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
could have fear'd How such united force of Gods how such As stood like these could ever know repulse For who can yet beleeve though after loss That all these puissant Legions whose exile Hath emptied Heav'n shall fail to re-ascend Self-rais'd and repossess thir native seat For mee be witness all the Host of Heav'n If counsels different or danger shun'd By me have lost our hopes But he who reigns Monarch in Heav'n till then as one secure Sat on his Throne upheld by old repute Consent or custome and his Regal State Put forth at full but still his strength conceal'd Which tempted our attempt and wrought our fall Henceforth his might we know and know our own So as not either to provoke or dread New warr provok't our better part remains To work in close design by fraud or guile What force effected not that he no less At length from us may find who overcomes By force hath overcome but half his foe Space may produce new VVorlds whereof so rise There went a fame in Heav'n that he ere long Intended to create and therein plant A generation whom his choice regard Should favour equal to the Sons of Heaven Thither if but to pry shall be perhaps Our first eruption thither or elsewhere For this Infernal Pit shall never hold Caelestial Spirits in Bondage nor th' Abyss Long under darkness cover But these thoughts Full Counsel must mature Peace is despaird For who can think Submission Warr then VVarr Open or understood must be resolv'd He spake and to confirm his words out-flew Millions of flaming swords drawn from the thighs Of mighty Cherubim the sudden blaze Far round illumin'd hell highly they rag'd Against the Highest and fierce with grasped Arms Clash'd on thir sounding Shields the din of war Hurling defiance toward the Vault of Heav'n There stood a Hill not farwhose griesly top Belch'd fire and rowling smoak the rest entire Shon with a glossie scurff undoubted sign That in his womb was hid metallic Ore The work of Sulphur Thither wing'd with speed A numerous Brigad hasten'd As when Bands Of Pioners with Spade and Pickax arm'd Forerun the Royal Camp to trench a Field Or cast a Rampart Mammon led them on Mammon the least erected Spirit that fell From heav'n for ev'n in heav'n his looks and thoughts Were always downward bent admiring more The riches of Heav'ns pavement trod'n Gold Then aught divine or holy else enjoy'd In vision beatific by him first Men also and by his suggestion taught Ransack'd the Center and with impious hands Rifl'd the bowels of thir mother Earth For Treasures better hid Soon had his crew Op'nd into the Hill a spacious wound And dig'd out ribs of Gold Let none admire That riches grow in Hell that soyle may best Deserve the precious bane And here let those VVho boast in mortal things and wond'ring tell Of Babel and the works of Memphian Kings Learn how thir greatest Monuments of Fame And Strength and Art are easily out-done By Spirits reprobate and in an hour VVhat in an age they with incessant toyle And hands innumerable scarce perform Nigh on the Plain in many cells prepar'd That underneath had veins of liquid fire Sluc'd from the Lake a second multitude VVith wond'rous Art found out the massie Ore Severing each kind and scum'd the Bullion dross A third as soon had form'd within the ground A various mould and from the boyling cells By strange conveyance fill'd each hollow nook As in an Organ from one blast of wind To many a row of Pipes the sound-board breaths Anon out of the earth a Fabrick huge Rose like an Exhalation with the sound Of Dulcet Symphonies and voices sweet Built like a Temple where Pilasters round VVere set and Doric pillars overlaid VVith Golden Architrave nor did there want Cornice or Freeze with bossy Sculptures grav'n The Roof was fretted Gold Not Babilon Nor great Alcairo such magnificence Equal'd in all thir glories to inshrine Belus or Serapis thir Gods or seat Thir Kings when Aegypt with Assyria strove In wealth and luxurie Th' ascending pile Stood fixt her stately highth and strait the dores Op'ning thir brazen foulds discover wide VVithin her ample spaces o're the smooth And level pavement from the arched roof Pendant by suttle Magic many a row Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed VVith Naphtha and Asphaltus yeilded light As from a sky The hasty multitude Admiring enter'd and the work some praise And some the Architect his hand was known In Heav'n by many a Towred structure high VVhere Scepter'd Angels held thir residence And sat as Princes whom the supreme King Exalted to such power and gave to rule Each in his Hierarchie the Orders bright Nor was his name unheard or unador'd In ancient Greece and in Ausonian land Men call'd him Mulciber and now he fell From Heav'n they fabl'd thrown by angry Jove Sheer o're the Chrystal Battlements from Morn To Noon he fell from Noon to dewy Eve A Summers day and with the setting Sun Dropt from the Zenith like a falling Star On Lemnos th' Aegaean Ile thus they relate Erring for he with this rebellious rout Fell long before nor aught avail'd him now To have built in Heav'n high Towrs nor did he scape By all his Engins but was headlong sent VVith his industrious crew to build in hell Mean while the winged Haralds by command Of Sovran power with awful Ceremony And Trumpets sound throughout the Host proclaim A solemn Councel forthwith to be held At Pandaemonium the high Capital Of Satan and his Peers thir summons call'd From every Band and squared Regiment By place or choice the worthiest they anon VVith hunderds and with thousands trooping came Attended all access was throng'd the Gates And Porches wide but chief the spacious Hall Though like a cover'd field where Champions bold Wont ride in arm'd and at the Soldans chair Defi'd the best of Panim chivalry To mortal combat or carreer with Lance Thick swarm'd both on the ground and in the air Brusht with the hiss of russling wings As Bees In spring time when the Sun with Taurus rides Pour forth thir populous youth about the Hive In clusters they among fresh dews and flowers Flie to and fro or on the smoothed Plank The suburb of thir Straw-built Cittadel New rub'd with Baum expatiate and confer Thir State affairs So thick the aerie crowd Swarm'd and were straitn'd till the Signal giv'n Behold a wonder they but now who seemd In bigness to surpass Earths Giant Sons Now less then smallest Dwarfs in narrow room Throng numberless like that Pigmean Race Beyond the Indian Mount or Faerie Elves Whose midnight Revels by a Forrest side Or Fountain some belated Peasant sees Or dreams he sees while over-head the Moon Sits Arbitress and neerer to the Earth Wheels her pale course they on thir mirth and dance Intent with jocond Music charm his ear At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms
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
To chase me hence erre not that so shall end The strife which thou call'st evil but wee style The strife of Glorie which we mean to win Or turn this Heav'n it self into the Hell Thou fablest here however to dwell free If not to reign mean while thy utmost force And join him nam'd Almighty to thy aid I flie not but have sought thee farr and nigh They ended parle and both add rest for fight Unspeakable for who though with the tongue Of Angels can relate or to what things Liken on Earth conspicuous that may lift Human imagination to such highth Of Godlike Power for likest Gods they seemd Stood they or mov'd in stature motion arms Fit to decide the Empire of great Heav'n Now wav'd thir fierie Swords and in the Aire Made horrid Circles two broad Suns thir Shields Blaz'd opposite while expedition stood In horror from each hand with speed retir'd Where erst was thickest fight th' Angelic throng And left large field unsafe within the wind Of such commotion such as to set forth Great things by small If Natures concord broke Among the Constellations warr were sprung Two Planets rushing from aspect maligne Of fiercest opposition in mid Skie Should combat and thir jarring Sphears confound Together both with next to Almightie Arme Uplifted imminent one stroke they aim'd That might determine and not need repeate As not of power at once nor odds appeerd In might or swift prevention but the sword Of Michael from the Armorie of God Was giv'n him temperd so that neither keen Nor solid might resist that edge it met The sword of Satan with steep force to smite Descending and in half cut sheere nor staid But with swift wheele reverse deep entring shar'd All his right side then Satan first knew pain And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd so sore The griding sword with discontinuous wound Pass'd through him but th' Ethereal substance clos'd Not long divisible and from the gash A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flow'd Sanguin such as Celestial Spirits may bleed And all his Armour staind ere while so bright Forthwith on all sides to his aide was run By Angels many and strong who interpos'd Defence while others bore him on thir Shields Back to his Chariot where it stood retir'd From off the files of warr there they him laid Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame To find himself not matchless and his pride Humbl'd by such rebuke so farr beneath His confidence to equal God in power Yet soon he heal'd for Spirits that live throughout Vital in every part not as frail man In Entrailes Heart or Head Liver or Reines Cannot but by annihilating die Nor in thir liquid texture mortal wound Receive no more then can the fluid Aire All Heart they live all Head all Eye all Eare All Intellect all Sense and as they please They Limb themselves and colour shape or size Assume as likes them best condense or rare Mean while in other parts like deeds deservd Memorial where the might of Gabriel fought And with fierce Ensignes pierc'd the deep array Of Moloc furious King who him defi'd And at his Chariot wheeles to drag him bound Threatn'd nor from the Holie One of Heav'n Refrein'd his tongue blasphemous but anon Down clov'n to the waste with shatterd Armes And uncouth paine fled bellowing On each wing Vriel and Raphael his vaunting foe Though huge and in a Rock of Diamond Armd Vanquish'd Adraenelec and Asmadai Two potent Thrones that to be less then Gods Disdain'd but meaner thoughts learnd in thir flight Mangl'd with gastly wounds through Plate and Maile Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy The Atheist crew but with redoubl'd blow Ariel and Arioc and the violence Of Ramiel scorcht and blasted overthrew I might relate of thousands and thir names Eternize here on Earth but those elect Angels contented with thir fame in Heav'n Seek not the praise of men the other sort In might though wondrous and in Acts of Warr Nor of Renown less eager yet by doome Canceld from Heav'n and sacred memorie Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell For strength from Truth divided and from Just Illaudable naught merits but dispraise And ignominie yet to glorie aspires Vain glorious and through infamie seeks fame Therfore Eternal silence be thir doome And now thir Mightiest quelld the battel swerv'd With many an inrode gor'd deformed rout Enter'd and foul disorder all the ground With shiverd armour strow'n and on a heap Chariot and Charioter lay overturnd And fierie foaming Steeds what stood recoyld Ore wearied through the faint Satanic Host Defensive scarse or with pale fear surpris'd Then first with fear surpris'd and sense of paine Fled ignominious to such evil brought By sin of disobedience till that hour Not liable to fear or flight or paine Far otherwise th' inviolable Saints In Cubic Phalanx firm advanc't entire Invulnerable impenitrably arm'd Such high advantages thir innocence Gave them above thir foes not to have sinnd Not to have disobei'd in fight they stood Unwearied unobnoxious to be pain'd By wound though from thir place by violence mov'd Now Night her course began and over Heav'n Inducing darkness grateful truce impos'd And silence on the odious dinn of Warr Under her Cloudie covert both retir'd Victor and Vanquisht on the foughten field Michael and his Angels prevalent Encamping plac'd in Guard thir Watches round Cherubic waving fires on th' other part Satan with his rebellious disappeerd Far in the dark dislodg'd and void of rest His Potentates to Councel call'd by night And in the midst thus undismai'd began O now in danger tri'd now known in Armes Not to be overpowerd Companions deare Found worthy not of Libertie alone Too mean pretense but what we more affect Honour Dominion Glorie and renowne Who have sustaind one day in doubtful fight And if one day why not Eternal dayes What Heavens Lord had powerfullest to send Against us from about his Throne and judg'd Sufficient to subdue us to his will But proves not so then fallible it seems Of future we may deem him though till now Omniscient thought True is less firmly arm'd Some disadvantage we endur'd and paine Till now not known but known as soon contemnd Since now we find this our Empyreal form Incapable of mortal injurie Imperishable and though peirc'd with wound Soon closing and by native vigour heal'd Of evil then so small as easie think The remedie perhaps more valid Armes Weapons more violent when next we meet May serve to better us and worse our foes Or equal what between us made the odds In Nature none if other hidden cause Left them Superiour while we can preserve Unhurt our mindes and understanding sound Due search and consultation will disclose He sat and in th' assembly next upstood Nisroc of Principalities the prime As one he stood escap't from cruel fight Sore toild his riv'n Armes to havoc hewn And cloudie in aspect thus answering spake Deliverer from new Lords leader to free
