and rejoycing was in Heav'n When such was heard declar'd the Almightie's will Glorie they sung to the most High good will To future men and in thir dwellings peace Glorie to him whose just avenging ire Had driven out th' ungodly from his sight And th' habitations of the just to him Glorie and praise whose wisdom had ordain'd Good out of evil to create in stead Of Spirits maligne a better Race to bring Into thir vacant room and thence diffuse His good to Worlds and Ages infinite So sang the Hierarchies Mean while the Son On his great Expedition now appeer'd Girt with Omnipotence with Radiance crown'd Of Majestie Divine Sapience and Love Immense and all his Father in him shon About his Chariot numberless were pour'd Cherub and Seraph Potentates and Thrones And Vertues winged Spirits and Chariots wing'd From the Armoury of God where stand of old Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodg'd Against a solemn day harnest at hand Celestial Equipage and now came forth Spontaneous for within them Spirit livd Attendant on thir Lord Heav'n op'nd wide Her ever during Gates Harmonious sound On golden Hinges moving to let forth The King of Glorie in his powerful Word And Spirit coming to create new Worlds On heav'nly ground they stood and from the shore They view'd the vast immeasurable Abyss Outrageous as a Sea dark wasteful wilde Up from the bottom turn'd by furious windes And surging waves as Mountains to assault Heav'ns highth and with the Center mix the Pole Silence ye troubl'd waves and thou Deep peace Said then th' Omnific Word your discord end Nor staid but on the Wings of Cherubim Uplifted in Paternal Glorie rode Farr into Chaos and the World unborn For Chaos heard his voice him all his Traine Follow'd in bright procession to behold Creation and the wonders of his might Then staid the fervid Wheeles and in his hand He took the golden Compasses prepar'd In Gods Eternal store to circumscribe This Universe and all created things One foot he center'd and the other turn'd Round through the vast profunditie obscure And said thus farr extend thus farr thy bounds This be thy just Circumference O World Thus God the Heav'n created thus the Earth Matter unform'd and void Darkness profound Cover'd th' Abyss but on the watrie calme His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspred And vital vertue infus'd and vital warmth Throughout the fluid Mass but downward purg'd The black tartareous cold Infernal dregs Adverse to life then founded then conglob'd Like things to like the rest to several place Disparted and between spun out the Air And Earth self ballanc't on her Center hung Let ther be Light said God and forthwith Light Ethereal first of things quintessence pure Sprung from the Deep and from her Native East To journie through the airie gloom began Sphear'd in a radiant Cloud for yet the Sun Was not shee in a cloudie Tabernacle So journ'd the while God saw the Light was good And light from darkness by the Hemisphere Divided Light the Day and Darkness Night He nam'd Thus was the first Day Eev'n and Morn Nor past uncelebrated nor unsung By the Celestial Quires when Orient Light Exhaling first from Darkness they beheld Birth-day of Heav'n and Earth with joy and shout The hollow Universal Orb they fill'd And touch't thir Golden Harps and hymning prais'd God and his works Creatour him they sung Both when first Eevning was and when first Morn Again God said let ther be Firmament Amid the Waters and let it divide The Waters from the Waters and God made The Firmament expanse of liquid pure Transparent Elemental Air diffus'd In circuit to the uttermost convex Of this great Round partition firm and sure The Waters underneath from those above Dividing for as Earth so he the World Built on circumfluous Waters calme in wide Crystallin Ocean and the loud misrule Of Chaos farr remov'd least fierce extreames Contiguous might distemper the whole frame And Heav'n he nam'd the Firmament So Eev'n And Morning Chorus sung the second Day The Earth was form'd but in the Womb as yet Of Waters Embryon immature involv'd Appeer'd not over all the face of Earth Main Ocean flow'd not idle but with warme Prolific humour soft'ning all her Globe Fermented the great Mother to conceave Satiate with genial moisture when God said Be gather'd now ye Warers under Heav'n Into one place and let dry Land appeer Immediately the Mountain huge appeer Emergent and thir broad bare backs upheave Into the Clouds thir tops ascend the Skie So high as heav'd the tumid Hills so low Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep Capacious bed of Waters thither they Hasted with glad precipitance uprowld As drops on dust conglobing from the drie Part rise in crystal Wall or ridge direct For haste such flight the great command impress'd On the swift flouds as Armies at the call Of Trumpet for of Armies thou hast heard Troop to thir Standard so the watrie throng Wave rowling after Wave where way they found If steep with torrent rapture if through Plaine Soft-ebbing nor withstood them Rock or Hill But they or under ground or circuit wide With Serpent errour wandring found thir way And on the washie Oose deep Channels wore Easie e're God had bid the ground be drie All but within whose banks where Rivers now Stream and perpetual draw thir humid traine The dry Land Earth and the great receptacle Of congregated Waters he call'd Seas And saw that it was good and said Let th' Earth Put forth the verdant Grass Herb yielding Seed And Fruit Tree yielding Fruit after her kind Whose Seed is in her self upon the Earth He scarce had said when the bate Earth till then Desert and bare unsightly unadornd Brought forth the tender Grass whose verdure clad Her Universal Face with pleasant green Then Herbs of every leaf that sudden flour'd Op'ning thir various colours and made gay Her bosom smelling sweet and these scarce blown Forth flourish't thick the clustring Vine forth crept The smelling Gourd up stood the cornie Reed Embattell'd in her field and the humble Shrub And Bush with frizl'd hair implicit last Rose as in Dance the stately Trees and spred Thir branches hung with copious Fruit or gemm'd Thir blossoms with high woods the hills were crownd With tufts the vallies and each fountain side With borders long the Rivers That Earth now Seemd like to Heav'n a seat where Gods might dwell Or wander with delight and love to haunt Her sacred shades though God had yet not rain'd Upon the Earth and man to till the ground None was but from the Earth a dewie Mist Went up and waterd all the ground and each Plant of the field which e're it was in the Earth God made and every Herb before it grew On the green stemm God saw that it was good So Eev'n and Morn recorded the Third Day Again th' Almightie spake Let there be Lights High in th' expanse of Heaven to divide The
Day from Night and let them be for Signes For Seasons and for Dayes and circling Years And let them be for Lights as I ordaine Thir Office in the Firmament of Heav'n To give Light on the Earth and it was so And God made two great Lights great for thir use To Man the greater to have rule by Day The less by Night alterne and made the Starrs And set them in the Firmament of Heav'n To illuminate the Earth and rule the Day In thir vicissitude and rule the Night And Light from Darkness to divide God saw Surveying his great Work that it was good For of Celestial Bodies first the Sun A mightie Spheare he fram'd unlightsom first Though of Ethereal Mould then form'd the Moon Globose and every magnitude of Starrs And sowd with Starrs the Heav'n thick as a field Of Light by farr the greater part he took Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine and plac'd In the Suns Orb made porous to receive And drink the liquid Light firm to retaine Her gather'd beams great Palace now of Light Hither as to thir Fountain other Starrs Repairing in thir gold'n Urns draw Light And hence the Morning Planet guilds her horns By tincture or reflection they augment Thir small peculiar though from human sight So farr remote with diminution seen First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen Regent of Day and all th' Horizon round Invested with bright Rayes jocond to run His Longitude through Heav'ns high rode the gray Dawn and the Pleiades before him danc'd Shedding sweet influence less bright the Moon But opposite in leveld West was set His mirror with full face borrowing her Light From him for other light she needed none In that aspect and still that distance keepes Till night then in the East her turn she shines Revolvd on Heav'ns great Axle and her Reign With thousand lesser Lights dividual holds With thousand thousand Starres that then appeer'd Spangling the Hemisphere then first adornd With thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose Glad Eevning and glad Morn crownd the fourth day And God said let the Waters generate Reptil with Spawn abundant living Soule And let Fowle flie above the Earth with wings Displayd on the op'n Firmament of Heav'n And God created the great Whales and each Soul living each that crept which plenteously The waters generated by thir kindes And every Bird of wing after his kinde And saw that it was good and bless'd them saying Be fruitful multiply and in the Seas And Lakes and running Streams the waters fill And let the Fowle be multiply'd on the Earth Forthwith the Sounds and Seas each Creek and Bay With Frie innumerable