in thir Pearlie shells at ease attend Moist nutriment or under Rocks thir food In jointed Armour watch on smooth the Seale And bended Dolphins play part huge of bulk Wallowing unweildie enormous in thir Gate Tempest the Ocean there Leviathan Hugest of living Creatures on the Deep Strâ—…tcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes And seems a moving Land and at his Gilles Draws in and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea Mean while the tepid Caves and Fens and shoares Thir Brood as numerous hatch from the Egg that soon Buâ—…sting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd Thir callow young but featherd soon and fledge They summ'd thir Penns and soaring th' air sublime With clang despis'd the ground under a cloud In prospect there the Eagle and the Stork On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build Part loosly wing the Region part more wise In common rang'd in figure wedge thir way Intelligent of seasons and set forth Thir Aierie Caravan high over Sea's Flying and over Lands with mutual wing Easing thir flight so â—…tears the prudent Crane Her annual Voiage born on Windes the Aire Floats as they pass fann'd with unnumber'd plumes From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with song Solac'd the Woods and spred thir painted wings Till Ev'n nor then the solemn Nightingal Ceas'd warbling but all night tun'd her soft layes Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath'd Thir downie Brest the Swan with Arched neck Between her white wings mantling proudly Rowes Her state with Oarie feet yet oft they quit The Dank and rising on stiff Pennons towre The mid Aereal Skie Others on ground Walk'd firm the erested Cock whose clarion sounds The silent hours and th' other whose gay Traine Adorns him colour'd with the Florid hue Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes The Waters thus With Fish replenisht and the Aire with Fowle Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fiâ—…t day The Sixt and of Creation last arose With Eevning Harps and 〈◊〉 when God said Let th' Earth bring forth Fowle living in her kinde Cattel and Creeping things and Beast of the Earth Each in their kinde The Earth obey'd and strait Op'ning her fertil Woomb teem'd at a Birth Innumerous living Creatures perfet formes Limb'd and full 〈◊〉 out of the ground up rose As from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonns In Forrest wilde in Thicket Brake or Den Among the Trees in Pairs they rose they walk'd The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green Those rare and solitarie these in flocks Pasturing at once and in broad Herds upsprung The grassie Clods now Calv'd now half appeer'd The Tawnie Lion pawing to get free His hinder parts then springs as broke from Bonds And Rampant shakes his Brinded main the Ounce The Libbard and the Tyger as the Moale Rising the crumbl'd Earth above them threw In Hillocks the swift Stag from under ground Bore up his branching head scarfe from his mould Behemoth biggest born of Earth upheav'd His vastness Fleec't the Flocks and bleating rose As Plants ambiguous between Sea and Land The River Horse and scalie Crocodile At once came forth whatever creeps the ground Insect or Worme those wav'd thir limber fans For wings and smallest Lineaments exact In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride With spots of Gold and Purple azure and green These as a line thir long dimension drew Streaking the ground with sinuous trace not all Minims of Nature some of Serpent kinde Wondrous in length and corpulence involv'd Thir Snakie foulds and added wings First crept The Parsimonious Emmet provident Of future in small room large heart enclos'd Pattern of just equalitie perhaps Hereafter join'd in her popular Tribes Of Commonaltie swarming next appeer'd The Femal Bee that feeds her Husband Drone Deliciously and builds her waxen Cells With Honey stor'd the rest are numberless Aâ—…d thou thir Natures know'st and gav'st them Names Needlest to thee repeaed nor unknown The Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field Of huge extent somtimes with brazen Eyes And hairie Main terrific though to thee Not noxious but obedient at thy call Now Heav'n in all her Glorie shon and rowld Her motions as the great first-Movers haâ—…d First wheeld thir course Earth in her rich attire Consummate lovly smil'd Aire Water Earth By Fowl Fish Beast was flown was swum was walkt Frequent and of the Sixt day yet remain'd There wanted yet the Master work the end Of all yet don a Creature who not prone And Brute as other Creatures but endu'd With Sanctitie of Reason might erect His Stature and upright with Front serene Govern the rest self-knowing and from thence Magnanimous to correspond with Heav'n But grateful to acknowledge whence his good Descends thither with heart and voice and eyes Directed in Devotion to adore And worship God Supream who made him chief Of all his works therefore the Omnipotent Eternal Father For where is not hee Present thus to his Son audibly spake Let us make now Man in our image Man In our similitude and let them rule Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire Beast of the Field and over all the Earth And every creeping thing that creeps the ground This said he 〈◊〉 thee Adam thee O Man Dust of the ground and in thy nostrils breath'd The breath of Life in his own Image hee Created thee in the Image of God Express and thou becam'st a living Soul Male he created thee but thy consort Femal for Race then bless'd Mankinde and said Be fruitful multiplie and fill the Earth Subdue it and throughout Dominion hold Over Fish of the Sea and Fowle of the Aire And every living thing that moves on the Earth Wherever thus created for no place Is yet distinct by name thence as thou know'st He brought thee into this delicious Grove This Garden planted with the Trees of God Delectable both to behold and taste And freely all thir pleasant fruit for food Gave thee all sorts are here that all th' Earth yeelds Varietie without end but of the Tree Which tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil Thou mai'st not in the day thou eat'st thou di'st Death is the penaltie impos'd beware And govern well thy appetiâ—…e least sin Surprise thee and her black attendant Death Here finish'd hee and all that he had made View'd and behold all was entirely good So Ev'n and Morn accomplish'd the Sixt day Yet not till the Creator from his work Desisting though unwearied up returnd Up to the Heav'n of Heav'ns his high abode Thence to behold this new created World Th' addition of his Empire how it shew'd In prospect from his Throne how good how faire Answering his great Idea Up he rode Followd with acclamation and the sound Symphonious of ten thousand Harpes that tun'd Angelic harmonies the Earth the Aire Resounded thou remember'st for thou heardst The Heav'ns and all the Constellations rung The Planets in thir stations list'ning stood While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant Open ye everlasting Gates they sung Open ye Heav'ns your living dores
heart too easie entrance won Fixt on the Fruit she gaz'd which to behold Might tempt alone and in her ears the sound Yet rung of his perswasive words impregn'd With Reason to her seeming and with Truth Meanwhile the hour of Noon drew on and wak'd An eager appetite rais'd by the smell So savorie of that Fruit which with desire Inclinable now grown to touch or taste Sollicited her longing eye yet first Pausing a while thus to her self she mus'd Great are thy Vertues doubtless best of Fruits Though kept from Man worthy to be admir'd Whose taste too long forborn at first assay Gave elocution to the mute and taught The Tongue not made for Speech to speak thy praise Thy praise hee also who forbids thy use Conceales not from us naming thee the Tree Of Knowledge knowledge both of good and evil Forbids us then to taste but his forbidding Commends thee more wâ—…ile it infâ—…s the good By thee communicated and our want For good unknown sure is not had or had And yet unknown is as not had at all In plain then what forbids he but to know Forbids us good forbids us to be wise Such prohibitions binde not But if Death Bind us with after-bands what profits then Our inward freedom In the day we eate Of this fair Fruit our doom is we shall die How dies the Serpent hee hath eat'n and lives And knows and speaks and reasons and discernes Irrational till then For us alone Was death invented or to us deni'd This intellectual food for beasts reserv'd For Beasts it seems yet that one Beast which first Hath tasted envies not but brings with joy The good befall'n him Author unsuspect Friendly to man farr from deceit or guile What fear I then rather what know to feare Under this ignorance of Good and Evil Of God or Death of Law or Penaltie Here grows the Cure of all this Fruit Divine Fair to the Eye inviting to the Taste Of vertue to make wise what hinders then To reach and feed at once both Bodie and Mind So saying her rash hand in evil hour Forth reaching to the Fruit she pluck'd she eat Earth felt the wound and Nâ—…ure from her seat Sighing through all her Works gave signs of woe That all was lost Back to the Thicket slunk The guiltie Serpent and well might for Eve Intent