males:
(Things by their names I call, though yet unnamed;) Till by two brethren (these two brethren call

Moses and Aaron) sent from God to claim Divided, till his rescued gain their shore:
His people from enthralment, they return, Such wondrous power God to his saint will lend,
With glory and spoil, back to their promised land. Though present in his Angel; who shall go
But first, the lawless tyrant, who denies Before them in a cloud, and pillar of fire;
To know their God, or message to regard, By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire;
Must be compelled by signs and judgements dire; To guide them in their journey, and remove
To blood unshed the rivers must be turned; Behind them, while the obdurate king pursues:
Frogs, lice, and flies, must all his palace fill All night he will pursue; but his approach
With loathed intrusion, and fill all the land; Darkness defends between till morning watch;
His cattle must of rot and murren die; Then through the fiery pillar, and the cloud,
Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss, God looking forth will trouble all his host,
And all his people; thunder mixed with hail, And craze their chariot-wheels: when by command
Hail mixed with fire, must rend the Egyptians sky, Moses once more his potent rod extends
And wheel on the earth, devouring where it rolls; Over the sea; the sea his rod obeys;
What it devours not, herb, or fruit, or grain, On their embattled ranks the waves return,
A darksome cloud of locusts swarming down And overwhelm their war: The race elect
Must eat, and on the ground leave nothing green; Safe toward Canaan from the shore advance
Darkness must overshadow all his bounds, Through the wild Desart, not the readiest way;
Palpable darkness, and blot out three days; Lest, entering on the Canaanite alarmed,
Last, with one midnight stroke, all the first-born War terrify them inexpert, and fear
Of Egypt must lie dead. Thus with ten wounds Return them back to Egypt, choosing rather
The river-dragon tamed at length submits Inglorious life with servitude; for life
To let his sojourners depart, and oft To noble and ignoble is more sweet
Humbles his stubborn heart; but still, as ice Untrained in arms, where rashness leads not on.
More hardened after thaw; till, in his rage This also shall they gain by their delay
Pursuing whom he late dismissed, the sea In the wide wilderness; there they shall found
Swallows him with his host; but them lets pass, Their government, and their great senate choose
As on dry land, between two crystal walls; Through the twelve tribes, to rule by laws ordained:
Awed by the rod of Moses so to stand God from the mount of Sinai, whose gray top

Shall tremble, he descending, will himself Shall rest by day, a fiery gleam by night;
In thunder, lightning, and loud trumpets’ sound, Save when they journey, and at length they come,
Ordain them laws; part, such as appertain Conducted by his Angel, to the land
To civil justice; part, religious rites Promised to Abraham and his seed:—The rest
Of sacrifice; informing them, by types Were long to tell; how many battles fought
And shadows, of that destined Seed to bruise How many kings destroyed; and kingdoms won;
The Serpent, by what means he shall achieve Or how the sun shall in mid Heaven stand still
Mankind’s deliverance. But the voice of God A day entire, and night’s due course adjourn,
To mortal ear is dreadful: They beseech Man’s voice commanding, ‘Sun, in Gibeon stand,
That Moses might report to them his will, ‘And thou moon in the vale of Aialon,
And terrour cease; he grants what they besought, ‘Till Israel overcome! so call the third
Instructed that to God is no access From Abraham, son of Isaac; and from him
Without Mediator, whose high office now His whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win.
Moses in figure bears; to introduce Here Adam interposed. O sent from Heaven,
One greater, of whose day he shall foretel, Enlightener of my darkness, gracious things
And all the Prophets in their age the times Thou hast revealed; those chiefly, which concern
Of great Messiah shall sing. Thus, laws and rites Just Abraham and his seed: now first I find
Established, such delight hath God in Men Mine eyes true-opening, and my heart much eased;
Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes Erewhile perplexed with thoughts, what would become
Among them to set up his tabernacle; Of me and all mankind: But now I see
The Holy One with mortal Men to dwell: His day, in whom all nations shall be blest;
By his prescript a sanctuary is framed Favour unmerited by me, who sought
Of cedar, overlaid with gold; therein Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means.
An ark, and in the ark his testimony, This yet I apprehend not, why to those
The records of his covenant; over these Among whom God will deign to dwell on earth
A mercy-seat of gold, between the wings So many and so various laws are given;
Of two bright Cherubim; before him burn So many laws argue so many sins
Seven lamps as in a zodiack representing Among them; how can God with such reside?
The heavenly fires; over the tent a cloud To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that sin