swarme and Shoales Of Fish that with thir Finns and shining Scales Glide under the green Wave in Sculles that oft Bank the mid Sea part single or with mate Graze the Sea weed thir pasture and through Groves Of Coral stray or sporting with quick glance Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease attend Moist nutriment or under Rocks thir food In jointed Armour watch on smooth the Seale And bended Dolphins play part huge of bulk Wallowing unweildie enormous in thir Gate Tempest the Ocean there Leviathan Hugest of living Creatures on the Deep Stretcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes And seems a moving Land and at his Gilles Draws in and at his Trunck spouts our a Sea Mean while the tepid Caves and Fens and shoares Thir Brood as numerous hatch from the Egg that soon Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd Thir callow young but featherd soon and fledge They summ'd thir Penns and soaring th' air sublime With clang despis'd the ground under a cloud In prospect there the Eagle and the Stork On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build Part loosly wing the Region part more wise In common rang'd in figure wedge thir way Intelligent of seasons and set forth Thir Aierie Caravan high over Sea's Flying and over Lands with mutual wing Easing thir flight so stears the prudent Craneâ— Her annual Voiage born on Windes the Aire Floats as they pass fann'd with unnumber'd plumes From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with song Solac'd the Woods and spred thir painted wings Till Ev'n nor then the solemn Nightingal Ceas'd warbling but all night tun'd her soft layes Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath'd Thir downie Brest the Swan with Arched neck Between her white wings mantling proudly Rowes Her state with Oarie feet yet oft they quit The Dank and rising on stiff Pennons towre The mid Aereal Skie Others on ground Walk'd firm the crested Cock whose clarion sounds The silent hours and th' other whose gay Traine Adorns him colour'd with the Florid hue Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes The Waters thus With Fish replenisht and the Aire with Fowle Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fift day The Sixt and of Creation last arose With Eevning Harps and Martin when God said Let th' Earth bring forth Foul living in her kinde Cattel and Creeping things and Beast of the Earth Each in their kinde The Earth obey'd and strait Op'ning her fertil Woomb teem'd at a Birth Innumerous living Creatures perfet formes Limb'd and full grown out of the ground up rose As from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonns In Forrest wilde in Thicket Brake or Den Among the Trees in Pairs they rose they walk'd The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green Those rare and solitarie these in flocks Pasturing at once and in broad Herds upsprung The grassie Clods now Calv'd now half appeer'd The Tawnie Lion pawing to get free His hinder parts then springs as broke from Bonds And Rampant shakes his Brinded main the Ounce The Libbard and the Tyger as the Moale Rising the crumbl'd Earth above them threw In Hillocks the swift Stag from under ground Bore up his branching head scarse from his mould Behemoth biggest born of Earth upheav'd His vastness Fleec't the Flocks and bleating rose As Plants ambiguous between Sea and Land The River Horse and scalie Crocodile At once came forth whatever creeps the ground Insect or Worme those wav'd thir limber fans For wings and smallest Lineaments exact In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride With spots of Gold and Purple azure and green These as a line thir long dimension drew Streaking the ground with sinuous trace not all Minims of Nature some of Serpent kinde Wondrous in length and corpulence involv'd Thir Snakie foulds and added wings First crept The Parsimonious Emmet provident Of future in small room large heart enclos'd Pattern of just equalitie perhaps Hereafter join'd in her popular Tribes Of Commonaltie swarming next appeer'd The Female Bee that feeds her Husband Drone Deliciously and builds her waxen Cells With Honey stor'd the rest are numberless And thou thir Natures know'st gav'st them Names Needlest to thee repeated nor unknown The Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field Of huge extent somtimes with brazen Eyes And hairie Main terrific though
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-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
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
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
Hills then shall this Mount Of Paradise by might of Waves be moovd Out of his place pushd by the horned floud With all his verdure spoil'd and Trees adrift Down the great River to the op'ning Gulf And there take root an Iland salt and bare The haunt of Seales and Orcs and Sea-mews clang To teach thee that God attributes to place No sanctitie if none be thither brought By Men who there frequent or therein dwell And now what further shall ensue behold He lookd and saw the Ark hull on the floud Which now abated for the Clouds were fled Drivn by a keen North-winde that blowing drie Wrinkl'd the face of Deluge as decai'd And the deer Sun on his wide watrie Glass Gaz'd hot and of the fresh Wave largely drew As after thirst which made thir flowing shrink From standing lake to tripping ebbe that stole With soft foot towards the deep who now had stopt His Sluces as the Heav'n his windows shut The Ark no more now flotes but seems on ground Fast on the top of som high mountain fixt And now the tops of Hills as Rocks appeer With clamor thence the rapid Currents drive Towards the retreating Sea thir furious tyde Forthwith from out the Arke a Raven flies And after him the furer messenger A Dove sent forth once and agen to spie Green Tree or ground whereon his foot may light The second time returning in his Bill An Olive leafe he brings pacific signe Anon drie ground appeers and from his Arke The ancient Sire descends with all his Train Then with uplifted hands and eyes devout Grateful to Heav'n over his head beholds A dewie Cloud and in the Cloud a Bow Conspicuous with three listed colours gay Betok'ning peace from God and Cov'nant new Whereat the heart of Adam erst so sad Greatly rejoyc'd and thus his joy broke forth O thou who future things canst represent As present Heav'nly instructer I revive At this last sight assur'd that Man shall live With all the Creatures and thir seed preserve Farr less I now lament for one whole World Of wicked Sons destroyd then I rejoyce For one Man found so perfet and so just That God voutsafes to raise another World From him and all his anger to forget But say what mean those colourd streaks in Heavn Distended as the Brow of God appeas'd Or serve they as a flourie verge to binde The fluid skirts of that same watrie Cloud Least it again dissolve and showr the Earth To whom th' Archangel Dextrously thou aim'st So willingly doth God remit his Ire Though late repenting him of Mandeprav'd Griev'd at his heart when looking down he saw The whole Earth fill'd with violence and all flesh Corrupting each thir way yet those remoov'd Such grace shall one just Man find in his sight That he relents nor to blot out mankind And makes a Covenant never to destroy The Earth again by flood nor let the Sea Surpass his bounds nor Rain to drown the World With Man therein or Beast but when he brings Over the Earth a Cloud will therein set His triple-colour'd Bow whereon to look And call to mind his Cov'nant Day and Night Seed time and Harvest Heat and hoary Frost Shall hold thir course till fire purge all things new Both Heav'n and Earth wherein the just shall dwell The End of the Eleventh Book Paradise Lost BOOK XII THE ARGUMENT The Angel Michael continues from the Flood to relate what shall succeed then in the mention of Abraham comes by degrees to explain who that Seed of the Woman shall be which was promised Adam and Eve in the Fall his Incarnation Death Resurrection and Ascention the state of the Church till his second Coming Adam greatly satisfied and recomforted by these Relations and Promises descends the Hill with Michael wakens Eve who all this while had slept but with gentle dreams compos'd to quietness of mind and submission Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradise the fiery Sword waving behind them and the Cherubim taking thir Stations to guard the Place AS one who in his journey bates at Noone Though bent on speed so heer the Archangel paus'd Betwixt the world destroy'd and world restor'd If Adam aught perhaps might interpose Then with transition sweet new Speech resumes Thus thou hast seen one World begin and end And Man as from a second stock proceed Much thou hast yet to see but I perceave Thy mortal sight to faile objects divine Must needs impaire and wearie human sense Henceforth what is to com I will relate Thou therefore give due audience and attend This second sours of Men while yet but few And while the dread of judgement past remains Fresh in thir mindes fearing the Deitie With some regard to what is just and right Shall lead thir lives and multiplie apace Labouring the soile and reaping plenteous crop Corn wine and oyle and from the herd or flock Oft sacrificing Bullock Lamb or Kid With large Wine-offerings pour'd and sacred Feast Shal spend thir dayes in joy unblam'd and