now wholly on her taste naught else Regarded such delight till then as seemd In Fruit she never tasted whether true Or fansied so through expectation high Of knowledg nor was God-head from her thought Greedily she ingorg'd without restraint And knew not eating Death Satiate at length And hight'nd as with Wine jocond and boon Thus to her self she pleasingly began O Sovran vertuous precious of all Trees In Paradise of operation blest To Sapience hitherto obscur'd infam'd And thy fair Fruit let hang as to no end Created but henceforth my early care Not without Song each Morning and due praise Shall tend thee and the fertil burden ease Of thy full branches offer'd free to all Till dieted by thee I grow mature In knowledge as the Gods who all things know Though others envie what they cannot give For had the gift bin theirs it had not here Thus grown Experience next to thee I owe Best guide not following thee I had remaind In ignorance thou op'nst Wisdoms way And giv'st access though secret she retire And I perhaps am secret Heav'n is high High and remote to see from thence distinct Each thing on Earth and other care perhaps May have diverted from continual watch Our great Forbidder safe with all his Spies About him But to Adam in what sort Shall I appeer shall I to him make known As yet my change and give him to partake Full happiness with mee or rather not But keep the odds of Knowledge in my power Without Copartner so to add what wants In Femal Sex the more to draw his Love And render me more equal and perhaps A thing not undesireable somtime Superior for inferior who is free This may be well but what if God have seen And Death ensue then I shall be no more And Adam wedded to another Eve Shall live with her enjoying I extinct A death to think Confirm'd then I resolve Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe So dear I love him that with him all deaths I could endure without him live no life So saying from the Tree her step she turnd But first low Reverence don as to the power That dwelt within whose presence had infus'd Into the plant sciential sap deriv'd From Nectar drink of Gods Adam the while Waiting desirous her return had wove Of choicest Flours a Garland to adorne Her Tresses and her rural labours crown As Reapers oft are wont thir Harvest Queen Great joy he promis'd to his thoughts and new Solace in her return so long delay'd Yet oft his heart divine of somthing ill Misgave him hee the faultring measure felt And forth to meet her went the way she took That Morn when first they parted by the Tree Of Knowledge he must pass there he her met Scarse from the Tree returning in her hand A bough of fairest fruit that downie smil'd New gatherd and ambrosial smell diffus'd To him she hasted in her face excuse Came Prologue and Apologie to prompt Which with bland words at will she thus addrest Hast thou not wonderd Adam at my stay Thee I have misst and thought it long depriv'd Thy presence agonie of love till now Not felt nor shall be twice for never more Mean I to trie what rash untri'd I sought The paine of absence from thy sight But strange Hath bin the cause and wonderful to heare This Tree is not as we are told a Tree Of danger tasted nor to evil unknown Op'ning the way but of Divine effect To open Eyes and make them Gods who taste And hath bin tasted such the Serpent wise Or not restraind as wee or not obeying Hath eat'n of the fruit and is become Not dead as we are threatn'd but thenceforth Endu'd with human voice and human sense Reasoning to admiration and with mee Perswasively hath so prevaild that I Have also tasted and have also found Th' effects to correspond opener mine Eyes Dimm erst dilated Spirits ampler Heart And growing up to Godhead which for thee Chiefly I sought without thee can despise For bliss as thou hast part to me is bliss Tedious unshar'd with thee and odious soon Thou therfore also taste that equal Lot May joyne us equal Joy as equal Love Least thou not tasting different degree Disjoyne us and I then too late renounce Deitie for thee when Fate will not permit Thus Eve with Countnance blithe her storie told But in her Cheek distemper flushing glowd On th' other side Adam soon as he heard The fatal Trespass don by Eve amaz'd Astonied stood and Blank while horror chill Ran through his vâ—…ins and all his joynts relax'd From his slack hand the Garland wreath'd for
Eve Down drop'd and all the faded Roses shed Speechless he stood and pale till thus at length First to himself he inward silence broke O fairest of Creation last and best Of all Gods Works Creature in whom excell'd Whatever can to sight or thought be formd Holy divine good amiable or sweet How art thou lost how on a sudden lost Defac't deflourd and now to Death devote Rather how hast thou yeelded to transgress The strict forbiddance how to violate The sacred Fruit forbidd'n som cursed fraud Of Enemie hath beguil'd thee yet unknown And mee with thee hath ruind for with thee Certain my resolution is to Die How can I live without thee how forgoe Thy sweet Converse and Love so dearly joyn'd To live again in these wilde Woods forlorn Should God create another Eve and I Another Rib afford yet loss of thee Would never from my heart no no I feel The Link of Nature draw me Flesh of Flesh Bone of my Bone thou art and from thy State Mine never shall be parted bliss or woe So having said as one from sad dismay Recomforted and after thoughts disturbd Submitting to what seemd remediless Thus in calme mood his Words to Eve he turnd Bold deed thou hast presum'd adventrous Eve And peril great provok't who thus hast dar'd Had it bin onely coveting to Eye That sacred Fruit sacred to abstinence Much more to taste it under banne to touch But past who can recall or don undoe Not God Omnipotent nor Fate yet so Perhaps thou shalt not Die perhaps the Fact Is not so hainous now forâ—…tasted Fruit Profan'd first by the Serpent by him first Made common and unhallowd ere our taste Nor yet on him found deadly he yet lives Lives as thou saidst and gaines to live as Man Higher degree of Life inducement strong To us as likely tasting to attaine Proportional ascent which cannot be But to be Gods or Angels Demi-gods Nor can I think that God Creator wise Though threatning will in earnest so destroy Us his prime Creatures dignisi'd so high Set over all his Works which in our Fall For us created needs with us must faile Dependent made so God shall uncreate Be frustrate do undo and labour loose Not well conceav'd of God who though his Power Creation could repeate yet would be loath Us to abolish least the Adversary Triumph and say Fickle their State whom God Most Favors who can please him long Mee first He ruind now Mankind whom will he next Matter of scorne not to be given the Foe However I with thee have fixt my Lot Certain to undergoe like doom if Death Consort with thee Death is to mee as Life So forcible within my heart I feel The Bond of Nature draw me to my owne My own in thee for what thou art is mine Our State cannot be severd we are one One Flesh to loose thee were to loose my self So Adam and thus Eve to him repli'd O glorious trial of exceeding Love Illustrious evidence example high Iâ—…gaging me to emulate but short Of thy perfection how shall I attaine Adam from whose deare side I boast me sprung And gladly of our Union heare thee speak One Heart one Soul in both whereof good prooff This day affords declaring theè resolvd Rather then Death or aught then Death more dread Shall separate us linkt in Love so deare To undergoe with mee one Guilt one Crime If any be of tasting this fair Fruit Whose vertue for of good still good proceeds Direct or by occasion hath presented This happie trial of thy Love which else So eminently never had bin known Were it I thought Death menac't would ensue This my attempt I would sustain alone The worst and not perswade thee rather die Deserted then oblige thee with a fact Pernicious to thy Peace chiefly assur'd Remarkably so late of thy so true So faithful Love unequald but I feel Farr otherwise th' event not Death but Life Augmented op'nd Eyes new Hopes new Joyes Taste so Divine that what of sweet before Hath toucht my sense flat seems to this and harsh On my experience Adam freely taste And fear of Death deliver to the Windes So saying she embrac'd him and for joy Tenderly wept much won that he his Love Had so enobl'd as of choice to incurr Divine displeasure for her sake or Death In recompence for such compliance bad Such recompence best merits from the bough She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit With liberal hand he scrupl'd not to eat Against his better knowledge not deceav'd But fondly overcome with Femal charm Earth trembl'd from her entrails as again In pangs and Nature gave a second groan Skie lowr'd and muttering Thunder som sad drops Wept at compleating of the mortal Sin Original while Adam took no thought Eating his fill nor Eve to iterate Her former trespass fear'd the more to soothe Him with her lov'd societie that now As with new Wine intoxicated both They swim in mirth and fansie that they feel Diviniâ—…e within them breeding wings Where with to scorn the Eaâ—…h but that false Fruit Farr other operation first displaid Carnal desire enâ—…ming hee on Eve Began to cast