the pleasant savourie smell So quick'nd appetite that I methought Could not but taste Forthwith up to the Clouds With him I flew and underneath beheld The Earth outstretcht immense a prospect wide And various wondring at my flight and change To this high exaltation suddenly My Guide was gon and I me thought sunk down And fell asleep but O how glad I wak'd To find this but a dream Thus Eve her Night Related and thus Adam answerd sad Best Image of my self and dearer half The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep Affects me equally nor ran I like This uncouth dream of evil sprung I fear Yet evil whence in thee can harbour none Created pure But know that in the Soule Are many lesser Faculties that serve Reason as chief among these Fansie next Her office holds of all external things Which the five watchful Senses represent She forms Imaginations Aerie shapes Which Reason joyning or disjoyning frames All what we affirm or what deny and call Our knowledge or opinion then retires Into her private Cell when Nature rests Oft in her absence mimic Fansie wakes To imitare her but misjoyning shapes Wilde work produces oft and most in dreams Ill matching words and deeds long past or late Som such resemblances methinks I find Of our last Eevnings talk in this thy dream But with addition strange yet be not sad Evil into the mind of God or Man May come and go so unapprov'd and leave No spot or blame behind Which gives me hope That what in sleep thou didst abhorr to dream Waking thou never wilt consent to do Be not disheart'nd then nor cloud those looks That wont to be more chearful and serene Then when fair Morning first smiles on the World And let us to our fresh imployments rise Among the Groves the Fountains and the Flours That open now thir choicest bosom'd smells Reservd from night and kept for thee in store So cheard he his fair Spouse and she was cheard But silently a gentle tear let fall From either eye and wip'd them with her haire Two other precious drops that ready stood Each in thir Chrystal sluce hee ere they fell Kiss'd as the gracious signs of sweet remorse And pious awe that feard to have offended So all was cleard and to the Field they haste But first from under shadie arborous roof Soon as they forth were come to open sight Of day-spring and the Sun who scarce up risen With wheels yet hov'ring o're the Ocean brim Shot paralel to the earth his dewie ray Discovering in wide Lantskip all the East Of Paradise and Edens happie Plains Lowly they bow'd adoring and began Thir Orisons each Morning duly paid In various style for neither various style Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise Thir Maker in fit strains pronounc't or sung Unmeditated such prompt eloquence Flowd from thir lips in Prose or numerous Verse More tuneable then needed Lute or Harp To add more sweetness and they thus began These are thy glorious works Parent of good Almightie thine this universal Frame Thus wondrous fair thy self how wondrous then Unspeakable who first above these Heavens To us invisible or dimly seen In these thy lowest works yet these declare Thy goodness beyond thought and Power Divine Speak yee who best can tell ye Sons of light Angels for yee behold him and with songs And choral symphonies Day without Night Circle his Throne rejoycing yee in Heav'n On Earth joyn all ye Creatures to extoll Him first him last him midst and without end Fairest of Starrs last in the train of Night If better thou belong not to the dawn Sure pledge of day that crownst the smiling Morn With thy bright Circlet praise him in thy Spheare While day arises that sweet hour of Prime Thou Sun of this great World both Eye and Soule Acknowledge him thy Greater sound his praise In thy eternal course both when thou climbâ—st And when high Noon hast gaind and when thou fallst Moon that now meetst the orient Sun now fli'st With the fixt Starrs fixt in thir Orb that flies And yee five other wandring Fires that move In mystic Dance not without Song resound His praise who out of Darkness call'd up Light Aire and ye Elements the eldest birth Of Natures Womb that in quaternion run Perpetual Circle multiform and mix And nourish all things let your ceasless change Varie to our great Maker still new praise Ye Mists and Exhalations that now rise From Hill or steaming Lake duskie or grey Till the Sun paint your fleecie skirts with Gold In honour to the Worlds great Author rise Whether to deck with Clouds the uncolourd skie Or wet the thirstie Earth with falling showers Rising or falling still advance his praise His praise ye Winds that from four Quarters blow Breathe soft or loud and wave your tops ye Pines With every Plant in sign of Worship wave Fountains and yee that warble as ye flow Melodious murmurs warbling tune his praise Joyn voices all ye living Souls ye Birds That singing up to Heaven Gate ascend Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise Yee that in Waters glide and yee that walk The Earth and stately tread or lowly creep Witness if I be silent Morn or Eeven To Hell or Valley Fountain or fresh shade Made vocal by my Song and taught his praise Hail universal Lord be bounteous still To give us onely good and if the night Have gathered aught of evil or conceald Disperse it as now light dispels the dark So pray'd they innocent and to thir thoughts Firm peace recoverd soon and wonted calm On to thir mornings rural work they haste Among sweet dewes and flours where any row Of Fruit-trees overwoodie reachd too farr Thir pamperd boughes and needed hands to check Fruitless imbraces or they led the Vine To wed her Elm she spous'd about him twines Her mariageable arms and with her brings Her dowr th' adopted Clusters to adorn His barren leaves Them thus imploid beheld With pittie Heav'ns high King and to him call'd Raphael the sociable Spirit that deign'd To travel with Tobias and secur'd His marriage with the seaventimes-wedded Maid Raphael said hee thou hear'st what stir on Earth Satan from Hell scap't through the darksom Gulf Hath raisd in Paradise and how disturbd This night the human pair how he designes In them at once to ruin all mankind Go therefore half this day as friend with friend Converse with Adam in what Bowre or shade Thou find'st him from the heat of Noon retir'd To respit his day-labour with repast Or with repose and such discourse bring on As may advise him of his happie state Happiness in his power left free to will Left to his own free Will his Will though free Yet mutable whence warne him to beware He swerve not too secure tell him withall His danger and from whom what enemie Late falln himself from Heav'n is plotting now The fall of others from like state or bliss By