Will reign among them, as of thee begot; Mean while they, in their earthly Canaan placed,
And therefore was law given them, to evince Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins
Their natural pravity, by stirring up National interrupt their publick peace,
Sin against law to fight: that when they see Provoking God to raise them enemies;
Law can discover sin, but not remove, From whom as oft he saves them penitent
Save by those shadowy expiations weak, By Judges first, then under Kings; of whom
The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude The second, both for piety renowned
Some blood more precious must be paid for Man; And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive
Just for unjust; that, in such righteousness Irrevocable, that his regal throne
To them by faith imputed, they may find For ever shall endure; the like shall sing
Justification towards God, and peace All Prophecy, that of the royal stock
Of conscience; which the law by ceremonies Of David (so I name this king) shall rise
Cannot appease; nor Man the mortal part A Son, the Woman’s seed to thee foretold,
Perform; and, not performing, cannot live. Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust
So law appears imperfect; and but given All nations; and to kings foretold, of kings
With purpose to resign them, in full time, The last; for of his reign shall be no end.
Up to a better covenant; disciplined But first, a long succession must ensue;
From shadowy types to truth; from flesh to spirit; And his next son, for wealth and wisdom famed,
From imposition of strict laws to free The clouded ark of God, till then in tents
Acceptance of large grace; from servile fear Wandering, shall in a glorious temple enshrine.
To filial; works of law to works of faith. Such follow him, as shall be registered
And therefore shall not Moses, though of God Part good, part bad; of bad the longer scroll;
Highly beloved, being but the minister Whose foul idolatries, and other faults
Of law, his people into Canaan lead; Heaped to the popular sum, will so incense
But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call, God, as to leave them, and expose their land,
His name and office bearing, who shall quell Their city, his temple, and his holy ark,
The adversary-Serpent, and bring back With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey
Through the world’s wilderness long-wandered Man To that proud city, whose high walls thou sawest
Safe to eternal Paradise of rest. Left in confusion; Babylon thence called.

There in captivity he lets them dwell Surcharged, as had like grief been dewed in tears,
The space of seventy years; then brings them back, Without the vent of words; which these he breathed.
Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn O prophet of glad tidings, finisher
To David, stablished as the days of Heaven. Of utmost hope! now clear I understand
Returned from Babylon by leave of kings What oft my steadiest thoughts have searched in vain;
Their lords, whom God disposed, the house of God Why our great Expectation should be called
They first re-edify; and for a while The seed of Woman: Virgin Mother, hail,
In mean estate live moderate; till, grown High in the love of Heaven; yet from my loins
In wealth and multitude, factious they grow; Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son
But first among the priests dissention springs, Of God Most High: so God with Man unites!
Men who attend the altar, and should most Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise
Endeavour peace: their strife pollution brings Expect with mortal pain: Say where and when
Upon the temple itself: at last they seise Their fight, what stroke shall bruise the victor’s heel.
The scepter, and regard not David’s sons; To whom thus Michael. Dream not of their fight,
Then lose it to a stranger, that the true As of a duel, or the local wounds
Anointed King Messiah might be born Of head or heel: Not therefore joins the Son
Barred of his right; yet at his birth a star, Manhood to Godhead, with more strength to foil
Unseen before in Heaven, proclaims him come; Thy enemy; nor so is overcome
And guides the eastern sages, who inquire Satan, whose fall from Heaven, a deadlier bruise,
His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and gold: Disabled, not to give thee thy death’s wound:
His place of birth a solemn Angel tells Which he, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure,
To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night; Not by destroying Satan, but his works
They gladly thither haste, and by a quire In thee, and in thy seed: Nor can this be,
Of squadroned Angels hear his carol sung. But by fulfilling that which thou didst want,
A virgin is his mother, but his sire Obedience to the law of God, imposed
The power of the Most High: He shall ascend On penalty of death, and suffering death;
The throne hereditary, and bound his reign The penalty to thy transgression due,
With Earth’s wide bounds, his glory with the Heavens. And due to theirs which out of thine will grow:
He ceased, discerning Adam with such joy So only can high Justice rest appaid.