lascivious Eyes she him As want only repaid in Lust they burne Till Adam â—…us â—…gan Eve to dalliance move Eve now I see thou art exact of taste And elegant of Sapience no small part Since to each meaning savour we apply And Palate call judicious I the praise Yeild thee so well this day thou hast purvey'd Much pleasure we have lost while we abstain'd From this delightful Fruit nor known till now True relish tasting if such pleasure be In things to us forbidden it might be wish'd For this one Tree had bin forbidden ten But come so well refresh't now let us play As meet is after such delicious Fare For never did thy Beautie since the day I saw thee first and wedded thee adorn'd With all perfections so enâ—…ame my sense With ardor to enjoy thee â—…airer now Then ever bountie of this vertuous Tree So said he and forbore not glance or toy Of amorous intent well understood Of Eve whose Eye darted contagious Fire Her hand he seis'd and to a shadie bank Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr'd He led her nothing loath Flours were the Couch Pansies and Violets and Aâ—…phodel And Hyacinth Earths freshâ—…st softest lap There they thir â—…ill of Love and Loves disport Took largely of thir mutual guilt the Seale The â—…olace of thir sin till dewie sleep Oppress'd them wearied with thir amorous play Soon as the force of that fallacious Fruit That with exhile rating vapour bland About thir spiâ—…ts had plaid and inmost powers Made erre was now exhal'd and groâ—…er sleep Bred of unkindly fumes with conscious dreams Encumberd now had leâ—…t them up they rose As from unrest and each the other 〈◊〉 Soon found thir Eyes how opâ—…d and thir minds How dark'nd iâ—…ocence that as a vâ—…le Had â—…dow'd them from knowing 〈◊〉 was gon Just confidence
behold Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixt Ruddie and Gold I nearer drew to gaze When from the boughes a savorie odour blow'n Grateful to appetite more pleas'd my sense Then smell of sweetest Fenel or the Teats Of Ewe or Goat dropping with Milk at Eevn Unsuckt of Lamb or Kid that tend thir play To satisfie the sharp desire I had Of tasting those fair Apples I resolv'd Not to deferr hunger and thirst at once Powerful perswaders quick'nd at the scent Of that alluring fruit urg'd me so keene About the Moâ—…ie Trunk I wound me â—…oon For high from ground the branches would require Thy utmost reach or Adams Round the Tree All other Beasts that saw with like desire Longing and envying stood but could not reach Amid the Tree now got where plentie hung Tempting so nigh to pluck and eat my fill I spar'd not for such pleasure till that hour At Feed or Fountain never had I found Sated at length ere long I might perceave Strange alteration in me to degree Of Reason in my inward Powers and Speech Wanted not long though to this shape retaind Thenceforth to Speculations high or deep I turnd my thoughts and with capacious mind Considerd all things visible in Heav'n Or Earth or Middle all things fair and good But all that fair and good in thy Divine Semblance and in thy Beauties heav'nly Ray United I beheld no Fair to thine Equivalent or second which compel'd Mee thus though importune perhaps to come And gaze and worship thee of right declar'd Sovran of Creatures universal Dame So talk'd the spirited sly Snake and Eve Yet more amaz'd unwarie thus reply'd Serpent thy overpraising leaves in doubt The vertue of that Fruit in thee first prov'd But say where grows the Tree from hence how far For many are the Trees of God that grow In Paradise and various yet unknown To us in such abundance lies our choice As leaves a greater store of Fruit untoucht Still hanging incorruptible till men Grow up to thir provision and more hands Help to disburden Nature of her Bearth To whom the wilie Adder blithe and glad Empress the way is readie and not long Beyond a row of Myrtles on a Flat Fast by a Fountain one small Thicket past Of blowiâ—…g Myrrh and Balme if thou accept My conduct I can bring thee thither soon Lead then said Eve Hee leading swiftly rowld In tangles and make intricate seem strait To mischief swift Hope elevates and joy Bright'ns his Crest as when a wandring Fire Compact of unctuous vapor which the Night Condenses and the cold invirons round Kindl'd through agitation to a Flame Which oft they say some evil Spirit attends Hovering and blazing with delusive Light Misleads th' amaz'd Night-wanderer from his way To Boggs and Mires oft through Pond or Poole There swallow'd up and lost from succour farr So glister'd the dire Snake and into fraud Led Eve our credulous Mother to the Tree Of prohibiâ—…ion root of all our woe Which when she saw thus to her guide she spake Serpent we might have spar'd our coming hither Fruitless to me though Fruit be here to excess The credit of whose vertue rest with thee Wondrous indeed if cause of such effects But of this Tree we may not taste nor touch God so commanded and left that Command Sole Daughter of his voice the rest we live Law to our selves our Reason is our Law To whom the Tempter guilefully repli'd Indeed hath God then said that of the Fruit Of all these Garden Trees ye shall not eate Yet Lords declar'd of all in Earth or Aire To whom thus Eve yet sinless Of the Fruit Of each Tree in the Garden we may eate But of the Fruit of this fair Tree amidst The Garden God hath said Ye shall not eate Thereof nor shall ye touch it least ye die She scarse had said though brief when now more bold The Tempter but with shew of Zeale and Love To Man and indignation at his wrong New part puts on and as to passion mov'd Fluctuats disturbd yet comely and in act Rais'd as of som great matter to begin As when of old som Orator renound In Athens or free Rome where Eloquence Flourishd since mute to som great cause 〈◊〉 Stood in himself collected while each part Motion each act won audience ere the tongue Somtimes in highth began as no delay Of Preface brooking through his Zeal of Right So standing moving or to highth upgrown The Tempter all impassiond thus began O Sacred Wise and Wisdom-giving Plant Mother of Science Now I feel thy Power Within me cleere not onely to discerne Things in thir Causes but to trace the wayes Of highest Agents deemd however wise Queen of this Universe doe not believe Those rigid threats of Death ye shall not Die How should ye by the Fruit it gives you Life To Knowledge By the Threatner look on mee Mee who have touch'd and tasted yet both live And life more perfet have attaind then Fate Meant mee by ventring higher then my Lot Shall that be shut to Man which to the Beast Is open or will God incense his ire For such a petty Trespass and not praise Rather your dauntless vertue whom the pain Of Death denounc't whatever thing Death be Deterrd not from atchieving what might leade To happier life knowledge of Good and Evil Of good how just of evil if what is evil Be real why not known since easier shunnd God therefore cannot hurt ye and be just Not just not God not feard then nor obeid Your feare it self of Death removes the feare Why then was this forbid Why but to awe Why but to keep ye low and ignorant His worshippers he knows that in the day Ye Eate thereof your Eyes that seem so cleere Yet are but dim shall perfetly be then Op'nd and cleerd and ye shall be as Gods Knowing both Good and Evil as they know That ye should be as Gods since I as Man Internal Man is but proportion meet I of brute human yee of human Gods So ye shall die perhaps by putting off Human to put on Gods death to be wisht Though threat'nd which no worse then this can bring And what are Gods that Man may not become As they participating God-like food The Gods are first and that advantage use On our belief that all from them proceeds I question it for this fair Earth I see Warm'd by the Sun producing every kind Them nothing If they all things who enclos'd Knowledge of Good and Evil in this Tree That whoso eats thereof forthwith attains Wisdom without their leave and wherein lies Th' offence that Man should thus attain to know What can your knowledge hurt him or this Tree Impart against his will if all be his Or is it envie and can envie dwell In heav'nly brests these these and many more Causes import your need of this fair Fruit. Goddess humane reach then and freely taste He ended and his words replete with guile Into her