awakens all his Legions who lay till then in the same manner confounded They rise thir Numbers array of Battel thir chief Leaders nam'd according to the Idols known afterwards in Canaan and the Countries adjoyning To these Satan directs his Speech comforts them with hope yet of regaining Heaven but tells them lastly of a new World and new kind of Creature to be created according to an ancient Prophesie or report in Heaven for that Angels were long before this visible Creation was the opinion of many ancient Fathers To find out the truth of this Prophesie and what to determin thereon he refers to a full Councel What his Associates thence attempt Pandemonium the Place of Satan rises suddenly built out of the Deep The infernal Peers there sit in Councel OF Mans First Disobedience and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree whose mortal tast Brought Death into the World and all our woe With loss of Eden till one greater Man Restore us and regain the blissful Seat Sing Heav'nly Muse that on the secret top Of Oreb or of Sinai didst inspire That Shepherd who first taught the chosen Seed In the Beginning how the Heav'ns and Earth Rose out of Chaos Or if Sion Hill Delight thee more and Siloa's Brook that flow'd Fast by the Oracle of God I thence Invoke thy aid to my adventrous Song That with no middle flight intends to soar Above th' Aonian Mount while it pursues Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhime And chiefly Thou O Spirit that dost prefer Before all Temples th' upright heart and pure Instruct me for Thou know'st Thou from the first Wast present and with mighty wings outspread Dove-like satst brooding on the vast Abyss And mad'st it pregnant What in me is dark Illumin what is low raise and support That to the highth of this great-Argument I may assert Eternal Providence And justifie the wayes of God to men Say first for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view Nor the deep Tract of Hell say first what cause Mov'd our Grand Parents in that happy State Favour'd of Heav'n so highly to fall off From thir Creator and transgress his Will For one restraint Lords of the World besides Who first seduc'd them to that foul revolt Th' infernal Serpent he it was whose guile Stird up with Envy and Revenge deceiv'd The Mother of Mankind what time his Pride Had cast him out from Heav'n with all his Host Of Rebel Angels by whose aid aspiring To set himself in Glory above his Peers He trusted to have equal'd the most High If he oppos'd and with ambitious aim Against the Throne and Monarchy of God Rais'd impious War in Heav'n and Battel proud With vain attempt Him the Almighty Power Hurld headlong flaming from th' Ethereal Skie With hideous ruine and combustion down To bottomless perdition there to dwell In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire Who durst defie th' Omnipotent to Arms. Nine times the Space that measures Day and Night To mortal men he with his horrid crew Lay vanquisht rowling in the fiery Gulfe Confounded though immortal But his doom Reserv'd him to more wrath for now the thought Both of lost happiness and lasting pain Torments him round he throws his baleful eyes That witness'd huge affliction and dismay Mixt with obdurate pride and stedfast hate At once as far as Angels kenn he views The dismal Situation waste and wilde A Dungeon horrible on all sides round As one great Furnace flam'd yet from those flames No light but rather darkness visible Serv'd onely to discover sights of woe Regions of sorrow doleful shades where peace And rest can never dwell hope never comes That comes to all but torture without end Still urges and a fiery Deluge fed With ever-burning Sulphur unconsum'd Such place Eternal Justice had prepar'd For those rebellious here their Prison ordain'd In utter darkness and thir portion set As far remov'd from God and light of Heav'n As from the Center thrice to th' utmost Pole O how unlike the place from whence they fell There the companions of his fall o'rewhelm'd With Floods and Whirlwinds of tempestuous fire He soon discerns and weltring by his side One next himself in power and next in crime Long after known in Palestine and nam'd Beelzebub To whom th' Arch-Enemy And thence in Heav'n call'd Satan with bold words Breaking the horrid silence thus began If thou beest he But O how fall'n how chang'd From him who in the happy Realms of Light Cloth'd with transcendent brightness didst out-shine Myriads though bright If he whom mutual league United thoughts and counsels equal hope And hazard in the Glorious Enterprize Joynd with me once now misery hath joynd In equal ruin into what Pit thou seest From what highth fall'n so much the stronger prov'd He with his Thunder and till then who knew The force of those dire Arms yet not for those Nor what the Potent Victor in his rage Can else inflict do I repent or change Though chang'd in outward lustre that fixt mind And high disdain from sence of injur'd merit That with the mightiest rais'd me to contend And to the fierce contention brought along Innumerable force of Spirits arm'd That durst dislike his reign and me preferring His utmost power with adverse power oppos'd In dubious Battel on the Plains of Heav'n And shook his throne What though the field be lost All is not lost the unconquerable Will And study of revenge immortal hate And courage never to submit or yield And what is else not to be overcome That Glory never shall his wrath or might Extort from me To bow and sue for grace With suppliant knee and deifie his power Who from the terrour of this Arm so late Doubted his Empire that were low indeed That were an ignominy and shame beneath This downfall since by Fate the strength of Gods And this Empyreal substance cannot fall Since through experience of this great event In Arms not worse in foresight much advanc't We may with more successful hope resolve To wage by force or guile eternal Warr Irreconcileable to our grand Foe Who now triumphs and in th' excess of joy Sole reigning holds the Tyranny of Heav'n So spake th' Apostate Angel though in pain Vaunting aloud but rackt with deep despare And him thus answer'd soon his bold Compeer O Prince O Chief of many Throned Powers That led th' imbattelld Seraphim to Warr Under thy conduct and in dreadful deeds Fearless endanger'd Heav'ns perpetual King And put to proof his high Supremacy Whether upheld by strength or Chance or Fate Too well I see and rue the dire event That with sad overthrow and soul defeat Hath lost us Heav'n and all this mighty Host In horrible destruction laid thus low As far as Gods and Heav'nly Essences Can perish for the mind and spirit remains Invincible and vigour soon returns Though all our Glory extinct and happy state Here swallow'd up in endless misery But what if he our Conquerour whom I now Of
force believe Almighty since no less Then such could hav orepow'rd such force as ours Have left us this our spirit and strength intire Strongly to suffer and support our pains That we may so suffice his vengeful ire Or do him mightier service as his thralls By right of Warr what e're his business be Here in the heart of Hell to work in Fire Or do his Errands in the gloomy Deep What can it then avail though yet we feel Strength undiminisht or eternal being To undergo eternal punishment Whereto with speedy words th' Arch-fiend reply'd Fall'n Cherube to be weak is miserable Doing or Suffering but of this be sure To do ought good never will be our task But ever to do ill our sole delight As being the contrary to his high will Whom we resist If then his Providence Out of our evil seek to bring forth good Our labour must be to pervert that end And out of good still to find means of evil Which oft times may succeed so as perhaps Shall grieve him if I fail not and disturb His inmost counsels from thir destind aim But see the angry Victor hath recall'd His Ministers of vengeance and pursuit Back to the Gates of Heav'n the Sulphurous Hail Shot after us in storm oreblown hath laid The fiery Surge that from the Precipice Of Heav'n receiv'd us falling and the Thunder Wing'd with red Lightning and impetuous rage Perhaps hath spent his shafts and ceases now To bellow through the vast and boundless Deep Let us not slip th' occasion whether scorn Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe Seest thou yon dreary Plain forlorn and wilde The seat of desolation voyd of light Save what the glimmering of these livid flames Casts pale and dreadful