The law of God exact he shall fulfil Defeating Sin and Death, his two main arms;
Both by obedience and by love, though love And fix far deeper in his head their stings
Alone fulfil the law; thy punishment Than temporal death shall bruise the victor’s heel,
He shall endure, by coming in the flesh Or theirs whom he redeems; a death, like sleep,
To a reproachful life, and cursed death; A gentle wafting to immortal life.
Proclaiming life to all who shall believe Nor after resurrection shall he stay
In his redemption; and that his obedience, Longer on earth, than certain times to appear
Imputed, becomes theirs by faith; his merits To his disciples, men who in his life
To save them, not their own, though legal, works. Still followed him; to them shall leave in charge
For this he shall live hated, be blasphemed, To teach all nations what of him they learned
Seised on by force, judged, and to death condemned And his salvation; them who shall believe
A shameful and accursed, nailed to the cross Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign
By his own nation; slain for bringing life: Of washing them from guilt of sin to life
But to the cross he nails thy enemies, Pure, and in mind prepared, if so befall,
The law that is against thee, and the sins For death, like that which the Redeemer died.
Of all mankind, with him there crucified, All nations they shall teach; for, from that day,
Never to hurt them more who rightly trust Not only to the sons of Abraham’s loins
In this his satisfaction; so he dies, Salvation shall be preached, but to the sons
But soon revives; Death over him no power Of Abraham’s faith wherever through the world;
Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light So in his seed all nations shall be blest.
Return, the stars of morn shall see him rise Then to the Heaven of Heavens he shall ascend
Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light, With victory, triumphing through the air
Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems, Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise
His death for Man, as many as offered life The Serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains
Neglect not, and the benefit embrace Through all his realm, and there confounded leave;
By faith not void of works: This God-like act Then enter into glory, and resume
Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldest have died, His seat at God’s right hand, exalted high
In sin for ever lost from life; this act Above all names in Heaven; and thence shall come,
Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength, When this world’s dissolution shall be ripe,

With glory and power to judge both quick and dead; Working through love, upon their hearts shall write,
To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward To guide them in all truth; and also arm
His faithful, and receive them into bliss, With spiritual armour, able to resist
Whether in Heaven or Earth; for then the Earth Satan’s assaults, and quench his fiery darts;
Shall all be Paradise, far happier place What man can do against them, not afraid,
Than this of Eden, and far happier days. Though to the death; against such cruelties
So spake the Arch-Angel Michael; then paused, With inward consolations recompensed,
As at the world’s great period; and our sire, And oft supported so as shall amaze
Replete with joy and wonder, thus replied. Their proudest persecutors: For the Spirit,
O Goodness infinite, Goodness immense! Poured first on his Apostles, whom he sends
That all this good of evil shall produce, To evangelize the nations, then on all
And evil turn to good; more wonderful Baptized, shall them with wonderous gifts endue
Than that which by creation first brought forth To speak all tongues, and do all miracles,
Light out of darkness! Full of doubt I stand, As did their Lord before them. Thus they win
Whether I should repent me now of sin Great numbers of each nation to receive
By me done, and occasioned; or rejoice With joy the tidings brought from Heaven: At length
Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring; Their ministry performed, and race well run,
To God more glory, more good-will to Men Their doctrine and their story written left,
From God, and over wrath grace shall abound. They die; but in their room, as they forewarn,
But say, if our Deliverer up to Heaven Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves,
Must re-ascend, what will betide the few Who all the sacred mysteries of Heaven
His faithful, left among the unfaithful herd, To their own vile advantages shall turn
The enemies of truth? Who then shall guide Of lucre and ambition; and the truth
His people, who defend? Will they not deal With superstitions and traditions taint,
Worse with his followers than with him they dealt? Left only in those written records pure,
Be sure they will, said the Angel; but from Heaven Though not but by the Spirit understood.
He to his own a Comforter will send, Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names,
The promise of the Father, who shall dwell Places, and titles, and with these to join
His Spirit within them; and the law of faith, Secular power; though feigning still to act