dwell Long time in peace by Families and Tribes Under paternal rule till one shall rise Of proud ambitious heart who nor content With fair equalitie fraternal state Will arrogate Dominion undeserv'd Over his brethren and quite dispossess Concord and law of Nature from the Earth Hunting and Men not Beasts shall be his game With Warr and hostile snare such as refuse Subjection to his Empire tyrannous A mightie Hunter thence he shall be styl'd Before the Lord as in despite of Heav'n Or from Heav'n claming second Sovrantie And from Rebellion shall derive his name Though of Rebellion others he accuse Hee with a crew whom like Ambition joyns With him or under him to tyrannize Marching from Eden towards the West shall finde The Plain wherein a black bituminous gurge Boiles out from under ground the mouth of Hell Of Brick and of that stuff they cast to build A Citie and Towre whose top may reach to Heav'n And get themselves a name least far disperst In foraign Lands thir memorie be lost Regardless whether good or evil fame But God who oft descends to visit men Unseen and through thir habitations walks To mark thir doings them beholding soon Comes down to see thir Citie ere the Tower Obstruct Heav'n Towrs and in derision sets Upon thir Tongues a various Spirit to rase Quite out thir Native Language and instead To sow a jangling noise of words unknown Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud Among the Builders each to other calls Not understood till hoarse and all in rage As mockt they storm great laughter was in Heav'n And looking down to see the hubbub strange And hear the din thus was the building left Ridiculous and the work Confusion nam'd Whereto thus Adam fatherly displeas'd O execrable Son so to aspire Above his Brethren to himself assuming Authoritie usurpt from God not giv'n He gave us onely over Beast Fish Fowl Dominion absolute that right we hold By his donation
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
so much to him due Of hazard more as he above the rest High honourd sits Go therfore mighty Powers Terror of Heav'n though fall'n intend at home While here shall be our home what best may ease The present misery and render Hell More tollerable if there be cure or charm To respite or deceive or slack the pain Of this ill Mansion intermit no watch Against a wakeful Foe while I abroad Through all the Coasts of dark destruction seek Deliverance for us all this enterprize None shall partake with me Thus saying rose The Monarch and prevented all reply Prudent least from his resolution rais'd Others among the chief might offer now Certain to be refus'd what erst they feard And so refus'd might in opinion stand His Rivals winning cheap the high repute Which he through hazard huge must earn But they Dreaded not more th' adventure then his voice Forbidding and at once with him they rose Thir rising all at once was as the sound Of Thunder heard remote Towards him they bend With awful reverence prone and as a God Extoll him equal to the highest in Heav'n Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd That for the general safety he despis'd His own for neither do the Spirits damn'd Loose all her virtue least bad men should boast Thir specious deeds on earth which glory excites Or clos ambition varnisht o're with zeal Thus they thir doubtful consultations dark Ended rejoycing in thir matchless Chief As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds Ascending while the North wind sleeps o'respread Heav'ns chearful face the lowring Element Scowls ore the dark'nd lantskip Snow or showre If chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet Extend his ev'ning beam the fields revive The birds thir notes renew and bleating herds Attest thir joy that hill and valley rings O shame to men Devil with Devil damn'd Firm concord holds men onely disagree Of Creatures rational though under hope Of heavenly Grace and God proclaiming peace Yet live in hatred enmity and strife Among themselves and levie cruel warres Wasting the Earth each other to destroy As if which might induce us to accord Man had not hellish foes a now besides That day and night for his destruction waite The Stygian Counsel thus dissolv'd and forth In order came the grand infernal Peers Midst came thir mighty Paramount and seemd Alone th' Antagonist of Heav'n nor less Than Hells dread Emperour with pomp Supream And God-like imitated State him round A Globe of fierie Seraphim inclos'd With bright imblazonrie and horrent Arms. Then of thir Session ended they bid cry With Trumpets regal sound the great result Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim Put to thir mouths the sounding Alchymie By Haralds voice explain'd the hollow Abyss Heard farr and wide and all the host of Hell With deafning shout return'd them loud acclaim Thence more at ease thir minds and somwhat rais'd By false presumptuous hope the ranged powers Disband and wandring each his several way Pursues as inclination or sad choice Leads him perplext where he may likeliest find Truce to his restless thoughts and entertain The irksom hours till this great Chief return Part on the Plain or in the Air sublime Upon the wing or in swift Rare contend As at th' Olympian Games or Pythian fields Part curb thir fierie Steeds or shun the Goal With rapid wheels or fronted Brigads form As when to warn proud Cities warr appears Wag'd in the troubl'd Skie and Armies rush To Battel in the Clouds before each Van Prick forth the Aerie Knights and couch thir Spears Till thickest Legions close with feats of Arms From either end of Heav'n the welkin burns Others with vast Typhoean rage more fell Rend up both Rocks and Hills and ride the Air In whirlwind Hell scarce holds the wilde uproar As when Alcides from Oechalia Crown'd With conquest felt th' envenom'd robe and tore Through pain up by the roots Thessalian Pines And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw Into th' Euboic Sea Others more milde Retreated in a silent valley sing With notes Angelical to many a Harp Thir own Heroic deeds and hapless fall By doom of Battel and complain that Fate Free Vertue should enthrall to Force or Chance Thir Song was partial but the harmony What could it less when Spirits immortal sing Suspended Hell and took with ravishment The thronging audience In discourse more sweet For Eloquence the Soul Song charms the Sense Others apart sat on a Hill retir'd In thoughts more elevate and reason'd high Of Providence Foreknowledge Will and Fate Fixt Fate free will foreknowledg absolute And found no end in wandring mazes lost Of good and evil much they argu'd then Of happiness and final misery Passion and Apathie and glory and shame Vain wisdom all and false Philosophie Yet with a pleasing sorcerie could charm Pain for a while or anguish and excite Fallacious hope or arm th' obdured brest With stubborn patience as with triple steel Another part in Squadrons and gross Bands On bold adventure to discover wide That dismal world if any Clime perhaps Might yield them easier habitation bend Four ways thir flying March along the Banks Of four infernal Rivers that disgorge Into the burning Lake thir baleful streams Abhorred Styx the flood of deadly hate Sad Acheron of sorrow black and deep Cocytus nam'd of lamentation loud Heard on the ruful stream fierce Phlegeton Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage Farr off from these a slow and silent stream Lethe the River of Oblivion roules Her watrie Labyrinth whereof who drinks Forthwith his former state and being forgets Forgets both joy and grief pleasure and pain Beyond this flood a frozen Continent Lies dark and wilde beat with perpetual storms Of Whirlwind and dire Hail which on firm land Thaws not but gathers heap and ruin seems Of ancient pile all else deep snow and ice A gulf profound as that Serbonian Bog Betwixt Damiata and mount Casius old Where Armies whole have sunk the parching Air Burns frore and cold performs th' effect of Fire Thither by harpy-footed Furies hail'd At certain revolutions all the damn'd Are brought and feel by turns the bitter change Of fierce extreams extreams by change more fierce From Beds of raging Fire to starve in Ice Thir soft Ethereal warmth and there to pine Immovable infixt and frozen round Periods of time thence hurried back to fire They ferry over this Lethean Sound Both to and fro thir sorrow to augment And wish and struggle as they pass to reach The tempting stream with one small drop to loose In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe All in one moment and so neer the brink But Fate withstands and to oppose th' attempt Medusa with Gorgonian terror guards The Ford and of it self the water flies All taste of living wight as once it fled The lip of Tantalus Thus roving on In confus'd march forlorn th' adventrous Bands With shuddring horror pale and eyes agast View'd
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