Thither let us tend From off the tossing of these fiery waves There rest if any rest can harbour there And reassembling our afflicted Powers Consult how we may henceforth most offend Our Enemy our own loss how repair How overcome this dire Calamity What reinforcement we may gain from Hope If not what resolution from despare Thus Satan talking to his neerest Mate With Head up-lift above the wave and Eyes That sparkling blaz'd his other Parts besides Prone on the Flood extended long and large Lay floating many a rood in bulk as huge As whom the Fables name of monstrous size Titanian or Earth-born that warr'd on Jove Briareos or Typhon whom the Den By ancient Tarsus held or that Sea-beast Leviathan which God of all his works Created hugest that swim th' Ocean stream Him haply slumbring on the Norway foam The Pilot of some small night-founder'd Skiff Deeming some Island oft as Sea-men tell With fixed Anchor in his skaly rind Moors by his side under the Lee while Night Invests the Sea and wished Morn delayes So stretcht out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay Chain'd on the burning Lake nor ever thence Had ris'n or heav'd his head but that the will And high permission of all-ruling Heaven Left him at large to his own dark designs That with reiterated crimes he might Heap on himself damnation while he sought Evil to others and enrag'd might see How all his malice serv'd but to bring forth Infinite goodness grace and mercy shewn On Man by him seduc't but on himself Treble confusion wrath and vengeance pour'd Forthwith upright he rears from off the Pool His mighty Stature on each hand the flames Drivn backward slope thir pointing spires and rowld In billows leave i' th' midst a horrid Vale. Then with expanded wings he stears his flight A loft incumbent on the dusky Air That felt unusual weight till on dry Land He lights if it were Land that ever burn'd With solid as the Lake with liquid fire And such appear'd in hue as when the force Of subterranean wind transports a Hill Torn from Pelorus or the shatter'd side Of thundring Aetna whose combustible And fewel'd entrals thence conceiving Fire Sublim'd with Mineral fury aid the Winds And leave a singed bottom all involv'd With stench and smoak Such resting found the sole Of unblest feet Him followed his next Mate Both glorying to have scap't the Stygian flood As Gods and by thir own recover'd strength Not by the sufferance of supernal Power Is this the Region this the Soil the Clime Said then the lost Arch-Angel this the seat That we must change for Heav'n this mournful gloom For that celestial light Be it so since he Who now is Sovran can dispose and bid What shall be right fardest from him is best Whom reason hath equald force hath made supream Above his equals Farewel happy Fields Where Joy for ever dwells Hail horrours hail Infernal world and thou profoundest Hell Receive thy new Possessor One who brings A mind not to be chang'd by Place or Time The mind is its own place and in it self Can make a Heav'n of Hell a Hell of Heav'n What matter where if I be still the same And what I should be all but less then he Whom Thunder hath made greater Here at least We shall be free th' Almighty hath not built Here for his envy will not drive us hence Here we may reign secure and in my choyce To reign is worth ambition though in Hell Better to reign in Hell then serve in Heav'n But wherefore let we then our faithful friends Th' associates and copartners of our loss Lye thus astonisht on th' oblivious Pool And call them not to share with us their part In this unhappy Mansion or once more With rallied Arms to try what may be yet Regaind in Heav'n or what more lost in Hell So Satan spake and him Beelzebub Thus answer'd Leader of those Armies bright Which but th' Omnipotent none could have foyld If once they hear that voyce thir liveliest pledge Of hope in fears and dangers heard so oft In worst extreams and on the perilous edge Of battel when it rag'd in all assaults Thir surest signal they will soon resume New courage and revive though now they lye Groveling and prostrate on yon Lake of Fire As we erewhile astounded and amaz'd No wonder fall'n such a pernicious highth He scarce had ceas't when the superiour Fiend Was moving toward the shoar his ponderous shield Ethereal temper massy large and round Behind him cast the broad circumference Hung on his shoulders like the Moon whose Orb Through Optic Glass the Tuscan Artist views At Ev'ning from the top of Fesole Or in Valdarno to descry new Lands Rivers or Mountains in her spotty Globe His Spear to equal which the tallest Pine Hewn on Norwegian hills to be the Mast Of some great Ammiral were but a wand He walkt with to support uneasie steps Over the burning Marle not like those steps On Heavens Azure and the torrid Clime Smote on him sore besides vaulted with Fire Nathless he so endur'd till on the Beach Of that inflamed Sea he stood and call'd His Legions Angel Forms who lay intrans't Thick as Autumnal Leaves that strow the
all unawares Fluttring his pennons vain plumb down he drops Ten thousand fadom deep and to this hour Down had been falling had not by ill chance The strong rebuff of som tumultuous cloud Instinct with Fire and Nitre hurried him As many miles aloft that furie stay'd Quencht in a Boggie Syrtis neither Sea Nor good dry Land nigh founderd on he fares Treading the crude consistence half on foot Half flying behoves him now both Oare and Saile As when a Gryfon through the Wilderness With winged course ore Hill or moarie Dale Pursues the Arimaspian who by stelth Had from his wakeful custody purloind The guarded Gold So eagerly the fiend Ore bog or steep through strait rough dense or rare With head hands wings or feet pursues his way And swims or sinks or wades or creeps or flyes At length a universal hubbub wilde Of stunning sounds and voices all confus'd Born through the hollow dark assaults his eare With loudest vehemence thither he plyes Undaunted to meet there what ever power Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss Might in that noise reside of whom to ask Which way the nearest coast of darkness lyes Bordering on light when strait behold the Throne Of Chaos and his dark Pavilion spread Wide on the wasteful Deep with him Enthron'd Sat Sable-vested Night eldest of things The Consort of his Reign and by them stood Orcus and Ades and the dreaded name Of Demogorgon Rumor next and Chance And Tumult and Confusion all imbroild And Discord with a thousand various mouths T' whom Satan turning boldly thus Ye Powers And Spirits of this nethermost Abyss Chaos and ancient Night I come no Spy With purpose to explore or to disturb The secrets of your Realm but by constraint Wandring this darksome Desart as my way Lies through your spacious Empire up to light Alone and without guide half lost I seek What readiest path leads where your gloomie bounds Confine with Heav'n or if som other place From your Dominion won th' Ethereal King Possesses lately thither to arrive I travel this profound direct my course Directed no mean recompence it brings To your behoof if I that Region lost All usurpation thence expell'd reduce To her original darkness and your sway Which is my present journey and once more Erect the Standard there of ancient Night Yours be th' advantage all mine the revenge Thus Satan and him thus the Anarch old With faultring speech and visage incompos'd Answer'd I know thee stranger who thou art That mighty leading Angel who of late Made head against Heav'ns King though overthrown I saw and heard for such a numerous Host Fled not