led captive through the Aâ—…re The Realme it self of Satan long usurpt Whom he shall tread at last under our feet Eevn hee who now foretold his fatal bruise And to the Woman thus his Sentence turn'd Thy sorrow I will greatly multiplie By thy Conception Childern thou shalt bring In sorrow forth and to thy Husbands will Thine shall submit hee over thee shall rule On Adam last thus judgement he pronounc'd Because thou hast heark'nd to the voice of thy Wife And eaten of the Tree concerning which I charg'd thee saying Thou shalt not eate thereof Curs'd is the ground for thy sake thou in sorrow Shalt eate thereof all the days of thy Life Thornes also and Thistles it shall bring thee forth Unbid and thou shalt eate th' Herb of th' Field In the sweat of thy Face shalt thou eate Bread Till thou return unto the ground for thou Out of the ground wast taken know thy Birth For dust thou art and shalt to dust returne So judg'd he Man both Judge and Saviour sent And th' instant stroke of Death denounc't that day Remov'd farr off then pittying how they stood Before him naked to the aire that now Must suffer change disdain'd not to begin Thenceforth the forme of servant to assume As when he wash'd his servants feet so now As Father of his Familie he clad Thir nakedness with Skins of Beasts or slain Or as the Snake with youthful Coate repaid And thought not much to cloath his Enemies Nor hee thir outward onely with the Skins Of Beasts but inward nakedness much more Opprobrious with his Robe of righteousness Araying cover'd from his Fathers sight To him with swift ascent he up returnd Into his blissful bosom reassum'd In glory as of old to him appeas'd All though all-knowing what had past with Man Recounted mixing intercession sweet Meanwhile ere thus was sin'd and judg'd on Earth Within the Gates of Hell sate Sin and Death In counterview within the Gates that now Stood open wide belching outrageous flame Farr into Chaos since the Fiend pass'd through Sin opening who thus now to Death began O Son why sit we here each other viewing Idlely while Satan our great Author thrives In other Worlds and happier Seat provides For us his ofspring deare It cannot be But that success attends him if mishap Ere this he had return'd with fury driv'n By his Avenger since no place like this Can fit his punishment or their revenge Methinks I feel new strength within me rise Wings growing and Dominion giv'n me large Beyond this Deep whatever drawes me on Or sympathie or som connatural force Powerful at greatest distance to unite With secret amity things of like kinde By secretest conveyance Thou my Shade Inseparable must with mee along For Death from Sin no power can separate But least the difficultie of passing back Stay his returne perhaps over this Gulfe Impassable impervious let us try Adventrous work yet to thy power and mine Not unagreeable to found a path Over this Maine from Hell to that new World Where Satan now prevailes a Monument Of merit high to all th' infernal Host Easing thir passage hence for intercourse Or transmigration as thir lot shall lead Nor can I miss the way so strongly drawn By this new felt attraction and instinct Whom thus the meager Shadow answerd soon Goe whither Fate and inclination strong Leads thee I shall not lag behinde nor erre The way thou leading such a sent I draw Of carnage prey innumerable and taste The savour of Death from all things there that live Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest Be wanting but afford thee equal aid So saying with delight he snuff'd the smell Of mortal change on Earth As when a flock Of ravenous Fowl though many a League remote Against the day of Battel to a Field Where Armies lie encampt come flying lur'd With sent of living Carcasses design'd For death the following day in bloodie fight So sented the grim Feature and upturn'd His Nostril wide into the murkie Air Sagacious of his Quarrey from so farr Then Both from out Hell Gates into the waste Wide Anarchie of Chaos damp and dark Flew divers with Power thir Power was great Hovering upon the Waters what they met Solid or slimie as in raging Sea Tost up and down together crowded drove From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell As when two Polar Winds blowing adverse Upon the Cronian Sea together drive Mountains of Ice that stop th' imagin'd way Beyond Petsora Eastward to the rich Cathaian Coast. The aggregated Soyle Death with his Mace petrific cold and dry As with a Trident smote and fix't as firm As Delos floating once the rest his look bound with Gorgonian rigor not to move And with Asphaltic slime broad as the Gate Deep to the Roots of Hell the gather'd beach They fasten'd and the Mole immense wraught on Over the foaming deep high Archt a Bridge Of length prodigious joyning to the Wall Immoveable of this now fenceless world Forfeit to Death from hence a passage broad Smooth easie inoffensive down to Hell So if great things to small may be compar'd Xerxes the Libertie of Greece to yoke From Susa his Memnonian Palace high Came to the Sea and over Hellespont Bridging his way Europe with Asia joyn'd And scourg'd with many a stroak th' indignant waves Now had they brought the work by wondrous Art Pontifical a ridge of pendent Rock Over the vext Abyss following the track Of Satan to the self same place where hee First lighted from his Wing and landed safe From out of Chaos to the outside bare Of this round World with Pinns of Adamant And Chains they made all fast too fast they made And durable and now in little space The Confines met of Empyrean Heav'n And of this World and on the left hand Hell With long reach interpos'd three sev'ral wayes In sight to each of these three places led And now thir way to Earth they had descri'd To Paradise first tending when behold Satan in likeness of an Angel bright Betwixt the Centaure and the Scorpion stearing His Zenith while the Sun in Aries rose Disguis'd he came but those his Childern dear Thir Parent soon discern'd though in disguise Hee after Eve seduc't unminded slunk Into the Wood fast by and changing shape To observe the sequel saw his guileful act By Eve though all unweeting seconded Upon her Husband saw thir shame that sought Vain covertures but when he saw descend The Son of God to judge them terrifi'd Hee fled not hoping to escape but shun The present fearing guâ—…ie what his wrauth Might suddenly inflict that past return'd By Night and listning where the hapless Paire Sate in thir sad discourse and various plaint Thence gatherd his own doom which understood Not instant but of future time With joy And tidings fraught to Hell he now return'd And at the brink of Chaos neer the foot Of this new wondrous Pontifice unhop't Met who to
they with labour push'd Oblique the Centric Globe Som say the Sun Was bid turn Reines from th' Equinoctial Rode Like distant breadth to Taurus with the Seav'n Atlantick Sisters and the Spartan Twins Up to the Tropic Crab thence down amaine By Leo and the Virgin and the Scales As deep as Capricorne to bring in change Of Seasons to each Clime else had the Spring Perpetual smil'd on Earth with vernant Flours Equal in Days and Nights except to those Beyond the Polar Circles to them Day Had unbenighted shon while the low Sun To recompence his distance in thir sight Had rounded still th' Horizon and not known Or East or West which had forbid the Snow From cold Estotiland and South as farr Beneath Magellan At that tasted Fruit The Sun as from Thyestean Banquet turn'd His course intended else how had the World Inhabited though sinless more then now Avoided pinching cold and scorching heate These changes in the Heav'ns though slow produc'd Like change on Sea and Land sideral blast Vapour and Mist and Exhalation hot Corrupt and Pestilent Now from the North Of Norumbega and the Samoed shoar Bursting thir brazen Dungeon armd 〈◊〉 ice And snow and haile and stormie gust and flaw Boreas and Caecias and Argestes loud And Thrascias rend the Woods and Seas upturn With adverse blast up-turns them from the South Notus and Afer black with thundrous Clouds From Serraliona thwart of these as fierce Forth rush the Levant and the Ponent VVindes Eurâ—…s and Zephir with thir lateral noise Sirocco and Libecchio Thus began Outrage from liveless things but Discord first Daughter of Sin among th' irrational Death introduc'd through fierce antipathie Beast now with Beast gan war Fowle with Fowle And Fish with Fish to graze the Herb all leaving Devourd each other nor stood much in awe Of Man but fled him or with count'nance grim Glar'd on him passing these were from without The growing miseries which Adam saw Alreadie in part though hid in gloomiest shade To sorrow abandond but worse felt within And in a troubl'd Sea of passion tost Thus to disburd'n sought with sad complaint O miserable of happie is this the end Of this new glorious World and mee so late The Glory of that Glory who now becom Accurst of blessed hide me from the face Of God whom to behold was then my highth Of happiness yet well if here would end The miserie I deserv'd it and would beare My own deservings but this will not serve All that I eate or drink or shall beget Is propagated curse O voice once heard Delightfully Encrease and multiply Now death to heare for what can I encrease Or multiplie but curses on my head Who of all Ages to succeed but feeling The evil on him brought by me will curse My Head Ill fare our Ancestor impure For this we may thank Adam but his thanks Shall be the execration so besides Mine own that bide upon me all from mee Shall with a fierce reflux on mee redound On mee as on thir natural center light Heavie though in thir place O fleeting joyes Of Paradise deare bought with lasting woes Did I request thee Maker from my Clay To mould me Man did I sollicite thee From darkness to promote me or here place In this delicious Garden as my Will Concurd not to my being it were but right And equal to reduce me to my dust Desirous to resigne and render back All I receav'd unable to performe Thy terms too hard by which I was to hold The good I sought not To the loss of that Sufficient penaltie why hast thou added The sense of endless woes inexplicable Thy Justice seems yet to say truth too late I thus contest