By spiritual, to themselves appropriating Satan with his perverted world; then raise
The Spirit of God, promised alike and given From the conflagrant mass, purged and refined,
To all believers; and, from that pretence, New Heavens, new Earth, ages of endless date,
Spiritual laws by carnal power shall force Founded in righteousness, and peace, and love;
On every conscience; laws which none shall find To bring forth fruits, joy and eternal bliss.
Left them inrolled, or what the Spirit within He ended; and thus Adam last replied.
Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest,
But force the Spirit of Grace itself, and bind Measured this transient world, the race of time,
His consort Liberty? what, but unbuild Till time stand fixed! Beyond is all abyss,
His living temples, built by faith to stand, Eternity, whose end no eye can reach.
Their own faith, not another’s? for, on earth, Greatly-instructed I shall hence depart;
Who against faith and conscience can be heard Greatly in peace of thought; and have my fill
Infallible? yet many will presume: Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain;
Whence heavy persecution shall arise Beyond which was my folly to aspire.
On all, who in the worship persevere Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best,
Of spirit and truth; the rest, far greater part, And love with fear the only God; to walk
Will deem in outward rites and specious forms As in his presence; ever to observe
Religion satisfied; Truth shall retire His providence; and on him sole depend,
Bestuck with slanderous darts, and works of faith Merciful over all his works, with good
Rarely be found: So shall the world go on, Still overcoming evil, and by small
To good malignant, to bad men benign; Accomplishing great things, by things deemed weak
Under her own weight groaning; till the day Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise
Appear of respiration to the just, By simply meek: that suffering for truth’s sake
And vengeance to the wicked, at return Is fortitude to highest victory,
Of him so lately promised to thy aid, And, to the faithful, death the gate of life;
The Woman’s Seed; obscurely then foretold, Taught this by his example, whom I now
Now ampler known thy Saviour and thy Lord; Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest.
Last, in the clouds, from Heaven to be revealed To whom thus also the Angel last replied.
In glory of the Father, to dissolve This having learned, thou hast attained the sum

Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars With meditation on the happy end.
Thou knewest by name, and all the ethereal powers, He ended, and they both descend the hill;
All secrets of the deep, all Nature’s works, Descended, Adam to the bower, where Eve
Or works of God in Heaven, air, earth, or sea, Lay sleeping, ran before; but found her waked;
And all the riches of this world enjoyedst, And thus with words not sad she him received.
And all the rule, one empire; only add Whence thou returnest, and whither wentest, I know;
Deeds to thy knowledge answerable; add faith, For God is also in sleep; and dreams advise,
Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love, Which he hath sent propitious, some great good
By name to come called charity, the soul Presaging, since with sorrow and heart’s distress
Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loth Wearied I fell asleep: But now lead on;
To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess In me is no delay; with thee to go,
A Paradise within thee, happier far.— Is to stay here; without thee here to stay,
Let us descend now therefore from this top Is to go hence unwilling; thou to me
Of speculation; for the hour precise Art all things under $Heaven, all places thou,
Exacts our parting hence; and see!the guards, Who for my wilful crime art banished hence.
By me encamped on yonder hill, expect This further consolation yet secure
Their motion; at whose front a flaming sword, I carry hence; though all by me is lost,
In signal of remove, waves fiercely round: Such favour I unworthy am vouchsafed,
We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve; By me the Promised Seed shall all restore.
Her also I with gentle dreams have calmed So spake our mother Eve; and Adam heard
Portending good, and all her spirits composed Well pleased, but answered not: For now, too nigh
To meek submission: thou, at season fit, The Arch-Angel stood; and, from the other hill
Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard; To their fixed station, all in bright array
Chiefly what may concern her faith to know, The Cherubim descended; on the ground
The great deliverance by her seed to come Gliding meteorous, as evening-mist
(For by the Woman’s seed) on all mankind: Risen from a river o’er the marish glides,
That ye may live, which will be many days, And gathers ground fast at the labourer’s heel
Both in one faith unanimous, though sad, Homeward returning. High in front advanced,
With cause, for evils past; yet much more cheered The brandished sword of God before them blazed,

Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat,
And vapour as the Libyan air adust,
Began to parch that temperate clime; whereat
In either hand the hastening Angel caught
Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate
Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast
To the subjected plain; then disappeared.
They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld
Of Paradise, so late their happy seat,
Waved over by that flaming brand; the gate
With dreadful faces thronged, and fiery arms:
Some natural tears they dropt, but wiped them soon;
The world was all before them, where to choose
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide:
They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow,
Through Eden took their solitary way.

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H igh on a throne of royal state, which far

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