in silence through the frighted deep VVith ruin upon ruin rout on rout Confusion worse confounded and Heav'n Gates Pourd out by millions her victorious Bands Pursuing I upon my Frontieres here Keep residence if all I can will serve That little which is left so to defend Encroacht on still through our intestine broiles VVeakning the Scepter of old Night first Hell Your dungeon stretching far and wide beneath Now lately Heaven and Earth another VVorld Hung ore my Realm link'd in a golden Chain To that side Heav'n from whence your Legions fell If that way be your walk you have not farr So much the neerer danger go and speed Havock and spoil and ruin are my gain He ceas'd and Satan staid not to reply But glad that now his Sea should find a shore VVith fresh alacritie and force renew'd Springs upward like a Pyramid of fire Into the wilde expanse and through the shock Of fighting Elements on all sides round Environ'd wins his way harder beset And more endanger'd then when Argo pass'd Through Bosporus betwixt the justling Rocks Or when Vlysses on the Larbord shunnd Charybdis and by th' other whirlpool steard So he with difficulty and labour hard Mov'd on with difficulty and labour hee But hee once past soon after when man fell Strange alteration Sin and Death amain Following his track such was the will of Heav'n Pav'd alter him a broad and beat'n way Over the dark Abyss whose boiling Gulf Tamely endur'd a Bridge of wondrous length From Hell continu'd reaching th' utmost Orbe Of this frail VVorld by which the Spirits perverse VVith easie intercourse pass to and fro To tempt or punish mortals except whom God and good Angels guard by special grace But now at last the sacred influence Of light appears and from the walls of Heav'n Shoots farr into the bosom of dim Night A glimmering dawn here Nature first begins Her fardest verge and Chaos to retire As from her outmost works a brok'd foe VVith tumult less and with less hostile din That Satan with less toil and now with ease VVafts 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 VVeighs his spread wings at leasure to behold Farr off th' Empyreal Heav'n extended wide In circuit undetermind square or round VVith Opal Towrs and Battlements adorn'd Of living Saphire once his native Seat And fast by hanging in a golden Chain This pendant world in bigness as a Starr Of smallest Magnitude close by the Moon Thither full fraught with mischievous revenge Accurst and in a cursed hour he hies The End of the Second Book Paradise Lost BOOK III. THE ARGUMENT God sitting on his Throne sees Satan flying towards this world then newly created shews him to the Son who sat at his right hand foretells the success of Satan in perverting mankind clears his own Justice and Wisdom from all imputation having created Man free and able enough to have withstood his Tempter yet declares his purpose of grace towards him in regard he fell not of his own malice as did Satan but by him seduc't The Son of God renders praises to his Father for the manifestation of his gracious purpose towards Man but God again declares that Grace cannot be extended towards Man without the satisfaction of divine Justice Man hath offended the majesty of God by aspiring to God-head and therefore with all his Progeny devoted to death must dye unless some one can be found sufficient to answer for his offence and undergo his Punishment The Son of God freely offers himself a Ransome for Man the Father accepts hint ordains his incarnation pronounces his exaltation above all Names in Heaven and Earth commands all the Angels to adore him they obey and hymning to thir Harps in full Quire celebrate the Father and the Son Mean while Satan alights upon the bare Convex of this Worlds outermost Orb where wandring he first finds a place since call'd The Lymbo of Vanity what persons and things fly up thither thence comes to the Gate of Heaven describ'd ascending by staires and the waters above the Firmament that flow about it His passage thence to the Orb of the Sun he finds there Uriel the Regient of that Orb but first changes himself into the shape of a meaner
Coronet his flowing haire In curles on either cheek plaid wings he wore Of many a colourd plume sprinkl'd with Gold His habit fit for speed succinct and held Before his decent steps a Silver wand He drew not nigh unheard the Angel bright Ere he drew nigh his radiant visage turnd Admonisht by his ear and strait was known Th' Arch-Angel Vriel one of the seav'n Who in Gods presence neerest to his Throne Stand ready at command and are his Eyes That run through all the Heav'ns or down to th' Earth Bear his swift errands over moist and dry O're Sea and Land him Satan thus accostes Vriel for thou of those seav'n Spirits that stand In sight of God's high Throne gloriously bright The first art wont his great authentic will Interpreter through highest Heav'n to bring Where all his Sons thy Embassie attend And here art likeliest by supream decree Like honour to obtain and as his Eye To visit oft this new Creation round Unspeakable desire to see and know All these his wondrous works but chiefly Man His chief delight and favour him for whom All these his works so wondrous he ordaind Hath brought me from the Quires of Cherubim Alone thus wandring Brightest Seraph tell In which of all these shining Orbes hath Man His fixed seat or fixed seat hath none But all these shining Orbes his choice to dwell That I may find him and with secret gaze Or open admiration him behold On whom the great Creator hath bestowd Worlds and on whom hath all these graces powrd That both in him and all things as is meet The Universal Maker we may praise Who justly hath drivn out his Rebell Foes To deepest Hell and to repair that loss Created this new happie Race of Men To serve him better wise are all his wayes So spake the false dissembler unperceivd For neither Man nor Angel can discern Hypocrisie the onely evil that walks Invisible except to God alone By his permissive will through Heav'n and Earth And oft though wisdom wake suspicion sleeps At wisdoms Gate and to simplicitie Resigns her charge while goodness thinks no ill Where no ill seems Which now for once beguil'd Vriel though Regent of the Sun and held The sharpest sighted Spirit of all in Heav'n Who to the fraudulent Impostor foule In his uprightness answer thus returnd Fair Angel thy desire which tends to know The works of God thereby to gforifie The great Work-Maister leads to no excess That reaches blame but rather merits praise The more it seems excess that led thee hither From thy Empyreal Mansion thus alone To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps Contented with report hear onely in heav'n For wonderful indeed are all his works Pleasant to know and worthiest to be all Had in remembrance alwayes with delight But what created mind can comprehend Thir number or the wisdom infinite That brought them forth but hid thir causes deep I saw when at his Word the formless Mass This worlds material mould came to a heap Confusion heard his voice and wilde uproar Stood rul'd stood vast infinitude confin'd Till at his second bidding darkness fled Light shon and order from disorder sprung Swift to thir several Quarters hasted then The cumbrous Elements Earth Flood Aire Fire And this Ethereal quintessence of Heav'n Hew upward spirited with various forms That rowld orbicular and turnd to Starrs Numberless as thou seest and how they move Each had his place appointed each his course The rest in circuit walles 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 th' other Hemisphere Night