then should have been refusd Those terms whatever when they were propos'd Thou didst accept them wilt thou enjoy the good Then cavil the conditions and though God Made thee without thy leave what if thy Son Prove disobedient and reprov'd retort Wherefore didst thou beget me I sought it not Wouldst thou admit for his contempt of thee That proud excuse yet him not thy election But Natural necessity begot God made thee of choice his own and of his own To serve him thy reward was of his grace Thy punishment then justly is at his Will Be it so for I submit his doom is fair That dust I am and shall to dust returne O welcom hour whenever why delayes His hand to execute what his Decree Fixd on this day why do I overlive Why am I mockt with death and length'nd out To deathless pain how gladly would I meet Mortalitie my sentence and be Earth Insensible how glad would lay me down As in my Mothers lap there I should rest And sleep secure his dreadful voice no more Would Thunder in my ears no fear of worse To mee and to my ofspring would torment me With cruel expectation Yet one doubt Pursues me still least all I cannot die Least that pure breath of Life the Spirit of Man Which God inspir'd cannot together perish With this corporeal Clod then in the Grave Or in some other dismal place who knows But I shall die a living Death O thought Horrid if true yet why it was but breath Of Life that sinn'd what dies but what had life And sin the Bodie properly hath neither All of me then shall die let this appease The doubt since humane reach no further knows For though the Lord of all be infinite Is his wrauth also be it man is not so But mortal doom'd How can he exercise Wrath without end on Man whom Death must end Can he make deathless Death that were to make Strange contradiction which to God himself Impossible is held as Argument Of weakness not of Power Will he draw out For angers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 In 〈◊〉 man to 〈◊〉 his rigour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that were to extend His Sentence beyond dust and Natures Law By which all Causes else according still To the reception of thir matter act Not to th' extent of thir own Spheare But say That Death be not one stroak as I suppos'd Bereaving sense but endless miserie From this day onward which I feel begun Both in me and without 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 last To perpetuitie Ay me that 〈◊〉 Comes thundring back with dreadful 〈◊〉 On my 〈◊〉 head both Death and I Am found Eternal and incorporate both Nor I on my part â—…ingle in mee all Posteritie stands curst Fair Patrimonie That I must leave ye Sons O were I able To waste it all my self and leave 〈◊〉 none So disinherited how would ye bless Me now your Curse Ah why should all mankind For one mans fault thus guiltless be condemn'd If guiltless But from 〈◊〉 what can proceed But all corrupt both Mind and Will 〈◊〉 Not to do onely but to will the same With me how can they acquitted stand In sight of God Him after all Disputes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all my 〈◊〉 vain And 〈◊〉 though through Mazes lead me still But to my own
conviction first and last On mee mee onely as the sourse and spring Of all corruption all the blame lights due So might the wrauth Fond wish 〈◊〉 thou support That burden heavier then the Earth to 〈◊〉 Then all the World much heavier though divided With that bad Woman Thus what thou 〈◊〉 And what thou fearst alike destroyes all hope Of refuge and concludes thee miserable Beyond all past 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 To 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like both 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 O Conscience into what Abyss of fears And horrors 〈◊〉 thou 〈◊〉 me out of which I find no way from 〈◊〉 to deeper plung'd Thus Adam to himself lamented loud 〈◊〉 the still Night not now as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wholsom and cool and mild but with 〈◊〉 Air Accompanied with damps and dreadful gloom Which to his evil Conscience represented All things with double terror On the ground Outstretcht he lay on the cold ground and oft Curs'd his Creation Death as 〈◊〉 accus'd Of tardie execution since denounc't The day of his offence Why comes not Death Said hee with one thrice acceptable stroke To end me Shall Truth fail to keep her word Justice Divine not hast'n to be just But Death comes not at call Justice Divine Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries O Woods O Fountains Hillocks Dales and Bowrs VVith other echo late I taught your Shades To answer and resound farr other Song VVhom thus afflicted when sad Eve beheld Desolate where she sate approaching nigh Soft words to his fierce passion she assay'd But her with â—…tern regard he thus repell'd Out of my sight thou Serpent that name bâ—…st Befits thee with him leagu'd thy self as false And hateful nothing wants but that thy shape Like his and colour Serpentine may shew Thy inward fraud to warn all Creatures from thee Henceforth least that too heav'nly form pretended To hellish falshood 〈◊〉 them But for thee I had persisted happie had not thy pride And wandring vanitie when lest was safe Rejected my fore warning and disdain'd Not to be trusted longing to be seen Though by the Devil himself him overweening To over-reach but with the Serpent meeting Fool'd and beguil'd by him thou I by thee To trust thee from my side imagin'd wise Constant mature proof against all assaults And understood not all was but a shew Rather then solid vertu all but a Rib Crooked by nature bent as now appears More to the part sinister from me drawn Well if thrown out as supernumerarie To my just number found O why did God Creator wise that peopl'd highest Heav'n With Spirits Masculine create at last This noveltie on Earth this fair defect Of Nature and not fill the World at once With Men as Angels without Feminine Or find some other way to generate Mankind this mischief had not then befall'n And more that shall befall innumerable Disturbances on Earth through Femal snares And straight conjunction with this Sex for either He never shall find out fit Mate but such As some misfortune brings him or mistake Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain Through her perverseness but shall see her gaind By a farr worse or if she love withheld By Parents or his happiest choice too late Shall meet alreadie linkt and Wedlock-bound To a fell Adversarie his hate or shame Which infinite calamitie shall cause To Humane life and houshold peace confound He added not and from her turn'd but Eve Not so repulst with Tears that 〈◊〉 not flowing And tresses all disorderd at his feet Fell humble and imbracing them be saught His peace and thus proceeded in her plaint Forsake me not thus Adam witness Heav'n What love sincere and reverence in my heart I beare thee and unweeting have offended Unhappilie deceav'd thy suppliant I beg and clasp thy knees bereave me not Whereon I live thy gentle looks thy aid Thy counsel in this uttermost distress My onely strength and stay forlorn of thee Whither shall I betake me where subsist While yet we live scarse one short hour perhaps Between us two let there be peace both joyning As joyn'd in injuries one enmitie Against a Foe by doom express assign'd us That cruel Serpent On me exercise not Thy hatred for this miserie befall'n On me already lost mee then thy self More miserable both have sin'd but thou Against God onely I against God and thee And to the place of judgement will return There with my cries importune Heaven that all The sentence from thy head remov'd may light On me fole cause to thee of all this woe Mee mee onely just object of his ire She ended weeping and her lowlie plight Immoveable till peace obtain'd from fault Acknowledg'd and deplor'd in Adam 〈◊〉 Commiseration â—…oon his heart relented Towards her his life so late and sole delight Now at his feet submissive in distress Creature so faire his reconcilement â—…eeking His counsel whom she had displeas'd his aide As one disarm'd his anger all he lost And thus with peaceful wprds uprais'd her soon Unwarie and too desirous as before So now of what thou knowst not who desir'st The punishment all on thy self alas Beare thine own first ill able to sustaine His full wrauth whose thou feelst as yet lest part And my displeasure bearst so ill If Prayers Could alter high Decrees I to that place Would speed before thee and be louder heard That on my head all might be visited Thy frailtie and infirmer Sex forgiv'n To me committed and by me expos'd But rise let us no more contend nor blame Each other blam'd enough elsewhere but strive In offices of Love how we may light'n Each others burden in our share of woe Since this days Death denounc't if ought I see Will prove no sudden but a slow-pac't evill A long days dying to augment our paine And to our Seed O hapless Seed deriv'd To whom thus Eve recovering heart repli'd Adam by sad experiment I know How little weight my words with thee can finde Found so erroneous thence by just event Found so unfortunate nevertheless Restor'd by thee vile as I am to place Of new acceptance hopeful to regaine Thy Love the sole contentment of my heart Living or dying from thee I will not hide What thoughts in my unquiet brest are ris'n Tending to 〈◊〉 relief of our extremes Or end though sharp and sad yet tolerable As in our evils and of easier choice If care of our descent perplex us most Which must be born to certain woe devourd By Death at last and miserable it is To be to others cause of misery Our own begotten and of our Loines to bring Into this cursed World a woful Race That after wretched Liâ—…e must be at last Food for so soule a Monster in thy power It lies yet ere Conception to prevent The Race unblest to being yet unbegot Childless thou art Childless râ—…maine So Death shall be deceav'd his glut and with us two Be forc'd to satissie his Rav'nous Maw But if thou judge it hard and difficult Conversing looking loving