dance yet for a dance they seemd Somwhat extravagant and wilde perhaps For joy of offerd peace but I suppose If our proposals once again were heard We should compel them to a quick result To whom thus Belial in like gamesom mood Leader the terms we sent were terms of weight Of hard contents and full of force urg'd home Such as we might perceive amus'd them all And stumbl'd many who receives them right Had need from head to foot well understand Not understood this gift they have besides They shew us when our foes walk not upright So they among themselves in pleasant veine Stood scoffing highthn'd in thir thoughts beyond All doubt of Victorie eternal might To match with thir inventions they presum'd So easie and of his Thunder made a scorn And all his Host derided while they stood A while in trouble but they stood not long Rage prompted them at length and found them arms Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose Forthwith behold the excellence the power Which God hath in his mighty Angels plac'd Thir Arms away they threw and to the Hills For Earth hath this variety from Heav'n Of pleasure situate in Hill and Dale Light as the Lightning glimps they ran they flew From thir foundations loosning to and fro They pluckt the seated Hills with all thir load Rocks Waters Woods and by the shaggie tops Up lifting bore them in thir hands Amaze Be sure and terrour seis'd the rebel Host When coming towards them so dread they saw The bottom of the Mountains upward turn'd Till on those cursed Engins triple-row They saw them whelm'd and all thir confidence Under the weight of Mountains buried deep Themselves invaded next and on thir heads Main Promontories flung which in the Air Came shadowing and opprest whole Legions arm'd Thir armor help'd thir harm crush't in and bruis'd Into thir substance pent which wrought them pain Implacable and many a dolorous groan Long strugling underneath ere they could wind Out of such prison though Spirits of purest light Purest at first now gross by sinning grown The rest in imitation to like Armes Betook them and the neighbouring Hills uptore So Hills amid the Air encounterd Hills Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire That under ground they fought in dismal shade Infernal noise Warr seem'd a civil Game To this uproar horrid confusion heapt Upon confusion rose and now all Heav'n Had gon to wrack with ruin overspred Had not th' Almightie Father where he sits Shrin'd in his Sanctuarie of Heav'n secure Consulting on the sum of things foreseen This tumult and permitted all advis'd That his great purpose he might so fulfill To honour his Anointed Son aveng'd Upon his enemies and to declare All power on him transferr'd whence to his Son Th' Assessor of his Throne he thus began Effulgence of my Glorie Son belov'd Son in whose face invisible is beheld Visibly what by Deitie I am And in whose hand what by Decree I doe Second Omnipotence two dayes are past Two dayes as we compute the dayes of Heav'n Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame These disobedient sore hath been thir fight As likeliest was when two such Foes met arm'd For to themselves I left them and thou knowst Equal in their Creation they were form'd Save what sin hath impaird which yet hath wrought Insensibly for I suspend thir doom Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last Endless and no solution will be found Warr wearied hath perform'd what Warr can do And to disorder'd rage let loose the reines With Mountains as with Weapons arm'd which makes Wild work in Heav'n and dangerous to the maine Two dayes are therefore past the third is thine For thee I have ordain'd it and thus farr Have sufferd that the Glorie may be thine Of ending this great Warr since none but Thou Can end it Into thee such Vertue and Grace Immense I have transfus'd that all may know In Heav'n and Hell thy Power above compare And this perverse Commotion governd thus To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir Of all things to be Heir and to be King By Sacred Unction thy deserved right Go then thou Mightiest in thy Fathers might Ascend my Chariot guide the rapid Wheeles That shake Heav'ns basis bring forth all my Warr My Bow and Thunder my Almightie Arms Gird on and Sword upon thy puissant Thigh Pursue these sons of Darkness drive them out From all Heav'ns bounds into the utter Deep There let them learn as likes them to despise God and Messiah his anointed King He said and on his Son with Rayes direct Shon full he all his Father full exprest Ineffably into his face receiv'd And thus the filial Godhead answering spake O Father O Supream of heav'nly Thrones First Highest Holiest Best thou alwayes seekst To glorifie thy Son I alwayes thee As is most just this I my Glorie account My exaltation and my whole delight That thou in me well pleas'd declarst thy will Fulfill'd which to fulfil is all my bliss Scepter and Power thy giving I assume And gladlier shall resign when in the end Thou shalt be All in All and I in thee For ever and in mee all whom thou lov'st But whom thou hat'st I hate and can put on Thy terrors as I put thy mildness on Image of thee in all things and shall soon Armd with thy might rid heav'n of these rebell'd To thir prepar'd ill Mansion driven down To chains of darkness and th' undying Worm That from thy just obedience could revolt Whom to obey is happiness entire Then shall thy Saints unmixt and from th' impure Farr separate circling thy holy Mount Unfained Halleluiahs to thee sing Hymns of high praise and I among them chief So said he o're his Scepter bowing rose From the right hand of Glorie where he sate And the third sacred Morn began to shine Dawning through Heav'n forth rush'd with whirlwind sound The Chariot of Paternal Deitie Flashing thick flames Wheele within Wheele undrawn It self instinct with Spirit but convoyd By four Cherubic shapes four Faces each Had wondrous as with Starrs thir bodies all And Wings were set with Eyes with Eyes the wheels Of Beril and careering Fires between Over thir heads a chrystal Firmament Whereon a Saphir Throne inlaid with pure Amber and colours of the showrie Arch. Hee in Celestial Panoplie all armd Of radiant Vrim work divinely wrought Ascended at his right hand Victorie Sate Eagle-wing'd beside him hung his Bow And Quiver with three-bolted Thunder stor'd And from about him fierce Effusion rowld Of smoak and bickering flame and sparkles dire Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints He onward came farr off his coming shon And twentie thousand I thir number heard Chariots of God half on each hand were seen Hee on the wings of Cherub rode sublime On the Chrystallin Skie in Saphir Thron'd Illustrious farr and wide but by his own First seen them unexpected joy surpriz'd When the great Ensign of Messiah blaz'd Aloft
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
like Lightning down from Heav'n Prince of the Aire then rising from his Grave Spoild Principalities and Powers triumpht In open shew and with ascention bright Captivity led captive through the Aire The Realm 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 Children 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 Thorns 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 eat Bread Till thou return unto the ground for thou Out of the ground wast taken know thy Birth For dust thou art and shalt to dust returne So judg'd he Man both Judge and Saviour sent And thâ— 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 form 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 Avengers since no place like this Can fit his punishment or their revenge Methinks I feel new strength within me rise Wings growing and Dominion 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 amiry 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 return 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 suth 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 Quarry from so farr Then Both from out Hell Gates into the waste Wide Anarchie of Chaos damp and dark Flew divers and 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 joying to the Wall Immovable of this now fenceless world Forfeit to Death from hence a passage broad Smooth easie inoffensive down to Hell So if great thing to small may be compar'd Xerxes the Libertie of Greece to yoke From Susa his Momronian 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 out side 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 Children 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 guiltie what his wrauth Might suddenly inflict that past return'd By Night and listening where the hapless Paire Sate in thir sad discourse and various plaint Thence gatherd his own doom which understood Not instant but of future
and loud Trumpets sound Ordaine them Lawes part such as appertaine To civil Justice part religious Rites Of sacrifice informing them by types And shadows of that destind Seed to bruise The Serpent by what means he shall achieve Mankinds deliverance But the voice of God To mortal eare is dreadful they beseech That Moses might report to them his will And terror cease he grants what they besaught Instructed that to God is no access Without Mediator whose high Office now Moses in figure beares to introduce One greater of whose day he shall foretell And all the Prophets in thir Age the times Of great Messiah shall sing Thus Laws and Rites Establisht such delight hath God in Men Obedient to his will that he voutsafes Among them to set up his Tabernacle The holy One with mortal Men to dwell By his prescript a Sanctuary is fram'd Of Cedar overlaid with Gold therein An Ark and in the Ark his Testimony The Records of his Cov'nant over these A Mercie-seat of Gold between the wings Of two bright Cherubim before him burn Seaven Lamps as in a Zodiac representing The Heav'nly fires over the Tent a Cloud Shall rest by Day a fiery gleame by Night Save when they journie and at length they come Conducted by his Angel to the Land Promisd to Abraham and his Seed the rest Were long to tell how many Battels fought How many Kings destroyd and Kingdoms won Or how the Sun shall in mid Heav'n stand still A day entire and Nights due course adjourne Mans voice commanding Sun in Gibeon stand And thou Moon in the vale of Aialon Till Israel overcome so call the third From Abraham Son of Isaac and from him His whole descent who thus shall Canaan win Here Adam interpos'd O sent from Heav'n Enlightner of my darkness gracious things Thou hast reveald those chiefly which concerne Just Abraham and his Seed now first I finde Mine eyes true op'ning and my heart much eas'd Erwhile perplext with thoughts what would becom Of mee and all Mankind but now I see His day in whom all Nations shall be blest Favour unmerited by me who sought Forbidd'n knowledge by forbidd'n means This yet I apprehend not why to those Among whom God will deigne to dwell on Earth So many and so various Laws are giv'n So many Laws argue so many sins Among them how can God with such reside To whom thus Michael Doubt not but that sin Will reign among them as of thee begot And therefore was Law given them to evince Thir natural pravitie by stirring up Sin against Law to fight that when they see Law can discover sin but not remove Save by those shadowie expiations weak The bloud of Bulls and Goats they may conclude Some bloud more precious must be paid for Man Just for unjust that in such righteousness To them by Faith imputed they may finde Justification towards God and peace Of Conscience which the Law by Ceremonies Cannot appease nor Man the moral part Perform and not performing cannot live So law appears imperfet and but giv'n With purpose to resign them in full time Up to a better Cov'nant disciplin'd From shadowie Types to Truth from Flesh to Spirit From imposition of strict Laws to free Acceptance of large Grace from servil fear To filial works of Law to works of Faith And therefore shall not Moses though of God Highly belov'd being but the Minister Of Law his people into Canaan lead But Joshua whom the Gentiles Jesus call His Name and Office bearing who shall quell The adversarie Serpent and bring back Through the worlds wilderness long wanderd man Safe to eternal Paradise of rest Meanwhile they in thir earthly Canaan plac't Long time shall dwell and prosper but when sins National interrupt thir public peace Provoking God to raise them enemies From whom as oft he saves them penitent By Judges first then under Kings of whom The second both for pietie renownd And puissant deeds a promise shall receive Irrevocable that his Regal Throne For ever shall endure the like shall sing All Prophecie That of the Royal Stock Of David so I name this King shall rise A Son the Womans Seed to thee foretold Foretold to Abraham as in whom shall trust All Nations and to Kings foretold of Kings The last for of his Reign shall be no end But first a long succession must ensue And his next Son for Wealth and Wisdom fam'd The clouded Ark of God till then in Tents Wandring shall in a glorious Temple enshrine Such follow him as shall be registerd Part good part bad of bad the longer scrowle Whose foul Idolatries and other faults Heapt to the popular summe will so incense God as to leave them and expose thir Land Thir Citie his Temple and his holy Ark With all his sacred things a scorn and prey To that proud Citie whose high Walls thou saw'st Left in confusion Babylon thence call'd There in captivitie he lets them dwell The space of seventie years then brings them back Remembring mercie and his Cov'nant sworn To David stablisht as the dayes of Heav'n Returnd from Babylon by leave of Kings Thir Lords whom God dispos'd the house of God They first re-edifie and for a while In mean estate live moderate till grown In wealth and multitude factious they grow But first among the Priests dissension springs Men who attend the Altar and should most Endeavour Peace thir strife pollution brings Upon the Temple it self at last they seise The Scepter and regard not Davids Sons Then loose it to a stranger that the true Anointed King Messiah might be born Barr'd of his right yet at his Birth a Starr Unseen before in Heav'n proclaims him com And guides the Eastern Sages who enquire His place to offer Incense Myrrh and Gold His place of birth a solemn Angel tells To simple Shepherds keeping watch by night They gladly thither haste and by a Quire Of squadrond Angels hear his Carol sung A Virgin is his Mother but his Sire The Power of the most High he shall ascend The Throne hereditarie and bound his Reign With earths wide bounds his glory with the Heav'ns He ceas'd discerning Adam with such joy Surcharg'd as had like grief bin dew'd in tears Without the vent of words which these he breathd O Prophet of glad tidings finisher Of utmost hope now clear I understand What oft my steddiest thoughts have searcht in vain Why our great expectation should be call'd The seed of Woman Virgin Mother Haile High in the love of Heav'n yet from my Loynes Thou shalt proceed and from thy Womb the Son Of God most High So God with man unites Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise Expect with mortal paine say where and when Thir fight what stroke shall bruise the Victors heel To whom thus Michael Dream not of thir fight As of a Duel or the local wounds Of head or heel not therefore joynes the Son Manhood to God-head with more strength to foil Thy enemie
and refin'd New Heav'ns new Earth Ages of endless date Founded in righteousness and peace and love To bring forth fruits Joy and eternal Bliss He ended and thus Adam last reply'd How soon hath thy prediction Seer blest Measur'd this transient World the Race of time Till time stand fixt beyond is all abyss Eternitie whose end no eye can reach Greatly instructed I shall hence depart Greatly in peace of thought and have my fill Of knowledge what this Vessel can containe Beyond which was my folly to aspire Henceforth I learne that to obey is best And love with fear the onely God to walk As in his presence ever to observe His providence and on him sole depend Mercifull over all his works with good Still overcoming evil and by small Accomplishing great things by things deemd weak Subverting worldly strong and worldly wise By simply meek that suffering for Truths sake Is fortitude to highest victorie And to the faithful Death the Gate of Life Taught this by his example whom I now Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest To whom thus also th' Angel last repli'd This having learnt thou hast attaind the summe Of wisdome hope no higher though all the Starrs Thou knewst by name and all th' ethereal Powers All secrets of the deep all Natures works Or works of God in Heav'n Aire Earth or Sea And all the riches of this World enjoydst And all the rule one Empire onely add Deeds to thy knowledge answerable add Faith Add vertue Patience Temperance add Love By name to come call'd Charitie the soul Of all the rest then wilt thou not be loath To leave this Paradise but shalt possess A paradise within thee happier farr Let us descend now therefore from this top Of Speculation for the hour precise Exacts our parting hence and see the Guards By mee encampt on yonder Hill expect Thir motion at whose Front a flaming Sword In signal of remove waves fiercely round We may no longer stay go waken Eve Her also I with gentle Dreams have calm'd Portending good and all her spirits compos'd To meek submission thou at season fit Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard Chiefly what may concern her Faith to know The great deliverance by her Seed to come For by the Womans Seed on all Mankind That ye may live which will be many dayes Both in one Faith unanimous though sad With cause for evils past yet much more cheer'd With meditation on the happie end He ended and they both descend the Hill Descended Adam to the Bowre where Eve Lay sleeping ran before but found her wak't And thus with words not sad she him receav'd Whence thou returnst and whither wentst I know For God is also in sleep and Dreams advise Which he hath sent propitious some great good Presaging since with sorrow and hearts distress Wearied I fell asleep but now lead on In mee is no delay with thee to goe Is to stay here without thee here to stay Is to go hence unwilling thou to mee Art all things under Heav'n all places thou Who for my wilful crime art banisht hence This further consolation yet secure I carry hence though all by mee is lost Such favour I unworthie am voutsaft By mee the Promis'd Seed shall all restore So spake our Mother Eve and Adam heard Well pleas'd but answer'd not for now too nigh Th' Archangel stood and from the other Hill To thir sixt Station all in bright array The Cherubim descended on the ground Gliding meteorous as Ev'ning Mist Ris'n from a River o're the marish glides And gathers ground fast at the Labourers heel Homeward returning High in Front advanc't The brandisht Sword of God before them blaz'd Fierce as a Comet which with torrid heat And vapour as the Libyan Air adust Began to parch that temperate Clime whereat In either hand the hastning Angel caught Our lingring Parents and to th' Eastern Gate Led them direct and down the Cliff as fast To the subjected Plaine then disappeer'd They looking back all th' Eastern side beheld Of Paradise so late thir happie seat Wav'd over by that flaming Brand the Gate With dreadful Faces throng'd and fierie Armes Som natural tears they drop'd but wip'd them soon The World was all before them where to choose Thir place of rest and Providence thir guide They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow Through Eden took thir solitarie way THE END