would invade but there the neighbouring Moon So call that opposite fair Starr her aide Timely interposes and her monthly round Still ending still renewing through mid Heav'n With borrowd light her countenance triform Hence fills and empties to enlighten th' Earth And in her pale dominion checks the night That spot to which I point is Paradise Adams abode those loftie shades his Bowre Thy way thou canst not miss me mine requires Thus said he turnd and Satan bowing low As to superior Spirits is wont in Heaven Where honour due and reverence none neglects Took leave and toward the coast of Earth beneath Down from th' Ecliptic sped with hop'd success Throws his steep flight in many an Aerie wheele Nor staid till on Niphates top he lights The End of the Third Book Paradise Lost BOOK IV. THE ARGUMENT Satan now in prospect of Eden and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprize which he undertook alone against God and Man falls into many doubts with himself and many passions fear envy and despare but at length confirms himself in evil journeys on to Paradise whose outward prospect and scituation is discribed overleaps the bounds sits in the shape of a Cormorant on the Tree of life as highest in the Garden to look about him The Garden describ'd Satans first sight of Adam and Eve his wonder at thir excellent form and happy state but with resolution to work thir fall overhears thir discourse thence gathers that the Tree of knowledge was forbidden them to eat of under penalty of death and thereon intends to found his Temptation by seducing them to transgress then leaves them a while to know further of thir state by some other means Mean while Uriel descending on a Sun-beam warns Gabriel who had in charge the Gate of Paradise that some evil spirit had escap'd the Deep and past at Noon by his Sphere in the shape of a good Angel down to Paradise discovered after by his furious gestures in the Mount Gabriel promises to find him ere morning Night coming on Adam and Eve discourse of going to thir rest thir Bower describ'd thir Evening worship Gabriel drawing forth his Bands of Night-watch to walk the round of Paradise appoints two strong Angels to Adams Bower least the evill spirit should be there doing some harm to Adam or Eve sleeping there they find him at the ear of Eve tempting her in a dream and bring him though unwilling to Gabriel by whom question'd he scornfully answers prepares resistance but hinder'd by a Sign from Heaven flies out of Paradise O For that warning voice which he who saw Th' Apocalyps heard cry in Heaven aloud Then when the Dragon put to second rout Came furious down to be reveng'd on men Wo to the inhabitants on Earth that now While time was our first-Parents had bin warnd The coming of thir secret foe and scap'd Haply so scap'd his mortal snare for now Satan now first inflam'd with rage came down The Tempter ere th' Accuser of man-kind To wreck on innocent frail man his loss Of that first Battel and his flight to Hell Yet not rejoycing in his speed though bold Far off and fearless nor with cause to boast Begins his dire attempt which nigh the birth Now rowling
descends To us for food and for delight hath caus'd The Earth to yield unsavourie food perhaps To spiritual Natures only this I know That one Celestial Father gives to all To whom the Angel Therefore what he gives Whose praise be ever sung to man in part Spiritual may of purest Spirits be found No ingrateful food and food alike those pure Intelligential substances require As doth your Rational and both contain Within them every lower facultie Of sense whereby they hear see smell touch taste Tasting concoct digest assimilate And corporeal to incorporeal turn For know whatever was created needs To be sustaind and fed of Elements The grosser feeds the purer Earth the Sea Earth and the Sea feed Air the Air those Fires Ethereal and as lowest first the Moon Whence in her visage round those spots unpurg'd Vapours not yet into her substance turnd Nor doth the Moon no nourishment exhale From her moist Continent to higher Orbes The Sun that light imparts to all receives From all his alimental recompence In humid exhalations and at Even Sups with the Ocean though in Heav'n the Trees Of life ambrosial frutage bear and vines Yield Nectar though from off the boughs each Morn We brush mellifluous Dewes and find the ground Cover'd with pearly grain yet God hath here Varied his bounty so with new delights As may compare with Heaven and to taste Think not I shall be nice So down they sat And to thir viands fell nor seemingly The Angel nor in mist the common gloss Of Theologians but with keen dispatch Of real hunger and concoctive heate To transubstantiate what redounds transpires Through Spirits with ease nor wonder if by fire Of sooty coal the Empiric Alchimist Can turn or holds it possible to turn Metals of drossiest Ore to perfet Gold As from the Mine Mean while at Table Eve Ministerd naked and thir flowing cups With pleasant liquors crown'd O innocence Deserving Paradise if ever then Then had the Sons of God excuse to have bin Enamour'd at that sight but in those hearts Love unlibidinous reign'd nor jealousie Was understood the injur'd Lovers Hell Thus when with meats and drinks they had suffic'd Not burd'nd Nature sudden mind arose In Adam not to let th' occasion pass Given him by this great Conference to know Of things above his World and of thir being Who dwell in Heav'n whose excellence he saw Transcend his own so farr whose radiant forms Divine effulgence whose high Power so far Exceeded human and his wary speech Thus to th' Empyreal Minister he fram'd Inhabitant with God now know I well Thy favour in this honour done to man Under whose lowly roof thou hast voutsaf't To enter and these earthly fruits to taste Food not of Angels yet accepted so As that more willingly thou couldst not seem At Heav'ns high feasts to have fed yet what compare To whom the winged Hierarch repli'd O Adam one Almightie is from whom All things proceed and up to him return If not deprav'd from good created all Such to perfection one first matter all Indu'd with various forms various degrees Of substance and in things that live of life But more refin'd more spiritous and pure As neerer to him plac't or neerer tending Each in thir several active Sphears assignd Till body up to spirit work in bounds Proportiond to each kind So from the root Springs lighter the green stalk from thence the leaves More aerie last the bright consummate floure Spirits odorous breathes flours and thir fruit Mans nourishment by gradual scale sublim'd To vital Spirits aspire to animal To intellectual give both life and sense Fansie and undemanding whence the Soule Reason receives and reason is her being Discursive or Intuitive discourse Is oftest yours the latter most is ours Differing but in degree of kind the same Wonder not then what God for you saw good If I refuse not but convert as you To proper substance time may come when men With Angels may participate and find No inconvenient Diet nor too light Fare And from these corporal nutriments perhaps Your bodies may at last turn all to Spirit Improv'd by tract of time and wingd ascend Ethereal as wee or may at choice Here or in Heav'nly Paradises dwell If ye be found obedient and retain Unalterably firm his love entire Whose progenie you are Mean while enjoy Your fill what happiness this happie state Can comprehend incapable of more To whom the Patriarch of mankind repli'd O favourable spirit propitious guest Well hast thou taught the way that might direct Our knowledge and the