to abstain From Loves due Rites Nuptial embraces sweet And with desire to languish without hope Before the present object languishing With like desire which would be miserie And torment less then none of what we dread Then both our 〈◊〉 and Seed at once to free From what we fear for both let us make short Let us â—…eek Death or hee not found supply With our own hands his Office on our selves Why stand we longer shivering under â—…eares That shew no end but Death and have the power Of many wayes to die the 〈◊〉 choosing Destruction with destruction to destroy She ended heer or vehement despaire Broke off the rest so much of Death her thoughts Had entertaind as di'd her Cheeks with pale But Adam with such counsel nothing sway'd To better hopes his more attentive minde Labouring had rais'd and thus to Eve repli'd Eve thy contempt of life and pleasure seems To argue in thee somthing more sublime And excellent then what thy minde contemnes But self-destruction therefore saught refutes That excellence thought in thee and implies Not thy contempt but anguish and regret For loss of life and pleasure overlov'd Or if thou â—…ovet death as utmost end Of miserie so thinking to evade The penaltie pronounc't doubt not but God Hath wiselier arm'd his vengefulire then so To be forestall'd much more I fear least Death So snatcht will not exempt us from the paine We are by doom to pay rather such acts Of contumacie will provoke the highest To make death in us live Then let us seek Som safer resolution which methinks I have in view calling to minde with heed Part of our Sentence that thy Seed shall bruise The Serpents head piteous amends unless Be meant whom I conjecture our grand Foe Sâ—…tan who in the Serpent hath contriv'd Against us this deceit to 〈◊〉 his head Would be râ—…venge indeed which will be lost By death brought on our selves or childless days Resolv'd as thou proposest so our Foe Shall scape his punishment ordain'd and wee Instead shall double ours upon our heads No more be mention'd then of violence Against our selves and wilful barrenness That cuts us off from hope and savours onely Rancor and pride impatience and despite Reluctance against God and his just yoke Laid on our Necks Remember with what mild And gracious temper he both heard and judg'd Without wrauth or reviling wee expected Immediate dissolution which we thought Was meant by Death that day when lo to thee Pains onely in Child-bearing were foretold And bringing forth soon recompenc't with joy Fruit of thy Womb On mee the Curse 〈◊〉 Glanc'd on the ground with labour I must earne My bread what harm Idleness had bin worse My labour will sustain me and least Cold Or Heat should injure us his timely care Hath unbesaught provided and his hands Cloath'd us unworthie pitying while he judg'd How much more if we pray him will his ear Be open and his heart to pitie incline And teach us fuâ—…ther by what means to shun Th'inclement Seasons Rain Ice Hail and Snow Which now the Skie with various Face begins To shew us in this Mountain while the Winds Blow moist and keen shâ—…ttering the graceful locks Of these fair spreading Trees which bids us seek Som better shroud som better warmth to cherish Our Limbs benumm'd ere this diurnal Starr Leave cold the Night how we his gather'd beams Reflected may with matter sere foment Or by collision of two bodies grinde The Air attrite to Fire as late the Clouds Justling or pusht with Winds rude in thir shock Tine the slant Lightning whose thwart flame driv'n down Kindles the gummie bark of Firr or Pine And sends a comfortable heat from farr Which might supply the Sun such Fire to use And what may else be remedie or cure To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought Hee will instruct us praying and of Grace Beseeching him so as we need not fear To pass commodiously this life sustain'd By him with many comforts till we end In dust our final rest and native home What better can we do then to the place Repairing where he judg'd us prostrate fall Before him reverent and there confess Humbly our faults and pardon beg with tears VVatering the ground and with our sighs the Air Frequenting seâ—…t from hearts contrite in sign Of sorrow unfeign'd and humiliation meek Undoubtedly he will relent and turn From his displeasure in whose look serene VVhen angry most he seem'd and most severe VVhat else but favor grace and mercie shon So spake our Father penitent nor Eve Felt less remorse they forthwith to the placâ—… Repairing where he judg'd them prostrate fell Before him reverent and both confess'd Humbly thir faults and pardon beg'd with tears VVatering the ground and with thir sighs the Air Frequenting sent from hearts contrite in sign Of sorrow unfeign'd and humiliation meek The End of the Ninth Book PARADISE LOST BOOK X. THus they in lowliest plight repentant stood Praying for from the Mercie-seat above 〈◊〉 Grace deseending had remov'd The stonie from thir hearts and made new flesh Regenerat grow instead that sighs now breath'd Unutterable which the Spirit of prayer Inspir'd and wing'd for Heav'n with speedier flight Then loudest Oratorie yet thir port Not of mean suiters nor important less Seem'd thir Petition then when th' ancient Pair 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 less ancient yet then these Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha to restore The Race of Mankind drownd before the Shrine Of Themis stood devout To Heav'n thir prayers Flew up nor missd the way by envious windes Blow'n vagabond or frustrate in they passd Dimentionless through Heav'nly dores then clad With ineense where the Golden Altar fum'd By thir great Intercessor came in sight Before the Fathers Throne Them the glad Son Presenting thus to intercede began See Father what first fruits on Earth are sprung From thy-implanted Grace in Mâ—…n these Sighs And Prayers which in this Golden Censer mixt With Incense I thy Pâ—…iest before thee bring Fruits of more pleasing savour from thy seed Sow'n with contrition in his heart then those Which his own hand manuring all the Trees Of Paradise could have produc't ere fall n From innocence Now â—…herefore bend thine eare To supplication heare his sighs though mute Unskilful with what words to pray let mee Interpret for him mee his Advocate And propiriation all his works on mee Good or not good ingraft my Merit those Shall perfet and for these my Death shall pay Accept me and in mee from these receave The smell of peace toward Mankinde let him live Before thee reconcil'd at least his days Numberd though sad till Death his doom which I To miâ—…igate thus plead not to reverse To better life shall yeeld him where with mee All my redeemd may dwell in joy and bliss Made one with me as I with thee am one To whom the Father without Cloud serene All thy request for Man accepted Son Obtain all thy request was my Decree But longer in
somthing heav'nly fraught He err'd not for by this the heav'nly Bands Down from a Skie of Jasper lighted now In Paradise and on a Hill made alt A glorious Apparition had not doubt And carnal fear that day dimm'd Adams eye Not that more glorious when the Angels met Jacob in Mahanaim where he saw The sield Pavilion'd with his Guardians bright Nor that which on the flaming Mount appeerd In Dothan cover'd with a Camp of Fire Against the Sâ—…rian King who to surprize One man Assassin-like had levied Warr Warr unproclam'd The Princely Hierarch In thir bright stand there left his Powers to seise Possession of the Gardâ—…n hee alone To finde where Adam shelterd took his way Not unperceav'd of Adam who to Eve While the great Visitant approachd thus spake Eve now expect great tidings which perhaps Of us will soon determin or impose New Laws to be observ'd fâ—…r I descrie From yonder blazing Cloud â—…hat veils the Hill One of the heav'nly Host and by his Gate None of the meanest some great Potentate Or of the Thrones above such Majestie Invests him coming yet not terrible That I should fear nor sociably mild As Raphael that I should much confide But solemn and sublime whom not to offend With reverence I must meet and thou retire He ended and th' Arch-Angel soon drew nigh Not in his shape Celestial but as Man Clad to meet Man over his lucid Armes A militarie Vest of purple flowd Livelier then Meliboean or the graine Of Sarra worn by Kings and Hero's old In time of Truce Iris had dipt the wooff His starrie Helme unbuckl'd shew'd him prime In Manhood where Youth ended by his side As in a glistering Zodiac hung the Sword Satans dire dread