Paradise Lost A POEM IN TWELVE BOOKS The Author JOHN MILTON The Second Edition Revised and Augmented by the same Author LONDON Printed by S. Simmons next door to the Golden Lion in Aldersgate-street 1674. IN Paradisum Amissam Summi Poetae JOHANNIS MILTONI QVilegis Amissam Paradisum grandia magni Carmina Miltoni quid nisi cuncta legis Res cunctas cunctarum primordia rerum Et fata fines continet iste liber Intima panduntur magni penetralia mundi Scribitur toto quicquid in Orbe latet Terraeque tractusque maris coelumque profundum Sulphureumque Erebi stammivomumque specus Quaeque colunt terras Portumque Tartara caeca Quaeque colunt summi lucida regna Poli. Et quodcunque ullis conclusum est finibus usquam Et sine fine Chaos sine fine Deus Et sine fine magis si quid magis est sine fine In Christo erga homines conciliatus amor Haec qui speraret quis crederet esse futurum Et tamen haec hodie terra Britanna legit O quantos in bella Duces quae protulit arma Quae canit quanta praelia dira tuba Coelestes acies atque in certamine Coelum Et quae Coelestes pugna deceret agros Quantus in aetheriis tollit se Lucifer armis Atque ipso graditur vix Michaele minor Quantis quam funestis concurritur iris Dum ferus hic stellas protegit ille rapit Dum vulsos Montes ceu Tela reciproca torquent Et non mortali desuper igne pluunt Stat dubius cui se parti concedat Olympus Et metuit pugnae non superesse suae At simul in clis Messiae insignia fulgent Et currus animes armaque digna Deo Horrendumque rotae strident soeva rotaruns Erumpunt torvis fulgura luminibus Et flammae vibrant vera tonitrua rauco Admistis flammis insonuere Polo Excidit attonitis mens omnis impetus omnis Et cassis dextris irrita Telacadunt Ad poenas fugiunt ceu foret Orcus asylum Infernis certant condere se tenebris Cedite Romani Scriptores cedite Graii Et quos fama recens vel celebravit anus Haec quicunque leget tantum cecinesse putabit Maeonidem ranas Virgilium culices S. B. M. D. ON Paradise Lost WHen I beheld the Poet blind yet bold In slender Book his vast Design unfold Messiah Crown'd Gods Reconcil'd Decree Rebelling Angels the Forbidden Tree Heav'n Hell Earth Chaos All the Argument Held me a while misdoubting his Intent That he would ruine for I saw him strong The sacred Truths to Fable and old Song So Sampson groap'd the Temples Posts in spight The World o'rewhelming to revenge his sight Yet as I read soon growing less severe I lik'd his Project the success did fear Through that wide Field how he his way should find O're which lame Faith leads Understanding blind Lest he perplex'd the things he would explain And what was easie he should render vain Or if a Work so infinite he spann'd Jealous I was that some less skilful hand Such as disquiet always what is well And by ill imitating would excell Might hence presume the whole Creations day To change in Scenes and show it in a Play Pardon me Mighty Poet nor despise My causeless yet not impious surmise But I am now convinc'd and none will dare Within thy Labours to pretend a share Thou hast not miss'd one thought that could be fit And all that was improper dost omit So that no room is here for Writers left But to detect their Ignorance or Theft That Majesty which through thy Work doth Reign Draws the Devout deterring the Profane And things divine thou treatst of in such state As them preserves and thee inviolate At once delight and horrour on us seise Thou singst with so much gravity and ease And above humane flight dost soar aloft With Plume so strong so equal and so soft The Bird nam'd from that Paradise you sing So never flaggs but always keeps on Wing Where couldst thou words of such a compass find Whence furnish such a vast expence of mind Just Heav'n thee like Tiresias to requite Rewards with Prophesie thy loss of sight Well mightst thou scorn thy Readers to allure With tinkling Rhime of thy own sense secure While the Town-Bayes writes all the while and spells And like a Pack-horse tires without his Bells Their Fancies like our Bushy-points appear The Poets tag them we for fashion wear I too transported by the Mode offend And while I meant to Praise thee must Commend Thy Verse created like thy Theme sublime In Number Weight and Measure needs not Rhime A. M. THE VERSE THE Measure is English Heroic Verse without Rime as that of Homer in Greek and of Virgil in Latin Rime being no necessary Adjunct or true Ornament of Poem or good Verse in longer Works especially but the Invention of a barbarous Age to set off wretched matter and lame Meeter grac't indeed since by the use of some famous modern Poets carried away by Custom but much to thir own vexation hindrance and constraint to express many things otherwise and for the most part worse then else they would have exprest them Not without cause therefore some both Italian and Spanish Poets of prime note have rejected Rime both in longer and shorter Works as have also long since our best English Tragedies as a thing of it self to all judicious ears triveal and of no true musical delight which consists onely in apt Numbers fit quantity of Syllables and the sense variously drawn out from one Verse into another not in the jingling sound of like endings a fault avoyded by the learned Ancients both in Poetry and all good Oratory This neglect then of Rime so little is to be taken for a defect though it may seem so perhaps to vulgar Readers that it rather is to be esteem'd an example set the first in English of ancient liberty recover'd to Heroic Poem from the troublesom and modern bondage of Rimeing Paradise Lost BOOK I. THE ARGUMENT This first Book proposes first in brief the whole Subject Mans disobedience and the loss thereupon of Paradise wherein he was plac't Then touches the prime cause of his fall the Serpent or rather Satan in the Serpent who revolting from God and drawing to his side many Legions of Angels was by the command of God driven out of Heaven with all his Crew into the great Deep Which action past over the Poem hasts into the midst of things presenting Satan with his Angels now fallen into Hell describ'd here not in the Center for Heaven and Earth may be suppos'd as yet not made certainly not yet accurst but in a place of utter darkness fitliest call'd Chaos Here Satan with his Angels lying on the burning Lake thunder-struck and astonisht after a certain space recovers as from confusion calls up him who next in Order and Dignity lay by him they confer of thir miserable fall Satan
first thir lamentable lot and found No rest through many a dark and drearie Vaile They pass'd and many a Region dolorous Ore many a Frozen many a fierie Alpe Rocks Caves Lakes Fens Bogs Dens and shades of deaths A Universe of death which God by curse Created evil for evil only good Where all life dies death lives and Nature breeds Perverse all monstrous all prodigious things Abominable inutterable and worse Than Fables yet have feign'd or fear conceiv'd Gorgons and Hydra's and Chimera's dire Mean while the Adversary of God and Man Satan with thoughts inflam'd of highest design Puts on swift wings and towards the Gates of Hell Explores his solitary flight som times He scours the right hand coast som times the left Now shaves with level wing the Deep then soares Up to the fiery Concave touring high As when farr off at Sea a Fleet descri'd Hangs in the Clouds by Aequinoctial Winds Close sailing from Bengala or the Iles Of Ternate and Tidore whence Merchants bring Thir spicie Drugs they on the Trading Flood Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape Ply stemming nightly toward the Pole So seem'd Farr off the flying Fiend at last appeer Hell bounds high reaching to the horrid Roof And thrice threefold the Gates three folds were Brass Three Iron three of Adamantine Rock Impenetrable impal'd with circling fire Yet unconsum'd Before the Gates there sat On either side a formidable shape The one seem'd Woman to the waste and fair But ended foul in many a scaly fould Voluminous and vast a Serpent arm'd With mortal sting about her middle round A cry of Hell Hounds never ceasing bark'd With wide Cerberian mouths full loud and rung A hideous Peal yet when they list would creep If aught disturb'd thir noyse into her woomb And kennel there yet there still bark'd and howl'd Within unseen Farr less abhorrd than these Vex'd Scylla bathing in the Sea that parts Calabria from the hoarce Trinacrian shore Nor uglier follow the Night-Hag when call'd In secret riding through the Air she comes Lur'd with the smell of infant blood to dance With Lapland Witches while the labouring Moon Eclipses at thir charms The other shape If shape it might be call'd that shape had none Distinguishable in member joynt or limb Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd For each seem'd either black it stood as Night Fierce as ten Furies terrible as Hell And shook a dreadful Dart what seem'd his head The likeness of a Kingly Crown had on Satan was now at hand and from his seat The Monster moving onward came as fast With horrid strides Hell trembled as he strode Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admir'd Admir'd not fear'd God and his Son except Created thing naught valu'd he nor shun'd And with disdainful look thus first began Whence and what art thou execrable shape That dar'st though grim and terrible advance Thy miscreated Front athwart my way To yonder Gates through them I mean to pass That be assur'd without leave askt of thee Retire or taste thy folly and learn by proof Hell-born not to contend with Spirits of Heav'n To whom the Goblin full of wrauth reply'd Art thou that Traitor Angel art thou hee Who first broke peace in Heav'n and Faith till then Unbrok'n and in proud rebellious Arms Drew after him the third part of Heav'ns Sons Conjur'd against the highest for which both Thou And they outcast from God are here condemn'd To waste Eternal dayes in woe and pain And reck'n'st thou thy self with Spirits of Heav'n Hell-doom'd and breath'st defiance here and scorn Where I reign King and to enrage thee more Thy King and Lord Back to thy punishment False fugitive and to thy speed add wings Least with a whip of Scorpions I pursue Thy lingring or with one stroke of this Dart Strange horror seise thee and pangs unfelt before So spake the grieslie terrour and in shape So speaking and so threatning grew tenfold More dreadful and deform on th' other side Incenst with indignation Satan stood Unterrifi'd and like a Comet burn'd That fires the length of Ophiucus huge In th' Artick Sky and from his horrid hair Shakes Pestilence and Warr. Each at the Head Level d his deadly aime thir fatall hands No second stroke intend and such a frown Each cast at th' other as when two black Clouds With Heav'ns Artillery fraught come rattling on Over the Caspian then stand front to front Hov'ring a space till Winds the signal blow To joyn thir dark Encounter in mid air So frownd the mighty Combatants that Hell Grew darker at thir frown so matcht they stood For never but once more was either like To meet so great a foe and now great deeds Had been achiev'd whereof all Hell had rung Had not the Snakie Sorceress that sat Fast by Hell Gate and kept the fatal Key Ris'n and with hideous outcry rush'd between O Father what intends thy hand she cry'd Against thy only Son What fury O Son Possesses thee to bend that mortal Dart Against thy Fathers head and know'st for whom For him who sits above and laughs the while At thee ordain'd his drudge to execute What e're his wrath which he calls Justice bids His wrath which one day will destroy ye both She spake and at her words the hellish Pest Forbore then these to her Satan return'd So strange thy outcry and thy words so strange Thou interposest that my sudden hand Prevented spares to tell thee yet by deeds What it intends till first I know of thee What thing thou art thus double-form'd and why In this infernal Vaile first met thou call'st Me Father and that Fantasm call'st my Son I know thee not nor ever saw till now Sight more detestable then him and thee T' whom thus the Portress of Hell Gate reply'd Hall thou forgot me then and do I seem Now in thine eye so foul once deemd so fair In Heav'n when at th' Assembly and in sight Of all the Seraphim with thee combin'd In bold conspiracy against Heav'ns King All on a sudden miserable pain Surpris'd thee dim thine eyes and dizzie swumm In darkness while thy head flames thick and fast Threw forth till on the left side op'ning wide Likest to thee in shape and count'nance bright Then shining heav'nly fair a Goddess arm'd Out of thy head I sprung amazement seis'd All th' Host of Heav'n back they recoild affraid At first and call'd me Sin and for a Sign Portentous held me but familiar grown I pleas'd and with attractive graces won The most averse thee chiefly who full oft Thy self in me thy perfect image viewing Becam'st enamour'd and such joy thou took'st With me in secret that my womb conceiv'd A growing burden Mean while VVarr arose And fields were fought in Heav'n wherein remaind For what could else to our Almighty Toe Cleer Victory to our part loss and rout Through all the Empyrean down they fell Driv'n headlong from the Pitch of Heaven down Into this Deep
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