meek surrender half Embracing leand On our first Father half her swelling Breast Naked met his under the flowing Gold Of her loose tresses hid he in delight Both of her Beauty and submissive Charms Smil'd with superior Love as Jupiter On Juno smiles when he impregns the Clouds That shed May Flowers and press'd her Matron lip With kisses pure aside the Devil turnd For envie yet with jealous leer maligne Ey'd them askance and to himself thus plaind Sight hateful sight tormenting thus these two Imparadis't in one anothers arms The happier Eden shall enjoy thir fill Of bliss on bliss while I to Hell am thrust Where neither joy nor love but fierce desire Among our other torments not the least Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd From thir own mouths all is not theirs it seems One fatal Tree there stands of Knowledge call'd Forbidden them to taste Knowledge forbidd'n Suspicious reasonless Why should thir Lord Envie them that can it be sin to know Can it be death and do they onely stand By Ignorance is that thir happie state The proof of thir obedience and thir faith O fair foundation laid whereon to build Thir ruine Hence I will excite thir minds With more desire to know and to reject Envious commands invented with designe To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt Equal with Gods aspiring to be such They taste and die what likelier can ensue But first with narrow search I must walk round This Garden and no corner leave unspi'd A chance but chance may lead where I may meet Some wandring Spirit of Heav'n by Fountain side Or in thick shade retir'd from him to draw What further would be learnt Live while ye may Yet happie pair enjoy till I return Short pleasures for long woes are to succeed So saying his proud step he scornful turn'd But with sly circumspection and began Through wood through waste o're hill o're dale his roam Mean while in utmost Longitude where Heav'n With Earth and Ocean meets the setting Sun Slowly descended and with right aspect Against the eastern Gate of Paradise Leveld his eevning Rayes it was a Rock Of Alablaster pil'd up to the Clouds Conspicuous farr winding with one ascent Accessible from Earth one entrance high The rest was craggie cliff that overhung Still as it rose impossible to climbe Betwixt these rockie Pillars Gabriel sat Chief of th' Angelic Guards awaiting night About him exercis'd Heroic Games Th' unarmed Youth of Heav'n but nigh at hand Celestial Armourie Shields Helmes and Speares Hung high with Diamond flaming and with Gold Thither came Vriel gliding through the Eeven On a Sun beam swift as a shooting Starr In Autumn thwarts the night when vapors fir'd Impress the Air and shews the Mariner From what point of his Compass to beware Impetuous winds he thus began in haste Gabriel to thee thy course by Lot hath giv'n Charge and strict watch that to this happie Place No evil thing approach or enter in This day at highth of Noon came to my Spheare A Spirit zealous as he seem'd to know More of th' Almighties works and chiefly Man Gods latest Image I describ'd his way Bent all on speed and markt his Aerie Gate But in the Mount that lies from Eden North Where he first lighted soon discernd his looks Alien from Heav'n with passions foul obscur'd Mine eye pursu'd him still but under shade Lost sight of him one of the banisht crew I fear hath ventur'd from the deep to raise New troubles him thy care must be to find To whom the winged Warriour thus returnd Vriel no wonder if thy perfet sight Amid the Suns bright circle where thou first See farr and wide in at this Gate none pass The vigilance here plac't but such as come Well known from Heav'n and since Meridian hour No Creature thence if Spirit of other sort So minded have ore leapt these earthie bounds On purpose hard thou knowst it to exclude Spiritual substance with corporeal barr But if within the circuit of these walks In whatsoever shape he lurk of whom Thou tellst by morrow dawning I shall know So promis'd hee and Vriel to his charge Returnd on that bright beam whose point now raisd Bore him slope downward to the Sun now fall'n Beneath th' Azores whither the prime Orb Incredible how swift had thither rowl'd Diurnal or this less volubil Earth By shorter flight to th' East had left him there Arraying with reflected Purple and Gold The Clouds that on his Western Throne attend Now came still Eevning on and Twilight gray Had in her sober Liverie all things clad Silence accompanied for Beast and Bird They to thir grassie Couch these to thir Nests Were slunk all but the wakeful Nightingale She all night long her amorous descant sung Silence was pleas'd now glow'd the Firmament With living Saphirs Hesperus that led The starrie Host rode brightest till the Moon Rising in clouded Majestie at length Apparent Queen unvaild her peerless light And o're the dark her Silver Mantle threw When Adam thus to Eve Fair Consort th' hour Of night and all things now retir'd to rest Mind us of like repose since God hath set Labour and rest as day and night to men Successive and the timely dew of sleep Now falling with soft slumbrous weight inclines Our eye-lids other Creatures all day long Rove idle unimploid and less need rest Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed which declares his Dignitie And the regard of Heav'n on all his waies While other Animals unactive range And of thir doings God takes no account To morrow ere fresh Morning streak the East With first approach of light we must be ris'n And at our pleasant labour to reform Yon flourie Arbors yonder Allies green Our walk at noon with branches overgrown That mock our scant manuring and require More hands then ours to lop thir wanton growth Those Blossoms also and those dropping Gumms That lie bestrowne unsightly and unsmooth Ask riddance if we mean to tread with ease Mean while as Nature wills Night bids us rest To whom thus Eve with perfet beauty adornd My Author and Disposer what thou bidst Unargu'd I obey so God ordains God is thy Law thou mine to know no more Is womans happiest knowledge and her praise With thee conversing I forget all time All seasons and thir change all please alike Sweet is the breath of morn her rising sweet With charm of earliest Birds pleasant the Sun When first on this delightful Land he spreads His orient Beams on herb tree fruit and flour Glistring with dew fragrant the fertil earth After soft showers and sweet the coming on Of grateful Eevning milde then silent Night With this her solemn Bird and this fair Moon And these the Gemms of Heav'n her starrie train But neither breath of Morn when she ascends With charm of earliest Birds nor rising Sun On this delightful land nor herb fruit floure Glistring
captive talk of chaines Proud limitarie Cherube but ere then Farr heavier load thy self expect to feel From my prevailing arme though Heavens King Ride on thy wings and thou with thy Compeers Us'd to the yoak draw'st his triumphant wheels In progress through the rode of Heav'n Star-pav'd While thus he spake th' Angelic Squadron bright Turnd fierie red sharpning in mooned hornes Thir Phalanx and began to hemm him round With ported Spears as thick as when a field Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends Her bearded Grove of ears which way the wind Swayes them the careful Plowman doubting stands Least on the threshing floore his hopeful sheaves Prove chaff On th' other side Satan allarm'd Collecting all his might dilated stood Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd His stature reacht the Skie and on his Crest Sat horror Plum'd nor wanted in his graspe What seemd both Spear and Shield now dreadful deeds Might have ensu'd nor onely Paradise In this commotion but the Starrie Cope Of Heav'n perhaps or all the Elements At least had gon to rack disturbd and torne With violence of this conflict had not soon Th' Eternal to prevent such horrid fray Hung forth in Heav'n his golden Scales yet seen Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion signe Wherein all things created first he weighd The pendulous round Earth with ballanc't Aire In counterpoise now ponders all events Battels and Realms in these he put two weights The sequel each of parting and of fight The latter quick up flew and kickt the beam Which Gabriel spying thus bespake the Fiend Satan I know thy strength and thou knowst mine Neither our own but giv'n what follie then To boast what Arms can doe since thine no more Then Heav'n permits nor mine though doubld now To trample thee as mire for proof look up And read thy Lot in yon celestial Sign Where thou art weigh'd and shown how light how weak If thou resist The Fiend lookt up and knew His mounted scale aloft nor more but fled Murmuring and with him fled the shades of night The End of the Fourth Book Paradise Lost BOOK V. THE ARGUMENT Morning approach't Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream he likes it not yet comforts her They come forth to thir day labours Thir Morning Hymn at the Door of thir Bower God to render Man inexcusable sends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience of his free estate of his enemy near at hand who he is and why his enemy and whatever else may avail Adam to know Raphael comes down to Paradise his appearance describ'd his coming discern'd by Adam afar off sitting at the door of his Bower he goes out to meet him brings him to his lodge entertains him with the choycest fruits of Paradise got together by Eve thir discourse at Table Raphael performs his message minds Adam of his state and of his enemy relates at Adams request who that enemy is and how he came to be so beginning from his first revolt in Heaven and the occasion thereof how he drew his Legions after him to the parts of the North and there incited them to rebel with him perswading all but only Abdiel a Seraph who in Argument diswades and opposes him then forsakes him NOw Morn her rosie steps in th' Eastern