scale of Nature set From center to circumference whereon In contemplation of created things By steps we may ascend to God But say What meant that caution joind if ye be found Obedient can we want obedience then To him or possibly his love desert Who formd us from the dust and plac'd us here Full to the utmost measure of what bliss Human desires can seek or apprehend To whom the Angel Son of Heav'n and Earth Attend That thou art happie owe to God That thou continu'st such owe to thy self That is to thy obedience therein stand This was that caution giv'n thee be advis'd God made thee perfet not immutable And good he made thee but to persevere He left it in thy power ordaind thy will By nature free not over-rul'd by Fate Inextricable or strict necessity Our voluntarie service he requires Not our necessitated such with him Findes no acceptance nor can find for how Can hearts not free be tri'd whether they serve Willing or no who will but what they must By Destinie and can no other choose My self and all th' Angelic Host that stand In sight of God enthron'd our happie state Hold as you yours while our obedience holds On other surety none freely we serve Because wee freely love as in our will To love or not in this we stand or fall And som are fall'n to disobedience fall'n And so from Heav'n to deepest Hell O fall From what high state of bliss into what woe To whom our great Progenitor Thy words Attentive and with more delighted eare Divine instructer I have heard then when Cherubic Songs by night from neighbouring Hills Aereal Music send nor knew I not To be both will and deed created free Yet that we never shall forget to love Our maker and obey him whose command Single is yet so just my constant thoughts Assur'd me and still assure though what thou tellst Hath past in Heav'n som doubt within me move But more desire to hear if thou consent The full relation which must needs be strange Worthy of Sacred silence to be heard And we have yet large day for scarce the Sun Hath finisht half his journey and scarce begins His other half in the great Zone of Heav'n Thus Adam made request and Raphael After short pause assenting thus began High matter thou injoinst me O prime of men Sad task and hard for how shall I relate To human sense th'
Enjoyment of our right as Gods yet hard For Gods and too unequal work we find Against unequal armes to fight in paine Against unpaind impassive from which evil Ruin must needs ensue for what availes Valour or strength though matchless quelld with pain Which all subdues and makes remiss the hands Of Mightiest Sense of pleasure we may well Spare out of life perhaps and not repine But live content which is the calmest life But pain is perfet miserie the worst Of evils and excessive overturnes All patience He who therefore can invent With what more forcible we may offend Our yet unwounded Enemies or arme Our selves with like defence to me deserves No less then for deliverance what we owe. Whereto with look compos'd Satan repli'd Not uninvented that which thou aright Believst so main to our success I bring Which of us who beholds the bright surface Of this Ethereous mould whereon we stand This continent of spacious Heav'n adornd With Plant Fruit Flour Ambrosial Gemms Gold Whose Eye so superficially surveyes These things as not to mind from whence they grow Deep under ground materials dark and crude Of spiritous and fierie spume till toucht With Heav'ns ray and temperd they shoot forth So beauteous op'ning to the ambient light These in thir dark Nativitie the Deep Shall yield us pregnant with infernal flame Which into hallow Engins long and round Thick-rammd at th' other bore with touch of fire Dilated and infuriate shall send forth From far with thundring noise among our foes Such implements of mischief as shall dash To pieces and orewhelm whatever stands Adverse that they shall fear we have disarmd The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt Nor long shall be our labour yet ere dawne Effect shall end our wish Mean while revive Abandon fear to strength and counsel joind Think nothing hard much less to be despaird He ended and his words thir drooping chere Enlightn'd and thir languisht hope reviv'd Th' invention all admir'd and each how hee To be th' inventer miss'd so easie it seemd Once found which yet unfound most would have thought Impossible yet haply of thy Race In future dayes if Malice should abound Some oâ—â— intent on mischief or inspir'd With dev'lish machination might devise Like instrument to plague the Sons of men For sin on warr and mutual slaughter bent Forthwith from Councel to the work they flew None arguing stood innumerable hands Were ready in a moment up they turnd Wide the Celestial soile and saw beneath Th' originals of Nature in thir crude Conception Sulphurous and Nitrous Foame They found they mingl'd and with suttle Art Concocted and adusted they reduc'd To blackest grain and into store convey'd Part hidd'n veins diggd up nor hath this Earth Entrails unlike of Mineral and Stone Whereof to found thir Engins and thir Balls Of missive ruin part incentive reed Provide pernicious with one touch to fire So all ere day-spring under conscious Night Secret they finish'd and in order set With silent circumspection unespi'd Now when fair Morn Orient in Heav'n appeerd Up rose the Victor Angels and to Arms The matin Trumpet Sung in Arms they stood Of Golden Panoplie refulgent Host Soon banded others from the dawning Hills Lookd round and Scouts each Coast light-armed scoure Each quarter to descrie the distant foe Where lodg'd or whither fled or if for fight In motion or in alt him soon they met Under spred Ensignes moving nigh in slow But firm Battalion back with speediest Sail Zophiel of Cherubim the swiftest wing Came flying and in mid Aire aloud thus cri'd Arme Warriours Arme for fight the foe at hand Whom fled we thought will save us long pursuit This day fear not his flight so thick a Cloud He comes and settl'd in his face I see Sad resolution and secure let each His Adamantine coat gird well and each Fit well his Helme gripe first his orbed Shield Born eevn or high for this day will poor down If I conjecture aught no drizling showr But ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire So warnd he them aware themselves and soon In order quit of all impediment Instant without disturb they took Allarm And onward move Embattelld when behold Not distant far with heavie pace the Foe Approaching gross and huge in hollow Cube Training his devilish Enginrie impal'd On every side with shaddowing Squadrons Deep To hide the fraud At interview both stood A while but suddenly at head appeerd Satan And thus was heard Commanding loud Vanguard to Right and Left the Front unfould That all may see who hate us how we seek Peace and composure and with open brest Stand readie to receive them if they like Our overture and turn not back perverse But that I doubt however witness Heaven Heav'n witness thou anon while we discharge Freely our part yee who appointed stand Do as you have in charge and briefly touch What we propound and loud that all may hear So scoffing in ambiguous words he scarce Had ended when to Right and Left the Front Divided and to either Flank retir'd Which to our eyes discoverd new and strange A triple mounted row of Pillars laid On Wheels for like to Pillars most they seem'd Or hollow'd bodies made of Oak or Firr With branches lopt in Wood or Mountain fell'd Brass Iron Stonie mould had not thir mouthes With hideous orifice gap't on us wide Portending hollow truce at each behind A Seraph stood