Angel and pretending a zealous desire to behold the new Creation and Man whom God had plac't here inquires of him the place of his habitation and is directed alights first on Mount Niphates HAil holy Light of spring of Heav'n first-born Or of th' Eternal Coeternal beam May I express thee unblam'd since God is light And never but in unapproached light Dwelt from Eternitie dwelt then in thee Bright effluence of bright essence increate Or hear'st thou rather pure Ethereal stream Whose Fountain who shall tell before the Sun Before the Heavens thou wert and at the voice Of God as with a Mantle didst invest The rising world of waters dark and deep Won from the void and formless infinite Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing Escap't the Stygian Pool though long detain'd In that obscure so journ while in my flight Through utter and through middle darkness borne With other notes then to th' Orphean Lyre I sung of Chaos and Eternal Night Taught by the heav'nly Muse to venture down The dark descent and up to reascend Though hard and rare thee I revisit safe And feel thy sovran vital Lamp but thou Revisit'st not these eyes that rowle in vain To find thy piercing ray and find no dawn So thick a drop serene hath quencht thir Orbs Or dim suffusion veild Yet not the more Cease I to wander where the Muses haunt Cleer Spring or shadie Grove or Sunnie Hill Smit with the love of sacred Song but chief Thee Sion and the flowrie Brooks beneath That wash thy hallowd feet and warbling flow Nightly I visit nor somtimes forget Those other two equal'd with me in Fate So were I equal'd with them in renown Blind Thamyris and blind Maeonides And Tiresias and Phineus Prophets old Then feed on thoughts that voluntarie move Harmonious numbers as the wakeful Bird Sings darkling and in shadiest Covert hid Tunes her nocturnal Note Thus with the Year Seasons return but not to me returns Day or the sweet approach of Ev'n or Morn Or sight of vernal bloom or Summers Rose Or flocks or heards or human face divine But cloud in stead and ever-during dark Surrounds me from the chearful wayes of men Cut off and for the Book of knowledg fair Presented with a Universal blanc Of Natures works to mee expung'd and ras'd And wisdome at one entrance quite shut out So much the rather thou Celestial light Shine inward and the mind through all her powers Irradiate there plane eyes all mist from thence Purge and disperse that I may see and tell Of things invisible to mortal sight Now had the Almighty Father from above From the pure Empyrean where he sits High Thron'd above all highth bent down his eye His own works and their works at once to view About him all the Sanctities of Heaven Stood thick as Starrs and from his sight receiv'd Beatitude past utterance on his right The radiant image of his Glory sat His onely Son On Earth he first beheld Our two first Parents yet the onely two Of mankind in the happie Garden plac't Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love Uninterrupted joy unrivald love In blissful solitude he then survey'd Hell and the Gulf between and Satan there Coasting the wall of Heav'n on this side Night In the dun Air sublime and ready now To stoop with wearied wings and willing feet On the bare outside of this World that seem'd Firm land imbosom'd without Firmament Uncertain which in Ocean or in Air. Him God beholding from his prospect high Wherein past present future he beholds Thus to his onely Son foreseeing spake Onely begotten Son seest thou what rage Transports our adversarie whom no bounds Prescrib'd no barrs of Hell nor all the chains Heapt on him there nor yet the main Abyss Wide interrupt can hold so bent he seems On desparate reveng that shall redound Upon his own rebellious head And now Through all restraint broke loose he wings his way Not farr off Heav'n in the Precincts of light Directly towards the new created World And Man there plac't with purpose to assay If him by force he can destroy or worse By some false guile pervert and shall pervert For man will hark'n to his glozing lyes And easily transgress the sole Command Sole pledge of his obedience So will fall Hee and his faithless Progenie whose fault Whose but his own ingrate he had of mee All he could have I made him just and right Sufficient to have stood though free to fall Such I created all th' Ethereal Powers And Spirits both them who stood and them who faild Freely they stood who stood and fell who fell Not free what proof could they have givn sincere Of true allegiance constant Faith or Love Where onely what they needs must do appeard Not what they would what praise could they receive What pleasure I from such obedience paid When Will and Reason Reason also is choice Useless and vain of freedom both despoild Made passive both had servd necessitie Not mee They therefore as to right belongd So were created nor can justly accuse Thir maker or thir making or thir Fate As if predestination over-rul'd Thir will dispos'd by absolute Decree Or high foreknowledge they themselves decreed Thir own revolt not I if I foreknew Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault Which had no less prov'd certain unforeknown So without least impulse or shadow of Fate Or aught by me immutablie foreseen They trespass Authors to themselves in all Both what they judge and what they choose for so I formd them free and free they must remain Till they enthrall themselves I else must change Thir nature and revoke the high Decree Unchangeable Eternal which ordain'd Thir freedom they themselves ordain'd thir fall The first sort by thir own suggestion fell Self-tempted self-deprav'd Man falls deceiv'd By the other first Man therefore shall find grace The other none in Mercy and Justice both Through Heav'n and Earth so shall my glorie excel But Mercy first and last shall brightest shine Thus while God spake ambrosial fragrance fill'd All Heav'n and in the blessed Spirits elect Sense of new joy ineffable diffus'd Beyond compare the Son of God was seen Most glorious in him all his Father shon Substantially express'd and in his face Divine compassion visibly appeerd Love without end and without measure Grace Which uttering thus he to his Father spake O Father gracious was that word which clos'd Thy sovran sentence that Man should find grace For which both Heav'n and Earth shall high extoll Thy praises with th' innumerable sound Of Hymns and sacred Songs wherewith thy Throne Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest For should Man finally be lost should Man Thy creature late so lov'd thy youngest Son Fall circumvented thus by fraud though joynd With his own folly that be from thee farr That farr be from thee Father who art Judg Of all things made and judgest onely right Or shall the Adversarie thus obtain His end
Man Anointed universal King all Power I give thee reign for ever and assume Thy Merits under thee as Head Supream Thrones Princedoms Powers Dominions I reduce All knees to thee shall bow of them that bide In Heaven or Earth or under Earth in Hell When thou attended gloriously from Heav'n Shalt in the Sky appeer and from thee send The summoning Arch-Angels to proclaime Thy dread Tribunal forthwith from all Windes The living and forthwith the cited dead Of all past Ages to the general Doom Shall hast'n such a peal shall rouse thir sleep Then all thy Saints assembl'd thou shalt judge Bad men and Angels they arraignd shall sink Beneath thy Sentence Hell her numbers full Thenceforth shall be for ever shut Mean while The World shall burn and from her ashes spring New Heav'n and Earth wherein the just shall dwell And after all thir tribulations long See golden days fruitful of golden deeds With Joy and Love triumphing and fair Truth Then thou thy regal Scepter shalt lay by For regal Scepter then no more shall need God shall be All in All. But all ye Gods Adore him who to compass all this dies Adore the Son and honour him as mee No sooner had th' Almighty ceas't but all The multitude of Angels with a shout Loud as from numbers without number sweet As from blest voices uttering joy Heav'n rung With Jubilee and loud Hosanna's filld Th' eternal Regions lowly reverent Towards either Throne they bow and to the ground With solemn adoration down they cast Thir Crowns inwove with Amarant and Gold Immortal Amarant a Flour which once In Paradise fast by the Tree of Life Began to bloom but soon for mans offence To Heav'n remov'd where first it grew there grows And flours aloft shading the Fount of Life And where the river of Bliss through midst of Heavn Rowls o're Elisian Flours her Amber stream With these that never fade the Spirits elect Bind thir resplendent locks inwreath'd with beams Now in loose Garlands thick thrown off the bright Pavement that like a Sea of Jasper shon Impurpl'd with Celestial Roses smil'd Then Crown'd again thir gold'n Harps they took Harps ever tun'd that glittering by thir side Like Quivers hung and with Praeamble sweet Of charming symphonie they introduce Thir sacred Song and waken raptures high No voice exempt no voice but well could joine Melodious part such concord is in Heav'n Thee Father first they sung Omnipotent Immutable Immortal Infinite Eternal King thee Author of all being Fountain of Light thy self invisible Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st Thron'd inaccessible but when thou shad'st The full blaze of thy beams and through a cloud Drawn round about thee like a radiant Shrine Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appeer Yet dazle Heav'n that brightest Seraphim Approach not but with both wings veil thir eyes Thee next they sang of all Creation first Begotten Son Divine Similitude In whose conspicuous count'nance without cloud Made visible th' Almighty Father shines Whom else no Creature can behold on thee Impresst the effulgence of his Glorie abides Transfus'd on thee his ample Spirit rests Hee Heav'n of Heavens and all the Powers therein By thee created and by thee threw down Th' aspiring Dominations thou that day Thy Fathers dreadful Thunder didst not spare Nor stop thy flaming Chariot wheels that shook Heav'ns everlasting Frame while o're the necks Thou drov'st of warring Angels disarraid Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaime Thee only extoll'd Son of thy Fathers might To execute fierce vengeance on his foes Not so on Man him through their malice fall'n Father of Mercie and Grace thou didst not doome So strictly but much more to pitie encline No sooner did thy dear and onely Son Perceive thee purpos'd not to doom frail Man So strictly but much more to pitie enclin'd He to appease thy wrauth and end the strife Of Mercy and Justice in thy face discern'd Regardless of the Bliss wherein hee sat Second to thee offerd himself to die For mans offence O unexampl'd love Love no where to be found less then Divine Hail Son of God Saviour of Men thy Name Shall be the copious matter of my Song Henceforth and never shall my Harp thy praise Forget nor from thy Fathers praise disjoine Thus they in Heav'n above the starry Sphear Thir happie hours in joy and hymning spent Mean while upon the firm opacous Globe Of this round World whose first convex divides The luminous inferior Orbs enclos'd From Chaos and th' inroad of Darkness old Satan alighted walks a Globe farr off It seem'd now seems a boundless Continent Dark waste and wild under the frown of Night Starless expos'd and ever-threatning storms Of Chaos blustring round inclement skie Save on that side which from the wall of Heav'n Though distant farr som small reflection gaines Of glimmering air less vext with tempest loud Here walk'd the Fiend at large in spacious field As when a Vultur on Imaus bred Whose snowie ridge the roving Tartar bounds Dislodging from a Region scarce of prey To gorge the flesh of Lambs or yeanling Kids Oâ— Hills where Flocks are fed flies toward the Springs Of Ganges or Hydaspes Indian streams But in his way lights on the barren Plaines Of Sericana where Chineses drive With Sails and Wind thir canie Waggons light So on this windie Sea of Land the Fiend Walk'd up and down alone bent on his prey Alone for other Creature in this place Living or liveless to be found was none None yet but store hereafter from the earth Up hither like Aereal vapours flew Of all things transitorie and vain when Sin With vanity had filld the works of men Both all things vain and all who in vain things Built thir fond hopes of Glorie or lasting fame Or happiness in this or th' other life All who have thir reward on Earth the fruits Of painful Superstition and blind Zeal Naught seeking but the praise of men here find Fit retribution emptie as thir deeds All th' unaccompisht works of Natures hand Abortive monstrous or unkindly mixt Dissolvd on Earth fleet hither and in vain Till final dissolution wander here Not in the neighbouring Moon as some have dreamd Those argent Fields more likely habitants Translated Saints or middle Spirits hold Betwixt th' Angelical and Human kinde Hither of ill-joynd Sons and Daughters born First from the ancient World those Giants came With many a vain exploit though then renownd The builders next of Babel on the Plain Of Sennaar and still with vain designe New Babels had they wherewithall would build Others came single he who to be deemd A God leap'd fondly into Aetna flames Empedocles and hee who to enjoy Plito's Elysium leap'd into the Sea Cleombrotus and many more too long Embryo's and Idiots Eremits and Friers White Black and Grey with all thir trumperie Here Pilgrims roam that stray'd so farr to seek In Golgotha him dead who lives in Heav'n And they who to be sure
of Paradise Dying put on the weeds of Dominic Or in Franciscan think to pass disguis'd They pass the Planets seven and pass the fixt And that Crystalline Sphear whose ballance weighs The Trepidation talkt and that first mov'd And now Saint Peter at Heav'ns Wicket seems To wait them with his Keys and now at foot Of Heav'ns ascent they lift thir Feet when loe A violent cross wind from either Coast Blows them transverse ten thousand Leagues awry Into the devious Air then might ye see Cowles Hoods and Habits with thir wearers tost And flutterd 〈◊〉 Raggs then Reliques Beads Indulgences Dispenses Pardons Bulls The sport of Winds all these upwhirld aloft Fly o're the backside of the World farr off Into a Limbo large and broad since calld The Paradise of Fools to few unknown Long after now unpeopl'd and uncrod All this dark Globe the Fiend found as he pass'd And long he wanderd till at last a gleame Of dawning light turnd thither-ward in haste His travell'd steps farr distant he descries Ascending by degrees magnificent Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high At top whereof but farr more rich appeerd The work as of a Kingly Palace Gate With Frontispice of Diamond and Gold Imbellisht thick with sparkling orient Gemmes The Portal shon inimitable on Earth By Model or by shading Pencil drawn The Stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw Angels ascending and descending bands Of Guardians bright when he from Esau fled To Padan-Aram in the field of Luz Dreaming by night under the open Skie And waking cri'd This is the Gate of Heav'n Each Stair mysteriously was meant nor stood There alwayes but drawn up to Heav'n somtimes Viewless and underneath a bright Sea flow'd Of Jasper or of liquid Pearle whereon Who after came from Earth sayling arriv'd Wafted by Angels or flew o're the Lake Rapt in a Chariot drawn by fiery Steeds The Stairs were then let down whether to dare The Fiend by easie ascent or aggravate His sad exclusion from the dores of 〈◊〉 Direct against which op'nd from beneath Just o're the blissful seat of Paradise A passage down to th' Earth a passage wide Wider by farr then that of after-times Over Mount Sion and though that were large Over the Promis'd Land to God so dear By which to visit oft those happy Tribes On high behests his Angels to and fro Pass'd frequent and his eye with choice regard From Paneas the fount of Jordans flood To Beersaba where the Holy Land Borders on Aegypt and the Arabian shoare So wide the op'ning seemd where bounds were set To darkness such as bound the Ocean wave Satan from hence now on the lower stair That scal'd by steps of Gold to Heav'n Gate Looks down with wonder at the sudden view Of all this World at once As when a Scout Through dark and desart wayes with peril gone All night at last by break of chearful dawne Obtains the brow of some high-climbing Hill Which to his eye discovers unaware The goodly prospect of some forein land First-seen or some renown'd Metropolis With glistering Spires and Pinnacles adornd Which now the Rising Sun guilds with his beams Such wonder seis'd though after Heaven seen The Spirit maligne but much more envy seis'd At sight of all this World beheld so faire Round he surveys and well might where he stood So high above the circling Canopie Of Nights extended shade from Eastern Point Of Libra to the fleecie Starr that bears Andromeda farr off Atlantic Seas Beyond th' Horizon then from Pole to Pole He views in bredth and without longer pause Down right into the Worlds first Region throws His flight precipitant and windes with ease Through the pure marble Air his oblique way Amongst innumerable Starrs that shon Stars distant but nigh hand seemd other Worlds Or other Worlds they seemd or happy Iles Like those Hesperian Gardens fam'd of old Fortunate Fields and Groves and flourie Vales Thrice happy