and in his hand the Spear Adam bowd low hee Kingly from his State Inclin'd not but his coming thus declar'd Adam Heav'ns high behest no Preface needs Sufficient that thy Prayers are heard and Death Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress Defeated of his seisure many dayes Giv'n thee of Grace wherein thou may'st repent And one bad act with many deeds well done Mayst cover well may then thy Lord appeas'd Redeem thee quite from Deaths rapacious claime But longer in this Paradise to dwell Permits not to remove thee I am come And send thee from the Garden forth to till The ground whence thou wast tak'n fitter Soile He added not for Adam at the newes Heart-strook with chilling gripe of sorrow stood That all his senses bound Eve who unseen Yet all had heard with audible lament Discover'd soon the place of her retire O unexspected stroke worse then of Death Must I thus leave thee Paradise thus leave Thee Native Soile these happie Walks and Shades Fit haunt of Gods where I had hope to spend Quiet though sad the respit of that day That must be mortal to us both O flours That never will in other Climate grow My early visitation and my last At Eev'n which I bred up with tender hand From the first op'ning bud and gave ye Names Who now shall reare ye to the Sun or ranke Your Tribes and water from th' ambrosial Fount Thee lastly nuptial Bowre by mee adornd With what to sight or smell was sweet from thee How shall I part and whither wander down Into a lower World to this obscure And wilde how shall we breath in other Aire Less pure accustomd to immortal Fruits Whom thus the Angel interrupted milde Lament not Eve but patiently resigne What justly thou hast lost nor set thy heart Thus over fond on that which is not thine Thy going is not lonely with thee goes Thy Husband him to follow thou art bound Where he abides think there thy native soile Adam by this from the cold sudden damp Recovering and his scatterd spirits returnd To Michael thus his humble words addressd Celestial whether among the Thrones or nam'd Of them the Highest for such of shape may seem Prince above Princes gently hast thou tould Thy message which might else in telling wound And in performing end us what besides Of sorrow and dejection and despair Our frailtie can sustain thy tidings bring Departure from this happy place our sweet Recess and onely consolation left Familiar to our eyes all places else In hospitable appeer and desolate Nor knowing us nor known and if by prayer Incessant I could hope to change the will Of him who all things can I would not cease To wearie him with my assiduous cries But prayer against his absolute Decree No more availes then breath against the winde Blown stifling back on him that breaths it forth Therefore to his great bidding I submit This most aâ—…icts â—…e that departing hence As from his face I shall be hid deprivd His blessed count'nance here I could frequent With worship place by place where he voutsaf'd Presence Divine and to my Sons relate On this Mount he appeerd under this Tree Stood visible among these Pines his voice I heard here with him at this Fountain talk'd So many grateful Altars I would reare Of grassie Terfe and pile up every Stone Of lustre from the brook in memorie Or monument to Ages and thereon Offer sweet smelling Gumms Fruits and Flours In yonder nether World where shall I seek His bright appearances or footstep trace For though I fled him angrie yet recall'd To life prolongd and promisd Race I now Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts Of glory and farr off his steps adore To whom thus Michael with regard benigne Adam thou know'st Heav'n his and all the Earth Not this Rock onely his Omnipresence fills Land Sea and Aire and every kinde that lives Fomented by his virtual power and warmd All th' Earth he gave thee to possess and rule No despicable gift surmiâ—… not then His presence to these narrow bounds confin'd Of Paradise or Eden this had been Perhaps thy Capital Seate from whence had spred All generations and had hither come From all the ends of th' Earth to celebrate And reverence thee thir great Progenitor But this praeeminence thou hast lost brought dowâ—… To dwell on eeven ground now with thy Sons Yet doubt not but in Vallie and in Plaine God is as here and will be found alike Present and of his presence many a â—…gne Still following thee still compassing thâ—…e round With goodness and paternal Love his Face Express and of his steps the track Divine Which that thou mayst beleeve and be confirmd Ere thou from hence depart know I am sent â—…o shew thee what shall come in future dayes â—…o thee and to thy Ofspring good with bad Expect to hear supernal Grace contending With sinfulness of Men thereby to learn True patience and to temper joy with fear And pious sorrow equally enur'd By moderation either â—…ate to beare Prosperous or adverse so shalt thou lead Safest thy life and best prepar'd endure Thy mortal passage when it comes Ascend This Hillâ—… let Eve for I have drencht her eyes Here sleep â—…elow while
thou to foresight wak'st As once 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 while Shee to life was formd To wâ—…m 〈◊〉 Adam gratefully repli'd 〈◊〉 I follow â—…hee safe Guide the path 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and to the hand of Heav'n submit â—…wever châ—…'ning to the evil turne My obvious breast arming to overcom 〈◊〉 suffering and earne rest from labour won If so I 〈◊〉 attain So both ascend In the Visions of God It was a Hill Oâ—… Paradise the highest from whose top The Hemisphere of Earth in cleerest Ken Stretcht out to amplest reach of prospect lay Not higher that Hill nor wider looking round Whereon for different cause the Tempter set Our second Adam in the Wilderness To shew him all Earths Kingdomes and thir Glory His Eye might there command wherever stood City of old or modern Fame the Seat Of mightiest Empire from the destind Walls Of Cambalu seat of Cathaian Can And Samarchand by Oxus Temirs Throne To Paqâ—…in of Sinaean Kings and thence To Agra and Lahor of great Mogul Down to the golden Chersonese or where The Persian in Ecbatan sate or since In Hispahan or where the Russian Ksar In Mosco or the Sultan in Bizance Turchestan-born nor could his eye not ken Th' Empire of Negus to his utmost Port Ercoco and the less Maritine Kings Mombaza and Quiloa and Melind And Sofala thought Ophir to the Realme Of Congo and Angola fardest South Or thence from Niger Flood to Atlas Mount The Kingdoms of Almansor Fez and Sus Marocco and Algiers and Tremisen On Europe thence and where Rome was to sway The VVorld in Spirit perhaps he also saw Rich Mexico the seat of Motezume And Cusco in Peru the richer seat Of Atabalipa and yet unspoil'd Guiana whose great Citie Geryons Sons Call El Dorado but to nobler sights Michael from Adams eyes the Filme remov'd VVhich that false Fruit that promis'd clearer sight Had bred then purg'd with Euphrasie and Rue The visual Nerve for he had much to see And from the VVell of Life three drops instill'd So deep the power of these Ingredients pierc'd Eevn to the inmost seat of mental sight That Adam now enforâ—… to close his eyes Sunk down and all his Spirits became intranst But him the gentle Angel by the hand Soon rais'd and his attention thus recall'd Adam now ope thine eyes and first behold Th' effects which thy original crime hath wrought In some to spring from thee who never touch'd Th' excepted Tree nor with the Snake conspir'd Nor sinn'd thy sin yet from that sin derive Corruption to bring forth more violent deeds His eyes he op'nd and beheld a field Part arable and tilth whereon were Sheaves New reapt the other part sheep walks and foulds i th' midst an Altar as the Land-mark stood Rustic of grassie sord thither anon A sweatie Reaper from his Tillage brought First Fruits the green Eare and the yellow Sheaf Uncull'd as came to hand a Shepherd next More 〈◊〉 came with the Firstlings of his Flock Choicest and best then sacrificing laid The Inwards and thir Fat with Incense strew'd On the cleft Wood and all due Rites perform'd His Offring soon propitious Fire from Heav'n Consum'd with nimble glance and grateful steame The others not for his was not sincere Whereat hee inlie rag'd and as they talk'd Smote him into the Midriff with a stone That beat out life he fell and deadly pale Groand out his Soul with gushing bloud effus'd Much at that sight was Adam in his heart Dismai'd and thus in haste to th' Angel cri'd O Teacher some great mischief hath befall'n To that meek man who well had sacrific'd Is Pietie thus and pure Devotion paid T' whom Michael thus hee also mov'd repli'd These two are Brethren Adam and to come Out of thy loyns th' unjust the just hath slain For envie that his Brothers Offering â—…ound From Heav'n acceptance but the bloodie Fact Will be aveng'd and th' others Faith approv'd Loose no reward though here thou see him die Rowling in dust and gore To which our Sire Alas both for the deed and for the cause But have I now seen Death Is this the way I must return to native dust O sight Of terrour foul and ugly to behold Horrid to think how horrible to feel To whom thus Mâ—…l Death thou hast seen In his â—…irst shape on man â—…ut many shapes Of Death and many are the wayes that lead