and in his hand a Reed Stood waving tipt with fire while we suspense Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd Not long for sudden all at once thir Reeds Put forth and to a narrow vent appli'd With nicest touch Immediate in a flame But soon obscur'd with smoak all Heav'n appeerd From those deep throated Engins belcht whose roar Emboweld with outragious noise the Air And all her entrails tore disgorging foule Thir devilish glut chaind Thunderbolts and Hail Of Iron Globes which on the Victor Host Level'd with such impetuous furie smote That whom they hit none on thir feet might stand ' Though standing else as Rocks but down they fell By thousands Angel on Arch-Angel rowl'd The sooner for thir Arms unarm'd they might Have easily as Spirits evaded swift By quick contraction or remove but now Foule dissipation follow'd and forc't rout Nor serv'd it to relax thir serried files What should they do if on they rusht repulse Repeated and indecent overthrow Doubl'd would render them yet more despis'd And to thir foes a laughter for in view Stood rankt of Seraphim another row In posture to displode thir second tire Of Thunder back defeated to return They worse abhorr'd Satan beheld thir plight And to his Mates thus in derision call'd O Friends why come not on these Victors proud Ere while they fierce were coming and when wee To entertain them fair with open Front And Brest what could we more propounded terms Of composition strait they chang'd thir minds Flew off and into strange vagaries fell As they would
by Angels born his Sign in Heav'n Under whose conduct Michael soon reduc'd His Armie circumfus'd on either Wing Under thir Head imbodied all in one Before him Power Divine his way prepar'd At his command the uprooted Hills retir'd Each to his place they heard his voice and went Obsequious Heav'n his wonted face renewd And with fresh Flourets Hill and Valley smil'd This saw his hapless Foes but stood obdur'd And to rebellious fight rallied thir Powers Insensate hope conceiving from despair In heav'nly Spirits could such perverseness dwell But to convince the proud what Signs availe Or Wonders move th' obdurate to relent They hard'nd more by what might most reclame Grieving to see his Glorie at the sight Took envie and aspiring to his highth Stood reimbattell'd fierce by force or fraud Weening to prosper and at length prevaile Against God and Messiah or to fall In universal ruin last and now To final Battel drew disdaining flight Or faint retreat when the great Son of God To all his Host on either hand thus spake Stand still in bright array ye Saints here stand Ye Angels arm'd this day from Battel rest Faithful hath been your warfare and of God Accepted fearless in his righteous Cause And as ye have receivd so have ye don Invincibly but of this cursed crew The punishment to other hand belongs Vengeance is his or whose he sole appoints Number to this dayes work is not ordain'd Nor multitude stand onely and behold Gods indignation on these Godless pourd By mee not you but mee they have despis'd Yet envied against mee is all thir rage Because the Father t' whom in Heav'n supream Kingdom and Power and Glorie appertains Hath honourd me according to his will Therefore to mee thir doom he hath assig'n'd That they may have thir wish to trie with mee In Battel which the stronger proves they all Or I alone against them since by strength They measure all of other excellence Not emulous nor care who them excells Nor other strife with them do I voutsafe So spake the Son and into terrour chang'd His count'nance too severe to be beheld And full of wrauth bent on his Enemies At once the Four spred out thir Starrie wings With dreadful shade contiguous and the Orbes Of his fierce Chariot rowld as with the sound Of torrent Floods or of a numerous Host Hee on his impious Foes right onward drove Gloomie as Night under his burning Wheeles The stedfast Empyrean shook throughout All but the Throne it self of God Full soon Among them he arriv'd in his right hand Grasping ten thousand Thunders which he sent Before him such as in thir Soules infix'd Plagues they astonisht all resistance lost All courage down thir idle weapons drop'd O're Shields and Helmes and helmed heads he rode Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate That wisht the Mountains now might be again Thrown on them as a shelter from his ire Nor less on either side tempestuous fell His arrows from the fourfold-visag'd Foure Distinct with eyes and from the living Wheels Distinct alike with multitude of eyes One Spirit in them rul'd and every eye Glar'd lightning and shot forth pernicious fire Among th' accurst that witherd all thir strength And of thir wonted vigour lest them draind Exhausted spiritless afflicted fall'n Yet half his strength he put not forth but check'd His Thunder in mid Volie for he meant Not to destroy but root them out of Heav'n The overthrown he rais'd and as a Heard Of Goats or timerous flock together throngd Drove them before him Thunder-struck pursu'd With terrors and with furies to the bounds And Chrystal wall of Heav'n which op'ning wide Rowld inward and a spacious Gap disclos'd Into the wastful Deep the monstrous sight Strook them with horror backward but far worse Urg'd them behind headlong themselves they threw Down from the verge of Heav'n Eternal wrauth Burnt after them to the bottomless pit Hell heard th' unsufferable noise Hell saw Heav'n ruining from Heav'n and would have fled Affrighted but strict Fate had cast too deep Her dark foundations and too fast had bound Nine dayes they fell confounded Chaos roard And felt tenfold confusion in thir fall Through his wilde Anarchie so huge a rout Incumberd him with ruin Hell at last Yawning receavd them whole and on them clos'd Hell thir fit habitation fraught with fire Unquenchable the house of woe and paine Disburd'nd Heav'n rejoic'd and soon repaird Her mural breach returning whence it rowld Sole Victor from th' expulsion of his Foes Messiah his triumphal Chariot turnd To meet him all his Saints who silent stood Eye witnesses of his Almightie Acts With Jubilie advanc'd and as they went Shaded with branching Palme each order bright Sung Triumph and him sung Victorious King Son Heir and Lord to him Dominion giv'n Worthiest to Reign he celebrated rode Triumphant through mid Heav'n into the Courts And Temple of his mightie Father Thron'd On high who into Glorie him receav'd Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss Thus measuring things in Heav'n by things on Earth At thy request and that thou maist beware By what is past to thee I have reveal'd What might have else to human Race bin hid The discord which befel and Warr in Heav'n Among th' Angelic Powers and the deep fall Of those too high aspiring who rebelld With Satan hee who envies now thy state Who now is plotting how he may seduce Thee also from obedience that with him Bereavd of happiness thou maist partake His punishment Eternal miserie Which would be all his solace and revenge As a despite don against the most High Thee once to gaine Companion of his woe But list'n not to his Temptations warne Thy weaker let it profit thee to have heard By terrible Example the reward Of disobedience firm they might have stood Yet fell remember and fear to transgress The End of the Sixth Book Paradise Lost BOOK VII THE ARGUMENT Raphael at the request of Adam relates how and wherefore this world was first created that God after the expelling of Satan and his Angels out of Heaven declar'd his pleasure to create another World and other Creatures to dwell therein sends his Son with Glory and attendance of Angels to perform the work of Creation in six dayes the Angels celebrate with Hymns the performance thereof and his reascention into Heaven DEscend from Heav'n Vrania by that name If rightly thou art call'd whose Voice divine Following above th' Olympian Hill I soare Above the flight of Pegasean wing The meaning not the Name I call for thou Nor of the Muses nine nor on the top Of old Olympus dwell'st but Heav'nlie borne Before the Hills appeerd or Fountain flow'd Thou with Eternal wisdom didst converse Wisdom thy Sister and with her didst play In presence of th' Almightie Father pleas'd With thy Celestial Song Up led by thee Into the Heav'n of Heav'ns I have presum'd An Earthlie Guest and drawn Empyreal Aire Thy tempring with like