Iles but who dwelt happy there He stayd not to enquire above them all The golden Sun in splendor likest Heaven Allur'd his eye Thither his course he bends Through the calm Firmament but up or downe By center or eccentric hard to tell Or Longitude where the great Luminarie A looff the vulgar Constellations thick That from his Lordly eye keep distance due Dispenses Light from farr they as they move Thir Starry dance in numbers that compute Days months years towards his all-chearing Lamp Turn swift thir various motions or are turnd By his Magnetic beam that gently warms The Univers and to each inward part With gentle penetration though unseen Shoots invisible venue even to the deep So wondrously was set his Station bright There lands the Fiend a spot like which perhaps Astronomer in the Sun 's lucent Orbe Through his glaz'd Optic Tube yet never saw The place he found beyond expression bright Compar'd with aught on Earth Medal or Stone Not all parts like but all alike informd With radiant light as glowing Iron with fire If mettal part seemd Gold part Silver cleer If stone Carbuncle most or Chrysolite Rubie or Topaz to the Twelve that shon In Aarons Brest-plate and a stone besides Imagind rather oft then elsewhere seen That stone or like to that which here below Philosophers in vain so long have sought In vain though by thir powerful Art they binde Volatil Hermes and call up unbound In various shape old Proteus from the Sea Draind through a Limbec to his Native forme What wonder then if fields and regions here Breathe forth Elixir pure and Rivers run Potable Gold when with one vertuous touch Th' Arch-chimic Sun so farr from us remote Produces with Terrestrial Humor mixt Here in the dark so many precious things Of colour glorious and effect so rare Here matter new to gaze the Devil met Undazl'd farr and wide his eye commands For sight no obstacle found here nor shade But all Sun-shine as when his Beams at Noon Culminate from th' Aequator as they now Shot upward still direct whence no way round Shadow from body opaque can fall and the Aire No where so cleer sharp'nd his visual ray To objects distant farr whereby he soon Saw within kenn a glorious Angel stand The same whom John saw also in the Sun His back was turnd but not his brightness hid Of beaming sunnie Raies a golden tiar Circl'd his Head nor less his Locks behind Illustrious on his Shoulders fledge with wings Lay waving round on som great charge imploy'd He seemd of fixt in cogitation deep Glad was the Spirit impure as now in hope To find who might direct his wandring flight To Paradise the happie seat of Man His journies end and our beginning woe But first he casts to change his proper shape Which else might work him danger or delay And now a stripling Cherube he appeers Not of the prime yet such as in his face Youth smil'd Celestial and to every Limb Sutable grace diffus'd so well he feignd Under a
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
own likeness up he starts Discoverd and surpriz'd As when a spark Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder laid Fit for the Tun som Magazin to store Against a rumord VVarr the Smuttie graine VVith sudden blaze diffus'd inflames the Aire So started up in his own shape the Fiend Back stept those two faire Angels half amaz'd So sudden to behold the grieflie King Yet thus unmovd with fear accost him soon Which of those rebell Spirits adjudg'd to Hell Com'st thou escap'd thy prison and transform'd VVhy satst thou like an enemie in waite Here watching at the head of these that sleep Know ye not then said Satan fill'd with scorn Know ye not mee ye knew me once no mate For you there sitting where ye durst not soare Not to know mee argues your selves unknown The lowest of your throng or if ye know Why ask ye and superfluous begin Your message like to end as much in vain To whom thus Zephon answering scorn with scorn Think not revolted Spirit thy shape the same Or undiminisht brightness to be known As when thou stoodst in Heav'n upright and pure That Glorie then when thou no more wast good Departed from thee and thou resembl'st now Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foule But come for thou besure shalt give account To him who sent us whose charge is to keep This place inviolable and these from harm So spake the Cherube and his grave rebuke Severe in youthful beautie added grace Invincible abasht the Devil stood And felt how awful goodness is and saw Vertue in her shape how lovly saw and pin'd His loss but chiefly to find here observd His lustre visibly impar'd yet seemd Undaunted If I must contend said he Best with the best the Sender not the sent Or all at once more glorie will be wonn Or less be lost Thy fear said Zephon bold VVill save us trial what the least can doe Single against thee wicked and thence weak The Fiend repli'd not overcome with rage But like a proud Steed reind went hautie on Chaumping his iron curb to strive or flie He held it vain awe from above had quelld His heart not else dismai'd Now drew they nigh The western Point where those half-rounding guards Just met and closing stood in squadron joind Awaiting next command To whom thir Chief Gabriel from the Front thus calld aloud O friends I hear the tread of nimble feet Hasting this way and now by glimps discerne Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade And with them comes a third of Regal port But faded splendor wan who by his gate And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell Not likely to part hence without contest Stand firm for in his look defiance lours He scarce had ended when those two approachd And brief related whom they brought where found How busied in what form and posture coucht To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake Why hast thou Satan broke the bounds prescrib'd To thy transgressions and disturbd the charge Of others who approve not to transgress By thy example but have power and right To question thy bold entrance on this place Imploi'd it seems to violate sleep and those Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow Gabriel thou hadst in Heav'n th' esteem of wise And such I held thee but this question askt Puts me in doubt Lives ther who loves his pain Who would not finding way break loose from Hell Though thither doomd Thou wouldst thy self no doubt And boldly venture to whatever plate Farthest from pain where thou mightst hope to change Torment with ease and soonest recompence Dole with delight which in this place I sought To thee no reason who knowst only good But evil hast not tri'd and wilt object His will who bound us let him surer barr His Iron Gates if he intends our stay In that dark durance thus much what was askt The rest is true they found me where they say But that implies not violence or harme Thus he in scorn The warlike Angel mov'd Disdainfully half smiling thus repli'd O loss of one in Heav'n to judge of wise Since Satan fell whom follie overthrew And now returns him from his prison scap't Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise Or not who ask what boldness brought him hither Unlicenc't from his bounds in Hell prescrib'd So wise he judges it to fly from pain However and to scape his punishment So judge thou still presumptuous till the wrauth Which thou incurr'st by flying meet thy flight Seavenfold and scourge that wisdom back to Hell Which taught thee yet no better that no pain Can equal anger infinite provok't But wherefore thou alone wherefore with thee Came not all Hell broke loose is pain to them Less pain less to be fled or thou then they Less hardie to endure courageous Chief The first in flight from pain had'st thou alledg'd To thy deserted host this cause of flight Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive To which the Fiend thus answerd frowning stern Not that I less endure or shrink from pain Insulting Angel well thou knowst I stood Thy fiercest when in Battel to thy aide Thy blasting volied Thunder made all speed And seconded thy else not dreaded Spear But still thy words at random as before Argue thy inexperience what behooves From hard assaies and ill successes past A faithful Leader not to hazard all Through wayes of danger by himself untri'd I therefore I alone first undertook To wing the desolate Abyss and spie This new created World whereof in Hell Fame is not silent here in hope to find Better abode and my afflicted Powers To settle here on Earth or in mid Aire Though for possession put to try once more What thou and thy gay Legions dare against Whose easier business were to serve thir Lord High up in Heav'n with songs to hymne his Throne And practis'd distances to cringe not fight To whom the warriour Angel soon repli'd To say and strait unsay pretending first Wise to flie pain professing next the Spie Argues no Leader but a lyar trac't Satan and couldst thou faithful add O name O sacred name of faithfulness profan'd Faithful to whom to thy rebellious crew Armie of Fiends fit body to fit head Was this your discipline and faith ingag'd Your military obedience to dissolve Allegeance to th' acknowldg'd Power supream And thou sly hypocrite who now wouldst seem Patron of liberty who more then thou Once fawn'd and cring'd and servilly ador'd Heav'ns awful Monarch wherefore but in hope To dispossess him and thy self to reigne But mark what I arreede thee now avant Flie thither whence thou fledst if from this houre Within these hallowd limits thou appeer Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chaind And Scale thee so as henceforth not to scorne The facil gates of hell too slightly barrd So threatn'd hee but Satan to no threats Gave heed but waxing more in rage repli'd Then when I am thy
violence no for that shall be withstood But by deceit and lies this let him know Least wilfully transgressing he pretend Surprisal unadmonisht unforewarnd So spake th' Eternal Father and fulfilld All Justice nor delaid the winged Saint After his charge receivd but from among Thousand Celestial Ardors where he stood Vaild with his gorgeous wings up springing light Flew through the midst of Heav'n th' angelic Quires On each hand parting to his speed gave way Through all th' Empyreal road till at the Gate Of Heav'n arriv'd the gate self-opend wide On golden Hinges turning as by work Divine the sov'ran Architect had fram'd From hence no cloud or to obstruct his sight Starr interpos'd however small he sees Not unconform to other shining Globes Earth and the Gard'n of God with Cedars crownd Above all Hills As when by night the Glass Of Galileo less assur'd observes Imagind Lands and Regions in the Moon Or Pilot from amidst the Cyclades Delos or Samos first appeering kenns A cloudy spot Down thither prone in flight He speeds and through the vast Ethereal Skie Sailes between worlds and worlds with steddie wing Now on the polar windes then with quick Fann Winnows the buxom Air till within soare Of Towring Eagles to all the Fowles he seems A Phaenix gaz'd by all as that sole Bird When to enshrine his reliques in the Sun 's Bright Temple to Aegyptian Theb's he flies At once on th' Eastern cliff of Paradise He lights and to his proper shape returns A Seraph wingd six wings he wore to shade His lineaments Divine the pair that clad Each shoulder broad came mantling o're his brest With regal Ornament the middle pair Girt like a Starrie Zone his waste and round Skirted his loines and thighes with downie Gold And colours dipt in Heav'n the third his feet Shaddowd from either heele with featherd maile Skie-tinctur'd grain Like Maia's son he stood And shook his Plumes that Heav'nly fragrance filld The circuit wide Strait knew him all the Bands Of Angels under watch and to his state And to his message high in honour rise For on som message high they guessd him bound Thir glittering Tents he passd and now is come Into the blissful field through Groves of Myrrhe And flouring Odours Cassia Nard and Balme A Wilderness of sweets for Nature here Wantond as in her prime and plaid at will Her Virgin Fancies pouring forth more sweet Wilde above Rule or Art enormous bliss Him through the spicie Forrest onward com Adam discernd as in the dore he sat Of his coole Bowre while now the mounted Sun Shot down direct his servid Raies to warme Earths inmost womb more warmth then Adam needs And Eve within due at her hour prepar'd For dinner savourie fruits of taste to please True appetite and not disrelish thirst Of nectarous draughts between from milkie stream Berrie or Grape to whom thus Adam call'd Haste hither Eve and worth thy sight behold Eastward among those Trees what glorious shape Comes this way moving seems another Morn Ris'n on mid-noon som great behest from Heav'n To us perhaps he brings and will voutsafe This day to be our Guest But goe with speed And what thy stores contain bring forth and poure Abundance fit to honour and receive Our Heav'nly stranger well we may afford Our givers thir own gifts and large bestow From large bestowd where Nature multiplies Her fertil growth and by disburd'ning grows More fruitful which instructs us not to spare To whom thus Eve Adam earths hallowd mould Of God inspir'd small store will serve where store All seasons ripe for use hangs on the stalk Save what by frugal storing firmness gains To nourish and superfluous moist consumes But I will haste and from each bough and break Each Plant and juciest Gourd will pluck such choice To entertain our Angel guest as hee Beholding shall confess that here on Earth God hath dispenst his bounties as in Heav'n So saying with dispatchful looks in haste She turns on hospitable thoughts intent What choice to chuse for delicacie best What order so contriv'd as not to mix Tastes not well joynd inelegant but bring Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change Bestirs her then and from each tender stalk Whatever Earth all-bearing Mother yields In India East or West or middle shoare In Pontus or the Punic Coast or where Alcinous reign'd fruit of all kindes in coate Rough or smooth rin'd or bearded husk or shell She gathers Tribute large and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand for drink the Grape She crushes inoffensive moust and meathes From many a berrie and from sweet kernels preft She tempers dulcet creams nor these to hold Wants her fit vessels pure then strews the ground With Rose and Odours from the shrub unfum'd Mean while our Primitive great Sire to meet His god-like Guest walks forth without more train Accompani'd then with his own compleat Perfections in himself was all his state More solemn then the tedious pomp that waits On Princes when thir rich Retinue long Of Horses led and Grooms besmeard with Gold Dazles the croud and sets them all agape Neerer his presence Adam though not awd Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek As to a superior Nature bowing low Thus said Native of Heav'n for other place None can then Heav'n such glorious shape contain Since by descending from the Thrones above Those happie places thou hast deignd a while To want and honour these voutsafe with us Two onely who yet by sov'ran gift possess This spacious ground in yonder shadie Bowre To rest and what the Garden choicest bears To sit and taste till this meridian heat Be over and the Sun more coole decline Whom thus the Angelic Vertue answerd milde Adam I therefore came nor art thou such Created or such place hast here to dwell As may not oft invite though Spirits of Heav'n To visit thee lead on then where thy Bowre Oreshades for these mid-hours till Eevning rise I have at will So to the Silvan Lodge They came that like Pomona's Arbour smil'd With flourets deck't and fragrant smells but Eve Undeckt save with her self more lovely fair Then Wood-Nymph or the fairest Goddess feign'd Of three that in Mount Ida naked strove Stood to entertain her guest from Heav'n no vaile Shee needed Venue-proof no thought infirme Alterd her cheek On whom the Angel Haile Bestowd the holy salutation us'd Long after to blest Marie second Eve Haile Mother of Mankind whose fruitful Womb Shall fill the World more numerous with thy Sons Then with these various fruits the Trees of God Have heap'd this Table Rais'd of grassie terf Thir Table was and mossile seats had round And on her ample Square from side to side All Autumn pil'd though Spring and Autumn here Danc'd hand in hand A while discourse they hold No fear lest Dinner coole when thus began Our Authour Heav'nly stranger please to taste These bounties which our Nourisher from whom All perfet good unmeasur'd out