Clime Advancing sow'd the earth with Orient Pearle When Adam wak't so customd for his sleep Was Aerie light from pure digestion bred And temperat vapors bland which th' only sound Of leaves and fuming rills Aurora's fan Lightly dispers'd and the shrill Matin Song Of Birds on every bough so much the more His wonder was to find unwak'nd Eve With Tresses discompos'd and glowing Cheek As through unquiet rest he on his side Leaning half-rais'd with looks of cordial Love Hung over her enamour'd and beheld Beautie which whether waking or asleep Shot forth peculiar Graces then with voice Milde as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes Her hand soft touching whisperd thus Awake My fairest my espous'd my latest found Heav'ns last best gift my ever new delight Awake the morning shines and the fresh field Calls us we lose the prime to mark how spring Our tended Plants how blows the Citron Grove What drops the Myrrhe and what the balmie Reed How Nature paints her colours how the Bee Sits on the Bloom extracting liquid sweet Such whispering wak'd her but with startl'd eye On Adam whom imbracing thus she spake O Sole in whom my thoughts find all repose My Glorie my Perfection glad I see Thy face and Morn return'd for I this Night Such night till this I never pass'd have dream'd If dream'd not as I oft am wont of thee Works of day pass't or morrows next designe But of offence and trouble which ray mind Knew never till this irksom night methought Close at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk With gentle voice I thought it thine it said Why sleepst thou Eve now is the pleasant time The cool the silent save where silence yields To the night-warbling Bird that now awake Tunes sweetest his love-labor'd song now reignes Full Orb'd the Moon and with more pleasing light Shadowie sets off the face of things in vain If none regard Heav'n wakes with all his eyes Whom to behold but thee Natures desire In whose sight all things joy with ravishment Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze I rose as at thy call but found thee not To find thee I directed then my walk And on methought alone I pass'd through ways That brought me on a sudden to the Tree Of interdicted Knowledge fair it seem'd Much fairer to my Fancie then by day And as I wondring lookt beside it stood One shapâ—d and wing'd like one of those from Heav'n By us oft seen his dewie locks distill'd Ambrosia on that Tree he also gaz'd And O fair Plant said he with fruit surcharg'd Deigns none to ease thy load and taste thy sweet Nor God nor Man is Knowledge so despis'd Or envie or what reserve forbids to taste Forbid who will none shall from me withhold Longer thy offerd good why else set here This said he paus'd not but with ventrous Arme He pluckt he tasted mee damp horror chil'd At such bold words voucht with a deed so bold But he thus overjoy'd O Fruit Divine Sweet of thy self but much more sweet thus cropt Forbidd'n here it seems as onely fit For God's yet able to make Gods of Men And why not Gods of Men since good the more Communicated more abundant growes The Author not impair'd but honourd more Here happie Creature fair Angelic Eve Partake thou also happie though thou art Happier thou mayst be worthier canst not be Taste this and be henceforth among the Gods Thy self a Goddess not to Earth confind But somtimes in the Air as wee somtimes Ascend to Heav'n by merit thine and see What life the Gods live there and such live thou So saying he drew nigh and to me held Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part Which he had pluckt
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
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'
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
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
safetie guided down Return me to my Native Element Least from this flying Steed unrein'd as once Bellerophon though from a lower Clime Dismounted on th' Aleian Field I fall Erroneous there to wander and forlorne Half yet remaines unsung but narrower bound Within the visible Diurnal Spheare Standing on Earth not rapt above the Pole More safe I Sing with mortal voice unchang'd To hoarce or mute though fall'n on evil dayes On evil dayes though fall'n and evil tongues In darkness and with dangers compast round And solitude yet not alone while thou Visit'st my slumbers Nightly or when Morn Purples the East still govern thou my Song Vrania and fit audience find though few But drive farr off the barbarous dissonance Of Bacchus and his revellers the Race Of that wilde Rout that tore the Thracian Bard In Rhodope where Woods and Rocks had Eares To rapture till the savage clamor dround Both Harp and Voice nor could the Muse defend Her Son So fail not thou who thee implores For thou art Heav'nlie shee an empty dreame Say Goddess what ensu'd when Raphael The affable Arch-Angel had forewarn'd Adam by dire example to beware Apostasie by what befell in Heaven To those Apostates least the like befall In Paradise to Adam or his Race Charg'd not to touch the interdicted Tree If they transgress and slight that sole command So easily obeyd amid the choice Of all tastes else to please thir appetite Though wandring He with his consorted Eve The storie heard attentive and was fill'd With admiration and deep Muse to heare Of things so high and strange things to thir thought So unimaginable as hate in Heav'n And Warr so neer the Peace of God in bliss With such confusion but the evil soon Driv'n back redounded as a flood on those From whom it sprung impossible to mix With Blessedness Whence Adam soon repeal'd The doubts that in his heart arose and now Led on yet sinless with desire to know What neerer might concern him how this World Of Heav'n and Earth conspicious first began When and whereof created for what cause What within Eden or without was done Before his memorie as one whose drouth Yet scarce allay'd still eyes the current streame Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites Proceeded thus to ask his Heav'nly Guest Great things and full of wonder in our eares Farr differing from this World thou hast reveal'd Divine interpreter by favour sent Down from the Empyrean to forewarne Us timely of what might else have bin our loss Unknown which human knowledg could not reach For which to the infinitly Good we owe Immortal thanks and his admonishment Receave with solemne purpose to observe Immutably his sovran will the end Of what we are But since thou hast voutsaf't Gently for our instruction to impart Things above Earthly thought which yet concernd Our knowing as to highest wisdom seemd Deign to descend now lower and relate What may no less perhaps availe us known How first began this Heav'n which we behold Distant so high with moving Fires adornd Innumerable and this which yeelds or fills All space the ambient Aire wide interfus'd Imbracing round this florid Earth what cause Mov'd the Creator in his holy Rest Through all Eternitie so late to build In Chaos and the work begun how soon Absolv'd if unforbid thou maist unfould What wee not to explore the secrets aske Of his Eternal Empire but the more To magnifie his works the more we know And the great Light of Day yet wants to run Much of his Race though steep suspens in Heav'n Held by thy voice thy potent voice he heares And longer will delay to heare thee tell His Generation and the rising Birth Of Nature from the unapparent Deep Or if the Starr of Eevning and the Moon Haste to thy audience Night with her will bring Silence and Sleep listning to thee will watch Or we can bid his absence till thy Song End and dismiss thee ere the Morning shine Thus Adam his illustrious Guest besought And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde This also thy request with caution askt Obtaine thought to recount Almightie works What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice Or heart of man suffice to comprehend Yet what thou canst attain which best may serve To glorifie the Maker and inferr Thee also happier shall not be withheld Thy hearing such Commission from above I have receav'd to answer thy desire Of knowledge within bounds beyond abstain To ask nor let thine own inventions hope Things not reveal'd which th' invisible King Onely Omniscient hath supprest in Night To none communicable in Earth or Heaven Anough is left besides to search and know But Knowledge is as food and needs no less Her Temperance over Appetite to know In measure what the mind may well contain Oppresses else with Surfet and soon turns Wisdom to Folly as Nourishment to Winde Know then that after Lucifer from Heav'n So call him brighter once amidst the Host Of Angels then that Starr the Starrs among Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep Into his place and the great Son returnd Victorious with his Saints th' Omnipotent Eternal Father from his Throne beheld Thir multitude and to his Son thus spake At least our envious Foe hath fail'd who thought All like himself rebellious by whose aid This inaccessible high strength the seat Of Deitie supream us dispossest He trusted to have seis'd and into fraud Drew many whom thir place knows here no more Yet farr the greater part have kept I see Thir station Heav'n yet populous retaines Number sufficient to possess her Realmes Though wide and this high Temple to frequent With Ministeries due and solemn Rites But least his heart exalt him in the harme Already done to have dispeopl'd Heav'n My damage fondly deem'd I can repaire That detriment if such it be to lose Self-lost and in a moment will create Another World out of one man a Race Of men innumerable there to dwell Not here till by degrees of merit rais'd They open to themselves at length the way Up hither under long obedience tri'd And Earth be chang'd to Heav'n Heav'n to Earth One Kingdom Joy and Union without end Mean while inhabit laxe ye Powers of Heav'n And thou my Word begotten Son by thee This I perform speak thou and be it don My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee I send along ride forth and bid the Deep Within appointed bounds be Heav'n and Earth Boundless the Deep because I am who fill Infinitude nor vacuous the space Though I uncircumscrib'd ray self retire And put not forth my goodness which is free To act or not Necessitie and Chance Approach not mee and what I will is Fate So spake th' Almightie and to what he spake His Word the filial Godhead gave effect Immediate are the Acts of God more swift Then time or motion but to human ears Cannot without process of speech be told So told as earthly notion can receave Great triumph