safetie guided down Return me to my Native Element Least from this flying Steed unrein'd as once Bellerophon though from a lower Clime Dismounted on th' Aleian Field I fall Erroneous there to wander and forlorne Half yet remaines unsung but narrower bound Within the visible Diurnal Spheare Standing on Earth not rapt above the Pole More safe I Sing with mortal voice unchang'd To hoarce or mute though fall'n on evil dayes On evil dayes though fall'n and evil tongues In darkness and with dangers compast round And solitude yet not alone while thou Visit'st my slumbers Nightly or when Morn Purples the East still govern thou my Song Vrania and fit audience find though few But drive farr off the barbarous dissonance Of Bacchus and his revellers the Race Of that wilde Rout that tore the Thracian Bard In Rhodope where Woods and Rocks had Eares To rapture till the savage clamor dround Both Harp and Voice nor could the Muse defend Her Son So fail not thou who thee implores For thou art Heav'nlie shee an empty dreame Say Goddess what ensu'd when Raphael The affable Arch-Angel had forewarn'd Adam by dire example to beware Apostasie by what befell in Heaven To those Apostates least the like befall In Paradise to Adam or his Race Charg'd not to touch the interdicted Tree If they transgress and slight that sole command So easily obeyd amid the choice Of all tastes else to please thir appetite Though wandring He with his consorted Eve The storie heard attentive and was fill'd With admiration and deep Muse to heare Of things so high and strange things to thir thought So unimaginable as hate in Heav'n And Warr so neer the Peace of God in bliss With such confusion but the evil soon Driv'n back redounded as a flood on those From whom it sprung impossible to mix With Blessedness Whence Adam soon repeal'd The doubts that in his heart arose and now Led on yet sinless with desire to know What neerer might concern him how this World Of Heav'n and Earth conspicious first began When and whereof created for what cause What within Eden or without was done Before his memorie as one whose drouth Yet scarce allay'd still eyes the current streame Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites Proceeded thus to ask his Heav'nly Guest Great things and full of wonder in our eares Farr differing from this World thou hast reveal'd Divine interpreter by favour sent Down from the Empyrean to forewarne Us timely of what might else have bin our loss Unknown which human knowledg could not reach For which to the infinitly Good we owe Immortal thanks and his admonishment Receave with solemne purpose to observe Immutably his sovran will the end Of what we are But since thou hast voutsaf't Gently for our instruction to impart Things above Earthly thought which yet concernd Our knowing as to highest wisdom seemd Deign to descend now lower and relate What may no less perhaps availe us known How first began this Heav'n which we behold Distant so high with moving Fires adornd Innumerable and this which yeelds or fills All space the ambient Aire wide interfus'd Imbracing round this florid Earth what cause Mov'd the Creator in his holy Rest Through all Eternitie so late to build In Chaos and the work begun how soon Absolv'd if unforbid thou maist unfould What wee not to explore the secrets aske Of his Eternal Empire but the more To magnifie his works the more we know And the great Light of Day yet wants to run Much of his Race though steep suspens in Heav'n Held by thy voice thy potent voice he heares And longer will delay to heare thee tell His Generation and the rising Birth Of Nature from the unapparent Deep Or if the Starr of Eevning and the Moon Haste to thy audience Night with her will bring Silence and Sleep listning to thee will watch Or we can bid his absence till thy Song End and dismiss thee ere the Morning shine Thus Adam his illustrious Guest besought And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde This also thy request with caution askt Obtaine thought to recount Almightie works What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice Or heart of man suffice to comprehend Yet what thou canst attain which best may serve To glorifie the Maker and inferr Thee also happier shall not be withheld Thy hearing such Commission from above I have receav'd to answer thy desire Of knowledge within bounds beyond abstain To ask nor let thine own inventions hope Things not reveal'd which th' invisible King Onely Omniscient hath supprest in Night To none communicable in Earth or Heaven Anough is left besides to search and know But Knowledge is as food and needs no less Her Temperance over Appetite to know In measure what the mind may well contain Oppresses else with Surfet and soon turns Wisdom to Folly as Nourishment to Winde Know then that after Lucifer from Heav'n So call him brighter once amidst the Host Of Angels then that Starr the Starrs among Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep Into his place and the great Son returnd Victorious with his Saints th' Omnipotent Eternal Father from his Throne beheld Thir multitude and to his Son thus spake At least our envious Foe hath fail'd who thought All like himself rebellious by whose aid This inaccessible high strength the seat Of Deitie supream us dispossest He trusted to have seis'd and into fraud Drew many whom thir place knows here no more Yet farr the greater part have kept I see Thir station Heav'n yet populous retaines Number sufficient to possess her Realmes Though wide and this high Temple to frequent With Ministeries due and solemn Rites But least his heart exalt him in the harme Already done to have dispeopl'd Heav'n My damage fondly deem'd I can repaire That detriment if such it be to lose Self-lost and in a moment will create Another World out of one man a Race Of men innumerable there to dwell Not here till by degrees of merit rais'd They open to themselves at length the way Up hither under long obedience tri'd And Earth be chang'd to Heav'n Heav'n to Earth One Kingdom Joy and Union without end Mean while inhabit laxe ye Powers of Heav'n And thou my Word begotten Son by thee This I perform speak thou and be it don My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee I send along ride forth and bid the Deep Within appointed bounds be Heav'n and Earth Boundless the Deep because I am who fill Infinitude nor vacuous the space Though I uncircumscrib'd ray self retire And put not forth my goodness which is free To act or not Necessitie and Chance Approach not mee and what I will is Fate So spake th' Almightie and to what he spake His Word the filial Godhead gave effect Immediate are the Acts of God more swift Then time or motion but to human ears Cannot without process of speech be told So told as earthly notion can receave Great triumph