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'
invisible exploits Of warring Spirits how without remorse The ruin of so many glorious once And perfet while they stood how last unfould The secrets of another world perhaps Not lawful to reveal yet for thy good This is dispenc't and what surmounts the reach Of human sense I shall delineate so By lik'ning spiritual to corporal forms As may express them best though what if Earth Be but the shaddow of Heav'n and things therein Each to other like more then on earth is thought As yet this world was not and Chaos wilde Reignd where these Heav'ns now rowl where Earth now rests Upon her Center pois'd when on a day For time though in Eternitie appli'd To motion measures all things durable By present past and future on such day As Heav'ns great Year brings forth th' Empyreal Host Of Angels by Imperial summons call'd Innumerable before th' Almighties Throne Forthwith from all the ends of Heav'n appeerd Under thir Hierarchs in orders bright Ten thousand thousand Ensignes high advanc'd Standards and Gonfalons twixt Van and Reare Streame in the Aire and for distinction serve Of Hierarchies of Orders and Degrees Or in thir glittering Tissues bear imblaz'd Holy Memorials acts of Zeale and Love Recorded eminent Thus when in Orbes Of circuit inexpressible they stood Orb within Orb the Father infinite By whom in bliss imbosom'd sat the Son Amidst as from a flaming Mount whose top Brightness had made invisible thus spake Hear all ye Angels Progenie of Light Thrones Dominations Princedoms Vertues Powers Hear my Decree which unrevok't shall stand This day I have begot whom I declare My onely Son and on this holy Hill Him have anointed whom ye now behold At my right hand your Head I him appoint And by my Self have sworn to him shall bow All knees in Heav'n and shall confess him Lord Under his great Vice-gerent Reign abide United as one individual Soule For ever happie him who disobeyes Mee disobeyes breaks union and that day Cast out from God and blessed vision falls Into utter darkness deep ingulft his place Ordaind without redemption without end So spake th' Omnipotent and with his words All seemd well pleas'd all seem'd but were not all That day as other solemn dayes they spent In song and dance about the sacred Hill Mystical dance which yonder starrie Spheare Of Planets and of fixt in all her Wheeles Resembles nearest mazes intricate Eccentric intervolv'd yet regular Then most when most irregular they seem And in thir motions harmonic Divine So smooths her charming tones that Gods own ear Listens delighted Eevning now approach'd For wee have also our Eevning and our Morn Wee ours for change delectable not need Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn Desirous all in Circles as they stood Tables are set and on a sudden pil'd With Angels Food and rubied Nectar flows In Pearl in Diamond and massie Gold Fruit of delicious Vines the growth of Heav'n On flours repos'd and with fresh flourets crownd They eate they drink and in communion sweet Quaff immortalitie and joy secure Of surfet where full measure onely bounds Excess before th' all bounteous King who showrd With copious hand rejoycing in thir joy Now when ambrosial Night with Clouds exhal'd From that high mount of God whence light shade Spring both the face of brightest Heav'n had changd To grateful Twilight for Night comes not there In darker veile and roseat Dews dispos'd All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest Wide over all the Plain and wider farr Then all this globous Earth in Plain out spred Such are the Courts of God Th' Angelic throng Disperst in Bands and Files thir Camp extend By living Streams among the Trees of Life Pavilions numberless and sudden reard Celestial Tabernacles where they slept Fannd with coole Winds save those who in thir course Melodious Hymns about the sovran Throne Alternate all night long but not so wak'd Satan so call him now his former name Is heard no more in Heav'n he of the first If not the first Arch-Angel great in Power In favour and praeeminence yet fraught With envie against the Son of God that day Honourd by his great Father and proclaimd Messiah King anointed could not beare Through pride that sight thought himself impaird Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain Soon as midnight brought on the duskie houre Friendliest to sleep and silence he resolv'd With all his Legions to dislodge and leave Unworshipt unobey'd the Throne supream Contemptuous and his next subordinate Awak'ning thus to him in secret spake Sleepst thou Companion dear what sleep can close Thy eye lids and remembrest what Decree Of yesterday so late hath past the lips Of Heav'ns Almightie Thou to me thy thoughts Wast wont I mine to thee was wont to impart Both waking we were one how then can now Thy sleep dissent new Laws thou seest impos'd New Laws from him who reigns new minds may raise In us who serve new Counsels to debate What doubtful may ensue more in this place To utter is not safe Assemble thou Of all those Myriads which we lead the chief Tell them that by command ere yet dim Night Her shadowie Cloud withdraws I am to haste And all who under me thir Banners wave Homeward with flying march where we possess The Quarters of the North there to prepare Fit entertainment to receive our King The great Messiah and his new commands Who speedily through all the Hierarchies Intends to pass triumphant and give Laws So spake the false Arch-Angel and infus'd Bad influence into th' unwarie brest Of his Associate hee together calls Or several one by one the Regent Powers Under him Regent tells as he was taught That the most High commanding now ere Night Now ere dim Night had disincumberd Heav'n The great Hierarchal Standard was to move Tells the suggested cause and casts between Ambiguous words and jealousies to sound Or taint integritie but all obey'd The wonted signal and superior voice Of thir great Potentate for great indeed His name and high was his degree in Heav'n His count'nance as the Morning Starr that guides The starrie flock allur'd them and with lyes Drew after him the third part of Heav'ns Host Mean while th' Eternal eye whose sight discernes Abstrusest thoughts from forth his holy Mount And from within the golden Lamps that burne Nightly before him saw without thir light Rebellion rising saw in whom how spred Among the sons of Morn what multitudes Were banded to oppose his high Decree And smiling to his onely Son thus said Son thou in whom my glory I behold In full resplendence Heir of all my might Neerly it now concernes us to be sure Of our Omnipotence and with what Arms We mean to hold what anciently we claim Of Deitie or Empire such a foe Is rising who intends to erect his Throne Equal to ours throughout the spacious North Nor so content hath in his thought to try In battel what our Power is or our right Let
Then who created thee lamenting learne When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know So spake the Seraph Abdiel faithful found Among the faithless faithful only hee Among innumerable false unmov'd Unshak'n unseduc'd unterrifi'd His Loyaltie he kept his Love his Zeale Nor number nor example with him wrought To swerve from truth or change his constant mind Though single From amidst them forth he passd Long way through hostile scorn which he susteind Superior nor of violence fear'd aught And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd On those proud Towrs to swift destruction doom'd The End of the Fifth Book Paradise Lost BOOK VI. THE ARGUMENT Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battel against Satan and his Angels The first Fight describ'd Satan and his Powers retire under Night He calls a Councel invents devilish Engines which in the second dayes Fight put Michael and his Angels to some disorder but they at length pulling up Mountains overwhelm'd both the force and Machins of Satan Yet the Tumult not so ending God on the third day sends Messiah his Son for whom he had reserv'd the glory of that Victory Hee in the Power of his Father coming to the place and causing all his Legions to stand still on either side with his Chariot and Thunder driving into the midst of his Enemies pursues them unable to resist towards the wall of Heaven which opening they leap down with horrour and confusion into the place of punishment prepar'd for them in the Deep Messiah returns with triumph to his Father ALL night the dreadless Angel unpursu'd Through Heav'ns wide Champain held his way till Morn Wak't by the circling Hours with rosie hand Unbarr'd the gates of Light There is a Cave Within the Mount of God fast by his Throne Where light and darkness in perpetual round Lodge and dislodge by turns which makes through Heav'n Grateful vicissitude like Day and Night Light issues forth and at the other dore Obsequious darkness enters till her houre To veile the Heav'n though darkness there might well Seem twilight here and now went forth the Morn Such as in highest Heav'n arrayd in Gold Empyreal from before her vanisht Night Shot through with orient Beams when all the Plain Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright Chariots and flaming Armes and fierie Steeds Reflecting blaze on blaze first met his view Warr he perceav'd warr in procinct and found Already known what he for news had thought To have reported gladly then he mixt Among those friendly Powers who him receav'd With joy and acclamations loud that one That of so many Myriads fall'n yet one Returnd not lost On to the sacred hill They led him high applauded and present Before the seat supream from whence a voice From midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard Servant of God well done well hast thou fought The better sight who single hast maintaind Against revolted multitudes the Cause Of Truth in word mightier then they in Armes And for the testimonie of Truth hast born Universal reproach far worse to beare Then violence for this was all thy care To stand approv'd in sight of God though Worlds Judg'd thee perverse the easier conquest now Remains thee alded by this host of friends Back on thy foes more glorious to return Then scornd thou didst depart and to subdue By force who reason for thir Law refuse Right reason for thir Law and for thir King Messiah who by right of merit Reigns Go Michael of Celestial Armies Prince And thou in Military prowess next Gabriel lead forth to Battel these my Sons Invincible lead forth my armed Saints By Thousands and by Millions rang'd for fight Equal in number to that Godless crew Rebellious them with Fire and hostile Arms Fearless assault and to the brow of Heav'n Pursuing drive them out from God and bliss Into thir place of punishment the Gulf Of Tartarus which ready opens wide His fiery Chaos to receave thir fall So spake the Sovran voice and Clouds began To darken all the Hill and smoak to rowl In duskie wreathes reluctant flames the signe Of wrauth awak't nor with less dread the loud Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow At which command the Powers Militant That stood for Heav'n in mighty Quadrate joyn'd Of Union irresistible mov'd on In silence thir bright Legions to the sound Of instrumental Harmonie that breath'd Heroic Ardor to advent'rous deeds Under thir God-like Leaders in the Cause Of God and his Messiah On they move Indissolubly firm nor obvious Hill Nor streit'ning Vale nor Wood nor Stream divides Thir perfet ranks for high above the ground Thir march was and the passive Air upbore Thir nimble tread as when the total kind Of Birds in orderly array on wing Came summond over Eden to receive Thir names of thee so over many a tract Of Heav'n they march'd and many a Province wide Tenfold the length of this terrene at last Farr in th' Horizon to the North appeer'd From skirt to skirt a fierie Region stretcht In battailous aspect and neerer view Bristl'd with upright beams innumerable Of rigid Spears and Helmets throng'd and Shields Various with boastful Argument portraid The banded Powers of Satan hasting on With furious expedition for they weend That self same day by fight or by surprize To win the Mount of God and on his Throne To set the envier of his State the proud Aspirer but thir thoughts prov'd fond and vain In the mid way though strange to us it seemd At first that Angel should with Angel warr And in fierce hosting meet who wont to meet So oft in Festivals of joy and love Unanimous as sons of one great Sire Hymning th' Eternal Father but the shout Of Battel now began and rushing sound Of onset ended soon each milder thought High in the midst exalted as a God Th' Apostat in his Sun-bright Chariot sate Idol of Majestie Divine enclos'd With Flaming Cherubim and golden Shields Then lighted from his gorgeous Throne for now 'Twixt Host and Host but narrow space was left A dreadful intervall and Front to Front Presented stood in terrible array Of hideous length before the cloudie Van On the rough edge of battel ere it joyn'd Satan with vast and haughtie strides advanc't Came towring armd in Adamant and Gold Abdiel that sight endur'd not where he stood Among the mightiest bent on highest deeds And thus his own undaunted heart explores ' O Heav'n that such resemblance of the Highest Should yet remain where faith and realtie Remain not wherfore shou'd not strength and might There fail where Vertue fails or weakest prove Where boldest though to sight unconquerable His puissance trusting in th' Almightie's aide I mean to try whose Reason I have tri'd Unsound and false nor is it aught but just That he who in debate of Truth hath won Should win in Arms in both disputes alike Victor though brutish that contest and foule When Reason hath to deal with force yet so