To his grim Cave all dismal yet to sense Mâ—…re terrible at th' entrance then within Soâ—…e as thou saw'st by violent stroke shall die By Fire Flood Famin by Intemperance more In Meats and Drinks which on the Earth shal bring Diseases dire of which a monstrous crew Before thee shall appear that thou mayst know What miserie th' inabstinence of Eve Shall bring on men Immediately a place Before his eyes appeard sad noysom dark A Lazar-house it seemd wherein were laid Numbers of all diseas'd all maladies Of gastly Spasm or racking torture qualmes Of heart-fick Agonie all feavorous kinds Convulsions Epilepsies 〈◊〉 Catarrhs Intestin Stone and Ulcer Colic pangs Dropsies and 〈◊〉 and Joint-racking Rheums Dire was the tossing deep the groans despair Tended the sick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Couch to Couch And over them triumphant Death his Dart Shook but delaid to strike though oft invok't With vows as thir chief good and final hope Sight so deform what heart of Rock could long Drie-ey'd behold Adam could not but wept Though not of Woman born compassion quell'd His best of Man and gave him up to tears A space till firmer thoughts restraind excess And scarce recovering words his plaint renew'd O miserable Mankind to what fall Degraded to what wretched state reserv'd Better end heer unborn Why is life giv'n To be thus wrested from us rather why Obtruded on us thus who if we knew What we receive would eiâ—…her not accept Life offer'd or soon beg to lay it down Glad to be so dismist in peace Can thus Th' Image of God in man created once So goodly and erect though faultie since To such unsightly sufferings be debas't 〈◊〉 inhuman pains Why should not Man Râ—…taining still Divine similitude In part from such deformities be free And for his Makers Image sake exempt Thir Makers Image answerd Michael then Forsook them when themselves they villifi'd To serve ungovern'd appetite and took His Image whom they serv'd a 〈◊〉 vice Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve Therefore so abject is thir punishment Disfiguring not Gods likeness but thir own Or if his likeness by themselves 〈◊〉 While they pervert 〈◊〉 Natures healthful rules To loathsom sickness worthily since they Gods Image did not reverence in themselves I yeild it just said Adam and submit But is there yet no other way 〈◊〉 These painful passages how we may come To Death and mix with our 〈◊〉 dust There is said Michael if thou well observe The rule of not too much by temperance taught In what thou eatst and drinkst seeking from thence Due nourishment not gluttonous delight Till many years over
thy head return So maist thou live till like ripe Fruit thou drop Into thy Mothers lap or be with ease Gatherd not harshly pluckt for death mature This is old age but then thou must outlive Thy youth thy strength thy beauty which will change To witherd weak gray thy Senses then Oâ—…se all taste of pleasure must forgoe To what thou hast and for the Aire of youth Hopeful and cheerful in thy blood will reigne A melancholly damp of cold and dry To waigh thy spirits down and last consume The Balme of Life To whom our Ancestor Henceforth I flie not Death nor would prolong Life much bent rather how I may be quit Fairest and easiest of this combrous charge Which I must keep till my appointed day Of rendring up Michael to him repli'd Nor love thy Life nor hate but what thou livst Live well how long or short permit to Heav'n And now prepare thee for another sight He lookd and saw a spacious Plaine whereon Were Tents of various hue by some were herds Of Cattel grazing others whence the sound Of Instruments that made melodious chime Was heard of Harp and Organ and who moovd Thir stops and chords was feen his volant touch Instinct through all proportions low and high Fled and pursu'd transverse the resonant fugue In other part stood one who at the Forge Labouring two massie clods of Iron and Brass Had melted whether found where casual fire Had wasted woods on Mountain or in Vale Down to the veins of Earth thence gliding hot To som Caves mouth or whether washt by stream From underground the liquid Ore he dreind Into fit moulds prepar'd from which he formd First his own Tooles then what might else be wrought Fusil or grav'n in mettle After these But on the hether side a different sort From the high neighbouring Hills which was thir Seat Down to the Plain descended by thir guise Just men they seemd and all thir study bent To worship God aright and know his works Not â—…id nor those things lost which might preserve Freedom and Peace to men they on the Plain Long had not walkt when from the Tents behold A Beavie of fair Women richly gay In Gems and wanton dress to the Harp they sung Soft amorous Ditties and in dance came on The Men though grave ey'd them and let thir eyes Rove without rein till in the amorous Net Fast caught they lik'd and each his liking chose And now of love they treat till th' Eevning Star Loves Harbinger appeerd then all in heat They light the Nuptial Torch and bid invoke Hymen then first to marriage Rites invok't With Feast and Musick all the Tenâ—…si resound Such happy interview and fair event Of love youth not lost Songs Garlands Flours And charming Symphonies attach'd the heart Of Adam soon enclin'd to admit delight The bent of Nature which he thus express'd True opener of mine eyes prime Angel blest Much better seems this Vision and more hope Of peaceful dayes portends then those two past Those were of hate and death or pain much worse Here Nature seems fulfilld in all her ends To whom thus Michael Judg not what is best By pleasure though to Nature seeming meet Created as thou art to nobler end Holie and pure conformitie divine Those Tents thou sawst so pleasant were the Tents Of wickedness wherein shall dwell his Race Who slew his Brother studious they appere Of Arts that polish Life Inventers rare Unmindful of thir Maker though his Spirit Taught them but they his gifts acknowledg'd none Yet they a beauteous ofspring shall beget For that fair femal Troop thou sawst that seemd Of Goddesses so blithe so smooth so gay Yet empty of all good wherein consists Womans domestic honour and chief praise Bred onely and completed to the taste Of lustful appetence to sing to dance To dress and troule the Tongue and roule the Eye To these that sober Race of Men whose lives Religious titl'd them the Sons of God Shall yeild up all thir vertue all thir fame Ignobly to the traines and to the smiles Of these fair Atheists and now swim in joy Erelong to swim at larg and laugh for which The world erelong a world of tears must weepe To whom thus Adam of short joy bereft O pittie and shame that they who to live well Enterd so faire should turn aside to tread Paths indirect or in the mid way faint But still I see the tenor of Mans woe Holds on the same from Woman to begin From Mans effeminate slackness it begins Said th' Angel who should better hold his place By wisdome and superiour gifts receavd But now prepare thee for another Scene He lookd and saw wide Territorie spred Before him Towns and rural works between Cities of Men with lofty Gates and Towrs Concours in Arms fierce Faces threatning Warr Giants of mightie Bone and bould emprise Part wield thir Arms part courb the foaming Steed Single or in Array of Battel rang'd Both Horse and Foot nor idely mustring stood One way a Band select from forage drives A herd of Beeves faire Oxen and faire Kine From a fat Meddow ground or fleecy Flock Ewes and thir bleating Lambs over the Plaine Thir Bootie scarce with Life the Shepherds flye But call in aide which tacks a bloody Fray With cruel Tournament the Squadrons joine Where Cattel pastur'd late now scatterd lies With Carcasses and Arms th' ensanguind Field Deserted Others to a Citie strong Lay Siege encampt by Batterie Scale and Mine Assaulting others from the Wall defend With Dart and Jav'lin Stones and sulfurous Fire On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds In other part the scepter'd Haralds call To Council in the Citie Gates anon Grey-headed men and grave with Warriours mixt Assemble and Harangues are heard but soon In factious opposition till at last Of middle Age one rising eminent In wise deport spake much of Right and Wrong Of Justice of Religion Truth and Peace And Judgement from above him old and young Exploded and had seiz'd with violent hands Had not a Cloud descending snatch'd him thence Unseen amid the throng so violence Proceeded and Oppression and Sword-Law Through all the Plain and refuge none was found Adam was all in tears and to his guide Lamenting turnd full sad O what are these Deaths Ministers not Men who thus deal Death Inhumanly to men and multiply Ten thousand fould the sin of him who slew His Brother for of whom such massacher Make they but of thir Brethren men of men But who was that Just Man whom had not Heav'n Rescu'd had in his Righteousness bin lost To whom thus Michael These are the product Of those ill-mated Marriages thou saw'st Where good with bad were matcht who of themselves Abhor to joyn and by imprudence mixt Produce prodigious Births of bodie or mind Such were these Giants men of high renown For in those dayes Might onely shall be admir'd And Valour and Heroic Vertu call'd To overcome in Battel and