to thee Not noxious but obedient at thy call Now Heav'n in all her Glorie shon and rowld Her motions as the great first-Movers hand First wheeld thir course Earth in her rich attire Consummate lovly smil'd Aire Water Earth By Fowl Fish Beast was flown was swum was walkt Frequent and of the Sixt day yet remain'd There wanted yet the Master work the end Of all yet don a Creature who not prone And Brute as other Creatures but endu'd With Sanctitie of Reason might erect His Stature and upright with Front serene Govern the rest self-knowing and from thence Magnanimous to correspond with Heav'n But grateful to acknowledge whence his good Descends thither with heart and voice and eyes Directed in Devotion to adore And worship God Supream who made him chief Of all his works therefore the Omnipotent Eternal Father For where is not hee Present thus to his Son audibly spake Let us make now Man in our image Man In our similitude and let them rule Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire Beast of the Field and over all the Earth And every creeping thing that creeps the ground This said he formd thee Adam thee O Man Dust of the ground and in thy nostrils breath'd The breath of Life in his own Image hee Created thee in the Image of God Express and thou becam'st a living Soul Male he created thee but thy consort Female for Race then bless'd Mankinde and said Be fruitful multiplie and fill the Earth Subdue it and throughout Dominion hold Over Fish of the Sea and Fowle of the Aire And every living thing that moves on the Earth Wherever thus created for no place Is yet distinct by name thence as thou know'st He brought thee into this delicious Grove This Garden planted with the Trees of God Delectable both to behold and taste And freely all thir pleasant fruit for food Gave thee all sorts are here that all th' Earth yields Varietie without end but of the Tree Which tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil Thou mai'st not in the day thou eat'st thou di'st Death is the penaltie impos'd beware And govern well thy appetite least sin Surprise thee and her black attendant Death Here finish'd hee and all that he had made View'd and behold all was entirely good So Ev'n and Morn accomplish'd the Sixt day Yet not till the Creator from his work Desisting though unwearied up returnd Up to the Heav'n of Heav'ns his high abode Thence to behold this new created World Th' addition of his Empire how it shew'd In prospect from his Throne how good how faire Answering his great Idea Up he rode Followd with acclamation and the sound Symphonious of ten thousand Harpes that tun'd Angelic harmonies the Earth the Aire Resounded thou remember'st for thou heardst The Heav'ns and all the Constellations rung The Planets in thir station list'-ning stood While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant Open ye everlasting Gates they sung Open ye Heav'ns your living dores let in The great Creator from his work returnd Magnificent his Six days work a World Open and henceforth oft for God will deigne To visit oft the dwellings of just Men Delighted and with frequent intercourse Thither will send his winged Messengers On errands of supernal Grace So sung The glorious Train ascending He through Heav'n That open'd wide her blazing Portals led To Gods Eternal house direct the way A broad and ample rode whose dust is Gold And pavement Starrs as Starrs to thee appeer Seen in the Galaxie that Milkie way Which nightly as a circling Zone thou seest Pouderd with Starrs And now on Earth the Seventh Eev'ning arose in Eden for the Sun Was set and twilight from the East came on Forerunning Night when at the holy mount Of Heav'ns high-seated top th' Impereal Throne Of Godhead fixt for ever firm and sure The Filial Power arriv'd and sate him down With his great Father for be also went Invisible yet staid such priviledge Hath Omnipresence and the work ordain'd Author and end of all things and from work Now resting bless'd and hallowd the Seav'nth day As resting on that day from all his work But not in silence holy kept the Harp Had work and rested not the solemn Pipe And Dulcimer all Organs of sweet stop All sounds on Fret by String or Golden Wire Temper'd soft Tunings intermixt with Voice Choral or Unison of incense Clouds Fuming from Golden Censers hid the Mount Creation and the Six dayes acts they sung Great are thy works Jehovah infinite Thy power what thought can measure thee or tongue Relate thee greater now in thy return Then from the Giant Angels thee that day Thy Thunders magnifi'd but to create Is greater then created to destroy Who can impair thee mighty King or bound Thy Empire easily the proud attempt Of Spirits apostat and thir Counsels vaine Thou hast repeld while impiously they thought Thee to diminish and from thee withdraw The number of thy worshippers Who seekes To lessen thee against his purpose serves To manifest the more thy might his evil Thou usest and from thence creat'st more good Witness this new-made World another Heav'n From Heaven Gate not farr founded in view On the cleer Hyaline the Glassie Sea Of amplitude almost immense with Starr's Numerous and every Starr perhaps a World Of destind habitation but thou know'st Thir seasons among these the seat of men Earth with her nether Ocean circumfus'd Thir pleasant dwelling place Thrice happie men And sons of men whom God hath thus advanc't Created in his Image there to dwell And worship him and in reward to rule Over his Works on Earth in Sea or Air And multiply a Race of Worshippers Holy and just thrice happie if they know Thir happiness and persevere upright So sung they and the Empyrean rung With Halleluiahs Thus was Sabbath kept And thy request think now fulfill'd that ask'd How first this World and face of things began And what before thy memorie was don From the beginning that posteritie Informd by thee might know if else thou seekst Aught not surpassing human measure say The End of the Seventh Book Paradise Lost BOOK VIII THE ARGUMENT Adam inquires concerning celestial Motions is doubtfully answer'd and exhorted to search rather things more worthy of knowledg Adam assents and still desirous to detain Raphael relates to him what he remember'd since his own Creation his placing in Paradise his talk with God concerning solitude and fit society his first meeting and Nuptials with Eve his discourse with the Angel thereupon who after admonitions repeated departs THE Angel ended and in Adams Eare So Charming left his voice that he a while Thought him still speaking still stood fixt to hear Then as new wak't thus gratefully repli'd What thanks sufficient or what recompence Equal have I to render thee Divine Hystorian who thus largely hast allayd The thirst I had of knowledge and voutsaf't This friendly condescention to relate Things else by me unsearchable now heard With