wonder but delight and as is due With glorie attributed to the high Creator something yet of doubt remaines Which onely thy solution can resolve When I behold this goodly Frame this World Of Heav'n and Earth consisting and compute Thir magnitudes this Earth a spot a graine An Atom with the Firmament compar'd And all her numberd Starrs that seem to rowle Spaces incomprehensible for such Thir distance argues and thir swift return Diurnal meerly to officiate light Round this opacous Earth this punctual spot One day and night in all thir vast survey Useless besides reasoning I oft admire How Nature wise and frugal could commit Such disproportions with superfluous hand So many nobler Bodies to create Greater so manifold to this one use For aught appeers and on thir Orbs impose Such restless revolution day by day Repeated while the sedentarie Earth That better might with farr less compass move Serv'd by more noble then her self attaines Her end without least motion and receaves As Tribute such a sumless journey brought Of incorporeal speed her warmth and light Speed to describe whose swiftness Number failes So spake our Sire and by his count'nance seemd Entring on studious thoughts abstruse which Eve Perceaving where she sat retir'd in sight With lowliness Majestic from her seat And Grace that won who saw to wish her stay Rose and with forth among her Fruits and Flours To visit how they prosper'd bud and bloom Her Nurserie they at her coming sprung And toucht by her fair tendance gladlier grew Yet went she not as not with such discourse Delighted or not capable her eare Of what was high such pleasure she reserv'd Adam relating she sole Auditress Her Husband the Relater she preferr'd Before the Angel and of him to ask Chose rather hee she knew would intermit Grateful digressions and solve high dispute With conjugal Caresses from his Lip Not Words alone pleas'd her O when meet now Such pairs in Love and mutual Honour joyn'd With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went Not unatrended for on her as Queen A pomp of winning Graces waited still And from about her shot Darts of desire Into all Eyes to wish her still in sight And Raphael now to Adam's doubt propos'd Benevolent and facil thus repli'd To ask or search I blame thee not for Heav'n Is as the Book of God before thee set Wherein to read his wondrous Works and learne His Seasons Hours or Dayes or Months or Yeares This to attain whether Heav'n move or Earth Imports not if thou reck'n right the rest From Man or Angel the great Architect Did wisely to conceal and not divulge His secrets to be scann'd by them who ought Rather admire or if they list to try Conjecture he his Fabric of the Heav'ns Hath left to thir disputes perhaps to move His laughter at thir quaint Opinions wide Hereafter when they come to model Heav'n And calculate the Starrs how they will weild The mightie frame how build unbuild contrive To save appeerances how gird the Sphear With Centric and Eccentric scribl'd o're Cycle and Epicycle Orb in Orb Alreadie by thy reasoning this I guess Who art to lead thy ofspring and supposest That bodies bright and greater should not serve The less not bright nor Heav'n such journies run Earth sitting still when she alone receaves The benefit consider first that Great Or Bright inferrs not Excellence the Earth Though in comparison of Heav'n so small Nor glistering may of solid good containe More plenty then the Sun that barren shines Whose vertue on it self workes no effect But in the fruitful Earth there first receavd His beams unactive else thir vigour find Yet not to Earth are those bright Luminaries Officious but to thee Earths habitant And for the Heav'ns wide Circuit let it speak The Makers high magnificence who built So spacious and his Line stretcht out so farr That Man may know he dwells not in his own An Edifice too large for him to fill Lodg'd in a small partition and the rest Ordain'd for uses to his Lord best known The swiftness of those Circles attribute Though numberless to his Omnipotence That to corporeal substances could adde Speed almost Spiritual mee thou thinkst not slow Who since the Morning hour set out from Heav'n Where God resides and eremid-day arriv'd In Eden distance inexpressible By Numbers that have name But this I urge Admitting Motion in the Heav'ns to shew Invalid that which thee to doubt it mov'd Not that I so affirm though so it seem To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth God to remove his wayes from human sense Plac'd Heav'n from Earth so farr that earthly sight If it presume might erre in things too high And no advantage gaine What if the Sun Be Center to the World and other Starrs By his attractive vertue and thir own Incited dance about him various rounds Thir wandring course now high now low then hid Progressive retrograde or standing still In six thou seest and what if sev'nth to these The Planet Earth so stedfast though she seem Insensibly three different Motions move Which else to several Sphears thou must ascribe Mov'd contrarie with thwart obliquities Or save the Sun his labour and that swift Nocturnal and Diurnal rhomb suppos'd Invisible else above all Starrs the Wheele Of Day and Night which needs not thy beleefe If Earth industrious of her self fetch Day Travelling East and with her part averse From the Suns beam meet Night her other part Still luminous by his ray What if that light Sent from her through the wide transpicuous aire To the terrestrial Moon be as a Starr Enlightning her by Day as she by Night This Earth reciprocal if Land be there Feilds and Inhabitants Her spots thou seest As Clouds and Clouds may rain and Rain produce Fruits in her soft'nd Soile for some to eate Allotted there another Suns perhaps With thir attendant Moons thou wilt descrie Communicating Male and Femal Light Which two great Sexes animate the World Stor'd in each Orb perhaps with some that live For such vast room in Nature unpossest By living Soule desert and desolate Onely to shine yet scarce to contribute Each Orb a glimps of Light conveyd so farr Down to this habitable which returnes Light back to them is obvious to dispute But whether thus these things or whether not Whether the Sun predominant in Heav'n Rise on the Earth or Earth rise on the Sun Hee from the East his flaming rode begin Or Shee from West her silent course advance With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps On her soft Axle while she paces Eev'n And beares thee soft with the smooth Air along Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid Leave them to God above him serve and feare Of other Creatures as him pleases best Wherever plac't let him dispose joy thou In what he gives to thee this Paradise And thy faire Eve Heav'n is for thee too high To know what passes there be lowlie wise Think onely what concernes thee
me Woman is her Name of Man Extracted for this cause he shall forgoe Father and Mother and to his Wife adhere And they shall be one Flesh one Heart one Soule She heard me thus and though divinely brought Yet Innocence and Virgin Modestie Her vertue and the conscience of her worth That would be woo'd and not unsought be won Not obvious not obtrusive but retir'd The more desirable or to say all Nature her self though pure of sinful thought Wrought in her so that seeing me she turn'd I follow'd her she what was Honour knew And with obsequious Majestie approv'd My pleaded reason To the Nuptial Bowre I led her blushing like the Morn all Heav'n And happie Constellations on that houre Shed thir selectest influence the Earth Gave sign of gratulation and each Hill Joyous the Birds fresh Gales and gentle Aires Whisper'd it to the Woods and from thir wings Flung Rose flung Odours from the spicie Shrub Disporting till the amorous Bird of Night Sung Spousal and bid haste the Eevning Starr On his Hill top to light the bridal Lamp Thus I have told thee all ray State and brought My Storie to the sum of earthly bliss Which I enjoy and must confess to find In all things else delight indeed but such As us'd or not works in the mind no change Nor vehement desire these delicacies I mean of Taste Sight Smell Herbs Fruits and Flours Walks and the melodie of Birds but here Fair otherwise transported I behold Transported touch here passion first I felt Commotion strange in all enjoyments else Superiour and unmov'd here onely weake Against the charm of Beauties powerful glance Or Nature faild in mee and left some part Not proof enough such Object to sustain Or from my side subducting took perhaps More then enough at least on her bestow'd Too much of Ornament in outward shew Elaborate of inward less exact For well I understand in the prime end Of Nature her th' inferiour in the mind And inward Faculties which most excell In outward also her resembling less His Image who made both and less expressing The character of that Dominion giv'n O're other Creatures yet when I approach Her loveliness so absolute she seems And in her self compleat so well to know Her own that what she wills to do or say Seems wisest vertuousest discreetest best All higher knowledge in her presence falls Degraded Wisdom in discourse with her Looses discount'nanc't and like folly shewes Authority and Reason on her waite As one intended first not after made Occasionally and to consummate all Greatness of mind and nobleness thir seat Build in her loveliest and create an awe About her as a guard Angelic plac't To whom the Angel with contracted brow Accuse not Nature she hath don her part Do thou but thine and be not diffident Of Wisdom she deserts thee not if thou Dismiss not her when most thou needst her nigh By attributing overmuch to things Less excellent as thou thy self perceav'st For what admir'st thou what transports thee so An outside fair no doubt and worthy well Thy cherishing thy honouring and thy love Not thy subjection weigh with her thy self Then value Oft times nothing profits more Then self esteem grounded on just and right Well manag'd of that skill the more thou know'st The more she will acknowledge thee her Head And to realities yield all her shows Made so adorn for thy delight the more So awful that with honour thou maist love Thy mate who sees when thou art seen least wise But if the sense of touch whereby mankind Is propagated seem such dear delight Beyond all other think the same voutsaf't To Cattel and each Beast which would not be To them made common and divulg'd if aught Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue The Soule of Man or passion in him move What higher in her societie thou findst Attractive human rational love still In loving thou dost well in passion not Wherein true Love consists not love refines The thoughts and heart enlarges hath his seat In Reason and is judicious is the scale By which to heav'nly Love thou maist ascend Not sunk in carnal pleasure for which cause Among the Beasts no Mate for thee was found To whom thus half abash't Adam repli'd Neither her out-side formd so fair nor aught In procreation common to all kindes Though higher of the genial Bed by far And with mysterious reverence I deem So much delights me as those graceful acts Those thousand decencies that daily flow From all her words and actions mixt with Love And sweet compliance which declare unfeign'd Union of Mind or in us both one Soule Harmonie to behold in wedded pair More grateful then harmonious sound to the eare Yet these subject not I to thee disclose What inward thence I feel not therefore foild Who meet with various objects from the sense Variously representing yet still free Approve the best and follow what I approve To love thou blam'st me not for love thou saist Leads up to Heav'n is both the way and guide Bear with me then if lawful what I ask Love not the heav'nly Spirits and how thir Love Express they by looks onely or do they mix Irradiance virtual or immediate touch To whom the Angel with a smile that glow'd Celestial rosie red Loves proper hue Answer'd Let it suffice thee that thou know'st Us happie and without Love no happiness Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy'st And pure thou wert created we enjoy In eminence and obstacle find none Of membrane joynt or limb exclusive barrs Easier then Air with Air if Spirits embrace Total they mix Union of Pure with Pure Desiring nor restrain'd conveyance need As Flesh to mix with Flesh or Soul with Soul But I can now no more the parting Sun Beyond the Earths green Cape and verdant Isles Hesperean sets my Signal to depart Be strong live happie and love but first of all Him whom to love is to obey and keep His great command take heed least Passion sway Thy Judgement to do aught which else free Will Would not admit thine and of all thy Sons The weal or woe in thee is plac't beware I in thy persevering shall rejoyce And all the Blest stand fast to stand or fall Free in thine own Arbitrement it lies Perfet within no outward aid require And all temptation to transgress repel So saying he arose whom Adam thus Follow'd with benediction Since to part Go heavenly Guest Ethereal Messenger Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore Gentle to me and affable hath been Thy condescension and shall be honour'd ever With grateful Memorie thou to mankind Be good and friendly still and oft return So parted they the Angel up to Heav'n From the thick shade and Adam to his Bowre The End of the Eighth Book Paradise Lost BOOK IX THE ARGUMENT Satan having compast the Earth with meditated guile returns as a mist by Night into Paradise enters into the Serpent sleeping Adam and Eve in the Morning go forth
to thir labours which Eve proposes to divide in several places each labouring apart Adam consents not alledging the danger lest that Enemy of whom they were forewarn'd should attempt her found alone Eve loath to be thought not circumspect or firm enough urges her going apart the rather desirous to make tryal of her strength Adam at last yields The Serpent finds her alone his subtle approach first gazing then speaking with much flattery extolling Eve above all other Creatures Eve wondring to hear the Serpent speaks asks how he attain'd to human speech and such understanding not till now the Serpent answers that by tasting of a certain Tree in the Garden he attain'd both to Speech and Reason till then void of both Eve requires him to bring her to that Tree and finds it to be the Tree of Knowledge forbidden The Serpent now grown bolder with many wiles and arguments induces her at length to eat she pleas'd with the taste deliberates a while whether to impart thereof to Adam or not at last brings him of the Fruit relates what perswaded her to eat thereof Adam at first amaz'd but perceiving her lost resolves through vehemence of love to perish with her and extenuating the trespass cats also of the Fruit The Effects thereof in them both they seek to cover thir nakedness then fall to variance and accusation of one anotther NO more of talk where God or Angel Guest With Man as with his Friend familiar us'd To sit indulgent and with him partake Rural repast permitting him the while Venial discourse unblam'd I now must change Those Notes to Tragic foul distrust and breach Disloyal on the part of Man revolt And disobedience On the part of Heav'n Now alienated distance and distaste Anger and just rebuke and judgement giv'n That brought into this World a world of woe Sinne and her shadow Death and Miserie Deaths Harbinger Sad task yet argument Not less but more Heroic then the wrauth Of stern Achilles on his Foe pursu'd Thrice Fugitive about Troy Wall or rage Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous'd Or Neptun's ire or Juno's that so long Perplex'd the Greek and Cytherea's Son If answerable style I can obtaine Of my Celestial Patroness who deignes Her nightly visitation unimplor'd And dictates to me slumbring or inspires Easie my unpremeditated Verse Since first this Subject for Heroic Song Pleas'd me long choosing and beginning late Not sedulous by Nature to indite Warrs hitherto the onely Argument Heroic deem'd chief maistrie to dissect With long and tedious havoc fabl'd Knights In Battels feign'd the better fortitude Of Patience and Heroic Martyrdom Unsung or to describe Races and Games Or tilting Furniture emblazon'd Shields Impreses quaint Caparisons and Steeds Bases and tinsel Trappings gorgious Knights At Joust and Torneament then marshal'd Feast Serv'd up in Hall with Sewers and Seneshals The skill of Artifice or Office mean Not that which justly gives Heroic name To Person or to Poem Mee of these Nor skilld nor studious higher Argument Remaines sufficient of it self to raise That name unless an age too late or cold Climat or Years damp my intended wing Deprest and much they may if all be mine Not Hers who brings it nightly to my Ear. The Sun was sunk and after him the Starr Of Hesperus whose Office is to bring Twilight upon the Earth short Arbiter Twixt Day and Night and now from end to end Nights Hemisphere had veild the Horizon round When Satan who late fled before the threats Of Gabriel out of Eden now improv'd In meditated fraud and malice bent On mans destruction maugre what might hap Of heavier on himself fearless return'd By Night he fled and at Midnight return'd From compassing the Earth cautious of day Since Vriel Regent of the Sun descri'd His entrance and forewarnd the Cherubim That kept thir watch thence full of anguish driv'n The space of seven continu'd Nights he rode With darkness thrice the Equinoctial Line He circl'd four times cross'd the Carr of Night From Pole to Pole traversing each Colure On the eighth return'd and on the Coast averse From entrance or Cherubic Watch by stealth Found unsuspected way There was a place Now not though Sin not Time first wraught the change Where Tigris at the foot of Paradise Into a Gulf shot under ground till part Rose up a Fountain by the Tree of Life In with the River sunk and with it rose Satan involv'd in rising Mist then sought Where to lie hid Sea he had searcht and Land From Eden over Pontus and the Poole Maeotis up beyond the River Ob Downward as farr Antartic and in length West from Orontes to the Ocean barr'd At Darien thence to the Land where flowes Ganges and Indus thus the Orb he roam'd With narrow search and with inspection deep Consider'd every Creature which of all Most opportune might serve his Wiles and found The Serpent suttlest Beast of all the Field Him after long debate irresolute Of thoughts revolv'd his final sentence chose Fit Vessel fittest Imp of fraud in whom To enter and his dark suggestions hide From sharpest sight for in the wilie Snake Whatever sleights none would suspicious mark As from his wit and native suttletie Proceeding which in other Beasts observ'd Doubt might beget of Diabolic pow'r Active within beyond the sense of brute Thus he resolv'd but first from inward griefe His bursting passion into plaints thus pour'd O Earth how like to Heav'n if not preferr'd More justly Seat worthier of Gods as built With second thoughts reforming what was old For what God after better worse would build Terrestrial Heav'n danc't round by other Heav'ns That shine yet bear thir bright officious Lamps Light above Light for thee alone as seems In thee concentring all thir precious beams Of sacred influence As God in Heav'n Is Center yet extends to all so thou Centring receav'st from all those Orbs in thee Not in themselves all thir known vertue appeers Productive in Herb Plant and nobler birth Of Creatures animate with gradual life Of Growth Sense Reason all summ'd up in Man With what delight could I have walkt thee round If I could joy in aught sweet interchange Of Hill and Vallie Rivers Woods and Plaines Now Land now Sea and Shores with Forrest crownd Rocks Dens and Caves but I in none of these Find place or refuge and the more I see Pleasures about me so much more I feel Torment within me as from the hateful siege Of contraries all good to me becomes Bane and in Heav'n much worse would be my state But neither here seek I no nor in Heav'n To dwell unless by maistring Heav'ns Supreame Nor hope to be my self less miserable By what I seek but others to make such As I though thereby worse to me redound For onely in destroying I find ease To my relentless thoughts and him destroyd Or won to what may work his utter loss For whom all this was made all this will soon Follow as to him linkt in weal
sit not and reproach us as unclean So counsel'd hee and both together went Into the thickest Wood there soon they chose The Figtree not that kind for Fruit renown'd But such as at this day to Indians known In Malabar or Decan spreds her Armes Braunching so broad and long that in the ground The bended Twigs take root and Daughters grow About the Mother Tree a Pillard shade High overarch't and echoing Walks between There oft the Indian Herdsman shunning heate Shelters in coole and tends his pasturing Herds At Loopholes cut through thiekest shade Those Leaves They gatherd broad as Amazonian Targe And with what skill they had together sowd To gird thir waste vain Covering if to hide Thir guilt and dreaded shame O how unlike To that first naked Glorie Such of late Columbus found th' American so girt With featherd Cincture naked else and wilde Among the Trees on lies and woodie Shores Thus fenc't and as they thought thir shame in part Coverd but not at rest or ease of Mind They sate them down to weep nor onely Teares Raind at thir Eyes but high Winds worse within Began to rise high Passions Anger Hate Mistrust Suspicion Discord and shook sore Thir inward State of Mind calm Region once And full of Peace now tost and turbulent For Understanding rul'd not and the Will Heard not her lore both in subjection now To sensual Appetite who from beneathe Usurping over sovran Reason claimd Superior sway from thus distemperd brest Adam estrang'd in look and alterd stile Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewd Would thou hadst heark'nd to my words and stai'd With me as I besought thee when that strange Desire of wandring this unhappie Morn I know not whence possessd thee we had then Remaind still happie not as now despoild Of all our good sham'd naked miserable Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve The Faith they owe when earnestly they seek Such proof conclude they then begin to faile To whom soon mov'd with touch of blame thus Eve What words have past thy Lips Adam severe Imput'st thou that to my default or will Of wandring as thou call'st it which who knows But might as ill have happ'nd thou being by Or to thy self perhaps hadst thou been there Or here th' attempt thou couldst not have discernd Fraud in the Serpent speaking as he spake No ground of enmitie between us known Why hee should mean me ill or seek to harme Was I to have never parted from thy side As good have grown there still a liveless Rib. Being as I am why didst not thou the Head Command me absolutely not to go Going into such danger as thou saidst Too facil then thou didst not much gainsay Nay didst permit approve and fair dismiss Hadst thou bin firm and fixt in thy dissent Neither had I transgress'd nor thou with mee To whom then first incenst Adam repli'd Is this the Love is this the recompence Of mine to thee ingrateful Eve exprest Immutable when thou wert lost not I Who might have liv'd and joyd immortal bliss Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee And am I now upbraided as the cause Of thy transgressing not enough severe It seems in thy restraint what could I more I warn'd thee I admonish'd thee foretold The danger and the lurking Enemie That lay in wait beyond this had bin force And force upon free will bath here no place But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger or to finde Matter of glorious trial and perhaps I also err'd in overmuch admiring What seemd in thee so perfet that I thought No evil durst attempt thee but I rue That errour now which is become my crime And thou th' accuser Thus it shall befall Him who to worth in Women overtrusting Lets her will rule restraint she will not brook And left to her self if evil thence ensue Shee first his weak indulgence will accuse Thus they in mutual accusation spent The fruitless hours but neither self-condemning And of thir vain contest appeer'd no end The End of the Ninth Book Paradise Lost BOOK X. THE ARGUMENT Mans transgression known the Guardian Angels forsake Paradise and return up to Heaven to approve thir vigilance and are approv'd God declaring that The entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented He sends his Son to judge the Transgressors who descends and gives Sentence accordingly then in pity cloaths them both and reascends Sin and Death sitting till then at the Gates of Hell by wondrous sympathie feeling the success of Satan in this new World and the sin by Man there committed resolve to sit no longer confin'd in Hell but to follow Satan thir Sire up to the place of Man To make the way easier from Hell to this World to and fro they pave a broad High-way or Bridge over Chaos according to the Track that Satan first made then preparing for Earth they meet him proud of his success returning to Hell thir mutual gratulation Satan arrives at Pandemonium in full of assembly relates with boasting his success against Man instead of applause is entertained with a general hiss by all his audience transform'd with himself also suddenly into Serpents according to his doom giv'n in Paradise then deluded with a shew of the forbidden Tree springing up before them they greedily reaching to take of the Fruit chew dust and bitter ashes The proceedings of Sin and Death God foretels the final Victory of his Son over them and the renewing of all things but for the present commands his Angels to make several alterations in the Heavens and Elements Adam more and more perceiving his fall'n condition heavily bewailes rejects the condolement of Eve she persists and at length appeases him then to evade the Curse likely to fall on thir Ofspring proposes to Adam violent wayes which he approves not but conceiving better hope puts her in mind of the late Promise made them that her Seed should be reveng'd on the Serpent and exhorts her with him to seek Peace of the offended Deity by repentance and supplication MEanwhile the hainous and despightfull act Of Satan done in Paradise and how Hee in the Serpent had perverted Eve Her Husband shee to taste the fatall fruit Was known in Heav'n for what can scape the Eye Of God All-seeing or deceave his Heart Omniscient who in all things wise and just Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the minde Of Man with strength entire and free will arm'd Complete to have discover'd and repulst Whatever wiles of Foe or seeming Friend For still they knew and ought to have still remember'd The high Injunction not to taste that Fruit Whoever tempted which they not obeying Incurr'd what could they less the penaltie And manifold in sin deserv'd to fall Up into Heav'n from Paradise in haste Th' Angelic Guards ascended mute and sad For Man for of his state by this they knew Much wondring how the suttle Fiend had stoln Entrance unseen Soon as th' unwelcome news From
nor so is overcome Satan whose fall from Heav'n a deadlier bruise Disabl'd not to give thee thy deaths wound Which hee who comes thy Saviour shall recure Not by destroying Satan but his works In thee and in thy Seed nor can this be But by fulfilling that which thou didst want Obedience to the Law of God impos'd On penaltie of death and suffering death The penaltie to thy transgression due And due to theirs which out of thine will grow So onely can high Justice rest appaid The Law of God exact he shall fulfill Both by obedience and by love though love Alone fulfill the Law thy punishment He shall endure by coming in the Flesh To a reproachful life and cursed death Proclaiming Life to all who shall believe In his redemption and that his obedience Imputed becomes theirs by Faith his merits To save them not thir own though legal works For this he shall live hated be blasphem'd Seis'd on by force judg'd and to death condemnd A shameful and accurst naild to the Cross By his own Nation slaine for bringing Life Bur to the Cross he nailes thy Enemies The Law that is against thee and the sins Of all mankinde with him there crucifi'd Never to hurt them more who rightly trust In this his satisfaction so he dies But soon revives Death over him no power Shall long usurp ere the third dawning light Returne the Starres of Morn shall see him rise Out of his grave fresh as the dawning light Thy ransom paid which Man from death redeems His death for Man as many as offerd Life Neglect not and the benefit imbrace By Faith not void of workes this God-like act Annuls thy doom the death thou shouldst have dy'd In sin for ever lost from life this act Shall bruise the head of Satan crush his strength Defeating Sin and Death his two maine armes And fix farr deeper in his head thir stings Then temporal death shall bruise the Victors heel Or theirs whom he redeems a death like sleep A gentle wafting to immortal Life Nor after resurrection shall he stay Longer on Earth then certaine times to appeer To his Disciples Men who in his Life Still follow'd him to them shall leave in charge To teach all nations what of him they learn'd And his Salvation them who shall beleeve Baptizing in the profluent stream the signe Of washing them from guilt of sin to Life Pure and in mind prepar'd if so befall For death like that which the redeemer dy'd All Nations they shall teach for from that day Not onely to the Sons of Abrahams Loines Salvation shall be Preacht but to the Sons Of Abrahams Faith wherever through the world So in his seed all Nations shall be blest Then to the Heav'n of Heav'ns he shall ascend With victory triumphing through the aire Over his foes and thine there shall surprise The Serpent Prince of aire and drag in Chaines Through all his Realme and there confounded leave Then enter into glory and resume His Seat at Gods right hand exalted high Above all names in Heav'n and thence shall come When this worlds disolution shall be ripe With glory and power to judge both quick and dead To judge th' unfaithful dead but to reward His faithful and receave them into bliss Whether in Heav'n or Earth for then the Earth Shall all be Paradise far happier place Then this of Eden and far happier daies So spake th' Archangel Michael then paus'd As at the Worlds great period and our Sire Replete with joy and wonder thus repli'd O goodness infinite goodness immense That all this good of evil shall produce And evil turn to good more wonderful Then that which by creation first brought forth Light out of darkness full of doubt I stand Whether I should repent me now of sin By mee done and occasiond or rejoyce Much more that much more good thereof shall spring To God more glory more good will to Men From God and over wrauth grace shall abound Buâ— say if our deliverer up to Heav'n Must reascend what will betide the few His faithful left among th' unfaithful herd The enemies of truth who then shall guide His people who defend will they not deale Wors with his followers then with him they dealt Be sure they will said th' Angel but from Heav'n Hee to his own a Comforter will send The promise of the Father who shall dwell His Spirit within them and the Law of Faith Working through love upon thir hearts shall write To guide them in all truth and also arme With spiritual Armour able to resist Satans assaults and quench his fierie darts What man can do against them not affraid Though to the death against such cruelties With inward consolations recompenc't And oft supported so as shall amaze Thir proudest persecuters for the Spirit Powrd first on his Apostles whom he sends To evangelize the Nations then on all Baptiz'd shall them with wondrous gifts endue To speak all Tongues and do all Miracles As did thir Lord before them Thus they win Great numbers of each Nation to receave With joy the tidings brought from Heav'n at length Thir Ministry perform'd and race well run Thir doctrine and thir story written left They die but in thir room as they forewarne Wolves shall succeed for teachers grievous Wolves Who all the sacred mysteries of Heav'n To thir own vile advantages shall turne Of lucre and ambition and the truth With superstitions and traditions taint Left onely in those written Records pure Though not but by the Spirit understood Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names Places and titles and with these to joine Secular power though feigning still to act By spiritual to themselves appropriating The Spirit of God promisd alike and giv'n To all Beleevers and from that pretense Spiritual Lawes by carnal power shall force On every conscience Laws which none shall finde Left them inrould or what the Spirit within Shall on the heart engrave What will they then But force the Spirit of Grace it self and binde His consort Libertie what but unbuild His living Temples built by Faith to stand Thir own Faith not anothers for on Earth Who against Faith and Conscience can be heard Infallible yet many will presume Whence heavie persecution shall arise On all who in the worship persevere Of Spirit and Truth the rest farr greater part Well deem in outward Rites and specious formes Religion satisfi'd Truth shall retire Bestuck with slandrous darts and works of Faith Rarely be found so shall the World goe on To good malignant to bad men benigne Under her own waight groaning till the day Appeer of respiration to the just And vengeance to the wicked at return Of him so lately promiss'd to thy aid The Womans seed obscurely then foretold Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord Last in the Clouds from Heav'n to be reveald In glory of the Father to dissolve Satan with his perverted World then raise From the conflagrant mass purg'd