and thy being Dream not of other Worlds what Creatures there Live in what state condition or degree Contented that thus farr hath been reveal'd Not of Earth onely but of highest Heav'n To whom thus Adam cleerd of doubt repli'd How fully hast thou satisfi'd mee pure Intelligence of Heav'n Angel serene And freed from intricacies taught to live The easiest way nor with perplexing thoughts To interrupt the sweet of Life from which God hath bid dwell farr off all anxious cares And not molest us unless we our selves Seek them with wandring thoughts and notions vain But apt the Mind or Fancie is to roave Uncheckt and of her roaving is no end Till warn'd or by experience taught she learne That not to know at large of things remote From use obscure and suttle but to know That which before us lies in daily life Is the prime Wisdom what is more is fume Or emptiness or fond impertinence And renders us in things that most concerne Unpractis'd unprepar'd and still to seek Therefore from this high pitch let us descend A lower flight and speak of things at hand Useful whence haply mention may arise Of somthing not unseasonable to ask By sufferance and thy wonted favour deign'd Thee I have heard relating what was don Ere my remembrance now hear mee relate My Storie which perhaps thou hast not heard And Day is yet not spent till then thou seest How suttly to detaine thee I devise Inviting thee to hear while I relate Fond were it not in hope of thy reply For while I sit with thee I seem in Heav'n And sweeter thy discourse is to my eare Then Fruits of Palm-tree pleasantest to thirst And hunger both from labour at the houre Of sweet repast they satiate and soon fill Though pleasant but thy words with Grace Divine Imbu'd bring to thir sweetness no satietie To whom thus Raphael answer'd heav'nly meek Nor are thy lips ungraceful Sire of men Nor tongue ineloquent for God on thee Abandantly his gifts hath also pour'd Inward and outward both his image faire Speaking or mute all comliness and grace Attends thee and each word each motion formes Nor less think wee in Heav'n of thee on Earth Then of our fellow servant and inquire Gladly into the wayes of God with Man For God we see hath honour'd thee and set On Man his Equal Love say therefore on For I that Day was absent as befell bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure Farr on excursion toward the Gates of Hell Squar'd in full Legion such command we had To see that none thence issu'd forth a spie Or enemie while God was in his work Least hee incenst at such eruption bold Destruction with Creation might have mixt Not that they durst without his leave attempt But us he sends upon his high behests For state as Sovran King and to enure Our prompt obedience Fast we found fast shut The dismal Gates and barricado'd strong But long ere our approaching heard within Noise other then the sound of Dance or Song Torment and loud lament and surious rage Glad we return'd up to the coasts of Light Ere Sabbath Eev'ning so we had in charge But thy relation now for I attend Pleas'd with thy words no less then thou with mine So spake the Godlike Power and thus our Sire For Man to tell how human Life began Is hard for who himself beginning knew Desire with thee still longer to converse Induc'd me As new wak't from soundest sleep Soft on the flourie herb I found me laid In Balmie Sweat which with his Beames the Sun Soon dri'd and on the reaking moisture fed Strait toward Heav'n my wondring Eyes I turnd And gaz'd a while the ample Skie till rais'd By quick instinctive motion up I sprung As thitherward endevoring and upright Stood on my feet about me round I saw Hill Dale and shadie Woods and sunnie Plaines And liquid Lapse of murmuring Streams by these Creatures that livd and movd and walk'd or flew Birds on the branches warbling all things smil'd With fragrance and with joy my heart oreflow'd My self I then perus'd and Limb by Limb Survey'd and sometimes went and sometimes ran With supple joints and lively vigour led But who I was or where or from what cause Knew not to speak I tri'd and forthwith spake My Tongue obey'd and readily could name What e're I saw Thou Sun said I faire Light And thou enlight'nd Earth so fresh and gay Ye Hills and Dales ye Rivers Woods and Plaines And ye that live and move fair Creatures tell Tell if ye saw how came I thus how here Not of my self by some great Maker then In goodness and in power praeeminent Tell me how may I know him how adore From whom I have that thus I move and live And feel that I am happier then I know While thus I call'd and stray'd I knew not whither From where I first drew Aire and first beheld This happie Light when answer none return'd On a green shadie Bank profuse of Flours Pensive I sate me down there gentle sleep First found me and with soft oppression seis'd My droused sense untroubl'd though I thought I then was passing to my former state Insensible and forthwith to dissolve When suddenly stood at my Head a dream Whose inward apparition gently mov'd My fancy to believe I yet had being And livd One came methought of shape Divine And said thy Mansion wants thee Adam rise First Man of Men innumerable ordain'd First Father call'd by thee I come thy Guide To the Garden of bliss thy seat prepar'd So saying by the hand he took me rais'd And over Fields and Waters as in Aire Smooth sliding without step last led me up A woodie Mountain whose high top was plaine A Circuit wide enclos'd with goodliest Trees Planted with Walks and Bowers that what I saw Of Earth before scarce pleasant seemd Each Tree Load'n with fairest Fruit that hung to the Eye Tempting stirr'd in me sudden appetite To pluck and eate whereat I wak'd and found Before mine Eyes all real as the dream Had lively shadowd Here had new begun My wandring had not hee who was my Guide Up hither from among the Trees appeer'd Presence Divine Rejoycing but with aw In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss he rear'd me and Whom thou soughtst I am Said mildely Author of all this thou seest Above or round about thee or beneath This Paradise I give thee count it thine To Till and keep and of the Fruit to eate Of every Tree that in the Garden growes Eate freely with glad heart fear here no dearth But of the Tree whose operation brings Knowledg of good and ill which I have set The Pledge of thy Obedience and thy Faith Amid the Garden by the Tree of Life Remember what I warne thee shun to taste And shun the bitter consequence for know The day thou eat'st thereof my sole command Transgrest inevitably thou shalt dye From that day mortal and this happie State
Earth arriv'd at Heaven Gate displeas'd All were who heard dim sadness did not spare That time Celestial visages yet mixt With pitie violated not thir bliss About the new-arriv'd in multitudes Th' ethereal People ran to hear and know How all befell they towards the Throne Supream Accountable made haste to make appear With righteous plea thir utmost vigilance And easily approv'd when the most High Eternal Father from his secret Cloud Amidst in Thunder utter'd thus his voice Assembl'd Angels and ye Powers return'd From unsuccessful charge be not dismaid Nor troubl'd at these tidings from the Earth Which your sincerest care could not prevent Foretold so lately what would come to pass When first this Tempter cross'd the Gulf from Hell I told ye then he should prevail and speed On his bad Errand Man should be seduc't And flatter'd out of all believing lies Against his Maker no Decree of mine Concurring to necessitate his Fall Or touch with lightest moment of impulse His free Will to her own inclining left In eevn scale But fall'n he is and now What rests but that the mortal Sentence pass On his transgression Death denounc't that day Which he presumes already vain and void Because not yet inflicted as he fear'd By some immediate stroak but soon shall find Forbearance no acquittance ere day end Justice shall not return as bountie scorn'd But whom send I to judge them whom but thee Vicegerent Son to thee I have transferr'd All Judgement whether in Heav'n or Earth or Hell Easie it might be seen that I intend Mercie collegue with Justice sending thee Mans Friend his Mediator his design'd Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntarie And destin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n So spake the Father and unfoulding bright Toward the right hand his Glorie on the Son Blaz'd forth unclouded Deitie he full Resplendent all his Father manifest Express'd and thus divinely answer'd milde Father Eternal thine is to decree Mine both in Heav'n and Earth to do thy will Supream that thou in mee thy Son belov'd Mayst ever rest well pleas'd I go to judge On Earth these thy transgressors but thou knowst Whoever judg'd the worst on mee must light When time shall be for so I undertook Before thee and not repenting this obtaine Of right that I may mitigate thir doom On me deriv'd yet I shall temper so Justice with Mercie as may illustrate most Them fully satisfied and thee appease Attendance none shall need nor Train where none Are to behold the Judgment but the judg'd Those two the third best absent is condemn'd Convict by flight and Rebel to all Law Conviction to the Serpent none belongs Thus saying from his radiant Seat he rose Of high collateral glorie him Thrones and Powers Princedoms and Dominations ministrant Accompanied to Heaven Gate from whence Eden and all the Coast in prospect lay Down he descended strait the speed of Gods Time counts not though with swiftest minutes wing'd Now was the Sun in Western cadence low From Noon and gentle Aires due at thir hour To fan the Earth now wak'd and usher in The Eevning coole when he from wrauth more coole Came the mild Judge and Intercessor both To sentence Man the voice of God they heard Now walking in the Garden by soft windes Brought to thir Ears while day declin'd they heard And from his presence hid themselves among The thickest Trees both Man and Wife till God Approaching thus to Adam call'd aloud Where art thou Adam wont with joy to meet My coming seen far off I miss thee here Not pleas'd thus entertaind with solitude Where obvious dutie erewhile appear'd unsaught Or come I less conspicuous or what change Absents thee or what chance detains Come forth He came and with him Eve more loth though first To offend discount'nanc't both and discompos'd Love was not in thir looks either to God Or to each other but apparent guilt And shame and perturbation and despaire Anger and obstinacie and hate and guile Whence Adam faultring long thus answer'd brief I heard thee in the Garden and of thy voice Affraid being naked hid my self To whom The gracious Judge without revile repli'd My voice thou oft hast heard and hast not fear'd But still rejoyc't how is it now become So dreadful to thee that thou art naked who Hath told thee hast thou eaten of the Tree Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat To whom thus Adam sore beset repli'd O Heav'n in evil strait this day I stand Before my Judge either to undergoe My self the total Crime or to accuse My other self the partner of my life Whose failing while her Faith to me remaines I should conceal and not expose to blame By my complaint but strict necessitie Subdues me and calamitous constraint Least on my head both sin and punishment However insupportable be all Devolv'd though should I hold my peace yet thou Wouldst easily detect what I conccale This Woman whom thou mad'st to be my help And gav'st me as thy perfet gift so good So fit so acceptable so Divine That from her hand I could suspect no ill And what she did whatever in it self Her doing seem'd to justifie the deed Shee gave me of the Tree and I did eate To whom the sovran Presence thus repli'd Was shee thy God that her thou didst obey Before his voice or was shee made thy guide Superior or but equal that to her Thou did'st resigne thy Manhood and the Place Wherein God set thee above her made of thee And for thee whose perfection farr excell'd Hers in all real dignitie Adornd Shee was indeed and lovely to attract Thy Love not thy Subjection and her Gifts Were such as under Government well seem'd Unseemly to beare rule which was thy part And person had'st thou known thy self aright So having said he thus to Eve in few Say Woman what is this which thou hast done To whom sad Eve with shame nigh overwhelm'd Confessing soon yet not before her Judge Bold or loquacious thus abasht repli'd The Serpent me beguil'd and I did eate Which when the Lord God heard without delay To Judgement he proceeded on th' accus'd Serpent though brute unable to transferre The Guilt on him who made him instrument Of mischief and polluted from the end Of his Creation justly then accurst As vitiated in Nature more to know Concern'd not Man since he no further knew Nor alter'd his offence yet God at last To Satan first in sin his doom apply'd Though in mysterious terms judg'd as then best And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall Because thou hast done this thou art accurst Above all Cattle each Beast of the Field Upon thy Belly groveling thou shalt goe And dust shalt eat all the dayes of thy Life Between Thee and the Woman I will put Enmitie and between thine and her Seed Her Seed shall bruse thy head thou bruise his heel So spake this Oracle then verifi'd When Jesus son of Mary second Eve Saw Satan fall
similitude In part from such deformities be free And for his Makers Image sake exempt Thir Makers Image answerd Michael then Forsook them when themselves they villifi'd To serve ungovern'd appetite and took His Image whom they serv'd a brutish vice Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve Therefore so abject is thir punishment Disfiguring not Gods likeness but thir own Or if his likeness by themselves defac't While they pervert pure Natures healthful rules To loathsom sickness worthily since they Gods Image did not reverence in themselves I yield it just said Adam and submit But is there yet no other way besides These painful passages how we may come To Death and mix with our connatural dust There is said Michael if thou well observe The rule of not too much by temperance taught In what thou eatst and drinkst seeking from thence Due nourishment not gluttonous delight Till many years over thy head return So maist thou live till like ripe Fruit thou drop Into thy Mothers lap or be with ease Gatherd not harshly pluckt for death mature This is old age but then thou must outlive Thy youth thy strength thy beauty which will change To witherd weak and gray thy Senses then Obtuse all taste of pleasure must forgoe To what thou hast and for the Aire of youth Hopeful and cheerful in thy blood will reigne A melancholly damp of cold and dry To weigh thy Spirits down and last consume The Balme of Life To whom our Ancestor Henceforth I flie not Death nor would prolong Life much bent rather how I may be quit Fairest and easiest of this combrous charge Which I must keep till my appointed day Of rendring up and patiently attend My dissolution Michael repli'd Nor love thy Life nor hate but what thou livst Live well how long or short permit to Heav'n And now prepare thee for another sight He lookd and faw a spacious Plaine whereon Were Tents of various hue by some were herds Of Cattel grazing others whence the sound Of Instruments that made melodious chime Was heard of Harp and Organ and who moovd Thir stops and chords was seen his volant touch Instinct through all proportions low and high Fled and pursu'd transverse the resonant fugue In other part stood one who at the Forge Labouring two massie clods of Iron and Brass Had melted whether found where casual fire Had wasted woods on Mountain or in Vale Down to the veins of Earth thence gliding hot To som Caves mouth or whether washt by stream From underground the liquid Ore he dreind Into fit moulds prepar'd from which he formd First his own Tooles then what might else be wrought Fusil or grav'n in mettle After these But on the hether side a different sort From the high neighbouring Hills which was thir Seat Down to the Plain descended by thir guise Just men they seemd and all thir study bent To worship God aright and know his works Not hid nor those things last which might preserve Freedom and Peace to men they on the Plain Long had not walkt when from the Tents behold A Beavie of fair Women richly gay In Gems and wanton dress to the Harp they sung Soft amorous Ditties and in dance came on The Men though grave ey'd them and let thir eyes Rove without rein till in the amorous Net Fast caught they lik'd and each his liking chose And now of love they treat till th' Eevning Star Loves Harbinger appeerd then all in heat They light the Nuptial Torch and bid invoke Hymen then first to marriage Rites invok't With Feast and Musick all the Tents resound Such happy interview and fair event Of love and youth not lost Songs Garlands Flours And charming Symphonies attach'd the heart Of Adam soon enclin'd to admit delight The bent of Nature which he thus express'd True opener of mine eyes prime Angel blest Much better seems this Vision and more hope Of peaceful dayes portends then those two past Those were of hate and death or pain much worse Here Nature seems fulfilld in all her ends To whom thus Michael Judg not what is best By pleasure though to Nature seeming meet Created as thou art to nobler end Holie and pure conformitie divine Those Tents thou sawst so pleasant were the Tents Of wickedness wherein shall dwell his Race Who slew his Brother studious they appere Of Arts that polish Life Inventers rare Unmindful of thir Maker though his Spirit Taught them but they his gifts acknowledg'd none Yet they abeauteous ofspring shall beget For that fair femal Troop thou sawst that seemd Of Goddesses so blithe so smooth so gay Yet empty of all good wherein consists Womans domestic honour and chief praise Bred onely and completed to the taste Of lustful appetence to sing to dance To dress and troule the Tongue and roule the Eye To these that sober Race of Men whose lives Religious titl'd them the Sons of God Shall yield up all thir vertue all thir fame Ignobly to the traines and to the smiles Of these fair Atheists and now swim in joy Erelong to swim at large and laugh for which The world erelong a world of tears must weepe To whom thus Adam of short joy bereft O pittie and shame that they who to live well Enterd so faire should turn aside to tread Paths indirect or in the mid way faint But still I see the tenor of Mans woe Holds on the same from Woman to begin From Mans effeminate slackness it begins Said th' Angel who should better hold his place By wisdome and superiour gifts receav'd But now prepare thee for another Scene He lookd and saw wide Territorie spred Before him Towns and rural works between Cities of Men with lofty Gates and Towrs Concours in Arms fierce Faces threatning Warr Giants of mightie Bone and bould emprise Part wield thir Arms part courb the foaming Steed Single or in Array of Battel rang'd Both Horse and Foot nor idely mustring stood One way a Band select from forage drives A herd of Beeves faire Oxen and faire Kine From a sat Meddow ground or fleecy Flock Ewes and thir bleating Lambs over the Plaine Thir Bootie scarce with Life the Shepherds flye But callin aide which makes a bloody Fray With cruel Tournament the Squadrons joine Where Cattle pastur'd late now scatterd lies With Carcasses and Arms th' ensanguind Field Deserted Others to a Citie strong Lay Seige encampt by Batterie Scale and Mine Assaulting others from the wall defend With Dart and Jav'lin Stones and sulfurous Fire On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds In other part the scepter'd Haralds call To Council in the Citie Gates anon Grey-headed men and grave with Warriours mixt Assemble and Harangues are heard but soon In factious opposition till at last Of middle Age one rising eminent In wise deport spake much of Right and Wrong Of Justice of Religion Truth and Peace And Judgment from above him old and young Exploded and had seiz'd with violent hands Had not a Cloud
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
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
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